JPH09185437A - Information processor with power consumption monitoring function and power consumption monitoring method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily discriminate whether a card scheduled to be extended can be loaded or not, to load the card to a slot in spite of its power consumption and to prevent an accident when the card is erroneously loaded by operating power suppliable to the slot from the maximum suppliable power and monitored power of power source inside a device. SOLUTION: The power of information processor is inputted from an AC supply line 11 to a power source 12 inside the device and supplied from a DC output line 13. In this case, DC power is passed through a power monitoring part 14 without being directly connected to a control circuit 16 provided with a CPU and an extended slot part 17. At the power monitoring part 14, the maximum value of power supplied at that time point is detected. Besides, the power monitoring part 14 calculates power suppliable to the slot by finding the difference between the maximum power supply ability of the power source part 12 inside the device and power supplied at that time point. The power suppliable to the slot calculated by the power monitoring part 14 is reported to the CPU as information 18 of power suppliable to the slot and the CPU displays that information on a display, etc.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus having a power consumption monitoring function, which has an improved power consumption monitoring function.
And a method for monitoring power consumption of an information processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, few information processing apparatuses having an expansion slot have a power supply required for the expansion slot. Therefore, the power supply shortage was dealt with by the additional power supply. On the other hand, if a card is installed in the slot with insufficient power capacity, the system may not start up or the power may be destroyed.

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional information processing apparatus having the expansion slot, if the power supply which can sufficiently supply the power required for the expansion slot is not prepared, it is mounted. It was necessary to find the sum of the power consumption of the card and confirm that it was within the power supply capacity of the power supply in the device. Moreover, if a card is accidentally loaded in excess of the power supply capacity of the device, the system may not start up or the power may be destroyed.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and it is possible to solve the above problems and easily determine whether a card to be added can be mounted or not, and the power of a slot is turned off. If you can read the power consumption information from the card installed in the state and can be installed in terms of power, you can install it in the slot regardless of the power consumption of the card, and you can prevent accidents when you accidentally install the card, Furthermore, if power consumption information can be read from the inserted card by supplying standby power to the slot and it can be installed in terms of power, it can be installed in the slot without worrying about the power consumption of the card, and An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus with a power consumption monitoring function capable of preventing an accident when a card is mounted, and a power consumption monitoring method for the information processing apparatus.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is an information processing apparatus having an expansion slot, wherein when a card is added to the expansion slot, the power supply in the apparatus is from the expansion slot. When the required power of the device cannot be sufficiently supplied, means for monitoring the power supplied by the in-device power supply, and the maximum supply power of the in-device power supply and the suppliable power to the slot from the monitored power are calculated. An information processing apparatus with a power consumption monitoring function is provided with means for outputting predetermined information based on the result.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an information processing apparatus with a power consumption monitoring function, wherein a power interruption means for controlling the on / off of power supply to each expansion slot and a card. A means for obtaining power consumption information is provided, the power consumption information is read when the card is mounted in the slot, and if the card can be mounted electrically, the power is supplied to the slot.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides
In the above information processing apparatus with power consumption monitoring function, a standby power supply means for supplying backup power to the card and a power supply control means for controlling power supply to the expansion slot are provided, and power is consumed from the card by supplying backup power. The power information is read, it is determined that the card can be installed electrically, and if the card can be installed electrically, the power supply to the slot is turned on.

Further, the present invention has the following objects to attain the above objects.
In an information processing device having an expansion slot, if the power supply in the device cannot sufficiently supply the required power from the expansion slot when adding a card to the expansion slot, the power supplied by the power supply in the device is reduced. An information processing apparatus characterized in that it monitors and calculates the maximum supply power of the power supply in the apparatus and the supplyable power to the slot from the monitored power, and outputs predetermined information based on the calculation result. There is a power consumption monitoring method.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides
In the power consumption monitoring method of the information processing apparatus, power supply to each expansion slot is controlled to be turned on and off, power consumption information of the card is obtained, and the power consumption information is read when the card is mounted in the slot. The electric power can be supplied to the slot if the electric power can be attached.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides
In the power consumption monitoring method of the above information processing device, standby power is supplied to the card, power control of the expansion slot is performed,
By supplying standby power, the power consumption information is read from the card, it is determined that the card can be installed in terms of power, and if it can be installed in terms of power, the power supply to the slot is turned on. I have done it before.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The outline of the present invention is as follows. (1) A means for monitoring the power supplied from the power supply and detecting the power supplied from the power supply at that time, and the difference between the maximum power supply of the power supply and the detected power is calculated to determine the power that can be supplied to the slot. Means for calculating and notifying the operator. The power supply supplies DC power to the information processing device. As a result, the power is supplied from the normal power source to the control circuit unit including the CPU or the expansion slot, but the power monitoring unit is provided in front. This is to monitor / detect the electric power supplied from the power source. Furthermore, the power monitoring unit obtains the difference between the maximum power supply of the power supply and the detected power, calculates the power that can be supplied to the slot, and notifies the CPU. The CPU notifies the operator of the power that can be supplied. The operator can easily determine whether the card can be mounted or not by comparing the power consumption of the card to be mounted with the power that can be supplied to the slot.

(2) Turn on / off the power supply to the expansion slot
Means for FF, means for obtaining power consumption information of the card,
And means for monitoring the electric power supplied from the power source and detecting the electric power supplied from the power source at that time. The power supply supplies DC power to the information processing device. As a result, the power is supplied from the normal power source to the control circuit unit including the CPU or the expansion slot, but the power monitoring unit is provided in front. This is to monitor / detect the electric power supplied from the power source. The power supply to the slot is off when the card is installed. Here, the power monitoring unit reads the power consumption information from the card and compares it with the power that can be supplied to the slot at that time. If the power cannot be supplied to the slot, the power remains off, and if possible, it turns on. In this way, the operator does not have to worry about the power capacity of the card to be installed.

(3) Turn on / off the power supply to the expansion slot
FF means, means for obtaining power consumption information by supplying power from a standby power supply to the card, means for monitoring power supplied from the power supply and detecting power supplied from the power supply at that time, and card And a means for judging that it can be mounted in terms of electric power. Power source is D in the information processing device
C power is supplied. As a result, the power is supplied from the normal power source to the control circuit unit including the CPU or the expansion slot, but the power monitoring unit is inserted in front. This is to monitor / detect the electric power supplied from the power source. As for the power supply to the slot, only the standby power supply is ON and the main power supply is OFF when the card is mounted. By supplying power to the card from the standby power supply,
The CPU can read the supplied power information. Further C
The PU notifies the power monitoring unit of the power consumption information. The power monitoring unit compares the power consumption information of the card with the power that can be supplied to the slot at that time. If the power cannot be supplied to the slot, the power remains off, and if possible, it turns on. In this way, the operator can install the card without worrying about the power capacity of the card to be installed.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the inside of an information processing apparatus showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 11 is an AC supply line, and an AC power supply unit 12 in the apparatus is connected to AC. It supplies electric power.

Reference numeral 12 denotes an in-apparatus power supply unit, which outputs a DC power supply from an input AC power supply. Reference numeral 13 is a DC power output line from the in-apparatus power supply unit 12. Reference numeral 14 denotes an in-apparatus monitoring section, which controls the in-apparatus power supply section 12 to control circuit section 1 including a CPU.
6 and the amount of power supplied to the expansion slot 17 are detected. Also, the power that can be supplied to the slot is calculated.

Reference numeral 15 is an output line for supplying DC power to the control circuit section 16 including the CPU and the expansion slot section 17.
Reference numeral 16 is a control circuit unit including a CPU.

Reference numeral 17 denotes an expansion slot portion, on which an expansion card is mounted. Reference numeral 18 is information that can be supplied to the slot. The power of the information processing apparatus configured as described above is A
Input from the C supply line 11 to the in-apparatus power supply unit 12
Supply from the output line 13. Here, the DC power is directly
It does not connect to the control circuit 16 including the CPU and the expansion slot section 17, but goes through the power monitoring section 14.

The power monitoring unit 14 detects the maximum value of the power supplied at that time. As an actual detection method, a resistor is inserted in series with the DC supply line, the potential difference across the resistor is measured using an AD converter, and the power is calculated. The resistance used must be of low resistance. Further, the power monitoring unit 14 obtains the difference between the maximum power supply capacity of the in-device power supply unit 12 and the power supplied at that time, and calculates the power that can be supplied to the slot.

The available power for the slot calculated by the power monitoring unit 14 is notified to the CPU as the available power information for the slot 18. The CPU notifies the operator of the available power to the slot by displaying the available power on a display or the like. The operator can easily judge that the card can be electrically installed by comparing the notified available power with the power consumption of the card to be installed.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the inside of an information processing apparatus showing another example of the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, 21 is an AC supply line, and a power supply in the apparatus is shown. The AC is supplied to the unit 22.

Reference numeral 23 is a DC power output line from the power supply unit 22 in the apparatus. Reference numeral 24 denotes an in-apparatus monitoring & ON / OFF control section, which detects the amount of power supplied from the in-apparatus power supply section 23 to the control circuit section 27 including the CPU and the expansion slot 28, and turns ON / OFF the power to the expansion lot section. Turn off.
Also, the power consumption information is read from the card.

Reference numeral 25 is an output line for supplying DC power to the control circuit section 27 including the CPU and the expansion slot section 28.
Reference numeral 26 is a DC power output line for supplying DC power to the expansion slot section.

Reference numeral 27 is a control circuit section including a CPU. 2
Reference numeral 8 denotes an expansion slot portion to which an expansion card is attached. 2
Reference numeral 9 is power consumption information of the card read by the slot section.

The power of the information processing apparatus configured as described above is input to the in-apparatus power supply section 22 from the AC supply line 21 and supplied from the DC output line 23. Here, the DC power is not directly connected to the control circuit unit 27 including the CPU and the expansion slot unit 28, but is passed through the power monitoring unit & ON / OFF control unit 24.

The power monitoring unit 24 detects the maximum value of the power currently supplied. As an actual detection method,
A resistor is inserted in series with the DC supply line, the potential difference across the resistor is measured using an AD converter, and the power is calculated. The resistance used must be of low resistance.

A signal line showing power consumption information is prepared in the expansion slot section 28. The number of signal lines defines the maximum value of power consumption information. For example, if 8 bits are prepared, 25
It can show up to 5W. Also, these are pulled up and read out at a high level when the card is not mounted. If all the bits are read out at the high level, the power consumption is 0W. On the card side, a signal line indicating power consumption information is opened or connected by Gnd to indicate power consumption.

When the card is mounted, no power is supplied to the expansion slot section 28, the power consumption information is read from the signal line indicating the power consumption information, and the power monitoring section & ON / OFF
Notify the control unit 24. This is the power consumption information 29.

The power monitoring unit 24 compares the power currently supplied with the power consumption information 29 to determine whether power supply to the card is possible or not. If it is possible, the power supply to the expansion slot 28 is turned on to supply the power supply to the card.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the inside of an information processing apparatus showing still another example according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, 31 is an AC supply line,
The AC power is supplied to the in-apparatus power supply unit 32.

Reference numeral 32 denotes a power supply unit in the apparatus, which outputs DC power from the input AC power. 33 is a DC power output line from the in-apparatus power supply unit 32. 34 is equipment monitoring & ON /
The OFF control unit detects the amount of power supplied from the in-apparatus power supply unit 32 to the control circuit unit 38 including the CPU and the expansion slot 39, and turns ON / OFF the power to the expansion lot unit 39.
Turn OFF. Power ON / OFF to the expansion slot
I do.

Reference numeral 35 is a DC in a control circuit section 38 including a CPU.
It is a power output line that supplies power. Reference numeral 36 is a DC power output line for supplying DC power to the expansion slot section 39. 3
Reference numeral 7 is a DC power output line for supplying backup power to the expansion slot section 39.

Reference numeral 38 is a control circuit section including a CPU. 3
Reference numeral 9 is an expansion slot portion to which an expansion card is attached. Four
0 is power consumption information detected by the slot unit 39 and read by the CPU.

Reference numeral 41 is card power consumption information that the CPU notifies the power monitoring unit. The power of the information processing apparatus configured as described above is input to the in-apparatus power supply unit 32 from the AC supply line 31 and supplied from the DC output line 33. Here, the DC power is not directly connected to the control circuit unit 38 including the CPU and the expansion slot unit 39, but the power monitoring unit & ON / ON /
Via the OFF control unit 34. Also, the power monitoring unit & ON /
Power is always supplied from the OFF control unit 34 to the control circuit unit 38 including the CPU, but the power to the expansion slot unit 39 can be ON / OFF controlled, and when no card is mounted in the expansion slot unit 39. The power is off. However, only the reserve power is supplied by the DC power output line 37.

Further, the power monitoring & ON / OFF control section 34 detects the maximum value of the power currently supplied. As an actual detection method, insert a resistor in series with the DC supply line,
The electric potential difference between the both ends is measured using an AD converter, and the electric power is calculated. The resistance used must be of low resistance.

When the card installed in the expansion slot 39 is supplied with the standby power, the CPU can read the power consumption information. Actually, a ROM or the like to which the standby power is connected is prepared. Thus, the CPU reads the power consumption information from the card when the card is mounted. Further, the CPU notifies the power monitoring & ON / OFF control unit 34 of the power consumption information.

In the power monitoring & ON / OFF control section 34,
The currently supplied power is compared with the power consumption information 41 to determine whether or not power supply to the card is possible. If possible, turn on the power to the expansion slot 38,
It supplies power to the card.

[0037]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, in an information processing apparatus having an expansion slot, if the internal power supply that sufficiently satisfies the maximum required power required by the expansion slot is not provided, the slot By means of notifying the operator of the power that can be supplied to the operator, the operator can easily know whether or not the card to be added can be installed.

In addition, the power consumption information is read from the card mounted with the power supply to the slot turned off, and if the power supply is possible, the means for turning on the power supply to the slot is provided without worrying about the power consumption of the card. The card can be installed in the slot and an accident when a card is accidentally installed can be prevented.

Further, by reading the power consumption information from the inserted card by supplying the standby power supply to the slot, and if the card can be installed in terms of power, the power of the slot is turned on so that the power consumption of the card is taken into consideration. The card can be installed in the slot without using it, and an accident when the card is installed by mistake can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration inside an information processing apparatus showing an example according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration inside an information processing apparatus showing another example according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration inside an information processing apparatus showing still another example according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 21, 31 ... AC supply line, 12, 22, 32 ... In-apparatus power supply section, 13, 23, 33 ... DC power output line, 14
... In-apparatus monitoring unit, 15, 25, 35 ... Output line, 16, 2
7, 38 ... Control circuit section, 17, 28, 39 ... Expansion slot section, 18 ... Suppliable power information, 24, 34 ... In-apparatus monitoring & ON / OFF control section, 26, 36 ... DC power output line, 29 power consumption Information, 37 ... DC power output line, 40 ...
Power consumption information, 41 ... Power consumption information.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus having an expansion slot, wherein, when a card is added to the expansion slot and the internal power supply cannot sufficiently supply the required power from the expansion slot, the internal power supply Means for monitoring the power supplied by the device, and a means for calculating the maximum supply power of the in-apparatus power supply and the power that can be supplied to the slot from the monitored power and outputting predetermined information based on the calculation result. An information processing device having a power consumption monitoring function, which is provided. 2. An on / off means for controlling on / off of power supply to each expansion slot and a means for obtaining power consumption information of the card are provided, and the power consumption information is displayed when the card is mounted in the slot. 2. The information processing apparatus with a power consumption monitoring function according to claim 1, wherein the power is supplied to the slot if it can be read out and electrically mounted. 3. A standby power supply means for supplying standby power to the card and a power supply control means for controlling the power supply of the expansion slot are provided, and the power consumption information is read from the card by supplying the standby power, The information processing with power consumption monitoring function according to claim 1, wherein it is determined that the power supply is possible, and if the power supply is possible, the power supply to the slot is turned on. apparatus. 4. An information processing apparatus having an expansion slot, wherein, when a card is added to the expansion slot and the power supply in the apparatus cannot sufficiently supply the required power from the expansion slot, the power supply in the apparatus Monitoring the power supplied by the device, calculating the maximum supply power of the power supply in the device and the power that can be supplied to the slot from the monitored power, and outputting predetermined information based on the calculation result. A characteristic information processing apparatus power consumption monitoring method. 5. The power supply to each expansion slot is controlled to be turned on and off, power consumption information of the card is obtained, the power consumption information is read when the card is mounted in the slot, and the power can be mounted. In this case, the power consumption monitoring method for the information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein power is supplied to the slot. 6. A standby power is supplied to the card, power control of the expansion slot is performed, power consumption information is read from the card by supplying the standby power, and it is determined that the card can be electrically installed. The power consumption monitoring method for an information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the power supply to the slot is turned on if the power supply is possible.