JPH10133788A - Radio type information inputting device with power source controlling function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operability of an information processing terminal and a device which inputs information in a radio system, and to attain the synthetic power consumption of the which system by controlling the turning on/odd of a power source on the information processing terminal side through a communicating means. SOLUTION: When a power source switch 7 of the radio type information inputting device 1 is pressed, the information is transmitted through a controlling part 4 to a power source part 5, and power supply to the information inputting device 1 is started. In this case, the information of the start of the power supply to the information inputting device 1 is communicated through an infrared communicating part 2 being a transmitting means to an information processing terminal 8, and the information is received and inputted through an infrared communicating part 10 being a receiving means at the information processing terminals 8 side. The information obtained in this way is communicated through a controlling part 11 at the information processing terminal 8 side to a power source part 12 at the information processing terminal 8 side, and it is apparently judged that a power switch 13 of the information processing terminal 8 is pressed by the power source part 12 based on this information, and the power supply to the information processing terminal 8 is started.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention eliminates the need for a physical connection with an information processing terminal such as a personal computer.
The present invention relates to a wireless information input device such as a wireless keyboard or a wireless mouse, and particularly includes a power switch, and stops power supply to the entire system when power supply to one of the information processing terminal and the information input device is stopped. The present invention relates to a wireless-type information input device capable of doing this.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of wireless information input device has
A keyboard or mouse used as an information input device of an information processing terminal such as a personal computer or workstation is equipped with a wireless communication function for transmitting data to the information processing terminal, eliminating the need for a connection cable or cord. As a result, simpler and better operability is realized, and simpler installation is realized.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-115141 discloses a conventional information processing apparatus which transmits a signal by communication to notify an operator whether or not the apparatus has started up after power-on. Therefore, in order to eliminate the problem that communication operation takes time and operation of the device is not performed efficiently, it is possible to start the device by simple operation while utilizing both advantages of wireless communication and communication via telephone line. Of an information processing apparatus for remotely and appropriately performing the information processing has been proposed.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional wireless information input device proposed in the above publication.

Referring to FIG. 7, in a conventional wireless information input device, when a remote control is performed by a driving device circuit incorporated in a portable telephone, a call is made by a wireless telephone or a telephone line. Information processing device 1
Power is supplied from the power supply circuit 18 to the information processing circuit 15 by the operation of the drive communication device 16 on the fourth side, and the information processing circuit 1
5 is configured to be in a rising state after a predetermined time after fetching necessary information, and the information processing apparatus 14 is set to an operating state.

[0006] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-243408 discloses a wireless keyboard having sufficient responsiveness as an information processing system keyboard and substantially eliminating the need for power supply maintenance. Power is transmitted wirelessly from the power transmission means built into the information processing system to the power reception means built into the wireless keyboard, and the power conversion circuit built into the wireless keyboard converts the transmitted power to a DC voltage and builds in the built-in charging A configuration has been proposed in which a battery is charged and used as a power source for operating a keyboard. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 4-243408 discloses that a Ni-CD rechargeable battery is used as a power source for a wireless keyboard as an information input device, and scanning for key input is performed at regular time intervals.
A function is described in which, when an input is not recognized even after a predetermined time, the information input device itself performs an automatic power-off to reduce the power consumption of the information input device itself.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the processing operation of the conventional wireless information input device proposed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-243408.

Referring to FIG. 8, it is determined whether there is a key input in a certain scan (step 20). If there is a key input, the CPU of the device is set to the high-speed clock (step 21), and a key code is transmitted (step 2).
2). Thereafter, the timer is reset (step 2).
3). On the other hand, if there is no key input in a certain scan, it is determined whether or not a timer built in the CPU has reached a predetermined time (step 25). Is determined (step 20).

If the predetermined time has elapsed, the CPU is switched to the low-speed clock (step 26), and the process returns to key input scanning again.

Further, normally, after the reset of the timer built in the CPU (step 23), the second timer is continuously reset by the continue signal (step 2).
4) is performed, but if there is no key input for a certain period of time, the second timer is not reset, so that the automatic power-off operation of the apparatus is performed.

[0011]

However, in the prior art proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-115141, the device configuration in the entire system becomes complicated.
There is a problem that.

In addition, in the above-mentioned prior art, in addition to the information processing device and the information input device, for example, a device for turning on the power of the device, such as a mobile phone having a remote drive communication circuit, is required. The user has to operate many devices, and there is a problem that the operation is complicated.

The reason is that the above-mentioned prior art certainly realizes a function of turning on the power of the apparatus from a remote place, but when the application program or the like is actually executed, the apparatus is not used. In front, a wired information input device,
Alternatively, a wireless information input device must be used.

Next, the prior art proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-243408 has a problem that low power consumption for the entire system is not considered.

The reason is that even if the power supply of the information input device itself is terminated by the auto power function, the power supply of the information processing device is still performed, and as a result, the power consumption of the entire system is reduced. Has not been realized.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to improve the operability by simplifying the operation of an information input terminal and a device for wirelessly inputting information. Another object of the present invention is to provide a wireless information input device that achieves overall low power consumption of the entire system.

[0017]

In order to achieve the above object, a wireless information input apparatus according to the present invention comprises communication means for transmitting and receiving data to and from an information processing terminal by wireless communication. It is characterized by comprising means for controlling on / off of the power supply via the communication means.

According to the present invention, there is provided a wireless information input device for wirelessly inputting information to an information processing terminal, wherein the power supply is stopped in the information processing terminal having means for transmitting and receiving data wirelessly. In addition, the information of the power supply stop is obtained from the information processing terminal side,
It is characterized in that a means for controlling so as to cut in conjunction with this is provided.

Further, the present invention relates to a wireless information input device for wirelessly inputting information to an information processing terminal, wherein the power supply is stopped in the information processing terminal having means for transmitting and receiving data wirelessly. Or when the power supply is stopped by the own device, the power supply stop information is also transmitted to the other device, and control is performed so as to stop the power supply as the whole system. .

The outline of the present invention will be described below. According to the present invention, not only the information processing terminal side but also the information input device side has a power ON / OFF switch of the device itself, and a power ON / OFF function for an infrared communication unit and a control unit provided in the information input device. Is provided.

In the present invention, when the power of one of the information processing terminal and the information input device is turned off, the information is transmitted to the other device (terminal), and the entire system is turned off. The function of stopping the power supply to is realized.

The power supply stop function can be disabled by the user's will.

According to the present invention, the function of stopping the supply of power to the entire system can be executed from any of the information processing terminal and the information input device. And the power consumption of the system can be further reduced.

The use / non-use of the power supply stop function can be selected to be set according to the will of the system user. The device can be used.

[0025]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a wireless information input device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an infrared communication unit 2 as a transmission unit and an infrared communication unit 3 as a reception unit.
, A control unit 4, a power supply unit 5, an input device 6 such as a keyboard, and a power switch 7.

The infrared communication unit 2 as a transmission means is activated by pressing the power switch 7 and transmits information on the start of power supply issued through the power supply unit 5 or key data issued using the input device 6 to an external device. It has a function to send to.

The infrared communication unit 3 as a receiving means has a function of transmitting to the power supply unit 5 information regarding the stop of power supply to the external terminal transmitted from the external terminal.

The control unit 4 notifies the power supply unit 5 of information generated by pressing the power switch 7, and further outputs information on the start of power supply issued from the power supply unit 5 or data issued from the input device 6. Via the infrared communication unit 2 as a transmission means, control of a transmission function to an external terminal, and information transmitted from the external terminal, mainly concerning the stop of power supply of the external terminal, to the infrared communication After receiving the data through the unit 3 and processing the received data, the power supply unit 5 has a control function of controlling the stop function of the power supply from the power supply unit 5 to the information input device 1.

Next, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a wireless connection between the wireless information input device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention and the information processing terminal. Referring to FIG. 2, the information input terminal 8 includes an infrared transmitting unit 9, an infrared receiving unit 10, and a control unit 1.
1, a power supply unit 12, and a power switch 13. Data is transmitted between an infrared receiving unit 10 (infrared transmitting unit 9) and an infrared transmitting unit 2 (infrared receiving unit 3) of the wireless information input device 1. Is transmitted and received remotely.

Various examples of the sequence when the wireless information input terminal device according to the embodiment of the present invention is used in combination with an information processing terminal having a wireless communication function will be described below.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an operation sequence according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram showing a sequence chart in a case where both the start operation and the end operation of the entire system are performed from the information input device side. It is.

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

Normally, when the operator presses the power switch 7 of the wireless information input device 1 (FIG. 3), the information is transmitted to the power supply unit 5 through the control unit 4, and the power supply to the wireless information input device 1 is turned on. The supply is started (of FIG. 3).

In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, when the wireless information input terminal device 1 is used in combination with an information processing terminal 8 having a wireless communication function, as shown in FIG. Information on the start of power supply to the input device 1 (“start notification”) is also sent to the information processing terminal 8 via the infrared communication unit 2 that is a transmitting means, and the information processing terminal 8 receives the information as a receiving means. Infrared communication unit 10
, Information is received and obtained.

The information thus obtained is notified to the power supply unit 12 of the information processing terminal 8 through the control unit 11 of the information processing terminal 8, and based on this information, the power supply unit 12
It is determined as if the power switch 13 of the information processing terminal 8 was pressed, and the supply of power to the information processing terminal 8 is started (FIG. 3).

Next, referring to FIG. 3, transmission and reception of each key data and the like are performed from the wireless information input device 1 to the information processing terminal 8.
, And finally by the operator again,
When the power switch 7 of the wireless information input device 1 is pressed, this information is notified as an “end notification” to the information processing terminal 8 through the control unit 4 and further through the infrared communication unit 2 as a transmission unit ( 3).

On the information processing terminal 8 side, this information is received through the infrared communication unit 10 which is a receiving means, further transmitted to the control unit 11, the contents thereof are transmitted to the power supply unit 12, and power is supplied. The information performing the stop processing is transmitted to the wireless information input device 1 through the infrared communication unit 9 as a transmission unit.

The wireless information input device 1 receives the information through the infrared communication section 3 as receiving means, processes received data, and finally urges the power supply to the information input device 1 to stop. The information is transmitted to the power supply unit 5.

The power supply unit 5 stops the power supply to the information input device 1 based on the transmitted information (FIG. 3).

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an operation sequence according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in which a start operation of the entire system is performed from the information processing terminal and an end operation is performed from the information input device. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a sequence chart of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 4, the power supply start sequence is performed in the same manner as in FIG. 3, but the power supply is stopped when the power switch 13 of the information processing terminal 8 is pressed. (See FIG. 4). That is, when the power switch 13 of the information processing terminal 8 is pressed, the “end notification” is transmitted from the infrared transmission unit 9 of the information processing terminal 8.
Is transmitted to the infrared receiving unit 3 of the wireless information input device 1,
In response to this, the power supply unit 5 of the wireless information input device 1 performs a power supply stop process (FIG. 4), and thereafter, the information processing terminal 8 stops the power supply of its own device (FIG. 4).

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation sequence of the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sequence chart in the case where both the start operation and the end operation of the entire system are performed from the information processing terminal side. FIG.

Referring to FIG. 5, the start of power supply occurs when the power switch 13 of the information processing terminal 8 is pressed (FIG. 5), and the stop of power supply is performed by pressing the power switch 7 of the information input device 1 (FIG. 5). 5).

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an operation sequence according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which a start operation of the entire system is performed from the information input device side and an end operation is performed from the information processing terminal side. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a sequence chart of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 6, the start / stop of the power supply is both caused by the depression of the power switch 13 of the information processing terminal 8 (in FIG. 6). That is, when the power switch 13 of the terminal 8 is pressed, the power of the terminal 8 is turned on (see FIG. 6), and a “start notification” is transmitted from the terminal 8 to the wireless information input terminal 1 by infrared rays. Then, the power supply of the wireless information input device 1 is started to be supplied, and the “end notification” is transmitted by infrared rays from the terminal 8 by pressing the power switch 13 of the wireless information input terminal 1 (FIG. 6), In response, the power supply of the wireless information input device 1 is stopped (FIG. 6), and thereafter, the power supply of the terminal 8 is stopped (FIG. 6).

The use / non-use of the above-described power supply start / stop function may, of course, be configured so as to be freely set by the selection of the system user.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The following effects are obtained.

(1) The first effect of the present invention is that the system can be activated / terminated from the information input device.

The reason is that, in the present invention, a power switch is also provided on the wireless information input device side, and the fact that the power of the wireless information input device is turned on is notified to the information processing terminal using wireless communication. And the power supply of the information processing terminal is simultaneously turned on in conjunction with the wireless information input device.

(2) A second effect of the present invention is that low power consumption can be realized.

The reason for this is that, in the present invention, when the power supply to either the information input device or the information processing terminal is stopped, the power supply to the other device is also stopped in conjunction with this.
This is due to such a configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a sequence chart of an embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram for explaining a sequence in a case where both the start operation and the end operation of the entire system are performed from the information input device side.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a sequence chart of a second embodiment of the present invention, for explaining a sequence in a case where a start operation of the entire system is performed from the information processing terminal side and an end operation is performed from the information input device side. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a sequence chart of a third embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram for explaining a sequence in a case where both start operation and end operation of the entire system are performed from the information processing terminal side. .

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a sequence chart of a fourth embodiment of the present invention, for explaining a sequence in a case where a start operation of the entire system is performed from the information input device side and an end operation is performed from the information processing terminal side. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional technique.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of another conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Information input device 2 Information input device side infrared communication part (transmission means) 3 Information input device side infrared communication part (reception means) 4 Information input device control part 5 Information input device power supply part 6 Information input device input part (keyboard) 7 Information input device power switch 8 Information processing terminal 9 Information processing terminal side infrared communication section (transmission means) 10 Information processing terminal side infrared communication section (reception means) 11 Information processing terminal control section 12 Information processing terminal power section 13 Information processing terminal power supply Switch 14 Information processing device 15 Information processing circuit 16 Drive communication circuit 17 Signal switch 18 Power supply circuit 19 Power supply

Claims (8)

[Claims] A communication means for transmitting and receiving data to and from the information processing terminal by wireless communication; and a means for controlling on / off of a power supply of the information processing terminal via the communication means. A wireless information input device with a power control function. 2. A wireless information input device for wirelessly inputting information to an information processing terminal, wherein when the power supply is stopped in the information processing terminal comprising means for transmitting and receiving data wirelessly, the power supply is stopped. A wireless information input device with a power control function, characterized in that the device has a means for obtaining information on supply suspension from the information processing terminal side and controlling the power of the own device to be cut off in conjunction with the information. . 3. A wireless information input device for wirelessly inputting information to an information processing terminal, wherein when the power supply is stopped in the information processing terminal comprising means for transmitting and receiving data wirelessly, or A power supply control function for transmitting power supply stop information to the other device when the power supply is stopped in the own device and stopping the power supply as a whole system; With wireless information input device. 4. A wireless information input device for wirelessly inputting information to an information processing terminal, comprising means for wirelessly transmitting and receiving data when the power is turned on by itself. The wireless information input device with a power control function according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the information processing terminal is notified, and the power supply of the information processing terminal is started upon receiving the notification. 5. A wireless information input device for wirelessly inputting information to an information processing terminal, the notification being provided when an information processing terminal having means for transmitting and receiving data wirelessly is turned on. 4. The wireless information input device with a power control function according to claim 2, wherein the power supply of the own device is started in response to the request. 6. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein in wireless transmission / reception with said information processing terminal, reception of response information from a partner with respect to transmission information is confirmed. Wireless information input device with power control function. 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for canceling and invalidating a power supply stop function with the information processing terminal. Wireless information input device with power control function. 8. The wireless information input device with a power control function according to claim 1, wherein said wireless communication is performed by infrared communication.