JP2000222074A - Computer system and method for controlling power saving - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a computer system capable of appropriately adjusting a battery life, user convenience, etc., by operating a power saving function in multisteps in accordance with the change of battery residual quantity. SOLUTION: A power supply state monitoring part 12 monitors a battery state through a power supply state acquiring part 11, also monitors the states of system resources such as the existence/absence of data inputs from a keyboard and a mouse through an input controlling part 13 and a disk controlling part 16 and the existence/absence of access to a magnetic disk drive (HDD), calculates the variation of battery residual quantity after the entire part or a part of these system resources become a standby state and operates a power saving function provided in a display controlling part 15 and the part 16 in the direction of improving a power-saving effect in multi-steps on the basis of data stored in a power supply state table 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a computer system that can be driven by a battery and a power saving control method applied to the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various types of battery-powered personal computers have been developed on the premise that they will be used when going out or while traveling. In addition, a stationary personal computer that is not assumed to be carried is also configured to be battery-powered so that processing can be continued for a certain period of time when power supply from the outside is cut off due to a power failure or the like. There are many.

[0003] In a personal computer capable of this type of battery operation, data input from a mouse, a keyboard, or the like is interrupted beyond a predetermined time, for example, in order to extend the continuous operation time during battery operation. When the display on the monitor is stopped, the power is saved by lowering the brightness of the backlight of the LCD (flat panel), or the power to the magnetic disk device (HDD) is exceeded after a predetermined time. Various power saving functions are provided, such as saving power by stopping a motor of a magnetic disk drive (HDD) when access is interrupted.

[0004]

By the way, in the conventional power saving method, the power saving function is operated uniformly according to a certain standard. Specifically, for example, the once set automatic stop time of the monitor (the time during which data input as a condition for stopping the monitor is interrupted) remains unchanged until reset. When the computer is driven by a battery, if the automatic stop time of the monitor is reduced, the battery usage is reduced, but the usability of the user is deteriorated. On the other hand, when the automatic stop time of the monitor is increased, the usability of the user is improved, but the battery usage is increased. As described above, if the automatic stop time of the monitor is fixed, it is difficult to adjust the battery life and the usability of the user.

Also, for example, the brightness of the LCD backlight once set remains unchanged until reset.
When the computer is driven by a battery, lowering the brightness of the backlight reduces the amount of battery usage, but makes the display difficult to see. On the other hand, increasing the brightness of the backlight makes the display easier to see, but increases the battery usage. Thus, when the brightness of the backlight is fixed, it is difficult to adjust the battery life and the visibility of the display.

Also, for example, the once set automatic stop time of the magnetic disk device (HDD) (the time during which data access is stopped as a condition for stopping the motor and the like) remains unchanged until it is reset. When the computer is driven by a battery, if the automatic stop time of the magnetic disk device (HDD) is shortened, the battery usage is reduced, but the usability of the user is deteriorated. On the other hand, a magnetic disk drive (HD
When the automatic stop time of D) is increased, the usability of the user is improved, but the battery usage is increased. As described above, when the automatic stop time of the magnetic disk device (HDD) is fixed, it is difficult to adjust the battery life and the usability of the user.

As described above, it is difficult to adjust the battery life and the usability of the user only by operating the power saving function uniformly in accordance with a certain standard.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and operates the power saving function in multiple stages in response to a change in the remaining battery power, thereby improving battery life and user convenience. It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer system capable of performing appropriate adjustment and a power saving control method applied to the computer system.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a battery-powered computer system having a power-saving function after all or a part of system resources enter a standby state. Battery state monitoring means for monitoring a decrease in the remaining battery level; and operating the power saving function in multiple steps in a direction to increase the power saving effect in accordance with the change in the remaining battery level obtained by monitoring the battery state monitoring means. Power saving control means for controlling the power consumption.

In the present invention, for example, when the remaining amount of the battery is rapidly reduced, the power saving function is operated in multiple stages in a direction in which the power saving effect is further enhanced, and when the remaining amount of the battery is slowly reduced, the power saving function is delayed. Activate the power saving function in multiple steps in the direction of increasing the power saving effect, or
When the remaining battery power is low, the power saving function is activated in multiple steps in the direction of increasing the power saving effect, and when the remaining battery power is large, the power saving function is activated in multiple steps in the direction of increasing the power saving effect. Since power saving control such as activation can be performed in accordance with the remaining battery level, it is possible to appropriately adjust the battery life and the usability of the user.

[0011]

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

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a personal computer according to an embodiment of the present invention. This personal computer is a computer system that can be driven by a battery such as a notebook type. As shown in FIG. 1, a CPU 1, a system memory 2, a disk controller 3, a display controller 4, a keyboard controller 5, a power supply controller 6 And a battery 7.

The CPU 1 controls the entire computer system, and executes and controls various application programs including utilities such as an operating system and a BIOS stored in the system memory 2 and a device driver.

A system memory 2 is a memory device serving as a main memory of the computer system.
Operating system controlled by
It stores the IOS and various application programs and various data used to execute them.

The disk controller 3 is a magnetic disk device (HD) serving as an external storage of the computer system.
D) for controlling the driving of the magnetic disk drive (HDD) controlled by the disk controller 3 includes various programs and data loaded into the system memory 2 and various types of data output from the system memory 2. Data and the like are stored. Various programs swapped out from the system memory 2 are also temporarily stored.

The display controller 4 is a device that controls the output of a user interface in the computer system, and displays display data drawn by the CPU 1 on an LCD, a CRT, or the like.

The keyboard controller 5 is a device that controls an input of a user interface in the computer system, and receives control data transmitted from a keyboard or a mouse via a register provided therein.
Deliver to PU1.

A power supply controller (PSC) 6 is for centrally controlling the power supply of the computer system.
The switching of the power supply / interruption of the external power supply (AC) and the battery 7 and the charge control of the battery 7 are executed.

The battery 7 is a power supply for supplying electric power for operating the computer system when an external power supply (AC) cannot be obtained, for example, when carrying the battery.
It is composed of a secondary battery that can be repeatedly charged and discharged.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing functional blocks relating to power saving control of a computer system having such a configuration.

As shown in FIG. 2, the power saving control of this computer system is performed by a power status acquisition unit 11, a power status monitoring unit 12, an input control unit 13, a power status table 14, a display control unit 15, and a disk control unit 16. It is implemented by. The power supply status acquisition unit 11 and the power supply status monitoring unit 12 are realized by a program stored in the system memory 2 and executed and controlled by the CPU 1. The power supply state table 14 is secured in the system memory 2 or a memory device of a magnetic disk drive (HDD). The input control unit 13 corresponds to the keyboard controller 5, the display control unit 15 corresponds to the display controller 4, and the disk control unit 16 corresponds to the disk controller 3.

The operation principle of the power saving control of the computer system will be described below.

The power supply status acquisition unit 11 requests the operating system of the computer system to notify the operating system of the computer system of the change in the remaining battery level each time. ,Next time,
Requests the operating system to notify the current battery level. The battery remaining amount returned in response to the request is a ratio value to the remaining amount when the battery is fully charged, and the power status obtaining unit 11 determines whether the returned battery remaining amount is a power status monitoring unit in response to the request. Hand over to 12.

A power status monitoring unit 12 for receiving the remaining battery power monitors the status of the battery 7 via a power status acquisition unit 11 and a keyboard and a mouse via an input control unit 13 and a disk control unit 16. Monitors the status of system resources such as the presence or absence of data input from the system and the presence or absence of access to the magnetic disk drive (HDD). Is calculated, and based on the data held in the power supply state table 14, the power saving functions of the display control unit 15 and the disk control unit 16 are operated in multiple stages in the direction of increasing the power saving effect.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of data held in the power supply state table 14. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, (a) is data used as a reference for operating the power saving function related to the monitor in multiple steps, (b) is data used as a reference for operating the power saving function related to the LCD in multiple steps, (C) is data used as a reference for operating the power saving function of the magnetic disk device (HDD) in multiple steps, and (d) is used as a reference for operating the power saving function of the entire system in multiple steps. Data.

Here, a description will be given of a method of using the power supply state table 14 with reference to data serving as a reference for activating the power saving function relating to the monitor of (a) in multiple steps as an example. When it is detected that the data input from the keyboard or the mouse has been interrupted, first, it is determined where the remaining battery level received from the power status obtaining unit 11 corresponds to the remaining battery level (a1) in the power status table 14. . For example, if the remaining battery power received from the power supply status acquisition unit 11 is 88%, this corresponds to the second row from the top. Then, the power supply state monitoring unit 12
While the data input from the keyboard or the mouse continues to be interrupted, the battery remaining amount received from the power state acquiring unit 11 is continuously calculated as a decrease value of the battery remaining amount. When (a2) is reached, the display control unit 15 is caused to execute monitor-off indicated by the power saving mode 1 (a3) of the power status table 14 and when the battery reduction value (a4) of the power status table 14 is reached. Then, the display control unit 15 is caused to execute the power-off indicated by the power saving mode 2 (a4) of the power status table 14. This power saving mode 1 (a2)
When the power is turned off in the power saving mode 2 (a4), the power saving effect is higher than in the power off in the power saving mode 2 (a4). The power saving function provided in the display control unit 15 is operated in multiple stages in the direction in which the power saving effect is high. In the above example, the power supply state monitoring unit 1
No. 2 causes the display control unit 15 to execute monitor-off when the remaining battery power decreases by 1.80%, and causes the display control unit 15 to execute power-off when the remaining battery power decreases by 2.70%.

Also, when it is detected that the data input from the keyboard or the mouse has been interrupted, the remaining battery power is 19%.
In this case, the power supply state monitoring unit 12 causes the display control unit 15 to execute monitor-off when the remaining battery power is reduced by 0.20% in a state where data input from the keyboard and the mouse is interrupted, When the remaining battery capacity is reduced by 0.30%, the display control unit 15 is turned off. That is, the power supply state monitoring unit 12
Means that the amount of change in the remaining battery level, which is a reference for operating the power saving function of the monitor provided in the display control unit 15 in multiple stages, is appropriately increased or decreased according to the state of the battery 7.

It should be noted that the remaining battery power when detecting that the input of data from the keyboard or mouse is interrupted is 91%.
In this case, the monitor off may be performed at the time when the remaining battery power decreases by 2.00% or when the remaining battery power falls below 90%. The corresponding stage may be shifted from the first stage to the second stage, and it may be at the time when the remaining battery level is reduced by 1.80%. It is conceivable that the remaining battery power is low, but in that case, it may be executed immediately at that time.)

Similarly, when data used as a reference for activating the power saving function of the LCD in (b) in multiple stages is used, the battery when the input of data from the keyboard or mouse is interrupted is detected. Assuming that the remaining amount is 88%, the power supply state monitoring unit 12 displays the display control unit 1 when the remaining amount of the battery decreases by 0.9% while the data input from the keyboard and the mouse is interrupted.
5 causes the brightness of the backlight to be set to 9 and when the remaining battery power decreases by 1.35%, the display control unit 15 causes the brightness of the backlight to be set to 3.

Further, when it is detected that the data input from the keyboard or the mouse has been interrupted, the remaining battery power is 19%.
If the battery status decreases by 0.05% in a state where data input from the keyboard or the mouse is interrupted, the power supply state monitoring unit 12 notifies the display control unit 15 of the brightness of the backlight. Set the brightness to 1,
When the remaining battery capacity is reduced by 0.08%, the display control unit 15 is caused to execute backlight off. That is, the power supply state monitoring unit 12 appropriately controls the degree of operation of the power saving function related to the LCD included in the display control unit 15 according to the state of the battery 7.

Similarly, the magnetic disk drive (HD) shown in FIG.
In the case of using data as a reference for operating the power saving function relating to D) in multiple stages, it is assumed that the battery remaining amount when detecting that the access to the magnetic disk device (HDD) is interrupted was 88%. Then, the power supply state monitoring unit 12 determines that the remaining battery power is 5.0 while the access to the magnetic disk device (HDD) is interrupted.
When the battery power is reduced by 0%, the disk control unit 16 is caused to execute the motor off, and when the remaining battery power is decreased by 8.00%, the disk control unit 16 is caused to perform the controller off.

Further, assuming that the remaining battery level is 19% when it is detected that the access to the magnetic disk device (HDD) has been interrupted, the power supply state monitoring unit 12 determines that the access to the magnetic disk device (HDD) has been interrupted. When the remaining battery power is reduced by 1.00%, the disk control unit 16 is caused to execute the motor-off operation, and when the remaining battery power is reduced by 1.15%, the disk control unit 16 is turned off by the controller. Let it run. That is, the power supply state monitoring unit 12 determines the amount of change in the remaining battery level, which is a reference for operating the power saving function of the magnetic disk device (HDD) included in the disk control unit 16 in multiple stages, according to the state of the battery 7. Will increase or decrease appropriately.

Similarly, when data serving as a reference for operating the power saving function of the entire system in (d) in multiple stages is used, the battery when the whole system resources are detected to be in the standby state is used. When the remaining battery power is 100% to 80% and the entire system resources remain in a standby state, and the remaining battery power decreases by 5.00%, the power supply state monitoring unit 12 suspends the system memory 2. Let it. The remaining battery level is 80% to 60% when it is detected that the entire system resources are in the standby state, and the remaining battery level is 4.00 with the entire system resources remaining in the standby state. %, The power supply state monitoring unit 12 suspends the magnetic disk device (HDD), and further detects that the remaining battery power is 20 to 0% when detecting that all the system resources are in the standby state. When the remaining battery power decreases by 1.00% in a state where the entire system resources remain in the standby state, the power supply state monitoring unit 12 shuts down the system.

That is, the power supply state monitoring unit 12 appropriately controls the degree of operation of the power saving function for the entire system according to the state of the battery 7.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 6, an operation procedure relating to power saving control of the computer system will be described.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation procedure of the power saving control for the monitor and the LCD.

The power supply state monitoring unit 12 first determines whether or not data has been input from a keyboard or a mouse (step A).
1) If there is no data input (NO in step A1),
The current battery status is obtained from the power status monitoring unit 12 and stored (step A2). If there is no data input (NO in step A3), the power state monitoring unit 12 acquires the current battery state from the power state monitoring unit 12 again (step A4), and if there is a change in the battery state (step A5). YES), this change value is stored in the power supply state table 1
4 (step A6), and when it does (step A6 YES),
The power saving mode is set (step A7).

On the other hand, if there is a data input (YES in step A3), the setting of the power saving mode is canceled to return to the normal state (step A8).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation procedure of power saving control for the magnetic disk device (HDD).

The power supply state monitoring unit 12 first determines whether or not there is access to the magnetic disk device (HDD) (step B1). If there is no access (N in step B1)
O), the current battery status is obtained from the power status monitoring unit 12 and stored (step B2). If there is no access to the magnetic disk device (HDD) as it is (step B
(NO in 3), the power state monitoring unit 12 acquires the current battery state again from the power state monitoring unit 12 (step B).
4) If there is a change in the battery state (Y in step B5)
ES), it is determined whether or not this change value corresponds to the value held in the power supply state table 14 (step B6), and if so (YES in step B6), the power saving mode is set (step B6). B7).

On the other hand, when there is an access to the magnetic disk device (HDD) (YES in step B3), the setting of the power saving mode is canceled and the operation returns to the normal state (step B8).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation procedure of power saving control for the entire system.

The power supply state monitoring unit 12 first determines whether or not all the system resources are in a standby state (step C1). If the system resources are in a standby state (step C1)
NO), the current battery status is obtained from the power status monitoring unit 12 and stored (step C2). If the battery state is still in the standby state (NO in step C3), the power state monitoring unit 12 acquires the current battery state from the power state monitoring unit 12 again (step C4). (Step C5: YES), it is determined whether or not this change value corresponds to the value held in the power supply state table 14 (Step C6). When the change value corresponds (YES in Step C6), the power saving mode is set. Execute (Step C7).

On the other hand, when the driving state is reached (step C
(YES in 3), the setting of the power saving mode is canceled and the state is returned to the normal state (step C8).

As described above, in the computer system of this embodiment, it is possible to operate the power saving function in multiple stages in a direction in which the power saving effect is further increased in accordance with the change in the remaining battery level.

[0046]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, instead of operating the power saving function uniformly according to a certain standard as in the conventional power saving system, for example, When the amount of charge decreases quickly, the power saving function is activated in multiple steps in the direction of increasing the power saving effect, and when the battery remaining amount decreases slowly, the power saving function is activated in the direction of increasing the power saving effect later. When the battery is low, the power saving function is activated in multiple steps in the direction of increasing the power saving effect, and when the battery is large, the power saving function is activated later. Since it is possible to execute power saving control according to the remaining battery level, such as operating in multiple steps in the direction of increasing the power saving effect, it is possible to appropriately adjust the battery life and user convenience etc. To become.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exemplary view showing a configuration of a personal computer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view showing functional blocks relating to power saving control of the computer system of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view showing an example of data held by a power supply state table according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating an operation procedure of power saving control for the monitor and the LCD according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining an operation procedure of power saving control regarding the magnetic disk device (HDD) of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary flowchart for explaining the operation procedure of power saving control for the entire system of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CPU 2 ... System memory 3 ... Disk controller 4 ... Display controller 5 ... Keyboard controller 6 ... Power supply control device (PSC) 7 ... Battery 11 ... Power supply state acquisition part 12 ... Power supply state monitoring part 13 ... Input control part 14 ... Power supply State table 15: Display control unit 16: Disk control unit

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A battery-operable computer system having a power-saving function, comprising: a battery state monitoring means for monitoring a decrease in a remaining battery level after all or a part of system resources are in a standby state; A computer system comprising: a power saving control unit that operates the power saving function in multiple stages in a direction in which a power saving effect is further increased in accordance with a change in the remaining battery level obtained by monitoring of a monitoring unit. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the power saving control means increases or decreases the amount of change in the remaining battery level as a reference for operating the power saving function in multiple stages according to the remaining battery level. The computer system according to claim 1. 3. A computer system capable of being driven by a battery having a power saving function, wherein the power saving function, which is predetermined according to the remaining amount of the battery, is operated in multiple stages in a direction in which a power saving effect is further enhanced. A power status table holding change amount data indicating a change amount of the battery remaining amount as a reference, and a battery state monitoring a decrease in the battery remaining amount after all or a part of the system resources are in a standby state. Monitoring means, when the amount of change in the remaining battery level obtained by monitoring of the battery state monitoring means reaches the amount of change indicated by the amount of change data held in the power supply state table, corresponds to the amount of change data And a power saving control means for operating the power saving function. 4. In a battery-operable computer system having a multi-stage monitor power saving function including display-off and power-off, a decrease in the remaining amount of the battery after data input from an input device is interrupted is monitored. Battery state monitoring means, and monitor power saving control means for operating the monitor power saving function in multiple stages in a direction in which the power saving effect is increased in accordance with a change in the remaining battery level obtained by monitoring the battery state monitoring means. A computer system comprising: 5. A battery-operable computer system having a multi-stage LCD power saving function including a reduction in brightness of a backlight and an OFF state, wherein a reduction in the remaining amount of the battery after data input from an input device is interrupted. Battery status monitoring means for monitoring; and LCD power saving control for operating the LCD power saving function in multiple stages in a direction to increase the power saving effect in accordance with a change in the remaining battery level obtained by monitoring the battery status monitoring means. Computer system comprising: 6. In a battery-operable computer system having a multi-stage hard disk power saving function including a motor off and a controller off, a battery state monitor for monitoring a decrease in the remaining amount of the battery after the access to the hard disk device is interrupted. And a hard disk power saving control unit that operates the hard disk power saving function in multiple stages in a direction in which the power saving effect is further increased in accordance with a change in the remaining battery level obtained by monitoring of the battery state monitoring unit. A computer system characterized by the above-mentioned. 7. A power saving control method applied to a battery-operable computer system having a power saving function, comprising: monitoring a decrease in a remaining battery level after all or a part of system resources are in a standby state; A power saving control method, wherein the power saving function is operated in multiple stages in a direction in which the power saving effect is further enhanced in accordance with a change in the remaining battery level obtained by the monitoring. 8. A battery-operable computer system having a power-saving function, wherein the power-saving function is preset in accordance with the remaining amount of the battery, and the power-saving function is provided in multiple stages in a direction in which a power-saving effect is enhanced. A power saving control method applied to a computer system including a power supply state table having a change amount data indicating a change amount of the battery remaining amount as a reference for operation, wherein all or some of system resources are in a standby state. When the amount of change in the remaining battery level obtained by the monitoring reaches the amount of change indicated by the amount of change data held in the power supply state table, A power saving control method, wherein the power saving function corresponding to the change amount data is activated.