JPH10326126A - Personal computer with infrared-ray sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a personal computer placed in normal mode only when it is operated, and to reduce unnecessary power consumption, by detecting whether or not there is an operator in front of the personal computer and saving the energy for the personal computer and devices connected to the personal computer. SOLUTION: An energy-saving mode ON/OFF control circuit 6 sends an energy-saving mode ON signal out to respective components in the personal computer 1 and an input/output device power control circuit 7 when inputting an energy-saving mode shift signal from a timer control circuit 5 and sends an energy-saving mode OFF signal out to the respective components in the personal computer 1 and the input/output device power control circuit 7 when inputting an energy-saving mode reset signal. The input/output device power control circuit 7 turns OFF an input/output device power source 8 when inputting the energy-saving mode ON signal and turns ON the input/output device power source 8 when inputting the energy-saving mode OFF signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for controlling energy saving of a personal computer, and more particularly to a personal computer having an infrared sensor provided with an infrared sensor for controlling energy saving of an input / output device connected to a main body of the personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional personal computers are:
The speed and functions have been increasing year by year, and accordingly, the power consumption of personal computers including input / output devices such as displays has increased dramatically. Further, in the conventional energy saving of the personal computer, the operation mode is shifted to the energy saving mode after a lapse of a set time by the operator, and the personal computer is returned from the energy saving mode by an input from an external input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. For example, JP-A-8-2237
The 97 "display power supply device" is a control device that provides an infrared sensor to the display device, turns off the power supply of the display device, outputs a disconnection signal to the personal computer, and saves power of the personal computer.

[0003]

To reduce the power consumption of the above-described conventional personal computer, the operation mode is shifted to the energy saving mode after a lapse of a set time by the operator, and the input is performed by the operator from an input device such as a keyboard and a mouse. It is necessary to return from the energy saving mode, and efficient energy saving cannot be performed by such an energy saving system depending on the operator.

[0004] Further, most of current personal computers are not supplied with power from external devices, but are supplied to the external devices by the personal computer itself. In the conventional energy saving system control on the display device side, there is a problem that the entire energy saving including the external device connected to the personal computer side cannot be performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and to reduce the power consumption of the personal computer itself and the power saving of a plurality of input / output devices supplying power. An object of the present invention is to provide a personal computer with an infrared sensor that can be realized.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a personal computer with an infrared sensor is provided on the front of the personal computer to detect the presence or absence of an operator and output a detection signal, and amplify the detection signal. An infrared sensor amplifier that outputs a signal, and a first unit that outputs a transition signal to an energy saving mode that starts timekeeping when the detection signal is not input and saves power after a predetermined time has elapsed,
A timer control circuit including second means for outputting a return signal for returning from the energy saving mode when the detection signal is input for a predetermined time; and setting the energy saving mode when the transition signal is input. Energy saving mode ON / OFF comprising a third means for outputting an energy saving mode ON signal and a fourth means for outputting an energy saving mode OFF signal for canceling the energy saving mode when the return signal is input.
A control circuit, fifth means for turning off the power of the input / output device connected to the personal computer when the energy-saving mode ON signal is input, and the energy-saving mode OF
An input / output device power supply control circuit including: a sixth unit for turning on the power of the input / output device connected to the personal computer when the F signal is input.

In a personal computer with an infrared sensor according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the transition signal is set such that a time during which a detection signal from the infrared sensor is not continuously input is set in advance to the energy saving mode of the personal computer. It is configured to be output in order to shift to the energy saving mode when the time set for the shift time exceeds the set time.

Further, in the personal computer with an infrared sensor according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the return signal is set in advance to a time when the detection signal from the infrared sensor is continuously input to the energy saving mode of the personal computer. Is output in order to release the energy saving mode when the set time exceeds the return time.

Further, a personal computer with an infrared sensor according to a fourth invention is the personal computer with the infrared sensor according to the first invention, wherein the energy-saving mode ON / OFF control circuit controls the energy-saving mode ON.
The power saving target components of the personal computer are configured to operate in the energy saving mode in conjunction with the signal output.

Further, the personal computer with the infrared sensor according to the fifth invention is the personal computer with the infrared sensor according to the first invention, wherein the energy-saving mode ON / OFF control circuit outputs the energy-saving mode OF.
The power-saving component of the personal computer is configured to release the energy saving mode and operate normally in conjunction with the output of the F signal.

[0011]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. 3A and 3B are flowcharts showing the operation in the energy saving mode. FIG. 3A shows an operation for shifting to the energy saving mode, and FIG. 3B shows a return operation from the energy saving mode.

Referring to FIG. 1, an infrared sensor 2 for detecting an operator is provided on the front of a personal computer 1, and power is supplied to an input / output device 3.

Referring to FIG. 2, a personal computer 1 includes an infrared sensor 2, an infrared sensor amplifier 4, a timer control circuit 5, an energy saving mode ON / OFF control circuit 6, an input / output device power control circuit 7, and an input / output device power supply 8.
It is composed of

The infrared sensor 2 attached to the front of the personal computer 1 outputs a detection signal when an operator is detected in front of the personal computer 1 to the infrared sensor amplifier 4. Infrared sensor amplifier 4
Amplifies the input detection signal and outputs the amplified detection signal to the timer control circuit 5.

The timer control circuit 5 starts measuring time when no detection signal is input from the infrared sensor amplifier 4 for a certain period of time, and displays an energy saving display when the measured time elapses a timer time for shifting to energy saving set in advance by an operator. And outputs the energy saving mode transition signal to the energy saving mode ON / OFF control circuit 6. The timer control circuit 5 starts measuring time when the operator is detected and a detection signal is input from the infrared sensor amplifier 4 for a certain time, and the measurement time elapses a predetermined time for canceling the preset energy saving. Then, when the energy saving display is performed, an energy saving mode return signal is output to the energy saving mode ON / OFF control circuit 6.

The energy saving mode ON / OFF control circuit 6
When an energy-saving mode transition signal is input from the timer control circuit 5, an energy-saving mode ON signal is sent to each component inside the personal computer and the input / output device power control circuit 7, and when the energy-saving mode return signal is input, the internal An energy saving mode OFF signal is sent to each component and the input / output device power supply control circuit 7.

The input / output device power supply control circuit 7 turns off the power supply of the input / output device power supply 8 when the energy saving mode ON signal is input.
The power of the input / output device power supply 8 is turned on when the energy saving mode OFF signal is input. I / O device power supply 8
Indicates a power supply of an input / output device such as a display connected to the personal computer.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, the operation of shifting to the energy saving mode will be described with reference to FIG.

The operator moves away from the front of the personal computer 1 (step 1). When the detection signal from the infrared sensor 2 disappears (step 2), the timer control circuit 5 starts measuring time from that time (step 3). And the timer control circuit 5 sets the energy saving display and sends the energy saving mode transition signal to the energy saving mode ON / OF.
Output to the F control circuit 6 (step 4). The energy-saving mode ON / OFF control circuit 6 receives the energy-saving mode transition signal (step 5), and sends an energy-saving mode ON signal to the power supply control circuit 7 of each component inside the personal computer 1 and the input / output device connected to the personal computer 1. Is output (step 6). Each component of the personal computer 1 receives the energy saving mode ON signal and operates in the energy saving mode. Further, the input / output device power supply control circuit 7 turns off the input / output device power supply 8 (step 7).

Next, the returning operation to the energy saving mode will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. When the operator returns to the front of the personal computer 1 (step 8), the infrared sensor 2 detects the operator and outputs a detection signal (step 9), and the timer control circuit 5 controls the infrared sensor amplifier 4
The measurement of time is started when a detection signal is input for a predetermined time from (step 10), and the presence of an operator is detected when a specified time has elapsed (step 11). The timer control circuit 5 outputs an energy-saving mode return signal to the energy-saving mode ON / OFF control circuit 6 when the energy-saving display is displayed, and resets the energy-saving display (step 12). Energy saving mode O
The N / OFF control circuit 6 receives the energy saving mode return signal and outputs an energy saving mode OFF signal to the components inside the personal computer and the power supply control circuit 7 of the input / output device 3 connected to the personal computer 1 (step 13). ). Each component of the personal computer receives the energy saving mode OFF signal and returns from the energy saving mode to the normal mode. Further, the input / output device power supply circuit 7 turns on the input / output device power supply 8 (step 14).

As described above, the operation in the normal mode is performed only when the operator is present in front of the personal computer. When the operator is absent, the personal computer is always operated in the energy saving mode. The power of the input / output devices such as a plurality of connected displays is turned off. Thus, the power consumption of the personal computer can be reduced ideally and efficiently. In addition to personal computers,
The same effects as described above can be obtained even when applied to general home appliances such as a workstation, a word processor, and a television.

[0023]

As described above, the present invention automatically controls energy saving of a personal computer and a plurality of devices connected to the personal computer by detecting whether an operator is in front of the personal computer. . By doing so, the normal mode is set only during the operation, and the power consumption when unnecessary can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the present embodiment.

3A and 3B are flowcharts showing an operation in an energy saving mode according to the present embodiment, wherein FIG. 3A shows an operation for shifting to the energy saving mode, and FIG. 3B shows an operation for returning from the energy saving mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Personal computer 2 Infrared sensor 3 I / O device 4 Infrared sensor amplifier 5 Timer control circuit 6 Energy saving mode ON / OFF control circuit 7 I / O device power control circuit 8 I / O device power

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A personal computer with an infrared sensor, which saves power consumption of an input / output device connected to a personal computer and supplied with power when an operator of the personal computer is absent. An infrared sensor that is provided on the front surface and detects the presence or absence of an operator and outputs a detection signal; an infrared sensor amplifier that amplifies and outputs the detection signal; and a timer that starts timing when the detection signal is not input and starts for a predetermined time. First means for outputting a transition signal to an energy saving mode for saving power after a lapse of time, and second means for outputting a return signal for returning from the energy saving mode when the detection signal is input for a predetermined time. Timer control circuit, and when the transition signal is inputted, the power saving mode is set. An energy saving mode ON / OFF control circuit comprising: third means for outputting an energy saving mode ON signal; and fourth means for outputting an energy saving mode OFF signal for canceling the energy saving mode when the return signal is input. Fifth means for turning off the power of the input / output device connected to the personal computer when the energy saving mode ON signal is input, and input / output device connected to the personal computer when the energy saving mode OFF signal is input. A personal computer with an infrared sensor, comprising: an input / output device power control circuit including: a sixth unit for turning on the power of the output device. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shift signal is shifted to the energy saving mode when the time during which the detection signal from the infrared sensor is not continuously input exceeds the time set in advance for shifting to the energy saving mode of the personal computer. The personal computer with an infrared sensor according to claim 1, wherein the personal computer is output for output. 3. The energy-saving mode is released when the time during which the detection signal from the infrared sensor is continuously input exceeds the time set in advance for the personal computer to return to the energy-saving mode. 2. The personal computer with an infrared sensor according to claim 1, wherein the personal computer is output to cause the computer to perform an operation. 4. The personal computer according to claim 1, wherein the power saving target component of the personal computer operates in the energy saving mode in conjunction with the output of the energy saving mode ON signal from the energy saving mode ON / OFF control circuit. apparatus. 5. The power saving target component of the personal computer is released from the energy saving mode and operates normally in conjunction with the output of the energy saving mode OFF signal from the energy saving mode ON / OFF control circuit. A personal computer device as described.