Backup power supply and desktop computer and method for protecting the data thereof

• US 20080010514A1
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Elitegroup Computer Systems Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Elitegroup Computer Systems Company Limited
• Inventors: Liu, Ta-Wei
• Application Number:
  US11/475,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20080010514A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1441 Resetting or repowering

Abstract

A backup power supply, a desktop computer and the method for protecting the data thereof are described. The method comprises the steps of judging whether the desktop computer is in the suspend-to-memory mode, judging whether the system power of the desktop computer fails and then providing a backup power to the memory of the desktop computer when the desktop computer is in the suspend-to-memory mode and the system power of the desktop computer fails.

Claims

1. A desktop computer, including:

a motherboard, including a memory,

a power supply, used for supplying power to said motherboard, and

a backup power supply, used for supplying power to said memory of said motherboard when said desktop computer is in a state of suspend to memory and when the power supplied by said power supply is cut off, wherein said memory stores data of system condition of said desktop computer before said desktop computer enters to said state of suspend to memory.

2. The desktop computer according to claim 1, wherein said backup power supply includes:

a battery module, used for holding a battery to supply power to said memory, and

a control circuit, used for switching to enable said battery module to supply power to said memory when said desktop computer is in the state of suspend to memory and when the power supplied by said power supply is cut off.

3. The desktop computer according to claim 2, wherein said backup power supply further includes a step-down regulator, coupled between said battery module and said control circuit, used for lowering voltage supplied by said battery module to voltage supplied by said backup power supply.

4. The desktop computer according to claim 2, wherein said backup power supply further includes a capacitor used for supplying power to said memory during a period after the power supplied by said power supply is cut off and before the supply power by said backup power supply is started.

5. The desktop computer according to claim 2 further includes a charge line coupled between said power supply and said backup power supply so that said power supply charges said battery via said charge line.

6. The desktop computer according to claim 1, wherein said motherboard includes:

a detection circuit, used for providing a state signal to inform said backup power supply whether said desktop computer is in said state of suspend to memory.

7. The desktop computer according to claim 6, wherein said detection circuit includes a south bridge chip used for providing said state signal.

8. The desktop computer according to claim 1, wherein said motherboard includes:

a connector coupled to said power supply, said backup power supply and said memory, said power supply and said backup power supply supply power to said memory via said connector.

9. The desktop computer according to claim 8, wherein said backup power supply judges whether the power supplied by said power supply is cut off by signal provided by said connector or said power supply.

10. A backup power supply used for a desktop computer, said backup power supply includes:

a battery module, used for holding a battery to supply power to a memory of said desktop computer, and

a control circuit, used for switching to enable said battery module to supply power to said memory when said desktop computer is in a state of suspend to memory and when the system power of said desktop computer is cut off, wherein said memory stores data of system condition of said desktop computer before said desktop computer enters to said state of suspend to memory.

11. The backup power supply according to claim 10, further including a step-down regulator coupled between said battery module and said control circuit to lower voltage supplied by said battery module to voltage supplied by said backup power supply.

12. The backup power supply according to claim 10, further including a capacitor used for supplying power to said memory during a period after the system power of said desktop computer is cut off and before the supply power by said backup power supply is started.

13. The backup power supply according to claim 10, further including a charge line, said system power charges said battery via said charge line.

14. The backup power supply according to claim 10, wherein said desktop computer includes a detection circuit used for providing a state signal to inform said backup power supply whether said desktop computer is in said state of suspend to memory.

15. The backup power supply according to claim 14, wherein said detection circuit includes a south bridge chip used for providing said state signal.

16. The backup power supply according to claim 10, wherein said desktop computer includes a connector coupled to said system power, said backup power supply and said memory, said system power and said backup power supply supply power to said memory via said connector.

17. The backup power supply according to claim 16, wherein said backup power supply judges whether the system power of said desktop computer is cut off by signal provided by said connector or said system power.

18. A method of protecting data of a desktop computer, including:

judging whether said desktop computer is in a state of suspend to memory,

judging whether the system power of said desktop computer is cut off, and

providing a backup power to a memory of said desktop computer when said desktop computer is in said state of suspend to memory and when said system power is cut off,

wherein said memory stores data of system condition of said desktop computer before said desktop computer enters to said state of suspend to memory.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said backup power is from a battery and said method of protecting data of desktop computer further includes:

using said system power to charge said battery.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein said desktop computer includes a south bridge chip and said method of protecting data of desktop computer further includes:

judging whether said desktop computer is in said state of suspend to memory by a signal provided by said south bridge chip.