System and method for delaying a wake-up signal

• US 5,996,082 A
• Filed: 10/16/1995
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: Packard Bell NEC
• Inventors: Cortopassi, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): MOISE, EMMANUEL LIONEL
• Application Number:
  US08/543,697
• Time in Patent Office: 1,506 Days
• Field of Search: 364/707, 395/750, 395/750.01-750.06, 345/150, 345/156, 345/173
• US Class Current: 713/321
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3215 Monitoring of peripheral devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/022 in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time

Abstract

A pen-based personal computer includes a main power switch for initial power-up. The pen-based portable personal computer includes a keyboard controller which controls power management of the battery and places the pen-based portable personal computer in a hibernate state after a predetermined period of inactivity. The system can be awakened from the hibernate state by contact of a passive stylus with the digitizer panel. In order to place the power management of the battery under the control of the keyboard controller, a wake-up signal is generated at power-up just long enough to enable the keyboard controller to take control of the power management of the battery.

Claims

1. In a portable personal computer system, which includes a central processing unit, a keyboard controller, an on/off switch and a power supply, the improvement comprising:

means responsive to a plurality of control signals for automatically disabling the power to said computer system;

means responsive to a plurality of control signals for automatically enabling the power to said computer system; and

means responsive to said enabling means for generating a first control signal to enable said power supply in said computer system to supply power to the computer system for a predetermined amount of time within which time a keyboard control signal is generated to enable the keyboard controller to take control of said disabling means from said first control signal.

2. A portable personal computer system as recited in claim 1, said generating means including means for causing one of said plurality of control signals to not disable said power before said keyboard controller can take control.

3. A portable personal computer system as recited in claim 2, said generating means including a FET operably coupled to said power supply.

4. A portable personal computer system as recited in claim 3, said generating means including a diode optically coupled to said RET and said power supply.

5. A portable personal computer system as recited in claim 4, said generating means including a resistor and capacitor optically coupled to said FET.

6. A portable personal computer system as recited in claim 5, said resistor and capacitor configured to delay turning off said FET after a signal from said power supply goes high.

7. A computer system comprising:

a keyboard controller configured to control a shutdown signal by way of a keyboard shutdown signal;

a signal controller configured to also control said shutdown signal; and

a power supply responsive to said shutdown signal wherein said power supply is configured to be enabled temporarily by said signal controller during which time control of said shutdown signal is transferred from said signal controller to said keyboard controller.

8. A computer system as recited in claim 7, further including a power switch configured to enable said power supply.

9. A computer system as recited in claim 8, including a FET configured to switch control of said first shutdown signal to said keyboard controller responsive to activation of said power switch.

10. A computer system as recited in claim 9, further including a resistor and capacitor coupled to said FET, and configured to delay a switching of said FET.

11. A computer system as recited in claim 10, said resistor and capacitor configured to delay said switching for long enough for said keyboard controller to activate said keyboard shutdown signal.

12. A computer system comprising:

a keyboard controller;

a power supply;

a power supply controller for controlling said power supply for a predetermined time period; and

a power supply control circuit configured to disable during initial boot-up of said computer system said power supply controller from controlling said power supply during said predetermined period and to enable said keyboard controller to take control of said power supply.

13. A computer system as recited in claim 12, said power supply control circuit including a FET configured to switch a shutdown signal.

14. A computer system as recited in claim 13, including a resistor and capacitor coupled to a gate of said FET.

15. In a computer system which includes a remote host computer having a CPU, a display unit for displaying images, a power supply and a storage device for running and storing programs, the improvement comprising:

a wireless interface device to wirelessly communicate and interface with said remote host computer for controlling and accessing said remote host computer and said programs on said remote host computer, said interface device including a digitizer to accept input using a passive stylus and a display device for displaying any images that can be displayed on said display unit and for displaying locally generated images;

means coupled to said wireless interface device to enable said interface device to enter a suspend state responsive to a predetermined condition, said enabling means including a keyboard controller operative to control a shutdown signal;

means for waking up said interface device from said suspend state by way of a touch by said passive stylus on said digitizer; and

means responsive to said touch by said passive stylus for generating a first control signal to control said shutdown signal to enable the power supply to supply power to the computer system for a predetermined amount of time within which time a keyboard control signal is generated to enable said keyboard controller to take control of said shutdown signal from said first control signal to prevent said computer from shutting down.

16. A computer system as recited in claim 15, wherein said generating means includes an FET operably coupled to said power supply.

17. A computer system as recited in claim 16, wherein generating means includes a diode optically coupled to said FET and said power supply.

18. A computer system as recited in claim 17, wherein said generating means includes a resistor and capacitor optically coupled to said FET for setting said predetermined amount of time.