Computer system, method and system for controlling light

• US 8,397,409 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2009
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Inventors: Huang, Pai-Ching, Kao, Chan-Hsuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US12/481,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20100039275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 40/635
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/326 for error or online/offline status

Abstract

A method for controlling a light is provided. The method is suitable for a computer system. The method includes interrupting an original service of the light and obtaining the authority to control the light. The method also includes controlling the operation of the light according to a current status of the computer system.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a power supply;

a hard disk;

a storage unit, having a control program;

a controller, coupled to the storage unit and the light signal circuit, and when the control program is started, the control program stops an original service of the light signal in a default stares of the computer system and transferring the controlling right of the light signal through the controller, so as to control the light signal through the controller according to a status of the computer system;

a light signal circuit, having a light signal which comprises a first light signal and a second light signal, the light signal circuit being disposed on a case of the computer system; and

wherein the light signal circuit comprises;

a hard disk light signal controller, for controlling the first light signal according to a status of the hard disk;

a first switch module, coupled to the first light signal and the hard disk light signal controller, wherein the controller determines a status of the first switch module according to whether the control program is started, the first light signal is controlled by the hard disk light signal controller when the first switch module is enabled, and the first light signal is controlled by the controller when the first switch module is disabled;

a power supply light signal controller, for controlling the second light signal according to a status of the power supply;

a second switch module, coupled to the second light signal and the power supply light signal controller, wherein the controller determines a status of the second switch module according to whether the control program is started, the second light signal is controlled by the power supply light signal controller when the second switch module is enabled, and the second light signal is controlled by the controller when the second switch module is disabled.

2. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is a basic input/output system (BIOS) unit.

3. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit is a memory.

4. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is a south bridge chip.

5. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is an input/output control chip.

6. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein the computer system further comprises

a light signal controlling system comprising:

a start-up module, for determining whether to stop an original service of the light signal in a default status of the computer system and transferring the controlling right of the light signal through a controller according to an external operation;

a detection module, for detecting a status of the computer system and generating a detection result after the start-up module transfers the controlling right of the light signal; and

an alarm module, for controlling the light signal through the controller according to the detection result.

7. The computer system according to claim 6, wherein the light signal controlling system further comprises a lookup table, wherein the alarm module searches for a corresponding light signal mode in the lookup table according to the detection result and controls the light signal according to the light signal mode.

8. The computer system according to claim 6, wherein the original service of the light signal is to indicate a status of a hard disk in the computer system.

9. The computer system according to claim 6, wherein the original service of the light signal is to indicate a status of a power supply in the computer system.

10. The computer system according to claim 6, wherein the detection module detects a status of each hardware device in the computer system and generates the corresponding detection result when the computer system is powered on.

11. The computer system according to claim 6, wherein the detection module detects whether a predetermined event occurs and generates the corresponding detection result when the computer system loads an operating system.