Computer system and operation method for changing operation state by capacitive button group

• US 8,769,326 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2011
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Original Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Inventors: Liu, Li-Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, RAYMOND NGAN
• Application Number:
  US13/283,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20120233483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 713300-340, 710300-304
• US Class Current: 713/324
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken

Abstract

An operation method for a computer system includes: a capacitance button controller detecting whether a capacitance button group is touched; if a capacitance power button of the capacitance button group is touched, a system platform receiving a power button signal in a first logic state and changing an operation state of the system platform; if the capacitance power button is touched for longer than a predetermined time, shutting down the system platform; if the capacitance power button is touched for not longer than the predetermined time, the system platform receiving the power button signal in a second logic state and determining a subsequent operation status of the system platform and the capacitance button controller based on a system status signal; and if the capacitance button group is touched but the capacitance power button is not touched, the capacitance button controller entering into a power-saving state.

Claims

1. An operation method for a computer system, comprising:

detecting by a capacitive button controller whether a capacitive button group is touched;

receiving a power button signal in a first logic state by a system platform and changing an operation state of the system platform if a capacitive power button of the capacitive button group is touched;

shutting down the system platform if the capacitive power button is touched for longer than a predetermined time;

receiving the power button signal in a second logic state by the system platform and determining a subsequent operation state of the system platform and the capacitive button controller according to a system status signal if the capacitive power button is touched for not longer than the predetermined time; and

the capacitive button controller entering into a power saving state if the capacitive button group is touched but the capacitive power button is not touched;

wherein

the capacitive button controller and a micro-controller are awakened in response to a touch on the capacitive button group,

the micro-controller determines whether the capacitive power button is touched,

the capacitive button controller and the micro-controller enter the power saving state if the capacitive power button is not touched, and

the micro-controller sends the power button signal in the first logic state to the system platform to change the operation state of the system platform if the capacitive power button is touched.

2. The operation method for a computer system according to claim 1, wherein,

the capacitive button controller is awakened to write to an internal register in response to a touch on the capacitive button group;

and

the capacitive button controller sends an interrupt signal to the micro-controller to wake up the micro-controller.

3. The operation method for a computer system according to claim 1, wherein,

when the capacitive button controller is in the power saving state, an internal timer of the capacitive button controller is in a normal operation state;

the capacitive button controller is automatically awakened to detect whether the capacitive button group is touched if a set time of the internal timer is up;

if so, then the capacitive button controller writes an internal register and sends an interrupt signal to the micro-controller to wake up the micro-controller; and

if no, then the capacitive button controller enters the power saving state and the internal timer is reset.

4. The operation method for a computer system according to claim 1, wherein,

after the micro-controller is woken up, the micro-controller reads an internal register of the capacitive button controller to determine whether the capacitive power button is touched.

5. The operation method for a computer system according to claim 1, wherein,

the micro-controller sends the power button signal in the first logic state to the system platform if the capacitive power button is touched;

the system platform is awakened or powered on in response to the power button signal in the first logic state if the system platform was in any of a sleep state, a hibernate state or a power off state; and

the system platform enters any of the sleep state, the hibernate state or the power off state in response to the power button signal in the first logic state if the system platform was in a power on state.

6. The operation method for a computer system according to claim 1, wherein,

the micro-controller reads an internal register of the capacitive button controller to check whether the capacitive power button is still touched;

the micro-controller sends the power button signal in the second logic state to the system platform if the capacitive power button is already released;

the micro-controller reads the system status signal from the system platform;

the system platform enters any of a sleep state, a hibernate state and a power off state, and the capacitive button controller and the micro-controller enter the power saving state if the system status signal is in the first logic state; and

the system platform enters a normal operation state if the system status signal is in the second logic state.

8. The computer system according to claim 1, wherein,

the capacitive button controller is awakened to write to an internal register in response to a touch on the capacitive button group;

and

the capacitive button controller sends an interrupt signal to the micro-controller to wake up the micro-controller.

7. A computer system, comprising:

a capacitive button controller for detecting whether a capacitive button group is touched;

a system platform coupled to the capacitive button controller, wherein

the system platform receives a power button signal in a first logic state and changes an operation state thereof if the capacitive button controller detects a capacitive power button of the capacitive button group is touched,

the system platform is shut down if the power button is touched for longer than a predetermined time,

the system platform receives a power button signal in a second logic state, and determines a subsequent operation state of the system platform and the capacitive button controller according to a system status signal if the capacitive power button is touched for not longer than the predetermined time, and

the capacitive button controller enters a power saving state if the capacitive button group is touched but the capacitive power button is not touched; and

a micro-controller coupled between the system platform and the capacitive button controller, wherein

the capacitive button controller and the micro-controller are woken up in response to a touch on the capacitive button group,

the micro-controller determines whether the capacitive power button is touched,

the capacitive button controller and the micro-controller enter the power saving state if the capacitive power button is not touched, and

the micro-controller sends the power button signal in the first logic state to the system platform to change the operation state of the system platform if the capacitive power button is touched.

9. The computer system according to claim 7, wherein,

an internal timer of the capacitive button controller is in a normal operation state when the capacitive button controller is in the power saving state;

the capacitive button controller is automatically awakened to detect whether the capacitive button group is touched if a set time of the internal timer is up;

if so, then the capacitive button controller writes an internal register and sends an interrupt signal to the micro-controller to wake up the micro-controller; and

if no, then the capacitive button controller enters the power saving state and the internal timer is reset.

10. The computer system according to claim 7, wherein,

the micro-controller reads an internal register of the capacitive button controller to determine whether the capacitive power button is touched after the micro-controller is woken up.

11. The computer system according to claim 7, wherein,

the micro-controller sends the power button signal in the first logic state to the system platform if the capacitive power button is touched;

the system platform is awakened or powered on in response to the power button signal in the first logic state if the system platform was in any of a sleep state, a hibernate state or a power off state; and

in response to the power button signal in the first logic state, if the system platform was in a power on state, then the system platform enters any of the sleep state, the hibernate state and the power off state.

12. The computer system according to claim 7, wherein,

the micro-controller reads an internal register of the capacitive button controller to check whether the capacitive power button is still touched;

the micro-controller sends the power button signal in the second logic state to the system platform if the capacitive power button is already released;

the micro-controller reads the system status signal from the system platform;

the system platform enters any of a sleep state, a hibernate state or a power off state and the capacitive button controller and the micro-controller enter into the power saving state if the system status signal is in the first logic state, then; and

the system platform enters a normal operation state if the system status signal is in the second logic state.