COMPUTER SLEEP/AWAKE CIRCUIT

• US 20070214371A1
• Filed: 08/04/2006
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hu, Ke-You, Wang, Hui, He, Feng-Long, You, Yong-Xing
• Granted Patent: US 7,681,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A sleep/awake circuit includes an infrared receiving/sending module, a micro-control circuit, and a bus control circuit. The micro-control circuit sends a command signal to the infrared receiving/sending module at predetermined intervals. The infrared receiving/sending module detects the presence or absence of a user and then sends a signal back to the micro-control circuit indicating a result. According to the result, the micro-control circuit exchanges data and clock signals with the bus control circuit. The bus control circuit then sends control signals to the computer to control sleep/awake states of the computer.

Claims

1. A computer sleep/awake circuit comprising:

an infrared receiving/sending module sending and receiving infrared detecting signals;

a micro-control circuit connected to the infrared receiving/sending module for sending command signals to the infrared receiving/sending module and receiving returned detecting signals; and

a bus control circuit connected between the micro-control circuit and a port of a computer for exchanging data and clock signals with the micro-control circuit and outputting corresponding control signals to the computer to control sleep/awake states of the computer.

2. The computer sleep/awake circuit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a connection port, the connection port receiving data signals from the bus control circuit and sending the data signals to the computer for controlling the sleep/awake states of the computer.

3. The computer sleep/awake circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a module setting pin of the infrared receiving/sending module is coupled to a system voltage.

4. The computer sleep/awake circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the micro-control circuit comprises a micro controller unit and a serial program interface.

5. The computer sleep/awake circuit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the micro controller unit sends orders to the infrared receiving/sending module to make the infrared receiving/sending module emit user detecting infrared signals to detect a presence or absence of a user, and receives the detecting signals returned by the infrared receiving/sending module.

6. The computer sleep/awake circuit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the bus control circuit comprises a bus controller and a clock circuit, the clock circuit providing clock signals for the bus control circuit, the micro controller unit exchanging data with the bus controller via data pins, an output clock pin of the bus controller connected to an input clock pin of the micro controller unit for providing clock signals needed by the micro controller unit.

7. The computer sleep/awake circuit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the clock circuit comprises a crystal oscillator and two capacitors for providing clock signals for the bus controller.

8. The computer sleep/awake circuit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a manual reset switch circuit connected with the micro-control circuit for manually resetting the micro-control circuit.

9. The computer sleep/awake circuit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the manual reset switch circuit comprises a manual button, a capacitor, and a resistor;

the manual button connected in parallel with the capacitor and then coupled between a system voltage and one end of the resistor.

10. A sleep/awake circuit comprising:

an infrared receiving/sending module sending and receiving infrared detecting signals;

a micro-control circuit comprising a micro controller unit and a serial program interface connected to the micro controller unit, the micro controller unit connected to the infrared receiving/sending module for sending command signals to the infrared receiving/sending module and receiving returned detecting signals; and

a bus control circuit comprising a bus controller and a clock circuit for providing clock signals for the bus controller, the bus controller connected to the micro-control circuit for exchanging data and clock signals with the micro-control circuit and outputting corresponding control signals to control sleep/awake states of a device.

11. The sleep/awake circuit as claimed in claim 10, wherein a module setting pin of the infrared receiving/sending module is coupled to a system voltage.

12. The sleep/awake circuit as claimed in claim 11, wherein the micro controller unit sends commands to the infrared receiving/sending module to make the module emit user detecting infrared signals and receives the detecting signals returned by the module.

13. The sleep/awake circuit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the micro controller unit exchanging data with the bus controller via data pins, an output clock pin of the bus controller connected to an input clock pin of the micro controller unit for providing clock signals needed by the micro controller unit.

14. The sleep/awake circuit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the clock circuit comprises a crystal oscillator and two capacitors for providing clock signals for the bus controller.

15. The sleep/awake circuit as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a manual reset switch circuit connected with the micro-control circuit for manually resetting the sleep/awake circuit.

16. A method to control sleep/awake states of an electronic device, comprising the steps of:

placing an infrared receiving/sending module to detect user'"'"'s presence at user'"'"'s operation positions of an electronic device by sending and receiving infrared detecting signals;

electrically connecting said infrared receiving/sending module with a micro-control circuit to transmit said received infrared detecting signals of said infrared receiving/sending module to said micro-control circuit;

electrically connecting said micro-control circuit with said electronic device to control sleep/awake states of said electronic device; and

periodically sending command signals from said micro-control circuit to said infrared receiving/sending module so as to control sleep/awake states of said electronic device based on said received detecting signals from said infrared receiving/sending module.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said micro-control circuit electrically connects with said electronic device through a bus control circuit.