POWER SWITCHING SYSTEM, COMPUTER SYSTEM, AND REBOOT CONTROLLING METHOD THEREOF

• US 20130031345A1
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Published: 01/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Inventors: KUNG, Chih-Chain
• Granted Patent: US 9,075,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/24 Resetting means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C

Abstract

A power switching system, a computer system, and a reboot controlling method thereof are disclosed. The power switching system is used to the computer system and includes a first power input port, a first power output port, a first linear regulator module, and a first switch module. The first power input port is used for inputting a first power signal. The first power output port is used for outputting a second power signal. The first linear regulator module includes a first transformer unit used for transforming the first power signal into the second power signal, and a first switch control unit used for controlling the first transformer unit. When the first switch module is activated, the first switch control unit is connected to a ground and controls the first transformer unit to stop outputting the second power signal.

Claims

1. A power switching system, used in a computer system, the computer system including a power supply module, the power switching system comprising:

a first power input port, electrically connected to the power supply module, used for inputting a first power signal;

a first power output port, used for outputting a second power signal;

a first linear regulator module, including;

a first transformer unit, electrically connected to the first power input port and the first power output port, used for transforming the first power signal into the second power signal; and

a first switching control unit, electrically connected to the first transformer unit, used for controlling the first transformer unit;

and

a first switch module, electrically connected to the first switching control unit, the first power input port and a ground end, wherein when the first switch module is activated, the first switching control unit is electrically connected to the ground end, so as to control the first transformer unit to stop outputting the second power signal.

2. The power switching system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power switching system is electrically connected to a control module, and the power switching system further comprises:

a second switch module, electrically connected to the first switch module, used for generating a switch signal when the first switch module is activated; and

a trigger module, electrically connected to the second switch module, used for generating a trigger signal according to the switch signal;

wherein the first power output port and the trigger module are electrically connected to the control module, and the first power output port is used for transmitting the second power signal to the control module, and for transmitting the trigger signal to the control module when the first switch module is activated.

3. The power switching system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a second power input port, electrically connected to the power supply module, used for inputting a third power signal;

a second power output port, used for outputting a fourth power signal; and

a second linear regulator module, including;

a second transformer unit, electrically connected to the second power input port and the second power output port, used for transforming the third power signal into the fourth power signal; and

a second switching control unit, electrically connected to the second transformer unit and the first power output port, used for controlling the second transformer unit according to the second power signal, so as to determine whether to continue or stop outputting the fourth power signal.

4. The power switching system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fourth power signal is transmitted to a central processing module.

5. The power switching system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second switch module comprises a dual metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET).

6. The power switching system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first switch module controls the first switching control unit by way of pressing.

7. A computer system, comprising:

a power supply module;

a control module; and

a power switching system, electrically connected to the power supply module and the control module, the power switching system comprising;

a first power input port, electrically connected to the power supply module, used for inputting a first power signal;

a first power output port, used for outputting a second power signal to the control module;

a first linear regulator module, including;

a first transformer unit, electrically connected to the first power input port and the first power output port, used for transforming the first power signal into the second power signal; and

a first switching control unit, electrically connected to the first transformer unit, used for controlling the first transformer unit;

and

a first switch module, electrically connected to the first switching control unit, the first power input port and a ground end, wherein when the first switch module is activated, the first switching control unit is electrically connected to the ground end, so as to control the first transformer unit to stop outputting the second power signal.

8. The computer system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the power switching system further comprises:

a second switch module, electrically connected to the first switch module, used for generating a switch signal when the first switch module is activated; and

a trigger module, electrically connected to the second switch module, used for generating a trigger signal according to the switch signal;

wherein the control module is electrically connected to the trigger module for receiving the trigger signal.

9. The computer system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the power switching system further comprises:

a second power input port, electrically connected to the power supply module, used for inputting a third power signal;

a second power output port, used for outputting a fourth power signal; and

a second linear regulator module, including;

a second transformer unit, electrically connected to the second power input port and the second power output port, used for transforming the third power signal into the fourth power signal; and

a second switching control unit, electrically connected to the second transformer unit and the first power output port, used for controlling the second transformer unit according to the second power signal, so as to determine whether to continue or stop outputting the fourth power signal.

10. The computer system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fourth power signal is transmitted to a central processing module.

11. The computer system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second switch module comprises a dual metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET).

12. The computer system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the control module is a keyboard controller.

13. The computer system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first switch module controls the first switching control unit by way of pressing.

14. A computer system reboot controlling method, used in a computer system, the computer system comprising a power switching system and a control module, the power switching system comprising a first switch module, the method comprising the following steps:

receiving a power signal for transmitting to the control module;

stopping transmitting the power signal to the control module;

executing a booting process to resume receiving the power signal;

determining whether to stop transmitting the power signal to the control module by activating the first switch module;

if no, executing a first rebooting process; and

if yes, executing a second rebooting process.

15. The computer system reboot controlling method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the power switching system further comprises a second switch module and a trigger module,

wherein the step of stopping transmitting the power signal to the control module further comprises:

stopping transmitting the power signal and generating a switch signal through the second switch module when the first switch module is activated; and

generating a trigger signal through the trigger module according to the switch signal;

and

the step of determining whether to stop transmitting the power signal to the control module by activating the first switch module further comprises;

determining whether to receive the trigger signal through the control module.

16. The computer system reboot controlling method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the step of executing the second rebooting process comprises:

executing a checking routine to the computer system.

17. The computer system reboot controlling method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of executing the checking routine comprises:

checking statuses of a software program and a hardware module inside the computer system.

18. The computer system reboot controlling method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the step of executing the checking routine comprises:

checking a status of at least one software program or at least one hardware module inside the computer system.