Circuit board and switch switching method thereof

Abstract

The circuit board comprises a platform path controller, a peripheral element connector and a switch. The platform path controller includes a clock request pin and a GPIOB pin. The peripheral element connector includes a connector pin. The switch is controlled by the GPIOB pin and coupled between a low potential and a line between the connector pin and the clock request pin and is configured to: conduct the line and the low potential based on a high potential of the GPIOB pin; and based on the low potential of the GPIOB pin, disconnecting the circuit from the low potential.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present invention relate to a circuit board and a switch switching method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Based on the energy-saving trend, some new display cards recently provide energy-saving functions. When a display card that supports the energy-saving function is inserted into a circuit board, it is necessary to manually set the jumper on the circuit board to support the display card with the energy-saving function. However, the manual jumper requires the host case to be removed before the circuit board can be manually jumped, which is quite inconvenient to operate. Summary of the invention

[0003] The embodiments of the present invention relate to a circuit board and a switch switching method thereof, which can improve the above-mentioned conventional problems.

[0004] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a circuit board is provided. The circuit board includes a platform path controller, a peripheral component connector and a switch. The platform path controller includes a clock request pin and a GPIOB pin. The peripheral component connector includes a first connector pin. The switch is controlled by the GPIOB pin and coupled between a low potential and a line between the first connector pin and the clock request pin and is used to: based on a high potential of the GPIOB pin, conduct the line and the low potential; and based on a low potential of the GPIOB pin, disconnect the line and the low potential.

[0005] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a circuit board is provided. The circuit board includes a platform path controller, a peripheral component connector and a switch. The platform path controller includes a clock request pin and a general purpose input and output B pin. The peripheral component connector includes a first connector pin. The switch is controlled by the GPIOB pin and is coupled between a low potential and a line between the first connector pin and the clock request pin.

[0006] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a switching method of the aforementioned circuit board is provided. The switching method comprises the following steps: the circuit board turns on the circuit and the low potential based on the high potential of the GPIOB pin; and the circuit board turns off the circuit and the low potential based on the low potential of the GPIOB pin.

[0007] In order to better understand the above and other aspects of the present invention, embodiments are given below and described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 A functional block diagram of a circuit board according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0009] Figure 2A Draw Figure 1 Circuit diagram of the switch being turned on.

[0010] Figure 2B Draw Figure 2A Circuit diagram of the switch cutoff.

[0011] Figure 3 Draw Figure 2B Signal diagram for the clock request pin.

[0012] Figure 4 Draw Figure 1 Flow chart of a switch switching method of a circuit board.

[0013] Description of Reference Numerals

[0014] 10: Graphics card

[0015] 100: Circuit board

[0016] 110: Platform path controller

[0017] 111: Clock request pin

[0018] 112:GPIOB pin

[0019] 113:GPIOA pin

[0020] 120: Peripheral component connector

[0021] 121: First connector pin

[0022] 122: Second connector pin

[0023] 130: Switch

[0024] 140: Basic Input and Output System

[0025] L: Low potential

[0026] S110~S130: Steps

[0027] T1: Line DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 , Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a circuit board 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2A Draw Figure 1 The circuit diagram of the switch 130 being turned on, Figure 2B Draw Figure 2A The switch 130 is turned off, and Figure 3 Draw Figure 2B A signal diagram of the clock request pin 111.

[0029] The circuit board 100 can be applied to a desktop computer host, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0030] like Figure 1 As shown, the circuit board 100 includes a platform controller hub (PCH) 110, a peripheral component connector 120, a switch 130, and a basic input output system (BIOS) 140. The platform controller hub 110 includes a clock request (CLKREQ) pin 111 and a general-purpose input / output B (GPIOB) pin 112. The peripheral component connector 120 includes a first connector pin 121. The switch 130 is controlled by the GPIOB pin 112 and is coupled between the line T1 between the first connector pin 121 and the clock request pin 111 and the low potential L. In this way, Figure 2A As shown, based on the conduction of the switch 130, the first connector pin 121 and the clock request pin 111 can be electrically connected to a low potential. Figure 2B As shown, based on the cut-off of switch 130 ( Figure 2B The first connector pin 121 and the clock request pin 111 are not electrically connected to the low potential L. In one embodiment, the low potential L is, for example, a ground potential, but the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0031] like Figure 1 and 2B As shown, when the first connector pin 121 and the clock request pin 111 are not electrically connected to the low potential L, the display card 10 (supporting the energy saving mode) electrically connected to the peripheral component connector 120 can communicate with the platform path controller 110 in the energy saving mode. In detail, when the display card 10 electrically connected to the peripheral component connector 120 supports the energy saving mode, the switch 130 can be selectively turned off to support the energy saving mode of the display card 10. When the display card 10 electrically connected to the peripheral component connector 120 does not support the energy saving mode, the switch 130 can be selectively turned on.

[0032] In detail, when the clock request pin 111 is electrically connected to the low potential L, it means that the display card 10 requests the platform path controller 110 to transmit a clock signal through the first connector pin 121 of the peripheral component connector 120, and the peripheral component connector 120 transmits the clock signal to the peripheral component connector 120 accordingly. In other words, if the clock request pin 111 is normally electrically connected to the low potential L, the platform path controller 110 normally transmits the clock signal to the peripheral component connector 120, which causes unnecessary energy consumption. In contrast, in the present application, the switch 130 can be selectively turned off so that the clock request pin 111 is not electrically connected to the low potential L, which can reduce unnecessary energy consumption. In addition, when the clock request pin 111 is not electrically connected to the low potential L, the display card 10 supporting the energy saving mode sends a low potential signal to the clock request pin 111 when necessary (for example, a clock signal synchronization operation is required).

[0033] like Figure 3 As shown, curve C1 is a signal diagram of the clock request pin of the conventional circuit board without the switch 130, and curve C2 is a signal diagram of the clock request pin 111 of the circuit board 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen from curve C1, the clock request pin of the conventional circuit board without the switch 130 is normally kept at a low potential L, causing the platform path controller 110 to normally transmit the clock signal to the peripheral component connector 120, resulting in unnecessary energy consumption. As can be seen from curve C2, the clock request pin 111 of the circuit board 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is not electrically connected to the first connector pin 121, and therefore is not normally kept at a low potential, so that the display card 10 supporting the energy-saving mode sends a signal of a low potential L to the clock request pin 111 when the clock signal synchronization operation is required. As can be seen from curve C2, when the display card 10 supporting the energy-saving mode does not need the clock signal synchronization operation, the clock request pin 111 can be kept at a high potential H (no clock signal is sent), so that the technical effect of energy saving can be achieved.

[0034] like Figure 1As shown, the platform path controller 110 further includes a GPIOA pin 113, and the peripheral component connector 120 further includes a second connector pin 122, and the GPIOA pin 113 is coupled to the second connector pin 122. The GPIOA pin 113 can detect the signal of the second connector pin 122 to determine whether the display card 10 is inserted into the peripheral component connector 120. In this embodiment, the second connector pin 122 is not coupled to the clock request pin 111, so that the clock request pin 111 cannot be normally electrically connected to the low potential L. In detail, the second connector pin 122 of the peripheral component connector 120 is electrically connected to the low potential L. In this way, if the second connector pin 122 is coupled to the clock request pin 111, the clock request pin 111 will be normally electrically connected to the low potential (when the display card 10 is inserted into the peripheral component connector 120), which will not support the power saving mode of the display card.

[0035] In one embodiment, the peripheral component connector 120 is, for example, a peripheral component interconnect express (PCIE), the first connector pin 121 is, for example, a B12 pin of the PCIE, and the second connector pin 122 is, for example, a B17 pin of the PCIE.

[0036] The basic input and output system 140 is used to: determine whether the display card 10 (for example, a VGA card or a display card compliant with the PCIE protocol) connected to the peripheral component connector 120 supports the energy saving function; based on the display card 10 supporting the energy saving function, turn off the switch 130, such as Figure 2B and the basic input and output system 140 is further used to: based on the display card 10 does not support the energy saving function, the switch 130 is turned on, such as Figure 2A shown.

[0037] like Figure 1 As shown, the switch 130 includes a gate G, a drain D and a source S, the gate G is electrically coupled to the GPIOB 112, the drain D is electrically coupled to the line T1, and the source S is electrically coupled to the low potential. The switch 130 is used to: conduct the line T1 and the low potential L based on the high potential of the GPIOB pin 112; and, based on the low potential of the GPIOB pin 113, disconnect the line T1 and the low potential L.

[0038] Please refer to Figure 4 , which shows Figure 1 Flow chart of a switch switching method of a circuit board 100.

[0039] In step S110, please also refer to Figure 1, the GPIOA pin 113 can detect the signal of the second connector pin 122 to determine whether a display card 10 is inserted into the peripheral component connector 120. When the display card 10 is inserted into the peripheral component connector 120, the basic input and output system 140 can determine the type of the display card 10 connected to the peripheral component connector 120, such as whether it supports the energy saving function. If the display card 10 supports the energy saving function, the process enters step S120; if not, the process enters step S130.

[0040] In step S120, please also refer to Figure 2B When the display card 10 has a power saving function, the potential of the GPIOB pin 112 can be set to a low potential to turn off the switch 130, thereby supporting the power saving function of the display card 10.

[0041] In step S130, please also refer to Figure 2A When the display card 10 does not have the energy-saving function, the potential of the GPIOB pin 112 can be set to a high potential to turn on the switch 130, so that the clock request pin 111 is electrically connected to the low potential L, and then the platform path controller 110 normally transmits the clock signal to the peripheral component connector 120, so as to provide the display card 10 without the energy-saving function with the clock synchronization operation at any time.

[0042] In summary, the embodiment of the present invention provides a circuit board and a switch switching method thereof, which can selectively support a display card with a power saving mode and a display card without a power saving mode through the switching of a switch.

[0043] In summary, although the present invention has been disclosed as above by the embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. A person with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, which are not limited by the embodiments of the present invention and are still within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be determined by the definition of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A circuit board, characterized in that: include: a platform path controller, including a clock request pin and a general purpose input and output B pin, i.e., a GPIOB pin; as well as A peripheral component connector includes a first connector pin; A switch, controlled by the GPIOB pin and coupled between a low potential and a line between the first connector pin and the clock request pin, and used to: Based on a high potential of the GPIOB pin, connecting the line to the low potential; and Based on a low potential of the GPIOB pin, the line is disconnected from the low potential.

2. The circuit board according to claim 1, characterized in that The switch includes a gate, a drain and a source. The gate is electrically coupled to the GPIOB, the drain is electrically coupled to the line, and the source is electrically coupled to the low potential.

3. The circuit board according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: A basic input and output system for: determining whether a display card connected to the peripheral component connector supports a power saving function; and Based on the display card supporting the energy saving function, the switch is turned off.

4. The circuit board according to claim 3, characterized in that: The BIOS is also used to: Based on the fact that the display card does not support the energy saving function, the switch is turned on.

5. The circuit board according to claim 1, wherein: The low potential is a ground potential.

6. The circuit board according to claim 1, wherein: The platform path controller further includes a GPIOA pin, and the peripheral component connector further includes a second connector pin, and the GPIOA pin is coupled to the second connector pin.

7. The circuit board according to claim 6, characterized in that: The peripheral component connector is a peripheral component interconnection interface, and the second connector pin is a B17 pin of the peripheral component interconnection interface.

8. The circuit board according to claim 1, wherein: The peripheral component connector is a peripheral component interconnection interface.

9. The circuit board according to claim 8, characterized in that: The first connector pin is a B12 pin of the peripheral component interconnect interface.

10. A circuit board, characterized in that: include: a platform path controller, comprising a clock request pin and a GPIOB pin; A peripheral component connector includes a first connector pin; as well as A switch is controlled by the GPIOB pin and coupled between a low potential and a line between the first connector pin and the clock request pin.

11. The circuit board according to claim 10, characterized in that: The switch includes a gate, a drain and a source. The gate is electrically coupled to the GPIOB, the drain is electrically coupled to the line, and the source is electrically coupled to the low potential.

12. The circuit board according to claim 10, characterized in that: Also includes: A basic input and output system for: determining whether a display card connected to the peripheral component connector supports a power saving function; and Based on the display card supporting the energy saving function, the switch is turned off.

13. The circuit board according to claim 12, characterized in that: The BIOS is also used to: Based on the fact that the display card does not support the energy saving function, the switch is turned on.

14. The circuit board according to claim 10, characterized in that: The low potential is a ground potential.

15. The circuit board according to claim 10, characterized in that: The platform path controller further includes a GPIOA pin, and the peripheral component connector further includes a second connector pin, and the GPIOA pin is coupled to the second connector pin.

16. The circuit board according to claim 15, characterized in that The peripheral component connector is a peripheral component interconnection interface, and the second connector pin is a B17 pin of the peripheral component interconnection interface.

17. The circuit board according to claim 10, characterized in that: The peripheral component connector is a peripheral component interconnection interface.

18. The circuit board according to claim 17, characterized in that: The first connector pin is a B12 pin of the peripheral component interconnect interface.

19. A circuit board switching method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: include: Based on the high potential of the GPIOB pin, the circuit board conducts the circuit to the low potential; as well as Based on the low potential of the GPIOB pin, the circuit board disconnects the line from the low potential.

20. The switch switching method according to claim 19, characterized in that: Also includes: A basic input and output system determines whether a display card connected to the peripheral component connector supports a power saving function; and Based on the display card supporting the energy saving function, the switch is turned off.

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