Computer equipment and mainboard power-on and power-off method

Abstract

The invention discloses computer equipment and a mainboard power-on and power-off method. The computer equipment comprises a mainboard, a controller, a detection logic module and a self-locking trigger switch, a plurality of input ends of the detection logic module are connected with the mainboard, and an output end is connected with the controller; the output end of the controller is connected with the power-on and power-off detection end of the mainboard. The self-locking trigger switch is connected with the controller; the detection logic module is used for detecting a time sequence signal of the mainboard and outputting a corresponding logic signal to the controller; the controller is used for detecting the on-off state of the self-locking trigger switch and judging whether the mainboard is started or closed according to the on-off state and the logic signal; the controller outputs a power-on signal to the main board under the condition that the main board is started, or outputs a power-off signal to the main board under the condition that the main board is closed. According to the method and the device, the trigger signal is identified, and the mainboard is closed only when the judgment result is that the mainboard is closed, so that the problems of computer data loss or system damage and the like caused by false triggering are avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of computer technology, and in particular to a method for powering on and off a computer device and motherboard. Background Technology

[0002] Rugged computers are commonly used in the industrial control industry and military departments. Many rugged computers are different from commercial desktops or laptops. They do not have power and reset buttons, but only a toggle switch to control the on / off of the 220V input voltage to turn the rugged computer on and off.

[0003] However, the on or off state of the toggle switch directly determines the computer's status. If the toggle switch is accidentally pressed, it can lead to problems such as data loss or system damage. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide a computer device, specifically a motherboard power-on / off solution.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention proposes a computer device comprising a motherboard, a controller, a detection logic module, and a self-locking trigger switch; multiple input terminals of the detection logic module are connected to the motherboard, and its output terminal is connected to the controller; the output terminal of the controller is connected to the power-on / off detection terminal of the motherboard; and the self-locking trigger switch is connected to the controller. The detection logic module is used to detect the timing signals of the motherboard and output the corresponding logic signals to the controller; The controller is used to detect the switching state of the self-locking trigger switch, and determine whether to start or shut down the motherboard based on the switching state and the logic signal. The controller is further configured to output a power-on signal to the motherboard when the determination result indicates that the motherboard should be started. Alternatively, it can be used to output a power-off signal to the motherboard if the determination result is to shut down the motherboard.

[0006] Optionally, the detection logic module includes: multiple AND gate circuits; Multiple AND gate circuits are connected to the same number of motherboard ports to acquire the same number of timing signals; wherein, the two inputs of each AND gate circuit are connected to the corresponding motherboard port, and the output is connected to the controller.

[0007] Optionally, the number of AND gates is at least three; wherein, the first AND gate is used to detect the standby voltage signal of the motherboard; the second AND gate is used to detect the sleep state signal of the motherboard; and the third AND gate is used to detect the platform reset signal of the motherboard.

[0008] Optionally, the computer device further includes: a light indicator circuit; The light indicator circuit is connected to the controller; The controller is also configured to control the light indicator circuit to emit a corresponding light signal when it is determined, based on the logic signal, that the motherboard is faulty.

[0009] Optionally, the computer device further includes: a power supply module; The power module's input terminal is used to connect to an AC power supply voltage, and its output terminal is connected to the motherboard. The power module is used to convert the AC power supply voltage into a working voltage and output it to the motherboard when the AC power supply voltage is connected.

[0010] The present invention also proposes a motherboard power-on / off method, applied to the aforementioned computer device. The motherboard power-on / off method includes: Detect the switching state of the self-locking trigger switch; Based on the logic signals and the switch state, determine whether to start or shut down the motherboard; If the determination result is that the motherboard needs to be started, a power-on signal is output to the motherboard to power it on. If the determination result is to shut down the motherboard, a power-off signal is output to the motherboard to shut it down.

[0011] Optionally, the logic signal includes a standby voltage signal and a sleep state signal; The step of determining whether to start or stop the motherboard based on the logic signal and the switch state includes: When the switch state corresponds to the motherboard being powered on, the motherboard power supply voltage is determined to be normal based on the standby voltage signal; When the motherboard power supply voltage is normal, determine whether the motherboard is in standby or power-off state based on the sleep state signal; If the motherboard power supply voltage is normal and the motherboard is in standby mode, then the motherboard is started.

[0012] Optionally, the logic signal further includes a platform reset signal; After the power-on signal is output to the motherboard, the following steps are also included: The platform reset signal is detected, and based on the platform reset signal, it is determined whether the motherboard has successfully booted up. If the motherboard fails to power on within the first preset time period, the motherboard will be restarted until it powers on successfully or the preset number of restarts is reached.

[0013] Optionally, determining whether to start or stop the motherboard based on the logic signal and the switch state further includes: When the switch state corresponds to the motherboard being powered off, the motherboard is determined to be in standby or powered off state based on the sleep state signal. When the motherboard is not in standby or power-off state, check whether the switch state of the self-locking trigger switch has changed within a second preset time period. If no changes occur, confirm that the motherboard is turned off.

[0014] Optionally, after outputting the power-off signal to the motherboard, the following steps are also included: The sleep state signal is detected, and based on the sleep state signal, it is determined whether the motherboard has successfully shut down. If the motherboard fails to shut down successfully within the third preset time period and the switch state remains unchanged, a forced shutdown signal is output to the motherboard.

[0015] This invention discloses a method for powering on / off a computer device and motherboard. The computer device includes a motherboard, a controller, a detection logic module, and a self-locking trigger switch. Multiple input terminals of the detection logic module are connected to the motherboard, and its output terminal is connected to the controller. The output terminal of the controller is connected to the power-on / off detection terminal of the motherboard. The self-locking trigger switch is connected to the controller. The detection logic module is used to detect timing signals of the motherboard and output corresponding logic signals to the controller. The controller is used to detect the on / off state of the self-locking trigger switch and, based on the on / off state and the logic signals, determine whether to start or shut down the motherboard. The controller is also used to output a power-on signal to the motherboard when the motherboard is started, or to output a power-off signal to the motherboard when the motherboard is shut down. This invention can detect the on / off state of the self-locking trigger switch and, based on the on / off state and the logic signals, determine whether the toggle switch is falsely triggered. By identifying the trigger signal, the motherboard is only shut down when the determination result indicates that the motherboard should be shut down, thus avoiding problems such as data loss or system damage caused by false triggering.

[0016] In addition, this invention abandons the traditional method of directly switching on and off high-voltage power supply lines, avoiding the sudden changes in current and voltage caused by the instantaneous switching on and off of high voltage when the toggle switch is triggered, thus fundamentally eliminating the EMC interference source when computer equipment is turned on and off. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the computer device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the computer device according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the computer device of the present invention in the third embodiment; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps of an embodiment of the motherboard power-on / off method of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps of another embodiment of the motherboard power-on / off method of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps of another embodiment of the motherboard power-on / off method of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of an embodiment of the motherboard power-on / off method of the present invention.

[0019] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0020] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0023] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0024] Furthermore, in this invention, descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only on the basis of being achievable by those skilled in the art. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, such a combination of technical solutions should be considered non-existent and not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0025] Traditional ruggedized computers use a toggle switch in the power supply path to turn the computer on and off by switching on or off the power supply. The computer shuts down when the power is cut off and turns on when the power is restored. However, this approach links the computer's power on and off to the power supply path, causing EMC interference due to the switching on and off of the power supply path when the computer is turned on and off.

[0026] This invention proposes a novel power-on scheme for a motherboard 40, specifically a computer device. In a first embodiment, the computer device includes a motherboard 40, a controller 20, a detection logic module 30, and a self-locking trigger switch 10. Multiple input terminals of the detection logic module 30 are connected to the motherboard 40, and its output terminal is connected to the controller 20. The output terminal of the controller 20 is connected to the power-on / off detection terminal of the motherboard 40. The self-locking trigger switch 10 is connected to the controller 20. The detection logic module 30 is used to detect the timing signals of the motherboard 40 and output the corresponding logic signals to the controller 20; The controller 20 is used to detect the switching state of the self-locking trigger switch 10, and determine whether to start the motherboard 40 or shut down the motherboard 40 based on the switching state and the logic signal. The controller 20 is further configured to output a power-on signal to the motherboard 40 when the determination result is to start the motherboard 40. Alternatively, it can be used to output a power-off signal to the motherboard 40 when the determination result is to shut down the motherboard 40.

[0027] like Figure 1 As shown, in this embodiment, the controller 20 controls the motherboard 40 to power on or off. The user can change the on / off state (conducting or off) of the self-locking trigger switch 10 according to their own wishes. The self-locking trigger switch 10 is a type of switch device that can switch and continuously maintain the circuit's on / off state through a single trigger (such as pressing, rotating, or touching), maintaining the current state without requiring continuous external force. Essentially, it achieves "state memory" through mechanical structure or electronic logic. The self-locking trigger switch 10 can be called a self-locking switch, such as a push-button switch, rocker switch, rotary self-locking switch, touch self-locking switch, or push-button electronic self-locking switch, etc.

[0028] Therefore, the switching state of the self-locking trigger switch 10 is closely related to the user's intention. The controller 20 can obtain the corresponding user intention by detecting the switching state of the self-locking trigger switch 10. That is, the switching state of the self-locking trigger switch 10 can be associated and mapped with the user's power-on and power-off intentions. For example, when the switch state is on, it means the user wants the computer to be powered on; when the switch state is off, it means the user wants the computer to be powered off. It is easy to understand that different switching states of the self-locking trigger switch 10 can correspond to different electrical signals, so that the controller 20 can obtain the switching state of the self-locking trigger switch 10 through electrical signal detection. Specifically, the self-locking trigger switch 10 is connected to the switch state detection port of the controller 20, and different switching states correspond to different levels of the switch detection port; for example, the switch state detection port is connected to a pull-up circuit, and the self-locking trigger switch 10 is disposed in the circuit between the pull-up circuit and the switch detection port.

[0029] Since this embodiment controls the motherboard 40 to power on and off via the controller 20, after detecting the switching state of the self-locking trigger switch 10, it is also necessary to confirm whether the motherboard 40 meets the conditions for completing power-on or power-off. Powering on or off the motherboard 40 generates corresponding timing signals, which can be used to determine the state of the motherboard 40 and whether the power-on / off was successful. This embodiment uses a detection logic module 30 to detect the timing signals of the motherboard 40 and output corresponding logic signals to the controller 20. It should be noted that the timing signal component can serve as the basis for the controller 20 to determine the state of the motherboard 40, or as a reference signal for the operation of the motherboard 40. For example, the motherboard 40 has a power-on sequence, requiring the execution of corresponding steps to complete power-on; each step generates a corresponding timing signal, and upon receiving this timing signal, the next step is performed. As can be seen from the above, when the controller 20 acquires the timing signal of the motherboard 40, it cannot change the sampled timing signal. If the controller 20 directly samples the timing signal of the motherboard 40 using wires, the timing signal may be changed by the controller 20. Therefore, in this embodiment, the detection logic module 30 converts the detected timing signal into a corresponding logic signal and outputs it. The detection logic module 30 can be composed of logic devices. It should be explained that this embodiment does not limit the logic devices used in the detection logic module 30. In this embodiment, the detection logic module 30 detects the timing signal of the motherboard 40, isolates the motherboard 40 and the controller 20, and outputs the corresponding logic signal to the controller 20. For example, the detection logic module 30 may include logic devices such as AND gates or NOT gates. The logic signal output by the detection logic module 30 is related to the detection logic device. When the logic device in the detection logic module 30 changes, the mapping relationship between the timing signal and the logic signal is changed accordingly.

[0030] It is readily understood that the detection logic module 30 has high input impedance and low output impedance, achieving isolation between the controller 20 and the motherboard 40. The logic signal is related to the amplitude of the timing signal and the type of logic device in the detection logic module 30. For example, the detection logic module 30 includes a NOT gate. The timing signal from the motherboard 40 is input to the input terminal of the NOT gate. The threshold voltage of the NOT gate is compared with the amplitude of the timing signal, and based on the comparison result, the corresponding logic signal is output.

[0031] The controller 20 detects the on / off state of the self-locking trigger switch 10 to obtain the user's intention, and then obtains the state of the motherboard 40 through the logic signal to determine whether the motherboard 40 meets the conditions for conduction or shutdown. The controller 20 determines whether to start or shut down the motherboard 40 based on the on / off state and the logic signal; that is, the controller 20 determines whether to start or shut down the motherboard 40 based on the user's intention and whether the motherboard 40 meets the conditions for conduction or shutdown. It is easy to understand that the controller 20 starts the motherboard 40 and outputs a power-on signal to the motherboard 40 only when the user needs to start the motherboard 40 and the motherboard 40 meets the start-up conditions. Upon receiving the power-on signal, the motherboard 40 runs the power-on program. Conversely, the controller 20 shuts down the motherboard 40 and outputs a power-off signal to the motherboard 40 only when the user needs to shut down the motherboard 40 and the motherboard 40 meets the power-off conditions. Upon receiving the power-off signal, the motherboard 40 runs the power-off program.

[0032] The controller 20 may include an MCU, FPGA, DSP, or SOC, etc.

[0033] In this embodiment, the controller 20 sends a power-on or power-off signal to the motherboard 40 to power on or off the motherboard 40. Compared to the traditional solution that uses a toggle switch to directly turn the power supply to the motherboard 40 on / off, this embodiment uses a self-locking trigger switch 10 to convey the user's intention. It combines the collected timing signals from the motherboard 40 to determine whether the motherboard 40 meets the conditions for fulfilling the user's intention. If the conditions are met, the user's intention represented by the switch state is realized. This embodiment abandons the method of turning the power supply path to the motherboard 40 on / off. The user triggers the self-locking trigger switch 10, and the motherboard 40 performs the corresponding operation, but it does not generate EMC interference. It also avoids the current pulse caused by the rapid switching of power, increasing the service life of the downstream power module 60 or the motherboard 40.

[0034] This invention discloses a computer device, comprising a motherboard 40, a controller 20, a detection logic module 30, and a self-locking trigger switch 10. Multiple input terminals of the detection logic module 30 are connected to the motherboard 40, and its output terminal is connected to the controller 20. The output terminal of the controller 20 is connected to the power-on / off detection terminal of the motherboard 40. The self-locking trigger switch 10 is connected to the controller 20. The detection logic module 30 is used to detect timing signals of the motherboard 40 and output corresponding logic signals to the controller 20. The controller 20 is used to detect the on / off state of the self-locking trigger switch 10 and, based on the on / off state and the logic signals, determine whether to start or shut down the motherboard 40. The controller 20 is also used to output a power-on signal to the motherboard 40 when the motherboard 40 is started, or to output a power-off signal to the motherboard 40 when the motherboard 40 is shut down. This invention detects the timing signals of the motherboard 40 and the on / off state of the self-locking trigger switch 10, and issues a power-on signal / power-off signal when both meet the power-on or power-off requirements, thereby enabling the motherboard 40 to power on or off.

[0035] In the second embodiment, the detection logic module 30 includes: a plurality of AND gate circuits 310; Multiple AND gate circuits 310 are connected one by one to the same number of motherboard 40 ports to acquire the same number of timing signals; wherein, the two input terminals of each AND gate circuit 310 are connected to the corresponding motherboard 40 port, and the output terminal is connected to the controller 20.

[0036] like Figure 2 As shown in this embodiment, a structural composition of the detection logic module 30 is presented. The detection logic module 30 includes multiple AND gate circuits 310. It is easy to understand that the number of AND gate circuits 310 is the same as the number of timing signals to be acquired. That is, one AND gate circuit 310 is connected to one port of the motherboard 40 to acquire one timing signal; the number of timing signals can be determined by the R&D personnel, and the specific signal type of the timing signals is also selected by the R&D personnel according to the actual signals. In one example, the number of AND gate circuits 310 is at least three; among them, the first AND gate circuit 310 is used to detect the standby voltage signal of the motherboard 40; the first AND gate circuit 310 is connected to the port on the motherboard 40 that generates the standby voltage signal. When the standby voltage (+5VSB, +3VSB, etc.) of the motherboard 40 stabilizes, the standby voltage signal is set to a high level by the motherboard 40. It is a prerequisite for the system to be triggered to power on. The controller 20 detects this signal to determine whether the standby power supply is normal.

[0037] The second AND gate 310 is used to detect the sleep state signal of the motherboard 40; the second AND gate 310 is connected to the port on the motherboard 40 that generates the sleep state signal. When the motherboard 40 is in normal operating state, the sleep state signal is high; when the motherboard 40 is in power-off or sleep state, the sleep state signal is low. The controller 20 detects this signal to determine whether the motherboard 40 is in running state or sleep / power-off state.

[0038] The third AND gate 310 is used to detect the platform reset signal of the motherboard 40; the third AND gate 310 is connected to the port on the motherboard 40 that generates the platform reset signal. Once all core power supplies of the motherboard 40 are stable, this signal is set to a high level, indicating that the motherboard 40 has completed the power-on process, the CPU can start working, and the system has successfully started. The controller 20 can detect this signal as the final indicator of "successful power-on".

[0039] It should be noted that the first AND gate 310 outputs a logic signal corresponding to the standby voltage signal; the second AND gate 310 outputs a logic signal corresponding to the sleep state signal; and the third AND gate 310 outputs a logic signal corresponding to the platform reset signal.

[0040] It should be noted that the standby voltage signal (RSMRST# (Resume Well Reset)), the sleep state signal (SLP_S3# (Sleep Signal S3)), and the platform reset signal (PLTRST# (Platform Reset)) are all signals generated based on existing Intel chipset design specifications and the ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) open standard.

[0041] It should be noted that both inputs of each AND gate 310 are connected to the corresponding motherboard port 40, and the output is connected to the controller 20. As shown in the truth table of the AND gate 310, a high-level output is only generated when all inputs are high. In this embodiment, both inputs of the AND gate 310 are connected to the same motherboard port 40, meaning the levels of the two inputs of the AND gate 310 are the same. Therefore, the AND gate 310 has only two output states. When the timing signal at the motherboard port 40 to which the AND gate 310 is connected is less than the threshold voltage, the AND gate 310 outputs a low-level logic signal to the controller 20; when the timing signal at the motherboard port 40 to which the AND gate 310 is connected is greater than the threshold voltage, the AND gate 310 outputs a high-level logic signal to the controller 20.

[0042] The AND gate circuit 310 can isolate the controller 20 and the motherboard 40, avoid fluctuations at the controller 20, and change the timing signals of the motherboard 40.

[0043] A mapping relationship between the amplitudes of each timing signal and a logic signal can be established and stored in the controller 20. After receiving the logic signal output by the AND gate circuit 310, the controller 20 determines the state of the motherboard 40 corresponding to the timing signal based on the timing signal detected by the AND gate circuit 310 and the mapping relationship.

[0044] Since the present invention utilizes the controller 20 to detect the status of the motherboard 40 through the detection logic module 30, when the motherboard 40 malfunctions, humans cannot directly obtain relevant information; the only external manifestation is that the operator triggers the self-locking trigger switch 10, and the motherboard 40 fails to start; however, it is unknown whether a malfunction has occurred or where the malfunction is located.

[0045] In the third embodiment, as Figure 3 As shown, the computer device further includes: a light indicator circuit 50; The light indicator circuit 50 is connected to the controller 20; The controller 20 is also configured to control the light indicator circuit 50 to emit a corresponding light signal when it is determined, based on the logic signal, that the motherboard 40 is faulty.

[0046] It is easy to understand that the controller 20 can obtain the amplitude of the corresponding timing signal through the logic signal, and thus obtain the corresponding state of the motherboard 40. For example, whether the voltage is normal, whether it is in standby mode, or whether it has successfully started. Correspondingly, when the corresponding state of the motherboard 40 is normal, the corresponding timing signal has an amplitude within a corresponding range; when the corresponding state of the motherboard 40 is faulty, the corresponding timing signal has other amplitudes. For example, if the power supply voltage of the motherboard 40 is normal, the standby voltage signal is high, and the corresponding logic signal is high; if the controller 20 receives a low logic signal corresponding to the standby voltage signal, it indicates that the power supply voltage of the motherboard 40 is faulty.

[0047] It should be noted that, for ease of differentiation, different faults of the motherboard 40 correspond to different optical signals; this can be represented in the following two ways: 1. The optical indicator circuit 50 uses a single optical generator (e.g., an LED) to represent different faults, as well as situations where multiple faults coexist, through different colors or flashing frequencies. 2. The optical indicator circuit 50 uses the same number of optical generators as the timing signals, using different optical generators to indicate whether the motherboard 40 status represented by each timing signal is normal.

[0048] It is easy to understand that the present invention uses the power-on or power-off signal output by the controller 20 as the basis for the motherboard 40 to power on or off. There is no need to cut off the power supply to the motherboard 40.

[0049] The computer device may further include: a power module 60; The input terminal of the power module 60 is used to connect to the AC power supply voltage, and the output terminal is connected to the motherboard 40. The power module 60 is used to convert the AC power supply voltage into a working voltage and output it to the motherboard 40 when the AC power supply voltage is connected.

[0050] It should be noted that the power module 60 may include a power chip; if the motherboard 40 operates at DC voltage, the power module 60 needs to rectify the AC power supply voltage. This invention does not limit the specific structure of the power module 60, which can be determined by the R&D personnel during the design process based on the operating voltage requirements of the motherboard 40.

[0051] This invention also proposes a motherboard power-on / off method, applied to the aforementioned computer device, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the motherboard power-on / off method includes: Step S10: Detect the switching state of the self-locking trigger switch; Step S20: Based on the logic signal and the switch state, determine whether to start the motherboard or shut down the motherboard; Step S30: If the determination result is to start the motherboard, output a power-on signal to the motherboard to power on the motherboard; Step S40: If the determination result is to shut down the motherboard, output a power-off signal to the motherboard to shut down the motherboard.

[0052] It should be noted that the execution entity of the motherboard power-on / off method is the controller in the computer device. Furthermore, the specific structure of the computer device is as described in the above embodiments. Since this motherboard power-on / off method adopts all the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, it possesses at least all the beneficial effects brought by the controller in the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be elaborated upon here.

[0053] It is readily understood that in the computer device, the controller is connected to the detection logic module, the motherboard, and the self-locking trigger switch. Therefore, the controller can receive the logic signals output by the detection logic module and detect the on / off state of the self-locking trigger switch.

[0054] The on / off state of the self-locking trigger switch changes when triggered by the operator. First, the on / off state of the self-locking trigger switch is detected to determine the operator's intention. Then, based on the logic signal and the switch state, it is determined whether to start or stop the motherboard; specifically, the logic signal represents the motherboard state, and it can be used to determine whether the motherboard meets the conditions for powering on or off; if the operator intends to power on and the motherboard meets the power-on conditions, it is determined that the motherboard can be started; if the operator intends to power off and the motherboard meets the power-off conditions, it is determined that the motherboard can be stopped.

[0055] When the motherboard can be powered on, a power-on signal is output to the motherboard; it is easy to understand that when the motherboard receives the power-on signal, it runs the power-on program to power on. Conversely, when the motherboard is powered off, a power-off signal is output to the motherboard to power it off. When the motherboard receives the power-off signal, it runs the power-off program to power off.

[0056] In the third embodiment of the present invention, the logic signal includes a standby voltage signal and a sleep state signal; like Figure 5 As shown, determining whether to start or stop the motherboard based on the logic signal and the switch state includes: Step S210: When the switch state corresponds to the motherboard being powered on, determine whether the motherboard power supply voltage is normal based on the standby voltage signal; Step S220: When the motherboard power supply voltage is normal, determine whether the motherboard is in standby or power-off state based on the sleep state signal; Step S230: If the motherboard power supply voltage is normal and the motherboard is in standby mode, determine to start the motherboard.

[0057] This embodiment provides specific steps for starting the motherboard. First, based on the on / off state of the self-locking trigger switch, it is determined whether the user intends to power on the motherboard. If the on / off state corresponds to motherboard power-on, the motherboard power supply voltage is judged to be normal based on the standby voltage signal. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the standby voltage signal is part of the logic signal; specifically, it is the logic signal (logic level, divided into high and low levels) corresponding to the amplitude of the standby voltage signal in the timing signals of the aforementioned embodiment. Correspondingly, the sleep state signal in this embodiment is the logic signal corresponding to the amplitude of the standby voltage signal in the timing signals of the aforementioned embodiment; the platform reset signal in this embodiment is the logic signal corresponding to the amplitude of the platform reset signal in the timing signals of the aforementioned embodiment.

[0058] Since the standby voltage signal can reflect whether the motherboard's power supply voltage (standby power) is normal, it is possible to determine whether the motherboard's power supply voltage is normal based on the standby voltage signal.

[0059] When the motherboard power supply voltage is normal, the system determines whether the motherboard is in standby or shutdown state based on the sleep state signal.

[0060] For a motherboard to power on, it must first be in standby or power-off mode. Due to the Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) specification, if the motherboard is already powered on and receives a power-on signal, the operating system will intercept it and interpret it as a "user request to shut down." Therefore, it's crucial to ensure the motherboard is in standby or power-off mode to prevent a normally functioning motherboard from shutting down due to the triggering of its self-locking switch. In other words, ensure the motherboard's power supply voltage is normal and it is in standby mode before attempting to power on.

[0061] In one example, the logic signal further includes: a platform reset signal; After the power-on signal is output to the motherboard, the following steps are also included: The platform reset signal is detected, and based on the platform reset signal, it is determined whether the motherboard has successfully booted up. If the motherboard fails to power on within the first preset time period, the motherboard will be restarted until it powers on successfully or the preset number of restarts is reached.

[0062] It's important to explain that the platform reset signal is a global reset signal issued by the motherboard chipset (such as the PCH chip). Its function is to reset the entire computer hardware platform, ensuring that all critical components, including the CPU, chipset, and PCIe devices, start operating from a known, stable initial state. Its core function is to declare that the motherboard's power-on process has been completely successful and that all basic hardware conditions have been met. Only when all power supplies are stable, the clock signal is stable, and the power management logic is ready will the chipset release the platform reset signal (pulling it from low to high). This low-to-high transition is the final step in the entire power-on process.

[0063] Therefore, the platform reset signal can be used to determine whether the motherboard has successfully booted up.

[0064] If the motherboard fails to power on within the first preset time period, the motherboard will be restarted and the system will attempt to power on again. The first preset time period will then be recalculated to determine if the motherboard has successfully powered on. This process will be repeated several times until the motherboard successfully powers on or the preset number of power-on attempts is reached.

[0065] The first preset duration and the preset number of restarts can be set by the R&D personnel.

[0066] Additionally, if the motherboard fails to power on, a light indicator circuit can be used to provide information about the fault. For example, the light indicator circuit may continuously emit a red light.

[0067] In another example, such as Figure 6 As shown, the step of determining whether to start or stop the motherboard based on the logic signal and the switch state further includes: Step S240: When the switch state corresponds to the motherboard being powered off, determine whether the motherboard is in standby or powered off state based on the sleep state signal. Step S250: When the motherboard is not in standby or power-off state, check whether the switch state of the self-locking trigger switch has changed within the second preset time period. Step S260: If no changes occur, confirm that the motherboard is turned off.

[0068] It's important to note that when performing a motherboard shutdown operation, the motherboard's initial power-on state must first be confirmed, meaning the motherboard is not in standby or power-off mode. Only then can a shutdown signal be output to the motherboard. This prevents the motherboard from being initially in a power-off or standby state and having the shutdown signal interpreted as a "user request to power on," leading to the motherboard ultimately powering on, contrary to the user's intention. Furthermore, during the motherboard shutdown process, the possibility of the self-locking trigger switch being accidentally triggered, causing the motherboard to shut down unintentionally during normal operation, must also be considered.

[0069] This example first determines the on / off state of the self-locking trigger switch. When this on / off state corresponds to the motherboard being powered off, it then determines whether the motherboard is in standby or off state based on the sleep state signal. It's easy to understand that the amplitude of the sleep state signal when the motherboard is powered on differs from the amplitude of the sleep state signal when the motherboard is in standby or off state. Therefore, the sleep state signal can be used to distinguish whether the motherboard is in standby or off state.

[0070] When the motherboard is not in standby or power-off state, that is, when the motherboard is ensured to be powered on, the switch state of the self-locking trigger switch is detected to see if it has changed.

[0071] When the self-locking trigger switch is accidentally triggered, the operator will correct the operation within a short time and change the switch's on / off state again. That is, if it is an accidental operation, and the detected on / off state of the self-locking trigger switch corresponds to the motherboard being off, the switch state will be detected changing back to the on / off state within a short time. In other words, even when the motherboard is not in standby or off state, the on / off state of the self-locking trigger switch is checked for a change within a second preset time period. The second preset time period can be determined by the R&D personnel. For example, the second preset time period is 20 seconds.

[0072] If the switch state of the self-locking trigger switch does not change within the second preset time period, it can be determined that there is no false triggering, and the motherboard can be shut down.

[0073] This example detects the operator's accidental triggering behavior by detecting the switch status, and does not take any action when accidental triggering occurs; when the actual shutdown behavior occurs, it determines to shut down the motherboard, which can avoid accidental triggering to a certain extent.

[0074] In addition, after the power-off signal is output to the motherboard, the following steps are also included: The sleep state signal is detected, and based on the sleep state signal, it is determined whether the motherboard has successfully shut down. If the motherboard fails to shut down successfully within the third preset time period and the switch state remains unchanged, a forced shutdown signal is output to the motherboard.

[0075] As described in the above embodiments, the core function of the sleep state signal is to indicate whether the motherboard is currently in normal working state or sleep / shutdown state. The sleep state signal can be used to determine whether the motherboard has successfully shut down; however, after the controller outputs a shutdown signal, there may be a situation where the motherboard fails to shut down. In this case, to successfully shut down the motherboard, a forced shutdown signal can be output to the motherboard to force a shutdown.

[0076] In addition, to prevent accidental shutdown, the switch status needs to be checked during the judgment process. If the switch status changes, it may indicate that the shutdown was accidental.

[0077] Therefore, if the motherboard fails to shut down successfully and the switch state remains unchanged (the switch state corresponds to the motherboard being powered off) within a third preset time period after the power-off signal is output to the motherboard, a forced power-off signal is output to the motherboard. The third preset time period is determined by the R&D personnel.

[0078] In one example, such as Figure 7 As shown, this example provides a real-world scenario for the power-on and power-off process of a computer device's motherboard.

[0079] Here, SWITCH_IN represents the on / off state of the self-locking trigger switch, and FP_PORBTN is the port used by the controller to connect to the motherboard, representing the signal output by the controller to the motherboard, such as a power-on signal or a power-off signal.

[0080] In addition, the standby voltage signal (RSMRST# (Resume Well Reset)) indicates whether the host's operating voltage is normal, the sleep state signal (SLP_S3# (Sleep Signal S3)) indicates the motherboard's operating status, and the platform reset signal (PLTRST# (Platform Reset)) indicates whether the motherboard has been successfully powered on.

[0081] First, the controller initializes the four signals RSMRST#, SLP_S3, PLTRST#, and SWITCH_IN as inputs, and initializes the FP_PWRBTN and LED_PWM signal pins as outputs. After initialization, the status of the SWITCH_IN pin is immediately checked.

[0082] 1. If SWITCH_IN is high (state 1), it means that the self-locking trigger switch is switched to the external power-on position, i.e., the self-locking trigger switch is in the off state. Since RSMRST# is the motherboard standby voltage completion signal, RSMRST# will generally be set high by the motherboard within 100ms. The next step is to judge the RSMRST# signal after 100ms. If RSMRST# is 0, it means that one or more of the standby voltages on the motherboard are abnormal. In this case, the entire computer system cannot continue. The controller sends a PWM wave through LED_PWM to make the red LED flash, prompting the user that there is a standby voltage fault. The user needs to disconnect the 220V voltage and then power on again.

[0083] If RSMRST# is 1, it means the standby voltage is OK and the system is ready to power on. The next step is to check the SLP_S3 signal status. If SLP_S3 is 1, it means the system is already in the power-on state, meaning the motherboard power-on process has already been completed once before entering this step. This situation indicates that the user has made a mistake by switching the self-locking trigger switch to power off and then immediately switching it back to power on while the system is powered on. The next step is to respond to the falling edge of SWITCH_IN. If there is no state transition in SWITCH_IN, no operation will be performed. Only the falling edge of SWITCH_IN will trigger a response to check the current state of SWITCH_IN. The purpose of adding the SLP_S3 check is to prevent the user from making the mistake of switching the self-locking trigger switch to power off and then immediately switching it back to power on while the system is powered on. Without this check, when the user immediately returns to the power-on state from the incorrect power-off action, FP_PWRBTN- will send a low pulse, and the power-on state will be shut down due to the low pulse.

[0084] If SLP_S3 is 0, it means that the motherboard is in the power-off state. The controller sends a 200ms low pulse waveform through the FP_PWRBTN pin to notify the motherboard to start the power-on operation. After 200ms, the controller judges the PLTRST# signal. If the PLTRST# signal is 0, it indicates that one or more system voltages on the motherboard are abnormal. In this case, the controller controls the LED_PWM signal to send a continuous high-level signal to keep the red LED constantly lit until PLTRST# is 1, prompting the user that there is a system voltage error. In this situation, the motherboard may restart to repair the error. At this time, the controller sends a continuous low pulse for 4 seconds through FP_PWRBTN to force shutdown (similar to the operation of forcibly shutting down a computer after a crash). After shutdown, the controller sends a 200ms low pulse signal through FP_PWRBTN again to notify the motherboard to power on again and checks the PLTRST# signal again. If PLTRST# is still low, the cycle repeats twice. If PLTRST# cannot be set to 1 after a total of three checks, it indicates that the motherboard has an unrepairable abnormality, and the forced shutdown and power-on operation is stopped. The red LED remains lit, notifying the user to repair the motherboard. This part is equivalent to adding a power-on abnormality timing self-test function to the system.

[0085] If the PLTRST# signal is 1, it means that the motherboard has successfully booted into the system, the process is complete, and it returns to SWITCH_IN for judgment.

[0086] 2. If SWITCH_IN is low (0), it means the toggle switch is turned to the external power-off position, i.e., the self-locking trigger switch is closed. The controller needs to participate in the motherboard power-off process, and the first step is to determine the signal status of SLP_S3. If the SLP_S3 signal is 0, it means that the motherboard is already in a power-off state. The microcontroller will not continue to the next step and will enter the SWITCH_IN process to wait for the rising edge to trigger. If the SLP_S3 signal is 1, it will continuously check for a rising edge transition of SWITCH_IN for 2 seconds. This is to address the issue mentioned above where the customer mistakenly switched the self-locking trigger switch to shutdown while the device is powered on. This 2-second window allows the user to cancel the shutdown operation and retain the power-on state. If no rising edge transition occurs in SWITCH_IN within 2 seconds, it means the user has not... If the shutdown operation is cancelled, the controller will then send a 200ms low pulse via FP_PWRBTN to notify the motherboard to initiate the shutdown process. The motherboard will then enter one of three states: The first scenario is that the motherboard can respond to the FP_PWRBTN low pulse, and the system automatically exits the running applications and shuts down normally. The normal shutdown time varies from 1 second to 20 seconds, depending on the number of programs open and their CPU usage. The second scenario is that the system does not respond to the FP_PWRBTN low pulse. This is because the system has been manually set to disable the FP_PWRBTN low pulse response. The third scenario is that the system has crashed and cannot respond to any operation. For the three scenarios mentioned above, the status of SLP_S3 is continuously checked within 20 seconds after the power-off signal is issued. If SLP_S3 is 0, it means that the motherboard has safely shut down within 20 seconds. Safe shutdown can protect hard drive data and system from damage, and the process returns to the SWITCH_IN status for judgment. If SLP_S3 is 1, it means that the motherboard has not shut down within 20 seconds and is in the second or third scenario mentioned above. The next step is to combine the SWITCH_IN status for process judgment. If SWITCH_IN is 0, it means that the user has not changed their mind and has decided to perform a shutdown operation. The process proceeds to the next step, and FE_PWRBTN outputs a low pulse that lasts for 4 seconds to force the motherboard to shut down. That is, the second and third cases mentioned above are both processed as forced shutdown. If SWITCH_IN is 1, it means that the user has changed their mind about shutting down or that the user has accidentally switched the self-locking trigger switch to shutdown while the computer is on. In this case, the user can avoid being forced to shut down, thus protecting the hard drive data and the system.

[0087] The above description is merely an optional embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the inventive concept of the present invention and the description and drawings of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are permitted. All of these are included within the scope of patent protection of this invention.

Claims

1. A computer device, characterized in that, The computer device includes a motherboard, a controller, a detection logic module, and a self-locking trigger switch; multiple input terminals of the detection logic module are connected to the motherboard, and the output terminal is connected to the controller; the output terminal of the controller is connected to the power-on / off detection terminal of the motherboard; the self-locking trigger switch is connected to the controller. The detection logic module is used to detect the timing signals of the motherboard and output the corresponding logic signals to the controller; The controller is used to detect the switching state of the self-locking trigger switch, and determine whether to start or shut down the motherboard based on the switching state and the logic signal. The controller is further configured to output a power-on signal to the motherboard when the determination result indicates that the motherboard should be started. Alternatively, it can be used to output a power-off signal to the motherboard when the determination result is to shut down the motherboard.

2. The computer device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The detection logic module includes: multiple AND gate circuits; Multiple AND gate circuits are connected to the same number of motherboard ports to acquire the same number of timing signals; wherein, the two inputs of each AND gate circuit are connected to the corresponding motherboard port, and the output is connected to the controller.

3. The computer device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The number of AND gates is at least three; wherein, the first AND gate is used to detect the standby voltage signal of the motherboard; the second AND gate is used to detect the sleep state signal of the motherboard; and the third AND gate is used to detect the platform reset signal of the motherboard.

4. The computer device as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The computer device also includes: a light indicator circuit; The light indicator circuit is connected to the controller; The controller is also configured to control the light indicator circuit to emit a corresponding light signal when it is determined, based on the logic signal, that the motherboard is faulty.

5. The computer device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The computer device also includes: a power module; The power module's input terminal is used to connect to an AC power supply voltage, and its output terminal is connected to the motherboard. The power module is used to convert the AC power supply voltage into a working voltage and output it to the motherboard when the AC power supply voltage is connected.

6. A method for powering on and off a motherboard, characterized in that, Applied to the computer device according to any one of claims 1 to 5; The motherboard power-on / off method includes: Detect the switching state of the self-locking trigger switch; Based on the logic signals and the switch state, determine whether to start or shut down the motherboard; If the determination result is that the motherboard needs to be started, a power-on signal is output to the motherboard to power it on. If the determination result is to shut down the motherboard, a power-off signal is output to the motherboard to shut it down.

7. The motherboard power-on / off method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The logic signals include standby voltage signals and sleep state signals; The step of determining whether to start or stop the motherboard based on the logic signal and the switch state includes: When the switch state corresponds to the motherboard being powered on, the motherboard power supply voltage is determined to be normal based on the standby voltage signal; When the motherboard power supply voltage is normal, determine whether the motherboard is in standby or power-off state based on the sleep state signal; If the motherboard power supply voltage is normal and the motherboard is in standby mode, then the motherboard is started.

8. The motherboard power-on / off method as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The logic signals also include a platform reset signal; After the power-on signal is output to the motherboard, the following steps are also included: The platform reset signal is detected, and the motherboard is determined to have successfully booted up based on the platform reset signal. If the motherboard fails to power on within the first preset time period, the motherboard will be restarted until it powers on successfully or the preset number of restarts is reached.

9. The motherboard power-on / off method as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The step of determining whether to start or stop the motherboard based on the logic signal and the switch state further includes: When the switch state corresponds to the motherboard being powered off, the motherboard is determined to be in standby or powered off state based on the sleep state signal. When the motherboard is not in standby or power-off state, check whether the switch state of the self-locking trigger switch has changed within a second preset time period. If no changes occur, confirm that the motherboard is turned off.

10. The motherboard power-on / off method as described in claim 9, characterized in that, After the power-off signal is output to the motherboard, the following steps are also included: The sleep state signal is detected, and based on the sleep state signal, it is determined whether the motherboard has successfully shut down. If the motherboard fails to shut down successfully within the third preset time period and the switch state remains unchanged, a forced shutdown signal is output to the motherboard.

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