Electronic equipment and control method thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses electronic equipment and a control method thereof. The electronic equipment comprises a universal serial bus (USB) interface with a continuous power supply function (Always On USB, AOU), a touch panel with at least one key, an embedded controller, a first circuit and a second circuit. Wherein the embedded controller is connected with a first key in the at least one key through a first line, and is connected with the universal serial bus interface through a second line. The embedded controller receives a first signal sent when the first key is operated through the first line, responds to the first signal and controls the universal serial bus interface to stop or start the continuous power supply function through the second line. Therefore, when the computer is in a power-off state or a sleep state, a user can stop or start the continuous power supply function of the USB interface again by pressing the key of the touch panel, and the electronic equipment does not need to be restarted.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of automatic control, and more particularly to an electronic device and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, some electronic devices (such as laptops) still allow users to charge mobile phones, headphones, etc. via their Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface through the Always On USB (AOU) function, even when the device is powered off or in hibernation mode; or, through the AOU function, the electronic device can be used as a large power bank to power external devices such as speakers, lights, fans, and external hard drives via the USB port.

[0003] When an electronic device is powered off or in hibernation mode, if it is not connected to a power source but remains in a state where continuous power supply is always enabled, it will consume the device's battery life and reduce its lifespan. However, currently, the continuous power supply function of the USB port can only be controlled at the software level. This means that once the electronic device is powered off or in hibernation mode, it is impossible to control whether to enable or disable the continuous power supply function of the USB port, and the electronic device must be restarted, which is very inconvenient. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application creatively provides an electronic device and a method for controlling the same.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present application, an electronic device is provided, comprising: a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface having a continuous power supply function; a touchpad having at least one button; an embedded controller connected to a first button via a first line and connected to the USB interface via a second line; the embedded controller is configured to receive a first signal sent when the first button is operated via the first line, and in response to the first signal, control the USB interface to disable or enable the continuous power supply function via the second line.

[0006] According to one embodiment of this application, the first line includes: a first sub-line, one end of which is connected to a first interface of the control board and the other end of which is connected to a first button, for sending a first signal to the first interface when the first button is operated; and a second sub-line, one end of which is connected to the first interface and the other end of which is connected to a general-purpose input / output interface of the embedded controller, for sending the first signal to the embedded controller.

[0007] According to one embodiment of this application, the first line further includes: a first switch, one end of which is connected to a first power supply of the electronic device, for disconnecting the first line in response to a second signal sent by the first power supply when the electronic device is powered on, so that the embedded controller cannot receive the first signal sent when the first button is operated through the first line; or, in response to a third signal sent by the first power supply when the electronic device is powered off or in sleep mode, connecting the first line so that the embedded controller can receive the first signal sent when the first button is operated through the first line.

[0008] According to one embodiment of this application, the first line further includes a second power supply, which can still provide high-level current to the embedded controller when the first line is disconnected, so as to control the continuous power supply function to be in the default state.

[0009] According to one embodiment of this application, the electronic device further includes a touchpad integrated chip for controlling the touchpad. The touchpad integrated chip is connected to the first button through a third line. The third line further includes a first diode for blocking the current generated by the second power supply from leaking to the touchpad integrated chip.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present application, a control method is provided, which operates on the aforementioned electronic device. The method includes: in response to an operation where a first button is pressed, sending a first signal to an embedded controller via a first line; and controlling the embedded controller to respond to the first signal by controlling a Universal Serial Bus interface to disable continuous power supply via a second line.

[0011] According to one embodiment of this application, the method further includes: in response to the operation of pressing a first button, sending a first signal to an embedded controller via a first line; and controlling the embedded controller to respond to the first signal by controlling the universal serial bus interface to enable continuous power supply function via a second line.

[0012] According to one embodiment of this application, the first line includes: a first sub-line, one end of which is connected to a first interface of the control board and the other end of which is connected to a first button, for sending a first signal to the first interface when the first button is operated; a second sub-line, one end of which is connected to the first interface and the other end of which is connected to a general-purpose input / output interface of the embedded controller, for sending the first signal to the embedded controller; correspondingly, sending the first signal to the embedded controller through the first line includes: sending the first signal to the embedded controller by pulling down a pin of the first interface.

[0013] According to one embodiment of this application, the first circuit of the electronic device further includes a first switch, one end of which is connected to a first power supply of the electronic device. Accordingly, the control method further includes: in response to a second signal sent when the electronic device is powered on, controlling the first switch to open to disconnect the first circuit, so that the embedded controller cannot receive the first signal sent when the first button is operated through the first circuit; in response to a third signal sent when the electronic device is in sleep or powered off, controlling the first switch to close to connect the first circuit, so that the embedded controller can receive the first signal sent when the first button is operated through the first circuit.

[0014] According to one embodiment of this application, the method further includes: in response to a second signal sent when the electronic device is powered on, controlling the Universal Serial Bus interface to enable continuous power supply function.

[0015] This application provides an electronic device and its control method. The electronic device includes: a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface with continuous power supply functionality; a touchpad with at least one button; and an embedded controller connected to a first button via a first line and connected to the USB interface via a second line. The embedded controller receives a first signal sent when the first button is pressed via the first line and, in response to the first signal, controls the USB interface to disable or enable its continuous power supply functionality via the second line. Thus, when the computer is powered off or in sleep mode, the user can disable or re-enable the continuous power supply functionality of the USB interface by pressing a button on the touchpad without restarting the electronic device. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of exemplary embodiments of this application will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Several embodiments of this application are illustrated in the drawings by way of example and not limitation, in which: In the accompanying drawings, the same or corresponding reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electronic device according to another embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the interface and wiring of the touchpad connector in a traditional solution; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the interface and circuit of a touchpad connector of an electronic device according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the interface and circuit of a universal serial bus interface charging device for an electronic device according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 This is a partial interface and circuit diagram of an embedded controller of an electronic device according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the implementation flow of a control method according to an embodiment of this application; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the implementation flow of a control method according to another embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0018] To make the objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0019] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of those different embodiments or examples.

[0020] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0021] Figure 1 The main structure of an electronic device according to an embodiment of this application is shown. (Reference) Figure 1The electronic device 10 includes: a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface 101, which has a continuous power supply function; a touchpad 102, which has at least one button; and an embedded controller 103, which is connected to a first button 1021 of the at least one button via a first line 104, and is connected to the USB interface 101 via a second line 105. The embedded controller 103 is used to receive a first signal sent when the first button 1021 is operated via the first line 104, and in response to the first signal, to control the USB interface 101 to disable or enable the continuous power supply function via the second line 105.

[0022] The electronic device 10 can be a laptop, tablet, desktop, mobile phone, or wearable device, etc. As long as the electronic device has a universal serial bus interface, a touchpad and an embedded controller, and its universal serial bus interface has a continuous power supply function and the touchpad has at least one button, the hardware structure adopted by the electronic device 10 in the embodiments of this application can be applied.

[0023] The Universal Serial Bus interface 101, also known as a USB interface, is typically located at the edge of the electronic device 10 for easy connection to other electronic devices. The Universal Serial Bus interface 101 can be any USB interface with discharge function to charge other electronic devices, such as the commonly used USB Type A and USB Type C interfaces.

[0024] Continuous power supply, also known as AOU, refers to the ability of a USB port to continue discharging and charging other electronic devices even when the device it is connected to is powered off or in sleep mode.

[0025] In this embodiment, the Universal Serial Bus interface 101 has a continuous power supply function, that is, when the electronic device 10 is in a power-off or sleep state, the Universal Serial Bus interface 101 can still discharge to charge other electronic devices.

[0026] A touchpad (102) refers to a panel used to control electronic devices via touch, such as the touchpad below a laptop keyboard. Touchpads typically have at least one button; for example, a laptop touchpad has left and right buttons.

[0027] For some electronic devices such as tablets, mobile phones, or wearable devices with touchscreens, the touchscreen can also be considered a type of touchpad. Any button on a tablet, mobile phone, or wearable device that can be pressed or clicked to generate a signal when powered off or in sleep mode can be considered a touchpad button. Of course, to avoid functional conflicts and for simplicity, this button should ideally not be a power button or a wake-up button.

[0028] The Embedded Controller 103, sometimes referred to as EC, is a dedicated computer system with an embedded processor at its core. In the electronic device 10, it is mainly used to handle tasks such as real-time control, power management, sensor monitoring, and device interaction.

[0029] In this embodiment of the application, both the first line 104 and the second line 105 are electrically connected lines that can be energized and transmit electronic signals. However, the first line 104 and the second line 105 are not necessarily an uninterrupted line. They may contain electronic components such as switches, throttles, and transformers, or they may be connected by interfaces to form a complete circuit.

[0030] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the embedded controller 103 and the Universal Serial Bus interface 101 are directly connected and communicate via the second line 105. However, in other embodiments, the second line 105 connecting the embedded controller 103 and the Universal Serial Bus interface 101 can also be a line connected to a third party, and indirect communication can be achieved through a third party relay. For example, the embedded controller 103 and the Universal Serial Bus interface 101 can also not be directly connected to each other, but can be connected to the central processing unit (CPU) respectively, and communicate indirectly through the CPU.

[0031] In most existing electronic devices, there may already be a line (including a line connected via a third party) between the embedded controller and the USB interface to control whether the USB interface has continuous power supply functionality enabled or disabled. If this is the case, the existing line can be used as the second line 105 without adding a new line. If this is not the case, a new line, namely the second line 105, can be added so that the embedded controller 103 can control the Universal Serial Bus interface 101 to disable or enable continuous power supply functionality via the second line 105.

[0032] In existing electronic devices, there may be wiring connections between the embedded controller and the touchpad. These lines are usually connected and functional when the device is powered on, allowing the embedded controller to receive various inputs from the touchpad in real time. However, when the electronic device is powered off or in sleep mode, these lines are often turned off or blocked, preventing the embedded controller from receiving any inputs from the touchpad.

[0033] However, the inventors of this application were not limited by existing behavioral patterns. On the contrary, the inventors of this application creatively conceived of a solution for a button on the embedded controller 103 and the touchpad 102, for example... Figure 1 A direct line, such as first line 104, is established between the first button 1021 and the electronic device 10, ensuring that first line 104 remains connected even when the electronic device 10 is powered off or in sleep mode. This allows the embedded controller 103 to receive the operation input (e.g., a first signal sent when the button 1021 is pressed) in real time, even when the electronic device 10 is powered off or in sleep mode. In response to the first signal, the controller controls the universal serial bus interface 101 to disable or enable continuous power supply via second line 105. Thus, even when the electronic device is powered off or in sleep mode, the continuous power supply function of the universal serial bus interface 101 can be enabled or disabled by manipulating the first button 1021 on the touchpad 102. Therefore, a method is proposed... Figure 1 The basic structure of the electronic device 10 shown in this application embodiment is illustrated.

[0034] The electronic device 10 in this embodiment only requires very minor modifications to most existing electronic devices. For example, it can be achieved by adding a first line 104 between the embedded controller 103 and the first button 1021 of the touchpad 102. Figure 1 The basic structure of the electronic device 10 in this embodiment of the application is shown. Compared with other solutions, the hardware structure of the electronic device in this embodiment requires less modification, is simpler and easier to implement, and has a lower cost, making it particularly suitable for widespread promotion and implementation.

[0035] After implementing the hardware structure shown in the electronic device of this application embodiment, the continuous power supply function can be enabled or disabled via the touchpad buttons even when the electronic device is powered off or in sleep mode, without needing to be reset after powering on, making it faster, more flexible, and more convenient. Furthermore, the electronic device of this application embodiment also has the characteristic of being ready to use immediately and able to be turned off immediately when not in use, further saving energy and avoiding damage to the USB interface from continuous discharge, thus extending the device's lifespan.

[0036] It should be noted that, Figure 1 Only some components and circuits of the electronic device 10 relevant to this application are shown, not all of them. The first button 1021 is not limited to a single button; in some embodiments, the first button 1021 may be one or more buttons from a plurality of buttons on the touchpad 102. Furthermore, Figure 1 The embodiments shown are only one basic embodiment of the electronic device of this application, and implementers may further refine and expand upon them as needed.

[0037] Figure 2 The structure of an electronic device according to another embodiment of this application is shown. This embodiment applies to a certain model of laptop computer, which is equipped with a USB Type A interface with continuous power supply function. The embedded controller of this laptop computer already has a second line between itself and the USB Type A interface, and the continuous power supply function of the USB Type A interface can be enabled or disabled through the second line. Therefore, the existing design can be continued for the second line and the part that controls the continuous power supply function of the USB Type A interface through the second line, and will not be described in detail here.

[0038] Figure 2 This mainly demonstrates how to implement the structure of the electronic device of this application based on the existing model of this laptop computer, and therefore Figure 2 The USB Type A interface and the second line are not shown; only the first line between the embedded controller and the touchpad buttons, as well as some circuit elements on the first line, are shown.

[0039] See Figure 2 In this model of laptop 20, the embedded controller 2011 is located on the motherboard 201, while the touchpad is a PCB board. The first button (left button 2021 or second button 2022) and the touchpad integrated chip 2023 are integrated on the bottom 202 of the touchpad. Compared to existing models of this laptop, laptop 20 adds a first line 203 between the embedded controller 2011 and the first button (left button 2021 or right button 2022). (In the circuit diagram and pinout, the first line 203 is labeled TP_BUTTON; this line and its enable signal will be described in detail later.)

[0040] The first line 203 is implemented by connecting a new line to an idle interface on the touchpad connector 2024 (the touchpad connector is often marked as TP / B Connector in circuit diagrams). Figure 3 and Figure 4 This demonstrates how to connect a new line to an idle interface on the touchpad connector 2024 to obtain the first line 203.

[0041] Figure 3 The image shows the touchpad 30 before the addition of the new wiring. The touchpad connector 2024 is based on... Figure 3 The touchpad connector 30 shown is implemented as described. See also... Figure 3 The touchpad connector 30 lists the interfaces for connecting lines below JTP1, including one unused interface 4, as shown below. Figure 3The portion outlined in the box is shown. It should be noted that the figures in this application's specification... Figures 3 to 6 The border lines in the diagram are not part of the circuit; they are merely markings for illustrative purposes.

[0042] Figure 4 This illustration shows a specific implementation scheme for adding a new line to the idle interface 4 in a laptop computer 20 according to an embodiment of this application. See also Figure 4 A new line TP_BUTTON is connected to the idle interface 4 of the touchpad connector 2024 on the laptop 20 (see details). Figure 4 The part outlined by the middle frame (that is, the first line 203) gives us the following result: Figure 4 The interface and circuit structure of the touchpad connector 2024 are shown.

[0043] Furthermore, according to Figure 2 and Figure 4 This can be understood as follows: the first line 203 is divided into two sub-lines by the touchpad connector 2024: the first sub-line located inside the touchpad and the second sub-line located outside the touchpad.

[0044] One end of the first sub-circuit is connected to the first interface of the contact control board, which is... Figure 4 The touchpad connector 2024 shown has its interface 4 connected to a first button, namely the first button 2021 and the second button 2022. A first sub-circuit is used to send a first signal to the first interface when the first button is pressed. That is, when the first button (left button 2021 or right button 2022) is pressed, a low-level current is generated as the first signal by pulling down the pin of interface 4 through the first sub-circuit.

[0045] One end of the second sub-line connects to the first interface, and the other end connects to the general purpose input / output interface (GPIO interface) of the embedded controller 2011. The second sub-line is used to send the first signal to the embedded controller. That is, through the second sub-line, the low-level current generated when the pin of interface 4 is pulled low is transmitted to the embedded controller 2011. When the embedded controller 2011 receives this low-level current through the second sub-line, it can pull low or raise the pin connected to the USB Type A interface, sending the corresponding enable signal through the second sub-line to disable or enable the continuous power supply function of the USB Type A interface.

[0046] Figure 5 and Figure 6 The diagram shows some of the interfaces and circuit structures of the USB Type A interface charging device 50 (also labeled USBCharger in the circuit diagram) and the embedded controller 2011.

[0047] See Figure 5The USB Type A interface charging device 50 is connected to the embedded controller 2011 via the EN interface 5, thus obtaining a second line for transmitting the USB_CHG_EN_EC_OCP enable signal, as shown below. Figure 5 The part outlined in the middle frame is shown. When this interface receives a low-order current signal from the embedded controller 2011, namely the USB_CHG_EN_EC_OCP enable signal, it will disable the continuous power supply function of the USB Type A interface.

[0048] See Figure 6 The USB Type A interface charging device 50, corresponding to the interface 5 EN, is connected to the KSO0 / PD0 / GPK0 interface via the first line of the embedded controller 2011 used to transmit USB_CHG_EN_EC_OCP, as shown below. Figure 6 The part outlined in the middle frame is shown.

[0049] In the laptop computer 20 of this application embodiment, when the embedded controller 2011 receives the low current sent by the interface 4 of the touchpad connector 2024 through the first line 203, it can send the USB_CHG_EN_EC_OCP enable signal to the USB Type A interface through the KSO0 / PD0 / GPK0 interface to disable the continuous power supply function.

[0050] The above section details how the laptop computer 20 of this application introduces the first line 203 and how it sends a first signal to the embedded controller 2011 through the first line 203, and how the embedded controller 2011, after receiving the first signal, responds to the first signal by controlling the universal serial bus interface to disable or enable the continuous power supply function through the second line.

[0051] Next, return to Figure 2 The laptop computer 20 of this application embodiment is shown below. The other circuit elements on the first line 203 and their corresponding functions are described in detail below.

[0052] See Figure 2 A first switch 2012 is also provided on the first line 203. One end of the first switch 2012 is connected to the first power supply of the electronic device and can receive S0 (power on), S4 (sleep), or S5 (power off) signals sent by the first power supply. The other two ends of the first switch 2012 are respectively connected to two interfaces of the first line 203. When the switching device of the first switch 2012 is closed, the first line 203 is connected; conversely, when the switching device of the first switch 2012 is closed, the first line 203 is disconnected, so that the embedded controller cannot receive the first signal sent when the first button is operated through the first line.

[0053] In the laptop computer 20 of this application embodiment, the first switch 2012 is implemented by a PMOS transistor. When the PMOS transistor receives a second signal (S0 signal) sent by the first power supply when the electronic device is powered on, the switch in the PMOS transistor will open and disconnect the first line 203; or, in response to a third signal (S4 or S5 signal) sent by the first power supply when the electronic device is powered off or in sleep mode, the first line 203 will be connected, so that the embedded controller can receive the first signal sent when the first button is operated through the first line.

[0054] Thus, when the laptop 20 is powered on, the first line 203 is disconnected, and user input to the touchpad buttons (left button 2021 or right button 2022) cannot be transmitted to the embedded controller 2011 via the first line 203. The touchpad, however, can transmit input via other existing lines (not in...). Figure 2 (As shown in the diagram) It communicates with the embedded controller 2011 to maintain the touchpad's normal functions. Conversely, when the laptop 20 is powered off or in sleep mode, the first line 203 is connected, allowing the user to use the touchpad buttons to disable or enable the continuous power supply function of the USB Type A connector. This way, adding new functions does not affect existing functions.

[0055] See Figure 2 The first circuit 203 also includes a second power supply 2013. The second power supply 2013 is a power source capable of continuously providing a specified voltage (e.g., 1.8V) and still providing a high-level current when the first circuit 203 is disconnected. Thus, when the first circuit 203 is disconnected, the embedded controller 2011 receives a high-level current and, in response, controls the USB Type-A interface via the second circuit to enable continuous power supply. This allows the continuous power supply function to be reset to the enabled state upon power-on, ensuring that the continuous power supply function is enabled by default.

[0056] See Figure 2 The laptop computer 20 in this embodiment of the application also includes a touchpad integrated chip 2023 for controlling the touchpad. The touchpad integrated chip 2023 is connected to the first button (left button 2021 or right button 2022) through a third line 2025. The third line 2025 also includes a first diode 2026, which is used to block the current generated by the second power supply 2013 from leaking to the touchpad integrated chip 2023 so as to avoid adverse effects on the touchpad integrated chip 2023.

[0057] It should be noted that, Figure 2The laptop computer 20 shown is merely an exemplary illustration of the electronic device of this application and is not intended to limit the implementation methods and application scenarios of the electronic device of this application. Implementers may adopt any applicable implementation method and apply it to any applicable application scenario according to specific implementation conditions.

[0058] Furthermore, embodiments of this application also provide a control method, which operates on the electronic device described in the embodiments of this application. See also Figure 7 The method includes: Step 710: In response to the operation of pressing the first button, send a first signal to the embedded controller through the first line; When a user presses the first button, the first signal is usually triggered. The first signal is typically a current signal specifying a voltage or current, which can be sent to the embedded controller through the first line.

[0059] Step 720: Control the embedded controller to respond to the first signal and disable the continuous power supply function of the universal serial bus interface via the second line.

[0060] Subsequently, through circuit logic programming (mainly referring to hardware language programming), the embedded controller can receive the first signal and, in response to the first signal, disable the continuous power supply function of the universal serial bus interface through the second line control.

[0061] It should be noted that Figure 7 The control method shown in the embodiment is only a basic embodiment of the control method of this application. Implementers can further refine and expand it as needed.

[0062] The following is based on Figure 2 Taking the laptop 20 shown as an example, based on Figure 2 The hardware structure of the laptop computer 20 shown is used for circuit logic programming to implement the control method of the embodiments of this application. The implementation flow is as follows: Figure 8 As shown. Reference Figure 8 The method includes: Step 8010: In response to the S4 or S5 signal sent when the laptop 20 is in hibernation or powered off, close the first switch 2012 to connect the first line 203; Specifically, hardware programming or circuit settings are performed so that the first switch 2012 closes its switching device after receiving the S4 or S5 signal sent by the laptop 20 when it is in hibernation or powered off at one end of the first power connection, thereby connecting the first line 203, so that the embedded controller can receive the first signal sent when the first button is operated through the first line.

[0063] Step 8020: In response to the operation of pressing the first button (left button 2021 or right button 2022), a first signal is sent to the embedded controller 2011 through the first line 203; Specifically, when the user presses the first button, the pin of interface 4 is pulled low, generating a low-level current as the first signal, which is then sent to the embedded controller 2011 through the first line 203.

[0064] Step 8030: In response to the first signal, the embedded controller 2011 controls the universal serial bus interface to disable the continuous power supply function via the second line.

[0065] Specifically, after the embedded controller 2011 receives the low-order current through the second sub-line, it sends the low-order or high-order current as the corresponding enable signal through the KSO0 / PD0 / GPK0 interface connected to the USB Type A interface, and sends it to the interface 5 EN interface of the USB Type A interface through the second line. When the USB Type A interface receives the corresponding enable signal, it will disable or enable the continuous power supply function.

[0066] When sending an enable signal to the USB Type A interface, the embedded controller 2011 first determines the continuous power supply function status of the USB Type A interface, and then determines the current sent through the KSO0 / PD0 / GPK0 interface based on the current status of the continuous power supply function.

[0067] If the continuous power supply function of the USB Type A interface is enabled, a low current is sent to disable the continuous power supply function; if the continuous power supply function of the USB Type A interface is disabled, a high current is sent to re-enable the continuous power supply function. Since the continuous power supply function of the USB Type A interface is enabled by default, in this step, the corresponding enable signal sent through the second line is a low-level current to disable the continuous power supply function.

[0068] Step 8040: In response to the operation of pressing the first button (left button 2021 or right button 2022), a first signal is sent to the embedded controller 2011 through the first line 203; Specifically, when the user presses the first button, the pin of interface 4 is pulled low, generating a low-level current as the first signal, which is then sent to the embedded controller 2011 through the first line 203.

[0069] Step 8050: The embedded controller 2011 responds to the first signal and enables the continuous power supply function through the second line control universal serial bus interface.

[0070] At this point, the USB Type A interface has been switched to a disabled state. In this step, a corresponding enable signal is sent via the second line as a high-level current to enable the continuous power supply function.

[0071] Thus, when a user presses the first button on the touchpad (left button 2021 or right button 2022) for the first time, the continuous power supply function will be disabled. Pressing it again will re-enable the continuous power supply function.

[0072] Steps 8020 to 8050, while the laptop 20 is in hibernation or shutdown state, or may be repeated indefinitely until the laptop 20 sends an S0 signal upon power-on, at which point the following steps are executed: In step 8060, in response to the S0 signal sent when the laptop 20 is powered on, the first switch 2012 is turned off to disconnect the first line 203.

[0073] Specifically, hardware programming or circuit settings are performed so that the first switch 2012 receives the S0 signal sent when the laptop 20 is powered on at one end of the first power connection, and then opens the switching device of the first switch 2012 to disconnect the first line 203, so that the embedded controller cannot receive the first signal sent when the first button is operated through the first line.

[0074] At this time, since the second power supply 2013 continuously provides 1.8V, it can still provide high-level current even when the first circuit 203 is disconnected. Thus, the embedded controller receives a high-level current after the first line 203 is disconnected. In response to this high-level current, the embedded controller 2011 controls the USB Type A interface to enable continuous power supply via the second line. Therefore, upon power-on, the continuous power supply function is reset to the enabled state, ensuring that the continuous power supply function is enabled by default.

[0075] It should be noted that, Figure 8 The control methods illustrated in this application are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the implementation methods or application scenarios of this application. Implementers can adopt any applicable implementation method and apply it to any applicable application scenario, depending on specific implementation conditions.

[0076] According to a third aspect of the present application, a computer storage medium is provided, the storage medium including a set of computer-executable instructions, which, when executed, are used to perform the above-described control method.

[0077] It should be noted that the above descriptions of the control method embodiments and the computer storage medium embodiments are similar to the descriptions of the foregoing electronic device embodiments, and have similar beneficial effects, therefore they will not be repeated. For technical details not disclosed in the descriptions of the control method embodiments and the computer storage medium embodiments of this application, please refer to the descriptions of the foregoing electronic device embodiments of this application for understanding; to save space, they will not be repeated here.

[0078] It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes that element.

[0079] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as: multiple units or components may be combined, or integrated into another device, or some features may be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling, direct coupling, or communication connection between the various components shown or discussed may be through some interfaces, and the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0080] The units described above as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components displayed as units may or may not be physical units. They may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0081] In addition, each functional unit in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can be set as a separate unit, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit; the integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or in the form of hardware plus software functional units.

[0082] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps of the above method embodiments can be implemented by hardware related to program instructions. The aforementioned program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When the program is executed, it performs the steps of the above method embodiments. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as mobile storage media, read-only memory (ROM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0083] Alternatively, if the integrated units described above are implemented as software functional modules and set up as independent products for sale or use, they can also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, or the parts that contribute to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the methods of the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as mobile storage media, ROM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0084] The above are merely specific embodiments of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An electronic device, characterized in that, The electronic device includes: A Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, wherein the USB interface has a continuous power supply function; A touchpad having at least one button; An embedded controller is connected to a first button among the at least one buttons via a first line, and the embedded controller is connected to the universal serial bus interface via a second line. The embedded controller is used to receive a first signal sent when the first button is operated via the first line, and in response to the first signal, to control the universal serial bus interface to disable or enable the continuous power supply function via the second line.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first line includes: The first sub-line has one end connected to the first interface of the touch panel and the other end connected to the first button, and is used to send the first signal to the first interface when the first button is operated. The second sub-line has one end connected to the first interface and the other end connected to the general-purpose input / output interface of the embedded controller, and is used to send the first signal to the embedded controller.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first line also includes: A first switch, one end of which is connected to a first power supply of the electronic device, is used to disconnect the first line in response to a second signal sent by the first power supply when the electronic device is powered on, so that the embedded controller cannot receive the first signal sent when the first button is operated through the first line; or, in response to a third signal sent by the first power supply when the electronic device is powered off or in sleep mode, the first line is connected, so that the embedded controller can receive the first signal sent when the first button is operated through the first line.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first line also includes: The second power supply provides a high-level current to the embedded controller when the first line is disconnected, so as to control the continuous power supply function to be in the default state.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The electronic device further includes a touchpad integrated chip for controlling the touchpad, the touchpad integrated chip being connected to the first button via a third circuit, the third circuit further including: The first diode is used to block the current generated by the second power supply from leaking to the touch panel integrated chip.

6. A control method, characterized in that, The method operates on an electronic device, the electronic device comprising: a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface having a continuous power supply function; a touchpad having at least one button; and an embedded controller connected to a first button via a first line and connected to the USB interface via a second line; the method includes: In response to the pressing of the first button, a first signal is sent to the embedded controller via the first line; The embedded controller is controlled to respond to the first signal and disable the continuous power supply function of the universal serial bus interface via the second line.

7. The control method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The method further includes: In response to the pressing of the first button, a first signal is sent to the embedded controller via the first line; The embedded controller is controlled to respond to the first signal and enable the continuous power supply function via the second line through the universal serial bus interface.

8. The control method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first line includes: a first sub-line, one end of which is connected to the first interface of the touchpad and the other end of which is connected to the first button, for sending the first signal to the first interface when the first button is operated; and a second sub-line, one end of which is connected to the first interface and the other end of which is connected to the general-purpose input / output interface of the embedded controller, for sending the first signal to the embedded controller. Accordingly, sending the first signal to the embedded controller via the first line includes: A first signal is sent to the embedded controller by pulling down the pin of the first interface.

9. The control method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first circuit of the electronic device further includes a first switch, one end of which is connected to a first power supply of the electronic device. Correspondingly, the control method further includes: In response to a second signal sent when the electronic device is powered on, the first switch is controlled to turn off to cut off the first line, so that the embedded controller cannot receive the first signal sent when the first button is operated through the first line; In response to a third signal sent when the electronic device is in sleep or powered off, the first switch is controlled to close to connect the first line, so that the embedded controller can receive the first signal sent when the first button is operated through the first line.

10. The control method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The method further includes: In response to a second signal sent when the electronic device is powered on, the Universal Serial Bus interface is controlled to enable continuous power supply.

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