Patent ID: 6148345
Filing Date: 2000-11-14
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A computer system comprising:a sound controller for controlling reproduction of sound data, wherein said sound controller comprises sound reproduction means for converting sound data transferred from a memory of said computer system via DMA transfer to said sound controller into an audio signal, and means for externally outputting a second power down signal for setting an analog audio circuit serving as a peripheral circuit of said sound controller to receive an analog audio signal in a power down mode when a first power down signal is received;a DMA controller having means for generating the first power down signal based on end timing of the DMA transfer for transferring the sound data and means for transferring sound data to be reproduced from the memory of said computer system to said sound controller using the DMA transfer; anda power supply circuit for supplying electric power to said analog audio circuit, said power supply circuit switching supply of the electric power to said analog audio circuit in accordance with the second power down signal output from said means for externally outputting,wherein said sound controller comprises a copy register in which a copy of a register value set in the DMA controller of said computer system for the purpose of the DMA transfer of the sound data is written, and said means for generating the second power down signal detects the end timing of the DMA transfer for transferring the sound data in response to a write of the copy of the register value in the DMA controller to said copy register, and a transfer completion signal from the DMA controller.