Patent ID: 6625738
Filing Date: 2003-09-23
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
An apparatus for turning on a computer power supply, comprising:a host computer; an input device connected to the host computer through an interface, the interface supplying data and power to the input device; a main power supply to supply power to the host computer; and a sub-power supply to supply power to the input device when the main power supply is in an off state; wherein the host computer comprises wake-up means for turning on the main power supply to power the host computer as a result of a predetermined operation performed at the input device when the main power supply is in the off state, wherein the apparatus further comprises switching means disposed at the interface, wherein when the main power supply is in an on state, the switching means connects a signal line of the host computer and a signal line of the input device, and wherein when the main power supply is in the off state, the switching means switches connection so that the wake-up means and the signal line of the input device are connected together; and wherein when the main power supply is in the off state, and the predetermined operation is performed at the input device, a start-up signal generated by the wake-up means is applied to the main power supply to turn on the main power supply, whereby the switching means switches connections so that the signal line of the host computer and the signal line of the input device are connected together, wherein the interface comprises four signal lines: a universal serial bus standard power supply line, a first signal line, a second signal line, and a ground line; and wherein the wake-up means comprises first comparing means for detecting whether a value of the first signal line is at least a predetermined standard value, second comparing means for detecting whether a value of the second signal line is at least the predetermined standard value, and an AND circuit logically ANDing the first comparing means and the second comparing means, with the main power supply being turned on when an output of the AND circuit reaches a predetermined value, and wherein when the predetermined operation is performed at the input device, H signals of a first predetermined pulse width are output to both the first signal line and the second signal line, after which the H signals with a second predetermined pulse width of at least the first predetermined pulse width are output from the AND circuit to turn on the main power supply.