Patent ID: 6202161
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A power-up security control apparatus for a computer system having a mainboard circuitry, a power supply, and a keyboard, the apparatus comprising:a keyboard input data decoder for receiving and decoding keyboard signals;a buffer connected to an output of the keyboard input data decoder for storing the decoded keyboard signals in a pre-determined format;a password memory for storing a password used to power up the computer system;a comparing unit having inputs connected to the output of the buffer and the password memory, the comparing unit comparing the decoded keyboard signals and the password and generating a matching condition signal indicating whether the decoded keyboard signals and the password match; anda power supply control unit comprising a logic circuitry and receiving the matching condition signal and subsequently generating a control signal based on a result of a logical operation performed by the logic circuitry on both a matching condition and a status of a main power switch of the computer system, in order to control the power supply of the computer system.