Information processing apparatus and control method

According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a display device, a main body rotatably connected to the display device and overlapping so as to at least partly face the display device, and a plurality of input devices either on the main body or the display device and covered with the display device when the display device is overlapped. When the display device rotates in a direction of overlapping onto the main body, supply of power source to the operating means is switched off stepwise in an order set in advance, in accordance with an angle between the display device and the main body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-51526, filed Feb. 28, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a power-saving technology for notebook computers, and in particular to an information processing apparatus and a control method by which supply of power source to respective operating equipment can be controlled in accordance with a state of opening and closing of a display.

2. Description of the Related Art

Previously, there has been a technology in which, in a notebook personal computer, an internal power supply, an external power supply, and a system power supply are switched On/OFF based on the detected angle between a main body unit of the computer and its rotational display unit.

In the technology described above, however, it is sometimes difficult or impossible to operate various switches and devices when the angle between the display unit and the main body unit is below a predetermined angle. Thus, when the display unit is in various angular positions, power is consumed needlessly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

First Embodiment

FIG. 1is a perspective view of an information processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The information processing apparatus is realized as a notebook computer10which can be driven by a battery.

As shown inFIG. 1, the computer10is configured of a main body16and a display11. A display device composed of a liquid crystal display (LAD) is built into the display11, and a display screen12of the LAD is positioned in substantially the center of the display11.

The display11is attached to main body16so as to be freely opened and closed between a release position and a lock up position with respect to the computer10. The main body side of the computer10has a thin box type housing. A plurality of input devices are positioned on a top surface of the main body16. For instance, a keyboard13is arranged on a top surface of the housing, and a touch pad14, left and right two buttons14aand14b, and various short cut buttons18such as mail and the like are arranged on a palm rest. Further, an optical drive15and the like are provided at the side faces of the main body16. Moreover, a fingerprint authentication device17is arranged at a lower portion of the display11.

FIG. 2is a block diagram showing a configuration of the computer.

The computer10includes a central processing unit (CPU)20, a Root Complex21, a main memory24, a graphics controller (End Point)23, a PHI Express Link22which connects the Root Complex21and the graphics controller23, the display11, an embedded controller/keyboard controller IC (EBC/KBC)27, a hard disk drive (HDD)25, a BIOS-ROM26, and the fingerprint authentication device17, the keyboard13, the touch pad14, and various shortcut buttons18which are input devices connected to the EBC/KBC27, and an angle detection device19which detects an angle between the main body16and the display11.

The Root Complex21, the graphics controller23, and the like are devices compliant with the PHI EXPRESS standard. Communication between the Root Complex21and the graphics controller23is achieved via the PHI® EXPRESS® Link22arranged between the Root Complex21and the graphics controller23.

The CPU20is a processor which controls operations of the main computer10, and executes various programs (an operating system, application programs) loaded in the main memory24from the HDD25. Further, the CPU20also executes a basic input output system (BIOS) stored in the BIOS-ROM26. The BIOS is a program for controlling hardware.

The Root Complex21is a bridge device which makes a connection between a local bus of the CPU20and the graphics controller23. Further, the Root Complex21also has a function of controlling communications with the graphics controller23via the PHI® EXPRESS® Link22.

The graphics controller23is a display controller which controls the display11used as a display monitor of the main computer.

The EBC/KBC27is a one-chip microcomputer in which an embedded controller for managing power and a keyboard controller for controlling the keyboard13, the touch pad14and the like are integrated. The EBC/KBC27has a function of turning power-ON/OFF of the main computer10in cooperation with a power supply controller depending on an operation of a power button by a user.

Next, a method of controlling an information processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to a flowchart ofFIG. 3.

Note that, in the present embodiment, an operation of closing the panel from a state in which the display (hereinafter called a panel)11is opened will be described with reference to the flowchart ofFIG. 3.

The CPU20of the computer10determines whether or not an angle of the panel11forms, for example, 10° with the main body16on the basis of information from the angle detection device19(block S101: refer toFIG. 4). When the CPU20determines in block S101that the angle of the panel11forms 10° with the main body16(YES in block S101), it is determined whether or not the angle of the panel11forms 5° with the main body16(block S102). When the CPU20determines that the angle of the panel11does not form 5° with the main body16(NO in block S102), supply of power source to the fingerprint authentication device17, the various shortcut buttons18, and some of the upper portion of the keyboard13which are arranged in the areas of areas A1and A2shown inFIG. 5is switched off (block S103). Note that, when supply of power source to these devices is switched off, a plurality of switch units may be provided in one power supply circuit, or a plurality of power supply circuits may be provided.

In summary, according to one embodiment of the invention, the input devices are powered down in a predetermined order based on their proximity to the hinge rotationally coupling display device11to main body16ofFIG. 1. Hence, input devices in areas A1& A2ofFIG. 5become inaccessible sooner than input devices in areas B1& B2ofFIG. 5as display unit11is rotated toward main body16.

On the other hand, when the CPU20determines that the angle of the panel11forms 5° with the main body16(YES in block S102), supply of power source to the LAD12, the keyboard13, and the touch pad14which are arranged in the areas of areas B1and B2shown inFIG. 5is switched off (block S104).

Note that setting of areas in which supply of power source is switched off is not limited to the content described above, and can be set in various ways. Further, when devices whose operations are limited in accordance with an angle between the panel11and the main body16are mounted in addition to the devices such as the touch pad14shown in the present embodiment, the effect of the present invention can be enjoyed by applying the present invention to those devices in the same way.

Next, an operation of opening the panel from a state in which the panel11is closed will be described with reference to a flowchart ofFIG. 6.

The CPU20of the computer10determines whether or not an angle of the panel11forms, for example, 5° with the main body16on the basis of information from the angle detection device19(block S111: refer toFIG. 4). When the CPU20determined in block S111that the angle of the panel11forms 5° with the main body16(YES in block S111), supply of power source to the LAD12, the keyboard13, and the touch pad14which are arranged in the areas of the areas B1and B2shown inFIG. 5is switched on (block S112).

Moreover, the CPU20determines whether or not the angle of the panel11forms 10° with the main body16(block S113). When the CPU20determines that the angle of the panel11forms 10° with the main body16(YES in block S113), supply of power source to the fingerprint authentication device17, the various shortcut buttons18, and some of the upper portion of the keyboard13which are arranged in the areas of the areas A1and A2shown inFIG. 5is switched on (block S114).

In accordance with the above embodiment, it is possible to switch off supply of power source to the various switches and the devices which are made impossible to operate due to the various switches and the devices provided to the main body unit being hidden, stepwise in accordance with an angle of the display unit. On the other hand, it is possible to switch on supply of power source to the various switches and the devices stepwise when the various switches and the devices provided to the main body unit are made possible to operate.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 7and8.

FIG. 7is a perspective view showing a notebook tablet PC serving as an information processing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the invention.

A tablet PC100is configured by: a main body160having a keyboard130, a touch pad140, a hinge portion60serving as a connection portion with a liquid-crystal system movable display120, and the like; and the display120connected so as to be movable to the hinge portion60having various buttons180. In the tablet PC100, the display120is made to be a touch panel, and it is possible to directly carry out operations with respect to the display120by a stylize80or the like.

The display120is rotatable centering around Y-axis on the hinge portion60. Further, the display120can be reclined centering around X-axis. For example, when the display120is reclined with the display surface thereof up, the tablet PC100is made to be a tablet style as shown inFIG. 8. In a case of using the tablet style in this way, for example, a pattern is acceptable in which two users utilize it while looking at the display120.

Also when the tablet PC100is used, setting can be made such that the areas A1, A2, B1, and B2described in the first embodiment, or the like are provided, and supply of power source is switched on/off depending on an angle between the display120and the main body160every area. Consequently, the same effect as that of the first embodiment described above can be achieved.

In the same way, when devices whose operations are limited in accordance with an angle between the display120and the main body are mounted in addition to the devices shown in the embodiment, the effect of the present invention can be achieved by applying the invention to those devices in the same way.

Further, the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and at the stage of implementing the invention, the invention can be embodied by modifying components within a range without departing from the gist of the present invention. Further, various inventions can be made by appropriate combinations of a plurality of components disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, some components may be eliminated from all the components shown in the embodiments. Moreover, the components over the different embodiments may be appropriately combined.