Abstract:
A computer power supply, motherboard, and computer system each is adapted for providing multiple operating functions. Of particular importance is an energy-conserving operating function that eliminates any unnecessary energy waste and annoying noise, while allowing information processing to continue, as opposed to (1) a conventional operating state that inevitably incurs substantial energy waste and annoying noise, and to (2) a conventional suspend state that idles and deactivates information processing essentially. Of anther importance is an operating system for selectively executing a power-down process to an energy-conserving operating function and a power-up process to a full operating function. The combination of the computer power supply, the motherboard, the computer system, and the operating system provides the following distinct exemplary advantages: (1) greatly extending the battery life of a notebook or laptop computer, as a result of eliminating unnecessary energy waste during operation, (2) eliminating any annoying noise as a result of substantial energy conservation that in turn eliminates the need of cooling, and (3) affording an independent operating function to allow a user to instantly, energy-conservatively, and noise-freely play an audio disc in a CD drive without booting up the computer system.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to energy-conserving apparatus and operating system having multiple operating functions, and more particularly to a computer power supply, a motherboard, a computer system, and an operating system for providing (1) an energy-conserving operating function to eliminate unnecessary energy waste and annoying noise, while allowing information processing to continue and extending the life of battery especially during the course of operation, and (2) an independent operating function to allow the energy-conserving apparatus to instantly, energy-conservatively, and noise-freely perform some operations (for instance, to play an audio CD or a DVD, or to duplicate information) without a tedious, time-consuming boot/shutdown process which is otherwise necessary in conventional practice.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Nowadays, a computer is often designed to be able to enter several states such as a normal operating state, a standby state, a suspend state, and a shutdown state. In accordance with conventional practice, these states basically render a conventional computer either operable or inoperable in terms of processing information or performing computation. In the normal operating state, a conventional power supply outputs substantial energy for consumption in its host computer in order to perform information processing or to remain operable consistently. The normal operating function consumes substantial energy and requires assistance from cooling fans to dissipate heat generated from a CPU (or microprocessor) and other electronic elements, thus subsequently incurring unpleasant or annoying noise. The more powerful is the CPU, the more concern will be on heat dissipation and energy waste as well as annoying noise. Energy waste is particularly the most concerned issue for a notebook, laptop, or other portable computer when external AC power is not available.  
           [0003]    In the shutdown state, a conventional computer is clearly inoperable and consumes no power or very little if a keyboard-power-on function is enabled. Although energy waste is eliminated, a computer placed in the shutdown state requires a tedious, time-consuming boot process to regain its normal operating function. On the other hand, the standby or the suspend state is provided for exiting the normal operating state temporarily in order to conserve energy. Both states are often referred to as the so-called sleep state in general. U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,879 defines that as compared with the standby state, the suspend state conserves extra power by saving the activities of a computer to its hard-disk drive so as to deactivate a conventional computer further. In a newer version of Windows&#39; operating systems, this approach is used in the so-called hibernation process, which requires a slightly longer time to restore the previous activities as compared with a regular boot process. In contrast to the conventional practice, Applicant&#39;s pending application Ser. No. 09/293,089 filed on Apr. 16, 1999 discloses an energy-conserving motherboard and computer each comprising keep-alive random access memory for saving previous activities thereto and thus rendering the energy-conserving computer instantly accessible from the suspend state. The so-called STR (i.e., Suspend To Ram) motherboards and the so-called IAPCs (i.e., instant accessible PCs or computers) currently produced are respectively the energy-conserving motherboard and computer disclosed in Applicant&#39;s pending application Ser. No. 09/293,089. While there are some differences in energy savings and quickness in returning to operation between the standby and the suspend states, a conventional computer placed into either state is deemed inoperable because information processing is basically ceased and requires a wakeup process to resume to the normal operating state.  
           [0004]    Similarly, although providing these different states, a conventional operating system allows a computer only to operate or not to operate. Again, the standby or the suspend state provided by the conventional operating system basically disables the normal operating function in order to accomplish energy conservation while offers a quicker return to operation as compared with the shutdown state or the hibernating state. In other words, the conventional operating system accomplishes some energy conservation by idling computation or disabling information processing. Essentially, neither state allows information to be processed or computation to be performed. Consequently, the selection between conserving energy and processing information is constantly in a dilemma, because there exists no other alternative in between. For example, a user has to go through a tedious, time-consuming boot process even if it is simply to play an audio CD. Once booted, the conventional computer entered the normal operating state has to consume substantial energy mostly wasted and to incur annoying noise in order to dissipate the heat generated from the energy wastes. At the end of playing, another tedious, time-consuming shutdown process is further necessary. In view of these inconvenience and disadvantages, a user is then forced to additionally purchase a standalone CD player for the same purpose of reproducing digital music. Another similar dilemma is to play a DVD in the conventional computer.  
           [0005]    Conventional wisdom keeps pushing for high-power microprocessors and faster computers, even though they are already speedy enough. Similarly, conventional operating systems become sophisticated enough for conserving energy but only in the standby or the suspend state. Thus, energy waste will remain increasingly substantial and uncontrollable in the normal operating state as a microprocessor becomes more powerful and power hungry. Previously, Applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,175 discloses energy-conserving power-supply systems. Unlike the conventional wisdom, Applicant&#39;s present invention for the first time identifies several unrecognized problems: (1) no operating system is able to eliminate energy waste in the operating state, (2) no computer power supply is capable of providing an energy-conserving operating function to a desktop computer without incurring unpleasant and annoying noise, (3) no motherboard is designed to have an energy-conserving operating function to allow information processing to continue without incurring unnecessary energy waste, (4) neither a notebook nor portable computer can extend the life of battery by eliminating unnecessary energy waste during operation, (5) neither a desktop nor portable computer allows a user to play an audio CD without requiring a tedious, time-consuming boot and then shutdown process, and without incurring necessary energy waste as well as annoying noise. Also for the first time, Applicant&#39;s present invention further solves these unrecognized problems and provides solutions to unworkable operating systems. Especially solved here are: (1) to provide an operating system to eliminate unnecessary energy waste during operation, (2) to provide a computer power supply with an energy-conserving operating function and an independent operating function as well, (3) to provide an energy-conserving motherboard with multiple operating functions for allowing a computer to conserve energy while in operation, as well as to eliminate the need of shutting down and rebooting, (4) to provide a notebook or portable computer capable of extending its battery life by eliminating unnecessary energy waste especially during operation, (5) to provide a desktop or a notebook computer capable of playing an audio CD or DVD without requiring a tedious, time-consuming boot/shutdown process and without incurring unnecessary energy waste as well as annoying noise, for the first time.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    Accordingly, a first primary preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a computer power-supply system comprising (a) a first DC power supply for providing a first operating function to a computer, (b) cooling means coupled to the first DC power supply, (c) a second DC power supply for providing a second operating function in which the cooling means does not have to be activated, (d) a third DC power supply for providing a standby function in which at least the first DC power supply is deactivated, (e) power output connector means for respectively outputting the first DC power supply, the second DC power supply, and the third DC power supply, and (f) control means for selectively activating the first DC power supply, the second DC power supply, and the third DC power supply to output various DC power at least to the power output connector means so as to respectively provide the first operating function, the second operating function, and the standby function to the computer. Preferably afforded is means for providing the first DC power supply, the second DC power supply, and the third DC power supply, wherein the means for providing comprises at least one power provider selected from the group consisting of non-rechargeable battery, rechargeable battery, power-generating circuitry for generating DC power from AC power, and their combinations. The power-generating circuitry is provided for inputting AC power and for converting the AC power selectively to the first DC power supply, the second DC power supply, the third DC power supply and their combinations, preferably with respective power ratings. The cooling means may comprise at least one cooling fan rendered temperature sensitive so as to be actuated only when the temperature of computer power-supply system exceeds a preset value. The power output connector means comprises (i) a first connector means connectable with a computer motherboard (or system board) for outputting at least the first DC power supply and the third DC power supply thereto; (ii) a plurality of second connector means coupled to the first DC power supply, each for establishing power connection with a peripheral device in communication with the computer motherboard; and (iii) at least one third connector means each coupled to the first DC power supply and the second DC power supply; and wherein the control means is adapted to comprise (i) a first means signal-actuatable for deactivating both the first DC power supply and the second DC power supply to provide only the standby function to the first connector means, and (ii) a second means manually-operable for activating the second DC power supply to provide only the second operating function to the at least one third connector means. The control means is adapted in a manner for selectively activating the first DC power supply, the second DC power supply, the third DC power supply and any of their combinations, i.e., either alone or at any of the combinations at the same time. Preferably, the control means is adapted in a manner (i) for activating the first DC power supply, the second DC power supply and the third DC power supply at the same time to provide a full operating function, (ii) for activating the second DC power supply and the third DC power supply but not for activating the first DC power supply to provide an energy-conserving operating function, (iii) for activating only the second DC power supply to provide an independent energy-conserving operating function, and (iv) for activating only the third DC power supply to provide the standby function. The control means is further adapted for activating the second DC power supply at a condition selected from the group consisting of when the first DC power supply is activated or deactivated, when the third DC power supply is activated or deactivated, and their combinations, so as to allow a peripheral device coupled to the second DC power supply to proceed with the second operating function at various conditions. The control means may be energized by the third DC power supply, standby power, or keep-alive power so as to allow at least the first operating function to be reactuatable.  
           [0007]    A second primary preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide an energy-conserving computer motherboard having multiple operating functions, comprising: (a) first power-distributing circuitry actuatable for providing a first operating function, wherein the first power-distributing circuitry is arranged for establishing power connection with main microprocessor circuitry and/or with means for cooling the main microprocessor circuitry; (b) second power-distributing circuitry actuatable for providing a second operating function to allow information processing to proceed without activating the main microprocessor circuitry and/or the means for cooling; and (c) control means for selectively activating the first power-distributing circuitry and the second power-distributing circuitry, so as to respectively provide the first operating function and the second operating function. Preferably, the second power-distributing circuitry is arranged (1) for establishing power connection further with random access memory circuitry, nonvolatile memory storage, and auxiliary video circuitry, so as to render the energy-conserving motherboard energy-conserving, less noisy, and fully operable for processing information, yet without activating the first power-distributing circuitry; and (2) for establishing power connection further with audio circuitry so as to provide the second operating function for allowing audio information processing to be produced when the first power-distributing circuitry is activated or deactivated. Further comprised is third power-distributing circuitry for providing a standby function in which both the first power-distributing circuitry and the second power-distributing circuitry are deactivated, wherein the third power-distributing circuitry is arranged for establishing power connection with standby circuitry so as to reactivate at least one of the first operating function and the second operating function. Further comprised is fourth power-distributing circuitry coupled to an external input means for providing a keyboard-power-on function therefrom, wherein the fourth power-distributing circuitry is arranged for establishing power connection with the control means so as to be responsive to a boot-request signal from the external input means for activating the first power-distributing circuitry from a shutdown state in which the first power-distributing circuitry, the second power-distributing circuitry and the third power-distributing circuitry are all deactivated. The third power-distributing circuitry is arranged for establishing power connection with (1) audio circuitry so as to allow the standby function to produce audio information; and with (2) keep-alive memory circuitry for storing information needed to selectively resume the previous activities of the first operating function or the second operating function. The control means is adapted in a manner for (1) activating the second power-distributing circuitry to provide the second operating function when the standby circuitry receives an incoming communication signal; and (2) activating the second power-distributing circuitry at a condition selected from the group consisting of when the first power-distributing circuitry is activated or deactivated, when the third power-distributing circuitry is activated or deactivated, and their combinations. The control means is further rendered in a manner for selectively (i) activating the first power-distributing circuitry, the second power-distributing circuitry and the third power-distributing circuitry at the same time to provide a full operating function; (ii) activating the second power-distributing circuitry and the third power-distributing circuitry without activating the first power-distributing circuitry to provide an energy-conserving operating function; (iii) activating only the second power-distributing circuitry to provide an independent energy-conserving operating function; and (iv) activating only the third power-distributing circuitry to provide the standby function. Alternatively, the control means is adapted for (1) deactivating the first power-distributing circuitry when detecting an activity of the main microprocessor circuitry is below a preset value; and (2) activating the first power-distributing circuitry when detecting the activity of auxiliary microprocessor circuitry is above a preset value. The control means comprises a first means actuatable in response to a signal for selectively activating or deactivating the first power-distributing circuitry and a second means manually-operable for selectively activating or deactivating the second power-distributing circuitry.  
           [0008]    A third primary preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide an energy-conserving computer system having multiple operating functions, comprising: (a) a first group of circuitry actuatable for providing a first operating function, wherein the first group of circuitry comprises main microprocessor circuitry and/or means for cooling the main microprocessor circuitry; (b) a second group of circuitry actuatable for providing a second operating function that does not require to activate the main microprocessor circuitry and/or the means for cooling; (c) a third group of circuitry actuatable for providing a standby function, wherein the third group of circuitry comprises standby circuitry for rendering at least the first group of circuitry resumable to previous activities; (d) power providing means for providing power to the first group of circuitry, the second group of circuitry, and the third group of circuitry; and (e) control means for controlling the power providing means to selectively activate the first group of circuitry, the second group of circuitry, and the third group of circuitry, so as to respectively provide the first operating function, the second operating function, and the standby function. Preferably, the second group of circuitry is adapted to comprise auxiliary microprocessor circuitry, volatile memory storage, nonvolatile memory storage (such as battery-powered random-access memory, at least one hard-disk drive, at least one optical disc drive, and their combinations), and auxiliary video circuitry, so that the information-processing apparatus is rendered energy-conserving, less noisy, and fully operable, yet without requiring to activate the main microprocessor circuitry and the means for cooling. The power providing means comprises at least one power provider selected from the group consisting of non-rechargeable battery, rechargeable battery, power circuitry for generating various DC power from AC power, and their combinations, for providing a first DC power supply, a second DC power supply, a third DC power supply, and their power combinations respectively to the first group of circuitry, the second group of circuitry, the third group of circuitry, and their group combinations. Preferably, the power providing means comprises rechargeable battery and the control means is adapted in a manner for controlling the rechargeable battery not to energize the first group of circuitry when detecting an activity of the main microprocessor circuitry is below a preset value, so as to conserve the power of the rechargeable battery for use in conjunction with a notebook or portable computer. The control means is further adapted for controlling the power providing means in such a manner as (1) to deactivate the first group of circuitry when detecting an activity of the main microprocessor circuitry is below a preset value and (2) to activate the first group of circuitry when detecting an activity of auxiliary microprocessor circuitry is above a preset value. The control means is further adapted selectively for (i) activating the first group of circuitry, the second group of circuitry, and the third group of circuitry at the same time to provide a full operating function, (ii) activating the second group of circuitry and the third group of circuitry without activating the first group of circuitry to provide an energy-conserving operating function, (iii) activating only the second group of circuitry to provide an independent energy-conserving operating function, and (iv) activating only the third group of circuitry to provide the standby function. Comprised in the control means are (i) a first means actuatable in response to a signal for controlling the power providing means to selectively activate or deactivate the first group of circuitry and (ii) a second means manually-operable for controlling the power providing means to selectively activate or deactivate the second group of circuitry. The standby circuitry comprises (i) keep-alive or standby random access memory (energized by battery or standby power) for storing task information of previous activities to be resumed, and (ii) control circuitry responsive to a reactivating signal for reactivating the task information. Preferably, a central processor unit is provided to comprise the main microprocessor circuitry comprised in the first group of circuitry and the auxiliary microprocessor circuitry comprised in the second group of circuitry. An optical disc drive and a fourth group of circuitry can be provided and arranged for providing a music playing function at a condition when the first group of circuitry, the second group of circuitry, and the third group of circuitry are all deactivated. Similarly, two optical disc drives can be arranged for providing a read and write function therebetween. The means for cooling can be rendered temperature sensitive so as to be actuated only when the temperature of a preselected area exceeds a preset value.  
           [0009]    A fourth primary preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide an operating system for controlling an activity of an information-processing apparatus having main microprocessor circuitry and/or auxiliary microprocessor circuitry, the operating system comprising the instructions of: (a) monitoring an activity of the main microprocessor circuitry or the auxiliary microprocessor circuitry; (b) comparing the activity with a preset value; (c) deactivating the main microprocessor circuitry, if the activity has a value smaller than the preset value; and (d) activating the main microprocessor circuitry, if the activity has a value greater than the preset value. Further comprised are additional instructions (1) for activating the auxiliary microprocessor circuitry if the activity has a value greater than zero but smaller than the preset value, wherein the preset value is greater than zero; (2) for deactivating the auxiliary microprocessor circuitry if the activity has a value of zero; (3) for saving any modified files to nonvolatile memory storage, when deactivating the auxiliary microprocessor circuitry; (4) for saving the activities of the information-processing apparatus to keep-alive random access memory if to request the deactivating of the auxiliary microprocessor circuitry; (5) for activating the main microprocessor circuitry if detecting a request signal; (6) for activating the main microprocessor circuitry only if the activity has a time value greater than a preset time value; and (7) for deactivating the main microprocessor circuitry and for activating the auxiliary microprocessor circuitry if the activity has a value greater than zero, but not greater than the preset value. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an energy-conserving power-supply system capable of providing multiple operating functions to a conventional computer, in accordance with a first primary preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an energy-conserving motherboard powered by a conventional computer power supply, in accordance with second and third primary preferred embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an energy-conserving computer comprising energy-conserving power-supply system and energy-conserving motherboard for providing multiple operating functions, in accordance with first, second and third primary preferred embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operating system for controlling an energy-conserving computer to selectively operate at a full operating state and an energy-conserving operating state, in accordance with a forth primary preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]    A first primary preferred embodiment of the present invention is to provide a computer power-supply system for affording multiple operating functions to a hosting computer. Of particular importance is to provide an energy-conserving operating function and/or an independent operating function, in addition to a normal (or full) operating function, so as to eliminate unnecessary energy waste while allowing information processing or computation to continue to proceed.  
         [0015]    Referring now to FIG. 1, illustrated is a block diagram of an energy-conserving power-supply system  110  of the present invention to power a conventional motherboard  170  and several peripheral drives shown in an energy-conserving computer system  100 . Comprised in energy-conserving power-supply system  110  are an AC-power receptacle  111  for receiving AC power from a wall AC outlet  103  (i.e., an external AC source) controllably to an AC outlet  113  and a power circuit board  120 . In power connection to power circuit board  120  is a battery  112  for providing backup power when the AC power is suddenly absent. For facilitating illustration, power circuit board  120  is defined to comprise a power generating circuit  130  and a control circuit  140 . Collectively, battery  112  and power-generating circuit  130  are defined as a power provider  115  hereinafter because of having the same function, i.e., providing power. Comprised in power-generating circuit  130  are a TRF circuit  135  for performing power transformation, rectification and filtering, a first DC power supply circuit  131  for providing a first DC power supply  141 , a second DC power supply circuit  132  for a second DC power supply  142 , and a third DC power supply circuit  133  for a third DC power supply  143 . Control circuit  140 , which may include a pulse-width modulator (PWM) element, is adapted (1) for comparing output voltage sample to a reference voltage and generating error voltages to respective DC power supply circuits  131 - 133  and (2) for controlling switches  141 R- 143 R to selectively activate first DC power supply  141 , second DC power supply  142 , third DC power supply  143  and their combinations. Switches  141 R- 143 R are shown here for simplifying illustration, as they may be replaced by switching transistors (such as NPN, PNP, FET, and their combinations) and arranged in such a manner as to selectively enable the first, the second, and the third DC power supply circuits  131 - 133  to receive power input from TFR circuit  135 . Control circuit  140  also controls a switch  144 R to selectively output AC power to AC outlet  113  for energizing a monitor  150  only when entering a normal or full operating state.  
         [0016]    First DC power supply  141  selectively actuatable by switch  141 R provides a first operating function, only when full power is needed, through a plurality of connectors connected to a conventional motherboard  170 , a hard-disk drive  151 , a floppy-disk drive  152 , and an enclosed cooling fan  119 . Second DC power supply  142  selectively actuatable by switch  142 R provides a second operating function through an output connector  142 A to a CD drive  153 . Preferably, output connector  142 A is color coded or printed with identified letters such as for use with a CD drive or for indicating an energy-conserving or independent operating function. Third DC power supply  143  selectively actuatable by switch  143 R provides a third operating function, when entering a standby state that requires very limited power, to conventional motherboard  170 . The third operating function, which may be called as a standby function here, provides standby power for allowing energy-conserving computer system  100  to be resumable especially to the previous activities of the first operating function when receiving a request signal from an external input means such as a keyboard  154 , a mouse  155 , or a phone line  156 . Energy-conserving power-supply system  110  has a main connector  171  (with 20 pins or the so-called ATX-type connector) coupled to the first DC power supply and the third DC power supply respectively through power lines  141 H and  143 L, which is connectable (and currently connected) to conventional motherboard  170  for providing several power ratings thereto. Note that line  141 H includes several power lines for providing ±12 VDC, ±5 VDC, powergood, and ground, while  143 L mainly includes +5VSB for the standby function. The main connector also comprises a control line  145 C for receiving +3.3Vsense from conventional motherboard  170  to power circuit board  120  so as to allow control circuit  145  to selectively provide the first operating function when requested. A CPU cooling fan  179  is arranged to received the first DC power supply through line  141 H, so as to cease rotation when the first operating function is not provided. As a result, there is no unnecessary annoying noise incurred by CPU cooling fan  179  and cooling fan  119 .  
         [0017]    Output connector  142 A is further arranged in such a manner as to receive first DC power supply  141  when the first operating function is provided. Consequently, CD drive  153  is operable selectively either when the first operating function or when the second operating function is provided. Especially, when the first operating function is not provided, the second operating function becomes independent. Preferably, energy-conserving power-supply system is substantially enclosed or installed in a computer case or housing  105 . Further disposed on the external side of computer case  105  is a manually-operable means  146  for independently activating second DC power supply  142  through requesting control circuit  145  to actuate switch  142 R. Alternatively, switch  142 R may be integrated into manually-operable means  146  to directly control the provision of second DC power supply  142 . In this case, if first DC power supply  141  needs to be actuatable, the standby power from third DC power supply circuit  133  should be also provided to control circuit  145  unless another power supply is further provided. When installed in computer case  105 , the energy-conserving power-supply system of the present preferred embodiment becomes the so-called computer housing (or case) system (with an enclosed power supply) or computer barebone system products. However, a computer housing system or barebone system of the present invention is capable of providing multiple operating functions, for the first time. Specifically, manually-operable means  146  allows CD drive  153  to play audio CD for producing music through an outlet to an earphone or further connected to speakers (not shown), even when energy-conserving computer system  100  (or the computer case or the computer barebone system) is in a shutdown state.  
         [0018]    In brief, energy-conserving power-supply system  110  comprises (a) a first DC power supply for providing a first operating function to a computer, (b) cooling means coupled to the first DC power supply, (c) a second DC power supply for providing a second operating function that does not require to activate the cooling means, (d) a third DC power supply actuatable for providing a standby function to replace at least the first operating function, so as to allow at least the first DC power supply to be deactivated for not providing the first operating function and to be reactuatable for providing the first operating function, (e) power output connector means for respectively outputting the first DC power supply, the second DC power supply, and the third DC power supply, and (f) control means for selectively activating the first DC power supply, the second DC power supply, and the third DC power supply to the power output connector means so as to respectively provide the first operating function, the second operating function, and the standby function to the computer.  
         [0019]    Preferably, energy-conserving power-supply system  110  is adapted to comprise means  115  for providing the first DC power supply, the second DC power supply, and the third DC power supply, wherein the means for providing comprises at least one power provider selected from the group consisting of non-rechargeable battery, rechargeable battery, power-generating circuitry for generating DC power from AC power, and any of their combinations. As controlled by the control means, the power-generating circuitry is provided for inputting AC power and for converting the AC power selectively to the first DC power supply, the second DC power supply, the third DC power supply and their combinations, preferably with respective power ratings. In general, the first DC power supply, the second DC power supply, and the third DC power supply are adapted to be in a decreasing sequence of power ratings. Cooling fan  119  can be further rendered temperature-sensitive so as to be actuated only when the temperature of energy-conserving power-supply system exceeds a preset value.  
         [0020]    The control means is adapted in a manner for selectively activating the first DC power supply, the second DC power supply, the third DC power supply and any of their combinations, either alone or at the same time. Preferably, the control means is further adapted in a manner selectively (i) for activating the first DC power supply, the second DC power supply and the third DC power supply at the same time to provide a full operating function, (ii) for activating the second DC power supply and the third DC power supply but deactivating the first DC power supply to provide an energy-conserving operating function, (iii) for activating only the second DC power supply to provide an independent energy-conserving operating function, and (iv) for activating only the third DC power supply to provide the standby function. The control means is further adapted to activate the second DC power supply at a condition selected from the group consisting of when the first DC power supply is activated or deactivated, when the third DC power supply is activated or deactivated, and their combinations, so as to allow a peripheral device (currently CD drive  153 ) coupled to the second DC power supply to proceed with the second operating function at various conditions. The control means comprises a first switching means actuatable in response to a request signal for selectively activating or deactivating the first DC power supply and a second switching means manually-operable for selectively activating or deactivating the second DC power supply.  
         [0021]    Consequently, energy-conserving power-supply system  110  of the present invention allows a user to enjoy music with the following advantages: (1) elimination of unnecessary energy waste because of no need to power up its hosting computer, (2) convenience and time saving at least for instant enjoyment of music without requiring a tedious and time-consuming boot/shutdown process which otherwise is an essential step in accordance with the conventional practice, (3) more pleasant enjoyment because of no annoying noise from cooling fans when the second operating function or the standby function is provided, and (4) substantial cost savings because of eliminating the need to purchase a standalone CD player. an energy-conserving computer system  200  utilizing.  
         [0022]    Referring now to FIG. 2, in accordance with a second primary preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated is a block diagram showing an energy-conserving motherboard (or system board)  270  powered by a conventional power-supply system  210 , which forms an energy-conserving computer  200  having multiple operating functions.  
         [0023]    Comprised in conventional power-supply system  210  are an AC-power receptacle  211  for receiving AC power from a wall AC outlet  203 , a cooling fan  219  and a power circuit board  220  which has a TRF circuit  235 , a main power supply circuit  231 , a standby power supply circuit  232 , and a control circuit  245 , for providing main DC power and standby power. If used in conjunction with a conventional motherboard, the main DC power of conventional power-supply system  210  provides only a normal operating state in which full consumption of power proceeds regardless of whether information processing is ceased or in operation. Only when entering the standby or suspend state, the main DC power is deactivated and replaced by the standby power. As a result, the conventional computer cannot conserve energy in the normal operating state.  
         [0024]    While conventional wisdom keeps pushing for high-power microprocessors and faster computers, Applicant perceives that the need for high-power computation is often momentary. Specifically, after a computer is booted and information is loaded, a user will spend most of the time in reading or writing that is at a speed not even comparable with a slowest computer. There is no rational logic to waste full power for maintaining the high-power microprocessor in operation all the time. Thus, for the first time, it is the present invention to provide energy-conserving motherboard  270  with an energy-conserving operating function in which unnecessary high-power computation, unnecessary energy waste, and unnecessary annoying noise are all eliminated.  
         [0025]    With the advent of energy-conserving motherboard  270  in accordance with the second primary preferred embodiment, for the first time, it is possible to conserve energy while a computer is in operation. Specifically, energy-conserving motherboard  270  provides multiple operating functions, instead of a single normal operating function used in the conventional practice. This is achieved by adapting energy-conserving motherboard  270  to comprise first power-distributing circuitry  270 H for providing a first operating function, second power-distributing circuitry  270 L for providing a second operating function, and control means, which is totally different from conventional motherboard  170  shown in FIG. 1 from the view point of power distributing and characteristics. Energy-conserving motherboard  270  is connectable for receiving typical main power  231 H and standby power  232 S through a main power connector  271  (with 20 pins) of conventional power-supply system  210 . In contrast to the conventional motherboard, energy-conserving motherboard  270  eliminates any power consumption in the area confined within first power-distributing circuitry  270 H when entering the second operating function.  
         [0026]    For improving illustration, note that all of the elements or circuitry disposed on energy-conserving motherboard  270  are categorized into three groups in terms of power consumption, i.e., a first group, a second group, and a third group of circuitry with reference numerals ended with “H,” “L,” and “S,” for respectively associating with first, second, and third power-distributing circuitry.  
         [0027]    First power-distributing circuitry  270 H is arranged for establishing power connection with main microprocessor circuitry  272 H for performing computation and means  289  (which may include two fans) for cooling main microprocessor circuitry  272 H during the computation. Further connected to first power-distributing circuitry  270 H are main volatile memory storage (or RAM)  223 H, main video circuitry  274 H, expansion slots (for input/output)  275 H- 278 H, and other connectors for connecting buses  252 N and  253 N respectively to a floppy-disk drive  252  and a CD drive  253 . Second power-distributing circuitry  270 L provides a second operating function in which first power-distributing circuitry  270 H is deactivated, wherein second power-distributing circuitry is arranged not for establishing power connection with main microprocessor circuitry  272 H and means  289  for cooling. Instead, second power-distributing circuitry  270 L is arranged for establishing power connection with auxiliary microprocessor circuitry for performing low speed computation, in which power consumption is considerably lower than first power-distributing circuitry  270 H as power-hungry main microprocessor circuitry  272 H and its means  289  for cooling are deactivated. Second power-distributing circuitry is further arranged for establishing power connection with auxiliary volatile memory storage (or RAM)  223 L, standby RAM  223 S, nonvolatile memory storage which may be battery-powered RAM (random-access memory) and/or hard-disk drive  251  connected through a connecting bus  251 N, and auxiliary video circuitry  274 L which has less memory and thus a lower speed in processing video information, so that the energy-conserving motherboard is rendered fully operable by a user to play a DVD, yet consumes much less energy and incurs no annoying noise during operation through deactivating first power-distributing circuitry  270 H.  
         [0028]    Further comprised is third power-distributing circuitry  270 S for providing a standby function in which first power-distributing circuitry  270 H and second power-distributing circuitry  270 L are deactivated, so as to not establish power connection at least with main microprocessor circuitry  272 H and means  289  for cooling. Instead, third power-distributing circuitry  270 S is arranged for establishing power connection with standby circuitry for reactivating at least one of first power-distributing circuitry  270 H and second power-distributing circuitry  270 L, especially to resume previous activities associated with either first operating function or second operating function. The standby circuitry comprises control circuitry  273 , standby RAM  223 S for serving as keep-alive memory to store task information needed for resuming the previous activities (associated with either the first operating function or the second operating function), a communication card  279 S, and external input means such as keyboard  254  and mouse  255  manually operable for reactivating the previous activities.  
         [0029]    Optionally comprised is power-distributing circuitry  270 B coupled to keyboard  254  and arranged for establishing power connection with part of control circuitry  273 , and to power circuit board  220  (through a control line  232 C), for providing a boot function therefrom. The part of control circuitry  273  utilizes 720 mA of power to enable a keyboard-power-on function, i.e., allowing a boot-request signal to be sent from keyboard  254  for activating first power-distributing circuitry  270 H from a shutdown state in which first power-distributing circuitry  270 H, second power-distributing circuitry  270 L and third power-distributing circuitry  270 S are all deactivated. Normally, the 720 mA of power is provided by 5.0VSB that vanishes if AC power or main power connector  271  is unplugged for a certain period of time and so will the keyboard-power-on function.  
         [0030]    The control means is provided for selectively activating first power-distributing circuitry  270 H and second power-distributing circuitry  270 L, so as to respectively provide the first operating function and the second operating function. It is adapted to comprise control circuitry  273  coupled to receive main DC power from main power connector  271 . Though may be in different configurations, control circuitry  273  shown in FIG. 2 is arranged for providing both the standby function (by activating third power-distributing circuitry  273 S) as well as the control function described hereafter. With respect to the control function, control circuitry  273  is adapted to comprise switching transistors (such as NPN, PNP, FET, and their combinations) forming a first means actuatable (integrated in control circuitry  273 ) in response to a signal for selectively activating or deactivating first power-distributing circuitry  270 H and a second means  281  (disposed on the outside of computer case  205 ) manually-operable for selectively requesting and/or activating or deactivating second power-distributing circuitry  270 L. Consequently, control circuitry  273  is adapted for providing (1) a first DC power supply to first power-distributing circuitry  270 H for establishing power connection with main microprocessor circuitry  272 H, means  289  for cooling, and other corresponding circuitry, so as to provide the first operating function, (2) a second DC power supply to second power-distributing circuitry for establishing power connection with auxiliary microprocessor circuitry  272 L, auxiliary video circuitry  274 L, and other corresponding circuitry, so as to provide the second operating function, and (3) a third DC power supply to third power-distributing circuitry  270 S for establishing power connection with external input means, communication card  279 S, and standby RAM  223 S, so as to provide the standby function.  
         [0031]    Control circuitry  273  is further adapted in a manner (1) for monitoring an activity of main microprocessor circuitry  272 H when the first operating function is provided, and for deactivating first power-distributing circuitry  270 H when detecting the activity of main microprocessor circuitry  272 H is below a preset value, and (2) for monitoring an activity of auxiliary microprocessor circuitry  272 L when the second operating function is provided, and for activating first power-distributing circuitry  270 H when detecting the activity of auxiliary microprocessor circuitry is above a preset value. Preferably, the control means is adapted in a manner for activating second power-distributing circuitry  270 L to provide the second operating function when standby circuitry  270 S receives an incoming communication signal, which does not require high-power computation. It is further adapted in a manner for activating second power-distributing circuitry  270 L at a condition selected from the group consisting of when first power-distributing circuitry  270 H is activated or deactivated, when third power-distributing circuitry  270 S is activated or deactivated, and their combinations. Alternatively, the function of energy-conserving computer system  200  is provided by increasing or decreasing the number of power-distributing circuitry to be activated. Thus, the control means is further adapted in a manner for selectively (i) activating first power-distributing circuitry  270 H, second power-distributing circuitry  270 L and third power-distributing circuitry  270 S at the same time to provide a full operating function, (ii) activating second power-distributing circuitry  270 L and third power-distributing circuitry  270 S without activating first power-distributing circuitry  270 H to provide an energy-conserving operating function, (iii) activating only second power-distributing circuitry  270 L to provide an independent energy-conserving operating function, and (iv) activating only third power-distributing circuitry  270 S to provide the standby function.  
         [0032]    Referring now to FIG. 3, in accordance with first, second, third primary preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrated is a block diagram of an energy-conserving computer system  300  (i.e., an information-processing apparatus) utilizing an energy-conserving power-supply system  310  and energy-conserving motherboard  370 .  
         [0033]    In accordance with the first primary preferred embodiment, FIG. 3 shows energy-conserving power-supply system  310  comprising (a) a first DC power supply  341  for providing a first operating function, (b) a cooling fan  319  coupled to first DC power supply  341 , (c) a second DC power supply  342  for providing a second operating function that does not require to activate first DC power supply  341 , (d) a third DC power supply  343  for providing an independent operating function that does not require to activate both first DC power supply  341  and second DC power supply  342 , (e) controlled AC power to AC outlet  313  then to a monitor  350 , and (f) control means (including a control circuit  345  and switch means  341 R- 343 R) for selectively activating first DC power supply  341 , second DC power supply  342 , third DC power supply  343 , and their combinations to various power output connectors, so as to respectively provide the first operating function, the second operating function, the standby function, and their combinations to the energy-conserving computer system  300 . The control means are further arranged in a manner for activating only second DC power supply  342  to power output connectors  353 A and  353 B and to an independent power-distributing circuitry  370   i  (on energy-conserving motherboard  370 ) so as to provide an independent energy-conserving operating function for playing an audio CD.  
         [0034]    In accordance with the second primary preferred embodiments, FIG. 3 shows energy-conserving motherboard  370  comprising (a) first power-distributing circuitry  370 H for providing a first operating function, wherein first power-distributing circuitry  370 H is arranged for establishing power connection with main microprocessor circuitry  372 H and means  389  for cooling main microprocessor circuitry  372 H; (b) second power-distributing circuitry  370 L for providing a second operating function that does not require to activate first power-distributing circuitry  370 H is deactivated, wherein second power-distributing circuitry  370 L is arranged preferably for establishing power connection with auxiliary microprocessor circuitry  370 L; and (c) control means (including control circuitry  373 ) for selectively activating first power-distributing circuitry  370 H and second power-distributing circuitry  370 L, so as to respectively provide the first operating function and the second operating function. Alternatively, control circuitry  373  may be replaced by auxiliary microprocessor circuitry  370 L.  
         [0035]    Energy-conserving motherboard  370  is basically similar to that shown in FIG. 2, except for additionally providing an independent operating function in which a CD drive  353  coupled to color coded power output connector  353 A is allowed to produce music at any condition especially when energy-conserving computer system is and staying in the standby state or even in the shutdown state. The independent operating function is achieved by providing third DC power supply  343  to CD drive  353  through power line  343   i  and to independent power-distributing circuitry  370   i  for activating speakers  357 , a connector for establishing power connection with a connecting bus  353 N (to CD drive  353 ), and audio circuitry (confined in the area of independent power-distributing circuitry  370   i ) when first and second DC power supplies  341  and  342  are deactivated. A manually-operable means  346   i  is provided for independently activating third DC power supply  343  through requesting control circuit  345  to turn on a switch  343  to energize independent power-distributing circuitry  370   i . The other color coded connector can be further connected to another CD drive (not show), so that both CD drives can perform information reading and writing thus for providing an information-duplicating function without booting energy-conserving computer system  300  to provide a full or an energy-conserving operating function. Second DC power supply  342  is further arranged for receiving backup power from battery  312  and for providing a fourth DC power supply  342 S to energize standby power-distributing circuitry  370 S, when the energy-conserving operating function is provided.  
         [0036]    In accordance with the third primary preferred embodiments, FIG. 3 shows energy-conserving computer system  300  having multiple operating functions, comprising (a) a first group of circuitry (in power connection with first power-distributing circuitry  370 H) actuatable for providing a first operating function, wherein the first group of circuitry comprises main microprocessor circuitry  372 H and means  389  for cooling main microprocessor circuitry  372 H; (b) a second group of circuitry (in power connection with second power-distributing circuitry  370 L) actuatable for providing a second operating function that does not require to activate main microprocessor circuitry  372 H and means  389  for cooling; (c) a third group of circuitry  370 S (in power connection with third power-distributing circuitry) actuatable for providing a standby function in which at least the first group of circuitry is deactivated, wherein the third group of circuitry comprises standby circuitry (including control circuitry  373 , standby RAM  323 S, communication card  379 S, and external input means such as keyboard  354  and mouse  355 ) for rendering at least the first group of circuitry reactuatable to resume previous activities; (d) power providing means  315  for providing power to the first group of circuitry, the second group of circuitry, and the third group of circuitry; and (e) control means (which may include control circuit  345 , switch means  341 R- 343 R, and control circuitry  373 ) for controlling power providing means  315  to selectively activate or energize the first group of circuitry, the second group of circuitry, and the third group of circuitry, so as to respectively provide the first operating function, the second operating function, and the standby function. Preferably, the first group of circuitry further comprises main RAM  323 H, main video circuitry  374 H, and other expansion slots  374 H- 378 H. The second group of circuitry comprises auxiliary microprocessor circuitry  372 L, volatile memory storage (or RAM)  323 L, nonvolatile memory storage (such as batter-powered random-access memory, hard-disk drive  351 , optical CD drive  353 , and their combinations), and auxiliary video circuitry  374 L, so that the information-processing apparatus is rendered energy-conserving, less noisy, and fully operable, without requiring to activate main microprocessor circuitry  372 H, means  389  for cooling and cooling fan  319 , when the second operating function is provided. Power providing means  315  comprises at least one power provider selected from the group consisting of non-rechargeable and/or rechargeable battery  312 , power circuitry  330  for generating DC power from AC power, and their combinations, for providing first DC power supply  341  at least to power line  341 H, second DC power supply  342  at least to power line  342 L and to power line  342 S (also referred to as fourth DC power supply  342 S mentioned hereinabove), third DC power supply  343  at least to power line  343   i , and their power combinations respectively to the first group of circuitry, the second group of circuitry, the third group of circuitry, and their group combinations. Fourth DC power supply  342 S that also receives backup power from battery  312  is used to render standby RAM  323 S keep-alive for serving as nonvolatile memory storage to store task information needed for resuming previous activities.  
         [0037]    The control means is adapted for controlling the power providing means in such a manner as selectively to deactivate or to activate the first group of circuitry when detecting an activity of main microprocessor circuitry  372 H is below or not below a preset value, respectively. Third DC power supply  343   i  is also arranged as an independent DC power supply for energizing an independent group of circuitry in power connection with independent power-distributing circuitry  370   i  to provide an independent energy-conserving operating function. The control means is further adapted to control the power providing means for selectively (i) activating the first group of circuitry, the second group of circuitry, and the third group of circuitry at the same time to provide the full operating function, (ii) activating the second group of circuitry and the third group of circuitry without activating the first group of circuitry to provide the energy-conserving operating function, (iii) activating only the second group of circuitry to provide the independent energy-conserving operating function, and (iv) activating only the third group of circuitry to provide the standby function. The control means may comprise a first means  341  actuatable in response to a signal to control the power providing means for selectively activating or deactivating the first group of circuitry and a second means  381  manually-operable to control the power providing means for selectively activating or deactivating the second group of circuitry. Specifically, optical CD drive  353  and independent group of circuitry are arranged (1) for providing a music playing function and (2) for providing an information-duplicating (i.e., reading and writing) function with another optical CD drive at a condition when the first group of circuitry, the second group of circuitry, and the third group of circuitry are all deactivated.  
         [0038]    Alternatively, energy-conserving computer system  300  may be a notebook, laptop, or portable computer in which its power providing means comprises rechargeable battery  312  and its control means is adapted to control rechargeable battery  312  for not energizing the first group of circuitry when detecting an activity of main microprocessor circuitry  372 H is below a preset value, so as to conserve the power of rechargeable battery  312  during operation. Furthermore, provided in FIG. 3 is a central processor unit  372  integrated with main microprocessor circuitry  372 H comprised in the first group of circuitry and auxiliary microprocessor circuitry  372 L comprised in the second group of circuitry. Means  389  for cooling and cooling fan  319  may be rendered temperature sensitive so as to be actuated only when the temperature of a preselected area exceeds a preset value.  
         [0039]    Referring now to FIG. 4, a fourth primary embodiment of the present invention is an operating system for rendering energy-conserving computer systems  100 ,  200  and  300  each capable of selectively providing at least a full operating function or an energy-conserving operating function. Note that “S”shown in FIG. 4 stands for “Step” hereinafter and the illustration is exemplarily based on FIG. 3. Preferably, the operating system is an APM OS driver and various APM BIOS routines hardwired to a random access memory chip that has connecting pins for establishing communication with a computer motherboard. Alternatively, the operating system may be a set of basic instructions loaded to standby RAM  323 S through software installation so as to be in the background or resident in keep-alive memory. In either case, it will be readily executable by auxiliary microprocessor circuitry  372 L, once energy-conserving computer system  300  is powered at the first time (S 401 ). When a full operating function is provided, S 402 , an activity of main microprocessor circuitry  372 H defined as a first activity is monitored, for instance by auxiliary microprocessor circuitry  372 L. A value representing the first activity monitored is generated. S 403  compares the value of the first activity with a first preset value stored in standby RAM  323 S. If the value of the first activity is smaller or less than the first preset value, S 404 , a request signal to deactivate main microprocessor circuitry  372 H (and thus first power-distributing circuitry) is issued in S 405  from auxiliary microprocessor circuitry  372 L to control circuitry  373  then to control circuit  345  to deactivate first DC power supply  341 . If not, the process is routed to S 402  for further monitoring. S 406  monitors an activity of auxiliary microprocessor circuitry  372 L, which is defined as the value of a second activity for comparison with a second preset value as shown in S 407 . Should the value of the second activity be no greater than zero (S 408 ), task information of auxiliary microprocessor circuitry  372 L will be saved to standby RAM  323 S which serves as keep-alive memory (S 409 ) and will be deactivated (S 410 ) so as to enter a standby or suspend state. Preferably, an additional instruction is provided for granting the deactivation of auxiliary microprocessor circuitry either through a manual request or a time factor before entering the standby state. During the standby state, control circuitry  373  monitors if there exists a wakeup signal (S 411 ). Should a wake-up signal be detected by control circuitry  373 , auxiliary microprocessor circuitry  370 L (and thus second power-distributing circuitry) will be activated (S 412 ). Previous tasks or activities if exist will be restored (S 413  and S 414 ). The activity of auxiliary microprocessor circuitry  372 L, which corresponds to the value of the second activity, will be monitored (S 415 ) and compared (S 416 ). If the value of the second activity is smaller than a third preset value (for instance, 95% which is higher than the first preset value), the process is routed to S 406 . If it is not smaller than the third preset value and especially for an extended period of time (i.e., a time factor) longer than a preset time value, S 417  is executed to activate main microprocessor circuitry  372 H (and thus first power-distributing circuitry) as computation is beyond the power of auxiliary microprocessor circuitry  372 L. Preferably, a time value of 3 seconds rather than 3 microseconds is set to ignore a momentary demand in high-power computation. Alternatively, additional instructions are provided for allowing a user to set the preset time value. Finally, once the full operating function is provided, the process returns to S 402  so as to restart the monitor and control process. With the operating system, energy-conserving computer system  300  can be (1) powered down by deactivating the full operating function, (2) placed in a standby function by deactivating both the full and the energy-conserving operating functions, (3) powered up energy conservatively by activating the energy-conserving operating function alone, and (4) powered up fully by activating both the full and the energy-conserving operating functions.  
         [0040]    It is important to note that energy-conserving computer system  100 ,  200 , and  300  of the present invention each is capable of providing an energy-conserving operating function and/or an independent operating function that allows either computation to proceed or audio information to be produced, at a condition especially when entering the so-called standby or suspend state. No new terminology is created for such a description of “operating” because it is clear that only the energy-conserving power-supply system, motherboard, computer system, and operating system of the present invention can provide such an operating function when entering the standby, the suspend, or the shutdown state. On the contrary, the conventional computer and the conventional operating system allow no such an operating activity to proceed except for waiting a wakeup request signal when entering the standby or the suspend state.  
         [0041]    Although these preferred embodiments have been described hereinbefore as a computer power-supply system, computer motherboard (or system board), computer system for applications on personal desktop and portable computer, the present invention is also applicable to other applications on servers, super computer systems as well as to any information-processing apparatus for providing the multiple operating functions. Thus, it is clearly understood that such embodiments are provided by way of illustration and example only and are not to be taken by way of limitation as numerous variations, changes, modification, and substitutions will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention herein. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.