Abstract:
A panel device mounted on a computer case comprises an adjustment unit for adjusting CPU&#39;s operating frequency, a display module for showing system information, and a microprocessor which interconnects the adjustment unit and the display module with the computer system. The microprocessor can perform adjustment done by the adjustment unit and issue a service request signal to the computer. In response, the computer issues signals about system information to the microprocessor for being processed and showed on the display module.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a computer&#39;s panel device, and more particularly, to a panel device mounted on the front side of a computer case for enabling an end-user to adjust the computer&#39;s operating frequency directly and showing valuable system information effectively. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Since the CPU (central processing unit) is the major component of a computer, the processing speed of the computer is strongly associated with the operating frequency of the CPU. Conventionally, an adjustment (e.g., increasing or decreasing) of the operating frequency of the CPU is done by running a software (e.g., an application or adjusting the BIOS (basic input output system)) or setting jumpers on the motherboard of a computer. 
   However, both approaches are not satisfactory. For example, the software for adjusting the CPU&#39;s frequency is not popular, and the use of such software or jumpers to change the frequency is not easy to a non-professional user. Moreover, there are typically only two or three LEDs (light-emitting diodes) provided on the front side of a computer case for showing the status about the operations of hard disk or system. Other valuable information, such as CPU speed, CPU temperature, system temperature, etc., is not available. Instead, they are only available by running a specific software. 
   Therefore, it is desirable to provide a novel panel device mounted on the front side of a computer case for enabling the end-user to adjust the computer&#39;s operating frequency directly and showing valuable system information effectively in order to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   One purpose of the presented invention is to provide a panel device mounted on a computer case for enabling the end-user to adjust the computer&#39;s operating frequency directly, meanwhile, showing the actual operating frequency on this panel. 
   The other purpose of the present invention is to provide a panel device mounted on a computer case for showing valuable system information of the computer. 
   Here the computer includes a central processing unit (CPU), a basic input output system (BIOS), a system management (SM) bus and a system clock generator. The system clock generator provides a plurality of system clocks, wherein one of the system clocks is the operating frequency of the CPU. The panel device comprises: an adjustment unit having a plurality of adjustment stages for enabling a user to selectively increase or decrease the operating frequency of the CPU; a display module for showing the system information; and a microprocessor that interconnects the adjustment unit and the display module with the CPU. The microprocessor is capable of adjusting the operating frequency of the CPU in response to an adjustment done by the adjustment unit, wherein the microprocessor issues an interrupt signal to the CPU for interrupting the CPU so as to control the system clock generator to modify the operating frequency of the CPU via the BIOS and SM bus. The microprocessor also issues a service request to the computer to request the system information and then displays the system information on the display module. 
   The novel features of the invention will be described more detailed accompanied with figures in the following. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is the block diagram of the invented panel device mounted on the front side of a computer case; and 
       FIG. 2  is an outline of adjustment unit and display module of the invented panel device. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Shown in  FIG. 1  is the block diagram of invented panel device  1 , wherein the panel device  1  is mounted on the front side of a case of a computer  2  which includes a central processing unit (CPU)  21 , a basic input output system (BIOS)  22 , a system management (SM) bus  23  and a system clock generator  24 . The panel device  1  comprises an adjustment unit  11 , a display module  12 , and a microprocessor  13 . The microprocessor  13  is intended to interconnect the adjustment unit  11  and display module  12  with CPU  21  of the computer  2 . The system clock generator  24  generates a plurality of system clocks, i.e., operating frequency for CPU, operating frequency for advanced graphics port (AGP) or peripheral component interconnect (PCI) buses, or operating frequency for other peripherals. 
   The communication between the microprocessor  13  and the adjustment unit  11  can be interrupt or polling. The microprocessor  13  receives a regulation signal sent by the adjustment unit  11 , and then processes the regulation signal for transmitting to the computer  2  in order to adjust the operating frequency of CPU  21 . Namely, when the microprocessor  13  receives the regulation signal, the microprocessor  13  issues an interrupt signal to CPU  21  for interrupting CPU  21  so that the interrupt service routine of BIOS  22  receives a message issued by the microprocessor  13  and controls the system clock generator  24  to generate a new operating frequency of CPU  21  via SM bus  23  without changing the other system clocks. 
   Furthermore, the microprocessor  13  is able to issue a service request signal to the computer  2  for inquiring about system information. In response, the computer  2  issues signals about system information to the microprocessor  13 . The microprocessor  13  then processes the signals and shows the corresponding system information on the display module  12 . In one embodiment, the microprocessor  13  is coupled to a system monitoring integrated circuit (IC) (not shown) of the computer  2 . The system monitoring IC is responsible for processing the inquiry and issuing signals about system information to the microprocessor  13 . 
   In this embodiment, the adjustment unit  11  is preferably a knob, or a set of buttons including a speed-up button and a speed-down button. Multiple adjustment stages are provided in the adjustment unit  11  for adjusting the operating frequency of CPU  21 . In a case that the adjustment unit  11  is a knob, a left rotation of one mark will cause CPU  21  to decrease its operating frequency by one stage. Likewise, a right rotation of one mark on the knob will cause CPU  21  to increase its operating frequency by one stage. In another case that the adjustment unit  11  is a set of buttons, a press of the speed-down button will cause CPU  21  to decrease its operating frequency by one stage. Likewise, a press of the speed-up button will cause CPU  21  to increase its operating frequency by one stage. Almost at the same time, a corresponding display of the adjusted operating frequency is shown on the display module  12  in response to a processing of the adjustment by the microprocessor  13 . Moreover, system information, such as CPU temperature, system temperature of the computer  2 , etc., can be shown on the display module  12 , as will be described in detail below. 
   With reference to  FIG. 2 , a detailed illustration of the adjustment unit  11 ′ and the display module  12 ′ is shown. The display module  12 ′ is implemented as a LED display or LCD (liquid crystal display). For the purpose of displaying system information, the display  12 ′ comprises an operating frequency indicator  121 , a CPU temperature indicator  1221 , a system temperature indicator  1222 , a motherboard status indicator  1231 , a memory status indicator  1232 , a hard disk status indicator  1233 , a CD-ROM status indicator  1234 , a CPU over-temperature indicator  1241 , a system over-temperature indicator  1242 , and a call-help indicator  1243 . 
   In response to power-on of the computer  2 , the computer  2  issues acknowledgement signals of operating unit to the panel device  1  for lighting the operating frequency indicator  121 , the CPU temperature indicator  1221 , the system temperature indicator  1222 , the main board status indicator  1231 , the memory status indicator  1232 , the hard disk status indicator  1233 , and the CD-ROM status indicator  1234  sequentially. 
   With reference to  FIG. 2  in conjunction with  FIG. 1 , the operating frequency indicator  121  is able to show the operating frequency of CPU  21 . Besides, there are several CPU speed bars defined. The number of speed bars of CPU  21  is defined as ten in this embodiment. In a normal status (i.e., no adjustment of CPU speed), the fifth speed bar is shown. If a user increases the operating frequency of CPU one stage by adjusting the adjusting unit  11  as stated above, the sixth speed bar is shown on the operating frequency indicator  121 . On the contrary, a fourth speed bar is shown if the operating frequency of CPU  21  is decreased by one stage. 
   The CPU temperature indicator  1221  and the system temperature indicator  1222  are able to show CPU temperature and system temperature respectively. In a case that the display  12 ′ is a LED display, each of the CPU temperature indicator  1221  and the system temperature indicator  1222  has three LEDs consisting of green, yellow, and red lamps. As designed, when green LEDs of the CPU temperature indicator  1221  and the system temperature indicator  1222  are lit, it means that both CPU temperature and system temperature are normal. In another case that yellow LEDs of the CPU temperature indicator  1221  and the system temperature indicator  1222  are lit, it means that both CPU temperature and system temperature are relatively high. In response, the rotating speed of fan mounted in the computer  2  will be increased by one stage for cooling as commanded by the microprocessor  13 . In an extreme case that red LEDs of the CPU temperature indicator  1221  and the system temperature indicator  1222  are lit, it means that both CPU temperature and system temperature are too high. In response, the rotating speed of the fan will be increased to its maximum and the CPU over-temperature indicator  1241  and the system over-temperature indicator  1242  will be flashing continuously. After about 15 seconds, a shut down signal is transmitted to CPU  21  from the microprocessor  13  for automatically turning off the computer  2  if red LEDs of the CPU temperature indicator  1221  and the system temperature indicator  1222  are still lit. 
   A similar processing of both the CPU temperature indicator  1221  and the system temperature indicator  1222  is performed if the display  12 &#39; is an LCD. For example, if a monochrome LCD is used, three temperature stages are set with the first one representing a normal temperature the second one representing a slightly higher temperature, and the third one representing an excessively high temperature (i.e., over heat). 
   The motherboard status indicator  1231 , the memory status indicator  1232 , the hard disk status indicator  1233 , and the CD-ROM status indicator  1234 , are able to show the current status of the motherboard, memory, hard disk, and CD-ROM of computer  2 , respectively. The motherboard status indicator  1231 , the memory status indicator  1232 , the hard disk status indicator  1233 , and the CD-ROM status indicator  1234  are lit if the motherboard, memory, hard disk, and CD-ROM of the computer  2  operate normally. On the contrary, the indicator will be flashing if its corresponding component is malfunctioned. For example, the motherboard status indicator  1231  will be flashing if the motherboard is malfunctioned. At the same time, the call-help indicator  1243  is lit for visually warning that the system is malfunctioned. Additionally, a buzzer may be provided on the panel device  1 . The buzzer will make a warning sound as activated by the microprocessor  13  if one of the components is malfunctioned. 
   Although the presented invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.