Patent Publication Number: US-2013254567-A1

Title: Infrared signal processing devcie and computer

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to infrared signal processing devices, and particularly to an infrared signal processing device that can be detachably coupled to a computer to allow a user to control the startup/shut down of a computer by a remote control. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Generally, computers are controlled through keyboards or touchpads. In either case physical contact is required between the user and the computer. However, it can be inconvenient to have to make physical contact with the computer each time to use it. 
     Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is block diagram of an infrared signal processing device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is circuit diagram of a signal generating unit of the infrared signal processing device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic exploded view of the infrared signal processing device of  FIG. 1  and a computer. 
         FIG. 4  is block diagram of a laptop computer in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an infrared signal processing device  10  includes an infrared signal receiver  20 , a processor  30 , a storage unit  40 , a prompting unit  50 , a signal generating circuit  60  and a battery  70  to provide power to the above components. The signal generating circuit  60  is connected via a cable  80  to a power management unit  120  of a motherboard  110  of a computer  100 . The infrared signal receiver  20  receives an infrared signal from a handheld remote control  90 . The processor  30  decodes the infrared signal received by the infrared signal receiver  20  and controls the prompting unit  50  to output a prompt, when determining that the decoded infrared signal is a startup/shutdown command The prompt asks a user to input a password. After receiving a password input by the user through the remote control  90 , the processor  30  compares the inputted password with a preset password. If the inputted password matches the preset password, the processor  30  controls the signal generating circuit  60  to generates a control signal. The control signal is sent to the power management unit  120 . The power management unit  120  then starts/shuts off the power supply of the computer  100 . 
     Referrring to  FIG. 2 , in the embodiment, the prompting unit  50  is an LED display. The signal generating circuit  60  includes a first field effect transistor (FET) Q1. The first FET gate is electrically connected to the power control port of the processor  30  through the resistor R16 and receives the command signals. The first FET source is grounded. The first FET drain is electrically connected to the second power source VCC through the resistor R17 and is connected to the power management unit  120 . 
     Generally, when a power button of the computer  100  is pressed, the power management unit  120  receives a signal from a switch (not shown) actuated by the power button. The southbridge chip or I/O chip processes the signal from the switch and controls a triode or a gate circuit to pull down a specific pin of an ATX power supply, which causes the pins of the ATX power supply to provide a working voltage to all the hardware, such as motherboard, disk drives and the like. In the embodiment, one free end of cable  80  can be connected to a cable connecting the switch to the power management unit  120 . Thus, the signal generating circuit  60  can send signals to the power management unit  120  through the cable connecting the switch to the power management unit  120 . 
     In the embodiment, the remote control  90  includes a startup button, a shut down button, a number of number buttons and a setting button. The user can start or shut down the computer  100  by pressing the startup button or the shut down button respectively. When the setting button is pressed, the processor  30  controls the prompting unit  50  to display a user interface that includes a number of selectable item menus, which allows the user to set many function settings, such as password resetting. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the infrared signal processing device  10  includes a housing  11  and the prompting unit  50  is arranged on the front side of the housing  11 . The cable  80  protrudes from the rear side of the housing  11 . The housing  11  can be sized to fit a bay of the computer  100 , such that the housing  11  can be fit within one bay of the computer  100 . In the embodiment, the housing  11  includes two flexible magnetic sheets  111  at its opposite ends. The housing  11  can be detachably coupled to the computer  100  by the magnetic attraction between the flexible magnetic sheets  111  and the computer  100 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in a second embodiment, a computer  100   a  includes an infrared signal receiver  20   a,  an embedded controller  30   a,  a storage unit  40   a  and a power management unit  120   a.  The computer  100   a  is a laptop type computer. The storage unit  40   a  is a non-volatile memory and stores a preset password. When the computer  100   a  is in a soft off state as defined by Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) specification or in a sleep state defined by ACPI specification, a user can input a password via the remote control  90 . The embedded controller  30   a  compares the inputted password received by the infrared signal receiver  20   a  with the preset password. If the inputted password matches with the preset password, the embedded controller  30   a  sends a control signal to the power management unit  120   a.  The power management unit  120   a  controls the power supply to provide the required working voltage to start/wake the computer  100   a.    
     While various embodiments have been described and illustrated, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various modifications can be made to the embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.