Patent Abstract:
The display card determines whether the first power voltage and the second power voltage supplied by the power supply are within inconsistent input timings, and ensure the third power voltage can be generated accurately to the graphics processing unit to work normally. Therefore, even when the display card cooperates with power supplies having different standards, the graphics processing unit is avoided from malfunctioning or being operated imprecisely by inconsistent timings of input power sources in reaching the display card.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention is related to a display card and an operating method, more particularly, to a display card and an operating method that provides a display card for detecting whether the power voltage is supplied to the graphics processing unit of the display card. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    A traditional display card is adapted to a particular specification of motherboards and power supplies, for the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) on the display card can be worked. The power supply supplies the power voltage to the motherboard and the display card as shown in  FIG. 1 . According to  FIG. 1 , the display card  100  receives the first power voltage V 1  from the power supply  120  and the second power voltage V 2  from the motherboard  110 , and the display card  100  generates a third power voltage V 3  to the graphic processing unit  130  based on the first power voltage V 1  and the second power voltage V 2 . Generally, the first power voltage V 1  is 12V and the second power voltage V 2  is 3.3V in the display card. The motherboard  110  converts a power voltage V 4  from the power supply  120  to the second power voltage V 2 , and provides the second power voltage V 2  to the display card  100  by the PCI-E interface on the motherboard  110 . Generally, the power voltage V 4  is 12V, 5V or 3.3V. 
         [0005]    However, if the first power voltage (V 1 ) and the second power voltage (V 2 ) supply to the display card  100  within inconsistent input timings by the power supply  120 , for example, the second power voltage V 2  supplies to the display card is later than the first power voltage V 1 , the display card can not generate the third power voltage V 3  to the GPU on time, eventually, the display card will not be operated. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention discloses a display card that can normally work even the power sources supplied within inconsistent input timings. The display card comprising: a power processing module; a graphics processing unit; and a power logic circuit. The power processing module is to receive an enable signal and generates a third power voltage V 3  to the graphics processing unit according to the enable signal. The graphics processing unit is operated according to the third power voltage. The power logic circuit is to detect whether the first power voltage and the second power voltage are both received, then, the power logic circuit outputs an enable signal accordingly, A power supply and a motherboard are also provided to supply a first power voltage and a second power voltage, respectively. 
         [0007]    The display card operating method is also disclosed in the present invention. The method comprising the steps of: detecting whether a power logic circuit is disposed in the display card; detecting whether the first power voltage and the second power voltage are both received by the power logic circuit when the power logic circuit is detected in the display card; if the power logic circuit does not receive the first power voltage or the second power voltage, the graphics processing unit stops operation; and if the power logic circuit both receives the first power voltage and the second power voltage, the power logic circuit enables the power processing module, and the power processing module generating a third power voltage to a graphics processing unit; wherein the power logic circuit generates an enable signal when the power logic circuit receives the first power voltage and the second power voltage. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing a traditional display card with a graphic processing unit. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a display card with a power logic circuit for detecting the second power voltage of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a display card with a power logic circuit for detecting the first power voltage and the second power voltage of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is showing a detail circuit of the power logic circuit of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is showing a detail circuit of the power logic circuit of the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is showing a detail circuit of the power logic circuit of the third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is showing a detail circuit of the power logic circuit of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is showing a flowchart showing a display card operating method of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0016]    Conventional display cards are easy to be damaged due to power supplying within different timing, A display card equipped with a power logic circuit is disclosed to reduce the damage ratio. The power logic circuit of the display card of the present invention can determine whether the first power voltage and the second power voltage are both received, and based on the determine result to generate an enable signal, thus to ensure the GPU of the display card work normally. 
         [0017]    Please refer to  FIG. 2 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, an AND gate disposed in the display card  200  is to execute a power logic circuit to detect the second power voltage V 2 . According to  FIG. 2 , the display card  200  comprises a power processing module  150 , an AND gate  210 , and a graphics processing unit  130 . The display card  200  (as show as the display card  100  in  FIG. 1 ) can receive the power voltages (V 1 , V 2 ) from the power supply  120 . The power processing module  150  comprises a voltage setting circuit  160 , a PWM controller  170 , and a power controller  180 . The voltage setting circuit  160  receives the second power voltage (V 2 ) and controls the PWM controller  170  according the second power voltage (V 2 ). And the power controller  180  outputs the third power voltage (V 3 ) to the graphics processing unit 130 . 
         [0018]    The power controller  180  outputs the third power voltage (V 3 ) to the graphics processing unit  130  according the PWM controller 170  and the first power voltage (V 1 ). The AND gate  210  is used for detecting whether the second power voltage (V 2 ) is received. When the AND gate  210  receives the second power voltage (V 2 ), the AND gate  210  outputs an enable signal to the power processing module  150 , and controls the PWM controller  170  according to the second power voltage (V 2 ). The power controller  180  generates the third power voltage (V 3 ) and provides to the graphic processing unit 130 . 
         [0019]    According to the embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 2 . Once the power logic circuit  210  receives both the first power voltage (V 1 ) and the second power voltage (V 2 ), the power controller  180  generates the power voltage (V 3 ) and provides to the graphics processing unit. The second power voltage V 2  is supplied by the motherboard  110 , therefore, the second power voltage V 1  will receive by the display card  200  later than the first power voltage V 1 . 
         [0020]    The second embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 3 . A power logic circuit (AND gate in the present embodiment) is used for detecting whether the first power voltage (V 1 ) and the second power voltage (V 2 ) are received at the same time. 
         [0021]    The display card  200  only detects the second power voltage (V 2 ) as showed in  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 3 , the display card  200  can both detect the second power voltage (V 2 ) and the first power voltage (V 1 ). The AND gate  210  outputs an enable signal to the enable signal terminal of the power processing module  150  when the first power voltage (V 1 ) and the second power voltage (V 2 ) are both received. The voltage setting circuit  160  receives the second power voltage (V 2 ) and controls the PWM controller  170  according the second power voltage (V 2 ). And the power controller  180  outputs the third power voltage (V 3 ) to the graphics processing unit 130 . 
         [0022]    According to a third embodiment of the present invention, a detail circuit of the power logic circuit  410  (AND circuit) is showed in  FIG. 4 . The power logic circuit  410  comprises: a first N-type BJT  430 , a first N-type FET  450 , a second N-type BJT  420 , a second N-type FET  440 , resistors  462 , 464 , 466 , 468 , and capacitors  482 , 484 . 
         [0023]    The B end of the first N-type BJT 430  is connected to the second power voltage (V 2 ). The G end of the first N-type FET 450  is connected to the C end of the first N-type BJT  430 , and the G end of the first N-type FET  450  is connected to a VSB power voltage (VSB) through a resistor  468 . The D end of the first N-type FET  450  is connected to the second power voltage (V 2 ) through a resistor  466 . The B end of the second N-type BJT  420  is connected to the first power voltage (V 1 ) through a resistor  462 . The C end of the second N-type BJT  420  is connected to the second power voltage (V 2 ) through a resistor  464 . The G end of the second N-type FET  440  is connected to the C end of the second N-type BJT  420 . The D end of the second N-type FET  440  is connected to D end of the first N-type FET  450 . An enable terminal of the power processing module 150  is connected to a D end of the first N-type FET  450 . When the enable terminal is kept at a high level voltage, the first power voltage (V 1 ) and the second power voltage (V 2 ) are both determined as received by the power logic circuit. Otherwise, the motherboard always supplies the VSB power voltage. 
         [0024]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first power voltage (V 1 ) is 12V, the second power voltage (V 2 ) is 3.3V, and the VSB power voltage is 3V. The power logic circuit  410  has two different operation modes. In the first mode, the AND gate receives the first power voltage (V 1 ), but not the second power voltage (V 2 ). At this time, the VSB power voltage keeps at a high level voltage and the second power voltage keeps at a low level voltage. Therefore, the first N-type BJT  430  will be turned off, and the first N-type FET  450  will be turned on. The enable signal will be kept at a low level voltage. 
         [0025]    Furthermore, the second N-type BJT  420  will be turned on due to the first power voltage (V 1 ) keeps at a high level voltage. The voltage level of the enable terminal will be raised when the second N-type FET  440  is turned off. To keep the enable terminal signal at a high level voltage, it must meet the follow conditions: the first N-type FET  450  and the second N-type FET 440  are turned off at the same time, and the resistor  466  is kept at a high level voltage. According to the condition above, the enable terminal signal must be at a low level voltage once the first N-type FET  450  is turned on. 
         [0026]    However, When the AND gate receives the second power voltage (V 2 ), the first N-type BJT  430  turns on, the first N-type FET turns off, and the enable terminal will be kept at a high level voltage. Meanwhile, the power processing module  150  will generate a third power voltage V 3  to the graphic processing unit  130 . 
         [0027]    When the AND gate receives the second power voltage (V 2 ) but not the first power voltage (V 1 ), the second N-type BJT  420  will be turned off, the second N-type FET  440  will be turned on, and the enable terminal is kept at a low level voltage. Next, when the AND gate receives the first power voltage (V 1 ), the second N-type BJT  420  will be turned on and the second N-type FET 440  will be turned off. 
         [0028]    Moreover, if the AND gate did not receive the first power voltage (V 1 ), the first N-type BJT  430  will be turned on, and the first N-type FET  450  will be turned off. When the first N-type BJT  430  and the first N-type FET  450  are turn off, the enable terminal will be kept at a high level voltage. And, the power processing module  150  will generate the third power voltage (V 3 ) to the graphic processing unit  130 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  shows a detail circuit of the power logic circuit  510  according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The power logic circuit  510  comprises a first P-type BIT  530 , a first N-type FET  550 , a second P-type BJT  520 , a second N-type FET  540 , a first P-type FET  570 , a second N-type FET  560  and resistors  562 ,  564 , 566 , 568 , 572 . 
         [0030]    The E end of the first P-type BJT  530  is connected to the VSB power voltage through a resistor  568 . The G end of the first N-type FET  550  is connected to the E end of the first P-type BIT  530 . The D end of the first N-type FET  550  is connected to the second power voltage (V 2 ) through a resistor  566 . The E end of the second P-type BIT  520  is connected to the VSB power voltage through a resistor  564 . The G end of the second N-type FET  540  is connected to the E end of the second P-type BIT  520 . The D end of the second N-type FET  540  is connected to D end of the first N-type FET  550 . The D end of the first P-type FET  570  is connected to a B end of the first P-type BIT  530 . The G end of the first P-type FET  570  is connected to the second power voltage (V 2 ). The S end of the first P-type FET  570  is connected to the VSB power voltage. The D end of the second p-type FET  560  is connected to the B end of the second P-type BIT  520 . The 0 end of the second P-type FET  520  is connected to the first power voltage (V 1 ). The S end of the second P-type FET  520  is connected to the VSB power voltage. 
         [0031]    An enable terminal of the power processing module  150  is connected to a D end of the first N-type FET  550 . When the enable terminal is kept at a high level voltage, the power logic circuit determines the first power voltage (V 1 ) and the second power voltage (V 2 ) are both received. The power logic circuit  410  has two different operation modes. 
         [0032]    In the first mode, the AND gate receives the first power voltage (V 1 ), but not the second power voltage (V 2 ). At this time, the VSB power voltage is kept at a high level voltage. Therefore, the first P-type FET  570  will be turned on, the first P-type BJT  530  will be turned off, and the first N-type FET  550  will be turned on. Hence, the voltage of the enable terminal will be kept in low level voltage. When the AND gate receives the second power voltage (V 2 ), the first P-type BJT  570  will be turned off and the first P-type BJT  530  will be turned on, and the first N-type BJT  550  will be turned Off. 
         [0033]    When the AND gate receives the first power voltage (V 1 ), the second P-type FET  560  will be turned off, the second P-type BJT  520  will be turned on, and the second N-type BJT  540  will be turned off. The enable terminal will be kept in high level voltage under the condition that the first N-type FET  550  and second N-type FET  540  are both turned off. Thus, the power processing module  150  will generate the third power voltage (V 3 ) to the graphic processing unit 130 . 
         [0034]    When the AND gate receives the second power voltage (V 2 ) but not the first power voltage (V 1 ) The second P-type FET  560  will be turned on and the second P-type BJT  520  will be turned off and the second N-type BJT  540  will be turned on. Hence, the enable terminal will be kept at a low level voltage. Next, when the AND gate receives the first power voltage (V 1 ), the second P-type FET  560  will be turned off, the second P-type BJT  520  will be turned on, and the second N-type FET  540  will be turned off. 
         [0035]    Since the first P-type FET  570  is turned off, the first P-type BJT  530  is turned on, and the first N-type FET 550  is turned off while the AND gate receives the second power voltage (V 2 ) but not the first power voltage (V 1 ). Both the first N-type FET 550  and the second N-type FET 540  will be turned off, and keeps the enable terminal at a high level voltage. Thus, the power processing module  150  will generate the third power voltage (V 3 ) to the graphic processing unit  130 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  shows a detail circuit of the power logic circuit  610  (detail AND circuit) according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The power logic circuit  610  comprises a first p-type BJT  630 , a first P-type FET  650 , a first diode  670 , a second P-type BJT  620 , a second P-type FET  640 , a second diode  660 , resistors  662 ,  664 , 666 , 668 , 676   672   674  and capacitors  482 ,  484 . 
         [0037]    The E end of the first p-type BJT  630  is connected to the VSB power voltage through the resistor  676 . The G end of the first p-type FET  650  is connected to the E end of the first p-type BJT  630 . The S end of the first p-type FET  650  is connected to the second power voltage V 2  through the resistor  668 . The P end of the first diode  670  is connected to the C end of the first p-type BJT  630 . The N end of the first diode  670  is connected to the second power voltage V 2  through the resistor  670 . The E end of the second P-type BJT  620  is connected to the VSB power voltage through the resistor  666 . The G end of the second P-type FET  640  is connected to the E end of the second P-type BJT  620 . The S end of the second P-type FET  640  is connected to the S end of the first P-type FET  650 . The P end of the second diode  660  is connected to the B end of the second P-type BJT  620 . The N end of the second diode  660  is connected to the first power voltage V 1  through the resistor  662 . The enable terminal of the power processing module  150  is connected to an S end of the first P-type FET  650 . When the enable terminal is kept at a high level voltage, the power logic circuit determines that the first power voltage V 1  and the second power voltage V 2  are both received. 
         [0038]    The operation of the power logic circuit  610  is also described in two different modes. When the AND gate receives the first power voltage V 1  but not the second power voltage V 2 , the first diode  670  will be turned on, the first P-type BJT  630  will be turned on, first P-type FET  650  is turned on Therefore; the enable terminal will be kept at a low level voltage. 
         [0039]    When the AND gate receives the second power voltage V 2 , the first diode  670 , the first P-type BJT  630  and the first P-type FET  650  will all be turned off. The second diode  660  will be turned off because the AND gate receives the first power voltage V 1  but not the second power voltage V 2 . And the second P-type BJT  620  and the second P-type FET  640  will both be turned off. Under this condition, the first P-type FET  650  and the second P-type FET  640  will be turned off at the same time, and the enable terminal will keep at a high level voltage. And, the power processing module  150  will generate the third power voltage V 3  to the graphic processing unit  130 . 
         [0040]    When the AND gate receives the second power voltage V 2  but not the first power voltage V 1 , the second diode  660 , the second P-type BJT  620 , and the second P-type FET  640  will all be turned on. And the enable terminal will keep at a low level voltage. 
         [0041]    Following when the AND gate receives the first power voltage V 1 , the second diode  660 , the second P-type BJT  620 , and the second P-type FET  640  will all be turned of When the AND gate receives the second power voltage V 2  but not the first power voltage V 1 , the first diode  670 , the first P-type BJT  630 , and the P-type FET  650  will all be turned off. 
         [0042]    Since the first P-type BJT  650  and the second P-type 640 FET are turned off at the same time, and the AND gate received the second power voltage V 2  already, therefore, the enable terminal will be kept at a high level voltage. Hence, the power processing module  150  will generate the third power voltage V 3  to the graphic processing unit  130 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 7  shows a detail circuit of the power logic circuit  710  (detail AND circuit) according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The power logic circuit  710  comprises: a first N-type BJT  720 , a second N-type BJT  730 , a first N-type FET  740 , resistors  762 ,  764 ,  766 ,  768 ,  772 , and a capacitor  782 . 
         [0044]    The C end of the first N-type BJT  720  is connected to the VSB power voltage through a resistor  764 . The B end of the first N-type BJT  720  is connected to the first power voltage V 1  through a resistor  762 . The B end of the second N-type BJT  730  is connected to the second power voltage V 2  through a resistor  768 . The C end of the first N-type BJT  720  is connected to the E end of the first N-type BJT  720 . The D end of the first N-type FET  740  is connected to the second power voltage V 2  through a resistor  766 . The G end of the first N-type FET  740  is connected to the C end of the first N-type BJT  720 . A enable terminal of the power processing module 150  is connected to a D end of the first N-type FET  450 . When the enable terminal is kept at a high level voltage, the power logic circuit  710  determines the first power voltage V 1  and the second power voltage V 2  are both received. 
         [0045]    When the AND gate receives the first power voltage V 1  but not the second power voltage V 2 . The second N-type BJ T 730  will be turned off. The first N-type BJT  720  is turned on since the AND gate receives the first power voltage V 1 . However, the enable terminal will be kept at a low level voltage because the second N-type BJT  730  is turned off but the N-type FET  740  is turned on. When the AND gate receives the second power voltage V 2 , the first N-type BJT  730  and the second N-type BJT  720  is turned on, but the N-type FET  740  will be turned off. As a result, the enable terminal will be kept at a high level voltage, and the power processing module  150  will generate the third power voltage V 3  to the graphic processing unit  130 . 
         [0046]    When the AND gate receives the second power voltage V 2  but not the first power voltage V 1 . The second N-type BJT 730  will be turned on, and then the first N-type BJT  720  will be turned off. When the AND gate receives the first power voltage V), the first N-type BJT  720  and the second N-type BJT  730  will both be turned on but the N-type FET  740  will be turned off. The enable terminal will be kept at a high level voltage, and the power processing module  150  will generate the third power voltage V 3  to the graphic processing unit  130 . 
         [0047]    The display card operating method according to the embodiments above is showed in  FIG. 8 . The method comprises the steps as following;
       STEP 802 : detecting whether a power logic circuit is disposed in the display card. If the power logic circuit is disposed in the display card, go to the STEP  804 ; otherwise, go to the STEP  812 ,   STEP 804 : detecting whether the first power voltage and the second power voltage are both received by the power logic circuit. If the power logic circuit receives neither the first power voltage nor the second power voltage, go to the STEP  806 . If the power logic circuit both receives the first power voltage and the second power voltage, go to STEP  808 ,   STEP  806 : stopping the graphics processing unit operation by the power logic circuit, and executes the STEP  804  to wait for both the first power voltage and the second power voltage are received.   STEP  808 : outputting an enable signal to the power processing module by the power logic circuit.   STEP  810 : generating a third power voltage to a graphics processing unit of the display card by the power processing module, to operate the graphics processing unit,   STEP  812 : determining whether a receiving time period of the first power voltage and the second power voltage is over a preset time period if the receiving time is inconsistent. If YES, go to the STEP  814 ; If NO, go to the STEP  816 .   STEP  814 : stopping the graphics processing unit operation.   STEP  816 : generating a third power voltage to a graphics processing unit to operate the graphics processing unit.       
 
         [0056]    Detail features in STEPs  802 - 810  can be seen in  FIGS. 2-7 , STEPs  812 - 816  will be executed while the power logic circuit is not detected in the display card, thus to ensure the display card work normally. Various modifications as showed in  FIG. 8  may occur to those skilled in the art and should be included in the scope of the present invention. 
         [0057]    The present invention provides a display card that can normally work under inconsistent power input timings. The display card determines whether the first power voltage and the second power voltage supplied by the power supply are within inconsistent input timings, and ensure the third power voltage can be generated accurately to the graphics processing unit to work normally. Compares to the conventional use, the display card disclosed in the present invention can avoid the damage of graphics processing unit due to inconsistent power input timings. Meanwhile, the display card of the present invention can be adapted to various conditions that might input the power within inconsistent timings, such as different power supplies, and the graphics processing unit still remains normal work. 
         [0058]    While the present inventive structure, method, has been described with reference to a few specific embodiments, the description is illustrative of the invention and is not to be construed as limiting the invention. Various modifications may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. All references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6