JPH03125208A - information processing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application J] The present invention relates to an information processing device, and particularly to an information processing device with an improved initialization processing method.

[Background Art] Nowadays, information processing devices such as word processors and personal computers have become widespread and are being used not only by professionals but also by the general public on a daily basis.

When starting up these information processing devices, the initialization circuit (
It is necessary to detect the rise of the power supply voltage using a so-called reset circuit and generate a reset pulse, and use this reset pulse to reset the hardware of each part including a CPU (central processing unit).

After resetting the CPU, the initialization routine performs initialization such as setting initial data for each hardware, clearing the work area in memory and setting initial data, and then starts the main routine if necessary. Reads from external storage and passes control to the routine.

The system is generally started up by turning on the power as described above, but in some cases a reset switch that can be operated by the user may be provided. When the CPU goes out of control due to some kind of failure and it is no longer possible to continue processing, this reset switch is pressed.
This allows processing to be started in the same way as when the power is turned on. Normally, when resetting or resetting using a reset switch,
Perform the same reset process as when turning on the power.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] On the other hand, in recent years, the scale of software has been expanding.
Moreover, the processing is extremely complicated, and the number of verification steps required to confirm normal operation is enormous.

However, even with such verification, it is difficult to completely eliminate failures caused by errors in software creation, or so-called bugs.

Malfunctions may also occur due to external factors such as electromagnetic waves, static charges, and power supply noise. This kind of failure causes various phenomena, but the most frustrating thing for users is that the central processing unit goes out of control, making all operations impossible, and the user has to turn off the power switch or press the reset switch to reboot. This is the case when there is no other option but to let it happen. In such a case, the data created by the user up to that point will of course be erased.

Therefore, the device is configured so that it does not initialize the user's data portion at startup, but instead reconfigures only the necessary portions of the hardware and work area and then restarts the device, a so-called hot start method. is also known.

According to this method, the user data before the restart remains intact, and even if some of it is destroyed due to a runaway central processing unit, as long as most of it remains, the damage to the user will be kept to a minimum.

There are two possible configurations for performing such a hot start. One is by non-masked interrupts, and the other is to allow user selection in the initialization routine.

The former method uses a switch for non-masked interrupts.

Furthermore, a dedicated routine for non-masked interrupts and a special circuit for supplying interrupt vectors are required.

In the latter case, it is sufficient to be able to select whether or not to jump during a hot start without executing a routine for clearing unnecessary user data in the startup routine for a so-called cold start when the power is turned on. There is no need to provide a dedicated routine.

On the other hand, the most commonly used operating method is to select between hot start and cold start.

This method involves pressing a reset switch while pressing a specific key on the keyboard. With this method, a hot start can be achieved without adding any special circuitry, but the user must remember this specific key, and if the reset switch is pressed while pressing the wrong key, a cold start will occur. , user data will be lost.

Also, the above problem can be avoided if the condition is set to any key on the keyboard instead of a specific key, but
This time, if you accidentally touch the keyboard when turning on the power, there is a high possibility that hot start will be selected, which is not practical.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and to enable cold start and hot start to be selected simply and reliably by adding a simple circuit.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes a main control section that performs predetermined information processing, and a system that controls each part of the device including the main control section according to the operation of a power switch. A power supply unit that supplies power, a reset switch that initializes the settings of a predetermined part of the device, and outputs a reset signal to the main control unit according to the output state name of the power supply unit and the operating state of the reset switch. and means for causing the main control unit to identify whether the reset is instructed by the power switch or the reset switch when the main control unit is reset by the reset signal, and the main control unit is configured to reset the main control unit. In the initialization process, a reset using the power switch performs a cold start process that initializes the entire device, and a reset using the reset switch performs a hot start process that initializes the parts of the device other than the user data storage means. The configuration was adopted.

[Function] According to the above configuration, the device distinguishes whether a reset is instructed by the power switch or the reset switch, and a cold start process is performed by a reset by the power switch, and a hot start process is performed by operating the reset switch. I can make you do it.

[Example 1] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an example shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing apparatus employing the present invention. Here, a configuration common to devices such as word processors and personal computers is shown.

In FIG. 1, the CPUI is composed of a microprocessor, etc., and communicates with other parts including a ROM 3 and a floppy disk drive (hereinafter referred to as FDD) 4 via a system bus 2 consisting of an address bus, a data bus, and a control bus. Data is read and written in between, and programs loaded in ROM3 and RAM5 are read and executed sequentially (.

The processing of the CPU 1 is for performing known word processing, character one image, program development, and other various data processing.

The ROM 3 stores the basic program of the GfCPUl and data necessary for processing. The FDD 4 is one of the external storage devices, and data is stored on a replaceable floppy disk and can also be read. Alternatively, a hard disk may be used as an external storage device, or a configuration without an external storage device may be used.

The RAM 5 is a memory in which data can be read and written, and is used as a work area necessary for processing, and user data is also stored here. Further, programs read from the FDD 4 are loaded here and executed sequentially.

Keyboard 6 is used for data entry.

The power supply section 7 is a power supply unit, which is composed of a known switching power supply circuit, etc., and supplies power supply voltage to each section. This voltage is manually applied to a comparator of a comparator 9 on the main body side via a signal line 8. The power source section 7 is controlled to turn on and off by a power switch 7a.

The comparison circuit 9 includes a comparator that compares the threshold voltage and the output of the power supply section 7, and a delay circuit. Comparison circuit 9
monitors the power supply voltage and calculates the time td (
After waiting (approximately msm5-77l00), the signal line IO is changed from active to inactive.

The signal line 13 is connected to the comparison circuit 9. A logical OR signal of the output signal line l0112 of the reset switch 16 is formed and input to the CPUI.

Since the signal line 13 is connected to the reset input terminal of the CPU 1, the signal! 113 becomes inactive, the CPU 1 starts executing the reset start routine.

The one-shot pulse circuit 14 is composed of a mono-multivibrator or the like, and when the output of the comparator circuit 9 becomes inactive, the one-shot pulse circuit 14 pulses for a short period of time (for example, several μ) once the output of the comparison circuit 9 becomes inactive.
s) generates a pulse.

This pulse sets flag 15. The flag 15 is constituted by an RS flip-flop, is set by the output of the one-shot pulse circuit 14, and is connected to be reset by the CPU 1 via the system bus 2.The output (logic level) of this flag 15 is is connected to the system bus 2 so that it can be read by the CPUI.

Reference numeral 16 is a reset switch, and when this reset switch 16 is pressed, the signal line 12. OR circuit 11, signal line 1
3, the CPU is reset in the same way as when the power is turned on, and execution starts again from the reset start routine.

That is, the same reset start routine is started both when the power is turned on and when the reset switch is pressed, but the content of the reset process differs depending on whether the power switch is turned on or the reset switch 16 is operated. Therefore, this reset switch 1
No. 6 has a different function from the conventional one which only performs a cold start.

Details of the initialization routine will be described later.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 2 shows the waveforms of the main signals in FIG.
The figure shows a flowchart of the set start routine executed by CPU I.

When 1=0 in FIG. 2, when the power is turned on by the power switch 7a, the output voltage of the power supply section 7 increases with time, and 1
=12, the specified voltage v2 is reached.

The comparator circuit 9 outputs a high level after a preset delay time td has elapsed after the power supply voltage reaches a preset threshold voltage Vl. Note that the delay time td and threshold voltage Vl of this comparison circuit 9 are appropriately determined in consideration of the starting ability of the power supply, the time required for stabilizing the system, and the like.

The output of the comparison circuit 9 is sent to the OR circuit 11. It is input to the CPU l via the signal line 13. Further, the output of this comparison circuit 9 is input to a one-shot pulse circuit 14, and the one-shot pulse circuit 14 outputs a pulse having a pulse width of tp. This pulse is added to flag 15 and flag 1
Set a logic level of 5 to rlJ.

This means that a power up has occurred and the CPU
request l for a cold start. When the signal line 13 becomes high level, the CPU is released from the reset state and starts a reset start routine as shown in the flowchart of FIG.

Step Sl in FIG. 3 is a process common to hot start and cold start, and CPU l first executes step St.

When the CPU completes this process, it checks the logic level of flag 15, and if the level is rlJ, it determines that it is a cold start and performs the processing steps S necessary for the cold start.
Do step 2. This naturally includes clearing the data area of the user's RAM 5. Further, the CPU 1 clears the flag 15 and sets its logic level to "0". This timing corresponds to time t3 in FIG. 2. In this way, the reset start routine ends and the process moves to the necessary main routine.

Next, let us consider a case where some kind of failure as described above occurs during work such as 5 document processing, and the user becomes unable to perform operations and performs a hot start. If the user presses the switch at t=t4 and releases the switch at 1=t5, the output of the reset switch 16 will be as shown in FIG. This signal is sent to the CPU via an OR circuit 11 and a signal line 13.
1, the reset start routine shown in FIG. 3 is started in the same way as when the power is turned on.

In the process shown in Figure 3, even in the case of hot start, step S
1 is the same as a cold start, but since the flag 15 is cleared at the time of a cold start, the process then moves to an initialization routine for a hot start in step S3.

In this step S3, the user's data is saved without being cleared, other necessary initialization processing is performed, the reset start routine is ended, and the process moves to the main routine. The user can resume work using the remaining data.

Incidentally, even if the above-mentioned reset start routine is on ROMa, or as part of the common initialization process of step St in FIG.
It does not matter whether the data is read from the DD4 and expanded onto the RAM5.

As described above, according to the present invention, after startup by turning on the power, hot start can be selected by simply operating the reset switch 16 without any special operation. As a result, even if the machine becomes inoperable due to some kind of failure, processing can be easily restarted without destroying the data created in the previous work. In other words, the power switch 7a may be used when performing a cold start, and the reset switch 16 may be used when performing a hot start in which user data can be retained.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to use cold start and hot start properly without having to perform the troublesome switch operations as in the past, and it is possible to use the cold start and hot start properly without having to perform the troublesome switch operations as in the past. Does not cause any problems.

The above configuration can be applied to various information processing devices that perform power-on and reset processing using a reset switch.

In the above, the name "reset switch" is used for convenience, but as is clear from the above embodiment, this switch is used for "initializing the settings of a predetermined part of the device (also known as a hot start switch). It goes without saying that the technical content of the present invention is not limited by the name of this switch.

[Effect of the Invention 1] As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, there is provided a main control unit that performs predetermined information processing, and a power supply that supplies power to each part of the device including the main control unit in accordance with the operation of a power switch. a reset switch for initializing settings of a predetermined part of the device; means for outputting a reset signal to the main control unit according to an output state of the power supply unit and an operating state of the reset switch; When the main control section is reset by the signal, means is provided for causing the main control section to identify which of the power switch or the reset switch is used to instruct the reset, and the main control section is configured to perform an initialization process during reset. A configuration is adopted in which a reset using the power switch performs a cold start process that initializes the entire device, and a reset using the reset switch performs a hot start process that initializes the parts of the device other than the user data storage means. ,
The device can distinguish whether a reset is instructed by the power switch or the reset switch, and a cold start process can be performed by a reset by the power switch, and a hot start process can be performed by operating the reset switch. After that,
It has excellent effects such as being able to perform a hot start using a reset switch, allowing restart operations to be performed without destroying user data, and allowing safe and reliable selection of cold start and hot start with simple operations.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a timing chart of each circuit shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure at reset start in the device shown in FIG. l...CPU 2...System bus 3...
・ROM 4・-F D D5・-RAM
6... Keyboard 7... Power supply section 8
...Power line 9...Comparison circuit 10...Signal line 11...OR circuit 12...Signal line 13...
・Signal line 14--One-shot pulse circuit 15--Flag 16--Reset switch r
Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A main control section that performs predetermined information processing, a power supply section that supplies power to each part of the device including the main control section in response to operation of a power switch, and a power supply section that controls settings for predetermined parts of the device. a reset switch for initialization; means for outputting a reset signal to the main control section according to an output state of the power supply section and an operation state of the reset switch; and when the main control section is reset by the reset signal. , a means for causing the main control unit to identify which of the power switch or the reset switch is used to instruct the reset, and in the initialization processing at the time of reset, the main control unit initializes the entire device when the power switch is used for resetting. 1. An information processing device characterized by performing a cold start process to initialize the system, and a hot start process to initialize a portion of the device other than a user data storage means when reset by a reset switch.