Computer system and power control apparatus thereof
A power control apparatus is disclosed. The power control apparatus includes a temperature sensor, a first voltage converter, an over-temperature protection, a reset unit and a second voltage converter. The temperature sensor is for sensing a measured temperature to output a sensing signal. The first voltage converter converts the power voltage of a computer system into a first voltage. The over-temperature protection unit receives the first voltage and decides whether or not outputting the first voltage according to the sensing signal. When the reset unit has received the first voltage from the over-temperature protection unit, the reset unit decides whether or not to produce a reset signal according to the level of the power voltage. The second voltage converter is for producing a start signal to enable the embedded controller according to the reset signal.
1. A power control apparatus, used for controlling an embedded controller in a computer system to be enabled or disabled; the power control apparatus comprising:
a temperature sensor, for sensing a measured temperature and accordingly outputting a sensing signal;
a first voltage converter, for converting a power voltage of the computer system into a first voltage;
an over-temperature protection unit, for receiving the first voltage and deciding whether or not to output the first voltage according to the sensing signal;
a reset unit, electrically connected to the over-temperature protection unit, wherein when the reset unit has received the first voltage from the over-temperature protection unit, the reset unit decides whether or not to produce a reset signal according to the level of the power voltage; and
a second voltage converter, electrically connected to the reset unit and the embedded controller for producing a start signal to enable the embedded controller according to the reset signal.
2. The power control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the over-temperature protection unit comprises a switch having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal receives the first voltage, the second terminal is electrically connected to the reset unit and the control terminal is for receiving the sensing signal to decide whether or not the first terminal and the second terminal thereof are conductive according to the sensing signal.
3. The power control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein when the measured temperature is within a safety range of the temperature sensor, the temperature sensor outputs the sensing signal with a first level so that the over-temperature protection unit outputs the first voltage; when the measured temperature is beyond the safety range of the temperature sensor, the temperature sensor outputs the sensing signal with a second level so that the over-temperature protection unit ceases outputting the first voltage.
4. The power control apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the first level is logic 1 and the second level is logic 0.
5. The power control apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the first level is logic 0 and the second level is logic 1.
6. The computer system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the first level is logic 0 and the second level is logic 1.
7. The power control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reset unit comprises:
a first resistor, having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first resistor is for receiving the power voltage and the second end of the first resistor is for generating a first reference voltage;
a second resistor, having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second resistor is electrically connected to the second end of the first resistor and the second end of the second resistor is for generating a second reference voltage;
a third resistor, having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the third resistor is electrically connected to the second end of the second resistor and the second end of the third resistor is electrically connected to a ground terminal; and
a reset circuit, electrically connected to the second ends of the first resistor and the second resistor, the over-temperature protection unit and the second voltage converter, wherein the reset circuit is operated with the first voltage so as to respectively compare the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage with a preset voltage in the reset circuit and to decide whether or not producing the reset signal according to the comparison result.
8. The power control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a third voltage converter, electrically connected to the embedded controller for converting the power voltage of the computer system into a second voltage serving as the operation voltage of the embedded controller.
9. The power control apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the power voltage is greater than the first voltage and the first voltage is greater than the second voltage.
10. The power control apparatus as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the second voltage converter further generates a third voltage according to the reset signal and the third voltage is less than the second voltage.
11. A computer system, comprising:
an embedded controller; and
a power control apparatus, electrically connected to the embedded controller for controlling the embedded controller to be enabled or disabled, wherein the power control apparatus comprises:
a temperature sensor, for sensing a measured temperature and accordingly outputting a sensing signal;
a first voltage converter, for converting a power voltage of the computer system into a first voltage;
an over-temperature protection unit, for receiving the first voltage and deciding whether or not to output the first voltage according to the sensing signal;
a reset unit, electrically connected to the over-temperature protection unit, wherein when the reset unit has received the first voltage from the over-temperature protection unit, the reset unit decides whether or not to produce a reset signal according to the level of the power voltage; and
a second voltage converter, electrically connected to the reset unit and the embedded controller for producing a start signal to enable the embedded controller according to the reset signal.
12. The computer system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the over-temperature protection unit comprises a switch having a first terminal, a second terminal and a control terminal, wherein the first terminal receives the first voltage, the second terminal is electrically connected to the reset unit and the control terminal is for receiving the sensing signal to decide whether or not the first terminal and the second terminal thereof are conductive according to the sensing signal.
13. The computer system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein when the measured temperature is within a safety range of the temperature sensor, the temperature sensor outputs the sensing signal with a first level so that the over-temperature protection unit outputs the first voltage; when the measured temperature is beyond the safety range of the temperature sensor, the temperature sensor outputs the sensing signal with a second level so that the over-temperature protection unit ceases outputting the first voltage.
14. The computer system as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the first level is logic 1 and the second level is logic 0.
15. The computer system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the reset unit comprises:
a first resistor, having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first resistor is for receiving the power voltage and the second end of the first resistor is for generating a first reference voltage;
a second resistor, having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the second resistor is electrically connected to the second end of the first resistor and the second end of the second resistor is for generating a second reference voltage;
a third resistor, having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the third resistor is electrically connected to the second end of the second resistor and the second end of the third resistor is electrically connected to a ground terminal; and
a reset circuit, electrically connected to the second ends of the first resistor and the second resistor, the over-temperature protection unit and the second voltage converter, wherein the reset circuit is operated with the first voltage so as to respectively compare the first reference voltage and the second reference voltage with a preset voltage in the reset circuit and to decide whether or not producing the reset signal according to the comparison result.
16. The computer system as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the power control apparatus further comprises:
a third voltage converter, electrically connected to the embedded controller for converting the power voltage of the computer system into a second voltage serving as the operation voltage of the embedded controller.
17. The computer system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the power voltage is greater than the first voltage and the first voltage is greater than the second voltage.
18. The computer system as claimed in claim 16 , wherein the second voltage converter further generates a third voltage according to the reset signal and the third voltage is less than the second voltage.