Patent Application
20060226849
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a method and device for detecting a current, and especially a method of using the current detecting device to detecting current loading of a CPU.
2. Description of Related Art
A BIOS of motherboard has set CPU voltage functions. The motherboard can set the voltage value and the voltage indication mark (VID) of the corresponding relation that produce the new voltage indication mark signal, and convert the new voltage to a basic voltage via a digital/analog converter, then delivers the basic voltage to the CPU. Finally, the voltage is output and the voltage value is set after an adjustment circuit. When different voltages of the CPU are used, the motherboard can act according to the CPU voltage to output the most suitable voltage.
The prior art can only detect the VID value of the CPU but cannot display the real current value. The different frequency speed CPU generates different currents when executing a program. However, the prior art is unable to display the current value.
The object of the present invention resolves the display disadvantage of the CPU voltage value in the prior art. The present invention displays a current value via a display unit and looks for current loading of the CPU.
The method of the present invention transmits a current detect signal generated by a CPU, gives a current value of the current detect signal, converts the current value to a voltage value, determines whether the current value exceeds a predetermined value in a comparison operation unit, and outputs a voltage dissimilitude value on a display unit.
The device for detecting a current comprises a CPU to generate a current signal, a detection unit coupled to said CPU to detect the current signal generated by the CPU, a conversion unit coupled to said detection unit to convert the current signal to a voltage value, a comparison operation unit coupled to said conversion unit to compare a converted voltage value with a predetermined value of the comparison operation unit, and a display unit coupled to the comparison operation unit to display a voltage dissimilitude value after comparison.
To provide a further understanding of the invention, the following detailed description illustrates embodiments and examples of the invention, this detailed description being provided only for an illustration of the invention.
The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The prior art only detects the VID value of the CPU and doesn't display a real current value. The present invention displays a current value and looks for current loading of the CPU via a display unit.
As mentioned above, the method of the first embodiment matches the device of the first embodiment. The first embodiment dynamically detects CPU current loading, and converts voltage value via the conversion unit. Finally, the voltage value is compared with the 4-Bit magnitude comparator. When voltage value over each section of design predetermines the voltage value, the complexes of LED are turned on. When the voltage value exceeds the first section, the first LED is turned on and so on. The complexes of LED are increasingly turned on when the current loading is overloaded. Otherwise, the complexes of LED are turned off. The complexes of LED are streamlined when the current loading dissimilitude is very large. A user can see the current loading of the CPU clearly.
As mentioned above, the method of the second embodiment matches the device of the second embodiment. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the voltage value is provided via a comparator rather than via the A/D converter and the display unit is changed to 7-segment displays. The analog voltage value converts the digital voltage value. The digital value is output on the 7-segment display and shows the current loading. The 7-segment display shows the current value when the current loading dissimilitude is very large. A user can see the current loading of the CPU clearly.
As mentioned above, the method of the third embodiment matches the device of the third embodiment. The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the control unit replaces the LED and uses software thereinside for the control unit to read the voltage value. The voltage value is displayed on an LCD monitor or a CRT monitor. The LCD monitor or CRT monitor shows the voltage value when the current loading dissimilitude is very large. A user can clearly see the current loading of the CPU.
The current of each CPU loads different current values in for power-on, entry operation system platform or playing 3D games. The present invention shows the current value via the LED, the 7-segment display or the display monitor. A user can see the current loading of the CPU clearly.
Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the above description is only illustrative of specific embodiments and examples of the invention. The invention should therefore cover various modifications and variations made to the herein-described structure and operations of the invention, provided they fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the following appended claims.
