Information processing apparatus and power supply controlling method

Abstract

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus including: a first controller configured to control a first external device; a second controller configured to control a second external device; a combo connector configured to connect the first external device to the first controller or to connect the second external device to the second controller alternatively; a first power controller configured to turn OFF buffer power supply of the second controller when the first external device is connected to the combo connector and the second external device is not connected to the combo connector; and a second power controller configured to turn OFF buffer power supply of the first controller when the second external device is connected to the combo connector and the first external device is not connected to the combo connector.

1 . An information processing apparatus comprising:
 a first controller configured to control a first external device;   a second controller configured to control a second external device;   a combo connector configured either to connect the first external device to the first controller or to connect the second external device to the second controller;   a first power controller configured to turn off power supply to a buffer of the second controller when the first external device is connected to the combo connector and the second external device is not connected to the combo connector; and   a second power controller configured to turn off power supply to a buffer of the first controller when the second external device is connected to the combo connector and the first external device is not connected to the combo connector.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a third power controller configured to turn on the power supply to the buffer of the first power controller and the power supply to the buffer of the second power controller when the first external device is not connected to the combo connector and the second external device is not connected to the combo connector. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first external device comprises a USB device,
 the second external device comprises an eSATA device,   the first controller comprises a USB controller, and   the second controller comprises an eSATA controller.   
     
     
         4 . A power supply controlling method for an information processing apparatus comprising a connector configured either to connect a first external device to a first controller or to connect a second external device to a second controller, the method comprising:
 determining whether the first external device is connected to the connector;   determining whether the second external device is connected to the connector;   controlling power supply to turn off a buffer of the second controller when the first external device is connected to the connector and the second external device is not connected to the connector; and   controlling power supply to turn off a buffer of the first controller when the second external device is connected to the connector and the first external device is not connected to the connector.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising controlling the power supply to turn on the buffer of the first controller and the buffer of the second controller when the first external device is not connected to the connector and the second external device is not connected to the connector. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first external device comprises a USB device,
 the second external device comprises an eSATA device,   the first controller comprises a USB controller, and   the second controller comprises an eSATA controller.