Central processing unit reset device and a reset method for a central processing unit

A portable computer system, comprising:

• a main computer body containing a central processing unit having a reset terminal and auxiliary devices;
• a display unit physically and electrically connected to said main computer body for providing a visual display of data information;
• a keyboard positioned on said main computer body and having a plurality of discrete keys including a reset key serving as a reset switch for allowing a user to reboot an operating system of the central processing unit;
• a controller electrically connected to the keyboard and included in said main computer body, for scanning the keyboard and for generating a reset request signal in response to the user's depression of said reset key on the keyboard;
• and
• a reset driving circuit electrically connected to the controller and included in said main computer body, for generating a central processing unit reset signal to the reset terminal to reboot the operating system of the central processing unit.

A reset method for resetting operation of a central processing unit in a computer system, said reset method comprising the steps:

• checking whether keyboard scanning is permitted by a controller to determine whether a keyboard containing a plurality of discrete keys that are independently operable by manual depression to provide to said central processing unit a plurality of unique input signals representing a plurality of different control functions and a plurality of alphanumeric symbols manually designated by a user;
• determining whether a reset key among said plurality of discrete keys on said keyboard is depressed by the user when said keyboard scanning is permitted by said controller electrically connected to said keyboard, said keyboard being integrated with said computer system for allowing the user to reboot an operating system of the central processing unit;
• when the reset key on the keyboard is depressed by the user, producing a reset request signal to request generation of a central processing unit reset signal from a reset driving circuit operationally connected to said controller;
• generating the central processing unit reset request signal;
• and
• rebooting the operating system of the central processing unit upon reception of the reset request signal.

A computer system, comprising:

• a central processing unit;
• a keyboard having a plurality of discrete keys including a reset key serving as a software reset switch for allowing a user to reboot an operating system of the central processing unit, when the central processing unit is locked in an infinite loop;
• and
• circuitry electrically connected to the keyboard, for scanning the keyboard and for generating a reset signal to the central processing unit to automatically reboot the operating system of the central processing unit in response to the user's depression of said reset key on the keyboard.