JP2002259132A - Information processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor allowed to be used without requiring labor hour when stating it. SOLUTION: The existence of an external display device 21 is recognized when starting the system of the information processor and when, the previously set contents of a system table do not coincide with the existence/absence of the device 21, the set contents are changed so as to coincide with it. The information processor recognizes connection between the device 21 and the processor based on the set contents of color ratios setting up the ratios of colors to be a base for the display of the device 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus to which an external display device can be connected.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A laptop personal computer has a built-in internal input / output device such as a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a display, and a keyboard, and can be equipped with an external input / output device. Also,
Expansion devices such as a co-processor and an expansion memory board (hereinafter referred to as expansion RAM) can be mounted, and performance such as processing speed is improved by these external input / output devices and expansion devices.

[0003] By the way, whether an external display device is connected to a current system or which of an internal display device and an external display device is to be used has conventionally been determined by setting in a memory with backup by a user. Was. Therefore, when a request to use the external display device is issued while the internal display device is used, the contents of the memory with backup must be reset so as to select the external display device. Conversely, the same applies to a case where a request to use the internal display device comes out while the external display device is being used.

[0004]

In a laptop personal computer, it is frequently required to temporarily use an external display device, and a utility is executed to reset the backup memory each time. It had to be very annoying. Another problem is that it takes time to execute the utility.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus which can be used without trouble when starting up.

[0006]

An information processing apparatus according to the present invention is a data processing apparatus provided with an internal display device to which an external display device can be connected. Is set, and an execution request storage in which an execution request by a user is set to be executed in an automatic mode or in a normal mode operating according to a use request preset in the use request storage means. Means, a color ratio setting means for setting a basic color ratio for display on an external display device, and a color ratio setting means when the execution request storage means is set to an automatic mode when the information processing apparatus is started up. Of the connection between the external display device and the information processing device is recognized based on the setting, and if the setting of the use request storage means does not match the connection, the setting is matched. It is those resets the Uni use request storage means, and, and a quota determination means for determining one of assignment of the internal display and external display device.

In the information processing apparatus according to the present invention, when the execution request storage means is set to the automatic mode when the information processing apparatus is started, the connection between the external display device and the information processing apparatus is set based on the setting of the color ratio setting means. If the setting of the use request storage means does not match the presence or absence of the connection of the external display device, there is provided an assignment determining means for resetting the use request storage means so that the setting is matched. Therefore, when the system is started with the external display device connected, the external display device can be used at the same time as the start-up, and when the system is started with the external display device disconnected, the system can be started at the same time. The internal display can be used. As described above, according to the present invention, when the external display device is used, the setting of the use request storage means is automatically performed, so that the trouble of the resetting process can be omitted, and the time until the external display device can be used is reduced. The required time can be reduced.

Further, the presence or absence of the connection between the external display device and the information processing device is recognized based on the setting of the color ratio setting means for setting the ratio of the basic colors for display on the external display device. It is possible to reliably recognize whether or not the display device is connected. This applies to the information processing apparatus according to the present invention described below.

In an information processing apparatus according to the present invention, in an information processing apparatus which can be connected to an external display device and has an internal display device, a usage request in which a user usage request is set for the internal display device and the external display device is set. Storage means; execution request storage means in which an execution request by a user is set to be executed in an automatic mode or in a normal mode operating in accordance with a use request preset in a use request storage means; and an external display device. A color ratio setting unit for setting a basic color ratio for displaying the image, and an external device based on the setting of the color ratio setting unit when the setting of the execution request storage unit is in the automatic mode when the information processing apparatus is started. Recognizes the presence or absence of a connection between the display device and the information processing device. When the presence of the connection is recognized, the external display device is allocated regardless of the setting of the use request storage means. It determines, and a quota determination means for determining the allocation of the internal display device regardless of the setting of the use request storage means for recognizing the absence of connection.

According to the present invention, when the setting of the execution request storage means is the automatic mode when the information processing apparatus is started up, the assignment determining means of the information processing apparatus can communicate with the external display device based on the setting of the color ratio setting means. Recognize the presence or absence of connection with the device. When the assignment determining means recognizes the presence of the connection, the assignment determining means determines the assignment of the external display device regardless of the setting of the use request storage means. Determine display device assignments. Thus, when the system is started up with the external display device connected, the external display device can be used at the same time as the start-up without resetting the use request storage means. Also, if the system starts up with no external display device connected,
The internal display device can be used at the same time as startup without resetting the use request storage means.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (1) Overview of this embodiment (1.1) Configuration of this embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an information processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. This information processing apparatus includes a standard system unit 10 and an external input / output device 20. The standard system unit 10 includes an internal display device 31, an internal floppy disk device 32, an internal keyboard 33, and an internal serial input / output device 34 as internal input / output devices 30. These internal input / output devices 30 are controlled by control devices 50 to 53, respectively. Here, the internal serial input / output device 34 refers to a low-speed printer, a modem device, or the like that performs control in units of bits. The control devices 50 to 53 have an external port 4
0 to 44 are respectively connected. This external port 4
An external display device 21, a floppy disk device 22, a keyboard 23, and serial input / output devices 24 and 25 are connected as external input / output devices 20 to 0-44. Further, an internal bus line 60 is connected to the control devices 50 to 53, and a memory device with backup (hereinafter referred to as CMOSRAM) 61 is connected to the internal bus line 60. This CMOSRAM 61
Function as execution request storage means and use request storage means. The internal bus line 60 is connected to a system bus 63 via a gate array 62. The system bus 63 includes a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as a CPU) 70, an extension device 80, and a main storage device (hereinafter referred to as a RAM) 90.
And a control storage device (hereinafter referred to as ROM) 91 are connected. The extension device 80 includes a co-processor 81 and an extension RAM 82. ROM 91
Stores a BIOS (basic I / O system). The BIOS includes an assignment program as assignment determination means for deciding the assignment of input / output devices and the like. The execution of this assignment program allows the CMOS
The setting of the RAM 61 is changed to match the presence or absence of the external input / output device 20 or the extension device 80.

(1.2) Settings in CMOSRAM Next, the settings written in the CMOSRAM 61 in advance will be described with reference to FIG. CMOSRA
The setting of M61 includes a mode setting at the time of system startup, which is an execution request storage unit, and a use request setting such as an input / output device, which is a use request storage unit.

First, there are two types of mode settings at the time of starting the system, an automatic mode and a normal mode. By setting this mode, C
It is determined whether to reset the MOSRAM 61.

The setting of the use request of the input / output device is as follows. The first is the setting of the display device. According to this setting, one of the internal display device 31 and the external display device 21 is selected. The second is the setting of the drive of the floppy disk device. By setting the drive, the A drive and the B drive are assigned to the internal floppy disk device 32 and the external floppy disk device 22. Third is the setting of the port address of the serial input / output device. By setting the port address, port addresses are assigned to the internal serial input / output device 34 and the external serial input / output devices 24 and 25. Fourth is the extension device 80
Is the setting. When mounting is recognized by this setting, initialization is performed at system startup.

(2) Setting process of this embodiment (2.1) Process at system startup Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

When the user starts up the information processing apparatus, R
The assignment program stored in the OM 91 is started, and the setting data of the CMOSRAM 61 set in advance is searched (step 101). The setting data searched first by the assignment program is the setting mode at the time of startup. When this setting mode is the automatic mode, the CMO
The use request of the input / output device set in the SRAM 61 is searched, and the external input / output device 20 actually mounted is searched.
And the expansion device 80 (step 102). Then, the presence or absence of actual mounting and CMOSRAM
If the setting of the CMOS RAM 61 is different, the setting of the CMOSRAM 61 is changed according to the presence or absence of the actual mounting. If the setting mode is the normal mode, initialization or the like according to the setting of the CMOSRAM 61 is performed at the time of starting the system (step 103). In the normal mode, an automatic setting function similar to the automatic mode is supported only when a user requests a setting change. The request for the setting change by the user is made by pressing a specific function key. Then, after the initialization processing in steps 102 and 103 is completed, normal processing of the information processing apparatus is performed (step 104).

Hereinafter, the details of the process of resetting the CMOSRAM 61 performed when the automatic mode is set will be described.
Each external input / output device 20 and expansion device 80 will be described separately.

(2.2) Resetting Process for Display Device First, the resetting process of the CMOSRAM 61 for the display device will be described.

An external display device 21 which is an example of an external display device can be connected to the external port 40, and an internal display device (LCD) which is an example of an internal display device.
The control device 50 controls whether to use the external display device (CRT or the like) 21 or the like. Actual control is performed by an internal register provided in the control device 50. FIG. 4 shows the definition of each bit of the internal register 150 and the setting contents thereof. When the second bit is “0”, the internal display device 31 is selected, and when the second bit is “1”, the external display device 21 is selected. By this bit operation, either the internal display device 31 or the external display device 21 can be selected.

FIG. 5 shows a procedure for selecting the display device.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. CM at this stage
In the OSRAM 61, it is assumed that a setting of a user's selection for the internal display device 31 and the external display device 21 and a setting of whether to perform automatic setting are made in advance. First, it is checked whether or not the display device to be used for booting in the CMOSRAM 61 is set to the internal display device 31 (step 20).
1). If the internal display device 31 has been selected by the user, it is next checked whether or not the external display device 21 is connected to the external port 40 (step 202). External display device 2 to external port 40
Recognition of whether or not 1 is connected is performed in the following procedure.

The basic colors to be displayed on the display device are red, green and blue, and there is one register for setting the ratio of these colors for each color.
The color ratio can be arbitrarily determined by the set value in this register. In addition, a circuit is provided for setting data of a result indicating whether or not the external display device 21 is connected to the external port 40 to a specific port according to the values of these registers. Therefore, by reading the data set to this specific port, it is possible to recognize whether or not the external display device 21 is connected at the time of startup. FIG. 6 shows the definition of each bit of the specific port 250 and the setting contents. When the fourth bit is “0”, it indicates that the external display device 21 is connected to the external port 40. When the fourth bit is “1”, it indicates that the external display device 21 is not connected to the external port 40. Show. That is, the recognition processing method of the external display device 21 is realized by writing a specific value to each of the red, green, and blue registers and then reading the specific port 250.

If it is recognized in step 202 that the external display device 21 is connected,
Assuming that the value of the second bit of the internal register 150 is “1”,
The settings in the CMOS RAM 61 are stored in the external display device 2
Initialization such as changing to 1 is performed. By this initialization, the external display device 21 is unconditionally selected as the display device at the time of startup (step 20).
4). At this time, since the setting in the CMOSRAM 61 is the internal display device 31, the startup display requested by the user is different from the display used for the actual startup. Therefore, in such a case, a configuration error is determined (step 203). On the other hand, if the external display device 21 is not connected, the internal display device 31 is selected in the same manner as the startup display requested by the user (step 207). That is, the value of the second bit of the internal register 150 is set to “0”, and initialization such as changing the setting in the CMOSRAM 61 to the internal display device 31 is performed.

The same processing is performed by the CMO in step 201.
This is also performed when the start-up display in the SRAM 61 is not selected by the internal display device 31. That is,
It is checked whether the external display device 21 is connected to the external port 40 (step 205). If the external display device 21 is connected, the internal register 1 is checked.
Assuming that the value of the second bit of 50 is “1”, the CMOS RAM
Initialization such as changing the setting in the external display device 61 to the external display device 21 is performed (step 204). If the external display device 21 is not connected, the value of the second bit of the internal register 150 is set to “0” and the CMOSR
Initialization such as changing the setting in the AM 61 to the internal display device 31 is performed (step 207). At this time, the settings in the CMOS RAM 61 are stored in the external display device 2.
Since it is 1, the startup display requested by the user is different from the display used for the actual startup. Therefore, in such a case, a configuration error is determined (step 206).

If a configuration error is detected in steps 203 and 206, the system is forcibly started up simply by displaying a symbol to that effect. In this case, no error message is displayed. This is because the feature of the present embodiment is to use the input / output device and the expansion device recognized at the time of startup even if the setting content is different from the setting content written in the CMOS RAM 61 in advance. CMOSRAM6
Whether or not to perform the resetting of 1 can be switched by the mode setting at the time of startup, and that is why it is left to the selection of the user.

As described above, under the automatic mode, when the external display device 21 is connected, the external display device 21 can be used regardless of the user's prior setting in the CMOS RAM 61, and the external display device 21 can be used. When the connection is not made, the internal display device 31 can be used regardless of the user's setting in the CMOSRAM 61 in advance.

(2.3) Resetting Process for Floppy Disk Device Next, the CMOS RAM for the floppy disk device
The resetting process of 61 will be described with reference to FIG.

First, it is confirmed whether the external floppy disk device 22 is connected to the external port 41 (step 301). When the external floppy disk device 22 is not connected, the setting of the internal floppy disk device 32 in the CMOS RAM 61 is assigned to the A drive. If the external floppy disk device 22 is connected, it is checked whether a floppy medium capable of booting (starting up the system) is inserted in the external floppy disk device 22 (step 303). If a bootable floppy medium is not inserted into the external floppy disk device 22, it is checked whether a bootable floppy medium is inserted into the internal floppy disk device 32 (step 304). When a bootable floppy medium is inserted in the internal floppy disk device 32, the internal floppy disk device 32 is
The external floppy disk drive 22 is assigned to the B drive for the drive (step 305). Step 303
If a bootable floppy medium is inserted in the external floppy disk device 22 in step (1), it is checked whether a bootable floppy medium is inserted in the internal floppy disk device 32 (step 306). If a bootable floppy medium is inserted in the internal floppy disk device 32, it is checked whether the setting of the internal floppy disk device 32 in the CMOS RAM 61 is the A drive and the setting of the external floppy disk device 22 is the B drive (step). 307). When the setting of the external floppy disk device 22 is not the B drive, the external floppy disk device 22 is allocated to the A drive and the internal floppy disk device 32 is allocated to the B drive (step 30).
8). When the external floppy disk drive 22 is set to drive B, the internal floppy disk drive 32
The external floppy disk drive 22 is assigned to the B drive for the drive (step 305).

The floppy disk device in which the bootable floppy medium is inserted is checked, and the floppy disk device is assigned to the A drive regardless of the user's prior setting in the CMOS RAM 61, and the other floppy disk is assigned. Assign a disk drive to drive B. This drive assignment can be changed at any time after system startup. When the external floppy disk device 22 is not mounted, the internal floppy disk device 32 is unconditionally assigned to the A drive.

(2.4) Resetting process for serial input / output device Next, the CMOS RAM 61 for the serial input / output device
Will be described.

The serial I / O devices that can be used in the information processing apparatus of the present embodiment include an internal serial I / O device 34 such as a built-in modem device and external serial I / O devices 24 and 2.
There are five. Since two I / O ports are assigned to these serial input / output devices as a whole, a maximum of two serial input / output devices can operate simultaneously. RO
The assignment program stored in M91 checks the mounting status of the external serial input / output devices 24 and 25, and performs a process of assigning an optimal I / O port to the internal serial input / output device 34. Further, the assignment program allows the user to use the CMOS RAM in accordance with the assignment of the I / O port.
The name of the I / O port number set in advance to 61 is changed. The name of the I / O port number that can be set by the user is "Primary / Secondary / Disable
ed ”, and“ Primary ”is 3F8
Hex. However, "Secondary" has 2F8He
x. Are assigned as port numbers. here,
“Disabled” indicates that the I / O
This is a setting that does not assign an O port number.

Next, FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of automatic setting for the serial input / output device.

First, the internal serial input / output device 34 is set to "Disabled" by an internal register (step 401). Next, it is checked whether or not the external serial input / output devices 24 and 25 having the “Primary” setting exist (step 402). If there is no external serial input / output device set to “Primary”, the internal serial input / output device 34 is set to “Primary” (step 403). The setting of the CMOSRAM 61 is "Pr
(step 40).
4) If not "Primary", CMOSRA
The setting of M61 is changed to "Primary" (step 405). Further, in step 402, "Primar
If there are external serial input / output devices 24 and 25 set to "y", it is checked whether there are external serial input / output devices 24 and 25 set to "Secondary" (step 406). If there is no output device, the internal serial input / output device 34 is set to “Secondary” (step 407), and the CMOS RAM 61 is set to “S”.
"secondary" (step 40).
8) CMOS if not “Secondary”
The setting of the RAM 61 is changed to “Secondary” (step 409). Further, in step 406, “Sec
external serial input / output device 24, 2
5 exists, the internal serial input / output device 34 is set to "Disabled" (step 41).
0). The setting of the CMOS RAM 61 is “Disab
is checked (step 411), and “Dis”
If not, the setting of the CMOS RAM 61 is changed to "Disabled" (step 41).
2).

As described above, the external serial input / output device 2
4, 25 I / O ports are preferentially assigned. After this allocation, if there is an unconnected I / O port, the I / O port of the internal serial input / output device 34 is allocated. In accordance with this allocation, the CMOS RAM 61
Is reset. FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the setting of the I / O ports of the external serial input / output devices 24 and 25 and the resetting of the I / O ports of the internal serial input / output device 34. From this figure, I / O of internal serial input / output device 34
It can be seen that the port settings are reset by the settings of the external serial input / output devices 24 and 25, regardless of the previous settings.

(2.5) Reset processing for co-processor Next, the CMOS RAM 61 for the co-processor 81
Will be described with reference to FIG.

First, it is checked whether or not the co-processor 81 is mounted when the system is started (step 501).
When it is recognized that the co-processor 81 is mounted, necessary initialization is performed (step 502). Next, CM
It is checked whether the setting of the OSRAM 61 is "mounted" (step 503). If the setting is not "mounted", the setting is changed to "mounted" (step 504). Also,
If the coprocessor 81 is not mounted in step 501, it is checked whether the setting of the CMOS RAM 61 is "not mounted" (step 505). CMOSRA
If the setting of M61 is not "not mounted", it is changed to "not mounted" (step 506).

When it is recognized that the co-processor 81 is actually mounted, the CMOSR
It is initialized when the system is started up, irrespective of the prior setting in AM61. Then, the co-processor 81 can be used simultaneously with the start-up. Also, CMOSR
Since the change of the AM 61 is automatically reset by the assignment program stored in the ROM 91, it is not necessary to execute the reset utility.

(2.6) When resetting is not performed In this embodiment, the CMOS RAM 6
1 and the actual connection state of the external input / output device 20 are different from each other in accordance with the actual connection.
The RAM 61 is reset. However, this CMOSR
The input / output device may be selected according to the actual connection state of the external input / output device 20 without resetting the AM 61. That is, when the external input / output device 20 is connected, the external input / output device 20 is selected regardless of the setting of the CMOSRAM 61. When the external input / output device 20 is not connected, the external input / output device 20 is selected. Instead, the internal input / output device 30 is selected.

(3) Summary According to the procedure described in detail above, the external input / output device 2
In the information processing apparatus to which the external input / output device 20 and the extension device 80 can be connected, when the external input / output device 20 and the extension device 80 are connected, the CMOS
Regardless of the prior setting in the RAM 61, the external input / output device 20 and the expansion device device 80 can be used at the same time when the system is started, and when the external input / output device 20 and the expansion device device 80 are not connected, the user The internal input / output device 30 can be used at the same time when the system is started, irrespective of the prior setting of the CMOSRAM 61 by the CPU.

The function of the present invention is particularly effective for an information processing apparatus having excellent mobility such as a laptop personal computer. This is because such an information processing apparatus is frequently attached to and detached from an external input / output device depending on the environment in which it is used.

Furthermore, when a failed external input / output device or expansion device is mounted, it is possible to recognize that the failure has occurred when the system is started up, so that appropriate measures such as outputting an error message can be taken.

[0041]

As described above, according to the information processing apparatus of the present invention, when the system is started while the external display device is connected, the external display device can be used at the same time as the start-up. . Therefore, it is very convenient in a portable information processing apparatus such as a laptop personal computer that often uses an external display device temporarily.

According to the information processing device of the present invention, the connection between the external display device and the information processing device is set based on the color ratio setting in which the basic color ratio for display on the external display device is set. Since the presence / absence is recognized, the presence / absence of the connection of the external display device can be reliably recognized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing setting contents of a CMOS RAM 61;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing bit definitions and setting contents of an internal register.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of selecting a display device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing bit definitions and setting contents of internal ports.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a method for automatically setting a floppy disk device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a method for automatically setting a serial input / output device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing contents of re-setting of an I / O port.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a method of automatically setting a co-processor.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Standard system unit, 20: External input / output device, 21:
External display device, 22 external floppy disk device, 23 external keyboard device, 24 external serial input / output device, 25 external serial input / output device, 30 internal input / output device, 31 internal display device, 32 internal floppy device Disk device, 33: Internal keyboard device, 34: Internal serial input / output device, 40: External port, 41: External port, 42: External port, 43: External port, 44: External port, 50: Control device, 51: Control Device, 52: Control device, 53: Control device, 60: Internal bus line, 61: CMOS RAM, 62: Gate array, 63: System bus, 70: CPU, 80: Extension device, 81: Co-processor, 82: Extension RAM, 9
0 ... RAM, 91 ... ROM

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masaaki Hanaoka 3-3-5 Yamato, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture Inside Seiko Epson Corporation (72) Inventor Shinji Nakamura 3-3-5 Yamato Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture Seiko Epson Incorporated F term (reference) 5B014 HC01 HC02 5B069 BB19 KA01 KA04 5B076 AA05 AA20

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus having an internal display device to which an external display device can be connected, wherein: a use request storage means for setting a user use request for the internal display device and the external display device; An execution request storage unit in which an execution request by a user is set to be executed in a normal mode or to execute in accordance with the use request preset in the use request storage unit; and a display of the external display device. A color ratio setting unit for setting a basic color ratio for the image processing device; and a setting of the execution request storage unit when the information processing apparatus is started, based on the setting of the color ratio setting unit when the setting of the execution request storage unit is the automatic mode. The presence or absence of connection between the external display device and the information processing device is recognized, and if the setting of the use request storage unit does not match the connection, the setting is matched. Be those resets the usage request storage means such that, and the information processing apparatus and a allocation determining means for determining one of the assignments of the internal display device and said external display device. 2. An information processing apparatus having an internal display device to which an external display device can be connected, wherein: a use request storage means for setting a user use request for the internal display device and the external display device; An execution request storage unit in which an execution request by a user is set to be executed in a normal mode or to execute in accordance with the use request preset in the use request storage unit; and a display of the external display device. A color ratio setting unit for setting a basic color ratio for the image processing device; and a setting of the execution request storage unit when the information processing apparatus is started, based on the setting of the color ratio setting unit when the setting of the execution request storage unit is the automatic mode. To recognize the presence or absence of a connection between the external display device and the information processing device, and when the presence of the connection is recognized, Engagement without determining the allocation of the external display device, an information processing apparatus and a allocation determining means for determining the allocation of the internal display device regardless of the setting of the use request storage means to recognize the absence of the connection.