CN1148715C

CN1148715C - LCD system with dual LCD subsystem configuration

Info

Publication number: CN1148715C
Application number: CNB981051790A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 南部启一; 英; 梅津明英; 夫; 渡边保夫; 滕; 佐佐木滕
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
Priority date: 1997-03-28
Filing date: 1998-03-27
Publication date: 2004-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-27
Also published as: JPH10268847A; AU707482B2; AU5967498A; HK1011232A1; CN1195158A; SG63835A1

Abstract

To make lower the power consumption of an electronic equipment, which is driven by a battery. A liquid crystal display part 7 is divided into a pictorial character display part 8 and a dot display part 9, and the pictorial character display part 8 is controlled by a pictorial character display driving control part 2, a pictorial character display driving part 5, and a pictorial character display control system power source part 10, and the dot display part 9 is controlled by a dot display driving control part 3, a dot display driving part 6, and a dot display control system power source part 11. Consequently, the pictorial character display part 8 and dot display part 9 can be controlled independently of each other to reduce the power consumption.

Description

Liquid crystal display systems with dual LCD subsystem configuration

The present invention relates to be used for such as cell phone, LCD (liquid crystal display) system in the battery-powered electronic equipment of radio pager and so on, particularly, the present invention relates to because of having two LCD panels and electrode driver separately to have the LCD system of the power-saving ability of enhancing.

One of most important character of battery-powered electronic equipment is long battery life will be arranged or long charging interval is arranged.For this purpose, reduce the power consumption of the consumption of the electric power of equipment, particularly LCD as far as possible.For example, the little LCD device of a kind of power consumption at flat 8-179, has announcement in the patented claim of 731 (1996) numbers Japanese unexamined by people such as Furuhashi.People such as Furuhashi reduce lcd drive voltage by a plurality of scan electrodes of selecting the LCD panel simultaneously, to reduce the power consumption of display system.But, to then no matter whether to carry out the driving operation without exception to whole LCD panel with the data of icon display with data as in other the LCD system, showing with dot matrix if having.

In many battery-powered systems, even when system is in OFF (shutoff) state, the part of system is also always worked in Measuring Time, waits for or monitor specific radiowave or the like.In these cases, usually need the state of the system form with an icon or a very limited phrase is shown.If except icon and limited phrase form, need not show, just no longer need a dot matrix LCD, and as long as a segmentation LCD is just much of that.

Best, an advantage of the invention is provides a kind of LCD system, and this system has the power-saving ability of enhancing, to be used for battery-powered equipment.

The invention provides a kind of liquid crystal display (LCD) system, be used for battery-powered equipment, this equipment comprises the controller that is used to control this equipment.This LCD system comprises: the LCD panel that contains first (icon display) LCD part and second (dot matrix) LCD part of mutual electric insulation; Local power supply (voltage regulator) by the supply voltage feed of equipment is used to provide first group of voltage and second group of voltage; First (icon display) controller/electrode driver with a LCD part collaborative work, by first group of voltage feed, is used on a LCD part showing predetermined pattern, such as the relevant icon of code that receives with slave controller; And second (dot matrix) controller/electrode driver, with the 2nd LCD part collaborative work,, be used for the view data display image that on the 2nd LCD part, receives according to slave controller by second group of voltage feed.Configuration Control Unit is given local power supply in order to output dot matrix display control signal (or CD signal), to stop that second group of voltage is offered second controller/electrode driver, reduces power consumption thus.

From below in conjunction with the description of accompanying drawing to preferred embodiment of the present invention, other purpose of the present invention and advantage will be conspicuous, and these accompanying drawings are:

Figure 1A and 1B are schematic block diagrams, show the example of battery-powered system, and these systems can include an embodiment according to LCD of the present invention system;

Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram, shows the illustrative embodiment according to LCD of the present invention system;

Fig. 3 is the process flow diagram of one group of subroutine to Fig. 6, and they do the work of as a whole gauge tap circuit 231 (231a) and 232 (232a),, powers up interruption subroutine 300, dot matrix display subroutine 400, display halt subroutine and outage interruption subroutine that is; And

Fig. 7 is a schematic block diagram to Fig. 9, and left-half illustrates the modification of the illustrative embodiment of Fig. 2.

In all accompanying drawings, in the time of in identical parts appear at above an accompanying drawing, point out with identical label.

Figure 1A and 1B are schematic block diagrams, every example that illustrates a battery-powered equipment, and these equipment can be included an embodiment of LCD according to the present invention system.As shown in Figure 1A, suppose that battery-powered electronic equipment 100 comprises: containing the power supply 110 of battery 111, be used to the power range that provides basic, for example is from 3 to 5 volts in digital device; The element 2-1 that always needs power supply; The element 2-2 that can be switched on or switched off by the user, and be connected power supply 110 and the element 2-2 that can be switched on or disconnect between, the switch 120 that can manually control.The path difference because the voltage value that offers element 2-1 and 2-2 is identical, the voltage that therefore offers element 2-1 and 2-2 is distinguished by sign " V1 " and " V2 " (perhaps " Pon ").

The battery-powered electronic equipment 100a of Figure 1B and the electronic equipment of Figure 1A are identical in the ground connection side that the switch 120 that can manually control is inserted in element 2-2.In this case, at the state of the earth terminal place of element 2-2 detector switch 120.

Though not shown, the LCD system can be contained in the element 2.

Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram, and the illustrative embodiment according to LCD of the present invention system 20 is shown.In Fig. 2, LCD system 20 comprises: LCD panel 200, and this panel comprises mutual electric insulation, and is formed on icon display LCD part 201 and dot matrix LCD part 201 on the single shared liquid crystal layer (not shown);

Be used for the electrode driver 211 of icon display and be used for the electrode driver 212 that dot matrix shows, their output line is connected to icon display LCD part 201 and dot matrix part 202;

Icon display controller 221 is connected to electrode driver 212 with its output;

Video-ram (random access memory) (not shown) is housed, and its output is connected to the dot matrix display controller 222 of electrode driver 212;

Electrode driver voltage regulator 240 is used for the voltage of output electrode driver 211 and the voltage of electrode driver 212;

Master controller 260, it is well-known microcomputer, comprise unshowned CPU (CPU (central processing unit)), unshowned ROM (ROM (read-only memory)) and unshowned RAM (random access memory), this master controller is used to control whole battery-powered equipment 100 (or 100a) and LCD system;

Address bus 261 and data bus 262 make other element 2 interconnection of unshowned CPU, icon display controller 221, dot matrix display controller 222 and Fig. 1;

On-off circuit (SW) 231 is inserted between power lead V1 and the icon display controller 221 power input ends, and its control input end is connected to icon display control (CI) output terminal of controller 260;

On-off circuit 231a is inserted between voltage regulator 240 output terminal VI and electrode driver 211 voltage input ends, and its control input end is connected to the CI output terminal of controller 260;

On-off circuit (SW) 232 is inserted between power lead V2 and the dot matrix display controller 222 power input ends, and its control input end is connected to the CD output terminal of controller 260; And

On-off circuit 232a is inserted between voltage regulator 240 output terminal VD and electrode driver 212 voltage input ends, and its control input end is connected to the CD output terminal of controller 260.

Notice that electrode driver 211 and icon display controller 221 can be any kinds, and electrode driver 212 to also have dot matrix display controller 222 also can be any kind.Dot matrix show electrode driver 212 generally includes scan electrode driver (not shown) and the data electrode driver (not shown) of knowing in the prior art.

On-off

circuit

231 and 232 be any can the electrical control type.Though power lead VI and VD from electrode driver voltage regulator 240 are drawn as solid wire, each voltage output end VI and VD can comprise the output terminal of any requirement according to the mode of control and driving LCD part 201 and 202.Correspondingly, each on-off circuit 231a can comprise the switch block identical with the quantity of VD output terminal with voltage regulator 240VI respectively with 232a.Construct all on-off

circuits

231 and 232 and the switch block of on-off

circuit

231a and 232a, conduct electricity when being logical one with each control input that provides at output CI and CD by controller 260.

As seeing from foregoing, shown in dotted line, parts 201,211 and 221 and parts 202,212 and 222 constitute two independently LCD subsystems (that is, icon display LCD subsystem 270 and dot matrix show LCD subsystem 280), correspondingly can so treat.Because the present invention do not limit those parts, thus they be considered to be traditional, no longer discussion.Also have, also electrode driver voltage regulator 240 shown in the with dashed lines square frame and on-off circuit 231,231a, 232 and 232a constitute LCD power circuit 250.That is, LCD system 20 comprises controller 260, two

LCD subsystems

270 and 280 and can be respectively in response to control signal CI and CD, independently control respectively organize voltage (V1, VI) and (V2, the LCD power circuit 250 of supply VD).

As shown in Figure 2, the signal V2 of the state of the switch 120 that can manually control of expression or/Pon offers master controller 260.If signal V2 or/Pon is a logical one, this means ON (connection) state of switch 120.Otherwise switch is OFF (disconnection).In this specific illustrative embodiment, suppose structure master controller 260 like this, thereby signal V2 or/each of Pon change as the interruption to CPU and provide (not shown).

With reference now to Fig. 3, to Fig. 6, the control operation of being carried out by master controller 260 (or rather, under the control by the subroutine of above-mentioned unshowned CPU in being stored in the ROM (not shown)) is described hereinafter.

Fig. 3 illustrates and add the illustrative operation that electronic program is carried out when switch 120 is connected.In this illustrative embodiment, suppose such formation LCD system 20, with display message on icon display LCD part 201.Whether in order to know icon display LCD201 whether in work, controller 260 (being called " CPU " hereinafter) detects, be 1 with the CI sign of the state of the CI control signal of knowing retentive control device 260 in step 301.

If 1, this means that required voltage has offered icon display LCD201, then at step 302 middle controller 260: making control signal CD is logical one, so that on-off

circuit

232 and 232a conduction offer dot matrix display controller 222 and electrode driver 212 with required voltage V2 and VD thus; The CD sign (not shown) of retentive control signal CD state is set to logical one; Starting shows timer, and it keeps a predetermined time limit, if during this period of time be provided with the button input, just stops to provide electric power to dot matrix display subsystem 280 (or 202,212 and 222).

Otherwise (if the CI sign is 0 in step 301), then before entering step 302, in step 303, CPU: making the CI control signal is logical one, so that on-off

circuit

231 and 231a conduction, thus required voltage V1 and VI are offered icon display subsystem 270 (or 201,211 and 221); The CI sign (not shown) of retentive control signal CI state is set to logical one.After step 302, CPU returns master routine, powers up interruption subroutine and calls from master routine.

In case connect battery-powered equipment 100 (or 100a), if show any data in the dot matrix viewing area, with regard to the dot matrix display subroutine of calling graph 4.In Fig. 4, CPU detects in step 401, to know whether the CD sign is 1.If 1, then in step 402, CPU on dot matrix LCD, and restarts the demonstration timer with this data presentation.Otherwise before entering step 402, in step 403, CPU: making the CD control signal is logical one, so that on-off

circuit

232 and 232a conduction offer dot matrix display subsystem 280 with required voltage V12 and VD thus; And CD sign (not shown) is provided with logical one.After step 402, CPU returns master routine.

If the user is having in one period predetermined time limit not operating equipment 100 (or 100a) in the equipment on-state, then carry out the display halt subroutine of Fig. 5.In the step 501 of Fig. 5, CPU: the CD control signal is anti-phase, so that on-off

circuit

232 and 232a are non-conductive, stop thus required voltage V12 and VD are offered dot matrix display subsystem 280; And make CD indicate anti-phase (to logical zero).Then, CPU is back to master routine.Do like this and saved electric power effectively.

Fig. 6 is a process flow diagram, and the exemplified operation of outage interruption subroutine is shown.If master routine by by signal V2 or/ look-at-me that Pon causes interrupts, then master routine is carried out the outage interruption subroutine.In Fig. 6, it is logical zero that CPU makes the CD control signal, so that on-off

circuit

232 and 232a are non-conductive, stops required voltage V12 and VD are offered dot matrix display subsystem 280 in step 601 thus.In deciding step 602, CPU detects, with known whether will be on icon display LCD201 data presented.If no, then in step 606, CPU: making the CI control signal is logical zero, so that on-off

circuit

231 and 231a are non-conductive, stops thus required voltage V1 and VI are offered icon display subsystem 270; And CI indicates that (not shown) is set to logical zero.After step 606, CPU returns master routine.If the testing result in deciding step 602 is a "Yes", then CPU carries out another detection in step 603, to know whether the CI sign is logical one.If logical one, then CPU enters step 605, there CPU with data presentation on icon display LCD201 and return.Otherwise before entering step 605, CPU enters step 604, and there, CPU: making the CI control signal is logical one, so that on-off

circuit

231 and 231a conduction offer dot matrix display subsystem 270 with required voltage V1 and VI thus; And CI indicates that (not shown) is set to logical one.

According to the present invention, the ability that stops power supply being offered dot matrix display subsystem 280 when needs only use icon display LCD201 makes it possible to reduce effectively power consumption.

Under the condition that does not deviate from the spirit and scope of the invention, can construct many embodiment that differs widely of the present invention.With reference to figure 7 to Fig. 9, below some embodiment will be described.

Above-mentioned illustrative embodiment has made two

LCD subsystems

270 and 280 to work fully independently.But need only use dot matrix LCD part 202 hardly and not use icon display LCD part 201.For this reason, just only suppose when using LCD201 and allow to use LCD202, then the LCD system of Fig. 2 can do as the change among Fig. 7.In Fig. 7, cancellation on-off circuit 231a, on-off circuit 231 is replaced by on-off circuit 235.The output terminal of on-off circuit 235 also is connected to the power input end of electrode driver voltage regulator 240, rather than power lead V1, and correspondingly current capacity must be sufficient, to give icon display controller 221 and regulator 240 feeds.Above-mentioned subroutine analyzer also is useful in this case.

Though illustrative embodiment has been used single voltage regulator 240, as shown in Figure 8, embodiment can be provided with two electrode driver voltage regulators 241 and 242 that separate.In this case, the change in the preceding paragraph falls, cancellation on-off circuit 232a, on-off circuit 232 usefulness on-off circuits 236 replace.The output terminal of on-off circuit 236 also is connected to the input end of electrode driver voltage regulator 242.The current capacity of on-off circuit 236 is even as big as giving dot matrix display controller 222 and regulator 242 feeds.Above-mentioned subroutine analyzer also is useful in this case.

As long as if the switch 120 that can manually control when OFF (disconnection) just without icon display LCD part 201, then the LCD system 20 of Fig. 2 can switch

changes circuit

231 and 231a simplifies (correspondingly, control signal CI line also is unwanted in this case) as shown in Figure 9 by cancelling simply.By this arrangement, CPU or controller 260 needn't use control signal CI to carry out any operation.

The simplest form of the embodiment of the invention obtains by further cancel on-off circuit 232 in Fig. 9.Even the simplest form also can reduce power consumption satisfactorily.

Therefore, should be appreciated that the certain embodiments that the invention is not restricted to describe in the instructions, and limit by appended claim.

Claims

1. liquid crystal display (LCD) system that is used for battery-powered equipment, described equipment comprises the controller (260) that is used to control this equipment, it is characterized in that described system comprises:

Comprise the LCD panel (200) of the LCD part (201) and the 2nd LCD part (202) of mutual electric insulation, described the 2nd LCD partly has lattice structure;

By the device (250) of supply voltage feed, be used to provide first group of voltage and second group of voltage;

With a described LCD part collaborative work, and by first device (221,211) of described first group of voltage feed, be used on a described LCD part demonstration such as with the code dependent icon that receives from described controller predetermined pattern;

With described the 2nd LCD part collaborative work, and, be used for showing relevant image in described the 2nd LCD part according to the view data that receives from described controller by second device (222,212) of described second group of voltage feed;

Be used for described second device is presented described second group of voltage and described first device is presented the device that first group of voltage carries out independent control.

2. the system as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, the described device (260) that is used for controlling the described second device feed comprises and being used for as when the no button input of one section preset time, stops described second device that installs feed.

3. the system as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that further comprising: when being used for as the code that will show that receives as described in not existing, stop to present to described first device device of first group of voltage.

4. system as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that, the described device that is used to stop the described second device feed comprises:

The device that described second group of voltage and described second device is connected or disconnects in response to control signal; And

Be included in the described controller, be used for providing the device that disconnects control signal as when one section no button of preset time is imported.

5. system as claimed in claim 3 is characterized in that, the described device that is used to stop the described first device feed comprises:

The device that described first group of voltage and described first device is connected or disconnects in response to control signal; And

Be included in the described controller, when being used for, provide the device that disconnects control signal as the code that will show that receives as described in not existing.

6. system as claimed in claim 3 is characterized in that, the described device that is used to stop the described first device feed comprises:

In response to control signal, be used to connect or disconnect the device of described first group of voltage; And

When being used for, provide the device of the control signal that disconnects described first group of voltage as the code that will show that receives as described in not existing.

7. the system as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described electric supply installation comprises:

Be used for described first group of voltage is supplied to first electric supply installation of described first device; And

Be used for described second group of voltage is supplied to second electric supply installation of described second device; And wherein

Described system further comprises the device that is used to connect or disconnect described first group of voltage; And

Be used to connect or disconnect the device of described second group of voltage.