CN201015040Y

CN201015040Y - Portable computer dual-screen device

Info

Publication number: CN201015040Y
Application number: CNU2006201369118U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 陈嘉良; 张淑美; 林保彰
Original assignee: LANTIAN COMPUTER CO Ltd
Current assignee: LANTIAN COMPUTER CO Ltd
Priority date: 2006-09-29
Filing date: 2006-09-29
Publication date: 2008-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 2016-09-29

Abstract

This utility model relates to a portable type computer double screen device, including the prior screen of portable type computer, a sub-screen and an upper cover panel, to display various images under different modes. The computer device above at least includes a central processing unit and a north bridge chipset which is mutually coupled, a system memory and a south bridge chipset; moreover, the device also includes a first display screen which is coupled to the north bridge chipset as well as a second display screen which is coupled with a keyboard controller and a programmable logic controller; in addition, the device also includes a basic input and output system (BIOS) and one or a plurality of hot keys coupled with the keyboard controller. The portable type computer double screen device provided by this utility model enhances the application of double screen device through providing a sub-screen which can provide various functions by different operating modes except the prior screen of computer.

Description

The portable computer double-screen device

Technical field

The utility model relates to a kind of portable computer double-screen device, particularly includes the portable computer system of first display screen and second display screen.

Background technology

Portable computer is as notebook, because of its convenient carrying, its application also grows with each passing day, wherein at the special applications of display screen, as United States Patent (USP) the 6th, 532, No. 146, it has disclosed in the main screen both sides of notebook and has been equipped with other screen, connects by turning axle between screen, and is transferred to the desired position, displaying contents structure thus freely moves between screen, and its purpose focuses on the extension of Presentation Function.

The technology of knowing of utilizing a plurality of screen displays is usually used in mobile phone, as United States Patent (USP) the 6th, 574, the device for mobile communication that is disclosed for No. 487 with double screen demonstration, it utilizes single panel to produce the display screen on two sides, second screen of mobile phone commonly used can show some simple informations, as incoming call demonstration, quarter-bell etc., or even the picture window that can be used for taking pictures.

United States Patent (USP) the 6th, 757, also disclose it for No. 036 and can be applicable to the device of mobile phone, laptop computer (laptop computer), PDA(Personal Digital Assistant) or other use LCD Panel, Figure 1 shows that laptop computer 10 closes the synoptic diagram of loam cake 12, it shows a loam cake screen 14 and is arranged at structure on the loam cake 12.

U.S. Patent Application Publication case 2004/0183745 has further disclosed the technical scheme that drives two display screens with the single display driver element simultaneously.

Existing notebook uses the single display screen mostly, if the structure of the second secondary screen is arranged, also mostly based on the small size display screen of monochromatic GTG, only provide simple information, and second display screen of knowing adopts I ²The C interface, and rich content can't be provided.

Summary of the invention

In view of this, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a kind of portable computer double-screen device, this device is except being equipped with the inferior display screen that couples the South Bridge chip group, can also show multiple different function menu by inferior display screen, and promote the application of double-screen device with multimedia Presentation Function.

Utility model of the present invention provides a kind of portable computer double-screen device, and second display screen of a colour is set on the machine shell panel of this portable computer, and this computer installation includes at least:

One CPU (central processing unit);

One north bridge chipset couples this CPU (central processing unit);

One system storage is coupled to this north bridge chipset;

One first display screen is coupled to this north bridge chipset;

One South Bridge chip group is coupled to this north bridge chipset;

One ROM-BIOS couples this South Bridge chip group;

One keyboard controller couples this ROM-BIOS and this South Bridge chip group;

One programmable logic controller (PLC) couples this ROM-BIOS and this South Bridge chip group;

This second display screen couples this keyboard controller and this programmable logic controller (PLC); And

One or more hot keys are coupled to this keyboard controller, are located near this second display screen.

And this portable computer double-screen device also includes an external device controller, and it is coupled to this South Bridge chip group.

In this portable computer double-screen device, this ROM-BIOS is supported the power on mode of a shutdown mode, a multimedia mode and an operating system schema.

In the portable computer double-screen device, this keyboard controller couples this ROM-BIOS and this South Bridge chip group by a low pin number bus.

In the portable computer double-screen device, this programmable logic controller (PLC) couples this ROM-BIOS and this South Bridge chip group by a low pin number bus.

A kind of portable computer double-screen device is provided with a colored sub-screen in addition on the top cover of faceplate of portable computer, so as under the general normal mode of operation of shutdown mode, multimedia mode and the operating system of computing machine, produce different Presentation Functions.

The aforementioned calculation machine includes CPU (central processing unit) at least and reaches and its north bridge chipset that couples mutually, system storage and South Bridge chip group, wherein couple first display screen by north bridge chipset, and couple second display screen by keyboard controller and programmable logic controller (PLC), all the other also include ROM-BIOS (BIOS), are coupled to one or more hot keys of keyboard controller.

Wherein when portable computer is in shutdown mode, system's operational scheme comprises and enters this shutdown mode, it is opening section assembly power supply, and drive one or more external devices, read the system information of this portable computer again by System Management Bus, and display system information shows that then a plurality of function choosing-items are in second display screen on second display screen.

After the portable computer start, do not enter under the situation of operating system, then carry out a multimedia mode flow process, then open the power supply of portable computer system part assembly, and close the bus control right of second display screen, be multimedia mode at present by the keyboard controller response again, notify CPU (central processing unit) and chipset to enter battery saving mode afterwards, and the program in the loading multimedia storage unit, show that a plurality of multimedia mode options in second display screen, carry out each option at last.

Enter the normal boot-strap flow process as for portable computer, then carry out the normal running system model, and initialization second display screen, carry out the normal boot-strap program of this computer system again, and rear drive second display screen, and the Presentation Function option is on second display screen, and carries out each option.

Useful technique effect of the present utility model is, the portable computer double-screen device that the utility model proposes, it can be provided with a sub-screen outside the original screen of portable computer, this sub-screen can produce different functions by different operator schemes, and then promotes the application of double-screen device.

Description of drawings

The synoptic diagram that Fig. 1 uses for the prior art double screen;

Fig. 2 A and Fig. 2 B are the synoptic diagram of the utility model double-screen device;

Fig. 3 is the circuit block diagram of the utility model device;

Fig. 4 is the operational scheme under the utility model shutdown mode;

Fig. 5 is the synoptic diagram of the embodiment of the second display screen displaying contents under shutdown mode;

Fig. 6 is the operational scheme under the utility model multimedia mode;

Fig. 7 is the synoptic diagram of the embodiment of the second display screen displaying contents under multimedia mode;

Fig. 8 is the operational scheme under the utility model operating system schema;

Fig. 9 A and Fig. 9 B are the synoptic diagram of the second display screen displaying contents under operating system schema.

Wherein, description of reference numerals is as follows:

10, laptop computer 12, loam cake

14, loam cake screen 20, portable computer

21, first display screen 22, second display screen

23, external connection storage apparatus 24, video photography device

25, loam cake 26, hot key

27, remote control 300, CPU (central processing unit)

301, north bridge chipset 31, first display screen

32, second display screen 302, storer

303, South Bridge chip group 304, CD-ROM drive

305, hard disk drive 306, external device controller

307, audio decoding apparatus 308, note amplifier

309, ROM-BIOS 310, keyboard controller

311, programmable logic controller (PLC) 312, hot key

313, battery 314, receiver of remote-control sytem

Embodiment

The utility model is provided with a plurality of chromatic liquid crystal screen curtains on portable computer, now be described with preferred embodiment of the present utility model, see also shown in Fig. 2 A and Fig. 2 B, wherein, portable computer 20 uses as Fig. 2 A, external connection storage apparatus 23 shown in Fig. 2 B, as being the carry-on dish at interface with universal serial bus (USB), external hard drive, mediums such as CD, in embodiment of the present utility model, except that under normal operating condition, reading the content of playing this external connection storage apparatus 23, also loam cake 25 can covered, enter armed state or or even when shutting down computer, use second display screen 21 to show information in the external connection storage apparatus 23, and cooperate the hot key (hotkey) that disposed and menu wherein to play wherein content.

In addition, this portable computer 20 also is provided with a rotatable video photography device 24, no matter make that the loam cake 25 of portable computer 20 is to open or cover all to pass through first display screen 21 or second display screen 22 picture window that photography shows as image; In addition, preferred embodiment of the present utility model is also by manipulation function such as a plurality of hot keys 26, telepilots 27, cooperates the menu mode to realize that various information choose and multimedia application.

Wherein, utilize the technical characterstic that embodiment realized of above-mentioned first display screen 21, second display screen 22 to have following content at least:

(1) utilize described first screen (as main screen) to show two different pictures, information simultaneously with second screen (as follows screen);

(2) the first main screen is when loam cake covers, and second screen can provide specified function information according to user's demand, as battery consumption, time, manufacturer's sign, individualized figure etc.;

(3) when portable computer is in power-off, keyboard controller (keyboard controller) by portable computer cooperates relevant digital signal processor (DSP) or single-chip to control second screen, so that user's data to display and other various multimedia under the computer shutdown state to be provided, as picture show, multimedia is viewed and admired etc.;

(4) do not enter in portable computer start under the pattern of operating system (as multimedia mode), close the first main screen, and make CPU (central processing unit) and the associated component that need not use enter battery saving mode (power save) by ROM-BIOS (BIOS), and only open the second less important screen, provide the user to obtain the information of wanting fast by second screen not entering under operating system and the battery saving mode, or operate various multimedia and audio-visual application;

(5) enter operating system after, by the function application operating of the various audio-visual and related application when making second screen provide first screen to close or open simultaneously is provided and application program.

Double screen framework of the present utility model sees also the circuit block diagram of embodiment of the present utility model shown in Figure 3; Its framework comprises CPU (central processing unit) 300 at least, and the north bridge chipset 301 that couples with it, utilizes north bridge chipset 301 coupling system storeies 302 and the first main display screen 31; Other has a South Bridge chip group 303 to couple with north bridge chipset 301, be responsible for the information transmission of the peripheral unit of control computer system, as coupling CD-ROM drive (CD-ROM with interfaces such as IDE, ATA, SCSI, Serial ATA, DVD-ROM) 304, medium such as hard disk drive (HD) 305, South Bridge chip group 303 also can connect multiple external device in the USB interface, as utilizes external device controller 306 to connect external connection storage apparatus, audio-visual multimedia device etc.; South Bridge chip group 303 also couples audio decoding apparatus 307, and with note amplifier 308 sound audio signals is amplified broadcast; In addition, the ROM-BIOS of computer system (BIOS) 309 also is coupled to South Bridge chip group 303, in order to the peripheral hardware of control behind computer system power-on.

Because the application of double screen framework of the present utility model comprises three kinds of patterns: shutdown mode (shutdownmode), multimedia mode (media mode) and operating system schema (OS mode), so the ROM-BIOS 309 of control boot program needs to support above-mentioned various modes, and couple keyboard controller (keyboard controller) 310 and programmable logic controller (PLC) 311 with South Bridge chip group 303, as FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or CPLD (Complex Programmable LogicDevice) etc., wherein ROM-BIOS 309 is utilized low pin number bus (Low-Pin-Count, LPCbus) couple keyboard controller 310 and programmable logic controller (PLC) 311, keyboard controller 310 electrically connects second display screen 32 of the present utility model with programmable logic controller (PLC) 311 thus, its preferred embodiment then is the color/graphics that is arranged at the loam cake outside of portable computer, also have near a plurality of second display screen, 312 hot keys 312 that are arranged to be coupled to keyboard controller 310, thereby control its shown function menu, in addition, also include battery 313, receiver of remote-control sytem 314 grades also couple keyboard controller 310.

In embodiment of the present utility model, external device controller 306 also couples this keyboard controller 310, select the menu that shows on second display screen 32 and control by hot key 312, with the external device that drives, access connects, realize listening to, viewing and admiring loaded music of external device or film.

By said apparatus, the utility model utilizes the framework of double screen that three kinds of power on mode are provided, and comprises shutdown mode, multimedia mode and general operation system model, and the embodiment of its portable computer double-screen device operation method is described below.

One, when shutdown mode, see also operation method flow process shown in Figure 4:

Enter shutdown mode, it mainly is the situation (step S401) that the CPU (central processing unit) of computer systems such as portable computer does not start;

By the power supply of the required assembly of using of keyboard controller opening section (component), at least as second display screen, external device controller and the required power supply (step S403) of note amplifier; By the control interface, as UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter), drive and the access external device, as external hard drive, CD, devices such as dish, MP3 player with oneself, and the state on system time date (can year calendar, the mode of monthly calendar, calendar show) can be shown in (step S405) on second display screen;

Above-mentioned external device comprises flash memory mediums such as (flash memory), remove the information of song to be presented on second display screen, also can by the hot key control function reach stop broadcast, time-out, a last head, next, volume, control such as quiet;

Utilize keyboard controller directly by System Management Bus (SMB bus) accessing computer system information, as information such as battery capacity (step S407);

Display message on second display screen so can be learnt present battery capacity (step S409) apace under the situation that system does not start shooting;

Show various function choosing-items, utilize second display screen to show other various function choosing-item (step S411).

Because consider the service time of battery, embodiment of the present utility model divides into power operation patterns such as external power supply and battery electricity consumption again, as as external power supply (AC in) when connecting, can directly start second display screen by telepilot or hot key, because do not consider battery service time this moment, so can allow keyboard controller start working once connecting with the mains.As only with powered battery the time, then need after utilizing hot key to start second display screen,, also,, keyboard controller is started working, to reduce unnecessary power consumption for power saving just can use a teleswitch and relative receiver of remote-control sytem or hot key.

Again as shown in Figure 5, it is the synoptic diagram of the embodiment of the shown content of second display screen 32, by shown function choosing-item on a plurality of hot key 312 control/selections second display screens 32; Also can select control by telepilot.

Function menu as for second display screen comprises that at least (1) shows date the time (Time andDate), provides the user not under the open state, to learn present time and date in system fast; (2) playing back music (Play Music) provides the user not under the open state, to utilize the loudspeaker of portable computer in system, and remote control or by the hot key playing back music especially refers to compression music formats such as MP3 music, or the CD music; (3) battery status (Battery Gauge) provides the user not under the open state, can know the last capacity of current battery in system; (4) enter multimedia mode (Media Mode), provide the user to enter than battery saving mode, and do not enter under the operating system schema, provide multimedia function, and show relevant information in second display screen by system bios at open system CPU; (5) power-off (Power off) is promptly closed second display screen and computing machine line related etc.This menu function can be carried out by hot key.

Two, multimedia mode sees also operation method flow process shown in Figure 6:

Multimedia mode does not enter operating system behind system boot, the flow process of its startup is as follows:

When system start-up, utilize hot key to select to be introduced into above-mentioned shutdown mode (step S601);

Afterwards, select to enter multimedia mode, or claim multimedia quick turn-on pattern (multi-media quick mode) (step S603) by the menu of shutdown mode;

At this moment, assembly (component) power supply that keyboard controller meeting open system part correlation needs provides required as CPU (central processing unit), north bridge chips, South Bridge chip and programmable logic controller (PLC) at least power supply (step S605);

And, utilize keyboard controller to close the bus of second display screen (Bus) control, because this moment, system's CPU (central processing unit) can be started working by ROM-BIOS, with the assembly (step S607) of control system part correlation needs;

Then, ROM-BIOS can inquire whether the present system of keyboard controller is in normal boot-strap pattern or multimedia mode, and in this embodiment, the keyboard controller response is multimedia mode (step S609) at present;

Then, ROM-BIOS notice CPU (central processing unit) and chipset enter the state of comparison power saving, and this moment, first display screen was not opened (step S611);

And load program code in the multimedia storage unit (ROM), and carry out wherein program (step S613), this multimedia storage unit is to be arranged at the outer ROM (read-only memory) (ROM) of ROM-BIOS, wherein the program of imprinting is mainly provides system by the programmable logic controller (PLC) that is connected on above the low pin number bus (LPC bus) information to be shown on second display screen, its preferred embodiment provides following function menu (step S615) at least, at last, select to carry out option content (step S617), function choosing-item as shown in Figure 7:

Show BIOS Time of Day (Display BIOS time and date), this function mainly provides the user under multimedia mode, the program of system's ROM-BIOS 309 directly reads the time and date of computer system, and information is shown by second display screen 32;

Show battery and system works temperature (Display Battery and Thermal information), this function mainly is provided under the multimedia mode, the program of system's ROM-BIOS 309 reads battery electric quantity and the system CPU and the environment temperature of present portable computer by keyboard controller 310, and passes through 32 demonstrations of second display screen;

The photo magic lantern shows (Slide show), this function mainly is provided under the multimedia mode, the program of system bios 309 is passed through operating system (as Windows, Linux, Macintosh) application program in, with picture to display and data storage to a specific memory thereof, as address or the flash memory of system's setting or the external connection storage apparatus etc. that do not use among the BIOS 309, when system bios 309 enters multimedia mode, just picture and its information can be shown by second display screen 32;

Music CD is play (Audio CD/DVD player), this function is mainly under multimedia mode, play general music CD/DVD sheet by built-in CD/DVD CD-ROM drive, and music track information can be presented at second display screen 32, after selecting to want the function of playing back music CD, at first (I/O) interface is gone in BIOS 309 output of can initialization reading hard disk, and call interruption service, read 305 1 fixing special reserve areas of hard disk drive afterwards, then program is loaded a specific memory, and calling order playing back music CD/DVD, the special reserve area of this hard disk drive mainly is by a program initialization of operating system CD-ROM drive 304 and audio decoding apparatus 307 shown in Figure 3, so as to the function of playing back music CD/DVD is provided, and information is presented at second display screen 32;

The compressed music form is play (as the MP3 player), this function is mainly under multimedia mode, play the compressed music form of storage in built-in hard disk drive 305 or the CD-ROM drive 304, and on second display screen 32, show relevant information, wherein also need be by the program initialization of operating system CD-ROM drive 304 and audio decoding apparatus 307 shown in Figure 3;

Normal boot-strap pattern (Normal boot mode), this function mainly is provided at the normal boot-strap pattern that can return under the multimedia mode in the computer system, can enter the general job environment;

Power-off (Power off mode), this function mainly is provided under the multimedia mode and can directly shuts down.

Under above-mentioned multimedia mode, the user can utilize telepilot and hot key 312 above-mentioned menu of operation and functions.

Three, operating system schema sees also operation method flow process shown in Figure 8:

After the system start-up, user's decision enters operating system schema (step S801);

After selecting to enter operating system schema, BIOS 309 promptly detects and enters after the operating system normal boot-strap pattern, BIOS 309 is replacement (reset) and initialization second display screen 32 earlier, by this initialization, wherein embodiment can set and demonstrate computer system manufacturer or the dealer indicates picture or advertisement animation (step S803);

The executive operating system boot program detects (POST) supervisor as BIOS initialization peripheral unit, start oneself then, then enters operating system (step S805);

If need operation second display screen 32, the application program that installation is relevant reaches the driver at different operating system earlier, and so as to driving this second display screen 32 (step S807), this driver can load automatically and reside in the operating system after enter operating system each time, or can carry out separately;

When using second display screen 32 (step S809), it provides following function choosing-item, and according to selecting to carry out every function (step S811):

After entering operating system, distinguish two kinds of operator schemes altogether, the one, the pattern (LID open mode) that main first display screen 31 of portable computer is opened, be main first display screen 31 because of operation screen this moment, and general size is also bigger, and second display screen 32 then is arranged at the casing upper cover opposite side, general size is also less, therefore, under the open mode of first display screen 31, the function ratio that second display screen 32 provides is less; And when " shut " mode" (LID close mode) that the first main display screen 31 covers, second display screen 32 just needs more function comparatively speaking, and this moment is when entering in the operating system, wherein to detect present system be when first display screen, 31 " shut " mode"s to program, simultaneity factor will be closed some assembly (component) or peripherals of not having use relatively, make to enter battery saving mode.In addition, in this embodiment, second display screen 32 can rotate angles of display automatically according to actual needs under 31 unlatchings of first display screen or " shut " mode".

The function choosing-item of the first display screen open mode following (shown in Fig. 9 A):

Pattern displaying, as with pattern displaying such as the sign of product manufacturer, user's photo, landscape in second display screen;

Temperature shows that when selecting this function, system can obtain the working temperature of CPU (central processing unit) by BIOS;

The battery consumption shows that when selecting this function, system obtains the battery status of portable computer by BIOS;

Enter battery saving mode, when selecting this function, application program can be closed second display screen by driver and be entered battery saving mode.

The function choosing-item of the first display screen " shut " mode" following (shown in Fig. 9 B):

System state shows, when selecting this function, can obtain BIOS and its peripheral unit information, as the radio signal of present time, date, wireless device (as WLAN, Bluetooth, IrDA etc.), the state of video photography device etc., to be presented on second display screen, and background picture can be provided, change according to need;

The video photography apparatus function, this function is mainly after first display screen is closed, when selecting this function again, can record a video or camera function by the video photography device above the portable computer, second display screen can be used as the function of preview and picture window, also can store image or picture, be presented on second display screen;

The photo magic lantern shows (slide show), mainly when first display screen is closed, appointed pattern or photo is shown in second display screen in the magic lantern mode;

Multimedia display, when selecting this function, the multimedia player that can provide by operating system is as the music of play CD/DVD music/films such as Media player, Real player or various compressed format, as MP3, AVI, MPEG etc., and be shown in second display screen;

Desktop shows (desktop show), and the data or the state of operating system desktop is presented on second display screen;

Temperature shows (Thermal monitor), and working temperature or its environment temperature of present computer system is presented on second display screen;

Battery status shows (Battery gauge), with the battery status of portable computer, comprises dump energy and makes power consumption etc., is presented at second display screen;

Email notification (Email notification) can pass through software and hardware interface programs such as API, FPGA, and e-mail program is linked up, and the inbox information of mail wherein is shown on this display device;

More than appended accompanying drawing only provide with reference to and the explanation usefulness, be not to be used for the utility model is limited.

In sum, the utility model is a portable computer double-screen device, and it is provided with a sub-screen outside the original screen of portable computer, produce different functions by different operator schemes.

The above only is a preferred embodiment of the present utility model, therefore do not limit to claim of the present utility model, therefore content shown in every utilization the utility model instructions and the accompanying drawing and the equivalent structure that is changes all in like manner is contained in the scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. a portable computer double-screen device is characterized in that, second display screen of a colour is set on the machine shell panel of this portable computer, and this computer installation includes at least:

One CPU (central processing unit);

One north bridge chipset couples this CPU (central processing unit);

One system storage is coupled to this north bridge chipset;

One first display screen is coupled to this north bridge chipset;

One South Bridge chip group is coupled to this north bridge chipset;

One ROM-BIOS couples this South Bridge chip group;

One keyboard controller couples this ROM-BIOS and this South Bridge chip group;

2. portable computer double-screen device as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, this portable computer double-screen device also includes an external device controller, and it is coupled to this South Bridge chip group.

3. portable computer double-screen device as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, this keyboard controller couples this ROM-BIOS and this South Bridge chip group by a low pin number bus.

4. portable computer double-screen device as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, this programmable logic controller (PLC) couples this ROM-BIOS and this South Bridge chip group by a low pin number bus.