JP2002287951A - Information processor, and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information processor having an auxiliary display part capable of performing flexible display using this auxiliary display part. SOLUTION: A sub-LCD 22 is displayed by a microprocessor 21 separately provided from a CPU 11. The microprocessor 21 has a display buffer part 210 inside, and can store a plurality of sets of display data. When display is performed on the sub-LCD 22, items to be displayed are appropriately selected according to the input by a user out of this display buffer part 210, and display is performed on the sub-LCD 22.

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 and, more particularly, to a display control for displaying a state of the information processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Information processing apparatuses typified by computers have been remarkably spread, and their applications have been expanding. With the spread of the information processing apparatus, there has been an increasing demand for usability of the information processing apparatus.

In a notebook computer, which is an example of an information processing apparatus, a liquid crystal display (hereinafter, referred to as an LCD) is mainly used as a display device. 2. Description of the Related Art With the recent increase in functionality and versatility of computers, it has become difficult for a single LCD to notify a user of the state of an information processing apparatus in an easily understandable manner. As a countermeasure against such a problem, a second LCD is provided in addition to an LCD as a display device which is usually used, and the second LCD is used as a status indicator. For example, Japanese Patent No. 3036996 has a feature in calculating the remaining battery power, and the remaining
A technology for displaying on a CD has been disclosed.

[0004] However, although there have been disclosures of technologies related to auxiliary display units, these display units have been limited to specific applications. Further, in a situation where the operating system has not been started, there is no means for performing an effective display on such an auxiliary display unit.

[0005]

The prior art described above is
There is a problem that the use of the auxiliary display unit is narrow, and the display itself depends on the operating system and the information processing system. Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus and a control method of the information processing apparatus that can flexibly set display contents.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a first processor, a first display device whose display is controlled by the first processor, and a first display device provided separately from the first display device. A second display device, a second processor that controls the second display device and has a plurality of buffers in which information to be displayed on the second display device is stored, and an instruction to the second display device. And a switch for inputting,
The second processor selects a predetermined buffer from the plurality of buffers in response to an input from the switch, and executes display on the second display device according to the contents.

According to such a configuration, it is possible to flexibly set display contents of the auxiliary display device.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of an information processing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a CPU 11 is a processing device that controls the operation of the information processing device 1. In this embodiment, a CPU manufactured and sold by Intel Corporation in the United States is used. The CPU 11 includes a chip set 1
2, a main memory (MEM) 13 in which a program to be executed is stored, a BIOS memory 14 storing a BIOS, an OS (operating system), a hard disk drive (HDD) 19 storing a utility program, and the like. .

The chipset 12 is constituted by an LSI in which functions necessary for the system such as memory control, graphic control, I / O control, etc. are integrated. A display controller (DISP-CONT) 15 for controlling display of a main LCD (MAIN-LCD) 16 serving as a first display device;
Sound output unit (SOUND-
Various I / O devices such as a DET 17 and a CD player (CD-COM) 20 are connected as control targets.

Further, the chipset 12 includes a display control function of a sub LCD (SUB-LCD) 22 serving as a second display device, a keyboard (KB) 23, a console button (CSV) 24, and a program selection switch (PSS).
W) A microprocessor 21 having an input / output control function such as 25 and a system power supply control function is connected via a specific bus.

Power for operation is supplied to the microprocessor 21 and the sub-LCD 22 from a system power supply unit (not shown) regardless of the operation state of the system of the information processing apparatus 1. .
Further, in a memory of the microprocessor 21, a display buffer unit 2 including various display buffers including a program display used for display control of the sub LCD 22 is provided.
10 are provided. The configuration of the display buffer unit 210 will be described later with reference to FIG.

Using the display buffer unit 210, the microprocessor 21 always receives an operation input of the program selection switch 25 without depending on the OS, and changes the contents of the program selection switch 25 for a predetermined time. The status is displayed on the LCD, and the status is displayed otherwise. The display control of the sub LCD 22 at this time will be described later with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an external configuration when the present invention is applied to a portable computer. Here, a display unit housing serving as a lid is opened. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the portable computer shown in FIG. 2 in a state in which a display unit housing serving as a lid is closed.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a display housing 3 containing a main LCD 16 is rotatably supported by left and right hinge portions on a main housing 2 of the portable computer 1. A keyboard 23, a power switch 27, and the like are provided on an upper surface of the main body-side housing 2.
A console panel 4 is provided. Regardless of the open / close state of the display unit housing 3, the console panel 4 has a panel surface that is always exposed, so that it is easy for the user to visually recognize the console panel.

Also, around the console panel 4,
Left and right speakers 18 (18a, 18b), sub LCD2
2. Console buttons 24 (24a to 24d), a program selection switch 25, a volume adjustment switch 26, and the like are provided.

The sub LCD 22 is composed of two columns of display digits, and under the control of the microprocessor 21, regardless of whether the system is on or off.
It is possible to always perform a display operation. Normally, the status display state is displayed. When the program selection switch 25 or the console switch 24 is operated, the contents of the operation are displayed for a certain period of time (10 seconds in the present embodiment) according to the operation, and the console operation of the user is performed. To help.
The relationship between the operation of the program selection switch 25 and the display content according to the content of the display buffer unit 210 at this time will be described later.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation function of the program selection switch 25 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
Here, the program selection switch 25 is configured using a jog dial switch (shuttle switch), and can be operated in the direction of arrow a (back and forth) as shown in FIG. 4A, and at the center position in the direction of arrow (b) ( Under the direction)
Can be pressed. FIG. 4B shows a state when the program selection switch 25 is tilted to one side to select a program. This program selection switch 25
When the knob is released after being operated, it returns to the center position by a spring.

Here, the program is selected by the operation in the direction of the arrow a (forward and backward), and the program is selected in the direction of the arrow b (downward).
To instruct (determine) the execution of the selected program. Specifically, by operating in the direction of arrow a (forward / backward), for example, the Internet, e-mail, music playback (CD, MP3), programs (document creation software, spreadsheet software, ), Etc., are sequentially switched. At this time, the content of the operation is
Is displayed in. When the user can select a desired application on the screen, the selected application can be determined by pushing down the arrow b (downward) at the center position. The volume adjustment switch 25 is also configured using a similar shuttle switch.

FIG. 5 shows a display buffer unit 210 provided in the internal memory of the microprocessor 21 shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific configuration example of FIG.

The display data (2
Digit) and a current buffer 211 for storing the attribute.
And status display and program selection switch 25
8 display buffers 2 corresponding to each selection target
., 219 and a temporary display buffer 2 for temporary display corresponding to the display row of the sub LCD 22
21 and 222.

The current buffer 211 stores the current sub LC
This buffer stores the content to be displayed in D22. As storage contents, a current buffer number (1 byte), a current data type (1 byte), character modification information (1 byte), and current display data (40 bytes) are stored.

The current buffer number is a number indicating which display buffer of the display buffers to be described later is to be displayed. Any one of 1 to 7
Two values are stored. The current data type is index information indicating what application is related to the current display content. Character modification information is the current sub-L
The text data displayed on the CD 22 is used to specify text display modification. According to the value of the character modification information, various modification effects such as normal display, inverted display, blinking display, and black-and-white blinking display can be obtained. The current display data is text data currently displayed on the sub LCD 22. The sub LCD 22 can display text data over two lines.

The display buffer has 8 from 212 to 219.
A data type (2 bytes), which is index information indicating what application is related to the contents of the display buffer, and a sub LCD 22 are provided.
, Display data of the first line (20 bytes), sub L
Display data on the second line displayed on CD22 (20 bytes)
Is stored. As will be described later, the contents of these display buffers are copied to the current buffer 211 in accordance with the operation of the switches and the like, and the display contents can be switched.

Here, the display buffers 212 and 21 are used.
, 219, the buffer 212 (display buffer (0)) is used as a status display (status display) buffer. In addition to the status display, the status display buffer stores text data for allowing the user to display a desired character string such as his / her name. The remaining seven display buffers are used as buffers for displaying a program name or the like indicating a related application.

The temporary display buffer is different from the above-mentioned display buffer, and is a buffer for storing information for performing an accidental or temporary display such as a warning display. Two sets of temporary display buffers 221 and 222 are provided. Each stores information of a temporary display data type (1 byte) and temporary display data (20 bytes). The temporary display buffer 221 is a sub LCD
22 corresponds to the display of the first line, and the temporary display buffer 222 corresponds to the display of the second line of the sub LCD 22.

In the temporary display buffer, for example, a warning content at the time of a low battery alarm, a display content indicating that the system is being activated during system activation, a message related to inputting a BIOS password, and a message indicating that the BIOS is being updated are displayed. Display contents and the like can be stored. In the present invention, since the display on the sub LCD 22 is executed by the microprocessor 21 or its firmware, the display can be performed even while the BIOS of the information processing apparatus 1 is being rewritten. Compared with the conventional display device, the advantage of being able to notify the user of the state especially when rewriting the BIOS is great.

The microprocessor 21 recognizing some state change can copy and display the contents of the temporary display buffer corresponding to the state change to the current buffer 211, so that display and notification can be performed flexibly. Becomes

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the processing procedure of the display state transition of the sub LCD 22 executed by the microprocessor 21. FIG. 7 shows a sub LC under a normal operation state (power-on state) in the above embodiment.
It is a figure which shows the flow of a display of D22. Here, the display control operation in the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The microprocessor 21 controls whether the system of the information processing apparatus 1 is powered on or off.
The display of the sub LCD 22 is controlled, and the data stored in the status display buffer 212 in the display buffer unit 210 is normally copied to the current buffer to display the status (S1).

In this state, when the program selection switch 25 provided on the console panel 4 is operated in the direction of the arrow a (forward / backward) (Yes in S2), the microprocessor 21 counts 10 seconds described later. The counter is reset (S3). Subsequently, the microprocessor 21 operates the program selection switch 25 to operate the program display buffers 213,.
Is switched to copy the contents of the selected buffer to the current buffer 211, and sequentially update the display contents (program guide) of the sub LCD 22 (S4).

More specifically, the normal display buffer 212
When the microprocessor 21 detects an input from the program selection switch 25 while displaying on the sub LCD 22 in accordance with the information stored in the sub-LCD 22, the microprocessor 21 responds to this input to the current buffer 211, Copy the contents of the display buffer designated by. Thereafter, the microprocessor 21
Updates the display content of the sub LCD 22. That is, the text data is displayed on the sub LCD 22 in accordance with the current display data copied and stored in the current buffer 211.

If the microprocessor 21 determines that there is no input from the program selection switch 25 in S2, the process proceeds to S5.
Go to (No from S2 to S5).

Subsequently, the microprocessor 21 checks whether or not a predetermined time (10 seconds in this embodiment) has elapsed without operating the program selection switch 25 (S5).

Here, if the input from the program selection switch 25 is detected without the lapse of 10 seconds, the above operation is repeated (No from S5 to S2). Thus, when the user operates the program selection switch 25, the sub LC
The desired display can be switched to D22.

It is conceivable that the user may leave the information processing apparatus in the middle of inputting the program selection switch 25 when using the present invention. In such a case,
Instead of being left in the middle of program selection, it is possible to return to the normal display state after waiting for a predetermined time. That is, the program selection switch 25
Is not performed for a certain period of time (10 seconds in this embodiment), the microprocessor 21 copies the data stored in the status display buffer 212 in the display buffer unit 210 to the current buffer 211, and
By displaying the contents of the buffer to D22, the state returns to the status display state (from S5 to S1). Of course, it is also possible to set so as not to use this function. In this case, even if the operation of the program selection switch stops halfway, the status display state using the contents of the status display buffer 212 is not automatically returned to.

Here, the user operates the program selection switch 25 in the direction of arrow a (forward and backward) while checking the display contents (program guide) of the sub LCD 22 to select an arbitrary application (program) and set the knob to the center. By returning to the position and pressing down in the direction of arrow b (downward), the selected application can be confirmed.

When the system of the information processing apparatus 1 is started, the microprocessor 21 notifies the operating system of the determined information in accordance with the determination of the application. Upon receiving the notification, the operating system controls the activation of the application program corresponding to the notification. Even when the system of the information processing apparatus 1 has not been started, the display-related subsystems including the microprocessor 21 and the sub LCD 22 are supplied with power as described above, and thus can operate. In this case, the processing is started from the activation of the system of the information processing apparatus 1 in accordance with the determination of the application. After the system is started, an instruction to start the determined application program is issued.

FIG. 7 shows an information processing system.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a sub LCD display event factor from a hierarchy other than the microprocessor 21. When the system is in the power-on state, in addition to the above-described sub-LCD display control by the microprocessor 21, status information and the like are transmitted in accordance with an event generated by each program such as an application, a utility, and a BIOS.
To be displayed. The microprocessor 21 has an interface for changing the display content of the sub LCD 22 in response to the notification from such a host program.

For example, as an event generated by the application, information corresponding to various status changes accompanying the execution of the application (e-mail receiving state, program reservation state, title of music being played on the CD player, play time, etc.)
Is displayed. As an event generated by the utility, there is a message display based on detection of various states at the utility level (for example, a low-battery warning or a display of “starting”). In particular, the contents of the above-mentioned temporary display buffer are used for displaying the error message. The operating system writes the contents to be displayed in the temporary display buffer, and then issues a display instruction to the microprocessor 21.
Sub LCD for display required by operating system
22.

By adopting such a configuration, the display of the sub LCD 22 can be controlled independently even when the information processing apparatus 1 is in the power saving state. That is, since the sub LCD 22 and the microprocessor 21 are provided with a power supply system independent of the main system of the information processing apparatus 1, the information processing apparatus 1 is in a sleep state, a standby state, a hibernation state, or a power off state. It is possible to display even in the case.

Also, by adopting such a configuration,
Since the system related to the display of the sub LCD 22 is controlled by the microprocessor 21, the independence from the information processing system can be maintained. That is, if the interface with the system is made common, it can be used for various models, and the design labor and cost can be reduced.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the sub LCD operates under the control of the microprocessor 21 separately from the control of the operating system. The sub LCD 22 performs display according to the operation of a program selection switch 25, which is one of the input devices for the microprocessor 21. This display is performed by using the display buffer unit 210 in the microprocessor 21 and appropriately copying the display contents from the display buffer to the current buffer in accordance with the operation of the program selection switch 25. This makes it possible to effectively utilize the sub LCD and realize the program selection function without depending on the operating system. An easy-to-use system capable of displaying various functions can be provided.

In the embodiments of the present invention, description has been made on the assumption that a notebook computer is used as the information processing apparatus. Also, the LCD has been described as an example of the second display device for displaying the status. However, this is a preferred embodiment in terms of power consumption and cost, and the second display device of the present invention has such a configuration. It is not limited to LCD. For example, application to a plasma display, a display using an organic luminous body, and the like can be considered.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing apparatus having an auxiliary display unit capable of setting display contents flexibly and a method of controlling the information processing apparatus.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary perspective view showing the appearance when the present invention is applied to a portable computer.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary plan view showing a state in which a display unit housing serving as a lid is closed in the portable computer shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the operation function of a program selection switch (PSSW) 25 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific configuration example of a display buffer unit (D-BUF) provided inside the microprocessor shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a display state transition of a sub LCD (SUB-LCD) executed by the microprocessor shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a sub LCD display event element for each layer of the information processing apparatus in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information processing apparatus, 2 ... Body side housing, 3 ... Display part housing,
4 console panel, 11 CPU, 12 chipset (CS), 13 main memory (MEM), 14
BIOS memory, 15 Display controller (DISP-
CONT, 16 ... Main LCD (MAIN-LC)
D), 17 ... Sound output unit, 18 (18a, 18b)
... Speaker, 19 ... Hard disk drive (HDD)
20: CD player (CD-COM), 21: Microprocessor (MP), 22: Sub LCD (SUB-LC)
D) 23: Keyboard (KB), 24 (24a to 24)
d) Console button, 25 Program selection switch (PSSW), 26 Volume control switch, 21
0: display buffer unit (D-BUF), 211: current buffer, 212: status display buffer, 213
219: Program display buffer, 221, 222
… Temporary display buffer

Claims (7)

[Claims] A first display device whose display is controlled by the first processor; a second display device provided separately from the first display device; A second processor that controls the second display device and has a plurality of buffers that store therein information to be displayed on the second display device, and a switch that inputs an instruction for the second display device, The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second processor selects a predetermined buffer from the plurality of buffers in accordance with an input from the switch, and executes display on the second display device according to the contents. 2. The information processing apparatus further comprises: a first power supply system for supplying power to the first processor and the first display device; and the second processor and the second display device. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a second power supply system that supplies power to the first power supply system, wherein the first power supply system and the second power supply system can be independently controlled. 3. The information processing apparatus further comprises interface means for connecting the first processor and the second processor, and displays on the second display means based on an instruction from the first processor. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the information processing is performed. 4. The first processor has a function of controlling the information processing device system, and the information processing device further includes interface means for connecting the first processor and the second processor. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first processor controls the information processing apparatus in response to an instruction from the second processor. 5. An instruction from the second processor is a predetermined program activation instruction in the information processing apparatus, and the first processor activates the predetermined program in response to the instruction. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein 6. The first processor has a function of controlling the information processing device system, and the information processing device further includes an interface unit that connects the first processor and the second processor. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a system including the first processor can be started from a power-off state in response to an instruction from the second processor. 7. The instruction from the first processor is an instruction to display predetermined information on the second display device, the instruction being stored in a buffer in the second processor, 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second processor performs display on the second display device according to the contents of the buffer.