JPH0816285A - Small-sized electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability of a computer by arranging only an equipment to be operated by a user on a user's desk independently of a computer body. CONSTITUTION:An electronic equipment 11 is an equipment physically independent of a computer 12 and allowed to act as an I/O for the computer 12. The equipment 11 can be used independently of the computer 12 by disconnecting the equipment 11 from the computer 12 or turning off a power supply for the computer 12. In this case, data inputted from a keyboard or a mouse are sent to a device control block 22 through I/O data controller 29 and a device corresponding to the input data is controlled. Consequently operation for reading out video data from a CD-ROM drive 25 or the like and displaying the data on a display device can be executed without using the computer 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a small electronic device used by connecting to a display device or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a data processing device such as a personal computer developed for personal use is composed of a system such as a CPU, a memory, an I / O, a display monitor, etc. The card can be optionally connected.

However, this type of system is designed on the assumption that it is placed on a desk and used, and occupies a relatively large space. Therefore, recently, various laptop type or notebook Hussec type portable computers have been developed. Since this type of computer is lightweight and small, it can be easily moved to any place as needed.

However, in this type of computer, since the display monitor, keyboard, etc. are integrated with the computer main body, only the display monitor, keyboard, etc. are kept at the user's hand, and operation is performed at a place separated from the computer main body. It was not possible to take the operational form of performing. Further, since peripheral devices such as a CD ROM drive, a hard disk drive, and a floppy disk drive are built in or attached externally to the computer body, it is not possible to remotely perform the replacement operation of the CD ROM and the floppy disk.

[0005]

In the conventional system,
Since the display monitor and the keyboard are integrated with the computer main body, it is not possible to take an operation form in which only the display monitor and the keyboard are held by the user and the operation is performed at a place separated from the computer main body.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an interface with an input device such as a keyboard and a display device is provided in an electronic device independent of a computer main body.
And an interface with peripheral equipment such as a CD ROM drive, and further with an interface with the computer main body so that these input devices, display devices, and peripheral equipment can be integratedly managed in the equipment, and require user operation It is an object of the present invention to provide a small electronic device capable of realizing an operation in which only the computer is placed in the user's hand independently of the computer body.

[0007]

Means and Actions for Solving the Problems
In a small electronic device connectable to a display device, a first device connectable to a device main body and a computer main body provided in the device main body and containing a CPU, a memory, and various I / Os.
An interface, a second interface provided on the device body and connectable to an input device, a third interface provided on the device body and connectable to a disk drive device, and a display device provided on the device body Between the computer main body, the input device, and the disk drive device, which are commonly connected to the first to fourth interfaces and which receive and manage data input through the interfaces. Data transfer control and I / O control means for controlling the display device, and various data input / output control and display control are possible in response to a request from the device body alone or the computer body. It is characterized by that.

In this electronic apparatus, an interface with an input device such as a keyboard and a display device, and a CD
Since the interface with the disk drive such as the ROM drive and the interface with the computer main body are provided, most of the necessary work can be performed only by placing the electric device at the operator's hand. In addition, the input device, the display device, and the disk drive are integratedly managed in the device, and data reading from the disk and data display can be performed without starting the computer main body.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a system using a small electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device 11 operates by itself or as one integrated I / O controller of the personal computer 12.

As shown in the figure, the electronic device 11 is a personal computer 12 or an interface that can be connected to the electronic notebook 13 via an optical cable, a personal computer 12 such as a keyboard 14, a mouse 15, a trackball 16 or the electronic device 11. Interface that can be connected to a device that functions as an input device of the personal computer 12, an interface that can be connected to the speaker 17 and the microphone 18 for inputting / outputting voice / acoustic data to / from the personal computer 12 or the electronic device 11, and further of the personal computer 12. LCD 19, CR used as a monitor or a monitor device of electronic device 11
It has an interface connectable to a display device such as a T20 or a television receiver 21.

The electronic device 11 includes a CD-ROM drive 111 and a hard disk drive (HDD) 11
2. Digital audio tape recorder (DAT) 11
3, a floppy disk drive (FDD) 114 and the like can be incorporated, and has a slot for detachably mounting them.

The CD-ROM drive 111, the hard disk drive (HDD) 112, the digital audio tape recorder (DAT) 113, and the floppy disk drive (FDD) 114 are used as a secondary storage device of the personal computer 12 and for recording / recording audio or video. It is used as a peripheral device for playback.

The audio / video recording / playback function is also provided in the electronic device 11, and the audio / video recording / playback can be performed by the electronic device 11 alone without using the personal computer 12. In this case, the reproduced video is displayed on the display device such as the LCD 19, the CRT 20, the television receiver 21, and the acoustic signal is the speaker 1.
It is output from 7.

Execution / stop of such a recording / reproducing function can be instructed by an input from the keyboard 14 or an operation of a control panel (not shown) provided in the electronic device 11.

The keyboard 14, mouse 15 and trackball 16 are used not only for operating the functions inside the electronic device 11 but also for inputting instructions to various software executed on the personal computer 12. .

Therefore, if this electronic device 11 is used, the CD-ROM can be removed from the main body of the personal computer 12.
Drive 111 and floppy disk drive (FD
D) It is possible to perform various input operations in a state where the peripheral device such as 114 is separated and is placed in the hand of the operator together with the display device.

Further, data reproduction / recording from the CD-ROM drive 111, floppy disk drive (FDD) 114, etc. is performed inside the electronic device 11 without using the personal computer 12 by using a display device or the like. I can do things.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, an example of a specific configuration of the electronic device 11 will be described. As shown in the figure, the electronic device 11 includes a system controller 21, a device control block 22, an I / O controller 23, a display controller 24, a CD-ROM drive 25, a hard disk drive 26, a DDS drive 27, an audio data controller 28, and an input device. It has an output data controller 29 and an infrared interface 30.

The system controller 21 is a part for controlling the electronic equipment 11, and is provided with a device control block 22 and an I / O control section 23.

The device control block 22 uses the I
/ O control unit 23 and data and control input from each device in the electronic device 11 (display controller 24, CD-ROM drive 25, hard disk drive 26, DDS drive 27, audio data controller 28, input / output data controller 29) Information is managed, output to the I / O control unit 23 and each device, and mediation with each device are performed in an integrated manner. Communication function with the I / O control unit 23 and communication with each device are performed. It has a communication function.

The display controller 24, under the control of the device control block 22, receives data from a personal computer, data read from a device in the electronic device 11, etc. under the control of the LCD 19 and CRT 2 described above.
0, and display on a display device such as the television receiver 21.

The DDS drive 27 is a drive having various formats such as a data CD, a music CD, and a photo CD. The voice data controller 28 processes voice data from the system controller 22 and voice data from the infrared interface 30. The input / output data controller 29 processes the data from the system controller 22 and the data from the infrared interface 30.

The infrared interface 30 is an infrared wireless communication unit which performs bidirectional communication and can handle voice information as well as data. Various devices with built-in infrared interface (speaker, microphone, keyboard,
Mouse, electronic notebook, etc.).

Next, the operation of the electronic device 11 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. When the power of the electronic device 11 is turned on, the system controller 21 initializes the built-in device. When the personal computer 12 is powered on, communication between the personal computer 12 and the system controller 21 is also performed, whereby the environment of the personal computer 12 is set.

The electronic device 11 is replaced by the personal computer 1
When used as the second I / O, the data input from the keyboard, the mouse, etc. are input / output data controller 29, device control block 22, I / O.
It is sent to the personal computer 12 via the control unit 23.

Display data from the personal computer 12 is sent to the display device via the I / O control section 23, the device control block 22, and the display controller 24, and is displayed on the screen.

When the personal computer 12 issues an access request for a disk unit such as the CD-ROM drive 25, the access request is sent to the device control block 22 via the I / O control section 23, and the access request is responded to. Access is made.

As described above, the electronic device 11 is a device physically independent of the personal computer 12, but can operate as an I / O of the personal computer 12. In this case, the device control block 22 of the electronic device 11 is the personal computer 12
Will function as a kind of I / O controller.

On the other hand, the electronic device 11 can be used independently of the personal computer 12 by disconnecting the connection with the personal computer 12 or by turning off the power of the personal computer 12. In this case, the data input from the keyboard, mouse, etc.
It is sent to the device control block 22 via the input / output data controller 29, and device control is performed there according to the input data.

As a result, for example, the operation of reading the video data from the CD-ROM drive 25 or the like and displaying it on the display device is performed by the personal computer 12.
Can be performed without using.

In this embodiment, the display device is provided outside the main body of the electronic equipment, but a display device such as an LCD can be built in the main body of the electronic equipment. Further, each unit of FIG. 2 can be housed in the CRT display.

As described above, the electronic apparatus 11 having the built-in display device or the display device built therein is used as a display monitor of the personal computer 12 and also operates as an intelligent display device capable of operating independently of the personal computer 12.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, an interface with an input device such as a keyboard and a display device, and a CD in an electronic device independent of the computer main body are provided.
By providing an interface with peripheral devices such as a ROM drive, and further with an interface with the computer main body, these input devices, display devices, and peripheral devices can be integratedly managed in the device, and user operation is required. It is possible to realize an operation in which only the items are placed in the hands of the user independently of the computer body.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a computer system using an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a specific configuration of the electronic device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Electronic device, 12 ... Personal computer, 13
… Electronic notebook, 14… Keyboard, 15… Mouse, 16…
Trackball, 17 ... speaker, 18 ... microphone, 19
... LCD, 20 ... CRT, 22 ... Device control block, 23 ... I / O control section, 24 ... Display controller, 25 ... CD-ROM drive, 26 ... Hard disk drive.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A small electronic device connectable to a display device, comprising: a device body, a CPU, a memory and various I's provided in the device body.
A first interface connectable to a computer main body having a built-in / O, a second interface provided to the device main body and connectable to an input device, and a third interface provided to the device main body and connectable to a disk drive device. An interface, a fourth interface provided in the device body and connectable to the display device, commonly connected to the first to fourth interfaces, receiving and managing data input through the interfaces, and A computer main body, the input device, and an I / O control means for controlling data transfer between the disk drive device and the display device. The device main body alone or in response to a request from the computer main body. Check that various data input / output control and display control are possible. Small electronic devices to butterflies. 2. The small electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the device body is provided with a disk storage slot into which the disk drive device is detachably mounted. 3. The small electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the I / O control means includes means for reproducing an optical disk medium for music or video. 4. The small electronic device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first to fourth interfaces has a communication unit for performing wireless communication. 5. A small electronic device connectable to a computer main body as an I / O, which is configured to be operable independently of the computer main body.
The input device includes: a device control unit that controls various I / O devices; a communication unit that communicates between the device control unit and the computer body; and an input device that instructs the operation of the device control unit. A small electronic device characterized in that various I / O devices connected to the small electronic device are controlled in response to a request from the computer body.