JPH086683A - Personal computer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To connect both display units of digital and analog types to the personal computer which has a flat panel display internally. CONSTITUTION:Digital video data 101, a display timing signal 104, and a clock signal 103 from a flat panel controller 1 are inputted to an analog-digital switching part 3, a D/A conversion part 2, a timing adjustment part 4, etc. The D/A conversion part 2 converts the digital video data 101 into analog video data 102, which are inputted to an analog-digital switching part 3. The analog-digital switching part 3 inputs a data format discrimination signal 105 indicating the data input format of the flat panel display 5, selects one of the digital video data 101 and analog video data 102 according to the signal, and inputs the data to the flat panel display 5 through a data bus 106.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a personal computer, and more particularly to a personal computer incorporating a flat panel display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional personal computer of this type, particularly a notebook personal computer having a built-in flat panel display, an LCD is often used as a flat panel display for display. This LCD is adapted to input and display digital format video data, which has been generally used in the past, in response to the increasing number of colors and higher resolution in recent displays, and to input and display analog format video data. LCDs are also being developed. On the other hand, a personal computer has been developed in which the computer system main body and the LCD module can be removed, and a plurality of types of LCD panels can be used in one system main body. In such a personal computer, conventionally, an input format of LCD display data which can be connected to one personal computer is fixed to either one of a digital format and an analog format. It is customary.

As another conventional example, for example,
The "flat panel display device" proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-159779 is a flat panel display having a dot matrix structure having an input interface adapted to an output interface for a CRT display connectable to a processing device. This is a proposal applied to an apparatus, and is characterized in that the ratio of the horizontal dot pitch to the vertical dot pitch is configured to match the aspect ratio of the display surface of the CRT display. Further, the "display unit switching control method" proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-75834 is intended for a computer system capable of connecting a plurality of display units having different display timing controls. A display controller for controlling display timing and circuit means for detecting a combination of key inputs in a keyboard unit connected to the system are provided, and a signal output from the circuit means is used to inform the display controller. Is used to notify the switching of the display unit, and for the purpose of connecting a plurality of display units with different display timing control, at least the display controller that controls the display timing of the display unit and the system Connected It comprises as essential elements and circuit means for detecting a combination of keystrokes on a keyboard unit that. JP-A-63-15
The "flat panel display signal creation circuit" proposed in Japanese Patent No. 5192 discloses a clock signal creation unit that creates a clock signal of a pixel frequency based on a CRT display synchronization signal, and the CRT display based on this clock signal. For identifying the type of the processing device that created the CRT display synchronization signal, and the CRT display synchronization signal as the identification result by the processing device identification unit. In accordance with the configuration, a synchronization signal waveform correction unit that corrects the signal for flat panel display is provided to enhance compatibility between both display devices of the CRT and the flat panel, and a processing device and a display device such as a personal computer. The purpose is to realize economicization of the entire image processing system by improving the compatibility between them. The contents of the essential constituent requirements are as described above.

The "display controller" proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-93495 is a C
Targeting a display device having different types of display devices such as an RT display and a flat panel display, a font switching control circuit for switching the used font of each display device and a memory for storing the used font of each display device. When the condition for switching between the two different display devices is satisfied, a flag is set to read the font from the corresponding memory,
Characterized by displaying characters on the display.
The "display control device" proposed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 3-1675 discloses the control data of the CRT display sent from the main control unit for the display device including the CRT display and the flat panel display.
A control data conversion circuit for converting control data of another flat panel display to be connected, and control data of the CRT display or control data of the flat panel display selectively, and each of the data displays according to the control data. And a CRT for controlling access to a video memory common to
And a display control circuit for selectively receiving display control data or the flat panel display control data and controlling display of the CRT display or the flat display according to the control data. The display control function is basically different. CRT display and flat panel display
A display control circuit capable of supporting a CRT display and a flat panel display is realized with a simple and inexpensive configuration while maintaining compatibility of the CRT display software and sharing hardware such as a video memory. Is intended.

Further, the "personal computer" proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-73011 is detachably connected to the body of the personal computer through a connector and has its own display power source unit. It is an improvement proposal for a personal computer having a plurality of types of display devices, and it is possible to arbitrarily select one type of display device from the plurality of types of display devices and connect it to the personal computer main body by a connector. Is characterized by. In addition, JP-A-3-22679
The "display system of a flat panel display device" proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2 is a proposal for a system having a CRT display control unit and a flat panel display control unit, and is a basic input / output system (BIOS program). By writing the display mode to the display mode identification register, the hardware can automatically set the mode for the flat panel. And, furthermore, JP-A-4-146482.
"Display device" proposed in Japanese Patent Publication
Is a proposal for a display device including a CRT display and a flat panel display, and generates a video signal and horizontal and vertical synchronization signals necessary for displaying data on each screen of the CRT display or the flat panel display. And a display signal generating means, and the CRT display and the flat panel type display, respectively, which are detachable from each other, and the video signal and the horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals from the display signal generating means are displayed on the respective displays. A single adapter means for transferring to any of the above, a first clock generating means for generating a first clock necessary for the display operation function of the CRT display, and a first clock generating means for the display operation of the flat panel type display. Second clock to generate two clocks And a clock switching unit that selects one of the first clock and the second clock and transfers the selected clock to the display signal generation unit according to the type of display connected to the adapter unit. It is characterized by that.

The "display control device" proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-293086 is a proposal for a flat panel display device, and stores data displayed on the flat panel display. A display memory unit, a read counter for designating a read address of the display memory device, a read control unit for controlling the read counter in synchronization with the display timing of the display, and a display for displaying the data read from the display memory unit. And a second interface unit for converting the CRT display data into a format for the display memory unit and supplying the same to the display memory unit.
Section, a display clear section that clears the stored contents of the display memory section when a reset end or resolution switching instruction is given, a line counter section that identifies the current CRT display line, and a CRT for each resolution. A conversion memory unit that stores a write start address corresponding to a scan line and outputs a write start address corresponding to the output of the line counter from an address group for a specified resolution, and an address indicated by the output of the conversion memory unit. And a CRT that generates a write address of the display memory unit by a count operation with reference to
It is characterized by comprising a write control unit for controlling the count operation of the line counter unit and the write counter unit in synchronization with the display timing, corresponding to a plurality of resolutions in the display device, The purpose is to realize the resolution switching operation with a relatively simple circuit configuration.

[0007]

In the conventional personal computer having a flat panel display and a replaceable LCD section, the display timing corresponding to the LCD section connected to the personal computer body is the same. Even if there is an LCD unit that requires analog format video data input, the LCD unit cannot be directly connected to the personal computer system body that outputs digital format video data. There are drawbacks.

An object of the present invention is to provide an analog / digital mixed type interface for connecting a flat panel display and a personal computer system main body in a personal computer having a flat panel display and a replaceable LCD section. This is to eliminate the above drawbacks.

It should be noted that the display device or display system according to each of the proposals including the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publications, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei. Needless to say, the present invention is completely different from the present invention, and in these proposals, the LCD section requiring the analog format video data input described above is changed to the digital format video data output. The drawback of not being able to directly connect to the personal computer system main body of is still present.

[0010]

A personal computer according to a first aspect of the present invention is a personal computer having a built-in flat panel display, wherein display data in a digital format, a display timing signal, and a clock are used as input signals to the flat panel display. Flat panel display control means for outputting a signal and D / A conversion means for inputting the display data in the digital format and the clock signal, converting the display data in the digital format into display data in the analog format, and outputting the display data. And input the display data in the digital format and the display data in the analog format,
One of the display data in the digital format and the display data in the analog format is selected and output via a data input format identification signal indicating the data input format of the flat panel display output from the display. Input analog-digital switching means, the clock signal and the display timing signal,
When the data input format of the flat panel display is an analog format, the clock signal and a predetermined timing-corrected display timing signal are output via the data input format identification signal, and the flat panel display When the data input format of the display is a digital format, a timing adjusting means for outputting the clock signal and the display timing signal as they are through the data input format identification signal, and at least data for the flat panel display. The flat panel display, which is provided as display control means, outputs the data input format identification signal indicating the data input format in a state where the flat panel display is connected to the main body of the personal computer and outputs the analog-digital switch. At least a plurality of types are used by utilizing the characteristic that the display data selected by the means and the display timing signal and the clock signal output from the timing adjusting means are input to display the display data. The flat panel display can be applied for data display.

The personal computer according to the second aspect of the present invention is a personal computer having a flat panel display built-in, wherein digital format display data, analog format display data, and display timing signal are used as input signals to the flat panel display. And a flat panel display control means for outputting a clock signal and the display data of the digital format and the display data of the analog format are input, and the data input format of the flat panel display output from the flat panel display is set. An analog-digital switching means for selecting and outputting one of the display data in the digital format and the display data in the analog format via the data input format identification signal shown in FIG. Clock signal and the display timing signal, and when the data input format of the flat panel display is an analog format, the clock signal and a predetermined timing-corrected display are sent via the data input format identification signal. A timing adjusting unit that outputs a timing signal and, when the data input format of the flat panel display is a digital format, outputs the clock signal and the display timing signal as they are through the data input format identification signal. And at least as data display control means for the flat panel display, the flat panel display being connected to the personal computer body, the data input format identification indicating the data input format. And a display data selected by the analog-digital switching means and the display timing signal and the clock signal output from the timing adjusting means, and displaying the display data. It is characterized in that at least a plurality of types of flat panel displays can be applied for data display by utilizing the characteristics having.

[0012]

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a flat panel display and a flat panel display according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
It is the block diagram which extracted and showed only the component relevant to a display. Therefore, the CPU, the memory and the like are not shown. As shown in FIG. 1, the relevant components in this embodiment are flat panel controller 1
, D / A conversion unit 2, and analog-digital switching unit 3
A timing adjustment unit 4 and a flat panel display 5.

In FIG. 1, the flat panel controller 1 generates and outputs digital video data 101, a display timing signal 104 and a clock signal 103 to be displayed on the flat panel display 5. These digital video data 10
1. Display timing signal 104 and clock signal 10
3 is an all digital signal. The digital video data 101 is input to the analog-digital switching unit 3 and the D / A conversion unit 2, and the clock signal 103 is input to the D / A conversion unit 2 and the timing adjustment unit 4. . Further, the display timing signal 104 is input to the timing adjustment unit 4. In the D / A converter 2, the digital video data 101 input from the flat panel controller 1 is the clock signal 1
Sampled by 03, converted into analog video data 102, and input to the analog-digital switching unit 3. On the other hand, for the analog-digital switching unit 3, whether the flat panel display 5 is an input format display corresponding to digital video data input,
Alternatively, a flat panel display data format identification signal 105 indicating whether the display is an input format display corresponding to analog video data input is input, and in the analog-digital switching unit 3, the flat panel display is input.・ Data format identification signal 1
The switching of input video data is controlled via 05,
Either one of the digital video data 101 input from the flat panel controller 1 and the analog video data 102 input from the D / A conversion unit 2 is selected, and the data bus 106 is selected.
Is input to the flat panel display 5 via.

On the other hand, the timing adjusting section 4 is arranged to change the D-value when the analog video data 102 is selected and output by the analog-digital switching section 3.
The A / A converter 2 has a function of correcting a “deviation” in the timing of the analog video data 102, and the analog-digital switching unit 3 selects and outputs the analog video data 102. In this case, in response to the input of the clock signal 103 and the display timing signal 104 output from the flat panel controller 1 via the flat panel display data format identification signal 105 input from the flat panel display 5. , The timing of the display timing signal 104 is corrected and the display timing signal 1 is corrected.
It is output as 07 and is input to the flat panel display 5 together with the clock signal 103. Needless to say, in the analog-digital switching unit 3, the digital video data 101 is selected and the data bus 106 is selected.
Output to the display timing signal 104,
Clock signal 10 without timing correction
3 is input as it is to the flat panel display 5 via the timing adjusting unit 4. In this way, regardless of whether the data input format of the flat panel display 5 connected to the main body of the personal computer is the digital format or the analog format, the input data format of the flat panel display 5 can be changed. Video data that has been converted to fit
It is input to the flat panel display 5 together with the display timing signal and the clock signal, and normal data display is performed on the flat panel display.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing only the flat panel and the components related to the flat panel in the second embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, as in the case of the first embodiment, the CPU, memory and the like are not shown. As shown in FIG. 2, the related components in this embodiment are a flat panel controller 1 also including a D / A conversion function, and an analog-digital switching unit 3.
A timing adjustment unit 4 and a flat panel display 5. As is clear from comparison with FIG. 1, the difference from the first embodiment of the present embodiment is that in this embodiment, the video data to be displayed is digital format rather than the flat panel controller 1. Both the analog and analog formats of the video data are output, which results in the D / D values seen in the first embodiment.
This means that the A conversion unit is unnecessary. It should be noted that in the present embodiment, through the D / A conversion function included in the flat panel controller 1, digital format digital
The video data is converted and output as analog video data 102.

In FIG. 2, the flat panel controller 1 generates digital video data 101, analog video data 102, a display timing signal 104 and a clock signal 103 to be displayed on the flat panel display 5. Is output. Of these signals, the video data 101 except the analog video data 102, the display timing signal 104, and the clock signal 103 are all digital format signals. Digital video data 101 and analog
The video data 102 are both input to the analog-digital switching unit 3, and the display timing signal 104 and the clock signal 103 are both input to the timing adjusting unit 4. For the analog-digital switching unit 3, whether the flat panel display 5 is a display of an input format corresponding to digital video data input, or an analog video data input A flat panel data format identification signal 105 indicating whether or not the display is an input format display is input, and the analog-digital switching unit 3 inputs the input video signal via the flat panel data format identification signal 105. The data is switch-controlled, and either one of the digital video data 101 and the analog video data 102 input from the flat panel controller 1 is selected and flattened via the data bus 106. Input to panel display 5 That.

On the other hand, when the analog video data 102 is selected and output by the analog-digital switching unit 3, the timing adjusting unit 4 outputs the digital video data by D in the flat panel controller 1. It has a function of correcting the "deviation" of the timing of the analog video data 102 generated at the time of A / A conversion, and controls it via the flat panel data format identification signal 105 input from the flat panel 5. Clock signal 103 and display timing signal 1 output from the flat panel controller 1
In response to the input 04, the display timing signal 104
Is corrected and output as a display timing signal 107, which is input to the flat panel display 5 together with the clock signal 103. Also, analog-
When the digital video data 101 is selected by the digital switching unit 3 and output to the data bus 106, the display timing signal 104 is output to the timing adjustment unit 4 together with the clock signal 103 without timing correction. It is input to the flat panel display 5 via. In this way, the flat panel display 5 connected to the main body of the personal computer
Regardless of whether the data input format is digital or analog.
The video data, the display timing signal and the clock signal converted so as to be compatible with the input data format of the display 5 are input to the flat panel display 5, and normal data display is performed on the flat panel display 5. Be seen.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, the flat panel display connected to the main body of the personal computer receives the signal for identifying the data input format of the flat panel display, and the flat panel display receives the signal. By selecting and outputting video data that matches the data input format of the channel display,
Multiple flat panel displays that require display data input in different data input formats can be arbitrarily selected and exclusively connected to the personal computer main body to display various data at all times without trouble. The effect is that you can do it.

Further, the data bus for inputting the video data to the flat panel display has a digital
Since the video data as well as the analog video data is shared, it is not necessary to increase the number of signal lines forming the interface between the personal computer and the flat panel display.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Flat panel controller 2 D / A converter 3 Analog-digital switching unit 4 Timing adjustment unit 5 Flat panel display

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A personal computer having a built-in flat panel display, flat panel display control means for outputting digital display data, display timing signals and clock signals as input signals to the flat panel display, D / A conversion means for inputting digital format display data and the clock signal and converting the digital format display data to analog format display data, and outputting the digital format display data and analog format display data. The display data in the digital format and the display in the analog format are input via a data input format identification signal which is input with display data and is output from the flat panel display, which indicates the data input format of the flat panel display. When the analog-digital switching means for selecting and outputting one of the display data among the data and the clock signal and the display timing signal are input and the data input format of the flat panel display is the analog format, Outputting the clock signal and a display timing signal having a predetermined timing correction via the data input format identification signal, and if the data input format of the flat panel display is a digital format, the data input Timing adjustment means for directly outputting the clock signal and the display timing signal via a format identification signal, and at least as data display control means for the flat panel display, wherein the flat panel display is the personal computer. In the connected state to the computer main body, and outputs the data input format identification signal indicating data input format, the analog - a display data selected by the digital switching means,
At least a plurality of types of flat panel displays are used for data display by utilizing the characteristic of having a data display function of displaying the display data by inputting the display timing signal and the clock signal output from the timing adjusting means. A personal computer characterized by being applicable as. 2. A personal computer having a built-in flat panel display, wherein the flat panel display outputs digital display data, analog display data, display timing signals and clock signals as input signals to the flat panel display. Display control means, through inputting the display data in the digital format and the display data in the analog format, via a data input format identification signal indicating the data input format of the flat panel display output from the flat panel display , Analog-digital switching means for selecting and outputting one of the display data in the digital format and the display data in the analog format, and inputting the clock signal and the display timing signal. When the data input format of the flat panel display is an analog format, the clock signal and a predetermined timing-corrected display timing signal are output via the data input format identification signal, and When the data input format of the flat panel display is a digital format, a timing adjusting means for outputting the clock signal and the display timing signal as they are through the data input format identification signal, and at least the flat panel display. The flat panel display is provided as data display control means for the display, outputs the data input format identification signal indicating the data input format in the state where the flat panel display is connected to the personal computer main body, and outputs the analog-digital signal. Display data selected by the digital switching means,
At least a plurality of types of flat panel displays are used for data display by utilizing the characteristic of having a data display function of displaying the display data by inputting the display timing signal and the clock signal output from the timing adjusting means. A personal computer characterized by being applicable as.