JPH10148815A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device which is composed by connecting an image source and plurality of displays with a line of cable and a simple, easy and inexpensive relay circuit. SOLUTION: In a display device in which an image source and plurality of displays are connected by one line of cable and each display displays based on the image data generated in the corresponding image source, one display 100 is composed so as to display based on the image data transferred from the image source through the above-stated cable and perform a specified or another communication required for the transfer of image data from the image source. Other displays 200, 300 merely receive and display the image data sent from the image source to the cable based on the communication between the image source and the display 100.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly to a display device, in which a plurality of liquid crystal displays using ferroelectric liquid crystal are connected to an image source via a one-line cable, and the same display is used for these displays. The present invention relates to a display device that displays an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a display device in which a display is connected to a host that generates image data and an image generated by the host is displayed, information other than the image data is displayed between the host and the display prior to starting a display operation. The setting on the host side or the setting on the display side so as to generate display data optimal for the display performance of the display to be connected is automatically performed without bothering the user.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional liquid crystal display performing such an operation. In FIG.
, A host serving as an image source; 400, a liquid crystal display using ferroelectric liquid crystal; and 7, a cable connecting between the host 6 and the display 400.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the display 400. Reference numeral 401 denotes a connector to which the cable 7 is connected; 405, a liquid crystal display device using ferroelectric liquid crystal;
02, a drive controller for receiving display data and controlling the liquid crystal display element 405; 406, a backlight including a lighting circuit and a lamp; 404, a power supply unit for supplying power to the liquid crystal display element 405 and the backlight 406;
Reference numeral 7 denotes a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature in the vicinity of the liquid crystal display element 405, and reference numeral 403 denotes a display controller which controls the drive controller 402 and the power supply unit 404, performs serial communication with the host 6, and controls the entire display.

A liquid crystal display element 405 is a display panel using a ferroelectric liquid crystal as a liquid crystal.
The display of 280 × 1024 pixels is performed.

Liquid crystal display device 405 using ferroelectric liquid crystal
The optimum driving condition changes depending on the temperature. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating this driving condition. The driving conditions include a driving voltage (Vop), which is a voltage of a driving waveform applied to the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal display element 405, and one horizontal scanning time (1H), which is a time for driving one driving line. As shown in FIG. 13, the optimum driving condition changes so that the product of Vop and 1H becomes smaller as the temperature becomes higher. The display controller 403 in FIG. 12 selects an optimal driving condition according to the temperature in the vicinity of the liquid crystal display element 405, and
Is set to 1H, and Vop is set to the power supply unit 404.
The drive controller 402 adjusts 1H and requests image data from the host 6 at a timing corresponding to 1H.
The display data is supplied to a driver circuit (not shown) of the liquid crystal display element 405 based on the image data transferred from the host 6. On the other hand, the power supply unit 404 generates a liquid crystal driving voltage corresponding to Vop and supplies it to the driver circuit of the liquid crystal display element 405.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining the operation until the power of the display is turned on and the driving is started. Signal PWON
Is a signal notifying that the host 6 is ready to transfer the image data and that the connected display 400 can start the display operation.
When L is detected, information on the type of the host and the display is exchanged by serial communication prior to the transfer of the image data.

That is, the display controller of the display is P
When WON = L is detected, the display unit issues Attention as a SOUT signal to notify the host that display preparation is completed. The host inquires the content of this Attention by SIN signal (RequestAttention Information),
When Status (Attention Information) is received from the display unit, Attention is cleared (Clear Attention). Next, the host sends the host ID to the display (Send Host
ID). The display returns status OK (OK) if the host is connectable, and returns an error status if the host is not connectable. Next, the host requests the ID of the display (Request Unit ID). In addition, after the host inquires necessary information to the display and sends necessary information to the display, the host issues an instruction to start requesting image data (Unit Start). The display returns the status Status (OK), and requests the transfer of image data by the BUSY signal. Both the host and the display are the ID of the recipient
After performing appropriate settings based on the information and other information, the subsequent display operation is performed.

A signal PDi (i = 1 to 15) is image data, and image data for one scanning line is transmitted in synchronization with a transfer clock FCLK with a scanning line address.
AHDL is a signal indicating whether the content of the signal PDi (i = 1 to 15) is image data or a scanning line address. The signal BUSY is a signal indicating whether or not the display side can receive the image data. The data transfer request is that the drive controller 402 sends L to the BUSY signal. That is, when the BUSY signal is lowered to L from the display device 400 and a transfer request for image data is issued, the host 6 raises AHDL for one clock of FCLK to H, synchronously transmits the scanning line address, and then scans. The image data for one line is transferred.

When the display 400 receives the image data,
The driving of the corresponding scanning line is started, and the next data request is made at a timing corresponding to one horizontal scanning time 1H. Drv in FIG. 14 indicates that the scanning line specified by the scanning line address is being driven (hereinafter, referred to as scanning line driving).

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the structure of image data to be transferred. As described above, the scanning line address (A0
To A11), and then 1280 × 4 bit image data (D0 to D5119) is transferred.

[0012]

By the way, in such a liquid crystal display device, there is a demand for displaying more information at the same time, and a demand for a simple and inexpensive connection thereof. That is, FIG.
1, a one-line cable 7 is connected to a host 6 serving as an image source, and a plurality of displays 400, 500, and 6 are connected via a relay circuit 8 connected to the cable 7.
00 is connected.

However, the displays 400, 500, 6
When 00 tries to perform serial communication with the host 6 individually, the communication between each indicator and the host collides with each other. Therefore, a complicated communication procedure for avoiding the collision must be prepared, which increases the complexity of the configuration and the cost. There was a problem of inviting.

The period of receiving the image data of the display units 400, 500, and 600 varies depending on the temperature of each display element. If the relay circuit 8 has an image memory for one frame in order to absorb the difference, There is a problem that the relay circuit 8 becomes expensive.

[0015]

According to the present invention, an image source is connected to the image source via a cable, and the image data is transferred to and from the image source. A display for performing predetermined other communication for performing display based on image data transferred from the image source, wherein the display is provided with an operation mode in which the other communication is not performed. It is characterized by that.

That is, in this type of display device,
In addition to the transfer of image data, for example, a transfer preparation completion notification from an image source before display starts, a display preparation completion notification from a display, an image source ID transmission from an image source, and a displayable status notification from a display. Although the communication is performed, the display of the present invention is characterized by having an operation mode in which the communication other than the transfer of the image data is not performed.

[0017]

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of displays are connected to a one-line cable connected to a host which is an image source, and each display is connected to a host other than image data transfer. A display device having communication means for communicating with an image source, wherein each of the displays is capable of setting at least two types of operation modes by operation setting means, wherein one of the plurality of displays communicates with the host by the communication means; Operating in a first operation mode in which the display element is driven in a cycle obtained by adding the pause time to the display element driving time 1H of the display, and at least one other display communicates with the host by the communication means. Instead, it is characterized in that it operates in the second operation mode in which the driving of the display element is started in waiting for reception of image data.

[0018]

According to the above arrangement, when a plurality of displays of the same type are connected to a one-line cable, communication between the displays and the image source does not collide with each other, and internal display such as self-heating caused by driving is prevented. Due to the difference in temperature rise, a difference occurs in the drive time that is the optimum drive condition of the display element, and even when the transfer cycle of the image data is different, an expensive image memory such as a frame memory is provided in addition to the inside of the image source. There is no need, and a plurality of indicators can be connected to one line of cable by a simple and inexpensive relay circuit.
According to the present invention, when a plurality of displays of the same type are connected to a one-line cable, it is of course possible to perform the same display on the plurality of displays. When an error occurs, an ID specifying one of a plurality of displays connected to the cable is included in the image data, and the image data is generated only by the display specified by the ID. Thus, different displays can be performed for each display.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the connection of the display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a host serving as an image source, 2 is a branch type connector (A), 3 and 4 are branch type connectors (B), 100, 200 and 300 are displays, 5 is a host, a display and The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a cable for connecting between two types of branch-type connectors. The apparatus shown in FIG.
0, 200, and 300 constitute a system that simultaneously performs display.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the connection of the branch type connector (A). In FIG. 2, 21 is a connector to which the cable 5 connected to the host is connected, 22 is a connector to which the cable 5 connected to the branch type connector (B) is connected,
Reference numeral 23 denotes a connector to which the cable 5 connected to the display 100 is connected. All signal lines connected to the connector 21 are connected to the connector 23, and signal lines other than SIN and SOUT, which are signal lines for serial communication described later, and a data request signal BUSY are connected to the connector 22. .

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the connection of the branch type connector (B). In FIG. 3, 31 is a branch type connector (A).
, A connector to which the cable 5 to be connected to the next branch-type connector (B) is connected, and 33 a display device 200
And the connector to which the cable 5 to be connected to 300 is connected. Signal line PWO connected to connector 31
N, FCLK, AHDL, PDi (i = 0-15) are connected to connectors 32 and 33.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the displays 100, 200 and 300. 101 is a connector to which the cable 5 is connected, 105 is a liquid crystal display element using ferroelectric liquid crystal, 102 is a drive controller that receives display data and controls the liquid crystal display element 105, 106 is a backlight including a lighting circuit and a lamp, Reference numeral 104 denotes a power supply unit for supplying power to the liquid crystal display element 105 and the backlight 106; 107, a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature near the liquid crystal display element 105; 103, which controls the drive controller 102 and the power supply unit 104; A display controller that controls the entire display by performing communication, and 108 is an operation setting unit that sets the operation (master operation and slave operation) of the display.

The liquid crystal display element 105 is a display panel using a ferroelectric liquid crystal as a liquid crystal.
The liquid crystal material used for displaying 280 × 1024 pixels is a mixture mainly composed of biphenyl and phenylpyrimidine. The phase transition temperature of the liquid crystal material is as follows.

[0024]

[Table 1]

A display element 10 using a ferroelectric liquid crystal
In No. 5, the optimum driving condition changes depending on the temperature. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the driving conditions. The driving conditions in this embodiment include a driving voltage (Vop), which is a voltage of a driving waveform applied to the liquid crystal, and one horizontal scanning time (1H), which is a time for driving one driving line. As shown in FIG. 5, the optimum driving condition changes so that the product of Vop and 1H becomes smaller as the temperature becomes higher. The display controller 103 selects an optimal driving condition according to the temperature near the liquid crystal display element 105, and sets 1H to the driving controller 102 and Vop to the power supply unit 104. Drive controller 10
2 adjusts 1H, requests display data at a timing that matches 1H, supplies data to a driver circuit (not shown) of the liquid crystal display element 105, and the power supply unit outputs Vo.
The liquid crystal display device 10 generates a liquid crystal drive voltage corresponding to
5 to the driver circuit.

FIG. 6 shows a branch type connector (A) from the host 1.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a transfer timing of image data sent to the display device 100 via the display device 2. In FIG. 6, the host 1 and the display 1
A description will be given focusing on only 00.

The signal PDi (i = 1 to 15) is image data, and image data for one scanning line of the display element 105 is transferred in synchronization with a transfer clock FCLK with a scanning line address. AHDL is a signal PDi (i = 1 to 1)
This signal indicates whether the content of 5) is image data or a scanning line address. The signal BUSY is a signal indicating whether or not the display side can receive the image data. The data transfer request is that the drive controller 102 of the display unit 100 sends L to the BUSY signal. In other words, when the BUSY signal is lowered to L from the display device 100 and a transfer request for image data is issued, the host raises AHDL to H for one clock of FCLK, and sends out the scanning line address in synchronization with this. The image data for one scanning line is transferred.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the structure of image data to be transferred. A 16-bit scan line address in which the lower 12 bits (A0 to A11) are valid data is transmitted at the head, and then 1280 × 4 bits of image data (D0 to D)
5119) is transferred.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation until the power of the display is turned on and the driving is started. In FIG. 8, FIG.
The master operation is set in the operation setting means 108, and the display controller 103 performs the master operation.

The signal PWON is a signal notifying that the host 1 is ready to transfer the image data and that the connected display can start the display operation. When the display controller detects PWON = L, the display operation is started. Start. Prior to the display of image data, information about the type of the host and information about the display are exchanged between the display (100 in FIG. 1) and the host in which the master operation is set in the operation setting means 108 by serial communication.

There are two types of serial communication protocols. In the first protocol, a host sends a command to the display, and the display returns a status. Commands are always issued by the host, and are not issued twice. In the second protocol, the display issues an Attention to request communication. On the other hand, the host sends the contents of Attention (AttentionI
nformation), the display responds to this (status), the host issues a command to clear Attention (Clear Attention), and the display issues an acknowledgment status to complete the communication. The SOUT signal is a signal sent from the host, and the SIN signal is a signal sent from the display controller of the display.

In FIG. 8, when the PWON signal becomes L, the display notifies the host that preparation for display is completed by issuing Attention. The host inquires the content of this Attention (Request Attention Information), Attent
Clear ion (Clear Attention). Next, the host notifies the display device of the host ID (Send Host ID). The display returns an acknowledged status if the host is connectable, and an error status if the host is not connectable.
Next, the host requests the ID of the display (Request Unit ID). In addition, after the host inquires necessary information to the display and sends necessary information to the display, the host issues an instruction to start a data request (Unit Start). The display returns the status, lowers the BUSY, and makes a request to transfer image data. When receiving the image data for one scanning line with the scanning line address, the display starts driving the corresponding scanning line.

The symbol "drv" in FIG. 8 represents the driving of the scanning line specified by the scanning line address. Tw0 in FIG. 8 is a driving suspension period. When the master operation is set in the operation setting unit 108, the pause time tw0 is inserted every time the driving is started. The setting of the pause time tw0 will be described later in detail.

On the other hand, FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the operation from when the power of the display unit is turned on to when the driving is started when the operation setting means 108 sets the slave operation. The display controller 103 performs a slave operation.

The display set to the slave operation does not perform serial communication with the host. When the display is ready for display, the display lowers BUSY as soon as it detects L of the PWON signal, and requests transfer of image data. When the AHDL receives image data for one scanning line with an upward scanning line address, driving of the corresponding scanning line is started. Also,
When the transfer timing of the image data is late and the driving of the immediately preceding scanning line is completed, the driving is started while waiting for the transfer of the image data while the driving is stopped. Drv in FIG. 9 represents the drive of the scanning line specified by the scanning line address.

Next, the operation of image data transfer and driving of the entire apparatus of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

In the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the operation mode setting means of each of the three connected displays sets the master operation 100 and the slave operations 200 and 300. Indicators 200 and 300 performing slave operation
Does not perform serial communication, and the host 1 performs serial communication only with the display 100. For this reason, the display 100
The IN signal and the SOUT signal are connected by a branch type connector (A) 2 connected thereto, and the indicators 200 and 30 are connected.
0 is connected by the branch type connectors (B) 3 and 4 to which the SIN signal and the SOUT signal are not connected.

The BUSY signal from the display 100 connected by the branch connector (A) 2 is connected to the host, and from the displays 200 and 300 connected by the branch connectors (B) 3 and 4. BUS
The Y signal is not connected to the host. That is, image data with a scanning line address is transferred from the host by the BUSY signal sent by the display 100 in accordance with its own drive. The display devices 200 and 300 transmit the BUSY signal, but are cut off by the branch connectors (B) 3 and 4 and do not reach the host 1. However, if image data triggered by the AHDL signal is transferred while the BUSY signal is kept at L, it is received and driven.

The transfer of the image data and the display 100,
FIG. 10 shows the timing of driving at 200 and 300.
It is. BUSY0 and drv0 are B of the display 100.
The driving of the USY signal and the scanning line is performed by BUSY1 and d.
rv1 drives the BUSY signal and the scanning line of the display 200, and BUSY2 and drv2 denote the BU of the display 300.
It represents the driving of the SY signal and the scanning line. Upon receiving the image data transfer request BUSY0 from the display device 100, the host 1 sets AHDL to H and sends out image data with a scanning line address. This AHDL signal and PDi (i =
0 to 15) are commonly transmitted to the displays 200 and 300. Upon receiving the image data, the display unit 100 starts driving the corresponding scanning line after the pause time, and
At the timing corresponding to H, the next data request is made. That is, the display 100 indicates “1H + pause time tw
A data request is made with a cycle of "0".

The pause time tw0 is set to a time for absorbing a difference of 1H that changes due to self-heating at the environmental temperature where the display 100 is placed. In FIG. 5, which shows the optimum driving conditions of the liquid crystal display element 105, the display device 100 is at room temperature 25.
1H is about 130μs when the power is turned on in an environment of ℃
It is. When driving for display is continued in this environment, self-heating of the liquid crystal display element 105 itself and the backlight 106
The temperature of the liquid crystal display element 105 rises due to the heat generated by
Saturates at 5 ° C. Therefore, 1H, which is the optimum driving condition, is about 100 μ. The pause time tw0 is 1H of the display 200 or 300 when the power of the other display 200 or 300 is turned on while the display 100 is in a temperature saturated state and driven at the shortest 1H. Is chosen to be equal to

On the other hand, as an example, in FIG. 10, the display 200 has 1H (= 1) which is longer than the display 100 as the optimum driving condition.
H ′) is selected. This corresponds to the case where the display 100 starts driving first and the power of the display 200 is turned on later. Also in this case, if the connected indicators are in the same room, the following relationship is substantially maintained.

[0042]

(Equation 1)

When the display 200 is ready for driving, B
USY1 is lowered and a data request is made.
Does not reach. Display 1 after data request (BUSY1)
The image data transmitted in response to BUSY0 of 00 is received, driving drv1 of the corresponding scanning line is started, and the next data request is made at a timing corresponding to its own 1H. Although a data request is generated every 1H ', since the transfer cycle of the image data is "1H + pause time" of the display 100, the drive pause of the time tw1 shown in the following equation occurs. Do not spill.

[0044]

(Equation 2)

Similarly, for the display 300, for example, the same 1H as that of the display 100 is selected as the optimum driving condition. This corresponds to the case where the power of the display 300 is turned on almost simultaneously with the display 100. The display 300 lowers BUSY2 as soon as driving is ready, and makes a data request, but this does not reach the host 1. Data request (BU
SY1) After receiving the image data sent in response to BUSY0, start driving drv2 of the corresponding scanning line, and make the next data request at a timing corresponding to its own 1H. The data request is 1H 'period,
The transfer cycle of the image data is “1H + tw”
Since it is "0", the reception of the data is delayed by the same pause time tw0 as that of the display 100, and the drive is also suspended for the same time.

As described above, in the apparatus according to the present embodiment, in the display having communication means other than image data transfer and communicating with the host, an operation mode in which no communication is performed is provided by the operation setting means. Alternatively, by providing an operation mode for performing communication and inserting a pause time appropriately selected for driving one scanning line, a plurality of units can be connected to one line cable without providing an additional circuit such as a new memory other than inside the host. A display can be connected and display can be performed simultaneously.

According to the present embodiment, the frame rate of the displayed image is slightly reduced by inserting the pause time, as compared with the case where the display is connected to the host alone. For example,
As described above, when the temperature of the liquid crystal display element is saturated in an environment of 25 ° C., 1H can be driven at about 100 μs and the frame frequency is 9.8 Hz. 7.5H
z. However, in the display device of the present embodiment using the ferroelectric liquid crystal as the liquid crystal of the liquid crystal element, O.D.
After writing N or OFF, the changed area of the display image is preferentially rewritten by utilizing the characteristic (memory property) of the ferroelectric liquid crystal which maintains the state even when the applied voltage is removed (partial Rewriting technology) can be used without practically causing a reduction in image quality.

[0048]

Another Embodiment A second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the configuration of the image data with the scanning line address transmitted by the host and the operation of the drive controller and the display controller are different. This makes it possible to provide different displays on a plurality of connected display devices.

In the following drawings, the components provided with the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment indicate that the same configurations and operations as those described in the first embodiment are performed, and will be described again. Is not performed.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the connection of the devices constituting the second embodiment of the present invention. As in the first embodiment, a plurality of displays 700, 800, and 900 are connected to the host 9.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the structure of image data with a scanning line address sent from the host 9. As in the first embodiment, a 16-bit scanning line address is sent at the head, and then 1280 × 4 bit image data (D0 to D
5119) is transmitted, but the upper 4
The difference is that the bits include a unit ID (UnitID, U3 to U0). The unit ID is data indicating which display unit receives and displays the image data for one scanning line.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the displays 700, 800, and 900. 708 is Unit I
D and setting input means for setting the operation mode. The setting input means sets the operation (master operation, slave operation) of the display in the same manner as the operation setting means in the first embodiment, and sets the unit ID (1 to 15) of the display.
Make the settings for

The display controller 703 is a setting input unit 7
According to the operation set to 08, one of the master operation and the slave operation is selected and executed, and the drive controller 702 is notified of the unit ID. The drive controller 702 compares the unit ID received from the display controller 703 with the unit ID given to the image data transferred from the host, and
Receives the data that matches, and controls the driving of the display element 105. If the unit ID is 0, it is determined that all the display units have been selected, and this data is received, and the designated scanning line of the display element 105 is driven.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the transfer timing of image data and the drive timing of each display. Here, master operation and unit ID = 1 are displayed on display 700, and slave operation and unit ID = 2 are displayed on display 800.
However, the display 900 shows the slave operation and the unit ID.
= 3 has been set. Also, the display 700
BUSY signal and scanning line drive BUSY7 and drv7, the BUSY signal output from display 800 and scanning line drive BUSY8 and drv8, display 90
The BUSY signal output as 0 and the driving of the scanning line are set to BUSY9.
And as drv9.

In the display device 700 in which the master operation is set, BUSY 7 is lowered to L, and image data is requested. In response to this, if the unit ID included in the image data with the scanning line address transferred from the host 9 is 1, this data is received, and the optimum driving condition is set based on the temperature of the display element 105 detected by the temperature sensor 107. 1H and the pause time tw0 are determined, the drive drv7 of the designated scanning line is started after the pause tw0, and the next data request is made at a timing corresponding to 1H.

The unit ID transferred from the host 9 is 0
, All units are treated as being selected, and drive is performed in the same manner.

The unit ID transferred from the host 9 is 0
If not 1, the display 700 to which the master operation is set does not drive, but temporarily sets BUSY7 to H.
The data request is made again at a timing corresponding to the pause times tw0 and 1H.

When the display device 800 in which the slave operation is set is ready to receive image data, BUSY 8 is lowered as a data request, and the display 800 has a scanning line address and image data. BUSY8 signal is a branch type connector (B) 3
, The image data is transferred in response to BUSY7 output from the display 700 performing the master operation. When the unit ID given to the transferred data is 2, this data is received, and driving is performed at 1H ′ which is the optimum driving condition. Unit ID
Is 0, all the units are treated as having been selected, and driving is performed in the same manner.

The unit ID transferred from the host 9 is 0
In the cases other than 2 and 2, the display 800 in which the slave operation is set does not drive, and the BUSY once raised to H
8 is lowered again and waits for the next image data to be transferred.
The display 900 performs the same operation as the display at the unit ID = 3 in which the slave operation is set.

As described above, in the apparatus of the present embodiment, an operation mode in which no communication is performed is provided by the operation setting means in the display having communication means other than image data transfer and communicating with the host. ,
Alternatively, by providing an operation mode for performing communication and inserting an appropriately selected pause time for driving one scanning line, and further providing data for selecting one of the displays connected to the image data to be transferred, the host It is possible to connect a plurality of displays to one line of cable and provide different displays on each of the displays without providing an additional circuit such as a new memory other than inside.

[0061]

According to the present invention, a plurality of displays are connected to a one-line cable connected to an image source for generating image data, and each display is adapted to the image data transmitted from the image source. In performing the display, each display has a communication means other than image data transfer with the image source,
A device in which at least two types of operation modes can be set by the operation setting means is used. One of the plurality of displays communicates with the host by the communication means, and the driving time 1H of the display element of the display has a pause time. Operate in the first operation mode for driving the display element according to the added cycle, and one or more other displays do not perform communication with the host by the communication means, but perform communication based on the communication with the one display. It is possible to adopt a configuration characterized by operating in the second operation mode in which image data sent to the cable is received in a waiting state and the driving of the display element is started. This allows
The communication between the multiple display units and the host does not collide with each other, and the difference in internal temperature rise such as self-heating due to the drive causes a difference in the drive time, which is the optimum drive condition of the display element, and the transfer of image data. Even in the case of different periods, it is not necessary to have an expensive image memory such as a frame memory other than inside the host, and a plurality of displays are connected to a one-line cable by an inexpensive relay circuit such as a relay connector. It becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a connection of a display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing connection of a branch connector (A) in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing connection of a branch connector (B) in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the display in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing optimal driving conditions of the liquid crystal display element in FIG.

6 is a diagram showing a transfer timing of image data sent from a host to a display in the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of image data transferred from the host in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in a master operation mode until the power of the display is turned on and the driving is started.

9 is a diagram showing an operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 from when the power supply of the display unit in the slave operation mode is turned on until the start of driving.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing timings of image data transfer and driving by a display device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional display device.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the display in FIG.

13 is a diagram showing optimum driving conditions of the display element in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an operation from turning on the power of the display unit to starting driving in FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration of image data transferred in FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a conventional display device for connecting a plurality of display devices.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a connection of a display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

18 is a diagram showing a configuration of image data transferred in the device of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the display in FIG.

20 is a diagram showing the transfer of image data and the drive timing of the display in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 6, 9: Host as image source, 2: Branch type connector (A), 3, 4: Branch type connector (B), 5, 7:
Cable, 7: Cable, 8: Relay circuit, 21, 22,
23: Connector of branch type connector (A), 31, 32,
33: Connector of branch type connector (B), 100, 20
0,300,400,500,600,700,80
0,900: display, 101, 401: connector, 10
2, 402, 702: drive controller, 103, 40
3, 703: display controller, 104, 404: power supply unit, 105, 405: display element, 106, 40
6: backlight, 107, 407: temperature sensor, 10
8,708: operation setting means.

Claims (10)

[Claims] An image source connected to the image source via a cable, transferring image data to and from the image source, and performing other predetermined communication for performing the transfer, and image data transferred from the image source. A display device comprising: a display device that performs display based on the display device; and wherein the display device has an operation mode in which the other communication is not performed. 2. A display device, wherein a plurality of displays are connected to a one-line cable connected to an image source, and each display performs a display based on image data generated in the image source. One of the displays performs transfer of image data with the image source and other predetermined communication for performing the transfer, and performs display based on image data transferred from the image source via the cable. The other display does not perform the other communication, and receives and displays the image data transmitted to the cable based on the communication between the image source and the one display. A display device, characterized in that: 3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the same display is performed on each of said display devices. 4. The image source generates image data including an ID designating each display as the image data,
3. The display device according to claim 2, wherein each of the display devices captures and displays only the image data transmitted by designating itself by the ID. 5. The other communication includes a transfer preparation completion notification from the image source, a display preparation completion notification from the display, an image source ID transmission from the image source, and a displayable status notification from the display. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising: 6. A display device for displaying image data, a drive controller for controlling the display device based on the image data received via the cable, and a temperature for detecting a temperature of the display device. A sensor, a display controller that controls the other communication and controls the drive controller based on driving conditions of the display element determined based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, and controls the operation of the display device by the other. 2. An operation setting means for setting at least two types of operation modes of a mode in which communication is performed and a mode in which communication is not performed, wherein the driving condition includes at least one line driving time 1H of the display element. The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein 7. The display controller, in a first operation mode of the two types of operation modes, performs the other communication with an image source and has a driving time of 1H.
The drive controller is controlled so as to drive the previous display element with a period obtained by adding a predetermined pause time to the previous display element. 7. The display device according to claim 6, wherein the drive controller is controlled to drive the element, and the display element is controlled to start driving the display element after waiting for generation of image data by an image source. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one display is a display that operates in a first operation mode, and the other display is a display that operates in the second operation mode. The display device according to claim 6. 9. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a display element used for the display is a liquid crystal display element. 10. The display device according to claim 9, wherein the display element used in the display is a liquid crystal display element using ferroelectric liquid crystal.