KR100651285B1 - Multi-monitor system having function of saving power and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multiple monitor system having a power saving function and a control method thereof.

That is, the multi-monitor system according to the present invention is a multi-monitor system having a power saving function, and the plurality of monitors, and the plurality of monitors and the video signal including the R, G, B video signal, horizontal sync signal and vertical sync signal to the plurality of monitors. And a computer each having a video card for outputting, wherein the plurality of monitors output a positive power saving pulse when at least one of the horizontal synchronizing signal and the vertical synchronizing signal is not input from the computer for a predetermined time, and thereafter. A microcomputer outputting a negative power saving pulse when both the horizontal synchronizing signal and the vertical synchronizing signal are input, and a power control unit converting an operation mode of the monitor in response to the power saving pulse signal input from the micom.

Therefore, according to the present invention, since the monitor which is not used for a certain period of the plurality of monitors is automatically switched to the power saving mode, unnecessary power consumption can be prevented.

Description

Multi-monitor system with power saving function and its control method {MULTI-MONITOR SYSTEM HAVING FUNCTION OF SAVING POWER AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF}

1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a multi-monitor system to which the present invention is applied.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing in more detail the configuration of the first monitor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a timing diagram for explaining the operation mode switching principle of the first monitor according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a table showing an operation mode of a monitor applied to the present invention.

5 is a flowchart sequentially illustrating a power control method performed in a first monitor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart sequentially illustrating a power saving operation performed in a multi-monitor system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of main parts of reference numerals>

10: PC

12: video card

100: first monitor

110: interface unit

112: image signal processing unit

114: H / V signal processing unit

116: display unit

118: Micom

120: power control unit

122: power supply

200: second monitor

The present invention relates to a multi-monitor system, and more particularly to a system and method for controlling the power of a multi-monitor in which a plurality of monitors are connected to one computer.

A multi-monitor system is a system that can be used by connecting two or more monitors to a single computer. In earlier multi-monitor systems, multiple monitors had to be equipped with as many video cards as the computers connected to it, but recently, multiple video monitors can be supported by a single video card, making it easier to use multiple monitors. It became. These multi-monitor systems are rapidly increasing their utilization with the introduction of Windows 98, a computer operating system.

Although multiple monitors are physically separated, they can be logically referred to as one monitor, which can be operated using a single mouse, thereby greatly expanding a user's work area. In addition, the user can run different applications on each monitor to maximize the convenience of work. For example, when a document or a video is edited on another monitor while the Internet is driven on one monitor, the user can perform an operation such as editing a document while searching the Internet, thereby increasing work efficiency. As a program developer, you can run a program on one side and debug on the other monitor, which greatly increases the efficiency of debugging.

In the case of such a multi-monitor system, it is possible to obtain convenience and work efficiency due to the use of a plurality of monitors, but has a disadvantage in that power consumption is high. In particular, even if a user works for only one of the monitors for a long time while a plurality of monitors (eg, two monitors) are driven, the other one monitor operates normally, resulting in unnecessary power consumption.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to reduce unnecessary power consumption by automatically detecting a monitor not used for a certain period of time in a multi-monitor system and operating it in a power saving mode.                         

Other objects and advantages in addition to the above objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

A multi-monitor system having a power saving function according to the first aspect of the present invention is a multi-monitor system having a power saving function, comprising: a plurality of monitors, R, G, B video signals, horizontal synchronization signals, and vertical synchronization to the plurality of monitors; And a computer having a video card for respectively outputting a video signal including a signal, wherein the plurality of monitors include a positive power saving pulse when at least one of a horizontal sync signal and a vertical sync signal is not input from the computer for a predetermined time. And a microcomputer for outputting a negative power saving pulse when both the horizontal synchronizing signal and the vertical synchronizing signal are input thereafter, and a power control unit for converting an operation mode of the monitor in response to the power saving pulse signal input from the micom. It includes.

In a preferred embodiment according to the above features, the computer comprises a video card for outputting separate video signals to the plurality of monitors, respectively.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the power control unit operates the monitor in a power saving mode from an output timing of the positive power saving pulse output from the microcomputer to an output timing of the negative power saving pulse.

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The method for controlling power saving of a multi-monitor system according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the steps of (a) detecting the presence of a vertical synchronizing signal and a horizontal synchronizing signal from the computer at each monitor; and (b) the vertical synchronizing signal and the horizontal If there is a monitor in which at least one of the synchronization signals is not input for a predetermined time, operating the monitor in a power saving mode.

In a preferred embodiment according to the above feature, step (b) outputs a predetermined power saving pulse signal when at least one of the vertical synchronizing signal and the horizontal synchronizing signal is not input for a predetermined time in the corresponding monitor; Operating the monitor in the power saving mode at the same time as the power saving pulse signal is output.

According to the present invention, since the monitor which is not used for a certain period of the plurality of monitors is automatically switched to the power saving mode, unnecessary power consumption can be prevented.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a multi-monitor system to which the present invention is applied.

For reference, in the present embodiment, a multi-monitor system in which two monitors are connected to one computer will be described as an example.

Referring to FIG. 1, two monitors, that is, the first monitor 100 and the second monitor 200, are connected to one computer 10 through a signal cable.

The first monitor 100 and the second monitor 200 are provided with an R, G, B image signal, a horizontal sync signal (H-sync), and a vertical sync signal from a video card 12 mounted in the computer 10. Receives video signals, including V-sync, and displays images on the screen of each monitor.

The video card 12 is preferably a dual video card that supports individual video signals from one video card to two monitors, but may be equipped with two independent video cards to support each monitor individually. Do.

Hereinafter, the detailed configuration and operation of the first monitor 100 will be described below, and the configuration and operation principle of the second monitor 200 are also regarded as the same unless otherwise described.

2 is a block diagram showing in more detail the configuration of the first monitor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the first monitor 100 receives an R, G, B video signal and a video signal including H / V-sync from a video card 12 of an external computer 10. ), An image signal processor 112 for processing the R, G, and B image signals inputted from the interface unit, and transmitting the R, G, and B image signals to the display unit 116 (eg, CRT, LCD, etc.), and from the interface unit. When the H / V signal processing unit 114 receiving the H / V-sync and providing the display unit 116 and the presence or absence of the H / V-sync input through the interface unit are not detected for a predetermined period of time. A microcomputer 118 for outputting a predetermined power saving pulse signal, and a power control unit 120 for controlling the power supply unit 122 to operate in a power saving mode in response to a predetermined power saving pulse signal output from the microcomputer 118. do.

3 is a timing diagram illustrating a principle of operating mode switching of a first monitor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

First, FIGS. 3A and 3B are timing diagrams for H-sync and V-sync input from the video card 12 of the computer 10, and FIG. 3C shows the H-sync. 3 is a timing diagram illustrating an operation mode of the first monitor, and FIG. 3 (e) is a waiting time required for switching the power saving mode. It is shown.

Referring to FIG. 3C, a positive power saving pulse signal is output after a predetermined time t _w has elapsed from a timing at which at least one of H-sync and V-sync is not input. Then both the H-sync and V-sync are input again and a negative power saving pulse is output. Here, the predetermined time t _w is a waiting time, which can be adjusted by the user's setting.

In addition, in FIG. 3D, the 'high level' section is a section in which the monitor operates in a normal mode, and the 'low level' section is a section in which the monitor operates in a power saving mode. As shown, the 'low level' period, i.e., the power saving mode period of the monitor, starts in synchronization with the rising edge of the positive power saving pulse signal and in synchronization with the falling edge of the negative power saving pulse signal. It ends.

4 is a diagram illustrating an operation mode of a monitor applied to the present invention.

Typically, the operation mode of the monitor related to the power saving operation is divided into four. As shown in the figure, when both the H-sync and the V-sync are normally input, the normal mode, and when the H-sync is not input but the V-sync is input, the standby mode, the H- When sync is input but V-sync is not input, it is divided into a suspend mode, and an off mode when neither H-sync nor V-sync is input.

In this embodiment, the operation state of the monitor is not subdivided as described above, and the standby mode, the suspend mode, and the off mode are collectively defined as a power saving mode.

5 is a flowchart sequentially illustrating a power control method performed in a first monitor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, first, the microcomputer 118 of the first monitor monitors whether H-sync is input from an external computer 10 (step 10). If the H-sync is not input for a predetermined waiting time t _w (YES in step 12), the microcomputer 118 outputs a power saving pulse signal to allow the first monitor to operate in a power saving mode. (Step 20).

Meanwhile, in step 10, when the H-sync is normally input, the micom 118 monitors whether the V-sync is normally input (step 14). If the V-sync is also normally input, the first monitor is operated in the normal mode (step 18).

However, if V-sync is not input in step 14 and a predetermined waiting time t _w has elapsed (YES in step 16), the microcomputer 118 outputs a power saving pulse signal so that the first monitor Operate in power saving mode (step 20).

6 is a flowchart sequentially illustrating a power saving operation performed in a multi-monitor system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a total sum of power saving operations performed for each monitor in a multi-monitor system in which a first monitor 100 and a second monitor 200 are connected to one computer 10.

First, the first monitor 100 and the second monitor 200 monitor whether H / V-sync is normally input (step 30). When both of the H / V-sync are normally input (YES in step 32), both the first monitor 100 and the second monitor 200 operate in the normal mode (step 34).

On the other hand, when H / V-sync is not input to both the first monitor 100 and the second monitor 200 (YES in step 36), both operate in the power saving mode (step 38).

In addition, when H / V-sync is not normally input to only one of the first monitor 100 and the second monitor 200 (NO in step 36), only the corresponding monitor operates in the power saving mode and the other The monitors operate in the normal mode (step 40).

As a result, the monitor not used by the user among the two monitors is automatically switched to the power saving mode, thereby preventing unnecessary power consumption.

According to the present invention, in a multiple monitor system in which a plurality of monitors are connected to one computer, the monitor which is not used for a certain period of time is automatically switched to a power saving mode, thereby preventing unnecessary power consumption.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In other words, the present invention may be modified within the scope of the appended claims and should not be considered as being limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments.

Claims (6)

In a multi-monitor system with power saving function, A plurality of monitors; And a computer having a video card respectively outputting R, G, B video signals, horizontal sync signals, and vertical sync signals to the plurality of monitors, The plurality of monitors output a positive power saving pulse when at least one of the horizontal synchronizing signal and the vertical synchronizing signal is not input from the computer for a predetermined time, and then negative power saving when both the horizontal synchronizing signal and the vertical synchronizing signal are input. And a power control unit for converting an operation mode of the monitor in response to the microcomputer outputting a pulse and the power saving pulse signal input from the microcomputer. The method of claim 1, And said computer comprises a video card for outputting a separate video signal to said plurality of monitors, respectively. delete The method of claim 1, And the power control unit operates the monitor in a power saving mode from an output timing of the positive power saving pulse output from the micom to an output timing of the negative power saving pulse. In the power saving control method of a multiple monitor system in which a plurality of monitors are connected in one computer (a) detecting the presence or absence of a vertical sync signal and a horizontal sync signal from the computer at each monitor; (b) operating the monitor in a power saving mode when there is a monitor on which at least one of the vertical synchronization signal and the horizontal synchronization signal is not input for a predetermined time; Power saving control method of a multi-monitor system comprising a. The method of claim 5, wherein step (b) Outputting a predetermined power saving pulse signal when at least one of the vertical synchronizing signal and the horizontal synchronizing signal is not input for a predetermined time in a corresponding monitor; Operating the monitor in a power saving mode while the power saving pulse signal is output; Power saving control method of a multi-monitor system, characterized in that consisting of.

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