KR20030026621A - Portable Multi Display Device and Method for driving the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A portable multiple display device and a method for driving the same are provided to automatically select displays mounted on a panel housing of a main body and another panel housing, thereby improving the convenience and reducing power consumption. CONSTITUTION: A CPU(200) judges whether a panel housing of a main body and another panel housing are combined, by using a combination sensor(22a). If the panel housings are combined, the CPU judges whether a single screen or a simple mode is selected. If the single screen or the simple mode is selected, an input part(250) outputs the select state to the CPU. If the single screen or the simple mode is not selected, all of first and second displays(2,4) are driven. If the panel housings are not combined, or if one of the single screen and the simple mode is selected, only the first display is driven.

Description

Portable Multi Display Device and Method for driving the same

The present invention provides a main body panel housing equipped with a display and another panel housing and a joining means, respectively, so that the panel housing can be combined and separated, and at least one side of the display of the main panel housing and the display of the other panel housing is adjacent to the portable. A multi display device and a driving method thereof.

The method of constructing one large screen using two or more displays has been applied to large display devices. Recently, functions such as wireless Internet have been imposed on portable display devices, and the necessity of a large screen is increased as performance is improved. However, in the portable display device, since the large screen does not make use of the portable feature, a portable display device that can be combined and separated is proposed.

In general, a flat panel display is used for a portable display device, and a flat panel display includes a liquid crystal display (LCD), a field emission display (FED), a plasma display panel (PDP), an electro luminescent (EL), an electric paper, and the like. There is this.

However, in the portable display device which can be combined and separated, it is necessary to selectively drive the display according to the combination and separation or the mode selection, but there is no suitable solution. In addition, there is a problem of high power consumption in driving two or more displays.

The present invention has been invented to solve the above problems, and constitutes a portable display device that can be combined and separated, and automatically selects a driven display to prevent unnecessary display driving and can reduce power consumption. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a driving method thereof.

In order to achieve the above object, the portable multi-display apparatus of the present invention is provided in at least two displays installed in a panel housing and adjacent to each other, and are connected to circuitally connect the displays and to couple or separate the panel housings. And a coupling means, a coupling sensing means for detecting a coupling state of the panel housing, and a central processing unit for selecting and driving one or two or more of the displays according to the coupling sensing means or a mode selection signal.

Here, the coupling detecting means comprises a coupling sensor installed on one side of the main panel housing, and a projection sensor installed on the other panel housing correspondingly.

Preferably, a cover may be installed on at least one of the panel housings. In this case, a cover sensor for detecting a closed / open state of the cover may be installed, and the drive may be controlled by a central processing unit according to a signal input of the cover sensor. Install additional secondary display.

In the present invention, the steps of circuit connection / blocking at least two displays, sensing the connection / blocking state of the display and sending the sensor signal to the central processing unit, the display in a single screen or simple screen mode It provides a method of driving a portable multi-display device comprising the step of selecting whether to display through an input device, and controlling the display in the central processing unit according to the sensor or mode selection to display a single screen or a simple screen. .

Preferably, in the case of installing the display in the main panel housing and the other panel housing, the step of connecting / disconnecting the display of the circuit by connecting / disconnecting the panel housing, the coupling for detecting the coupling / disconnection state of the panel housing And sending the signal of the sensing means to the central processing unit.

In addition, when at least two displays are installed in the main body panel housing, a signal from the cover sensor for detecting the closed / open state of the cover is sent to the central processing unit.

Preferably, when the display is cut off in circuit, only the display of the main body panel housing is driven.

1 illustrates a portable display device that can be combined and separated.

2 is a view of the main panel housing and the other panel housing is coupled.

3 is a view showing a main body panel housing.

4 is a drive block diagram of a display device of the present invention.

5 is a display driving control flowchart.

6a and 6b illustrate another embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a drive block diagram of a main body panel housing with an auxiliary display.

8 is a flowchart illustrating driving control of an auxiliary display.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

2,4: display 20, 40: panel housing

22, 44, connection means 22a: coupling sensor

44a: protrusion sensor 70: button key

100: cover 100b: cover sensor

200: central processing unit 240: R / F unit

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, preferred embodiment of this invention is described with reference to an accompanying drawing.

The present invention provides a portable display device having an effect of viewing at least one screen by connecting at least two flat panel displays adjacent to each other. That is, the portable display device of the present invention is capable of combining or detaching a panel housing equipped with a flat panel display, and selecting and driving a display according to combining or detaching the panel housing. In addition, even when the panel housing is combined, the display driven according to the selected mode or display can be determined.

1 is a view illustrating a portable multi display device which can be combined and separated.

As shown in FIG. 1, the portable display device of the present invention includes a main body panel housing 20 and a display 2, and may include an antenna 120 to enable transmission and reception of data information. The display 2 is configured to be located to the boundary of one side of the main body panel housing 20.

The main body panel housing 20 may cover the display 2 and is provided with a cover 100 that is foldably connected to the main body panel housing 20. The cover 100 covers the display side as well. In addition, another panel housing 40 may be coupled to or detached from the main body panel housing 20, and the display panel 4 is also provided in the other panel housing 40.

The main panel housing 20 and the other panel housing 40 are coupled to each other via coupling means 22, 22 ′, 44, 44 ′. At the time of coupling, the coupling means 44 protrudes out of the other panel housing 40 by using the lever 42 formed in the other panel housing 40 to be coupled to the main panel housing 20. In addition, although not shown in the drawings for convenience, there is another lever 42 'protruding the engaging means 44', which also protrudes the projection sensor 44a, the projection sensor 44a is detected by the coupling detecting sensor 22a provided in the main body panel housing 20. The protrusion sensor 44a and the coupling detecting sensor 22a constitute a coupling detecting means of the present invention.

In addition, the main panel housing 20 and the other panel housing 40 may be provided with a button key 70 for controlling the function of the display device, and the other panel housing 40 may not have the button key 70.

2 is a view of the main panel housing and the other panel housing is coupled.

When the main panel housing 20 and the other panel housing 40 are coupled through the coupling means 22, 22 ', 44 and 44', the two displays 2 and 4 are adjacent to each other. Has the same effect as seeing the screen of, the cover 100 is positioned in the open state.

When the main body panel housing 20 and the other panel housing 40 are combined, the coupling detecting sensor 22a of the main body panel housing 20 detects the protrusion sensor 44a of the other panel housing 40, and the main body panel. The central processing unit provided in the housing 20 automatically detects the coupling state of the two panel housings 20 and 40.

3 is a view showing a main body panel housing.

The main body panel housing 20 is provided with a coupling detecting sensor 22a. A groove is provided on the surface provided with the coupling means 22 and 22 ', and there is a coupling detection sensor 22a inside the groove, and a projection sensor of another panel housing 40 in the groove where the sensor 22a is located. 44a is combined.

FIG. 4 is a drive block diagram of the display device according to the present invention, which is a block diagram showing display driving in a state in which a main body panel housing 20 and another panel housing 40 are coupled to each other.

In the drawing, the central processing unit 200 is a control means for controlling the overall operation of the multi-display apparatus of the present invention. The ROM 210 controls an execution program of the display device, the RAM 220 stores data generated when the program is executed, and the YPIROM 230 stores data required by the user and data necessary for processing the program. Keep it.

The R / F unit 240 is a radio frequency, tunes to an RF channel, amplifies an input voice signal, and converts an RF signal received from an antenna into an intermediate frequency signal. The input unit 250 includes various numeric keys, a menu key, and a selection key, and includes both the button key 70 of FIG. 1, the input key 110 of FIG. 6B, and a touch panel that may be installed on the top of the display. Comprehensive representation of the function of the input device, including.

Display driving circuits (2a) and (4a) for driving the display by the output of the central processing unit 200, the first and second display (2) (4) for displaying information on the screen in accordance with the output signal of the driving circuit (The display mounted on the main panel housing 20 is called the first display, and the display mounted on the other panel housing 40 is called the second display). The second driving circuit 4a and the second display are connected to the CPU 200 by a coupling means 22 and 22 '.

In addition, the coupling sensor 22a is provided to detect whether the main body panel housing 20 and the other panel housing 40 are coupled to each other. In general, when the panel housings are coupled to each other, the coupling detecting sensor 22a detects the protrusion sensor 44a and transmits the detected signal to the central processing unit 200. That is, when the engagement detection sensor 22a is opened in a circuit state and contacts the protrusion sensor 44a, the engagement detection sensor 22a is closed in a circuit manner, so that the current flow can be selected. As the coupling detecting sensor 22a, various sensors such as an optical sensor may be selected.

5 is a display driving control flowchart according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As the main panel housing 20 and the other panel housing 40 are coupled or separated, a display 2 provided in the main panel housing 20 and This is a control flowchart for selectively driving the displays 4 provided in the other panel housings 40, respectively.

When the user turns on the power switch, the radio wave signal received through the antenna is applied to the CPU 200 through the R / F unit 240. In addition, when a specific function is set through the input unit 250, the CPU 200 performs a function set through the input unit 250 to display a signal capable of driving the display 2 and 4 to display display circuitry. Output to 2a) (4a). In addition, the coupling detection sensor 22a detects whether the main body panel housing 20 and the other panel housing 40 are coupled and outputs the same to the central processing unit 200.

The flowchart of FIG. 5 will be described based on the circuit configuration as described above.

It is determined whether the power is on (step 310). If the power is turned on, in the next step, the CPU 200 determines whether the panel housing is coupled through the coupling detecting sensor 22a (step 312). In other words, it is determined whether the main body panel housing 20 and the other panel housing 40 are coupled to each other.

If panel housing is combined, it is determined whether a single screen or a simple mode is selected (step 314). The single screen or simple mode selection is a function selected through the input unit 250. That is, the single screen is a function key for selecting only the first display from the first display 2 and the second display 4, and the simple mode selection does not require the use of both displays such as a simple calculator or organizer function. This function is used. However, when receiving data from the Internet, it is necessary to use both displays.

When a single screen function or a simple mode is selected through the input unit 250, this selection state is output from the input unit 250 to the CPU 200. If none of the above two function selections is selected, both the first and second displays are driven (step 316).

On the other hand, when the CPU 200 detects that the panel housing is not coupled from the coupling detecting sensor 22a, only the first display is driven (step 318). In addition, even if only one function is selected from the two function selections, only the first display is driven (step 318). That is, if any one of the functions of single screen selection and simple mode selection is selected, only the first display is driven.

Here, driving only the first display does not mean driving only one display, and means that the display form of the screen is different from driving both the first and second displays. For example, the simple electronic organizer function or sending an e-mail means that the display form of the screen is different from the display form of the screen for viewing the Internet or a picture. That is, the screen configuration or design for driving one display is different from the screen configuration or design for driving two displays.

Of course, the multi display device uses two or more displays, so it is necessary to keep the power consumption in mind. Therefore, in the present invention, only one display can be selectively used. Although not shown separately in the block diagram, when the display is an LCD, the power supply supplied to the backlight system may be selectively cut off so that the user may arbitrarily cut off the power supply of the backlight system. In this case, the display device is used in a bright place, and this is possible when the LCD device is mounted on the display device in a transflective state.

6a and 6b illustrate another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6A, in the present embodiment, an auxiliary display 2 ′ is provided in the main body panel housing 20, and the auxiliary display 2 ′ is visible even when the lid 100 is closed. To this end, the cover 100 is provided with a cover window (100a). In addition, the main body panel housing 20 has a cover sensor (100b), to detect whether the cover 100 is opened or closed.

6B is a view in a state where the lid 100 is closed. An input key 110 is provided on an outer surface of the cover 100, and the auxiliary display 2 ′ is visible through the cover window 100a even when the cover 100 is closed.

FIG. 7 is a drive block diagram of a main body panel housing having an auxiliary display. Since the drive block diagram of FIG. 7 is controlled in the same manner as in FIG. 4, only the configuration newly added to FIG. 7 will be described.

The main panel housing 20 is provided with a small capacity auxiliary display 2 '. The auxiliary display 2 'is driven through the auxiliary display driving circuit 2'a by the control signal output of the central processing unit 200. In addition, the cover sensor (100b) is provided, the cover sensor (100b) detects whether the cover 100 is covered in the main body panel housing 20 and outputs to the central processing unit (200). In addition, the CPU 200 drives the corresponding display according to the detection result of the cover sensor 100b.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a driving control of an auxiliary display. When the lid 100 is closed, a control flowchart of driving only a partially visible display is shown.

First, the user turns on the switch without engaging the main panel housing 20 and the other panel housing 40. In operation 320, it is determined whether the power of the display device is turned on. If it is on, it is determined whether the cover is closed (step 322). The state in which the cover is closed is detected by the cover sensor 100b, and the detection result of the cover sensor 100b is output to the central processing unit 200.

If the cover is closed, only the secondary display 2 'is driven under the control of the CPU 200 (step 324). In this case, a part of the first display 2 may be divided so as to be used and driven as an auxiliary display. If the cover is not closed, the first display 2 is driven under the control of the CPU 200 (step 326).

In the present invention, for convenience, two panel housings have been described for the exemplary embodiment, but when the three or more panel housings are combined, the same principle as the present invention can be applied.

Main panel panel housings that can be combined and detached and displays mounted on other panel housings can be automatically selected and driven as needed to reduce power consumption with convenience. In addition, when the auxiliary display is further provided, only the auxiliary display is automatically driven when the cover is closed, so that the display device may function even when the cover is closed, and unnecessary driving of the display is not performed.

Claims (9)

At least two displays installed in the panel housing and adjacent to one side; Coupling means arranged to circuitally connect the display and to couple or separate the panel housings; Coupling detecting means for detecting a coupling state of the panel housing; And And a central processing unit which selects and drives one or two or more of the displays according to the coupling detecting means or a mode selection signal. The portable multi-display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coupling detecting means comprises a coupling detecting sensor installed on one side of the main body panel housing, and a projection sensor installed on the other panel housing. The portable multi-display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cover installed on at least one of the panel housings, and a cover sensor detecting a closed / open state of the cover. The portable multi-display apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an auxiliary display driven and controlled by a central processing unit according to a signal input of the cover sensor. The portable multi-display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an input device for inputting the mode selection signal. Circuitry connecting / blocking at least two displays; Sensing a connection / disconnection state of the display and sending the sensor signal to the central processing unit; Selecting through an input device whether to display the display in a single screen or simple screen mode; And And controlling the display in the central processing unit according to the selection of the sensor or mode to display a single screen or a simple screen. 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: connecting / disconnecting the display circuits by combining / disconnecting the panel housings when installing the display in the main panel housing and the other panel housing; And transmitting a signal of a coupling sensing means for detecting a coupling / separation state of the panel housing to a central processing unit. The method of claim 6, further comprising: sending a signal from the cover sensor to the central processing unit when detecting at least two displays in the main body panel housing. The driving method of claim 6, wherein when the display is cut off in a circuit, only the display of the main body panel housing is driven.