KR20040064495A - Dual mode display apparatus using dual mode lcd controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A device for displaying a dual mode using a dual mode LCD controller is provided to easily configure a dual mode display device configured with diverse interfaces by supplying no power to a function part not related to a current mode. CONSTITUTION: A TV/PC selector(800) outputs a mode selection signal depending on user's selection. A TV tuner(700) outputs a received TV signal as an analog signal. A PC graphic controller outputs a digital image signal for the PC(600). A display(400) displays video by receiving a video signal. The dual mode LCD controller(100) receives/outputs the signal of the TV tuner to the display for a TV mode, receives/outputs the digital image signal to the display for the PC mode, and is connected to an external control signal having a different interface according to each mode. A CPU is operated in only the PC mode and provides a control signal to the interface of the dual mode LCD controller. A microcontroller(300) is operated as a sub controller of the PC in the PC mode by connecting to the CPU and provides the control signal to the interface of the dual mode LCD controller in the TV mode.

Description

Dual mode display device using dual mode LCD controller {DUAL MODE DISPLAY APPARATUS USING DUAL MODE LCD CONTROLLER}

The present invention relates to a dual mode display device using a dual mode LCD controller, and in particular, to drive only a function unit related to a mode to be displayed without operation of all functions by user selection in a personal computer (PC) terminal capable of TV output. The present invention relates to a dual mode display device using a dual mode LCD controller to reduce power consumption.

As the size of computers has become smaller, the use of laptops, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and mobile communication terminals having the basic functions of computers have increased rapidly. As such a portable computing environment has been established, there has been a demand for watching television (hereinafter referred to as TV) by using the display and sound functions basically possessed by the portable computer.

Accordingly, a computer (or portable computer) capable of watching TV at present is connected to a basic computer system by connecting a TV module configured to watch TV. That is, a TV module having an antenna, a tuner, and a TV decoder is used in connection with a main system. In this case, the interface method used is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or a Peripheral Component Interconnection (PCI). Must provide this interface.

1 shows a configuration of a conventional TV module mounting system, as shown, an antenna 11, a tuner 12 for selectively outputting desired ones of analog TV signals received through the antenna 11, and The TV module 10 including the TV decoder 13 for converting an analog signal into a digital signal that can be recognized by the LCD controller is connected to the computer main system 20 by USB or PCI.

The computer main system 20 is internally connected to the graphics control unit / LCD control unit 21, CPI 22 for controlling it, and the LCD and the LCD control unit 21, LCD for outputting an image for a TV or computer And a microcontroller 24 for power management and basic input (keyboard) control.

The computer main system 20 may include a number of peripheral devices and input devices, although not shown.

As shown in the figure, a universal interface is required to connect an external TV module with a main system, so an interface unit for USB or PCI communication must be configured.

If the computer main system 20 is a portable computer, there are most cases in which there is no USB or PCI interface, and additional devices are required to apply the same. In addition, in order to display the TV signal output through the TV module 13 on the LCD display 23, the computer main system 20 must all operate.

And, if the main system 20 is a portable computer, it is difficult to externally mount a PCI interface using a plurality of pins, and the USB interface is difficult to apply and expensive.

As described above, a computer equipped with a conventional TV module consumes excessive power for watching TV because both the TV module and the computer must be operated, and additional devices are required for the interface between the TV module and the computer. There was an inefficient problem in size, cost and power usage because

In view of the above problems, the present invention includes a TV decoder, an LCD control unit, selectors and an internal control unit for selectively driving them, and configures a dual mode LCD controller that can be connected to various interfaces with the outside. It is an object of the present invention to provide a dual mode display device using a dual mode LCD controller that enables the separation of the functional units according to the TV mode and the PC mode so that parts not used in the mode are not supplied with power.

1 is a block diagram of a system equipped with a conventional television module.

2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention dual-mode LCD controller.

3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a dual mode display device of the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

100: dual mode LCD controller 110: TV decoder

120: LCD control unit 130: internal control unit

140: first mux 150, 155: dedicated interface unit

160: the second mux 170: the third mux

180: non-PCI interface 190: PCI interface

200: CPI 210: TV mode control unit

300: microcontroller 400: LCD display unit

500: graphic control unit 600: computer function unit

700: TV tuner part 800: TV / PC selection part

The present invention for achieving the above object, TV / PC selection unit for outputting a mode selection signal by selecting one of the TV mode and PC mode by the user selection; A TV tuner unit for receiving a TV signal and outputting the analog signal; A PC graphics control unit for outputting a digital video signal for a PC; Display means for receiving an image signal and displaying an image; Receives a mode selection signal and receives the TV tuner unit signal in the TV mode and outputs the signal to the display means, and receives a digital video signal for PC input in the PC mode and outputs the signal to the display means. A dual mode LCD controller connected with an external control signal having an interface; CPI, which operates only in PC mode and provides a control signal to a predetermined interface to the dual mode LCD controller; In the PC mode, the microcontroller is connected to the CPI and operates as a lower controller for the PC, and provides a control signal to the dual mode LCD controller through a predetermined interface in the TV mode.

The CPI is connected to the dual mode LCD controller via a universal bus interface, and the microcontroller is connected through a serial interface with the dual mode LCD controller.

The dual mode LCD controller includes an LCD controller capable of driving display means; A TV decoder for converting an analog video signal received from a tuner into a digital signal usable by the LCD control unit; An output selection mux for selectively providing one of an external video signal for a PC and the TV decoder signal to the LCD control unit; An internal control unit providing a control signal to the output selection mux according to a current mode and controlling an internal display signal flow; And a control output mux selectively providing the CPI control signal input through the different interface and the TV mode exclusive control signal to the internal control unit by an external control signal indicating the current mode.

Dedicated interfaces to which a digital RGB signal and a digital YcbCr signal are respectively connected as the external image signal for the PC; Selecting one of the input signals to provide it as the input of the output selection mux, characterized in that it further comprises a PC image signal selection mux receiving a selection control signal from the internal control unit.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention configured as described above will be described in detail.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the dual mode LCD controller of the present invention, and as shown, further includes a TV decoder, a plurality of selection muxes, and an internal control unit. Therefore, since the conventional LCD controller further includes a TV decoder, it can be mass-produced in the form of an integrated chip including a small portion of the TV module therein.

The term computer (PC) used in the present invention encompasses all devices that simultaneously possess arithmetic functions and image display functions such as general desktop computers, notebook computers, tablet computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), mobile communication terminals, and the like, as described above. Note that this is a concept.

In order to watch TV, an external TV tuner and an antenna are required, but as is well known, the TV tuner is large in appearance, and the antenna may be connected through an external antenna terminal attached to the tuner.

The dual mode LCD controller of the present invention can process a TV signal and a video display signal for a PC (or a portable computer or a portable information terminal) at the same time, and can drive only the portion used in the current mode among them according to the external mode selection signal. Should be constructed.

That is, a computer equipped with the dual mode LCD controller according to the external mode selection signal is driven in the TV mode and the PC mode, and in the TV mode, PC-specific functions (CPE, memory, No power is supplied to peripheral devices, etc.) and no power is supplied to the TV-specific function units (tuners, TV decoders, etc.) that are not necessary for driving the PC mode. Through this, unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed. When the computer is portable, battery consumption can be suppressed. When the computer is driven in the TV mode, the initial computer booting time is not required, so fast TV viewing is guaranteed.

Therefore, please keep in mind the purpose of the above-described operation while looking at the description of the structure of the present dual-mode LCD controller 100.

The dual mode LCD controller 100 includes a general LCD controller 120 capable of driving an LCD display; A TV decoder (110) for converting an analog video signal received from a tuner (not shown) into a digital signal usable by the LCD controller; A first mux 140 for selecting one of the external image signals for the PC (digital YcbCr, digital RGB); A second mux (160) for selectively providing one of the output of the first mux (140) and the output signal of the TV decoder (110) to the LCD control unit (120); An internal controller 130 which provides a control signal to the second mux 160 and controls an internal display signal flow according to a current mode; The CPI 200 control signal input through the different interface and the TV mode dedicated control unit 210 signal are provided by the third mux 170 selectively provided to the internal control unit by an external control signal indicating the current mode.

When the user selects the current mode through a switch or the like, this signal is applied to the microcontroller 300 to provide a signal according to the current state to the third mux 170. The mode selection signal may be directly applied to the third mux 170 and the microcontroller 300.

The microcontroller 300 is a lower controller that performs a power management function and a keyboard control function in the PC mode, and is connected to the CPI 200.

In the present invention, by adding a new function to the microcontroller 300 to realize the present invention without incurring additional costs. This requires receiving a mode selection signal that distinguishes the current mode. Functions added to the microcontroller 300 will be described gradually.

The third mux 170 applies a control signal according to the currently selected mode to the internal controller 130. One of the control signal from the CPI 200 and the signal from the TV mode controller 210 is applied.

This part considers interfaces that must be considered for practical application of the present invention. That is, CPI 200 is connected to the dual mode LCD controller 100 through the PCI bus interface 185. It is not necessary that this is a PCI interface, but it should be noted that there is no change in using a predetermined bus interface to connect with CPI 200.

In the TV mode, the CPI 200 should not be operated to prevent power consumption by the CPI 200 which consumes a relatively large amount of power. Thus, another control function is required to control the dual mode LCD controller, and the control function must be connected to the dual mode LCD controller via a separate interface.

The TV mode controller 210 is a controller that is driven only in a TV mode in which the CPI 200 is not operated and is connected to the dual mode LCD controller 100 through an interface 180 different from the CPI 200.

The TV mode control unit 210 may be a function added to the microcontroller 300. The PC mode control unit 210 may perform a PC-related control in the PC mode, and may program the TV mode control unit 210 in the TV mode. Mode determination is possible by receiving a mode selection signal by the user. In addition, the microcontroller 300 implementing the TV mode control unit 210 function may be connected to the dual mode LCD control unit 100 by an interface such as I ² C.

The control signal selected through the third mux 170 may be applied to the internal control unit 130 to control the first and second muxes connected thereto. Can be connected to perform known control functions such as interface processing, control clock generation, and the like.

The first mux selects one of the digital image signals for the PC (digital YcbCr, digital RGB), which is to maximize the general purpose of the present invention, and most of the output signals of the PC graphics controller (VGA signal output unit) To accommodate both digital YcbCr and digital RGB signals. The first mux provides one of the digital image signals input by the internal controller 130 to the input terminal of the second mux 160 as a PC mode image signal. In TV mode, there may be no input signal because the graphics controller for the PC, which is a PC-related function, does not operate.

The second mux 160 selects one of a digitized TV signal input through the TV decoder 110 and a digital image signal for a PC input through the first mux 140 to the LCD controller 120. To display an image corresponding to the connected external LCD display unit. The second mux 160 is also controlled by the internal controller 130 according to the current mode.

The TV decoder 110 includes an analog / digital converter (ADC) for converting an analog signal input through a tuner into a digital signal, an filter for filtering out noise, and an adaptive chroma for properly synchronizing an index of a signal. Adaptive Chroma Demodulation section and Luma / Chroma section for adjusting brightness or chromaticity.

The LCD control unit 120 includes a resolution matching (De-interlace & Scale) unit for adjusting the resolution therein and a dither / output formatter for adjusting the output format to match the characteristics of the LCD display to be output. .

The dual mode LCD controller 100 made through the above configuration connects a TV tuner and a PC graphics controller to the outside, and controls the dual mode LCD controller 100 by mode so that the TV mode controller 210 and the CPI After the 200 is connected through a predetermined interface method, the dual mode display device may be configured by connecting a mode selection signal for selectively controlling the output image according to the corresponding mode.

The dual mode LCD controller 100 can be mass-produced and applied in the form of an integrated chip, and its application size is greatly reduced as compared to the case where a TV module is applied.

3 shows the subject and process flow in charge of controlling the controller when the TV mode and the PC mode are used using the dual mode LCD controller. As shown in FIG. The analog signal obtained through the tuner 50 is displayed on the LCD display unit 400 through the dual mode LCD controller 100, and in this case, controlling the dual mode LCD controller 100 internally operates as a TV mode controller. Microcontroller 300.

Therefore, in the TV mode, the graphic controller (PC VGA) 500 of the PC shown on the right side of the figure does not operate and the signal flow is directly directed from the tuner 50 to the LCD display 400.

On the contrary, in the PC mode, the tuner 50 does not operate, and the microcontroller 300 on the left side also operates as a lower controller used in the PC mode without operating as the TV mode control unit and the graphic controller of the right PC (PC VGA). A signal 500 is output to the LCD display unit 400 via the dual mode LCD controller 100.

4 illustrates a configuration of the dual mode LCD controller and a dual mode display unit using the same. As illustrated, a TV / PC selection for outputting a mode selection signal by selecting one of a TV mode and a PC mode by user selection is shown. The unit 800 provides a mode selection signal to the microcontroller 300, and in some cases, also transmits a signal to the dual mode LCD controller 100.

Although not shown, the mode selection signal may be connected to the TV tuner 700 and the computer function unit 600, respectively, to determine the presence or absence of power according to the operation mode.

The microcontroller 300 is connected to the CPI of the dual mode LCD controller 100 and the computer function unit 600 to determine the function according to the current mode.

The dual mode LCD controller 100 receives the mode selection signal, receives the TV tuner 700 signal in the TV mode, outputs the signal to the LCD display 400, and inputs the PC digital image signal in the PC mode. Is received from the graphic control unit and output to the LCD display unit 400, and receives a control signal from one of the microcontroller 300 and the CPI in accordance with the selection mode.

The CPI controls the dual mode LCD controller 100 through a predetermined bus (for example, PCI, ISA, etc.) used in a computer function unit, and the microcontroller 300 has a simple interface (232 communication, I ² C). , SPI, etc.) to control the dual mode LCD controller 100.

Accordingly, the dual mode LCD controller 100 can greatly reduce size and power while providing great versatility in constructing a dual mode display device.

The specific embodiments or examples made in the detailed description of the present invention are intended to clarify the technical contents of the present invention to the extent that they should not be construed as limited to these specific embodiments and should not be construed in consultation. Various changes can be made within the scope of.

As described above, the present invention receives a mode selection signal by a user, receives the TV tuner unit signal in the TV mode, outputs the signal to the LCD display unit, and receives a digital image signal for PC input in the PC mode. It applies to dual mode LCD controller which is connected to external control signal with different interface according to each mode, and configures dual mode display device which can use TV and PC mode. By not supplying power to the functional unit, the dual mode display device, which can be configured with various interfaces, can be easily configured, and the size and power consumption can be greatly reduced.

Claims (4)

A TV / PC selection unit which selects one of a TV mode and a PC mode by a user selection and outputs a mode selection signal; A TV tuner unit for receiving a TV signal and outputting the analog signal; A PC graphics control unit for outputting a digital video signal for a PC; Display means for receiving an image signal and displaying an image; Receives a mode selection signal and receives the TV tuner unit signal in the TV mode and outputs the signal to the display means, and receives a digital video signal for PC input in the PC mode and outputs the signal to the display means. A dual mode LCD controller connected with an external control signal having an interface; CPI, which operates only in PC mode and provides a control signal to a predetermined interface to the dual mode LCD controller; The dual mode LCD controller includes a microcontroller connected to the CPI to operate as a lower controller for the PC, and to provide a control signal to a predetermined interface to the dual mode LCD controller in the TV mode. Dual mode display device. The dual mode display using a dual mode LCD controller of claim 1, wherein the CPI is connected to the dual mode LCD controller through a universal bus interface, and the microcontroller is connected to the dual mode LCD controller through a serial interface. Device. The LCD device of claim 1, wherein the dual mode LCD controller comprises: an LCD controller capable of driving display means; A TV decoder for converting an analog video signal received from a tuner into a digital signal usable by the LCD control unit; An output selection mux for selectively providing one of an external video signal for a PC and the TV decoder signal to the LCD control unit; An internal control unit providing a control signal to the output selection mux according to a current mode and controlling an internal display signal flow; Dual mode using a dual mode LCD controller comprising a control output mux selectively providing the CPI control signal and a TV mode exclusive control signal input through different interfaces to the internal control unit by an external control signal indicating a current mode. Display device. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: dedicated interfaces to which a digital RGB signal and a digital YcbCr signal are respectively connected as the external image signal for the PC; And selecting one of the input signals as an input of the output selection mux, and further comprising a PC image signal selection mux receiving a selection control signal from the internal controller. Dual mode display device.