TW202013197A - computer system - Google Patents

Abstract

A computer system includes a motherboard module and a panel module. The motherboard module includes a processor for generating an EDP (Embedded Display Port) signal. The panel module is coupled to the motherboard module. The panel module includes a converting circuit for converting the EDP signal into a LVDS (Low-Voltage Differential Signaling) signal. When the panel module is coupled to a LVDS panel, the converting circuit converts the EDP signal from the processor into the LVDS signal and displays on the LVDS panel.

Description

computer system

The invention relates to a computer system.

For industrial computers, when assembling the system to assemble the host module and the panel module, the BIOS setting needs to be done on the host module, and the settings can correspond to various panel resolutions. Therefore, it causes troubles in system assembly because the BIOS settings need to be manually performed.

In addition, if the connector between the host module and the panel module uses a larger number of pins, a larger area of the connector must be used, which will cause the circuit area of the host board to be difficult to shrink.

Therefore, how to solve the trouble of manual BIOS setting faced by industrial computers (or computer systems) during assembly and how to reduce the circuit area of the motherboard is one of the efforts of the industry.

According to an example of this case, a computer system is proposed that includes a host module and a panel module. The host module includes a processor for generating an embedded display port signal. The panel module is coupled to the host module. The panel module includes a conversion circuit that converts the embedded display port signal into a low voltage differential signal signal. When the panel module is coupled to a low-voltage differential signal panel, the conversion circuit converts the embedded display port signal generated by the processor into the low-voltage differential signal signal and displays it on the low-voltage differential signal panel .

In order to have a better understanding of the above and other aspects of the present invention, the following examples are specifically described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings as follows:

The technical terms of this specification refer to the idioms in the technical field. If this specification describes or defines some terms, the interpretation of these terms shall be based on the description or definition of this specification. Each embodiment of the present disclosure has one or more technical features. Under the premise of possible implementation, those skilled in the art can selectively implement some or all of the technical features in any of the embodiments, or selectively combine some or all of the technical features in these embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of the computer system 100 according to an embodiment of the present case. The computer system 100 is, for example but not limited to, an industrial computer or a microcomputer. The computer system 100 includes a host module 200 and a panel module 300. The panel module 300 can be selectively coupled to one of an LVDS (Low-Voltage Differential Signaling) panel 400 and an EDP (Embedded Display Port) panel 500.

The host module 200 includes a graphics processing unit (GPU) 210 and a first connector 220. The panel module 300 includes an EDP to LVDS conversion circuit 310, a second connector 320, a speaker 330, an adjustment device 340, a USB (Universal Serial Bus, universal bus) port 350, a USB touch device 360, GPIO (General-purpose input /output, universal input and output) pin 370 and light sensor 380.

The graphics processor 210 is used to receive signals returned by the components of the panel module 300. The graphics processor 210 is coupled to the first connector 220. The graphics processor 210 further generates an EDP signal, which can be transmitted to the EDP-to-LVDS conversion circuit 310 or the EDP panel 500 through the first connector 220 and the second connector 320.

In an embodiment of the present case, the first connector 220 and the second connector 320 each have 60 pins, but it is understood that the present case is not limited to this. In other possible embodiments of the present case, the number of pins of the first connector 220 and the second connector 320 may increase/decrease according to the situation, which is also within the spirit of the present case.

The first connector 220 is coupled to the second connector 320. Through the first connector 220 and the second connector 320, signals can be transmitted between the host module 200 and the panel module 300.

The EDP to LVDS conversion circuit 310 is coupled to the second connector 320. The EDP to LVDS conversion circuit 310 is selectively coupled to the LVDS panel 400 to convert the EDP signal generated by the graphics processor 210 into an LVDS signal. When the panel module 300 is coupled to the LVDS panel 400, the EDP to LVDS conversion circuit 310 transmits the converted LVDS signal to the LVDS panel 400 for display.

Or, when the panel module 300 is coupled to the EDP panel 500, the EDP panel 500 receives the EDP signal generated by the graphics processor 210 through the second connector 320 and displays it.

The second connector 320 is coupled to the first connector 220, the EDP-LVDS conversion circuit 310, the speaker 330, the adjusting device 340, the USB port 350, the USB touch device 360, the GPIO pin 370, and the light sensor 380. The second connector 320 is more selectively coupled to the EDP panel 500.

The speaker 330 is used to receive the sound signal generated by the graphics processor 210 and play it.

The adjustment device 340 is, for example, an OSD (on-screen display). The adjustment device 340 can adjust the display parameters of the LVDS panel 400 or the EDP panel 500.

The USB port 350 is located on the front of the panel module 300 (also referred to as a front USB port), for example, and can accommodate USB compatible devices (such as USB flash drives, etc.). Through the USB port 350 on the front of the panel module 300, it is convenient for the user to insert the USB flash drive into the USB port 350 of the computer system 100 for data reading and writing operations.

The USB touch device 360 provides a screen touch function for the LVDS panel 400 or the EDP panel 500, and returns the sensed screen touch result to the graphics processor 210 for subsequent processing by the graphics processor 210.

The GPIO pin 370 is used to provide, but is not limited to, PWM or DC functions for the LVDS panel 400 or the EDP panel 500. In detail, the user can set the panel to be driven in PWM mode or DC mode in the BIOS (for example, when one of the GPIO pins 370 is set to logic high, the graphics processor 210 can drive the panel to In PWM mode, when it is set to logic low, the graphics processor 210 can drive the panel in DC mode). When the user manually controls the brightness control switch (not shown) on the panel module 300, in response to the user's manual control, the graphics processor 210 can control the brightness of the panel module 300 through the PWM driving method or the DC driving method To gradually brighten or gradually darken. When the user manually controls the brightness setting switch (not shown) on the panel module 300, in response to the user's manual control, the brightness of the panel module 300 can turn on/off the backlight in sequence. When the user manually controls the volume control switch (not shown) on the panel module 300, in response to the user's manual control, the sound effect device can control the volume of the speaker 330 to gradually decrease or gradually increase through the driver.

The light sensor 380 can sense the ambient light parameters of the panel module 300 and return the sensed results to the graphics processor 210 for the graphics processor 210 to perform subsequent processing, for example, to adjust the LVDS panel 400 according to the intensity of the ambient light Or the backlight brightness of the EDP panel 500 and so on.

In a possible embodiment of this case, when both the first connector 220 and the second connector 320 have 60 pins, the allocation of the 60 pins is shown as follows: 17 pins are used to transmit EDP signals; 3 Root pin to transmit the sensing signal of the light sensor 380; Use 5 pins to transmit the signal of the USB touch device 360 and the signal of the USB port 350; Use 19 pins to transmit the signal of the adjusting device 340; Use 4 Pins are used to transmit the signal of the speaker 330; 4 pins are used for the signal of the GPIO 370; 8 pins are used to transmit the positive voltage or the ground voltage. Among them, for example, if the components in the panel module 300 need to use 12V, one pin can be used to transmit 12V from the host module 200 to the panel module 300, if the components in the panel module 300 need to use 3.3 For V, you can use one or more pins to transfer 3.3V from the host module 200 to the panel module 300 (depending on the situation, if more components need to use 3.3V, you can use more pins To transmit 3.3V).

In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, the resolution detection of the LVDS panel 400 can be performed by the EDP to LVDS conversion circuit 310, and the EDP signal is transmitted back to the GPU 210 of the host module 200. For example, the EDP to LVDS conversion circuit 310 can detect the configuration of the switch (not shown) to know the current resolution of the LVDS panel 400.

In addition, if the computer system is coupled to the EDP panel 500, the GPU 210 of the host module 200 actively detects the resolution of the EDP panel 500.

In the embodiment of the present invention, whether it is coupled to the LVDS panel 400 or the EDP panel 500, there is no need to configure the BIOS on the host module 200, so it is relatively simple to assemble the system because it does not involve manual setting of the BIOS.

In addition, compared with the conventional technology, about 40 pins must be used to transmit the LVDS signal between the host module and the panel module. In this embodiment, 19 pins are used to transmit the EDP signal (that is, the host module is not in this case) LVDS signal is transmitted with the panel module), therefore, the number of pins required in the embodiment of the present invention can be smaller. The embodiment of the present invention can use a connector with a smaller area, save the circuit area of the motherboard, and make the motherboard smaller.

In summary, although the present invention has been disclosed as above with examples, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention belongs can make various modifications and retouching without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be deemed as defined by the scope of the attached patent application.

100: Computer system 200: Host module 300: Panel module 400: LVDS panel 500: EDP panel 210: Graphics processor 220: First connector 310: EDP to LVDS conversion circuit 320: Second connector 330: Speaker 340 : Adjustment device 350: USB port 360: USB touch device 370: GPIO pin 380: light sensor

Figure 1 shows a functional block diagram of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present case.

100: computer system

200: host module

300: panel module

400: LVDS panel

500: EDP panel

210: graphics processor

220: first connector

310: EDP to LVDS conversion circuit

320: second connector

330: Speaker

340: Adjustment device

350: USB port

360: USB touch device

370: GPIO pin

380: Light sensor

Claims (10)

A computer system includes: a host module including a processor for generating an embedded display port signal; and a panel module coupled to the host module, the panel module including a conversion circuit The embedded display port signal is converted into a low voltage differential signal signal, wherein, when the panel module is coupled to a low voltage differential signal panel, the conversion circuit converts the embedded display port signal generated by the processor into The low voltage differential signal signal is displayed on the low voltage differential signal panel. The computer system as described in item 1 of the patent application scope, wherein the host module further includes a first connector coupled to the processor, and the panel module further includes a second connector coupled to the The first connector and the conversion circuit. The computer system as described in item 2 of the patent application scope, wherein when the panel module is coupled to an embedded display port panel, the embedded display port signal generated by the processor passes through the first and the first The two connectors are transmitted to the embedded display port panel for display on the embedded display port panel. The computer system as described in item 3 of the patent application scope, wherein the first connector and the second connector each have 60 pins. The computer system as described in item 4 of the patent application scope, wherein the panel module further includes: a speaker coupled to the second connector; an adjustment device coupled to the second connector; a universal bus Port, coupled to the second connector; a universal bus touch device, coupled to the second connector; a universal input and output pin, coupled to the second connector; and a light sensor , Coupled to the second connector. The computer system as described in item 5 of the patent application scope, wherein the universal bus port is a front-end universal bus port. The computer system as described in item 5 of the patent application scope, wherein, among the 60 pins, 17 pins are used to transmit the embedded display port signal. The computer system as described in item 7 of the patent application scope, wherein, among the 60 pins, 3 pins are used to transmit a sensing signal of the light sensor; 5 pins are used to transmit the universal bus The signal of the touch device and the universal bus port; 19 pins are used to transmit the signal of the adjusting device; 4 pins are used to transmit the signal of the speaker; 4 pins are used to transmit the universal input and output Signal; and 8 pins to transmit positive voltage or ground voltage. The computer system as described in item 1 of the patent application range, wherein the conversion circuit detects the resolution of the low-voltage differential signal panel and returns it to the processor of the host module. The computer system as described in item 3 of the patent application scope, wherein the processor of the host module detects the resolution of the embedded display port panel.

Images