TWI258120B - Driving module of monitor with multiple display outputs and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a driving module of monitor with multiple display outputs and method thereof capable of solving the problem that a single driving module of monitor can't drive multiple sets of monitors. The driving module of monitor in the invention uses an image processing controller to convert a plurality sets of image signal processing into multiple sets of digital video signal outputs. The output of the image processing controller is connected to a plurality of digital/analog converter (DAC) and the DAC converts the digital video signal into analog RGB signal to for output. Each output of DAC is connected to a monitor so that each monitor can display the screen data based on the received signal. As a result, the invention can use a single driving module of monitor to simultaneously drive multiple sets of monitors and also can execute screen update for multiple connected monitors at the same time.

Description

1258120 V. INSTRUCTION DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (1) Technical Field of the Invention The display drive module for display output and the present invention are a drive group having multiple methods, particularly for a 驱动 έ έ έ day drive display [Prior Art] The operating system used today, such as Windows 98/ΜΕ/200/ΧΡ, has multiple screen display functions, and can be connected to multiple display computers by computer to display different shirt images. Picture. The location where the technology is generally used, such as the shift schedule displayed by the train station or airport, or the video wall of the financial certificate I instant information. n 贝 7Γ Please 2 the first picture, which is shown as a computer host external multiple display benefits. Generally, on the motherboard of the computer host i, the expandable function slot (such as supporting PCI or ISA specifications, and the number of plug-in zen can reach the computer host 1 can be connected to several monitors 2 functions, and the need to provide related support In addition, several slots must be plugged in: / operating system i and the output of each display card 1 2 is connected to the display 2. Therefore, the player does not card 1 2 ' The operating system of the screen display executes the complex array image If the signal wheel is faulty, the chip group 1 that supports more will output the chips on the motherboard through the bus bar (BUS) one by one to each of the display cards 12, so that each display: number is displayed separately from the card 12 The video signal is displayed, and the x is displayed, and the connected | multi-screen display is displayed. The computer host 1 is driven to refer to the second figure, which is not intended to be another electric display. In the figure, the number of the main and external multiple display 2 of the computer is limited by the number of slots of the motherboard, and the external display of the machine 1

Page 5 1258120 V. Invention Description (2) Only 4 to 6 slots are available. In other words, the computer host 1 of the first figure can only drive 4 to 6 displays. Therefore, in the second figure, the motherboard can expand the bus output capability by adding a number of bus bars (Bu s B ri dge) 1 3, thereby effectively increasing the number of slots, so that the host computer 1 can be driven. The number of displays 2 has increased significantly. Generally, the number of slots driven by each bus bridge 13 can be up to four, and depending on the size limitation of the motherboard, generally 4 to 6 bus bars can be set on one motherboard, so that the single host is Each slot in the board is plugged into the display card. The number of displays 2 that can be driven by 1 2 can reach 1 6 to 2 4 units. Please refer to the third figure, which is a schematic diagram of the display driver module driving the display. The display driver module 14 refers to a display card or a display chip set provided on the main board. The operation principle of the display driving module 14 is to receive the image signal to be displayed outputted by the chip set 1 1 by the interface unit 144, and store the image signal in the image memory 141. The graphics engine: G r aph ics E ng ine) 1 4 3 provides graphics acceleration processing for the image signal stored in the image memory 141 to reduce the burden on the central processing unit, and is controlled by the image processing controller (CRTC). 142 The color of each pixel of the image signal is appropriately processed to output a digital video signal to a digital/analog converter (DAC) 1 45. The digital/analog converter 145 converts the digital video signal into an analog signal having three primary colors (R, G, B) and outputs it to the display 2. The image processing controller 1 42 outputs a vertical/horizontal synchronization signal to the display 2. In the third figure, the image processing controller 1 2 2 is set in the full color output mode (T r u e c ο 1 〇 r m〇 d e), that is, each pixel point represents its color change by 24 bits.

Page 6 1258120 V. Description of the Invention (3) The third diagram shows the basic structure of a general display driver module. Only one display 2 can be connected to the output of the display driver module 14. The display driver module in the notebook computer generally has the capability of externally connecting two displays, that is, the image processing controller 1 4 2 and the digital/analog converter 1 4 5 in the third figure are multiplied. As shown in the fourth figure, the first image processing controller 142a and the second image processing controller 142b are provided, and the capability of driving the display of the two displays 2 by the single display driving module 14 can be achieved. In the manner described in the second figure, the number of displayable displays 2 is as high as 32 to 48 units. Therefore, driving multiple display output displays can be as shown in the first, second and fourth figures above. However, when driving a plurality of displays, it is necessary to initialize each of the display drive modules 14 to update the contents displayed on each of the displays 2 from the viewpoint of the application software inside the operating system. Because the chipset on the motherboard is the same, the I/O port and the image memory 141 address of the display driver module 14 are the same. As shown in the fifth figure, it is the update step of the display driver module, and assumes that i = 1 at the beginning and the number of display updates is 4, 8 first open the access interface of the display driver module i (step 5 1), update the display Driving the image memory of the module i (step 5 2), closing the access interface of the display driver module i (step 5 3), determining whether the update of all the display driver modules is completed (step 5 4), and if so, ending the update Action, if otherwise +1 (step 5 5) and return to step 5 1 to continue. If the update processing requires 0. 5 s e c for each display time, then 4 8 displays perform a screen update totaling 0. 5x 4 8 = 2 4 s e c 〇

Page 7 1258120 V. INSTRUCTIONS (4) In summary, in order to be able to achieve the function of driving a plurality of displays, in addition to the cooperation of the operating system, the architecture used by the hardware has been made in the first, second and fourth figures. Introduction: However, the following are missing, as follows: The number of slots on the motherboard is limited by the method described in the first figure, and it is not possible to drive multiple displays. However, although the driving method in the second figure can increase the number of driving displays compared with the first figure, the cost is doubled due to the addition of several bus bars 13 and the motherboard is limited in size. Unlimited expansion of the bus bridge 1 3 number. In the fourth figure, the module 1 is driven by a single display to drive the two displays 2, and the structure of the circuit is more complicated than that of the structure described in the third figure, and the cost thereof is also higher than that of the third figure. The architecture is higher. Furthermore, in the above manner of driving the plurality of displays 2, the screen updates of all the displays 2 cannot be synchronized, but the display drive modules 14 to be updated each time are specified one by one, so that the application software can correctly correct The path of the display driver module 14 is turned on for screen update, and if the number of displays 2 is large, it takes a lot of time to complete the screen update of all the displays 2. The reason is that the present inventors have felt that the above-mentioned defects can be improved, and the research and the application of the theory have been devoted, and finally the present invention which is rationally designed and effectively improves the above-mentioned defects is proposed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main object of the present invention is to provide a display driving module having multiple display outputs and a method thereof, using a single display driving module

Page 8 1258120 V. Invention Description (5) It can drive multiple displays. Another object of the present invention is to provide a display driving module having multiple display outputs and a method thereof, in which the face updates of a plurality of displays can be performed simultaneously without a time difference. In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a display driving module having multiple display outputs for driving a plurality of displays, including: an image processing controller for converting a complex array of image signal processing into a complex array of video signals; a plurality of conversion circuits for converting the video signals into signals received by the displays, and outputting the signals to the displays, wherein the complex array of image signals are stored in the image memory, and the image processing controller outputs a set Vertical/horizontal sync signals to these displays. In order to achieve the above object, the present invention further provides a motherboard for driving a plurality of displays, comprising: a chip set for outputting a complex array of image signals; and an image processing controller for converting the complex array of image signals Forming a complex array of video signals; and a plurality of conversion circuits for converting the video signals into signals received by the displays and outputting the signals to the displays. In order to achieve the above object, the present invention further provides a method for multiple display output for driving a plurality of displays, comprising the steps of: providing an image processing controller; providing a plurality of conversion circuits; and the image processing controller The image signal is processed to obtain a complex array of video signals; the video signals are respectively sent to the conversion circuits to be converted into signals received by the display; and the output signals of the conversion circuits are respectively output to the displays. In order to enable your review board to further understand the features and techniques of the present invention.

Page 9 1258120 V. INSTRUCTIONS (6) | For details, please refer to the following μ for the present invention. The drawings only provide references and descriptions :::: and drawings, however. The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the invention. Please refer to the sixth figure, the combination of -# * : display driver module drive display; 3: Ming: - preferred embodiment I move module 62 mainly by - The image memory 6, 2, the display 622 of the present invention, and the plurality of digital/analog converters-5 and the like: the operation principle between the device=the controller|the third m, the f-addition temple/° component . And each component. The most important feature of the present invention is that the same is not repeated here. The output of the plurality of digitally-arranged converters 622 is connected to the rational controller 1 42. The output is only connected to one /, the second and the fourth image. s difference. The digit/analog converter 145 is very large. Since the multi-display output system is embroidered, it only needs to display the content of 2 to 6 colors in 2 to 4 colors. For example, the train station ^ display content usually does not exceed the schedule of the shift shown by the Η雪Γ2 9~Μ洛赵杂二丄 or the airport. Or the financial certificate industry displays the content of the real-time information. It doesn't match the I. It's the color that I can display (such as the third ^ over 20 colors. Therefore, in the application of most applications, the multi-display wheel The Z can be displayed in full color output mode. Therefore, in this embodiment, Ϊ f requires the required number of colors. The digital video signal is changed to ^Specially configured for the image processing controller 622, and the number of the drive display 7 required by the Rongm is divided into I and the digital video signal is divided into several numbers, such as the number of digits/analog Converter 6 25. , the number of bits in each of 77, that is,

Page 10 1258120 V. INSTRUCTIONS In the future, the frequency signal is used to control each part of the controller to connect and reconnect four units. And the number of the image to each display group can reach the display color of the same (7) 2 connected display 7. In the embodiment, the digital processing output of the image processing controller 622 has a full color output mode of 24 bits το. In this embodiment, the 24-bit output of the image is divided into 6-bit each, and the 6-bit is defined as a set of digital video signals, and the digital/analog converter 6 2 5 Each digit is displayed as two 7 than the converter 6 2 5 . Therefore, in the present embodiment, with the force of not being driven 7, each display 7 can display 64 image processing controllers 6 2 2 to synchronously output a set of vertical/water=number display 7, and due to the image The processing controller m synchronizes: the video signal, so that each display 7 performs a 4-step effect. When looking back at the new time and from the perspective of the operating system, in this embodiment, when the data needs to be rotated, the application soft system is displayed by the crystal group of the motherboard to display 4 video signals, and the 4 groups of image signals are displayed. That is, four sets of units 6 24 are transmitted through the bus bar and sent to the image memory 621 for temporary storage. The four sets of image signals stored in the image memory 6 2 1 by the green map don't provide the two-two bows and the 6 2 3 pairs of moonlights, and the image processing controller 6 2 2 However, the hiccup color is properly processed to output 4 groups of digits.

Connected digital/analog converter 625. And each digit/class analog is converted into an analog R, G converter 6 2 5 according to the received digital video signal to drive the display 7 to display the image data, so that the signal wheel is driven by a single display. Group 6 2 drives 4 displays 7. Μ 能 能 能 能 第七 第七 第七 第七 第七 第七 第七 第七 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 258 And to store π 旦 ^ ^ intends. It is assumed that the first pixel of the display and the pixel of the 100th line of the display are as shown in the memory 621, which is represented by the processing controller 6 2 2, and the image element D 0 to D 2 3 composition. In the A pixel corresponding data, the digital video signal bit is transmitted to the first column of the display (CRT1), and the bit D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D The A1 position of the input I is displayed; 幛 100 columns, the A2 position of the 100th line is displayed; and the I image to / the indicator (CRT2) is outputted to the position A3 of the corresponding data of the display (crT3). Position display; ^ 〇〇 column in the corresponding data of the A pixel, % of the 0 0 line - - r ΓΌΤΑ λ ^ 1 J bit 疋 D 1 8 ~ D 2 3 output to the display of the 100% of the CB4 The first line of the Ώ . . . A 4 position is not displayed. That is to say, in the embodiment, the image memory 6 2 1 is stored in the data bit of a certain pixel of the _ 丨 , , , , , , , , 已 已 已 已 已 已 已 已 已 已 已 已 已 已 已 已 已 已 已 已 已 已The image signal corresponding to the position.

For example, the display driving module 62 of the embodiment is connected to the plurality of digital/analog converters 6 2 5 by the output of the image processing controller 62, and the complex image digital video is output by the image processing controller 622. The signal is connected to the digital/analog converter 6 2 5 connected to the Kang to achieve the effect of driving the plurality of display units 7 by the single display driving module 62. And because the complex array digital video signal output by the image processing controller 620 is provided with the same drawing engine 62 3 and the image memory 612, the application software can simultaneously update the display of the plurality of displays 7 at the output end. And there is no time difference as in the prior art. Furthermore, the display driving module 62 of the embodiment can display the insertion of the card.

1258120 V. INSTRUCTIONS (9) The connection mode is inserted into the slot of the motherboard or directly on the motherboard. And when the card is inserted into the motherboard in the manner of the display card, the display card driving module 6 2 of the embodiment can be inserted into each slot as shown in the first figure, and as shown in the second figure, on the motherboard. The bus bar 13 is additionally provided to expand the number of slots so that more displays 2 can be driven in combination in the above manner in a computer host. Therefore, the display driving module and the method thereof having the multi-display output of the present invention have the following features: (1) A plurality of displays can be driven by a single display driving module. (2) The single display driver module can synchronize the update of the multiple displays driven. (3) The number of displays driven by a single display driver module can be adjusted according to the number of colors required for multi-display applications. In summary, the present invention fully complies with the requirements of the patent application, so the application is filed in accordance with the Patent Law. Please check and ask for the patent in advance, and feel the virtues to protect the rights and interests of the inventor. Members have any doubts, please do not hesitate to give instructions. However, the above description is only a detailed description of the specific embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto, and all the scope of the present invention shall be subject to the following claims. Any change or modification that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention can be covered by the following patents.

Page 13 1258120 Simple description of the drawing [Simple description of the drawing]: (1) The first picture is the external connection of the computer mainframe. The second picture is the other computer mainframe. The third picture is the display drive module. The fourth figure is a single display driving diagram, the fifth figure is a plurality of displays, and the sixth figure is a schematic diagram of one of the preferred moving displays of the present invention; the seventh figure is a schematic diagram of one of the preferred plurality of displays of the present invention. (2) Figure No. 1 Computer Host 12 Display Card 14 Display Driver Module 1 4 2 Image Processing Controller 1 4 4 Interface Unit 1 4 2 a First Image Processing Controller 2 Display 62 Display Driver Module 6 2 2 Image Schematic diagram of processing controller 6 24 interface unit display; schematic diagram of connecting multiple displays; schematic diagram of driving display; schematic flow chart of module driving two displays; display driving module drive of embodiment and embodiment image The signal output is shown in the figure. 11 Chipset 13 Busbar Bridge 1 4 1 Image Memory 143 Drawing Engine 1 4 5 Digit/Analog Converter 142b Second Image Processing Controller 61 Chipset 6 2 1 Image Memory 6 2 3 Drawing $Qing 6 2 5 digits / Analog Converter Display

Page 14

Claims (1)

1258120 Case No. 92Π7100 Month Amendment VI, Patent Application No.1, One with multiple Taiwanese displays 2 4 One image is a plural number of numbers Converting some displays, such as applying for a special-purpose driver, such as applying for a special-purpose driver-driven drawing engine, such as applying for a special notice The driver drives the horizontal synchronization as in the application of the special drive to drive the memory. A multi-display output display, comprising: a controller for converting a plurality of sets of video signals, and a bit/analog converter (DAC) into the signals received by the displays. The module of the first aspect of the present invention is the module of the first aspect of the video signal range, wherein the image processing device has the module described in claim 1, wherein the image processing signal To these displays. The module of the first aspect of the invention includes storing the driving modules for driving the group image signal processing conversion, and outputting the video signals to the output material 0. The multi-display system is a digital display controller with multiple display outputs. The display system is further provided with multiple display controllers for outputting vertical display / 6 a display with multiple display outputs, including: an image processing controller And a plurality of digital/analog converters (DACs) having an image display drive module with multiple display output signals for driving Page 15 1258120 Amendment t, the scope of the patent application, and one of each, 7, such as the application of the special drive driver system is a 8, such as the application of the driver drive horizontal synchronization 9 , a host - chipset - image At the array, the number of numbers is converted to display a number of 10, such as the application processor. 1 1 . If you apply for the image 1 2 , an electric board No. 92117100 The signal output of the image processing controller is divided into several parts. A part of the output is connected to the digital / analog converters. The display module with multiple display outputs according to item 6 of the scope, wherein each part of the image processing controller inputs a digital video signal. The display module with multiple display outputs according to item 6 of the scope, wherein the image processing controller outputs vertical/signal signals to the displays. a board for driving a plurality of displays, comprising: for outputting a complex array of image signals; and a controller for converting the image signals into a complex frequency signal and a bit/analog converter (DAC) for The video signals are received by the displays and output to the device. The motherboard of claim 9, wherein the controller outputs a vertical/horizontal synchronization signal to the motherboard of the display of the patent range, and further comprises an image memory of the image signal. Brain host to drive multiple displays, including: Page 16 1258120 _ Case No. 92117100_年月日日__ VI. Application for a patent range A display driver module is plugged into the slot of the motherboard, the display driver module includes: an image processing controller, The method is used for converting the complex image signal processing into a complex array video signal; and a plurality of digital/analog converters (DACs) for converting the video signals into signals received by the displays, and outputting the signals to the displays respectively. . 1 . The computer main body according to claim 12, wherein the main board is provided with a plurality of slots, and the display drive modules are respectively inserted into the slots. 1 . The computer host as claimed in claim 12, wherein the motherboard is provided with a plurality of bus bars (B u s B r i d g e ) to expand the number of slots. 1 . The computer host of claim 12, wherein the image processing controller outputs a vertical/horizontal synchronization signal to the displays. 1 6 . The computer host as described in claim 12 of the patent application further includes image memory for storing the image signals. 1 7. A method with multiple display outputs for an image processing controller and a plurality of digital/analog converters (DACs) for driving a plurality of displays, comprising the steps of: processing a complex array of image signals via the image processing The controller processes the complex array video signal; Page 17 1258120 _ Case No. 92117100_ Year Month _ Amendment _ VI. Patent Application Scope The video signals are sent to the digital/analog converters (DACs) for conversion to the signals received by the displays; and the digits/ The output signals of the analog converter (DAC) are output to the displays, respectively. The method of multiple display output as described in claim 17 of the patent application, further comprising storing the image signals in an image memory device, as described in claim 17 Multiple display output The method, wherein the digital/analog converter (DAC) converts a digital video signal into an analog signal having three primary colors (R, G, B). A method of multiple display output as described in claim 17 wherein the image processing controller outputs vertical/horizontal synchronization signals to the displays. Page 18