TWI843633B - Electronic device, development board, and test system thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic device including a display device, a memory and a processor is provided. The display device has a first display area and a second display area. The memory stores a program code. The processor executes the program code to display an icon menu in the first display area. The icon menu includes a plurality of icons for the user to click. The processor displays the clicked icon in the second display area and sets a common-segment table according to the icon displayed in the second display area. The processor generates a burning program code according to the icon displayed in the second display area, the common-segment table and the visual effect shown in the second display area. The processor outputs the burning program code to an external development board. The processor reads display datastored in the external development board, and controls the image of the second display area according to the display data.

Description

Electronic devices, development boards and test systems

The present invention relates to an electronic device, and more particularly to an electronic device simulating a physical display and touch keys.

Most common electronic devices have a display. Before installing the display in the electronic device, the developer of the electronic device may first use a development board to test whether the display can display images normally. However, when the display is not connected to the development board, the developer cannot know the image effect displayed by the display.

The present invention provides an electronic device, including a display, a memory and a processor. The display has a first display area and a second display area. The memory is used to store a program code. The processor executes the program code to perform the following steps: presenting a mode setting key in the first display area; judging whether the mode setting key is in a default state. When the mode setting key is in the default state, the processor presents an icon menu in the first display area. The icon menu has a plurality of icons for the user to click. The processor presents the clicked icon in the second display area. The processor sets a common segment table according to the icon presented in the second display area. The common segment table records a plurality of switches. Each switch corresponds to an icon presented in the second display area. The processor selects a portion of the icons in the second display area as a main group. The processor sets a visual effect presented by the main group. The processor generates a burn-in code according to the icons, the common segment table and the visual effect presented in the second display area. The processor outputs the burn-in code to an external development board. When the mode setting key is not in the default state, the processor reads the display data stored in the external development board and controls the screen of the second display area according to the display data.

The present invention further provides a development board, which is coupled to an electronic device and includes an input-output interface, a display register, a waveform generator, and a voltage generator. The input-output interface is used to couple the electronic device and receive a burned program code provided by the electronic device. The display register stores display data. The waveform generator generates a control signal according to the display data. The voltage generator generates a driving voltage according to the control signal. The input-output interface outputs the display data stored in the display register to the electronic device.

The present invention further provides a test system, including an electronic device, a development board and a physical display. The electronic device has a display and generates a burned program code. The development board stores the burned program code and generates display data according to the burned program code. The physical display is coupled to the development board and presents a screen according to the display data. The development board outputs the display data to the electronic device. When the electronic device presents a screen according to the display data, the screen presented by the display is synchronized with the screen presented by the physical display.

In order to make the purpose, features and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the following is a detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawings. The present invention specification provides different embodiments to illustrate the technical features of different embodiments of the present invention. The configuration of each component in the embodiments is for illustration purposes only and is not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, the repetition of some of the figure numbers in the embodiments is for the purpose of simplifying the description and does not mean the correlation between different embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the test system of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the test system 100 includes an electronic device 110, a development board 120, and a physical display 130. The electronic device 110 has a display 111 and generates a burning program code PCD. The present invention does not limit the type of the electronic device 110. In a possible embodiment, the electronic device 110 is a personal computer (PC).

The development board 120 stores the burned program code PCD and generates display data DA_DIS according to the burned program code PCD. In this embodiment, the development board 120 provides driving voltages LCD00~LCD51 according to the display data DA_DIS, but it is not used to limit the present invention. The present invention does not limit the number of driving voltages. The number of driving voltages is related to the type of the physical display 130.

The physical display 130 is coupled to the development board 120, and displays images according to the driving voltages LCD00~LCD51. In a possible embodiment, the physical display 130 and the electronic device 110 each read and execute the display data DA_DIS stored in the development board 120 to achieve the effect of synchronized images. In other words, when the physical display 130 and the electronic device 110 display images according to the display data DA_DIS, the images displayed by the display 111 of the electronic device 110 are synchronized with the images displayed by the physical display 130. When the images displayed by the physical display 130 are different from the images displayed by the display 111, it indicates that the physical display 130 may be faulty.

In other embodiments, when the physical display 130 is not yet connected to the development board 120, the electronic device 110 can simulate the actual operation of the physical display 130 in advance, and present the simulation result through the display 111. For example, the electronic device 110 first sets a test screen, such as first presenting 1234567, and then presenting ABCDEFG. In this example, the electronic device 110 first generates a burning code PCD according to the test screen, and then writes the burning code PCD into the development board 120. The development board 120 executes the burning code PCD to generate display data DA_DIS. The electronic device 110 then reads the display data DA_DIS from the development board 120 and displays the screen according to the display data DA_DIS. At this time, the display 111 first displays 1234567 and then displays ABCDEFG. If the physical display 130 is connected to the development board 120, the development board 120 generates driving voltages LCD00~LCD51 according to the display data DA_DIS to drive the physical display 130. In this example, if the physical display 130 operates normally, the physical display 130 will first display 1234567 and then display ABCDEFG. However, if the physical display 130 operates abnormally, the physical display 130 cannot display 1234567 or ABCDEFG normally.

The present invention does not limit how the development board 120 is connected to the electronic device 110. In one possible example, the development board 120 is electrically connected to the electronic device 110 via a connection line 150. In another possible embodiment, the development board 120 has a slot (not shown) for the physical display 130 to be inserted into.

In other embodiments, the test system 100 further includes a touch device 140. The touch device 140 is coupled to the development board 120. The present invention does not limit the structure of the touch device 140. In a possible embodiment, the touch device 140 may have 14 touch keys. The development board 120 may send detection signals TK1~TK14 to the touch keys of the touch device 140, and then determine whether the detection signals TK1~TK14 change. When one of the detection signals TK1~TK14 changes, it means that the corresponding touch key is pressed, and the development board 120 controls the screen presented by the physical display 130 according to the pressed touch key. For example, the physical display 130 may present a temperature screen. In this example, when a touch button is pressed, the physical display 130 presents a humidity screen instead.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device of the present invention. The electronic device 110 includes a display 111, a simulator 210 and an input/output interface 220. The display 111 presents a picture according to an image signal IMG. The simulator 210 is used to provide the image signal IMG. In a possible embodiment, the simulator 210 includes a memory 221 and a processor 222.

The memory 221 is used to store a program code TOOL. The processor 222 reads the memory 221 to execute the program code TOOL. In this embodiment, the processor 222 generates an image signal IMG according to the program code TOOL. In addition, the processor 222 further generates a burned program code PCD. In one possible embodiment, the processor 222 stores the burned program code PCD in the memory 221, but it is not used to limit the present invention. In another possible embodiment, the processor 222 stores the burned program code PCD in another memory. When the user clicks on an icon of an application presented by the display 111 through a mouse (not shown), the processor 222 executes the program code TOOL.

The input-output interface 220 is used to output the burned program code PCD and receive the display data DA_DIS. In one possible embodiment, the input-output interface 220 is coupled to the development board 120 of FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the processor 222 outputs a request command through the input-output interface 220, requesting the development board 120 to provide a display data DA_DIS. In this example, the processor 222 generates an image signal IMG according to the display data DA_DIS. The present invention does not limit the type of the input-output interface 220. In one possible embodiment, the input-output interface 220 is a USB port.

In other embodiments, the electronic device 110 further includes a virtual touch key 230. The user may click the virtual touch key 230 with a mouse. At this time, the processor 222 sends a trigger signal ST. In this example, the input-output interface 220 outputs the trigger signal ST to the development board 120. The present invention does not limit the number of virtual touch keys. In a possible embodiment, the electronic device 110 has more virtual touch keys. In this example, when a virtual touch key is pressed, the processor 222 sends a corresponding trigger signal.

FIG. 3A is a screen displayed by the display of the present invention. The processor 222 executes the program code TOOL to generate the image signal IMG. The display 111 displays the screen 300A according to the image signal IMG. The screen 300A includes display areas 310 and 320.

In this embodiment, the processor 222 instructs the display 111 to present a mode setting key 311 in the display area 310. The user may use a mouse (not shown) to switch the state of the mode setting key 311 so that the mode setting key 311 conforms to a default state or does not conform to a default state. For example, when the user clicks the mode setting key 311, the mode setting key 311 moves to the left and approaches the text Create Mode. At this time, the mode setting key 311 conforms to a default state. Therefore, the processor 222 enters a creation mode.

In the establishment mode, the processor 222 instructs the display 111 to present a toolbar 312 in the display area 310 through the image signal IMG. The user edits the screen presented in the display area 320 through the toolbar 312, such as saving the screen presented in the display area 320. In addition, the processor 222 further presents an adjustment option 313 in the display area 310. The user adjusts the length and width of the display area 320 through the adjustment option 313.

In addition, the processor 222 presents an icon menu 314 in the display area 310 according to the program code TOOL. The icon menu 314 has a plurality of icons for the user to click. In a possible embodiment, the user clicks an icon of the icon menu 314 with a mouse and drags the icon to the display area 320. In this example, the user creates a screen similar to the physical display 130 by dragging the icon menu 314. Therefore, when the display 111 and the physical display 130 present the screen according to the same display data, the screen of the display area 320 of FIG. 3A is the same as the screen of the physical display 130. In other embodiments, the processor 222 loads other image files to add new icons to the icon menu 314.

The processor 222 sets a common segment (COM/SEG) table 315 according to the icon presented in the display area 320. The common segment table 315 records a plurality of switches, each switch corresponding to an icon presented in the display area 320. For the convenience of explanation, the common segment table 315 only displays switches Dig_A to Dig_I, but it is not used to limit the present invention. In other embodiments, the common segment table 315 records more or fewer switches.

In this embodiment, each of the switches Dig_A to Dig_I corresponds to an icon displayed in the display area 320. For example, the switch Dig_A may correspond to the text nuvoTon in the display area 320, the switch Dig_B may correspond to the wireless network icon in the upper right corner of the display area 320, and the switch Dig_C may correspond to the speaker icon in the upper right corner of the display area 320. In other embodiments, each of the switches Dig_A to Dig_I corresponds to a common pin and a segment pin. For example, the switch Dig_A corresponds to the common pin Com0 and the segment pin Seg0, and the switch Dig_B corresponds to the common pin Com0 and the segment pin Seg1. In this example, the common pins Com0-Com2 and the segment pins Seg0-Seg2 correspond to the pins of the physical display 130 in FIG. 1 .

The processor 222 uses part of the icons in the display area 320 as a main group. For example, the processor 222 may use the seven fourteen-segment displays in the center of the display area 320 as a main group. In a possible embodiment, the processor 222 sets a visual effect presented by the main group. For example, the processor 222 sets the main group to present NUVOTON and then present 1234567.

The processor 222 generates a burn-in program code PCD according to the icon presented in the display area 320, the common section table 315, and the visual effect presented by the main group. In a possible embodiment, when the user presses a save icon in the toolbar 312, the processor 222 generates a first file, or a header file, according to the icon presented in the display area 320 and the common section table 315. The user may open a program code (main.c) previously stored in the electronic device 110, and modify the program code (main.c) according to the visual effect presented by the main group. The processor 222 executes a build command according to the modified program code (main.c) to generate the burn-in program code PCD. The processor 222 outputs the burned program code PCD to the development board 120 via the input/output interface 220 .

FIG. 3B is another schematic diagram of the display of the present invention. The user clicks the mode setting key 311 and moves the mode setting key 311 to the right. The mode setting key 311 is close to the text Emulator Mode. At this time, the mode setting key 311 does not conform to a preset state. Therefore, the processor 222 enters a simulation mode.

In the simulation mode, the processor 222 reads the display data DA_DIS stored in the development board 120. The processor 222 provides the image signal IMG to the display 111 according to the display data DA_DIS. The display 111 displays the screen 300B. In the screen 300B, the icon of the main group 321 of the display area 320 displays the text NUVOTON.

In this embodiment, since the mode setting key 311 is not in the default state, the processor 222 suspends displaying the tool bar 312, adjustment options 313, icon menu 314 and common section table 315 of FIG. 3A in the display area 310. In other embodiments, when the mode setting key 311 is not in the default state, the processor 222 sets the brightness of the main group 321 in the display area 320 to be greater than the brightness of the remaining icons in the display area 320.

In the build mode, the processor 222 edits the graphics of the display area 320 and sets the visual effects presented by the display area 320. The processor 222 generates a burning code PCD for the development board 120. In the simulation mode, the processor 222 reads the display data DA_DIS stored in the development board 120 and presents the screen according to the display data DA_DIS. The R&D personnel can know the screen presented by the physical display 130 in the future through the screen presented by the display 111.

In addition, after the physical display 130 is actually connected to the development board 120, the screen of the physical display 130 should be synchronized with the screen of the display 111. If the screen of the physical display 130 is different from the screen of the display 111, it means that the physical display 130 is abnormal. Therefore, the tester can immediately pick out the abnormal physical display.

FIG. 3C is another schematic diagram of a display of the present invention. The main group 321 in the display area 320 presents the text 1234567. In a possible embodiment, the main group 321 presents the text NUVOTON and 1234567 alternately. In other embodiments, when the physical display 130 is also coupled to the development board 120, since the physical display 130 and the display 111 each read the display data DA_DIS stored in the development board 120, the visual effect presented by the physical display 130 is the same as the visual effect presented by the display 111. Therefore, the display 111 and the physical display 130 achieve the effect of synchronized screen.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the development board of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the development board 120 includes an input-output interface 121, a central processing unit 122, a display register 123, a waveform generator 124, a multiplexer 125, a voltage generator 126 and a memory 129. The input-output interface 121 is used to couple the electronic device 110 and transmit the burned program code PCD and the display data DA_DIS. In a possible embodiment, the input-output interface 121 is a USB port.

The CPU 122 writes the burned program code PCD from the input/output interface 121 into the memory 129. In one possible embodiment, the CPU 122 reads and executes the burned program code PCD stored in the memory 129 to generate display data DA_DIS. The CPU 122 may store the display data DA_DIS in the display register 123. In some embodiments, when the input/output interface 121 receives a read command from the electronic device 110, the CPU 122 reads the display register 123 and provides the display data DA_DIS stored in the display register 123 to the electronic device 110 through the input/output interface 121.

The waveform generator 124 is coupled to the display register 123, and generates a control signal SC according to the display data DA_DIS stored in the display register 123. In one possible embodiment, the waveform generator 124 is a digital waveform generator.

The multiplexer 125 is coupled between the waveform generator 124 and the voltage generator 126. The multiplexer 125 receives the control signal SC and generates an output signal SO. In some embodiments, the multiplexer 125 can be omitted. In this example, the waveform generator 124 directly provides the control signal SC to the voltage generator 126.

The voltage generator 126 generates the driving voltages LCD00~LCD51 according to the control signal SC or the output signal SO. In other embodiments, the development board 120 further includes an input-output interface 127. The input-output interface 127 is used to output the driving voltages LCD00~LCD51 to the physical display 130. In some embodiments, the input-output interface 127 is a slot. In this example, when the physical display 130 is inserted into the slot, the physical display 130 presents a corresponding picture according to the driving voltages LCD00~LCD51. In this embodiment, the picture presented by the physical display 130 is synchronized with the picture presented by the display 111 of the electronic device 110.

In other embodiments, the development board 120 further includes a touch register 128. The touch register 128 is used to store a touch value TCH. In this example, when the input/output interface 121 receives a trigger signal ST from the electronic device 110, the central processor 122 adjusts the touch value TCH according to the trigger signal ST. For example, when the electronic device 110 does not send a trigger signal ST, the touch value TCH may be a value of 0. When the electronic device 110 sends a trigger signal ST, the central processor 122 modifies the touch value TCH to a value of 1.

In addition, the CPU 122 adjusts the data stored in the display register 123 according to the touch value TCH to adjust the screen displayed by the physical display 130. For example, when the touch value TCH is 0, the physical display 130 displays a temperature screen. When the touch value TCH is 1, the physical display 130 displays a humidity screen.

In some embodiments, the touch register 128 is further coupled to the touch device 140 of FIG. 1. In this example, the touch register 128 may have a touch detection circuit (not shown) and a plurality of touch values. The touch detection circuit outputs detection signals TK1-TK14 to the touch device 140. Each of the detection signals TK1-TK14 corresponds to a corresponding touch button in the touch device 140. When a touch button of the touch device 140 is pressed, the level of the corresponding detection signal changes. The touch detection circuit adjusts the touch value of the touch register 128 according to the level of the detection signal TK1-TK14. The central processor 122 adjusts the screen displayed by the physical display 130 according to the touch value of the touch register 128. For example, when the first touch value of the touch register 128 is 1, the physical display 130 displays a first screen, such as a temperature screen. When the second touch value of the touch register 128 is 1, the physical display 130 displays a second screen, such as a humidity screen.

Since the electronic device 110 and the physical display 130 operate simultaneously according to the display data DA_DIS of the development board 120, the screen of the display 111 is synchronized with the screen of the physical display 130. If the screen of the physical display 130 is different from the screen of the display 111, it means that an abnormality has occurred in the physical display 130. Furthermore, since the burning code PCD of the development board 120 is provided by the electronic device 110, when the screen of the display 111 does not conform to the default screen, it means that an abnormality has occurred in the development board 120. Therefore, by generating the burning code PCD by the electronic device 110, the abnormality of the development board 120 and the physical display 130 can be discovered immediately.

In addition, the electronic device 110 not only simulates the operation of the physical display 130, but also simulates the operation of the physical touch keys. When the development board 120 drives the physical display 130 according to the burned program code PCD provided by the electronic device 110, it can also test whether the physical display 130 can act according to the pressing state of the physical touch keys.

It should be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being "coupled" to another element or layer, it may be directly coupled or connected to the other element or layer, or have other elements or layers interposed therebetween. Conversely, if an element or layer is "connected" to another element or layer, there will be no other elements or layers interposed therebetween.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) herein are generally understood by those with ordinary knowledge in the art to which the present invention belongs. In addition, unless expressly stated, the definitions of terms in general dictionaries should be interpreted as consistent with the meanings in articles in the relevant art, and should not be interpreted as ideal or overly formal. Although terms such as "first" and "second" can be used to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another.

Although the present invention has been disclosed as above with preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person with ordinary knowledge in the relevant technical field may make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the system, device or method described in the embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in the form of hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the scope of the attached patent application.

100: Test system 110: Electronic device 111: Display 120: Development board 130: Physical display 140: Touch device 150: Connection cable PCD: Burning code DA_DIS: Display data LCD00~LCD51: Driving voltage TK1~TK14: Detection signal 210: Simulator 220, 121, 127: Input and output interface IMG: Image signal 221, 129: Memory 222: Processor TOOL: Program code ST: Trigger signal 230: Virtual touch button 300A, 300B: Screen 310, 320: Display area 311: Mode setting key 312: Tool bar 313: Adjustment options 314: Icon menu 315: Common section table 321: Main group 122: CPU 123: Display register 124: Waveform generator 125: Multiplexer 126: Voltage generator 128: Touch register

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the test system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electronic device of the present invention. FIG. 3A is a screen displayed by the display of the present invention. FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram of another screen displayed by the display of the present invention. FIG. 3C is a schematic diagram of another screen displayed by the display of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the development board of the present invention.

100:Test system

110: Electronic devices

111: Display

120: Development board

130: Physical display

140: Touch device

150:Connection cable

PCD: Burning Program Code

DA_DIS: Display data

LCD00~LCD51: driving voltage

TK1~TK14: Detection signal

Claims (10)

An electronic device includes: A display having a first display area and a second display area; A memory for storing a program code; and A processor for executing the program code to perform the following steps: Presenting a mode setting key in the first display area; Determining whether the mode setting key is in a default state; When the mode setting key is in the default state: Presenting an icon menu in the first display area, the icon menu having a plurality of icons for the user to click; Presenting the clicked icon in the second display area; According to the icon presented in the second display area, setting a common segment table, the common segment table recording a plurality of switches, each switch corresponding to an icon presented in the second display area; Selecting part of the icons in the second display area as a main group; Setting a visual effect presented by the main group; Generating a burn-in code according to the icons presented in the second display area, the common segment table and the visual effect; Outputting the burn-in code to an external development board; When the mode setting key is not in the default state: Reading a display data stored in the external development board; Controlling the screen of the second display area according to the display data. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the mode setting key is not in the default state, the processor suspends presenting the icon menu in the first display area. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the mode setting key is not in the default state, the main group presents the visual effect. An electronic device as claimed in claim 3, wherein when the mode setting key is not in the default state, the brightness of other icons outside the main group is darker than the brightness of the icon in the main group. An electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor presents a touch button in the first display area, and when the user clicks the touch button, the processor modifies the value of a register of the external development board. A development board is coupled to an electronic device and includes: A first input/output interface for coupling to the electronic device and receiving a burned program code provided by the electronic device; A display register for storing display data; A waveform generator for generating a control signal according to the display data; A voltage generator for generating a driving voltage according to the control signal; Wherein, the first input/output interface outputs the display data stored in the display register to the electronic device. The development board of claim 6 further includes: a touch register for storing a touch value; and a central processing unit coupled to the display register and the touch register; wherein the first input-output interface receives a trigger signal, and the central processing unit adjusts the touch value according to the trigger signal. A test system includes: an electronic device having a display and generating a burn-in code; a development board storing the burn-in code and generating a driving voltage according to the burn-in code; and a physical display coupled to the development board and presenting a screen according to the driving voltage; wherein the development board executes the burn-in code to generate a display data and provides the display data to the electronic device, and when the electronic device presents a screen according to the display data, the screen presented by the display is synchronized with the screen presented by the physical display. A test system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the electronic device comprises: A memory for storing a program code; A processor for executing the program code to perform the following steps: Presenting a mode setting key in a first display area of the display; Determining whether the mode setting key is in a default state; When the mode setting key is in the default state: Presenting an icon menu in the first display area, the icon menu having a plurality of icons for the user to click; Presenting the clicked icon in a second display area of the display; According to the icon presented in the second display area, setting a common segment table, the common segment table recording a plurality of switches, each switch corresponding to an icon presented in the second display area; Taking part of the icons in the second display area as a main group; Setting a visual effect presented by the main group; Generating the burn code according to the icons presented in the second display area, the common segment table and the visual effect; Writing the burn code to the display register; When the mode setting key is not in the default state: Reading the display data; Controlling the screen of the second display area according to the display data. A test system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the development board further comprises: a touch register for storing a touch value; wherein when a virtual touch button of the icon menu is clicked, the processor adjusts the touch value.

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