TWM644694U - Display control device - Google Patents

Abstract

A display control device adapted to control a plurality of displays is provided. The display control device comprises a plurality of connectors, a processor, a storage element, a platform controller hub (PCH), a plurality of first switching elements, a plurality of second switching elements, and a controller. The connectors are utilized for connecting the displays. The processor is electrically coupled to the connectors through a plurality of first reading paths respectively for accessing setting data from the displays. The PCH is electrically coupled to the processor and is electrically coupled to the storage element through a writing path for writing the setting data in the storage element. The first switching elements are disposed on the first reading paths respectively. The second switch elements are disposed on the writing path. The controller receives a setting signal and controls switching states of the first switching elements and the second switching elements accordingly.

Description

display controls

This case relates to a display control device, in particular to a display control device suitable for controlling multiple screens.

When a traditional computer host uses multiple screens, when one of the screens is disconnected, the original configuration of these screens, such as desktop shortcuts, display windows, etc. will be changed. Afterwards, even if the screen is connected back, the original configuration cannot be restored, which will affect the user's operation. Although the user can reset the display images of each screen to restore the original configuration, it will consume a considerable amount of time.

This case provides a display control device suitable for controlling multiple screens. The display control device includes a plurality of connectors, a processor, a storage element, a platform path controller (PCH), a plurality of first switch elements, a plurality of second switch elements and a controller. Multiple connectors are available for connecting to these screens. The processor is electrically coupled to the connectors through a plurality of first reading paths, and receives setting data from the screens through the connectors. The platform path controller is electrically coupled to the processor, and is electrically coupled to the storage element through a writing path for writing setting data into the storage element. The first switch elements are respectively disposed on the first read paths. The second switching elements are arranged on the writing path. The controller receives a setting signal, and controls the switching states of the first switching elements and the second switching elements according to the setting signal to update setting data.

The processor of the display control device provided in this case can obtain the setting data of each screen and store it in the storage device for subsequent control. In this way, the problem of changing the screen configuration caused by the disconnection of the screen can be avoided, and the screen configuration can be maintained. The original configuration of the screen is convenient for users to operate, and it is also beneficial for users to add or remove screens.

The specific implementation manner of this case will be described in more detail below with reference to schematic diagrams. According to following description and scope of application for patent, the advantages and characteristics of this case will be clearer. It should be noted that the diagrams are all in a very simplified form and use inaccurate proportions, and are only used to facilitate and clearly illustrate the purpose of the embodiment of this case.

The first and second figures are schematic block diagrams of the display control device 100 provided according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the first figure, the display control device 100 of this case includes a plurality of connectors 120, a processor 130, a storage element 140, a plurality of first switching elements 150, a plurality of second switching elements 162, a controller 170, and a button 180 and a Platform Path Controller (PCH) 190 .

The multiple connectors 120 can be used to connect multiple screens 20 for control. The connector 120 can be used to transmit video data, transmit audio data, transmit screen setting data D1, D2, D3 and so on. In this embodiment, the display control device 100 is configured with three connectors 120 and can control up to three screens 20 at the same time. In one embodiment, the connector 120 is an HDMI connector.

The processor 130 is electrically coupled to the connectors 120 through the plurality of first reading paths P1 , and receives the setting data D1 , D2 , D3 from the screens 20 through the connectors 120 . In this embodiment, there are three first read paths P1, and the processor 130 is electrically coupled to the three connectors 120 through the three first read paths P1. In one embodiment, the processor 130 may be a central processing unit (CPU). In one embodiment, the setting data D1 , D2 , D3 may include Extended Display Capability Identification (EDID) information read by the screen 20 .

The storage element 140 is used for storing setting data D1, D2, D3. In one embodiment, the storage element 140 may be a random access memory (RAM) or a read only memory (ROM). In one embodiment, the storage element 140 may include a plurality of memory units 142 for storing setting data D1 , D2 , D3 corresponding to different screens 20 . The storage element 140 in this embodiment includes three memory units 142 corresponding to the three screens 20 connected to the three connectors 120 .

The platform path controller 190 is electrically coupled to the processor 130 and electrically coupled to the storage element 140 through a writing path P2 for writing the setting data D1, D2, D3 into the storage element 140 . Specifically, the processor 130 is electrically coupled to the platform path controller 190 through a direct media interface (DMI), and the platform path controller 190 is electrically coupled to the second switch element through an integrated bus circuit (I2C). 162. In this way, the processor 130 can write the read setting data D1 , D2 , D3 of different screens 20 through the platform path controller 190 into the storage element 140 through the writing path P2 .

In addition, the processor 130 is electrically coupled to the storage element 140 through a plurality of second read paths P3. In this embodiment, there are three second reading paths P3 corresponding to the three memory units 142 of the storage device 140 .

The controller 170 is used to control the conduction states of the first read path P1 , the second read path P3 and the write path P2 .

Specifically, as shown in the figure, the display control device 100 includes a plurality of first switch elements 150 and a plurality of second switch elements 162 . The first switch element 150 is a toggle switch element. Each of the first switch elements 150 is disposed on the corresponding first read path P1 and the corresponding second read path P3 for selectively turning on the first read path P1 or the second read path P3. The second switch element 162 is disposed on the writing path P2. The controller 170 can control the switching states of the first switching element 150 and the second switching element 162 . The second switch elements 162 are located on the second read path P3 and the write path P2 respectively. Each second switch element 162 is electrically coupled to the corresponding first switch element 150 . The second switching elements 162 can be used to selectively conduct the second reading path P3 or the writing path P2. In this embodiment, there are three second switch elements 162 , corresponding to the three first switch elements 150 and the three memory units 142 of the storage element 140 .

In one embodiment, the controller 170 can be an embedded control chip, which supports LPC bus (low pin count bus) function, and can be configured with input/output (I/O) for control. In one embodiment, the display control device 100 further includes a button 180 . The button 180 is electrically coupled to the controller 170 for generating a setting signal S1 to update the setting data D1 , D2 , D3 of the screen 20 in the memory unit 142 .

The operation of the display control device 100 is described in detail as follows.

Please refer to the first figure, in a default condition, the first read path P1 is in the conduction state, and the write path P2 is in the conduction state. When the multiple connectors 120 are connected to the multiple screens 20, the processor 130 can receive the setting data D1, D2, D3, and write the setting data D1, D2, D3 into each memory unit 142 in the storage element 140 through the platform path controller 190 .

Please refer to the second figure, when the platform path controller 190 finishes writing, the controller 170 controls the second switching element 162 to turn off the writing path P2, and controls the first switching elements 150 to turn on the second reading paths P3, The processor 130 can read the setting data D1, D2, D3 from the storage element 140. In this way, even if the connection of the screen 20 is disconnected subsequently, for example, the user unplugs the screen 20 or the power of the screen 20 is accidentally cut off, etc., after the screen 20 is reconnected, the processor 130 can obtain the original data of the screen 20 from the storage element 140. Set the data D1, D2, D3 to maintain the original configuration of the screen 20. That is to say, the storage device 140 can be used as a virtual screen in the system.

When the user needs to replace the screen 20, the setting data D1, D2, D3 of the screen 20 in the memory unit 142 can be updated through the setting signal S1 generated by the button 180 . Specifically, please refer to the first figure, when the controller 170 receives the setting signal S1, the controller 170 will control the first switching elements 150 to turn on the first reading path P1, and control the second switches The element 162 conducts the writing path P2 connected to each memory unit 142 in the storage element 140 . Subsequently, the processor 130 can receive the updated setting data D1, D2, D3, and write the updated setting data D1, D2, D3 into each memory unit 142 in the storage element 140 through the platform path controller 190 .

The connector 120, the first switch element 150, the first reading path P1, the second reading path P3, the memory unit 142 in the storage element 140 and the number of the second switching element 162 described in this embodiment are only for this case. An example. This case is not limited to this. This case is also applicable to a display control device having two connectors 120 or more than four connectors 120 .

The third figure is a schematic block diagram of a display control device 300 provided according to another embodiment of the present application.

Compared with the embodiment in the first figure, the display control device 300 of this embodiment further includes a logic judgment unit 310 .

The logic judging unit 310 is electrically coupled to each connector 120 to receive a status signal S2 corresponding to each connector 120 to confirm whether the connector 120 is connected with the screen 20 . The logic judgment unit 310 also receives a masking signal S3 from the controller 170, and selectively generates a virtual state signal S4 according to the masking signal S3. In one embodiment, the aforementioned status signal S2 is a hot plug status signal.

The logic judgment unit 310 includes a complex OR gate 312 . The two input ends of each OR gate 312 are respectively used to receive the state signal S2 and the shielding signal S3 of the corresponding connector 120 , and the output end thereof generates a dummy state signal S4 . The logic judging unit 310 of this embodiment has three OR gates 312 corresponding to the three connectors 120 for judging the status of each connector 120 . The operation principles of all the OR gates 312 are the same, and only one of them will be described below.

For example, assuming that the state signal S2 is at a high level, it indicates that the connector 120 is connected to the screen 20 , and at a low level, it indicates that the connector 120 is not connected with the screen 20 ; the shielding signal S3 is a high level signal. When the connector 120 is connected to the screen 20 , the output terminal of the OR gate 312 will generate a virtual state signal S4 of high potential. According to the high potential virtual state signal S4 , the processor 130 determines that the connector 120 is connected with the screen 20 . When the connector 120 is not connected to the screen 20, although the status signal S2 is a low potential signal, because the shielding signal S3 is a high potential signal, the output terminal of the OR gate 312 will still generate a high potential virtual status signal S4. In this case, although the processor 130 is not actually connected to the screen 20, the processor 130 will still determine that the connector 120 is connected to the screen 20 and read the corresponding setting data D1 from the storage element 140 through the second reading path P3 , D2, D3.

The fourth figure is a schematic block diagram of a display control device 400 provided according to another embodiment of the present application.

Compared with the embodiment in the first figure, the display control device 400 of this embodiment further includes a logic judgment unit 410 . However, different from the logic judgment unit 310 in the embodiment of the third figure, the logic judgment unit 410 of this embodiment is a logic controller, such as a logic judgment chip, which can perform the logical operation of "OR". The operation of this logic controller is similar to the OR gate 312 in the third figure, and will not be repeated here.

The processor 130 of the display control device 100, 300, 400 provided in this case can obtain the setting data D1, D2, D3 of each screen 20, and store it in the storage element 140 for subsequent control, so that the screen can be avoided. 20 is interrupted to cause the configuration change of the screen 20, and the original configuration of the screen 20 can be maintained, which is convenient for the user to operate, and is also beneficial for the user to add or remove the screen 20.

The above is only a preferred embodiment of this case, and does not limit this case in any way. Anyone skilled in the technical field, within the scope of not departing from the technical means of this case, makes any form of equivalent replacement or modification to the technical means and technical content disclosed in this case, which belongs to the content of the technical means of this case. still fall within the protection scope of this case.

100, 300, 400: display control device 120: Connector 130: Processor 140: storage element 142: memory unit 150: the first switching element 162: the second switching element 170: Controller 180: button 190: Platform path controller 20: screen 310, 410: logic judgment unit 312: OR gate P1: the first read path D1, D2, D3: setting data P2: Write path P3: Second read path S1: set signal S2: Status signal S3: Mask signal S4: Virtual state signal

Figures 1 and 2 are schematic block diagrams of a display control device provided according to an embodiment of the present case; The third figure is a schematic block diagram of a display control device provided according to another embodiment of the present application; and The fourth figure is a schematic block diagram of a display control device provided according to another embodiment of the present application.

100: display control device

120: Connector

130: Processor

140: storage element

142: memory unit

150: the first switching element

162: the second switching element

170: Controller

180: button

190: Platform path controller

20: screen

P1: the first read path

D1, D2, D3: setting data

P2: Write path

P3: Second read path

S1: set signal

Claims (10)

A display control device suitable for controlling multiple screens, the display control device includes: a plurality of connectors suitable for connection to the screens; A processor is electrically coupled to the connectors through a plurality of first read paths, and receives setting data from the screens through the connectors; a storage element; a platform path controller (PCH), electrically coupled to the processor, and electrically coupled to the storage element through a writing path, for writing the setting data into the storage element; A plurality of first switching elements are respectively arranged on the first reading paths; a plurality of second switching elements disposed on the writing path; and A controller receives a setting signal, and controls the switching states of the first switching elements and the second switching elements according to the setting signal to update the setting data. The display control device as described in Claim 1 further includes a button electrically coupled to the controller, and the button is used to generate the setting signal. The display control device as described in claim 1 further includes a logic judgment unit, the logic judgment unit is electrically coupled to the connectors to receive a state signal corresponding to each of the connectors, and the logic judgment unit receives A shield signal from the controller, and selectively generate a virtual state signal according to the shield signal, the processor is electrically coupled to the logic judgment unit, and confirms the connection of the connectors according to the virtual state signal state. The display control device as described in claim 3, wherein the logic judgment unit includes a plurality of OR gates, and the two input terminals of each OR gate are respectively used to receive the state signal and the shielding signal of the corresponding connector, which The output terminal generates the virtual state signal. The display control device according to claim 3, wherein the status signal is a hot plug status signal. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the connector is an HDMI connector. The display control device as described in Claim 1, wherein the processor is electrically coupled to the storage element through a plurality of second read paths, the first switching element is a switch element, each of the first switching elements It is arranged on the corresponding first readout path and the corresponding second readout path, and is used for selectively turning on the first readout path or the second readout path. The display control device as described in claim 7, wherein, when the controller receives the setting signal, the controller controls the first switching elements to turn on the first reading path, and controls the second switching elements to turn on The writing path enables the processor to receive the setting data and write the setting data into the storage element. The display control device as described in Claim 8, wherein, when the processor finishes writing, the controller controls the second switching elements to turn off the writing path, and controls the first switching elements to turn on the second The read path enables the processor to read the setting data from the storage element. The display control device according to claim 1, wherein the storage element includes a plurality of memory units for storing the setting data corresponding to each of the screens, and the second switch elements correspond to the memory units respectively.

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