Computer display apparatus

• US 20060187142A1
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zheng Capital, LLC
• Original Assignee: John Michael Lesniak
• Inventors: Lesniak, John Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,289,084 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/1.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1431 using a single graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/04 Changes in size, position or resolution of an image
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0492 Change of orientation of the displayed image, e.g. upside-down, mirrored
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/393 Arrangements for updating the contents of the bit-mapped memory

Abstract

A computer display apparatus includes first and second display units operatively coupled to a display controller. The display controller receives imaging instructions for images and display mode instructions for displaying the images, and causes the display units to independently generate images from the imaging instructions according to the display mode instructions. The display controller may include a display processor programmed to generate pixel data according to the imaging instructions, and first and second refresh outputs programmed to independently generate image displays from the manipulated pixel data on the first and second display units in first and second display modes, respectively. A display re-mapper may manipulate the pixel data according to display mode instructions. A display memory fetcher may manipulate pixel data according to display mode instructions in response to a request for pixel data from the first and second refresh outputs independently.

Claims

1. A computer display apparatus comprising:

a first display unit;

a second display unit articulately coupled to the first display unit; and

a display controller operatively coupled to the first and second display units, the display controller comprising a display processor and memory,

the display controller being programmed to receive data relating to imaging instructions for one or more images,

the display controller being programmed to receive data relating to display mode instructions for displaying the one or more images,

the display controller being programmed to cause the first display unit to generate a first image from the imaging instructions according to the display mode instructions,

the display controller being programmed to cause the second display unit to generate a second image from the imaging instructions according to the display mode instructions independent of the generation of the first image.

2. A computer display apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the display controller is programmed to create pixel data according to the imaging instructions for the one or more images,

wherein the display controller is programmed to generate first and second pixel data sets from the pixel data,

wherein the display controller is programmed to transform the pixel data of the first and second pixel data sets according to the display mode instructions,

wherein the display controller is programmed to cause the first display unit to generate the first image from the first transformed pixel data set according to the display mode instructions,

wherein the display controller is programmed to cause the second display unit to generate the second image from the second transformed pixel data set according to the display mode instructions independent of the generation of the first image.

3. A computer display apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pixel data comprises pixel address data, and wherein the display mode instructions comprise instructions to alter one or more pixel addresses of the pixel data.

4. A computer display apparatus as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the display controller is programmed to cause the first display unit to generate the first image in a first display mode, and

wherein the display controller is programmed to cause the second display unit to generate the second image in a second display mode independent of the generation of the first image in the first display mode.

5. A computer display apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first display mode comprises a first display orientation and the second display mode comprises a second display orientation.

6. A computer display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display processor is arranged to create pixel data according to the imaging instructions, the display controller further comprising:

a display memory re-mapper operatively coupled to the display processor and arranged to transform the pixel data according to the display mode instructions,

a first refresh output operatively coupled to the display memory re-mapper and operatively coupled to the first display unit, the first refresh output arranged to read the first transformed pixel data set and to provide scan data relating to the first image to the first display unit;

a second refresh output operatively coupled to the display memory re-mapper and operatively coupled to the second display unit, the second refresh output arranged to read the second transformed pixel data set and to provide scan data relating to the second image to the second display unit.

7. A computer display apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the display memory re-mapper is arranged to control a scan mode of the first refresh output according to the display mode instructions,

wherein the display memory re-mapper is arranged to control a scan mode of the second refresh output according to the display mode instructions independent of scan mode of the first refresh output.

8. A computer display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display processor is arranged to create pixel data according to the imaging instructions, the display controller further comprising:

a first refresh output operatively coupled to the first display unit, the first refresh output arranged to provide a request for pixel data to the display memory fetcher, to receive transformed pixel data in response to the request, and to provide scan data relating to the first image to the first display unit;

a second refresh output operatively coupled to the second display unit, the second refresh output arranged to provide a request for pixel data to the display memory fetcher, to receive the transformed pixel data in response to the request, and to provide scan data relating to the second image to the second display unit; and

a display memory fetcher operatively coupled to the display processor and the first and second refresh outputs, and arranged to transform pixel data in response to a request for pixel data from the first refresh output and to transform pixel data in response to a request from the second refresh output independent of a request from the first refresh output.

9. A computer display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second display units are touch sensitive, and wherein the display controller further comprises:

a first input controller operatively coupled to the first display unit and arranged to receive data relating to a position touched on the first display unit;

a second input controller operatively coupled to the second display unit and arranged to receive data relating to a position touched on the second display unit; and

an input data re-mapper operatively coupled to the first and second input controllers and arranged to transform the positional data from the first and second input controllers based on the display mode instructions.

10. A computer display apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an operating controller operatively coupled to the display controller, the operating controller comprising a processor and a memory,

the operating controller being programmed to receive data relating to a computer operating system from a memory external to the computer display apparatus,

the operating controller being programmed to execute the computer operating system according to instructions within the computer operating system data,

wherein the display controller is programmed to generate the first and second images independent of the operating controller.

11. A computer display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first image comprises a first portion of an image and the second image comprises a second portion of the image.

12. A computer display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display mode instructions comprise instructions for a first display mode for the first image and instructions for a second display mode for the second image.

13. A computer display apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a housing arranged to house the display controller, the housing comprising a first housing portion arranged to house the first display unit, and a second housing portion articulately connected to the first housing portion and arranged to house the second display unit.

14. A display controller comprising:

a display processor programmed to generate pixel data according to imaging instructions;

a display re-mapper operatively coupled to the display processor and programmed to manipulate the pixel data according to display mode instructions;

a first and second refresh output operatively coupled to the display re-mapper, the first refresh output being programmed to generate an image display from at least part of the manipulated pixel data on a first display unit in a first display mode and the second refresh output being programmed to generate an image display from at least part of the manipulated pixel data on a second display unit in a second display mode,

wherein the image displayed on the first display unit is displayed in a display mode independent of the display mode of the image displayed on the second display unit.

15. A display controller as claimed in claim 14, wherein the display re-mapper is programmed to alter one or more pixel addresses of the pixel data according to the display mode instructions to create the manipulated pixel data.

16. A display controller as claimed in claim 14, wherein the display re-mapper is programmed to apportion the pixel data according to the display mode instructions into pixel data to be displayed on the first display unit and pixel data to be displayed on the second display unit.

17. A display controller as claimed in claim 14, wherein the display re-mapper is programmed to control a scan mode of the first refresh output and a scan mode of the second refresh output.

18. A display controller as claimed in claim 14 further comprising an input data re-mapper operatively coupled to a first touch-sensitive display unit and a second touch-sensitive display unit, the input data re-mapper programmed to manipulate the positional data received from first and second touch-sensitive display units based on the display mode instructions.

19. A display controller as claimed in claim 14, wherein the display mode instructions comprise instructions for displaying a first image on the first display unit and instructions for displaying a second image on the second display unit independent of the display mode of the first display unit.

20. A computer display apparatus comprising the display controller as claimed in claim 14, the first display unit and the second display unit, wherein the first and second display units are articulately coupled.

21. A display controller comprising:

a display processor programmed to generate pixel data according to imaging instructions;

a first and second refresh output, the first refresh output being programmed to request pixel data for a first display unit and a second refresh output being programmed to request pixel data for a second display unit;

a display memory fetcher operatively coupled to the display processor and the first and second refresh outputs, wherein the display memory fetcher is programmed to manipulate pixel data according to display mode instructions in response to a request for pixel data from at least one of the first and second refresh outputs,

wherein the requesting refresh output is programmed to generate an image display on a display unit from the manipulated pixel data in accordance with display mode instructions and an image displayed on the first display unit is displayed in a display mode independent of the display mode of the image displayed on the second display unit.

22. A display controller as claimed in claim 21, wherein the display memory fetcher is programmed to alter one or more pixel addresses of the pixel data according to the display mode instructions to create the manipulated pixel data.

23. A display controller as claimed in claim 21, further comprising an input data re-mapper operatively coupled to a first touch-sensitive display unit and a second touch-sensitive display unit, the input data re-mapper programmed to manipulate the positional data received from first and second touch-sensitive display units based on the display mode instructions.

24. A display controller as claimed in claim 21, wherein the display mode instructions comprise instructions for displaying a first image on the first display unit and instructions for displaying a second image on the second display unit independent of the display mode of the first display unit.

25. A computer display apparatus comprising the display controller as claimed in claim 21, the first display unit and the second display unit, wherein the first and second display units are articulately coupled.