PORTABLE COMPUTER

• US 20080172626A1
• Filed: 08/14/2007
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Inventors: Wu, Chi-Yu
• Application Number:
  US11/838,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20080172626A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1431 using a single graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092

Abstract

A portable computer is provided. The portable computer includes a main system and an auxiliary system. The main system includes a motherboard and a first display. The auxiliary system includes a second display and a microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor includes a general purpose input output (GPIO) interface and a display control bus. The microprocessor controls the main system through the GPIO interface.

Claims

1. A portable computer, comprising:

a main system comprising;

a motherboard; and

a first display coupled to the motherboard; and

an auxiliary system coupled to the motherboard, and the auxiliary system comprising;

a second display; and

a microprocessor comprising a general purpose input output (GPIO) interface and a display control bus, wherein the display control bus is coupled to the second display, the GPIO interface is coupled to the motherboard, and the microprocessor controls the main system through the GPIO interface.

2. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor simulates a power-on instruction of the main system for starting up the main system through the GPIO interface according to a startup signal.

3. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor simulates a power-off instruction of the main system through the GPIO interface according to a shutdown signal, and the main system receives the power-off instruction and makes itself enter a standby or shutdown state according to a system state.

4. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor further comprises a system management bus (SMbus) through which the microprocessor is coupled to the motherboard.

5. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor further comprises a universal serial bus (USB) through which the microprocessor is coupled to the motherboard.

6. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary system further comprises a user interface (UI) providing an operating interface for a user.

7. The portable computer according to claim 4, wherein the microprocessor reads battery capacity through the SMbus.

8. The portable computer according to claim 5, wherein data transmission between the main system and the auxiliary system is carried out through the USB.

9. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the main system comprises a magnetic storage device which stores a first operating system and the auxiliary system comprises a non-volatile memory (NVM) device which stores a second operating system.

10. The portable computer according to claim 9, wherein the second operating system comprises an electrical message browsing program, a multimedia playing program, and a power management program.

11. The portable computer according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor controls a picture rotary angle of the second display through the display control bus.