Display control device incorporating an auxiliary display

• US 5,307,055 A
• Filed: 07/06/1992
• Issued: 04/26/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Parametrics Corp. (Sims Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: General Parametrics Corp. (Sims Ltd.)
• Inventors: Baskin, Herbert B., DuVivier, Joseph A., Sanders, Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHANH DUY
• Application Number:
  US07/908,937
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 340/717, 340/706, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.56, 340/825.17, 358/194.1, 358/22, 455/155, 455/158, 455/4, 341/17, 341/23, 364/700, 364/710, 364/710.14, 359/164, 434/350, 434/362, 434/334, 434/307
• US Class Current: 345/2.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/04 Display device controller operating with a plurality of display units
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

A method for controlling a system for presenting to an audience images on a primary display or displays that incorporates a auxiliary monitor. The auxiliary monitor may be used in a variety of ways to assist in the presentation of information on the primary display. The preferred embodiment of the present invention contains a hand-held display control including an array of key switches providing control of the main monitor and an auxiliary monitor allowing the operator to view any one of several options. These options include a duplicate of the image being displayed on the main monitor, the next image to be displayed on the main monitor, any other image available from the image generator, a list of the images available from the image generator, and notes associated with each image or with the entire presentation.

Claims

1. A computer display system for displaying visual images comprising:

image generation means for generating visual images;

display control logic means coupled to said image generation means for controlling images being displayed by said computer display system;

storage means coupled to said display control logic means for storing said visual images generated by said image generation means, said storage means having a first portion for storing a first visual image of said visual images, said storage means having a second portion for storing a second visual image of said visual images, said first visual image being different from said second visual image;

overlay storage means coupled to said display control logic means for storing an overlay image;

hand-held remote control means coupled to said display control logic means and said storage means for selecting for display said visual images generated by said image generation means;

primary display means coupled to said image generation means for displaying primary visual images generated by said image generation means; and

secondary display means located on said remote control means for displaying secondary visual images, said secondary display means for previewing visual images displayed on said primary display means, said hand-held remote control means further including means for selecting said first visual image for display on said primary display means concurrently with the display of said second visual image on said secondary display means, said hand-held remote control means further including means for selecting said overlay image for display on said secondary display means concurrently with the display of said visual images on said secondary display means.

2. The computer display system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said visual images displayed on said secondary display means include graphical, textual, or numerical images and any combination thereof.

3. The computer display system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said primary visual images are different than said secondary visual images.

4. The computer display system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said primary visual images are substantially similar to said secondary visual images.

5. The computer display system claimed in claim 1 further including:

means for receiving a command signal sent from said remote control device;

means for generating a secondary signal associated with said command received from said remote control device.

6. In a computer display system having an image generation means for generating visual images, display control logic means coupled to said image generation means for controlling images being displayed by said computer display system, storage means coupled to said display control logic means for storing said visual images generated by said image generation means, said storage means having a first portion for storing a first visual image of said visual images, said storage means having a second portion for storing a second visual image of said visual images, said first visual image being different from said second visual image, overlay storage means coupled to said display control logic means for storing an overlay image, hand-held remote control means coupled to said display control logic means and said storage means for selecting for display said visual images generated by said image generation means, primary display means coupled to said image generation means for displaying primary visual images generated by said image generation means, and secondary display means located on said remote control means for displaying secondary visual images, a method for controlling said computer display system comprising the steps of:

selecting a visual image for display on said secondary display means, said visual image being selected using said remote control device;

selecting said first visual image for display on said primary display means concurrently with the display of said second visual image on said secondary display means;

selecting said overlay image for display on said secondary display means concurrently with the display of said visual images on said secondary display means;

processing said visual image selected for display on said secondary display means, said visual image being processed using said image generation means and said display control logic means;

storing said visual image selected for display in said storage means; and

previewing said visual image stored in said storage means on said secondary display means, displaying said visual image on said primary display means.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said visual images displayed on said secondary display means include graphical, textual, or numerical images and any combination thereof.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said primary visual images are different than said secondary visual images.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said primary visual images are substantially similar to said secondary visual images.

10. The method claimed in claim 6 further including the steps of:

receiving a command signal sent from said remote control device;

generating a secondary signal associated with said command received from said remote control device.