Display screen blanking using interactive video and user-interface monitoring
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlling video display comprising:
- a first signal line connected to indicate activity by a user-interface device;
a second signal line connected to indicate activity by video update circuitry;
first timer means, having a reset input connected to said first signal line, for generating a first time-out signal upon determining lapse of a predetermined period of time between successive indications of activity by said user-interface device;
second timer means, having a reset input operationally associated with both said first and second signal lines, for generating a second time-out signal upon determining lapse of a selected period of time between successive indications of activity by said video update circuitry, wherein a signal present on said first signal line terminates said first and second time-out signals; and
interrupt circuitry having a first input in electrical communication with said first timer means and having a second input in electrical communication with said second timer means, said interrupt circuitry having means for generating an interrupt signal upon receiving both of said first and second time-out signals, said interrupt circuitry further having means for sustaining said interrupt signal in the absence of an indication of user-interface activity along said first signal line;
wherein an indication of activity by said video update circuitry is ineffective with respect to terminating said interrupt signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for reducing power consumption by a display device includes monitoring time intervals between successive updates by video update circuitry and time intervals between successive uses by one or more user-interface devices, such as a mouse or keyboard. A first time-elapsed signal is generated if a predetermined time interval is exceeded between successive uses by the user-interface devices. A reset input to a first timer is connected to the user-interface devices to restart the timing with each use. A second time-elapsed signal is generated if the interval between successive video updates exceeds a second predetermined time period. Video updating resets the timer used to monitor the video update circuitry, but once the second time-elapsed signal has been initiated, a video update will not disable the signal. Rather, the second time-elapsed signal is latched until the use of a user-interface device. Simultaneous occurrence of the first and second time-elapsed signals generates an interrupt signal for reducing power consumption by a display device.
58 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling video display comprising:
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a first signal line connected to indicate activity by a user-interface device; a second signal line connected to indicate activity by video update circuitry; first timer means, having a reset input connected to said first signal line, for generating a first time-out signal upon determining lapse of a predetermined period of time between successive indications of activity by said user-interface device; second timer means, having a reset input operationally associated with both said first and second signal lines, for generating a second time-out signal upon determining lapse of a selected period of time between successive indications of activity by said video update circuitry, wherein a signal present on said first signal line terminates said first and second time-out signals; and interrupt circuitry having a first input in electrical communication with said first timer means and having a second input in electrical communication with said second timer means, said interrupt circuitry having means for generating an interrupt signal upon receiving both of said first and second time-out signals, said interrupt circuitry further having means for sustaining said interrupt signal in the absence of an indication of user-interface activity along said first signal line; wherein an indication of activity by said video update circuitry is ineffective with respect to terminating said interrupt signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for controlling video display comprising:
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user-activity means connected to a user device for generating an output having a first logic state indicative of activity by said user device and having a second logic state indicative of inactivity by said user device; video-activity means connected to video circuitry for generating an output having a first logic state indicative of selected activity by said video circuitry and having a second logic state indicative of inactivity; a first timer having a reset connected to said user-activity means to reset said first timer in response to said first logic state being output by said user-activity means, said first timer having means for generating a first time-elapsed signal upon passage of a selected time interval between successive resets; a second timer having a reset connected to said video-activity means to reset said second timer in response to said first logic state being output by said video-activity means, said second timer having means for generating a set signal upon passage of a selected time interval between successive resets; latch means having a set input connected to said second timer for generating a second time-elapsed signal in response to receiving said set signal from said second timer, said latch means having a reset in electrical communication with said user-activity means to terminate said second time-elapsed signal in response to said first logic state being output by said user-activity means; and means connected to said first timer and said latch for reducing power consumption by a display device during time periods of simultaneous receipt of each of said first and second time-elapsed signals. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of reducing power consumption by a display device comprising:
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monitoring time intervals between successive uses of at least one user-interface device of a computing system; initiating a first time-elapsed signal when a time interval between successive uses exceeds a first predetermined time period; terminating said first time-elapsed signal only upon a subsequent use of a user-interface device; monitoring time intervals between successive updates by video update circuitry; initiating a second time-elapsed signal when a time interval between successive updates by said video update circuitry exceeds a second predetermined time period; terminating said second time-elapse signal only upon a subsequent use of a user-interface device; and generating an interrupt signal for reducing power consumption by a display device during time periods in which each of said first and second time-elapsed signals is being generated. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification