Computer having auxiliary display device

• US 6,191,758 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1998
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Sang-jin
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US09/106,742
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1, 345/2, 345/3, 345/112, 345/502, 345/520, 345/508, 345/512, 345/211, 345/212, 345/213
• US Class Current: 345/2.2
• 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: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller

Abstract

A computer having an auxiliary display device which enables a user to work more effectively by including an auxiliary display device as well as a main display device, is provided. The computer having an auxiliary display device includes an input device for inputting user'"'"'s commands, a computer body for performing a predetermined program according to the commands input to the input device, a main display device for displaying signals output from the computer body on a screen, and an auxiliary display device for displaying the signals output from the computer body on a screen together with the main display device. The computer body also includes a main display controller for controlling the main display device and an auxiliary display controller for controlling the auxiliary display device, and after booting when a power supply of the computer body is turned on, the computer body executes a predetermined application program, and displays the execution result thereof on the auxiliary display device through the auxiliary display controller.

Claims

1. A computer having a main display device and an auxiliary display device comprising:

an input device for inputting user'"'"'s commands;

a keyboard controller responsive to the commands input to said input device;

a main display controller for controlling said main display device;

an auxiliary display controller for controlling said auxiliary display device; and

a central processing unit for controlling said auxiliary display controller to display a program execution result, upon powering up said computer and following a self-test during booting of said computer by executing a predetermined program, and for controlling one of said main display controller and said auxiliary display controller for displaying a result of an application program based upon display information obtained from said input device and said application program.

2. A method of using a computer having a main display device and an auxiliary display device, comprising the steps of:

performing a power-on-self-test operation upon powering up said computer;

executing a predetermined program upon completion of said power-on-self-test operation;

displaying an execution result of said step of executing a predetermined program only on said auxiliary display device;

executing an application program after displaying said execution result; and

selecting one of said main display device and said auxiliary display device for displaying an execution result of said step of executing an application program, wherein said step of selecting responds to display selection information within said application program and user activation of a predetermined key of a keyboard connected to said computer, such that said execution result of said predetermined program remains on said auxiliary display device when main display device is selected in said step of selecting.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said step of displaying an execution result of said step of executing a predetermined program comprises displaying said execution result of said predetermined program through an auxiliary controller.

4. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said step of displaying an execution result of said step of executing a predetermined program comprises displaying said execution result of said predetermined program through a first auxiliary graphic memory of a display controller for controlling both said main display device and said auxiliary display device.

5. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said step of displaying an execution result of said step of executing an application program comprises displaying the execution result of said application program on said main display device through a main display controller, when said main display device is selected.

6. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said step of displaying an execution result of said step of executing a n application program comprises displaying the execution result of said application program on said auxiliary display device through an auxiliary display controller, when said auxiliary display device is selected.

7. The method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said step of displaying an execution result of said step of executing an application program comprises the steps of:

displaying the execution result of said application program on said main display device through a main display controller, when said main display device is selected; and

displaying the execution result of said application program on said auxiliary display device through an auxiliary display controller, when said auxiliary display device is selected.

8. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein said step of displaying an execution result of said step of executing an application program comprises displaying the execution result of said application program on said main display device through a main graphic memory, when said main display device is selected.

9. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein said step of displaying an execution result of said step of executing an application program comprises displaying the execution result of said application program on said auxiliary display device through a second a uxiliary graphic memory, when said auxiliary display device is selected.

10. The method as set forth in claim 4, wherein said step of displaying an execution result of said step of executing an application program comprises the steps of:

displaying the execution result of said application program on said main display device through a main graphic memory, when said main display device is selected; and

displaying the execution result of said application program on said auxiliary display device through an auxiliary graphic memory, when said auxiliary display device is selected.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10, wherein said step of displaying said execution result of said application program on said auxiliary display device comprises the steps of:

enabling said second auxiliary graphic memory;

displaying said execution result of said application program on said auxiliary display device;

determining whether said application program has terminated; and

enabling said first auxiliary graphic memory when it is determined that said application program has terminated.

12. A computer having a main display device and an auxiliary display device comprising:

an input device for inputting user'"'"'s commands;

a computer body for performing a predetermined program according to the commands input to said input device;

a display controller for selectively controlling said main display device and said auxiliary display device, said main display device displaying signals output from said computer body on a screen when selected by said display controller, and said auxiliary display device displaying signals output from said computer body on a screen when selected by said display controller;

said display controller immediately controlling only said auxiliary display device to display a program execution result of a predetermined program following a self-test during booting of said computer, wherein the result of said predetermined program continues to be displayed on said auxiliary display device when said display controller selects said main display device to display a result of an application program; and

said display controller controlling said auxiliary display device to display a result of said application program instead of the result of said predetermined program when said display controller selects said auxiliary display device instead of said main display device, and controlling said auxiliary display device to display said result of said predetermined program upon termination of said application program.

13. The computer having a main display device and an auxiliary display device according to claim 12, said display controller comprising:

a graphic controller for receiving data from a bus to process a predetermined function;

a main graphic memory for storing said data output from said graphic controller;

a first data serializer for receiving data output from said main graphic memory to convert said data to a serial bit stream of data;

a first attribute controller for receiving said serial bit stream of data output from said first data serializer and then converting said serial bit stream of data to appropriate color data, to output the color data to said main display device;

an auxiliary graphic memory for storing said data output from said graphic controller;

a second data serializer for receiving data output from said auxiliary graphic memory to convert said to a serial bit stream;

a second attribute controller for receiving said serial bit stream output from said second data serializer and then converting said serial bit stream to appropriate color data, to output the color data to said auxiliary display device;

a sequencer for generating clocks in a unit of a pixel or a character and controlling a sequence of all functions of said display controller, to generate read clocks and write clocks of said main graphic memory and said auxiliary graphic memory;

a main display controller responsive to an output of said sequencer for generating signals related to timing to control said main display device; and

an auxiliary display controller responsive to an output of said sequencer for generating signals related to timing to control said auxiliary display device.

14. The computer having a main display device and an auxiliary display device according to claim 13, wherein said auxiliary graphic memory comprises first and second auxiliary graphic memories.

15. The computer having a main display device and an auxiliary display device according to claim 14, wherein said execution result of said predetermined program is displayed on said auxiliary display device through said first auxiliary graphic memory.

16. The computer having a main display device and an auxiliary display device according to claim 14, wherein said first auxiliary graphic memory is enabled to output data for display on said auxiliary display device upon power up of said computer, said main graphic memory is enabled to output data for display on said main display device according to a selection control signal output from said sequencer during execution of said application program, and said second auxiliary graphic memory is enable to output data for display on said auxiliary display device according to another selection control signal output from said sequencer during execution of said application program.