Apparatus and method for saving electric power in a display system

• US 6,297,601 B1
• Filed: 08/08/2000
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kang, Ho-Woong
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Thuy Vinh
• Application Number:
  US09/634,651
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• Field of Search: 315/387, 315/408, 315/411, 363/20, 363/21, 363/50, 363/56, 361/18
• US Class Current: 315/387
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 1/005 Power supply circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for saving electric power in a display system in which, when the display system is turned to an off mode, a total electric power consumption is reduced to a range for the display system to be operated through a reduction of an on-duty time period of a PWM pulse by using a charging/discharging device of a large capacitance. The present invention provides an ultra electric power-saving mode for a display system when the display system is turned into an off mode with no input of the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals from a video card of the computer main body to the display system. It accomplishes this by reducing the total electric power consumption by approximately half compared to the existing off mode performance through a remarkable reduction of the on-duty time of a PWM pulse to a range of supplying an operational voltage of the microcomputer with the use of a charging/discharging device of large capacitance.

Claims

1. An electric power-saving apparatus for a display system for providing an electric power-saving mode as an off mode through a reduction of electric power consumed in an entire system when horizontal and vertical synchronization signals are not inputted from a computer main body during a predetermined time period, comprising:

an electric power supply control part for selectively generating a pulse width modulation (PWM) pulse of a PWM circuit section in response to a received electric power supply control signal;

an operational voltage supply part for generating an operational voltage, wherein the operational voltage supply part is charged with energy induced in a secondary winding of a switching transformer when the PWM pulse is generated by the PWM circuit section under control of the electric power supply control part, and wherein commercial electric power is supplied to a primary winding of the switching transformer and the operational voltage supply part is discharged when the PWM pulse is not generated by the PWM circuit section under the control of the electric power supply control part; and

a microcomputer driven based on the operational voltage generated by the operational voltage supply part for switching the entire system into the off mode when the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals are not inputted from the computer main body, and for outputting the electric supply control signal to the electric power supply control part as soon as a remaining voltage of the operational voltage supply part becomes lower than a minimum value of an input compensation voltage of the operational voltage supply part when the operational voltage supply part is discharged.

2. The electric power-saving apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operational voltage supply part comprises:

a regulated voltage circuit section for converting a voltage input to a regulated voltage and supplying the regulated voltage to the microcomputer as the operational voltage for driving the microcomputer; and

a charging/discharging device which is charged when energy is induced in the secondary winding of the switching transformer, and which is discharged when energy is not induced in the secondary winding of the switching transformer.

3. The electric power-saving apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the remaining voltage of the operational voltage supply part is are a remaining voltage of the charging/discharging device, and wherein the minimum value of the input compensation voltage of the operational voltage supply part is a minimum value of an input compensation voltage of the regulated voltage circuit section;

and

wherein a charging start time of the charging/discharging device is a time when the remaining voltage of the charging/discharging device is the same as the minimum value of the input compensation voltage of the regulated voltage circuit section when the charging/discharging device is discharged.

4. The electric power-saving apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric power supply control part comprises:

a switching device which is switched based on the electric power supply control signal outputted from the microcomputer; and

a photo-coupler for selectively supplying a zero voltage to the PWM circuit section in accordance with a switching operation of the switching device.

5. The electric power-saving apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric power supply control part comprises:

a switching device which is switched based on the electric power supply control signal outputted from the microcomputer; and

a relay for selectively supplying a zero voltage to the PWM circuit section in accordance with a switching operation of the switching device.

6. The electric power-saving apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microcomputer sets the entire system to the off mode and sets the electric power supply control signal to a turn-off state before switching the entire system from the off mode to a normal mode when the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals are inputted from the computer main body.

7. An electric power-saving apparatus for a display system for providing an electric power-saving mode as an off mode through a reduction of electric power consumed in an entire system when horizontal and vertical synchronization signals are not inputted from a computer main body during a predetermined time period, comprising:

an electric power supply control part for selectively supplying commercial electric power to a primary winding of a switching transformer in response to a received electric power supply control signal;

an operational voltage supply part which is charged with energy induced in a secondary winding of the switching transformer in response to a pulse width modulation (PWM) pulse when the commercial electric power is supplied to the primary winding of the switching transformer under control of the electric power supply control part, and which is discharged when the commercial electric power is not supplied to the primary winding of the switching transformer under control of the electric power supply control part, said operational voltage supply part providing an operational voltage; and

a microcomputer driven based on the operational voltage provided by the operational voltage supply part for switching the entire system into the off mode when the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals are not inputted from the computer main body, and for outputting the electric supply control signal to the electric power supply control part as soon as a remaining voltage of the operational voltage supply part becomes lower than a minimum value of an input compensation voltage of the operational voltage supply part when the operational voltage supply part is discharged.

8. The electric power-saving apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the operational voltage supply part comprises:

a regulated voltage circuit section for converting a voltage inputted to a regulated voltage, and for supplying the regulated voltage to the microcomputer as the operational voltage; and

a charging/discharging device which is charged when the energy is induced in the secondary winding of the switching transformer, and which is discharged when energy is not induced in the secondary winding of the switching transformer.

9. The electric power-saving apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the remaining voltage of the operational voltage supply part is are a remaining voltage of the charging/discharging device, and wherein the minimum value of the input compensation voltage of the operational voltage supply part is a minimum value of an input compensation voltage of the regulated voltage circuit section;

and

wherein a charging start time of the charging/discharging device is a time when the remaining voltage of the charging/discharging device is the same as the minimum value of the input compensation voltage of the regulated voltage circuit section when the charging/discharging device is discharged.

10. The electric power-saving apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the electric power supply control part comprises:

a switching device which is switched based on the electric power supply control signal outputted from the microcomputer; and

a photo-coupler for selectively supplying a zero voltage to the primary winding of the switching transformer in accordance with a switching operation of the switching device.

11. The electric power-saving apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the electric power supply control part comprises:

a switching device which is switched based on the electric power supply control signal outputted from the microcomputer; and

a relay for selectively supplying a zero voltage to the primary winding of the switching transformer in accordance with the switching operation of the switching device.

12. The electric power-saving apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the microcomputer sets the entire system to the off mode and sets the electric power supply control signal to a turn-off state before switching the entire system from the off mode to a normal mode when the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals are inputted from the computer main body.

13. An electric power-saving method for a display system, comprising the steps of:

(a) determining whether horizontal and vertical synchronization signals are inputted from a computer main body;

(b) performing a normal mode of operation when the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals are inputted from the computer main body; and

(c) when the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals are not inputted from the computer main body, performing the following operations;

(c1) turning an entire system into an off mode;

(c2) outputting a turn-off signal to cut off a voltage supplied to at least one load; and

(c3) outputting an electric power supply control signal to selectively control an induction of energy in a secondary winding of a switching transformer;

(c4) after outputting the electric power supply control signal, counting a time period;

(c5) determining whether the counted time period is the same as a predetermined time period;

(c6) when the counted time period is the same as the predetermined time period, determining whether the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals are inputted from the computer main body;

(c7) setting the electric power supply control signal to a turn-off state before turning the entire system from the off mode to normal mode and outputting a turn-on signal for supplying the voltage to said at least one load when the counted time period is the same as the predetermined time period, and when the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals are inputted from the computer main body; and

(c8) outputting the electric power supply control signal so that the energy is not induced in the secondary winding of the switching transformer when the counted time is the same as the predetermined time period, and when the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals are not inputted from the computer main body.

14. The electric power-saving method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the predetermined time period in the step (c5) is a charging/discharging time period of a charging/discharging device which is charged and discharged by the energy induced in the secondary winding of the switching transformer.

15. The electric power saving method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising the step of:

when the counted time period is not the same as the predetermined time period in step (c5), returning to step (c3).

16. An electric power saving apparatus for a display system having a deflection circuit stage, said apparatus comprising:

a switching transformer having primary and secondary windings;

power input means connected between an external power source and said primary winding for applying electrical current to said primary winding;

switching transformer driving means connected between said deflection circuit stage and said primary winding for selectively switching said primary winding between conducting and non-conducting states so as to selectively induce and not induce energy in said secondary winding;

output means connected to said secondary winding for providing at least one output signal to at least one load in response to the energy induced in said secondary winding; and

electric power supply control means connected to one of said power input means and said switching transformer driving means for selectively disabling and enabling operation of said primary winding so as to prevent the energy from being induced in said secondary winding; and

microcomputer means responsive to an operational voltage input thereto for monitoring horizontal and vertical synchronization signal inputs from a computer, for providing an off mode control input to said electric power supply control means when horizontal and vertical synchronization signals are not received from said computer so as to cause said electric power supply control means to disable the operation of said primary winding, and for providing an on mode control input to said electric power supply means when the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals are received from said computer supply control means so as to enable the operation of said primary winding.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said electric power supply control means has an output connected to a junction between said power input means and said primary winding.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said power input means comprises a bridge diode connected to said external power source and having an output connected in common to both the output of said electric power supply control means and one end of said primary winding.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said electric power supply control means has an output connected to said switching transformer driving means.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said switching transformer driving means comprises a synchronization signal output stage connected to said deflection circuit stage, a pulse width modulation (PWM) circuit connected to an output of said synchronization signal output stage and having a PWM output, and a switching device connected between said PWM output and said primary winding.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said output of said electric power supply control means is connected to a junction between the output of said synchronization signal output stage and an input of said PWM circuit.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said output of said electric power supply control means is connected to said PWM circuit.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a feedback circuit connect ed between an auxiliary winding of said switching transformer and said switching transformer driving means, wherein said output of said electric power supply control means is connected to said PWM circuit through said feedback circuit.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising an electric power supply part connected between an auxiliary winding of said switching transformer and said switching transformer driving means, wherein said output of said electric power supply control means is connected to said PWM circuit through said electric power supply part.

25. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

operational voltage supply means for generating an operational voltage, wherein the operational voltage supply means is charged with the energy induced in the secondary winding of said switching transformer means when a PWM pulse is generated in said switching transformer driving means, and the operational voltage supply means is discharged when the PWM pulse is not generated in said switching transformer driving means.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the operational voltage supply means comprises:

a regulated voltage circuit section for converting a voltage input to a regulated voltage and for supplying the regulated voltage to said microcomputer means as the operational voltage; and

a charging/discharging device which is charged when the energy is induced in the secondary winding of the switching transformer and discharged when the energy is not induced in the secondary winding of the switching transformer.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein a charging start time of the charging/discharging device is a time when a remaining voltage of the charging/discharging device is the same as a minimum value of an input compensation voltage of the regulated voltage circuit section when the charging/discharging device is discharged.

28. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said electric power supply control means comprises:

a switching device which is switched based on an electric power supply control signal outputted from said microcomputer means; and

a photo-coupler for selectively supplying a zero voltage to said switching transformer driving means in accordance with a switching operation of the switching device.

29. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said electric power supply control means comprises:

a switching device which is switched based on an electric power supply control signal outputted from said microcomputer means; and

a relay for selectively supplying a zero voltage to said switching transformer driving means in accordance with a switching operation of the switching device.

30. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said microcomputer means sets the system to an off mode and sets an electric power supply control signal from said electrical power supply control means to a turn-off state before turning the system from the off mode to a normal mode when the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals are not received from the computer.