Method, apparatus and system for a secondary personal computer display

• US 6,956,542 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Edwards, Britney D., Okuley, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Assistant Examiner(s): DHARIA, PRABODH M
• Application Number:
  US10/325,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20040119660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 345/2.1, 345540-545, 345/507, 345/511, 345/531, 345/537, 345/169, 700/17, 700/200, 725/60, 725/1
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay

Abstract

An independently functional secondary device may be coupled to a personal computer (“PC”) system. In one embodiment, the secondary device may be capable, when coupled to the PC system, of displaying output data from the PC system on the secondary device display. The secondary device may also perform independent processing when decoupled from the PC system.

Claims

1. A dual display computing system, comprising:

a primary device including a first processor and a primary display; and

a secondary device including a second processor and a secondary display, the secondary device capable, when coupled to the primary device via a PCI Express connector, of displaying a first output data from the primary device on the secondary display, the secondary device further capable, when decoupled from the primary device, of displaying on the secondary display a second output data from the secondary device.

2. The dual display computing system according to claim 1 wherein the primary device further includes a first video controller, and wherein the primary device is capable of displaying output data from the primary device on the primary display.

3. The dual display computing system according to claim 2 wherein the primary device further includes a second video controller, and wherein the secondary device is capable of displaying the first output data from the primary device on the secondary display when the secondary device is coupled to the second video controller.

4. The dual display computing system according to claim 2 wherein the secondary device further includes a video input port coupled to a video switch, the video input port capable of routing data from the primary device to the video switch, the video switch capable of causing the second processor to process the data from the primary device and display results from processing the data on the secondary display.

5. The dual display computing system according to claim 1 wherein the secondary device comprises a personal digital assistant and the PCI Express connector is a PCI Express converter.

6. A secondary device in a dual display computing system, comprising:

a secondary processor;

a secondary display; and

a PCI Express connector capable of coupling the secondary device to a primary device, the primary device including a first processor and a first display;

the secondary device capable, when coupled to the primary device, of displaying output from the primary device on the secondary display, the secondary device capable, when decoupled from the primary device, of displaying on the secondary display output from the secondary processor.

7. The secondary device according to claim 6 wherein the PCI Express connector comprises a PCI Express converter.

8. The secondary device according to claim 6 further comprising a video input port coupled to a video switch, the video input port capable of routing data from the primary device to the video switch, the video switch capable of causing the secondary processor to process the data from the primary device and display output from the data on the secondary display.

9. The secondary device according to claim 6 wherein the secondary device is capable of being coupled to a video controller in the primary device, and wherein the secondary device is capable, when coupled to the video controller in the primary device, of displaying output from the primary device on the secondary display.

10. A method for displaying output on a dual display computing system, comprising:

displaying output data from a primary device on a secondary display of a secondary device including a secondary processor and a secondary display;

when coupled to the primary device via a PCI Express connector, the primary device including a first processor and a first display and displaying output data from the secondary device on the secondary display when the secondary device is decoupled from the primary device.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein displaying the output from the primary device further comprises receiving data from the primary device and processing the data to display the results.

12. The method according to claim 10 wherein displaying the output from the primary device further comprises receiving and displaying the output data from the primary device.