Liquid crystal display device, portable electronic device and driving method thereof

• US 7,019,737 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2000
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Minolta Corporation Limited (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Hotomi, Hideo, Hashimoto, Kiyofumi, Yamakawa, Eiji, Asai, Katsuhiko, Ootsuka, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOW, DOON Y
• Application Number:
  US09/522,958
• Time in Patent Office: 2,209 Days
• Field of Search: 345/211, 345/212, 345/534, 345/1.2, 345/87, 714/14, 708/141, 349/176, 713300-320
• US Class Current: 345/211
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3629 using liquid crystals having memory effects, e.g. ferroelectric liquid crystals

Abstract

A display device which is provided with a liquid crystal display which uses reflective type liquid crystal with a memory effect. This display device is used, for example, as a sub display of a personal computer. The liquid crystal display keeps displaying an image after supply of electric power thereto is stopped. When a specified time has passed since completion of writing, supply of electric power at least to a driving section of the liquid crystal display is stopped.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a display having a memory effect, the display adapted to maintain an image thereon without receiving electric power;

a driving circuit adapted to perform image writing on the display;

a data processing unit which is connected to the driving circuit, the data processing unit including at least one central processing unit adapted to operate in a sleep state during which part of an internal circuit is inactivated after completion of image writing;

a power supply circuit adapted to supply electric power to the driving circuit, the power supply circuit including one element selected from the group consisting of a booster circuit and a DC/DC converter;

a data reader including a slot adapted to receive a data storage medium, the data reader adapted to read data stored on a received data storage medium;

an operation section adapted to receive an input from a user; and

a controller adapted to inactivate at least one part of the power supply circuit after completion of image writing, the controller adapted to reactivate the inactivated at least one part of the power supply circuit upon receiving an input from the operation section;

wherein the at least one central processing unit changes from the sleep state to an active state and the data reader reads data from a data storage medium received in the data reader when the controller receives an input from the operation section,

wherein the controller reactivates the inactivated at least one part of the power supply circuit after the data reader reads data from a data storage medium,

wherein the driving circuit performs image writing on the display after the inactivated at least one part of the power supply circuit is reactivated, and

wherein the controller inactivates the at least one part of the power supply circuit after completion of image writing, the at least one central processing unit subsequently changes to the sleep state, and the display maintains an image thereon without receiving electric power.

2. An electronic device according to claim 1,

wherein the at least one central processing unit changes from the sleep state to the active state when a data storage medium is installed in the data reader,

wherein the data reader reads data from a data storage medium installed in the data reader,

wherein the controller reactivates the inactivated at least one part of the power supply circuit after the data reader reads the data,

wherein the driving circuit performs image writing on the display after the inactivated at least one part of the power supply circuit is reactivated,

wherein the controller inactivates the at least one part of the power supply circuit after completion of image writing, and

wherein the at least one central processing unit changes to the sleep state after the controller inactivates the at least one part of the power supply circuit.

3. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein:

the operation section includes a page forward key or a page backward key; and

the driving circuit performs image writing of a next page or a previous page in response to an input from the operation section.

4. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the display includes a liquid crystal which exhibits a cholesteric phase.

5. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein inactivation of the at least one part of the power supply circuit is inhibited while an input is being continuously made with the operation section.

6. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the data processing unit further includes a second central processing unit adapted to remain in an active state when the at least one central processing unit is in the sleep state.

7. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the data processing unit further includes a second central processing unit, wherein power consumption of the second central processing unit is smaller than power consumption of the at least one central processing unit.

8. An electronic device comprising:

a display having a memory effect, the display adapted to maintain an image thereon without receiving electric power;

a driving circuit adapted to perform image writing on the display;

a data processing unit which is connected to the driving circuit, the data processing unit including at least one central processing unit adapted to operate in a sleep state during which part of an internal circuit is inactivated after completion of image writing;

a power supply circuit adapted to supply electric power to the driving circuit, the power supply circuit including one element selected from the group consisting of a booster circuit and a DC/DC converter;

a data reader including a slot adapted to receive a data storage medium, the data reader adapted to read data stored on a received data storage medium;

an operation section adapted to receive an input from a user; and

a controller adapted to inactivate at least one part of the power supply circuit after completion of image writing, the controller adapted to reactivate the inactivated at least one part of the power supply circuit upon receiving an input from the operation section;

wherein the at least one central processing unit changes from the sleep state to an active state when the controller receives an input from the operation section,

wherein the data reader reads data from a data storage medium installed in the data reader and the driving circuit performs image writing on the display after the at least one central processing unit changes to the active state,

wherein the controller reactivates the inactivated at least one part of the power supply circuit before image writing and inactivates the at least one part of the power supply circuit after completion of image writing, and

wherein data reading and image writing are not performed simultaneously.

9. An electronic device according to claim 8,

wherein the at least one central processing unit changes from the sleep state to the active state when a data storage medium is installed in the data reader,

wherein the data reader reads data from a data storage medium installed in the data reader,

wherein the controller reactivates the inactivated at least one part of the power supply circuit after the data reader reads the data,

wherein the driving circuit performs image writing on the display after the inactivated at least one part of the power supply circuit is reactivated,

wherein the controller inactivates the at least one part of the power supply circuit after completion of image writing, and

wherein the at least one central processing unit changes to the sleep state after the controller inactivates the at least one part of the power supply circuit.

10. An electronic device according to claim 8, wherein:

the operation section includes a page forward key or a page backward key; and

the driving circuit performs image writing of a next page or a previous page in response to an input from the operation section.

11. An electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the display includes a liquid crystal which exhibits a cholesteric phase.

12. An electronic device according to claim 8, wherein inactivation of the at least one part of the power supply circuit is inhibited while an input is being continuously made with the operation section.

13. An electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the data processing unit further includes a second central processing unit adapted to remain in an active state when the at least one central processing unit is in the sleep state.

14. An electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the data processing unit further includes a second central processing unit, wherein power consumption of the second central processing unit is smaller than power consumption of the at least one central processing unit.

15. A method for operating a display apparatus comprising:

receiving a user input;

changing a processor from a sleep state to an active state when the processor receives a user input;

reading data from a data storage medium after changing the processor to the active state;

activating at least one portion of a power supply circuit after reading data from a data storage medium;

writing an image on a display portion of the display apparatus;

inactivating the at least one portion of the power supply circuit after writing an image on the display portion; and

changing the processor from the active state to the sleep state after inactivating the at least one portion of the power supply circuit,

wherein the display portion maintains an image thereon without receiving electric power.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein a user input corresponds to a user installing a data storage medium in the display apparatus.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein a user input corresponds to a user pressing a page forward key or a page backward key.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the display portion includes a liquid crystal which exhibits a cholesteric phase.

19. A method according to claim 15, further comprising inhibiting inactivating the at least one portion of the power supply when a user input is being continuously received.

20. A method according to claim 15, wherein the processor includes a first processing portion and a second processing portion, the first processing portion consuming less power when the processor is in the sleep state than when the processor is in the active state, the second processing portion remaining in an active state when the processor is in the sleep state.