Control apparatus for operation panel and electronic apparatus

• US 8,830,173 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2011
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Naoi, Yuichi, Ogasawara, Yasufumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAM, VINH TANG
• Application Number:
  US13/221,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20110316786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,106 Days
• Field of Search: 345 11- 13, 345 4- 5, 345 7- 8, 345/39, 345/50, 710 1- 74, 340901-945
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/14 Semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3611 Control of matrices with row and column drivers

Abstract

A signal line used in a key matrix is shared between a signal line used in a first display unit and a signal line used in a second display unit. Two types of periodical pulse signals are superimposed on a level signal which indicates data displayed on the second display unit. One type is a pulse signal for detecting key input and another type is a pulse signal which indicates data displayed on the first display unit.

Claims

1. A control apparatus comprising:

a first display unit;

a second display unit configured to include a plurality of display elements;

a first control unit configured to have a data output portion for outputting a data signal and a signal output portion for outputting a selection signal; and

a second control unit configured to have a data input portion for receiving the data signal and a signal input portion for receiving the selection signal, wherein the data output portion of the first control unit is connected to both the data input portion and the second display unit, and the signal output portion is connected to the signal input portion,

wherein the second control unit controls display of the first display unit based on the data signal in response to a level of the selection signal being a first level, and

wherein the first control unit performs, at different timings, a first control in which the selection signal of the first level is output from the signal output portion and the data signal to be displayed on the first display unit is output from the data output portion, and a second control in which the selection signal of a second level which is different from the first level is output from the signal output portion and the data signal to be displayed on the second display unit is output from the data output portion.

2. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a display element of the plurality of display elements includes a light-emitting diode.

3. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first display unit includes a liquid crystal display.

4. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first control unit performs the first control and the second control repeatedly.

5. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a period in which the first control is performed is shorter than a period in which the second control is performed.

6. An electronic apparatus comprising the control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first display unit and the second display unit display a state of the electronic apparatus.

7. A control apparatus comprising:

a first display unit;

a second display unit comprising a plurality of display elements having at least a state of light-up and a state of light-off;

a first display control unit configured to have a data output portion for outputting display data and a signal output portion for outputting a signal indicating whether the display data is valid or invalid; and

a second display control unit configured to have a plurality of data input portions for receiving the display data and a signal input portion for receiving the signal indicating whether the display data is valid or invalid, wherein the second display control unit causes the first display unit to perform display based on the display data, and

wherein a line for supplying power to each of the plurality of display elements and a plurality of lines for supplying the display data to the plurality of data input portions are connected through each of the plurality of display elements.

8. An electronic apparatus comprising the control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first display unit and the second display unit display a state of the electronic apparatus.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a display device having a screen;

a first light-emitting diode configured to emit light;

a second light-emitting diode configured to emit light;

a first control unit configured to supply parallel data signals to perform display on the screen in response to a control signal which is used for transmittal control of the parallel data signals; and

a second control unit configured to receive the parallel data signals from the first control unit via data signal lines, including a first line and a second line, in response to the control signal and to cause the display device to perform display on the screen based on the parallel data signals,

wherein a first end of the first light-emitting diode is connected to the first line, and a first end of the second light-emitting diode is connected to the second line,

wherein the first control unit supplies a first emitting signal for the first light-emitting diode to the first line so that one of the parallel data signals and the first emitting signal are transmitted through the first line with a time-dividing manner determined in accordance with the control signal, whereby the first light-emitting diode emits light in response to the first emitting signal, and

wherein the first control unit supplies a second emitting signal for the second light-emitting diode to the second line so that one of the parallel data signals and the second emitting signal are transmitted through the second line with the time-dividing manner, whereby the second light-emitting diode emits light in response to the second emitting signal.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein a second end of the first light-emitting diode is connected to a power line, and

wherein a second end of the second light-emitting diode is connected to the power line.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein a voltage difference between the first line and the power line changes in accordance with a signal level of the first emitting signal, and wherein the first light-emitting diode emits light in response to the signal level becoming low and does not emit light in response to the signal level becoming high, and

wherein a voltage difference between the second line and the power line changes in accordance with a signal level of the second emitting signal, and wherein the second light-emitting diode emits light in response to the signal level of the second emitting signal becoming low and does not emit light in response to the signal level of the second emitting signal becoming high.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a first switch configured to be connected to the first line, wherein the first control unit scans a state of the first switch via the first line with the time-dividing manner at timings where one of the parallel data signals and the first emitting signal are not transmitted through the first line; and

a second switch configured to be connected to the second line, wherein the first control unit scans a state of the second switch via the second line with the time-dividing manner at timings where one of the parallel data signals and the second emitting signal are not transmitted through the second line.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12,

wherein the screen, the first and second light-emitting diodes, and the first and second switches are provided separately on an operation panel of an electronic device.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein the display device is a liquid crystal display.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a display device having a screen;

a first light-emitting diode configured to emit light;

a second light-emitting diode configured to emit light;

a control unit configured to control the display device with parallel data signals via data signal lines, including a first line and a second line, to perform display on the screen,

wherein a first end of the first light-emitting diode is connected to the first line, and a first end of the second light-emitting diode is connected to the second line,

wherein the control unit supplies a first emitting signal for the first light-emitting diode to the first line so that one of the parallel data signals and the first emitting signal are transmitted through the first line with a time-dividing manner, whereby the first light-emitting diode emits light in response to the first emitting signal, and

wherein the control unit supplies a second emitting signal for the second light-emitting diode to the second line so that one of the parallel data signals and the second emitting signal are transmitted through the second line with the time-dividing manner, whereby the second light-emitting diode emits light in response to the second emitting signal.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15,

wherein a second end of the firs light-emitting diode is connected to a power line, and

wherein a second end of the second light-emitting diode is connected to the power line.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16,

wherein a voltage difference between the first line and the power line changes in accordance with a signal level of the first emitting signal, and wherein the first light-emitting diode emits light in response to the signal level becoming low and does not emit light in response to the signal level becoming high, and

wherein a voltage difference between the second line and the power line changes in accordance with a signal level of the second emitting signal, and wherein the second light-emitting diode emits light in response to the signal level of the second emitting signal becoming low and does not emit light in response to the signal level of the second emitting signal becoming high.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:

a first switch configured to be connected to the first line, wherein the control unit scans a state of the first switch via the first line with the time-dividing manner at timings where one of the parallel data signals and the first emitting signal are not transmitted through the first line; and

a second switch configured to be connected to the second line, wherein the control unit scans a state of the second switch via the second line with the time-dividing manner at timings where one of the parallel data signals and the second emitting signal are not transmitted through the second line.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18,

wherein the screen, the first and second light-emitting diodes, and the first and second switches are provided separately on an operation panel of an electronic device.

20. The apparatus according to claim 15,

wherein the display device is a liquid crystal display.