Display unit with communication controller and memory for storing identification number for identifying display unit

• US 7,475,180 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2002
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mondis Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: Mondis Technology Limited
• Inventors: Arai, Ikuya, Kitou, Kouji
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, RAYMOND NGAN
• Application Number:
  US10/160,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20020147879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,408 Days
• Field of Search: 710301-304, 710 8- 10, 710 15- 16, 710/305, 710/313, 710 62- 64, 710 72- 73, 710/6, 710306-308, 710104-110, 345/58, 345 99-100, 345/132, 345/204
• US Class Current: 710/305
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/153 using cathode-ray tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 1/167 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a CRT details suitable for both CRT and flat panel G09G5/006, specific for a flat panel G09G3/2096
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/04 Display device controller operating with a plurality of display units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/04 Exchange of auxiliary data, i.e. other than image data, between monitor and graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/042 for monitor identification

Abstract

A display unit for displaying an image based on video signals and synchronization signals inputted from an externally connected video source, includes a video circuit adapted to display an image based on the video signals sent by the externally connected video source, a memory which stores an identification number for identifying the display unit, and a communication controller which sends the identification number stored in the memory to the video source. The communication controller is capable of bi-directionally communicating with the video source.

Claims

1. A display unit for displaying an image based on video signals and synchronization signals inputted from an externally connected video source, comprising:

a video circuit adapted to display an image based on the video signals sent by said externally connected video source;

a memory which stores an identification number for identifying at least a type of said display unit; and

a communication controller which sends said identification number stored in said memory to said video source;

wherein said communication controller is capable of bi-directionally communicating with said video source.

2. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein said identification number stored in said memory is utilized for comparison with an identification number stored in said video source.

3. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein said identification number stored in said memory is utilized for executing a predetermined process in said video source in accordance with a result of comparison between said identification number and an identification number stored in said video source.

4. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein said identification number stored in said memory is utilized for executing a predetermined process in said video source based on a result of comparison of whether said identification number stored in said memory is an identification number stored in said video source.

5. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein said identification number stored in said memory is sent to said video source in response to power on of at least one of said display unit and said video source.

6. The display unit according to claim 2, wherein said identification number stored in said memory is sent to said video source in response to power on of at least one of said display unit and said video source.

7. The display unit according to claim 3, wherein said identification number stored in said memory is sent to said video source in response to power on of at least one of said display unit and said video source.

8. The display unit according to claim 4, wherein said identification number stored in said memory is sent to said video source in response to power on of at least one of said display unit and said video source.

9. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein said display unit receives a signal from said video source that is generated by using said identification number.

10. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein said display unit receives a signal from said video source that is generated in accordance with a result of comparison between said identification number stored in said memory and an identification number stored in said video source.

11. The display unit according to claim 1, said display unit receives a signal from said video source that is generated based on a result of comparison of whether said identification number stored in said memory is an identification number stored in said video source.

12. The display unit according to claim 1, further comprising a processor adapted to control display of said display unit.

13. The display unit according to claim 12, wherein said display unit information is sent to said video source in response to power on of at least one of said display unit and said video source.

28. The display unit according to any one of claims 1-27, wherein said video source is a computer.

29. A display unit according to any one of claim 1, 14, 17, 21, 23, 25 and 26, wherein the identification number provides at least a unique identification of the type of said display unit.

14. A display unit for displaying an image based on video signals inputted from an externally connected video source, comprising:

a video circuit adapted to display an image based on the video signals sent by the externally connected video source;

a memory in which at least display unit information is stored, said display unit information including an identification number for identifying at least a type of said display unit and characteristic information of said display unit; and

a communication controller capable of bi-directionally communicating with said video source;

wherein said communication controller is capable of communicating said display unit information other than said characteristic information to said video source.

15. The display unit according to claim 14, wherein said display unit information is sent to said video source in response to power on of at least one of said display unit and said video source.

16. The display unit according to claim 14, wherein said display unit receives a signal from said video source that is generated by using said identification number stored in said memory.

17. A display unit for displaying an image based on video signals inputted from an externally connected video source, comprising:

a video circuit adapted to display an image based on the video signals sent by said externally connected video source;

a memory in which at least display unit information is stored, said display unit information including an identification number for identifying at least a type of said display unit; and

a communication controller capable of bi-directionally communicating with said video source;

wherein said communication controller is capable of communicating said identification number stored in said memory and no other display unit information to said video source.

18. The display unit according to claim 17, wherein said display unit information includes characteristic information of said display unit.

19. The display unit according to claim 18, wherein said display unit information is sent to said video source in response to power on of at least one of said display unit and said video source.

20. The display unit according to claim 18, wherein said display unit receives a signal from said video source that is generated by using said identification number stored in said memory.

21. A display unit for displaying an image based on video signals inputted from an externally connected video source, comprising:

a video circuit adapted to display an image based on the video signals sent by said externally connected video source;

a memory in which at least display unit information is stored, said display unit information including an identification number for identifying at least a type of said display unit; and

a communication controller capable of bi-directionally communicating with said video source;

wherein said communication controller is capable of sending said display unit information stored in said memory to said video source and of receiving a control signal from said video source, and said displayed image is controlled based on said control signal received by said communication controller.

22. The display unit according to claim 21, wherein at least one of color and size of said image displayed on said display unit is changed by using said control signal.

23. A display unit for displaying an image based on video signals inputted from an externally connected video source, comprising:

a video circuit adapted to display an image based on the video signals sent by said externally connected video source;

a memory in which at least display unit information is stored, said display unit information including an identification number for identifying at least a type of said display unit;

a communication controller capable of bi-directionally communicating with said video source, said communication controller being capable of sending said display unit information stored in said memory to said video source and of receiving a control signal from said video source; and

a processor adapted to control said displayed image on said display unit by using said control signal received by said communication controller.

24. The display unit according to claim 23, wherein at least one of color and size of said image displayed on said display unit is changed by using said control signal.

25. A display unit for displaying an image based on video signals inputted from an externally connected video source, comprising:

a video circuit adapted to display an image based on the video signals sent by said externally connected video source;

a processor adapted to control display of said display unit;

a memory which stores an identification number for identifying at least a type of said display unit; and

a communication controller capable of bi-directionally communicating with said video source;

wherein said communication controller is capable of sending said identification number stored in said memory to said video source and of receiving a control signal received from said video source, and at least one of color and size of said displayed image on said display unit is controlled by using said control signal received by said communication controller.

26. A display unit for displaying an image based on video signals inputted from an externally connected video source, comprising:

a video circuit adapted to display an image based on the video signals sent by said externally connected video source;

a memory in which at least display unit information is stored, said display unit information including an identification number for identifying at least a type of said display unit; and

a communication controller capable of bi-directionally communicating with said video source;

wherein said communication controller is capable of communicating said display unit information from said display unit to said video source, said display unit being capable of receiving a signal from said video source that is generated based on said display unit information, said display unit being capable of controlling said displayed image on said display unit by using a control signal received from said video source via said communication controller.

27. The display unit according to claim 26, wherein at least one of color and size of said image displayed on said display unit is changed by using said control signal.