Computer system design for distance viewing of information and media and extensions to display data channel for control panel interface

[0002] 1. Technical Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a novel display system and methodology for providing for the display of information from computers and more particularly to a “large screen” type of computer monitor for display of computer information and of other types of media.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Various computer monitors are available for the display of computer information on a “large screen” type of computer display. These types of displays are suitable for viewing at a distance, however, are ill suited for the display of mixed media such as a regular TV broadcast and computer information on the same screen. They are further not suited for a rapid switching between media such as these two types of media. This invention provides a unique mechanism by which a standard computer can control various functions of the display screen and to store and transmit parameters from the computer to the display monitor so as to provide a more advantageous display of multi-media content and the like. This invention also provides a display screen capable of “distance” viewing for a computer.

[0006] A computer controlled monitor is provided which allows for the display of video signals which may be produced by a variety and multiplicity of sources. These sources can be acquired or produced either digitally by the computer processing unit or an analog signal received from multiple sources. The computer can interpret, process and control the playback of these signals which are to be displayed. The “overscan” and “underscan” of the display can be changed using a software control which can be either automatic or manual and which may be in response to the type of material to be displayed and its source. Alternatively, or in combination, video images can be generated or acquired by the computer itself and signals can be combined. Examples of the type of broadcast types signals sources are conventional TV transmission, analog cable transmission, digital data broadcast such as direct satellite TV or digital broadcast which is carried as part of an analog broadcast television signal. Additional information that can be displayed may come from the VBI or vertical blanking interval or other parts of the analog video wave form Also digital data received by a cable modem, telephone modems, ISDN, transmission of multi-media sources, wireless or the like, can also be displayed. Additionally, by providing a mechanism in the computer for maintaining and transmitting to the monitor various types of extended display identification data. This data can be used to set or control the display on the monitor, be it a large screen or a small screen. This provides an enhanced capability. Further a host computer sending information can send along with the information to be displayed information as to how the monitor or display should be adjusted, providing a far more user friendly device.

[0007] One of the objects of this invention is to provide a computer controlled monitor which may be of the large screen type with a mechanism by which a computer can provide controls as to the various image set-ups that are necessary as well as possible audio controls and standard monitor controls such as degaussing alignment or the like.

[0008] An additional advantage of this invention is the ability to “mix and match” various video sources under the control of what can basically be a standard personal computer thereby increasing the flexibility of personal computers.

[0009] Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designate like items and in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a basic block diagram of the system of this invention showing the interconnection between the monitor and a standardized bus contained within the computer.

[0011] As can be seen from FIG. 1 a conventional computer system 10 using, for example, a PCI bus is provided with an I²C interface connecting the computer PCI bus to a monitor 20. This communication which can use, for example, an I²C communication 30 methodology to talk from the computer to the monitor and vice versa. It should be noted that although this embodiment shows an I²C communication link 30 between the monitor and the computer and a specific type of bus in the computer (i.e. a PCI bus) it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the PCI bus could be replaced with items such as a VESA bus, a VLB bus, or the like and the communication system to the monitor may be less or more sophisticated, for example, an RS 232 type of communication link, an IEEE1394, a Universal Serial Bus (USB), Ethernet® or the like might be employed. Other types of digital communication links between the monitor and the bus of the personal computer are in fact contemplated by this invention.

[0012] The I²C communication system, however, lends itself particularly to this type of task as it requires only minimal connections from the computer to the monitor (SCL and SDA (clock and data)). Furthermore, as the protocols involved and I²C have been established by standard, it is possible to use a standard off the shelf type of controller in the computer and a receiver in the monitor to implement this type of system. It will be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art how to implement the hardware portion of this communication and one needs only to look to the Philips I²C specification for guidance as to an implementation of this embodiment. The I²C communication between the computer and the monitor can be implemented using a very simple user interface as is set forth herein, by using for example below software protocol.

[0013] DDC2B-CPI COMMAND OVERVIEW

[0014] DDC2B-CPI Command Syntax

[0015] Notation

[0016] The following notational conventions are used throughout this document:

[0017] Read Commands

[0018] The DDC2B-CPI read command takes the following form:

[0019] Write Commands

[0020] The DDC2B-CPI write command takes the following form:

[0021] DDC2B-CPI Command Set

[0022] The following table shows the primary opcode (POC) for each control panel interface command.

[0023] EDID Extension Flag

[0024] The I²C address and index space necessary to provide the CPI capabilities is implemented as a standard EDID extension. Offset 7Eh of the primary EDID indicates the number of 128 byte EDID extension blocks. On a DDC2B-CPI monitor, this value will indicate that there is at least one additional EDID extension block. Before reading offset 7Eh, the host should perform the standard procedure for positive identification of a DDC2B monitor. See the VESA DDC specification for information on how to do this.

[0025] DDC2B-CPI Signature/rev

[0026] The first four locations of the EDID extension for CPI support will have the following signature: 24h, 0Eh, 11h, 00h. These bytes should be read consecutively as in the example below.

[0027] Reading the DDC2B-CPI Signature/rev.

[0028] Assuming that location 7Eh of the primary EDID indicates that there is one extended EDID block, the following I²C bus transaction should be used to identify a DDC2B-CPI monitor:

[0029] s (A0h) {a} (80h) {a} s (A1h) {a} {24h} (a) {0Eh} (a) {11h} (a) {00h} (n) p

[0030] The first EDID extension block will be at I²C address A0h, offset 80h. The next EDID extension block will be at I²C address A2h, offset 00h. The next EDID extension will be at I²C address A2h, offset 80h, and so on. If there is more than one EDID extension, each EDID extension block should be checked for the above signature. The address and offset at which the signature are found establish slave read address (SRA), slave write address (SWA), and start-of-block (SOB) for the control panel interface. Consider the example below in which the CPI is located in the second extension block.

[0031] Reading the DDC2B-CPI Signature/rev in Second EDID Extension Block.

[0032] Assume that location 7Eh of the primary EDID indicates that there are two extended EDID blocks. The DDC2B-CPI signature was not found in the first EDID extension. The following I²C bus transaction should be used to identify a DDC2B-CPI monitor in the second EDID extension:

[0033] General Controls

[0034] Save Current Settings

[0035] This command can be used to save the current monitor settings of the current mode (overscan/underscan) in non-volatile memory. The following settings are saved for each mode:

[0036] Brightness

[0037] Contrast

[0038] Vertical image position

[0039] Vertical image size

[0040] Vertical pincushion

[0041] Horizontal image position

[0042] Horizontal image size

[0043] Color Temperature

[0044] In addition, the following settings would be saved for both modes:

[0045] Tilt

[0046] Color Purity

[0047] Volume level

[0048] Balance

[0049] The next time that the monitor is turned on, it will default to the settings last saved in non-volatile memory. The overscan/underscan mode is not maintained in non-volatile memory. The monitor will always power up in underscan mode. If there is only one EDID extension block, the command would be issued in the following way:

[0050] Save Current Settings.

[0051] Return Precision

[0052] This command can be used to identify the precision of any control setting. To use the command, first read the current value of the control, then use the precision command. The precision is returned as the smallest significant increment. Consider the example below.

[0053] Return Precision.

[0054] If we want to identify the precision of the monitor brightness setting, we must first read the current brightness setting:

[0055] We use the precision command to identify the precision of the brightness control:

[0056] The return value of “04h” indicates that the smallest significant increment to the value is 0000 0100b. Bits <7 . . . 2> can be used to adjust the 64 levels of brightness. Bits <1> and <0> are not significant.

[0057] Restore Default Commands

[0058] Restore all Default Monitor Settings

[0059] This command can be used to restore all factory-default monitor settings in non-volatile memory for the current mode (overscan/underscan). The following settings are updated:

[0060] Brightness

[0061] Contrast

[0062] Vertical image position

[0063] Vertical image size

[0064] Vertical pincushion

[0065] Horizontal image position

[0066] Horizontal image size

[0067] Color Temperature

[0068] Tilt

[0069] Color Purity

[0070] Volume level

[0071] Balance

[0072] The settings are only updated for the current mode. If there is only one EDID extension block, the command would be issued in the following way:

[0073] Restore all Default Monitor Settings.

[0074] Restore Default Monitor Geometry Settings

[0075] This command can be used to restore the factory-default monitor geometry settings in non-volatile memory for the current mode (overscan/underscan). Only the settings of the current mode will be updated, and default values will be restored. If there is only one EDID extension block, the command would be issued in the following way:

[0076] Restore Default Monitor Geometry Settings.

[0077] The geometry settings include:

[0078] Vertical image position

[0079] Vertical image size

[0080] Vertical pincushion

[0081] Horizontal image position

[0082] Horizontal image size

[0083] Overscan/underscan

[0084] Restore Default Monitor Picture Qualities

[0085] This command can be used to restore the factory-default monitor brightness and contrast settings in nonvolatile memory for the current mode (overscan/underscan). Only the settings of the current mode will be updated, and default values will be restored. If there is only one EDID extension block, the command would be issued in the following way:

[0086] Restore Default Picture Qualities.

[0087] The picture qualities include:

[0088] Brightness

[0089] Contrast

[0090] Degauss

[0091] This command can be used to activate the degauss cycle. This cycle will ideally be automatically activated by the monitor electronics each time the monitor leaves the standby state. This command could provide a method of manually activating the degauss cycle. If there is only one EDID extension blocks the command would be issued in the following way:

[0092] Activate Degauss Cycle.

[0093] CPI capabilities

[0094] CPI caps1, caps2, caps3, caps4

[0095] These commands can be used to obtain the control panel interface capabilities. If there is only one EDID extension block, the command would be issued in the following way:

[0096] Read CPI Capabilities.

[0097] Remote Control ID

[0098] These commands can be used to identify the remote control interface. If there is only one EDID extension block, the command would be issued in the following way:

[0099] Remote Control ID.

[0100] Picture Qualities Commands

[0101] Read/write Brightness Setting

[0102] This command could be used to either read or write the brightness setting in the monitor. Increasing this value will increase the display luminance. The brightness setting for underscan mode is independent of the brightness setting for overscan mode. If there is only one EDID extension block, the command would be issued in the following way:

[0103] Read/write Brightness Setting.

[0104] The precision for each monitor control may vary. Software should use the precision command to identify the precision available for each control. See Example 5-2. In each case, the most significant bit of the control is bit <7> of the value. If, for example, the monitor only support 64 levels, the monitor would use the 6 most significant bits of the value written. Example 5-10 shows how this would work. This provides a more compatible expansion of precision in the future. Bits that are not supported should return 0 when read.

[0105] Monitor Supports Fewer than 256 Levels of Brightness.

[0106] Host tries to write a value of B5h:

[0107] Actual monitor setting=1011 0101b shift right 2=101101b

[0108] Read/write Contrast Setting

[0109] This command can be used to either read or write the contrast setting in the monitor. Increasing this value will increase the ratio between maximum and minimum luminance. The contrast setting for underscan mode is independent of the contrast setting for overscan mode. If there is only one EDID extension block, the command would be issued in the following way:

[0110] Read/write Contrast Setting

[0111] The precision for each monitor control may vary. Software should use the precision command to identify the precision available for each control. See Example 4. In each case, the most significant bit of the control is bit <7> of the value. If, for example, the monitor only support 64 levels, the monitor would use the 6 most significant bits of the value written. Example 12 shows how this would work. This provides a more compatible expansion of precision in the future. Bits that are not supported should return 0 when read.

[0112] Read/write Color Temperature Setting

[0113] This command can be used to either read or write the color temperature setting in the monitor. Care should be taken in writing this value since other bits in the value are currently undefined. It is best to do a read/modify/write of the value—changing only bits <1, 0>. If there is only one EDID extension block, the command would be issued in the following way:

[0114] Read/write Color Temperature Setting.

[0115] Read/write Color Purity Setting

[0116] This command can be used to either read or write the color purity setting in the monitor. This command will not be a user control. If there is only one EDID extension block, the command would be issued in the following way:

[0117] Read/write Color Purity Setting.

[0118] The precision for each monitor control may vary. Software should use the precision command to identify the precision available for each control. See Example 5-2. In each case, the most significant bit of the control is bit <7> of the value. If, for example, the monitor only support 64 levels, the monitor would use the 6 most significant bits of the value written. Example 12 shows how this would work. This provides a more compatible expansion of precision in the future. Bits that are not supported should return 0 when read.

[0119] Geometry Commands

[0120] Read/write Vertical Position Setting

[0121] This command can be used to either read or write the vertical position setting in the monitor. Increasing this value will move the displayed image toward the top of the screen. Decreasing this value will move the displayed image toward the bottom of the screen. The vertical position command for underscan mode is independent of the setting for overscan mode. If there is only one EDID extension block, the command would be issued in the following way:

[0122] Read/write Vertical Position Setting.

[0123] The precision for each monitor control may vary. Software should use the precision command to identify the precision available for each control. See Example 5-2. In each case, the most significant bit of the control is bit <7> of the value. If, for example, the monitor only support 64 levels, the monitor would use the 6 most significant bits of the value written Example 12 shows how this would work. This provides a more compatible expansion of precision in the future. Bits that are not supported should return 0 when read.

[0124] Read/write Vertical Size Setting

[0125] This command can be used to either read or write the vertical size setting in the monitor. Increasing this value will increase the distance between the top and bottom of the displayed image. (The image will be bigger.) The vertical size setting for underscan mode is independent of the setting for overscan mode. If there is only one EDID extension block, the command would be issued in the following way:

[0126] Read/write Vertical Size Setting.

[0127] The precision for each monitor control may vary. Software should use the precision command to identify the precision available for each control See Example 4. In each case, the most significant bit of the control is bit <7> of the value. If, for example, the monitor only support 64 levels, the monitor would use the 6 most significant bits of the value written. Example 12 shows how this would work. This provides a more compatible expansion of precision in the future. Bits that are not supported should return 0 when read.

[0128] Read/write Vertical Pincushion Setting

[0129] This command can be used to either read or write the vertical pincushion setting in the monitor. Increasing this value will make the left and right sides of the image more convex. The vertical pincushion setting for underscan mode is independent of the setting for overscan mode. If there is only one EDID extension block, the command would be issued in the following way:

[0130] Read/write Vertical Pincushion Setting.

[0131] The precision for each monitor control may vary. Software should use the precision command to identify the precision available for each control. See Example 4. In each case, the most significant bit of the control is bit <7> of the value. If, for example the monitor only support 64 levels, the monitor would use the 6 most significant bits of the value written. Example 12 shows how this would work. This provides a more compatible expansion of precision in the future. Bits that are not supported should return 0 when read.

[0132] Read/write Horizontal Position Setting

[0133] This command can be used to either read or write the horizontal position setting in the monitor. Increasing this value will move the displayed image toward the right side of the screen. The horizontal position setting for underscan mode is independent of the setting for overscan mode. If there is only one EDID extension block, the command would be issued in the following way:

[0134] Read/write Horizontal Position Setting.

[0135] The precision for each monitor control may vary. Software should use the precision command to identify the precision available for each control, See Example 4. In each case, the most significant bit of the control is bit <7> of the value. If, for example, the monitor only support 64 levels, the monitor would use the 6 most significant bits of the value written. Example 12 shows how this would work. This provides a more compatible expansion of precision in the future. Bits that are not supported should return 0 when read.

[0136] Read/write horizontal size setting

[0137] This command can be used to either read or write the horizontal size setting in the monitor. Increasing this value will increase the distance between the left and right sides of the displayed image. (The image will be bigger.) The horizontal size setting for underscan mode is independent of the setting for overscan mode. If there is only one EDID extension block, the command would be issued in the following way:

[0138] Read/write Horizontal Size Setting.

[0139] The precision for each monitor control may vary. Software should use the precision command to identify the precision available for each control. See Example 4. In each case, the most significant bit of the control is bit <7> of the value. If, for example, the monitor only support 64 levels, the monitor would use the 6 most significant bits of the value written. Example 12 shows how this would work. This provides a more compatible expansion of precision in the future. Bits that are not supported should return 0 when read.

[0140] Set Overscan/underscan Mode

[0141] This command can be used to either read or set the overscan mode setting in the monitor. In overscan mode, ten percent of the image is beyond the edges of the monitor bezel. In underscan mode, the entire image is visible between the edges of the monitor bezel. The monitor will always power up in underscan mode. Care should be taken in writing this value since other bits in the value are currently undefined. It is best to do a read/modify/write of the value—changing only bit <0>. If there is only one EDID extension block, the command would be issued in the following way:

[0142] Read/write Overscan Mode.

[0143] Read/write Tilt Setting

[0144] This command can be used to either read or write the tilt setting in the monitor. Increasing this value will displayed image in a clockwise direction. Decreasing this value will rotate the displayed image in a counterclockwise direction. The tilt setting for underscan mode is independent of the setting for overscan mode. If there is only one EDID extension block, the command would be issued in the following way:

[0145] Read/write Tilt Setting.

[0146] The precision for each monitor control may vary. Software should use the precision command to identify the precision available for each control. See Example 4. In each case, the most significant bit of the control is bit <7> of the value. If, for example, the monitor only support 64 levels, the monitor would use the 6 most significant bits of the value written. Example 12 shows how this would work. This provides a more compatible expansion of precision in the future. Bits that are not supported should return 0 when read.

[0147] Audio Commands

[0148] Read/write Audio Volume

[0149] This command can be used to read or write the audio volume in the monitor. Increasing this value raises the audio volume level. If there is only one EDID extension block, the command would be issued in the following way:

[0150] Read/write Audio Volume.

[0151] The precision for each monitor control may vary. Software should use the precision command to identify the precision available for each control. See Example 4. In each case, the most significant bit of the control is bit <7> of the value. If, for example, the monitor only support 64 levels, the monitor would use the 6 most significant bits of the value written. Example 12 shows how this would work. This provides a more compatible expansion of precision in the future. Bits that are not supported should return 0 when read.

[0152] Read/write Audio Balance

[0153] This command can be used to read or write the audio balance between the left and right audio channels in the monitor. Increasing this value maximizes the volume in the right audio channel and the volume in the left audio channel is decreased. If there is only one EDID extension block, the command would be issued in the following way:

[0154] Read/write Audio Balance.

[0155] The precision for each monitor control may vary. Software should use the precision command to identify the precision available for each control. See Example 4. In each case, the most significant bit of the control is bit <7> of the value. If, for example, the monitor only support 64 levels, the monitor would use the 6 most significant bits of the value written. Example 12 shows how this would work. This provides a more compatible expansion of precision in the future. Bits that are not supported should return 0 when read.

[0156] Mute Audio

[0157] This command can be used to either read or set the audio mute control in the monitor. Care should be taken in writing this value since other bits in the value are currently undefined. It is best to do a read/modify/write of the value—changing only bit <0>. If there is only one EDID extension block, the command would be issued in the following way:

[0158] Read/write Audio Mute Control.

[0159] The above software routines can be readily staffed or used as functional software routines to provide the necessary control to the monitor shown in FIG. 1. For example a user may store information that the brightness needs to be set to a certain level for certain types of television programs with the audio being set at a certain volume when, for example, a given channel is tuned and an entirely different set of parameters should be used when a second audio source such as a movie being played off from a digitally recorded movie or a DSS received movie as an example.

[0160] Furthermore, if multiple images are desired on the screen, it is possible by adjusting the size of one of the images being transmitted to the monitor and the size of the various images to allow the monitor to project multiple images in varying windows on the display monitor. As the computer controls the material being sent to the monitor and in fact may be generating this material, it will be readily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the combining of the images and the overlap can be accomplished by using standard “windowing” software techniques.

[0161] Alternatively, the combining of images can be done in hardware, however, it is believed that the personal computer has far better capabilities in combining the images than dedicated hardware. Accordingly, it is contemplated that the PC-CPU shown in FIG. 1 and the PC graphics controller will do the combining of images. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that this could be accomplished by a separate piece of dedicated hardware.

[0162] Various other implementations of this invention are possible and the scope of this invention should not be limited to the specific embodiment set forth herein, but rather should only be limited by the claims appended hereto.