Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-07
2001-09-25
Hjerpe, Richard (Department: 2674)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
C345S010000, C345S520000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06295053
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 88112204, filed Jul. 19, 1999, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a system for reprogramming a monitor function. More particularly, the present invention relates to a monitor control system that utilizes the video graphic adapter (VGA) signal lines of a VGA card to reprogram a monitor function.
2. Description of Related Art
In the current most monitor systems, the monitor controller must be changed whenever monitor functions need to be modified or software bugs need to be removed. The process is laborious and wasteful. For more advanced monitor systems, the monitor systems usually have built-in read-only-memory (ROM) of the erasable programmable type. By modifying the internal data inside the erasable programmable ROM, modification of monitor function or correction of software bugs can be easier done.
FIG. 1
is a block diagram showing the circuit connections of various elements in a conventional programmable monitor system. The monitor is connected to a VGA card via a set of eight VGA signal lines
18
. The VGA signal lines
18
include a vertical synchronous signal line (Vsync), a horizontal synchronous line (Hsync), a serial data line (SDA), a serial clock line (SCL), a ground (Gnd), a red R, a green G and a blue B line. In normal operation, a first jumper
14
is set such that the horizontal & vertical deflector
20
is connected to a monitor controller
10
. In the meantime, a second jumper
16
is set such that an on-screen display
50
is also connected to the monitor controller
10
. In addition, a power jumper
12
is set such that 5V are applied to the monitor controller
10
. Signal lines Hsync, Vsync, SDA, SCL and Gnd are coupled to the monitor controller
10
. The horizontal & vertical deflector
20
is driven according to the signals received through the signal lines and the programs stored inside the ROM unit of the monitor controller
10
. The horizontal & vertical deflector
20
in turn controls a vertical booster
30
and a horizontal booster
40
so that an electronic beam is able to sweep horizontally and vertically inside a cathode ray tube (CRT). At the same time, the monitor controller
10
also drives the on-screen display
50
. The on-screen display
50
controls an image pre-amplifier
60
for receiving red R, green G and blue B signals from the R, G and B lines. After passing through the pre-amplifier
60
, signals are transferred to an image amplifier
70
for display on screen.
With the monitor system as shown in
FIG. 1
, any functional modification can be achieved by modifying the data inside the ROM unit of the monitor controller
10
. However, before stored data inside the ROM unit can be changed, the monitor must be opened up and the first jumper
14
and the second jumper
16
must be reset. The jumpers
14
and
16
must be set such that the monitor controller
10
is connected to an erase/record socket
80
and the power jumper
12
is connected to a 12V input voltage. A ROM writer (not shown in the figure) is plugged into the erase/record socket for reprogramming the functions inside the monitor system.
FIG. 2
is a schematic view showing the connection of a conventional monitor system with a memory erase/record system. After the external casing of the monitor
100
is taken off, a main circuit board
110
is revealed. An erase/record socket
80
and a set of VGA signal lines
18
are laid on the circuit board
110
. The first jumper
14
, the second jumper
16
and the power jumper
12
are found within a jumper area
22
. The memory erase/record system
90
includes a ROM writer
92
, a computer system
94
and a programming monitor
96
. The computer system
94
controls all the operations of the ROM writer
92
. Programming status of the operation can be observed through the programming monitor
96
. When the ROM writer is plugged into the erase/record socket
80
of the main circuit board
110
, memory inside the monitor can be reprogrammed by the computer
94
so that a different monitor function can be used.
In brief, the external casing of a conventional monitor must be taken off and a set of jumpers must be switched before reprogramming can start, which is a laborious and inconvenient process.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a monitor control system capable of reprogramming monitor function. The monitor control system utilizes the VGA signal lines for transmitting signals during normal operation. The same VGA signal lines are also used for transmitting erase/record commands to the monitor system and to erase/record data into an erasable programmable ROM inside the monitor system.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides a monitor controller for modifying a monitor function. The monitor controller is connected to VGA signal lines for receiving erase/record commands and data. The VGA signal lines are coupled first to a signal detector. The signal detector is able to detect or re-transmit erase/record commands and data. An activation device is connected to the signal detector. The activation device is capable of switching between a video pathway and an erase/record pathway. Furthermore, the activation device is able to pick up erase/record commands and data and re-route the commands and data to the erase/record pathway. A ROM erase/record command decoder is connected to the activation device via the erase/record pathway. The decoder translates incoming erase/record commands into erase/read/write signals and incoming data into address signals and data signals. The ROM unit connected to the ROM erase/record command decoder, so that program inside the ROM unit can be modified according to the incoming address signals, data signals and erase/read/write signals. A mode return device is connected to the ROM erase/record command decoder and the activation device, respectively. The mode return device is able to determine the status of data reprogramming inside the ROM unit according to the incoming address signals, data signals and read/write signals. As soon as the end of reprogramming is detected by the mode return device, a control signal is sent to the activation device switching back the connection from an erase/record pathway to a video pathway.
The invention also provides a monitor control system capable of reprogramming the function of a monitor. The monitor control system includes an erase/record device for storing and outputting erase/record commands and erase/record data. The erase/record device is connected to a set of VGA signal lines for transmitting erase/record commands and erase/record data. There is a monitor controller with a monitor-in-system programming ROM. The monitor controller, which has a ROM carrying a built-in program for the monitor system, is coupled to the VGA signal lines. According to the erase/record commands and data delivered through the VGA signal lines, program within the ROM unit of the monitor controller can be modified.
The invention also provides a method for reprogramming the memory inside a monitor system. Signals on the VGA signal lines are tapped continuously and compared with a pre-set address sequence. When one of the tapped consecutive address sequences matches that of a pre-set address sequence, a monitor in-system programming (MISP) mode is triggered inside the monitor system. As soon as programming mode is activated, an erase/record command is read and necessary actions are determined. When the erase/record command is for a write operation, erase/record data is read in and then written into the memory. After that, the next erase/record command is read in and appropriate actions are taken. When the erase/record command demands a return to non-programming mode, the monitor system returns to a normal mode of operation.
It is to b
Hsin Shih-Che
Tsai Te-Hsiu
Eisen Alexander
Hjerpe Richard
Huang Jiawei
J.C. Patents
Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
LandOfFree
System for reprogramming monitor function does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System for reprogramming monitor function, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System for reprogramming monitor function will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2466706