A flat panel display control system

Claim 2

A flat panel display control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the first graphics subsystem includes: a first display controller (87) for outputting display data (P7-0) and control signals (LP, FP, FR, PCLK, WCLK); and first converting means (93) for converting the display data (P7-0) to color data (R5-0, G5-0, B5-0); and the second graphics subsystem includes: second converting means (111) for converting the display data (P7-0) supplied from the first display controller (87) via the connector to color data (R5-0, G5-0, B5-0); a second display controller (109) for generating color data (P7-0) and control signals (LP, FP, FR, PCLK, WCLK); first select means (113) for selecting either the color data from the second converting means (111) and the color data from the second display controller (109) and for supplying selected color data to the portable computer through the connectors (103, 105) to display the data on the flat panel display unit means (91, 95); and second select means (113) for selecting either the control signals from the first display controller (87) and the control signals from the second display controller (109) and supplying selected control signals to the portable computer through the connectors (103, 105) to control the flat panel display unit means (91, 95).

Claim 3

A flat panel display control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the connectors includes: a first connector (103) for supplying the data from the first graphics subsystem (87, 93) to the second graphics subsystem (109-113); and a second connector (105) for supplying the data from the second graphics subsystem (109-111) to the flat panel display unit means (91, 95).

Claim 4

A flat panel display control system according to claim 1, which further comprises initializing means (57, 87) for initializing the second graphics subsystem (109-113); and in which when the second graphics subsystem (109-113) is connected to the portable computer, the second graphics subsystem (109-113) starts supplying the data only after the second graphics subsystem (109-113) is initialized by the initializing means (109-113).

Claim 5

A flat panel display control system according to claim 1, further comprising auto-display-off means (KBC, SW, 87, 95) for realizing an auto-display-off function; and means (KBC, SW, 87, 95) for enabling the auto-display-off means (KBC, SW, 87, 95) when the second graphics subsystem (109-113) is connected to the portable computer.

Claim 6

A flat panel display control system according to claim 5, characterized in that the portable computer includes an input means (KB) for inputting data and a display section (DS) rotatably mounted on a portable computer main body and including the flat panel display unit means (91, 95), and the auto-display-off means includes means for turning off the flat panel display unit means (91, 95) when no data is input from the input means (KB) for a predetermined period of time and/or the display section (DS) is closed.

Claim 7

A flat panel display control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the flat panel display unit means (91, 95) includes one of a twisted nematic liquid crystal display panel, a super twisted nematic liquid crystal display panel, a thin film transistor liquid crystal display panel, and a plasma display panel.

Claim 8

A flat panel display control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the flat panel display unit means includes a flat panel display device (91) and a driver (95) for driving the flat panel display device (91), and the data obtained by taking wired-OR of the data from the first and second graphics subsystems (89, 93, 109-113) are supplied to the driver (95).

Claim 9

A flat panel display control system according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the first and second graphics subsystem (89, 93, 109-113) includes means (93, 109, 111) for outputting analog video signals for CRT.

Claim 10

A flat panel display control system according to claim 2, characterized in that the first select means (113) selects the color data supplied from the second display controller (109) when the display data supplied from the first display controller (87) has a specific value, and the second select means (113) selects the control signals supplied from the second display controller (109) when the display data supplied from the first display controller (87) has the specific value.

Claim 11

A portable computer comprising: flat panel display means (91, 95) for displaying images; a first graphics subsystem (87, 93) for supplying the flat panel display means (91, 95) with color data to be displayed and control signals, and for outputs display data; a feature connector (103), connected to the first graphics subsystem (87, 93) and connectable to an optional second graphics subsystem (109-113), for supplying the display data and the control signals output from the first graphics subsystem (87, 93) to the second graphics subsystem (109-113); a Z connector (105), connected to the flat panel display means (91, 95) and connectable to the second graphics subsystem (109-113), for supplying color data and the control signals output from the second graphics subsystem (109-113) to the flat panel display means (91, 95); and switch means (93, 97, 101, ZENSEN), connected to the first graphics subsystem (87, 93) and the Z connector (105), for supplying the color data and control signals from either the first graphics subsystem (87, 93) or the second graphics subsystem (109-113).

Claim 12

A portable computer according to claim 11, characterized in that the switch means (93, 97, 101, ZENSEN) includes means for detecting that the second graphics subsystem (109-113) is connected to the Feature and z connectors and means for supplying the color data and the control signals from the second graphics subsystem (109-113).

Claim 13

A portable computer according to claim 11, characterized in that the flat panel display unit means (91, 95) includes one of a twisted nematic liquid crystal display panel, a super twisted nematic liquid crystal display panel, a thin film transistor liquid crystal display panel, and a plasma display panel.

Claim 14

A portable computer according to claim 11, characterized in that the first graphics subsystem includes: a display controller (87) for outputting the display data and the control signals; and means (93) for converting the display data supplied from the display controller (87) to the color data.

Claim 15

A portable computer according to claim 11, characterized in that the first graphics subsystem comprises: a display controller (87) for outputting display data and control signals; converting means (93) for converting the display data into the color data; means (94), connected to the Z connector (105), the flat panel display means (91, 95) and output terminals of the converting means (93), for taking wired-OR of the color data supplied from the converting means (93) and second graphic subsystem (109-113) and supplying obtained color data; and means (101), connected to the Z connector (105) and the converting means, for detecting whether the second graphic subsystem is connected to the Feature and Z connectors (103, 105) and setting the output terminals of the converting means (93) at a high impedance state in response to detection result.

Claim 16

A display board comprising: a feature connector (103) connectable to an associated connector provided on a portable computer, for receiving display data (P7-0); converting means (111), connected to the feature connector (103), for converting the display data supplied from the portable computer through the feature connector (103) to color data to be displayed on a flat panel display device; display controller (109) for outputting color data to be displayed on a flat panel display device; selector means (113), connected to the converting means (111) and the display controller (109) for outputting the color data supplied from either the converting means (111) or the display controller (109); and a Z connector (105), connected to the selector means (113) and connectable to an associated connector provided on a portable computer, for supplying the color data supplied from the selector means (113) to the portable computer.

Claim 17

A display board according to claim 16, characterized in that the feature connector (103) further receives control signals, the display controller (109) includes means for outputting control signals, and the selector means (113) includes means for outputting the control signals supplied from either the portable computer through the feature connector (103) or the display controller (109).

Claim 18

A display board according to claim 16, characterized in that the selector means (113) includes means for selecting the color data supplied from the display controller (109) when the display data supplied through the feature connector (103) has a specific value.