(19)
(11) EP 0 618 561 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
02.11.1994 Bulletin 1994/44

(43) Date of publication A2:
05.10.1994 Bulletin 1994/40

(21) Application number: 94200912.7

(22) Date of filing: 14.05.1990
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5: G06F 3/14, G09G 1/16
(84) Designated Contracting States:
CH DE ES FR GB IT LI NL SE

(62) Application number of the earlier application in accordance with Art. 76 EPC:
90305158.9 / 0456923

(71) Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
Armonk, N.Y. 10504 (US)

(72) Inventor:
  • Sawdon, David
    Winchester, Hampshire SO21 3EB (GB)

(74) Representative: Williams, Julian David 
IBM United Kingdom Limited, Intellectual Property Department, Hursley Park
Winchester, Hampshire SO21 2JN
Winchester, Hampshire SO21 2JN (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
   
     
    Remarks:
    This application was filed on 05 - 04 - 1994 as a divisional application to the application mentioned under INID code 60.
     


    (54) Display system


    (57) A display system is described, comprising a display device (88) for generating a visual output in response to a plurality of data signals defining the data to be displayed, a display adapter circuit (92) for generating the data signals in a form specified by control data identifying the display device (88), an output port (94) for connecting the data signals from the display adapter circuit to the display device (88) and for connecting the control data from the display device (88) to the display adapter circuit (92), characterised in that the display system further comprises a non-volatile memory (9) located in the display device (88) for storing the control data in the form of a plurality of control codes, and communication logic (95) for communicating a control code between the memory and the output port (94) in response to a command signal (21) generated by the display adapter circuit (92). The communication logic comprises a serial data link (3) for communicating the control code between the display device and the output port, device logic (97) located in the display device for communicating the control code between the memory and the serial data link, and adapter logic (96) located in the display adapter circuit for communicating the control code between the serial data link and the display adapter circuit. The control data, such as the signal timing requirements of any new display device, can be stored in the form of digital control codes held within the memory of the display device, the display system programming does not require updating every time a different display device is connected to the output port. Instead, the display adaptor can read the new timing requirements from the memory of the new display device for the purpose of generating video and sync signals for correctly driving the new display device. Furthermore, where the display system comprises a multiple mode display device, the display adapter circuit can use the serial link to configure the display device to operate in a desired display mode.






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