United States Patent [191
`Jeong
`
`llllllllllllllIllI||||lllllllllolllllggllwllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
`
`Patent Number:
`[11]
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,621,437
`Apr. 15, 1997
`
`[54]
`
`DATA INPUT/OUTPUT CONTROL UNIT FOR
`TOUCH PANEL INTERFACE DEVICE
`
`Primary Examiner—Richard Hjerpe
`Assistant Examiner-Regina Liang
`
`[75] Inventor:
`
`Hae D. Jeong, Seoul, Rep. of Korea
`
`[73]
`
`[21]
`[22]
`[30]
`
`Assignee: LG Electronics Inc., Rep. of Korea
`
`Appl. No.: 498,465
`Filed:
`Jul. 5, 1995
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Oct. 7, 1994 [KR]
`Nov. 30, 1994 [KR]
`
`Rep. of Korea ................ .. 25731/1994
`Rep. of Korea ................ .. 3192411994
`
`[51] Int. Cl.6 ..................................................... .. G09G 5/00
`[52] US. Cl. ........................................... .. 345/173; 345/211
`[58] Field of Search ................................... .. 345/173, 104,
`345/174, 175, 177, 211, 212
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`PUBLICATIONS
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A data input/output control unit for a touch panel interface
`device, comprising a touch panel for sensing coordinates of
`a point touched by a user’s pen and generating an analog
`signal in accordance with the sensed result, a data detector
`for detecting input data to the touch panel, a control circuit
`for controlling a system operation in response to an output
`signal from the data detector, a switch for turning on/off
`supply power to the touch panel in response to a ?rst control
`signal from the control circuit, an analog/digital converter
`for converting the analog signal from the touch panel into
`digital data in response to a second control signal from the
`control circuit and outputting the converted digital data to
`the control circuit, and a serial communication circuit for
`performing a serial communication with other systems in
`response to a third control signal from the control circuit.
`
`IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin “Cursor Controller/
`Graphics Pad”, Feb. 1986, pp. 4093-4096.
`
`14 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`20
`f
`
`TOUCH
`PANEL
`
`30
`f
`SWITCH
`
`CS8
`
`10
`f
`
`DATA
`DETECTOR
`'
`
`1
`
`40
`
`D81
`
`CONTROL
`CIRCUlT
`
`o
`
`ATA
`
`C59
`
`0310 DATA
`
`2’50
`
`A/D
`CONVERTER
`
`OTHER
`6°“ SERIAL
`COMMUNICAIION ~SYSTEM
`CIRCUIT
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1013
`Page 1 of 10
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 1997
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`5,621,437
`
`CONVENTIONAL. ART
`
`$1
`
`TOUCH
`PANEL
`
`2 f
`
`MD
`CONVERTER
`f 3
`SWHCH
`
`0510
`DATA
`
`‘
`
`c520
`
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`
`ASIC
`
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`
`MICRO
`CONTROLLER
`
`ROM
`
`‘_ POWER
`
`C530
`
`DATA
`
`f 6
`
`SERIAL
`COMMUNICATION
`CIRCUIT
`
`),20
`
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`
`PANEL
`
`{so
`SWITCH
`
`r40
`
`.
`DATA
`
`DETECTOR
`
`CS8
`
`D81
`
`4
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`DATA
`
`{10
`
`CONTROL
`CIRCUIT
`
`CS9
`
`cs1o DATA
`
`so
`j
`A 0
`CéNVERTER
`
`60
`”\ SERIAL
`COMMUNICATION
`CIRCUiT
`
`__OTHER
`SYSTEM
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1013
`Page 2 of 10
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 15,1997
`
`Sheet 2 013
`
`5,621,437
`
`10 f
`I __________________________________________ “I
`112
`111'
`I
`f
`f
`I
`I
`I
`I
`COMMAND
`I
`{11°
`I
`SIGNAL
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`SPS GENERATION ES
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`SETI'ING CIRCUIT
`CIRCUIT
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`COMMUNICATION
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`DATA
`PROCESSOR
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`|
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`
`cs1
`
`_I
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1013
`Page 3 of 10
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 15, 1997
`
`Sheet 3 0f 3
`
`5,621,437
`
`111
`
`r"T".-"i'-'-:'-'-_"-_"i-"r'4-i"i-""-1
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`
`RESPONSESIGNAL
`TRANSFER DEVICE
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1013
`Page 4 of 10
`
`

`
`5,621,437
`
`1
`DATA INPUT/OUTPUT CONTROL UNIT FOR
`TOUCH PANEL INTERFACE DEVICE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates in general to a touch panel
`interface device, and more particularly to a data input/output
`control unit for the touch panel interface device in which a
`system control part is designed with a digital logic circuit for
`use in a portable system, and a present mode is changed to
`a suspend mode after the lapse of a predetermined time
`period from the moment that no data is applied to a touch
`panel, to turn ofl" supply power to the touch panel and stop
`a system operation, so that power consumption can be
`minimized and a battery can be lengthened in life, in
`particular in small, portable equipments such as a personal
`digitizer assistant (referred to hereinafter as PDA) and the
`like.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic block
`diagram of a conventional touch panel interface device. As
`shown in this drawing, the conventional touch panel inter
`face device comprises a touch panel 1 for sensing coordi
`nates of a point touched by a user’s pen and generating an
`analog signal in accordance with the sensed result, a read
`only memory (referred to hereinafter as ROM) 5 for storing
`a control program for controlling a system operation, a
`micro controller 4 for executing the control program stored
`in the ROM 5 to control the system operation, an analog/
`digital (referred to hereinafter as A/D) converter 2 for
`converting the analog signal from the touch panel 1 into
`digital data in response to a control signal CS10 from the
`micro controller 4 and outputting the converted digital data
`to the micro controller 4, a switch 3 for turning on/off supply
`power to the touch panel 1 in response to a control signal
`CS20 from the micro controller 4, and a serial communica
`tion circuit 6 for performing a serial communication with
`other systems in an RS-232 manner in response to a control
`signal CS30 from the micro controller 4.
`The operation of the conventional touch panel interface
`device with the above-mentioned construction will herein
`after be described with reference to FIG. 1.
`Upon power-on, the micro controller 4 outputs the control
`signal CS10 to the AID converter 2 according to the control
`program stored in the ROM 5 to sense input data.
`If no data is sensed, the micro controller 4 outputs the
`control signal CS20 to the switch 3 to turn oil the supply
`power to the touch panel 1.
`In the case where data is applied to the touch panel 1 by
`the user’s pen, the corresponding coordinates are sensed by
`the touch panel 1. Then, the touch panel 1 outputs the analog
`signal corresponding to the sensed coordinates to the A/D
`converter 2, which converts the analog signal into the digital
`data in response to the control signal CS10 from the micro
`controller 4 and outputs the converted digital data to the
`micro controller 4. Then, the micro controller 4 stores the
`digital data from the A/D converter 2 into a random access
`memory (referred to hereinafter as RAM), not shown.
`The micro controller 4 transfers the data stored in the
`RAM and the control signal C830 to the serial communi
`cation circuit 6 to perform data transmission and reception
`with other systems. The serial communication circuit 6 may
`include, for example, a universal asynchronous receiver/
`transmitter (UART). Then, the serial communication circuit
`
`10
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`6 performs the serial communication with other systems in
`the RS-232 manner.
`However, the above-mentioned conventional touch panel
`interface device has a disadvantage in that an internal
`structure cannot be known because the micro controller and
`the ROM are provided on a single application/speci?c
`integrated circuit (referred to hereinafter as ASIC) chip in a
`manufacturing process. For this reason, it is di?icult to
`perform precision control for system implementation. Fur
`ther, power consumption is increased because the power is
`always supplied to the other blocks and the micro controller
`scans the data input continuously by means of the A/D
`converter. This results in a reduction in life of a battery,
`particularly in small, portable equipments such as a PDA and
`the like.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of
`the above problem, and it is an object of the present
`invention to provide a data input/output control unit for a
`touch panel interface device in which a micro controller/
`ROM ASIC chip is designed with a digital logic circuit for
`use in a portable system, and a present mode is changed to
`a suspend mode after the lapse of a predetermined time
`period from the moment that no data is applied to a touch
`panel in order to turn o?c supply power to the touch panel and
`stop a system operation, so that power consumption can be
`minimized and a battery can be lengthened in life, in
`particular in small, portable equipments such as a PDA and
`the like.
`In accordance with the present invention, the above and
`other objects can be accomplished by a provision of a data
`input/output control unit for a touch panel interface device.
`The data input/output control unit comprises a touch panel
`for sensing coordinates of a point touched by a user’s pen
`and generating an analog signal in accordance with the
`sensed result; data detection means for detecting input data
`to the touch panel; system control means for controlling a
`system operation in response to an output signal from the
`data detection means; switching means for turning on/off
`supply power to the touch panel in response to a ?rst control
`signal from the system control means; analog/digital con
`version means for converting the analog signal from the
`touch panel into digital data in response to a second control
`signal from the system control means and outputting the
`converted digital data to the system control means; and
`serial communication means for performing a serial com
`munication with other systems in response to a third control
`signal from the system control means.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The above and other objects, features and advantages of
`the present invention will be more clearly understood from
`the following detailed description taken in conjunction with
`the accompanying drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a conventional
`touch panel interface device;
`FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a data input/output
`control unit for a touch panel interface device in accordance
`with the present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a detailed block diagram of the control circuit in
`FIG. 2;
`FIG. 4 is a detailed block diagram of the suspend mode
`setting circuit in FIG. 3;
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1013
`Page 5 of 10
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`

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`5,621,437
`
`3
`FIG. 5 is a detailed block diagram of the command signal
`generation circuit in FIG. 3; and
`FIG. 6 is a detailed block diagram of the control logic
`circuit in FIG. 3.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`4
`114 also outputs the response signal RS2 to the control logic
`circuit 112 through the internal control bus line upon its
`operation completion.
`The control circuit 10 further includes a data processor
`115 for processing output data from the A/D conversion
`controller 114 in response to the control signal CS5 from the
`control logic circuit 112 and outputting the response signal
`RS3 to the control logic circuit 112 through the internal
`control bus line upon its completion of operation, and a
`serial communication controller 116 for applying output data
`from the data processor 115 and the control signal C810 (not
`shown) to the serial communication circuit 60 in response to
`the control signal CS6 from the control logic circuit 112. The
`serial communication controller 116 also outputs the
`response signal RS4 to the control logic circuit 112 through
`the internal control bus line upon its operation completion.
`Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a detailed block
`diagram of the suspend mode setting circuit 110 in FIG. 3.
`As shown in this drawing, the suspend mode setting circuit
`110 includes a signal detector 117 for detecting the detect
`signal DS1 from the data detector 40 and outputting a detect
`signal DS2 in accordance with the detected result, a timer
`118 for counting the detect signal DS2 from the signal
`detector 117 for a predetermined time period and outputting
`a control signal CS1 in accordance with the counted result,
`and a suspend signal generator 119 for outputting the
`suspend signal SP5 to the command signal generation circuit
`111 in response to the control signal CS1 from the timer 118.
`Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a detailed block
`diagram of the command signal generation circuit 111 in
`FIG. 3. As shown in this drawing, the command signal
`generation circuit 111 includes a status sensor 120 for
`sensing a present status in response to the status signal SS
`from the control logic circuit 112 and the suspend signal SPS
`from the suspend mode setting circuit 110, and an operation
`controller 121 for outputting an operation control signal CS2
`in response to an output signal from the status sensor 120.
`The operation controller 121 also outputs the status end
`signal ES to the control logic circuit 112 upon its control
`operation completion.
`The command signal generation circuit 111 further
`includes a command generator 122 for outputting the com
`mand signal CMS to the control logic circuit 112 in response
`to the operation control signal CS2 from the operation
`controller 121.
`The command generator 122 includes a counter 126 for
`generating a table control signal S1 in response to the
`operation control signal CS2 from the operation controller
`121, a command data memory 127 for storing command data
`in the form of a table and outputting the stored command
`data in response to the operation control signal CS2 from the
`operation controller 121 and the table control signal 51 from
`the counter 126, and a decoder 128 for decoding output data
`from the command data memory 127 in response to the
`operation control signal CS2 from the operation controller
`121 and outputting the resultant command signal CMS to the
`control logic circuit 112.
`Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a detailed block
`diagram of the control logic circuit 112 in FIG. 3. As shown
`in this drawing, the control logic circuit 112 includes a
`control signal distributor 123 being enabled in response to
`the status end signal ES from the command signal genera
`tion circuit 111 to analyze the command signal CMS from
`the command signal generation circuit 111 and output the
`resultant control signals CS3-CS6 through the internal con
`trol bus line to the switching controller 113, the A/D
`
`Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a schematic block
`diagram of a data input/output control unit for a touch panel
`interface device in accordance with the present invention. As
`shown in this drawing, the data input/output control unit
`comprises a touch panel 20 for sensing coordinates of a point
`touched by a user's pen and generating an analog signal in
`accordance with the sensed result, a data detector 40 for
`detecting the presence of analog signals output from the
`touch panel 20 in response to touch input thereto to the touch
`panel and outputting a detect signal DS1 in accordance with
`the detected result, a control circuit 10 for controlling a
`system operation in response to the detect signal DSl from
`the data detector 40, and a switch 30 for turning on/off
`supply power to the touch panel 20 in response to a control
`signal CS8 from the control circuit 10.
`The data inputloutput control unit further comprises an
`A/D converter 50 for converting the analog signal from the
`touch panel 20 into digital data in response to a control
`signal CS9 from the control circuit 10 and outputting the
`converted digital data to the control circuit 10, and a serial '
`communication circuit 60 for performing a serial commu
`nication with other systems in response to a control signal
`CS11 from the control circuit 10.
`Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a detailed block
`diagram of the control circuit 10 in FIG. 2. As shown in this
`drawing, the control circuit 10 includes a suspend mode
`setting circuit 110 for generating a suspend signal SPS in
`response to the detect signal DSl from the data detector 40
`to change a present mode to a suspend mode (power saving
`mode), and a command signal generation circuit 111 for
`generating a command signal CMS in response to a status
`signal SS from a control lock circuit 112 (discussed below)
`and the suspend signal SPS from the suspend mode setting
`circuit 110 to control the system operation. The command
`signal generation circuit 111 also generates a status end
`signal ES upon its operation completion.
`The control circuit 10 further includes a control logic
`circuit 112 for analyzing the command signal CMS from the
`command signal generation circuit 111 in response to the
`status end signal ES therefrom and outputting control signals
`CS3—CS6 as a result of the analysis through an internal
`control bus line. Also, the control logic circuit 112 inputs
`response signals RS1-RS4 through the internal control bus
`line and outputs the status signal SS to the command signal
`generation circuit 111 in response to the inputted response
`signals RS1-RS4.
`The control circuit 10 further includes a switching con
`troller 113 for outputting the control signal CS8 to the switch
`30 in response to the control signal CS3 from the control
`logic circuit 112. The switching controller 113 also outputs
`the response signal RS1 to the control logic circuit 112
`through the internal control bus line upon its operation
`completion.
`The control circuit 10 further includes an A/D conversion
`controller 114 for outputting the control signal CS9 to the
`A/D converter 50 in response to the control signal CS4 from
`the control logic circuit 112 and inputting the digital data
`from the A/D converter 50. The A/D conversion controller
`
`10
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`Page 6 of 10
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`

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`5,621,437
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`5
`conversion controller 114, the data processor 115 and the
`serial communication controller 116, respectively. The con
`trol signal distributor 123 also outputs a control signal CS7
`upon its completion of operation.
`The control logic circuit 112 further includes a response
`signal transfer device 124 being enabled in response to the
`control signal CS7 from the control signal distributor 123 to
`input the response signal RS1 from the switching controller
`113, the response signal RS2 from the A/D conversion
`controller 114, the response signal RS3 from the data
`processor 115 and the response signal RS4 from the serial
`communication controller 116 through the internal control
`bus line and transfer the inputted response signals RS 1—RS4.
`The control logic circuit 112 further includes a status
`signal generator 125 for analyzing the response signals
`RS1-RS4 transferred by the response signal transfer device
`124 and outputting the status signal SS to the command
`signal generation circuit 111 in accordance with the analyzed
`result.
`The operation of the data input/output control unit for the
`touch panel interface device with the above-mentioned
`construction in accordance with the present invention will
`hereinafter be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2
`to 6.
`When data is applied to the touch panel 20 by the user’s
`pen, the corresponding coordinates are sensed by the touch
`panel 20. Then, the touch panel 20 outputs the analog signal
`corresponding to the sensed coordinates to the A/D con
`verter 50. At dris time, the data detector 40 outputs the detect
`signal DSl to the control circuit 10.
`In the suspend mode setting circuit 110 of the control
`circuit 10, the signal detector 117 detects the detect signal
`DS1 from the data detector 40 and outputs the resultant
`detect signal DS2 to the timer 118.
`Upon receiving the detect signal DS2 from the signal
`detector 117, the timer 118 does not generate the control
`signal CS1, so that the suspend signal generator 119 does not
`generate the suspend signal SPS.
`Such a status is sensed by the status sensor 120 in the
`command signal generation circuit 111. Then in the com
`mand signal generation circuit 111, the operation controller
`121 generates the operation control signal CS2 in response
`to the sensed result from the status sensor 120. The operation
`control signal CS2 from the operation controller 121 is
`supplied to the command generator 122.
`In the command generator 122, the counter 126 outputs
`the table control signal S1 to the command data memory 127
`in response to the operation control signal CS2 from the
`operation controller 121. The command data memory 127
`outputs the command data stored in the form of table therein
`to the decoder 128 in response to the operation control signal
`CS2 from the operation controller 121 and the table control
`signal S1 from the counter 126. The decoder 128 decodes the
`output data from the command data memory 127 in response
`to the operation control signal CS2 from the operation
`controller 121 and outputs the resultant command signal
`CMS to the control logic circuit 112.
`The operation controller 121 then outputs the status end
`signal ES to the control logic circuit 112 at that time the
`control operation thereof is completed.
`In the control logic circuit 112, the control signal dis~
`tributor 123 is enabled in response to the status end signal
`ES from the command signal generation circuit 111. As
`being enabled, the control signal distributor 123 analyzes the
`command signal CMS from the command signal generation
`
`50
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`circuit 111 and outputs the resultant control signals
`CS3-CS6 through the internal control bus line to the switch
`ing controller 113, the A/D conversion controller 114, the
`data processor 115 and the serial communication controller
`116, respectively.
`Upon receiving the control signal CS3 from the control
`logic circuit 112, the switching controller 113 outputs the
`control signal CS8 to the switch 30 so thatit can remain at
`its ON state. The control signal CS4 from the control logic
`circuit 112 enables the A/D conversion controller 114 to
`output the control signal CS9 to the A/D converter 50. In
`response to the control signal CS9 from the A/D conversion
`controller 114, the A/D converter 50 converts the analog
`signal from the touch panel 20 into the digital data and
`outputs the converted digital data to the A/D conversion
`controller 114, which then transfers the digital data from the
`A/D converter 50 to the data processor 115. The data
`processor 115 processes the transferred data from the A/D
`conversion controller 114 in response to the control signal
`CS5 from the control logic circuit 112 and outputs the
`processed data to the serial communication controller 116.
`The control signal CS6 from the control logic circuit 112
`enables the serial communication controller 116 to apply the
`control signal CS10 and the output data from the data
`processor 115 to the serial communication circuit 60. In
`response to the control signal CS10 from the serial commu
`nication controller 116, the serial communication circuit 60
`performs the serial communication with other systems in the
`RS-232 manner.
`Then, the switching controller 113, the A/D conversion
`controller 114, the data processor 115 and the serial com—
`munication controller 116 output the response signals
`RS 1—RS4 to the control logic circuit 112 through the internal
`control bus line at that time that operations thereof are
`completed.
`In the control logic circuit 112, the control signal dis
`tributor 123 outputs the control signal CS7 to the response
`signal transfer device 124 at that time that the operation
`thereof is completed. The response signal transfer device
`124 is enabled in response to the control signal CS7 from the
`control signal distributor 123. Upon receiving the response
`signal RS1 from the switching controller 113, the response
`signal RS2 from the AID conversion controller 114, the
`response signal RS3 from the data processor 115 and the
`response signal RS4 from the serial communication control~
`ler 116 through the internal control bus line while being
`enabled, the response signal transfer device 124 transfers the
`inputted response signals RS1—RS4 to the status signal
`generator 125. Then, the status signal generator 125 ana~
`lyzes the response signals RS1~RS4 transferred by the
`response signal transfer device 124 and outputs the status
`signal SS to the command signal generation circuit 111 in
`accordance with the analyzed result.
`Subsequently, the above operation is continuously
`repeated in the same manner as that previously mentioned.
`Namely, the same command signal CMS from the command
`signal generation circuit 111 is applied to the control logic
`circuit 112, thereby causing the control logic circuit 112 to
`output the control signals CS3-CS6 through the internal
`control bus line to the switching controller 113, the A/D
`conversion controller 114, the data processor 115 and the
`serial communication controller 116, respectively. As a
`result, the input data to the touch panel 20 is transferred to
`the serial communication circuit 60 through the A/D con
`verter 50, the A/D conversion controller 114, the data
`processor 115 and the serial communication controller 116.
`The serial communication circuit 60 performs the serial
`communication with other systems in the RS-232 manner.
`
`TCL EXHIBIT 1013
`Page 7 of 10
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`

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`5,621,437
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`7
`In the case where the user temporarily stops the data input
`to the touch panel 20 during the above operation, the detect
`signal DS1 is not generated by the data detector 40, so that
`the detect signal D82 is not generated by the signal detector
`117 in the suspend mode setting circuit 110.
`Then in the suspend mode setting circuit 110, the timer
`118 outputs the control signal CS1 to the suspend signal
`generator 119 because it inputs no signal from the signal
`detector 117. As a result, the suspend signal generator 119
`outputs the suspend signal SPS to the command signal
`generation circuit 111.
`Upon the suspend signal SPS from the suspend mode
`setting circuit 110, the command signal generation circuit
`111 generates the command signal CMS for changing the
`present mode to the suspend mode. Then, the command
`signal generation circuit 111 outputs the generated command
`signal CMS together with the status end signal ES to the
`control signal distributor 123 in the control logic circuit 112.
`Being enabled in response to the status end signal BS from
`the command signal generation circuit 111, the control
`signal distributor 123 analyzes the received command signal
`CMS and outputs the resultant control signal CS3 to the
`switch controller 113 through the internal control bus line to
`change the present mode to the suspend mode.
`The switch controller 113 outputs the control signal CS8
`to the switch 30 in response to the control signal CS3 from
`the control signal distributor 123, thereby causing the switch
`30 to turn oil the supply power to the touch panel 20. As a
`result, the A/D conversion controller 114, the data processor
`115 and the serial communication controller 116 are stopped
`in operation, with the present mode changed to the suspend
`mode or the power saving mode.
`Thereafter, when the user touches a desired portion of the
`touch panel 20 to resume the data input to the touch panel
`20, the data detector 40 outputs the detect signal DS1 to the
`suspend mode setting circuit 110 in the control circuit 10 so
`that the suspend signal SPS cannot be generated. As a result,
`the suspend mode is released.
`When the suspend signal SPS ceases, the corresponding
`status is sensed by the command signal generation circuit
`111. Therefore, the above operation is repeated in the same
`manner as that previously mentioned. Namely, the command
`signal generation circuit 111 applies the command signal
`CMS and the status end signal ES to the control logic circuit
`112.
`Being enabled in response to the status end signal ES from
`the command signal generation circuit 111, the control
`signal distributor 123 in the control logic circuit 112 ana
`lyzes the received command signal CMS and outputs the
`resultant control signal CS3 to the switch controller 113
`through the internal control bus line. The switch controller
`113 outputs the control signal CS8 to the switch 30 in
`response to the control signal CS3 from the control signal
`distributor 123, thereby causing the switch 30 to turn on the
`supply power to the touch panel 20. As a result, the input
`data to the touch panel 20 is transferred to the serial
`communication circuit 60 through the A/D converter 50, the
`A/D conversion controller 114, the data processor 115 and
`the serial communication controller 116. As a result, the
`serial communication circuit 60 performs the serial commu
`nication with other systems in the RS-232 manner.
`As apparent from the above description, according to the
`present invention, a micro controller/ROM ASIC chip is
`designed with a digital logic circuit for use in a portable
`system. Also, the present mode is changed to the suspend
`mode after the lapse of a predetermined time period from the
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`30
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`35
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`45
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`60
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`65
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`8
`moment that no data is applied to the touch panel, so as to
`turn oil the supply power to the touch panel and stop the
`system operation. Therefore, power consumption can be
`minimized and a battery can be lengthened in life, particu
`larly in small, portable equipments such as a PDA and the
`like.
`Although the preferred embodiments of the present inven
`tion have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those
`skilled in the art will appreciate that various modi?cations,
`additions and substitutions are possible, without departing
`from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the
`accompanying claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A data input/output control unit for a touch panel
`interface device, comprising:
`a touch panel for sensing coordinates of a point touched
`by a user’s pen and generating an analog signal in
`accordance with the sensed result;
`data detection means for detecting input data to said touch
`panel;
`system control means for controlling a system operation
`in response to an output signal from said data detection
`means;
`switching means for turning on/oif supply power to said
`touch panel in response to a ?rst control signal from
`said system control means;
`analog/digital conversion means for converting the analog
`signal from said touch panel into digital data in
`response to a second control signal from said system
`control means and outputting said digital data to said
`system control means; and
`serial communication means for performing a serial com
`munication with other systems in response to a third
`control signal from said system control means;
`wherein said system control means includes:
`suspend mode setting means for generating a suspend
`signal in response to the output signal from said data
`detection means to change a present mode to a
`suspend mode;
`command signal generation means for generating a
`command signal in response to a status signal and the
`suspend signal from said suspend mode setting
`means to control the system operation;
`control logic means for analyzing the command signal
`from said command signal generation means in
`response to a status end signal from said command
`signal generation means and outputting fourth to
`seventh control signals as a result of the analysis
`through an internal control bus line, said control
`logic means inputting ?rst to fourth response signals
`through said internal control bus line and outputting
`the status signal to said command signal generation
`means in response thereto;
`switching control means for outputting the ?rst control
`signal to said switching means in response to the
`fourth control signal from said control