(12) United States Patent
`Takeda
`
`US006781635B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,781,635 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Aug. 24, 2004
`
`(54) DISPLAY PROCESSING SYSTEM, AND
`PORTABLE TERMINAL AND CONVERSION
`ADAPTOR USED THEREFOR
`
`(75) Inventor: Genyo Takeda, Kyoto (JP)
`(73) Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd., Kyoto (JP)
`(*) Notice:
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 409 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/637,084
`(22) Filed:
`Aug. 11, 2000
`(30)
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Jun. 8, 2000 (JP) ....................................... 2000/172170
`(51) Int. Cl." ............................ H04N 7/14; H04Q 7/20;
`G06F 19/00
`(52) U.S. Cl. .................... 348/552; 348/1401; 455/556;
`702/3
`(58) Field of Search .............................. 348/552, 14.01,
`348/14.02, 14.04, 838; 702/3, 63; 455/556,
`557, 550, 572, 573
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5,825,408 A * 10/1998 Yuyama et al. ............... 348/14
`5,920,806 A * 7/1999 Gouessant ................... 455/66
`
`5,920,827. A * 7/1999 Baer et al. ..................... 702/3
`6,122,526 A * 9/2000 Parulski et al. ...
`... 455/556
`6,249,313 B1 * 6/2001 Nishi ......................... 348/233
`6,330,021 B1 * 12/2001 Devaux .....
`.... 348/14.04
`6,445,932 B1 * 9/2002 Soini et al. ................. 455/556
`10/2002 Yang ......
`... 455/556
`6,459.906 B1
`6,463,299 B1
`10/2002 Macor .......
`... 455/556
`6,505,055 B1 * 1/2003 Kahn et al. ................. 455/556
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner—Michael H. Lee
`Assistant Examiner—Paulos M. Natnael
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A display processing system 10 includes a portable phone
`20, a conversion adaptor 40, a controller 50, and a television
`monitor 60. When the portable phone 20 is attached to the
`conversion adaptor 40 to be connected therewith and
`receives a display switching signal from the controller 50,
`the CPU 23 supplies image display data to a video memory
`44 and supplies audio data to an audio buffer 46. Thereby,
`the television monitor 60 displays an image and a speaker of
`the television monitor 60 outputs audio. In this manner, it is
`possible to display, on a large screen of the television
`monitor 60, game images based on game data, and various
`kinds of characters and symbols such as news, weather
`report, fortune-telling, or the like, received from information
`providing servers by the portable terminal 20.
`
`17 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
`
`10
`
`POWER
`MODE Tº:
`SWITCHING
`CIRCUIT
`
`SUPPLY
`(AC100W)
`
`WIEE) SIGNAL
`
`CIRCUIT
`
`
`
`TELEVISION
`MGNITOR
`60
`
`HTC EXHIBIT 1006
`
`Page 1 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 24, 2004
`Aug.24, 2004
`
`Sheet 1 of 13
`Sheet 1 of 13
`
`US 6,781,635 B1
`US6,781,635 B1
`
`F I G. 1
`FIG.
`
`1
`
`
`
`Page 2 of 23
`
`Page 2 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 24, 2004
`
`Sheet 2 of 13
`
`US 6,781,635 B1
`
`F I G. 2
`
`20
`
`
`
`OPERATION
`PART
`30
`
`
`
`
`
`CPU
`
`MIXER
`
`AMPLIFIER .#
`
`POWER
`SUPPLY
`(AC100W)
`
`CONTROLLER
`
`
`
`TELEVISION
`MONITOR
`60
`
`Page 3 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 24, 2004
`
`Sheet 3 of 13
`
`US 6,781,635 B1
`
`F I G. 3
`
`ROM26
`
`PROGRAM REGION
`
`
`
`261
`
`262
`
`263
`
`264
`
`Page 4 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 24, 2004
`
`Sheet 4 of 13
`
`US 6,781,635 B1
`
`F I G. 4
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`INITIAL SETTINGS
`
`
`
`DISPLAY DISPLAY MODE
`SELECTION MENU
`
`OPERATION
`SIGNAL RECEIVED
`º
`
`YES
`
`SET DISPLAY MODE
`FLAG
`
`S1
`
`S2
`
`
`
`S4
`
`Page 5 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 24, 2004
`
`Sheet 5 of 13
`
`US 6,781,635 B1
`
`F I G. 5
`
`
`
`PORTABLE PHONE IS CONNECTED TO TELEVISION.
`HOW DO YOU LIKE THE DISPLAY MODE 2
`
`EX 1, DISPLAY ONLY ON TELEVISION SCREEN
`2, DISPLAY ON BOTH TELEVISION SCREEN
`AND LCD OF PORTABLE PHONE
`
`Page 6 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 24, 2004
`
`Sheet 6 of 13
`
`US 6,781,635 B1
`
`F I G. 6
`
`
`
`
`
`(DEFAULT
`DISPLAY MODE)
`S12
`
`IMAGE ? PORTABLE
`PHONE
`
`AUDIO – PORTABLE
`PHONE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`S11
`2 (SECOND DISPLAY MODE)
`
`DISCRIMINATE
`DISPLAY MODE
`FLAG 2
`1 (FIRST DISPLAY MODE)
`
`S14
`
`S16
`
`
`
`
`
`
`S15
`
`
`
`IMAGE ? TV,
`PORTABLE
`PHONE
`
`AUDIO – TV,
`PORTABLE
`PHONE
`
`
`
`DISPLAY MODE FLAG
`— DEFAULT STATUS
`
`S19
`
`
`
`Page 7 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 24, 2004
`Aug.24, 2004
`
`Sheet 7 of 13
`Sheet 7 of 13
`
`US 6,781,635 B1
`US6,781,635 B1
`
`F I G. 7
`FIG.
`7
`
`100
`
`
`
`100
`
`Page 8 of 23
`
`Page 8 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 24, 2004
`Aug.24, 2004
`
`Sheet 8 of 13
`Sheet 8 of 13
`
`US 6,781,635 B1
`US6,781,635 B1
`
`F I G. 8
`FIG.
`8
`
`200
`
`
`
`200
`
`Page 9 of 23
`
`Page 9 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 24, 2004
`
`Sheet 9 of 13
`
`US 6,781,635 B1
`
`F I G. 9
`
`
`
`40a
`
`FROM
`CONTROLLER 50
`
`FROM
`OUTLET
`
`Page 10 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 24, 2004
`Aug.24, 2004
`
`Sheet 10 of 13
`Sheet 10 of 13
`
`US 6,781,635 B1
`US6,781,635 B1
`
`F I G. 1 O
`FIG. 10
`
`300
`300
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 11 of 23
`
`Page 11 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 24, 2004
`
`Sheet 11 of 13
`
`US 6,781,635 B1
`
`F I G. 1 1
`
`37
`
`400
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`TELEVISION
`MONITOR
`60
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`SWITCHING
`CIRCUIT
`
`MIXER HPAMPLIFTER ##.
`
`ENCODER
`
`
`
`
`
`FF SIGNAL . WIDEO .
`CONVERSION
`MEMORY
`CIRCUIT
`
`
`
`READ CONTROL
`CIRCUIT
`
`
`
`POWER
`SUPPLY
`(AC100W)
`
`AMPLIFIER
`
`
`
`AUDIO DATA
`BUFFER
`
`CONTROLLER
`
`Page 12 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 24, 2004
`
`Sheet 12 of 13
`
`US 6,781,635 B1
`
`F I G. 1 2
`
`37
`
`500
`
`
`
`
`
`DISPLAY
`SWITCHING
`CIRCUIT
`
`
`
`
`
`IRTF SIGNAL . WIDEO .
`CONVERSIONT | MEMORY
`CIRCUIT
`
`TELEVISION
`MONITOR
`60
`
`
`
`POWER
`SUPPLY
`(AC100W)
`
`CONTROLLER
`
`Page 13 of 23
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Aug. 24, 2004
`
`Sheet 13 of 13
`
`US 6,781,635 B1
`
`F I G. 1 3
`
`37
`
`600
`
`POWER
`SUPPLY
`(AC100W)
`
`CONVERSION
`CIRCUIT
`
`
`
`AMPLIFIER
`
`AUDIO DATA
`BUFFER
`
`TELEVISION
`MONITOR
`60
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CONTROLLER
`
`Page 14 of 23
`
`

`

`US 6,781,635 B1
`
`1
`DISPLAY PROCESSING SYSTEM, AND
`PORTABLE TERMINAL AND CONVERSION
`ADAPTOR USED THEREFOR
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`25
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to display processing
`systems, and portable terminals and conversion adaptors
`used therefor and, more specifically, to a display processing
`system, and a portable terminal and a conversion adaptor
`used therefor enabling large-screen display of data on a
`television monitor instead of display on an LCD of the
`portable terminal. Such data includes image data for games,
`character and symbol data such as news and weather reports
`received by the portable terminal, or data registered there
`with.
`2. Description of the Background Art
`The conventionally-known portable terminal includes a
`portable phone, for example. As well known, such conven
`tional portable phone is provided with an LCD that is
`integrally constructed on its main body. The LCD displays
`various screens (e.g., menu screen, reference screen of
`registered addresses) thereon. A user can carry out various
`operations while watching the screens on the LCD.
`Recently, in addition to an originally-provided telephone
`service, many new communication services are available for
`the portable phone. Such services allow, for example,
`transmitting/receiving of e-mails, and accessing to the Inter
`net. The recent portable phone, as does a personal computer
`access to information providing servers via the Internet,
`directly accesses to the information providing servers and
`downloads therefrom various distribution data that a user
`requires. The distribution data includes daily information
`such as news, weather reports and fortune-telling, and music
`data, game data, and the like. If any image data is included
`in the downloaded distribution data, such image data is
`displayed on the LCD of the portable phone. If the game data
`is downloaded, for example, the game can be played on the
`LCD. As such, recent portable phones increase occasions for
`displaying various image contents thereon.
`The portable phone is designed by giving highest priority
`on its portability. Therefore, the display screen of the LCD
`provided thereon is inevitably small. Accordingly, the LCD
`45
`of the portable phone, in comparison with that of the
`personal computer, can display a significantly small amount
`of information and a small number of characters on a single
`screen. This is also true when graphics/symbols, game
`characters, and the like, are displayed. Such small sized
`LCD screens are disadvantageous when displaying an e-mail
`containing many characters and a homepage laid out with a
`large-screen display in mind. In such cases, the visibility of
`the screen is impaired, thereby imposing considerable incon
`venience on the user. For example, the small screen is
`inconvenient when a game is played on the portable phone
`by using downloaded game data with game characters
`displayed on the small LCD. In such a case, the positional
`relation between characters and slight collisions occurred
`therebetween are difficult to recognize. Accordingly, an
`appropriate operation of a player may be hindered, and in
`some cases, he/she may lose aspirations for playing the
`game. Further, to display a color image included in the
`image contents, an LCD of the portable phone must have a
`color display which is relatively expensive. Still further, the
`conventional portable phone has been designed to be driven
`by a battery. It is therefore difficult to drive the CPU with
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`high-speed. When the CPU is driven at high-speed, the
`amount of power consumed increases which reduces the
`battery life. Accordingly, the conventional portable phone
`also has a drawback of lacking speed for displaying moving
`pictures.
`On the other hand, the portability of the portable phone is
`most utilized while the user is going out. The portability,
`however, is not so important when the user is staying at a
`specific place (e.g., home and office). Therefore, when the
`user is staying at the specific place, by utilizing a data
`processing function of the portable phone, various image
`contents displayed on the LCD may be alternatively dis
`played on a large screen such as a television receiver (or
`CRT display). As a result, visibility of the images of char
`acters or game characters, and user’s convenience are
`improved.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
`a display processing system, and a portable terminal and a
`conversion adaptor used therefor capable of displaying an
`image being displayed on a small display of a portable
`terminal on an external display of larger screen size.
`A first aspect of the present invention is directed to a
`display processing system processing image data and dis
`playing an image, which includes:
`a portable terminal having a external communication
`function and equipped with a liquid crystal display;
`a television monitor; and
`a conversion adaptor capable of attaching the portable
`terminal thereto in a detachable manner, and connected
`to the television monitor, wherein
`the portable terminal includes:
`an image data storage part for storing image data
`obtained through communication and/or generated
`internally;
`a program data storage part for storing program data;
`a processing part for carrying out predetermined pro
`cessings in accordance with the program data stored
`in the program data storage part; and
`a liquid crystal display driving part for driving, for
`display, the liquid crystal display,
`the conversion adaptor includes a video signal conversion
`part,
`the processing part, as one of the processings carried out
`in accordance with the program data, carries out pro
`cessing for processing the image data stored in the
`image data storage part to generate image display data
`for each frame and switching a destination for supply
`ing the generated image display data,
`the liquid crystal display driving part drives the liquid
`crystal display for display based on the image display
`data supplied from the processing part,
`the video signal conversion part converts, when the por
`table terminal is attached to the conversion adaptor, the
`image display data supplied from the processing part
`into a video signal and outputs the video signal to the
`television monitor, and
`the television monitor displays an image in accordance
`with the video signal supplied from the video signal
`conversion part.
`As described above, in the first aspect of the invention, the
`image display data generated by the portable terminal is
`converted into the video signal by the conversion adaptor
`and then supplied to the television monitor. Therefore, the
`
`Page 15 of 23
`
`

`

`3
`image displayed on the liquid crystal display of the portable
`terminal can be displayed also on the television monitor.
`Accordingly, under the circumstances enabling the use of the
`television monitor, such as when staying at home, the user
`can check the image originally displayed on the liquid
`crystal display of the portable terminal on the large screen of
`the television monitor, thereby achieving greater visibility of
`the image.
`In the preferred embodiments of the invention, the con
`version adaptor is provided with a recharging part for
`recharging the portable terminal. In this manner, the image
`can be displayed on the television monitor while the portable
`terminal is being recharged. Further, the conversion adaptor
`may be separable into a first housing accommodating the
`video signal conversion part and a second housing accom
`modating the recharging part, and the first and second
`housings may be structured such that they are detachable
`from each other. The image display data supplied from the
`processing part to the conversion adaptor is preferably
`temporarily stored in a first temporary storage part, read
`based on predetermined timing, and then outputted to the
`signal conversion part.
`In the preferred embodiments, the image display data is
`supplied to the liquid crystal display driving part when the
`portable terminal is not attached to the conversion adaptor,
`and to at least the conversion adaptor when attached. In this
`manner, the image is automatically displayed on the televi
`sion monitor when the portable terminal is attached to the
`conversion adaptor.
`The portable terminal may be structured as a device
`supporting multimedia which handles audio data in addition
`to image data. In such case, in the portable terminal, the
`processing part carries out processing for reading audio data
`stored in an audio data storage part in relation to timing for
`generating the image display data and switches a destination
`for supplying the read audio data in correspondence with the
`destination for the image display data. Herein, the destina
`tion for the audio data is switched between a speaker driving
`part for driving a speaker of the portable terminal and the
`conversion adaptor. The display image data supplied from
`the processing part to the conversion adaptor is temporarily
`stored in the first temporary storage part. The audio data
`supplied from the processing part to the conversion adaptor
`is temporarily stored in a second temporary storage part. The
`image display data stored in the first temporary storage part
`and the audio data stored in the second temporary storage
`part are read on synchronized timing and then outputted to
`the video signal conversion part and an audio signal con
`version part, respectively. Further, the image data storage
`part and the audio data storage part may be structured in a
`detachable manner from a body of the portable terminal.
`In the preferred embodiments, a first operation part is
`connected to the conversion adaptor, and the processing part
`of the portable terminal carries out processing made in
`response to an operation signal from the first operation part.
`The first operation part may be connected to the conversion
`adaptor through a cable or wirelessly. When the image is
`displayed on the television monitor, various instructions or
`commands can be issued to the processing part through
`actuation of the first operation part. In this manner, oper
`ability is improved in comparison with the case of operation
`through a second operation part provided on the portable
`terminal which is small in size. Further, it is also possible to
`transmit a control signal from the processing part to the first
`operation part. For example, the control signal causing
`vibration of the first operation part may be transmitted.
`In a second aspect of the present invention, the portable
`terminal is attached in a detachable manner to a recharging
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`US 6,781,635 B1
`
`4
`part externally attached to the television monitor. The video
`signal conversion part is incorporated in the television
`monitor. Other constituents are the same as those in the
`above described first aspect. An operation part for supplying
`an operation signal to the processing part in the portable
`terminal may be relationally connected to the television
`monitor.
`A third aspect of the present invention is directed to a
`portable terminal detachable from a conversion adaptor
`connected to a television monitor and having an external
`communication function, including:
`a liquid crystal display;
`an image data storage part for storing image data obtained
`through communication and/or generated internally;
`a program data storage part for storing program data;
`a processing part for carrying out predetermined process
`ings in accordance with the program data stored in the
`program data storage part; and
`a liquid crystal display driving part for driving, for
`display, the liquid crystal display, wherein
`the processing part, as one of the processings carried out
`in accordance with the program data, carries out pro
`cessing for processing the image data stored in the
`image data storage part to generate image display data
`for each frame and switching a destination for supply
`ing the generated image display data between the liquid
`crystal display driving part and the conversion adaptor,
`the liquid crystal display displays an image based on the
`image display data when the image display data is
`supplied to the liquid crystal display driving part, and
`the television monitor displays the image when the image
`display data is supplied to the conversion adaptor.
`A fourth aspect of the present invention is directed to a
`portable terminal attachable to an external power supply and
`having an external communication function, comprising:
`a rechargeable battery used as an internal power supply;
`and
`a power mode switching part for switching a power
`consumption mode depending on which of the
`rechargeable battery and the external power supply
`supplies operation power, wherein
`the power mode switching part switches the power con
`sumption mode to a power saving mode for low power
`operation when the operation power is supplied from
`the rechargeable battery, and to a normal power mode
`for higher power operation than the power saving mode
`when the operation power is supplied from the external
`power supply.
`As described above, in the fourth aspect, the power
`consumption mode is switched depending on whether the
`operation power is supplied from the internal power supply
`or from the external power supply. Thereby, the power
`consumption mode can be appropriately selected for the use
`condition of the portable terminal.
`A fifth aspect of the present invention is directed to a
`conversion adaptor connected to a television monitor and
`capable of attaching a portable terminal thereto in a detach
`able manner, comprising
`a video signal conversion part for converting image
`display data for each frame supplied from the portable
`terminal into a video signal and outputting the video
`signal to the television monitor.
`These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages
`of the present invention will become more apparent from the
`following detailed description of the present invention when
`taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
`
`Page 16 of 23
`
`

`

`US 6,781,635 B1
`
`5
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is an external view of a display processing system
`according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of a
`display processing system 10 according to the first embodi
`ment of the present invention in more detail;
`FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of ROM
`26 in FIG. 2;
`FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an initial operation
`firstly carried out by a CPU 23 when a portable phone 20 is
`attached to a conversion adaptor 40 in the first embodiment;
`FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display mode selection
`menu displayed on a television monitor 60 in the initial
`operation;
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a display switching
`operation of the CPU 23 based on a display switching
`control program 262 in FIG. 3;
`FIG. 7 is an external view of a display processing system
`according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 8 is an external view of a display processing system
`according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing signal flow in the
`third embodiment;
`FIG. 10 is an external view of a display processing system
`according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a display processing system
`according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a display processing system
`according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention;
`and
`FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a display processing system
`according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`6
`by the user. Note that the controller 50 is connected to the
`terminal 42 of the conversion adaptor 40 through a cable, but
`may be wirelessly connected thereto without cable but with
`a transmission medium such as radio wave or infrared ray
`for transmitting an operation signal. In such case, instead of
`the terminal 42, the controller 50 and the conversion adaptor
`40 are each provided with a transmitter/receiver (not shown)
`for transmitting/receiving a signal by using the radio wave
`or light wave as the transmission medium.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the
`display processing system 10 according to the first embodi
`ment of the present invention in more detail. In FIG. 2, the
`detailed structure of the portable phone 20 and the conver
`sion adaptor 40 is shown in particular. In FIG. 2, the portable
`phone 20 is provided with a CPU 23 and a rechargeable
`battery 24. The operation part 22, an antenna part 37, a
`power mode switching circuit 25, a ROM 26, a flash
`memory 27, a working RAM 28, a VRAM 29, a mixer 30,
`and a PCM encoder 31 are connected to the CPU 23. The
`CPU 23 carries out processing based on a control program
`stored in the ROM 26 in response to an input from the
`operation part 22. The CPU 23, as required, processes image
`data and/or audio data stored in the flash memory 27 to
`generate image display data (image data for each frame)
`and/or audio data. The image display data generated by the
`CPU 23 is supplied to the VRAM 29, temporarily stored
`therein, and then supplied to the LCD 21 via an LCD
`controller 32 and displayed thereon. The audio data gener
`ated by the CPU 23 is mixed by the mixer 30, amplified by
`an amplifier 33, and then outputted from a speaker 34. The
`portable phone 20 further includes a microphone 35 for
`receiving voice of a user during the telephone communica
`tion. An analog voice signal from the microphone 35 is
`converted into a digital voice data by an analog-digital (AD)
`converter 36, and then converted into a PCM voice signal by
`the PCM encoder 31. The PCM voice signal is supplied to
`the CPU 23 and subjected to processing. The input voice
`processed by the CPU23 is modulated with a predetermined
`modulating method and then transmitted from the antenna
`37 as a radio wave. The radio wave is transmitted to a
`telephone of the party on the other end via a repeater and a
`central server (not shown).
`The power mode switching circuit 25 detects whether the
`power supply currently being used is the rechargeable bat
`tery 24 or a supply circuit 43. Based on the detection, i.e.,
`type of power supply being used, the power mode switching
`circuit 25 changes the operation clock for internal ICs
`(integrated circuits) to switch the power consumption. The
`ROM 26 stores programs necessary for controlling the
`portable phone 20 in a nonvolatile manner. The detail of the
`ROM 26 will be described later by referring to FIG. 3. The
`flash memory 27 is used as readable/writable memory (or
`temporal storage) for storing registered data and received
`data downloaded over a network (image data, audio data,
`game program data, etc.). The data stored in the flash
`memory 27 includes a phone directory for the portable
`phone, and game and music data distributed through com
`munication. The working RAM 28 serves as working
`memory or a register for temporarily storing data to be
`processed by the CPU 23. The display RAM 29 temporarily
`stores the image display data processed by the CPU 23 for
`the next one frame.
`The flash memory 27 can be implemented in a form of
`cartridge or memory stick so as to become detachable from
`the portable phone 20. In such case, if the flash memory 27
`currently in use reaches its capacity, data can be additionally
`stored just by changing it to another new flash memory.
`
`30
`
`35
`
`First Embodiment
`FIG. 1 is an external view of a display processing system
`according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In
`FIG. 1, a display processing system 10 includes a portable
`phone 20, a recharging unit with signal conversion function
`(hereinafter, simply referred to as “conversion adaptor”) 40,
`a controller 50, and a television monitor 60. One of main
`surfaces of a housing of the portable phone 20 is provided
`with an LCD 21 on the upper portion and an operation part
`22 on the lower portion. The operation part 22 includes a
`plurality of keys actuated by a user. Although omitted in the
`drawing, a connector or a contact is provided on the bottom
`of the housing of the portable phone 20. When the portable
`phone 20 is attached to the conversion adaptor 40, the
`connector or the contact electrically connects internal cir
`cuits of the portable phone 20 and the conversion adaptor 40.
`The conversion circuit 40 has such a structure that the
`portable phone 20 is engageable therein in a detachable
`manner. A housing of the conversion adaptor 40 is provided
`with a plug 41 for connection to a commercial power source
`and a terminal 42 for connection with the controller 50 in a
`detachable manner. The internal circuit of the conversion
`adaptor 40 will be described later in detail, by referring to
`FIG. 2.
`The controller 50 is provided with an operation part 51 for
`operating the entire display processing system 10 when the
`portable phone 20 is attached to the conversion adaptor 40.
`The operation part 51 includes a plurality of keys actuated
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`Page 17 of 23
`
`

`

`US 6,781,635 B1
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`7
`Therefore, long-term storage of the past data is possible
`without deletion.
`The power mode switching circuit 25 determines that the
`portable phone 20 is not attached to the conversion adaptor
`40 if there is no power supplied from the supply circuit 43
`(i.e., if power is supplied only from the rechargeable battery
`24). The power mode switching circuit 25 then switches an
`operation mode of the portable phone 20 to a power-saving
`mode. To be specific, the power mode switching circuit 25
`changes the operation clock to that in relatively low fre
`quency for various digital circuits including the CPU 23.
`Herein, an image is displayed only on the LCD 21, and
`therefore, the battery duration is given a higher priority than
`the image processing speed.
`On the other hand, if detecting the power supplied from
`the supply circuit 43, the power mode switching circuit 25
`determines that the portable phone 20 is attached to the
`conversion adaptor 40. The power mode switching circuit 25
`then switches the operation mode of the portable phone 20
`to a normal power mode. To be specific, the power mode
`switching circuit 25 changes the operation clock to that in
`higher frequency than the power-saving mode for the vari
`ous digital circuits including the CPU 23. Herein, an image
`is displayed on the television monitor 60, and therefore,
`high-speed operation of the CPU 23 is necessary for gen
`eration of the image in high resolution. In this case, exhaus
`tion of the rechargeable battery 24 needs not to be consid
`ered and high power consumption is not a problem as the
`power is supplied from the commercial power source.
`Accordingly, the image in high resolution can be displayed,
`which was not possible with the conventional portable
`phone due to the constraint on power consumption.
`As described above, the power mode switching circuit 25
`automatically switches between the operation modes of the
`various ICs depending on whether the portable phone 20 is
`attached to the conversion adaptor 40 or not, thereby chang
`ing the operation clock for the ICs and making the power
`consumption appropriate for the state of use.
`The conversion adaptor 40 is provided with a recharger
`40a and a video signal converter 40b. The recharger 40a
`includes the supply circuit 43. The supply circuit 43 includes
`a rectifier circuit for AC-DC conversion and a recharging
`control circuit for recharging the later described recharge
`able battery 24 to a predetermined potential with the recti
`fied DC power supply. The supply circuit 43 converts, for
`example, an AC of 100 volts supplied from an outlet (not
`shown) via the plug 41 into a DC and supplies the same to
`the rechargeable battery 24 of the portable phone 20. In this
`manner, the rechargeable battery 24 is recharged. Here, the
`recharging control circuit controls the current for recharging,
`as required, to avoid overcurrent.
`The video signal converter 40b includes a video memory
`(display memory) 44, a video signal conversion circuit 45,
`a buffer memory for audio data (hereinafter shortened as
`“audio buffer”) 46, an amplifier 47, a digital-analog con
`verter (hereinafter shortened as “DAC”) 48, and a read
`control circuit 49. The video memory 44 temporarily stores
`the image display data for one frame supplied from the CPU
`23. The video signal conversion circuit 45 converts the
`image display data supplied from the video memory 44 to a
`video signal (NTSC, PAL, or the like), and then outputs the
`same to the television monitor 60. The audio buffer 46
`temporarily stores the audio data supplied from the CPU 23.
`The DAC 48 converts the audio data (digital data) supplied
`from the audio buffer 46 to an analog audio signal. The
`converted analog signal is amplified by the amplifier 47, and
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`8
`then outputted from a speaker (not shown) of the television
`monitor 60 as audio. The read control circuit 49 controls
`timings for reading the image display data stored in the
`video memory 44 and the audio data stored in the audio
`buffer 46 in order to synchronize the image display data and
`the audio data.
`FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of the
`ROM 26. The ROM 26 is nonvolatile memory used as a
`program region and exemplarily stores a communication
`processing program 261, a display switching control pro
`gram 262, a menu display program 263, and other control
`programs 264. The communication processing program 261
`is a program necessary for phone conversation processing
`and data transmitting/receiving processing. The display
`switching control program 262 is a program for controlling
`a destination for the image display data and the audio data
`depending on a selected display mode. The menu display
`program 263 is a program for displaying a menu screen as
`will be shown later in FIG. 5.
`Next, specific functions of the CPU 23 are described.
`Every time the antenna part 37 receives an incoming call or
`data, the CPU 23 processes received data in accordance with
`the communication processing program 261, and if
`necessary, making the flash memory 27 store the received
`data or the registered data. The CPU 23 also processes the
`data stored in the flash memory 27 to generate the image
`display data and/or audio data.
`Here, when the portable phone 20 is not attached (or
`