Patent · US Expired

Computer system with video display controller having power saving modes

USRE38108E1 · kind E1 · reissue

31Cited by
12References
40Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 22, 2001
Grant dateMay 6, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 22, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC —)General

Abstract

A computer system includes an operator input device, a central processing unit (CPU), and a display device, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or cathode ray tube (CRT) providing a visible image to the computer user as an output of computer activity. The computer system includes a video display controller (VDC) with a graphics generator. This VDC receives image information, such as text or graphics generated by the CPU, or retrieved by the CPU from another facility (such as a CD-ROM) of the computer system, and responsively provides image signals driving the CRT or LCD display. The VDC includes a power saving controller implementing one of several available power saving modes dependent upon one or more of several possible inputs. Each of the power saving modes includes the same list of VDC functions which may individually be enabled or disabled in each power saving mode dependent upon a bit value entered into a register of the power saving controller. Each of the power saving modes is ranked with the others in an order of succession. Accordingly, when each mode of power saving is enabled, it disables the lower-ranked modes of power saving. In turn, each mode of power saving is …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.