U.S. patent application number 09/127251 was filed with the patent office on 2001-06-07 for method and apparatus for setting up a monitor.
Invention is credited to NARUI, YOSHIHISA.
Application Number | 20010002833 09/127251 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22429129 |
Filed Date | 2001-06-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010002833 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NARUI, YOSHIHISA |
June 7, 2001 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SETTING UP A MONITOR
Abstract
Conventional method sets up parameters for a monitor by using
the panel buttons installed in the front of the monitor, especially
when the monitor is first connected to a computer. However, it is
inconvenient to use the panel buttons to set up a monitor. To
overcome the shortcomings of the available art, a monitor set up
application displays a visual interface for setting up a monitor.
The visual interface provides a pattern background and an
adjustment window. Monitor adjustments can be performed through the
adjustment window. The pattern background changes in response to
each step of the adjustment, so that a user can observe the impacts
of the adjustment. In addition, based on the model of the monitor,
the visual interface provides the message indicating the
recommended adjustments to the monitor.
Inventors: |
NARUI, YOSHIHISA; (SAN
DIEGO, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
J WILLIAM WIGERT JR
CROSBY HEAFEY ROACH & MAY
P O BOX 7936
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
941207936
|
Family ID: |
22429129 |
Appl. No.: |
09/127251 |
Filed: |
July 31, 1998 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
345/418 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/04897
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
345/418 |
International
Class: |
G06F 003/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for adjusting a monitor having a screen, comprising the
steps of: displaying, on the screen, a pattern background (406,
606, 706) for indicating current displaying quality of the screen;
displaying, on the pattern background, an adjustment window (408,
608, 708); and performing adjustment (404, 604, 704) to the monitor
through the adjustment window.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: in
response to the adjustment performed at the step of performing the
adjustment, changing the pattern ground (506, FIGS. 7B-F) for
indicating a result of the adjustment.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein: the step of displaying the
adjustment window displays the adjustment window containing at
least one element (410, 617, 621, 725, 727, 735, 737, 747); and the
step of performing the adjustment performs the adjustment by
operating the element.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: detecting
that the monitor needs to be adjusted.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: detecting
that the monitor is used for the first time, or the resolution and
scanning frequency of the monitor have been changed.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
detecting the model of the monitor; and displaying a suggested
adjustment suitable to monitor.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein: the step of displaying the
pattern ground displays a resolution at which the screen is
currently set up; the step of displaying the adjustment window
displays the adjustment window containing at least one element
(410) for adjusting the resolution of the screen; and the step of
performing the adjustment performs the resolution adjustment by
operating on the element.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:
detecting the model of the monitor; and displaying a suggested
resolution adjustment suitable to monitor.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein: the step of displaying the
pattern ground displays a plurality of gray scales; the step of
displaying the adjustment window displays at least one element for
adjusting brightness of the screen; and the step of performing the
adjustment performs brightness adjustment by operating the
element.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:
detecting the model of the monitor; and displaying suggested
brightness adjustment suitable to monitor.
11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:
displaying the adjusted brightness.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein: the step of displaying the
pattern background displays a plurality of gray scales; the step of
displaying the adjustment window displays at least one element for
adjusting contrast of the screen; and the step of performing the
adjustment performs contrast adjustments by operating the
element.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of:
detecting the model of the monitor; and displaying suggested
contrast adjustment suitable to monitor.
14. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:
displaying the adjusted contrast.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein: the step of displaying the
pattern background displays a scale for indicating the size at
which the monitor is being set; the step of displaying the
adjustment displays at least one element for adjusting the size;
and the step of performing the adjustment performs size adjustment
by operating the element.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of: in
response to the adjustment performed at the step of performing the
adjustment, changing the scale of the pattern background for
indicating a result of the size adjustment.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein: the step of displaying the
pattern ground displays a scale for indicating center position at
which the monitor is being set; the step of displaying the
adjustment window displays at least one element for adjusting the
center position; and the step of performing the adjustment performs
center position adjustment by operating the element.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of: in
response to the adjustment performed at the step of the performing
the adjustment, changing the scale of the pattern background for
indicating a result of the center position adjustment.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein: the step of displaying the
pattern background displays a scale for tilt position at which the
monitor is being set; the step of displaying the adjustment window
displays at least one element for adjusting the tilt position of
the monitor; and the step of performing the adjustment performs
tilt position adjustment by operating the element.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of: in
response to the adjustment performed at the step of performing the
adjustment, changing the scale of the pattern background for
indicating a result of the tilt position adjustment.
21. An apparatus for adjusting a monitor having a screen,
comprising: means for displaying, on the screen, a pattern
background for indicating current displaying quality of the screen;
means for displaying, on the pattern background, an adjustment
window; and means for performing adjustment to the monitor through
the adjustment window.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus
for setting up monitors.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] Display monitors are commonly used to display inputs to, and
outputs from, computers to which the monitors are connected. To
obtain optimal display effects, a monitor has to be set up with
appropriate parameters, including resolution, scanning frequency,
brightness, contrast, center position, tilt position, etc. The
conventional method adjusts monitor parameters, especially when a
monitor is connected to a computer for the first time, by using the
panel buttons installed in the front of the monitor. However, it is
not convenient to use the panel buttons to adjust the monitor
parameters. Specifically, monitor panel buttons are usually unable
to provide instructions as how to set up a particular monitor
parameter. A user may need to frequently consult a monitor menu in
adjusting a monitor parameter. In addition, in an adjustment
process of a monitor, the conventional method does not provide a
user with recommended adjustments for the monitor and the
adjustment impact upon the monitor in each step of the adjustment
process. Furthermore, the panel buttons of the available monitors
may not be able to adjust some of the monitor parameters. For
example, the panel buttons of the available monitors are not able
to adjust display resolution.
[0005] There is, therefore, a need for an improved method and
apparatus to adjust monitor parameters.
[0006] There is another need for an improved method and apparatus
to provide a user with recommended adjustments in the adjusting
process to the monitor.
[0007] There is yet another need for an improved method and
apparatus to provide a user with visual information to indicate the
impact in each step of the adjusting process to the monitor.
[0008] The present invention provides a method and an apparatus to
meet these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] To address the shortcomings of the available art, the
present invention provides a novel method for adjusting a monitor
having a screen. The method comprises the steps of: displaying, on
the screen, a pattern background for indicating current displaying
quality of the screen; displaying, on the pattern background, an
adjustment window; and performing adjustment to the monitor through
the adjustment window.
[0010] The present invention also provides an apparatus for
performing the method described above.
[0011] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the
invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the
following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments of
the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an exemplary computer system
having a monitor, which can be used as a hardware platform to
implement the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 shows some circuits within the monitor of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3 shows a screen display for setting up the monitor, in
accordance with the present invention;
[0015] FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B show screens illustrating resolution
adjustment to the monitor, in accordance with the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 6 shows a screen for adjusting the brightness and
contrast to the monitor, in accordance with the present
invention;
[0017] FIGS. 7A-F show screens illustrating the size, center
position, and tilt position adjustments to the monitor, in
accordance with the present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 8 shows a screen for completing the monitor adjustment,
in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of an
exemplary computer system 100, which can be used as a hardware
platform to implement the present invention.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the computer system 100 includes a
system bus 101, a processing unit 102, a memory device 104, a disk
drive interface 106, a hard disk 108, a display interface 110, a
display monitor 112, a serial bus interface 114, a mouse 116, and a
keyboard 118.
[0021] The hard disk 108 is coupled to the disk drive interface
106; the monitor 112 is coupled to the display interface 610, and
the mouse 116 and keyboard 118 are coupled to the serial bus
interface 114. Coupled to the system bus 101 are the processing
unit 102, the memory device 104, the disk drive interface 106, and
the display interface 110.
[0022] Memory device 104 stores data and programs. Specifically,
the memory device 104 stores a monitor set up application 103 for
setting up the monitor 112. Operating together with the disk drive
interface 106, the hard disk 108 also stores data and programs.
However, memory device 104 has faster access speed than hard disk
108, while the hard disk 108 has higher capacity than memory device
104. The hard disk 108 contains a monitor identification (monitor
ID) file. After a monitor has been set up, the monitor ID list file
stored the monitor ID associated with the monitor.
[0023] Operating together with the display interface 110, the
monitor 112 provides visual interfaces between the programs being
executed and users, and displays the outputs generated by the
programs.
[0024] Operating together with the serial bus interface 114, the
mouse 116 and keyboard 118 provide inputs to the computer system
100.
[0025] The processing unit 102 controls the operations of the
computer system 100 by executing the programs stored in the memory
device 104 and hard disk 108. The processing unit 102 also controls
the transmissions of data and programs between the memory device
104 and the hard disk 108.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 2, there are shown some circuits within
the monitor 112 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the monitor
112 includes a ROM (read-only memory) 202, an EEPROM
(electronically erasable programmable read-only memory) 204, a
display memory 206, and a display control circuit 208.
[0027] The ROM 202 stores the information about the monitor 112,
such as monitor ID, model, and name of the manufacture. The EEPROM
204 stores display parameters, such as resolution, scanning
frequency, contrast, display size, center position, and title
position. The display memory 206 stores the contents that are
received from the display interface 110 and to be displayed on the
monitor 112. The display control circuit 208 reads the contents
from the display memory 206, and generates vertical and horizontal
scanning signals to display the contents on the screen of the
monitor 112, in accordance with the parameters stored in EEPROM
204.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a screen 304 displayed
on the monitor 112, in accordance with the present invention.
[0029] The screen 304 is invoked in two situations: (1) when the
monitor 112 is connected to the computer system 100 for the first
time, and (2) when a user changes monitor parameters for the
monitor 112 using application produced by another manufacture, such
as Window 95 produced by Microsoft.
[0030] When the computer system 100 is booted, the processing unit
104 reads the identification of the monitor 112 (monitor ID) from
ROM 102, and checks monitor ID stored in ROM 102 against the
monitor ID list file stored in the hard disk 108. If the monitor ID
does not exist in the monitor list file (thus indicating that the
monitor 112 is connected to the computer system 100 for the first
time), the processing unit 102 executes the monitor set up
application 103 to display the screen 304.
[0031] When a user changes a monitor parameter for the monitor 112
using an application produced by another manufacture, such as
Window 95 produced by Microsoft, it may cause the needs to adjust
the other monitor parameters for the monitor 112. For example,
changing resolution and scanning frequency may cause the needs to
adjust screen size, center position, and tilt position. Therefore,
when the processing unit 102 detects that a user has changed the
resolution and scanning frequency, it also displays the screen
304.
[0032] Based on the information stored in the ROM 202, the
processing unit 102 is able to provide the recommended adjustments
to the monitor 112. As shown in FIG. 3, the screen 304 contains a
resolution background 306 and an adjustment window 308. The
resolution background 306 displays the current resolution at which
the monitor 112 is set up. The adjustment window 308 contains the
information about the monitor 112 and a "Next" button 310. The
information includes model (CPD-420GS, a 19 inch monitor), monitor
ID (2100156), and manufacture's name (Sony Electronics Inc). To
start a basic set up process, a user clicks the "Next" button 310
using mouse 116 shown in FIG. 1. In response, the processing unit
102 executes the monitor set up application 103 to display a
subsequent screen 404. The basic set up process adjusts the monitor
parameters including: resolution, brightness, size, center
position, and tilt position.
[0033] Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a screen 404, time
sequentially to the screen 304 shown in FIG. 3, in accordance with
the present invention.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 4, the screen 404 contains a resolution
background 406 and an adjustment window 408. The resolution
background 406 displays the resolution at which the monitor 112 is
set up. The adjustment window 408 displays a message indicating the
resolution displayed in the resolution background 406 and a
recommended resolution for the monitor 112. Specifically, the
message indicates that the monitor 112 is currently set up at
800.times.600 at 60 Hz vertical scanning frequency. The message
also indicates that, for CPD-420GS model monitor, the recommended
resolution is 1024.times.786 at 85 Hz vertical scanning frequency.
The display control circuit 208 can calculated the horizontal
scanning frequency using the resolution and the vertical scanning
frequency. The adjustment window 408 also contains a "Yes" button
410 and a "No" button 420. To continue the adjustment process, the
user selects (or clicks) either the "Yes" button 410, or the "No"
button 420, using mouse 116.
[0035] In response to the selection of the "Yes" button 410, the
processing unit 102 executes the monitor set up application 103 to
store the adjusted resolution (1024.times.768) and the vertical
scanning frequency (85 Hz) into the EEPROM 204. The processing unit
102 then displays a subsequent screen 504A.
[0036] In response to the selection of the "No" button 420, the
processing unit 102 executes the monitor set up application 103 to
store the adjusted resolution (800.times.600) and the vertical
scanning frequency (60 Hz) into the EEPROM 204. The processing unit
102 then displays a subsequent screen 504B.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 5A, there is shown a screen 504A, time
sequentially to the screen 404 shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with
the present invention.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 5A, the screen 504A contains a resolution
background 506 and an adjustment window 508. The resolution
background 506 displays the resolution newly adjusted, so that a
user can observe the impact of the resolution adjustment performed
at FIG. 4. The adjustment window 508 displays a message indicating
that the resolution is changed to 1024.times.765 at 85 Hz vertical
scanning frequency.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 5B, there is shown a screen 504B, time
sequentially to the screen 404 shown in FIG. 4, in accordance with
the present invention.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 5B, the screen 504B contains a resolution
background 506 and an adjustment window 508. The resolution
background 506 displays the resolution at which the monitor 112 is
set up . The adjustment window 508 displays a message indicating
that the resolution is 800.times.600 at 60 Hz vertical scanning
frequency.
[0041] In FIGS. 5A and 5B, the adjustment window 508 also contains
a "Next" button 510. To continue the basic set up process, the user
clicks the "Next" button 510. In response, the processing unit 102
executes the monitor set up application 103 to display a subsequent
screen 604 to adjust the brightness for monitor 112.
[0042] Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown a screen 604 time
sequentially to the screen 504 shown in FIG. 5, in accordance with
the present invention. In describing FIG. 6, it is assumed that has
clicked "Next" button 510 on the screen 504A.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 6, the screen 604 contains a brightness
background 506 and an adjustment window 608. The brightness
background 606 displays 16 levels of gray scales numbered from 1 to
16. The adjustment window 506 contains a contrast icon 614 having a
contrast displaying region 615, a contrast bar 616 having a
contrast sliding button 617, a brightness icon 618 having a
brightness display region 619, a brightness bar 620 having a
brightness sliding button 621, and a "Next" button 622. The
adjustment window 608 also contains a message indicating that the
recommended brightness and contrast. The message indicates that,
for CPD-420GS model monitor, the brightness and contrast are
recommended at the 4th level of the gray scale.
[0044] To adjust the contrast for the monitor 112, a user slides
the sliding button 617 over the contrast bar 616 using the mouse
116. In response, the processing unit 102 executes the monitor set
up application 103 to display the contrast adjusted on the contrast
display region 615, so that the user can observer the impact of the
contrast adjustment. While sliding the button 617 over the contrast
bar 616, the user compares the contrast displayed in the region 616
with the contrast indicated by the 4th level scale in the
brightness background 606. The user sets the sliding button 617 in
a position where the contrast displayed in region 615 matches that
indicated by the 4th level scale in the brightness background 606.
In response, the processing unit 102 executes the monitor set up
application 103 to store the level of the contrast adjusted into
the EEPROM 204.
[0045] To adjust the brightness for the monitor 112, a user slides
the button 621 over the brightness bar 620 using the mouse 116. In
response, the processing unit 102 executes the monitor set up
application 103 to display the brightness adjusted on the
brightness display region 619, so that the user can observer the
impact of the brightness adjustment. While sliding the button 620
over the brightness bar 621, the user compares the brightness
displayed in the region 619 with the brightness indicated by the
4th level scale in the brightness background 606. The user sets the
sliding button 621 in a position where the brightness displayed in
region 619 matches that indicated by the 4th level scale in the
brightness background 606. In response, the processing unit 102
executes the monitor set up application 103 to store the level of
the brightness adjusted into the EEPROM 204.
[0046] To continue the basic set up process, the user clicks the
"Next" button 610. In response, the processing unit 102 executes
the monitor set up application 103 to display a subsequent screen
704. Referring to FIG. 7A, there is shown a screen 704 time
sequentially to the screen 604 shown in FIG. 6, in accordance with
the present invention.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 7A, the screen 704 contains a position
background 706 and an adjustment window 708. The position
background 706 contains a scale indicating the size, center
position, and tilt position of the screen 704. The adjustment
window 708 contains a center position icon 720, a vertical position
bar 724 having a vertical sliding button 725, a horizontal position
bar 726 having a horizontal sliding button 727. The adjustment
window 708 also contains a size icon 730, a vertical size bar 734
having a vertical sliding button 735, a horizontal size bar 736
having a horizontal sliding button 737. The adjustment window 708
additionally contains a tilt position icon 740 and a tilt bar 746
having a sliding button 747. The adjustment window 708 further
contains a "Next" button 710.
[0048] To adjust the vertical center position for the monitor 112,
a user slides the button 725 over the vertical position bar 724
using the mouse 116. In response, the processing unit 102 executes
the monitor set up application 103 to move the vertical center
position of the adjustment window 708, so that the user can
observer the impact of the vertical center position adjustment.
FIG. 7B shows that the adjustment window 708 is vertically moved up
in response to the vertical center position adjustment. When the
user sets the sliding button 725 in a desired position over the
vertical position bar 724, the processing unit executes the monitor
set up application 103 to store the adjusted vertical center
position into the EEPROM 204.
[0049] To adjust the horizontal center position for the monitor
112, the user slides the button 727 over the horizontal position
bar 726 using the mouse 116. In response, the processing unit 102
executes the monitor set up application 103 to move the horizontal
center position of the adjustment window 708, so that the user can
observer the impact of the horizontal center position adjustment.
FIG. 7C shows that the adjustment window 708 is horizontally moved
to the right in response to the horizontal center position
adjustment. When the user sets the sliding button 727 in a desired
position over the horizontal position bar 726 , the processing unit
102 executes the monitor set up application 103 to store the
adjusted horizontal center position into the EEPROM 204.
[0050] To adjust the vertical size for the monitor 112, a user
slides the sliding button 735 over the vertical size bar 734 using
the mouse 116. In response, the processing unit 102 executes the
monitor set up application 103 to reduce or enlarge the vertical
dimension of the position background 706 and the adjustment window
708, so that the user can observer the impact of the vertical size
adjustment. When the user sets the sliding button 735 in a desired
position over the vertical size bar 734, the processing unit 104
executes the monitor set up application 103 to store the adjusted
vertical size into the EEPROM 204.
[0051] To adjust the horizontal size for the monitor 112, the user
slides the button 737 over the horizontal size bar 736 using the
mouse 116. In response, the processing unit 102 executes the
monitor set up application 103 to reduce or enlarge the horizontal
dimension of the position background 706 and the adjustment window
708, so that the user can observer the impact of the horizontal
size adjustment. When the user sets the sliding button 737 in a
desired position over the horizontal bar 736, the processing unit
104 executes the monitor set up application 103 to store the
adjusted horizontal size into the EEPROM 204.
[0052] FIG. 7D shows that the position background 706 and the
adjustment window 708 are reduced vertically and horizontally in
response to vertical and horizontal size adjustments.
[0053] To tilt the display on the screen 704 to the left, a user
slides the button 747 to the left over the tilt position bar 746
using the mouse 116. In response, the processing unit 102 executes
the monitor set up application 103 to rotate the screen 704 to the
left, so that the user can observe the impact of the left tilt
adjustment. FIG. 7E shows that the adjustment window 708 is rotated
to the left in response to a left tilt adjustment.
[0054] To tilt the display on the screen 704 to the right, a user
slides the sliding button 747 to the right over the tilt position
bar 746 using the mouse 116. In response, the processing unit 102
executes the monitor set up application 103 to rotate the screen
704 to the right, so that the user can observer the impact of the
right tilt adjustment. FIG. 7F shows that the adjustment window 708
is rotated to the right in response to a right tilt adjustment.
[0055] When the user sets the sliding button 747 in a desired
position over the tilt position bar 734, the processing unit 102
executes the monitor set up application 103 to store the tilt
position adjusted into the EEPROM 204.
[0056] To continue the basic set up process, the user clicks the
"Next" button 710. In response, the processing unit 102 executes
the monitor set up application 103 to display a subsequent screen
804.
[0057] Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a screen 804 time
sequentially to the screen 704 shown in FIG. 7, in accordance with
the present invention.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 8, the screen 804 contains a resolution
background 806 and an adjustment window 808. The resolution
background 806 displays the resolution to which the monitor 112 has
been adjusted. The adjustment window 808 contains a message
indicating that the basic set up process is completed. To quit the
basic set up process, the user clicks the "Finish" button 810. In
response, the processing unit 102 executes the monitor set up
application 103 to end the basic set up process. If the monitor ID
for monitor 112 does not exist in the monitor ID list file, the
processing unit stores the monitor ID into the monitor ID list file
before ending the basic set up process.
[0059] Although the present invention has been shown and described
with respect to preferred embodiments, various changes and
modifications are deemed to lie within the spirit and scope of the
invention as claimed.
* * * * *