Display control apparatus for a display system

Claim 2

The system according to claim 1, wherein said display apparatus has a function of holding a display state of an image.

Claim 3

The system according to claim 2, wherein said display apparatus comprises a ferroelectric liquid crystal display.

Claim 4

The system according to claim 3, wherein said display apparatus comprises a backlight, and displays information using light emitted by said backlight and transmitted through said ferroelectric liquid crystal display.

Claim 5

The system according to claim 1, wherein when said display control unit is not in an active state upon power-ON of said display apparatus, said display apparatus sends a display operation state thereof to said display control unit via said second communication means upon waiting until said display control unit is set in the active state.

Claim 6

The system according to claim 4, wherein said display apparatus can operate in at least a display operation mode in which an image is displayed by turning on said backlight, and a power saving operation mode in which said backlight is turned off, and said display control unit can receive information indicating the operation mode of said display apparatus via said first communication means.

Claim 7

The system according to claim 1, wherein said display apparatus comprises a luminance setting unit, and said display control unit can receive information insetting a setting state of said luminance setting unit via said first communication means.

Claim 8

The system according to claim 1, wherein said display apparatus comprises self diagnosis means for diagnosing operation states of resources thereof, and said display control unit can activate said self diagnosis means of said display apparatus via said first communication means.

Claim 9

The system according to claim 1, wherein said display apparatus comprises self diagnosis means, and said display control unit can activate said self diagnosis means of said display apparatus via said first communication means.

Claim 10

The system according to claim 9, wherein said display apparatus can send a self diagnosis result of said self diagnosis means to said display control unit via said second communication means.

Claim 11

The system according to claim 1, wherein said display apparatus comprises a memory required for an operation thereof, and said display control means can read out contents of said memory of said display apparatus via said first communication means.

Claim 12

A display control method for a display system, which comprises a display control unit for generating display image data by performing predetermined image processing of display information received from a display information supply apparatus, and outputting the display image data to a display apparatus for displaying the generated image data, and said display apparatus for visually displaying, on a display screen, the display image data received in accordance with display control of said display control unit, and in which said display control unit and said display apparatus are connected via a first communication medium for transferring the display image data, and a second communication medium for transferring various control data between said display control unit and said display apparatus, wherein said display control unit controls said display apparatus by sending various control data via a serial communication using said second communication medium, and converts the display information from said display information supply apparatus into display image data addressed to said display apparatus and transmits the converted display image data to said display apparatus via said first communication medium, and said display apparatus displays the received display image data on the display screen.

Claim 13

The method according to claim 12, wherein said display apparatus comprises a ferroelectric liquid crystal display having a function of holding a display state of an image.

Claim 14

The method according to claim 13, wherein said display apparatus comprises a backlight, and displays information using light emitted by said backlight and transmitted through said ferroelectric liquid crystal display.

Claim 15

The method according to claim 12, wherein when said display control unit is not in an active state upon power-ON of said display apparatus, said display apparatus sends a display operation state thereof to said display control unit via said second communication means upon waiting until said display control unit is set in the active state.

Claim 16

The method according to claim 14, wherein said display apparatus can operate in at least a display operation mode in which an image is displayed by turning on said backlight, and a power saving operation mode in which said backlight is turned off, and said display control unit can receive information indicating the operation mode of said display apparatus via said first communication means.

Claim 17

The method according to claim 12, wherein said display apparatus comprises a luminance setting unit, and said display control unit can receive information insetting a setting state of said luminance setting unit via said first communication means.

Claim 18

The method according to claim 12, wherein said display apparatus comprises self diagnosis means for diagnosing operation states of resources thereof, and said display control unit can activate said self diagnosis means of said display apparatus via said first communication means.

Claim 19

The method according to claim 12, wherein said display apparatus comprises self diagnosis means, and said display control unit can activate said self diagnosis means of said display apparatus via said first communication means.

Claim 20

The method according to claim 19, wherein said display apparatus can send a self diagnosis result of said self diagnosis means to said display control unit via said second communication means.

Claim 21

The method according to claim 12, wherein said display apparatus comprises a memory required for an operation of itself, and said display control means can read out contents of said memory of said display apparatus.

Claim 22

A display system constituted by a display control apparatus, which is connected to a display information supply apparatus for supplying display information, receives the display information from said display information supply apparatus, performs predetermined image processing of the display information, and outputs display image information, and a display apparatus for displaying the display image information supplied from said display control apparatus, wherein said display apparatus comprises: first communication means for making a communication with said display control apparatus; display means for displaying the display image information received from said display control apparatus via said first communication means on a screen; a setting switch for setting a display condition of said display means; and setting state transmission means for transmitting a setting state of said setting switch to said display control apparatus via said first communication means, said display control apparatus comprises: reception means for receiving the display information from said display information supply apparatus; second communication means for making a communication with said display apparatus; setting state reception means for receiving the setting state of said setting switch of said display apparatus via said second communication means; and image generation means for generating the display image information by performing image processing of the display information supplied from said display information supply means in accordance with the setting state received by said setting state reception means, and the image processing of said display control apparatus can be controlled by said setting switch of said display apparatus.

Claim 23

The system according to claim 22, wherein said display apparatus has a function of holding a display state of an image.

Claim 24

The system according to claim 23, wherein said display apparatus comprises a ferroelectric liquid crystal display panel.

Claim 25

The system according to claim 22, wherein a communication of the setting state of said setting switch between said display apparatus and said display control apparatus is attained by a serial communication.

Claim 26

The system according to claim 22, wherein said image generation means of said display control apparatus comprises de-gamma means for performing de-gamma processing of the display information when the display information supplied from said display information supply means is multi-value image information, and binary halftone processing means for performing binary halftone processing for the information output from said de-gamma means, and generates the display image information allowing a multi-gradation display operation using said de-gamma means and said binary halftone processing means.

Claim 27

The system according to claim 26, wherein said de-gamma means of said image generation means of said display control apparatus comprises a plurality of de-gamma tables, selects one of the plurality of de-gamma tables in correspondence with the setting state of the setting switch supplied from said display apparatus, and outputs the selected de-gamma table to said binary halftone processing means, so as to correct a contrast of an image displayed on said display means.

Claim 28

The system according to claim 27, wherein said image generation means of said display control apparatus performs the binary halftone processing based on an area gradation method for multi-value display information on the basis of the selected de-gamma table.

Claim 29

The system according to claim 22, wherein said setting switch of said display apparatus comprises a plurality of switch circuits, and said setting state transmission means generates code data according to setting states of said plurality of switch circuits and transmits the generated code data to said display control apparatus.

Claim 30

The system according to claim 29, wherein the setting state of said setting switch of said display apparatus is transmitted in a format of code information corresponding to a setting circuit pattern of said setting switch.

Claim 31

A display control method for a display system constituted by a display control apparatus, which is connected to a display information supply apparatus for supplying display information, receives the display information from said display information supply apparatus, performs predetermined image processing of the display information, and outputs display image information, and a display apparatus for displaying the display image information supplied from said display control apparatus, wherein said display apparatus comprises a setting switch for setting a display condition of display means, a setting state of said setting switch is transmitted to said display control apparatus, and said display control apparatus generates the display image information by performing image processing of the display information supplied from said display information supply apparatus in accordance with the received setting state of said setting switch of said display apparatus, so that the image processing of said display control apparatus can be controlled by said setting switch of said display apparatus.

Claim 32

The method according to claim 31, wherein said display apparatus comprises a ferroelectric liquid crystal display panel having a function of holding a display state of an image.

Claim 33

The method according to claim 31, wherein said display control apparatus performs de-gamma processing of the display information when the display information supplied from said display information supply apparatus is multi-value image information, and performs binary halftone processing of the de-gamma-processed information to generate the display image information allowing a multi-gradation display operation.

Claim 34

The method according to claim 33, wherein said display control apparatus comprises a plurality of de-gamma tables, selects one of said plurality of de-gamma tables in correspondence with the setting state of said setting switch supplied from said display apparatus, and thereafter, performs the binary halftone processing, so as to correct a contrast of an image displayed on said display apparatus.

Claim 35

A display apparatus for displaying display image information supplied from a display control apparatus for outputting the display image information, comprising: first communication means for performing a communication with said display control apparatus; display means for displaying the display image information received from said display control apparatus via said first communication means on a screen; a setting switch for setting a display condition of said display means; and setting state transmission means for transmitting a setting state of said setting switch to said display control apparatus via said first communication means, wherein the image processing of said display control apparatus can be controlled by said setting switch of said display apparatus.

Claim 36

The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said display means has a function of holding a display state of an image.

Claim 37

The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein said display apparatus comprises a ferroelectric liquid crystal display panel.

Claim 38

The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein a communication of the setting state of said setting switch is attained by a serial communication.

Claim 39

The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein said setting switch of said display apparatus comprises a plurality of switch circuits, and said setting state transmission means generates code data according to setting states of said plurality of switch circuits and transmits the generated code data to said display control apparatus.

Claim 40

The system according to claim 39, wherein the setting state of said setting switch of said display apparatus is transmitted in a format of code information corresponding to a setting circuit pattern of said setting switch.

Claim 41

A display apparatus which has at least two different operation modes, and can display externally transferred image data on a display screen of a display, comprising: indication means, arranged in addition to said display, for indicating a state of said apparatus; and display control means for changing an indication mode of said indication means in correspondence with an operation mode of said apparatus.

Claim 42

The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said indication means comprises a light-emitting diode, and said display control means controls ON and OFF times of said light-emitting diode in correspondence with the operation mode of said apparatus.

Claim 43

The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein said display has a function of holding a display state of an image.

Claim 44

The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein said display comprises a ferroelectric liquid crystal display.

Claim 45

The apparatus according to claim 44, wherein said display comprises a backlight, and displays information using light emitted by said backlight and transmitted through said ferroelectric liquid crystal display.

Claim 46

The apparatus according to claim 45, wherein the operation mode includes at least: a normal display operation mode in which said backlight is turned on to perform a normal display operation; a static display operation in which said backlight is turned on to display a still image; and a power saving operation mode in which said backlight is turned off.

Claim 47

The apparatus according to claim 46, wherein said display control means controls said indication means to keep said indication means in an ON state upon execution of the normal display operation mode and the static display operation mode, and said display control means controls said indication means to blink at predetermined intervals in the power saving operation mode.

Claim 48

The apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the operation mode further includes a display stop mode in which said backlight is turned off and display control is stopped upon occurrence of an unrecoverable error, and said display control means controls, in the display stop mode, said indication means to blink at intervals shorter than the interval in the power saving operation mode.

Claim 49

A display method for a display apparatus which has at least two different operation modes, and can display externally transferred image data on a display screen of a display, wherein indication means, arranged in addition to said display, for indicating a state of said apparatus is controlled to change an indication mode in correspondence with an operation mode of said apparatus.

Claim 50

The method according to claim 49, wherein said indication means comprises a light-emitting diode, and ON and OFF times of said light-emitting diode are controlled in correspondence with the operation mode of said apparatus.

Claim 51

The method according to claim 49, wherein said display comprises a ferroelectric liquid crystal display which comprises a backlight and has a function of holding a display state of an image.

Claim 52

The method according to claim 49, wherein the operation mode includes at least: a normal display operation mode in which said backlight is turned on to perform a normal display operation; a static display operation in which said backlight is turned on to display a still image; and a power saving operation mode in which said backlight is turned off.

Claim 53

The method according to claim 52, wherein said indication means is controlled to be kept in an ON state upon execution of the normal display operation mode and the static display operation mode, and said indication means is controlled to blink at predetermined intervals in the power saving operation mode.

Claim 54

A display system which comprises a display apparatus for performing a display operation in accordance with received display data, and a display control apparatus for receiving display information from a host display information supply apparatus, generating display image data by performing predetermined image processing of the display information, and supplying the generated display image data to said display apparatus having a display, comprising: connection means for connecting said display apparatus and said display control apparatus via a high-speed, first bus for transferring the display image data, and a second bus for performing information communications between said display apparatus and said display control apparatus, said display control apparatus comprising: first transfer means for outputting the generated display image data to said display apparatus in accordance with the display information supplied from said display information supply apparatus; and second transfer means for performing information communications via said second bus, and outputting instruction information according to an instruction from said display control apparatus to said display apparatus via said second bus, and said display apparatus comprising: display mode execution means for executing a display mode in accordance with the instruction information transferred via said second bus; and display means for driving said display to display the display image data transferred via said first bus in accordance with the display mode executed by said display mode execution means.

Claim 55

The system according to claim 54, wherein said first transfer means transfers the display image data in units of lines.

Claim 56

The system according to claim 55, wherein the display mode includes: a first mode for displaying the received display image data for one line as display image data for one line; and a second mode for displaying the received display image data for one line as display image data for a plurality of lines.

Claim 57

The system according to claim 54, wherein said display has characteristics for holding a display state of an image.

Claim 58

The system according to claim 57, wherein said display comprises a backlight, and the display mode includes: a normal mode for sequentially displaying received display image data by driving said backlight; a static mode for continuously displaying a displayed image in a still state by driving said backlight; and a sleep mode for stopping a display operation of the received display image data while said backlight is set in a non-driving state.

Claim 59

A display system which comprises a display apparatus for performing a display operation in accordance with received display data, and a display control apparatus for receiving display information from a host display information supply apparatus, generating display image data by performing predetermined image processing of the display information, and supplying the generated display image data to said display apparatus having a display, comprising: connection means for connecting said display apparatus and said display control apparatus via a high-speed, first bus for transferring the display image data, and a second bus for performing information communications between said display apparatus and said display control apparatus, said display apparatus comprising: adjustment means for adjusting a display state; informing means for informing said display control apparatus of adjustment contents of said adjustment means via said second bus; and display means for driving said display to display the display image data transferred via said first bus, and said display control apparatus comprising: transfer means for generating the display image data by processing the display information supplied from said display information supply apparatus in accordance with the contents informed via said second bus, and outputting the generated display image data to said display apparatus via said first bus.

Claim 60

The system according to claim 59, wherein said first transfer means transfers the display image data in units of lines.

Claim 61

The system according to claim 59, wherein said adjustment means comprises a color adjustment switch.