Patent ID: 6137457
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: G02B,G06F,G09G

Abstract:
An image display system comprising:(a) a plurality of image display units, each display unit comprising:(i) a display means for displaying image signals;(ii) an external control terminal for receiving a mode control signal for causing a mode exchanging operation among a plurality of operation modes at the image display unit itself;(iii) a mode exchanging switch for specifying a condition of said mode control signal;(iv) a detection means for detecting whether or not the external control terminal is connected to a connector capable of outputting the mode control signal;(v) a mode exchanging control circuit for controlling the display means so as to cause a mode exchanging operation at the image display unit itself when the detection means detects connection of said external control terminal to the connector and for controlling the display means in accordance with said condition of the mode control signal specified by the mode exchanging switch when the detection means detects non-connection of said external control terminal to the connector; and(vi) an output terminal for outputting the mode control signal input to said external control terminal; and(b) an external control device for outputting the mode control signal to said external control terminal, the external control terminal of respective image display units being connected in series to the output terminal of respective different image display units, and a particular one of said image display units in said series having its external control terminal connected to the external control device; wherein:said plurality of image display units further comprises at least two image display unit groups;each image display unit group of said at least two image display unit groups has a separate connection between an external control terminal of a particular one of said image display units and said external control device so that each image display unit group can operate in a mode that is independent of any other of said image display unit groups.