Abstract:
The present invention provides a display data transforming device. The display data transforming device transforms display data of low resolution suitable for small display devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDA), into display data of high resolution suitable for display devices such as projectors and LCDs.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a display data transforming device.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Personal data processing devices, such as PDAs, mobile phones, electronic translators, have single-color or multicolor displays as part of the man-machine interface. However, owing to the small sizes and limited calculating capabilities of these personal data processing devices, resolution and dimensions of displays of these devices are lower and smaller than those of displays of normal desktop PCs or projectors. The state-of-art devices, such as some PDAs using Windows CE®, have resolution of 320×240 at best.  
           [0003]    In single user scenarios, to view these small screens is trouble-free. Nevertheless, when more than two users intend to watch the screen at the same time, these users have to take turns or one of them has to transmit the display data to others&#39; compatible personal data processing devices, so that every one could view the data. Take personal digital assistant (PDA) as an example, when everybody present has a compatible PDA in his hand, chance is that he can beam the target data to other PDAs. Upon receiving the data, users could activate applications to view it. Procedure like this works fairly well when only a few people present, under the premise that everyone has a compatible personal data processing device. When viewers increase and not all of them have an available and compatible personal data processing device, this procedure is impracticable.  
           [0004]    Furthermore, when briefing of meeting, traditionally, a laptop is connected to a projector or some other large display devices, so that more people are able to view the briefing material synchronously. Along with the progress of semiconductor technology and the ever-increasing calculating capability of data processors, personal data processing devices, such as PDAs are ready to execute briefing software or store and show briefing material. Since personal data processing devices are small in size, if simply carrying a small personal data processing device will facilitate briefing and data presenting, the convenience is expectable.  
           [0005]    However, the aforementioned problem regarding resolution is still inevitable. Desktop displays and projectors nowadays have resolution of 640×480 or higher. Even if the highest resolution of the personal data processing devices reaches 320×240, only one-fourth of the display area in the large display is occupied, thus degrading performance. If the resolution of the large display is set at 800×600 or 1024×768, the performance will be even degraded.  
           [0006]    Therefore, a display data transforming device is required to transform display data of low resolution suitable for personal data processing devices into display data of high resolution suitable for projectors or other large display devices.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    In order to solve aforementioned problem regarding the low display data resolution, the present invention provides a display data transforming device. The display data transforming device receives first display data from a first display device (i.e. a personal data processing device) and, after processing of display data control circuit, transforms it into second display data suitable for a second display device, such as a CRT display device, an LCD display device, a plasma display devices or a projector. The resolution of the first display device is distinctly lower than that of the second display device. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 discloses the block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention and connective relation among a personal data processing device, a large display device, and the device shown as a preferred embodiment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]    Personal data processing devices from a variety of providers have many kinds of outputs and output data specifications. Taking a PDA for example, there are plenty kinds of outputs, such as an infrared transmitter (IrDA output), USB, and a RS232 port. Besides, memory expansion and slots for main memories, such as Compact Flash® slots, SmartMedia® slots, MultiMedia® slots, SD memory slots, Main Memory Interface (MMI) , and Memory Stick® slots are also good for connection. The outward connection of personal data processing device can be achieved by using connection lines compatible with one of these memory slots.  
         [0010]    For simplicity, the display device of a personal data processing device is called the first display device. Compared with the first display device, a large (or larger) display device, such as a CRT display, an LCD display, a plasma display or a projector, is named after the second display device.  
         [0011]    The present invention provides a display data transforming device. The display data transforming device transforms first display data from the output of the first display device into second display data suitable for the second display device. Wherein the first display data is display data of low resolution suitable for the first display device, and the second display data is display data of high resolution suitable for the second display device.  
         [0012]    The display data transforming device comprises a display data input for connecting the output of the first display device, so as to receive the first display data; a display data output for connecting the second display device, so as to transmit the second display data to the second display device; and a display data control circuit for receiving the first display data from the display data input, transforming the first display data into the second display data, and transmitting the second display data to the display data output. The display data output then transmits the second display data to the second display device, so that the second display data is immediately shown or is stored in the memory of the second display device for later presentation.  
         [0013]    As noted above, the output of the first display device can be an infrared transmitter (IrDA output), an USB, an RS232 port, a Compact Flash® slot, a SmartMedia® slot, a MultiMedia® slot, an SD memory slot, an MMI (main memory interface), and a Memory Stick® slot. The output of the first display device and display data input of the display data transforming device have the same or compatible specifications.  
         [0014]    Referring now to FIG. 1, in the first preferred embodiment, the output (not shown) of the first display device  101  transmits first display data  1001  to the display data transforming device  103  by means of the connection with the display data input  102 . Display data input  102  then transmits the first display data  1001  to a display data control circuit  104 .  
         [0015]    The display data control circuit  104  transmits the first display data  1001  received into the second display data  1002  suitable for the second display device  106 , and transmits the second display data  1002  to the display data output  105 . The display data output  105  then transmits the second display data  1002  to the second display device  106  for immediate display or store in behalf of later presentation. Even if the second display device  106  has no hardware or software compatible with the first display device  101 , the second display device  106  still receives or stores the second display data  1002  without any difficulty. The preferred embodiment of the display data control circuit  104  is CY7C9335 produced by Cypress Inc.  
         [0016]    As for how the display data control circuit  104  transforms the first display data  1001  to the second display data  1002 , one of the examples is given below. If the resolution of the first display data  1001  is 320×240, and the resolution of the second display data  1002  is 640×480, then the later is four times larger than the former. One can map the coordinate (x, y) in the first display data  1001 , to the coordinates (2x, 2y)-(2x−1, 2y)-(2x, 2y−1) and (2x−1, 2y−1) in the second display data  1002 . One can also dither the second display data  1002 . Persons skilled in the art have been acquainted with further processing of the second display data  1002 .  
         [0017]    In addition, the display data transforming device  103  may have a detecting device (not shown) that can automatically detect the resolution of the first display data  1001  and the second display data  1002 . With the detecting device, one can transform display data appropriately according to the resolution on both kinds of data. The display data transforming device  103  may have a setting device (not shown). Users may set the resolution of the second display data  1002  using the setting device. Furthermore, the display data transforming device  103  may be equipped with a plurality of display data input or display data output for synchronous input, synchronous output, and co-display. All these and other permutation or modification will be apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the specification accompanied with figures.  
         [0018]    It should also be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing the apparatuses of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims should be interpreted as including all such alternations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.