Patent ID: 7477205

Claim:
A computer system, including: a processor; at least one display device; and a graphics unit coupled between the processor and the at least one display device, the graphics unit including graphics memory defining at least two frame buffers, wherein the processor is configured to operate in a mode to perform multi-display operations independent of how many display devices are coupled to the graphics unit, the processor in said mode generating at least two streams of display data for simultaneous display, wherein driver software for the graphics unit determines whether the at least one display device that is coupled to the graphics unit includes only a first display device or includes the first display device and a second display device, and places the graphics unit in a first mode when only the first display device is coupled to the graphics unit and in a second mode when the first display device and the second display device are coupled to the graphics unit, wherein the graphics unit is configured to store each stream of the at least two streams of display data in a corresponding frame buffer of the at least two frame buffers and includes a frame combining circuitry connected separately to each of the at least two frame buffers, and wherein the frame combining circuitry has inputs coupled to receive display data from the at least two frame buffers and at least a first output coupled to the first display device, and the frame combining circuitry is operable in the first mode in which it generates an image by combining display data from each of the at least two frame buffers and asserts the image to the first output for display on the first display device, and is operable in the second mode in which it passes first display data from a first frame buffer of the at least two frame buffers to the first output for display on the first display device and passes second display data from a second frame buffer of the at least two frame buffers to a second output that is physically separate from the first output and coupled to a second display device of the at least one display device for simultaneous display with the first display data on the first display device.