All-in-one (AiO) computing systems are gaining popularity due to the compact overall design and functionality. For example, connections between the monitor, processor, and hardware components are made within the housing of the AiO computing system. As a result, the physical wiring and connections that can clutter a separated computer and monitor may be hidden.
Examples described herein provide the ability for different types of bases to be used in an AiO computing system. As the AiO computing system evolves, updated designs are separating the monitor and some associated hardware components from a base that includes the main processor. This separated design reduces the likelihood that certain components may become obsolete over time. Also, the separated design enables the AiO computing system to be used even if either the monitor or base fails, for example, by replacing only the failed component.
As an example, a two-way communication bus between the monitor and the base may be used to facilitate communications between each other. By providing an interface that allows for different types of bases to be used, in addition to allowing a compute base to interface with the monitor to create the AiO computing system, a non-computing base, or display base, may also interface with the monitor to create, as an example, a standard monitor or docking platform for notebook computers. As will be further described, a controller may determine the type of base currently connected to the monitor, in order to process the signals received from the base, such as the video signal.
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The electronic device 100 includes a housing that stores a display panel for displaying output from the base currently connected to the electronic device 100 (e.g., first base 110 or second base 120). The electronic device 100 may include a controller 104 connected to the base connector 102, such as a video scaler, for processing signals received from the base, such as video signal 114. As an example, based on the type of base currently connected to the electronic device 100 via the connector 102, the scaler 104 sets an input source of the scaler 104 or sets a processing format to a video format that processes the video signal 114 received from the base accordingly. In addition to the video signal 114, the base may provide a base identification signal, among other signals, for the scaler 104 to determine the type of base connected to the electronic device 100.
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In one example, an AiO computing system may be defined as a computing system where the electronic device 100 is coupled to a base, and physical wiring used to connect the electronic device 100 to the base are not visible. In other words, physical connections between the electronic device 100 and the base are located within the housing of the electronic device 100, the base (e.g., first base 110 or second base 120), and the connection component 106. Although the electronic device 100 and base may be located in separate housings, they are still part of the same computing system. For example, the housing of the electronic device 100 may be separate from the housing of the base. However, the electronic device 100 may be connected to the base via the connection component 106 to form the AiO computing system.
It should be noted that
Similarly, if the base identification signal 302 is of a different type than the first type, such as a non-computing base or display base, in order for the scaler 104 to process the video signal 114 received from the base 210, the scaler 104 may set the input source of the scaler 104 to a HDMI video signal, or set a processing format to process the video signal 114 as an HDMI video signal. In addition to the base identification signal 302 and video signal 114, the set 300 of signals may include an audio signal 306 and scaler control signal 308, among others.
Thus, computer-readable storage medium 402 can be said to store program instructions that, when executed by controller 410, implement the components of the electronic device 400. The executable program instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium 402 include, as an example, base type determination instructions 404, processing format setting instructions 406, and processing format changing instructions 408.
Base type determination instructions 404 represent program instructions that, when executed by the controller 410, cause the electronic device 400, in response to establishing a first connection with a first base via the base connector 102, to determine a first type of the first base via the base connector 102. As described above, the type of the base may be determined via a base identification signal received from the base, via the base connector 102. As an example of the first type, the electronic device 400 may determine the first base as a compute base.
Processing format setting instructions 406 represent program instructions that, when executed by the controller 410, cause the electronic device 400 to set a processing format of a video signal received via the base connector 102 to a first video format based on the first type. As described above, upon receiving the base identification signal identifying the first base as a compute base, in order for the controller 410 to process the video signal received from the first base, the controller 410 may set the processing format to an eDP format for processing the video signal received from the first base.
Processing format changing instructions 408 represent program instructions that, when executed by the controller 410, cause the electronic device 400 to change the processing format to a second video format in response to determining that the base connector 102 is connected to a second base having a different type than the first type. As an example, the electronic device 400 may determine the second base as a non-computing base or display base. Therefore, upon receiving the base identification signal identifying the second base as a display base, in order for the controller 410 to process the video signal received from the second base, the controller 410 may change the processing format from the eDP format to an HDMI format for processing the video signal received from the second base.
Computer-readable storage medium 402 represents generally any number of memory components capable of storing instructions that can be executed by controller 410. Computer-readable storage medium 402 is non-transitory in the sense that it does not encompass a transitory signal but instead is made up of at least one memory component configured to store the relevant instructions. As a result, the computer-readable storage medium 402 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Computer-readable storage medium 402 may be implemented in a single device or distributed across devices. Likewise, controller 410 represents any number of processors capable of executing instructions stored by computer-readable storage medium 402. Controller 410 may be integrated in a single device or distributed across devices. Further, computer-readable storage medium 402 may be fully or partially integrated in the same device as controller 410, or it may be separate but accessible to that device and controller 410.
In one example, the program instructions 404-408 can be part of an installation package that when installed can be executed by controller 410 to implement the components of the electronic device 400. In this case, computer-readable storage medium 402 may be a portable medium such as a CD, DVD, or flash drive or a memory maintained by a server from which the installation package can be downloaded and installed. In another example, the program instructions may be part of an application or applications already installed. Here, computer-readable storage medium 402 can include integrated memory such as a hard drive, solid state drive, or the like.
It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art, which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2017/042328 | 7/17/2017 | WO | 00 |