Monitor control device and control method thereof

Abstract

A monitor control device includes a monitor connected to a computer. The device displays a signal transmitted from the computer in characters or pictures of the form which can be recognized by a user. The device includes an input unit connected to the monitor, for outputting an image tune signal or a picture color tune signal and other control signals, and a controller installed in the monitor, for interpreting the control signals generated from the input unit and transmitting a monitor control signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for controlling to control a monitor, comprising;
 a computer;   a monitor connected to said computer for displaying to display variable visual images corresponding to a computer signal transmitted from said computer as characters and pictures recognizable to a user;   an input unit for generating an image tune signal indicating preferences on image, a picture color tune signal indicating preferences on picture color, and a computer control signal; and   a controller separate from said computer for communicating with said monitor, said controller for interpreting signals generated and received from said input unit, for selectively transmitting a monitor control signal for controlling said monitor to set preferences for display of said variable visual images on said monitor and for selectively transmitting said computer control signal to said computer.   
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said input unit comprises a mouse. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said input unit comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said controller comprises:
 a signal receiving unit for receiving a received signal transmitted from said input unit;   a signal interpreting unit for interpreting the received signal to determine whether the received signal is a signal for controlling said monitor or a signal to be transmitted to said computer and then for transmitting a first control signal and a transmission signal; and   a signal transmitting unit for transmitting a second control signal according to an instruction from said signal interpreting unit, the instruction determining whether the second control signal is to be sent by said controller to said monitor or said computer.   
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 4 , wherein said input unit comprises a mouse. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 4 , wherein said input unit comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said controller is installed in said monitor and said controller comprises:
 a signal receiving unit for receiving a received signal transmitted from said input unit;   a signal interpreting unit for interpreting the received signal to determine whether the received signal is a signal for controlling said monitor or a signal to be transmitted to said computer and then for transmitting a first control signal and a transmission signal; and   a signal transmitting unit for transmitting a second control signal according to an instruction from said signal interpreting unit, the instruction determining whether the second control signal is to be sent by said controller to said monitor or said computer.   
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 7 , wherein said input unit comprises a mouse. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 7 , wherein said input unit comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 7 , wherein said input unit comprises a remote-control signal transmitting unit, and said monitor comprises a remote-control signal transceiving unit in a predetermined portion to receive and transmit a signal generated from said remote-control signal transmitting unit to said controller. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 10 , wherein said input unit comprises a mouse. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 10 , wherein said input unit comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 1 , wherein said input unit comprises a remote-control signal transmitting unit, and said monitor comprises a remote-control signal transceiving unit in a predetermined portion to receive and transmit a signal generated from said remote-control signal transmitting unit to said controller. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 13 , wherein said input unit comprises a mouse. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 13 , wherein said input unit comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       16. A method for controlling a monitor, comprising the steps of:
 receiving a first signal generated from an input unit at a signal receiving unit communicating with a controller, said controller communicating with a monitor;   interpreting said first signal at said controller to determine whether said first signal is one of a signal for controlling said monitor and a signal to be transmitted to a computer, said controller being separate from said computer;   when said first signal is a signal for controlling said monitor, transmitting by said controller a monitor control signal to control said monitor, and when said first signal is a signal for controlling said computer, transmitting by said controller a computer control signal to said computer   transmitting display identification data from the monitor to the computer in response to a monitor environment setting signal transmitted from the input unit separate from the controller to the monitor.   
     
     
       17. A method for setting an environment of a monitor, comprising the steps of:
 transmitting data to set an environment of a monitor from a computer peripheral device to a controller communicating with a monitor   executing a software program to permit a computer to adjust to said data transmitted from said computer peripheral device, said controller being separate from said computer,   setting through said controller an environment of said monitor based upon said data transmitted from said computer peripheral device and transmitting said data transmitted from said computer peripheral device through said controller to said computer;   after said computer receives the said data transmitted from said computer peripheral device, informing a user of a completion of data reception via said monitor; and   transmitting a reset signal to reset through said controller the environment of said monitor based upon said data transmitted from said computer peripheral device.   
     
     
       18. A device to control a monitor, comprising:
 a computer;   a monitor connected to said computer to display variable visual images corresponding to a computer signal transmitted from said computer as characters and pictures recognizable to a user;   an input unit to generate a monitor control signal including at least one of an image tune signal indicating preferences on image and a picture color tune signal indicating preferences on picture color and to generate a computer control signal; and   a controller separate from said computer to communicate with said monitor and to directly receive the monitor control signal or computer control signal from the input unit, said controller to interpret whether signals generated and received from said input unit include the monitor control signal or the computer control signal, to selectively transmit the monitor control signal directly to said monitor to control said monitor to set preferences for display of said variable visual images on said monitor, to selectively transmit said computer control signal to said computer, and to control the monitor to transmit display identification data to the computer in response to a monitor environment setting signal transmitted from the input unit separate from the controller to the monitor,   wherein the controller directly transmits the received computer control signal to the computer.   
     
     
       19. The device of claim 18, wherein said input unit comprises a mouse. 
     
     
       20. The device of claim 18, wherein said input unit comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       21. The device of claim 18, wherein said controller comprises:
 a signal receiving unit to receive a received signal transmitted from said input unit;   a signal interpreting unit to interpret the received signal to determine whether the received signal is a signal to control said monitor or a signal to be transmitted to said computer and then to transmit a first control signal and a transmission signal; and   a signal transmitting unit to transmit a second control signal according to an instruction from said signal interpreting unit, the instruction determining whether the second control signal is to be sent by said controller to said monitor or said computer.   
     
     
       22. The device of claim 21, wherein said input unit comprises a mouse. 
     
     
       23. The device of claim 21, wherein said input unit comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       24. The device of claim 18, wherein said controller is installed in said monitor and said controller comprises:
 a signal receiving unit to receive a received signal transmitted from said input unit;   a signal interpreting unit to interpret the received signal to determine whether the received signal is a signal to control said monitor or a signal to be transmitted to said computer and then to transmit a first control signal and a transmission signal; and   a signal transmitting unit to transmit a second control signal according to an instruction from said signal interpreting unit, the instruction determining whether the second control signal is to be sent by said controller to said monitor or said computer.   
     
     
       25. The device of claim 24, wherein said input unit comprises a mouse. 
     
     
       26. The device of claim 24, wherein said input unit comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       27. The device of claim 24, wherein said input unit comprises a remote-control signal transmitting unit, and said monitor comprises a remote-control signal transceiving unit in a predetermined portion to receive and transmit a signal generated from said remote-control signal transmitting unit to said controller. 
     
     
       28. The device of claim 27, wherein said input unit comprises a mouse. 
     
     
       29. The device of claim 27, wherein said input unit comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       30. The device of claim 18, wherein said input unit comprises a remote-control signal transmitting unit, and said monitor comprises a remote-control signal transceiving unit in a predetermined portion to receive and transmit a signal generated from said remote-control signal transmitting unit to said controller. 
     
     
       31. The device of claim 30, wherein said input unit comprises a mouse.  
     
     
       32. The device of claim 30, wherein said input unit comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       33. A method to control a monitor, the method comprising:
 receiving a first signal generated from an input unit at a signal receiving unit communicating with a controller, said controller communicating with a monitor such that the controller directly receives the first signal from the input unit;   interpreting said first signal at said controller to determine whether said first signal is one of a signal to control said monitor and a signal to be transmitted to a computer, said controller being separate from said computer;   when said first signal is a signal to control said monitor, transmitting by said controller directly to said monitor a monitor control signal to control said monitor, and when said first signal is a signal to control said computer, transmitting by said controller a computer control signal to said computer; and   transmitting display identification data from the monitor to the computer in response to a monitor environment setting signal transmitted from the input unit separate from the controller to the monitor,   wherein the controller directly transmits the received computer control signal to the computer.   
     
     
       34. A method for setting an environment of a monitor, comprising the steps of:
 transmitting data to set an environment of a monitor from a peripheral device to a controller communicating with a monitor such that the controller directly receives the data from the peripheral device;   executing a software program to permit a computer to adjust to said data transmitted from said peripheral device, said controller being separate from said computer;   setting through said controller an environment of said monitor based upon said data transmitted from said peripheral device and transmitting display identification data from the monitor through said controller to said computer in response to a monitor environment setting signal transmitted from the peripheral device separate from the controller to the monitor;   after said computer receives the display identification data transmitted from the monitor, informing the user of a completion of data reception via said monitor; and   transmitting a reset signal to reset through said controller the environment of said monitor based upon said data transmitted from said peripheral device.   
     
     
       35. A method of controlling a display apparatus, the method comprising:
 receiving, by the display apparatus, a command to set an environment of the display apparatus or a computer control signal from a peripheral device such that the display apparatus directly receives the command from the peripheral device;   setting the environment of the display apparatus according to the command to set the environment of the display apparatus in response to the display apparatus receiving the command to set the environment of the display apparatus from the peripheral device, and transmitting the computer control signal to a computer in response to the display apparatus receiving the computer control signal from the peripheral device; and   transmitting display identification data from the display apparatus to the in response to a monitor environment setting signal transmitted from the peripheral device separate from the controller to the monitor,   wherein the display apparatus directly transmits the received computer control signal to the computer.   
     
     
       36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the display identification data includes extended display identification data (EDID). 
     
     
       37. The method according to claim 35, wherein the peripheral device comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       38. The method according to claim 35 wherein the peripheral device comprises a mouse. 
     
     
       39. A display apparatus comprising:
 a controller to receive a command to set an environment of the display apparatus or a computer control signal directly from a peripheral device, to set the environment of the display apparatus according to the command to set the environment of the display apparatus in response to the controller receiving the command to set to the environment of the display apparatus from the peripheral device, to transmit the computer control signal to a computer in response to the controller receiving the computer control signal from the peripheral device, and to transmit display identification data to a software program executed in the in response to a monitor environment setting signal transmitted from the peripheral device separate from the controller to the monitor,   wherein the controller directly transmits the received computer control signal to the computer.   
     
     
       40. The display apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the peripheral device comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       41. The display apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the peripheral device comprises a mouse. 
     
     
       42. A display apparatus comprising:
 a display;   a peripheral device outputting a signal; and   a controller built in the display apparatus, the controller receives a signal including at least one of a display environment setting signal and a computer control signal directly from the peripheral device, sets an environment of the display according to the display environment setting signal in response to receiving the display environment setting signal from the peripheral device, transmits the computer control signal to the computer in response to receiving the computer control signal, and controls the display to transmit display identification data to the computer in response to a monitor environment setting signal transmitted from the peripheral device separate from the controller to the monitor,   wherein the controller directly transmits the received computer control signal to the computer.   
     
     
       43. The display apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the controller comprises:
 a signal receiving unit to receive the signal including at least one of the display environment setting signal and the computer control signal from the peripheral device;   a signal interpreting unit to convert the computer control signal received through the signal receiving unit into a signal transmittable to the computer; and   a signal transmitting unit to transmit the computer control signal converted by the signal interpreting unit to the computer.   
     
     
       44. The display apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the signal interpreting unit determines whether the signal received through the signal receiving unit includes the display environment setting signal, and the signal transmitting unit transmits the display environment setting signal from the signal interpreting unit to the display when the signal received through the signal receiving unit is determined as including the display environment setting signal. 
     
     
       45. The display apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the peripheral device comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       46. The display apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the peripheral device comprises a mouse. 
     
     
       47. A method of controlling a display apparatus, the method comprising:
 receiving in a controller at least one of a display setting signal and an information signal transmitted directly from a peripheral device;   setting an environment of the display apparatus in response to receiving the display setting signal;   transmitting the information signal from the peripheral device to a computer through the controller separated from the computer and connected to the display apparatus in response to receiving the information signal; and   transmitting a display identification data signal from the display apparatus to the computer in response to a monitor environment setting signal transmitted from the peripheral device separate from the controller to the monitor,   wherein the controller directly transmits the received information signal to the computer.   
     
     
       48. The method according to claim 47, wherein the transmitting the information signal from the peripheral device to the computer comprises:
 converting the information signal transmitted from the peripheral device into a signal transmittable to the computer; and   transmitting the converted signal to the computer.   
     
     
       49. A method of controlling a computer display, the method comprising:
 providing a signal generated by an external device to a display controller;   receiving at least one of a display setting signal and an information signal transmitted from a peripheral device such that the controller directly receives the at least one of the display setting signal and the information signal from the peripheral device;   setting an environment of the computer display in response to receiving the display setting signal;   transmitting the information signal from the peripheral device to the external device through the display controller in response to receiving the information signal; and   transmitting display identification data from the computer display to the external device in response to a monitor environment setting signal transmitted from the peripheral device separate from the controller to the monitor,   wherein the controller directly transmits the received information signal to the external device.   
     
     
       50. The method of claim 49, wherein the external device comprises a computer. 
     
     
       51. The method of claim 50, wherein the signal is generated by a software program executed in the computer. 
     
     
       52. The method of claim 50, wherein the display controller can receive a remote-control signal. 
     
     
       53. The method of claim 50, wherein the display setting signal includes information to control the computer display and the information signal includes information to control the computer. 
     
     
       54. A display control device to control a display of a computer, comprising:
 a remote control unit to generate and transmit a signal including at least one of a display environment setting signal and an information signal to be transmitted to the computer; and   a display controller provided in the display to receive the generated signal directly from the remote control unit, to set an environment of the display according to the display environment setting signal in response to receiving the display environment setting signal from the remote control unit, to send the information signal to the computer in response to receiving the information signal from the remote control unit, and to control the display to transmit display identification data to the computer in response to a monitor environment setting signal transmitted from the remote control unit separate from the controller to the monitor,   wherein the controller directly transmits the received information signal to the computer.   
     
     
       55. The display control device of claim 54, wherein the remote control unit comprises:
 a remote control signal generating unit to generate the signal; and   a remote control transmitting unit to transmit the generated signal to the display controller.    
     
     
       56. The display control device of claim 54, wherein the remote control unit transmits the generated signal to the display controller through a wire and/or a radio signal. 
     
     
       57. The display control device of claim 54, wherein the display controller comprises a signal interpreting unit to determine whether the transmitted signal includes the display environment setting signal or the information signal to be transmitted to the computer. 
     
     
       58. The display control device of claim 56, wherein the remote control unit is a keyboard and/or a mouse. 
     
     
       59. A monitor comprising:
 a controller having signal receiving unit to receive a control signal directly from a peripheral device; and   a signal interpreting unit to determine whether the received control signal is a monitor environment control signal or an information signal to be transmitted to a computer, to set an environment of the monitor according to the received control signal when it is determined that the received control signal is the monitor environment control signal, to transmit the received control signal to the computer when it is determined that the received control signal is the information signal, and to transmit display identification data to the computer in response to a monitor environment setting signal transmitted from the peripheral device separate from the controller to the monitor,   wherein the signal interpreting unit directly transmits the received control signal to the computer.   
     
     
       60. The monitor of claim 59, wherein the received control signal comprises a signal to control picture color and tuning of the monitor. 
     
     
       61. The monitor of claim 59, wherein the peripheral device comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       62. The monitor of claim 59, wherein the peripheral device comprises a mouse. 
     
     
       63. An apparatus to control a monitor, comprising:
 a monitor to display an image; and   a controller having an input signal receiving unit to receive a first input signal and a second input signal directly from an input unit, and a signal transmitting unit to transmit the first input signal to the monitor when the first input signal is a monitor control signal to set an environment of the monitor, to transmit the second input signal to a computer when the second input signal is an information signal to be transmitted to the computer, and to control the monitor to transmit display identification data to the computer in response to a monitor environment setting signal transmitted from the signal transmitting unit separate from the controller to the monitor,   wherein the controller directly transmits the received second input signal to the computer.   
     
     
       64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the input unit comprises:
 one of a keyboard and a mouse connected to the controller to generate the first input signal and the second input signal.   
     
     
       65. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the computer is connected to the signal transmitting unit of the controller to receive the second input signal. 
     
     
       66. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the controller is mounted to an inside of the monitor. 
     
     
       67. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the controller is electrically connected to the monitor to transmit the first input signal to the monitor. 
     
     
       68. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the controller is electrically connected to the computer to transmit the second input signal to the computer. 
     
     
       69. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the monitor and the controller are formed in a single body, and the computer is separated from the single body. 
     
     
       70. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the controller prevents the first input signal from being transmitted to the computer. 
     
     
       71. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the monitor controls a monitor environment according to the first input signal. 
     
     
       72. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the computer outputs a control signal corresponding to the second input signal received through the controller, and the monitor displays the image according to the control signal received from the computer. 
     
     
       73. A method of setting an environment of a display apparatus, the method comprising:
 receiving a computer control signal or an environment setting signal in a controller of the display apparatus directly from a peripheral device;   setting the environment of the display apparatus according to the environment setting signal received directly from the peripheral device without transmitting the environment setting signal to an external device;   transmitting the computer control signal to a computer in response to the display apparatus receiving the computer control signal from the peripheral device; and   transmitting display identification data from the display apparatus to the external device in response to the environment setting signal transmitted from the peripheral device separate from the controller to the display apparatus.   
     
     
       74. The method according to claim 73, wherein the display identification data comprise extended display identification data (EDID). 
     
     
       75. The method according to claim 73, wherein the external device comprises a computer. 
     
     
       76. The method according to claim 75, wherein said setting the environment of the display apparatus comprises controlling picture color based on the environment setting signal. 
     
     
       77. The method according to claim 73, wherein said setting the environment of the display apparatus comprises controlling tuning of the display apparatus based on the environment setting signal. 
     
     
       78. A display apparatus comprising:
 a controller to receive a signal including at least one of a computer control signal and an environment setting signal to set an environment of the display apparatus directly from a peripheral device, to set the environment of the display apparatus according to the environment setting signal without transmitting the environment setting signal to a computer, to transmit the computer control signal to the computer in response to receiving the computer control signal and to control the display apparatus to transmit display identification data to the computer in response to the environment setting signal transmitted from the peripheral device separate from the controller to the display apparatus.   
     
     
       79. The display apparatus according to claim 78, wherein the peripheral device comprises at least one of a keyboard and a mouse. 
     
     
       80. The display apparatus according to claim 78, wherein the display identification data comprises extended display identification data (EDID). 
     
     
       81. The display apparatus according to claim 80 wherein the peripheral device transmits the environment setting signal to set the environment of the display apparatus to the controller. 
     
     
       82. A method of controlling a display input device, the method comprising:
 receiving a signal in a controller transmitted directly from the display input device;   determining whether the signal is a monitor control signal or an information signal to be transmitted to a computer;   if it is determined that the signal is the monitor control signal, setting an environment of a display apparatus according to the monitor control signal;   if it is determined that the signal is the information signal, transmitting the signal from the display input device to the computer through the controller separated from the computer and connected to the display apparatus; and   transmitting display identification data from the display apparatus to the computer in response to the monitor environment setting signal transmitted from the display input device separate from the controller to the display apparatus,   wherein the controller directly transmits the received information signal to the computer.   
     
     
       83. The method according to claim 82, wherein the transmitting the signal from the display input device to the computer comprises:
 converting the signal transmitted from the display input device into a signal transmittable to the computer; and   transmitting the converted signal to the computer.   
     
     
       84. The method according to claim 82, wherein the display input device comprises a keyboard. 
     
     
       85. The method according to claim 82, wherein the display input device comprises a mouse. 
     
     
       86. An apparatus comprising:
 a monitor;   an input device including a keyboard and/or a mouse;   a computer; and   a controller disposed in the monitor, the controller to receive a first signal to set an environment of the monitor directly from the input device without transmitting the first signal to the computer and to transmit a second signal including display identification data to the computer in response to a monitor environment setting signal transmitted from the input device separate from the controller to the monitor,   wherein the controller directly transmits the received second signal to the computer.   
     
     
       87. The apparatus according to claim 86, wherein the display identification data comprises extended identification data (EDID). 
     
     
       88. The apparatus according to claim 86, wherein the monitor comprises a microprocessor executing at least one of predetermined functions including a control function about the extended identification data (EDID). 
     
     
       89. The apparatus according to claim 88, wherein the controller is provided as a functional part of the microprocessor. 
     
     
       90. The apparatus according to claim 88, wherein the microprocessor communicates with the controller and sets the environment of the monitor based on the first signal. 
     
     
       91. The apparatus according to claim 90, wherein the controller includes a software program executed in the computer. 
     
     
       92. The apparatus according to claim 88, wherein the controller comprises:
 a signal receiving unit to receive the first signal transmitted from the input device;   a signal interpreting unit to convert the first signal received through the signal receiving unit into a signal transmittable to the computer; and   a signal transmitting unit to transmit the signal converted by the signal interpreting unit to the computer.   
     
     
       93. The display apparatus according to claim 92, wherein the signal interpreting unit determines whether the first signal received through the signal receiving unit includes a signal to control the monitor, and the signal transmitting unit transmits the first signal from the signal interpreting unit to the monitor when the signal received through the signal receiving unit is determined as the signal to control the monitor. 
     
     
       94. An apparatus to control a monitor communicating with a peripheral device and a computer, comprising:
 an input signal receiving unit to receive a signal directly from the peripheral device;   a signal interpreting unit to determine whether the received signal includes a monitor control signal or an information signal to be transmitted to the computer; and   a signal transmitting unit to transmit the received signal to the monitor if it is determined that the received signal includes the monitor control signal, to transmit the received signal to the computer if it is determined that the received signal includes the information signal, and to control the monitor to transmit display identification data to the computer in response to a monitor environment setting signal transmitted from the peripheral device separate from the controller to the monitor,   wherein the controller directly transmits the received signal to the computer.   
     
     
       95. The apparatus of claim 94, wherein the signal transmitting unit exclusively transmits the monitor control signal to the monitor and the information signal to the computer. 
     
     
       96. The apparatus of claim 94, wherein the monitor controls a monitor environment according to the monitor control signal.