The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 17, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 28, 1998
Darrell M. Hunt, Temple, TX (US);
Ronald D. Shaw, Cedar Park, TX (US);
Dell USA, L.P., Round Rock, TX (US);
Abstract
A notebook computer system having a base unit, a display panel, and display panel indication circuit for identifying the display panel includes a table of display panel IDs and corresponding display panel identification characteristics stored within the base unit. A display panel indicator circuit is provided for being disposed with the display panel, the display panel indicator including a panel ID unique to the type, resolution, and manufacturer of the display panel, the panel ID further including a prescribed count. The indicator circuit further includes a counter and a comparator. A clock signal is provided from the base unit to the display panel indicator circuit while simultaneously monitoring a clock signal count within the base unit. The clock signal is utilized by the display panel indicator circuit as an input to the indicator circuit counter to count from an initial count and wherein the count of the indicator circuit counter is compared with the prescribed panel ID count using the indicator circuit comparator. A signal is output to the base unit indicative of a count match upon the counter count becoming equal to the panel ID count. The clock signal from the base unit to the indicator circuit is disabled upon a recognition of the match signal by the base unit, and the monitored clock signal count is used within the base unit for accessing a corresponding panel ID in the table of display panel ID, further for obtaining corresponding display panel identification characteristics.