Personal electronic device with display switching

Abstract

A novel personal electronic device includes a first (embedded) and second (non-embedded) processors including associated operating systems and functions. In one aspect, the first processor performs relatively limited functions, while the second processor performs relatively broader functions under control of the first processor. Often the second processor requires more power than the first processor and is selectively operated by the first processor to minimize overall power consumption. Protocols for functions to be performed by the second processor may be provided directly to the second processor and processed by the second processor. In another aspect, a display controller is designed to interface with both processors. In another aspect, the operating systems work with one another. In another aspect, the first processor employs a thermal control program. Advantages of the invention include a broad array of functions performed by a relatively small personal electronic device.

1 . A method of displaying image data from a first processor and a second processor on a display, comprising the steps of: 
 converting M number of display bits from the first processor to a normalized display output;    converting N number of display bits from the first processor to a normalized display output, where M and N are different and where the normalized display output is different from M and N; and    selectively displaying an image on the display in the normalized display output in response to a user request.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 N is greater than M.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the second processor is normally asleep and is awakened by the first processor without guidance from the second processor when the second processor is to perform functions.    
   
   
       4 . A method of displaying image data from a first processor and a second processor on a display, comprising the steps of: 
 converting M number of display bits from the first processor to a normalized display output;    converting N number of display bits from the first processor to a normalized display output, where M and N are different;    selectively displaying an image on the display in response to a user request; wherein    the first processor is an ARM class processor supporting Windows CE; and    the second processor is a Pentium class processor supporting Windows XP.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the converting steps include the step of converting the display bits to a normalized display output for a 800×300 pixel display; and    the selectively displaying step includes the step of displaying the image on a 800×300 pixel display.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the personal electronic device is adapted to dock with a docking station coupled to a docked display, and the method further includes the step of: 
 changing at least one display parameter to conform with the docked display when the personal electronic device is docked in the docking station.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the personal electronic device is adapted to dock with a docking station coupled to a docked display having a greater number of pixels than the display, and the method further includes the step of: 
 changing at least one display parameter to conform with the docked display when the personal electronic device is docked in the docking station.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising the steps of: 
 selectively disabling the display;    responding to a user command to set the docked display at higher resolution than the display.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein 
 the first processor is an embedded system processor, and wherein    the second processor is a non-embedded system processor.    
   
   
       10 . A personal hand-held electronic device comprising 
 an embedded processor constructed to perform relatively simple functions,    a non-embedded processor constructed to perform relatively complicated functions,    the embedded processor being operative, without the guidance of the non-embedded processor, to obtain the operation of the non-embedded processor in performing the relatively complicated functions;    a source of energy for the embedded and non-embedded processors,    a docking station constructed to dock with the personal hand-held electronic device; and    a first display coupled to the personal electronic device and operative to display information from individual ones of the embedded processor and the non-embedded processor when the docking station is not docked to the personal electronic device; and    a second display coupled to the docking station for displaying information from the embedded processor and the non-embedded processor when the personal electronic device is docked to the docking station;    the personal electronic device being responsive to the docking of the personal electronic device to the docking station for decoupling the first display from the personal electronic device and for coupling the second display to the personal electronic device.    
   
   
       11 . A personal electronic device as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein 
 the non-embedded processor has awake and sleep modes and is normally in the sleep mode and is awakened by the embedded processor, without guidance from the non-embedded processor, to have the second processor perform the relatively complicated functions and wherein    the second display is constructed to display data from the individual ones of the embedded and non-embedded processors at a rate different from the rate provided by the first display.    
   
   
       12 . A personal electronic device as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein, 
 the non-embedded processor has a plurality of components and wherein    selective ones of the components are operative to perform individual ones of the relatively complicated functions, and wherein    the embedded processor is operative, without the guidance of the non-embedded processor, to activate the selective ones of the components to have the non-embedded processor perform the individual ones of the relatively complicated functions and wherein    the second display is constructed to display data from the individual ones of the embedded and non-embedded processors at a rate different than the rate provided by the first display.    
   
   
       13 . A personal electronic device as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein 
 the embedded and non-embedded processors are constructed to operate simultaneously and to provide simultaneous displays (a) on the first display when the personal electronic device is not docked to the docking station, and (b) on the second display when the personal electronic device id docked to the docking station.    
   
   
       14 . A personal electronic device as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein 
 the embedded processor is operative to increase the clock rate of the non-embedded processor when the personal electronic device is docked to the docking station.    
   
   
       15 . A personal electronic device as set forth in  claim 10  wherein 
 the personal electronic device provides display signals to the second display to provide a full SVGA display in the second display when the personal electronic device is docked to the docking station.