# US 8,570,241 B2 · Image display apparatus for controlling an external data transmitting device using a USB connector and a method thereof > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,570,241 B2 - Document ID: US8570241B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/877,053 - Filed: 2007-10-23 - Published: 2008-09-11 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2007-03-08 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Chang-ik Choi - Inventors: Chang-ik Choi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8570241B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/14: Digital output to display device {; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units} - G09G 5/006: {Details of the interface to the display terminal (specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04)} - G09G 2320/08: Arrangements within a display terminal for setting, manually or automatically, display parameters of the display terminal - G09G 2330/021: Power management, e.g. power saving - G09G 2370/20: Details of the management of multiple sources of image data - G09G 2370/22: Detection of presence or absence of input display information or of connection or disconnection of a corresponding information source - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) ## Abstract An image display apparatus which controls an external device transmitting data using a USB connector is provided. The image display apparatus includes a first connector and a second connector which receive an image signal, respectively, a display unit which selectively displays the image signal input via the first connector and the second connector, and if the image signal input via the first connector is displayed on the display unit, a central processing unit (CPU) which stops an external device connected via the second connector from transmitting an image signal. Accordingly, resources in the external device can be efficiently managed by stopping unnecessary operations. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image display apparatus, comprising: a first connector and a second connector which receive an image signal, respectively; a display unit which selectively displays the image signal input via the first connector and the second connector; and a controller which causes an external device connected via the second connector to stop transmitting the image signal input via the second connector when the image signal input via the first connector is selected for display, wherein, when the image signal input via the first connector is selected for display, the controller generates a control signal which is used to interrupt transmission of image signal transmission and transmits the generated control signal to the external device via a data line of the second connector, the control signal including a specific request to interrupt the transmission of the image signal, wherein the second connector comprises a universal serial bus (USB) connector and receives the image signal from the external device in accordance with universal serial bus (USB) standard. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a signal processing unit which decodes the image signal input via the second connector, and transmits the control signal to the external device via the data line of the second connector if the controller generates the control signal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The image display apparatus of claim 1, wherein if the image signal input via the first connector is selected for display, the controller converts the second connector to a disabled state so that the external device stops transmitting the image signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image display apparatus of claim 1, wherein if the image signal input via the first connector is selected for display, the controller disables a data transmission line which connects the second connector to the external device so that the external device stops transmitting the image signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The image display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first connector comprises at least one of a digital visual interface (DVI) connector, HDMI connector and D-sub connector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image display apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an input unit which selects one of the first connector and the second connector, wherein the controller controls the display unit to display the image signal input via a connector selected through the input unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is a CPU. ### Claim 8 A method for controlling an image display apparatus comprising a first connector and a second connector, the method comprising: receiving an image signal via the first connector and the second connector, respectively; displaying the image signal input via the selected connector when one of the first connector and the second connector is selected; and transmitting a control signal to an external device connected via a data line of the second connector to stop transmitting the image signal input via the second connector when the image signal input via the first connector is selected for display, the control signal including a specific request to interrupt the transmission of the image signal, wherein the second connector comprises a universal serial bus (USB) connector and receives the image signal from the external device in accordance with universal serial bus (USB) standard. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the control signal is an interruption signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein, if the image signal input via the first connector is selected for display, the second connector is converted to a disabled state by cutting off a driving power supplied to the second connector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the control signal is in accordance with DDC standard. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the first connector comprises at least one of a digital visual interface (DVI) connector, HDMI connector and D-sub connector. ### Claim 13 A method for controlling an image display apparatus comprising a first connector and a second connector, the method comprising: receiving an image signal via the first connector and the second connector, respectively; displaying the image signal input via the selected connector when one of the first connector and the second connector is selected; and via a specific request, stopping displaying of the received image signal from the second connector when the image signal input via the first connector is selected for display; wherein the data transmission line which connects a data line of the second connector to an external device is disabled or is converted to a disabled state, wherein the second connector comprises a universal serial bus (USB) connector and receives the image signal from the external device in accordance with universal serial bus (USB) standard. ### Claim 14 An image display apparatus, comprising: a first connector and a second connector which receive an image signal, respectively; a display unit which selectively displays the image signal input via the first connector and the second connector; a power switch which supplies a driving power to the second connector; and a controller which causes an external device connected via the second connector to stop transmitting the image signal input via the second connector by controlling the power switch to cut off the driving power when the image signal input via the first connector is selected for display, wherein the power switch first cuts off the driving power to the second connector and then the external device connected via the second connector is caused to stop transmitting the image signal, wherein the second connector comprises a universal serial bus (USB) connector and receives the image signal from the external device in accordance with universal serial bus (USB) standard. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The image display apparatus of claim 14, wherein the power switch and controller are separate and distinct.