Electronic device and broadcasting signal receiver

An electronic device and a broadcasting signal receiver including the same are disclosed. The electronic device includes a power supply unit supplying electric power and a connector including a plurality of pins. When a jack of a first external device having a self power source is connected to the connector, the power supply unit does not supply the electric power to the first external device through the connector. When a jack of a second external device not having a self power source is connected to the connector, the power supply unit supplies the electric power to the second external device through the connector.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), this application claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0130949 filed on Oct. 31, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the invention relate to an electronic device and a broadcasting signal receiver including the same.

DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART

In general, a display device such as a broadcasting signal receiver (for example, television), which receives data stream transmitted in real time streaming technique through a network, such as internet, and has a network function of decoding and signal processing of audio and video signals, has been widely distributed and used.

When an external device having an internal power source is connected to a connector having a power supply function in a related art broadcasting signal receiver, a malfunction of the external device connected to the connector may be generated.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention provide an electronic device and a broadcasting signal receiver including the same capable of cutting off the supply of electric power to an external device when the external device having an internal power source is connected to a connector having a power supply function.

In one aspect, there is an electronic device comprising a power supply unit configured to supply electric power and a connector including a plurality of pins, wherein when a jack of a first external device having a self power source is connected to the connector, the power supply unit does not supply the electric power to the first external device through the connector, wherein when a jack of a second external device not having a self power source is connected to the connector, the power supply unit supplies the electric power to the second external device through the connector.

The connector may include at least one power pin, at least one ground pin, and at least one control pin.

The connector may further include at least one data pin.

When the jack of the first external device is connected to the connector, a difference between a voltage of the control pin and a voltage of the ground pin may be greater than a predetermined reference voltage. Further, when the jack of the second external device is connected to the connector, the difference between the voltage of the control pin and the voltage of the ground pin may be less than the predetermined reference voltage.

The power supply unit may include a first power source, a first switch disposed between the first power source and the ground, a first resistor and a second resistor disposed in series between a control terminal of the first switch and the control pin, a third resistor disposed between a first node between the first resistor and the second resistor and the first power source, and a fourth resistor disposed between the first power source and the first switch. A logic level of a second node between the fourth resistor and the first switch may be used as a control signal for determining whether or not to supply the electric power to the external device connected to the connector.

The power supply unit may further include a second power source and a second switch disposed between the second power source and the power pin. The logic level of the second node may be used as a control signal for turning on or off the second switch.

The power supply unit may further include a third switch disposed between a control terminal of the second switch and the ground, a fifth resistor disposed between a third node between the second power source and the second switch and a fourth node between the control terminal of the second switch and the third switch, and a sixth resistor disposed between the fourth node and the third switch. A control signal for a turn-on or turn-off operation may be supplied to a control terminal of the third switch depending on the logic level of the second node.

The electronic device and the broadcasting signal receiver including the same according to the embodiments of the invention may prevent a malfunction of the external device connected to the connector even if the external device having the internal power source is connected to the connector having the power supply function.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail embodiments of the invention examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Since the present invention may be modified in various ways and may have various forms, specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and are described in detail in the present specification. However, it should be understood that the present invention are not limited to specific disclosed embodiments, but include all modifications, equivalents and substitutes included within the spirit and technical scope of the present invention.

The terms ‘first’, ‘second’, etc. may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by such terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from other components. For example, a first component may be designated as a second component without departing from the scope of the present invention. In the same manner, the second component may be designated as the first component.

The term “and/or” encompasses both combinations of the plurality of related items disclosed and any item from among the plurality of related items disclosed.

When an arbitrary component is described as “being connected to” or “being linked to” another component, this should be understood to mean that still another component(s) may exist between them, although the arbitrary component may be directly connected to, or linked to, the second component. In contrast, when an arbitrary component is described as “being directly connected to” or “being directly linked to” another component, this should be understood to mean that no component exists between them.

The terms used in the present application are used to describe only specific embodiments or examples, and are not intended to limit the present invention. A singular expression can include a plural expression as long as it does not have an apparently different meaning in context.

In the present application, the terms “include” and “have” should be understood to be intended to designate that illustrated features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof exist and not to preclude the existence of one or more different features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof, or the possibility of the addition thereof.

Unless otherwise specified, all of the terms which are used herein, including the technical or scientific terms, have the same meanings as those that are generally understood by a person having ordinary knowledge in the art to which the present invention pertains. The terms defined in a generally used dictionary must be understood to have meanings identical to those used in the context of a related art, and are not to be construed to have ideal or excessively formal meanings unless they are obviously specified in the present application.

The following exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided to those skilled in the art in order to describe the present invention more completely. Accordingly, shapes and sizes of elements shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity.

FIGS. 1 and 2illustrate configuration of an electronic device and a broadcasting signal receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

As shown inFIG. 1, an electronic device10according to the embodiment of the invention may include a power supply unit110and an interface120. The electronic device10may further include a controller100which controls the power supply unit110and the interface120and entirely controls a function of the electronic device10.

The electronic device10according to the embodiment of the invention may be connected to an external device (not shown) through the interface120. For this, the interface120may include a connector130including a plurality of pins.

The interface120may transmit an image signal, an audio signal, a data signal, etc., which are received from the outside through the external device, to the controller100. Further, the image signal, the audio signal, or the data signal processed by the controller100may be output to the external device.

The electronic device10according to the embodiment of the invention may be applied to various electronics. For example, a broadcasting signal receiver may include the electronic device10. In other words, the electronic device10according to the embodiment of the invention may be a part constituting the broadcasting signal receiver. This is described below with reference toFIG. 2.

As shown inFIG. 2, a broadcasting signal receiver20according to the embodiment of the invention may include a display unit220for displaying an image.

The display unit220may be referred to as a display panel.

The broadcasting signal receiver20may further include a tuner200, a demodulator210, a communication unit240, a storage unit250, an audio output unit230, and a user interface260.

The audio output unit230may output sound under the control of the controller100.

The tuner200tunes a radio frequency (RF) broadcasting signal, which corresponds to a channel selected by a user or all of previously stored channels, among RF broadcasting signals received through an antenna. Further, the tuner200converts the tuned RF broadcasting signal into a middle frequency signal, a base band image signal, or an audio signal.

The demodulator210receives a digital IF signal DIF converted by the tuner200and performs a demodulating operation.

The demodulator210performs the demodulation and the channel decoding and then may output a stream signal TS. In this instance, the stream signal TS may be a multiplexing signal of the image signal, the audio signal, and the data signal.

The stream signal TS output by the demodulator210may be input to the controller100.

The controller100performs demultiplexing, the processing of the image signal and the audio signal, etc. Then, the controller100outputs an image to the display unit220and outputs the sound to the audio output unit230.

The communication unit240may provide an interface for connecting the broadcasting signal receiver20to a wired/wireless network including an internet network.

The communication unit240may transmit or receive data to or from another user or another electronic device through the connected network or another network linked to the connected network.

The storage unit250may store a program for the signal processing and the control operation of the controller100and may store the processed image signal, the processed audio signal, or the processed data signal.

The storage unit250may store information about a predetermined broadcasting channel through a channel memory function.

The broadcasting signal receiver20may play a content file (for example, a video file, a still image file, a music file, a document file, an application file, etc,) stored in the storage unit250and may provide the content file to the user.

The user input interface260may transfer a command the user inputs to the controller100.

For example, the user input interface260may transfer various commands including the power on/off, a channel selection, the screen setting, the volume control, a movement of a cursor on the screen, a menu selection, etc., which the user inputs using command input means, to the controller100.

The controller100may control the entire operation of the broadcasting signal receiver20.

For example, the controller100may perform the demultiplexing processing on a stream input through the tuner200, the communication unit240, etc. or may perform the processing of demultiplexed signals, thereby generating and outputting the signals for outputting the image or the sound.

The image signal processed by the controller100may be input to the display unit220and may be displayed as an image corresponding to the image signal. Further, the image signal processed by the controller100may be input to an external device through the interface120.

The audio signal processed by the controller100may be output to the audio output unit230. Further, the audio signal processed by the controller100may be input to the external device through the interface120.

The configuration of the broadcasting signal receiver20according to the embodiment of the invention is not limited to the configuration shown inFIG. 2. For example, although not shown, the broadcasting signal receiver20may include an audio sensing unit for sensing the sound and a motion sensing unit for sensing a motion, such as a user's motion.

FIGS. 3 to 11illustrate in detail configuration of the electronic device and the broadcasting signal receiver according to the embodiment of the invention. In the following description, the descriptions of the configuration and the structure described above may be briefly made or may be entirely omitted. Further, the broadcasting signal receiver20was taken as an example of the embodiment of the invention for the sake of brevity and ease of reading. However, the embodiment of the invention may be applied to display devices other than the broadcasting signal receiver20.

As shown inFIG. 3, the broadcasting signal receiver20may include a display unit220, a driving board300positioned in the rear of the display unit220, and a cover310positioned in the rear of the display unit220and the driving board300.

The broadcasting signal receiver20may further include a connector130electrically connected to the driving board300.

The cover310may have a hole H corresponding to the connector130.

The driving board300may include at least one of the controller100, the power supply unit110, the tuner200, the demodulator210, the audio output unit230, the communication unit240, the storage unit250, and the user interface260described above with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown inFIG. 4, the connector130may be exposed through the hole H of the cover310in a state where the display unit220and the cover310are assembled, i.e., a state where the broadcasting signal receiver20is completed.

Further, various external devices400and500may be connected to the broadcasting signal receiver20through the connector130.

The first external device400may have a self power source.

Examples of the first external device400having the self power source include HUB and modem.

A first jack410included in the first external device400may be LAN jack.

Because the first external device400receives electric power required to drive from the self power source, the first external device400does not need to receive the electric power from another device, for example, the broadcasting signal receiver20.

The second external device500may not have a self power source.

Examples of the second external device500not having the self power source include IP telephone.

A second jack510included in the second external device500may be RJ45 jack.

Because the second external device500does not have the self power source, the second external device500has to receive the electric power from another device, for example, the broadcasting signal receiver20.

The second external device500may be connected to the broadcasting signal receiver20by connecting its second jack510to the connector130. For example, when the second jack510is RJ45 jack, the connector130may be a connector based on RJ45.

A method for supplying the electric power to the external device through the connector130is described below.

As shown inFIG. 5, it may be decided whether or not the external device is connected to the connector130in step S100.

When the external device is connected to the connector130as the result of a decision, it may be decided whether or not the external device connected to the connector130is the first external device400in step S110.

When the external device connected to the connector130is the first external device400having the self power source as the result of a decision, the electric power may not be supplied to the first external device400in step S120.

On the other hand, when the external device connected to the connector130is not the first external device400as the result of a decision in step S110, it may be decided whether or not the external device connected to the connector130is the second external device500in step S130.

When the external device connected to the connector130is the second external device500not having the self power source as the result of a decision, the broadcasting signal receiver20may supply the electric power to the second external device500through the connector130in step S140.

Further, when the external device connected to the connector130is not the second external device500as the result of a decision in step S130, the broadcasting signal receiver20may perform another function, which is previously determined, in step S150.

As described above, the second external device500not having the self power source may receive the electric power from the broadcasting signal receiver20in a state where the second external device500is connected to the broadcasting signal receiver20.

When the first jack410is LAN jack and the second jack510is RJ45 jack, the first jack410and the second jack510may have the similar shape.

Hence, the user may connect the first jack410to the connector130by mistake.

As described above, when the first jack410is connected to the connector130, the broadcasting signal receiver20cuts off the supply of electric power to the first external device400. Hence, the malfunction of the first external device400may be prevented.

A configuration and a driving method of the power supply unit110, which cuts off the electric power when the first jack410is connected to the connector130and supplies the electric power when the second jack510is connected to the connector130, are described in detail below with reference toFIG. 6.

As shown inFIG. 6, the connector130may include at least one power pin VP, at least one ground pin GP, and at least one control pin CP.

The connector130may further include at least one data pin DP.

For example, the connector130may include a total of eight pins 1 to 8. In this instance, the first pin 1 may serve as the power pin VP; the sixth pin 6 may serve as the control pin CP; the eighth pin 8 may serve as the ground pin GP; the second to fifth pins 2 to 5 may serve as the data pin DP; and the seventh pin 7 may serve as an internal ground pin.

The power supply unit110may include a second switch S2positioned between a second power source supplying a second power voltage Vcc and the power pin VP. Hereinafter, the second power source may be indicated by ‘Vcc’ for the sake of brevity and ease of reading.

The power supply unit110may further include a sensing unit111for sensing the connection between the connector130and the external device and a supply control unit112for controlling the turn-on or turn-off of the second switch S2based on information sensed by the sensing unit111.

As shown inFIG. 7, the sensing unit111may include a first power source supplying a first power voltage Vs, a first switch S1, a first resistor R1, a second resistor R2, a third resistor R3, and a fourth resistor R4.

Hereinafter, the first power source may be indicated by ‘Vs’ for the sake of brevity and ease of reading.

The first power voltage Vs may be less than the second power voltage Vcc.

The first switch S1may be disposed between the first power source and the ground.FIG. 7shows a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) as an example of the first switch S1. However, the embodiment of the invention is not limited thereto.

The first resistor R1and the second resistor R2may be disposed between a control terminal of the first switch S1, for example, a base B of the first switch S1and the control pin CP.

The third resistor R3may be disposed between a first node N1between the first resistor R1and the second resistor R2and the first power source. A resistance of the second resistor R2may be greater than resistances of the first resistor R1and the third resistor R3. The resistance of the third resistor R3may be greater than the resistance of the first resistor R1.

The fourth resistor R4may be disposed between the first power source and the first switch S1. For example, the fourth resistor R4may be disposed between the first power source and a collector C of the first switch S1. Further, an emitter E of the first switch S1may be connected to the ground.

As shown inFIG. 8, the supply control unit112may include a third switch S3, a fifth resistor R5, and a sixth resistor R6.

The third switch S3may be disposed between a control terminal of a second switch S2, for example, a gate terminal G of the second switch S2and the ground.

The fifth resistor R5may be disposed between a third node N3between the second power source and the second switch S2and a fourth Node N4between the control terminal of the second switch S2and the third switch S3.

The sixth resistor R6may be disposed between the fourth Node N4and the third switch S3.

The supply control unit112may further include a seventh resistor R7connected to a control terminal of the third switch S3, for example, a base B of the third switch S3and a first capacitor C1connected in parallel to the fifth resistor R5between the third node N3and the fourth Node N4.

An emitter E of the third switch S3may be connected to the ground.

FIG. 8shows a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) as an example of the third switch S3. However, the embodiment of the invention is not limited thereto.

A source terminal S of the second switch S2may be connected to the third node N3, and a drain terminal D of the second switch S2may be connected to the power pin VP.

The power supply unit110may further include an eighth resistor R8disposed between a fifth node N5between the power pin VP and the second switch S2and the ground.

FIG. 8shows a field effect transistor (FET) as an example of the second switch S2. However, the embodiment of the invention is not limited thereto.

A logic level of a second node N2between the fourth resistor R4and the first switch S1of the sensing unit111may be used as a control signal for determining whether or not to supply the electric power to the external device connected to the connector130.

In other words, the logic level of the second node N2may be used as the control signal allowing the supply control unit112to turn on or off the second switch S2. For this, a control signal for a turn-on or turn-off operation may be supplied to the control terminal of the third switch S3depending on the logic level of the second node N2.

FIGS. 6 to 8show that the logic level of the second node N2of the sensing unit111is supplied to the base B of the third switch S3of the supply control unit112. However, the embodiment of the invention is not limited thereto.

For example, the logic level of the second node N2of the sensing unit111may be input to the controller100shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, and the controller100may supply a control signal for controlling the turn-on or the turn-off of the third switch S3to the base B of the third switch S3depending on the logic level.

As shown inFIG. 9, the second jack510of the second external device500connected to the connector130may include a plurality of input pins C1to C8corresponding to a plurality of pins of the connector130.

As shown inFIGS. 6 and 9, the first input pin C1of the second jack510may correspond to the power pin VP; the sixth input pin C6of the second jack510may correspond to the control pin CP; the eighth input pin C8of the second jack510may correspond to the ground pin GP; and the second to fifth input pins C2to C5of the second jack510may correspond to the data pin DP.

In the second jack510of the second external device500, the sixth input pin C6corresponding to the control pin CP and the eighth input pin C8corresponding to the ground pin GP are short-circuited. Hence, a difference between a voltage of the control pin CP and a voltage of the ground pin GP in a state where the second jack510is connected to the connector130may be less than a predetermined reference voltage. The voltage of the control pin CP may be substantially the same as the voltage of the ground pin GP in a state where the second jack510is connected to the connector130.

FIG. 10shows an example of an internal structure of the first external device400.

More specifically,FIG. 10shows an internal structure of LAN equipment as an example of the first external device400.

As shown inFIG. 10, the first jack410of the first external device400may include first to eighth input pins C1to C8in the same manner as the second jack510of the second external device500.

If the first jack410is connected to the connector130, the first input pin C1of the first jack410may correspond to the power pin VP, the sixth input pin C6of the first jack410may correspond to the control pin CP, and the eighth input pin C8of the first jack410may correspond to the ground pin GP. Further, the second to fifth input pins C2to C5of the first jack410may correspond to the data pin DP.

In the first jack410of the first external device400, the sixth input pin C6corresponding to the control pin CP and the eighth input pin C8corresponding to the ground pin GP are not short-circuited.

An equivalent resistance between the sixth input pin C6and the eighth input pin C8calculated along an inner path of the first external device400indicated by an arrow ofFIG. 10may be 150Ω.

Hence, a difference between a voltage of the control pin CP and a voltage of the ground pin GP in a state where the first jack410is connected to the connector130may be greater than the predetermined reference voltage. The difference between the voltage of the control pin CP and the voltage of the ground pin GP may be determined depending on the equivalent resistance (i.e., 150Ω) between the sixth input pin C6and the eighth input pin C8.

A method for cutting off and supplying the electric power when the first jack410is connected to the connector130and when the second jack510is connected to the connector130is described in detail below.

It is assumed that the first resistor R1is 220Ω, the second resistor R2is 10 kΩ, the third resistor R3is 1 kΩ, the fourth resistor R4is 10 kΩ, the fifth resistor R5is 22 kΩ the sixth resistor R6is 27 kΩ, the seventh resistor R7is 10 kΩ, the eighth resistor R8is 10 kΩ, the first power voltage Vs is 3.5 V, the second power voltage Vcc is 12 V, and a driving voltage of the first switch S1is about 0.7V for the sake of brevity and ease of reading. The embodiment of the invention is not limited thereto.

First, a state (i.e., non-connection state) where the external device is not connected to the connector130is described.

Because the control pin CP is electrically opened in the non-connection state, the first power voltage Vs of 3.5 V may exist between the second resistor R2and the third resistor R3of the sensing unit111. Namely, the voltage of the base B of the third switch S3may be about 3.5 V.

Hence, the logic level of the second node N2may be ‘zero (0)’.

Then, the third switch S3may be turned off, and the second switch S2may be turned off. Hence, the supply of the electric power may be cut off.

A state where the first jack410of the first external device400is connected to the connector130is described below.

When the first jack410of the first external device400is connected to the connector130, a predetermined equivalent resistance, for example, 150Ω may exist between the control pin CP and the ground pin GP.

Then, the equivalent resistance of 150Ω and the first resistor R1may be positioned in series between the first node N1and the ground. Hence, a total of 370Ω may exist between the first node N1and the ground.

As a result, the voltage of the base B of the third switch S3may be about 0.85 V.

Further, the logic level of the second node N2may be ‘zero (0)’.

Then, the third switch S3may be turned off, and the second switch S2may be turned off. Hence, the supply of the electric power may be cut off.

As described above, when the first external device400having the self power source is connected to the connector130, the supply of the electric power to the first external device400may be cut off, so as to prevent the malfunction of the broadcasting signal receiver20and/or the first external device400.

When the second jack510of the second external device500is connected to the connector130, the voltage of the control pin CP and the voltage of the ground pin GP may be almost equal to each other. Hence, only the first resistor R1may exist between the first node N1and the ground.

As a result, the voltage of the base B of the third switch S3may be about 0.55 V.

Hence, the logic level of the second node N2may be ‘1’.

Then, the third switch S3may be turned on, and the second switch S2may be turned on. Hence, the electric power may be supplied to the second external device500through the connector130and the second jack510.

Conditions of the supply and the cut-off of the electric power are shown inFIG. 11.