Video apparatus

A video apparatus includes plural interface sections such as HDMI (Registered Trademark) sections for connection with plural video signal sources, a function transferring section which transfers functions of the interface sections, and one or more function blocks for use in common to the plural interface sections. The functions are assigned to the interface sections such as HDMI sections connected with the video signal sources, via switches for example, to minimize the number of the function blocks to be provided.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application JP2009-104646 filed on Apr. 23, 2009, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to video apparatuses provided with a plurality of interfaces such as an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) (Registered Trademark).

The HDMI has now been widely circulated as an interface for simultaneously transmitting, directly or via an audio system, non-compressed video signal and audio signal from a video signal source such as a HDD (Hard Disc Drive) recorder or an STB (Set-Top Box) to a display apparatus such as a TV (television) receiver, a monitor or a projector.

Patent document JP-A-2009-10537 describes as a task “a bidirectional communication at a high speed with compatibility preserved” and describes as means for attaining the task that “when a bidirectional IP communication is performed between HDMI source71and HDMI sink72by making use of CEC line84and signal line141, changeover control section121controls switch133in such a manner that, for data transmission, the switch133selects a partial signal constituting a differential signal from converter section131, and for data transmission, the switch133selects a partial signal constituting a differential signal from receiver82, while when a bidirectional communication is performed only by making use of CEC line84, the changeover control section121controls the switch133in such a manner that the switch133selects a CEC signal from the HDMI source71or from the receiver82.” (See abstract).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The video apparatuses, which receives video/audio signals via an HDMI, have EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) representing a capability to deal with the signals supplied thereto via the HDMI, and this data information is read by a video signal source delivering a video/audio signal via the HDMI thereby to enable transmission of a video/audio signal in an optimum format to the video apparatuses. Further, cooperative performances between video apparatuses can be realized by the CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) for accomplishing the bidirectional communication between video apparatuses provided with the HDMI.

The above-mentioned patent document describes, as a new additional function of the HDMI, a high speed IP communication. In this manner, interfaces are intended to successively expand their functions to thereby enhance the user-friendliness.

In the meantime, as the number of types of video signal sources increases, the video apparatuses such as TV receivers and monitors tend to be provided with plural HDMI input sections along with various kinds of video input interfaces.

However, the video apparatuses such as TV receivers provided with a large number of interfaces including HDMI interfaces of enhances performance having increased functions suffer complicated interfaces and thus high costs.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a video apparatus includes a plurality of interface sections for transmitting and receiving a signal carrying video/audio information, a function block arranged to be connectable with the interface sections, the function block providing a predetermined function to one of the interface sections when connected with the one interface section, and function transferring sections for transferring functions of the plurality of interface sections, in which, when use of a function provided by the function block starts in one of the plurality of interface sections, one or more interface sections other than the one interface section are disconnected from the function block so that the function transferring sections transfer information as to whether or not the plurality of interface sections have the functions which the plurality of interface sections are to be provided by the function block.

According to the above-mentioned technical features, it is possible to provide a video apparatus having enhanced user-friendliness at low costs. Specifically, the video apparatus includes a minimized number of function blocks, providing interfaces simplified and inexpensive. Furthermore, necessary setting by a user is minimized and he or she no longer need to pay attention to which of plural interfaces such as HDMIs should be selected for connection with cables in order to accomplish connections between apparatuses, thus enhancing the user-friendliness.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

InFIG. 1showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention, video signal sources11and12are connected with a display apparatus21via HDMI cables31and32. The video signal sources11and12have HDMI outputs, which include video/audio signal transmitting sections111and121, readout sections112and122, CEC communication sections113and123, and communicating sections114and124, respectively. Namely, each of the video signal sources11and12has one HDMI output. The video signal sources11and12may be such as a HDD recorder, a STB or the like.

It is noted that a combination of a video signal source and a display apparatus may be termed “a video apparatus”. Further, the display apparatus21has a structure including a display section, but it need not be always include a display section. Instead of the display section, the display apparatus may include an output section for delivering an image signal to an external display unit.

The display apparatus21has HDMI input sections1and2. The HDMI input sections1and2include video/audio signal receiving sections211and215, EDID sections212and216, and switches214and217, respectively. A CEC communication section213is provided for use in common to the HDMI input sections1and2.

The display apparatus21includes a communicating section220as a function block (hereafter, this may be also termed “a common interface function block”) to be used in common to plural HDMI input sections and further includes switches214and217serving to make a changeover of the communicating section220between the HDMI input sections1and2so that the communicating section220provides a function to one of the HDMI input sections connected therewith. Numeral218represents a set parameter memory section, numeral219a controlling section, numeral221a video/audio signal changeover switch, numeral222an OSD (On-Screen Display) section, and numeral223a display section.

First, a high speed bidirectional communication is taken as an example for description of an embodiment. The display apparatus21includes plural HDMI input sections (1and2), but a single communicating section220is provided therefor. In the state shown inFIG. 1, since the switch214is turned on, the HDMI input section1connected with the HDMI cable31is available for the high speed bidirectional communication. Information such that the high speed bidirectional communication is possible is entered in the EDID section212which serves to transfer an HDMI receiving capability, and that information is sent to its associated video signal source11. The EDID section may be also termed “a function transferring section” or “a capability transferring section”, the CEC communication section may be also termed “a control signal transmitting/receiving section”, and the OSD section may be also termed “an image synthesizing section”.

Meanwhile, when the display apparatus21cannot afford to simultaneously communicate with its associated plural signal sources, the communicating section220turns off the switch217, enters in the EDID section216information such that the high speed bidirectional communication is impossible, and sends that information to the associated video signal source12. As a result, the video signal source12stops the function of its communicating section124.

When the states of connection have been interchanged between the switches214and217, namely, when the switch214is turned off and the switch217is turned on, information such that the high speed bidirectional communication is impossible is re-entered in the EDID section212while information such that the high speed bidirectional communication is possible is re-entered in the EDID section216.

As described above, the communicating section220serving as a common interface function block is changed over between the HDMI sections1and2via the switches214and217, and information such that the communicating section220is available or unavailable or the high speed bidirectional communication is possible or impossible is entered in the EDID sections212and216. By this arrangement, it is possible to utilize the high speed bidirectional communication function by changing over it between the HDMI input sections1and2. Consequently, it is no longer necessary to provide plural communicating sections in a display apparatus for realizing a high speed bidirectional communication, which is effective in simplifying and rationalizing the circuit structure.

Incidentally, the above-mentioned changeover may be accomplished by a user looking at a setting menu provided by the OSD section222of the display apparatus21, or may be achieved in the order of arrival. Further, the number of the HDMI input sections and the number of the communicating sections in the display apparatus are not limited to those mentioned above. When the number of communicating sections in the display apparatus is lower than that of the HDMI input sections, use may be made of switches in the above-mentioned manner so that the high speed bidirectional communication function can be utilized by changing over the communication sections between the HDMI input sections via the switches to be turned on and off to effect the changeover. Thus, it is possible to make the number of the communication sections in the display apparatus smaller than that of the HDMI input sections, which is effective in simplifying and rationalizing the circuit structure.

When the high speed bidirectional communication function is assigned to the HDMI input section1, the controlling section219controls the display apparatus21to notify the user. The control may be, for example, such that a display message may be synthesized in the OSD section222as shown inFIG. 5for deliverance to the user. Alternately, an illuminating section such as of LEDs indicating an assignment of the high speed bidirectional communication function may be provided in the display apparatus21with its illumination operation controlled as desired.

When an assignment change is made such that the high speed bidirectional communication function is assigned to the HDMI input section2, the control may be, for example, such that a message to be displayed is synthesized in the OSD section222as shown inFIG. 6for deliverance to the user. Further, the display message may be in the form of a list as shown inFIG. 7.

Next, a process of changeover of the communicating section220of the display device21between the HDMI input sections to be performed based on the order of arrival will be explained with reference to the flow chart shown inFIG. 2.

InFIG. 2, EDID-1represents an information content entered in the EDID section212shown inFIG. 1, while EDID-2represents an information content entered in the EDID section216shown inFIG. 1. Although HPD-1and HPD-2are not shown inFIG. 1, they correspond to HPD (Hot Plug Detect) signals indicative of whether or not the EDID readout defined in the HDMI specifications is possible. HPD-1=“H” indicates that the readout from HPD-1is possible, while HPD-1=“L” indicates that the readout from HPD-1is impossible501.

In the initial state501, both HPD-1and HPD-2are “H” (indicating that the EDID readout is possible), and both EDID-1and EDID-2exhibit “COMMUNICATION FUNCTION AVAILABLE”. Here, when a communication starts through the input section1, the process moves to state502.

After the state of the EDID-2has been changed to “COMMUNICATION FUNCTION UNAVAILABLE” with HPD-2=“L” (readout from EDID-2impossible) established, HPD-2=“H” (readout from EDID-2possible) is resumed so that the associated video signal source12is informed that the input section2has not the communication function. Upon termination of the communication through the input section1, the process goes to state503.

After the state of the EDID-2has been changed to “COMMUNICATION FUNCTION AVAILABLE” with HPD-2=“L” (readout from EDID-2impossible) established, HPD-2=“H” (readout from EDID-2possible) is resumed. As a result, the process is brought into a state identical with the initial state.

Referring to the flow chart shown inFIG. 3, Embodiment 2 will be described in connection with transference of a signal receiving capability in which use is made of the CEC.

In the initial state511, information such that both input sections1and2are in a standby state for the communication function is entered in the memory section218shown inFIG. 1, and the switches214and217are turned off.

When a communication request through the input section1is received under the CEC, the process moves to state512. Information such that a communication through the input section1starts and a communication through the input section2stops is entered in the memory section218, and the switch214is turned on to start the communication.

When a communication request through the input section2is received over the CEC, the process moves to state513, in which a response is given over the CEC such that the communication function is unavailable at the input section2, and then the process moves back to the state512.

Further, in the state512, when it occurs that a command is issued over the CEC such that the communication through the input section1should be stopped or the communication through the input section1has stopped, the process returns to the initial state511.

It is known by referring to the content set in the memory section218in which state the process is being executed. By this, it is possible, without resorting to user's manipulations, to automatically change setting of the functions of the common interface function block.

Next, Embodiment 3 will be described in which it is assumed that the video signal source11is a combined unit having a video signal source and an audio amplifier, and in which transmission of an audio signal is taken as an example.

When the video apparatus21selects the video signal source12to receive therefrom a video/audio signal through the TDSM line321, the video apparatus21is capable of displaying the video signal received from the video signal source12. However, without an arrangement for transmitting an audio signal from the video signal source12to the video signal source11serving as an audio amplifier, a high performance reproduction of the audio signal in the audio amplifier will be impossible. This is due to the fact that the TMDS line311can only transmit a video/audio signal from the video signal source11serving as an audio amplifier to the display apparatus21and signal transmission in the opposite direction is impossible therewith. As a novel arrangement for an audio signal transmission from the display apparatus21to the video signal source11serving as an audio amplifier, it is considered to make use of the communicating sections114and220.

In this connection, owing to the features of the CEC, it can be readily known from the CEC logical addresses representative of the kinds of the video signal sources which of the video signal sources11and12serves as an audio amplifier. The process therefor will be described with reference to the flow chart shown inFIG. 4.

In the initial state521, information such that an audio signal transmission function is assigned to the HDMI input section1is stored in the memory section218, the switch214between the communicating section220and the HDMI input section1is turned on, and the switch217between communicating section220and the other HDMI input section2is turned off.

When the signal source unit detected under the features of the CEC at the HDMI input section1is an audio amplifier, the initial state521is preserved.

Here, when an audio amplifier is detected at the HDMI input section2, the process moves to state522, in which information such that the assignment of the audio signal transmission function to the HDMI input section1is changed to that to the HDMI input section2is stored in the memory section218, the switch214between the communicating section220and the HDMI input section1is turned off, and the switch217between communicating section220and the other HDMI input section2is turned on, thereby assigning the audio signal transmission function to the HDMI input section2.

In this manner, by allotting the communicating section220, which realizes the audio signal transmission, to the HDMI input section2at which a video signal source having a logical address representative of an audio amplifier, it is possible to realize automatic changeover between the input sections without resorting to the user's manipulations.

In the above example, use is made of the detection of a logical address of an audio amplifier. However, the automatic changeover may be carried out when an audio signal is required from an audio amplifier. In this case, when plural audio amplifiers, e.g., audio amplifiers connected with rear loud speakers and those connected with front loud speakers are connected, and if it is permitted to supply same audio signals to plural audio amplifiers, the switches214and217may be used in such a manner that they assumes a turned-on state simultaneously. The display apparatus will be able to determine whether or not same audio signals are permitted, by confirming the signal receiving capability of the plural amplifiers under the CEC.

Embodiment 4 will be described with reference toFIGS. 8 and 9in which examples of manners of connection of a video apparatus are illustrated. Numeral23represents a TV receiver including HDMI input sections231to233, a tuner234for receiving broadcast signals, and a display section235. Numeral13represents an audio amplifier,14an HDD recorder,15an STB, and33to35HDMI cables.

The TV receiver23has a function to deliver, through HDMI input sections, an audio signal to video apparatuses connected therewith, namely, the TV receiver23, which may be, for example, the display apparatus21described in Embodiment 3, serves to sequentially assign a function to an HDMI input section requiring the function. A control is performed in such a manner that, when the TV receiver23detects that the audio amplifier13is connected with the HDMI-A input section231, the TV receiver23assigns an audio signal delivering function to the HDMI-A input section231and that the assignment result is displayed on the display section235for information to the user.

Meanwhile, when the connections of HDMI cables33and34with the audio amplifier13and the HDD recorder14are interchanged as shown inFIG. 9, a control may be performed in such a manner that the TV receiver23detects the interchanged connections and accomplishes an adjustment to the effect that the audio signal delivering function is newly assigned to the HDMI-B input section232and that the result of the assignment so adjusted is displayed on the display section235for information to the user.

The detection of the interchange of the connections between the HDMI cables33and34may be achieved, for example, by: recognizing that a DDC+5V power for a EDID readout circuit to be supplied from a video signal source to the display apparatus is ceased at the time the cable connection interchange; and inquiring a signal source apparatus, to be newly associated with the display apparatus, of the kind of the signal source unit connected with the input section to which the power supply has stopped.

Embodiment 5 will now be described with reference toFIG. 10showing an arrangement of HDMI input sections of a video apparatus. In the above-described embodiments, plural HDMI input sections share function blocks the number of which is smaller than that of the HDMI input sections and an OSD display is given, on an image display screen, indicating to which HDMI input section a common interface function block is allotted.

On the contrary, in this embodiment, as shown inFIG. 10, LEDs251-253are provided in the vicinity of HDMI input connectors241-243and are activated to indicate to which connector a function is assigned from a common interface function block, thereby achieving the indication of the function assignment.

Further, the mode of activation of the LEDs may be on-state/off-state or changes of colors of emission light to indicate assignment/non-assignment of a function or may be the blinking rate or the luminosity to indicate the communication speed at the time of function assignment to inform the user of the operation states of the LEDs for his or her confirmation.

This indication by the use of the LEDs so activated has the merit of giving the user a confidence. Further, for the indication, the LEDs may be replaced by other display devices such as LCDs, electroluminescent devices, electronic papers, etc. In case the HDMI input connectors are mounted on the rear panel of the apparatus, it is possible that the user may not be able to see the states of the display devices in a normal state of use of the apparatus. To cope with this, LEDs may be provided on the front panel of the apparatus or an LCD display is provided on the front side of the apparatus for thereby indicating the assignment by the common interface function block.

FIG. 11shows Embodiment 6, in which, contrary to Embodiment 1 shown inFIG. 1in which the display apparatus21has HDMI input sections1and2, an STB16has an HDMI input section1and an HDMI output section3. Members having similar functions to those inFIG. 1are denoted by the same numerals and explanation thereof will be omitted.

A video signal source11and an image receiving apparatus26such as a TV receiver are connected with the STB16through HDMI cables31and33. The image receiving apparatus26includes a video/audio signal receiving section261, an EDID section262, a CEC communication section263, a communicating section264and has a function to receive a video/audio signal output through the HDMI cable33. The HDMI cable33includes a TDMS line331, a DDC line332, a CEC line333and a signal line334.

The STB16includes a video/audio signal receiving section211, an EDID section212, a CEC communication section213, switches214and167, a video/audio signal transmitting section165, a readout section166, a memory section168, a controlling section169, a communicating section170, a changeover switch171, and a tuner172. The STB16has a function to perform a changeover between the video/audio signal output of the video signal source11received via the HDMI input section1and the video/audio signal output of the built-in tuner172by effecting a changeover operation of the switch171thereby to transmit one of the video/audio signal outputs to the image signal receiver26via the HDMI output section3.

Description will be made of a case taken as an example in which the communicating block170as the common interface function block provides a bidirectional high speed communication.

When the STB16requests a high speed bidirectional communication with the image receiving apparatus26, the switch167should be turned on with the switch214being turned off to start a communication between the communicating section170of the STB16and the communicating section264of the apparatus26. If some initial setting is necessary before the communication, initial setting information may be exchanged in advance between the CEC communication section213of the STB16and the CEC communication section263of the apparatus26via the CEC line333.

On the other hand, when the image receiving apparatus26requests a high speed bidirectional communication with the STB16, the CEC communicating section263of the apparatus26may issue a request message to the CEC communicating section213of the STB16via the CEC line333, or alternately, the communicating section264of the apparatus26may deliver a request signal to the signal line334.

In case a communication request signal is delivered to the signal line334, it will be necessary to provide the STB with a circuit (not shown in the drawing) capable of receiving the communication request signal. However, since such a circuit will be smaller in scale than the circuit for realizing the high speed bidirectional communication, the effect of rationalization accomplished by the provision of the common interface function block is large enough to compensate for the additional requisite.

When the communicating section170of the STB16is allotted to the communication with the image receiving apparatus26, the controlling section169enters information on the allotting in the memory section168. During this state, when a communication request is issued from the image signal source11via the CEC line313or another signal line of the HDMI cable31, the STB16makes a response thereto to refuse the request. Even in a state in which the communicating section170has been allotted to the communication with the image receiving apparatus26, if the communication is ceased or does not actually take place, whether an apparatus to which the communicating section170be allotted should be changed or not may be decided by the controlling section169in the STB16after the image receiving section26has been informed or inquired thereof and permission has been given by the section26.

In the above description, a case is taken as an example in which one common interface function block is provided, but a smaller number of plural common interface function blocks than that of interface sections may be provided, or plural kinds of common interface function blocks may be provided. In addition, switches214,217and167to be turned on and off may be replaced by other devices for on-off controlling the signal transmission.

As has been described, a common interface function block is allotted to plural interface sections such as HDMI input sections so that it is no longer necessary to provide a common interface function block for each of the plural interface sections which are not connected for cooperation with their respective interface function blocks simultaneously. Consequently, it is possible to advantageously provide video apparatuses of a simplified structure at low costs. Further, the features of automatic allotting of one or more common interface function blocks advantageously provides an operational environment which is free of user's manipulations and suffers almost no false operations.

In the above-described embodiments, a communicating section for realizing a high speed bidirectional communication is taken as an example of the common interface function block, but it is apparent that the function block may be for realizing any other functions.