Reproduction apparatus connected to a monitor apparatus and remote controlling method thereof

A reproduction apparatus and a monitor apparatus are interconnected by one cable connector, which transmits an image and/or audio signal, a first control signal, and a power signal between the reproduction apparatus and the monitor apparatus. A controller in the monitor apparatus generates the first control signal to control the reproduction apparatus and generates a second control signal to control an output unit in the monitor apparatus. The output unit outputs the image and/or the audio signal from the reproduction apparatus as a visual and/or auditory signal in response to the second control signal. A power unit receives the power signal from the reproduction apparatus and supplies power to each component of the monitor apparatus. Thus, the reproduction apparatus and the monitor apparatus can be driven through the monitor apparatus using one remote controller. Similarly, the reproduction apparatus and the monitor apparatus can be driven through the reproduction apparatus using the remote controller.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims priority of Korean Patent Application No. 00-20995 filed Apr. 20, 2000, the contents being incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system for controlling a reproduction apparatus using a monitor apparatus, and more particularly, to the monitor apparatus connected to the reproduction apparatus and remotely controlling the reproduction apparatus to output image signals and/or audio signals using a connector cable.

2. Description of the Related Art

As shown inFIG. 1, a conventional recording and/or reproduction system includes a reproduction apparatus10such as video tape recorder (VTR) or digital video (or versatile) disc (DVD) and a monitor apparatus12. The monitor apparatus12, which is manufactured independently of the reproduction apparatus10, converts image and/or audio signals into visual and/or auditory signals. The conventional recording and/or reproduction system includes a power cord10aattached to the reproduction apparatus10, a power cord12aattached to the monitor apparatus12, a remote controller11associated with the reproduction apparatus10, and a remote controller13associated with the monitor apparatus12. Thus, multiple remote controllers11,13are used to operate the monitor apparatus12and the reproduction apparatus10. Power must be supplied separately to the monitor apparatus12and the reproduction apparatus10. Furthermore, the monitor apparatus12and the reproduction apparatus10are interconnected using a connection line such as a BNC cable17, having signal lines14,15, and16, which makes the system cumbersome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made to overcome the above-mentioned problems of the related art, and accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide for a system including a monitor apparatus; a reproduction apparatus recording and/or reproducing an image and/or audio signal in response to a control signal; a controller in the monitor apparatus generating the control signal controlling the reproduction apparatus and controlling the monitor apparatus to output the image and/or the audio signal as a visual or auditory signal; and a connector supplying the control signal to the reproduction apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for a monitor apparatus connected to a reproduction apparatus, the monitor apparatus including a connector allowing transmission of an image and/or audio signal and a first control signal between the reproduction apparatus and the monitor apparatus; a manipulation key input unit receiving a manipulation key signal; a remote controller sensor receiving a remote controller sensor signal; and a processing unit selectively receiving the manipulation key signal and the sensor signal and generating therefrom the first control signal controlling the reproduction apparatus, and a second control signal controlling the monitor apparatus to provide the audio and/or image signal from the reproduction apparatus as a visual and/or auditory signal.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide for a reproduction apparatus connected to a monitor apparatus, the reproduction apparatus including a controller generating a control signal; a signal processor outputting an image and/or audio signal in response to the control signal; a power unit outputting a power signal in response to the control signal and supplying power to each component of the reproduction apparatus; a connection cable allowing transmission of signals between the reproduction apparatus and the monitor apparatus, wherein the signals include the image and/or the audio signal, the control signal, and the power signal; and a monitor apparatus receiving the power signal to supply power to each component of the monitor apparatus and outputting the image and/or the audio signal from the reproduction apparatus as a visual and/or auditory signal in response to the control signal.

Accordingly, to achieve the above objects, the present invention provides for a monitor apparatus including a controller generating a remote control signal to a reproduction apparatus to record and/or reproduce an image and/or audio signal, such as a video tape recorder (VTR) or a digital video (or versatile) disc (DVD). The monitor apparatus using a one-cable connector may remotely control the reproduction apparatus. The connector includes a one cable connector including a control signal line to provide the first control signal, a power line to receive the power signal from the reproduction apparatus, and a signal line to provide the image signal and/or the audio signal from the reproduction apparatus to the monitor apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2is a diagram of a system including a reproduction apparatus20and a monitor apparatus21, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The reproduction apparatus20is an apparatus, such as a video tape recorder (VTR) or digital video (or versatile) disc (DVD) or any other reproduction medium for reproducing image signals and/or audio signals. The reproduction apparatus20reproduces the image signals and/or the audio signals by demodulating either a broadcast signal received from an external antenna24or the image and/or the audio signals recorded in a storage medium such as VTR tape or DVD disc. Also, a power cord20cis attached to the reproduction apparatus20.

The reproduction apparatus20may be controlled from manipulation keys20aattached to the body of the apparatus20or from a remote controller23via a first remote controller sensor20b. The reproduction apparatus20may also be controlled from the monitor apparatus21via the manipulation keys21a. Each manipulation key21awould output a control signal to the reproduction apparatus20via a connection cable22. In the alternative, the remote controller23would send the control signal via the second remote controller sensor21bto the reproduction apparatus20using the connection cable22.

The reproduction apparatus20is connected to the monitor apparatus21through the connection cable22, which includes an image and/or audio signal line, a power (DC 12 V) line, and a control signal line. The control signal line allows a user to control the reproduction apparatus20remotely through the monitor apparatus21or to control the monitor apparatus21through the reproduction apparatus20. The power (DC 12 V) line supplies necessary power from to each component of the reproduction apparatus20and the monitor apparatus40.

The monitor apparatus21includes a display21dto display the image signals and a speaker21cto output the audio signals. The monitor apparatus21may also be controlled from the reproduction apparatus20via the manipulation keys20a. Each manipulation key20awould output a control signal to the monitor apparatus21via the connection cable22. In the alternative, the remote controller23would send the control signal via the first remote controller sensor20bto the monitor apparatus21using the connection cable22. Further, the monitor apparatus21may be controlled from manipulation keys21aattached to the body of the monitor apparatus21or from the remote controller23via a second remote controller sensor21b.

FIG. 3is a block diagram illustrating the system connection ofFIG. 2. Power is supplied to the reproduction apparatus20and the monitor apparatus21using the power cord20c. The reproduction apparatus20and the monitor apparatus21are interconnected by one connection cable22. Also, the remote controller23controls both the reproduction apparatus20and the monitor apparatus21.

FIG. 4is a block diagram illustrating the system connection of a reproduction apparatus30and a monitor apparatus40, in accordance with an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the system illustrated inFIG. 3is used in a vehicle. The power cord20cis replaced with a DC jack31connected to the reproduction apparatus30. The reproduction apparatus30records and/or reproduces the image signals and/or the audio signals stored in a storage medium such as VTR tape or DVD disc. In the alternative, the reproduction apparatus30demodulates a broadcast signal received from an external antenna32and records and/or reproduces therefrom the image signals and/or the audio signals.

A connection cable50connects the reproducing apparatus30to the monitor apparatus40and supplies DC power from the reproduction apparatus30to the monitor apparatus40. The connection cable50is a single cable including an image and/or audio signal line, a control signal line, and a power line, thereby making the connection between the reproduction apparatus30and the monitor apparatus40easy. The reproduction apparatus30generates and provides image and/or audio signals to the monitor apparatus40via the connection cable50using the image and/or audio signal line. If the user controls the reproduction apparatus30from the monitor apparatus40using the remote controller60, a control signal from the remote controller60would be transmitted from the monitor apparatus40to the reproduction apparatus30via the connection cable50using the control signal line.

Furthermore, the monitor apparatus40may be connected to an auxiliary or a second reproduction apparatus80which would provide an auxiliary image and/or audio signals to the monitor apparatus40to display the auxiliary image signals and/or to output the auxiliary audio signals. The monitor apparatus40may also provide for a circuit (not shown) that FM modulates the audio signals and sends the FM modulated audio signals via a transmitting antenna41to an FM radio receiver70installed in the vehicle. The monitor apparatus40would then display the image signals and output the audio signals from either the reproduction apparatus30or the auxiliary reproduction apparatus80through a speaker (not shown) on the monitor apparatus40and/or via the receiving antenna71to the FM radio receiver70via the FM receiving antenna71.

FIG. 5illustrates a detailed block diagram of the reproduction apparatus30, shown inFIG. 4. The reproduction apparatus30includes a signal processor310, a first controller320, a first power unit330, and a first connector340. The signal processor310records and/or reproduces the image and/or the audio signals. The first power unit330receives DC power through a power jack31and supplies power to each component of the reproduction apparatus30. In an exemplary embodiment, the first power unit330may operate so that DC power may be provided to the monitor apparatus40through the first connector340although the reproduction apparatus30may not be operating, as shown inFIG. 4.

The first controller320controls the signal processor310, the first power unit330, and the first connector340of the reproduction apparatus30. The first connector340allows transmission of the image and/or the audio signals from the signal processor310, the DC power from the first power unit30, and a control signal between the first controller320and the monitor apparatus40(to be later described).

The signal processor310includes a tuner/demodulator311, an image/audio signal processor312, and a recording reproducing/processor313. The tuner/demodulator311demodulates RF signals received through the antenna32and outputs the image and/or audio signals. The image/audio signal processor312processes the image and/or the audio signals and provides the processed image and/or audio signals to the first connector340. The image/audio signal processor312may also provide a signal to the recording/reproducing processor313to record and/or to reproduce the image and/or the audio signals in the storage medium such as a VTR tape or a DVD disc.

The first controller320includes a first microprocessor321, a first key manipulator322, and a first remote controller sensor323. The first manipulation key322includes at least one key, which is attached to the body of the reproduction apparatus30, and generates a first manipulation key signal input by the user to the first microprocessor321. In the alternative, the first remote controller sensor323receives a remote controller sensor signal from the remote controller60and outputs the control signal to the first microprocessor321. The first microprocessor321receives either the first manipulation key signal or the remote controller sensor signal and generates a control signal. The first microprocessor321then controls the signal processor310, the first power unit330, and the first connector340in response to the control signal received from either the first manipulation key322or the first remote controller sensor323. Further, the first microprocessor321may also control the signal processor310, the first power unit330, and the first connector340using a control signal from the monitor apparatus40, to be later described. Furthermore, the first microprocessor321provides the control signal to the monitor apparatus40ofFIG. 6, to be later described, via the first connector340. Thus, the monitor apparatus40and each component of the reproduction apparatus30are controlled using the first controller320.

FIG. 6is a block diagram illustrating the monitor apparatus illustrated inFIG. 4. The monitor apparatus40includes an output unit410, a second controller420, a second power unit430, a second connector440, and a second reproduction signal input unit450. Similar to the first connector340ofFIG. 5, the second connector440allows transmission of the image and/or the audio signals, the control signal, and the DC power between the reproduction apparatus30and the monitor apparatus40. Specifically, the first connector340ofFIG. 5outputs the processed image and/or audio signals, the control signal, and the DC power via the connection cable50ofFIG. 4to the second connector440. In turn, the second connector440outputs the image and/or the audio signals to the output unit410, a control signal to the second controller420, and the DC power to the second power unit430. The second power unit430receives the DC power and supplies the necessary power to each component of the monitor apparatus40. Further, the second reproduction signal input unit450receives the image and/or the audio signals from the second reproduction apparatus80, as shown inFIG. 4.

The output unit410includes an input switching unit416, an LCD driver412, an LCD411, an audio driver414, a speaker413, and a FM modulating/transmitting unit415. The input switching unit416, in response to the control signal from the second controller420, selects either the image and/or the audio signals received from the second reproduction signal input unit450or the image and/or the audio signals received from the second connector440. The liquid crystal display (LCD) driver412displays the image signals from the input switching unit416on the LCD411. The audio driver414drives the speaker413to output the audio signals from the input switching unit416. In addition, the audio driver414drives the FM modulating/transmitting unit415to modulate the audio signals and to transmit the modulated audio signals through the antenna41.

The second controller420includes a second microprocessor421, a second manipulation key422, and a second remote controller sensor423. The second manipulation key422is attached to the body of the monitor apparatus40. The second controller420controls the output unit410, the second connector440, and the second power unit430in response to the control signal received and processed by the second microprocessor421. The control signal may be generated from either a key manipulation signal received from the second key manipulator422, a remote controller manipulation signal received from the second remote controller sensor423, or the control signal provided from the reproduction apparatus30through the second connector440.

The user may control the monitor apparatus40from the reproduction apparatus30using the remote controller60or using the first manipulation key322. Specifically, the first microprocessor321would receive a control signal from the first key manipulator322or from the first remote controller sensor323. The first controller320would then output the control signal to the output unit310to output the image and/or the audio signals from the reproduction apparatus30(i.e., the signal processor310) as visual and/or auditory signals. The first controller320would also send the control signal to the first connector340ofFIG. 5. The first connector340would then transmit the control signal to the second connector440ofFIG. 6. The second connector440would send the control signal from the first controller320to the second microprocessor421in the second controller420to drive the output unit410. The output unit410, in response to the control signal from the second controller420, would then output the image and/or the audio signals from the auxiliary reproduction signal input unit450or from the signal processor310as visual and/or auditory signals.

In the alternative, the user may control the reproduction apparatus30from the monitor apparatus40using the remote controller23or using the second manipulation key422. Specifically, the second microprocessor421would receive a control signal from the second key manipulator422or from the second remote controller sensor423. The second microprocessor421would send the control signal to the second connector440. The second connector440would then transmit the control signal, via the connection cable50, to the first connector340ofFIG. 5. The first connector340would send the control signal to the first microprocessor321in the first controller320to drive the signal processor310to output the image and/or audio signals. Further, the first power unit330would output the power signal to the second power unit430via the second connector440to supply power to each component of the monitor apparatus40. The output unit410, in response to the control signal from the second controller420, would then output the image and/or the audio signals from the auxiliary reproduction signal input unit450or from the signal processor310as visual and/or auditory signals.

FIG. 7is a diagram illustrating a remote controller60, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The remote controller60includes a group of common function keys610such as “power,” “VTR/monitor,” and “menu” commonly used for the reproduction apparatus30and the monitor apparatus40. The remote controller60also includes a group of reproduction apparatus keys620such as “play,” “stop,” “fast-forward,” (FF) and “rewind” (REW) to specifically control the VTR, and a group of monitor apparatus keys630such as “image,” “sound,” “volume(−),” and “volume(+)” to specifically control the monitor apparatus40.

The operating mode of the remote controller60is determined as either “VTR” or “monitor” depending on the user's selection of the “VTR/monitor” key. The remote controller60outputs a data code corresponding to either “VTR” or “monitor.” For example, if the “VTR/monitor” key is set as “monitor,” data corresponding to “power” and “menu” keys is formatted as the same recognition code as the group of monitor apparatus keys630and is used only as a signal to drive the monitor apparatus40. Unlike the group of common function keys610, the group of reproduction apparatus keys620is formatted as a recognition code corresponding to the VTR30independent of whether the VTR/monitor key is set as “VTR” or “monitor.” The group of reproduction apparatus keys620is only used for driving the VTR30. Similarly, the monitor apparatus keys630are only used to drive the monitor apparatus40independent of whether the VTR/monitor key is set as “VTR” or “monitor.”

FIG. 8is a flow chart illustrating a process performing signal processing of a remote control signal from the reproduction apparatus30, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. At operation81, a remote controller key check routine begins and memories are cleared, initial flag conditions are set, etc., as is well known in the art. At operation82, a determination is made as to whether there is a remote controller key input. If there is a remote controller key input, then at operation83, a determination is made as to whether the input remote controller data is data for the reproduction apparatus30formatted as a recognition code of the reproduction apparatus30. If the key is for the reproduction apparatus30, then at operation84, the corresponding key is executed. The process returns to operation82. However, if the key is not for the reproduction apparatus30, then the process returns to operation82.

FIG. 9is a flow chart illustrating a process performing signal processing of a remote control signal from the monitor apparatus40, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. At operation91, a remote controller key check routine begins and memories are cleared, initial flag conditions are set, etc., as is well known in the art. At operation92, a determination is made as to whether there is a remote controller key input. If there is a remote controller key input, then at operation93, a determination is made as to whether the input remote controller data is data for the monitor apparatus40formatted as a recognition code of the monitor apparatus40. If the key is for the monitor apparatus40, then at operation94, the corresponding key is executed. The process returns to operation92. However, if the key is not for the monitor apparatus40, then the process returns to operation92.

As described above, the reproduction apparatus30and the monitor apparatus40may be driven through the monitor apparatus40using one remote controller. Furthermore, it is possible to control the monitor apparatus40through the reproduction apparatus30. Thus, the present invention facilitates manipulation of a system in which the reproduction apparatus is connected to the monitor apparatus.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the reproduction apparatus is connected to the monitor apparatus by one connection cable including a power line, a control signal line, and an image/audio signal line, thereby allows for simple installation of both apparatuses. In particular, if the reproduction apparatus, in accordance with the present invention, is used as a media reproduction apparatus in a vehicle, the reproduction apparatus may be controlled from the monitor apparatus and the reproduction apparatus may be hidden in a place such as a trunk or a seat.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.