Patent Abstract:
Electronic apparatus includes a cable assembly including a first component video signal input connector which is connected with a first component video signal external connector of a first component video signal external cable to receive a first component video signal; a second component video signal input connector which is connected with a second component video signal external connector of a second component video signal external cable to receive a second component video signal; a third component video signal input connector which is connected with a third component video signal external connector of a third component video signal external cable to receive a third component video signal; a single pin shaped output terminal; and a display including an input terminal which is provided on a rear side of housing and adapted to connect with the single pin shaped output terminal to receive the first, second and third component video signals.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/188,930 filed Feb. 25, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/607,146 filed Oct. 28, 2009, which claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0021271, filed Mar. 12, 2009, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office. The disclosures of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    Apparatuses consistent with the exemplary embodiment relate to transferring signals, and more particularly, to a signal transfer apparatus which transfers a plurality of signals output from an electronic device to another electronic device. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Image signals or audio signals output from an electronic device need to be transferred to another electronic device to operate the electronic devices in association with each other. For example, image signals are transferred from a digital versatile disk (DVD) player or a set-top box to a television (TV) to reproduce the image signals. When an image signal is transferred as a component type, three component signals including a luminance signal Y and color difference signals Pb and Pr are transmitted to a TV, which includes terminals to receive such signals. There are various signal transfer methods other than a component type such as a composite type, and thus a TV should include various terminals to receive signals transferred in various manners. 
         [0006]    Recently, there have been many efforts to miniaturize electronic devices. For example, it may be necessary to miniaturize an electronic device to fabricate electronic devices such as a thin wall-mounted TV. For the miniaturized electronic devices, the size and number of terminals to transmit and receive signals to and from another electronic device need to be reduced. 
         [0007]    Additionally, the terminals are typically disposed on a rear surface of the electronic device. Electronic devices such as a wall-mounted TV are fixedly mounted on a wall. The wall-mounted TV includes cables to transfer audio signals or image signals and connectors to connect the wall-mounted TV to external devices, and these cables and connectors may make it difficult to closely attach the wall-mounted TV to the wall. Accordingly, there is a need for a connector that facilitates close attachment of the wall-mounted TV to a wall. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    Exemplary embodiments address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. Also, the exemplary embodiments are not required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and may not overcome any of the problems described above. 
         [0009]    One or more exemplary embodiments provide a signal transfer apparatus to reduce the size and number of terminals of an electronic device. 
         [0010]    According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a signal transfer apparatus, including a plurality of input connectors to which a plurality of signals are input; and a single output connector which is connected to the plurality of input connectors and outputs the plurality of signals. 
         [0011]    The length of a plurality of cables connecting the single output connector and the plurality of input connectors may differ from each other so that the plurality of input connectors do not overlap each other. 
         [0012]    The single output connector may include an output terminal which is connected to the second electronic device; wherein the output terminal may include a plurality of signal regions which are connected to the plurality of signals input to the plurality of input connectors, respectively; and a ground region which is connected to grounds of the plurality of input connectors. 
         [0013]    The plurality of signal regions and the ground region may be formed lengthwise along the single output terminal. 
         [0014]    An insulating material may be disposed between the plurality of signal regions and the ground region. 
         [0015]    The output terminal may be formed in a pin shape. 
         [0016]    The plurality of input connectors may include a first input connector to which a luminance signal Y is input; a second input connector to which a first color difference signal Pb is input; and a third input connector to which a second color difference signal Pr is input. 
         [0017]    The length of the plurality of cables connecting the single output connector and the first, second, and third input connectors may differ from each other. 
         [0018]    The single output connector may include an output terminal which is connected to the second electronic device; a first signal region which is connected to the luminance signal Y; a second signal region which is connected to the first color difference signal Pb; a third signal region which is connected to the second color difference signal Pr; and a ground region which is connected to grounds of the first, second, and third input connectors. 
         [0019]    The first, second, and third signal regions and the ground region may be formed lengthwise along the output terminal. 
         [0020]    An insulating material may be disposed between the first, second, and third signal regions and the ground region. 
         [0021]    The plurality of input connectors may be connected to external cables. 
         [0022]    The plurality of input connectors may be formed as a female connector. 
         [0023]    The plurality of signals may include at least one image signal. 
         [0024]    The second electronic device may be a television (TV). 
         [0025]    The TV may include a terminal into which the output connector is inserted. 
         [0026]    The inserting direction of the output connector may be parallel with a display plane of the TV. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    The above and other aspects will be more apparent by describing certain exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a signal transfer apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the signal transfer apparatus of  FIG. 1  coupled to an electronic device; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram of the signal transfer apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0031]    Exemplary embodiments are described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0032]    In the following description, like drawing reference numerals are used for like elements, even in different drawings. The matters defined in the description, such as detailed construction and elements, are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention. However, it is apparent that the present invention can be practiced without those specifically defined matters. Also, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention with unnecessary detail. 
         [0033]    An exemplary embodiment relates to a signal transfer apparatus which transfers a plurality of signals from a first electronic device to a second electronic device. In this exemplary embodiment, a signal transfer apparatus transfers a plurality of image signals output from a digital versatile disk (DVD) player or a set-top box corresponding to the first electronic device to a TV corresponding to the second electronic device in a component type signal transfer. However, embodiments are not limited to these electronic devices. In addition, embodiments may also be used to transfer audio signals or other signals other than image signals. 
         [0034]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a signal transfer apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment,  FIG. 2  is a schematic view in which the signal transfer apparatus  100  of  FIG. 1  is coupled to an electronic device (TV  200 ), and  FIG. 3  is a circuit diagram of the signal transfer apparatus  100  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0035]    The signal transfer apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c , a single output connector  120 , and a plurality of cables  130   a ,  130   b ,  130   c.    
         [0036]    A plurality of signals output from the first electronic device, such as a DVD player or a set-top box, is input to the plurality of input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c . The image signals are transferred as a component type in this exemplary embodiment. The signal transfer apparatus  100  includes the first input connector  110   a  to which a luminance signal Y is input, the second connector  110   b  to which a first color difference signal Pb is input, and the third connector  110   c  to which a second color difference signal Pr is input. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the first electronic device (not shown) is connected to the plurality of input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c  through external cables  111   a ,  111   b ,  111   c , and the second electronic device (TV)  200  is connected to the output connector  120 . 
         [0037]    Because three component signals Y, Pb, Pr are transferred in this exemplary embodiment, three input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c  are used. However, the number of input connectors is not limited thereto, and, if the number of signals to be transferred is increased or reduced, more or less input connectors may be used. 
         [0038]    The single output connector  120  is connected to all the input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c , and transfers the plurality of signals to the second electronic device, such as the TV  200 . The number of input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c  is plural, but only one output connector  120  is provided as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . As described in detail below, the output connector  120  includes a plurality of signal regions  122   a ,  122   b ,  122   c  which are respectively connected to the cables  130   a ,  130   b ,  130   c  and receive the signals input to the input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c  via the cables  130   a ,  130   b ,  130   c . Accordingly, in the exemplary embodiment, a single output connector  120  is used to transfer the plurality of signals. 
         [0039]    Therefore, the TV  200  includes only one terminal  201  to receive the luminance signal Y and the first and second color difference signals Pb, Pr from the output connector  120 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Because the TV  200  according to the exemplary embodiment requires a lesser number of terminals, e.g., only one terminal  201 , the TV  200  may be miniaturized and/or slimmer. 
         [0040]    The cables  130   a ,  130   b ,  130   c  connects the single output connector  120  to the input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c . Referring to  FIG. 1 , the length of each of the cables  130   a ,  130   b ,  130   c  differs from each other so that the input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c  are staggered and do not overlap each other. In other words, in order to prevent the input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c  from overlapping, except for the shortest cable, the length of each of the cables  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c  is successively longer than the next shortest cable. For example, the length of the cables may be selected so that a difference in length between two cables is at least greater than a length of the input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c , or greater than a sum of the length of the input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c  and a length of output connectors of the cables  111   a ,  111   b ,  111   c  coupled to the input connectors  110   a ,  110   b  and  110   c .  FIG. 2  illustrates the input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c  which do not overlap each other. 
         [0041]    If the length of the cables  130   a ,  130   b ,  130   c  is the same, the input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c  may overlap each other and thus the overlapped input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c  may occupy a substantial volume behind the TV  200 . For example, if the TV  200  is a wall-mounted TV, the overlapped input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c  may be disposed between a rear surface of the wall-mounted TV and a wall, and, thus, the overlapped input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c  may occupy a substantial space between the rear surface and the wall. Accordingly, it may be difficult to closely attach the TV  200  to the wall. Although only three input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c  are provided in this exemplary embodiment, the wall-mounted TV may require more input connectors. That is, because the number of peripheral devices connected to the TV  200  may be increased, transfer of various signals such as audio signals other than image signals may be required. Even with a large number of input connectors, the signal transfer apparatus  100  according to the exemplary embodiment facilitates close attachment of the wall-mounted TV to the wall because the input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c  do not overlap each other. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the single output connector  120  includes an output terminal  121 , the signal regions  122   a ,  122   b ,  122   c , and a ground region  123 . 
         [0043]    The output terminal  121  is inserted into the terminal  201  of the TV  200  to be connected to the TV  200 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . That is, the inserting direction of the output terminal  121  is parallel to a display plane of the TV  200 . Accordingly, although the output terminal  121  is inserted into the terminal  201 , the space between the rear surface of the TV  200  and the wall to accommodate the output connector  120  is minimized so that the TV  200  may be more closely attached to the wall. The output terminal  121  is formed in a pin shape as shown in  FIG. 1 , but the output terminal  121  may be configured in various shapes. 
         [0044]    The signal regions  122   a ,  122   b ,  122   c  receive the signals from the input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c , respectively, via the cables  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the first signal region  122   a  receives and outputs the luminance signal Y through the first input connector  110   a , the second signal region  122   b  receives and outputs the first color difference signal Pb through the second input connector  110   b , and the third signal region  122   c  receives and outputs the second color difference signal Pr through the third input connector  110   c.    
         [0045]    The ground region  123  is connected to ground points  140 ,  142 ,  144  of the first, second, and third input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0046]    The first, second, and third signal regions  122   a ,  122   b ,  122   c , and the ground region  123  are formed lengthwise along the output terminal  121  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Accordingly, although only one output terminal  121  is provided, each signal Y, Pb, Pr is individually transferred to the TV  200 . An insulating material  125  is disposed between the first, second, and third signal regions  122   a ,  122   b ,  122   c  and the ground region  123 . The insulating material  125  obviates the plurality of signals from being jammed up. 
         [0047]    According to the exemplary embodiment as described above, the plurality of signals Y, Pb, Pr is transferred to the TV  200  using a single output connector  120  so that the TV  200  needs only one terminal  201  to connect the output connector  120 . Accordingly, the number of the terminals mounted to the TV  200  is reduced, and thus it allows the TV  200  to be miniaturized. Moreover, as the lengths of the plurality of cables  130   a ,  130   b ,  130   c  connecting the output connector  120  and the plurality of input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c  differ from each other, the input connectors  110   a ,  110   b ,  110   c  do not overlap. Therefore, if the TV  200  according to an exemplary embodiment is a wall-mounted TV, the wall-mounted TV may be closely attached to the wall. The TV  200  according to an exemplary embodiment may be a light emitting diode (LED) TV, which is a substantially thin device. 
         [0048]    The foregoing exemplary embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Also, the description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8