JP2005277840A - Amplifier - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an amplifier which is easy to change the connection setting of a terminal and has high convenience for a user. <P>SOLUTION: The amplifier 10 includes a plurality of input terminals T<SB>in</SB>,.. for each signal type. A second selector 16 sequentially selects one of the plurality of the input terminals T<SB>in</SB>. When a signal is inputted to the input terminal T<SB>in</SB>, the inputted signal is outputted to a synchronizing separation IC 18. The synchronizing separation IC 18 takes out a vertical synchronization signal from the signal, and outputs it to a controller 26. When the controller 26 detects the vertical synchronization signal, the controller 26 determines that a source device is connected to the selected input terminal T<SB>in</SB>. The controller 26 which has detected the connection, controls a GUI processor 20 and displays the GUI display showing the connecting state of the input terminal T<SB>in</SB>on the display unit 24. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an amplifier to which a plurality of AV (Audio Visual) devices are connected.

  Source devices such as a video recorder, a player, and a broadcast tuner are connected to the amplifier that constitutes the AV system. When constructing such a system, the user connects cables connected to each device to a plurality of input terminals provided in the amplifier.

  A function display is printed on the terminal section of the amplifier so that each device is correctly connected. The user connects each terminal while checking one by one so as not to mistake the cord. In order to reduce the complexity of this work, an amplifier has been developed in which a cord can be connected to an arbitrary terminal, and a function corresponding to the device can be confirmed and set for each terminal after connection (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1). ).

Product catalog [Search on March 16, 2004], Internet <URL: http://www.usa.denon.com/catalog/pdfs/avr2803%20DFU.pdf>

  The amplifier is provided with “INPUT-1”, “INPUT-2”,... On the terminal portion of the main body. The user first connects the TV to the amplifier, and then connects a cable connected to another device to an arbitrary terminal of the amplifier body. At this time, the user stores which device is connected to which terminal. Next, the user works on the setting screen displayed on the television screen while assigning amplifier functions using a remote controller or the like.

  However, when connecting the amplifier, it is necessary to remember which device is connected to which terminal. Confirmation and setting must be made via another display device such as a television.

  Furthermore, what is displayed on the setting screen is the content set by the user to the last, and the connection content is not automatically reflected. Therefore, when the AV system is newly configured and the setting contents are changed, there is a possibility that the original setting contents displayed on the screen are excessively changed.

  In this way, the conventional amplifier that can change the connection setting of the terminal cannot be set unless other display devices such as a television are connected, and the actual setting contents are displayed on the setting screen. Because it is not reflected, it was inconvenient that it was difficult to change settings.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an amplifier that is easy for a user and in which the terminal connection setting can be easily changed.

In order to achieve the above object, an amplifier according to the first aspect of the present invention provides:
Multiple input terminals are provided for each signal type, and an input terminal for inputting a signal from an external device;
A display unit for displaying a connection state of the input terminal with the external device;
Is provided.

In order to achieve the above object, an amplifier according to the second aspect of the present invention provides:
Multiple input terminals are provided for each signal type, and an input terminal for inputting a signal from an external device;
A determination unit for determining which of the input terminals is connected to the external device;
A display processing unit that creates a display processing signal based on the determination result determined by the determination unit;
Based on a display processing signal created by the display processing unit, a display unit for displaying a connection state of the input terminal with the external device;
Is provided.

The amplifier with the above configuration
A selector that selects any one of the input terminals and guides the signal to the inside;
An input unit that allows a user to input an instruction to cause the selector to select the input terminal connected to the external device;
May be further provided.

The amplifier with the above configuration
It may further include a selector that selects any one of the input terminals and guides the signal to the inside.
The determination unit may cause the selector to automatically select the input terminal when the selector determines that the input terminal connected to the external device is not selected.

The amplifier with the above configuration
A detection selector that selects any one of the input terminals and guides the signal to the inside for detection;
A detection signal generator connected to the detection selector and generating a detection signal from the signal output from the detection selector;
The determination unit may determine which of the input terminals is connected to the external device based on the detection signal generated by the detection signal generation unit.

In the amplifier having the above configuration,
The display unit may display function names corresponding to the input terminals,
The input unit may allow a user to input change input of the function name.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the amplifier with high convenience for a user with easy change of the connection setting of a terminal is provided.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, embodiment shown below is an example and is not limited to this. Note that the amplifier according to the present embodiment is connected to source devices such as a video recorder, a player, and a broadcast tuner, for example, performs processing such as amplification on signals input from these AV devices, and outputs them to a television or the like.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an amplifier according to an embodiment of the present invention. Amplifier 10 shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of input terminals T _in, a decoder 12, a first selector 14, a second selector 16, a sync separation IC 18, the GUI processor 20, an encoder 22, a display unit 24 and a controller 26.

Input terminal T _in a plurality for each type of signal, is provided by five in the example shown in FIG. That is, in this example, a plurality of VIDEO, S-VIDEO, COMPONENT, RGB, and DVI are provided. In this embodiment, a video signal input process will be described as an example. Input terminal T _in, for example, on the rear side of the main body (not shown) of the amplifier 10, for example, "VIDEO-1", "VIDEO-2", ..., are arranged with the display such as "VIDEO-5".

The decoder 12 decodes the video signal input from any of the input terminal T _in to a digital signal.

The first selector 14 is provided between the input terminal T _in a decoder 12. The first selector 14 connects any one of the input terminals T _in to the decoder 12. And any of the input terminal T _in that is connected to a source device (not shown), when the decoder 12 is selectively connected by a first selector 14, a video signal is input to the internal (amplifier 10).

The second selector 16, like the first selector 14 is connected to a plurality of input terminals T _in, the video signal is made possible input to the amplifier 10 by the selection of either. As described later, the second selector 16, the controller 26 periodically select each input terminal T _in, and supplies the sync separation IC18 described later signals for connection detection.

The sync separation IC 18 is connected to the output of the second selector 16. Sync separation IC18 when the video signal is inputted from the input terminal T _in through the second selector 16 retrieves the vertical synchronization signal (V-sync), and outputs to the controller 26. As will be described in detail below, this vertical synchronization signal is a signal indicating that a source device is connected to each input terminal T _in , and on the basis of this signal, the controller 26 transmits the device to the input terminal T _in . Detect connection.

  The display unit 24 includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence), and the like, and is disposed, for example, on the front surface of the main body (not shown) of the amplifier 10. The display unit 24 includes an input unit 24a such as a touch panel, and constitutes a user interface for inputting operation signals. For this reason, the display unit 24 preferably has a sufficiently wide screen so that the user can easily see and operate the display unit 24.

The display unit 24 displays the output settings (volume, balance, etc.) of the amplifier 10, and the user can change and input the output settings via the input unit 24a on the screen. As will be described later, the display unit 24, a screen indicating the connection setting of the input terminal T _in is displayed, the user can input to change its settings. The input instruction from the user received by the input unit 24a is sent to the controller 26 described later.

The GUI processor 20 is connected to the decoder 12. GUI processor 20 creates a GUI (Graphic User Interface) corresponding to the connection to the input terminal T _in. The controller 26 discriminates the connection state of the input terminal T _in the basis of the vertical synchronizing signal received from the synchronization separation IC 18, thereby creating a GUI corresponding thereto to the GUI processor 20. The GUI processor 20 outputs the created GUI display signal together with the digital video signal received from the decoder 12.

The encoder 22 encodes the digital video signal and outputs it as an analog video signal to a device such as a television connected to the output terminal _Tout . The encoder 22 converts the GUI display signal received from the GUI processor 20 into an analog RGB signal and outputs the analog RGB signal to the display unit 24. The display unit 24 that has received the analog RGB signal obtained by converting the GUI display signal displays the GUI based on the analog RGB signal. Displayed as GUI, user for settings such as the input terminal T _in is able to enter instructions such as setting change.

  The controller 26 includes a non-illustrated nonvolatile memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and an EE-PROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), and controls the operation of the entire amplifier 10.

  Although not shown for easy understanding, the above-described first selector 14 and second selector 16 shown in FIG. 1 are also provided for other signal types in the same manner.

Hereinafter, the amplifier 10 having the above structure will be described a flow of displaying the connection settings of the input terminal T _in. In addition, the flow shown below is an example and will not be restricted to this as long as the same result is obtained.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a flow of display processing performed by the controller 26.
In a state where the amplifier 10 is activated, the controller 26 performs the following connection confirmation processing constantly or periodically. First, the controller 26 switches the second selector 16 selectively connects one input terminal T _in (step S11).

The controller 26 is an input terminal T _in the selected it is determined whether or not it is connected to the device (step S12). Specifically, the controller 26, via a sync separator IC18 from an input terminal T _in is determined whether or not the received vertical synchronizing signal (V-sync). Here, when confirming the display setting, another source device is connected to the amplifier 10, and a video signal is input to the amplifier 10 from this device.

If the equipment to the selected input terminal T _in is determined not to be connected (step S12; No), i.e., it does not detect a vertical synchronization signal, the controller 26 switches the second selector 16, the next input The terminal T _in is scanned (step S11).

If it is determined that device to the input terminal T _in the selected is connected (step S12; Yes), i.e., when it detects a vertical synchronization signal, the controller 26, emphasizing the input terminal T _in corresponding to the GUI processor 20 An instruction signal is sent to create a GUI display to be displayed. The GUI processor 20 sends a GUI display signal corresponding to the instruction to the display unit 24.

The display unit 24 displays the GUI based on the GUI display signal converted into the analog RGB signal by the encoder 22. FIG. 3 shows a GUI display screen example of the input terminal T _in.

The non-volatile memory (not shown) of the controller 26, a plurality of functions assigned to each input terminal T _in is stored. For example, in FIG. 3, DVD functions include “VIDEO” “1”, “S-VIDEO” “2”, “COMPONENT” “4”, “RGB” “3”, “DVI”. Are assigned to “2”, respectively. The controller 26 causes the display unit 24 to display a display as shown in FIG. 3 based on the allocation content stored in the nonvolatile memory.

In the screen example shown _in FIG. 3, the connection of the device to the input terminal T _in (“5” _in FIG. 3) among the five input terminals T _in of the video signal (VIDEO) is detected. The connection is highlighted by, for example, inverting the character display compared to other displays.

In the screen example shown in FIG. 3, the connection state of signals of a type other than the video signal is displayed in a matrix as a whole. The controller 26 is subjected to the same processing for the plurality of input terminals T _in receiving an input of another species signals for each signal type, if the device is connected to the terminal, the corresponding matrix area Display emphasis.

Thus, connection setting of a plurality of input terminals T _in is from being displayed on the display unit 24 provided in the main body of the amplifier 10, the user can easily and conveniently without separately connecting the display devices such as televisions The connection status can be grasped.
In addition, since the connection settings for a plurality of signal types are displayed in a matrix, the user can easily and intuitively grasp each relationship at a glance.

Further, the amplifier 10 of the present embodiment can be via the input section 24a of the display unit 24 switches the connection of the input terminal T _in. If the device is connected to the input terminal T _{in of} the function that has passed (for example, “5” instead of “1”), the user drags the “5” area of the matrix to another function, for example, ( It is dropped in the “1” area assigned to (DVD) and replaced (see FIG. 4). Controller 26 which receives the input instruction from the input unit 24a switches the first selector 14 to connect to the correct input terminal T _in. At this time, the controller 26 updates and stores the changed allocation content in the nonvolatile memory. In this way, the user after connection to any input terminal T _in, via the display unit 24 provided in the amplifier 10, to verify easily connected, and can be changed to the appropriate connection,

As described above, in the embodiment according to the present invention, the display unit 24 provided in the main body of the amplifier 10, the connection state of the input terminal T _in is displayed. Therefore, the user can grasp the connection state easily and simply without using a separate television or the like. As for the input terminal T _in to a plurality of signal type, on the same screen, preferably, to be displayed in a matrix, the user can grasp the connection state at a glance. Furthermore, even if the function is different for connection to the input terminal T _in, it can be easily changed this through the GUI. For these reasons, for example, when connecting a plurality of devices to the amplifier 10, it is not necessary for the user to memorize at which input terminal each source device is inserted, thereby avoiding complicated connection work. be able to.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications, changes, variations, and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  In the above embodiment, it is assumed that signals such as VIDEO, S-VIDEO, COMPONENT, RGB, and DVI are input. However, the signal type is not limited to this, and may be any analog and / or digital signal type.

  In the above embodiment, the controller 26 determines the connection state based on the vertical synchronization signal extracted from the video signal. However, a horizontal synchronization signal (H-sync) may be used as a signal used for determination. Furthermore, the detection method is not limited to synchronous separation, and any method such as a method of simply detecting the presence or absence of energization may be used.

In the above embodiment, when the connection of the input terminal T _in not appropriate, and that the user is changed via the input section 24a of the display unit 24. However, instead of the user, the controller 26 may automatically change the connection of the first selector 14 (for example, an automatic selection mode is set).
In this case, for example, as shown in the flow of FIG. 5, when the controller 26 detects a connection with another device (step S51; Yes), it further determines whether or not the automatic selection mode is selected (step S51; Yes). Step 54). If the automatic selection mode has been selected, the controller 26 switches to the input terminal T _in the second selector 16 to the first selector 14 are currently selected (step S55). Then, the GUI, and displays the emphasized display corresponding to the input terminal T _in the post-selection (step S56).
According to this configuration, since the controller 26 automatically changes the connection, the user can connect other devices to the amplifier 10 very easily without performing any input.

In the above embodiment, the function name displayed on the GUI display may be changed by the user. For example, when the user wants to change the function “AUX” on the GUI display to another function (“DVD-2” or the like), the user touches and selects and inputs the matrix area of “AUX”. At this time, the controller 26 that has received the input signal from the input unit 24a causes the GUI processor 20 to display a selection screen for changing the function name as shown in FIG. 6, for example. When the user selects and inputs the one desired from the function that is displayed, the function name corresponding to the input terminal T _in is changed. The controller 26 updates and stores the new function name in the nonvolatile memory.
In addition, the user may freely change the function name by directly inputting it. In this case, for example, when the matrix area of the function name to be changed is selected on the GUI display, the controller 26 controls the display unit 24 to display the character input screen. When the user creates a desired name on the character input screen and makes an input for determination, the function name is changed to the input name.

  In the above embodiment, an amplifier to which a plurality of devices are connected has been described as an example. However, it goes without saying that the present invention is applicable not only to an amplifier but also to any other electronic device to which a plurality of devices are connected.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the amplifier which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation of the amplifier which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of the amplifier which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display of the amplifier which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation of the amplifier which concerns on the modification of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation of the amplifier which concerns on the modification of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10: Amplifier 12: Decoder 14: First selector 16: Second selector 18: Sync separation IC
20: GUI processor 22: encoder 24: Display unit 24a: Input unit 26: Controller T _in: an input terminal

Claims (6)

Multiple input terminals are provided for each signal type, and an input terminal for inputting a signal from an external device;
A display unit for displaying a connection state of the input terminal with the external device;
An amplifier characterized by comprising: Multiple input terminals are provided for each signal type, and an input terminal for inputting a signal from an external device;
A determination unit for determining which of the input terminals is connected to the external device;
A display processing unit that creates a display processing signal based on the determination result determined by the determination unit;
Based on a display processing signal created by the display processing unit, a display unit for displaying a connection state of the input terminal with the external device;
An amplifier characterized by comprising: A selector that selects any one of the input terminals and guides the signal to the inside;
An input unit that allows a user to input an instruction to cause the selector to select the input terminal connected to the external device;
The amplifier according to claim 2, further comprising: A selector that selects any one of the input terminals and guides the signal to the inside;
The determination unit, when determining that the selector has not selected the input terminal connected to the external device, automatically causes the selector to select the input terminal. Amplifier described in. A detection selector that selects any one of the input terminals and guides the signal to the inside for detection;
A detection signal generation unit connected to the detection selector and generating a detection signal from the signal output from the detection selector;
5. The determination unit according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit determines which of the input terminals is connected to the external device based on the detection signal generated by the detection signal generation unit. The amplifier according to item 1. The display unit displays function names corresponding to the input terminals,
The input unit allows a user to input change input of the function name.
The amplifier according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein:

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