JP2006308904A - Display device and method, recording medium, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily recognize other display devices constituting a scalable television system. <P>SOLUTION: A television receiver decides whether a cable is connected to an upper connector in a step S21, and advances to a step S22 when it is decided that the cable is connected to acquire arrangement information as information regarding the constitution of a television receiver arranged above itself. Further, the television receiver decides whether cables are connected to lower, right, and left connectors as to lower, right, and left sides and acquires arrangement information. The device is applicable to a scalable television system comprising, for example, a plurality of television receivers. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device and method, a recording medium, and a program, and more particularly, to a display device and method, a recording medium, and a program that make it possible to easily recognize other display devices that make up a scalable television system. .

  A scalable television (Television) system using an arbitrary plurality of television receivers has been proposed by the present applicant (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The scalable television system is configured by arranging an arbitrary number of television receivers in an arbitrary number in the horizontal and vertical directions.

  FIG. 1 shows a scalable television system in which the number of television receivers is 16 × 4 × 4, for example.

The scalable television system of FIG. 1 includes 16 television receivers 2 ₁₁ , 2 ₁₂ , 2 ₁₃ , 2 ₁₄ , 2 ₂₁ , 2 ₂₂ , 2 ₂₃ , 2 ₂₄ , 2 ₃₁ , 2 ₃₂ , 2 ₃₃ , 2 _34. , 2 ₄₁ , 2 ₄₂ , 2 ₄₃ , and 2 ₄₄ . Here, the suffix ij of the television receiver 2 _ij, the television receiver 2 _ij is in the scalable television system, (the i-th row from the top, j-th column from the left) the i-th column j th row disposed It represents what is being done. In addition, the television receiver 2 _ij is referred to as a television receiver 2 when it is not particularly necessary to distinguish the television receiver 2 _ij .

  For example, when one image is displayed on the entire connected television receiver 2 in the scalable television system, each television image is received depending on where the television receiver 2 is arranged in the entire scalable television system. It is necessary to change the image displayed by the machine 2. Therefore, a predetermined one of the 16 television receivers 2 constituting the scalable television system is used as a parent device for controlling the entire scalable television system (16 television receivers 2). There is a method in which the John receiver 2 provides each television receiver 2 serving as a slave unit with information regarding the arrangement of the television receiver 2 with respect to the entire scalable system.

In this case, as a method of connecting wirings (signal lines) for connecting the 16 television receivers 2 _ij (i, j = 1 to 4) to each other, for example, as shown in FIG. The lower left television receiver 2 ₄₁ , which is the parent of the John receiver 2, is connected to each of the remaining television receivers 2.

That is, in FIG. 2, the television receiver 2 ₁₁ and the television receiver 2 ₄₁ are connected by the cable 11 ₁₁ , the television receiver 2 ₂₁ and the television receiver 2 ₄₁ are connected by the cable 11 ₂₁ , A television receiver 2 ₃₁ and a television receiver 2 ₄₁ are connected by a cable 11 ₃₁ . Further, the television receiver 2 ₁₂ and the television receiver 2 ₄₁ and are connected by a cable 11 _12, the television receiver 2 ₂₂ and the television receiver 2 ₄₁ and are connected by a cable 11 _22, the television receiver 2 ₃₂ and the television receiver 2 ₄₁ are connected by a cable 11 ₃₂ , and the television receiver 2 ₄₂ and the television receiver 2 ₄₁ are connected by a cable 11 ₄₂ .

Further, the television receiver 2 ₁₃ and the television receiver 2 ₄₁ are connected by a cable 11 ₁₃ , and the television receiver 2 ₂₃ and the television receiver 2 ₄₁ are connected by a cable 1 ₂₃ , and the television receiver is connected. 2 ₃₃ and the television receiver 2 ₄₁ are connected by a cable 11 ₃₃ , and the television receiver 2 ₄₃ and the television receiver 2 ₄₁ are connected by a cable 1 1 ₄₃ .

Similarly, connected by the television receiver 2 ₁₄ and the television receiver 2 ₄₁ and cable 11 _14, the television receiver ₂₂₄ and the television receiver 2 ₄₁ and are connected by a cable 11 _24, the television The television 2 ₃₄ and the television receiver 2 ₄₁ are connected by a cable 1 1 ₃₄ , and the television receiver 2 ₄₄ and the television receiver 2 ₄₁ are connected by a cable 1 1 ₄₄ .

  In the connection method as shown in FIG. 2, wiring for connecting with the television receiver 2 as the slave unit and connectors as connection ports are concentrated on the television receiver 2 as the master unit. It is difficult to attach a large number of connectors to the television receiver 2 as a parent device, and the number of child television receivers 2 that can be connected to the television receiver 2 as a parent device is necessarily limited. . That is, the number of television receivers 2 constituting the scalable television system is limited.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-195843 (FIG. 1)

  The scalable television system is characterized in that any plurality of television receivers can be easily connected and detached, so that it is better that there is no limit to the number of components. In addition, if the wiring method between the television receivers that make up the scalable television system is easy or the number of television receivers that make up the scalable television system changes, the change is reflected in each television receiver. It is desirable that the machine can be easily recognized.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and makes it possible to easily recognize other display devices constituting a scalable television system.

  The first display device of the present invention includes a direct connection display device directly connected to the display device, and an indirect connection display device indirectly connected to the display device via the direct connection display device. The first connection means connected to the direct connection display device, and whether the direct connection display device is connected to the first connection means, and the direct connection display device to the first connection means Is connected, the device configuration information, which is information about the configuration of other display devices arranged in the direction from the display device to the directly connected display device, is obtained from the directly connected display device, and the position on the display system is obtained. The connection detecting means to be obtained and display control means for controlling an image to be displayed on the display means of the display device based on a position on the display system.

  Two or more display devices constituting the display system include two types of display devices, ie, a parent device display device and a child device display device. The display device of the parent device is connected to the first connection means, and the display device A second connection means connected to another display device, and the connection detection means further includes another display device in the second connection means. Whether or not it is connected is further detected, and when another display device is connected to the second connection means, the position information of the other display device with respect to the display device is acquired, and on the display system Further, the position of another display device can be provided to another display device, and the display control means can control the image to be displayed on the display means of the display device based on the position of the other display device. .

  The display device is rotatable about a predetermined axis. When the display device rotates, the display device rotates to obtain rotation information indicating that the display means is facing front or back with respect to a predetermined user. An information acquisition unit is further provided, and the display control unit can control an image to be displayed on the display unit based on the rotation information.

  In the device configuration information, when each display means of another display device is rotated about a predetermined axis, each display means of the other display device faces front or back with respect to a predetermined user. The display control means can control the image displayed on the display means of the display device based on the rotation information of each display means of the other display device.

  The direction of the directly connected display device relative to the display device can be any of the right side, the left side, the upper side, or the lower side.

  First input / output means for inputting a first electric signal from the left or upper direct connection display device and outputting a second electric signal to the left or upper direct connection display device; and right or lower direct connection Using the second input / output means for inputting the second electric signal from the display device and outputting the first electric signal to the right or lower direct connection display device, and the first and second electric signals, The display device can be further provided with computing means for computing the total number of other display devices connected in any one of the right and left lateral directions or the upper and lower longitudinal directions. .

  The computing means includes first addition means for adding the number of display devices to the number represented by the first electrical signal, and second addition means for adding the number of display devices to the number represented by the second electrical signal; , Adding means for adding the result of the first adding means and the value represented by the second electric signal, and the first input / output means outputs the result of the second adding means to the second electric signal. A signal is output to the left or upper direct connection display device as a signal, and the second input / output unit is configured to output a result of the first addition unit to the right or lower direct connection display device as a first electric signal. Can do.

  The first display method of the present invention includes a direct connection display device directly connected to the display device, and an indirect connection display device indirectly connected to the display device via the direct connection display device. If the direct connection display device is connected to the connection means connected to the direct connection display device, and the direct connection display device is connected to the connection means, the display device directly Based on the connection detection step for obtaining the position on the display system by acquiring apparatus configuration information that is information on the configuration of other display apparatuses arranged in the direction of the connected display apparatus from the directly connected display apparatus, and the position on the display system And a display control step for controlling an image to be displayed on the display means of the display device.

  The first program of the present invention includes a direct connection display device that is directly connected to the display device, and an indirect connection display device that is indirectly connected to the display device via the direct connection display device. If a direct connection display device is connected to the connection means connected to the direct connection display device, and the direct connection display device is connected to the connection means, the direct connection is made from the display device. Based on the connection detection step for obtaining the position on the display system by acquiring the apparatus configuration information, which is information about the configuration of other display apparatuses arranged in the direction of the display apparatus, from the directly connected display apparatus, and the position on the display system And a display control step for controlling an image to be displayed on the display means of the display device.

  In the first display device, display method, and program of the present invention, it is detected whether or not the directly connected display device is connected to the connecting means connected to the directly connected display device, and the directly connected display device is connected to the connecting means. When connected, device configuration information, which is information about the configuration of other display devices arranged in the direction from the display device to the directly connected display device, is acquired from the directly connected display device, and the position on the display system is obtained. Based on the position on the display system, the image to be displayed on the display means of the display device is controlled.

  A second display device of the present invention includes a connection unit connected to another display device, a first position information acquisition unit that acquires a relative position of the display device with respect to the other display device, and another display of the relative position. A second position information acquisition unit provided to the device for acquiring the absolute position of the display device on the display system from another display device; and the display unit of the display device based on the absolute position of the display device on the display system. And display control means for controlling an image to be displayed.

  The display device is configured to be rotatable about a predetermined axis. When the display device rotates, the display device acquires rotation information indicating that the display unit faces the front or the back with respect to the predetermined user. Rotation information acquisition means is further provided, and the second position information acquisition means further provides rotation information of the display device to another display device, and the other display device faces front or back with respect to a predetermined user. Rotation information indicating that the image is displayed can be acquired from another display device, and the display control unit can control the image displayed on the display unit based on the rotation information of the display device and the other display device.

  The second display method of the present invention provides a first position information acquisition step for acquiring a relative position of the display device with respect to another display device connected to the connection means, and provides the relative position to the other display device, Based on the second position information acquisition step of acquiring the absolute position of the display device on the display system from another display device, and the image to be displayed on the display means of the display device based on the absolute position of the display device on the display system And a display control step.

  A second program of the present invention provides a first position information acquisition step for acquiring a relative position of a display device with respect to another display device connected to the connection means, and provides the relative position to the other display device for display. Based on the second position information acquisition step of acquiring the absolute position of the display device on the system from another display device and the absolute position of the display device on the display system, the image displayed on the display means of the display device is controlled. A display control step.

  In the second display device, the display method, and the program of the present invention, the relative position of the display device with respect to the other display device connected to the connection means is acquired, and the relative position is provided to the other display device for display. The absolute position of the display device on the system is acquired from another display device, and an image to be displayed on the display unit of the display device is controlled based on the absolute position of the display device on the display system.

  According to the present invention, other display devices constituting the scalable television system can be easily recognized.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Correspondences between constituent elements described in the claims and specific examples in the embodiments of the present invention are exemplified as follows. This description is to confirm that specific examples supporting the invention described in the claims are described in the embodiments of the invention. Therefore, even though there are specific examples that are described in the embodiment of the invention but are not described here as corresponding to the configuration requirements, the specific examples are not included in the configuration. It does not mean that it does not correspond to a requirement. On the contrary, even if a specific example is described here as corresponding to a configuration requirement, this means that the specific example does not correspond to a configuration requirement other than the configuration requirement. not.

  Further, this description does not mean that all the inventions corresponding to the specific examples described in the embodiments of the invention are described in the claims. In other words, this description is an invention corresponding to the specific example described in the embodiment of the invention, and the existence of an invention not described in the claims of this application, that is, in the future, a divisional application will be made. It does not deny the existence of an invention that is added by correction.

The display device according to claim 1 comprises:
One of the two or more display devices of the display system (for example, the display system 21 of FIG. 3) configured by connecting two or more display devices (for example, the television receiver 30 of FIG. 9). In
Other display devices include a direct connection display device directly connected to the display device, and an indirect connection display device indirectly connected to the display device via the direct connection display device,
First connection means (for example, IEEE1394 connector C _R , C _L , C _U , or C _D in FIG. 10) connected to the direct connection display device;
It is detected whether the direct connection display device is connected to the first connection means, and when the direct connection display device is connected to the first connection means, the direct connection is made from the display device. Connection detection means (for example, the position of FIG. 9) that obtains device configuration information that is information about the configuration of the other display device arranged in the direction of the display device from the directly connected display device and obtains a position on the display system. Detector 51),
Display control means (for example, the control part 52 of FIG. 9) which controls the image displayed on the display means of the said display apparatus based on the position on the said display system is provided.

The display device according to claim 2 comprises:
In the two or more display devices constituting the display system, there are two types, a display device of a parent device and a display device of a child device, and the display device of the parent device is connected to the first connection means And
A display device of the slave connected to only the display device, further comprising second connection means (for example, IEEE1394 connectors C _{1 to} C ₈ in FIG. 10) connected to another display device;
The connection detection means further detects whether or not the further display device is connected to the second connection means, and when the further display device is connected to the second connection means. Obtains position information of the further display device relative to the display device, and provides the position of the further display device on the display system to the further display device,
The display control means controls an image to be displayed on the display means of the display device based on the position of the further display device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of an embodiment of a scalable television system to which the present invention is applied.

The scalable television system 21 shown in FIG. 3 includes 16 television receivers 30 ₁₁ , 30 ₁₂ , 30 ₁₃ , 30 ₁₄ , 30 ₂₁ , 30 ₂₂ , 30 ₂₃ , 30 ₂₄ , 30 ₃₁ , 30 ₃₂ , 30 ₃₃ , 30 ₃₄ , 30 ₄₁ , 30 ₄₂ , 30 ₄₃ , 30 ₄₄ (first embodiment).

Here, as in FIG. 1, the suffix ij of the television receiver 30 _ij, the television set 30 _ij is, in the scalable television system 21, the i-th column j-th row (from the top i-th row , In the jth column from the left). In addition, the television receiver 30 _ij is referred to as the television receiver 30 when it is not necessary to particularly distinguish the television receiver 30 _ij .

  The television receiver 30 constituting the scalable television system 21 is fixed from the back by a dedicated rack (fixed plate) 91 (FIGS. 13 and 18). Further, the television receivers 30 constituting the scalable television system 21 can be fixed to each other. Each television receiver 30 is detachable as shown in FIG. 4, and the television receiver 30 can be removed from or added to the scalable television system 21.

For example, in the scalable television system 21 shown in FIG. 4, television receivers 30 ₁₄ , 30 ₂₄ , 30 ₃₄ , 30 ₄₄ on the left side and 30 ₄₁ , 30 ₄₂ , 30 ₄₃ (, 30 ₄₄ ) on the lower row are provided. When removed, as shown in FIG. 5, a scalable television system composed of nine television receivers 30 ₁₁ , 30 ₁₂ , 30 ₁₃ , 30 ₂₁ , 30 ₂₂ , 30 ₂₃ , 30 ₃₁ , 30 ₃₂ , 30 ₃₃ 21 (second embodiment).

  The scalable television system 21 can realize functions that cannot be realized by a single television receiver 30 by connecting a plurality of television receivers 30 to each other. For example, a large screen function for displaying one image on nine television receivers 30 or a strobe for displaying still images obtained by stopping moving images at predetermined time intervals in order on each television receiver 30. There are functions.

  Further, each of the television receivers 30 constituting the scalable television system 21 can be rotated 180 degrees around the vertical direction of the television receiver 30 by a rack 91 (FIG. 18) for fixing the television receiver 30. Thus, the user on the back side of one side (front side) of the television receiver 30 can also view the video.

Note that the number of television receivers 30 to be rotated may be one (single unit) or a plurality of units. For example, Figure 6, of the constructed scalable television system 21 in nine of the television receiver 30, shows an example where only the television receiver 30 ₁₃ is rotated, FIG. 6A, television state receiver 30 ₁₃ is facing another eight television receiver 30 _11, 30 _12, 30 ₂₁ to 30 ₃₃ in the same plane (Table), FIG. 6B, the television set 30 ₁₃ other It shows a state facing the surface (back) opposite to the eight television receivers 30 ₁₁ , 30 ₁₂ , 30 _{21 to} 30 ₃₃ .

Further, for example, FIG. 7 shows that the television receivers 30 _{11 to} 30 ₁₃ in the first row of the scalable television system 21 including nine television receivers 30 are centered on the television receiver 30 ₁₂ . FIG. 7A shows an example in which the television receivers 30 _{11 to} 30 ₁₃ in the first row are on the same plane as the other six television receivers 30 _{21 to} 30 ₃₃ (table). FIG. 7B shows a state in which the first row of television receivers 30 _{11 to} 30 ₁₃ face the opposite surface (back) to the other six television receivers 30 _{21 to} 30 ₃₃ . Is shown.

  Further, each of the television receivers 30 constituting the scalable television system 21 is changed when the other television receiver 30 constituting the scalable television system 21 is removed or rotated or the configuration (state) is changed. The change in the configuration (state) can be detected, and an image corresponding to the change in the configuration (state) can be displayed.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, when all nine television receivers 30 _{11 to} 30 ₃₃ face the same surface (this surface is the front), nine television receivers 30 ₁₁ to so as to display one of the entire image 30 _33, each nine television receivers 30 ₁₁ to 30 ₃₃ to display the divided partial image the entire image by 1/9.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the television receivers 30 _{11 to} 30 ₁₃ in the first row rotate around the center of the television receiver 30 ₁₂ and face the other side, the other 6 each television 30 ₂₁ to 30 ₃₃ of the platform is so as to display one image at six of the television receiver 30 ₂₁ to 30 _33, and displays the partial images obtained by dividing the entire image by 1/6 . On the other hand, the television receivers 30 _{11 to} 30 ₁₃ facing the back display the entire image with one of them (for example, the television receiver 30 ₁₃ ). That is, the television receiver 30 _13, when facing the table, and displays a partial image 1/9, when facing the back displays the entire image.

  Note that the number of television receivers 30 among the plurality of television receivers 30 facing the same plane is used to display what kind of image is not limited to the above-described example, and various images can be displayed. A display mode can be adopted.

  By the way, the scalable television system 21 (first embodiment) configured by the 16 television receivers 30 illustrated in FIG. 3 and the scalable television system 30 illustrated in FIG. 5 are configured. The television system 21 (second embodiment) combines a plurality of scalable television units each composed of a television receiver 30 serving as a single master unit and a television receiver 30 serving as a plurality of slave units. Is made up of.

  In addition, it can be said that the scalable television unit is a scalable television system including a plurality of television receivers 30 by itself.

For example, the scalable television system 21 including the nine television receivers 30 shown in FIG. 5 has three television receivers 30 _{1j to 3j} arranged in one vertical row as shown in FIG. One scalable television unit U _j composed of (j = 1, 2, 3) is configured by connecting three units in the horizontal direction. That is, the scalable television system 21 composed of nine television receivers 30 is composed of scalable television units U _{1 to} U ₃ .

In addition, the television receiver 30 _3j disposed at the bottom of the scalable television unit U _j (j = 1, 2, or 3) _serves as a master unit, and the upper two television receivers 30 _1j. And 30 _2j is a slave unit.

Television 30 _3j of the parent unit is connected to the scalable TV unit U all handsets in the _j and other scalable TV unit U _h (j ≠ h) the parent machine. The slave television receivers 30 _1j and 30 _2j are connected only to the parent device of their own scalable television unit U _j .

That is, the television receiver 30 _1j or 30 _2j that is the slave in the scalable television unit U _j (j = 1, 2, or 3) is connected to the television receiver 30 _3j that is the parent device respectively by the cable K. Connected with _1j or _K2j . That is, in the scalable television unit U ₁ , the television receiver 30 ₁₁ and the television receiver 30 ₃₁ are connected by the cable K ₁₁ , and the television receiver 30 ₂₁ and the television receiver 30 ₃₁ are connected by the cable K _21. ing. In the scalable television unit U ₂ , the television receiver 30 ₁₂ and the television receiver 30 ₃₂ are connected by a cable K ₁₂ , and the television receiver 30 ₂₂ and the television receiver 30 ₃₂ are connected by a cable K ₂₂ . . Furthermore, in the scalable television unit U ₃ , the television receiver 30 ₁₃ and the television receiver 30 ₃₃ are connected by the cable K ₁₃ , and the television receiver 30 ₂₃ and the television receiver 30 ₃₃ are connected by the cable K _23. ing.

The scalable TV unit U ₁ and the scalable TV unit U ₂ are connected by a cable M ₁₂ , and the scalable TV unit U ₂ and the scalable TV unit U ₃ are connected by a cable M ₂₃ .

In the following, the cable K _1j or the cables M ₁₂ and M ₂₃ are simply referred to as the cable K or the cable M when it is not necessary to distinguish them. Further, the scalable television unit U _j is simply referred to as a scalable television unit U when it is not necessary to distinguish between them.

As shown in FIG. 8, the scalable TV system 21 is configured by configuring a plurality of scalable TV units U _j composed of a master unit and a slave unit. In other words, the scalable TV unit U _j is cascaded. By connecting, even if the scalable television system 21 becomes large-scale, the number of slave units can be reduced and the concentration of cables (cables K and M) to the master unit can be prevented. . That is, according to the connection method shown in FIG. 8, it is possible to make the connection much simpler (less) compared to the conventional cable connection method between the television receivers 30 shown in FIG.

Each of the television receivers 30 of the scalable television unit U _j (scalable television system 21) can be either a parent device or a child device. Accordingly, three television receivers 30 _{i1 to i3} (i = 1, 2, 3) arranged in a horizontal row are connected as a single scalable TV unit U _i in the vertical direction. Thus, the scalable television system 21 shown in FIG. 5 can be configured.

Next, details of the television receiver 30 that operates as a parent device or a child device in the scalable television unit U _j (scalable television system 21) will be described.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the television receiver 30 included in the scalable television unit U _j (scalable television system 21).

  The communication unit 50 includes a connector unit 61 and communicates with another television receiver 30 via a cable K or M connected to the connector unit 61. That is, the communication unit 50 is configured to perform serial communication (hereinafter referred to as IEEE1394 communication as appropriate) conforming to, for example, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 1394 standards, and the connector unit 61 includes an IEEE1394 cable. A plurality of IEEE1394 connectors to which a cable K or M is connected.

  The communication unit 50 also communicates with a remote control device (not shown) by infrared rays or the like, and receives instructions from the user. For example, the communication unit 50 receives the display mode of the television receiver 30 instructed by the user and supplies the received display mode to the control unit 52. Here, examples of the display mode include a large screen mode for executing the above-described large screen function and a strobe mode for executing the strobe function.

  The position detection unit 51 performs IEEE1394 communication with the television receiver 30 of the parent device of another scalable television unit U via the communication unit 50 when the own device (the television receiver 30) is the parent device. Thus, information about how many television receivers 30 are connected in which direction (right side, left side, upper side, or lower side) in addition to the scalable television unit U (hereinafter referred to as arrangement information). get. In addition, the position detection unit 51 is located at which position in the entire scalable television system 21 with respect to each of the child television receivers 30 in its own scalable television unit U. Is calculated (position information of the television receiver 30 of the slave unit) and transmitted by IEEE 1934 communication via the communication unit 50 (teach).

  On the other hand, when the user (television receiver 30) is a child device, the position detection unit 51 communicates with the television receiver 30 of the parent device via the communication unit 50 by IEEE 1934, thereby detecting the user (television receiver 30). It recognizes where the receiver 30) is located in the scalable television system 21.

  In order for the television receivers 30 constituting the scalable television system 21 to display images consistent with the scalable television system 21 as a whole, the arrangement of the television receivers 30 in the scalable television system 21 (physical Position) and rotation state (facing front or back).

  Therefore, the control unit 52 controls the image processing unit 56 so that the user (the television receiver 30) displays a consistent image as the entire scalable television system 21.

  That is, the position information of the user (television receiver 30) is supplied from the position detection unit 51 to the control unit 53, and the user (television receiver 30) faces the front from the rotation detection unit 54. A determination result for determining whether or not it is facing is supplied. Further, the rotation state of the other television receiver 30 is supplied from the communication unit 50 to the control unit 52.

  The control unit 52 stores the arrangement information supplied from the position detection unit 51 in the storage unit 53. Then, the control unit 52 determines the image according to the display mode (instructed by the user) supplied from the communication unit 50, the determination result supplied from the rotation detection unit 54, and the rotation state of the other television receiver 30. The processing unit 56 is controlled.

  Further, the control unit 53 determines the determination result (the rotation state of the own (television receiver 30)) by determining whether the own (television receiver 30) is facing the front or the back. 50 is supplied to the other television receiver 30 through 50. The front or back of the television receiver 30 is determined in common for each television receiver 30 constituting the scalable television system 21 based on a predetermined position (for example, a certain user's position). .

  The storage unit 53 stores the arrangement information of the user (the television receiver 30) supplied from the control unit 52. The storage unit 53 appropriately stores data necessary for the control unit 52 to perform control processing.

  The rotation detection unit 54 acquires a rotation signal indicating the rotation state of itself (the television receiver 30), and determines whether the television receiver 30 is facing front or back from the obtained result. The determined result is supplied to the control unit 52.

  The image input unit 55 includes, for example, an antenna and a tuner, an external input terminal, and the like, and supplies an input predetermined image (signal thereof) to the image processing unit 56.

  The image processing unit 56 performs predetermined processing on the image (the signal) supplied from the image input unit 55 under the control of the control unit 52 and supplies the processed image to the image display unit 57. For example, when the display mode is the large screen mode, the image processing unit 56 selects an image (partial image) of the area displayed by the image processing unit 56 from the images constituting one screen supplied from the image input unit 55. It is generated and supplied to the image display unit 57. In addition, for example, when the display mode is the strobe mode, the image processing unit 56 selects one image (still image) at the timing displayed by the image processing unit 56 from the images (moving images) supplied from the image input unit 55. Is supplied to the image display unit 57.

  The image display unit 57 is configured by a thin display such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal display), an organic EL (Electro luminescence) display, or a PDP, and displays an image supplied from the image processing unit 56.

  A drive 71 is connected to the storage unit 53 as necessary, and a removable medium (recording medium) 72 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory is appropriately installed, and a program read from them, Data is installed in the storage unit 53 as necessary.

  FIG. 10 shows a configuration example of the connector unit 61 provided on the back side (surface opposite to the display surface) of the television receiver 30.

  The connector part 61 is provided with an IEEE1394 connector part 81 in which an IEEE1394 connector is arranged, and a connector 82 connected to a rack 91 described later with reference to FIG.

The IEEE1394 connector 81 includes IEEE1394 connectors C _R , C _L , C _U , and C _D (first connection means) to which a cable (IEEE 1394 cable) M for connecting the base units of the scalable television unit U is attached. And IEEE1394 connectors C _{1 to} C ₈ (second connection means) to which a cable (IEEE1394 cable) K for connecting the slave unit and the master unit in the scalable television unit U is attached.

IEEE1394 connector C _R, C _L, C _U or C _D, if the television receiver 30 functions as a master unit, respectively, right, left, above or other scalable TV that is disposed on the lower side, This is a connector to which a cable M connected to the television receiver 30 of the master unit of the unit U is attached. Accordingly, IEEE1394 connector C _R, C _L, if the C _U or C _D to the cable M, is not mounted, the its side, indicating that the scalable TV unit U is not connected.

IEEE1394 connector C _R, C _L, C _U or C _D, so as to correspond to the direction in which it is connected, is arranged in the IEEE1394 connector 81. That, IEEE1394 connector C _R cable M to be connected to the right side of the scalable TV unit U is mounted, as shown in FIG. 10, it is disposed on the right side in the IEEE1394 connector 81. Further, IEEE1394 connector C _L of the cable M is connected to the scalable TV unit U of the left is mounted, is disposed on the left side of the IEEE1394 connector 81.

Similarly, IEEE1394 connector C _U of cable M connected to the upper of the scalable TV unit U is attached to the upper inside IEEE1394 connector 81, the cable M is mounted to be connected to the scalable TV unit U of the lower IEEE1394 connector C _D that is on the lower side of the IEEE1394 connector portion 81 are arranged respectively.

Further, IEEE1394 connector C ₁ to C ₈ are connectors to which cables K connecting the television receiver 30 of the handset and base unit of the own scalable television unit U is attached.

FIG. 11 shows an IEEE 1394 cable connection example in the case where the scalable television system 21 is configured by nine television receivers 30 and has the configuration of the scalable television units U _{1 to} U ₃ shown in FIG.

Within scalable TV unit U _1, and the IEEE1394 connector C ₁ of the television receiver 30 ₃₁ of the IEEE1394 connector C ₁ and the base unit of the television receiver 30 ₁₁ handset is connected by a cable K _11. Further, the IEEE1394 connector C ₂ of the television receiver 30 ₃₁ of the IEEE1394 connector C ₂ and base unit of the television receiver 30 ₂₁ handset is connected by a cable K _21.

Within scalable TV unit U _2, and IEEE1394 connector C ₁ handset of the television receiver 30 ₁₂ of the IEEE1394 connector C ₁ and the base unit of the television receiver 30 ₃₂ is connected by a cable K _12. Further, the IEEE1394 connector C ₂ handset of the television receiver 30 ₂₂ of the IEEE1394 connector C ₂ and base unit of the television receiver 30 ₃₂ are connected by the cable K _22.

Within scalable TV unit U _3, and IEEE1394 connector C ₁ of the IEEE1394 connector C ₁ and the base unit of the television receiver 30 ₃₃ of the television receiver 30 ₁₃ of the child device are connected by a cable K _13. Further, the IEEE1394 connector C ₂ of the IEEE1394 connector C ₂ and base unit of the television receiver 30 ₃₃ of the slave unit of the television receiver 30 ₂₃ is connected by a cable K _23.

Then, the IEEE1394 connector C _R of the television receiver 30 ₃₁ of the main unit of the scalable TV unit U _1, and the IEEE1394 connector C _L of the television receiver 30 ₃₂ of the main unit of the scalable TV unit U ₂ is the cable M ₁₂ Connected (connection between scalable TV units). Further, the IEEE1394 connector C _R of the scalable TV unit U ₂ of the main unit of the television receiver 30 _32, and IEEE1394 connector C _L of the scalable TV unit U ₃ of the master unit of the television receiver 30 _33, cable M ₂₃ Connected by (connection between scalable TV units).

  As described above, when attention is paid to one television receiver 30 in the scalable television system 21, the television receiver 30 is connected directly to the television receiver 30 (direct connection display device) and indirectly. There is a television receiver 30 (indirect connection display device) connected to. In addition, the master television receiver 30 is connected to the slave television receiver 30 in its own scalable television unit U, and is also connected to the parent television receiver 30 of the adjacent scalable television unit U. Connected (can be connected). On the other hand, the television receiver 30 as a slave unit is connected only to the television receiver 30 as a parent unit in its own scalable television unit U.

FIG. 12 shows an IEEE 1394 cable connection example in the case where the scalable television system 21 is configured by the 16 television receivers 30 shown in FIG. 3 and has the configuration of the scalable television units U _{1 to} U ₄ . .

Note that the connection of the cable K of the scalable television system 21 may be used eight IEEE1394 connector C ₁ to C ₈ throat connector IEEE1394 connector portion 81 (FIG. 10). The IEEE1394 connector 81 of this embodiment, since eight IEEE1394 connector C ₁ to C ₈ are provided, if the television receiver 30 functions as a master unit, and eight handset up to Although connection is possible, the number of IEEE1394 connectors for the slave units is not limited to eight and can be any number.

  Further, the electrical connection between the television receivers 30 of the scalable television system 21 is not limited to IEEE1394, and other, for example, a LAN (IEEE802) can be adopted. Further, the electrical connection between the television receivers 30 of the scalable television system 21 can be performed wirelessly instead of wired.

  By the way, when the cable K is connected between the television receivers 30 in the scalable television unit U as shown in FIG. 11 or FIG. 12, the television receiver 30 of the master unit is a slave unit in the scalable television unit U. It is necessary to know the arrangement of the television receiver 30 (the relative position of the television receiver 30 of the child device with respect to the television receiver 30 of the parent device).

  Therefore, in the scalable television system 21, as shown in FIG. 13, the television reception of the slave unit in the scalable television unit U is connected to the DIP switch 92 provided in the rack 91 for fixing the television receiver 30 of the slave unit. The position information of the machine 30 is set in advance. The position information set here is information on the relative position of the television receiver 30 of the slave unit with respect to the television receiver 30 of the master unit of the scalable television unit U.

  When the slave television receiver 30 is fixed to the rack 91, the connector 82 (FIG. 10) of the television receiver 30 and the connector 93 of the rack 91 come into contact with each other, and the slave television receiver 30 is connected. Reads the position information set in the DIP switch 92 via the connector 82 and the connector 93. Then, the television receiver 30 as the slave unit transmits the read position information to the television receiver 30 as the parent unit via the cable K (IEEE1394 communication).

  In addition to the DIP switch 92, as a method for the television receiver 30 of the slave unit to acquire the position information (information on the relative position with respect to the master unit), for example, an IC tag in which the position information is stored in the rack 91 is used. There is a method in which the television receiver 30 acquires position information of the slave unit by performing non-contact communication with the IC tag. Further, a wireless LAN or the like may be used.

  Instead of receiving the position information from the television receiver 30 of the child device, the position information of the television receiver 30 of the child device may be directly set in the television receiver 30 of the parent device.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 14, an arrangement state recognition process performed by the master television receiver 30 in the scalable television unit U will be described.

First, in step S1, the position detecting unit 51 detects the IEEE1394 connector C ₁ to C ₈ cable K is connected. Then, the position detection unit 51 acquires position information from the television receiver 30 of the child device connected to itself (the television receiver 30 of the parent device). As a result, the position detection unit 51 recognizes the number and position (relative position of the slave unit with respect to the slave unit) of the slave unit in its own scalable television unit U, and proceeds to step S2.

In step S2, the position detection unit 51 obtains the configuration information of the television receiver 30 (including itself) of its own scalable television unit U based on the number and position of the slave units recognized in step S1. send _R, C _L, C _U or the television receiver 30 of the other base unit that is connected to the C _D,, the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, position detection unit 51, IEEE1394 connector _{C R, C L, C U} , or the arrangement information and acquires the arrangement information from the television receiver 30 of the other base unit that is connected to the C _D Do. The details of this process will be described later with reference to FIG. 15. By this process, the position detection unit 51, in addition to its own scalable television unit U, in which direction (right side, left side, upper side, or lower side) Information (arrangement information) about how many television receivers 30 are connected is acquired (recognized).

  In step S4, the position detection unit 51 determines the arrangement of each television receiver 30 in its own scalable television unit U (its own scalable television unit) based on the arrangement information of the other scalable television unit U acquired in step S3. The absolute position on the scalable television system 21 of each television receiver 30 in U is calculated, and the process proceeds to step S5.

  In step S <b> 5, the position detection unit 51 supplies the control unit 52 with the arrangement (absolute position) of its own (television receiver 30) on the scalable television system 21. In addition, the control unit 52 stores the arrangement in the storage unit 53, and also causes the image processing unit 56 to display an image that is consistent with the scalable television system 21 as a whole (the television receiver 30). Control proceeds to step S6.

  In step S <b> 6, the position detection unit 51 transmits the slave television receiver 30 in the entire scalable television system 21 to each of the slave television receivers 30 in its own scalable television unit U by IEEE1394 communication. Arrangement information indicating where it is located (absolute position on the scalable television system 21) is transmitted, and the process ends.

  Next, the arrangement information acquisition process performed in step S2 of FIG. 14 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S21, the position detection unit 51 determines whether or not the cable M is connected to the upper IEEE1394 connector C _U.

In step S21, if the cable M on the upper side of the IEEE1394 connector C _U is determined not to be connected, the process proceeds to step S22, the position detection unit 51, the first scalable TV unit own scalable television unit U from the top Recognize that

On the other hand, in step S21, if the cable M on the upper side of the IEEE1394 connector C _U is determined to be connected, the process proceeds to step S23, the position detection unit 51 is connected to the IEEE1394 connector C _U via the cable M By communicating with the upper (master) television receiver 30 that is present, arrangement information on the upper side from the own scalable television unit U is acquired.

After the processing in step S22 or S23, in step S24, the position detection unit 51 determines whether the cable M to the IEEE1394 connector C _D of the lower side is connected.

In step S24, if the cable M is found I not connected to the IEEE1394 connector C _D of the lower, the process proceeds to step S25, the position detection unit 51, the first scalable television their scalable television unit U from the bottom Recognize as a unit.

On the other hand, in step S24, if the cable M to the IEEE1394 connector C _D of the lower side is determined to be connected, the process proceeds to step S25, the position detection unit 51 is connected to the IEEE1394 connector C _D through the cable M By communicating with the lower (master) television receiver 30, the arrangement information below the scalable television unit U is acquired.

After the processing in step S25 or S26, in step S27, the position detection unit 51 determines whether the cable M on the right side of the IEEE1394 connector C _R is connected.

In step S27, if the cable M is determined not to be connected to the right side of the IEEE1394 connector C _R, the process proceeds to step S28, the position detection unit 51, the first scalable TV unit own scalable TV unit U from the right Recognize that

On the other hand, in step S27, if the cable M on the right side of the IEEE1394 connector C _R is determined to be connected, the process proceeds to step S28, the position detection unit 51 is connected to the IEEE1394 connector C _R through the cable M The right side arrangement information is acquired from the scalable television unit U by communicating with the television receiver 30 on the right side (master unit).

After the processing in step S28 or S29, in step S30, the position detector 51 determines whether the cable M to the left of the IEEE1394 connector C _L is connected.

In step S30, if the cable M is determined not to be connected to the left side of the IEEE1394 connector C _L, the process proceeds to step S31, the position detection unit 51, the first scalable TV unit own scalable TV unit U from the left It is recognized that.

On the other hand, in step S30, if the cable M on the left side of the IEEE1394 connector C _L is determined to be connected, the process proceeds to step S32, the position detection unit 51 is connected to the IEEE1394 connector C _L through the cable M By communicating with the television receiver 30 on the left side (master unit), the arrangement information on the left side is obtained from the scalable television unit U of its own.

  After the process of step S31 or S32, in step S33, the position detection unit 51 determines whether or not the position is fixed.

  In the scalable television system 21, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the television receivers 30 are cascade-connected, and therefore, from the scalable television unit U that is directly connected to itself (the television receiver 30). A predetermined time is required to acquire the previous arrangement information (of the scalable television unit U).

For example, in the scalable television system 21 including the nine television receivers 30 illustrated in FIG. 11, the television receiver 30 ₃₁ that is the parent device of the scalable television unit U ₁ is accurately arranged in the scalable television system 21. to obtain the information, the television receiver 30 _31, the scalable TV unit U ₂ of the television receiver 30 ₃₂ acquires layout information from the scalable TV unit U ₃ of the television receiver 30 _33, the scalable it is necessary to acquire the location information of both the layout information and layout information of the scalable TV unit U ₂ of the television unit U ₃ from the television receiver 30 _32.

  Therefore, when the television receivers 30 of the master units of the scalable television units U start the arrangement information acquisition process at the same time, the television receivers 30 of the respective master units have accurate arrangement information (all cascade-connected). It is conceivable that the arrangement information of the scalable television unit U is not acquired.

  Therefore, in step S33, for example, the processing in steps S21 to S32 described above is repeated a plurality of times, so that there has been no change in the arrangement information transmitted from the television receiver 30 of the adjacent parent device directly connected to itself. Alternatively, the position detection unit 51 determines the position by determining whether or not a predetermined time (a time sufficient to obtain the arrangement information of all the scalable television units U connected in cascade) has elapsed. Determine whether or not. If it is determined in step S33 that the position has not yet been determined, the position detection unit 51 returns the process to step S21 and repeats the processes of steps S21 to S33.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S33 that the position is fixed, the position detection unit 51 returns to step S3 in FIG. 14, and then proceeds to step S4.

  Next, with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 16, an arrangement state recognition process performed by the television receiver 30 of the child device in the scalable television unit U will be described.

  First, in step S51, the position detector 51 transmits the position information of the slave unit acquired from the DIP switch 91 via the connectors 82 and 93 to the television receiver 30 of the master unit, and the process proceeds to step S52.

  In step S52, the position detection unit 51 receives the arrangement information from the television receiver 30 as the master unit, and proceeds to step S53. Here, the arrangement information transmitted from the parent television receiver 30 is the position where the user (the child television receiver 30) is arranged in the entire scalable television system 21 as described above. It is information indicating whether or not.

  In step S <b> 53, the position detection unit 51 supplies the arrangement information received in step S <b> 52 to the control unit 52. Further, in step S53, the control unit 52 stores the arrangement information in the storage unit 53, and the self (television receiver 30) displays a consistent image as the entire scalable television system 21. The image processing unit 56 is controlled to end the process.

Thus, according to the arrangement state recognition processing in FIGS. 14 to 16, the position detection unit 51 of the television receiver 30 of the master unit, IEEE1394 connector C _R, C _L, parent C _U or C _D, detects whether the television receiver 30 of the machine is connected, when the television receiver 30 of the master unit is connected to the IEEE1394 connector C _R, C _L, C _U or C _D, is their Device configuration information (arrangement information), which is information about the configuration of the television receivers 30 arranged on the right side, the left side, the upper side, and the lower side from the (base unit television receiver 30), is converted into IEEE1394 connectors C _R , C _L , C _U or acquired from the television receiver 30 that is directly connected to C _D,, determine a position on the scalable television system 21.

The position detection unit 51 of the television receiver 30 of the master unit, detects whether the television receiver 30 of the handset to the IEEE1394 connector C ₁ to C ₈ is connected to the IEEE1394 connector C ₁ to C ₈ When the television receiver 30 of the child device is connected, the position information (relative position information) of the television receiver 30 of the child device with respect to itself (the parent television receiver 30) is acquired. , it provides an absolute position of the television receiver 30 of the handset on the scalable TV system 21 to the IEEE1394 connector C ₁ to the television set 30 of sub-units connected to C _8.

  Thereby, it is possible to easily recognize at which position in the entire scalable television system 21 each television receiver 30 in the scalable television system 21 is arranged. In other words, it is possible to easily recognize other display devices constituting the scalable television system.

  As shown in FIG. 17, each scalable television unit U has a configuration that does not include the slave television receiver 30, in other words, the scalable television system 21 is configured by only the parent television receiver 30. It is also possible to do. In this case, in the processing shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, IEEE1394 communication between the parent device and the child device is omitted.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of generating a rotation signal that is input to the rotation detection unit 54 and represents the rotation state of the television receiver 30. FIG. 18 is a view of the television receiver 30 and the rack 91 to which the television receiver 30 is fixed as viewed from above.

  A microswitch 101 that generates a rotation signal indicating the rotation state of the television receiver 30 is fixed in a rack 91 that fixes the television receiver 30. The rotation signal generated by the microswitch 101 is a signal cable. 102 is supplied to the position detector 51 of the television receiver 30.

  The rack 91 to which the television receiver 30 and the micro switch 101 are fixed is configured to rotate clockwise or counterclockwise about the rotation shaft 103.

The micro switch 101 is in contact with the cam 104. The cam 104 seems to be bonded to two semicircles having different radii of the upper half radius R _A and the lower half radius R _B (> R _A ) when viewed from above the television receiver 30. It has a shape. In other words, the cam 104 has a circular shape with a different radius every 180 degrees when viewed from above the television receiver 30.

Thereby, for example, as shown in FIG. 18A, when the television receiver 30 is facing the front (one surface), the microswitch 101 is in contact with the semicircular circumference of the radius R _A of the cam 104, The rotation detection unit 54 is supplied with an off signal (rotation signal) indicating that the television receiver 30 is turned to the front and turned off.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 18B, is rotated 180 degrees from the state television receiver 30 is shown in FIG. 18A, if facing the back (the other surface), the micro switch 101, the radius R _B of the cam 104 An on signal (rotation signal) indicating that the television receiver 30 is turned to the back is in contact with the circumference of the semicircle, and is supplied to the rotation detector 54. Note that the rotation detection unit 54 can appropriately change (set) whether the OFF signal or the ON signal is a rotation signal indicating that the signal is facing front or back.

  From the above, the rotation detection unit 54 acquires the off signal or the on signal (rotation signal) supplied from the microswitch 101, and determines whether the television receiver 30 is facing front or back. The determination result is supplied to the control unit 52.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a rotation state recognition process in which the television receiver 30 recognizes its own rotation state. This process is continuously executed while the television receiver 30 is powered on.

  First, in step S71, the rotation detection unit 54 acquires the rotation signal supplied from the microswitch 101, and proceeds to step S72.

  In step S72, the rotation detection unit 54 determines whether or not the acquired rotation signal is an off signal. If it is determined in step S72 that the rotation signal acquired by the rotation detection unit 54 is an off signal, the process proceeds to step S73, and a determination result indicating that the television receiver 30 is facing the front is sent to the control unit 52. Supply.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S72 that the rotation signal acquired by the rotation detection unit 54 is an on signal, the process proceeds to step S74, and a determination result indicating that the television receiver 30 is facing away is displayed on the control unit. 52.

  After the process of step S73 or S74, the process returns to step S71 and the same process is repeated.

  According to the rotation state recognition process of FIG. 19, the control unit 52 can immediately and easily recognize the rotation state of the television receiver 30.

  Note that the hardware that supplies the rotation signal representing the rotation state of the television receiver 30 to the rotation detection unit 54 is not limited to the microswitch 101, and may be, for example, a potentiometer or a rotary encoder.

  In the position detection unit 51 described above, the number of the television receivers 30 of the master unit of the scalable television system 21 as a whole is acquired (as arrangement information) by the IEEE1394 communication shown in FIG. It can also be acquired by hardware.

  FIG. 20 shows another configuration example of the television receiver 30 in which the number of the television receivers 30 of the master unit of the entire scalable television system 21 is detected by a logic circuit.

  In FIG. 20, parts corresponding to those of the television receiver 30 shown in FIG. 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

  That is, in FIG. 20, a connector unit 201 is provided in place of the connector unit 61 in FIG. 9, and a position detection unit 202 is provided in place of the position detection unit 51 in FIG. The configuration is the same as in the case.

  The connector unit 201 is provided with a connector (such as the connectors 251 and 252 shown in FIG. 21) for inputting and outputting signals (electrical signals) for the logic circuits 211 and 212 newly provided in the position detection unit 202. Is configured in the same manner as the connector 61 of FIG.

  The position detection unit 202 counts the number of the master television receivers 30 connected in the vertical direction and the logic circuit 211 that counts the number of the parent television receivers 30 connected in the left-right direction. The configuration is the same as that of the position detection unit 51 of FIG. 9 except that a logic circuit 212 is newly provided.

  With reference to FIG. 21, the configuration and operation of a logic circuit 211 that transmits bit signals representing the number of parent television receivers 30 connected in the horizontal direction will be described. Note that a logic circuit 212 that counts the number of parent television receivers 30 connected in the vertical direction is the same as the logic circuit 211.

  The logic circuit 211 (arithmetic unit) adds counters 231 and 232 (first and second addition units) that count up (add 1) the input signal (bit signal) by 1 and two input signals. Output from the adder 233 (adding means) and terminals 241 to 243 for extracting bit signals.

  The logic circuit 211 processes a bit signal input / output from the connector 251 or 252 newly provided in the connector 201 (FIG. 20).

  The connector 251 (first input / output means) has an input terminal 251 -I and an output terminal 251 -O, and is connected to the television receiver 30 of the master unit of the left scalable television unit U. The connector 252 (second input / output means) has an input terminal 252 -I and an output terminal 252 -O, and is connected to the television receiver 30 of the master unit of the scalable television unit U on the right side.

  The bit signal input from the television receiver 30 of the master unit of the right scalable TV unit U is supplied to the counter 231 and the adder 233 via the input terminal 252 -I of the connector 252. This bit signal represents the number of master units connected to the right side of the own scalable television unit U.

  The counter 231 counts up the supplied bit signal by 1 and supplies it to the terminal 241 and the output terminal 251 -O of the connector 251. As a result, the terminal 241 can acquire the number of units (one unit) counted up (added) to the number of parent units connected to the right side of the scalable television unit U. In addition, as a bit signal, the number of master units connected to the right side including itself is output from the output terminal 251 -O to the television receiver 30 of the master unit of the scalable television unit U on the left side. be able to.

  Similarly, a bit signal input from the television receiver 30 of the master unit of the left scalable television unit U is supplied to the counter 232 via the input terminal 251 -I of the connector 251. This bit signal represents the number of master units connected to the left side of the own scalable television unit U.

  The counter 232 counts up the supplied bit signal by 1 and supplies it to the adder 233, the terminal 242, and the output terminal 252 -O of the connector 252. As a result, at the terminal 242, it is possible to obtain the number of units (one unit) counted up (added) to the number of master units connected to the left side of the scalable television unit U. Also, as a bit signal, the number of master units connected to the left side including itself is output from the output terminal 252-O to the television receiver 30 of the master unit of the scalable TV unit U on the right side. be able to.

  The adder 233 adds the bit signal supplied from the input terminal 252-I and the bit signal supplied from the counter 232, and supplies the result to the terminal 243. That is, the number of master units connected to the right side of the user's own scalable TV unit U and the number of master units connected to the left side of the user including the own unit are added, and the addition result is output to the terminal 243. To supply. Thereby, the terminal 243 can acquire a bit signal representing the number of master units of the entire scalable television system 21. That is, it is possible to detect (calculate) the number of master units (total number) of the entire scalable television system 21.

  When nothing is connected to the connector 251 or 252, that is, when the parent television receiver 30 is not connected adjacently, the bit signal at the input terminal 251 -I or 252 -I is a load resistance Represents 0 (unit).

FIG. 22 shows connection examples of logic circuits 221 _{1 to} 211 ₃ and bit signal calculation results when the television receivers 30 of the master unit of three scalable television units U are connected in the left-right direction. ing.

As shown in FIG. 22, each of the terminals 243 _{1 to} 243 _{3 of the} logic circuits 221 _{1 to} 211 ₃ can acquire a bit signal representing “3”, which is the number of master units of the entire scalable television system 21.

  As described above, in addition to the IEEE1394 communication, the logic circuit 221 (212) can detect the number of the television receivers 30 of the master unit arranged in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction of itself (television receiver 30). For example, as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, when the configuration of the television receiver 30 of the scalable television unit U is the same in each scalable television unit U, the television set of the parent device lined up in the left-right or up-down direction. By detecting the number of John receivers 30, the entire configuration of the scalable television system 21 can be recognized.

  In the present specification, the steps described in the flowcharts are executed in parallel or individually even if they are not necessarily processed in time series, as well as processes performed in time series in the described order. It also includes processing.

  Further, in this specification, the system represents the entire apparatus constituted by a plurality of apparatuses.

It is a figure which shows the conventional 4x4 scalable television system. It is a figure which shows the example of a connection in the scalable television system of FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of one Embodiment of the scalable television system to which this invention is applied. 1 is a diagram illustrating a scalable television system 21. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of other embodiment of the scalable television system to which this invention is applied. 1 is a diagram illustrating a scalable television system 21. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a scalable television system 21. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a scalable television system 21. FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a television receiver 30. 10 shows a configuration example of the connector part 61 of FIG. 9. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of IEEE1394 cable connection of the scalable television system 21. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of IEEE1394 cable connection of the scalable television system 21. FIG. It is a figure explaining the DIP switch 92 which acquires the positional information on a subunit | mobile_unit. It is a flowchart explaining the arrangement | positioning state recognition process of a main | base station. It is a flowchart explaining the arrangement | positioning information communication process between main | base stations. It is a flowchart explaining the arrangement | positioning state recognition process of a subunit | mobile_unit. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another example of IEEE1394 cable connection of the scalable television system 21. It is a figure which shows the structural example which produces | generates a rotation signal. It is a flowchart explaining a rotation state recognition process. FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating another configuration example of the television receiver 30. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the configuration and operation of a logic circuit 211. It is a figure which shows the example of a connection of the logic circuit 211 in case the three main | base stations are connected in the left-right direction.

Explanation of symbols

21 scalable television system, 30 television receiver, 50 communication unit, 51 position detection unit, 52 control unit, 53 storage unit, 54 rotation detection unit, 56 image processing unit, 61 connector unit, _CR , _CL , _CU , C _D IEEE1394 connector, C ₁ to C ₈ IEEE1394 connector, 91 racks, 92 DIP switches, 93 connector, 101 micro-switch, 104 cam, 201 connector, 202 a position detection unit, 211 and 212 the logic circuit, 251, 252 connector , 231 and 232 counters, 233 adders

Claims (13)

In one display device of the two or more display devices of a display system configured by connecting two or more display devices,
Other display devices include a direct connection display device directly connected to the display device, and an indirect connection display device indirectly connected to the display device via the direct connection display device,
First connection means connected to the direct connection display device;
It is detected whether the direct connection display device is connected to the first connection means, and when the direct connection display device is connected to the first connection means, the direct connection is made from the display device. Connection detecting means for acquiring device configuration information, which is information about the configuration of the other display device arranged in the direction of the display device, from the directly connected display device, and obtaining a position on the display system;
And a display control means for controlling an image to be displayed on the display means of the display device based on a position on the display system. In the two or more display devices constituting the display system, there are two types, a display device of a parent device and a display device of a child device, and the display device of the parent device is connected to the first connection means And
The display device of the slave unit connected to only the display device, further comprising a second connection means connected to another display device,
The connection detection means further detects whether or not the further display device is connected to the second connection means, and when the further display device is connected to the second connection means. Obtains position information of the further display device relative to the display device, and provides the position of the further display device on the display system to the further display device,
The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit controls an image to be displayed on the display unit of the display device based on a position of the further display device. The display device is rotatable about a predetermined axis,
Rotation information acquisition means for acquiring rotation information indicating that the display means is facing the front or the back with respect to a predetermined user when the display device rotates;
The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit controls an image to be displayed on the display unit based on the rotation information. In the device configuration information, when each display unit of the other display device is rotated about a predetermined axis, each display unit of the other display device faces front or back with respect to a predetermined user. Rotation information indicating that
The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit controls an image to be displayed on the display unit of the display device based on rotation information of each display unit of the other display device. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a direction of the direct connection display device with respect to the display device is any one of a right side, a left side, an upper side, and a lower side. First input / output means for inputting a first electrical signal from the left or upper direct connection display device and outputting a second electrical signal to the left or upper direct connection display device;
Second input / output means for inputting the second electrical signal from the direct connection display device on the right side or the lower side and outputting the first electrical signal to the direct connection display device on the right side or the lower side; ,
The other connected to the display device in one of the right and left lateral directions or the upper and lower longitudinal directions with respect to the display device using the first and second electrical signals. The display device according to claim 5, further comprising a calculation unit that calculates the total number of display devices. The computing means is
First adding means for adding the number of display devices to the number represented by the first electrical signal;
Second adding means for adding the number of the display devices to the number represented by the second electrical signal;
Adding means for adding the result of the first adding means and the value represented by the second electrical signal;
The first input / output means outputs the result of the second adding means to the direct connection display device on the left side or the upper side as the second electric signal,
The said 2nd input / output means outputs the result by the said 1st addition means to the said direct connection display apparatus of the said right side or lower side as said 1st electric signal. Display device. In the display method for one of the two or more display devices of a display system configured by connecting two or more display devices,
Other display devices include a direct connection display device directly connected to the display device, and an indirect connection display device indirectly connected to the display device via the direct connection display device,
Detecting whether or not the direct connection display device is connected to connection means connected to the direct connection display device, and when the direct connection display device is connected to the connection means, from the display device to the A connection detection step of acquiring device configuration information, which is information about the configuration of the other display device arranged in the direction of the directly connected display device, from the directly connected display device, and obtaining a position on the display system;
A display control step of controlling an image to be displayed on the display means of the display device based on a position on the display system. In a program for causing a computer to execute a process for controlling one of the two or more display devices of a display system configured by connecting two or more display devices.
Other display devices include a direct connection display device directly connected to the display device, and an indirect connection display device indirectly connected to the display device via the direct connection display device,
Detecting whether or not the direct connection display device is connected to connection means connected to the direct connection display device, and when the direct connection display device is connected to the connection means, from the display device to the A connection detection step of acquiring device configuration information, which is information about the configuration of the other display device arranged in the direction of the directly connected display device, from the directly connected display device, and obtaining a position on the display system;
A display control step of controlling an image to be displayed on the display means of the display device based on a position on the display system. In one display device of the two or more display devices of a display system configured by connecting two or more display devices,
Connection means connected to the other display device;
First position information acquisition means for acquiring a relative position of the display device with respect to the other display device;
Second position information acquisition means for providing the relative position to the other display device and acquiring the absolute position of the display device on the display system from the other display device;
And a display control means for controlling an image to be displayed on the display means of the display device based on an absolute position of the display device on the display system. The display device is rotatable about a predetermined axis,
Rotation information acquisition means for acquiring rotation information indicating that the display means is facing the front or the back with respect to a predetermined user when the display device rotates;
The second position information acquisition means further provides the rotation information of the display device to the other display device, and the other display device faces front or back with respect to the predetermined user. Rotation information representing is also acquired from the other display device,
The display device according to claim 10, wherein the display control unit controls an image to be displayed on the display unit based on rotation information of the display device and the other display device. In the display method for one of the two or more display devices of a display system configured by connecting two or more display devices,
A first position information acquisition step of acquiring a relative position of the display device with respect to another display device connected to the connection means;
A second position information acquisition step of providing the relative position to the other display device, and acquiring an absolute position of the display device on the display system from the other display device;
A display control step of controlling an image to be displayed on a display unit of the display device based on an absolute position of the display device on the display system. In a program for causing a computer to execute a process for controlling one of the two or more display devices of a display system configured by connecting two or more display devices.
A first position information acquisition step of acquiring a relative position of the display device with respect to another display device connected to the connection means;
A second position information acquisition step of providing the relative position to the other display device, and acquiring an absolute position of the display device on the display system from the other display device;
A display control step of controlling an image to be displayed on the display means of the display device based on the absolute position of the display device on the display system.

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