JP3120498B2 - Electronics - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus suitable for application to, for example, an AV (Audio Visual) apparatus in which a television receiver and a VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) are integrated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a television receiver and a V
In an apparatus in which a CR is integrated, one microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a microcomputer as necessary) is arranged on each of the television receiver side and the VCR side.

In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a microcomputer arranged on the television receiver side is a main microcomputer 1, while a microcomputer arranged on the VCR side is a sub-microcomputer 2. The main microcomputer 1 and the sub-microcomputer 2 are mutually connected by a communication line, for example, a bus 3. The sub microcomputer 2 is controlled by the main microcomputer 1. Note that an infrared light receiving section (IR light receiving section) 4 is connected to the main microcomputer 1.

The operation of the example shown in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

First, for example, a signal (command) having a command code output from an infrared remote commander (not shown) is decoded by the main microcomputer 1 through the IR light receiving section 4 (step S1). If the decoded instruction code is an instruction code for the sub microcomputer 2,
Control data corresponding to the instruction code is supplied to the sub-microcomputer 2 via the bus 3.

The sub-microcomputer 2 performs its own processing based on the control data corresponding to the instruction code (step S3).

On the other hand, if the decoded instruction code is an instruction code for the main microcomputer 1, processing based on the instruction code is performed by the main microcomputer 1 itself (step S4).

[0008]

However, in the prior art described above, the sub-microcomputer 2 is
Therefore, there are various problems as described below. (1) Communication control software stored in the main microcomputer 1 is complicated. (2) Since the sub-microcomputer 2 always performs the processing after the main microcomputer 1 performs the processing, a delay time occurs in the processing. (3) When the software of the main microcomputer 1 is being debugged, the sub-microcomputer 2 cannot be operated. This is a problem particularly when the sub-microcomputer 2 has an inherently independent function. (4) In order to extend the function performed by the sub-microcomputer 2, it is necessary to change the software of the main microcomputer 1, so that there is a problem that it takes time to change the software.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device that enables at least two control means to operate independently of each other.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus having at least two control means 11 and 21 corresponding to at least two functions as shown in FIG. The control means 11 and 21 have software 12 and 22 programmed to operate independently of an instruction supplied from the outside 32.

[0011]

According to the electronic apparatus of the present invention, since the respective control means 11 and 21 have the software 12 and 22 programmed to operate independently of the command supplied from the outside 32, they are independent from each other. It is also possible to operate.

[0012]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an apparatus in which a television receiver (hereinafter, referred to as TV) and a video cassette recorder (hereinafter, referred to as VCR) to which the electronic apparatus of this embodiment is applied are integrated.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes T as control means.
V microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a TV microcomputer). The TV microcomputer 11 is a C microcomputer (not shown).
A PU, a ROM, a RAM, a communication interface, and the like are provided. The ROM stores software for TV operation (hereinafter referred to as TV software) 12. The TV microcomputer 11 mainly controls the function of the TV unit.

The TV microcomputer 11 has, via a bus 13, a video processor 14 for controlling deflection systems and video signals, and an audio processor 1 for controlling audio systems.
5. Input source (for example, what is displayed on the display of the TV is a reproduced signal from the VCR or the tuner 29
Switch 16) and a rewritable nonvolatile memory 17 for storing adjustment data such as hue and the like. In the non-volatile memory 17, for example, adjusted data is stored in a factory line, and is read out when a power plug is inserted into an outlet in a user's home or the like. Then, when the power plug is unplugged from the outlet, the last state is stored and retained.

The TV microcomputer 11 is connected to a VCR microcomputer 21 as control means through a bus 20 as a communication line.
Is connected to

The VCR microcomputer 21 has a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a communication interface, and the like (not shown). The ROM stores software for VCR operation (hereinafter referred to as VCR software) 22. The VCR microcomputer 21 is mainly configured by a VCR
It controls the function of the unit.

The VCR software 22 and the TV software 12 are programmed to operate independently. In certain cases, it is also programmed to work in conjunction.

The VCR microcomputer 21 includes a mechanism controller 24 for controlling the operation of the mechanism of the VCR unit via a bus 23, and a character generator 25 which is a character generator used for superimposing characters on images. It is connected.

The VCR microcomputer 21 has a bus 2
6, a rewritable nonvolatile memory 27 for storing adjustment data of the VCR unit is connected. This nonvolatile memory 27 operates in the same manner as the nonvolatile memory 17 described above.

Further, a tuner 29 is connected to the VCR microcomputer 21 through a bus 28.

The microcomputer 11 for TV and the microcomputer 2 for VCR
1 includes an infrared light receiving unit (hereinafter, referred to as an IR light receiving unit) 31
Are supplied at the same time.

The IR receiving section 31 has a TV section and a VCR
A signal having an instruction code conforming to a specific format is supplied from the shared remote commander 32 to the unit. The remote commander 32 is not limited to one using infrared rays, but may be one using radio waves. It may be a wired remote commander.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

A signal having a command code from the remote commander 32, a so-called command, is supplied to the TV microcomputer 11 and the VCR microcomputer 21 through the IR light receiving unit 31.

At this time, the TV microcomputer 11 and the VC
The R microcomputer 21 receives the signals having the supplied instruction codes independently of each other, and decodes the contents independently based on the TV software 12 and the VCR software 22, respectively (steps S11 and S21).

In this case, the signal having the instruction code supplied from the remote commander 32 is usually one of the signal for the microcomputer 11 for the TV and the signal for the microcomputer 21 for the VCR. However, in the test mode of the television receiver, for example, in the automatic hue adjustment mode by the color bar signal, the color bar signal is, for example,
When a signal having an instruction code for switching channels is received when the signals are supplied using the ten channels of the tuner 29, the TV microcomputer 11 and the VCR microcomputer 21 simultaneously receive the received single signal.
Need to start processing.

That is, the VCR microcomputer 21 performs an operation of selecting 10 channels (color bar signals) by the tuner 29, and the TV microcomputer 11 executes the self-diagnosis program for the hue and the like written in the nonvolatile memory 17. This is a case where the video processor 14 is automatically operated.

In such a case, the TV microcomputer 11
Is in the test mode.
This is transmitted to the CR microcomputer 21. VCR microcomputer 21
As a result, during this test mode,
Even if a signal having an instruction code for switching the tuner 29 is supplied, the operation of switching the tuner 29 is not performed. In this way, confirmation is made so that the operations do not contradict each other. (Steps S12 and S22).

After confirming the contradiction, the TV microcomputer 11
Decodes a signal having an instruction code relating to itself, and controls operations in the video processor 14, the audio processor 15, and the like (step S13).
On the other hand, the VCR microcomputer 21 decodes a signal having an instruction code relating to the
And other operations are controlled.

The inconsistency checking processes S12 and S22 include:
In addition to the above, for example, when the screen display button of the remote commander 32 is pressed, a character display such as a tape counter and a clock using the character generator 25 is superimposed on a display (not shown) of the TV unit. TV microcomputer 11 and VCR so that
There is also an operation process performed by the microcomputer 21 while mutually confirming each other.

As described above, according to the above embodiment, the TV
Microcomputer 11 and VCR microcomputer 21 have TV software 12 and VCR software 22 programmed to operate independently of signals having instruction codes supplied from an external remote commander 32. , Can operate independently of each other. It is also possible to operate in conjunction.

Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the problems as described in the section of the prior art can be solved.

That is, (1) One microcomputer (for example,
The TV microcomputer 11) is connected to the other microcomputer (therefore V
Since it is possible to operate the CR microcomputer 21) independently without performing overall control, software for communication control does not become complicated. In particular, 2
When configuring a system with three or more microcomputers, not limited to the control of one microcomputer system, each microcomputer has its own various functions,
This is effective when applied to a case where the parallel processing is performed so that the priorities of the microcomputers cannot be assigned.

(2) Since the two microcomputers can simultaneously receive and process the signal having the instruction code, no delay occurs in the processing. In other words, the processing speed as a whole can be increased.

(3) Even when software of one microcomputer is being debugged, another microcomputer can be operated.

(4) In order to extend the functions performed by one microcomputer, only the software of the one microcomputer needs to be changed, and it does not take much time to change the software.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can adopt various configurations without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0039]

As described above, according to the electronic device of the present invention, at least two functions corresponding to at least two functions are provided.
In an electronic device equipped with two control means, each of the control means has software programmed to operate independently of an externally supplied command. For this reason, there is an effect that they can operate independently of each other.

In the case of independent operation, since the processing is performed in parallel, there is obtained an effect that the operation time is relatively high.

Further, the function of one control means can be easily expanded because only the software for the one control means needs to be modified.

Further, an effect is obtained that the function of one control means can be confirmed by operating the other control means while debugging the function.

Furthermore, when not only the control of the two control means but also three or more control means constitute a system, each control means has its own various functions. This is particularly effective when applied to a case where parallel processing is performed so that a priority order cannot be assigned.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an apparatus to which an embodiment of an electronic device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the example of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an apparatus to which an electronic device according to a conventional technique is applied.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the example in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Microcomputer for TV 12 Software for TV 21 Microcomputer for VCR 22 Software for VCR 32 Remote Commander

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electronic apparatus equipped with at least two control means corresponding to at least two functions, wherein each of the control means is programmed so as to operate independently of an externally supplied command. Electronic equipment having software.