JP5509892B2 - Audio / video equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an audio / video device that displays an optional function that is not (or is compatible) with other AV devices connected by a cable or the like in an easy-to-understand manner.

  A new version of HDMI, which is an interface standard for video signal transmission, has been announced year by year, and the number of optional functions that can be supported increases as the version increases. For example, HDMI version 1.4 can newly support optional functions such as 3D, 4k2k, ARC, and HEC. Here, 3D is a three-dimensional (3D) video, 4k2k is a high-definition video having about four times the number of pixels of a conventional high-definition system, and ARC is an upstream transmission of an audio signal via an HDMI cable. , HEC is an Ethernet (registered trademark) communication function via an HDMI cable.

  However, in order to play back content using these optional functions, all AV devices connected as a system need to support the optional functions.

  However, it cannot be said that general users have sufficient knowledge about the HDMI version of AV equipment (DVD player, television, etc.) purchased by the user and what optional functions are supported. For this reason, although one device constituting the AV system was replaced with the latest one, the audio / video that exhibited the function of the latest device could not be played back, and the reason for this could not be understood and frustrated. there were. For example, a DVD player or Blu-Ray player that can play 3D video is purchased, but the TV does not support 3D video, so even if 3D content is played back, only normal video appears on the TV. There are cases where the reason is unknown.

  On the other hand, there has conventionally been proposed an AV device having a function of checking the difference between the version of the source device and the sink device and the optional function (for example, Patent Document 1). The device of Patent Document 1 compares the functions of the source device and the sink device, and if there is a function that is not supported by one of the devices, the device having the function stops the function, so that the system as a whole becomes abnormal. This is to prevent the operation.

JP 2009-033446 A

  However, although the method of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 automatically copes with a problem caused by differences in HDMI versions and optional functions between devices, it cannot be said that a function provided by a certain device is not exhibited. There has been a problem that it is impossible to notify the user that a disadvantage has occurred.

  In other words, it presents what optional functions are not working and what kind of equipment it is desirable to connect, and the user is unable to provide clues or opportunities to prepare new equipment. there were.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide an audio / video device capable of displaying a difference in function between devices constituting an AV system and notifying that a desired function cannot be exhibited.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a source device interface that receives an audio / video signal from a source device and transmits / receives control information to / from the source device, and a control information received by the source device interface from the source device in advance. A source device function detection unit that detects an optional function supported by the source device among a plurality of defined optional functions, and transmits an audio / video signal to the sink device and transmits / receives control information to / from the sink device Sink device interface, and a sink device function that detects an optional function that is not supported by the sink device among option functions that are supported by the source device, based on control information received from the sink device by the sink device interface Detection unit and sink device function detection There when detecting the optional function which the sink device does not correspond, characterized by comprising display means for performing processing to display a specific text or a specific shape to that effect, the.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a source device interface for receiving an audio / video signal from a source device, and a content reproduction function detecting unit for detecting an optional function necessary for reproducing the audio / video signal received by the source device interface. A sink device interface that transmits an audio / video signal to the sink device and transmits / receives control information to / from the sink device, and an audio / video signal based on the control information received by the sink device interface from the sink device Out of the optional functions required to play the video, a sink device function detection unit that detects an optional function that the sink device does not support, and the sink device function detection unit detects an optional function that the sink device does not support Specified to indicate that A display means for performing a process of displaying the text or a specific shape, characterized by comprising a.

The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that, in the above invention, the display means displays the specific text or the specific figure on the screen of the sink device by synthesizing the specific text or the specific figure with a video signal to be transmitted to the sink device. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the display means performs a process of synthesizing the specific text or specific figure into a video signal when the sink device interface is selected in the sink device. Features.

  According to the present invention, since an optional function that is not supported by the sink device or the source device can be displayed, even when the user-desired function cannot be exhibited in the AV system, the user can know the cause and how The advantage is that it is possible to know whether it is desirable to connect a simple device.

The figure which shows the structure of the audio video system which is embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the memory content of the memory of AV receiver Flow chart showing operation of AV receiver

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an audio / video (AV) system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this AV system, a DVD player 1 that is a source device, an AV receiver 2, and a television (TV) 3 that is a sink device are connected in this order, and a speaker 5 is connected to the AV receiver 2. Yes. Note that the source device is not limited to a DVD player, and may be a Blu-Ray player, for example.

  The DVD player 1 and the AV receiver 2, and the AV receiver 2 and the television 3 are connected by an HDMI cable 4. That is, the DVD player 1 and the AV receiver 2, and the AV receiver 2 and the television 3 perform transmission / reception of signals through an interface of HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface). Here, HDMI is an audio-video interface that can transmit uncompressed high-definition video and multi-channel audio signals in a digital system without deterioration. There are a plurality of versions of HDMI, and each version defines one or a plurality of optional functions.

  Currently, the latest HDMI version is version 1.4, and the main optional functions supported by version 1.4 are as follows.

  3D: A function for transmitting a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) video signals. The 3D format that can be transmitted includes a side-by-side format that divides the display horizontally and displays right-eye and left-eye images, a line-alternative method that divides the display into lines and displays right- and left-eye images, There is a frame alternative method that alternately displays right-eye and left-eye images for each frame.

  4k2k: This is a function for transmitting and displaying a 3840 × 2160 pixel or 4096 × 2160 pixel fine image having about four times the number of pixels of the normal full high-definition method (1920 × 1080 pixels).

  ARC (Audio Return Channel): A function of transmitting an audio signal upstream from a sink device to a source device via an HDMI cable. Thereby, it is possible to transmit the sound of the television broadcast received by the television 3 to the AV receiver 2 without using the audio cable and to emit the sound from the speaker 5.

  HEC (HDMI Ethernet (registered trademark) Control): An Ethernet (registered trademark) communication function via an HDMI cable.

  In this embodiment, the AV receiver 2 supports all optional functions in the latest HDMI version (version 1.4), but the DVD player 1 and the TV 3 support which optional functions in which HDMI version. It is unknown whether it is a device.

  The DVD player 1 is a content playback device that plays back content (audio / video signals) recorded on a DVD and outputs the content to an AV receiver 2. When the DVD player 1 supports HDMI version 1.4 3D video, when a 3D video disc is set, the 3D video is played and output to the AV receiver 2.

  The AV receiver 2 includes a control unit 10 that controls the operation of the apparatus, an HDMI receiver 11 that receives an audio / video signal input from the outside, a video processing unit 12 that processes the video signal, and an audio processing unit 13 that processes the audio signal. , An amplifier 15 for amplifying the audio signal, a display 17 for displaying the operating state of the apparatus, and an HDMI transmitter 14 for outputting the audio / video signal to the outside. In addition, the control unit 10 functionally includes a function detection unit 15 that detects an optional function included in the connected television 3 or DVD player 1 and a result display unit 16 that displays the detection result.

  The HDMI receiver 11 receives the audio / video signal reproduced / output by the DVD player 1 and inputs it to the video processing unit 12 and the audio processing unit 13. The audio processing unit 13 decodes the input multi-channel audio signal and inputs it to the amplifier 15. The amplifier 15 amplifies the input audio signal and emits the sound from the speaker 5. The audio processing unit 13 distributes a channel to be input to the amplifier 15 and a channel to be output to the HDMI transmitter 14 (TV 3) in the multi-channel audio signal in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 10. Note that audio signals of all channels may be input to the amplifier 15.

  The video processing unit 12 buffers the video signal input from the HDMI receiver 11 and then inputs it to the HDMI transmitter 14. The video processing unit 12 also includes an OSD function for synthesizing text input from the control unit 10 into a video image. The text input from the control unit 10 includes a non-corresponding notification wording as shown in FIG. 2, that is, a wording notifying that the television 3 does not support a specific option function. In addition, the video processing unit 12 has a function of converting the resolution of a video signal and the like in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 10 in order to match the video display function of the television 3 that is a sink device.

  The HDMI transmitter 14 outputs the video signal input from the video processing unit 12 and the audio signal input from the audio processing unit 13 toward the television 3. This signal is received by the HDMI receiver 20 of the television 3.

  The television 3 includes an HDMI receiver 20 and an EDID memory 21. The EDID memory 21 is a nonvolatile memory that stores EDID (Extended display identification data) that is display information of the television 3. The EDID is information for transmitting the model name and resolution of the television to the source device (AV receiver 2). This EDID describes whether or not the television 3 is compatible with optional functions such as 3D and 4k2k.

The HDMI transmitter 14 and the HDMI receiver 20 are TMDS (Transition) which is a path for transmitting an audio / video signal from the source device to the sink device.
In parallel with Minimized Differential Signaling (DIM), DDC (Display Data Channel) and CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) which are paths of various control signals are provided. The EDID stored in the EDID memory 21 is transferred from the television 3 (HDMI receiver 20) to the AV receiver 2 (HDMI transmitter 14) via the DDC.

  When both the AV receiver 2 and the television 3 are started up and a mutual connection is established, the EDID is transferred from the television 3 (HDMI receiver 20) to the AV receiver 2 (HDMI transmitter 14). The EDID received by the HDMI transmitter 14 is input to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 of the AV receiver 2 determines the video display function of the television 3 based on this EDID, and sends an instruction to the video processing unit 12 to convert the video signal to an appropriate setting that can be displayed on the television 3.

  Further, the control unit 10 detects an optional function that the television 3 does not support based on the communication content between the EDID or the HDMI transmitter 14 and the HDMI receiver 20 of the television 3, and the television 3 supports the optional function. A non-corresponding notice message for notifying the user of the absence is displayed on the screen of the display 17 or the television 3. As for the video display function (display information) of the television 3, information is sent as EDID from the television 3 (HDMI receiver 20), but for functions not directly related to video display such as ARC and HEC, EDID Correspondence / non-correspondence is detected based on other communication.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control unit 10 of the AV receiver 2. When both the AV receiver 2 and the television 3 are activated, HDMI connection processing between the AV receiver 2 and the television 3 is started (S1). In this connection process, the control unit 10 receives EDID from the television 3 via the HDMI transmitter 14 (S2). Based on the received EDID, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the television 3 supports display of 3D video, which is an optional function of HDMI version 1.4 (S3). If the television 3 does not support 3D video display (NO in S3), a non-corresponding notice message to that effect is displayed for a certain period (about 5 seconds) (S4). The non-corresponding notification word is displayed on the main body display 17 of the AV receiver 2 and the video processing unit 12 performs OSD synthesis on the video signal transferred to the television 3. The non-corresponding notification wording is content as shown in FIG. 2 and is displayed on the screen of the television 3 and the display 17 when the television 3 does not support a specific option function. Each non-corresponding notification wording is a wording for informing the user why the desired video is not displayed.

  Next, based on the received EDID, it is determined whether or not the television 3 is compatible with HDMI version 1.4 4k2k video display (S5). If the television 3 does not support display of 4k2k video (NO in S5), a non-corresponding notice message to that effect is displayed for a certain time (S6).

  Next, the control unit 10 determines whether the HDMI transmitter 14 has received an ARC activation request from the television 3 (S7). When the HDMI transmitter 14 receives an ARC activation request from the television 3, it is considered that the television 3 supports ARC. If the HDMI transmitter 14 has not received an ARC activation request from the television 3 (NO in S7), it is considered that the television 3 does not support ARC, and therefore a non-indication that the television 3 does not support ARC. The corresponding notice text is displayed for a predetermined time (S8). Next, the control unit 10 performs HEC initial communication with the television 3 (HDMI receiver 20) via the HDMI transmitter 14 (S9). This initial communication is performed using a CEC control line. If there is a normal response from the television 3 for this initial communication (YES in S10), it is determined that the television 3 is compatible with HEC. On the other hand, if there is no response or if there is an error response (NO in S10), it is determined that the television 3 is not compatible with HEC, and a non-corresponding notification wording that the television 3 does not support HEC is displayed. Display for a certain time (S11). Thereafter, the option function detection result is stored in the memory (S12), and the process is terminated so that it can be displayed whenever necessary.

  In the optional function detection process, the detection order of 3D, 4k2k, ARC, and HEC is not limited to the order of the flowchart. In the optional function detection process, it is determined whether or not the television 3 is compatible with the ARC depending on whether or not an ARC connection request is received from the television 3. You may make it inquire whether it corresponds.

  In the above embodiment (flowchart), when the connection between the AV receiver and the TV is started (when HDMI is initialized), the support status of the optional function is detected, and the non-support notification message is displayed for a certain time (about 5 seconds). However, the display timing and the display period are not limited to the above. As the display timing, in the television 3, when the AV receiver 2 is selected by the input selector, the video signal may be displayed by OSD synthesis. Further, a confirmation button may be provided on the AV receiver 2 so that when the confirmation button is pressed, it is displayed on the OSD and the display 17. Further, a confirmation button may be provided so that the non-corresponding notice text is continuously displayed until the confirmation button is pressed.

  The display that clearly indicates that the television 3 does not support the optional function is not limited to the wording. For example, a figure obtained by deleting the figure representing the function with “x” may be used. In addition, “supported” may be displayed in words.

  Further, the optional functions that the AV receiver 2 detects for the sink device (TV 3) and the source device (DVD player 1) are not limited to those specified in HDMI version 1.4.

  In the above embodiment, an optional function that is not supported by the television 3 that is a device (sink device) downstream of the AV receiver 2 is detected and the detection result is displayed. An optional function of the upstream device (source device) may be detected and the detection result may be displayed.

  Alternatively, the AV receiver 2 may detect an optional function of the source device (DVD player 1), detect whether the TV 3 supports the optional function, and display the detection result. As a result, the function that the source device (DVD player 1) does not support is not bothered to notify that it is not supported.

  Furthermore, when the AV receiver 2 receives a video signal from the source device (DVD player 1), whether the TV 3 supports the function based on the functional type (3D, 4k2k, etc.) of the video signal. Whether or not it is detected may be displayed.

1 DVD player (source equipment)
2 AV receiver 3 TV (sink device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Control part 11 HDMI receiver 12 Video processing part 13 Audio processing part 14 HDMI transmitter 20 HDMI receiver 21 EDID memory

Claims (4)

A source device interface for receiving audio / video signals from the source device and transmitting / receiving control information to / from the source device;
Based on the control information received from the source device by the source device interface, a source device function detection unit that detects an optional function supported by the source device among a plurality of predetermined optional functions;
A sink device interface for transmitting audio / video signals to the sink device and transmitting / receiving control information to / from the sink device;
Based on the control information received by the sink device interface from the sink device, a sink device function detection unit that detects an option function not supported by the sink device among option functions supported by the source device;
When the sink device function detection unit detects an optional function that is not supported by the sink device, a display unit that performs processing for displaying a specific text or a specific graphic indicating that,
Audio / video equipment with A source device interface for receiving audio and video signals from the source device;
A content playback function detector for detecting an optional function required to play back the audio / video signal received by the source device interface;
A sink device interface for transmitting audio / video signals to the sink device and transmitting / receiving control information to / from the sink device;
Based on the control information received from the sink device by the sink device interface, a sink device function detection unit that detects an optional function that is not supported by the sink device among optional functions necessary for reproducing an audio / video signal. When,
When the sink device function detection unit detects an optional function that is not supported by the sink device, a display unit that performs processing for displaying a specific text or a specific graphic indicating that,
Audio / video equipment with The audio / video apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the display unit displays the specific text or the specific graphic on a screen of the sink device by synthesizing the specific text or a specific figure with a video signal to be transmitted to the sink device. 4. The audio / video device according to claim 3 , wherein the display unit performs processing for synthesizing the specific text or the specific figure into a video signal when the sink device interface is selected in the sink device.

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