JPH04207585A - Matrix switcher - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simply find out a fault location in the input output changeover state by discriminating the presence of a signal in each input and output of plural channels of the matrix switcher unit so as to discriminate the input output changeover state. CONSTITUTION:A switch matrix SX is provided with presence/absence detection circuits 101-10m, 201-20m as presence/absence discrimination means discriminating the presence of a signal to each of inputs to input terminals ti1-tim and outputs from output terminals TO1-TOn. Then a control circuit CNT of the matrix SX discriminates the changeover state of each of switches X11-Xnm of the matrix SX based on outputs of the presence/absence detection circuits 101-10m, 201-20m. Since the presence/absence of the signal is discriminated for each input output channel, when no signal exists in an output corresponding to the input, it is found out a defective changeover operation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a matrix switcher device comprising a plurality of matrix switcher units that arbitrarily distribute inputs of multiple channels of video signals and audio signals to outputs of multiple channels. It is something.

(Summary of the Invention) The present invention provides a matrix switcher device in which a plurality of matrix switchers and at least one remote control unit are connected via a serial bus line for control. To provide a matrix switcher device that can easily find an abnormal location in an input/output switching state by determining the presence or absence of a signal at each input/output of a channel to determine the input/output switching state. It is something.

[Conventional technology]

Broadcasting stations, production studios, etc. that create television broadcast programs and video software use multiple devices, such as VTRs (video tape recorders), video disc recording/playback devices, audio tape recorders, and disk recording/playback devices. Furthermore, it is necessary to arbitrarily switch and transmit video signals and audio signals input and output to and from microphones, television cameras, and the like. For example, a matrix switcher device with switches arranged in a matrix is installed between a VTR room where a large number of VTRs and various recording and reproducing devices are installed in a concentrated manner, and several editing rooms. By arbitrarily switching and controlling each switch of the matrix switcher device, a desired or currently unused device can be designated from among the large number of VTRs and other devices installed in the above-mentioned VTR room for the - editing room. It realizes the connection state that makes it possible to use it.

By the way, with such a matrix switcher device, the required matrix size varies depending on the scale of the entire system, including the number of devices used and the number of editing rooms, and the number of input and output channels exceeds several dozen. Considering that it is difficult to handle a large-scale system with a single matrix switcher device, it is possible to install multiple small- or medium-sized matrix switcher units with, for example, several channels to several tens of channels. It has been considered that a matrix switcher device of any scale or even larger scale can be constructed using the above-mentioned matrix switcher.

Here, FIG. 5 shows an example of a matrix switcher device in which the scale is expanded and the number of input/output terminals is increased by using a plurality of matrix switcher units MSU (for example, four) as described above.

The four matrix switcher units MSU, ~MSU, shown in FIG.
o1 to To, , and these input terminals TI, -T
It has a so-called 32x32 switch matrix in which a switch is arranged at each intersection (cross point) of the extension line of I, . . . and the extension line of output terminal To, . Furthermore, each matrix switcher unit MSU, ~MSU, has a 32-channel expansion output terminal EO+~EOo and a 32-channel expansion input terminal El, ~EI! 2. These four matrix switcher units MS
U, ~MSU, for example, each expansion input terminal E1. of the matrix switcher unit MSU. ~EIo is the matrix switcher unit MSU, each output terminal TO
1 to T032 respectively, and each expansion output terminal EO, to E of the matrix switcher unit MSU+.
Oo is the matrix switcher unit MSU, each input terminal TI, ~T1 . ．． and each expansion output terminal E of matrix switcher unit MSU2.
Matrix switcher unit MSU in O, ~E032
, are connected to each input terminal TI, ~T1.2 of the matrix switcher unit MSU, and each output terminal TOI -To of the matrix switcher unit MSU is connected to each expansion input terminal El, ~El, , of the matrix switcher unit MSU4. By connecting them, a matrix switcher device with 64 channel inputs and 64 channel outputs is constructed as a whole.

In this case, each input r N + ~lN22 for 32 channels out of the 64 channels is supplied to each input terminal TI, ~Tl5z of the matrix switcher unit MSU, and each input for the remaining 32 channels ■N0 ~
IN, 4 is assigned to be supplied to each input terminal TI, ~T1.2 of the matrix switcher unit MSU, and each output OUT, ~OUT, 2 for 32 channels out of the 64 channel outputs is assigned to the matrix switcher unit MSU. MSU, each output terminal TO1~TO1
, respectively, and allocate the remaining 32 channels of outputs OUT, . With this, 6
It becomes possible to arbitrarily distribute the 4-channel inputs IN, ~IN, 4 and take them out as any of the 64 channel outputs OUT', ~OUT, .

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

By the way, in the above-mentioned matrix switcher device or a matrix switcher device consisting of a plurality of matrix switcher units, it is necessary to check whether the switching operations of a large number of switches arranged in a matrix are performed normally (checking the switching state). This judgment is generally made by, for example, monitoring the output signal of each channel.

Therefore, for example, if a signal is no longer output (no longer transmitted) due to a switching malfunction of one of the switches in one matrix switcher device,
It takes a great deal of effort and time to find out which switch is malfunctioning.

Furthermore, in the case of a matrix switcher device consisting of a plurality of matrix switcher units, it is very difficult to check which unit and which switch of the plurality of matrix switcher units is malfunctioning. In other words, in this case, the only way is to check each of the multiple matrix switcher units one by one and then check the switching operation of each switch in each unit in turn. For example, if there are a large number of units, becomes nearly impossible.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is possible to easily determine the switching state of each switch. It is an object of the present invention to provide a matrix switcher device that can quickly detect units and switches with switching malfunctions.

[Means to solve the problem]

The matrix switcher device of the present invention has been proposed to achieve the above-mentioned object, and includes a switch matrix that arbitrarily switches and connects inputs of a plurality of channels and outputs of a plurality of channels, and each of the switch matrices'. A matrix switcher unit comprising a control circuit for controlling on/off of a switch, and a transmitting/receiving circuit for transmitting and receiving communication data including data related to control operations of the control circuit via an external serial bus line. A plurality of the matrix switcher units are provided, and at least one remote control unit is provided which has a control circuit and a transmitting/receiving circuit for remotely controlling these matrix switcher units, and each transmitting/receiving circuit of the matrix switcher unit and the remote operating unit is provided. a matrix switcher device that transmits and receives the communication data between the external serial bus lines, and the switch matrix determines the presence or absence of a signal for each of the inputs of the plurality of channels and the outputs of the plurality of channels. It has a means for determining the presence or absence of the
The control circuit for the switch matrix is configured to determine the switching state of each switch in the switch matrix based on the output of the presence/absence determining means.

[Operation] According to the present invention, since the presence or absence of a signal is determined for each input/output channel, if there is no signal at the output corresponding to the input, it can be detected as a switching malfunction.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the matrix switcher device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram showing a schematic configuration of the main parts of a matrix switcher device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In this FIG. 1, m channel input terminal tit~
ti, to the n-channel output terminals TO0 to T.
The matrix switcher unit arbitrarily distributed to O9 is a switch matrix SX consisting of switches Xll to X- provided for each of mxn cross points.
And each switch Xll~ of this switch matrix SX
A control circuit CNT that controls on/off of X am and various data including data related to the control operation of the control circuit CNT and the status of the switch matrix SX are packetized and sent and received as communication data via an external serial bus line SB. The transmitter/receiver circuit includes at least a transmitter/receiver circuit TR for transmitting and receiving signals. Furthermore, this matrix switcher unit is provided with m expansion output terminals EO, ~EO, and n expansion input terminals ei+~ei.

Here, the switch matrix SX has the input terminals ti+ to t1. input to and the above output terminal TO, ~TOo
Each presence/absence detection circuit 10 serves as a presence/absence determining means for determining the presence/absence of a signal with respect to each output from the . ~I(L,
20. ~20. The control port ICNT of the switch matrix SX includes each of the presence/absence detection circuits 10. ~10.
．． 20. The switching state of each switch Xll to X of this switch matrix SX is determined based on the outputs of the switches Xll to X, .

That is, in FIG. 1, the control circuit CNT connects to the transmitter/receiver circuit T via the external serial bus line SB.
Based on the control data of the switch matrix SX transmitted and received by R, each switch Xll to X0 . It controls on/off.

The control data and the like sent to the control circuit CNT are temporarily stored in the memory 30. The memory 30 also stores data indicating the switching state of each switch X1□ to
sent to.

By the way, each switch X of the above switch matrix SX
When switching of 11 to X m+++ is controlled based on the above control data, a switching abnormality may occur in one of the switches. In other words, this switching abnormality means that even though a switching abnormality has occurred in one of the switches,
This is a state in which data indicating the switching states of the switches Xll-X, . . . is obtained as correct data corresponding to the control data.

When such a switching abnormality occurs, an output corresponding to an input cannot be obtained.

For this reason, in this embodiment, each of the presence/absence detection circuits 101 to 10. ．． 20. ~20□ detects the presence or absence of each corresponding input and output signal, and detects cases where signals are present only in one of the inputs and outputs even though they should exist. There is. That is, each presence/absence detection circuit 10. ~10. ,20. In ~20□, the presence or absence of a signal is detected at each input and output, and each outputs a detection signal. This detection signal is, for example, 1 when there is a signal and 0 when there is no signal.
or other signals may be used.
This is a signal that can be identified depending on its presence or absence.

These detection signals are transmitted to the comparison circuit 31 of the control circuit CNT.
sent to. The control data stored in the memory 30 is also transmitted to the comparison circuit 31 . Therefore, this comparison circuit 3] uses the control data (that is, data indicating the original correct switching state) and each of the presence/absence detection circuits 10. 〜1(L, 20.〜2
0. A comparison is made with the detection signal from . In this comparison circuit 31, if the control data and the corresponding input/output detection signals are different, a signal indicating a switching abnormality and a signal indicating which switch is causing the switching abnormality are generated. Output. Similarly, if the control data and the corresponding input/output detection signal are equal, a signal indicating that switching is being performed normally is output. In other words, this comparison circuit 31 outputs a signal indicating normal switching operation when the detection signals from the input and output designated by the control data are both "present" or "absent"; If one is "present" and the other is "absent," a signal indicating abnormal switching operation is output. These signals are first stored in the memory 30 and then sent to the external serial bus line SB via the transmitter/receiver circuit TR.

Further, this matrix switcher device can be connected to an alarm device 40 for notifying the operator of the switching abnormality by means of a sum or sound, for example, when a switching abnormality is detected by the comparison circuit 31. In this case, the switching abnormality can be known at an early stage. In this alarm device 40,
As an example of notifying a switching abnormality using the above light, for example, the red L
It is conceivable that an ED (light emitting diode) is turned on to indicate a switching abnormality, and for example, when a green LED is lit, it is assumed that the switching is normal.

In this way, the matrix switcher device of this embodiment is
Presence/absence detection circuit 10 detects the presence/absence of signals at each input/output of a plurality of channels of the matrix switcher unit. ~10. ,2
L~20. By detecting the input signal and determining the input/output switching state based on this detection signal by the comparison circuit 31, self-diagnosis becomes possible, and it is easy to identify abnormal locations (failure locations) in the input/output switching state. It is possible to discover. Therefore, for example, even if the matrix switcher unit MUS is configured with a plurality of matrix switcher units, it is possible to identify units and switches with switching malfunctions at an early stage, and to repair the malfunctions (for example, by replacing the board). ) becomes possible. Further, in the above embodiment, data indicating the switching state of each switch is sent to the control circuit CNT, but for example, even if data indicating the switching state is not obtained, or
Even in a configuration in which the data is not used (not sent), the device of this embodiment allows the above-mentioned switching failure determination to be made.

The matrix switcher device (matrix switcher unit) shown in FIG. 1 described above can be connected to a plurality of units to form a larger scale matrix switcher device, as shown in FIG. 2 described below. Furthermore, these matrix switcher devices can also be connected via an external serial bus line SB.

In this figure 2, m channel input terminal T I
+~T1. input from the n-channel output terminal TO1
~To, (m and n are both integers of 2 or more; in the example of FIG. 2, both m and n are 2 channels) A matrix switcher unit MSU is provided for each of mxn cross points. Switch Xll~X
A switch matrix SX consisting of R- (four pieces Xll-X22 in the example of FIG.
A control circuit CNT for on/off controlling each switch X I + - x am of X, and various information data including data related to the control operation of this control circuit CNT and the status of the switch matrix SX are packetized and communicated. It includes at least a transmitting/receiving circuit TR for transmitting and receiving data via an external serial bus line SB. Furthermore, the matrix switcher unit MSU includes input terminals TI, ~Tl, and m switches Xll~X1 on the input side of the switch matrix SX. m buffers BT, ~BT, (in Fig. 2, two buffers BT, , BT,) provided between the terminals and the output terminals of these m buffers BT, ~BT-, respectively. expansion output terminals EO, ~EO, (in Fig. 2, two terminals EO
1.EO! ) and n expansion input terminals El, ~E1
．． (two terminals ET, EI2 in Figure 2) and these n
expansion input terminals El.

~E1. Buffers BE, ~BE, respectively connected to
(BEI, BEt in FIG. 2) and switches X1°~ provided at each cross point between these buffers BE, -BE, and each output terminal TO+~TO1.
X. (Xl., X,. in FIG. 2) are provided. That is, the input terminals ti+ to ti in FIG.
is supplied with an input signal via the buffer buffers BT, ~BT, and the first
The expansion input terminals ei+ to ei in the figure are the buffer B
E.

~BE, and expansion input terminals El and -El.

is connected.

Using a plurality of matrix switcher units having such a configuration (four matrix switcher units MSUI to MSU I in FIG. 2), connect the expansion input terminal of the - unit to the output terminal of the other unit, and - By further connecting the input terminal of another unit to the expansion output terminal of the unit, the number of input channels and/or the number of output channels can be increased and the system scale can be expanded.

In the example shown in Figure 2, the matrix switcher unit (MSU)
The output terminals To, , Tow of the matrix switcher unit MSU2 are connected to the expansion input terminals El, , Eft of the matrix switcher unit MSU, and the expansion output terminals E○, , EO, of the matrix switcher unit MS are connected to the expansion input terminals E○, , EO, of the matrix switcher unit MSU.
The input terminals TI, , T1 . to the expansion output terminals EO, EO, of the matrix switcher unit MSU2, and the input terminal T1 of the matrix switcher unit MSU.
．． ~T+2, and matrix switcher unit l-M
S U , expansion input terminal E1. , El.

Output terminal T of matrix switcher unit MSU
By connecting o, , and To, the entire matrix switcher device has 4 channel inputs x 4 channel outputs. Furthermore, two of the four channel inputs IN, , IN, are input to the input terminals Tll and TI2 of the matrix switcher unit (MSU).
Then, the remaining two channel inputs IN, , IN, are connected to the input terminals TI, , T of the matrix switcher unit MSU.
I.

Out of the 4 channel outputs, 2 channel outputs OUT, , ou'rt are supplied from the output terminals TO8 and T02 of the matrix switcher unit MSU+, and the remaining 2 channel outputs OUT, , OUT, are supplied to the matrix switcher unit MSUI. Each input terminal To, ,T
I try to take them out from o2.

These multiple matrix switcher units MSU
At least one remote control unit (so-called remote control unit) RCU is provided to remotely control the
RCU is shown. This remote control unit RCU
comprises a control circuit CTRL and a transmitting/receiving circuit TR. The transmitter/receiver circuit TR connects to the serial bus line SB.
The control circuit CTRL is for transmitting and receiving the above-mentioned communication data via the transmitting/receiving circuit TR, and the control circuit CTRL is configured to control operation buttons provided on the front panel of the remote control unit RCU in relation to various data input and output via the transmitting/receiving circuit TR. It is used to control operation input from etc., data display output to the display unit, etc.

Next, the data transmission format or communication protocol via the serial bus line SB will be explained.

The type of network belongs to LAN (Local Area Network), and effective operation is possible even with the lowest performance, for example, a transmission distance of 500 m and a communication speed (data rate) of 307 Kbps. The structure is bus-like, with coaxial lines forming a transmission line, and each transmitting/receiving circuit of the matrix switcher unit and remote control unit connected as terminals, so that the transmission line is used in a time-sharing manner.

The modulation method is so-called biphase space modulation,
As shown in Figure 3, an inversion (or transition) always occurs at the boundary of each bit of data, and the data value ``0''
An inversion also occurs at the center of the bit. The electrical signal is 2
V±0.5V (75Ω termination), and the connector has a 75Ω
Ω T type BNC is used, input impedance is 57
Ω/27Ω.

The matrix switcher unit MSU and the remote control unit RCtJ as shown in FIG. 2 above, especially the transmitting/receiving circuit TR of each unit, are classified into primary stations and secondary stations from the viewpoint of data communication. The primary station is a station that controls the data link and has full responsibility for error control and recovery at the link level, and the secondary station controls the data link based on instructions from the primary station. This is a station that executes the control contents of the station. Only one primary station is provided among all the units connected to the path line SB, and the rest are all secondary stations. The primary station sequentially designates all the units (their transmitting/receiving circuits TR) to request data transmission, stores the communication data sent from the unit that has the data to be sent, and sends out the stored data all at once. death,
Each unit (its transmitter/receiver circuit TR) takes in only the communication data sent from the primary station to its own unit. As a result, all data communications on path line B will be controlled by the primary station,
It is possible to easily improve the utilization efficiency of the pass line SB. Note that the primary station has the role of collecting communication data including information data such as switching requests from remote control units, and does not directly control all units.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the matrix switcher unit l-MSU and the remote control unit RCU are provided with a changeover switch for switching between the primary station and the secondary station. When switched to the side, the unit MSU or RCU (actually, the transmitter/receiver circuit TR of the unit) becomes the above-mentioned primary station, and when switched to the secondary station side, it becomes the above-mentioned secondary station. In addition, the common pass line S
Of all the units connected to B, only one is set to be the primary station, and all the others are set to be the secondary stations.

FIG. 4 shows a specific example of a signal transmitted on the serial bus line, in which so-called polling is performed, which sequentially specifies and inquires all units from the next station unit to prompt data transmission. Indicates a signal when there is data to be sent to the specified unit.

Here, all units such as the matrix switcher unit and remote control unit (remote control unit) have a series of addresses (station address, station address).
is attached. As a specific example of this address, the primary station is fixed at address 1, and addresses from 2 onwards are allocated to secondary stations, so that no station at the same address exists within one data link. Only the station whose address corresponds to the destination address attached to the communication data captures the communication data. As special addresses, address 0 is set as a north station address, and a cutting address (for example, address 255 in the case of an 8-bit address) is set as a global address. The north station address is one to which no other station responds, and is used when testing the path line, while the global address is used to enable all stations connected to the path line to receive the message.

FIG. 4 shows a communication data packet DPP during a series of polling operations under the control of the primary station, and a communication data packet DPS sent out from the secondary station in response to this polling.
is shown. Here, a packet is a unit block of data transmission. In addition, polling operation specifies the station address of the unit connected to the path line, prompts the unit to send data, and gives the unit the right to use the path line. If there is no response within time T w +, the station address is updated and polling of the next station is started, thereby sequentially specifying all units connected to the path line. In this case, polling for itself (the primary station) is executed within the unit, and a communication data packet l-D for polling the jth station is sent on the path line.
PP will never ride. The communication data bucket hDPP(k) in Fig. 4 indicates a packet (block) when polling is performed by specifying the station at the address, and the data to be sent to the unit at the address (secondary station). The communication data packet DPS is sent from the unit to the path line within the waiting time T-.

〔Effect of the invention〕

In the matrix switcher device of the present invention, the input/output switching state is determined by determining the presence or absence of a signal at each input/output of a plurality of channels of the matrix switcher unit, so that the switching state of each switch can be easily determined. This makes it possible to easily discover abnormalities in the input/output switching state. Therefore, for example, even if the matrix switcher unit is composed of a plurality of matrix switcher units, it is possible to quickly discover a unit, a switch, or a switch that is malfunctioning in its switching operation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a matrix switcher device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram showing details of the matrix switcher device according to this embodiment, and FIG. 3 explains a biphase space modulation method. diagram for,
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the state of signal transmission in the device of this embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional expanded matrix switcher device. 10, ~10. ．． 20. ~20. ...Presence/absence detection circuit 30...Memory 31...Comparison circuit 40...
・・・・・・Alarm device SX・・・・・・・・・・・・
Switch matrix CN T・・・・・・・・・・Control circuit “i' R・・・・・・Transmission/reception circuit patent applicant Sony Corporation

Claims (1)

[Claims] A switch matrix that arbitrarily switches and connects inputs of a plurality of channels and outputs of a plurality of channels, a control circuit for controlling on/off of each switch of this switch matrix, and a control operation of this control circuit. A plurality of matrix switcher units each having a transmitting/receiving circuit for transmitting and receiving communication data including data related to the data via an external serial bus line are provided, and a control circuit for remotely operating these matrix switcher units. and at least one remote control unit comprising a transmitting/receiving circuit.
A matrix switcher device that transmits and receives the communication data between the transmission and reception circuits of the matrix switcher unit and the remote control unit via the external serial bus line, wherein the switch matrix transmits and receives the communication data between the transmission and reception circuits of the matrix switcher unit and the remote control unit, and presence/absence determining means for determining the presence or absence of a signal for each of the outputs of the plurality of channels, and the control circuit of the switch matrix switches each switch of the switch matrix based on the output of the presence/absence determining means. A matrix switcher device characterized by determining a state.