JPH05120857A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To resolve the complication of communication control software by providing plural control means corresponding to various functions with softwares which are so programmed that they are independently operated in response to instructions from the external. CONSTITUTION:A signal having an instruction code from a remote commander 32 is supplied to a microcomputer(MC) 11 for TV and an MC 21 for video cassette recorder(VCR) through an IR light reception part 31. At this time, the MC 11 and the MC 21 receive this supplied signal having the instruction code independently of each other and decode contents based on software 12 for TV and software 22 for VCR independently of each other. By this constitution, the MC 11 and the MC 21 can be operated independently of each other, and respective communication control softwares are not complicated, and two MCs 11 and 21 simultaneously receive and process the signal having the instruction code, and therefore, the processing speed is increased.

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 a device integrated with a CR, one microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a microcomputer if necessary) is arranged on each of the television receiver side and the VCR side.

In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the microcomputer arranged on the television receiver side is the main microcomputer 1, while the microcomputer arranged on the VCR side is the 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 was centrally controlled by the main microcomputer 1. An infrared light receiving unit (IR light receiving unit) 4 is connected to the main microcomputer 1.

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

First, for example, a signal (command) having an instruction 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). When the decoded instruction code is the instruction code for the sub-microcomputer 2 side,
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 above instruction code (step S3).

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

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, the sub-microcomputer 2 is the main microcomputer 1.
There are various problems as will be described below because they are collectively controlled by. (1) The communication control software stored in the main microcomputer 1 becomes complicated. (2) Since the main microcomputer 1 always performs the processing and then the sub-microcomputer 2 performs the processing, a delay time occurs in the processing. (3) The sub-microcomputer 2 cannot be operated while the software of the main microcomputer 1 is being debugged. This is a problem particularly when the sub-microcomputer 2 has an originally independent function. (4) If the function performed by the sub-microcomputer 2 is to be expanded, the software of the main microcomputer 1 must be changed, so there is a problem that it takes time to change the software.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an electronic apparatus that enables at least two control means to operate independently of each other.

[0010]

The electronic device of the present invention is, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, an electronic device equipped with at least two control means 11 and 21 corresponding to at least two functions. The control means 11 and 21 have software 12 and 22 programmed so as to operate independently of an instruction supplied from the outside 32.

[0011]

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

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an electronic device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the structure 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, 11 is a T as a control means.
This is a V microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a TV microcomputer), and the TV microcomputer 11 is a C (not shown).
It has a PU, a ROM, a RAM and a communication interface. It should be noted that the ROM stores software 12 for TV operation (hereinafter referred to as TV software) 12. The TV microcomputer 11 mainly controls the functions of the TV section.

The TV microcomputer 11 includes a video processor 14 for controlling a deflection system and video signals, and an audio processor 1 for controlling an audio system via a bus 13.
5. Input source (for example, what is displayed on the TV display is the reproduction signal from the VCR or the tuner 29)
A switch 16 for changing the signal (such as a signal from the above) and a rewritable non-volatile memory 17 that stores adjustment data such as hue. The nonvolatile memory 17 stores adjusted data in, for example, a factory line, and is read out when a power plug is inserted into an outlet in a home or the like of a user. Then, when the power plug is pulled out from the outlet, the last state is stored and retained.

The TV microcomputer 11 has a VCR microcomputer 21 as a control means through a bus 20 as a communication line.
Connected with.

The VCR microcomputer 21 is provided with a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a communication interface and the like which are not shown. Software for VCR operation (hereinafter referred to as VCR software) 22 is stored in the ROM. The VCR microcomputer 21 is mainly a VCR
It controls the functions of the parts.

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

The VCR microcomputer 21 includes a mechanical controller 24 for controlling the operation of the mechanical portion of the VCR portion through a bus 23 and a character generator 25 which is a character generator used for superimposing characters on an image. It is connected.

Further, the VCR microcomputer 21 has a bus 2
A rewritable non-volatile memory 27 for storing the adjustment data of the VCR section is connected through 6. The non-volatile memory 27 operates similarly to the above-mentioned non-volatile memory 17.

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

TV microcomputer 11 and VCR microcomputer 2
1 includes an infrared light receiving portion (hereinafter referred to as an IR light receiving portion) 31
The output signals of are simultaneously supplied.

The IR light receiving section 31 includes a TV section and a VCR.
A signal having an instruction code according to a specific format is supplied from the dual-purpose remote commander 32 to the unit. The remote commander 32 is not limited to the 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 section 31.

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

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

That is, the VCR microcomputer 21 performs the operation of selecting 10 channels (color bar signal) by the tuner 29, and the TV microcomputer 11 executes the self-diagnosis program regarding the hue etc. written in the non-volatile 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, the TV microcomputer 11
Notify the CR microcomputer 21. VCR microcomputer 21
In response to this, during this test mode,
Even if a signal having an instruction code for switching the tuner 29 is supplied, the operation for switching the tuner 29 is not performed. In this way, we confirm that their operations do not conflict. (Steps S12 and S22).

After checking the contradiction, the TV microcomputer 11
Controls the operation in the video processor 14, the audio processor 15, etc. by decoding the signal having the instruction code relating to itself (step S13).
On the other hand, the VCR microcomputer 21 decodes a signal having an instruction code relating to itself, and the mechanical controller 24
Etc. to control the operation.

As the contradiction confirmation processing S12 and S22,
In addition to the above, for example, when the screen display button of the remote commander 32 is pressed, the character display such as a tape counter and a clock using the character generator 25 is overlapped on the display (not shown) of the TV unit. TV microcomputer 11 and VCR so that they are not displayed
There is also an operation process to be performed while mutually confirming with the microcomputer 21 for use.

Thus, according to the above embodiment, the TV
The microcomputer 11 for VCR and the microcomputer 21 for VCR have the TV software 12 and the VCR software 22 programmed so as to operate independently with respect to the signal having the instruction code supplied from the external remote commander 32. , It is also possible to operate independently of each other. It is also possible to operate in conjunction.

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

That is, (1) one microcomputer (for example,
The TV microcomputer 11) is the other microcomputer (hence V
Since it is possible to operate independently without controlling the CR microcomputer 21), the software for each communication control does not become complicated. Especially 2
In the case of configuring a system having three or more microcomputers as well as the control of one microcomputer system, each microcomputer has various functions uniquely,
This is effective when applied to a case where parallel processing is performed such that the priority order of each microcomputer cannot be assigned.

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

(3) The other microcomputer can be operated even while the software of one microcomputer is being debugged.

(4) When the function performed by one microcomputer is to be expanded, only the software of the one microcomputer needs to be changed, and it does not take time to change the software.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and it goes without saying that various configurations can be adopted 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 one control means, each of the control means has software programmed so as to operate independently of an instruction supplied from the outside. Therefore, there is an effect that it is possible to operate independently of each other.

When operated independently, the processing is performed in parallel, so that the operation time is relatively fast.

Further, the expansion of the function of one control means is easy because only the software for the one control means needs to be modified.

Further, it is possible to obtain the effect that the function can be confirmed by operating the other control means while debugging the function of one control means.

Furthermore, not only control of two control means, but when three or more control means constitute a system, each control means has its own various functions, and each control means has its own function. It is particularly effective when applied to a case where parallel processing is performed so that no priority order can be given.

[Brief description of 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 provided for explaining the operation of the example in FIG.

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

FIG. 4 is a flowchart provided to explain the operation of the example in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

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

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an electronic device equipped with at least two control means corresponding to at least two functions, each control means is programmed so as to operate independently with respect to an instruction supplied from the outside. An electronic device characterized by having software.