KR102429927B1 - Electronic device for verifying analog output signal, and operating method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an electronic device for verifying an analog output signal and an operation method thereof. According to an embodiment of the present invention, an analog signal includes multiple horizontal lines. A target horizontal line in the multiple horizontal lines includes: a blank area including a horizontal sync area; and an active area indicating object data. The operation method thereof to verify output of the analog signal includes: a step of outputting the analog signal including the target horizontal line; a step of obtaining a digital horizontal synchronization signal corresponding to the target horizontal line of the analog signal; a step of generating an analog feedback signal by feeding back the analog signal which is output; a step of obtaining first voltage information corresponding to the horizontal sync area based on the analog feedback signal and the digital horizontal synchronization signal; a step of obtaining second voltage information corresponding to the active area based on the analog feedback signal and the digital horizontal synchronization signal; and a step of determining whether to normally output the analog signal based on the first voltage information and the second voltage information. Also, various embodiments are possible.

Description

Electronic device for verifying analog output signal and operation method thereof

The following embodiments relate to a method of verifying an analog output signal, and more particularly, to a method of verifying an analog output signal based on a digital signal.

As a method of transmitting an image, there may be a method using an open circuit and a method using a closed circuit. Since the method using the open circuit requires transmitting an image signal to a large number of unspecified users, a standardized method may be used to transmit the image. On the other hand, since the method of transmitting an image using a closed circuit transmits an image signal only to a specific user, only a specific user may know a method of transmitting the image signal. In general, the composite signal used in closed circuit systems follows the standard scheme for analog color television.

As a related prior art, there is Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1552070 (Title of the Invention: Method and Apparatus for Transmitting Video Signals, Applicant: NCN Co., Ltd.). The corresponding registered patent publication discloses a technology for transmitting an analog video signal.

As a method of determining whether the analog signal is normally output, there is a method of determining whether the period of the horizontal synchronization signal (H-sync) of the output analog signal is correct. In order to determine the period of the horizontal synchronization signal of the analog signal, a high-performance analog-digital converter (ADC) capable of receiving and sampling the analog signal as an input again is required. For example, an ADC supporting a frequency of about 54Mhz to 300Mhz may be required depending on the number of image pixels.

However, the high-performance ADC is large in size and may occupy a lot of space inside the chip. For this reason, when a high-performance ADC is used as a method for verifying the normal output of an analog signal, a large amount of space among the limited chip size may be used.

According to an embodiment, an electronic device and method for determining whether an analog signal is normally output using a digital horizontal synchronization signal may be provided.

However, the technical problems are not limited to the above-described technical problems, and other technical problems may exist.

According to an embodiment, in the method of verifying the output of an analog signal performed by an electronic device, the analog signal includes a plurality of horizontal lines, and a target horizontal line among the plurality of horizontal lines is horizontally synced ( outputting the analog signal including a blank area including a horizontal sync area and an active area in which desired data appears, and including the target horizontal line; obtaining a digital H-sync signal corresponding to the target horizontal line of the analog signal; generating an analog feedback signal by feeding back the outputted analog signal; obtaining first voltage information corresponding to the horizontal sync area based on the analog feedback signal and the digital horizontal synchronization signal; obtaining second voltage information corresponding to the active region based on the analog feedback signal and the digital horizontal synchronization signal; and determining whether the analog signal is normally output based on the first voltage information and the second voltage information.

According to an embodiment, the digital horizontal synchronization signal may include a signal generated inside the electronic device; and a signal obtained from the outside of the electronic device.

According to an embodiment, the analog feedback signal may include a signal fed back of a signal output from the electronic device; and a signal that is output from the electronic device and fed back an amplified or modified signal.

According to an embodiment, the acquiring of the first voltage information may include the analog feedback at a time point when the digital horizontal synchronization signal is changed from high to low by a first delay. It may include measuring the voltage of the signal.

According to an embodiment, the first delay may be a predetermined value based on the standard of the analog signal.

According to an embodiment, the acquiring of the second voltage information includes the analog feedback at a time point when the digital horizontal synchronization signal is changed from low to high by a second delay. It may include measuring the voltage of the signal.

According to an embodiment, the second delay may be a predetermined value based on the standard of the analog signal.

According to an embodiment, determining whether the analog signal is normally output based on the first voltage information and the second voltage information may include: determining whether the first voltage information is in a normal range; determining whether the second voltage information is in a normal range; and determining that the analog signal is normally output when both the first voltage information and the second voltage information are within a normal range.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may be included in a vehicle supporting an image transmission system for a vehicle, an autonomous vehicle, or an advanced driver assistance system.

According to an embodiment, an electronic device for performing a method for verifying output of an analog signal includes a memory in which computer-executable instructions are stored; and a processor that accesses the memory and executes the instructions, wherein the analog signal includes a plurality of horizontal lines, and a target horizontal line of the plurality of horizontal lines forms a horizontal sync region. a blank area including a blank area and an active area in which desired data appears, wherein the commands output the analog signal including the target horizontal line, and the target horizontal line of the analog signal A digital horizontal synchronization (H-sync) signal corresponding to a line is obtained, an analog feedback signal is generated by feeding back the outputted analog signal, and the horizontal sync is performed based on the analog feedback signal and the digital horizontal synchronization signal. Obtaining first voltage information corresponding to an area, obtaining second voltage information corresponding to the active area based on the analog feedback signal and the digital horizontal synchronization signal, and obtaining the first voltage information and the second voltage information It may be configured to determine whether the analog signal is normally output based on .

According to an embodiment, the digital horizontal synchronization signal may include a signal generated inside the electronic device; and a signal obtained from the outside of the electronic device.

According to an embodiment, the analog feedback signal may include a signal fed back of a signal output from the electronic device; and a signal that is output from the electronic device and fed back an amplified or modified signal.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device further includes a feedback timing detector for detecting a feedback timing, and the commands indicate that a digital horizontal synchronization signal is transmitted from high to low through the feedback timing detector. The first voltage information may be obtained by measuring the voltage of the analog feedback signal at a point in time that has passed by a first delay from a point in time when it is changed to low).

According to an embodiment, the first delay may be a predetermined value based on the standard of the analog signal.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device further includes a feedback timing detector configured to detect a feedback timing, and the instructions indicate that the digital horizontal synchronization signal is changed from low to high through the feedback timing detector. The second voltage information may be obtained by measuring the voltage of the analog feedback signal at a time point that has passed by a second delay from a time point changed to high.

According to an embodiment, the second delay may be a predetermined value based on the standard of the analog signal.

According to an embodiment, the commands determine whether the first voltage information is in a normal range, determine whether the second voltage information is in a normal range, and when both the first voltage information and the second voltage information are in a normal range and determine that the analog signal is normally output.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device may be included in a vehicle supporting an image transmission system for a vehicle, an autonomous vehicle, or an advanced driver assistance system.

According to an embodiment, in a method for controlling a function of an electronic device outputting an analog signal, the analog signal includes a plurality of horizontal lines, and a target horizontal line among the plurality of horizontal lines is horizontally synchronized. a blank area including a sync area and an active area in which desired data appears, the method comprising: outputting the analog signal including the target horizontal line; obtaining a digital H-sync signal corresponding to the target horizontal line of the analog signal; generating an analog feedback signal by feeding back the outputted analog signal; obtaining first voltage information corresponding to the horizontal sync area based on the analog feedback signal and the digital horizontal synchronization signal; obtaining second voltage information corresponding to the active region based on the analog feedback signal and the digital horizontal synchronization signal; determining whether the analog signal is normally output based on the first voltage information and the second voltage information; and notifying a user of the electronic device when it is determined that the analog signal is not normally output.

An electronic device and method for verifying an analog output signal may be provided.

An electronic device and method for determining whether an analog output signal is normally output based on a digital horizontal synchronization signal without a high-performance ADC may be provided.

1 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment.
2 illustrates a flow in which an analog signal is generated according to an exemplary embodiment.
3 is a diagram for describing a plurality of horizontal lines of an analog signal according to an exemplary embodiment.
4 is a diagram for describing a target horizontal line of an analog signal according to an exemplary embodiment.
5 is a diagram for explaining a method of acquiring voltage information of an analog feedback signal based on a digital horizontal synchronization signal according to an embodiment.
6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of verifying an output of an analog signal of an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment.
7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of acquiring first voltage information corresponding to a horizontal sink region of a target horizontal line of an analog signal according to an exemplary embodiment.
8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of acquiring second voltage information corresponding to an active region of a target horizontal line of an analog signal according to an exemplary embodiment.
9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of determining whether an analog signal is normally output based on first voltage information and second voltage information, according to an exemplary embodiment.
10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an electronic device when it is determined that an analog signal is not normally output, according to an exemplary embodiment.
11 illustrates a vehicle in which an electronic device is mounted according to an exemplary embodiment.

Specific structural or functional descriptions of the embodiments are disclosed for purposes of illustration only, and may be changed and implemented in various forms. Accordingly, the actual implementation form is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and the scope of the present specification includes changes, equivalents, or substitutes included in the technical spirit described in the embodiments.

Although terms such as first or second may be used to describe various elements, these terms should be interpreted only for the purpose of distinguishing one element from another. For example, a first component may be termed a second component, and similarly, a second component may also be termed a first component.

When a component is referred to as being “connected” to another component, it may be directly connected or connected to the other component, but it should be understood that another component may exist in between.

The singular expression includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as "comprise" or "have" are intended to designate that the described feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof exists, and includes one or more other features or numbers, It should be understood that the possibility of the presence or addition of steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof is not precluded in advance.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Terms such as those defined in a commonly used dictionary should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning in the context of the related art, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or excessively formal meaning unless explicitly defined in the present specification. does not

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same components are assigned the same reference numerals regardless of the reference numerals, and the overlapping description thereof will be omitted.

<Electronic device that determines whether an analog signal is normally output>

1 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the electronic device 101 for verifying an analog signal includes a communication unit 110 , a processor 120 , a memory 130 , a digital-analog converter (DAC) 140 , and an analog-to-analog converter. It may include an analog-digital converter (ADC) 150 , a feedback timing detector 160 , and an interrupt controller 170 . For example, the electronic device 101 may be included in an autonomous driving vehicle or a vehicle supporting an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS).

According to an embodiment, the communication unit 110 may be connected to the processor 120 and the memory 130 to transmit/receive data. The communication unit 110 may be connected to another external device to receive data, for example, an image captured by a camera. Hereinafter, the expression “transmitting and receiving “A” may indicate transmission and reception of “information or data indicating A”.

According to an embodiment, the communication unit 110 may be implemented as a circuitry in the electronic device 101 . For example, the communication unit 110 may include an internal bus and an external bus. As another example, the communication unit 110 may be an element that connects the electronic device 101 and an external device. The communication unit 110 may be an interface. The communication unit 110 may receive data from an external device and transmit the data to the processor 120 and the memory 130 .

According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may process data received by the communication unit 110 and data stored in the memory 130 . A “processor” may be a data processing device implemented in hardware having circuitry having a physical structure for performing desired operations. For example, desired operations may include code included in a program or computer-executable instructions. For example, a data processing device implemented as hardware includes a microprocessor, a central processing unit, a processor core, a multi-core processor, and a multiprocessor. , an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), and a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA).

According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may execute computer-readable code (eg, software) stored in a memory (eg, the memory 130 ) and instructions generated by the processor 120 . have.

According to an embodiment, the memory 130 may store data received by the communication unit 110 and data processed by the processor 120 . For example, the memory 130 may store a program (or an application, software). The stored program may be a set of syntaxes that are coded and executable by the processor 120 to determine whether an analog signal output from the electronic device 101 is normally output. According to an embodiment, the analog signal may be used as the same meaning as the analog image signal.

According to an embodiment, the memory 130 may include one or more of volatile memory, non-volatile memory and random access memory (RAM), flash memory, a hard disk drive, and an optical disk drive.

According to an embodiment, the memory 130 may store an instruction set (eg, software) for operating the electronic device 101 . An instruction set for operating the electronic device 101 may be executed by the processor 120 .

According to an embodiment, the analog signal may be an analog image signal, and a plurality of horizontal lines may be included in the analog signal. Among the plurality of horizontal lines, the target horizontal line may include a blank area including a horizontal sync area and an active area in which desired data appears. A process of generating an analog image signal according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 2 , and a configuration of the analog signal will be described with reference to FIG. 3 . The configuration of the horizontal line of the analog signal will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4 .

According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may output an analog signal through the communication unit 110 . The analog signal may be transmitted in a configuration to be controlled by the processor 120 of the electronic device 101 . According to an embodiment, when the electronic device 101 is included in an autonomous driving vehicle or a vehicle supporting ADAS, the analog image signal is a component mounted in the ADAS supporting vehicle for object recognition and object tracking (eg, a sensor). , SoC, module, etc.). According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may generate an analog feedback signal by feeding back the output analog signal.

According to an embodiment, the digital-to-analog converter 140 may convert a digital signal into an analog signal, and the converted analog signal may be output through the electronic device 101 . The digital-to-analog converter 140 may receive a digital signal from a digital logic circuit (not shown) performing digital signal processing and convert it into an analog signal.

According to an embodiment, the processor 120 measures the voltage of the analog feedback signal based on a digital horizontal synchronization (digital H-sync) signal among the digital signals before being converted by the digital-to-analog converter 140 so that the analog signal is normally You can decide whether to print or not. According to an embodiment, the digital horizontal synchronization signal may be obtained from digital logic (not shown) before being converted by the digital-to-analog converter 140 inside the electronic device 101 . According to another embodiment, the digital horizontal synchronization signal may be obtained by being fed back after the digital signal before being converted by the digital-to-analog converter 140 is output from the electronic device 101 .

According to an embodiment, the analog signal may correspond to the digital signal before being converted by the digital-to-analog converter 140 . The analog signal may include a plurality of horizontal lines, and the digital signal may include a digital horizontal synchronization signal. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may obtain a digital horizontal synchronization signal corresponding to a target horizontal line of the analog signal from among the corresponding digital signals of the analog signal.

According to an embodiment, the analog-to-digital converter 150 may measure the voltage of the analog feedback signal generated by receiving the analog signal as feedback. According to an embodiment, the analog feedback signal may be a signal to which an analog signal output from the electronic device 101 is fed back. Alternatively, the analog feedback signal may be a signal to which an amplified or modified signal is fed back after being output from the electronic device 101 . According to an embodiment, the analog-to-digital converter 150 may have lower performance requirements and a smaller size than a high-performance analog-to-digital converter capable of sampling an analog signal. According to an embodiment, the analog-to-digital converter 150 may occupy a smaller space than a high-performance analog-to-digital converter for sampling an analog signal in a chip having a limited size.

According to an embodiment, the feedback timing detector 160 and the interrupt controller 170 may determine the timing of measuring the voltage of the analog feedback signal based on the digital horizontal synchronization signal. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may acquire timing information for a reference time from the digital horizontal synchronization signal through the feedback timing detector 160 , and the interrupt controller 170 interlocked with the feedback timing detector 160 . By detecting an interrupt through , it is possible to obtain timing information about a time to measure the voltage of the analog feedback signal. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 sends an analog feedback signal to the analog-to-digital converter 150 based on the timing information acquired based on the digital horizontal synchronization signal through the feedback timing detector 160 and the interrupt controller 170 . voltage can be measured. A process of determining a timing for measuring a voltage of an analog feedback signal based on a digital horizontal synchronization signal according to an exemplary embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5 .

2 illustrates a flow in which an analog signal is generated according to an exemplary embodiment.

The image sensor may generate an image by photographing a scene. The image may be a digitally generated digital frame. A plurality of frames may constitute a digital moving picture. That is, the image sensor may generate a digital moving image by capturing a plurality of scenes.

According to one aspect, the image sensor may be an image capturing device used in a Closed Circuit TeleVision (CCTV) system. For example, the image sensor may be a surveillance camera. According to one aspect, the image sensor may be an image capturing device used in an ADAS system. For example, the image sensor may be a camera included in an autonomous driving vehicle or a vehicle supporting ADAS to photograph the surroundings of the vehicle.

A method for providing the generated digital image to a receiver includes a digital method and an analog method. The digital method may be a method of directly transmitting a digital image. The analog method may be a method of converting a digital image signal into an analog image signal and transmitting the analog image signal.

3 is a diagram for describing a plurality of horizontal lines of an analog signal according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3 , a digital frame 300 for describing a plurality of horizontal lines included in an analog signal is illustrated. At least a portion of the digital frame 300 may be composed of one image generated by the image sensor described with reference to FIG. 2 capturing a scene, or may be composed of a plurality of images.

The analog image signal may further include various pieces of information constituting the analog image signal in addition to active data representing the actual image. For example, the analog image signal may further include horizontal lines indicating a pre-equalization pulse, a serration pulse, a post-equalization pulse, and the like, in addition to the active line including the active data. For example, one active line of the analog image signal may further include information for a blank in addition to the active area. Accordingly, in order to transmit an image through an analog image signal, digital information for information other than information on capturing a scene may need to be generated.

Referring to FIG. 3 , a digital frame 300 may include active data 350 representing a scene and other data. According to an embodiment, an analog signal is generated from the digital frame 300 , and the analog signal may include a plurality of horizontal lines. The plurality of horizontal lines may include a pre-equalizing pulse, a serration pulse, a post-equalizing pulse, and active lines. A pre-equalizing pulse, a serration pulse, and a post-equalizing pulse may constitute a vertical blank line. The active lines may include a blank area including a horizontal sink area and an active area.

According to an embodiment, data displayed in the active data 350 is not limited to an image (eg, a scene captured by the image sensor of FIG. 2 ), and desired data that the user wants to load is It may appear in active data 350 .

According to an embodiment, the analog signal corresponding to the digital frame 300 may include a plurality of horizontal lines, and the horizontal line 330 of FIG. 3 may be a digital signal corresponding to the horizontal line of the analog signal. The active data 350 may include digital signals corresponding to active regions of each of the plurality of active lines of the analog signal. The active region of the horizontal line (eg, the active region 430 of FIG. 4 ) will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4 .

A predetermined height from the top of the digital frame 300 may be a vertical blank line 320 . The vertical blank line 320 may be a plurality of lines. The vertical blank line 320 may be used to separate a plurality of frames.

A predetermined distance from the leftmost side of the digital frame 300 may be a horizontal blank line 340 . The horizontal blank line 340 may be used to divide each horizontal line 330 at regular intervals. According to an embodiment, as described above with respect to the active data 350 , the analog signal may include a plurality of horizontal lines, and the horizontal blank 340 may be a digital signal corresponding to a blank area of the horizontal line of the analog signal. . The blank area of the horizontal line (eg, the blank area 420 of FIG. 4 ) will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4 .

According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may determine whether an analog signal is normally output based on a target horizontal line among horizontal lines of the analog signal. The configuration of one horizontal line will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4 .

4 is a diagram for describing a target horizontal line of an analog signal according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4 , a target horizontal line 410 is shown among a plurality of horizontal lines of the analog signal described with reference to FIG. 3 . According to an embodiment, the target horizontal line 410 may be a horizontal line included in an analog output signal output from the electronic device 101 . According to another embodiment, the target horizontal line 410 may be a horizontal line in which the analog output signal output from the electronic device 101 is included in the fed back analog feedback signal.

The target horizontal line 410 includes a blank area 420 including a horizontal sink area 425 ; and an active region 430 in which target data appears. The horizontal sync region 425 may be used to generate a horizontal reference signal when demodulating an image.

According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may load target data into the active area 430 of the target horizontal line among the analog signals. For example, when the analog signal is analog image data, the target data may be image data.

According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may output a test analog signal to verify whether the analog signal is normally output, not for the purpose of controlling the target device through the analog signal. In this case, the processor 120 may output an analog signal by loading arbitrary data into the active area 430 without the need to load actual data (eg, image data) into the active area 430 , and target data may be any data.

A burst may occur after the horizontal sync area 425 of the blank area 420 of the target horizontal line 410 , and the burst may be a color difference restoration signal. Bursts can provide phase and amplitude references to color information when demodulating images.

According to an embodiment, an analog image signal has a standard determined according to a resolution, and a desired waveform of a horizontal line included in the analog signal may be determined according to the standard. For example, depending on the resolution, analog video is HD (High definition, 1,280 × 720), FHD (Full HD, 1,920 × 1,080), QHD (Quad HD, 2,560 × 1,440), and UHD (Ultra HD, 3,840 × 2,160), etc. , and a standard waveform of a horizontal line may be determined for each image. Referring to FIG. 4 , with respect to the waveform 410 of the horizontal line, a sync level voltage 450 corresponding to the sink region 425 corresponds to a region other than the sink region 425 among the blank region 420 . The size of the black level voltage 440 may be predetermined according to the standard of the analog image. In the horizontal line, the magnitude of the voltage corresponding to the active region 430 may vary according to standards, but is always higher than the black level voltage 440 .

According to an embodiment, the electronic device 101 transmitting an analog signal determines whether a voltage corresponding to the sink region 425 is within a normal range based on the sink level voltage 450 and corresponds to the active region 430 . It may be determined whether the analog signal is normally output based on whether the voltage to be used falls within a normal range based on the black level voltage 440 .

According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may measure the voltage of the analog feedback signal fed back the analog signal output through the ADC 150 described above with reference to FIG. 1 . However, when using the ADC 150 rather than the high-performance ADC, the processor 120 cannot know the timing information on when to measure the voltage of the analog feedback signal, so the processor 120 uses the above-described digital signal with reference to FIG. Timing information on when to measure the voltage of the analog feedback signal may be obtained based on the horizontal synchronization signal. A method of measuring a voltage of an analog feedback signal based on a digital horizontal synchronization signal according to an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5 .

5 is a diagram for explaining a method of acquiring voltage information of an analog feedback signal based on a digital horizontal synchronization signal according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5 , an analog image feedback signal 510 and a digital horizontal synchronization signal 520 are illustrated. As described with reference to FIG. 1 , the analog image feedback signal 510 may be a signal from which a signal output from the electronic device 101 is fed back, or a signal from which an amplified or modified signal output from the electronic device 101 is fed back. have. The digital synchronization signal 520 is a signal generated from a digital signal before conversion by the digital-to-analog converter 140 described with reference to FIG. 1 , or is a signal generated from a signal that is fed back after being output to the outside of the electronic device 101 . It may be a generated signal.

As described with reference to FIG. 1 , the digital horizontal synchronization signal 520 may be a signal corresponding to a target horizontal line of an analog signal. For example, with respect to the first analog signal output from the electronic device 101 , the digital horizontal synchronization signal 520 may be a digital signal corresponding to a target horizontal line among a plurality of horizontal lines of the first analog signal, and may be an analog signal. The feedback signal 510 may be an analog signal generated by the processor 120 feeding back the first analog signal.

According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may measure the voltage of the analog image feedback signal 510 based on the digital horizontal synchronization signal 520 . The processor 120 measures the voltage of the analog feedback signal 510 at a time point when the digital horizontal synchronization signal 520 is changed from high to low by the first delay 540 and provides analog feedback. First voltage information corresponding to the sink region (eg, 425 of FIG. 4 ) of the signal 510 may be acquired. The processor 120 measures the voltage of the analog feedback signal 510 at a time point when the digital horizontal synchronization signal 520 is changed from low to high by a second delay 550 to provide analog feedback. Second voltage information corresponding to the active region (eg, 430 of FIG. 4 ) of the signal 510 may be acquired.

According to an embodiment, the processor 120 is configured to control a time point at which the digital horizontal synchronization signal 520 changes from high to low and a time point at which it changes from low to high through the feedback timing detector 160 described with reference to FIG. 1 . Timing information can be obtained. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 detects an interrupt generated after the first delay 540 and the second delay 550 through the interrupt controller 170 interlocked with the feedback timing detector 160 to generate an analog feedback signal ( 510) may be obtained timing information for a measurement time point.

As described with reference to FIG. 4 , since the waveform is determined according to the standard of the analog image, the length of the sync region (eg, the length of the sync region 425 of FIG. 4 ) and the length of the active region (eg, FIG. The length of the active region 430 of 4) may be determined according to a standard. According to an embodiment, the first delay 540 is shorter than the length of the sync region of the analog feedback signal 510 , and the second delay 550 is predetermined shorter than the length of the active region of the analog feedback signal 510 . there may be

According to an embodiment, since the analog feedback signal 510 is a fed back signal, it may be delayed from the digital horizontal synchronization signal 520 , and a delay time 530 may occur. However, since the size of the delay time 530 is negligibly small compared to the first delay 540 and the second delay 550 , the effect may be insignificant.

According to an embodiment, when the first voltage information is in the normal range and the second voltage information is in the normal range, the processor 120 may determine that the analog image signal is normally output. As described with reference to FIG. 4 , a black level voltage 440 and a sink level voltage (eg, 450 in FIG. 4 ) may be determined according to an image standard. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 determines whether the first voltage information is included in a normal range based on the sink level voltage and whether the second voltage information is included in the normal range based on the black level voltage, When both the first voltage information and the second voltage information are included in the normal range, it may be determined that the analog signal is normally output.

Referring to FIG. 5 , a second delay 550 from a time point at which the processor 120 changes from high to low of the digital horizontal synchronization signal 520 by a first delay 540 and a time point at which the digital horizontal synchronization signal 520 changes from low to high. Although the embodiment in which the voltage of the analog image feedback signal 510 is measured at a later time point has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the processor 120 determines the first delay 540 or the second delay based on a time point other than a time point at which the digital horizontal synchronization signal 520 changes from high to low or a time point at which the digital horizontal synchronization signal 520 changes from low to high. The voltage of the analog image feedback signal 510 may be measured at a time point other than the 550 delay. The processor 120 may determine whether the analog signal is normally output by acquiring voltage information of the analog image feedback signal 510 of various timings based on the timing of the digital horizontal synchronization signal 520 .

<How to determine whether an analog signal is normally output or not>

6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of verifying an output of an analog signal of an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment.

Steps 610 to 660 may be performed by the processor 120 of the electronic device 101 described above with reference to FIG. 1, and for concise and clear explanation, the contents overlapping with those described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 are may be omitted.

According to an embodiment, in operation 610 , the processor 120 may output an analog signal including a target horizontal line. As described with reference to FIG. 1 , the processor 120 may output the analog signal converted by the digital-to-analog converter 140 through the communication unit 110 . The analog signal may be transmitted in a configuration to be controlled by the processor 120 of the electronic device 101 . According to an embodiment, when the electronic device 101 is included in an autonomous driving vehicle or a vehicle supporting ADAS, the analog image signal is a component mounted in the ADAS supporting vehicle for object detection and object tracking (eg, for example, to a sensor, SoC, module, etc.).

According to an embodiment, in operation 620 , the processor 120 may obtain a digital horizontal synchronization signal corresponding to a target horizontal line among a plurality of horizontal lines of the analog signal. The analog signal may be an analog image signal, and may include a plurality of horizontal lines as described with reference to FIG. 2 . As described with reference to FIG. 3 , the target horizontal line among the plurality of horizontal lines may include a sink area, a blank area, and an active area. As described with reference to FIG. 5 , the analog signal may correspond to a digital signal to be converted by the digital-to-analog converter 140 , and the digital horizontal synchronization signal may be a signal included in the digital signal. According to an embodiment, the digital horizontal synchronization signal may be included in a digital signal generated inside the electronic device 101 or may be included in a digital signal output and fed back from the electronic device 101 .

According to an embodiment, in operation 630, the processor 120 may generate an analog feedback signal by feeding back the output analog signal. The analog signal may be a signal from which an analog signal output from the electronic device 101 is fed back or a signal from which an amplified or modified signal output from the electronic device 101 is fed back.

According to an embodiment, in step 640 , the processor 120 performs first voltage information corresponding to the horizontal sync region of the target horizontal line of the analog signal based on the analog feedback signal and the digital horizontal synchronization signal as described with reference to FIG. 5 . can be obtained.

According to an embodiment, in step 650 , the processor 120 receives second voltage information corresponding to the active region of the target horizontal line of the analog signal based on the analog feedback signal and the digital horizontal synchronization signal as described with reference to FIG. 5 . can be obtained

According to an embodiment, in operation 660 , the processor 120 may determine whether an analog signal is normally output based on the first voltage information and the second voltage information as described with reference to FIG. 5 .

7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of acquiring first voltage information corresponding to a horizontal sink region of a target horizontal line of an analog signal according to an exemplary embodiment.

Steps 710 to 720 may be performed by the processor 120 of the electronic device 101 described above with reference to FIG. 1, and for concise and clear explanation, the content overlapping with the content described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 is may be omitted.

According to an embodiment, steps 710 to 720 may correspond to the step of obtaining the first voltage information described with reference to FIG. 6 (eg, step 640 of FIG. 6 ).

According to an embodiment, in operation 710 , the processor 120 may determine whether the digital horizontal synchronization signal is changed from high to low. As described with reference to FIG. 5 , the processor 120 may acquire timing information of the digital horizontal synchronization signal through the feedback timing detector 160 .

According to an embodiment, in step 720, the processor 120 sets the voltage of the analog feedback signal at a point in time when the digital horizontal synchronization signal is changed from high to low by a first delay (eg, the first delay 540 in FIG. 5 ). The first voltage information corresponding to the sink region of the analog feedback signal may be obtained by measuring . As described with reference to FIG. 5 , the processor 120 may acquire timing information for a time point that has passed by the first delay through the interrupt controller 170 , and the analog feedback signal through the analog-to-digital converter 150 . voltage can be measured.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of acquiring second voltage information corresponding to an active region of a target horizontal line of an analog signal according to an exemplary embodiment.

Steps 810 to 820 may be performed by the processor 120 of the electronic device 101 described above with reference to FIG. 1, and for concise and clear explanation, the contents overlapping with those described with reference to FIGS. may be omitted.

According to an embodiment, steps 810 to 820 may correspond to the step of obtaining the second voltage information described with reference to FIG. 6 (eg, step 650 of FIG. 6 ).

According to an embodiment, in operation 810 , the processor 120 may determine whether the digital horizontal synchronization signal is changed from low to high. As described with reference to FIG. 5 , the processor 120 may acquire timing information of the digital horizontal synchronization signal through the feedback timing detector 160 .

According to an embodiment, in step 820 , the processor 120 sets the voltage of the analog feedback signal at a point in time when the digital horizontal synchronization signal is changed from low to high by a second delay (eg, the second delay 550 in FIG. 2 ). By measuring , second voltage information corresponding to the active region of the analog feedback signal may be obtained. As described with reference to FIG. 5 , the processor 120 may acquire timing information for a time point that has elapsed by the second delay through the interrupt controller 170 , and the analog feedback signal through the analog-to-digital converter 150 . voltage can be measured.

9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of determining whether an analog signal is normally output based on first voltage information and second voltage information, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Steps 910 to 930 may be performed by the processor 120 of the electronic device 101 described above with reference to FIG. 1 , and for concise and clear explanation, the contents overlapping with those described with reference to FIGS. may be omitted.

According to an embodiment, steps 910 to 930 include determining whether an analog signal is normally output based on the first voltage information and the second voltage information described with reference to FIG. 6 (eg, step 660 of FIG. 6 ). can be matched.

According to an embodiment, in operation 910 , the processor 120 may determine whether the first voltage information is within a normal range. As described with reference to FIG. 5 , the processor 120 determines that the first voltage information corresponding to the horizontal sink region of the target horizontal line of the analog signal is based on the sink level voltage (eg, the sink level voltage 450 of FIG. 4 ). to determine whether it is within the normal range (eg, ±10%).

According to an embodiment, in step 920 , the processor 120 may determine whether the second voltage information is within a normal range. As described with reference to FIG. 5 , the processor 120 determines that the second voltage information corresponding to the active region of the target horizontal line of the analog signal is based on the black level voltage (eg, the black level voltage 440 of FIG. 4 ). You can decide whether it is within the normal range (eg +5% to +10%).

According to an embodiment, when the processor 120 determines that the first voltage information or the second voltage information is not within the normal range in step 910 or step 920 , the processor 120 determines that the analog signal is not normally output and determines in step 1010 . can proceed with

According to an embodiment, in operation 930 , the processor 120 may determine that the analog signal is normally output when both the first voltage information and the second voltage information are within the normal range. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may determine that the analog signal is normally output and continuously monitor the analog signal.

10 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of an electronic device when it is determined that an analog signal is not normally output, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Step 1010 may be performed by the processor 120 of the electronic device 101 described above with reference to FIG. 1 , and for a concise and clear description, content that overlaps with those described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 will be omitted. can

According to an embodiment, step 1010 includes determining whether the first voltage information described with reference to FIG. 9 is within a normal range (eg, step 910 of FIG. 9 ) and determining whether the second voltage information is within a normal range (eg: It may be performed when it is determined that the range is not in the normal range in step 920 of FIG. 9 .

According to an embodiment, in step 1010 , when it is determined that the analog signal is not normally output, the processor 120 may notify the user that the analog signal output is abnormal. The processor 120 may notify the user through visual and auditory feedback.

According to an embodiment, when the electronic device 101 is included in an autonomous driving vehicle or a vehicle supporting ADAS, as described with reference to FIG. 1 , the analog image signal is mounted on the ADAS supporting vehicle for object recognition and object tracking. configured configuration (eg, sensor, SoC, module, etc.). In this case, in step 1010, the processor 120 may notify the target configuration to which the analog signal is transmitted that the output of the analog signal is abnormal.

According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may notify that the output of the analog signal is abnormal in step 1010 and continue to monitor the analog signal. For example, the processor 120 may return to step 610 to perform the analog signal output verification operation described with reference to FIG. 6 . According to an embodiment, when the processor 120 determines that the analog signal is abnormally output and performs the analog output signal verification operation again, the first delay (eg, the first delay 540 of FIG. 5 ) and the second delay This may be performed by changing a value of a delay (eg, the second delay 550 of FIG. 5 ). According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may notify the user when it is determined that the analog signal is abnormally output more than a threshold number of times (eg, three times) by repeatedly monitoring the analog signal as described above.

11 illustrates a vehicle in which an electronic device is mounted according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 11 , a vehicle 1100 including the electronic device 101 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 is shown. The vehicle 1100 according to an exemplary embodiment may drive in an autonomous mode according to a recognized driving environment even in a situation in which there is little or no input from the driver. The driving environment may be recognized through one or more sensors attached or installed in the vehicle 1100 . For example, the one or more sensors may include, but are not limited to, cameras, LIDAR, RADAR, and voice recognition sensors. The driving environment may include a road, a state of a road, a type of a lane, the presence or absence of a nearby vehicle, a distance from a nearby vehicle, weather, the presence or absence of an obstacle, and the like, and is not limited to the described examples.

The vehicle 1100 recognizes the driving environment and generates an autonomous driving route suitable for the driving environment. To follow an autonomous path, autonomous vehicles control internal and external mechanical elements. The vehicle 1100 may periodically generate an autonomous driving route.

According to another aspect, the vehicle 1100 may assist a driver in driving by using an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS). ADAS is an automatic emergency braking system (AEB) that reduces or stops the speed by itself in case of a collision without the driver stepping on the brake system, and a lane keep assist system (Lane Keep Assist) that adjusts the driving direction in case of a lane departure. System: LKAS), Advanced Smart Cruise Control (ASCC) that maintains a distance from the vehicle in front while driving at a predetermined speed, and supports rear-spot collision avoidance that detects the risk of collision in the blind spot and helps to change into a safe lane It includes an Active Blind Spot Detection (ABSD) system and an Around View Monitor (AVM) system that visually shows the surroundings of the vehicle.

The electronic device 101 included in the vehicle 1100 may control a mechanical device of the vehicle 1100 to autonomously drive or assist a driver in driving, and may include an ECU and various types of controllers or sensors other than the described embodiment. can be used Since the electronic device 110 automatically controls the mechanical elements, the accuracy of the control is very important. For example, if control is performed at a timing different from the intention of the electronic device 110 due to a clock error used to control the system, an accident may occur.

The above is related to ISO 26262 or the International Standard for Automotive Functional Safety. ISO 26262 is an international standard for automotive functional safety established by ISO to prevent accidents caused by errors in the E/E (Electric & Electronic) system mounted on the vehicle 1100. ISO 26262, together with a process model, defines the activities required, the tangible and intangible evidence, and the methods used in development and production.

According to an embodiment, the electronic device 101 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 may be included in an autonomous driving vehicle or a vehicle supporting the advanced driver assistance system, and the electronic device described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10 ( The operation of the processor 120 of 101 may correspond to an operation of determining whether an analog signal is normally output when a vehicle image is transmitted in relation to ISO 26262.

The embodiments described above may be implemented by a hardware component, a software component, and/or a combination of a hardware component and a software component. For example, the apparatus, methods and components described in the embodiments may include, for example, a processor, a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable gate (FPGA). array), a programmable logic unit (PLU), a microprocessor, or any other device capable of executing and responding to instructions, may be implemented using a general purpose computer or special purpose computer. The processing device may execute an operating system (OS) and a software application running on the operating system. The processing device may also access, store, manipulate, process, and generate data in response to execution of the software. For convenience of understanding, although one processing device is sometimes described as being used, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the processing device includes a plurality of processing elements and/or a plurality of types of processing elements. It can be seen that may include For example, the processing device may include a plurality of processors or one processor and one controller. Other processing configurations are also possible, such as parallel processors.

The software may comprise a computer program, code, instructions, or a combination of one or more thereof, which configures a processing device to operate as desired or is independently or collectively processed You can command the device. The software and/or data may be any kind of machine, component, physical device, virtual equipment, computer storage medium or device, to be interpreted by or to provide instructions or data to the processing device. , or may be permanently or temporarily embody in a transmitted signal wave. The software may be distributed over networked computer systems and stored or executed in a distributed manner. Software and data may be stored in a computer-readable recording medium.

The method according to the embodiment may be implemented in the form of program instructions that can be executed through various computer means and recorded in a computer-readable medium. The computer readable medium may store program instructions, data files, data structures, etc. alone or in combination, and the program instructions recorded on the medium may be specially designed and configured for the embodiment, or may be known and available to those skilled in the art of computer software. have. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic tapes, optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, and magnetic such as floppy disks. - includes magneto-optical media, and hardware devices specially configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include not only machine language codes such as those generated by a compiler, but also high-level language codes that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like.

The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or a plurality of software modules to perform the operations of the embodiments, and vice versa.

As described above, although the embodiments have been described with reference to the limited drawings, a person skilled in the art may apply various technical modifications and variations based thereon. For example, the described techniques are performed in a different order than the described method, and/or the described components of the system, structure, apparatus, circuit, etc. are combined or combined in a different form than the described method, or other components Or substituted or substituted by equivalents may achieve an appropriate result.

Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims are also within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (20)

A method of verifying the output of an analog signal, performed by an electronic device, comprising:
The analog signal includes a plurality of horizontal lines, and a target horizontal line among the plurality of horizontal lines includes a blank area including a horizontal sync area and an active area in which desired data appears. ) including the area,
outputting the analog signal including the target horizontal line;
obtaining a digital H-sync signal corresponding to the target horizontal line of the analog signal;
generating an analog feedback signal by feeding back the outputted analog signal;
obtaining first voltage information corresponding to the horizontal sync area based on the analog feedback signal and the digital horizontal synchronization signal;
obtaining second voltage information corresponding to the active region based on the analog feedback signal and the digital horizontal synchronization signal; and
determining whether the analog signal is normally output based on the first voltage information and the second voltage information
containing,
How to verify the output of an analog signal.
According to claim 1,
The digital horizontal synchronization signal is
a signal generated inside the electronic device; and
A signal obtained from the outside of the electronic device
at least one of
How to verify the output of an analog signal.
According to claim 1,
The analog feedback signal is
a signal fed back from the signal output from the electronic device; and
A signal that is output from the electronic device and fed back the amplified or modified signal
at least one of
How to verify the output of an analog signal.
According to claim 1,
The step of obtaining the first voltage information includes:
Measuring the voltage of the analog feedback signal at a point in time that has passed by a first delay from a point in time when the digital horizontal synchronization signal is changed from high to low
containing,
How to verify the output of an analog signal.
5. The method of claim 4,
The first delay is
A value that is predetermined based on the standard of the analog signal,
How to verify the output of an analog signal.
According to claim 1,
Obtaining the second voltage information includes:
Measuring the voltage of the analog feedback signal at a time point that has passed by a second delay from a point in time when the digital horizontal synchronization signal is changed from low to high
containing,
How to verify the output of an analog signal.
7. The method of claim 6,
The second delay is
A value that is predetermined based on the standard of the analog signal,
How to verify the output of an analog signal.
According to claim 1,
The step of determining whether the analog signal is normally output based on the first voltage information and the second voltage information includes:
determining whether the first voltage information is within a normal range;
determining whether the second voltage information is in a normal range; and
determining that the analog signal is normally output when both the first voltage information and the second voltage information are within a normal range
containing,
How to verify the output of an analog signal.
According to claim 1,
The electronic device is included in a vehicle supporting an image transmission system for a vehicle, an autonomous vehicle, or an advanced driver assistance system,
How to verify the output of an analog signal.
A computer-readable recording medium containing a program for performing the method of any one of claims 1 to 9.
An electronic device for performing an output verification method of an analog signal,
a memory in which computer-executable instructions are stored; and
a processor that accesses the memory and executes the instructions
including,
The analog signal includes a plurality of horizontal lines, and a target horizontal line among the plurality of horizontal lines includes a blank area including a horizontal sync area and an active area in which desired data appears. ) including the area,
The commands are
Analog feedback by outputting the analog signal including the target horizontal line, obtaining a digital H-sync signal corresponding to the target horizontal line of the analog signal, and feeding back the outputted analog signal generating a signal, acquiring first voltage information corresponding to the horizontal sync region based on the analog feedback signal and the digital horizontal synchronization signal, and applying the first voltage information to the active region based on the analog feedback signal and the digital horizontal synchronization signal Obtaining corresponding second voltage information, and determining whether the analog signal is normally output based on the first voltage information and the second voltage information
configured to
electronic device.
12. The method of claim 11,
The digital horizontal synchronization signal is
a signal generated inside the electronic device; and
A signal obtained from the outside of the electronic device
at least one of
electronic device.
12. The method of claim 11,
The analog feedback signal is
a signal fed back from the signal output from the electronic device; and
A signal that is output from the electronic device and fed back the amplified or modified signal
at least one of
electronic device.
12. The method of claim 11,
The electronic device further comprises a feedback timing detector for detecting feedback timing,
The commands are
The first voltage information is obtained by measuring the voltage of the analog feedback signal at a time point that has elapsed by a first delay from a time point when the digital horizontal synchronization signal is changed from high to low through the feedback timing detector configured to obtain,
electronic device.
15. The method of claim 14,
The first delay is
A value that is predetermined based on the standard of the analog signal,
electronic device.
12. The method of claim 11,
The electronic device further comprises a feedback timing detector for detecting feedback timing,
The commands are
The second voltage information is obtained by measuring the voltage of the analog feedback signal at a time point that has passed by a second delay from a time point when the digital horizontal synchronization signal is changed from low to high through the feedback timing detector configured to obtain
electronic device.
17. The method of claim 16,
The second delay is
A value that is predetermined based on the standard of the analog signal,
electronic device.
12. The method of claim 11,
The commands are
Determine whether the first voltage information is within a normal range, determine whether the second voltage information is within a normal range, and determine that the analog signal is normally output when both the first voltage information and the second voltage information are within a normal range
configured to
electronic device.
12. The method of claim 11,
The electronic device is included in a vehicle supporting an image transmission system for a vehicle, an autonomous vehicle, or an advanced driver assistance system,
electronic device.
A method for controlling a function of an electronic device for outputting an analog signal, the method comprising:
The analog signal includes a plurality of horizontal lines, and a target horizontal line among the plurality of horizontal lines includes a blank area including a horizontal sync area and an active area in which desired data appears. ) including the area,
outputting the analog signal including the target horizontal line;
obtaining a digital H-sync signal corresponding to the target horizontal line of the analog signal;
generating an analog feedback signal by feeding back the outputted analog signal;
obtaining first voltage information corresponding to the horizontal sync area based on the analog feedback signal and the digital horizontal synchronization signal;
obtaining second voltage information corresponding to the active region based on the analog feedback signal and the digital horizontal synchronization signal;
determining whether the analog signal is normally output based on the first voltage information and the second voltage information; and
notifying a user of the electronic device when it is determined that the analog signal is not normally output;
containing,
A method of controlling the functions of an electronic device.

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