KR19990000647U - Optional internet mode and external signal reception mode indicator of the internet module - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for emitting and displaying an Internet mode and a PC signal input mode selected from an external TV set and an Internet module connectable to a PC. A light emitting diode for selectively emitting light in an internet mode and a PC signal input mode, a mode display switching unit for selectively switching a light emitting display of the light emitting diode, and a first digital RGB generated from an internet processor in conjunction with the mode display switching unit By including a video signal distribution module composed of a video signal and a video signal switching unit for selectively providing a second digital RGB video signal input from the PC to the encoder, the user can easily check the Internet mode and the PC signal reception mode. .

Description

Optional internet mode and external signal reception mode indicator of the internet module

The present invention relates to an Internet settop that can be connected to a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC), and more particularly to an Internet settop having a configuration capable of displaying a PC signal input mode and an Internet mode.

The Internet started out as a special military computer network, and today it is a popular network that connects computers from almost every country in the world. Technically, the Internet is a network of computer networks that exchange data according to a communication protocol called transmission control protocol / internet protocol (TCP / IP). It is not possible to connect all the computers to a central network, but to satisfy a certain protocol, any network can be easily connected, and as a result, a large number of computers can be connected.

In general, services using the Internet have a client / server structure in which one computer requests information from another computer and the requested computer passes the requested information. The one that provides the information is called the server computer, and the one that receives the information is called the client computer. The World Wide Web is also a client / server architecture Internet service that uses a communication protocol called Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (http). A collection of information provided by a web server computer is called a web site. If the web server computer is a TV station, the web site is a channel.

A web brouser, which receives information from the Internet, is a TV receiver. As a user, you will be able to use the World Wide Web right away by learning the web browser. The complex internal tasks of the World Wide Web are handled by the web browser, so the user only has to manipulate the web browser as he would handle a remote control. In fact, the popularity of the web as it is today is due to the development of great web browsers that are powerful and easy to use. As the functionality of the web browser is improving day by day, in the near future, you will be able to use almost all the functions of the computer by learning the web browser.

In order to access the Internet for information retrieval using a web browser, a monitor, a display device, and a computer, which is a terminal device, must be connected to a network or a telephone line. However, in order to use the Internet, hardware equipment, such as an expensive personal multimedia PC, is required, and there is a problem that it is difficult to carry a portable PC other than a laptop PC.

Therefore, an Internet set-top with an Internet-specific module has been proposed that enables the use of the Internet in a cost effective manner.

Referring to FIG. 1, an internet set top having an internet module connectable with a television set 300 having a conventional monitor is shown.

The internet module 100 is provided in the form of a set top box that is externally connectable to a television set. As shown, the dedicated module 100 for the Internet is configured as a board, and the board is mounted with hardware for connecting to the Internet. The Internet-only module 100 provides hypertext multimedia information downloaded from the Internet to a monitor of the television set 300 and displays it. The Internet-only module 100 is composed of a microprocessor 500 for internet communication and its peripheral devices. The internet module 100 further includes a keyboard / mouse 200 which is a pointing input means as its accessory.

Microprocessor 500 is a 32-bit RISC microprocessor module, an ARM 7500 series microcontroller chip available from Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) of the United Kingdom. The microprocessor 500 internally revolves around the ARM7 CPU core, with video processing, sound processing, other I / O interfaces, A / D and D / A functions, 4K byte cache, write buffers, and memory management. It consists of a one-chip microprocessor for multimedia that includes a memory management unit (MMU). Video and sound processing units produce video output for monitors, televisions, and other CRT or low power LCD display devices, and I / O processing interfaces are used for interfaces such as keyboards and mice or joysticks.

The modem 510 is connected to an external telephone line to use the Internet, and is connected to the microprocessor 500 through an E-ISA connector 515 supported by the processor 500.

The PROM 520 is used to store basic OS and Internet related protocols such as TCP / IP, PPP, MIME, HTTP, HTML, and the like.

The flash memory 530 serves as a hard disk storage medium used in a PC. The flash memory 530 is used to store a web browsing application program such as an Explorer or a Navigator.

The DRAM 540 is used to store data and information downloaded from the Internet along with the flash memory 530. Memory groups such as PROM 520, flash memory 530, and DRAM 540 are expandable for capacity.

The key input processing unit 550 is connected at one side using an I / O interface built into the processor 500, and the other side is connected to the keyboard / mouse 300, and the key provided from the keyboard / mouse 300 is provided. It converts an input signal into a coded signal and transmits the converted signal to the Internet processor 500.

The encoder 560 converts an RGB video signal output from the Internet processor 500 into an NTSC video signal used in the television set 300.

The sound D / A converter 570 performs a digital / analog conversion function for converting a multimedia hypertext signal output from the Internet processor 500 into an analog audio signal, and the output is a speaker (shown in the television set 300). No).

In addition, the Internet module 100 further includes a signal distribution module 600 to enable connection with the PC 400. The signal distribution module 600 is disposed between the internet processor 500 and the encoder 560 to selectively convert the video signal received from the PC 400 and the video signal generated by the internet processor 500 to the encoder 560. Performs the function of providing to the monitor of the television set 300.

In this operation, when the Internet module 100 is connected to the television set 300 and clicks on the Internet access key on the keyboard / mouse 200, the Internet processor 500 according to this click operation causes the PROM ( 520 drives basic system information, such as a BIOS boot program, and transfers operating system O / S boot files stored in PROM 520 to DRAM 540. From this point on, all the control right proceeds to the multimedia environment such as Windows 95, which is an operating system stored in the PROM 520, and then proceeds to the Internet mode.

As described above, the Internet module 100 may operate in a PC signal reception mode that receives a signal generated by the PC 400 while operating in an Internet mode for downloading information from the Internet. However, when the Internet module is used in the Internet mode or the PC signal reception mode, a method of distinguishing which mode the screen currently displayed on the television is generated from is a method of determining which mode the signal distribution module is set to. Only depend on. Therefore, there is a need for a method of easily checking whether the Internet module is switched to the Internet mode or the PC signal reception mode.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an internet module having a display function capable of confirming the selective internet mode and the PC signal reception mode of the internet module.

According to the present invention for achieving the above object, the Internet module for displaying the Internet mode and the PC signal reception mode includes: an Internet microprocessor; An encoder for converting a first digital RGB video signal generated from the microprocessor into an analog video signal used in the television set; A light emitting diode selectively emitting and displaying the internet mode and the PC signal input mode according to the selective internet mode and the PC signal reception mode of the internet module; The first digital RGB video signal and the second digital RGB video signal input from the PC are selectively connected to the encoder in conjunction with a mode display switching unit for selectively switching the light emitting display of the light emitting diode and the mode display switching unit. And a video signal distribution module configured to provide a video signal switching unit.

1 is a block diagram showing a connection configuration between a typical Internet module and a PC;

2 is a view showing the configuration of a display device of the selective Internet mode and PC signal reception mode of the Internet module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3A and 3B are enlarged views of the mechanical configuration of the signal distribution module each having a mode display device and the internal configuration of a part thereof;

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

100: Internet only module 200: keyboard / mouse

500: internet microprocessor 510: modem

560: encoder 600: signal distribution module

The above and other objects and various advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the preferred embodiments of the present invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. do.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 2, a mode display unit 580, an internet processor 500, a PC 400, and an encoder 560 as a configuration of a display device of a selective internet mode and a PC signal reception mode of an internet module constructed according to the present invention. A signal distribution module 700 for controlling the mode display operation of the mode display unit 580 is shown as an interface with the control panel. The mode display unit 580 may be formed of a display element such as a light emitting diode, or may be configured using a liquid crystal display (LCD).

3A shows the mechanical configuration of the video signal distribution module 700 shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3A, the signal distribution module 700 configured as a mechanical switch device displays a mode for selectively switching the display operation of the mode display unit 580 for selectively displaying the Internet mode and the PC signal reception mode of the Internet module. In conjunction with the switching unit 110 and the mode display switching unit 110 to the first digital RGB video signal and the Internet module 100 generated from the Internet microprocessor 500 according to the selective Internet mode and PC signal reception mode. And a video signal switching unit (120, 130, 140, 150, 160) for selectively providing a second digital RGB video signal input from the PC (400), which is a connectable external video signal source, to the encoder (560).

The video signal switching unit 120 is an R signal component of the first and second digital RGB video signals, the signal switching unit 130 is a G signal component, the signal switching unit 140 is a B signal component, the signal switching unit 150, the horizontal synchronization signal component Hsync and the signal switching unit 160 switch the vertical synchronization signal component Vsync.

3B illustrates a detailed configuration of the switch control signal switching unit 110 and one video signal switching unit 120 among the video signal switching units 120, 130, 140, 150, and 160 illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown, the mode display switching unit 110 is a first contact 112 connected to ground to generate a ground potential, a second contact 114 connected to Vcc to generate a Vcc potential, and a light emitting diode 580. And a slide contact 118 selectively connecting the first contact 112 and the second contact 114 with respect to the common contact 116 and the common contact 116. Similarly, the signal switching unit 120 may include a first contact 122 connected to the first video signal R1, a second contact 124 connected to the second video signal R2, and a common contact connected to the encoder 560. 126 and a slide contact 128 for selectively connecting the first contact 122 and the second contact 124 to the common contact 126.

The mechanical switch device 700 is configured to be slidable in the left and right directions by selectively turning on and off the switching knob 170 by a user, and by the slide movement of the switching knob 170, The slide contacts 118 and 128 supported on the shaft may move in the left and right directions to selectively connect the first and second contacts to the common contact. When the internet module 100 is in the internet mode, the signal distribution module 700 has an off state, and in this off state, the first contact 112 of the mode display switching unit 110 and the video signal switching units 120 to 160. And 122 and the common contacts 116 and 126 remain connected, respectively.

Thus, the mode display switching unit 110 of the signal distribution module 700 provides the ground potential of the first contact 112 to the light emitting diode 580. Thus, light emitting diode 580 is turned off to indicate that the Internet module is currently in use in the Internet mode. In addition, the digital RGB video signal generated from the Internet processor 500 is provided to the television set 300 through the encoder 560 via the video signal switching units 120 to 160 so that Internet information of the television set 300 can be obtained. Is displayed on the monitor.

However, on the contrary, when the Internet module 100 is in the PC signal reception mode by turning the knob 170 of the signal distribution module 700 on, the mode display switching unit 110 of the signal distribution module 700 is turned on. The common contact 116 is connected to the second edge 114 of the Vcc potential and turns on a light emitting diode connected to the common contact 116 to indicate that the Internet module is currently in use in the PC signal reception mode. In this case, similar to the mode display switching unit 110, the second digital RGB video signal input from the PC 400 is input to the encoder 560 by connecting the common contact of the video signal switching units 120 to 160 to the second contact, respectively. Is provided to the television set 300 to display PC information.

At this time, in order to switch from the PC signal reception mode back to the Internet mode, by switching the knob 170 of the signal distribution module 700 to the switch-off position, the Internet module operates in the Internet mode as described above, and the Internet processor 500 The digital RGB video signal generated from H < 1 > can be provided to the television set 300 via the encoder 560.

According to the present invention, when the Internet module selectively operates in the Internet mode and the PC signal reception mode, each mode can be displayed by using a light emitting diode or an LCD, so that the user can easily check the mode of use of the Internet module. have.

Claims (2)

In the Internet module that can be connected to the external TV set and PC, An Internet microprocessor; An encoder for converting a first digital RGB video signal generated from the microprocessor into an analog video signal used in the television set; A mode display unit for selectively displaying the internet mode and the PC signal input mode according to an optional internet mode and a PC signal reception mode of the internet module; A mode display switching unit for selectively switching the mode display of the mode display unit, and a first digital RGB video signal and a second digital RGB video signal input from the PC in association with the mode display switching unit. An optional Internet mode and PC signal receiving mode display device of the Internet module, characterized in that it comprises a video signal distribution module consisting of a video signal switching unit provided. The method of claim 1, wherein the mode display switching unit of the signal distribution module: A first contact connected to ground; A second contact connected to Vcc; A common contact connected to the light emitting diode; A slide contact selectively connecting the first contact point and the second contact point with respect to the common contact point, The video signal switching unit of the signal distribution module is: A first contact coupled to the first RGB video signal; A second contact coupled to the second RGB video signal; A common contact coupled to the encoder; And a slide contact configured to selectively connect the first contact point and the second contact point with respect to the common contact point.