U.S. patent application number 13/738689 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-23 for audiovisual (av) device and control method thereof.
The applicant listed for this patent is Masahiko Mawatari, Takanobu Mukaide. Invention is credited to Masahiko Mawatari, Takanobu Mukaide.
Application Number | 20130133021 13/738689 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38091828 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130133021 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mukaide; Takanobu ; et
al. |
May 23, 2013 |
Audiovisual (AV) Device and Control Method Thereof
Abstract
According to one embodiment, video image and audio signals are
transmitted to a plurality of electronic devices each having at
least one of a video image display function and an audio
reproducing function. Information indicating the fact that at least
one of a video image and audio has been set in a mute state is
acquired from each of the electronic devices. Based on the
information, a processing operation is applied to the video image
and audio signals supplied to each of the electronic devices.
Inventors: |
Mukaide; Takanobu;
(Tachikawa-shi, JP) ; Mawatari; Masahiko;
(Yokohama-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Mukaide; Takanobu
Mawatari; Masahiko |
Tachikawa-shi
Yokohama-shi |
|
JP
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
38091828 |
Appl. No.: |
13/738689 |
Filed: |
January 10, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12497338 |
Jul 2, 2009 |
8375417 |
|
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13738689 |
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|
11603845 |
Nov 22, 2006 |
7827588 |
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12497338 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
725/141 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/422 20130101;
H04N 21/44 20130101; H04N 21/43632 20130101; H04N 21/42646
20130101; H04N 5/765 20130101; H04N 7/163 20130101; H04N 21/4396
20130101; H04N 21/4122 20130101; H04N 5/775 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
725/141 |
International
Class: |
H04N 21/422 20060101
H04N021/422 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 29, 2006 |
JP |
2006-090428 |
Claims
1. An AV device comprising: a processing section configured to
apply a predetermined signal processing operation to a digital
voice signal; a storage section configured to store information
indicating time required for the signal processing operation at the
processing section, and when a voice has been set in a mute state,
store the information indicating the time required for the signal
processing operation by the processing section which is rewritten
into a value that cannot be taken in general; and a control section
configured to output information stored in the storage section.
2. The AV device of claim 1, wherein when the voice has been set in
a mute state, the storage section is configured to store the
information indicating the time required for the signal processing
operation by the processing section which is rewritten into a value
indicating that the time is set to "0".
3. The AV device of claim 1, wherein the storage section is an EDID
memory.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a Continuation application of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/497,338, now U.S. Pat. No. ______, which
claims the benefit of priority on U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/603,845, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,827,588, filed Nov. 22, 2006 and is
based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent
Application No. 2006-090428, filed Mar. 29, 2006, the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] One embodiment of the invention relates to an audiovisual
(AV) device that transmits or receives a signal such as a video
image or audio, for example, to or from an externally connected
electronic device. In addition, the present invention relates to an
interface system for connecting the above-described AV device in
plurality.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] As is well known, a digital visual interface (DVI) standard
is prevalent as a standard for transmitting a digital video image
signal. In recent years, a high definition multimedia interface
(HDMI) standard has been employed as a digital signal transmission
standard that is a further improvement of this DVI standard.
[0006] This HDMI standard, for example, includes a variety of
stipulations that does not exit in the DVI standard such as the
fact that a digital audio signal can be multiplexed and transmitted
as audio in a blanking period of a digital video image signal, the
fact that a digital video image signal is transmitted in an RGB
signal format and can be transmitted in a format of a YCbCr signal
or in a format of a YPbPr signal that is of higher quality than
that of the YCbCr signal; and the fact that connection can be made
via a USB (universal serial bus)-like small sized HDMI
connector.
[0007] In addition, in the DVI standard or in the HDMI standard, in
the case where one electronic device transmits a signal such as a
video image or audio to the other electronic device, a transmitting
electronic device acquires extended display identification data
(EDID) from a receiving electronic device, thereby a signal can be
output in a format that conforms to specification of receiving a
display that the receiving electronic device has.
[0008] Further, in the DVI standard or in the HDMI standard, a
plurality of signal output ports are installed on the transmitting
electronic device, and the receiving electronic devices are
connected to the signal output ports, thereby making it possible
for the transmitting electronic devices to transmit an identical
signal at the same time or a signal in another signal-converted
format to a plurality of receiving electronic devices. In this
manner, signal transmission can be achieved such that only a video
image can be displayed by means of a receiving first electronic
device, and then, only audio is reproduced by means of a second
receiving electronic device.
[0009] For example, in the case where the HDMI standard has been
employed, an optical disk reproducing apparatus that reproduces an
optical disk such as a DVD (digital versatile disk) may operate as
a transmitting electronic device while (i) and (i) a large screen
high definition display and (ii) a 2-channel stereo speaker and an
AV (audio video) amplifier, which may include a 5.1-channel audio
reproducing function for example, operate as a plurality of
receiving electronic devices. A video image with a high image
quality is displayed by means of the television image receiver and
audio with a high sound quality is reproduced by means of the AV
amplifier.
[0010] In the meantime, it is necessary to synchronize the display
video image by the television image receiver with audio
reproduction by the AV amplifier. As a result, in the television
image receiver and in the AV amplifier, times required for
processing their video image signal and audio signal are recorded
as the above-described EDID data.
[0011] Thus, an optical disk reproducing apparatus can acquire EDID
data from the television image receiver and the AV amplifier,
respectively, and can control the display video image and the
reproduced audio in synchronism with each other by using the time
required for video image signal processing of the television image
receiver and the time required for audio signal processing of the
AV amplifier.
[0012] However, in a current situation, for synchronization
control, it is necessary for a user to input and set to which
signal output port an electronic device is connected to an optical
disk reproducing apparatus that is a transmitting electronic
device, to which signal output port an electronic device is
connected to display a video image, and to which signal output port
an electronic device is connected to reproduce audio, and handling
becomes complicated.
[0013] In Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2005-57714, there
is disclosed a configuration such that at the time of connecting a
plurality of receiver devices to a transmitter device and
transmitting video image and audio data that conform to the HDMI
standard, video image and audio data are transmitted to a receiver
device capable of reproducing video image and audio based on the
EDID data acquired from the receiver device; only video image data
is transmitted to a receiver device capable of reproducing only
video image; and only audio data is transmitted to a receiver
device capable of reproducing only audio.
[0014] In addition, in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No.
2006-19857, there is disclosed a configuration such that a tuner,
an image recording/reproducing apparatus, a monitor can be
connected to each other in longitudinal manner; a receiver requests
specification for a desired video image signal to a video image
signal transmitter; and, in the case where the image
recording/reproducing apparatus enters a stop mode, a video image
signal outputted from the tuner is directly transmitted to the
monitor.
[0015] Further, in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No.
2002-344898, IEEE1394 is disclosed as a standard for
interconnecting AV devices, and a DVD player, a TV monitor, and an
AV amplifier are connected to each other in accordance with the
IEEE standard. In this document, there are described: means for
obtaining processing delay information for video image display
processing of the TV monitor; and means for an AV amplifier to
acquire the information and to adjust audio delay.
[0016] Furthermore, in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No.
2006-33436, an HDMI standard is disclosed as a standard for
interconnecting AV devices; and between a video image monitor and
an AV amplifier and between the AV amplifier and a DVD player are
connected to each other in accordance with the HDMI standard.
Moreover, there are described means for acquiring a delay time for
monitor video image display processing and means for delaying an
audio signal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] A general architecture that implements the various feature
of the invention will now be described with reference to the
drawings. The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided
to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the
scope of the invention.
[0018] FIG. 1 is an exemplary block diagram showing an embodiment
of the present invention, the block diagram being adapted to
explain an example of a signal transmitting system that conforms to
an HDMI standard;
[0019] FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram adapted to explain a
signal processing system of a television image receiver provided as
a receiving AV device in the same embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 3 is an exemplary flow chart adapted to explain a main
processing operation of the television image receiver in the same
embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 4 is an exemplary block diagram adapted to explain a
signal processing system of an AV amplifier that is a receiving AV
device in the same embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 5 is an exemplary block diagram adapted to explain a
signal processing system of an optical disk reproducing apparatus
that is a transmitting AV device in the same embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 6 is an exemplary flow chart adapted to explain a main
processing operation of the optical disk reproducing apparatus in
the same embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 7 is an exemplary block diagram adapted to explain
another example of a signal transmitting system that conforms to an
HDMI standard in the same embodiment;
[0025] FIG. 8 is an exemplary block diagram adapted to explain a
signal processing system of STB that is a transmitting AV device in
another example of the same signal transmitting system; and
[0026] FIG. 9 is an exemplary block diagram adapted to explain a
signal processing system of an optical disk reproducing apparatus
that is a transmitting AV device in another example of the same
signal transmitting system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] Various embodiments according to the invention will be
described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In general, according to one embodiment of the invention, video
image and audio signals are transmitted to a plurality of
electronic devices each having at least one of a video image
display function and audio reproducing function. Information
indicating the fact that at least one of a video image and audio
has been set in a mute state is acquired from each of the
electronic devices. Based on the information, a processing
operation is applied to the video image and audio signals supplied
to each of the electronic devices.
[0028] Certain details are set forth below in order to provide a
thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention,
albeit the invention may be practiced through many embodiments
other that those illustrated. Herein, certain terminology is used
to describe features of the invention such as the term "section"
that represents hardware and/or software configured to perform one
or more particular functions.
[0029] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary configuration of a signal
transmitting system that conforms to an HDMI standard described in
the present embodiment. That is, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 11
denotes an optimal disk reproducing apparatus. This optical disk
reproducing apparatus 11 is provided as a transmitting AV device in
the signal transmitting system.
[0030] This optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 reads data
recorded in an optical disk such as a DVD, for example, and
reproduces a digital video image signal and an audio signal. Then,
the digital video image signal and audio signal reproduced by this
optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 are converted to digital data
in a format that conforms to the HDMI standard, and is outputted to
a plurality of receiving AV devices (two devices as
illustrated).
[0031] In the present embodiment, two receiving AV devices are: a
television image receiver 12 having a flat panel display capable of
displaying a high definition video image on a large screen and
enabling audio reproduction of stereo 2 channels; and an AV
amplifier 13 having a function of reproducing audio with a high
sound quality with multi-channels such as 5.1 channel and capable
of displaying a video image on a small screen.
[0032] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary signal processing system of the
above-described television image receiver 12. In FIG. 2,
constituent elements which receive, channel-select, and demodulate
a television broadcast signal are not described for the sake of
simplification. That is, digital data outputted from the
above-described optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 in a format
that conforms to the HDMI standard is supplied to an input terminal
15 of the television image receiver 12 via a TMDS signal
transmission path 14.
[0033] The digital data supplied to this input terminal 15 is
supplied to an HDMI receiving section 16, and then, the resulting
signal is demultiplexed into a digital video image signal and an
audio signal. Among them, the digital video image signal is
supplied to a video image processing section 18 that configures a
reproducing section 17, a predetermined video image signal
processing operation is applied, and then, the video image is
displayed on a flat panel display 19.
[0034] In addition, the digital audio signal demultiplexed at the
HDMI receiving section 16 is supplied to an audio processing
section 20 that configures the above-described reproducing section
17, a predetermined audio signal processing operation is applied,
and then, the audio is reproduced by means of a speaker 21 that
corresponds to stereo 2 channels.
[0035] Where the demultiplexed digital audio signal includes
control delay data CDL described later, the HDMI receiving section
16 performs various operations so as to delay and output a digital
audio signal by a time interval specified by the control delay data
CDL.
[0036] In addition, this television image receiver 12 causes a
control section 22 to integrally control all of the operations
including the above-described reproducing operation. This control
section 22 incorporates a central processing unit (CPU) 22a,
receives operation information from an operating section 22b, and
controls each section so that its operational contents are
reflected.
[0037] In this case, the control section 22 utilizes a memory
section 22c. This memory section 22c mainly has: a red only memory
(ROM) having stored therein a control program executed by the CPU
22a; a random access memory (RAM) that provides a work area in the
CPU 22a; and a nonvolatile memory having stored therein a variety
of setting information, control information or the like.
[0038] In addition, this control section 22 is connected to an EDID
memory 23. This EDID memory 23 records, as EDID: information
indicating receiving specification of the television image receiver
12 (video image display capability, audio reproduction, and display
capability); time information VD1D indicating a time VD1 required
for a video image signal processing operation at the video image
receiving section 18; time information AD1D indicating a time AD1
required for an audio signal processing operation at the audio
processing section 20, and the like.
[0039] Here, in the above-described control section 22, when a user
operates the above-described operating section 22b, thereby setting
a video image mute state, namely, when a current state is set to a
state for stopping a video image display in the flat panel display
19, information indicating the fact that the television image
receiver 12 has been set in a state in which the receiver is not
provided for viewing of a video image is written into the EDID
memory 23.
[0040] Writing into the EDID memory 23 the information indicating
that this television image receiver 12 has been set in a state in
which the receiver is not provided for video image viewing is
easily achieved by rewriting into a value that cannot be generally
taken, for example, "0", the time information VD1D indicating the
time VD1 required for the video image signal processing operation
at the video image processing section 18.
[0041] In addition, in the above-described control section 22, when
a user operates the above-described operating section 22b in an
audio mute state, namely, when a current state is set to a state
for stopping audio reproduction in the speaker 21, information
indicating the fact that the television image receiver 12 has been
set in a state in which the receiver is not provided for audio
reception (and subsequent output) is written into the EDID memory
23.
[0042] Writing into the EDID memory 23 the information indicating
that this television image receiver 12 has been set in a state in
which the receiver is not provided for audio reception is easily
achieved by rewriting into a value that cannot be generally taken,
for example, "0", the time information AD1D indicating the time AD1
required for the audio signal processing operation at the audio
processing section 20.
[0043] That is, the time VD1 required for the video image signal
processing operation at the above-described video image processing
section 18 and the time AD1 required for the audio signal
processing operation at the audio processing section 20 are
generally stored in the EDID memory 23 in units of 1 millisecond,
for example; 1 millisecond is set at minimum, and "0" is not set.
Thus, the fact that time information VD1D and AD1D are set to "0"
can be defined as a value that cannot be generally taken.
[0044] For example, it becomes possible to define 5 milliseconds or
less as a value that cannot be generally taken, in a system in
which the fact that times VD1 and AD1 are always set to be more
than 5 milliseconds is known in advance.
[0045] In addition, a variety of information stored in this EDID
memory 23 are read out from the EDID memory 23 upon request from
the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 that is a transmitting AV
device, and the read out information is transmitted to the optical
disk reproducing apparatus 11 via an output terminal 24 and a DDC
(display data channel) communication path 25.
[0046] Thus, in the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11,
information is acquired from the EDID memory 23 of the television
image receiver 12, and the time information VD1D indicating the
time VD1 required for the video image signal processing operation
at the video image processing section 18 is set to "0", thereby
making it possible to easily identify the fact that the television
image receiver 12 is set in a state in which the receiver is not
provided for viewing of a video image.
[0047] In addition, the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11
acquires information from the EDID memory 23 of the television
image receiver 12, and then, sets to "0" the time information AD1D
indicating the time AD1 required for the audio signal processing
operation at the audio processing section 20, thereby making it
possible to easily identify the fact that the television image
receiver 12 is set in a state in which the receiver is not provided
for audio reception.
[0048] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart summarizing an operation of
rewriting time information VD1D and AD1D of the EDID memory 23 in
the above-described television image receiver 12. That is, when a
processing operation is started (block S1), the control section 22
determines whether or not main power of the television image
receiver 12 has been turned ON in block S2. In the case where it
has been determined that the main power is not turned ON (NO), the
processing operation is terminated (block S9).
[0049] In addition, in the case where it has been determined that
main power is turned ON in the above block S2 (YES), the control
section 22 determines whether or not a video image mute state has
been set by means of a user in block S3. Then, in the case where it
has been determined that the video image mute state is set (YES),
the control section 22 sets to "0" the time information VD1D
indicating the time VD1 required for the video image signal
processing operation at the video image processing section 18, the
time information being stored in the EDID memory 23, in block
S4.
[0050] On the other hand, in the case where it has been determined
that the video image mute state is not set in the above block S3
(NO), the control section 22 sets to an essential value the time
information VD1D indicating the time VD1 required for the video
image signal processing operation at the video image processing
section 18, the time information being stored in the EDID memory
23, in block S5.
[0051] After the above block S4 or block S5, the control section 22
determines whether or not an audio mute state has been set by a
user, in block S6. In the case where it has been determined that
the audio mute state is set (YES), the control section 22 sets to
"0" the time information AD1D indicating the time AD1 required for
the audio signal processing operation at the audio processing
section 20, the time information being stored in the EDID memory
23, in block S7, and a current processing operation returns to that
shown in block S2.
[0052] In the case where it has been determined that the audio mute
state is not set in the above block S6 (NO), the control section 22
sets to the essential value the time information AD1D indicating
the time AD1 required for the audio signal processing operation at
the audio processing section 20, the time information being stored
in the EDID memory 23, in block S8, and a current processing
operation returns to that shown in block S2.
[0053] According to the television image receiver 12 that is the
above-described receiving AV device, in the case where the video
image mute state has been set by the user, the time information
VD1D indicating the time VD1 required for the video image signal
processing operation at the video image processing section 18, the
time information being stored in the EDID memory 23, is set to "0".
In the case where the audio mute state has been set by the user,
the time information AD1D indicating the time AD1 required for the
audio signal processing operation at the audio processing section
20, the time information being stored in the EDID memory 23, is set
to "0".
[0054] Thus, the television image receiver 12 causes the optical
disk reproducing apparatus 11 that is a transmitting AD device to
acquire the time information VD1D and AD1D stored in the EDID
memory 23, thereby making it possible to easily identify the fact
that the television image receiver 12 has been set in a state in
which the receiver is not provided for video image viewing or audio
reception.
[0055] In the case where an audio mute key of the operating section
22b is operated, the television image receiver 12 is set to the
audio mute state. In addition, in the case where a volume control
operator of the operating section 22b is controlled to a position
that corresponds to a minimum volume, the audio mute state is set.
That is, the above description expressing a video image mute and an
audio mute denotes a state in which the receiver is not mainly
provided for viewing or reception.
[0056] FIG. 4 shows a signal processing system of the
above-described AV amplifier 13. That is, digital data outputted
from the above-described optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 in a
format that conforms to the HDMI standard is supplied to an input
terminal 27 of the AV amplifier 13 via the TMDS signal transmission
path 26.
[0057] The digital data supplied to this input terminal 27 is
supplied to an HDMI receiving section 28, and the resulting digital
data is demultiplexed into a digital video image and a digital
audio signal. From among them, the digital video image signal is
supplied to a video image processing section 30 that configures a
reproducing section 29, a predetermined video image signal
processing operation is applied, and then, a video image is
displayed on a small screen display 31.
[0058] In addition, the digital audio signal demultiplexed by the
HDMI receiving section 28 is supplied to an audio processing
section 32 that configures the above-described reproducing section
29, a predetermined audio signal processing operation is applied,
and then, audio is reproduced by a speaker 33 that corresponds to
5.1 channel.
[0059] In this HDMI receiving section 28, there is provided a
function of, in the case where the demultiplexed digital audio
signal includes control delay data CDL, delaying and outputting the
digital audio signal with the control delay data CDL by a specified
time.
[0060] This AV amplifier 13 causes a control section 34 to
integrally control all of the operations including the
above-described reproducing operation. This control section 34
incorporates a CPU 34a, and controls each section so that its
operational contents are reflected, based on the operation
information from the operating section 34b.
[0061] In this case, the control section 34 utilizes a memory
section 34c. This memory section 34c mainly has: a ROM having
stored therein a control program executed by the CPU 34a; a RAM
that provides a work area to the CPU 34a; and a nonvolatile memory
having stored therein a variety of setting information, control
information and the like.
[0062] This control section 34 is connected to an EDID memory 35.
This EDID memory 35 records, as EDID: information indicating
receiving specification (video image display capability and audio
reproducing capability) of the AV amplifier 13; time information
VD2D indicating a time VD2 required for a video image signal
processing operation at the video image processing section 30; time
information AD2D indicating a time AD2 required for an audio signal
processing operation at the audio processing section 32 and the
like.
[0063] Here, in the above-described control section 34, when a user
operates the above-described operating section 34b, and sets a
current state to video image mute state, namely, when a state for
stopping a video image display in the display 31 has been set,
information indicating the fact that the AV amplifier 13 has been
set in a state in which the amplifier is not provided for video
image viewing (in actuality, a video image display may be provided,
but a user is mainly watching the television image receiver 12) is
written into the EDID memory 35.
[0064] Writing into the EDID memory 35 the information indicating
that this AV amplifier 13 has been set in a state in which the
amplifier is not provided for video image viewing is easily
achieved by rewriting to a value that cannot be generally taken,
for example, "0", the time information VD2D indicating the time VD2
required for the video image signal processing operation at the
video image processing section 30.
[0065] In addition, in the above-described control section 34, when
a user operates the above-described operating section 34b, and sets
a current state to an audio mute state, namely, when a current
state is set to a state for stopping audio reproduction in the
speaker 33, information indicating the fact that the AV amplifier
13 has been set to a state in which the amplifier is not provided
for audio reception is written into the EDID memory 35.
[0066] Writing into the EDID memory 35 the information indicating
that this AV amplifier 13 has been set in a state in which the
amplifier is not provided for audio reception is easily achieved by
rewriting to a value that cannot be generally taken, for example,
"0", the time information AD2D indicating the time AD2 required for
the audio signal processing operation at the audio image processing
section 32.
[0067] That is, the time VD2 required for the video image signal
processing operation at the above-described video image processing
section 30 and the time AD2 required for the audio signal
processing operation at the audio processing section 32 are stored
in the EDID memory 35 in units of 1 millisecond, in general, 1
millisecond is set to the minimum, and "0" is not set. Thus, the
fact that time information VD2D and AD2D are set to "0" can be
defined as a value that cannot be taken in general.
[0068] For example, it becomes possible to define 5 milliseconds or
less as a value that cannot be taken in general in a system in
which times VD2 and AD2 are known to be always more than 5
milliseconds.
[0069] In addition, a variety of information stored in this EDID
memory 35 are read out from the EDID memory 35 upon request from
the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 that is a transmitting AD
device, and the read out information is transmitted to the optical
disk reproducing apparatus 11 via an output terminal 36 and a DDC
communication path 37.
[0070] Thus, the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 acquires
information from the EDID memory 35 of the AV amplifier 13, and
then, sets to "0" time information VD2D indicating the time VD2
required for the video image signal processing operation at the
video image processing section 30, thereby making it possible to
easily identify the fact that the AV amplifier 13 has been set in a
state in which the amplifier is not provided for video image
viewing.
[0071] In addition, the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11
acquires information from the EDID memory 35 of the AV amplifier
13, and sets to "0" the time information AD2D indicating the time
AD2 required for the audio signal processing operation at the audio
processing section 32, thereby making it possible to easily
identify the fact that the AV amplifier 13 has been set to a state
in which the amplifier is not provided for audio reception.
[0072] According to the AV amplifier 13 that is the above-described
receiving AV device, in the case where a video image mute state has
been set by a user, the time information VD2D indicating the time
VD2 required for the video image signal processing operation at the
video image processing section 30, the time information being
stored in the EDID memory 35, is set to "0". When an audio mute
state has been set by the user, the time information AD2D
indicating the time AD2 required for the audio signal processing
operation at the audio processing section 32, the time information
being stored in the EDID memory 35, is set to "0".
[0073] Thus, the AV amplifier 13 causes the optical disk
reproducing apparatus 11 that is a transmitting AV device to
acquire the time information VD2D and AD2D stored in that EDID
memory 35, thereby making it possible to easily identify the fact
that the AV amplifier 13 has been set in a state in which the
amplifier is not provided for video image viewing or audio
reception.
[0074] As the AV amplifier 13, a current state is set to an audio
mute state in the case where an audio mute key of an operating
section 34b of the amplifier has been operated. In addition, in the
case where a volume control operator of the operating section 34b
has been controlled to a position that corresponds to a minimum
volume, the audio mute state is set. Alternatively, in the case
where a state of headphone listening is established and no video
image display is mainly set by a user, the audio mute state is
set.
[0075] FIG. 5 shows a signal processing system of the
above-described optical disk reproducing apparatus 11. That is, an
optical disk 38 such as a DVD is mounted on a disk drive section 40
that configures a disk reproducing section 39, and data recorded
therein is read. The data read by this disk drive section 40 is
supplied to a video image decoder section 41 and an audio decoder
section 42, respectively.
[0076] Among them, the video image decoder section 41 samples a
video image component from inputted data, and then, applies a
decoding processing operation, thereby generating a digital video
image signal. In addition, the audio decoder section 42 samples an
audio component from the inputted data, and then, applies a
decoding processing operation, thereby generating a digital audio
signal.
[0077] Then, the digital audio signal generated by the
above-described audio decoder section 42 is supplied to a delay
control section 43, and a predetermined amount of delay processing
operation described later is applied. In addition, this delay
control section 43 controls a delay amount when a delay processing
operation is applied to the inputted digital audio signal.
[0078] Here, the digital video image signal generated by the
above-described video image decoder section 41 is supplied to an
input terminal of each of two HDMI transmitter sections 44 and 45.
In addition, the digital audio signal outputted from the audio
decoder section 42 and the digital audio signal outputted from the
delay control section 43 are selectively supplied by means of a
switch 47 that configures a selector section 46 to the other input
terminal of the HDMI transmitter section 44.
[0079] In addition, the digital audio signal outputted from the
audio decoder section 42 and the digital audio signal outputted
from the delay control section 43 are selectively supplied by means
of a switch 48 that configures the selector section 46 to the other
input terminal of the HDMI transmitter section 45.
[0080] The above-described HDMI transmitter section 44 temporally
multiplexes the inputted digital video image signal and audio
signal; converts the multiplexed signals to digital data in a
format that conforms to the HDMI standard; and outputs the
converted data to the television image receiver 12 via an output
terminal 49a of an input/output port 49 and the TMDS signal
transmission path 14.
[0081] In addition, the above-described HDMI transmitter section 45
temporally multiplexes the inputted digital video image signal and
audio signal; converts the multiplexed signals to digital data in a
format that conforms to the HDMI standard; and outputs the
converted data to the AV amplifier 13 via an output terminal 50a of
an input/output port 50 and the TMDS signal transmission path
26.
[0082] Thus, the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 causes a
control section 51 to integrally control all of the operations
including the above-described reproducing operation. This control
section 51 incorporates a CPU 51a, and controls each section so
that its operational contents are reflected, respectively, based on
operation information from an operating section 51b.
[0083] In this case, the control section 51 utilizes a memory
section 51c. This memory section 51c mainly has: a ROM having
stored therein a control program executed by the CPU 51a; a RAM
that provides a work area to the CPU 51a; a nonvolatile memory
having stored therein a variety of setting information and control
information and the like.
[0084] In addition, this control section 51 is connected to a DDC
communication path 25 for transmitting information read out from
the EDID memory 23 of the television image receiver 12 via the
input terminal 49b of the input/output port 49. Further, this
control section 51 is connected to a DDC communication path 37 for
transmitting information read out from the EDID memory 35 of the AV
amplifier 13 via the input terminal 50b of the input/output port
50.
[0085] In this manner, the control section 51 can acquire
information stored in the EDID memory 23 of the television image
receiver 12 and information stored in the EDID memory 35 of the AV
amplifier 13, respectively.
[0086] FIG. 6 shows a flow chart summarizing an operation of the
optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 automatically judging an AV
device that displays a video image and an AV device that reproduces
audio, based on the information stored in the EDID memory 23 of the
television image receiver 12 and the information stored in the EDID
memory 35 of the AV amplifier 13; and controlling the displayed
video image and the reproduced audio so as to be synchronized with
each other.
[0087] Now, an operation will be described by way of example in
which a user provides settings so as to view a display video image
by the flat panel display 19 of the television image receiver 12
and so as to hear a reproduced audio by the speaker 33 of the AV
amplifier 13.
[0088] That is, in this case, the user sets the television image
receiver 12 to an audio mute state, namely, to a state in which the
television image receiver 12 is not provided for audio reception,
and sets the AV amplifier 13 to a video image mute state, namely,
to a state in which the AV amplifier 13 is not provided for video
image viewing.
[0089] Thus, the EDID memory 23 of the television image receiver 12
sets to "0" time information AD1D indicating a time AD1 required
for the audio signal processing operation at that audio processing
section 20. The EDID memory 35 of the AV amplifier 13 sets to "0"
time information VD2D indicating a time VD2 required for the video
image signal processing operation at the video image processing
section 30.
[0090] When a processing operation is started (in block S10), the
control section 51 of the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11
determines whether or not receiving AV devices (television image
receiver 12 and AV amplifier 13 in this case) have been connected
to both of the two input/output ports 49 and 50, respectively, in
block S11.
[0091] In the case where it is determined that the above connection
has been made (YES), the control section 51 requests the television
image receiver 12 to acquire the information stored in its EDID
memory 23 in block S12, and then, requests the AV device 13 to
acquire the information stored in its EDID memory 35 in block
S13.
[0092] Then, in block S14, from among the information acquired from
each of the EDID memories 23 and 35, the control section 51
identifies values of: time information VD1D indicating a time VD1
required for a video image signal processing operation at the video
image processing section 18; time information AD1D indicating a
time AD1 required for an audio signal processing operation at the
audio processing section 20; time information VD2D indicating a
time VD2 required for a video image signal processing operation at
the video image processing section 30; and time information AD2D
indicating a time AD2 required for an audio signal processing
operation at the audio processing section 32.
[0093] In this case, as described previously, the time information
AD1D and VD2D are set to "0", and the time information VD1D and
AD2D have predetermined values. In this manner, the control section
51 sets the television image receiver 12 in a state in which the
image receiver is not provided for audio reception, and then, sets
the AV amplifier 13 in a state in which the amplifier is not
provided for video image viewing. Namely, it is possible to
determine that video image display by the television image receiver
12 and audio reproduction by the AV amplifier 13 are set so as to
be carried out.
[0094] Thus, in block S15, the control section 51 supplies to the
delay control section 43 a difference between the time information
VD1D indicating the time VD1 required for the video image signal
processing at the video image processing section 18 and the time
information AD2D indicating the time AD2 required for the audio
signal processing operation at the audio processing section 32, and
then, delays a digital audio signal outputted from the audio
decoder section 42 so that a video image displayed on the flat
panel display 19 of the television image receiver 12 and audio
reproduced by the speaker 33 of the AV amplifier 13 are
synchronized with each other; and terminates a processing operation
(in block S16).
[0095] The delay control section 43 delays a time component
obtained by subtracting time information AD2D from time information
VD1D so as to delay a digital audio signal outputted from the audio
decoder section 42 by this time component, so that an audio signal
outputted from the audio processing section 32 is synchronized with
a video image signal outputted from the video image processing
section 18, namely, a shorter time required for a signal processing
operation is adjusted to a longer time.
[0096] Then, while the digital video image signal outputted from
the video image decoder section 41 of the optical disk reproducing
apparatus 11 is supplied to the television image receiver 12 and
the AV amplifier 13 via the HDMI transmitter sections 44 and 45,
the AV amplifier 13 is set to a video image mute state so as to be
provided for video image display on the flat panel display 19 of
the television image receiver 12.
[0097] In addition, the digital audio signals each outputted from
the audio decoder section 42 and the delay control section 43 are
selected by means of the switch 47 of the selector section 46, and
the selected signals each are supplied to the television image
receiver 12 via the HDMI transmitter section 44. However, the
television image receiver 12 is set to an audio mute state, and
thus, is not provided for audio reproduction thereat.
[0098] On the other hand, the digital audio signals each outputted
from the audio decoder section 42 and the delay control section 43
are selected by means of the switch 48 of the selector section 46,
and the selected signals each are supplied to the AV amplifier 13
via the HDMI transmitter section 45, and then, is provided for
audio reproduction thereat.
[0099] In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, assuming that the switch
48 has been changed so as to supply the digital audio signal
outputted from the delay control section 43 to the HDMI transmitter
section 45, the digital audio signal to which a delay processing
operation of a quantity required to obtain synchronization with a
display video image has been applied is supplied to the AV
amplifier 13. Thus, the AV amplifier 13 enables audio to be
synchronized with a video image by signal-processing the supplied
digital audio signal as it is, and then, causing the speaker 33 to
reproduce the audio. Means for transmitting this fact is the
control delay data CDL transmitted to the AV amplifier 13, and, in
this case, "0" is set. The control delay data CDL is calculated on
the side of the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11; a delay is
controlled; and the control value CDL at the later stage is
calculated and sent.
[0100] In addition, unlike FIG. 5, assuming that the above switch
48 has been changed so as to supply the digital audio signal
outputted from the audio decoder section 42 to the HDMI transmitter
section 45, a signal obtained when the control delay data CDL has
been multiplexed without applying a delay processing operation is
supplied to the AV amplifier 13 as HDMI transmission.
[0101] In this case, the HDMI receiving section 28 of the AV
amplifier 13 functions to apply and output the delay processing
operation based on the multiplexed control delay data CDL in
response to an HDMI signal after the digital video image signal and
audio signal have been demultiplexed from the inputted digital
data. Thus, the AV amplifier 13 enables audio to be synchronized
with a video image by causing the HDMI receiving section 28 to
signal-process a digital audio signal to which a delay processing
operation of a quantity required to obtain synchronization with a
display video image is applied and by causing the speaker 33 to
reproduce audio.
[0102] The switches 47 and 48 of the above selector section 46 each
are changed under the control of the control section 51. For
example, the control section 51 can identify the performance of
each AV device based on the EDID acquired from external receiving
AV device and can control change of each of the switches 47 and 48
in response to a result of the identification.
[0103] The above-described optical disk reproducing apparatus 11
automatically identifies that, based on time information VD1D,
AD1D, VD2D, and AD2D stored in the EDID memories 23 and 35 of the
receiving television image receiver 12 and the AV amplifier 13, the
television image receiver 12 is set by a user so as not to be
provided for voice reception, and then, the AV amplifier 13 is set
by a user so as not to be provided for video image viewing. In
addition, this reproducing apparatus is controlled so that the
video image displayed by the television image receiver 12 and the
voice reproduced by the AV amplifier 13 are synchronized with each
other. Thus, the user's handling can be made very convenient.
[0104] While, in the above-described optical disk reproducing
apparatus 11, the digital audio signal applied with a decoding
processing operation is supplied to the AV amplifier 13 to
reproduce audio, for example, it is a matter of course that a
construction may be provided so as to supply to the AV amplifier 13
the digital audio signal in a compressed format before decoded, and
then, apply a decoding processing operation to the audio signal by
means of the AV amplifier 13.
[0105] FIG. 7 shows another example of a signal transmitting system
that conforms to an HDMI standard. That is, this signal
transmitting system comprises a STB (set top box) 52 as a
transmitting AV device.
[0106] The digital video image signal and audio signal generated by
this STB 52 are converted to digital data in a format that conforms
to the HDMI standard, and then, the converted digital data is
supplied to the television image receiver 12 and the AV amplifier
13 serving as receiving AV devices, via the above optical disk
reproducing apparatus 11 serving as a relay device, and is provided
for video image display and audio reproduction.
[0107] FIG. 8 shows a signal processing system of the
above-described STB 52. That is, the television broadcast signal
received via an antenna 53 is supplied to a channel
selector/decoder section 55 via an input terminal 54. This channel
selector/decoder section 55 selects a signal of a predetermined
channel from an inputted television broadcast signal, and then,
applies a decoding processing operation to the thus
channel-selected signal, thereby generating a digital video image
signal and a digital audio signal.
[0108] Then, the digital video image signal and audio signal
generated by this channel selector/decoder section 55 are supplied
to an HDMI transmitter section 56. This HDMI transmitter section 56
temporally multiplexes the inputted digital video image signal and
audio signal; converts the multiplexed signals to digital data in a
format that conforms to the HDMI standard; and outputs the
converted digital data to the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11
via an output terminal 57 and a TMDS signal transmission path
58.
[0109] Then, this STB 52 integrally controls all of the operations
including the above-described receiving operation by means of a
control section 59. This control section 59 incorporates a CPU 59a,
and controls each section so that its operational contents are
reflected, based on the operation information from an operating
section 59b.
[0110] In this case, the control section 59 utilizes a memory
section 59c. This memory section 59c mainly has: a ROM having
stored therein a control program executed by the CPU 59a; a RAM
that provides a work area to the CPU 59a; and a nonvolatile memory
having stored therein a variety of setting information, control
information and the like.
[0111] In addition, this control section 59 is connected to a DDC
communication path 61 for transmitting information read out from an
EDID memory described later, the EDID memory being provided in the
optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 via an input terminal 60.
[0112] FIG. 9 shows a signal processing system of the optical disk
reproducing apparatus 11 in the case where it is used as a relay
device. In FIG. 9, like constituent elements as those in FIG. 5 are
designated by like reference numerals. That is, digital data in a
format that conforms to the HDMI standard, the digital data being
supplied from the above STB 52 via a TMDS signal transmission path
58, is supplied to an HDMI receiving section 63 via an input
terminal 62a of an input/output port 62.
[0113] This HDMI receiving section 63 demultiplexes the inputted
digital data into a digital video image signal and a digital audio
signal. Then, the digital video image signal and audio signal
outputted from this HDMI receiving section 63 are supplied to the
above-described selector section 46.
[0114] In this case, the above selector section 46 extends its
function so as to selectively carry out operations of: supplying to
the HDMI transmitter sections 44 and 45 the digital video image
signal and audio signal outputted from the HDMI receiving section
63, respectively; supplying to the HDMI transmitter sections 44 and
45, respectively, the digital video image signal outputted from the
video image decoder section 41 of the above disk reproducing
section 39; and carrying out the switching operation as described
previously in FIG. 5 with respect to the digital audio signal
outputted from the audio decoder section 42 and the digital audio
signal outputted from the delay control section 43, and then,
supplying the switched audio signals to the HDMI transmitter
sections 44 and 45, respectively.
[0115] In addition, the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11
incorporates an EDID memory 64. As described previously, in the
case where the television image receiver 12 is set in an audio mute
state, and the AV amplifier 13 is set in a video image mute state,
the control section 51 copies information relating to video image
display acquired from the EDID memory 23 of the television image
receiver 12. In addition, this control section 51 records in the
EDID memory 64 time information VD3D obtained by adding information
indicating a delay time VD3 of a video image signal of the selector
section 46 in the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11, to time
information VD1D indicating a time VD1 required for the video image
signal processing operation at a video image processing section
18.
[0116] Further, the control section 51 copies information relating
to audio display acquired from the EDID memory 35 of the AV
amplifier 13. In addition, this control section records in the EDID
memory 64, time information AD3D obtained by adding information
indicating a delay time AD3 of an audio signal of the selector
section 46 in the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 to a time
information AD2D indicating a time AD2 required for an audio signal
processing operation at the audio processing section 32.
[0117] Then, the time information VD3D and AD3D stored in this EDID
memory 64 are read out from the EDID memory 64 upon request from
the STB 52 that is a transmitting AV device, and then, the read out
information is transmitted to the STB 52 via the DDC communication
path 61 of the input/output port 62.
[0118] Then, a control section 59 of the STB 52 calculates a
difference between a sum of the time information VD3D acquired from
the EDID memory 64 of the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 and
the video image processing delay time at the channel
selector/decoder section 55 of the STB 52 and a sum of the time
information AD3D and the audio processing delay time at the channel
selector/decoder section 55 of the STB 52; and then, outputs to an
HDMI transmitter section 56 the information indicating a time that
corresponds to such a difference as control delay data CDL. In this
manner, the HDMI transmitter section 56 multiplexed the control
delay data CDL with a digital signal, and then, outputs the
multiplexed data.
[0119] Thus, an HDMI receiving section 63 of the optical disk
reproducing apparatus 11 functions to multiplex a digital video
image signal and a digital audio signal from inputted digital data,
and then, apply a delay processing operation based on the
multiplexed control delay data CDL to the digital audio signal so
as to output the applied signal to the AV amplifier 13. Thus, the
AV amplifier 13 enables audio to be synchronized with a video image
by signal-processing the digital audio signal applied with the
delay processing operation of a quantity required to obtain
synchronization with a display video image, and then, causing the
speaker 33 to reproduce audio.
[0120] As described above, even in the case where the optical disk
reproducing apparatus 11 has been used as a relay device, it is
possible to automatically identify the fact that the television
image receiver 12 is set by a user so as not to be provided for
audio reception, and the AV amplifier 13 is set by a user so as not
to be provided for video image viewing.
[0121] In addition, the digital data outputted from the STB 52 that
is a transmitting AV device can be controlled so that a video image
displayed by the television image receiver 12 and the audio
reproduced by the AV amplifier 13 are synchronized with each other
in consideration of a signal delay caused by the optical disk
reproducing apparatus 11 serving as a relay device, and the
handling by the user can be made very convenient.
[0122] While the above description of using the optical disk
reproducing apparatus 11 as a relay device has assumed that the
HDMI receiving section 63 of the optical disk reproducing apparatus
11 applies a delay processing operation based on control delay data
CDL included therein to a digital audio signal, without being
limited thereto, a digital audio signal multiplexed with the
control delay data CDL is relayed to the AV amplifier 13 as it is
so as to apply a delay processing operation based on the control
delay data CDL included therein to a digital audio signal by means
of the HDMI receiving section 28 of the AV amplifier 13.
[0123] In addition, a delay circuit for delaying a digital audio
signal applied with a decoding processing operation is incorporated
in the STB 52, making it possible to output from the STB 52 a
digital audio signal to be delayed by a time that corresponds to a
difference between a sum of time information VD3D acquired from the
EDID memory 64 of the optical disk reproducing apparatus 11 and a
video image processing delay time at the channel selector/decoder
section 55 of the STB 52 and a sum of time information AD3D and an
audio processing delay time at the channel selector/decoder section
55 of the STB 52.
[0124] While certain embodiments of the inventions have been
described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example
only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions.
Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be
embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various
omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and
systems described herein may be made without departing from the
spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their
equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as
would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.
* * * * *