Consumer electronic control system

Abstract

A consumer electronic control system includes: a first IC including a first pin and an anti-creeping circuit coupled to the first pin; the second IC comprises a second pin, and the second pin is electrically coupled with the first pin; wherein the first IC or the second IC is configured to provide consumer electronic control functionality.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) system, and in particular to a CEC system which can utilize software to simulate CEC functions to increase the number of CEC function groups without increasing hardware costs. Background Art

[0002] The existing CEC is a method for controlling electronic devices, which allows users to control various devices through a transmission interface with only one remote control. For example, users can use a TV remote control to control all devices connected to the TV through HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface). For example, use a TV remote control to control a set-top box or DVD player connected to the TV. A set of CEC functions can usually only control the same electronic device, so the existing CEC system often needs to provide multiple sets of CEC functions to meet the needs of users. However, if the number of CEC function groups is to be increased, it is often necessary to increase the hardware of the CEC system accordingly, which will greatly increase the cost of the hardware. Summary of the invention

[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide a CEC system which utilizes software to simulate the CEC function to increase the number of CEC function groups without increasing the hardware cost.

[0004] Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device control system that utilizes software to simulate electronic device control functions to increase the number of electronic device control function groups without increasing hardware costs.

[0005] An embodiment of the present invention discloses a consumer electronics control system, comprising: a first IC, comprising a first pin and a leakage prevention circuit, the leakage prevention circuit is coupled to the first pin; and a second IC, comprising a second pin, the second pin is electrically coupled to the first pin; wherein the first IC or the second IC is used to provide a consumer electronics control function. The first pin and the second pin can be electrically coupled to a third pin of an HDMI, and the consumer electronics control function complies with the specification of the HDMI.

[0006] Another embodiment of the present invention discloses an electronic device control system, comprising: a first IC, comprising a first pin and an anti-leakage circuit, the anti-leakage circuit coupled to the first pin; and a second IC, comprising a second pin, the second pin electrically coupled to the first pin; wherein the first IC or the second IC is used to provide an electronic device control function.

[0007] According to the aforementioned embodiment, the number of CEC function groups can be increased by simulating the CEC function by software without increasing the hardware cost, thereby increasing the application scope of the CEC system.

[0008] According to the aforementioned embodiment, the number of CEC function groups can be increased by simulating the CEC function by software without increasing the hardware cost, thereby increasing the application scope of the CEC system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a CEC system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 2 FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a CEC system according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 3 FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The circuit diagram of the leakage protection circuit is shown.

[0012] Figure 4 FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 and Figure 2 Detailed pinouts of the first IC and the second IC are shown.

[0013] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a target electronic device using the electronic device control system provided by the present invention is shown according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Explanation of symbols

[0015] 100 CEC System

[0016] 101 Leakage prevention circuit

[0017] 201HDMI

[0018] 301 Protection Circuit

[0019] 500 Electronic device control systems

[0020] 501 Transmission Interface

[0021] 503 Remote Control

[0022] COM, COM1, COM2, COM3 communication pins

[0023] CKP, CKN, CK1 clock pins

[0024] D_1, D_2 diodes

[0025] Da, D1N, D1P, D2N, D2P data pins

[0026] eARC+, eARC- audio pins

[0027] ED_1, ED_2, ED_3, ED_4, ED_5 electronic devices

[0028] ZD Zener Diode

[0029] I_1 First IC

[0030] I_2 Second IC

[0031] P_1 first pin

[0032] P_2 second pin

[0033] P_3 third pin

[0034] P_V1, P_V2 voltage pins

[0035] R_1 resistor

[0036] R_UP pull-up resistor DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The content of the present invention will be described below with multiple embodiments. Please also note that the "first", "second" and similar descriptions in the following description are only used to define different elements, parameters, data, signals or steps. They are not used to limit their order. For example, the first device and the second device can be different devices with the same structure.

[0038] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a CEC system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the CEC system 100 includes a first IC I_1 and a second IC I_2. The first IC I_1 includes a first pin P_1 and an anti-leakage circuit 101, and the anti-leakage circuit 101 is electrically coupled to the first pin P_1. That is, other electronic components may exist between the anti-leakage circuit 101 and the first pin P_1. The second IC I_2 includes a second pin P_2, and the second pin P_2 is electrically coupled to the first pin P_1, that is, other electronic components may exist between the second pin P_2 and the first pin P_1. In one embodiment, the second pin P_2 is directly electrically connected to the first pin P_1, that is, there is no electronic component between the second pin P_2 and the first pin P_1. However, please note that the number of pins of the first IC I_1, the position of the first pin P_1, the number of pins of the second IC I_2, and the position of the second pin P_2 are not limited to the examples shown in the various figures of the present invention.

[0039] Both the first IC I_1 and the second IC I_2 can be used to provide CEC function. In the following embodiments, the first IC I_1 is an OTT (Over The Top Media Service) driver IC, and the second IC is a GPIO (General Purpose Input / Output) IC. However, the first IC I_1 and the second IC I_2 can also be other ICs that can provide CEC function. The first IC IC_1 and the second IC IC_2 can be located on the same SOC (System on chip). The first pin P_1 and the second pin P_2 can be set on a circuit board and electrically coupled or directly electrically connected through wires on the circuit board.

[0040] In one embodiment, the first IC I_1 does not provide CEC function, and the second IC I_2 provides at least two groups of CEC functions (two groups in this embodiment) through software. In another embodiment, the first IC I_1 provides at least one group of CEC function (one group in this embodiment), and the second IC I_2 provides at least one group of CEC function (one group in this embodiment) through software. The first IC I_1 has a specific hardware structure for providing CEC function, such as a logic circuit and active components and passive components for providing CEC function, and the first IC I_1 does not need to simulate the CEC function by executing software. The second IC I_2 simulates the CEC function through software. For example, the second IC I_2 simulates the communication between different electronic devices when the CEC function is executed by software, such as US Patent US10680846 discloses the communication between different electronic devices when simulating the CEC function by GPIO. Compared with OTT driver IC, GPIO has a simpler hardware structure and lower cost. Therefore, by doing so, multiple groups of CEC functions can be provided with less hardware cost.

[0041] Here, a set of CEC functions can be used to control different electronic devices, which may have multiple functions or a single function. For example, if the CEC system 100 is used on an audio-visual device, and the audio-visual device includes an independent image display device and an audio playback device, then the audio-visual device will require two sets of CEC functions. However, if the image display device and the audio playback device of the audio-visual device are integrated into the same electronic device, then the audio-visual device can use only one set of CEC functions. That is, in this embodiment, the first IC I_1 or the second IC I_2 is used to provide at least one set of CEC functions used in image display and at least one set of CEC functions used in audio playback.

[0042] As mentioned above, the second IC I_2 is used to simulate the communication between different electronic devices when the CEC function is executed through software. Therefore, when the second IC I_2 is a GPIO, its circuit structure will be limited and may lack some electronic components or circuits with specific uses. Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the second IC I_2 lacks an anti-leakage circuit. However, if other anti-leakage circuits are added to the first IC I_1 and the second IC I_2, the circuit area will be increased and the hardware cost will be increased. As mentioned above, the anti-leakage circuit 101 is electrically coupled to the first pin P_1 of the first IC I_1, so the second IC I_2 can use the anti-leakage circuit 101 of the first IC I_1 by electrically coupling the second pin P_2 to the first pin P_1. In this way, the number of CEC function groups can be increased without increasing the hardware cost of the anti-leakage circuit.

[0043] Figure 1 The CEC system 100 may further include other electronic devices. Figure 2 FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a CEC system according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 As shown, except Figure 1 In addition to the first IC I_1 and the second IC I_2 shown, the CEC system 100 further includes an HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) 201, which includes a third pin P_3. In one embodiment, the first pin P_1 of the first IC I_1 and the second pin P_2 of the second IC I_2 are electrically coupled to the third pin P_3 of the HDMI 201, that is, other components may be disposed between the first pin P_1, the second pin P_2, and the third pin P_3. In one embodiment, the first pin P_1 and the second pin P_2 are directly electrically connected to the third pin P_3, that is, no other components are included between the first pin P_1, the second pin P_2, and the third pin P_3. Figure 2 In an embodiment, the first IC_1 and the second IC_2 perform the CEC function in accordance with the HDMI specification, and the circuit characteristics of the leakage protection circuit 101 also comply with the HDMI specification. For example, the impedance of the leakage protection circuit 101 or the performance of the leakage protection circuit 101 complies with the HDMI specification. However, in an embodiment, the first IC_1 and the second IC_2 are not connected to HDMI, and do not perform the CEC function in accordance with the HDMI specification, and the circuit characteristics of the leakage protection circuit 101 also do not comply with the HDMI specification. In this case, the CEC system 100 can be regarded as an electronic device control system that allows a user to control multiple electronic devices connected to a target electronic device through a remote controller of a single target electronic device.

[0044] The leakage protection circuit 101 in the first IC I_1 can be composed of various circuits. In one embodiment, the leakage protection circuit 101 is a pull-up resistor. Figure 3 FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The circuit diagram of the leakage protection circuit is shown in FIG. Figure 3 As shown, the leakage protection circuit 101 is a pull-up resistor R_UP, which can be electrically coupled to other components according to different designs. Figure 3 In the embodiment of the present invention, the leakage protection circuit 101 is also electrically coupled to a resistor R_1 and a protection circuit 301. The resistance of the resistor R_1 is much smaller than the pull-up resistor R_UP. For example, in one example, the resistance of the resistor R_1 is 100 ohms and the pull-up resistor R_UP is 27K ohms. The protection circuit 301 may include various circuit structures. Figure 3 In the example, the protection circuit 301 includes a plurality of diodes D_1, D_2 and a Zener diode ZD, but is not limited thereto. Figure 3 The examples shown in , may have different circuit structures corresponding to different designs or uses.

[0045] Figure 1 and Figure 2 The first IC I_1 and the second IC I_2 shown in the figure may further include other pins. Figure 4 FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The detailed pinouts of the first IC and the second IC are shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown, in addition to the first pin P_1, the first IC I_1 also includes clock pins CKP and CKN, data pins D1N, D1P, D2N, D2P, communication pins COM1, COM2, COM3, audio pins eARC+, eARC-, and voltage pins P_V1 and P_V2. The clock pins CKP and CKN are used to receive clock signals, the data pins D1N, D1P, D2N, D2P are used to receive data, the communication pins COM1, COM2, COM3 are used to communicate with other ICs or electronic devices, the audio pins eARC+ and eARC- are used to receive audio signals sent back from the outside, and the voltage pins P_V1 and P_V2 are used to receive different operating voltages.

[0046] In addition to the aforementioned second pin P_2, the second IC I_2 also includes a clock pin CK1, a data pin Da, and a communication pin COM. In one embodiment, the communication pin COM is a MOSI (Master Output, Slave Input) pin. However, please note that the pins of the first IC I_1 and the second IC_2 are not limited to the aforementioned embodiment, and can be changed according to different designs.

[0047] As mentioned above, the CEC system 100 can be regarded as an electronic device control system that allows a user to control multiple electronic devices connected to a single target electronic device through a remote controller of the target electronic device. Figure 5 FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a target electronic device using the electronic device control system provided by the present invention according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 As shown, the target electronic device TD includes an electronic device control system 500 and a transmission interface 501. The electronic devices ED_1, ED_2, ED_3, ED_4 and ED_5 are connected to the transmission interface 501. The electronic device control system 500 includes Figure 1 The first IC 1_1 and the second IC 1_2 described in the embodiment can thus provide an electronic device control function, allowing the user to control different electronic devices ED_1, ED_2, ED_3, ED_4 and ED_5 through the remote controller 503 of the target electronic device TD.

[0048] In one embodiment, the target electronic device TD is a television, the transmission interface 501 is an HDMI, and the remote controller 503 is a television remote controller. In this example, the electronic device control system 500 can provide the aforementioned CEC function, and the electronic devices ED_1, ED_2, ED_3, ED_4, and ED_5 can be various audio-visual devices, such as DVD players, stereos, and set-top boxes. In one embodiment, one of the electronic devices ED_1, ED_2, ED_3, ED_4, and ED_5 is an OTT set-top box. The OTT set-top box may include an independent image playback device and an audio playback device. In such an example, the electronic device control system 500 needs to provide multiple sets of CEC functions to the OTT set-top box. As mentioned above, the multiple sets of CEC functions can be provided by the first IC I_1 and the second IC I_2 together, or only by the second IC I_2.

[0049] According to the aforementioned embodiment, the number of CEC function groups can be increased by simulating the CEC function by software without increasing the hardware cost, thereby increasing the application scope of the CEC system.

[0050] The above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present invention. All equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims of the present invention should fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A consumer electronic control system comprising: a first IC comprising a first pin and an anti-leakage circuit electrically coupled to the first pin; and a second IC comprising a second pin electrically coupled to the first pin; The first IC or the second IC is used to provide consumer electronic control functions.

2. The consumer electronic control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the leakage protection circuit is a pull-up resistor. 3 . The consumer electronic control system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first pin is directly electrically connected to the second pin.

4. The consumer electronic control system of claim 1, wherein the first IC is an over-the-top content service driver IC, and the second IC is a general-purpose input-output IC.

5. The consumer electronics control system of claim 4, wherein the first IC does not provide the consumer electronics control function, and the second IC provides at least two sets of the consumer electronics control functions through software.

6. The consumer electronics control system of claim 4, wherein the first IC provides at least one set of the consumer electronics control functions, and the second IC provides at least one set of the consumer electronics control functions through software. 7 . The consumer electronic control system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a high-definition multimedia interface, wherein the first pin and the second pin are electrically coupled to a third pin of the high-definition multimedia interface. 8 . The consumer electronic control system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the first pin and the second pin are directly electrically connected to the third pin.

9. The consumer electronic control system of claim 1, wherein the first IC and the second IC are located on the same system-on-chip.

10. The consumer electronics control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first IC or the second IC is used to provide at least one set of the consumer electronics control functions used in image display functions and at least one set of the consumer electronics control functions used in audio playback functions.

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