Network channel switching circuit and display device

Abstract

The utility model discloses a network channel switching circuit and a display device. The network channel switching circuit comprises a chip of an external signal interface and a gating unit. The network interface is connected with a main chip of the display equipment through a chip of the external signal interface, so that the main chip is accessed to a network, the main chip is respectively connected with the plurality of equipment interfaces through the gating unit, and the gating unit is used for gating a target equipment interface, so that target main equipment is accessed to the network, the target device interface is a device interface connected with a target main device currently connected to the display device. According to the invention, the gating unit is used for gating the currently accessed target equipment interface, so that the main chip is connected with the target equipment interface, the network can be forwarded to the target main equipment connected to the target equipment interface, switching of the network channel along with the main equipment is realized, the method is simple and reliable, the circuit cost is reduced, and the layout difficulty of a circuit board is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of network connectivity technology, specifically to a network channel switching circuit and display device. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, when external sources such as laptops and mobile phones are connected to a display device for screen mirroring, they usually need to connect to an Ethernet network through the display device.

[0003] Related technologies achieve network forwarding by adding switch or router chips. However, the addition of switch or router chips increases costs and makes circuit board layout more difficult. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of the above problems, this application provides a network channel switching circuit and display device to solve the above technical problems.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application provides a network channel switching circuit applied to a display device. The display device is configured with a network interface and multiple device interfaces, each of which is used to connect to a corresponding master device. The network channel switching circuit includes an external signal interface chip and a gating unit. The network interface is connected to the main chip of the display device through the external signal interface chip, so that the main chip can access the network. The main chip is connected to multiple device interfaces through the gating unit, which is used to select a target device interface so that the target master device can access the network. The target device interface is the device interface connected to the target master device currently accessing the display device.

[0006] In one possible implementation of this application, the main chip is connected to the gating unit via a USB OTG interface to transmit USB signals to the gating unit, wherein the USB signals are obtained based on the network signals accessed by the main chip.

[0007] In one possible implementation of this application, the device interface includes a first USB interface, the host device includes a first host device connected to the first USB interface, the first host device is also configured with a first HDMI interface, and the first HDMI interface is connected to the HDMI interface of the display device.

[0008] In one possible implementation of this application, the device interface includes an OPS interface, and the master device includes an OPS module connected to the OPS interface.

[0009] In one possible implementation of this application, the gating unit is connected to each device interface through a GPIO interface to gating the target device interface when the target master device is detected to be connected.

[0010] In one possible implementation of this application, the network channel switching circuit further includes a channel monitoring unit, which is connected to the main chip and each device interface to output a monitoring signal to the main chip when a target main device is detected to be connected.

[0011] The main chip is connected to the gating unit via the GPIO interface to output a GPIO signal in response to the monitoring signal, driving the gating unit to select the target device interface.

[0012] In one possible implementation of this application, the chip of the external signal interface is connected to the network interface through the MDIO interface to access network signals.

[0013] In one possible implementation of this application, the chip with the external signal interface is connected to the main chip via a media-independent interface to transmit network signals to the main chip.

[0014] In one possible implementation of this application, the media-independent interface includes a GMII interface or an RGMII interface.

[0015] Secondly, this application also provides a display device, which includes a device body and a network channel switching circuit as described in the first aspect disposed on the device body.

[0016] From the above, it can be concluded that this application has the following beneficial effects:

[0017] In this application, the chip of the external signal interface connected to the network interface of the display device forwards the network signal to the main chip. The current access target device interface is selected by the gating unit, thereby connecting the main chip to the target device interface and ensuring that the target main device connected to the target device interface accesses the network. This realizes that the network channel switches with the main device. Compared with the network forwarding achieved by the switch or router chip in related technologies, the circuit structure is simple and reliable, reduces circuit cost, and reduces the difficulty of circuit board layout. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a network forwarding circuit in related technologies;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a network channel switching circuit provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0021] Figure 3 This is another schematic diagram of the network channel switching circuit provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0022] Figure 4 This is yet another structural schematic diagram of the network channel switching circuit provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0023] Figure 5 Another schematic diagram of the network channel switching circuit provided in the embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The embodiments of this application are described in detail below. Examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application.

[0025] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the solutions of this application, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0026] In the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as first and second are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations.

[0027] Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that an article or device that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such an article or device. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the article or device that includes said element.

[0028] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the words "example" or "for example" are used to indicate exemplification, illustration, or description. Any embodiment or design described as "example" or "for example" in the embodiments of this application is not to be construed as being more preferred or having more advantages than another embodiment or design. The use of the words "example" or "for example" is intended to present relative concepts in a clear manner.

[0029] Furthermore, in the embodiments of this application, "multiple" refers to two or more. Therefore, in the embodiments of this application, "multiple" can also be understood as "at least two". "At least one" can be understood as one or more, such as one, two, or more. For example, including at least one means including one, two, or more, and is not limited to which ones are included. For example, including at least one of A, B, and C, then it could include A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C.

[0030] It should be noted that in the embodiments of this application, "connection" can be understood as electrical connection. The connection between two electrical components can be a direct or indirect connection between the two electrical components. For example, the connection between A and B can be a direct connection between A and B, or an indirect connection between A and B through one or more other electrical components.

[0031] Before introducing the network channel switching circuit and display device of this application, we will first introduce the relevant background information of the embodiments of this application.

[0032] Currently, smart interactive whiteboards typically include a host running Android, a PC host running Windows (OPS), a USB port, and a Type-C port. The Android host and the Windows PC host are the main devices, while the USB and Type-C ports allow connection to external devices (e.g., laptops). These main devices—Android, Windows, and external—can each control the display on the smart interactive whiteboard; therefore, switching between main devices means switching the display channel. If the connected main device is switched from the current main device (a laptop connected via the Type-C port) to the target main device (OPS), it means the display channel switches from the Type-C channel to the OPS channel.

[0033] Since there is no data transmission path between the USB interface and the external host device, the smart interactive flat panel (display device) can be configured with an HDMI interface. The HDMI interface and the USB interface can be connected to the same external host device. The USB interface is responsible for transmitting USB data, and the HDMI interface is responsible for transmitting video signals. If the connected host device is switched from the current host device to the external host device connected via the HDMI interface, the corresponding display channel will switch to the HDMI channel.

[0034] In order to enable external signal source devices connected to the display channel (such as HDMI channel, OPS channel, Type-C channel or PC channel) of the display device (smart interactive flat panel) to connect to Ethernet, related technologies use a switch or router chip in the circuit to forward the network signal.

[0035] Specifically, such as Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a network forwarding circuit in related technologies. The RJ45 interface of the display device is connected to a switch. The switch is connected to the aforementioned HDMI channel, OPS channel, Type-C channel and PC channel respectively through the chip (Physical, PHY) of the external signal interface. Thus, when an external signal source device is connected to a display channel, the network signal is forwarded to that display channel, so that the external signal source device can be connected to the network normally.

[0036] However, the addition of a switch to this network forwarding circuit increases costs and makes circuit board layout more difficult.

[0037] Based on this, the present application provides a network channel switching circuit and a display device. The network channel switching circuit selects the currently accessed target device interface through a selection unit, so that the main chip connects to the target device interface, thereby forwarding the network to the target main device connected to the target device interface. This enables the network channel to switch according to the accessed main device, which is simple and reliable, reduces circuit cost, and reduces the difficulty of circuit board layout.

[0038] The network channel switching circuit and display device provided in this application will be described in detail below.

[0039] First, this application provides a network channel switching circuit, which can be applied to a display device, such as a conference screen, educational screen, or commercial screen, etc., which is equipped with multiple display channels.

[0040] Please see Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a network channel switching circuit provided in an embodiment of this application. The network channel switching circuit may include an external signal interface chip 10 and a gating unit 20; the network interface 30 of the display device is connected to the main chip 40 of the display device through the external signal interface chip 10, so that the main chip 40 can access the network. The main chip 40 is connected to multiple device interfaces through the gating unit 20. The gating unit 20 can be used to select a target device interface so that the target main device can access the network. The target device interface is the device interface connected to the target main device currently accessing the display device.

[0041] In this embodiment, the multiple device interfaces may include multiple Universal Serial Bus (USB) interfaces and Open Pluggable Specification (OPS) interfaces. The multiple USB interfaces and OPS interfaces can be connected to their respective host devices, thereby forming corresponding network channels.

[0042] For example, the first USB interface 51 (e.g., USB-B1 interface) can be connected to the same external host device (not shown in the figure) in conjunction with the HDMI interface, so that when the display channel is switched to the HDMI channel, the external host device can access the network through the first USB interface 51; the OPS interface 52 can be connected to an OPS module (not shown in the figure), so that when the display channel is switched to the OPS channel, the OPS module can access the network through the OPS interface 52; the second USB interface 53 (e.g., TYPE-C interface) can be connected to an external host device, such as a mobile terminal 60, so that when the display channel is switched to the TYPE-C channel, the external host device, i.e., the mobile terminal 60, can access the network through the second USB interface 53; the third USB interface 54 (e.g., USB-B2 interface) can be connected to a PC device (not shown in the figure), so that when the display channel is switched to the PC channel, the PC device can access the network through the third USB interface 54.

[0043] Understandably, in some other embodiments, the device interface may also include more than Figure 2 The number of interfaces shown is less or more, but this is not limited to.

[0044] The network interface 30 can be any existing network port configured on the display device, including but not limited to RJ45 interface, RJ11 interface, SC fiber optic interface, Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI) interface, etc., which can be determined according to the actual application scenario.

[0045] The external signal interface chip 10 can be any existing port physical layer chip, i.e., PHY chip. Through the external signal interface chip 10, network signals from the network interface 30 can be transmitted to the main chip 40, enabling the main chip 40 to access the network.

[0046] The gating unit 20 can be used to select the device interface connected to the target master device that is currently connected, so that the main chip 40 can connect to the target master device and ensure that the target master device can connect to the network based on the network interface 30 of the display device.

[0047] As an example, a mobile terminal 60 (such as a mobile phone, laptop, etc.) with a USB-C interface is connected to the second USB interface 53 to access the display device. The currently accessed display channel is the TYPE-C channel. At this time, the selection unit 20 can select the second USB interface 53, so that the main chip 40 is connected to the second USB interface 53 and the network is forwarded to the second USB interface 53, so that the mobile terminal 60 connected to the second USB interface 53 can connect to the network normally.

[0048] like Figure 3 As shown, as another example, a mobile electronic device 70 (such as a mobile phone, laptop, etc.) is connected to the first USB interface 51 to access the display device. The target display channel currently accessed is the HDMI channel. At this time, the gating unit 20 can select the first USB interface 51, so that the main chip 40 is connected to the first USB interface 51 and the network is forwarded to the first USB interface 51, so that the mobile electronic device 70 connected to the first USB interface 51 can connect to the network normally.

[0049] In this embodiment, the chip 10 of the external signal interface connected to the network interface 30 of the display device forwards the network signal to the main chip 40. The selection unit 20 selects the currently accessed target device interface, thereby connecting the main chip 40 to the target device interface and ensuring that the target main device connected to the target device interface accesses the network. This realizes that the network channel switches with the main device. Compared with the network forwarding achieved by the switch or router chip in related technologies, the circuit structure is simple and reliable, reduces circuit cost, and reduces the difficulty of circuit board layout.

[0050] Next, continue with Figure 2 The unit modules shown are described in detail, as well as the specific implementation methods that may be used in practical applications.

[0051] like Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments of this application, the main chip 40 is connected to the gating unit 20 via a USB OTG interface to transmit USB signals to the gating unit 20, wherein the USB signals are obtained based on the network signals accessed by the main chip 40.

[0052] The main chip 40 can be any existing system-on-chip (SOC). The main chip 40 can be configured with a USB On-The-Go (USB OTG) interface, allowing it to connect to the gating unit 20. In this embodiment, the main chip 40 can be a main chip running the Android system that is equipped in the display device.

[0053] Understandably, the main chip 40 can communicate with each device interface via USB 2.0 or USB 3.0. Therefore, the USB signal can be either a USB 2.0 signal or a USB 3.0 signal. Since USB 3.0 communication is backward compatible with USB 2.0 communication, USB 3.0 communication is preferred in this embodiment.

[0054] In this embodiment, the main chip 40 receives network signals from the chip 10 via an external signal interface. These network signals can be converted into USB signals and output to the gating unit 20 via the USB OTG interface. This enables the forwarding of network signals to the target device interface, ensuring that the main chip 40 remains connected to the network and reliably forwarding the network to the target main device connected to the target device interface.

[0055] Please continue reading. Figure 4 In some embodiments of this application, the host device may include a first host device 80 connected to the first USB interface 51. The first host device 80 may also be configured with a first HDMI interface, which is connected to the HDMI interface of the display device.

[0056] In this embodiment, when the first master device 80 is connected to the first USB interface 51, the HDMI display channel is selected. The HDMI interface of the display device is connected to the first HDMI interface of the first master device 80 to transmit HDMI signals. The selection unit 20 selects the first USB interface 51, so that the main chip 40 forwards the USB signal to the first master device 80 through the first USB interface 51, so that the first master device 80 can connect to the network.

[0057] Please continue reading. Figure 4 In some embodiments of this application, the gating unit 20 can be connected to each device interface through the GPIO interface to gating the target device interface when the target master device is detected to be connected.

[0058] In this embodiment, the gating unit 20 can be connected to each device interface through different GPIO interfaces to monitor the access status of each master device. When a master device is connected to a certain device interface, the gating unit 20 can determine the target device interface based on the received access signal, thereby achieving gating. It is understood that different master devices trigger different access signals when they are connected to the corresponding device interfaces, and the gating unit 20 can determine the target device interface based on the access signal.

[0059] For example, when the first USB interface 51 is connected to a host device with an HDMI interface, the corresponding access signal is "00"; when the OPS interface 52 is connected to an OPS module, the corresponding access signal is "01"; when the second USB interface 53 is connected to a Type-C device, the corresponding access signal is "10"; and when the third USB interface 54 is connected to a PC device, the corresponding access signal is "11". When the selection unit 20 receives the access signal "10", it can determine that the target device interface is the second USB interface 53 based on the access signal "10" and then select it.

[0060] Understandably, the gating unit 20 can also be connected to each device interface through the same GPIO interface. Similarly, the target device interface can be determined based on the received access signal. The specific determination can be made based on the interface of the gating unit 20, and is not limited here.

[0061] like Figure 5 As shown, in some embodiments of this application, the network channel switching circuit may further include a channel monitoring unit 90, which can be connected to the main chip 40 and each device interface to output a monitoring signal to the main chip 40 when a target main device is detected to be connected; the main chip 40 can be connected to the gating unit 20 through a GPIO interface to output a GPIO signal in response to the monitoring signal, driving the gating unit 20 to select the target device interface.

[0062] In this embodiment, the channel monitoring unit 90 can be connected to each device interface to monitor the access status of the main device of each device interface, determine the target device interface based on the access signal, and generate a monitoring signal to output to the main chip 40 to inform the main chip 40 of the target device interface currently accessed.

[0063] Based on the received monitoring signal, the main chip 40 determines the target device interface that is currently connected, and then generates a corresponding GPIO signal to output to the gating unit 20 to drive the gating unit 20 to select the target device interface.

[0064] Understandably, the main chip 40 can have multiple pins, which can be connected to the corresponding pins of the first USB interface 51 (such as USB-B1 interface), OPS interface 52, second USB interface 53 (such as TYPE-C interface) and third USB interface (such as USB-B2 interface) through the gating unit 20. Thus, when the gating unit 20 selects the target device interface, the corresponding pin on the main chip 40 can be electrically connected to the corresponding pin of the target device interface to realize the forwarding of network signals.

[0065] Similarly, different access signals are triggered when different master devices are connected to the corresponding device interfaces. For example, the access signal corresponding to the first USB interface 51 when connected to a master device with an HDMI interface is "00", the access signal corresponding to the OPS interface 52 when connected to an OPS module is "01", the access signal corresponding to the second USB interface 53 when connected to a Type-C device is "10", and the access signal corresponding to the third USB interface 54 when connected to a PC device is "11". When the channel monitoring unit 90 receives the access signal "10", it can determine that the target device interface is the second USB interface 53 based on the access signal "10", thereby generating a corresponding monitoring signal and sending it to the main chip 40 to inform the main chip 40 that the target device interface currently connected is the second USB interface 53.

[0066] When the target device interface is determined to be the second USB interface 53, the main chip 40 outputs a GPIO signal "10" to the gating unit 20 through the GPIO interface. The gating unit 20 can then respond to the GPIO signal "10" to select the second USB interface 53, enabling the Type-C device connected to the second USB interface 53 to connect to the network normally.

[0067] In some embodiments of this application, the chip 10 of the external signal interface can be connected to the network interface 30 through the MDIO interface to access network signals.

[0068] In this embodiment, the chip 10 of the external signal interface is configured with a Management Data Input / Output (MDIO) interface, and the network interface 30 is connected to the MDIO interface of the chip 10 of the external signal interface, so that network signals can be transmitted to the chip 10 of the external signal interface.

[0069] In some embodiments of this application, the chip 10 of the external signal interface can be connected to the main chip 40 through a media-independent interface to transmit network signals to the main chip 40.

[0070] In this embodiment, the external signal interface chip 10 is configured with a Media Independent Interface (MII). The external signal interface chip 10 can be connected to the USB interface of the main chip 40 through the MII interface, thereby forwarding the network signal from the network interface 30 to the main chip 40.

[0071] In some embodiments of this application, the media-independent interface may include a GMII interface or an RGMII interface.

[0072] The GMII interface is a 1000Mbps interface that improves the data bit width and clock frequency based on the MII interface. The RGMII interface is a simplified version of the GMII interface. Therefore, in this embodiment, the type of media independent interface can be selected according to the actual application scenario, and no limitation is made here.

[0073] In some embodiments of this application, the gating unit 20 may include a four-to-one switch chip.

[0074] In this embodiment, the device interface includes a first USB interface 51 corresponding to the HDMI channel, an OPS interface 52 corresponding to the OPS channel, a second USB interface 53 corresponding to the TYPE-C channel, and a third USB interface 54 corresponding to the PC channel. Therefore, the corresponding selection unit 20 can select any existing four-to-one switch chip. It is understood that in other application scenarios, if the number of display channels is reduced, the selection unit 20 can also use a two-to-one switch chip, a three-to-one switch chip, etc., which can be determined according to the actual application scenario and is not limited here.

[0075] Based on the above embodiments, this application also provides a display device, which may include a device body and a component disposed on the device body, such as... Figures 2 to 5 The network channel switching circuit corresponds to any embodiment.

[0076] The display device can be a smart interactive flat panel such as a conference screen, an educational screen, or a commercial screen.

[0077] Since the display device includes the present application, Figures 2 to 5 Corresponding to the network channel switching circuit in any embodiment, the present application can be implemented as described above. Figures 2 to 5 For all the beneficial effects that the network channel switching circuit can achieve in any embodiment, please refer to the preceding description, which will not be repeated here.

[0078] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application in any way. Although this application has disclosed preferred embodiments as above, it is not intended to limit this application. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the technical solution of this application. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of this application without departing from the scope of the technical solution of this application shall still fall within the scope of the technical solution of this application.

Claims

1. A network channel switching circuit, characterized in that, Applied to a display device, the display device is configured with a network interface and multiple device interfaces, each of the device interfaces being used to connect to a corresponding master device, and the network channel switching circuit includes an external signal interface chip and a gating unit; The network interface is connected to the main chip of the display device through the chip of the external signal interface, so that the main chip can access the network. The main chip is connected to multiple device interfaces through the gating unit. The gating unit is used to select a target device interface so that the target main device can access the network. The target device interface is the device interface connected to the target main device currently accessing the display device.

2. The network channel switching circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The main chip is connected to the gating unit via a USB OTG interface to transmit USB signals to the gating unit, wherein the USB signals are obtained based on the network signals accessed by the main chip.

3. The network channel switching circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The device interface includes a first USB interface, and the host device includes a first host device connected to the first USB interface. The first host device is also configured with a first HDMI interface, which is connected to the HDMI interface of the display device.

4. The network channel switching circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The device interface includes an OPS interface, and the main device includes an OPS module connected to the OPS interface.

5. The network channel switching circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gating unit is connected to each of the device interfaces via GPIO interfaces, so as to gating the target device interface when the target master device is detected to be connected.

6. The network channel switching circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The network channel switching circuit further includes a channel monitoring unit, which is connected to the main chip and each of the device interfaces to output a monitoring signal to the main chip when the target main device is detected to be connected. The main chip is connected to the gating unit via a GPIO interface to output a GPIO signal in response to the monitoring signal, thereby driving the gating unit to select the target device interface.

7. The network channel switching circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The chip of the external signal interface is connected to the network interface through the MDIO interface to access network signals.

8. The network channel switching circuit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The external signal interface chip is connected to the main chip via a media-independent interface to transmit network signals to the main chip.

9. The network channel switching circuit according to claim 8, characterized in that, The media-independent interface includes either the GMII interface or the RGMII interface.

10. A display device, characterized in that, It includes a device body and a network channel switching circuit as described in any one of claims 1-9 disposed on the device body.

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