Multi-computer switcher

Abstract

The utility model discloses a multi-computer switcher capable of setting a transmission speed. The multi-computer switcher comprises a transmission speed setting circuit, a plurality of ports and a signal distribution control circuit. The plurality of ports are electrically connected with the host and the display device respectively. The transmission speed setting circuit generates a transmission speed control signal according to the distribution instruction. The signal distribution control circuit determines a transmission mode for the host according to the transmission speed control signal, and performs a communication procedure with the host through a corresponding port according to the transmission mode. In response to completion of the communication program, the host transmits the image signal and the data signal according to a predetermined transmission speed corresponding to the transmission mode, and the signal distribution control circuit transmits the image signal to the display device for image display. Therefore, according to the multi-computer switcher provided by the invention, a user can decide the transmission speed of the port connected with the host to the display equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to a multi-computer switcher, and more particularly to a multi-computer switcher with a settable transmission speed. Background Technology

[0002] In existing multi-computer switchers, the host computer and display device are connected to the switcher via a Universal Serial Bus (USB). The transmission speed of the image and data signals output by the host computer is determined and allocated by the computer itself. Therefore, high-resolution image signals are limited by the bandwidth allocated by the computer, resulting in a choppy display.

[0003] Therefore, improving the host's data transfer rate through improvements to the communication interface and signal transmission settings to overcome the aforementioned defects has become one of the important issues that this project aims to address. Utility Model Content

[0004] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a multi-computer switcher with adjustable transmission speed, which addresses the shortcomings of the prior art.

[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, one technical solution adopted by this utility model is to provide a multi-computer switcher with a settable transmission speed, including a transmission speed setting circuit, multiple ports, and a signal distribution control circuit. The transmission speed setting circuit generates a transmission speed control signal according to a distribution command. The multiple ports are electrically connected to the host computer and a display device, respectively. The signal distribution control circuit is electrically connected to the multiple ports and the transmission speed setting circuit, determines the transmission mode for the host computer based on the transmission speed control signal, and communicates with the host computer through the corresponding port according to the transmission mode. Upon completion of the communication process, the host computer transmits an image signal and a data signal according to a predetermined transmission speed corresponding to the transmission mode, and the signal distribution control circuit transmits the image signal to the display device for image display.

[0006] Furthermore, the transmission speed setting circuit is connected to an input device that provides a user-defined predetermined transmission speed.

[0007] Furthermore, the input device includes one or more of a keyboard and a DIP switch.

[0008] Furthermore, the host transmits signals using a pin allocation corresponding to the predetermined transmission speed.

[0009] Further, the pin assignment causes the port to open a first channel, and the host transmits the image signal via the first channel according to a predetermined transmission speed corresponding to the transmission speed control signal.

[0010] Further, the pin assignment causes the port to open a second channel, and the host transmits the data signal via the second channel according to a predetermined transmission speed corresponding to the transmission speed control signal, and the predetermined transmission speed of the second channel is less than the predetermined transmission speed of the first channel.

[0011] Further, in response to the multi-computer switch being simultaneously electrically connected to another host via one of the ports, the assignment instruction is used to determine the predetermined transmission speed of the host and another predetermined transmission speed of the another host, the transmission speed setting circuit generates another transmission speed control signal corresponding to the another host according to the assignment instruction, the signal assignment control circuit determines another transmission mode for the another host according to the another transmission speed control signal, the signal assignment control circuit performs another communication procedure with the another host according to the another transmission mode, and in response to the another communication procedure being completed, the another host transmits another image signal and another data signal according to another predetermined transmission speed corresponding to the another transmission mode, and the signal assignment control circuit transmits the another image signal to the display device and performs image display, wherein a bandwidth sum of the transmission performed by the host and the another host using the predetermined transmission speed and the another predetermined transmission speed respectively is less than or equal to a total bandwidth of the ports.

[0012] Further, the data signal includes one or more of a current used to transmit power, audio data, and digital data.

[0013] Further, the transmission mode includes a display port alternate mode, a thunderbolt alternate mode, a visual link alternate mode, a high-definition multimedia interface alternate mode, or a mobile high-definition link alternate mode.

[0014] Further, the ports include a high-definition multimedia interface, a display port interface, an embedded display port, a universal serial bus C-type structure interface, a thunderbolt interface, or a digital video interface.

[0015] The technical problem to be solved by the utility model lies in providing a multi-computer switch according to the deficiency of the prior art, wherein a user can generate a transmission speed control signal by a transmission speed setting circuit, and a signal assignment control circuit determines a transmission mode of a host according to the transmission speed control signal, so as to determine a transmission speed of a port connected to the host and transmitted to a display device.

[0016] For further understanding of the features and technical contents of the present application, please refer to the following detailed description and drawings of the present application. However, the drawings provided are only for reference and illustration, and are not intended to limit the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 The functional block diagram of the multi-computer switch of the embodiment of the present application.

[0018] Figure 2 The flow chart of the communication method of the multi-computer switch of the embodiment of the present application.

[0019] Figure 3 The schematic diagram of the signal of the multi-computer switch of the present application in communication with external devices.

[0020] Figure 4 The schematic diagram of the pin of the port of the multi-computer switch of the embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The following is to illustrate the embodiments of the present application disclosed in relation to the "multi-computer switch" through specific examples. The advantages and effects of the present application can be understood by the person skilled in the art from the disclosure of the present specification. The present application can be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and each detail in the present specification can be modified and changed in various ways based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the concept of the present application. In addition, the drawings of the present application are only simple schematic illustrations, and are not intended to depict the actual size. The following embodiments will further illustrate the related technical contents of the present application in detail, but the disclosed contents are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present application.

[0022] It should be understood that although the terms "first", "second", "third" and the like may be used herein to describe various components or signals, these components or signals should not be limited by these terms. These terms are mainly used to distinguish one component from another component, or one signal from another signal. In addition, the term "or" used herein may include any one or more combinations of the associated listed items.

[0023] Figure 1 The functional block diagram of the multi-computer switch of the embodiment of the present application. Figure 2 The flow chart of the communication method of the multi-computer switch of the embodiment of the present application. Figure 3 The schematic diagram of the signal of the multi-computer switch of the present application in communication with external devices. Refer to Figures 1 to 3As shown, the utility model embodiment provides a kind of multi-computer switcher 1 of setting transmission speed, it includes: transmission speed setting circuit 10, signal distribution control circuit 20 and multiple ports 30.

[0024] Multi-computer switcher 1 can be KVM switch (KVM switch). KVM switch connects multiple computer hosts with controller, and connects input device and output device. Input device can be mouse, keyboard etc., and it is used to input instruction or signal into the host of computer. Output device can be multiple or single display device. Mouse or keyboard connected by the controller of KVM switch can be switched to the picture of host desired to control by inputting instruction, and control the main picture of KVM switch.

[0025] Multiple ports 30 in the embodiment are electrically connected host HOST and display device DP respectively. Port 30 can be universal serial bus (Universal Serial Bus, USB), and universal serial bus is a kind of serial port bus standard connecting KVM switch and host, and it is also a kind of input-output interface technical specification. Host HOST and display device DP in the embodiment are connected KVM switch by universal serial bus respectively. Host HOST can be electronic equipment with processor, for example, desktop computer host, notebook computer or tablet computer. Display device DP can be liquid crystal screen, light-emitting diode screen, projection screen or spliced display. Transmission speed of the application refers to the data transmission rate (data rate) from host HOST end to display device DP, and unit is bit per second (bit per second, bps). Wherein, the maximum data transmission rate provided by bus is the maximum data transmission rate of host HOST. Port 30 can be high-definition multimedia interface (highdefinition multimedia interface, HDMI), display port (display port, DP) interface, embedded display port (embedded display port, eDP), universal serial bus C type structure (USB Type-C) interface, thunderbolt (Thunderbolt) interface or digital video interface (digital visual interface, DVI).

[0026] As shown, Figure 3 First, transmission speed setting circuit 10 connects input device IN. Input device IN provides the predetermined transmission speed PTR set by user. Input device IN can be keyboard or dial switch. User inputs fast instruction to set the predetermined transmission speed PTR of host HOST by connecting the keyboard of multi-computer switcher 1 or auxiliary keypad. Or, as shown in FIG. 2, input device IN is connected to the auxiliary keypad of multi-computer switcher 1, and user inputs fast instruction to set the predetermined transmission speed PTR of host HOST.Figure 2 As shown, the predetermined transmission speed PTR of the host HOST is selected by the dial switch embedded in the multi-computer switcher 1. The input device IN generates the distribution instruction 100 according to the option set by the user (step S1). Then, the transmission speed setting circuit 10 generates the transmission speed control signal 200 according to the distribution instruction 100 (step S2). The signal distribution control circuit 20 receives the transmission speed control signal 200 from the transmission speed setting circuit 10, and determines the transmission mode for the host according to the transmission speed control signal 200. For example, the transmission mode of the present embodiment can be a display port alternate mode. Then, the signal distribution control circuit 20 communicates with the host HOST through the corresponding port 30 according to the transmission mode (step S3). The communication procedure of the present embodiment is, for example, the signal distribution control circuit 20 sends an information to inquire whether the host HOST supports the display port alternate mode. The host HOST sends a reply information, which includes a list of the modes that the host HOST can support. The signal distribution control circuit 20 confirms that the host HOST can support the transmission mode corresponding to the predetermined transmission speed PTR selected by the user, and then the communication procedure is completed. However, the transmission mode mentioned above is only one possible embodiment and is not intended to limit the present application. The transmission mode can also include a thunderbolt alternate mode, a visual link alternate mode, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) alternate mode, or a mobile high-definition Link alternate mode.

[0027] Then, the host HOST transmits the image signal IMS and the data signal DS to the display device DP at the predetermined transmission speed PTR (step S4). The host HOST transmits the signals according to the pin assignment corresponding to the predetermined transmission speed PTR. That is, the port 30 corresponding to the host HOST is switched to the pin assignment that can support the predetermined transmission speed PTR. For example, in the present embodiment, the pin assignment corresponding to the predetermined transmission speed PTR can make the corresponding channel of the port 30 open, and the host HOST transmits the image signal IMS and the data signal DS through the corresponding channel. Figure 4 The present embodiment is a schematic diagram of the pins of the port of the multi-computer switcher of the present application. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the port 30 of the multi-computer switcher 1 includes a plurality of pins 31, and each pin 31 corresponds to a channel of the port 30. The pin assignment of the port 30 is determined by the transmission speed of the host HOST. For example, the pin assignment of the port 30 corresponding to the predetermined transmission speed PTR can make the corresponding channel of the port 30 open, and the host HOST transmits the image signal IMS and the data signal DS through the corresponding channel. Figure 4As shown, the pins of the port 30 of the present embodiment are pins A1 to A12 and B1 to B12 of a USB Type-C interface. Among them, pins A2, A3, A10, A11, B2, B3, B10 and B11 for setting the port 30 are configured to set parameters according to the requirements of the predetermined transmission speed PTR, so that the transmission data of the port 30 is the image signal IMS, and the bandwidth and transmission rate of the port 30 are changed. The transmission speed control signal 200 of the present embodiment can set the values of the pins to determine the switching state of the corresponding channel of the port 30, the state of the transmitted data and the transmission rate. The setting parameters of the pins A2, A3, A10, A11, B2, B3, B10 and B11 for determining the transmission state of the port 30 are the same as the USB protocol content, so they are not repeated here. The port 30 of the present embodiment is not limited to the above-mentioned pins A1 to A12 and B1 to B12 of the USB Type-C interface. Among them, pins A2, A3, A10, A11, B2, B3, B10 and B11 for setting the port 30 are configured to set parameters according to the requirements of the predetermined transmission speed PTR, so that the transmission data of the port 30 is the image signal IMS, and the bandwidth and transmission rate of the port 30 are changed. The transmission speed control signal 200 of the present embodiment can set the values of the pins to determine the switching state of the corresponding channel of the port 30, the state of the transmitted data and the transmission rate. The setting parameters of the pins A2, A3, A10, A11, B2, B3, B10 and B11 for determining the transmission state of the port 30 are the same as the USB protocol content, so they are not repeated here. The port 30 of the present embodiment is not limited to the above-mentioned pins A1 to A12 and B1 to B12 of the USB Type-C.

[0028] In the port 30, different channels can transmit different state data, or different channels have different data transmission rates. In the present embodiment, the port 30 can support USB 3.2, which can support multiple transmission channels, including an ultra-fast transmission channel, a fast transmission channel or a general transmission channel. In the embodiment, the user determines the transmission speed by the input device IN, so that the port 30 switches to the pin assignment of multiple transmission channels or a single transmission channel. For example, the pin assignment makes the port 30 open the first channel CH1, and the host HOST transmits the image signal IMS through the first channel CH1 according to the predetermined transmission speed corresponding to the transmission speed control signal. At the same time, the pin assignment makes the port 30 open the second channel CH2, and the host HOST transmits the data signal DS through the second channel CH2 according to the predetermined transmission speed PTR corresponding to the transmission speed control signal 200, and the predetermined transmission speed PTR2 of the second channel CH2 is less than the predetermined transmission speed PTR1 of the first channel CH1.

[0029] When the multi-computer switch 1 is connected to a single display device DP, the user sets the switch port 30 to open the super-speed transmission channel. Since the bandwidth of the port 30 is switched to only transmit the image signal IMS, when the host transmits the high-resolution image signal IMS through the port 30, the image signal IMS will not be delayed due to the bandwidth of the port 30 being consumed by other data transmission, so that the display device DP has a clear pause. The image signal IMS will not be delayed because it needs to wait for the data transmission before the image signal IMS to be completed. In addition, the image signal IMS can be a compressed file package in image format or video format. The data signal DS includes one or more of a current for power transmission, an audio data and a digital data.

[0030] In addition, the present application can also transmit data through multiple transmission channels at the same time. When the multi-computer switch 1 is also connected to another host HOST' through one of the ports 30, the user can set the transmission speed of different hosts respectively. The input device IN generates an allocation instruction 100 according to the parameters input by the user to different hosts HOST, HOST', which is used to determine the predetermined transmission speed PTR of the host HOST, and another predetermined transmission speed PTR' of the host HOST' (not shown in the figure). Then, the transmission speed setting circuit 10 generates another transmission speed control signal 200' corresponding to the host HOST' according to the allocation instruction 100. The signal allocation control circuit 20 determines another transmission mode for the host HOST' according to the transmission speed control signal 200'. The signal allocation control circuit 20 performs another communication procedure with the host HOST' according to the other transmission mode. When the other communication procedure is completed, the host HOST' transmits another image signal IMS' and another data signal DS' according to the predetermined transmission speed PTR' corresponding to the other transmission mode, and the signal allocation control circuit 20 transmits the other image signal IMS to the display device DP and performs image display. Wherein, the sum of the bandwidths used by the host HOST and the host HOST' for transmission using the predetermined transmission speed PTR and the predetermined transmission speed PTR' respectively is less than or equal to the total bandwidth of all ports 30.

[0031] Specifically, in the present embodiment, the user sets the parameters of the dial switch to switch the pin assignment of the port 30 to the pin assignment mode for transmitting the image signal. At this time, the display controller receives the image signal IMS from the host through two of the four USB super-speed transmission channels of the USB Type-C interface of the display device, and plays the image signal IMS on the display panel. However, the present application is not limited to the above-mentioned example.

[0032] The signal distribution control circuit 20 is electrically connected to the port 30 and the transmission speed setting circuit 10. The signal distribution control circuit 20 determines the transmission mode for the host HOST according to the transmission speed control signal, and communicates with the host HOST through the corresponding port 30 according to the transmission mode. In response to the completion of the communication process, the host HOST transmits the image signal IMS and the data signal DS according to the predetermined transmission speed PTR corresponding to the transmission mode, and the signal distribution control circuit 20 transmits the image signal IMS to the display device DP and displays the image.

[0033] Advantages of the embodiments

[0034] One of the advantages of the utility model lies in that the multi-computer switcher provided by the utility model can generate transmission speed control signals through the transmission speed setting circuit, and the signal distribution control circuit determines the transmission mode of the host according to the transmission speed control signal, so as to determine the transmission speed of the port connected to the host to the display device.

[0035] Furthermore, the user can set the number of channels and the bandwidth of the port connected to the host according to the requirements, so that when the high-resolution image signal IMS is transmitted from the host through the port 30, the image signal IMS will not be delayed due to the bandwidth of the port 30 being consumed by other transmitted data. In addition to improving the flexibility of the user in operating the multi-computer switcher 1, the bandwidth utilization efficiency of the port can also be maximized. Therefore, even if the image signal IMS transmitted to the display device DP has a resolution as high as 8K, i.e. 7680 horizontal pixels and 4320 vertical pixels, the picture of the display device DP is still very smooth and does not have a pause.

[0036] Furthermore, the user can forcibly control the transmission speed of the data of the port 30, so that the data to be transmitted does not need to wait and can be directly set as the highest priority in the order of the transmission data of the port 30, so that the data to be transmitted will not be transmitted after the previous data transmission is completed. The user can manually set the order of the transmission data of the port 30 to optimize the monitoring performance of the multi-computer switcher 1.

[0037] The above disclosed content is only the preferred and feasible embodiment of the utility model, and does not limit the protection scope of the claims of the utility model, so that any equivalent technical change made according to the content of the utility model specification and drawings is included in the protection scope of the claims of the utility model.

Claims

1. A multi-computer switcher with a settable transmission speed, characterized in that, The multi-computer switch with configurable transmission speed includes: A transmission speed setting circuit generates a transmission speed control signal according to an allocation instruction; Multiple ports, each electrically connected to a host computer and a display device; and A signal distribution control circuit is electrically connected to multiple ports and the transmission speed setting circuit. The signal distribution control circuit determines a transmission mode for the host according to the transmission speed control signal, and performs a communication procedure with the host through the corresponding port according to the transmission mode. In response to the completion of the communication procedure, the host transmits an image signal and a data signal according to a predetermined transmission speed corresponding to the transmission mode, and the signal distribution control circuit transmits the image signal to the display device for image display.

2. The multi-computer switcher with settable transmission speed according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission speed setting circuit is connected to an input device that provides a user-defined predetermined transmission speed.

3. The multi-computer switcher with settable transmission speed according to claim 2, characterized in that, The input device includes one or more of a keyboard and a DIP switch.

4. The multi-computer switcher with settable transmission speed according to claim 1, characterized in that, The host transmits signals using a pin allocation corresponding to the predetermined transmission speed.

5. The multi-computer switcher with settable transmission speed according to claim 4, characterized in that, The pin assignment enables the port to open a first channel, and the host transmits the image signal via the first channel according to the predetermined transmission speed corresponding to the transmission speed control signal.

6. The multi-computer switcher with adjustable transmission speed according to claim 5, characterized in that, The pin assignment enables the port to open a second channel. The host transmits the data signal via the second channel according to the predetermined transmission speed corresponding to the transmission speed control signal, and the predetermined transmission speed of the second channel is less than the predetermined transmission speed of the first channel.

7. The multi-computer switcher with settable transmission speed according to claim 1, characterized in that, In response to the multi-computer switch, it is also electrically connected to another host via one of the ports; The allocation instruction is used to determine the predetermined transmission speed of the host and another predetermined transmission speed of the other host; The transmission speed setting circuit generates another transmission speed control signal corresponding to the other host according to the allocation instruction; The signal allocation control circuit determines another transmission mode for the other host based on the other transmission speed control signal; The signal distribution control circuit performs another communication procedure with the other host according to the other transmission mode; In response to the completion of the other communication procedure, the other host transmits another image signal and another data signal according to another predetermined transmission speed corresponding to the other transmission mode, and the signal distribution control circuit transmits the other image signal to the display device for image display; Wherein, the sum of the bandwidth of the host and the other host using the predetermined transmission speed and the other predetermined transmission speed respectively is less than or equal to the total bandwidth of the plurality of ports.

8. The multi-computer switcher with settable transmission speed according to claim 1, characterized in that, The data signal includes one or more of an electric current, an audio data, and a digital data for transmitting power.

9. The multi-computer switcher with settable transmission speed according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transmission modes include a display port alternation mode, a lightning alternation mode, a visual link alternation mode, a high-definition multimedia interface alternation mode, or a mobile high-definition link alternation mode.

10. The multi-computer switcher with settable transmission speed according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of ports include a high-definition multimedia interface, a display port interface, an embedded display port, a universal serial bus C-type interface, a Thunderbolt interface, or a digital video interface.

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