Communication control device and communication system

Abstract

To provide a communication control device and a communication system that can prevent communication processing in a communication device connected to a communication line of another communication device from being hindered.SOLUTION: A communication control device according to an embodiment includes a controller that controls a plurality of communication devices each capable of communicating in a plurality of communication modes. When the communication device is started up, the controller starts up the communication device in a communication mode different from the communication modes of other communication devices that communicate with the communication device. After starting up the communication device, the controller switches the communication mode of the communication device to the same communication mode as the communication mode of the other communication devices.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication control device and a communication system. [Background Art]

[0002] Conventionally, various communication control devices that perform data communication between a plurality of communication devices have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 describes a data processing device including a first central processing unit (CPU) and a second CPU, each of which functions as a communication device. The first CPU and the second CPU perform data communication via an interface integrated circuit (IC) or the like. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-197370 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] In a configuration where a plurality of communication devices perform mutual data communication as described above, a communication device may be configured to be capable of communicating in a plurality of communication modes. In such a case, when one communication mode among the plurality of communication modes is set in the plurality of communication devices, the communication device and another communication device perform communication in the set communication mode.

[0005] By the way, another communication device may be connected to a communication line between the above-described communication device and a microcomputer that controls the communication device or the like. The microcomputer transmits an initialization signal or the like to the other communication device via the communication line.

[0006] However, when a communication device and another communication device communicate in a configured communication mode, back-channel communication from the communication device to the other communication device is enabled. Therefore, the initial setup signal for the other communication device is also sent from the communication device to the back-channel communication. When the initial setup signal is sent to the back-channel communication, depending on the settings of the communication device, communication between the microcontroller and the communication device may take precedence over communication between the microcontroller and the other communication device on the communication line. In this case, the microcontroller cannot receive a response signal to the initial setup signal from the other communication device. Consequently, the communication processing of the microcontroller to the other communication device will time out and terminate. Thus, in conventional technology, there was a risk that communication processing on another communication device connected to the communication line of the communication device would be hindered.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and aims to provide a communication control device and a communication system that can suppress interference with communication processing in another communication device connected to the communication line of a communication device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the above problems and achieve the objective, the present invention provides a controller that controls a plurality of communication devices, each capable of communicating in a plurality of communication modes. When a communication device is started up, the controller starts the communication device in a state where its communication mode is different from the communication mode of other communication devices that communicate with the communication device. After the communication device is started up, the controller switches the communication mode of the communication device to the same communication mode as the other communication devices. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress interference with communication processing in another communication device connected to the communication line of a communication device. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows an example of the configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 illustrates the invalid period for back-channel communication in the serializer. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the processing apparatus and the like according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure performed by the processing apparatus according to the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the communication control device and communication system disclosed in this application will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0012] The communication system according to the embodiment will be described using Figure 1. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the communication system 1 according to the embodiment.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the communication system 1 comprises a camera unit 10 and a display unit 20. The communication system 1 is mounted on a vehicle, but is not limited to that.

[0014] The camera unit 10 comprises a camera 11 and a serializer 12. The camera 11 is installed in the vehicle. The camera 11 captures images of the area around the vehicle. The camera 11 is not limited to capturing images of the area around the vehicle, but may also capture images of the interior of the vehicle. The camera 11 outputs the captured image data to the serializer 12. The image data may be moving images. The image data may be still images. The image data is not limited to data captured by the camera 11, but may also be image data previously stored in a storage unit or the like. Furthermore, the image data is not limited to the camera 11, storage unit or the like, but may also be image data obtained from other various devices.

[0015] The serializer 12 is connected to the camera 11 in a communicative manner. The serializer 12 converts the parallel data (parallel signals), which are image data output from the camera 11, into serial data (serial signals). The serializer 12 outputs the converted image data (serial data) to the display unit 20.

[0016] The display unit 20 comprises a processing unit 30 and a display unit 40. The display unit 20 is sometimes referred to as a display audio system. The processing unit 30 is an example of a communication control device.

[0017] The processing unit 30 is connected to the camera unit 10 in a communicative manner. More specifically, the processing unit 30 is connected to the serializer 12 of the camera unit 10 in a communicative manner. The processing unit 30 performs various processes, such as image processing of image data and communication processing with the camera unit 10.

[0018] The processing unit 30 comprises a deserializer 31, a microcontroller 32, and a video IC 33. The deserializer 31 is connected to the serializer 12 in a communicative manner. The communication modes used by the deserializer 31 and serializer 12 will be described later.

[0019] The deserializer 31 converts the serial data (serial signal), which is image data output from the camera unit 10 (more precisely, the serializer 12), into parallel data (parallel signal). The deserializer 31 outputs the converted image data (parallel data) to the microcontroller 32 and the video IC 33.

[0020] The microcomputer 32 is communicably connected to the deserializer 31 and the video IC 33. The microcomputer 32 includes a computer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a data flash, an input / output port, and the like, as well as various circuits. The CPU executes various processes such as image processing and communication processing, for example, by reading and executing a program stored in the ROM. Note that the microcomputer 32 can also be implemented by an integrated circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0021] The microcomputer 32 can control the deserializer 31, the video IC 33, the serializer 12 of the camera unit 10, the camera 11, and the like. The microcomputer 32 can control communication processing of the deserializer 31, the video IC 33, the serializer 12, the camera 11, and the like. Note that the microcomputer 32 is an example of a controller.

[0022] The video IC 33 is an IC that performs image-related processing. The image-related processing includes, for example, processing for enlarging or reducing the size of an image in image data, processing for adjusting color tone, and the like. The image-related processing is not limited to these processings. The video IC 33 outputs the processed image data to the display unit 40. Note that in the example of FIG. 1, the above-described transmission route of the image data is indicated by solid arrows.

[0023] The display unit 40 displays an image (video) based on input image data. As the display unit 40, a liquid crystal display such as a TFT (Thin-Film-Transistor) liquid crystal, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, or the like can be used.

[0024] The camera 11, serializer 12, deserializer 31, and video IC 33 described above are examples of communication devices. Data communication takes place between multiple communication devices, such as between the camera 11 and the serializer 12, between the serializer 12 and the deserializer 31, and between the deserializer 31 and the video IC 33.

[0025] The microcontroller 32 and the deserializer 31 are connected via communication line A1. A video IC 33 is connected to this communication line A1. The video IC 33 is an example of another communication device connected to communication line A1.

[0026] The camera 11 and the serializer 12 are connected via communication line A2. For example, I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) communication can be used for communication lines A1 and A2.

[0027] Here, the serializer 12 and deserializer 31 are configured to communicate in multiple communication modes. For example, the serializer 12 and deserializer 31 are configured to communicate in a communication mode using the GMSL (Gigabit Multimedia Serial Link) communication method. GMSL includes "GMSL1" and "GMSL2". GMSL1 and GMSL2 differ from each other in terms of processing speed, control content, register settings, sequences, etc., and therefore their communication modes are considered to be different. In the following, GMSL1 may be referred to as the "first communication mode" and GMSL2 as the "second communication mode".

[0028] Furthermore, the serializer 12 and deserializer 31 each have a setting pin (not shown) for setting the communication mode at startup. Specifically, the setting pin of the serializer 12 sets the communication mode at startup of the serializer 12 to either the first communication mode or the second communication mode. The setting pin of the deserializer 31 sets the communication mode at startup of the deserializer 31 to either the first communication mode or the second communication mode. When the serializer 12 and deserializer 31 start up, they perform communication processing in the communication mode set by their respective setting pins. In addition, the communication modes of the serializer 12 and deserializer 31 can be switched by a communication mode setting signal from the microcontroller 32, as will be described later.

[0029] The serializer 12 and deserializer 31 transmit and receive the image data described above in the configured communication mode. Furthermore, the serializer 12 and deserializer 31 are configured to enable back-channel communication (see dashed arrow B) in the configured communication mode. Back-channel communication is communication from the deserializer 31 to the serializer 12. More specifically, back-channel communication involves transmitting and receiving setting signals to the camera unit 10, for example, when the microcontroller 32 outputs various settings for the camera unit 10 via the I2C communication line A1 and the deserializer 31.

[0030] In the communication system 1 configured as described above, the microcontroller 32 can perform setting processing for the video IC 33. For example, the microcontroller 32 can perform initial setting processing for the video IC 33. Specifically, the microcontroller 32 performs initial setting processing by outputting an initial setting signal to the video IC 33 via communication line A1. Initial setting processing includes, but is not limited to, processing to reset the image processing settings of the video IC 33 to their initial state.

[0031] Furthermore, as described above, the microcontroller 32 can also perform setting processing for the camera unit 10 (for example, camera 11). For example, the microcontroller 32 outputs the setting signal for the camera unit 10 to the deserializer 31 via communication line A1. The deserializer 31 outputs the input setting signal to the serializer 12 via back-channel communication. The serializer 12 outputs the input setting signal to the camera 11 via communication line A2. As a result, the camera 11 performs setting processing based on the setting signal.

[0032] In conventional technology, one communication mode (for example, the first communication mode) is pre-configured in the serializer 12 and deserializer 31 from among multiple communication modes (here, the first and second communication modes). Specifically, the setting pins of both the serializer 12 and deserializer 31 are set to the first communication mode. As a result, the serializer 12 and deserializer 31 communicate in the configured communication mode (here, the first communication mode). Note that the deserializer 31 is an example of a communication device, and the serializer 12 is an example of another communication device.

[0033] Thus, when the serializer 12 and the deserializer 31 are communicating in a set communication mode, if an initial setup signal is transmitted from the microcontroller 32 to the video IC 33 via communication line A1, there is a risk that this communication process may be disrupted.

[0034] Specifically, when the deserializer 31 and the serializer 12 communicate in the configured communication mode, the aforementioned back-channel communication is enabled. Therefore, the initial setup signal for the video IC 33 is also transmitted from the deserializer 31 to the back-channel communication. When the initial setup signal is transmitted to the back-channel communication, depending on the settings of the deserializer 31, communication between the microcontroller 32 and the deserializer 31 may take precedence over communication between the microcontroller 32 and the video IC 33 on communication line A1.

[0035] More specifically, when the deserializer 31 receives an initial setting signal from the microcontroller 32, it outputs the initial setting signal to the serializer 12 via back-channel communication. Subsequently, the deserializer 31 waits for a response signal (e.g., ACK or NACK) from the serializer 12. During the waiting period while waiting for the response signal, the deserializer 31 maintains communication with the microcontroller 32 on communication line A1. In other words, on communication line A1, communication between the microcontroller 32 and the deserializer 31 takes precedence over communication between the microcontroller 32 and the video IC 33. The above-mentioned waiting time can be set to any value.

[0036] As described above, since communication between the microcontroller 32 and the deserializer 31 is maintained on communication line A1, the microcontroller 32 cannot receive a response signal to the initial setup signal from the video IC 33 until the waiting time has elapsed. As a result, the communication processing of the microcontroller 32 to the video IC 33 ends due to a timeout. Thus, in the conventional technology, there was a risk that communication processing on another communication device (in this case, the video IC 33) connected to communication line A1 would be interfered with.

[0037] Furthermore, the issue of the communication process between the microcontroller 32 and the video IC 33 being disrupted may also be caused by the invalid period of back-channel communication that occurs after the serializer 12 is started. This will be explained with reference to Figure 2. Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the invalid period of back-channel communication in the serializer 12.

[0038] As shown in Figure 2, it is assumed that image data from camera 11 is continuously output from time T0 onward. The serializer 12 is powered on and started up at time T1. Upon startup, the serializer 12 prepares to output the image data to the deserializer 31 in the configured communication mode (GMSL1) (see times T1-T2). During this preparation stage, the serializer 12 has not yet established back-channel communication with the deserializer 31, and there is an invalid period in which back-channel communication is disabled.

[0039] Next, when the serializer 12 completes the preparation process at time T2, it outputs the image data transmission signal to the deserializer 31. At the stage when the serializer 12 starts outputting this image data transmission signal, the inactive period for back-channel communication continues. Then, at time T3, the serializer 12 establishes back-channel communication with the deserializer 31, and the valid period for back-channel communication begins.

[0040] Thus, after startup, the serializer 12 outputs a transmission signal for image data, but there is an invalid period during which back-channel communication is disabled (see times T2-T3). During this invalid period, even if the deserializer 31 outputs an initial setup signal or the like, the serializer 12 cannot accept it because back-channel communication is disabled. Therefore, the serializer 12 does not output a response signal (e.g., ACK or NACK) to the deserializer 31. However, the deserializer 31 waits for a response signal from the serializer 12, and during the waiting time of the deserializer 31, communication between the microcontroller 32 and the deserializer 31 takes priority on communication line A1.

[0041] Therefore, the microcontroller 32 cannot receive a response signal to the initial setup signal from the video IC 33 until the waiting time has elapsed, and the communication process with the video IC 33 will terminate due to a timeout. Thus, in the conventional technology, even if the output timing of the initial setup signal from another communication device (in this case, the video IC 33) coincided with the invalid period of back-channel communication of the activated serializer 12, there was a risk that the communication process in the video IC 33 would be hindered.

[0042] Therefore, the communication system 1 including the processing unit 30 according to this embodiment is configured to suppress interference with communication processing in another communication device (video IC 33) connected to the communication line A1 of the deserializer 31.

[0043] This configuration will be explained with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the processing apparatus 30, etc., according to this embodiment.

[0044] As shown in Figure 3, the serializer 12 and deserializer 31 are configured to have different communication modes at startup. For example, the serializer 12 is configured to have a "first communication mode" at startup (step S1). Specifically, the setting pin of the serializer 12 is configured to have a "first communication mode". As a result, when the serializer 12 starts up, it performs communication processing in the first communication mode.

[0045] The deserializer 31 is set to "second communication mode" when it starts up (step S2). Specifically, the setting pins of the deserializer 31 are set to "second communication mode," which is different from the setting pins of the serializer 12. As a result, when the deserializer 31 starts up, it performs communication processing in second communication mode.

[0046] Thus, in this embodiment, when the serializer 12 and deserializer 31, which are communication devices, are started up, the deserializer 31 is started in a communication mode that is different from the communication mode of the serializer 12. In this way, since the serializer 12 and deserializer 31 have different communication modes, no communication takes place between the serializer 12 and the deserializer 31.

[0047] Then, the microcontroller 32 performs the initial setup of another communication device (in this case, the video IC 33) connected to communication line A1 (step S3). Specifically, the microcontroller 32 outputs an initial setup signal for the video IC 33 via communication line A1. At this time, even though the deserializer 31 receives the initial setup signal from the microcontroller 32, it does not communicate with the serializer 12. Therefore, back-channel communication does not occur, and thus the deserializer 31 does not output the initial setup signal to the serializer 12. Consequently, the deserializer 31 does not wait for a response signal from the serializer 12. Therefore, on communication line A1, communication between the microcontroller 32 and the deserializer 31 does not take precedence over communication between the microcontroller 32 and the video IC 33.

[0048] As a result, the microcontroller 32 receives a response signal to the initial setup signal from the video IC 33 via communication line A1 and terminates its communication process with the video IC 33. In other words, the initial setup process of the video IC 33 by the microcontroller 32 is completed.

[0049] Next, the microcontroller 32 switches the communication mode of the deserializer 31 to the same first communication mode as the serializer 12, but before this switch, it disables back-channel communication between the deserializer 31 and the serializer 12. Specifically, the microcontroller 32 disables back-channel communication with the serializer 12 in the register settings of the deserializer 31 (step S4).

[0050] The microcontroller 32 disables back-channel communication between the deserializer 31 and the serializer 12, and then switches the communication mode of the deserializer 31 to the same communication mode as the serializer 12 (in this case, the first communication mode) (step S5). Specifically, the microcontroller 32 outputs a communication mode setting signal to the deserializer 31. The deserializer 31 then executes a process to switch its communication mode to the communication mode corresponding to this setting signal.

[0051] As described above, the microcontroller 32 in this embodiment starts the deserializer 31 in a communication mode different from the communication mode of the serializer 12, and after the deserializer 31 starts up, switches the communication mode to the same communication mode as the serializer 12.

[0052] As a result, the initial setup signal from the microcontroller 32 to the video IC 33 is not output from the deserializer 31 to the serializer 12, so the microcontroller 32 can reliably receive the response signal to the initial setup signal from the video IC 33 via the communication line A1. In other words, the microcontroller 32 can prevent interference with communication processing in another communication device (video IC 33) connected to the communication line A1 of the deserializer 31.

[0053] Furthermore, the microcontroller 32 disables back-channel communication between the deserializer 31 and the serializer 12 before switching the communication mode of the deserializer 31 to the same communication mode as the serializer 12. This allows the microcontroller 32 to prevent interference with communication processing in another communication device (video IC 33) connected to the communication line A1 of the deserializer 31.

[0054] In more detail, if the deserializer 31 does not disable back channel communication, it will enable back channel communication, for example, when it is reset and started up. Even if the deserializer 31 performs a process to disable back channel communication at this time, there will be a period during which back channel communication is enabled. If such a period of back channel communication is enabled, the microcontroller 32 will output an initial setting signal for the video IC 33 during this period, and as described above, there is a risk that the communication process will be disrupted.

[0055] In this embodiment, the microcontroller 32 disables back-channel communication with the serializer 12 before switching the communication mode of the deserializer 31. Therefore, the above-mentioned validity period does not occur, and thus, interference with communication processing can be suppressed.

[0056] In this embodiment, the communication system 1 does not use back-channel communication, so the disabling of back-channel communication described above will continue. If the communication system 1 is designed to use back-channel communication, the microcontroller 32 may enable back-channel communication, for example, at the time when back-channel communication is to be used.

[0057] Next, we will explain the timing of when the microcontroller 32 switches the communication mode of the deserializer 31.

[0058] For example, after completing the initial setup process for another communication device (video IC 33) connected to communication line A1 with the deserializer 31, the microcontroller 32 switches the communication mode of the deserializer 31 to the same communication mode as the serializer 12.

[0059] Specifically, the microcontroller 32 outputs an initial setup signal to the video IC 33. The video IC 33 performs initial setup processing according to the initial setup signal. Once the initial setup processing is complete, the video IC 33 outputs a setup completion signal to the microcontroller 32 to indicate that the initial setup processing is complete. After receiving the setup completion signal from the video IC 33, the microcontroller 32 switches the communication mode of the deserializer 31 to the same communication mode as the serializer 12.

[0060] As described above, the microcontroller 32 in this embodiment switches the communication mode of the deserializer 31 after the initial setup process for another communication device (video IC 33) is completed. This ensures that the microcontroller 32 can reliably prevent interference with the communication process related to the initial setup of the other communication device (video IC 33).

[0061] After the serializer 12 is started, the microcontroller 32 switches the communication mode of the deserializer 31 to the same communication mode as the serializer 12 after the invalid period of back-channel communication between the deserializer 31 and the serializer 12 (see Figure 2) has elapsed.

[0062] Specifically, the microcontroller 32 determines whether the elapsed time since the serializer 12 was started has exceeded the invalidation period for the serializer 12's back-channel communication. In other words, the microcontroller 32 determines whether the elapsed time since the serializer 12 was started has exceeded the invalidation period. This invalidation period is a value that is set in advance through experiments, etc., but is not limited to this value. Then, after the elapsed time since the serializer 12 was started has exceeded the invalidation period for the serializer 12's back-channel communication, the microcontroller 32 switches the communication mode of the deserializer 31 to the same communication mode as the serializer 12's communication mode.

[0063] As described above, the microcontroller 32 in this embodiment switches the communication mode of the deserializer 31 after the invalid period of back-channel communication between the deserializer 31 and the serializer 12, which occurs after the serializer 12 is started, has elapsed. This ensures that the microcontroller 32 can reliably prevent interference with communication processing related to the initial setup of another communication device (video IC 33).

[0064] In other words, the output of the initial setup signal of another communication device (video IC 33) will not be output to the serializer 12 during the period when the serializer 12's back channel communication is disabled at startup. Therefore, the microcontroller 32 can prevent the communication processing related to the initial setup of the other communication device (video IC 33) from being hindered by the period when the serializer 12's back channel communication is disabled at startup.

[0065] Next, the specific processing procedure in the processing unit 30 will be explained using Figure 4. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure executed by the processing unit 30 according to this embodiment.

[0066] As shown in Figure 4, the microcontroller 32 of the processing unit 30 starts the deserializer 31 in a "second communication mode," which is a different communication mode from the serializer 12's communication mode (step S10). The serializer 12 starts in the first communication mode.

[0067] Furthermore, in step S10, the deserializer 31 starts up in second communication mode by setting the setting pin of the deserializer 31 to "second communication mode," but this is not the only way. In other words, the microcontroller 32 may output a communication mode setting signal to the deserializer 31 to start the deserializer 31 in second communication mode.

[0068] Similarly, in this case, the serializer 12 starts up in the first communication mode by setting the setting pin of the serializer 12 to "first communication mode," but it is not limited to this. That is, the microcontroller 32 may also output a communication mode setting signal to the serializer 12 to start the serializer 12 in the first communication mode.

[0069] Next, the microcontroller 32 performs the initial setup process for the video IC 33 (step S11). Specifically, the microcontroller 32 outputs an initial setup signal to the video IC 33 via communication line A1. The video IC 33 performs the initial setup process in response to the initial setup signal output from the microcontroller 32. Once the initial setup process is complete, the video IC 33 outputs a setup completion signal to the microcontroller 32.

[0070] Next, the microcontroller 32 determines whether the initial setup process for the video IC 33 has been completed (step S12). Specifically, the microcontroller 32 determines whether it has received a setup completion signal from the video IC 33.

[0071] If the microcontroller 32 determines that the initial setup process for the video IC 33 is not complete (step S12, No), it repeats the process in step S12. On the other hand, if the microcontroller 32 determines that the initial setup process for the video IC 33 is complete (step S12, Yes), it determines whether the invalid period for back channel communication in the serializer 12 has elapsed (step S13).

[0072] Specifically, the microcontroller 32 measures the elapsed time since the serializer 12 was started and determines whether the measured elapsed time exceeds the period during which back-channel communication between the serializer 12 and the deserializer 31 is disabled.

[0073] If the microcontroller 32 determines that the invalidation period for back-channel communication in the serializer 12 has not elapsed (step S13, No), it repeats the process in step S13. On the other hand, if the microcontroller 32 determines that the invalidation period for back-channel communication in the serializer 12 has elapsed (step S13, Yes), it disables back-channel communication between the deserializer 31 and the serializer 12 (step S14).

[0074] Next, the microcontroller 32 switches the communication mode of the deserializer 31 from the second communication mode to the first communication mode (step S15). More specifically, the microcontroller 32 switches the communication mode of the deserializer 31 to the same communication mode as the serializer 12 (first communication mode). Specifically, the microcontroller 32 outputs a communication mode setting signal that sets the communication mode to the same as the serializer 12 (first communication mode). As a result, the communication mode of the deserializer 31 is switched to the first communication mode.

[0075] Next, the microcontroller 32 performs various setting processes (step S16). These setting processes include setting the communication speed in the communication mode (GMSL1) of the deserializer 31 and serializer 12, but this is merely an example and not limited to any other setting.

[0076] As described above, the processing unit 30 (an example of a communication control device) according to the embodiment includes a microcontroller 32 (an example of a controller) that controls multiple communication devices, each capable of communicating in multiple communication modes. When the deserializer 31 (an example of a communication device) is started up, the controller starts the deserializer 31 in a communication mode different from the communication mode of the serializer 12 (an example of another communication device) that communicates with the deserializer 31. After the deserializer 31 is started up, the microcontroller 32 switches the communication mode of the deserializer 31 to the same communication mode as the serializer 12. This makes it possible to suppress interference with the communication processing in the video IC 33 (an example of another communication device) connected to the communication line A1 of the deserializer 31.

[0077] Furthermore, the communication mode includes a communication mode using the GMSL communication method. This makes it possible to suppress interference with communication processing in the video IC 33 (an example of another communication device) connected to communication line A1, even when the deserializer 31 and serializer 12 use a communication mode using the GMSL communication method.

[0078] The above examples show communication modes that include communication modes using the GMSL communication method, but are not limited to this. In other words, communication modes may include, in place of or in addition to GMSL, communication modes of other communication methods such as FPD link or LVDS (Low Voltage Differential Signaling).

[0079] Further effects and modifications can be readily derived by those skilled in the art. Therefore, broader aspects of the present invention are not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments expressed and described above. Accordingly, various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the overall concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0080] 1. Communication System 12 Serializer 30 Processing Unit 31 Deserializer 32 Microcontrollers 33 Video IC

Claims

1. It features a controller that controls multiple communication devices, each capable of communicating in multiple communication modes. The aforementioned controller, When the aforementioned communication device is started, the communication mode of the aforementioned communication device is set to a different communication mode from the communication mode of other communication devices that communicate with the aforementioned communication device. After the communication device is started up, the initial setup process for another communication device connected to the communication line with the communication device is completed, and after disabling back-channel communication between the communication device and the other communication device, the communication mode of the communication device is switched to the same communication mode as the other communication device. Communication control device.

2. The aforementioned controller, After the other communication device is started up and the period during which back-channel communication between the communication device and the other communication device is disabled has elapsed, the communication mode of the communication device is switched to the same communication mode as the other communication device. The communication control device according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned communication mode is This includes communication modes using the GMSL (Gigabit Multimedia Serial Link) communication method. The communication control device according to claim 1.

4. A communication device capable of communicating in multiple communication modes, A communication device different from the aforementioned communication device, which is capable of communicating in multiple communication modes, A controller that controls the aforementioned communication device and the other communication devices. Equipped with, The aforementioned controller, When the aforementioned communication device is started, the communication mode of the aforementioned communication device is set to a different communication mode from the communication mode of other communication devices that communicate with the aforementioned communication device. After the communication device is started up, the initial setup process for another communication device connected to the communication line with the communication device is completed, and after disabling back-channel communication between the communication device and the other communication device, the communication mode of the communication device is switched to the same communication mode as the other communication device. Communication system.

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