Information processing device and imaging device

Abstract

Provided are an information processing device and an imaging device capable of achieving circuit simplification.　An HDMI interface (10A) can transmit an HDMI video signal to a sink device (51). An SDI interface (10B) includes an SDI conversion circuit (14) for converting the same HDMI video signal as the HDMI video signal transmitted by the HDMI interface (10A) into an SDI video signal, and can transmit the SDI video signal converted by the SDI conversion circuit (14) to an SDI receiving device (52) connected to the SDI interface (10B). Then, an HDMI output circuit (11) outputs the HDMI video signal to the HDMI interface (10A) upon receiving an HPD signal relating to connection of an external device from a first external device, and outputs the HDMI video signal to the SDI interface (10B) upon receiving a signal corresponding to the HPD signal from the SDI conversion circuit (14).

Description

Information processing device and imaging device

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device and an imaging device.

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a broadcast signal generating device that enables video captured by consumer devices to be used in broadcasting facilities. Patent Document 2 describes a video signal processing device that automatically switches between input and output terminal functions. Patent Document 3 describes a power supply device with an overcurrent protection function and an SDI (Serial Digital Interface) signal transmission system equipped with the same.

[0003] Japanese Registered Utility Model No. 3202555 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-078856 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-079147

[0004] One embodiment of the technique of the present disclosure provides an information processing device and an imaging device that can simplify the circuitry.

[0005] (1) An information processing device comprising: a first communication interface corresponding to a first communication standard; a second communication interface corresponding to a second communication standard different from the first communication standard; and a first output circuit; wherein the first output circuit is capable of outputting first data corresponding to the first communication standard to the first communication interface and outputting the first data to the second communication interface; the first communication interface is capable of transmitting the first data to a first external device connected to the first communication interface; the second communication interface has a conversion circuit that converts the first data into second data corresponding to the second communication standard and is capable of transmitting the second data to a second external device connected to the second communication interface; and the first output circuit outputs the first data to the first communication interface in response to receiving a first signal regarding connection of an external device from the first external device, and outputs the first data to the second communication interface in response to receiving a second signal corresponding to the first signal from the conversion circuit.

[0006] (2) The information processing device according to (1), wherein the first output circuit is switchable between a first state in which control communication according to the first communication standard is possible with the first external device, and a second state in which control communication according to the first communication standard is possible with the conversion circuit.

[0007] (3) An information processing device according to (2), wherein, when the transmission of the second data to the second external device is set, the first output circuit enters the second state in response to the second signal from the conversion circuit, and performs control communication of the first communication standard with the conversion circuit to output the first data to the second communication interface.

[0008] (4) The information processing device according to (3), wherein the first output circuit is configured to not receive the first signal from the first external device when transmission of the second data to the second external device is set and transmission of the first data to the first external device is not set.

[0009] (5) An information processing device according to (3) or (4), wherein the first output circuit, when set to transmit the first data to the first external device, enters a state in which it receives the first signal from the first external device, enters the first state in response to receiving the first signal from the first external device, and performs control communication of the first communication standard with the first external device and outputs the first data to the first communication interface.

[0010] (6) An information processing device according to any one of (1) to (5), wherein the information processing device is capable of transitioning to a mode in which the second communication interface converts third data corresponding to the first communication standard received from the first external device by the first communication interface into fourth data corresponding to the second communication standard by the conversion circuit, and transmits the fourth data converted by the conversion circuit to the second external device.

[0011] (7) The information processing device according to (6), wherein in the mode, the conversion circuit performs control communication with the first external device according to the first communication standard.

[0012] (8) The information processing device according to (7), wherein in the mode, the second communication interface generates the fourth data in synchronization with a clock of the third data.

[0013] (9) The information processing device according to (8), wherein the first communication interface generates the first data based on a synchronization result based on the third data performed in the mode after the mode is released.

[0014] (10) An imaging device comprising: the information processing device according to any one of (1) to (9); and an imaging unit, wherein the first communication interface transmits the first data generated based on imaging data obtained by the imaging unit to the first external device.

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an information processing device and an imaging device that can simplify the circuitry.

[0016] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an information processing device 10 according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an imaging device 100 to which the information processing device 10 is applied. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of control by an HDMI output circuit 11 in response to on / off of an HDMI output and an SDI output. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of control states of the information processing device 10 (part 1). FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of control states of the information processing device 10. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of control states of the information processing device 10. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of control states of the information processing device 10. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of clock synchronization of the HDMI output circuit 11 based on an HDMI video signal from a source device 54. 10 is a diagram showing a first example of a notification to a user by the information processing device 10. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a sink device 51 is not connected to the information processing device 10. FIG.

[0017] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0018] (First Embodiment) <Information Processing Device 10 According to First Embodiment> Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an information processing device 10 according to First Embodiment. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the information processing device 10 according to First Embodiment includes an HDMI output circuit 11, an HDMI splitter 12, an HDMI connector 13, an SDI conversion circuit 14, a PLL 15, an SDI connector 16, a power supply unit 17, switches 18a, 18b, and 18c, and a clock connector 19.

[0019] The HDMI connector 13 constitutes an HDMI interface 10A that supports HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface). The HDMI interface 10A is an example of a first communication interface of the present invention. HDMI is a registered trademark. HDMI is an example of a first communication standard of the present invention. The HDMI connector 13 may be composed of two connectors: an input connector and an output connector.

[0020] The SDI conversion circuit 14, the PLL 15, and the SDI connector 16 constitute an SDI interface 10B that is compatible with SDI. The SDI interface 10B is an example of a second communication interface of the present invention. SDI is an example of a second communication standard of the present invention.

[0021] The HDMI output circuit 11 is a processor that outputs an HDMI video signal, which is a video signal compatible with HDMI, to the HDMI splitter 12. The HDMI output circuit 11, or the HDMI output circuit 11 and the HDMI splitter 12, are an example of a first output circuit of the present invention. The HDMI video signal is, for example, video and audio data (stream), and is an example of first data of the present invention.

[0022] For example, an HDMI video signal is input to the HDMI output circuit 11. In this case, the HDMI output circuit 11 outputs the input HDMI video signal to the HDMI splitter 12. Alternatively, a non-HDMI video signal may be input to the HDMI output circuit 11. In this case, the HDMI output circuit 11 converts the input video signal into an HDMI video signal and outputs the converted HDMI video signal to the HDMI splitter 12.

[0023] The HDMI output circuit 11 also acquires an HPD (Hot Plug Detect) signal output from the switch 18b. The HPD signal is a signal indicating that a sink device 51 has been connected to the HDMI connector 13. The HPD signal is an example of a first signal of the present invention. The sink device 51 (SINK device) is a device that receives an HDMI video signal and is connected to the HDMI connector 13. As an example, the sink device 51 is a display that is located relatively close to the information processing device 10. The sink device 51 is an example of a first external device of the present invention.

[0024] For example, when the sink device 51 is connected to the HDMI connector 13, it transmits an HPD signal to the information processing device 10 using a voltage of 5 V (described later) transmitted from the information processing device 10. The HPD signal transmitted to the information processing device 10 is output to the HDMI output circuit 11 via the HDMI connector 13 and the switch 18b. This allows the HDMI output circuit 11 to detect the connection of the sink device 51 to the HDMI connector 13.

[0025] Furthermore, when the HDMI output circuit 11 detects connection of the sink device 51 to the HDMI connector 13, it transmits and receives a DDC (Display Data Channel) signal to and from the sink device 51 through bidirectional communication via the HDMI connector 13 and the switch 18c. The DDC signal is a control signal transmitted and received between a transmitting device (e.g., the information processing device 10) and a receiving device (e.g., the sink device 51) in HDMI. By transmitting and receiving the DDC signal to and from the sink device 51, the HDMI output circuit 11 can acquire information about the performance of the sink device 51 (e.g., screen size, supported rate, etc.) and the functions of the sink device 51. The transmission and reception of the DDC signal is an example of control communication in the present invention.

[0026] Furthermore, the HDMI output circuit 11 outputs a DDC control signal to the switch 18c. The switch 18c switches between a first state in which the HDMI output circuit 11 transmits and receives DDC signals to and from the HDMI connector 13 (i.e., sink device 51) and a second state in which the HDMI output circuit 11 transmits and receives DDC signals to and from the SDI conversion circuit 14, in accordance with the DDC control signal output from the HDMI output circuit 11. In Fig. 1, the HDMI output circuit 11 is in the first state in which it transmits and receives DDC signals to and from the HDMI connector 13 (i.e., sink device 51).

[0027] Furthermore, the HDMI output circuit 11 outputs a power output control signal to the switches 18 a and 18 b. Each of the switches 18 a and 18 b is turned on when the power output control signal output from the HDMI output circuit 11 is on, and turned off when the power output control signal output from the HDMI output circuit 11 is off.

[0028] When switch 18a is in the ON state, it outputs the 5 V voltage output from power supply unit 17 to HDMI connector 13. When switch 18a is in the OFF state, it does not output the 5 V voltage output from power supply unit 17 to HDMI connector 13. The 5 V voltage output from switch 18a to HDMI connector 13 is transmitted to sink device 51 connected to HDMI connector 13.

[0029] The power supply unit 17 outputs a voltage of, for example, 5 [V] to the switch 18 a as the power supply for the sink device 51 .

[0030] When the switch 18b is in the ON state, it outputs the HPD signal transmitted from the sink device 51 and output from the HDMI connector 13 to the HDMI output circuit 11. When the switch 18b is in the OFF state, it does not output the HPD signal output from the HDMI connector 13 to the HDMI output circuit 11.

[0031] The HDMI splitter 12 branches the HDMI video signal output from the HDMI output circuit 11, and outputs one of the branched HDMI video signals (first HDMI video signal) to the HDMI connector 13, and outputs the other of the branched HDMI video signals (second HDMI video signal) to the SDI conversion circuit 14. In other words, the HDMI splitter 12 outputs the same HDMI video signal to the HDMI connector 13 and the SDI conversion circuit 14.

[0032] The HDMI connector 13 is a connector to which an HDMI device such as a sink device 51 can be connected. For example, the sink device 51 is connected to the HDMI connector 13 via an HDMI cable. The HDMI connector 13 transmits the HDMI video signal output from the HDMI splitter 12 to the sink device 51.

[0033] The HDMI connector 13 also transmits the DDC signal output from the HDMI output circuit 11 to the sink device 51. The HDMI connector 13 also outputs the DDC signal from the sink device 51 to the HDMI output circuit 11. The HDMI connector 13 also transmits the voltage of 5 V output from the switch 18 a to the sink device 51. The HDMI connector 13 also outputs the HPD signal transmitted from the sink device 51 to the HDMI output circuit 11.

[0034] The SDI conversion circuit 14 does not have a frame buffer, and converts the HDMI video signal output from the HDMI splitter 12 into an SDI video signal, and outputs the converted SDI video signal to the SDI connector 16. The SDI video signal is an example of second data of the present invention. The conversion performed by the SDI conversion circuit 14 is a conversion of the communication standard of the video signal (from HDMI to SDI), and does not include conversion of the video format. Note that the video format refers to a video format such as image size, video display method (progressive / interlaced), frame rate, aspect ratio, color space, and bit depth.

[0035] That is, the SDI conversion circuit 14 makes the video format of the SDI video signal the same as (corresponds to) the video format of the HDMI video signal. Therefore, the SDI video signal output from the SDI conversion circuit 14 to the SDI connector 16 is a video signal with the same content and video format as the HDMI video signal output from the HDMI splitter 12 to the HDMI connector 13.

[0036] Furthermore, the SDI conversion circuit 14 switches between a state in which the SDI video signal is output to the SDI connector 16 (on state) and a state in which the SDI video signal is not output to the SDI connector 16 (off state) in response to an SDI output control signal output from the HDMI output circuit 11. Note that in the off state, the SDI conversion circuit 14 may stop at least a part of the process of converting the HDMI video signal into an SDI video signal.

[0037] The PLL 15 is a PLL (Phase Locked Loop) circuit that generates a clock signal whose phase is synchronized with the HDMI video signal by performing feedback control based on the HDMI video signal input from the HDMI splitter 12 to the SDI conversion circuit 14. The SDI conversion circuit 14 generates an SDI video signal synchronized with the HDMI video signal input from the HDMI splitter 12 based on the clock signal generated by the PLL 15.

[0038] The SDI connector 16 is a connector to which an SDI receiving device 52 can be connected. The SDI receiving device 52 is a device that receives an SDI video signal. As an example, the SDI receiving device 52 is a storage device that records (saves) the SDI video signal transmitted from the information processing device 10. The SDI receiving device 52 may also be a display or the like that is located relatively far from the information processing device 10. The SDI receiving device 52 is an example of a second external device of the present invention.

[0039] For example, an SDI receiving device 52 is connected via an SDI cable to the SDI connector 16. The SDI connector 16 transmits the SDI video signal output from the SDI conversion circuit 14 to the SDI receiving device 52.

[0040] The clock connector 19 is a connector to which a clock generator 53 can be connected. For example, the clock generator 53 is connected to the clock connector 19 via a cable capable of transmitting a clock signal. The clock generator 53 generates a highly accurate clock signal and transmits the generated clock signal to the clock connector 19. The clock connector 19 outputs the clock signal transmitted from the clock generator 53 to the HDMI output circuit 11. Based on the clock signal output from the clock connector 19, the HDMI output circuit 11 generates an HDMI video signal synchronized with the clock signal.

[0041] 1, the SDI conversion circuit 14 outputs an HPD signal to the HDMI output circuit 11 when the SDI conversion circuit 14 is in a state (ON state) in which it outputs an SDI video signal to the SDI connector 16. The HPD signal output by the SDI conversion circuit 14 to the HDMI output circuit 11 is a control signal in the same format as the HPD signal transmitted by the sink device 51, and is a pseudo HPD signal indicating that an HDMI receiving device has been connected. This HPD signal is an example of the second signal of the present invention.

[0042] The SDI conversion circuit 14 outputs the HPD signal to the HDMI output circuit 11 regardless of whether an SDI receiving device 52 is connected to the SDI connector 16. Furthermore, the SDI conversion circuit 14 does not transmit the HPD signal to the HDMI output circuit 11 when it is in a state where it is not outputting an SDI video signal to the SDI connector 16 (off state).

[0043] Thus, in a state (ON state) in which an SDI video signal is output to the SDI connector 16, the SDI conversion circuit 14 outputs an HPD signal to the HDMI output circuit 11, causing the HDMI output circuit 11 to recognize that an HDMI receiving device has been connected and to start outputting an HDMI video signal in accordance with the HDMI protocol. Therefore, without making major design changes to the HDMI output circuit 11 that supports HDMI, it is possible to output an HDMI video signal from the HDMI output circuit 11 and transmit an SDI video signal converted from the HDMI video signal. This allows for simplification of the circuitry of the information processing device 10.

[0044] Furthermore, when the HDMI output circuit 11 receives the HPD signal from the SDI conversion circuit 14, the HDMI output circuit 11 switches to a second state in which the HDMI output circuit 11 transmits and receives DDC signals to and from the SDI conversion circuit 14, using a DDC control signal output to the switch 18c. The HDMI output circuit 11 then transmits and receives DDC signals to and from the SDI conversion circuit 14 via the switch 18c, thereby performing DDC negotiation, and outputs an HDMI video signal based on the result of the DDC negotiation to the HDMI splitter 12.

[0045] Thus, when the HDMI output circuit 11 is in a state (ON state) in which it outputs an SDI video signal to the SDI connector 16, it switches to a second state in which it transmits and receives a DDC signal to and from the SDI conversion circuit 14. Then, the SDI conversion circuit 14, as an HDMI receiving device, performs DDC negotiation with the HDMI output circuit 11. This allows the HDMI output circuit 11 to start outputting an HDMI video signal in accordance with a general HDMI protocol. Therefore, it becomes possible to output an HDMI video signal from the HDMI output circuit 11 and transmit an SDI video signal converted from the HDMI video signal without making any major design changes to the HDMI-compatible HDMI output circuit 11. This allows the circuitry of the information processing device 10 to be simplified.

[0046] <Image capture device 100 employing information processing device 10> Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an image capture device 100 employing the information processing device 10. The image capture device 100 shown in Fig. 2 includes a lens device 20 and an image capture device body 30. The lens device 20 may be fixed to the image capture device body 30, or may be replaceable with respect to the image capture device body 30.

[0047] The imaging device main body 30 includes an imaging section 31, an image processing section 32, a video output section 33, and a user interface .

[0048] The imaging unit 31 generates imaging data by photoelectrically converting the image of the subject formed by the lens device 20, and outputs the generated imaging data to the image processing unit 32. As the imaging sensor of the imaging unit 31, for example, a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) image sensor or the like is suitably used.

[0049] The image processing unit 32 performs image processing based on the imaging data output from the imaging unit 31. The image processing includes, for example, demosaic processing. The image processing may also include at least one of white balance correction, gamma correction, noise reduction, and sharpness enhancement. The image processing unit 32 outputs a video signal (video data) obtained by the image processing to the video output unit 33.

[0050] The video output unit 33 is a communication interface that outputs (transmits) the video signal output from the image processing unit 32 to the outside of the imaging device 100. The information processing device 10 shown in FIG. 1 can be applied to the video output unit 33, for example.

[0051] The user interface 34 includes an input interface that accepts user operations and an output interface that outputs information to the user. The input interface includes various switches such as levers and buttons. The output interface includes a display screen and a speaker. The input interface and the output interface may also be configured using a touch panel or the like.

[0052] <Control by HDMI output circuit 11 in response to on / off of HDMI output and SDI output> Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of control by the HDMI output circuit 11 in response to on / off of HDMI output and SDI output. Figs. 4 to 8 are diagrams showing examples of each control state of the information processing device 10.

[0053] In the information processing device 10, it is possible to set whether or not to transmit an HDMI video signal from the HDMI connector 13 (HDMI output on / off), and whether or not to transmit an SDI video signal from the SDI connector 16 (SDI output on / off). These settings are made based on, for example, input from the user via the user interface 34. The HDMI output circuit 11 performs the control shown in table 60 in Fig. 3 based on, for example, the HDMI output on / off setting and the SDI output on / off setting.

[0054] First, a case will be described in which the HDMI output circuit 11 can directly distinguish between an HPD signal output from the HDMI connector 13 to the HDMI output circuit 11 and an HPD signal output from the SDI conversion circuit 14 to the HDMI output circuit 11. Such a distinction by the HDMI output circuit 11 can be realized, for example, by a configuration in which the HDMI output circuit 11 is provided with separate input terminals for the HPD signal from the HDMI connector 13 and for the HPD signal from the SDI conversion circuit 14. Alternatively, such a distinction by the HDMI output circuit 11 can be realized, for example, by a configuration in which predetermined flag information is stored in the HPD signal output from the SDI conversion circuit 14.

[0055] 3, the HDMI output circuit 11 turns on the power output control signal when the HDMI output is set to on, and turns off the power output control signal when the HDMI output is set to off. Also, the HDMI output circuit 11 turns on the SDI output control signal when the SDI output is set to on, and turns off the SDI output control signal when the SDI output is set to off.

[0056] For example, when both the HDMI output and the SDI output are set to OFF, the HDMI output circuit 11 turns OFF the power output control signal and the SDI output control signal, as shown in Fig. 4. This turns OFF the switches 18a and 18b, and the HPD signal is not output from the SDI conversion circuit 14 to the HDMI output circuit 11.

[0057] In this case, the HDMI output circuit 11 does not output an HDMI video signal to the HDMI splitter 12. In this case, even if the sink device 51 is connected to the HDMI connector 13, the switch 18a is off and the sink device 51 does not receive the 5V voltage from the HDMI output circuit 11, so the sink device 51 does not transmit an HPD signal. Furthermore, even if the sink device 51 transmits an HPD signal without using the 5V voltage from the HDMI output circuit 11, the switch 18b is off and the HDMI output circuit 11 does not receive the HPD signal.

[0058] In this way, when both the HDMI output and the SDI output are set to OFF, the HDMI connector 13 does not transmit an HDMI video signal, and the SDI connector 16 does not transmit an SDI video signal.

[0059] When only the SDI output is set to ON from the state shown in Fig. 4 (HDMI output = OFF and SDI output = OFF), the HDMI output circuit 11 turns on the SDI output control signal as shown in Fig. 5. This causes the SDI conversion circuit 14 to output the HPD signal to the HDMI output circuit 11.

[0060] The HDMI output circuit 11 switches to a second state in which the HDMI output circuit 11 transmits and receives DDC signals to and from the SDI conversion circuit 14 by a DDC control signal output to the switch 18c based on the HPD signal output from the SDI conversion circuit 14. Then, the HDMI output circuit 11 performs DDC negotiation to transmit and receive DDC signals to and from the SDI conversion circuit 14 via the switch 18c, and starts outputting an HDMI video signal to the HDMI splitter 12 based on the result of the DDC negotiation. At this time, the HDMI output circuit 11 outputs an HDMI video signal in a format that can be converted into an SDI video signal by at least the SDI conversion circuit 14.

[0061] This results in a state in which an SDI video signal is transmitted from the SDI connector 16. In this case, although the HDMI video signal is sent from the HDMI connector 13, the HDMI video signal is not received by the sink device 51. In other words, even if the sink device 51 is connected to the HDMI connector 13, the HDMI output circuit 11 is in the second state in which it transmits and receives a DDC signal with the SDI conversion circuit 14, and the sink device 51 does not perform DDC negotiation and therefore does not receive the HDMI video signal.

[0062] Furthermore, the switch 18a is off and the sink device 51 does not transmit an HPD signal because it does not receive a voltage of 5 V from the HDMI output circuit 11. Even if the sink device 51 transmits an HPD signal without using a voltage of 5 V from the HDMI output circuit 11, the switch 18b is off and the HDMI output circuit 11 does not receive the HPD signal.

[0063] When the HDMI output is switched from off to on from the state shown in Fig. 5 (HDMI output = off and SDI output = on), i.e., when both the HDMI output and the SDI output are set to on, the HDMI output circuit 11 turns on the power output control signal as shown in Fig. 6. This causes the switches 18a and 18b to be in the on state. The sink device 51 then receives a voltage of 5 [V] from the HDMI output circuit 11 and transmits an HPD signal using the received voltage of 5 [V]. The HPD signal transmitted from the sink device 51 is received by the HDMI output circuit 11 via the HDMI connector 13 and the switch 18b.

[0064] When the HDMI output circuit 11 receives the HPD signal from the sink device 51, the DDC control signal output to the switch 18c causes the HDMI output circuit 11 to switch to a first state in which the HDMI output circuit 11 transmits and receives a DDC signal to and from the sink device 51. Then, the HDMI output circuit 11 performs DDC negotiation to transmit and receive a DDC signal to and from the sink device 51 via the switch 18c and the HDMI connector 13, and outputs an HDMI video signal based on the result of the DDC negotiation to the HDMI splitter 12. At this time, the HDMI output circuit 11 outputs an HDMI video signal that can be converted into an SDI video signal by the SDI conversion circuit 14 and that has a format compatible with the sink device 51.

[0065] This results in a state in which an HDMI video signal is transmitted from the HDMI connector 13 and an SDI video signal is transmitted from the SDI connector 16 .

[0066] When only the HDMI output is set to on from the state shown in Fig. 4 (HDMI output = off and SDI output = off), the HDMI output circuit 11 turns on the power output control signal as shown in Fig. 7. This causes switches 18a and 18b to be turned on. The sink device 51 then receives a voltage of 5 [V] from the HDMI output circuit 11 and transmits an HPD signal using the received voltage of 5 [V]. The HPD signal transmitted from the sink device 51 is received by the HDMI output circuit 11 via the HDMI connector 13 and switch 18b.

[0067] When the HDMI output circuit 11 receives the HPD signal from the sink device 51, the HDMI output circuit 11 switches to a first state (maintaining the first state in this example) in which the HDMI output circuit 11 transmits and receives a DDC signal to and from the sink device 51, based on a DDC control signal output to the switch 18c. Then, the HDMI output circuit 11 performs DDC negotiation to transmit and receive a DDC signal to and from the sink device 51 via the switch 18c and the HDMI connector 13, and outputs an HDMI video signal based on the result of the DDC negotiation to the HDMI splitter 12. At this time, the HDMI output circuit 11 outputs an HDMI video signal in a format that is compatible with at least the sink device 51.

[0068] This allows the HDMI connector 13 to transmit an HDMI video signal.

[0069] Next, when the SDI output is switched from off to on from the state shown in Fig. 7 (HDMI output = on and SDI output = off), that is, when both the HDMI output and the SDI output are set to on, the HDMI output circuit 11 turns on the SDI output control signal, as shown in Fig. 8. This causes a state in which an HPD signal is output from the SDI conversion circuit 14 to the HDMI output circuit 11. At this time, the HDMI output circuit 11 may also turn off the power output control signal.

[0070] The HDMI output circuit 11 switches to a second state in which the HDMI output circuit 11 transmits and receives DDC signals to and from the SDI conversion circuit 14 by a DDC control signal output to the switch 18c based on the HPD signal output from the SDI conversion circuit 14. The HDMI output circuit 11 also performs DDC negotiation to transmit and receive DDC signals to and from the SDI conversion circuit 14 via the switch 18c, and starts outputting an HDMI video signal to the HDMI splitter 12 based on the result of the DDC negotiation. At this time, the HDMI output circuit 11 outputs an HDMI video signal that the SDI conversion circuit 14 can convert into an SDI video signal and that is in a format that is compatible with the sink device 51.

[0071] This results in a state in which an HDMI video signal is transmitted from the HDMI connector 13 and an SDI video signal is transmitted from the SDI connector 16 .

[0072] Next, a case will be described in which the HDMI output circuit 11 cannot directly distinguish between the HPD signal output from the HDMI connector 13 to the HDMI output circuit 11 and the HPD signal output from the SDI conversion circuit 14 to the HDMI output circuit 11.

[0073] 5 (HDMI output=off and SDI output=on), the HDMI output circuit 11 turns off the power output control signal, so the switches 18a and 18b are in the off state and the HPD signal from the sink device 51 is not input to the HDMI output circuit 11. Therefore, the HDMI output circuit 11 can distinguish the HPD signal input to the HDMI output circuit 11 from the HPD signal output from the SDI conversion circuit 14.

[0074] Furthermore, for example, in the state shown in FIG. 6 (HDMI output=ON and SDI output=ON), when an HPD signal having a different edge (rising edge or falling edge) timing from the HPD signal that has been input from the SDI conversion circuit 14 up until then is input to the HDMI output circuit 11, the HDMI output circuit 11 can distinguish that HPD signal as being the HPD signal output from the HDMI connector 13 (sink device 51).

[0075] Furthermore, in the state shown in FIG. 7 (HDMI output=ON and SDI output=OFF), the HDMI output circuit 11 turns off the SDI output control signal, and therefore no HPD signal is output from the SDI output control signal to the HDMI output circuit 11. Therefore, the HDMI output circuit 11 can distinguish that the HPD signal input to the HDMI output circuit 11 is the HPD signal output from the HDMI connector 13 (sink device 51).

[0076] Furthermore, for example, in the state shown in FIG. 8 (HDMI output=ON and SDI output=ON), when an HPD signal having an edge timing different from that of the HPD signal that has been input from the HDMI connector 13 (sink device 51) is input to the HDMI output circuit 11, the HDMI output circuit 11 can distinguish that HPD signal as being the HPD signal output from the SDI conversion circuit 14.

[0077] 8 , when the power output control signal is turned off as described above, the switches 18a and 18b are turned off, and therefore the HPD signal is not output from the HDMI connector 13 to the HDMI output circuit 11. Therefore, the HDMI output circuit 11 can distinguish the HPD signal input to the HDMI output circuit 11 from the HPD signal output from the SDI conversion circuit 14.

[0078] In this way, the HDMI output circuit 11 can switch between a first state in which DDC signals can be transmitted and received with the sink device 51, and a second state in which DDC signals can be transmitted and received with the SDI conversion circuit 14. This allows the HDMI output circuit 11 to perform DDC negotiation not only with the sink device 51, but also with the SDI conversion circuit 14.

[0079] Then, when the transmission of the SDI video signal to the SDI receiving device 52 is set (when SDI output = ON), the HDMI output circuit 11 turns on the SDI output control signal, enters the second state in response to the HPD signal from the SDI conversion circuit 14, transmits and receives a DDC signal to and from the SDI conversion circuit 14, and outputs the HDMI video signal to the SDI interface 10B (SDI conversion circuit 14) via the HDMI splitter 12. In other words, even when performing SDI output (particularly when performing only SDI output), the HDMI output circuit 11 can start outputting the HDMI video signal according to a general HDMI protocol, and the configuration of the HDMI output circuit 11 can be simplified.

[0080] Furthermore, when transmission of an SDI video signal to the SDI receiving device 52 is set and transmission of an HDMI video signal to the sink device 51 is not set (when SDI output = ON and HDMI output = OFF), the HDMI output circuit 11 sets the HDMI output circuit 11 to a state in which it does not receive an HPD signal from the sink device 51. Specifically, the HDMI output circuit 11 turns off the power output control signal and sets the switches 18a and 18b to an OFF state, thereby turning off transmission of a voltage of 5 [V] to the sink device 51 and blocking the HPD signal from the sink device 51. Furthermore, the HDMI output circuit 11 may ignore (discard) the HPD signal output from the sink device 51 (HDMI connector 13).

[0081] Furthermore, when the HDMI output circuit 11 is set to transmit an HDMI video signal to the sink device 51 (when HDMI output = ON), the HDMI output circuit 11 turns on the power output control signal to enter a state in which it receives an HPD signal from the sink device 51, enters the first state in response to reception of the HPD signal from the sink device 51, transmits and receives a DDC signal to and from the sink device 51, and outputs the HDMI video signal to the HDMI interface 10A (HDMI connector 13) via the HDMI splitter 12.

[0082] As described above, in the information processing device 10, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the HDMI output circuit 11, while transmitting an HDMI video signal to the sink device 51 and an SDI video signal to the SDI receiving device 52 based on the same HDMI video signal.

[0083] 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating an example of an information processing device 10 according to the second embodiment. The information processing device 10 according to the second embodiment can transition between a first mode and a second mode. The first mode, like the information processing device 10 according to the first embodiment, is a mode in which a video signal based on an HDMI video signal output by the HDMI output circuit 11 is transmitted from at least one of the HDMI connector 13 and the SDI connector 16. The second mode is a mode in which an SDI video signal based on an HDMI video signal received from an external HDMI device (e.g., a source device 54 described later) connected to the HDMI connector 13 is transmitted from the SDI connector 16. Switching between the first mode and the second mode is performed based on a user input via the user interface 34, for example.

[0084] Fig. 9 shows the information processing device 10 in the first mode, and Fig. 10 shows the information processing device 10 in the second mode. A source device 54 (SOURCE device) shown in Fig. 10 is a transmitting device for an HDMI video signal connected to the HDMI connector 13. As an example, the source device 54 is an imaging device that has a function of outputting an HDMI video signal, separate from the imaging device 100.

[0085] The second mode is an example of a mode of the present invention in which the HDMI interface 10A receives an HDMI video signal (third data) from the source device 54, the SDI interface 10B converts the HDMI video signal (third data) into an SDI video signal (fourth data) using the SDI conversion circuit 14, and transmits the SDI video signal converted by the SDI conversion circuit 14 to the SDI receiving device 52.

[0086] 9 and 10 , the information processing device 10 according to the second embodiment includes switches 41 a and 41 b, a driver 42, and switches 43 a and 43 b instead of the switch 18 c of the information processing device 10 according to the first embodiment. The switches 41 a and 41 b and the switches 43 a and 43 b are controlled by the HDMI output circuit 11.

[0087] The switch 41a switches between a state in which the first HDMI video signal output from the HDMI splitter 12 is output to the HDMI connector 13 and a state in which the HDMI video signal output from the HDMI connector 13 is output to the driver 42. The switch 41b switches between a state in which the second HDMI video signal output from the HDMI splitter 12 is output to the SDI conversion circuit 14 and a state in which the HDMI video signal output from the driver 42 is output to the SDI conversion circuit 14.

[0088] The driver 42 is an HDMI driver that amplifies the HDMI video signal output from the switch 41 a and outputs the amplified HDMI video signal to the switch 41 b. The driver 42 can compensate for attenuation of the HDMI video signal in the switches 41 a and 41 b (HDMI switches).

[0089] The switch 43a switches between a state in which a DDC signal can be input / output between the HDMI output circuit 11 and the HDMI connector 13 and a state in which a DDC signal can be input / output between the HDMI connector 13 and the switch 43b. The switch 43b switches between a state in which a DDC signal can be input / output between the HDMI output circuit 11 and the SDI conversion circuit 14 and a state in which a DDC signal can be input / output between the switch 43a and the SDI conversion circuit 14.

[0090] The HDMI output circuit 11 is configured to be able to detect a voltage of 5 V between the switch 18 a and the HDMI connector 13. For example, when a source device 54 shown in FIG. 10 is connected to the HDMI connector 13, it transmits a voltage of 5 V to the information processing device 10 as a transmitter of an HDMI video signal. The voltage of 5 V transmitted from the source device 54 to the information processing device 10 is detected by the HDMI output circuit 11 via the HDMI connector 13. In the second mode, the HDMI output circuit 11 turns off the power output control signal. As a result, when the information processing device 10 detects a voltage of 5 V, it can determine that the source device 54 is connected to the HDMI connector 13.

[0091] In addition, in this embodiment, the HDMI output circuit 11 can perform on / off control of the switch 18b separately from the on / off control of the switch 18a.

[0092] 9 , in the first mode, the HDMI output circuit 11 sets the switch 41a to a state in which the first HDMI video signal output from the HDMI splitter 12 is output to the HDMI connector 13, and sets the switch 41b to a state in which the second HDMI video signal output from the HDMI splitter 12 is output to the SDI conversion circuit 14. In addition, in the first mode, the HDMI output circuit 11 sets the switch 43a to a state in which a DDC signal can be input / output between the HDMI output circuit 11 and the HDMI connector 13, and sets the switch 43b to a state in which a DDC signal can be input / output between the HDMI output circuit 11 and the SDI conversion circuit 14.

[0093] This enables the information processing device 10 according to the first embodiment to perform an operation of transmitting an HDMI video signal to the sink device 51 and transmitting an SDI video signal to the SDI receiving device 52 based on the HDMI video signal output by the HDMI output circuit 11. Note that in this example, like the information processing device 10 according to the first embodiment, a switch (switch 18c) may be provided that switches between a first state in which the HDMI output circuit 11 transmits and receives a DDC signal to and from the HDMI connector 13 and a second state in which the HDMI output circuit 11 transmits and receives a DDC signal to and from the SDI conversion circuit 14.

[0094] Next, a series of operations of the information processing device 10 in the second mode will be described with reference to Fig. 10. When transitioning to the second mode, the HDMI output circuit 11 first turns off switch 18a and turns on switch 18b. The HDMI output circuit 11 also sets switch 43a to a state in which a DDC signal can be input and output between the HDMI connector 13 and switch 43b, and sets switch 43b to a state in which a DDC signal can be input and output between switch 43a and the SDI conversion circuit 14. This enables the SDI conversion circuit 14 to transmit and receive DDC signals to and from the source device 54 via the HDMI connector 13.

[0095] In addition, in the second mode, the HDMI output circuit 11 sets the switch 41 a to a state in which the HDMI video signal output from the HDMI connector 13 is output to the driver 42, and sets the switch 41 b to a state in which the HDMI video signal output from the driver 42 is output to the SDI conversion circuit 14. As a result, the HDMI video signal transmitted from the source device 54 and received by the HDMI connector 13 is amplified by the driver 42 and input to the SDI conversion circuit 14.

[0096] In this state, when source device 54 is connected to HDMI connector 13 , HDMI output circuit 11 detects a voltage of 5 V from source device 54 , and detects the connection of source device 54 to HDMI connector 13 .

[0097] In this case, the HDMI output circuit 11 turns on the SDI output control signal, causing the HPD signal to be output from the SDI conversion circuit 14 to the HDMI output circuit 11. Based on the HPD signal from the SDI conversion circuit 14, the HDMI output circuit 11 transmits the HPD signal to the source device 54 via the switch 18b and the HDMI connector 13.

[0098] The source device 54 starts transmitting and receiving DDC signals to and from the information processing device 10 based on the HPD signal from the information processing device 10. In the information processing device 10, the transmission and reception of DDC signals to and from the source device 54 is performed by the SDI conversion circuit 14. Therefore, DDC negotiation is performed between the source device 54 and the information processing device 10.

[0099] The source device 54 starts transmitting the HDMI video signal to the information processing device 10 based on the result of the DDC negotiation performed with the information processing device 10. The HDMI video signal transmitted from the source device 54 to the information processing device 10 is input to the SDI conversion circuit 14 via the HDMI connector 13, the switch 41 a, the driver 42, and the switch 41 b.

[0100] The SDI conversion circuit 14 converts the input HDMI video signal into an SDI video signal and transmits the converted SDI video signal to the SDI receiving device 52 via the SDI connector 16. This makes it possible to transmit an SDI video signal based on the HDMI video signal received from the source device 54 to the SDI receiving device 52.

[0101] In the second mode, the SDI conversion circuit 14 generates an SDI video signal in synchronization with the clock of the HDMI video signal received from, for example, the source device 54. For example, the SDI conversion circuit 14 detects the frame start (V synchronization) of the HDMI video signal received from the source device 54, and generates the SDI video signal using a clock based on the detected frame start.

[0102] 11 and 12 are diagrams showing another example of the information processing device 10 according to the second embodiment. As shown in Fig. 11 and Fig. 12, the information processing device 10 according to the second embodiment may be configured such that switches 44a and 44b are provided instead of the switches 41a and 41b and the driver 42 in the information processing device 10 shown in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10. The switches 44a and 44b are controlled by the HDMI output circuit 11.

[0103] The switch 44 a switches between a state in which the HDMI video signal output from the HDMI output circuit 11 is output to the HDMI splitter 12 and a state in which the HDMI video signal output from the switch 44 b is output to the HDMI splitter 12 .

[0104] The switch 44b switches between a state in which the first HDMI video signal output from the HDMI splitter 12 is output to the HDMI connector 13 and a state in which the HDMI video signal output from the HDMI connector 13 is output to the switch 44a.

[0105] The HDMI splitter 12 is a splitter having a driver function for amplifying the branched HDMI video signal.

[0106] FIG. 11 shows the information processing apparatus 10 in the first mode, and FIG. 12 shows the information processing apparatus 10 in the second mode.

[0107] 11, in the first mode, the HDMI output circuit 11 sets the switch 44a to a state in which the HDMI video signal output from the HDMI output circuit 11 is output to the HDMI splitter 12, and sets the switch 44b to a state in which the first HDMI video signal output from the HDMI splitter 12 is output to the HDMI connector 13. This makes it possible to perform operations of transmitting an HDMI video signal to the sink device 51 and transmitting an SDI video signal to the SDI receiving device 52 based on the HDMI video signal output from the HDMI output circuit 11, similar to the example shown in FIG.

[0108] 12, in the second mode, the HDMI output circuit 11 sets the switch 44b to a state in which the HDMI video signal output from the HDMI connector 13 is output to the switch 44a, and sets the switch 44a to a state in which the HDMI video signal output from the switch 44b is output to the HDMI splitter 12. This enables the operation of transmitting an SDI video signal based on the HDMI video signal received from the source device 54 to the SDI receiving device 52, similar to the example shown in FIG.

[0109] 11 and 12, in the second mode, attenuation of the HDMI video signal at the switches 44a and 44b (HDMI switches) can be compensated for by the driver function of the HDMI splitter 12. As a result, even without providing the driver 42 as shown in, for example, FIGS. 9 and 10, it is possible to transmit an SDI video signal based on the HDMI video signal received from the source device 54 to the SDI receiving device 52 while suppressing attenuation of the HDMI video signal.

[0110] <Clock synchronization of the HDMI output circuit 11 based on the HDMI video signal from the source equipment 54> Fig. 13 is a diagram showing an example of clock synchronization of the HDMI output circuit 11 based on the HDMI video signal from the source equipment 54. For example, in the second mode of the configuration shown in Figs. 9 and 10 , the SDI conversion circuit 14 generates an SDI video signal in synchronization with the clock of the HDMI video signal received from the source equipment 54, as described above. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 13 , the SDI conversion circuit 14 may output a clock signal indicating the clock of the HDMI video signal received from the source equipment 54 to the HDMI output circuit 11.

[0111] In the second mode, the HDMI output circuit 11 performs clock synchronization based on the clock signal output from the SDI conversion circuit 14. When the HDMI output circuit 11 transitions from the second mode to the first mode, it outputs an HDMI video signal to the HDMI splitter 12 based on the clock synchronization performed in the second mode.

[0112] In this way, the HDMI output circuit 11 may perform synchronization based on the HDMI video signal (third data) from the source device 54 in the second mode, and after the second mode is released, generate an HDMI video signal based on the synchronization result performed in the second mode. This allows the HDMI output circuit 11 to output an HDMI video signal in the first mode using a clock synchronized with the clock detected by the SDI conversion circuit 14 from the HDMI video signal received from the source device 54 in the second mode. This makes it possible to suppress deviation in frame timing when switching between the first mode and the second mode.

[0113] In the configurations shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 , the case where clock synchronization of the HDMI output circuit 11 is performed based on the HDMI video signal from the source equipment 54 has been described. However, in the configurations shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 , clock synchronization of the HDMI output circuit 11 may be performed based on the HDMI video signal from the source equipment 54.

[0114] As a situation in which the first mode and the second mode are switched, for example, a situation in which the first mode and the second mode are switched while an SDI video signal is being transmitted from the SDI connector 16 to the SDI receiving device 52 can be considered.

[0115] Another situation in which the first mode and the second mode may be switched is, for example, a situation in which the source device 54 is disconnected and the system transitions to the first mode after clock synchronization of the HDMI output circuit 11 based on the HDMI video signal from the source device 54 is performed in the second mode.

[0116] Another situation in which the first mode and the second mode may be switched over is, for example, a situation in which, while operating in the first mode, in order to synchronize the clock of the HDMI output circuit 11 without using the clock generator 53, the source device 54 is temporarily connected to the HDMI connector 13 to switch to the second mode, thereby synchronizing the clock of the HDMI output circuit 11 based on the HDMI video signal from the source device 54, and then the sink device 51 is reconnected to the HDMI connector 13 to switch back to the first mode.

[0117] <Control by HDMI Output Circuit 11 According to the Format Used> When both the HDMI output and the SDI output are set to ON in the first mode of the above-described first embodiment and second embodiment, the HDMI output circuit 11 may perform control according to the format used. For example, the HDMI output circuit 11 sets the format used, which is the video format of the HDMI video signal to be output.

[0118] For example, the HDMI output circuit 11 sets the video format of the video signal input to the HDMI output circuit 11 as the format to be used. Alternatively, the HDMI output circuit 11 may set a video format that is predetermined based on the specifications of the HDMI output circuit 11 as the format to be used. Alternatively, the HDMI output circuit 11 may set the format to be used based on transmission and reception of a DDC signal (DDC negotiation) with the sink device 51. Alternatively, the HDMI output circuit 11 may set the format to be used based on input from the user.

[0119] The HDMI output circuit 11 determines whether the set format to be used is a video format that can be transmitted via HDMI and whether the set format to be used is a video format that can be transmitted via SDI. For example, in the HDMI output circuit 11, video formats that can be transmitted via HDMI and video formats that can be transmitted via SDI are defined, and the HDMI output circuit 11 makes the above determination based on these definitions. Then, based on the determination result, the HDMI output circuit 11 performs control to output only the transmittable video signals out of the HDMI video signal and the SDI video signal.

[0120] For example, if the HDMI output circuit 11 determines that the set format is a video format that can be transmitted by both HDMI and SDI, it turns on the power output control signal and the SDI output control signal, thereby enabling the information processing device 10 to transmit both an HDMI video signal and an SDI video signal.

[0121] Furthermore, if the HDMI output circuit 11 determines that the set format to be used is a video format that can be transmitted via HDMI but not via SDI (transmittable only via HDMI), it turns on the power output control signal and turns off the SDI output control signal, thereby stopping the output of the SDI video signal from the SDI conversion circuit 14 to the SDI connector 16. As a result, the information processing device 10 transmits an HDMI video signal, but does not transmit an SDI video signal.

[0122] If the HDMI output circuit 11 determines that the set format is a video format that cannot be transmitted via HDMI but can be transmitted via SDI (transmission is possible only via SDI), it turns off the power output control signal and turns on the SDI output control signal, which turns off the switches 18a and 18b.

[0123] When switch 18a is turned off, the output of a voltage of 5 V from power supply unit 17 to HDMI connector 13 is stopped. Therefore, even if sink device 51 is connected to HDMI connector 13, a voltage of 5 V is not transmitted to sink device 51, and therefore sink device 51 does not transmit an HPD signal. Even if sink device 51 transmits an HPD signal without using a voltage of 5 V, switch 18b is turned off, so that the HDMI output circuit 11 does not acquire the HPD signal.

[0124] As a result, DDC negotiation is not performed between the HDMI output circuit 11 and the sink device 51, and therefore the sink device 51 can be set to a state in which it does not receive an HDMI video signal without stopping the output of the HDMI video signal by the HDMI output circuit 11. Therefore, a state is established in which the information processing device 10 does not transmit an HDMI video signal and transmits an SDI video signal.

[0125] 14 is a diagram showing a first example of a notification to a user by the information processing device 10. For example, when the HDMI output circuit 11 determines that the format to be used, set by a user operation, is a video format that can be transmitted by both HDMI and SDI, the HDMI output circuit 11 detects the sink device 51 by a DDC signal from the sink device 51 and performs DDC negotiation by transmitting and receiving the DDC signal to and from the sink device 51. In the DDC negotiation, the video format of the HDMI video signal to be transmitted from the HDMI output circuit 11 to the sink device 51 is determined taking into account the performance and functions of the sink device 51.

[0126] There are cases where the video format determined by the DDC negotiation differs from the format used set by the HDMI output circuit 11. As an example, suppose that the format used set by the HDMI output circuit 11 is 4K resolution (e.g., 4096 x 2160), but the sink device 51 does not support 4K resolution, and therefore it is decided in the DDC negotiation to use HD resolution (e.g., 1920 x 1080). Also, here, it is assumed that the video format determined by the DDC negotiation is a video format that can be transmitted via SDI.

[0127] In this case, the HDMI output circuit 11 inquires of the user whether or not to change the video format (for example, whether or not to change from 4K resolution to HD resolution) and accepts a selection operation from the user as to whether or not to change the video format. For example, the HDMI output circuit 11 displays a message 71 a and operation buttons 71 b and 71 c on the display screen 71.

[0128] The display screen 71 is, for example, a display screen of a touch panel included in the user interface 34 shown in Fig. 2. The message 71a notifies the user that the output destination (sink device 51) of the HDMI video signal does not support the set 4K resolution, and inquires whether or not to change the video format from 4K resolution to HD resolution.

[0129] The operation button 71b is a button for a user to instruct to change the video format. When the HDMI output circuit 11 receives an instruction operation (e.g., a touch operation) of the operation button 71b from the user, it changes the video format of the output HDMI video signal from 4K resolution to HD resolution. In this case, an HD resolution HDMI video signal is transmitted from the information processing device 10 to the sink device 51, and an HD resolution SDI video signal is transmitted from the information processing device 10 to the SDI receiving device 52.

[0130] The operation button 71c is a button for the user to instruct not to change the video format. When the HDMI output circuit 11 receives an instruction from the user via the operation button 71c, it maintains the video format of the output HDMI video signal at 4K resolution. In this case, a 4K resolution HDMI video signal is transmitted from the information processing device 10 to the sink device 51, and a 4K resolution SDI video signal is transmitted from the information processing device 10 to the SDI receiving device 52. However, in this example, since the sink device 51 does not support 4K resolution, the sink device 51 cannot receive the 4K resolution HDMI video signal, and the HDMI video signal is not transmitted from the information processing device 10 to the sink device 51. In this case, the HDMI output circuit 11 may turn off the power output control signal as described above to prevent DDC negotiation from being performed with the sink device 51.

[0131] In addition to the message 71a and the operation buttons 71b and 71c, the HDMI output circuit 11 may also display on the display screen 71 a message 71d notifying that if the video format is not changed, it will not be possible to output an HDMI video signal, and a message 71e notifying that if the video format is changed, it will be possible to output an HDMI video signal, but the video format of the SDI video signal will also be changed.

[0132] In the example of Figure 14, a case has been described in which the video format determined by the DDC negotiation is a video format that can be transmitted via SDI. However, if the video format determined by the DDC negotiation is a video format that cannot be transmitted via SDI, the HDMI output circuit 11 may display on the display screen 71, instead of message 71e, a message notifying that, when the video format is changed, it will be possible to output an HDMI video signal but will not be possible to output an SDI video signal.

[0133] <Second Example of Notification to User by Information Processing Device 10> Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a sink device 51 is not connected to the information processing device 10. For example, as shown in Fig. 15, if an SDI receiving device 52 is connected to the SDI connector 16 but a sink device 51 is not connected to the HDMI connector 13, the HDMI output circuit 11 does not receive an HPD signal and DDC negotiation is not performed. In this case, the HDMI video signal is not transmitted, and only an SDI video signal is transmitted.

[0134] In this state, when the sink device 51 is connected to the HDMI connector 13, the HDMI output circuit 11 receives the HPD signal from the sink device 51 and executes DDC negotiation with the sink device 51. The video format determined by this DDC negotiation may differ from the video format currently used to transmit the SDI video signal. As an example, suppose that the video format currently used to transmit the SDI video signal is 4K resolution (e.g., 4096 x 2160), but the sink device 51 does not support 4K resolution, and so it is decided in the DDC negotiation to use HD resolution (e.g., 1920 x 1080).

[0135] In this case, the HDMI output circuit 11 inquires of the user as to whether or not to change the video format (for example, whether or not to change from 4K resolution to HD resolution), and accepts a selection operation from the user as to whether or not to change the video format. For example, as shown in Fig. 14, the HDMI output circuit 11 displays a message 71a and operation buttons 71b and 71c on the display screen 71. Furthermore, the HDMI output circuit 11 may display messages 71d and 71e on the display screen 71 as shown in Fig. 14.

[0136] Furthermore, in addition to the message 71e, the HDMI output circuit 11 may display on the display screen 71 a message indicating that the output of the SDI video signal will be temporarily stopped when the video format is changed.

[0137] Furthermore, if the video format determined by the DDC negotiation is a video format that cannot be transmitted via SDI, the HDMI output circuit 11 may display on the display screen 71, instead of message 71e, a message informing the user that, if the video format is changed, an HDMI video signal can be output but an SDI video signal cannot be output.

[0138] Although the case where the HDMI output circuit 11 notifies the user by displaying a screen has been described, the notification to the user by the HDMI output circuit 11 is not limited to a screen display and may be an audio output, etc. Furthermore, the user interface used by the HDMI output circuit 11 to notify the user is not limited to the user interface 34 of the imaging device 100 shown in FIG. 2 , but may be any of various user interfaces that can be controlled from the HDMI output circuit 11.

[0139] In this embodiment, each process is executed by a computer. The computer may execute these processes by a processor, a program, or a combination thereof. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a computer for specific applications, a system such as a workstation, or other hardware element capable of executing a program.

[0140] The processor may be configured with one or more pieces of hardware, and the type of hardware is not limited. For example, the processor may be configured with hardware such as a programmable logic device such as a central processing unit (CPU), a micro processing unit (MPU), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a dedicated circuit for executing specific processing such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or a neural processing unit (NPU). The processor also has various units or means for executing various processes in this embodiment. The type of hardware may also be a combination of different types of hardware. When multiple pieces of hardware are configured to execute one or more processes of a certain processor, the multiple pieces of hardware may be located in devices physically separated from each other, or may be located in the same device. Furthermore, in any embodiment, the order of each process performed by the processor is not limited to the order described above and may be changed as appropriate. The hardware is configured by an electric circuit (circuitry) or the like that combines circuit elements such as semiconductor elements.

[0141] Furthermore, the present embodiment may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, microcode, or a combination thereof. Software, firmware, and microcode may be configured by a program. A program may also be, for example, a group of program modules, each function of which may be implemented by a processor configured to perform the respective function. The program may be program code or multiple code segments stored in one or more non-transitory computer-readable media (e.g., storage media or other storages). The program may be stored in multiple non-transitory computer-readable media that reside in physically separate devices. Program code or a code segment may represent a procedure, a function, a subprogram, a routine, a subroutine, a module, a software package, a class, or any combination of instructions, data structures, or program statements. Program code or a code segment may be connected to another code segment or a hardware circuit by sending or receiving information, data, arguments, parameters, or memory contents.

[0142] Although the imaging device 100 has been described as an apparatus to which the information processing device 10 can be applied, the information processing device 10 is not limited to the imaging device 100 and can be applied to various types of devices, such as a playback device that plays back recorded video data and outputs a video signal, or a relay device that outputs an input video signal.

[0143] Furthermore, although the information processing device 10 has been described as being configured to output a video signal, the information processing device 10 may also be capable of outputting a still image.

[0144] Furthermore, although HDMI has been described as an example of the first communication standard, the first communication standard is not limited to the current HDMI, and can be any of various communication standards that enable two-way communication, such as successor standards, alternative standards, or similar standards to HDMI.

[0145] Furthermore, although SDI has been described as an example of the second communication standard, the second communication standard is not limited to the current SDI, and can be any of various communication standards that do not allow two-way communication, such as a successor standard, alternative standard, or similar standard to SDI.

[0146] Although various embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications or alterations within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the components of the above-described embodiments may be combined in any manner without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0147] This application is based on a Japanese patent application (Patent Application No. 2024-149008) filed on August 30, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0148] 10 Information processing device 10A HDMI interface 10B SDI interface 11 HDMI output circuit 12 HDMI splitter 13 HDMI connector 14 SDI conversion circuit 15 PLL 16 SDI connector 17 Power supply unit 18a, 18b, 18c, 41a, 41b, 43a, 43b, 44a, 44b Switch 19 Clock connector 20 Lens device 30 Imaging device main body 31 Imaging unit 32 Image processing unit 33 Video output unit 34 User interface 42 Driver 51 Sink device 52 SDI receiving device 53 Clock generator 54 Source device 60 Table 71 Display screen 71a, 71d, 71e Message 71b, 71c Operation button 100 Imaging device

Claims

1. An information processing device comprising: a first communication interface corresponding to a first communication standard; a second communication interface corresponding to a second communication standard different from the first communication standard; and a first output circuit, wherein the first output circuit is capable of outputting first data corresponding to the first communication standard to the first communication interface and outputting the first data to the second communication interface, the first communication interface is capable of transmitting the first data to a first external device connected to the first communication interface, the second communication interface has a conversion circuit that converts the first data into second data corresponding to the second communication standard and is capable of transmitting the second data to a second external device connected to the second communication interface, and the first output circuit outputs the first data to the first communication interface in response to receiving a first signal regarding connection of an external device from the first external device, and outputs the first data to the second communication interface in response to receiving a second signal corresponding to the first signal from the conversion circuit.

2. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the first output circuit is switchable between a first state in which control communication of the first communication standard is possible with the first external device, and a second state in which control communication of the first communication standard is possible with the conversion circuit.

3. An information processing device according to claim 2, wherein, when the transmission of the second data to the second external device is set, the first output circuit enters the second state in response to the second signal from the conversion circuit, and performs control communication with the conversion circuit in accordance with the first communication standard to output the first data to the second communication interface.

4. An information processing device according to claim 3, wherein the first output circuit, when the transmission of the second data to the second external device is set and the transmission of the first data to the first external device is not set, sets the information processing device to a state in which the first signal is not received from the first external device.

5. An information processing device according to claim 3, wherein the first output circuit, when set to transmit the first data to the first external device, enters a state in which it receives the first signal from the first external device, enters the first state in response to receiving the first signal from the first external device, and performs control communication with the first external device in accordance with the first communication standard to output the first data to the first communication interface.

6. An information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the information processing device is capable of transitioning to a mode in which the second communication interface converts third data corresponding to the first communication standard received from the first external device by the first communication interface into fourth data corresponding to the second communication standard using the conversion circuit, and transmits the fourth data converted by the conversion circuit to the second external device.

7. An information processing device according to claim 6, wherein in said mode, said conversion circuit performs control communication with said first external device in accordance with said first communication standard.

8. An information processing device according to claim 7, wherein in said mode, said second communication interface generates said fourth data in synchronization with a clock of said third data.

9. An information processing device according to claim 8, wherein the first communication interface generates the first data based on a result of synchronization based on the third data performed in the mode after the mode is released.

10. An imaging device comprising: an information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 9; and an imaging unit, wherein the first data is data generated based on imaging data obtained by the imaging unit.

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