Patent Application
20100091180
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a signal conversion apparatus, and more particularly to a signal conversion apparatus for converting analog/digital format video and audio signals into a DisplayPort format signal.
2. Description of the Related Art
DisplayPort is a digital display interface standard put forth by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA). It defines a new license-free, royalty-free, digital audio/video interconnect, intended to be used primarily between a computer and a display monitor, or a computer and a home-theater system.
The DisplayPort connector supports 1, 2, or 4 data pairs in a Main Link that also carries audio and clock signals, each with a symbol rate of 1.62 or 2.7 Gbit/s. The video signal path supports 6 to 16 bits per color channel. A bi-directional auxiliary channel (at a constant 1 Mbit/s) carries management and device control data for the Main Link using Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) Extended display identification data (EDID) and VESA Monitor Control Command Set (MCCS) standards. The DisplayPort embeds the separate clock signals in the data signals. The data transmission protocol in the DisplayPort is based on micro packets and can be extended with future feature additions.
In addition to the micro packets protocol and embedded clock, the DisplayPort also supports internal chip-to-chip communications, which can drive display panels directly, thus eliminating control circuits and allowing for cheaper and slimmer displays. Therefore, a novel implementation of a signal conversion apparatus converting analog/digital format video and audio signals into a DisplayPort format signal for a display device is highly desired.
Signal conversion apparatuses and display system are provided. An exemplary embodiment of a signal conversion apparatus comprises a video input interface, an audio input interface, a conversion unit, and an output interface. The video input interface receives a video signal encoded in a first format from a host device. The audio input interface receives an audio signal encoded in a second format from the host device. The conversion unit is coupled to the video input interface and the audio input interface, receives the video signal and the audio signal therefrom, and converts the video signal and the audio signal into a output signal encoded in a predetermined format supported by a display device. The output interface receives the output signal and transmits the output signal to the display device.
Another exemplary embodiment of a signal conversion apparatus comprises a video input interface, an audio input interface, a conversion unit, and a plurality of output interfaces. The video input interface receives a video signal encoded in a first format from a host device. The audio input interface receives an audio signal encoded in a second format from the host device. The conversion unit is coupled to the video input interface and the audio input interface, receives the video signal and the audio signal therefrom, converts the video signal and the audio signal into a converted signal encoded in a predetermined format, and processes and splits the converted signal into a plurality of output signals each corresponding to one of the display devices. The output interfaces, each corresponds to one of the display devices, receive the corresponding output signals and transmits the corresponding output signals to the corresponding display devices.
An exemplary embodiment of a display system comprises a host device, a display device and a signal conversion apparatus. The host device provides a video signal encoded in a first format and an audio signal encoded in a second format. The signal conversion apparatus receives the video signal and the audio signal from the host device, and converts the video signal and the audio signal into an output signal encode in a predetermined format for transmission through a DisplayPort interface. The display device receives and displays the output signal.
A detailed description is given in the following embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The following description is of the best-contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims.
The signal conversion apparatus 102 may be disposed externally to the host device 101 and adapted to detachably connect to the host device 101. The signal conversion apparatus 102 comprises a video input interface 211 and an audio input interface 212 respectively receiving the video signal and the audio signal from the host device 101. The signal conversion apparatus 102 converts the video signal and the audio signal into an output signal encoded in a predetermined output format supported by the display device 103. According to the embodiment of the invention, the predetermined output format may be transmitted through a DisplayPort interface. The display device 103 finally receives and displays the output signal. According to the embodiment of the invention, the display device 103 may be a flat panel display device, such as a LCD monitor, capable of displaying the video and audio portion of the output signal.
While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Those who are skilled in this technology can still make various alterations and modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention shall be defined and protected by the following claims and their equivalents.
