Signal processing device, housing rack, and connector

• US 20040031060A1
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kondo, Tetsujiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,859,601 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/131
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 11/24 High-definition television systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4108 characterised by an identification number or address, e.g. local network address protecting specific internal or external computer components using identification number G06F21/73; network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming H04L61/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44231 Monitoring of peripheral device or external card, e.g. to detect processing problems in a handheld device or the failure of an external recording device configuring of peripheral devices in general G06F9/4411; reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network H04L12/2823; monitoring the status of connected device in data switched networks H04L43/0817
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/14 Picture signal circuitry for video frequency region cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7908 Suppression of interfering signals at the reproducing side, e.g. noise
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

A controller 112 checks and determines whether or not an electronic apparatus 11 is electrically connected. When a TV signal processor 106 is not connected to another apparatus, i.e., the electronic apparatus 11, a signal processing circuit 113 performs normal signal processing. When the TV signal processor 106 is connected to another apparatus, i.e., the electronic apparatus 11, the TV signal processor 106 cooperates with the compliant electronic apparatus as if they were a single apparatus and performs optimal processing of an input signal. In an ID table stored in the controller 112, processing information concerning processing tasks to be shared with the compliant electronic apparatus is associated with the function ID of the compliant electronic apparatus.

Claims

1. A signal processing apparatus for processing an input signal, comprising:

signal processing means for processing the input signal, the signal processing means having a predetermined function;

determining means for determining whether or not another apparatus is connected; and

control means for changing the function of the signal processing means between a mode in which the other apparatus is connected and a mode in which the other apparatus is not connected.

2. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input signal is processed by both the signal processing means and the other apparatus.

3. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means changes the function of the signal processing means so as to improve the quality of an output signal generated by processing by the signal processing means and the other apparatus in the mode in which the other apparatus is connected to be higher than the quality of an output signal generated by independent processing by the signal processing means or the other apparatus in the mode in which the other apparatus is not connected.

4. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing means includes:

prediction tap extracting means for extracting, from the input signal, prediction taps for use in computing a predetermined predicted value;

class tap extracting means for extracting, from the input signal, a class tap for use in performing predetermined classification;

classification means for performing the classification on the basis of the class tap;

tap coefficient obtaining means for obtaining tap coefficients corresponding to a class code generated as a result of the classification, the tap coefficients being generated by learning; and

prediction means for computing the predetermined predicted value on the basis on the tap coefficients corresponding to the class code and the prediction taps.

5. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of types of tap coefficients is prepared by learning by changing teacher data, which is a teacher in the learning processing, or student data, which is a student in the learning processing, and

the control means changes the function of the signal processing means by controlling the type of tap coefficients to be used by the signal processing means.

6. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising storage means for storing the plurality of types of tap coefficients.

7. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control means downloads a necessary type of tap coefficients from the outside.

9. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means changes the function of the signal processing means on the basis of a function of the other apparatus.

10. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control means receives function information indicating the function of the other apparatus from the other apparatus and changes the function of the signal processing means on the basis of the function information.

11. The signal processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising supplying means for supplying function information indicating the function of the signal processing means to the other apparatus.

8. The signal processing apparatus according to claim S, wherein the control means changes the function of the signal processing means by controlling the structure of the prediction taps or the class tap to be used by the signal processing means.

12. A signal processing method for a signal processing apparatus for processing an input signal, comprising:

a signal processing step of processing the input signal, the signal processing step having a predetermined function;

a determining step of determining whether or not another apparatus is connected; and

a control step of changing the function of the signal processing step between a mode in which the other apparatus is connected and a mode in which the other apparatus is not connected.

13. A program for causing a computer to perform signal processing for processing an input signal, comprising:

a signal processing step of processing the input signal, the signal processing step having a predetermined function;

a determining step of determining whether or not another apparatus is connected; and

a control step of changing the function of the signal processing step between a mode in which the other apparatus is connected and a mode in which the other apparatus is not connected.

14. A recording medium having recorded therein a program for causing a computer to perform signal processing for processing an input signal, the program comprising:

a signal processing step of processing the input signal, the signal processing step having a predetermined function;

a determining step of determining whether or not another apparatus is connected; and

a control step of changing the function of the signal processing step between a mode in which the other apparatus is connected and a mode in which the other apparatus is not connected.

15. A signal processing system comprising at least first and second signal processing apparatuses for processing an input signal, wherein the first and second signal processing apparatuses each include:

signal processing means for processing the input signal, the signal processing means having a predetermined function;

determining means for determining whether or not the other signal processing apparatus is connected; and

control means for changing the function of the signal processing means between a mode in which the other signal processing apparatus is connected and a mode in which the other signal processing apparatus is not connected.

16. The signal processing system according to claim 15, wherein the signal processing means includes:

prediction tap extracting means for extracting, from the input signal, prediction taps for use in computing a predetermined predicted value;

class tap extracting means for extracting, from the input signal, a class tap for use in performing predetermined classification;

classification means for performing the classification on the basis of the class tap;

tap coefficient obtaining means for obtaining tap coefficients corresponding to a class code generated as a result of the classification, the tap coefficients being generated by learning; and

prediction means for computing the predetermined predicted value from the tap coefficients corresponding to the class code and the prediction taps.

17. The signal processing system according to claim 15, wherein one of the first and second signal processing apparatuses operates independently and has at least one signal terminal, which is exposed to the outside, for receiving or outputting a signal, and

the one of the signal processing apparatuses is stored in a storage rack comprising:

at least one holder in the shape of a cavity for storing the one of the signal processing apparatuses; and

a connection panel including a connection terminal connecting with the signal terminal of the one of the signal processing apparatuses, the connection panel being provided in the holder.

18. The signal processing system according to claim 17, wherein the storage rack includes a plurality of holders, and

the other one of the first and second signal processing apparatuses operates independently, has at least one signal terminal, which is exposed to the outside, for receiving or outputting a signal, and is stored in the storage rack.

19. The signal processing system according to claim 17, wherein the other one of the first and second signal processing apparatuses is incorporated in the storage rack.

20. A storage rack for storing an electronic apparatus which operates independently and which includes at least one signal terminal, which is exposed to the outside, for receiving or outputting a signal, the storage rack comprising:

at least one holder in the shape of a cavity for storing the electronic apparatus; and

a connection panel including a connection terminal connecting with the signal terminal of the electronic apparatus, the connection panel being provided in the holder.

21. The storage rack according to claim 20, wherein the connection panel in the holder includes the connection terminal to be connected with the signal terminal of the electronic apparatus when the electronic apparatus is stored in the holder.

22. The storage rack according to claim 20, further comprising a connection apparatus including:

a first face including a first terminal connecting with the connection terminal provided on the connection panel; and

a second face including a second terminal connecting with the signal terminal of the electronic apparatus,

wherein, when the electronic apparatus is stored in the holder, the signal terminal of the electronic apparatus and the connection terminal of the connection panel in the holder are connected with each other via the connection apparatus.

23. The storage rack according to claim 22, wherein the first face is located on the backside of the second face.

24. The storage rack according to claim 22, wherein the connection apparatus includes a slot for storing the electronic apparatus.

25. The storage rack according to claim 24, wherein the holder stores the connection apparatus with the slot storing the electronic apparatus.

26. The storage rack according to claim 25, wherein the first face is a face that faces the connection panel in the holder when the connection apparatus is stored in the holder.

27. The storage rack according to claim 24, wherein the second face is a face that faces a face including the signal terminal of the electronic apparatus when the electronic apparatus is stored in the slot.

28. The storage rack according to claim 22, wherein the first terminal is disposed on the first face of the connection apparatus at a fixed position corresponding to the position of the connection terminal provided on the connection panel.

29. The storage rack according to claim 22, wherein the second terminal is provided on the second face of the connection apparatus at a fixed position corresponding to the position of the signal terminal provided on the electronic apparatus.

30. The storage rack according to claim 22, wherein the second terminal provided on the second face of the connection apparatus is movable.

31. The storage rack according to claim 30, wherein the second terminal slides over the second face.

32. The storage rack according to claim 30, wherein the second face includes holes, and the second terminal is insertable into an arbitrary one of the holes.

33. The storage rack according to claim 20, wherein the connection terminal provided on the connection panel is disposed at a fixed position.

34. The storage rack according to claim 20, wherein the connection terminal provided on the connection panel is movable.

35. The storage rack according to claim 20, further comprising a plurality of holders.

36. The storage rack according to claim 35, wherein, when electronic apparatuses are stored in two or more of the plurality of holders, the electronic apparatuses stored in the holders are electrically connected with one another.

37. The storage rack according to claim 20, wherein another electronic apparatus is incorporated therein, and

when the electronic apparatus is stored in the holder, the electronic apparatus and the other electronic apparatus are electrically connected with each other.

38. A connection apparatus for electrically connecting an electronic apparatus which operates independently and which includes at least one signal terminal, which is exposed to the outside, for receiving or outputting a signal with a storage rack comprising a connection panel including a connection terminal electrically connecting with the signal terminal of the electronic apparatus, the connection panel being provided in at least one holder in the shape of a cavity, the connection apparatus comprising:

a first face including a first terminal connecting with the connection terminal provided on the connection panel of the storage rack; and

a second face including a second terminal connecting with the signal terminal of the electronic apparatus.

39. The connection apparatus according to claim 38, wherein, when the electronic apparatus is stored in the holder, the signal terminal of the electronic apparatus and the connection terminal of the connection panel in the holder are electrically connected with each other.

40. The connection apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the first face is located on the backside of the second face.

41. The connection apparatus according to claim 38, further comprising a slot for storing the electronic apparatus.

42. The connection apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the signal terminal of the electronic apparatus and the connection terminal of the connection panel in the holder are electrically connected with each other by storing the slot in the storage rack, the slot storing the electronic apparatus.

43. The connection apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the second face is a face that faces a face including the signal terminal of the electronic apparatus when the electronic apparatus is stored in the slot.

44. The connection apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the first face is a face that faces the connection panel in the holder when the connection apparatus is stored in the holder.

45. The connection apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the first terminal is disposed on the first face at a fixed position corresponding to the position of the connection terminal provided on the connection panel.

46. The connection apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the second terminal is provided on the second face at a fixed position corresponding to the position of the signal terminal provided on the electronic apparatus.

47. The connection apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the second terminal provided on the second face is movable.

48. The connection apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the second terminal slides over the second face.

49. The connection apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the second face includes holes, and the second terminal is insertable into an arbitrary one of the holes.

50. A storage rack system comprising:

an electronic apparatus which operates independently and which includes at least one signal terminal, which is exposed to the outside, for receiving or outputting a signal; and

a storage rack for storing the electronic apparatus,

wherein the storage rack includes;

at least one holder in the shape of a cavity for storing the electronic apparatus; and

a connection panel including a connection terminal connecting with the signal terminal of the electronic apparatus, the connection panel being provided in the holder.

51. The storage rack system according to claim 50, further comprising a connection apparatus, wherein the connection apparatus includes:

a first face including a first terminal connecting with the connection terminal provided on the connection panel; and

a second face including a second terminal connecting with the signal terminal of the electronic apparatus.

52. The storage rack system according to claim 51, wherein, when the electronic apparatus, along with the connection apparatus, is stored in the holder, the signal terminal of the electronic apparatus and the connection terminal of the connection panel in the holder are electrically connected with each other via the connection apparatus.

53. A signal processing apparatus for performing predetermined signal processing of an input signal, comprising:

connection means to which another connection apparatus is connected;

determining means for determining whether or not the other apparatus connected with the connection means is a specific apparatus;

signal processing means having tap coefficients computed in advance by learning, the signal processing means performing signal processing of the input signal in accordance with a first or second function by performing an arithmetic operation using the tap coefficients and the input signal; and

control means for changing the function of the signal processing by the signal processing means by changing the tap coefficients on the basis of a determination result by the determining means,

wherein the signal processing means includes;

a storage unit for storing the tap coefficients; and

an arithmetic operation unit for performing, under the control of the control means, the arithmetic operation using the tap coefficients and the input signal, and

the arithmetic operation unit performs the signal processing in accordance with the first and second functions without changing the physical configuration of a circuit for performing processing specialized in one processing step.