System and method for interconnecting components that employ either composite or S-video signals

• US 6,907,615 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2000
• Issued: 06/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Alexander, Douglas, Perlman, Stephen G., Bucher, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, Chris
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHELTON, BRIAN K
• Application Number:
  US09/490,882
• Time in Patent Office: 1,968 Days
• Field of Search: 725/80, 725/82, 725/85, 725/131, 725/133, 725/139, 725/141, 725/151, 725/153, 439/176, 439/502
• US Class Current: 725/80
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/205 with control bus for exchanging commands between units
• 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 21/41265 having a remote control device for bidirectional communication between the remote control device and client device unidirectional remote control device H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• 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 5/782 on tape

Abstract

Systems and methods for use in interconnecting consumer electronic devices in an entertainment system that allow for switching between composite video and S-video formats. The systems and methods support left audio, right audio, and can be selectively adapted to support either composite video or S-video signal formats. The systems and methods further allow for a determination that a consumer electronic device is connected, the type of device that is connected, and the type of signal format that is being utilized for the transmission.

Claims

1. An interconnection cable system for interconnecting a first electronic device to a second electronic device, both electronic devices utilizing audio and video signals, the interconnection system comprising:

a plurality of electrical conductors for interconnecting the first electronic device and the second electronic device, each of the plurality of electrical conductors having a first end and a second end;

one or more male audio connectors, each being attached to the first end of one of the electrical conductors of the plurality of electrical conductors;

a mini plug is attached to the second end of the plurality of electrical conductors; and

a male video connector attached to the first end of each of a subset of the plurality of electrical conductors, the male video connector being selectively adaptable for use with either a composite signal format or an S-video signal format such that the interconnection system is selectively usable with either the composite signal format or the S-video signal format, wherein the male video connector comprises a male S-video connector and an adapter having a female S-video end that can be selectively coupled with the male S-video connector and a male RCA end opposite the female S-video end for supporting the composite signal format, wherein the video connector supports the composite video signal format when the adapter is coupled with the male S-video connector.

2. An interconnection cable system as recited in claim 1, wherein the video connector comprises a male S-video connector for use with the S-video signal format.

3. An interconnection cable system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more male audio connectors comprises a left audio connector and a right audio connector that are capable of transmitting audio signals between the first electronic device and the second electronic device when the interconnection system is used with the composite video format.

4. An interconnection cable system as recited in claim 3, wherein the male video connector comprises an S-video connector including an S-video audio connector, the S-video audio connector, rather than the left audio connector and the right audio connector, being used to transmit audio signals when the interconnection system is used with the S-video format.

5. An interconnection cable system as recited in claim 1, wherein the mini plug includes a plurality of contact points.

6. An interconnection cable system as recited in claim 5, wherein the plurality of contact points include a first contact point for transmitting left audio signals, a second contact point for transmitting right audio signals, a third contact point for transmitting video chroma signals and a fourth contact point for transmitting video luma signals.

7. An interconnection cable system as recited in claim 6, wherein the plurality of contact points further includes a fifth contact point for ground.

8. An interconnection cable system as recited in claim 5, wherein the video connector comprises a male S-video connector for use with the S-video signal format.

9. An interconnection system for interconnecting a first electronic device to a second electronic device, both electronic devices utilizing audio and video signals, the interconnection system comprising:

a mini plug at a first end of the interconnection system and having a plurality of contact points, wherein the mini plug can be connected to the first electronic device; and

a plurality of electrical conductors for interconnecting the first electronic device and the second electronic device, each of the plurality of electrical conductors having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of electrical conductors is connected to one of the contact points of the mini plug; and

means for selectively adapting the interconnection system for use with either a composite video signal format or an S-video signal format, the means for selectively adapting the interconnection system being connected to the second end of at least some of the plurality of electrical conductors.

10. An interconnection system as recited in claim 9, wherein the plurality of contact points include a first contact point for transmitting left audio signals, a second contact point for transmitting right audio signals, a third contact point for transmitting video chroma signals and a fourth contact point for transmitting video luma signals.

11. An interconnection system as recited in claim 10, wherein the plurality of contact points further includes a fifth contact point for ground.

12. An interconnection system as recited in claim 9, wherein the means for selectively adapting the interconnection system comprises:

one or more audio connectors, each being attached to the second end of one of the electrical conductors of the plurality of electrical conductors; and

a video connector attached to the second end of each of a subset of the plurality of electrical conductors, the video connector being selectively adaptable for use with either a composite signal format or an S-video signal format such that the interconnection system is selectively usable with either the composite signal format or the S-video signal format.

13. An interconnection system as recited in claim 9, further comprising a mini plug receptacle included in the first electronic device, the mini plug receptacle enabling the mini plug end to be connected to the first electronic device.

14. In a system that includes at least a first electronic device and a second electronic device, a method for communicating signals between the first electronic device and the second electronic device using either a composite signal format or an S-video signal format, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting the first electronic device with the second electronic device with an interconnection system that is selectively adaptable to transmit signals using either a composite video signal or an S-video signals, the interconnection system, when connecting the first electronic device with the second electronic device, being adapted to transmit the signal using a particular signal format selected from the composite video signal format and the S-video signal format;

at the first electronic device, determining whether the particular signal format is the composite signal format or the S-video signal format; and

based on the determination made in the determining step, communicating between the first electronic device and the second electronic device using the particular signal format.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the interconnection system comprises:

a plurality of electrical conductors;

a mini plug for connecting the plurality of electrical conductors to the first electronic device; and

at least one an audio connector and at least one video connector for connecting the plurality of electrical conductors to the second electronic device, wherein the second electronic device utilizes one of a composite signal format and an S-video signal format.

16. A method as recited in claim 15, wherein at least one video connector comprises a male S-video connector having a plurality of pins, and wherein the interconnection system further includes an adapter for use when the particular signal format is the composite signal format, the adapter having a female S-video end for mating with the male S-video connector and a male RCA end opposite the female S-video end for connecting the plurality of electrical conductors to the second electronic device.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein two of the plurality of pins of the male S-video connector are shorted when the male S-video connector is mated with the female S-video end.

18. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the step of determining comprises the step of measuring the impedance of associated with selected electrical connectors of the plurality of electrical connectors.

19. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the step of measuring the impedance is conducted using a differential amplifier.

20. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein the step of measuring the impedance is conducted using an impedance sensor.

21. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of recognizing, by the first electronic device, that the mini plug has been inserted into a receptacle at the first electronic device, the step of recognizing further comprising the step of sensing a physical displacement of a component of the receptacle as the mini plug is inserted into the receptacle.

22. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of determining, at the first electronic device, whether the signal is transmitted into or out of the second electronic device.

23. A system for connecting a first electronic device to a second electronic device and for transmitting signals between the first electronic device and the second electronic device, the system comprising:

an interconnection system including;

a mini plug at a first end of the interconnection system and having a plurality of contact points, wherein the mini plug can be connected to the first electronic device; and

a plurality of electrical conductors for interconnecting the first electronic device and the second electronic device, each of the plurality of electrical conductors having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of each of the plurality of electrical conductors is connected to one of the contact points of the mini plug; and

means for selectively adapting the interconnection system for use with either a composite video signal format or an S-video signal format, the means for selectively adapting the interconnection system being connected to the second end of at least some of the plurality of electrical conductors; and

a receptacle that is included in the first electronic device and can couple with the mini plug.

24. A system as recited in claim 23, wherein when the receptacle is coupled with the mini plug, each of the plurality of contact points of the mini plug being in electrical contact with one of a plurality of contact points of the socket.

25. A system as recited in claim 24, wherein the receptacle includes another contact point, in addition to the plurality of contact points of the receptacle, the additional contact point being capable of ground sensing.

26. A system as recited in claim 23, wherein one of the plurality of contact points of the mini plug is for video chroma and another of the plurality of contact points of the mini plug is for video luma.

27. In a home entertainment system that includes a plurality of electronic devices and utilizes audio and video signals, a method for transmitting either composite or S-video signals through an interconnection system, the method comprising the steps of:

coupling a mini plug positioned at a first end of the interconnection system to a first electronic device so as to enable the transmission of audio and video signals between the interconnection system and the first electronic device; and

coupling a connector positioned at a second, opposite end of the interconnection system to a second consumer electronic device so as to enable the transmission of the audio and video signals between the interconnection system and the second electronic device, wherein the connector is selectively adaptable to be used to transmit the audio and video signals in either a composite signal format or an S-video signal format.

28. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein the connector includes an S-video connector when the audio and video signals are to be transmitted between the interconnection system and the second electronic device in the S-video signal format.

29. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein the connector includes an S-video connector having a plurality of pins coupled with an adapter when the audio and video signals are to be transmitted in the composite signal format, the adapter comprising:

an RCA end that mates with the second consumer electronic device; and

an S-video end that mates with the S-video connector, wherein two of the plurality of pins of the S-video connector are shorted when the S-video end is mated with the S-video connector.