Signal input and output apparatus that discriminates between plurality of different devices each issuing unique control signals substantially simultaneously through single transmission path

• US 6,965,950 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2000
• Issued: 11/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nagasawa, Hirokazu, Nomiyama, Yoshitsugu, Kojima, Masaaki
• Primary Examiner(s): PEYTON, TAMMARA R
• Application Number:
  US09/604,632
• Time in Patent Office: 1,967 Days
• Field of Search: 710/10, 710/14, 710/16, 710/38, 710/63, 710/305, 710/315, 710/8, 710/11, 710/72, 710/316, 381/74
• US Class Current: 710/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure

Abstract

In order to propose a signal input and output apparatus for changing over control depending on a detection result by discriminating the type of signals when signals of two or more types are passed in the same signal line, a signal input and output apparatus comprises signal discrimination changeover means for discriminating the type of control signal through cable, plug and jack, as a transmission path generating a discrimination signal, supplying it to a controller, and changing over the control of a signal processor to the controller on the basis of the discrimination signal, and thereby input and output of plural control signals can be processed through a single transmission path. As a result, by a single jack only, plural signals can be passed on the same transmission path by optimizing the transmission and reception paths and transmission and reception elements, and therefore the parts mounting area can be saved, and states of various types of signals can be detected.

Claims

1. A signal input and output apparatus for issuing a control signal from a signal processor to the outside by one of a plurality of controllers through a transmission path, and controlling said signal processor by one of said plurality of controllers on the basis of a control signal entered from the outside, comprising:

a single transmission path along which a plurality of different types of apparatuses can be connected, each of said different types of apparatuses issuing a different type of control signal and receiving control signals from a corresponding one of said plurality of controllers; and

signal discrimination changeover means for discriminating the type of control signal entered through the single transmission path corresponding to one of said different types of apparatuses, generating a discrimination signal, supplying said discrimination signal into the signal processor controller, and selecting one of said plurality of controllers corresponding to said discriminated control signal to control the operation of the signal processor controller;

wherein input and output of plural control signals of different types are processed through said single transmission path, said single transmission path supporting two-way communication of said plural control signals, each of said plural control signals having different input and output amplitudes; and

wherein discrimination of the type of control signals in said signal discrimination changeover means is carried out on the basis of an amplitude of the control signal at a coupling to said signal discrimination changeover means of the transmission path for an input and output of control signals.

2. The signal input and output apparatus of claim 1, wherein

said signal discrimination changeover means changes over the control system of the control signal of a type other than the one discriminated according to the discrimination signal so as to be inactive.

3. The signal input and output apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

one of said plural control signals is an RS-232C signal.

4. A signal input and output method, being a signal input and output method for issuing a control signal from a signal processor to the outside by one of a plurality of controllers through a transmission path, and controlling said signal processor by said one of a plurality of controllers on the basis of a control signal entered from the outside, comprising the steps of:

providing a single transmission path along which a plurality of different types of apparatuses can be connected, each of said different types of apparatuses issuing a different type of control signal and receiving control signals from a corresponding one of said plurality of controllers,

discriminating the type of control signal entered through the single transmission path corresponding to one of said different types of apparatuses,

supplying a discrimination signal in accordance with said discriminated type of control signal into the signal processor controller,

selecting one of said plurality of controllers corresponding to said discriminated control signal to control the operation of the signal processor controller;

inputting and outputting of plural control signals of different types and processing these control signals through the single transmission path, said single transmission path supporting two-way communication of said plural control signals, each of said plural control signals having different input and output amplitudes;

wherein discriminating the type of control signals is carried out on the basis of an amplitude of the control signal at the transmission path for an input and output of control signals.

5. The signal input and output method of claim 4, further comprising:

a step of changing over the control system of the control signal of other type than the one discriminated according to the discrimination signal so as to be inactive.

6. The signal input and output method of claim 4, wherein:

one of said plural control signals is an RS-232C signal.