Audio over a standard video cable

• US 7,893,998 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Voltz, Christopher D., Frederick, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Natnael; Paulos M
• Application Number:
  US11/192,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20070024629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,034 Days
• Field of Search: 348/552, 348/553, 348/725, 348/723, 348 21- 24, 345/204, 345/213, 710/63, 710/69, 710/70
• US Class Current: 348/552
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/047 using display data channel standard [DDC] communication
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/083 with signal insertion during the vertical and the horizontal blanking interval , e.g. MAC data signals

Abstract

A source unit has a video source, a digital audio source, a DDC/CI communications capability and a switch for coupling a pin of a standard video cable either to the digital audio source or to a non-audio conventional connection. A display device has a video consumer, a digital audio consumer, a DDC/CI communications capability and a switch for coupling the pin of the standard video cable either to the digital audio consumer or to a non-audio conventional connection. The switch in the display device is responsive to a DDC/CI command.

Claims

1. A system for providing audio over a standard video cable, comprising:

a source unit having a video source, a digital audio source, a source DDC/CI communications capability and a first switch for coupling a pin of a standard video cable connector in the source unit either to the digital audio source or to a first non-audio conventional connection; and

a display device having a video consumer, a digital audio consumer, a display device DDC/CI communications capability and a second switch for coupling a pin of a standard video cable connector in the display device either to the digital audio consumer or to a second non-audio conventional connection, wherein the switch is responsive to a DDC/CI command received from the source unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the standard video cable connectors in the source unit and display device are VGA connectors.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the pin coupled to the first switch and the pin coupled to the second switch correspond to pin 4 of the VGA connectors.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the pin coupled to the first switch and the pin coupled to the second switch correspond to pin 11 of the VGA connectors.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the standard video cable connectors in the source unit and display device are DVI connectors.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein:

the pin coupled to the first switch and the pin coupled to the second switch correspond to pin 8 of the DVI connectors.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the standard video cable connectors in the source unit and display device are HDMI connectors.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the pin coupled to the first switch and the pin coupled to the second switch correspond to pin 14 of the HDMI connectors.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the pin coupled to the first switch and the pin coupled to the second switch correspond to a CEC line in the standard video cable.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the source unit is a personal computer.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the source unit is a media box.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the digital audio source and the digital audio consumer use the S/PDIF format.

13. A method of providing audio over a standard video cable, comprising:

in a source unit, connecting a wire of the standard video cable to a first non-audio conventional connection;

in a display device, connecting the wire to a second non-audio conventional connection;

in the source unit, sending a DDC/CI command to the display device;

in the display device, switching the wire from the second non-audio conventional connection to a digital audio consumer responsive to the DDC/CI command;

in the source unit, switching the wire from the first non-audio conventional connection to a digital audio source.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

in the source unit, and prior to sending the DDC/CI command to switch the wire from the second non-audio conventional connection in the display device, requesting a DDC/CI capabilities string from the display device and determining from information in the capabilities string that the display device is capable of receiving digital audio over the wire.

15. A system for providing audio over a standard video cable, comprising:

means in a source unit for determining whether a display device supports redefining a conventionally non-audio pin or wire of the standard video cable for audio use;

means in the source unit for sending a command to the display device to enable reception using the conventionally non-audio pin or wire;

means in the display device for switching the conventionally non-audio pin or wire from a conventional connection to a digital audio consumer responsive to the command; and

means in the source unit for transmitting digital audio over the conventionally non-audio pin or wire.