Display device and method of checking input signals

• US 7,982,726 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2003
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Young-Chan, Chang, Jae-hyung
• Primary Examiner(s): Sherman; Stephen G
• Application Number:
  US10/654,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20040105663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,875 Days
• Field of Search: 345/204, 345/206, 345/213, 345/3.1, 386/113, 386/116, 348569-570, 348/661, 348705-706, 348/571, 348/725, 348/731, 725/151, 725/139, 725/131, 725/100, 725/38, 725/59, 725/120
• US Class Current: 345/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/12 Test circuits or failure detection circuits included in a display system, as permanent part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/006 Electronic inspection or testing of displays and display drivers, e.g. of LED or LCD displays testing individual LED's G01R31/2635; testing lamps G01R31/44; testing of optical features of LCD displays G02F1/1309
• 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 17/004 for digital television systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/04 for receivers

Abstract

A display device and a method of checking signals input to a display device. The display device includes a signal identifying unit, a signal checking unit, and a signal changing unit. The signal identifying unit receives an input signal and identifies the type of input signal that is received. The signal checking unit checks whether the identified input signal is abnormal. The signal changing unit switches from the checked input signal to a next input signal to be checked so that the signal checking unit can check whether the next input signal is abnormal, after the signal checking unit checks whether the input signal is abnormal. Accordingly, when a display device goes to an abnormal mode, one of input signals can be checked in the display device to automatically change to another signal according to the order of checking the signals, the time required to check the signals, and the number of times the signals are checked without manipulating an additional key.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a signal identifying unit that receives an input signal and identifies the type of the input signal;

a signal checking unit that checks whether the identified input signal is abnormal;

a data setting unit that sets data corresponding to a user input regarding the received input signal, the set data representing how to check the identified input signal; and

a signal changing unit that switches from the checked input signal to a next input signal to be checked based on the set data corresponding to the identified type of the input signal so that the signal checking unit checks whether the next input signal is abnormal, if the identified input signal is determined to be abnormal,

wherein the signal checking unit senses whether an input signal cable is connected to the display device and only checks whether the identified input signal is abnormal by decoding the identified input signal when the input signal cable is connected to the display device.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the signal identifying unit identifies whether the received input signal is one of a D-sub analog signal, a DVI analog signal, a DVI digital signal, and a VIDEO signal.

3. The display device of claim 1, wherein the data setting unit sets one of a number of times the identified input signal is checked, a time required to check the identified input signal, and a position of the identified input signal to be checked within a sequence of identified input signals to be checked,

wherein if the signal checking unit has not checked one of the number of set times whether the identified input signal is abnormal and has not checked for the period of set time whether the identified input signal is abnormal, the signal checking unit continues checking whether the identified input signal is abnormal.

4. The display device of claim 3, further comprising a signal controlling unit that checks the position of the checked input signal within the sequence of identified input signals to be checked to determine which identified input signal is to be checked after the checked input signal,

wherein the signal changing unit switches from the checked input signal to the determined input signal so that the signal checking unit checks whether the determined input signal is abnormal.

5. A method of checking a signal input into a display device, the method comprising:

receiving the input signal and identifying a type of the input signal that is received;

checking whether the identified input signal is abnormal;

setting data corresponding to a user input regarding the received input signal, the set data representing how to check the identified input signal; and

switching from the checked input signal to a next input signal to be checked based on the set data corresponding to the identified type of the input signal so that whether the next input signal is abnormal is checked, if the input signal is checked and is determined to be abnormal,

wherein the checking comprises sensing whether an input signal cable is connected to the display device and only determining whether the identified input signal is abnormal by decoding the input signal when the input signal cable is connected to the display device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the identifying comprises determining whether the input signal is one of a D-sub analog signal, a DVI analog signal, a DVI digital signal, and a VIDEO signal.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the checking comprises setting one of a number of times the identified input signal is checked, a time required to check the identified input signal, and a position of the identified input signal to be checked within a sequence of identified input signals to be checked,

wherein if the checking whether the identified input signal is abnormal has not been performed one of the number of set times and checking whether the identified input signal is abnormal has not been performed for the period of set time, checking whether the identified input signal is abnormal continues.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the checking further comprises checking the position of the checked input signal within the sequence of identified input signals to be checked to determine which identified input signal is to be checked after the checked input signal,

wherein the checked input signal is switched to the determined input signal so that whether the determined input signal is abnormal is checked.

9. A display device comprising:

a signal identifying unit receiving an input signal and identifying the type of received input signal;

a signal checking unit checking whether the identified input signal is abnormal or normal; and

a signal changing unit switching from the checked input signal to check a next input signal based on set data corresponding to the received input signal so that the signal checking unit checks whether the next input signal is abnormal, the set data representing how to check the identified input signal,

wherein the signal checking unit senses whether an input signal cable is connected to the display device and only checks whether the identified input signal is abnormal by decoding the identified input signal when the input signal cable is connected to the display device, and

wherein if the checked input signal is normal, the signal continues being displayed by the display device and if the checked input signal is abnormal, the signal stops being displayed by the display device.

10. The display device of claim 9, wherein the identified input signal and the next input signal are abnormal if cables carrying the signals are not connected to the display device.

11. The display device of claim 9, wherein the identified input signal and the next input signal are abnormal if H-sync and V-sync patterns associated with the signals are abnormal.

12. The display device of claim 9, wherein the signal identifying unit identifies whether the received input signal is a D-sub analog signal.

13. The display device of claim 9, wherein the signal identifying unit identifies whether the received input signal is a DVI analog signal.

14. The display device of claim 9, wherein the signal identifying unit identifies whether the received input signal is a DVI digital signal.

15. The display device of claim 9, wherein the signal identifying unit identifies whether the received input signal is a VIDEO signal.

16. The display device of claim 9, further comprising a data setting unit that sets the number of times the identified input signal is checked, wherein if the signal checking unit has not checked the number of set times, the signal checking unit continues the checking.

17. The display device of claim 9, further comprising a data setting unit that sets the time required to check the identified input signal, wherein if the signal checking unit has not checked the identified input signal for the set period of time, the signal checking unit continues checking whether the identified input signal is abnormal.

18. The display device of claim 9, further comprising a data setting unit that sets the position of the identified input signal to be checked within a sequence of identified input signals to be checked.

19. The display device of claim 18, further comprising a signal controlling unit that checks the position of the checked input signal within the sequence of identified input signals to be checked to determine which identified input signal is to be checked after the checked input signal,

wherein the signal changing unit switches from the checked input signal to the determined input signal so that the signal checking unit can check whether the determined input signal is abnormal.

20. The display device of claim 9, further comprising a menu from which a user determines the identified input signal is to be checked and a checking order.

21. A method of checking a signal input into a display device, the method comprising:

receiving an input signal and identifying the type of received input signal;

checking whether the received and identified input signal is abnormal or normal; and

switching from the checked input signal to a next received and identified input signal based on set data corresponding to the received input signal to check whether the next received and identified input signal is abnormal, the set data representing how to check the identified input signal,

wherein the checking comprises sensing whether a signal input cable is connected and only checking whether the identified input signal is abnormal by decoding the input signal when the signal input cable is connected, and

wherein if the checked input signal is normal, the signal continues being displayed by the display device and if the checked input signal is abnormal, the signal stops being displayed by the display device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the identifying comprises identifying whether the input signal is a D-sub analog signal.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the identifying comprises identifying whether the input signal is a DVI analog signal.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the identifying comprises identifying whether the input signal is a DVI digital signal.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the identifying comprises identifying whether the input signal is a VIDEO signal.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the checking comprises checking whether a cable carrying the received and identified signal is connected to the display device.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the checking comprises checking whether H-sync and V-sync patterns associated with the received and identified signal are abnormal.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the checking comprises setting the number of times the input signal is checked, wherein if the checking whether the input signal is abnormal has not been performed the number of set times, the checking whether the input signal is abnormal continues.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the checking comprises setting the time required to check the input signal, wherein if the checking whether the input signal is abnormal has not been performed for the period of set time, the checking whether the input signal is abnormal continues.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the checking comprises checking the position of the input signal to be checked within a sequence of input signals to be checked.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the checking further comprises checking the position of the checked input signal within the sequence of input signals to be checked to determine which input signal is to be checked after the checked input signal,

wherein the checked input signal is switched to the determined input signal so that whether the determined input signal is abnormal can be checked.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein the checking comprises determining from a menu the received and identified input signal to be checked and an order of checking.

33. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

continuing displaying the input signals if the input signals are in a normal state; and

stopping displaying the input signals if the input signals are in an abnormal state.

34. A displaying device having a plurality of input ports comprising:

an input port selection unit for selecting an input port for receiving an input signal;

a signal checking unit for checking whether the selected input port is receiving a normal input signal; and

an input port changing unit for switching from the checked input port to a next input port when the input port is not receiving a normal input signal, wherein at least one of the input ports has priority in an order of checking by the signal checking unit as compared to another input port,

wherein the signal checking unit senses whether a cable via which each signal is input is connected and only checks whether the input signal is normal by decoding the input signal when the cable via which each signal is input is connected, and

wherein at least one of the input ports has priority in an order of checking by the signal checking unit as compared to another input port.

35. The displaying device of claim 34, wherein the order of checking of the input port is selected among a plurality of checking orders.

36. The displaying device of claim 35, wherein the checking order is set by the user.

37. The displaying device of claim 36 wherein a menu is provided on a screen of the displaying device to set the checking order.

38. The displaying device of claim 34, wherein the input port selection unit selects whether the input signal is one of a D-sub analog signal, a DVI analog signal, a DVI digital signal, and a VIDEO signal.

39. The displaying device of claim 34, wherein the displaying device is capable of displaying a computer signal.

40. A displaying device comprising:

an analog input port for receiving an analog signal;

a digital input port for receiving a digital signal; and

an input port changing unit for switching from the analog input port to the digital input port to check whether the digital signal is normal when the displaying device determines that the analog input port is not receiving a normal analog input signal, the switching from the analog input port to the digital input port being based on set data corresponding to the analog signal, the set data representing how to check the analog signal,

wherein whether the analog input port receives the normal analog input signal is determined by sensing whether a cable via which each signal is input is connected and only decoding the input signal to determine whether the analog signal is abnormal when the cable via which each signal is input is connected.

41. A displaying device comprising:

an analog input port for receiving an analog signal;

a digital input port for receiving a digital signal; and

an input port changing unit for switching from the digital input port to the analog input port to check whether the analog signal is normal when the displaying device determines that the digital input port is not receiving a normal digital input signal, the switching from the digital input port to the analog input port being based on set data corresponding to the digital signal, the set data representing how to check the digital signal,

wherein whether the digital input port receives the normal digital input signal is determined by sensing whether a cable via which each signal is input is connected and only decoding the input signal to determine whether the analog signal is abnormal when the cable via which each signal is input is connected.

42. A method of checking a signal input into a displaying device, the method comprising:

selecting an input port among a plurality of input ports for receiving an input signal;

checking whether the selected input port is receiving a normal input signal; and

switching from the checked input port to a next input port to be checked when a normal input signal is not being received from the selected input port, wherein at least one of the input ports has priority in an order of checking by the signal checking unit as compared to another input port,

wherein whether the input signal is normal is checked by sensing whether a cable via which each signal is input is connected and only decoding the input signal to determine whether the input signal is abnormal when the cable via which each signal is input is connected, and

wherein at least one of the input ports can be set to have a priority in an order of checking by the signal checking unit as compared to another input port.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the selecting step selects a D-sub analog port for a D-sub analog signal.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the selecting step selects a DVI analog port for a DVI analog signal.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the selecting step selects a DVI digital port for a DVI digital signal.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein the selecting step selects a VIDEO port for a VIDEO signal.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein whether the input signal is abnormal is checked by checking whether H-sync and V-sync patterns associated with the received signal are abnormal.

48. The method of claim 42, wherein the order of checking of the input port is selected among a plurality of checking orders.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the checking order is selected by the user.

50. The method of claim 49, a menu is provided on a screen of the display device to set the checking order.