Image processing apparatus, upgrade apparatus, display system including the same, and control method thereof

• US 9,396,511 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2012
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Choi, Hoon, Kang, Ho-woong, Kang, Jin-sung, Kim, Kwang-youn, Kim, Young-dae, Jeong, Jae-hyun, Jung, Chang-joo
• Primary Examiner(s): Xiao, Ke
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, KIM THANH THI
• Application Number:
  US13/678,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20130169625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 345/418, 345/419, 345/502, 345/520
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/00 Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00 architectures of general purpose stored program computers G06F15/76
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/20 Processor architectures; Processor configuration, e.g. pipelining
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/00 3D [Three Dimensional] image rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/06 Use of more than one graphics processor to process data before displaying to one or more screens
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/10 Processing, recording or transmission of stereoscopic or multi-view image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4183 providing its own processing capabilities, e.g. external module for video decoding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2213/001 Constructional or mechanical details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

An image processing apparatus, upgrade apparatus, display system and control method are provided. The image processing apparatus includes a signal input unit; a first image processing unit which processes an input signal input by the signal input unit to output a first output signal; an upgrade apparatus connection unit connected to an upgrade apparatus which includes a second image processing unit; and a first controller which controls at least one of the input signal processed by the first image processing unit and the first output signal to be transmitted to the upgrade apparatus and processed by the second image processing unit if the upgrade apparatus is connected to the upgrade apparatus connection unit.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a signal input unit;

a first image processing unit which processes an input signal input by the signal input unit to output a first output signal;

an upgrade apparatus connection unit configured to be attachable to and detachable from an upgrade apparatus comprising a second image processing unit; and

a first controller which controls the input signal processed by the first image processing unit and the first output signal to be transmitted to the upgrade apparatus and processed by the second image processing unit if the upgrade apparatus is connected to the upgrade apparatus connection unit,

wherein a first function of the image processing apparatus is performed when the upgrade apparatus is not connected to the upgrade apparatus connection unit, and

wherein the upgrade apparatus is configured to update the image processing apparatus to perform a new function, which is upgraded from or added to the first function, in response to the upgrade apparatus being connected to the upgrade apparatus connection unit,

wherein the first controller controls to process a signal received from the upgrade apparatus separate with the first output signal if the upgrade apparatus is connected to the upgrade apparatus connection unit.

2. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display unit which displays at least one of a first image corresponding to the first output signal output by the first image processing unit and a second image corresponding to a second output signal processed and output by the second image processing unit of the upgrade apparatus.

3. The image processing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the upgrade apparatus connection unit transmits the first output signal to the display unit if the upgrade apparatus is not inserted into the upgrade apparatus connection unit, and transmits the second output signal output from the second image processing unit to the display apparatus if the upgrade apparatus is inserted into the upgrade apparatus connection unit.

4. The image processing apparatus of claim 3, wherein the upgrade apparatus connection unit comprises a first input signal terminal to which the first output signal is input;

and a display unit output terminal selectively brought in contact with at least one of the first input signal terminal and a body connection unit of the upgrade apparatus based on whether the upgrade apparatus is connected, to output any one of the first output signal and the second output signal to the display unit.

5. The image processing apparatus of claim 4, further comprising an elastic member which elastically biases at least one of the first input signal terminal and the display unit output terminal so that the first input signal terminal and the display unit output terminal are brought in contact if the upgrade apparatus is not connected to the upgrade apparatus connection unit.

6. The image processing apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a signal connection member inserted into the upgrade apparatus connection unit so that the first output signal is transmitted to the display unit if the upgrade apparatus is not connected to the upgrade apparatus connection unit.

7. The image processing apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a data selection unit which selects and outputs one of the first output signal output from the first image processing unit and the second output signal output from the upgrade apparatus connection unit to the display unit according to control of the first controller;

and

a data distribution unit which distributes the first output signal to the upgrade apparatus connection unit and the data selection unit according to control of the first controller.

8. The image processing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first controller controls the data distribution unit and the data selection unit to output the first output signal output from the first image processing unit to the display unit if the upgrade apparatus is not connected.

9. The image processing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first controller controls the data distribution unit and the data selection unit to distribute the first output signal output from the first image processing unit to the upgrade apparatus connection unit and to output the second output signal output by the upgrade apparatus to the display unit if the upgrade apparatus is connected.

10. The image processing apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an image signal switch which selectively transmits the first output signal output from the first image processing unit to the display unit,

wherein the first image processing unit outputs the first output signal to the upgrade apparatus connection unit and the image signal switch, and the first controller controls the image signal switch to transmit the first output signal output by the first image processing unit to the display unit if the upgrade apparatus is not connected, and to transmit the second output signal processed by the upgrade apparatus to the display unit if the upgrade apparatus is connected.

11. The image processing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the image signal switch comprises a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) switch.

12. The image processing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first image processing unit comprises a first output port which outputs the first output signal to the upgrade apparatus connection unit and a second output port which outputs the first output signal to the image signal switch.

13. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first output signal comprises at least one of a first image signal and a first audio signal, and the upgrade apparatus connection unit comprises a first connection unit transmitting at least one of the input signal and the first image signal to the upgrade apparatus and a second connection unit which transmits or receives at least one of a control signal and the first audio signal to or from the upgrade apparatus.

14. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first output signal comprises at least one of a first image signal and a first audio signal, and the image processing apparatus further comprises an audio output unit which outputs any one of the first audio signal and a second audio signal processed by the second image processing unit of the upgrade apparatus.

15. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a wireless user input unit which receives input wirelessly from a user, a wireless communication unit to access an Internet network and a camera unit to take an image;

and

a control path conversion switch which selects the first controller or the upgrade apparatus to control over at least one of the wireless user input unit, the wireless communication unit and the camera unit based on whether the upgrade apparatus is connected.

16. The image processing apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first controller controls the wireless user input unit, the wireless communication unit and the camera unit if the upgrade apparatus is not connected to the upgrade apparatus connection unit, and does not control at least one of the wireless user input unit, the wireless communication unit and the camera unit if the upgrade apparatus is connected to the upgrade apparatus connection unit.

17. The image processing apparatus of claim 15, wherein the upgrade apparatus controls at least one of the wireless user input unit, the wireless communication unit and the camera unit through the control path conversion switch if the upgrade apparatus is connected to the upgrade apparatus connection unit.

18. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first controller performs control to receive information about at least one upgraded function provided by the upgrade apparatus and performs control to perform the upgraded function based on the information about the upgraded function.

19. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first controller assigns control to the upgrade apparatus, and the first image processing unit performs image processing on the input signal based on control by the upgrade apparatus.

20. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first controller performs control to receive an external input signal input through the upgrade apparatus and performs control to display an image based on the received external input signal.

21. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first controller controls the first output signal processed by the first image processing unit to be transmitted to the upgrade apparatus and outputted to outside of the image processing apparatus.

22. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one subsidiary module each accommodating firmware, wherein the first controller upgrades the firmware of the at least one subsidiary module based on corresponding upgraded firmware received from the upgrade apparatus.

23. The image processing apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first controller upgrades the firmware according to control by the upgrade apparatus.

24. The image processing apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first controller backs up each firmware accommodated in the at least one subsidiary module in the upgrade apparatus.

25. The image processing apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a user input unit to input a user selection, wherein the first controller upgrades the firmware based on the user selection.

26. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a storage unit which stores extended display identification data (EDID), and wherein the first controller upgrades the EDID based on upgraded EDID information received from the upgrade apparatus.

27. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first controller controls each of a plurality of image processing processes to process the image signal to be selectively performed by one of the first image processing unit and the second image processing unit.

28. The image processing apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first image processing unit comprises a plurality of first blocks processing at least part of the plurality of image processing processes, and the second image processing unit comprises a plurality of second blocks corresponding to the first blocks, respectively, and processing at least part of the plurality of image processing processes.

29. The image processing apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a plurality of switching units respectively connected to the first blocks and the second blocks and which is switched to transmit a signal to one of the plurality of first blocks and the plurality of second blocks.

30. The image processing apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a user input unit to input a user selection, wherein the first controller controls each of the plurality image processing processes to be selectively performed by one of the first image processing unit and the second image processing unit based on the user selection.

31. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first controller controls the upgrade apparatus connection unit to receive a three-dimensional (3D) image signal, converted from the first output signal, from the upgrade apparatus.

32. The image processing apparatus of claim 31, wherein the upgrade apparatus is detachably coupled to one of a timing controller, a display panel and an image processing board of the image processing apparatus.

33. The image processing apparatus of claim 32, wherein the upgrade apparatus is connected to a spare connector provided in the timing controller.

34. The image processing apparatus of claim 32, wherein the upgrade apparatus is inserted into slots of the image processing board and the display panel in combination with the timing controller.

63. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upgrade apparatus is configured to perform a new function which cannot be executed by the first image processing unit.

64. The image processing apparatus of claim 63, wherein the new function is associated with processing 3D image signals.

65. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upgrade apparatus is configured to perform a function upgraded from a pre-existing function of the image processing unit.

66. The image processing apparatus of claim 65, wherein the upgrade function performed by the upgrade apparatus is configured to generate a second output signal that is associated with higher image quality than that realized by the image processing apparatus alone.

67. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a display unit,

wherein the input signal comprises an image signal, and

the first image processing unit and the upgrade apparatus cooperate with each other to perform image processing on the image signal to generate a processed image signal, and

the display unit displays an image based on the processed image signal.

68. The image processing apparatus of claim 67, wherein the upgrade apparatus has priority to control the first image processing unit.

69. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal input unit comprises a tuner to receive a broadcast signal as the input signal.

70. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input signal, the first output signal and the signal received from the upgrade apparatus are respective video signals.

71. The image processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first controller is configured to control the first output signal to be directly transmitted to the upgrade apparatus without using an intermediary memory during transmission.

35. An upgrade apparatus mounted on an image processing apparatus comprising a first image processing unit and a first controller, the upgrade apparatus comprising:

a body connection unit which is connected to the image processing apparatus;

a second image processing unit which receives and processes a signal output from the image processing apparatus through the body connection unit; and

a second controller which controls the second image processing unit,

wherein a first function of the image processing apparatus is performed when the upgrade apparatus is not connected to the image processing apparatus, and

wherein the upgrade apparatus is configured to update the image processing apparatus to perform a new function, which is upgraded from or added to the first function, in response to the upgrade apparatus being connected to the image processing apparatus,

wherein the first controller controls to process a signal received from the upgrade apparatus separate with the output signal if the upgrade apparatus is connected to the body connection unit, and

the first controller controls an input signal, input and processed by the first image processing unit, and an output signal, processed by the first image processing unit, to be transmitted to the upgrade apparatus and processed by the second image processing unit.

36. The upgrade apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a display connection unit connected to a display unit in order to transmit the signal processed by the second image processing unit to the display unit.

37. The upgrade apparatus of claim 35, wherein the body connection unit comprises a first body connection unit which receives a first image signal processed by the first image processing unit of the image processing apparatus, and a second body connection unit which receives one of a first audio signal processed by the first image processing unit and a control signal transmitted by the first controller.

38. The upgrade apparatus of claim 35, wherein the second controller controls at least one of the first controller and the first image processing unit.

39. The upgrade apparatus of claim 35, wherein the second controller performs control to transmit information about at least one upgraded function provided to the image processing apparatus and to perform the upgraded function.

40. The upgrade apparatus of claim 35, wherein the second controller is assigned control by the image processing apparatus and performs control to process the signal output from the image processing apparatus.

41. The upgrade apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a signal input unit to input an external input signal, wherein the second controller transmits the external input signal to the image processing apparatus and controls the image processing apparatus to display an image based on the transmitted external input signal.

42. The upgrade apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a signal output unit, wherein the second controller performs control to receive the signal output from the image processing apparatus and to output the signal to outside of the upgrade apparatus through the signal output unit.

43. The upgrade apparatus of claim 35, further comprising a storage unit storing upgraded firmware corresponding to a subsidiary module of the image processing apparatus, wherein the second controller comprises a controller which performs control to upgrade firmware of the at least one subsidiary module based on the upgraded firmware.

44. The upgrade apparatus of claim 43, wherein the second controller backs up the firmware of the at least one subsidiary module.

45. The upgrade apparatus of claim 43, wherein the second controller performs control to upgrade the firmware of the at least one subsidiary module based on a user selection input through the image processing apparatus.

46. The upgrade apparatus of claim 43, wherein the second controller performs control to upgrade the firmware of the at least one subsidiary module based on extended display identification data (EDID) received from the image processing apparatus.

47. The upgrade apparatus of claim 35, wherein the second controller controls the second image processing unit to generate a three-dimensional (3D) image signal by converting the signal output from the image processing apparatus and controls the connection unit to transmit the 3D image signal to the image processing apparatus.

48. The upgrade apparatus of claim 47, further comprising a communication unit communicating with a pair of 3D glasses, wherein the second controller performs synchronization of the 3D image signal based on a signal transmitted from the 3D glasses.

49. A control method of an image processing apparatus on which an upgrade apparatus is mounted, the control method comprising:

processing an input signal to output an output signal;

transmitting the input signal and the output signal to the upgrade apparatus if the upgrade apparatus is connected to the image processing apparatus;

receiving an image signal based on at least one of the input signal and the output signal from the upgrade apparatus;

processing the image signal to be displayed as an image; and

processing a signal received from the upgrade apparatus separate with the output signal if the upgrade apparatus is connected to an upgrade apparatus connection unit;

wherein a first function of the image processing apparatus is performed when the upgrade apparatus is not connected to the image processing apparatus, and

wherein the upgrade apparatus is configured to update the image processing apparatus to perform a new function, which is upgraded from or added to the first function, in response to the upgrade apparatus being connected to the image processing apparatus.

50. The control method of claim 49, further comprising receiving information about at least one upgraded function provided by the upgrade apparatus, and wherein the processing the image signal comprises performing the upgraded function based on the information about the upgraded function.

51. The control method of claim 49, further comprising receiving upgraded firmware from the upgrade apparatus;

and upgrading firmware of at least one subsidiary module included in the image processing apparatus based on the received upgraded firmware.

52. The control method of claim 49, wherein each of a plurality of image processing processes to process the image signal is performed selectively by one of the image processing apparatus and the upgrade apparatus.

53. The control method of claim 49, wherein the receiving comprises receiving a three-dimensional (3D) image signal, converted from at least one of the input signal and the output signal, from the upgrade apparatus.

54. A control method of an upgrade apparatus mounted on an image processing apparatus, the control method comprising:

receiving a first image signal processed from the image processing apparatus if the upgrade apparatus is connected to the image processing apparatus;

processing at least one upgraded function of the image processing apparatus on the first image signal;

transmitting a second image signal, obtained by processing the at least one upgraded function, to the image processing apparatus; and

processing a signal received from the upgrade apparatus separate with an output signal if the upgrade apparatus is connected to an upgrade apparatus connection unit; and

transmitting an input signal, input and processed by a first image processing unit of the image processing apparatus, and an output signal, processed by the first image processing unit, to the upgrade apparatus and processed by the second image processing unit,

wherein a first function of the image processing apparatus is performed when the upgrade apparatus is not connected to the image processing apparatus, and

wherein the upgrade apparatus is configured to update the image processing apparatus to perform a new function, which is upgraded from or added to the first function, in response to the upgrade apparatus being connected to the image processing apparatus.

55. The control method of claim 54, further comprising transmitting information about the at least one upgraded function provided to the image processing apparatus.

56. The control method of claim 54, further comprising transmitting, to the upgrade apparatus, upgraded firmware to upgrade firmware of at least one subsidiary module included in the image processing apparatus.

57. The control method of claim 54, wherein the processing comprises generating a three-dimensional (3D) image signal by converting the first image signal received from the image processing apparatus, and wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the 3D image signal to the image processing apparatus.

58. A display system comprising an image processing apparatus and an upgrade apparatus mounted on the image processing apparatus, comprising:

the image processing apparatus comprising;

a first image processing unit which processes a first input signal to output a first output signal;

a first controller which controls the first image processing unit; and

an upgrade apparatus connection unit which is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the upgrade apparatus,

the upgrade apparatus comprising;

a second image processing unit which processes a second input signal to output a second output signal;

a second controller which controls the second image processing unit; and

a body connection unit which is connected to the upgrade apparatus connection unit, and

wherein the first input signal processed by the first image processing unit and the first output signal is transmitted to the upgrade apparatus and processed by the second image processing unit if the upgrade apparatus is connected to the upgrade apparatus connection unit,

wherein a first function of the image processing apparatus is performed when the upgrade apparatus is not connected to the upgrade apparatus connection unit, and

wherein the upgrade apparatus is configured to update the image processing apparatus to perform a new function, which is upgraded from or added to the first function, in response to the upgrade apparatus being connected to the upgrade apparatus connection unit,

wherein the first controller controls to process a signal received from the upgrade apparatus separate with the first output signal if the upgrade apparatus is connected to the upgrade apparatus connection unit.

59. The display system of claim 58, wherein the upgrade apparatus transmits information about at least one upgraded function provided to the image processing apparatus to the image processing apparatus, and the image processing apparatus performs the upgraded function based on the information about the upgraded function.

60. The display system of claim 58, wherein the image processing apparatus comprises at least one subsidiary module each accommodating firmware, wherein the upgrade apparatus comprises a storage unit which stores upgraded firmware corresponding to the at least one subsidiary module, and the image processing apparatus upgrades the firmware of at least one subsidiary module based on corresponding upgraded firmware received from the upgrade apparatus.

61. The display system of claim 58, wherein each of a plurality of image processing processes to process the image signal is performed selectively by one of the image processing apparatus and the upgrade apparatus.

62. The display system of claim 58, wherein the upgrade apparatus converts at least one of the first input signal and the first output signal output from the image processing apparatus into a three-dimensional (3D) image signal and transmits the 3D image signal to the image processing apparatus, and the image processing apparatus displays a 3D image based on the 3D image signal received from the upgrade apparatus.