Portable DVD player

• US 7,359,624 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DVDO, Inc. (Lattice Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Silicon Image, Inc. (Lattice Semiconductor Corporation)
• Inventors: Chee, Cheng Hwee, Adams, Dale R., Thompson, Laurence A., Buuck, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEVALIER, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US10/942,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20050053365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 386/124, 386/125, 386/126, 386/45, 386/46, 386/105, 386/104, 386/1
• US Class Current: 386/361
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0229 De-interlacing
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 17/056 with sliding loading means
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/025 Portable cases
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/10 Indicating arrangements; Warning arrangements G11B15/04, G11B19/04, G11B27/34, G11B27/36 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41407 embedded in a portable device, e.g. video client on a mobile phone, PDA, laptop constructional details of equipment or arrangements specially adapted for portable computer application G06F1/1626; arrangements specially adapted for mobile receivers in broadcast systems H04H20/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42646 for reading from or writing on a non-volatile solid state storage medium, e.g. DVD, CD-ROM
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44004 involving video buffer management, e.g. video decoder buffer or video display buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/14 Picture signal circuitry for video frequency region cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/66 Transforming electric information into light information scanning details H04N3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0112 one of the standards corresponding to a cinematograph film standard
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/012 Conversion between an interlaced and a progressive signal for graphics images G09G2310/0229
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

A portable DVD player includes a generally thin prismatic enclosure having a first major surface, a second major surface separated from the first major surface, and side surfaces connecting the first major surface to the second major surface. At least a portion of the first major surface includes a video display. The enclosure further includes a DVD entry port such that a DVD can be inserted into the enclosure. A digital processing system within the enclosure includes a decoder, a deinterlacer, and a display controller. The decoder receives signals from a DVD inserted into the enclosure to provide a decoded, interlaced video signal, the deinterlacer converts the interlaced video signal to a deinterlaced video signal, and the display controller uses the deinterlaced video signal to provide progressively scanned video on the video display. Preferably, the portable DVD player is both mechanically and electronically isolated for physical shocks to the player.

Claims

1. A portable DVD player comprising:

a generally thin prismatic enclosure having a first major surface, a second major surface separated from said first major surface, and side surfaces connecting said first major surface to said second major surface, wherein at least a portion of said first major surface includes a flat panel video display, and wherein said enclosure includes a DVD entry port such that a DVD can be inserted into said enclosure; and

a digital processing system including a decoder, a deinterlacer, and a display controller where said decoder receives signals from a DVD inserted into said enclosure and reconstitutes compressed data on the DVD to provide a decoded, interlaced video signal, said deinterlacer converts said interlaced video signal to a deinterlaced video signal, and said display controller uses said deinterlaced video signal to provide progressively scanned video on said video display.

2. A portable DVD player comprising:

a generally thin prismatic enclosure having a first major surface, a second major surface separated from the first major surface, and side surfaces connecting the first major surface to the second major surface, wherein at least a portion of the first major surface includes a video display, and wherein the enclosure includes a DVD entry port such that a DVD can be inserted into the enclosure, and wherein a mobile viewing cradle is attached to the second major surface, and wherein at least two speakers are located on the first major surface, and wherein a plurality of control buttons are located on the first major surface; and

a digital processing system including a decoder, a deinterlacer, and a display controller where the decoder receives signals from a DVD inserted into the enclosure and reconstitutes compressed data on the DVD to provide a decoded, interlaced video signal, the deinterlacer converts the interlaced video signal to a deinterlaced video signal, and the display controller uses the deinterlaced video signal to provide progressively scanned video on the video display.

3. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 2 wherein the digital processing system includes a microprocessor providing control signals to the decoder, the deinterlacer, and the display controller.

4. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 2 wherein the prismatic enclosure is a generally rectangular prismatic enclosure.

5. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 4 further comprising a DVD transport mechanism associated with the port in the enclosure.

6. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 5 wherein the DVD transport mechanism comprises a drawer which extends from a side surface for the loading and unloading of a DVD and which retracts into the enclosure for the playing of the DVD.

7. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 2 wherein the enclosure is provided with a d.c. power port.

8. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 2 further comprising an infrared port associated with the enclosure and coupled to the digital processing system.

9. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 8 further comprising an infrared remote control providing control commands to the DVD player via the infrared port.

10. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 3 further comprising a docking station coupled to a video monitor, wherein the docking station includes a docking port receptive to at least a portion of the enclosure.

11. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 10 wherein the digital processing system further includes a video encoder coupled to the decoder for providing at least one of a composite and an S-Video output for the video monitor.

12. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 2 further comprising shock isolation for physical shocks impinging upon the enclosure.

13. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 12 wherein the shock isolation includes a mechanical shock mounting internal to the enclosure.

14. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 12 wherein the shock isolation includes a data buffer forming a part of the digital processing system.

15. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 2 wherein the mobile viewing cradle allows for the video display to be viewed in a non-horizontal plane.

16. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 15 wherein the mobile viewing cradle is hung on a back of a seat.

17. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 16 wherein the seat is a car seat.

18. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 16 wherein the seat is an airplane seat.

19. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 15 wherein the mobile viewing cradle is hung on an exercise machine such that a user can view the display while using the exercise machine.

20. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 15 wherein the portable DVD player is placed on a horizontal surface such that the mobile viewing cradle supports the portable DVD player at an angle to the horizontal surface.

21. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 20 wherein the horizontal surface is a table.

22. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 21 wherein the horizontal surface is an airplane seat flip-down tray.

23. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 2 wherein the plurality of control buttons comprises a power button, a menu button, a play button, a fast forward button, a reverse button, a chapter skip-ahead button, a chapter skip-behind button and a navigation button.

24. A portable DVD player comprising:

a tablet form-factor enclosure having a first major surface, a second major surface separated from the first major surface and side surfaces connecting the first major surface to the second major surface, wherein at least a portion of the first major surface includes a video display, and wherein the enclosure includes a DVD entry port such that a DVD can be inserted into the enclosure; and

a digital video processing system, contained in the tablet form-factor enclosure, includes a video data buffer, an audio/video decoder, a deinterlacer, a display controller and a video encoder, wherein the video data buffer is receptive to an interlaced video signal from a DVD inserted into the tablet form-factor enclosure and operative to develop a buffered interlaced video signal, and wherein the audio/video decoder is responsive to the buffered interlaced video signal and operative to develop a decoded interlaced video signal, and wherein the deinterlacer is responsive to the decoded interlaced video signal and operative to develop a deinterlaced video signal, and wherein the display controller is responsive to the deinterlaced video signal and operative to develop a progressive scan video signal to be displayed on the video display, and wherein the video encoder is responsive to the decoded interlaced video signal and operative to develop a composite video signal and an S-video signal such that the composite video signal or the S-video signal can be sent to an external video display.

25. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 24 further comprising a backlight situated on at least one edge of the video display for illuminating the video display in low illumination situations.

26. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 24 further comprising a plurality of control buttons, an expansion module, a system controller, a DVD media transport and an audio/infrared link all bi-directionally coupled to a control bus wherein the audio/video decoder, the deinterlacer and the display controller are also bi-directionally coupled to the control bus.

27. A portable DVD player as recited in claim 26 wherein audio/infrared link further comprises a headphone jack, an infrared headphone output and an infrared remote control link.

28. A portable DVD player comprising:

a generally thin prismatic enclosure having a first major surface, a second major surface separated from the first major surface, and side surfaces connecting the first major surface to the second major surface, wherein at least a portion of the first major surface includes a progressive video display, and wherein the enclosure includes a DVD entry port such that a DVD can be inserted into the enclosure; and

a digital processing system, located inside the enclosure, responsive to a compressed, interlaced video signal from the inserted DVD and operative to develop an artifact-free deinterlaced signal to be displayed on the progressive video display.

29. A portable video player comprising:

a generally thin prismatic enclosure having a first major surface, a second major surface separated from said first major surface, and side surfaces connecting said first major surface to said second major surface, wherein at least a portion of said first major surface includes a flat panel video display, and wherein said enclosure includes a DVD entry port such that a DVD can be inserted into said enclosure;

a digital processing system including a decoder, a deinterlacer, and a display controller where said decoder receives signals from a DVD inserted into said enclosure and reconstitutes compressed data on the DVD to provide a decoded, interlaced video signal, said deinterlacer converts said interlaced video signal to a deinterlaced video signal, and said display controller uses said deinterlaced video signal to provide progressively scanned video on said video display; and

a video input module for accepting and processing external video inputs for display on said video display.

30. The portable video player as recited in claim 29 further comprising a television tuner module, wherein said television tuner module receives and processes television signals for display on said video display.