KR20150069907A

KR20150069907A - electronic device

Info

Publication number: KR20150069907A
Application number: KR1020130156619A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 임경률
Original assignee: 엘지전자 주식회사
Priority date: 2013-12-16
Filing date: 2013-12-16
Publication date: 2015-06-24

Abstract

An electronic device according to the present invention can judge normal operation of a slave device by applying a differential signal of predetermined level corresponding to a specific version of a specific communications regulation when the slave device according to the specific communications regulation is connected. And, when the slave device does not normally operated, the normal operation of the slave device is more judged while changing the level of the differential signal based on the differential signal of the predetermined level.

Description

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus, and more particularly, to an electronic apparatus capable of attempting reconnection when a device recognition failure occurs when a slave device is connected.

Preferably, the electronic device acting as a USB host device supports all connected USB slave devices. However, for some USB slave devices, there is a case where a device recognition failure that does not recognize the connection occurs. Hereinafter, the reason will be discussed.

The USB host device is fixed at the level specified in the USB specification, regardless of the connected USB slave device. 1 is a graph showing an example of a differential signal level according to USB 2.0. Referring to the eye diagram of FIG. 1, it can be seen that the differential signal level in USB 2.0 has a value between the level defined by the specification ± 400 mV ± 10%.

Although the level of the differential signal is fixed by the differential signal level setting of the USB host device, the difference in the hardware design on the USB slave device side, the difference between the resistance component of the signal line and the inductance component and the capacitance component, There is a difference in the above-mentioned items, which may cause a device recognition failure for the USB slave device. Such a device recognition failure also applies to other communication methods using differential signals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for controlling a slave device in which a signal level used for communication with a slave device is variably applied, Thereby providing an electronic device.

The technical objects to be achieved by the present invention are not limited to the technical matters mentioned above, and other technical subjects which are not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. There will be.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device comprising: a control unit; A connector to which a slave device corresponding to a specific communication standard is connected; And a signal generator for generating a differential signal to be applied to the slave device under the control of the controller. Wherein the control unit determines whether the slave device is operating normally by applying a differential signal of a predetermined level corresponding to a specific version of the specific communication standard when the slave device is connected to the slave device, When the slave device does not operate normally based on the differential signal of a predetermined level, it is possible to further determine whether the slave device operates normally while changing the level of the differential signal.

The slave device may be a USB slave device. At this time, the electronic device can function as a USB host device.

Wherein the control unit changes the level of the differential signal to a predetermined plurality of levels and determines whether or not the slave device is in a normal operation state when the slave device does not perform a normal operation based on the differential signal of the predetermined level It can be judged.

The electronic device may further include a memory for storing a recommendation level according to the slave device. In this case, when the slave device does not perform a normal operation based on the differential signal of the predetermined level, the control unit sets a recommendation level corresponding to the identification information of the slave device received from the slave device, And may further determine whether the slave device is operating normally by changing the level of the differential signal based on the obtained recommendation level.

Wherein the control unit changes the level of the differential signal to a predetermined level corresponding to another version of the specific communication protocol when the slave device does not perform a normal operation based on the differential signal of the predetermined level, It is possible to determine whether the slave device is operating normally.

The electronic device according to the present invention can reduce the device recognition failure rate that may occur in the connected slave device when operating as a host of a specific communication method.

1 is a graph showing an example of a differential signal level according to USB 2.0.
2 is a block diagram of an electronic apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart of an electronic device driving method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a block diagram of an electronic apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a flowchart of an electronic device driving method according to another embodiment of the present invention.
6 shows examples of changing the level of a differential signal applied to the slave device in the electronic device according to the present invention.
7 is a flowchart of a method of driving an electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 shows an example of a recommended level for each slave device provided in the electronic device driving method shown in FIG.
9 is a flowchart of an electronic device driving method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The foregoing objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

Hereinafter, a video output apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The suffix "module" and " part "for the components used in the following description are given or mixed in consideration of ease of specification, and do not have their own meaning or role.

2 is a block diagram of an electronic device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, the electronic device 100 includes a connector 110, a signal generator 120, a memory 130, and a controller 140. Since the electronic device 100 shown in FIG. 2 is according to an embodiment of the present invention, the electronic device 100 may further include components other than the components shown in FIG. 2, May not include at least some of them.

The connector 110 is an interface through which other electronic devices are electrically / physically coupled. At this time, the electronic device 100 may operate as a master device in a communication method of a specific standard, and the other electronic device may operate as a slave device.

Under the control of the controller 140, the signal generator 120 may generate a signal for performing a communication operation according to a specific communication protocol with the other electronic device. For example, the signal generator 120 may generate a differential signal used for communication with the other electronic device. Such a differential signal may be for USB (Univeral Serial Bus) communication or HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) communication which is currently commercialized, or may be for various communication to be used in the future.

An OS (Operating System) and various applications for driving the electronic device 100 may be stored in the memory 130. Programs of various applications and various data for performing communication with the other electronic devices of the electronic device 100 may be stored. Also, the memory 130 may store data according to a result of communication with the other electronic device. The memory 130 may include a volatile memory for temporarily storing data obtained from the electronic device 100 and a nonvolatile memory for permanently storing data.

The controller 140 controls the operation of the electronic device 100 as a whole. For example, the controller 140 may control the components of the electronic devices 100 to perform a specific operation in order to perform a communication operation according to a specific communication protocol with the other electronic device. Hereinafter, the operation of the controller 140 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 9. FIG.

3 is a flowchart of an electronic device driving method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the driving method will be described with reference to necessary drawings.

First, the controller 140 of the electronic device 100 recognizes that the slave device is connected through the connector 110 (S100). Then, the controller 140 controls the signal generator 120 to generate a differential signal of a predetermined level corresponding to the specific version of the specific communication standard and to apply the differential signal to the slave device via the connector 110 (S110).

Then, the control unit 140 determines whether the slave device operates normally based on the applied differential signal (S120). If the slave device operates normally, the controller 140 performs a normal communication operation with the slave device (S130).

However, if the slave device does not perform a normal operation based on the applied differential signal, the controller 140 further determines whether the slave device is operating normally by changing the level of the differential signal (S140 ).

The level change of the differential signal applied to the slave device can be performed based on various criteria.

For example, the level of the differential signal may be changed according to the version of the specific communication protocol. More specifically, the control unit 140 can additionally determine whether the slave device operates normally by changing the differential signal to a plurality of levels corresponding to different versions of the specific communication protocol.

The level of the differential signal may be changed based on a level previously determined and stored in the memory 130. More specifically, the control unit 140 may additionally determine whether the slave device is operating normally by changing the level of the differential signal to a plurality of predetermined levels. At this time, the level of the differential signal may be a level that is stepped up or down. The level of the differential signal may be a specific level selected from signals that continuously rise or fall. The level of the differential signal may be a selected level among a plurality of predetermined levels.

Further, the level of the differential signal may be changed based on the identification information of the slave device received from the slave device. For example, the control unit 140 can change the level of the automatic signal based on the manufacturer of the slave device or the product identification information among the identification information of the slave device. This is because the communication characteristics may be different depending on the manufacturer or the product of the slave device.

As described above, the normal operation of the slave device is determined by not only the initially applied differential signal but also differential signals of a plurality of different levels. Therefore, the slave device identification failure rate in the specific communication standard of the electronic device 100 can be reduced.

4 is a block diagram of an electronic device 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention. For reference, the electronic device 100 operates as a USB slave. Referring to FIG. 4, the electronic device 100 includes a signal generator 120, a memory 130, a USB controller 140, and a main controller 150. The components of the electronic device 100 correspond to those of the components shown in FIG. 2 having the same reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

However, as shown in FIG. 4, the electronic device 100 may be a TV or a PC capable of operating as a host of a USB communication. However, the range of the electronic device 100 is not limited thereto. The USB slave device 200 may be a memory stick, an external hard disk, or the like. However, the types of USB devices are not limited to the above-described examples.

5 is a flowchart of an electronic device driving method according to another embodiment of the present invention. For reference, FIG. 5 assumes that the electronic device 100 operates in accordance with USB 2.0. Hereinafter, the driving method will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG.

First, the USB controller 140 recognizes that the USB slave device 200 is connected through a USB connector (S200). Then, the USB controller 140 generates a differential signal having a level of 400 mV according to the USB 2.0 standard and controls the signal generator 120 to apply the differential signal to the USB slave device (S210).

The control unit 140 receives the identification information of the USB slave device 200 from the USB slave device 200 (S220). As described above, the identification information of the slave device 200 may be used to determine the level of the differential signal applied to the USB slave device 200.

After the application of the differential signal of 400 mV level to the USB slave device 200, the controller 140 determines whether the USB slave device 200 operates normally in step S230. If the USB slave device 200 operates normally, the controller 140 performs a normal communication operation with the USB slave device 200 (S240).

However, if the USB slave device does not perform a normal operation based on the differential signal of the 400 mV level, the controller 140 sequentially outputs a differential signal of 370 mV level, a differential signal of 430 mV level, and a differential signal of 400 mV level , It is further determined whether the USB slave device 200 is operating normally (S250). Such an operation may be a predetermined number of times.

Here, the levels of the differential signals of 370 mV and 430 mV are values satisfying the differential signal level of USB 2.0 of 400 mV ± 10%. Meanwhile, the order of the levels applied to the USB slave device 200 may be predetermined.

As described above, the electronic device 100 according to the present invention judges whether or not the slave device operates normally while applying a plurality of levels of differential signals, so that the recognition failure rate for the slave device in the specific communication standard is reduced .

6 shows examples of changing the level of a differential signal applied to the slave device from the electronic device 100 according to the present invention.

6 (a), when the differential signal of a predetermined level is first applied to the electronic device 100 but the slave device does not operate normally, the control unit 140 of the electronic device 100 It can be seen that a plurality of levels of differential signals can be applied to the slave device in a predetermined order.

6B, when the differential signal of a predetermined level is first applied to the electronic device 100 but the slave device does not operate normally, the control unit 140 controls the level of the differential signal to be stepwise It is possible to further determine whether the slave device is operating normally.

6C, when the differential signal of a predetermined level is first applied to the electronic device 100 but the slave device does not operate normally, the control unit 140 sets the level of the differential signal to stepwise It is possible to further determine whether the slave device operates normally.

On the other hand, when a differential signal of a predetermined level is first applied but the slave device does not operate normally, the controller 140 controls the plurality of levels selected in the process of continuously increasing or decreasing the level of the differential signal It may further determine whether the slave device operates normally.

7 is a flowchart of a method of driving an electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the driving method will be described with reference to necessary drawings.

First, when it is recognized that the slave device is connected to the electronic device 100, the control unit 140 of the electronic device 100 receives the identification information from the slave device (S300). Then, the control unit 140 generates a differential signal of a predetermined level and controls the signal generating unit 120 to apply the differential signal to the slave device (S310).

Then, the control unit 140 determines whether the slave device operates normally based on the applied differential signal (S320). If the slave device operates normally, the controller 140 performs a normal communication operation with the slave device (S330).

However, if the slave device does not perform the normal operation based on the applied differential signal, the control unit 140 determines, based on the identification information of the received slave device, at least one In the memory 130 (S340). The at least one recommendation level may be stored in the memory 130 according to at least one of the manufacturer and the product identification number of the slave device. This is because the communication characteristics according to the specific communication protocol of the slave device may be different from each other.

In step S350, the controller 140 determines whether the slave device operates normally, while changing the level of the differential signal based on the obtained at least one recommendation level.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a recommended level for each slave device provided in the electronic device driving method shown in FIG.

8, when the differential signal of the predetermined level is first applied to the electronic device 100 but the slave device does not operate normally, the level of the differential signal to be additionally applied to the slave device is determined by the manufacturer And may be stored in advance in the memory 130 for each product model.

9 is a flowchart of an electronic device driving method according to another embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the driving method will be described with reference to necessary drawings.

If it is recognized that the USB device is connected (S400), the control unit 140 applies a differential signal of a level corresponding to USB 2.0 to the USB device (S410). Then, the control unit 140 determines whether the USB device operates normally based on the differential signal (S420). If the USB device normally operates, the controller 140 performs a normal communication operation with the USB device (S430).

However, if the USB device does not operate normally on the basis of the differential signal, the controller 140 applies a differential signal of a level corresponding to USB 1.1 to the USB device, (S440).

That is, in the electronic device 100 according to the present invention, when the connected slave device does not operate normally based on the specific version of the specific communication protocol, the electronic device 100 according to the present invention transmits the differential signal to the predetermined level It is possible to determine whether the slave device operates normally while changing the level.

As described above, the electronic device 100 according to the present invention judges whether or not the slave device operates upside-down while applying a plurality of levels of differential signals, so that the recognition failure rate for the slave device in the specific communication standard decreases .

Each of the electronic apparatus driving methods according to the present invention may be implemented in a form of a program that can be executed through various computer means and recorded in a computer readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like, alone or in combination. The program recorded on the medium may be those specially designed and constructed for the present invention or may be those known to those skilled in the computer software.

Examples of computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs; magnetic media such as floppy disks; Magneto-optical media, and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of programs include high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like, as well as machine code as produced by a compiler. The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the present invention, and vice versa.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. This is possible.

Therefore, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be determined by the equivalents of the claims, as well as the claims.

100: electronic device 110: connector
120: Signal generator 130: Memory
140: control unit 200: slave device

Claims

A connector to which a slave device corresponding to a specific communication standard is connected; And
And a signal generator for generating a differential signal to be applied to the slave device under the control of the controller,
Wherein,
When the slave device is connected to the slave device, a differential signal of a predetermined level corresponding to a specific version of the specific communication standard is applied to the slave device to determine whether the slave device is operating normally,
And a controller for further determining whether the slave device operates normally while changing the level of the differential signal when the slave device does not operate normally based on the differential signal of the predetermined level.

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slave device comprises:
USB slave device,
The electronic device includes:
And acts as a USB host device.

The apparatus of claim 1,
When the slave device does not perform a normal operation based on the differential signal of the predetermined level, changes the level of the differential signal to a predetermined plurality of levels and further determines whether the slave device operates normally or not .

The electronic apparatus according to claim 1,
And a memory for storing a recommendation level according to the slave device,
Wherein,
Acquiring, in the memory, a recommendation level corresponding to the identification information received from the slave device when the slave device does not perform a normal operation based on the differential signal of the predetermined level,
And determines whether the slave device is operating normally, while changing the level of the differential signal based on the obtained recommendation level.

The apparatus of claim 1,
When the slave device does not perform a normal operation based on the differential signal of the predetermined level, changes the level of the differential signal to a predetermined level corresponding to another version of the specific communication protocol, And judges whether or not a normal operation is performed.