TWI571126B - Signal transmission device - Google Patents

Description

Signal transmission device

The present invention describes a signal transmission device, and more particularly to a signal transmission device for use in a photographic device.

With the rapid development of technology, various miniaturized electronic devices have also come out one after another. For example, Apple introduced the latest MacBook Air, its body is one-piece, thickness is only 1.7 cm, or the latest tablet iPad Air, its thickness even Only 6.1 mm. At the same time as the popularity of thin and light electronic devices, many innate layout bottlenecks must be overcome. One of the important layout issues is the volume limit of the signal transmission ports used by these electronic devices.

For example, a conventional webcam has two types of ports, namely a Micro-Universal Serial Bus (Micro-USB) port or a mesh route connector (RJ45) port. In terms of the specifications of the port, the length and width of the Micro-USB port are 16.51 × 15.75 × 13.46 mm, respectively, and the length, width and height of the RJ45 port are 6.9 × 5.63 × 3.46 mm, respectively. Therefore, in terms of volume, using a Micro-USB port can reduce the volume by about 96% compared to the RJ45 port. Therefore, in the conventional network camera, if you want to use the RJ45 port for network signal transmission, but want to miniaturize its own size, at this time, just add a RJ45 to Micro-USB adapter cable, and After the RJ45 signal is converted to the Micro-USB signal through the adapter cable, the Micro-USB signal can be input to the Micro-USB port on the network camera. This allows the network camera to not limit its thickness due to the excessive volume of the RJ45 port to achieve miniaturization.

However, when the RJ45 signal is converted to a Micro-USB signal through the patch cord and then input into the network camera, there is often a problem of driver mismatch or signal incompatibility, and this signal incompatibility may cause The webcam is faulty and cannot function properly or causes component voltage instability and damage. Therefore, it is very important to develop a signal transmission device in a miniaturized electronic device to protect the compatibility and stability of different forms of input signals during conversion.

The invention describes a signal transmission device, which comprises a signal input circuit, a switching module, a first signal output module and a second signal output module. The signal input circuit is configured to receive a set of input signals, and the switch module is coupled to the signal input circuit. The first signal output module is coupled to the switching module and the signal input circuit for outputting the set of input signals as a set of first output signals. The second signal output module is coupled to the signal input circuit for outputting the set of input signals as a set of second output signals. The switching module is configured to switch the set of input signals to generate the first output signal of the group or the second output signal of the group.

Another embodiment of the present invention describes a photographing apparatus including an image capturing module, a processing module, and a signal transmitting apparatus in the above embodiment. The image capture module is configured to capture an image, and the processing module is coupled to the image capture module, and the signal transmission device is coupled to the processing module for generating a set of first output signals or a set of second output signals. The processing module performs a corresponding operation according to the first output signal of the group or the second output signal of the group.

100, 200, 300‧‧‧ signal transmission device

10‧‧‧Signal input circuit

11‧‧‧Switch Module

12 and 13‧‧‧ output modules

101 to 105, 111 and 112, 121 to 129, 131 to 135 ‧ ‧ endpoints

IP‧‧‧ input interface

VGH‧‧‧High voltage

GND‧‧‧ ground terminal

CS‧‧‧Control switch

C1 to C6‧‧‧ switch

D1 and D2, R1 and R2‧‧‧ signals

14‧‧‧Micro Control Unit

15‧‧‧Virtual Output Module

400‧‧‧Photographing device

20‧‧‧Processing module

30‧‧‧Image capture module

Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram of a signal transmission device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of a signal transmission device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a circuit diagram of a signal transmission device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a view showing the component structure of the image pickup device applied to the photographing device of the present invention.

1 is a circuit block diagram of a signal transmission device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the signal transmission device 100 includes four components, which are a signal input circuit 10, a switching module 11, an output module 12, and an output module 13. The signal input circuit 10 is coupled to the switching module 11 , and the signal input circuit 10 is also coupled to the output module 12 and the output module 13 . The output module 12 is coupled to the switching module 11 . In this embodiment, the input circuit 10 can be an input circuit supported by a Micro-Universal Serial Bus (Micro-USB) port, and the output module 12 can be a corresponding network route connector socket (RJ45). The output module 可, and the output module 13 can be the output port corresponding to the Micro-USB. However, the signal transmission device 100 of the present invention is not limited thereto. The signal input circuit 10, the output module 12, and the output module 13 of other embodiments may be ports or outputs that support any form of signal. The signal input circuit 10 in this embodiment has a Micro-USB input interface IP and at least six end points (Pin), which are an end point 101 to an end point 105 and a ground end GND, respectively. The endpoint 101 is used to receive the +5V high voltage signal VGH provided by the Micro-USB, and the endpoint 102 to the endpoint 105 are used to transmit 4 data streams in the Micro-USB signal specification. The endpoint 102 is used to transmit the signal D1, the endpoint 103 is used to transmit the signal D2, the endpoint 104 is used to transmit the signal R1, and the endpoint 105 is used to transmit the signal R2. When the input interface IP is receiving the Micro-USB signal, the signal D1 and the signal D2 are used to transmit differential data signals according to the definition of the four signal streams in the Micro-USB signal specification. Signal R1 is used to transmit Master/Slave Control Signals, while Signal R2 is used as a ground loop. The switching module 11 has three end points, which are an endpoint 111, an endpoint 112, and a ground GND. The end point 111 is coupled to the end point 105 of the signal input circuit 10, so that the signal R2 can be transmitted to the end point 111 of the switching module 11 by the end point 105 in the signal input circuit 10. The switch module 11 has a control switch CS. The control switch CS is coupled to the terminal 111 for controlling the flow of the signal R2. In other words, the control switch CS can direct the signal R2 to the ground terminal, and can also direct the signal R2 to the terminal 112. The output module 12 includes four switches C1 to C4. And 10 endpoints, namely endpoint 121 to endpoint 129, and ground GND. The end point 121 is coupled to the end point 102 of the signal input circuit 10, so that the signal D1 can be transmitted from the end point 102 in the signal input circuit 10 to the end point 121 of the output module 12. The end point 122 is coupled to the end point 103 of the signal input circuit 10, so that the signal D2 can be transmitted from the end point 103 in the signal input circuit 10 to the end point 122 of the output module 12. The end point 123 is coupled to the end point 104 of the signal input circuit 10, so that the signal R1 can be transmitted from the end point 104 in the signal input circuit 10 to the end point 123 of the output module 12. The endpoint 124 is coupled to the endpoint 112 in the switching module 11, so that the signal output by the switching module 11 is received by the endpoint 124 of the output module 12. Endpoint 125 is used to receive the +5V high voltage signal VGH provided by the Micro-USB. The switch C1 to the switch C4 are used to control the flow of signals from the end point 121 to the end point 124. For example, if the switch C1 to the switch C4 are in the on state, the end point 121 to the end point 124 are transmitted. The signals will be passed to the corresponding endpoint 126 to endpoint 129, respectively. Conversely, if switch C1 to switch C4 are off, the signal from endpoint 121 to endpoint 124 will be considered a floating state, and the corresponding endpoint 126 to endpoint 129 will not have any Signal. The output module 13 includes two switches C5 and C6, and six end points, which are end points 131 to 135, and ground GND. The terminal 131 is coupled to the endpoint 102 in the signal input circuit 10, so that the signal D1 can be transmitted from the endpoint 102 in the signal input circuit 10 to the endpoint 131 of the output module 13. The end point 132 is coupled to the end point 103 of the signal input circuit 10, so that the signal D2 can be transmitted from the end point 102 in the signal input circuit 10 to the end point 132 of the output module 13. Endpoint 133 is used to receive the +5V high voltage signal VGH provided by the Micro-USB. The switch C5 and the switch C6 are used to control the flow of signals from the end point 131 and the end point 132. For example, if the switch C5 and the switch C6 are in the on state, the end point 131 and the end point 132 are transmitted. The signals will be transmitted to the corresponding endpoint 134 and endpoint 135, respectively. Conversely, if switch C5 and switch C6 are off, the signals transmitted by endpoints 131 and 132 will be considered to be floating, and the corresponding endpoint 134 and endpoint 135 will not have any Signal.

The signal transmission device 100 in this embodiment can output different signals in the output module 12 and the output module 13 according to different signal formats received by the input interface IP. although The signal transmission device 100 of this embodiment only considers the signal format of the Micro-USB or the RJ45, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and other embodiments may also consider signal transmission in any format. After the input interface IP receives the signal in the Micro-USB or RJ45 signal format, the principle of how the signal transmission device 100 will operate will be described in detail below.

Here, an example will be used to describe the operation of the signal transmission device 100. Assume that the user uses the Micro-USB as the signal source and the Micro-USB port is connected to the input interface IP. At this time, the terminal 101 in the signal input circuit 10 receives the +5V high voltage signal VGH provided by the Micro-USB, and the end point 102 to the end point 105 respectively output the signal D1 corresponding to the Micro-USB. Signal D2, signal R1 and signal R2. The signal D1 and the signal D2 are two differential data signals, the signal R1 is a master-slave control signal, and the signal R2 is used as a ground loop. At this time, since the Micro-USB is the signal source, the user must manually switch the control switch CS in the switching module so that the terminal 111 in the switching module 11 is coupled to the ground GND. Since the end point 111 of the switching module 11 is coupled to the end point 105 of the signal input circuit 10, the signal R2 will be grounded, and the end point 112 in the switching module 11 will become a floating state. In the output module 12, the end points 121 to 123 are coupled to the end points 102 to 104 of the signal input circuit 10, respectively. Therefore, the signal D1, the signal D2 and the signal R1 are sent to the endpoint 121 to the endpoint 123, respectively. However, although the endpoint 124 in the output module 12 is coupled to the endpoint 112 of the switching module 11, since the endpoint 112 is in a floating state, there is no signal on the endpoint 124. When the terminal 125 of the output module 12 receives the +5V high voltage signal VGH provided by the Micro-USB, the switches C1 to C4 in the output module 12 will be turned off. Therefore, regardless of whether the endpoint 121 to the endpoint 124 receive the signal, the corresponding output endpoint 126 to endpoint 129 of the output module 12 will become floating, so no Micro-USB signal will be output. In the output module 13, the endpoint 131 and the endpoint 132 are coupled to the endpoint 102 and the endpoint 103 of the signal input circuit 10, respectively. Therefore, the signal D1 and the signal D2 are sent to the endpoint 131 and the endpoint 132, respectively. When the terminal 133 of the output module 13 receives the +5V high voltage signal VGH provided by the Micro-USB, the switch C5 and the switch C6 in the output module 13 become conductive. Therefore, signal D1 and signal D2 are transmitted from endpoint 131 and endpoint 132 to the endpoint, respectively. 134 and endpoint 135 are output. Therefore, the output module 13 outputs a Micro-USB signal. Therefore, when the user uses the Micro-USB as the signal source, the output module 12 (RJ45 output port) on the signal transmission device 100 does not output any signal, and the output module 13 (Micro-USB output port) outputs the Micro. -USB signal.

Here, another example will be used to describe the operation of the signal transmission device 100. Assume that the user uses the RJ45 as the signal source, and uses an external patch cord to convert the RJ45 data format to the Micro-USB port and the Micro-USB port to the input interface IP. At this time, the terminal 101 in the signal input circuit 10 does not receive the high voltage signal VGH of +5V, and the end point 102 to the end point 105 respectively output the signal D1, the signal D2, the signal R1 corresponding to the RJ45 and Signal R2. Under the RJ45 standardized signal with a network specification of 10M/100M, the signal D1, signal D2, signal R1 and signal R2 are four necessary data streams. At this time, since the RJ45 is the signal source, the user must manually switch the control switch CS in the switching module 11 so that the end point 111 in the switching module 11 is coupled to the end point 112. Since the endpoint 111 of the switching module 11 is coupled to the endpoint 105 in the signal input circuit 10, the signal R2 will be passed to the endpoint 112. In the output module 12, the end points 121 to 123 are coupled to the end points 102 to 104 of the signal input circuit 10, respectively. Therefore, the signal D1, the signal D2 and the signal R1 are sent to the endpoint 121 to the endpoint 123, respectively. The end point 124 of the output module 12 is coupled to the end point 112 of the switching module 11, and since the end point 112 and the end point 111 are coupled to each other through the control switch CS, the end point 111 is coupled to the end point 105. , so the signal R2 will be sent to the endpoint 124. When the terminal 125 of the output module 12 does not receive the +5V high voltage signal VGH, the switches C1 to C4 in the output module 12 become conductive. Therefore, signals D1, D2, R1, and R2 are output from endpoint 121 to endpoint 124 to endpoint 126 to endpoint 129, respectively. Therefore, the output module 12 will output the signal of RJ45. In the output module 13, the endpoint 131 and the endpoint 132 are coupled to the endpoint 102 and the endpoint 103 of the signal input circuit 10, respectively. Therefore, the signal D1 and the signal D2 are sent to the endpoint 131 and the endpoint 132, respectively. When the terminal 133 of the output module 13 does not receive the +5V high voltage signal VGH, the switch C5 and the switch C6 in the output module 13 will be turned off. Therefore, regardless of endpoint 131 and endpoint 132 If no signal is received, the corresponding output terminal 134 and end point 135 of the output module 13 will become floating, so no RJ45 signal will be output. Therefore, when the user uses the RJ45 as the signal source, the output module 12 (RJ45 output port) on the signal transmission device 100 outputs the signal of the RJ45, and the output module 13 (Micro-USB output port) does not output any signal. .

2 is a circuit diagram of a signal transmission device 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the signal transmission device 200 is similar in structure to the signal transmission device 100. The signal input circuit 10, the output module 12, and the output module 13 are the same as the signal transmission device 100, and therefore will not be described again. The difference between the signal transmission device 200 and the signal transmission device 100 is that the switching module 11 in the signal transmission device 200 is coupled to a Micro-Controller Unit (MCU) 14, and the micro-control unit 14 is used to control the switching mode. Control switch CS in group 11. Different from the signal transmission device 100, the user must manually switch the control switch CS according to different signal sources (RJ45 or Micro-USB), and the micro control unit 14 in the signal transmission device 200 detects the difference of the signal source and automatically adjusts the control switch. CS to turn on between endpoint 111 and endpoint 112, or to ground terminal 111. The remaining operating principles of the signal transmission device 200 are the same as those of the signal transmission device 100, and therefore will not be described again. Since the signal transmission device 200 utilizes the micro control unit 14 to implement the automatic switching control switch CS, the operation time can be saved for the user, and the use is also convenient.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a signal transmission device 300 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the signal transmission device 300 is similar in structure to the signal transmission device 100. The signal input circuit 10, the output module 12, and the switching module 11 are the same as the signal transmission device 100, and therefore will not be described again. The difference between the signal transmission device 300 and the signal transmission device 100 is that the output module 13 is absent in the signal transmission device 300, but the structure of the virtual output module 15 is introduced. The operation of the signal transmission device 300 will be described in detail below. Assume that the user uses the RJ45 as the signal source, and uses an external patch cord to convert the RJ45 data format to the Micro-USB port and the Micro-USB port to the input interface IP. At this time, the signal input circuit 10, the switching module 11 and the output module 12 in the signal transmission device 300 operate in exactly the same manner as the signal transmission device 100, and therefore will not be described again. Under this condition, the output mode of the signal transmission device 300 is omitted. Endpoint 126 to Endpoint 129 of group 12 will output a signal of RJ45. Assume that the user uses the Micro-USB as the signal source and the Micro-USB port is connected to the input interface IP. At this time, the signal input circuit 10 and the switching module 11 in the signal transmission device 300 operate in exactly the same manner as the signal transmission device 100, and therefore will not be described again. The conditions for the on and off of the switch C1 and the switch C2 and the switch C3 and the switch C4 are set to be opposite. For example, when the terminal 125 receives the +5V high voltage signal VGH of the Micro-USB, the switch C1 and the switch C2 are turned on. Switch C3 and switch C4 will be turned off. Conversely, if terminal 125 does not receive +5V high voltage signal VGH, switch C1 and switch C2 will be turned off, and switch C3 and switch C4 will be turned on. Therefore, when the switch C1 and the switch C2 in the output module 12 are in an on state, and the switch C3 and the switch C4 are in an off state, the signal D1 and the signal D2 are respectively connected to the end point 102 and the end point of the signal input circuit 10. 103 is transmitted to the end point 121 and the end point 122 of the output module 12, and then transmitted to the end point 126 and the end point 127 via the turned-on switches C1 and C2, respectively. The end point 128 and the end point 129 of the output module 12 are in a floating state due to the OFF state of the switches C3 and C4. In this case, the Micro-USB signal will be output by the endpoint 126 and endpoint 127 of the output module 12. Therefore, the signal transmission device 300 uses the output module 13 in the signal transmission device 100 to realize the signal output of the Micro-USB. The signal transmission device 300 has the endpoint 121, the endpoint 122, the endpoint 125, the switch C1, and the switch in the output module 12. C2, endpoint 126 and endpoint 127 can be regarded as virtual output module 15 (dotted line range) for outputting Micro-USB signals. In other words, the output module 12 in the signal transmission device 300 can simultaneously be used for the signal output of the Micro-USB (2 endpoints, endpoint 126 and endpoint 127) and the signal output of the RJ45 (4 endpoints, endpoint 126 to the end) Point 129) saves circuit space compared to the signal transmission device 100. In another embodiment, the virtual output module 15 may further include two ends 126 ' and 127 ' corresponding to the end points 126 and 127, respectively. When the switch C1 and the switch C2 are in the on state, they are respectively coupled to the end. Point 126 ' and endpoint 127 ' transmit the signal output of the Micro-USB through it. Conversely, when the switch C1 and the switch C2 are in the off state, they are coupled to the terminal 126 and the terminal 127 to transmit the signal of the RJ45. Therefore, since the on or off of the switch C1 controls the coupling state of the end point 126 and the end point 126 ' , respectively, and the on or off of the switch C2 controls the coupling state of the end point 127 and the end point 127 ' , respectively, The signal transmission device 100 of the first embodiment of the present invention can reduce the hardware components of the two switches and make the hardware layout of the other components more flexible.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the component structure of the image pickup device 100 applied to the photographing device 400 of the present invention. Although the photographic device 400 of the present embodiment includes the signal transmission device 100, the present invention is not limited thereto. The photographic device in other embodiments may include the signal transmission device 200 or the signal transmission device 300, or the signal transmission device 200 and the signal. A combination of various components within the transmission device 300. In FIG. 4, the photographing device 400 includes an image capturing module 30, a processing module 20, and a signal transmission device 100. The image capturing module 30 is configured to capture images. The processing module 20 is coupled to the image capturing module 30. The signal transmitting device 100 is coupled to the processing module 20. The operation principle and efficiency of the signal transmission device 100 are as described in the foregoing embodiments. Therefore, if the signal transmission device 100 of the present invention is applied to the photographing device 400, the user can arbitrarily select to use the signal source of the Micro-USB or the signal source of the RJ45 to connect with the photographing device 400, and the photographing device 400 can transmit the signal by using the internal signal. The device 100 retrieves the corresponding data format, and the processing module 20 can perform corresponding operations on the image capturing module 30 in the correct data format.

In summary, the present invention discloses a signal transmission device that can be used in any electronic device (such as a network camera device) to perform data signal conversion. The concept is to use a manual or non-manual switching device to input the device. The endpoint (Pin pin) makes the correct connection and simultaneously maps the source format of the signal source to the correct output module. To avoid the problem of compatibility mismatch when users use different signals from data transmission. Moreover, since the input interface of the input device in the signal transmission device of the present invention is an interface of the Micro-USB format, it has a very small volume. Therefore, if the signal transmission device of the present invention is applied to an electronic device, the electronic device thereof will be more Easy to achieve miniaturized design.

The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all changes and modifications made to the scope of the present invention should be within the scope of the present invention.

100‧‧‧Signal transmission device

10‧‧‧Signal input circuit

11‧‧‧Switch Module

12 and 13‧‧‧ output modules

101 to 105, 111 and 112, 121 to 129, 131 to 135 ‧ ‧ endpoints

IP‧‧‧ input interface

VGH‧‧‧High voltage

GND‧‧‧ ground terminal

CS‧‧‧Control switch

C1 to C6‧‧‧ switch

D1 and D2, R1 and R2‧‧‧ signals

Claims (9)

A signal transmission device includes: a signal input circuit for receiving a set of input signals, comprising: a ground terminal; an input interface for receiving the set of input signals; and a high voltage terminal for receiving a high voltage; a first output end for outputting the first signal of the set of input signals; a second output end for outputting the second signal of the set of input signals; and a third output end for outputting the set of input signals a third signal of the signal; and a fourth output terminal for outputting a fourth signal of the input signal; a switching module comprising: a first end coupled to the fourth of the signal input circuit The first end of the control switch is coupled to the first end of the switch module, and the control switch is a second end is selectively coupled to the second end of the switching module or the ground end of the switching module; a first signal output module coupled to the switching module and the signal input circuit For outputting the set of input signals as a group And a second signal output module coupled to the signal input circuit for outputting the set of input signals as a set of second output signals; wherein the switching module is configured to switch the set of input signals Generating the first output signal of the group or the second output signal of the group. The signal transmission device of claim 1, wherein the switching module further includes a micro control unit (MCU) coupled to the control switch for coupling the second end of the control switch according to the fourth signal Connected to the second end of the switching module or the ground end of the switching module. The signal transmission device of claim 2, wherein the first signal output device comprises: a high voltage terminal for receiving the high voltage; a ground terminal; a first input terminal coupled to the signal input circuit The first output end is configured to receive the first signal; a second input end is coupled to the second output end of the signal input circuit for receiving the second signal; and a third input end coupled to The third output end of the signal input circuit is configured to receive the third signal; a fourth input end is coupled to the second end of the switching module; and a first output end is used for the control The second end of the switch is coupled to the second end of the switch module to output the first signal; the second output end is coupled to the switch module at the second end of the control switch The second terminal outputs the second signal; a third output terminal is configured to output the third signal when the second end of the control switch is coupled to the second end of the switching module; The second end of the control switch is coupled to the second end of the switch module And outputting the fourth signal; a first switch, a first end of the first switch is coupled to the first input end, and a second end of the first switch is coupled to the second end of the control switch When coupled to the second end of the switching module, coupled to the first output end of the first signal output device; a second switch, the first end of the second switch coupled to the second input End, the second switch a second end is coupled to the second end of the first signal output device when the second end of the control switch is coupled to the second end of the switch module; a third switch The first end of the third switch is coupled to the third input end, and the second end of the third switch is coupled to the second end of the switch module. The first output end of the fourth switch is coupled to the fourth input end, and the second end of the fourth switch is coupled to the fourth output end. When the second end of the control switch is coupled to the second end of the switching module, the fourth output end of the first signal output device is coupled to the fourth output end of the first signal output device. The signal transmission device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first signal output device is an output device of an RJ4S signal specification. The signal transmission device of claim 2, wherein the second signal output device comprises: a high voltage terminal for receiving the high voltage; a ground terminal; and a first input terminal coupled to the signal input circuit The first output end is configured to receive the first signal; a second input end is coupled to the second output end of the signal input circuit for receiving the second signal; and a first output end is configured to: The first signal is output when the second end of the control switch is coupled to the ground end of the switch module; and the second output end is coupled to the switch mode at the second end of the control switch And outputting the second signal to the grounding end; a first switch, a first end of the first switch is coupled to the first input end, and a second end of the first switch is connected to the control switch When the second end is coupled to the ground end of the switching module, coupled to the first output end of the second signal output device; a second switch, the first end of the second switch is coupled to the second input end, and the second end of the second switch is coupled to the switch module at the second end of the second switch The ground terminal is coupled to the second output end of the second signal output device. The signal transmission device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second signal output device is an output device of a Micro-USB signal specification. The signal transmission device of claim 6, wherein the first signal and the second signal are two differential data signals. The signal transmission device of claim 6, wherein the third signal is a master/slave control signal (Master/Slave Control Signals). A photographic device comprising: an image capture module for capturing images; a processing module coupled to the image capture module; and the method of any one of claims 1 to 3 and 5 The signal transmission device is coupled to the processing module for generating a first output signal or a second output signal; wherein the processing module is based on the first output signal or the second output signal of the group Perform the corresponding operation.