CN103377164B - Electronic system, main control electronic device, electronic device and communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic system, comprising: a main control electronic device for coupling a mini display port bus formed by a first channel and a second channel, wherein the main control electronic device closes the second channel according to a disable signal in a first communication protocol mode; and a first electronic device, for coupling with the mini display port bus, and outputting a detection signal to the main control electronic device; when the first electronic device is coupled to the master electronic device, the master electronic device communicates with the first electronic device through the first channel in a first communication protocol mode and communicates with the first electronic device through the second channel in a second communication protocol mode according to an enabling signal.

Description

Electronic system, main control electronic device, electronic device and communication method

technical field

The present invention relates to electronic systems, in particular to an electronic system with a mini DisplayPort interface.

Background technique

In recent years, with the vigorous development of the computer and information industries, various new interface devices can be easily connected to personal computers and notebook computers, etc., including the Internet and external storage devices. However, these personal computers and notebook computers cannot use another communication protocol for data transmission under the traditional framework, so an electronic system and communication method are urgently needed to increase the convenience of use.

Contents of the invention

In view of this, the present invention provides an electronic system, including: a main control electronic device for coupling a first channel and a second channel to form a mini DisplayPort bus, wherein in a first communication protocol mode , the main control electronic device closes the second channel according to a disable signal; and a first electronic device is used to couple the Mini DisplayPort bus and output a detection signal to the main control electronic device; wherein when the first electronic device is coupled When connected to the main control electronic device, the main control electronic device communicates with the first electronic device in the first communication protocol mode through the first channel, and communicates with the first electronic device in a second communication protocol mode through the second channel according to an enabling signal. The device communicates.

The present invention also provides a main control electronic device, including: a processing unit, coupled to a first channel of a Mini DisplayPort bus; a multiplexing unit, used in a first communication protocol mode, according to a failure An enable signal couples a second channel of the Mini-DisplayPort bus to ground level; and an embedded control unit coupled to the multiplexing unit, wherein when the main control electronic device is coupled to a first electronic device, the multiplexing The unit couples the second channel to the embedded control unit according to an enable signal, so that the processing unit communicates with the first electronic device through the first channel through the first communication protocol, and the embedded control unit communicates with the first electronic device through the second channel through a second channel. The communication protocol mode communicates with the first electronic device.

The present invention also provides an electronic device, including: a processing unit, coupled to a first channel of a mini-DisplayPort bus, for outputting a detection signal to a main control electronic device and using a first communication protocol mode to communicate with The main control electronic device communicates; and an embedded control unit, coupled to the second channel, communicates with the main control electronic device in a second communication protocol mode.

The present invention also provides a communication method for a main control electronic device coupled to a mini DisplayPort bus. The communication method includes: determining the mini an operation mode of the DisplayPort bus; and when the Mini-DisplayPort bus is in a first mode, communicating with a first electronic device in a first communication protocol mode through a first channel of the Mini-DisplayPort bus, and according to the same function The signal opens a second channel of the Mini-DisplayPort bus, so as to communicate with the first electronic device through the second channel in a second communication protocol mode.

In order to make the above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, a preferred embodiment will be described in detail below together with the accompanying drawings.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the electronic system of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the main control electronic device of the present invention;

3 is a schematic diagram of the electronic device of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is an embodiment of the electronic system of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a flowchart of the communication method of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is another flowchart of the communication method of the present invention.

[Description of main component labels]

100: electronic system; 110, 210, 410: main control electronic device;

120, 220, 320, 4201, 4202, 420(N-1), 420N: electronic devices;

L1: first channel; L2: second channel;

BS: Mini DisplayPort Bus; EC1, EC2: Embedded Control Unit;

211, 321: processing unit; 212: multiplexing unit;

TS: detection signal; DS: disable signal;

ES: enable signal.

detailed description

The following description is of the best mode for carrying out the invention. Those skilled in the art should be able to understand that some modifications, substitutions and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit and structure of the present invention. The scope of the present invention should depend on the scope of the appended patent application.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic system 100 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , the electronic system 100 includes a host electronic device (host electronic device) 110 and an electronic device 120 . Specifically, the main control electronic device 110 is used to couple to a Mini Display Port (MDP) bus formed by a first channel L1 and a second channel L2. In a first communication protocol mode (such as thunderbolt protocol module), the main control electronic device 110 closes the second channel L2 according to a disable signal DS. It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present invention, the first channel L1 is composed of three lanes. In other words, the first lane L1 contains the lanes LANE0, LANE1, and LANE2, and each lane (i.e., the lanes LANE0, LANE1, and LANE2) has one p-line and one n-line, so the first lane L1 contains six lines LAN0(p), LAN0 (n), LAN1(p), LAN1(n), LAN2(p), and LAN2(n). The second channel L2 is formed by one lane, ie, the channel LANE3, and the channel LANE3 has a p line and an n line, so the second channel L2 includes two lines LAN3(p) and LAN3(n).

The electronic device 120 is coupled to the mini-DisplayPort bus BS, and outputs a detection signal TS to the main control electronic device 110 . When the electronic device 120 is coupled to the main control electronic device 110, the main control electronic device 110 communicates with the electronic device 120 in the first communication protocol mode through the first channel L1, and opens the second channel L2 according to an enable signal ES, so that The main control electronic device 110 communicates with the electronic device 120 in a second communication protocol mode (such as an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) protocol mode) through the second channel L2.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the main control electronic device 110 may be an electronic device with various configurations, such as hand-held devices, portable devices, personal digital assistants (personal digital assistant; PDA) multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics (microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics), network computers, minicomputers, mainframes, and similar devices, but Not limited to this.

The electronic device 120 can be any kind of peripheral device or I/O expander. For example, the electronic device 120 may be a TV box (TV box), an optical disk drive (optical disk drive), a hard disk drive (Hard disk driver, HDD), a graphics processing unit (Graphics Processing Unit, GPU) device or a speaker (speaker). It should be noted that any electronic device with a Thunderbolt interface, an electronic device with a faster transmission speed than the Thunderbolt interface, or an electronic device coupled in a daisy chain configuration can be the electronic device of the present invention. device 120.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the main control electronic device of the present invention, wherein the main control electronic device 210 is the same as the main control electronic device 110 . As shown in FIG. 2 , the main control electronic device 210 includes a processing unit 211 , a multiplexing unit 212 and an embedded control unit (embedded control unit) EC1. The processing unit 211 is coupled to the first channel L1 and the multiplexing unit 212 . The multiplexing unit 212 is coupled to the processing unit 211, and is used to couple the second channel L2 to the processing unit 211 in a third communication protocol mode (for example, the display port (Display Port) protocol mode), and in the first communication mode In the protocol mode, the second channel L2 is coupled to the ground terminal according to the disable signal DS.

The embedded control unit EC1 is coupled to the multiplexing unit 212 . The multiplexing unit 212 couples the second channel L2 to the embedded control unit EC1 according to the enable signal ES, so that the embedded control unit EC1 communicates with the electronic device (such as the electronic device 120) through the second channel L2 in the second communication protocol mode. communication. In the embodiment of the present invention, the processing unit 211 or other internal components of the main control electronic device 210 output the enabling signal ES or the disabling signal DS to the control terminal of the multiplexing unit 212 according to the detection signal TS. In some embodiments, the enable signal ES and the disable signal DS are output by the electronic device 220 , and the detection signal TS may include the enable signal ES and the disable signal DS.

The main control electronic device 210 can judge whether the electronic device 220 is an electronic device 221 with a DisplayPort connection unit or an electronic device with a Thunderbolt connection unit according to the detection signal TS output by the electronic device 220 (via the mini-DisplayPort bus BS). 222 or electronic device 120. In addition, through the multiplexing unit 212, the main control electronic device 210 can selectively open or close the second channel L2. For example, when the electronic device 220 is the electronic device 221 and is coupled to the main control electronic device 210, the multiplexing unit 212 couples the second channel L2 to the processing unit 211, so that the main control electronic device 210 passes through the second channel L2 and the first channel L1 (that is, the channels LANE0˜LANE3 ) communicate with the electronic device 220 in a third communication protocol mode (for example, a DisplayPort (DisplayPort) protocol mode).

When the electronic device 220 is the electronic device 222 and is coupled to the main control electronic device 210, the multiplexing unit 212 couples the second channel L2 to the ground according to the disable signal DS, so the main control electronic device 210 closes the second channel L2. The main control electronic device 210 communicates with the electronic device 220 only through the first channel L1 in the first communication protocol mode.

When the electronic device 220 is the electronic device 120 shown in FIG. 1 and is coupled to the main control electronic device 210, the multiplexing unit 212 couples the second channel L2 to the embedded control unit EC1 according to the enable signal ES, so that the processing The unit 211 communicates with the electronic device 220 in the first communication protocol mode through the first channel L1 , and the embedded control unit EC1 communicates with the electronic device 220 in the second communication protocol mode through the second channel L2 .

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the electronic device of the present invention, wherein the electronic device 320 is the same as the electronic device 120 . As shown in FIG. 3 , the electronic device 320 includes a processing unit 321 and an embedded control unit EC2 . The processing unit 321 is coupled to the first channel L1 of the mini-DisplayPort bus BS for outputting the detection signal TS to the main control electronic device (such as the main control electronic device 210) and communicating with the main control electronic device in the first communication protocol mode . The embedded control unit EC2 is coupled to the second channel L2 and communicates with the main control electronic device in the second communication protocol mode.

FIG. 4 is an embodiment of the electronic system of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4 , the electronic system 400 includes a main control electronic device 410 and a plurality of electronic devices 4201 - 420N. Each electronic device 4201 - 420N may be the electronic device 320 , and the main control electronic device 410 may be the main control electronic device 210 . The electronic device 4202 is daisy-chain coupled to the electronic device 4201 , and the electronic device 420N is daisy-chain coupled to the electronic device 420 (N−1). Each of the electronic devices 4201-420N and the main control electronic device has a mini-DisplayPort connection unit for connecting to the mini-DisplayPort bus BS. The main control electronic device 410 communicates with the electronic device 420N in the first communication protocol mode through the first channel L1 , and communicates with the electronic device 420N in the second communication protocol mode through the second channel L2 .

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the communication method of the present invention, which is suitable for the host electronic device 110 coupled to the mini-DisplayPort bus BS. As shown in FIG. 5, the communication method includes the following steps.

In step S51, according to the detection signal TS output by the mini-DisplayPort bus BS to the main control electronic device 110, the operation mode of the mini-DisplayPort bus BS is determined, wherein the operation mode of the mini-DisplayPort bus BS has first, second and third mode.

In step S52, when the mini-DisplayPort bus BS is in the first mode, communicate with the electronic device 120 through the first channel L1 of the mini-DisplayPort bus BS in the first communication protocol mode, and enable the Mini-DisplayPort according to the enable signal ES The second channel L2 of the bus BS is used to communicate with the electronic device 120 in the second communication protocol mode through the second channel L2.

In step S53 , when the mini-DisplayPort bus BS is in the second mode, communicate with the electronic device 221 in the third communication protocol mode through the first channel L1 and the second channel L2 . In step S54, when the mini-DisplayPort bus BS is in the third mode, the second channel L2 is disabled according to the disable signal DS, and the electronic device 222 is communicated with the electronic device 222 in the first communication protocol mode through the first channel L1.

In addition, the electronic device 4202 (or the electronic device 420N) is daisy-chain coupled to the electronic device 4201 (or the electronic device 420(N-1)), so that the main control electronic device 410 uses the first communication protocol mode through the first channel L1 Communicate with the electronic device 4202 (or the electronic device 420N), and communicate with the electronic device 4202 (or the electronic device 420N) through the second channel L2 in the second communication protocol mode.

Fig. 6 is another flow chart of the communication method of the present invention, and Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 5 (that is, steps S62～S64 are the same as steps S52～S54), the difference is that in step S65, according to the output from the Mini DisplayPort bus BS The detection signal TS to the main control electronic device 110 determines whether the mini-DisplayPort bus BS is operating in the first mode. If the mini-DisplayPort bus BS operates in the first mode, go to step S62. If the mini-DisplayPort bus BS is not operating in the first mode, go to step S66 to determine whether the mini-DisplayPort bus BS is operating in the second mode according to the detection signal TS. If the mini-DisplayPort bus BS operates in the second mode, go to step S63. If the mini-DisplayPort bus BS is not operating in the second mode, the mini-DisplayPort bus BS can be inferred to be operating in the third mode, and thus enters step S64.

Because the electronic system 100 of the present invention can use the unused channel (ie, the second channel L2 ) to perform data transmission with the inter-integrated circuit bus in the Thunderbolt protocol mode. Therefore, the main control electronic device 110 can perform data transmission with the electronic device 120 through the mini-DisplayPort bus BS and the inter-integrated circuit bus without adding additional cables.

The features of many embodiments are described above, so that those skilled in the art can clearly understand the form of this specification. Those skilled in the art can understand that they can use the disclosure of the present invention as a basis to design or modify other processes and structures to achieve the same objectives and/or achieve the same advantages as the above-mentioned embodiments. Those skilled in the art can also understand that equivalent structures without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention can make any changes, substitutions and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (11)

1. a kind of electronic system, including：

One master control electronic installation, in order to the mini display port bus coupling a first passage and a second channel is constituted, Wherein when one first communications protocol pattern, above-mentioned master control electronic installation is according to a disability above-mentioned second channel of signal-off；With And

One first electronic installation, in order to couple above-mentioned mini display port bus, and exports a detection signal to above-mentioned master control Electronic installation；

Wherein when above-mentioned first electronic installation is coupled to above-mentioned master control electronic installation, above-mentioned master control electronic installation passes through above-mentioned the One passage is communicated with above-mentioned first communications protocol pattern and above-mentioned first electronic installation, and is passed through according to an enable signal Above-mentioned second channel is communicated with above-mentioned first electronic installation with one second communications protocol pattern；

Wherein, above-mentioned first communications protocol pattern is a thunder to protocol mode；

Above-mentioned electronic system also includes：

One the 4th electronic installation, is coupled to above-mentioned first electronic installation in order to daisy chained, and wherein above-mentioned master control electronic installation passes through Above-mentioned first passage is communicated with above-mentioned first communications protocol pattern and above-mentioned 4th electronic installation, and passes through above-mentioned second Passage is communicated with above-mentioned second communications protocol pattern and above-mentioned 4th electronic installation.

2. electronic system according to claim 1, wherein when a second electronic device is coupled to above-mentioned master control electronic installation When, above-mentioned master control electronic installation passes through above-mentioned second channel and above-mentioned first passage with one the 3rd communication protocol mode and above-mentioned the Two electronic installations are communicated.

3. electronic system according to claim 1, wherein when one the 3rd electronic installation is coupled to above-mentioned master control electronic installation When, above-mentioned master control electronic installation is according to the above-mentioned second channel of above-mentioned disability signal-off, and passes through more than above-mentioned first passage First communications protocol pattern of stating is communicated with above-mentioned 3rd electronic installation.

4. electronic system according to claim 2, wherein above-mentioned master control electronic installation includes：

One first processing units, are coupled to above-mentioned first passage；

One multiplexing unit, is coupled to above-mentioned first processing units, when being used to above-mentioned 3rd communication protocol mode, by above-mentioned second Passage is coupled to above-mentioned first processing units, and when above-mentioned first communications protocol pattern, will be upper according to above-mentioned disability signal State second channel and be coupled to earth terminal；And

One first embedded control unit, is coupled to above-mentioned multiplexing unit, and wherein above-mentioned multiplexing unit is according to above-mentioned enable signal Above-mentioned second channel is coupled to above-mentioned first embedded control unit so that above-mentioned first embedded control unit is by above-mentioned Second channel is communicated with above-mentioned second communications protocol pattern and above-mentioned first electronic installation.

5. a kind of master control electronic installation, including：

One processing unit, is coupled to a first passage of a mini display port bus；

One multiplexing unit, when being used to one first communications protocol pattern, will be total for above-mentioned mini display port according to a disability signal One second channel of line is coupled to earth level；And

One embedded control unit, is coupled to above-mentioned multiplexing unit, wherein when above-mentioned master control electronic installation is coupled to one first electricity During sub-device, above-mentioned second channel is coupled to above-mentioned embedded control unit according to an enable signal by above-mentioned multiplexing unit, makes Obtain above-mentioned processing unit to be communicated with above-mentioned first electronic installation with above-mentioned first communications protocol by above-mentioned first passage, and And above-mentioned embedded control unit entered with above-mentioned first electronic installation with one second communications protocol pattern by above-mentioned second channel Row communication；

Wherein, above-mentioned first communications protocol pattern is a thunder to protocol mode；

Wherein, when one the 4th electronic installation, in order to daisy chained be coupled to above-mentioned first electronic installation when, above-mentioned master control electronic installation Can be communicated with above-mentioned first communications protocol pattern and above-mentioned 4th electronic installation by above-mentioned first passage, and can be passed through Above-mentioned second channel is communicated with above-mentioned second communications protocol pattern and above-mentioned 4th electronic installation.

6. master control electronic installation according to claim 5, wherein when a second electronic device is coupled to above-mentioned master control electronics During device, above-mentioned second channel is coupled to above-mentioned multiplexing unit above-mentioned processing unit so that above-mentioned processing unit is by above-mentioned Second channel and above-mentioned first passage are communicated with above-mentioned second electronic device with one the 3rd communication protocol mode.

7. master control electronic installation according to claim 5, wherein when one the 3rd electronic installation is coupled to above-mentioned master control electronics During device, above-mentioned second channel is coupled to earth level according to a disability signal by above-mentioned multiplexing unit, and above-mentioned process list Unit is communicated with above-mentioned first communications protocol pattern and above-mentioned 3rd electronic installation by above-mentioned first passage.

8. a kind of electronic installation, including：

One processing unit, is coupled to a first passage of a mini display port bus, main to one in order to export a detection signal Control electronic installation and communicated with above-mentioned master control electronic installation with one first communications protocol pattern；And

One embedded control unit, is coupled to a second channel, with one second communications protocol pattern and above-mentioned master control electronic installation Communicated；

Wherein, above-mentioned first communications protocol pattern is a thunder to protocol mode；

Wherein, above-mentioned electronic installation can pass through daisy chained couple one the 4th electronic installation, so that above-mentioned 4th electronic installation can be passed through Above-mentioned first passage is communicated with above-mentioned first communications protocol pattern and above-mentioned master control electronic installation, and can be by above-mentioned the Second communications protocol pattern of more than two passages stating is communicated with above-mentioned master control electronic installation.

9. a kind of means of communication, for being coupled to a master control electronic installation of a mini display port bus, the above-mentioned means of communication Including：

Exported to a detection signal of above-mentioned master control electronic installation according to by above-mentioned mini display port bus, determined above-mentioned fan The operator scheme of your display port bus；And

When above-mentioned mini display port bus is in a first mode, logical by the one first of above-mentioned mini display port bus Road is communicated with one first electronic installation with one first communications protocol pattern, and is opened above-mentioned mini aobvious according to an enable signal Show a second channel of port bus, will pass through above-mentioned second channel with one second communications protocol pattern and above-mentioned first electronics Device is communicated；

Wherein, above-mentioned first communications protocol pattern is a thunder to protocol mode；

The above-mentioned means of communication also include：

One the 4th electronic installation is coupled to above-mentioned first electronic installation so that above-mentioned master control electronic installation is by upper with daisy chained State first passage to be communicated with above-mentioned first communications protocol pattern and above-mentioned 4th electronic installation, and lead to by above-mentioned second Road is communicated with above-mentioned second communications protocol pattern and above-mentioned 4th electronic installation.

10. the means of communication according to claim 9, also include：

When above-mentioned mini display port bus is in a second mode, by above-mentioned first passage and above-mentioned second channel with one 3rd communication protocol mode is communicated with a second electronic device.

11. means of communication according to claim 9, also include：

When above-mentioned mini display port bus is in three pattern, according to a disability above-mentioned second channel of signal-off, and And communicated with above-mentioned first communications protocol pattern and one the 3rd electronic installation by above-mentioned first passage.