Video compact disc player

Details Video compact disc player Video compact disc player

1999-09-07

2002-07-09

Boccio, Vincent (Department: 2615)

Motion video signal processing for recording or reproducing

Local trick play processing

With randomly accessible medium

C386S349000, C386S349000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06418273

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to providing audio and/or video, and more particularly to a compact disc player.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Currently, digital video and audio is recorded on compact discs using compression technology created by the Moving Picture Experts Group (hereinafter referred to as “MPEG”). This working group was formed by the International Standards Organization and the International Electrotechnical Commission (hereinafter referred to as “ISO/IEC”) to ensure interoperability between different manufacturer's CD players and the many titles from content producers. The resulting standard is officially known as ISO/IEC, Coded Representation of Picture, Audio and Multimedia/hypermedia Information, ISO 1172. More commonly known as MPEG-1. MPEG-1 focuses on the delivery of video within the constraints of the compact disc, {fraction (1/416)} megabits per second. By using MPEG-1 technology, a full motion image and audio that is about 74 minutes long can be stored on a 12 cm diameter compact disc. The MPEG-1 information stored on a video compact disc (hereinafter referred to as “VCD”) can then be decompressed to produce a video signal and audio signal on a VCD player.
As is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art,
FIG. 1
displays standard components of a VCD player. Motor Drivers
130
are used to rotate the VCD
120
so that the MPEG-1 encoded information stored on the VCD can be accessed in order to produce audio and video on a display
1300
.
An optical pickup
140
reads the MPEG-1 information off of the VCD
120
. The Servo
150
controls the motor drivers
130
, via line
115
, to provide a constant stream of digital information
100
through line
101
. A Digital signal processor (“DSP”)
160
receives the digital information
100
through line
103
and further processes the signal providing a digitally processed signal
104
to the MPEG audio/video decoder
190
, through line
107
. The MPEG audio/video decoder
190
decompresses the digitally processed signal
104
, and produces an audio signal
102
and a video signal
106
. The audio signal
102
is sent to the speaker
180
a
and/or the audio output ports
180
b
, through line
105
. A video amplifier
1000
receives the video signal
106
from the MPEG audio/video decoder
190
via line
109
. The video amplifier
1000
converts the video signal
106
and provides an analog signal
108
to the video signal processor
1200
through line
111
. This analog signal
108
is converted into a digital display signal
110
which is provided to a display panel
1300
through line
113
. A switching power supply
1100
provides power through line
119
to the video signal processor
1200
. A backlight module
1400
is used to illuminate the display panel
1300
through line
117
to enable viewing of the information.
FIG. 2
illustrates an expanded view of
190
,
1000
,
1100
,
1200
,
1300
and
1400
and their interconnections as illustrated in FIG.
1
. The MPEG audio/video decoder
190
provides a composite video bit stream
106
a
and a S-video bit stream
106
b
on lines
109
a
and
109
b
respectively. A video amplifier
1000
converts the signals provided from the MPEG audio/video processor
190
and provides an analog R signal, G signal, B signal, C synchronization signal, X synchronization signal, and Y synchronization signal on lines
111
R,
111
G,
111
B,
111
C,
111
X, and
111
Y. An AID converter
220
, located within the video signal decoder
1200
, receives the R signal, G signal, and B signal and produces a 6 bit data stream
202
which is sent to the control IC
230
, through line
201
. The control IC
230
receives the data stream
202
, the C synchronization signal, X synchronization signal, and Y synchronization signal via lines
201
,
111
C,
111
X, and
111
Y respectively. The control IC
230
produces a Y driver control signal
204
, a X driver control signal
206
, and a data stream
208
. These display signals are sent to the X driver
250
a
and Y driver
250
b
via lines
203
,
205
, and
207
, respectively. A switching power supply
1100
provides a V
r
on line
119
a
and a V
ee
on line
119
b
to a power supply circuit
240
contained within the video signal processor
1200
. The power supply circuit provides the necessary power to the X driver
250
a
and the Y driver
250
b
, through lines
209
, and
211
, in order to power the corresponding pixels on the screen
260
. The X driver
250
a
, the Y driver
250
b
and the screen
260
are all located on display panel
1300
. A backlight module
1400
is used to provide illumination to the screen
260
to enable viewing of the information, through line
117
.
There are a number of disadvantages with the current VCD player. First, the design is complex. In the current VCD player the digital decoded signal
106
from the MPEG audio/video decoder
190
cannot be sent directly to the display. Therefore the digital signal
106
must be further processed to an analog signal
111
which requires more power thereby limiting the amount of play time when using a DC power source. Second, the extra conversion and processing of the signal read from the VCD degrades picture/sound quality. Third, the large number of semiconductor devices necessary to operate the current VCD player add to the overall size of the device. Fourth, the connections between these extra semiconductor devices emits unwanted electromagnetic radiation which is regulated by the FCC and must be kept at a minimum. Fifth, the amount of power being used by the backlight which will reduce the play life of the device when using DC power is not controlled. Sixth, current VCD players do not have a way of decoding VCD's which are copy protected. Seventh, the cost of the current VCD player is high due to the large number of semiconductor devices and expensive components.
Therefore, it is desirable to produce a VCD player which solves the above disadvantages and to present an inexpensive VCD player that enables extended battery life and produces a minimum of electromagnetic radiation. Also, a VCD player which also plays either audio CD's or decodes copy protected VCD's is desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus capable of playing either audio compact discs or VCD's. Furthermore the apparatus has been configured to minimize the amount of semiconductor devices used and the distance between them, thereby making the apparatus portable, inexpensive and extending the life of the power supply.
An embodiment of the inventive apparatus includes a motor for rotating the compact disc, a digital read path for obtaining a digital signal from the compact disc and a display device for outputting the video portion of the digital signal. The digital read path includes, among other things, an optical pickup for obtaining a readout signal from the compact disc, a system control for determining whether the readout signal supplied from the optical pickup contains MPEG-1 audio/video and for selecting the destination of the readout signal. A digital signal processor processes the readout signal supplied from the optical pickup and provides an audio signal and a video signal. A MPEG audio/video decoder processes the video signal supplied from the digital signal processor. A digital control circuit is coupled to the MPEG audio/video decoder and supplies a digital signal to the display. A backlight module is connected to the display for controlling the amount of power sent to the display.
The inventive apparatus thus provides a reduced number of semiconductor devices to perform the desired result of displaying a full motion picture onto a display screen. This reduction in the number of semiconductor devices reduces the overall size of the apparatus and limits the amount of connections between devices. Reducing the amount of connections between semiconductor devices limits the amount of unwanted electromagnetic radiation, which must be kept at a minimum as required by the Federal Communica

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Video compact disc player does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Video compact disc player, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Video compact disc player will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2892600