Flexible DSP interface circuit

Details Flexible DSP interface circuit Flexible DSP interface circuit

1998-04-13

2001-09-25

Chevalier, Robert (Department: 2712)

Motion video signal processing for recording or reproducing

Local trick play processing

With randomly accessible medium

C386S349000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06295408

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to DSP interface circuits employed in disc systems and more specifically to a flexible DVD-DSP interface circuit that may be programmed to support multiple communication interfaces between different DVD DSP's and DVD decoders.
The term “disc system” as used herein is directed to any system (e.g., optical, magnetic, etc.) that accesses data held on a rotating disc. Optical disc-drive systems include read-only compact discs, laser discs, DVD's (also referred to as “digital versatile discs” and “digital video discs,” and including DVD-ROM, DVD-Video and DVD-Audio), as well as their writable counterparts (e.g., CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R and DVD-RAM). Additional information regarding DVD technology may be found in J. Talyor,
DVD Demystified,
McGraw-Hill (1998), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
A typical DVD disc system (also referred to herein as a “DVD system”) includes the following elements: (1) a disc access mechanism for spinning and reading data from a disc, (2) a digital signal processor (“DSP”) for translating data read from the disc into a format for processing by the remainder of the system, (3) a decoder for converting data provided by the DSP into audio and/or video signals and (4) a microcontroller for controlling the operation of the system. Typically, in a DVD system a DSP and its associated audio/video decoder(also referred to herein as a “DVD DSP” and “DVD decoder,” respectively) are discrete semiconductor devices or chips.
The “communication interface” between a DSP and a decoder in a disc system consists of control and data signals being exchanged according to specific operating parameters (e.g., active high or low signals, rising or falling-edge signal triggers, etc.) as dictated by the DSP. A DSP interface circuit facilitates such communication.
Because the communication interface between a DVD DSP and a DVD decoder is not standardized, a DVD decoder may only support one DVD DSP in accordance with its communication interface. This causes the DVD decoder to be locked in with a particular DVD DSP which inherently limits its usefulness. To support DVD DSP chips employing a different communication interface, a single DVD decoder will require external, specialized logic thereby increasing the cost of the DVD disc system in which it resides.
Thus, it would be desirable to support multiple communication interfaces between a DSP and associated decoder in a disc system and, in particular, to support multiple communication interfaces between a DVD DSP and associated DVD decoder without requiring additional, specialized logic uniquely tailored for each particular interface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an interface circuit is provided that supports multiple communication interfaces between a DSP and decoder in a disc system or other applications without requiring the addition of specialized logic uniquely tailored for each particular communication interface.
In one embodiment, a DSP interface circuit is provided which includes a data input for receiving data, a first control input for receiving a first control signal operable to control reception of such data, and a first polarity select coupled to the first control input, the polarity select being programmable to change state of the first control signal.
In another embodiment, an optical disc system is provided that includes a DSP that processes and outputs data retrieved from an optical disc. Coupled to the DSP is a DSP interface circuit having a data input for receiving the data and a plurality of control inputs for receiving a plurality of control signals operable to control reception of the data. This system also includes a plurality of polarity selects coupled to the plurality of control inputs, such polarity selects being programmable to change state of each of the plurality of control signals.
In yet another embodiment, a DVD system is provided that includes a DVD DSP that generates data signals and a plurality of control signals. Coupled to such DVD DSP is an audio/video decoder that generates audio and video signals. Included within the decoder is a DVD-DSP interface circuit which includes a data input for receiving the data signals; a plurality of control signal inputs operable to receive the plurality of control signals to control reception of the data signals; and a plurality of polarity selects coupled to the plurality of control signal inputs, such polarity selects being programmable to change state of each of the plurality of control signals. In accordance with this DVD system embodiment, the interface circuit creates a flexible DVD-DSP interface in a DVD decoder that facilitates communication with DVD DSP's having different communication interfaces without the need for additional internal or external hardware or glue logic. The interface circuit is programmable to facilitate several variations of the communication interface between a DVD DSP and a DVD decoder.
In accordance with the foregoing embodiments, the interface circuit and disc systems disclosed herein are sufficiently flexible to support multiple communication interfaces between DSP's and decoders in general, and between DVD DSP's and DVD decoders in particular. The circuit and systems disclosed are programmable so multiple communication interfaces can be supported without the need for additional hardware or logic tailored for each particular communication interface. Also, interaction by any software (external firmware or internal microcode) is minimized or eliminated once programming is complete (e.g., once programming registers are set) since the programmed changes are implemented in hardware. Hence, valuable processor power is saved because software is not required to control the flow of DVD data. Additionally, such hardware-effected programming frees up the external microcontroller in a DVD player, for example, to perform other tasks.
A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the invention may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals indicate identical or functionally similar elements.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5377051 (1994-12-01), Lane et al.

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