Display apparatus, host device and control methods thereof

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

0001This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0071337, filed on Jul. 16, 2007 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

00021. Field of Invention

0003Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to a display apparatus, a host device and control methods thereof, and more particularly, to a display apparatus which communicates with a host device operating according to at least one operating system, the host device and control methods thereof.

00042. Description of Related Art

0005Generally, a computer system includes a display apparatus. The computer system has a single operating system to manage resources such as a central processing unit (CPU) and the display device, thereby allowing hardware and software to run more efficiently.

0006The operating system is a kind of program, and serves as an interface between hardware and application programs. The operating system manages computer resources such as a CPU, a main memory device, input/output devices, etc. That is, the operating system facilitates interaction between a human and a computer. Also, the operating system boots the computer, prioritizes system requests, and controls input/output devices. Further, the operating system controls execution of programs, and manages storage of data and files.

0007Recently, an operating system called Windows Vista has been released, which incorporates Windows Media Center, and includes improved multimedia and security functions to process functions of personal computers (PCs) without a keyboard. Thus, a user can enjoy various entertainment contents without additional audio and video players.

0008There have been provided various operating systems having different features. A user may desire to execute a plurality of operating systems with a single computer and utilize the respective features of the operating systems.

0009However, an output setting value of the display apparatus varies depending on the operating systems. Thus, a signal which is transmitted from the host device may vary depending on the respective operating systems. As a result, a user may not have the same output result because of the different operating systems.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

0010The present invention provides a display apparatus which provides an output setting value corresponding to a plurality of operating systems, and processes a signal transmitted from a host device according to the output setting value corresponding to the operation system of the host device, the host device and control methods thereof.

0011The present invention provides a display apparatus which processes a signal transmitted from a host device according to an output setting value set in consideration of change in a peripheral device connected with the host device, the host device and control methods thereof.

0012According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display apparatus, including: a display interface which is provided to communicate with a host device; a signal processor which processes at least one of a video signal and an audio signal input from the host device; and a controller which controls the signal processor to process at least one of the video signal and the audio signal according to an output setting value corresponding to host information of the host device.

0013The host information may include at least one of the operating system (OS) information of the host device and feature information of a peripheral device connected with the host device.

0014The output setting value may include a compensation value for at least one of gamma and color temperature of the video signal, and volume and volume ranges of the audio signal, which are changed depending on the host information.

0015The display apparatus may further include a storage unit which stores the output setting value corresponding to the host information.

0016The controller may control the display interface to transmit extended display identification data (EDID) information of the display apparatus to the host device, and receive the host information from the host device.

0017The display apparatus may further include an audio output unit, and the controller may control the signal processor to process the audio signal according to the output setting value corresponding to the host information, to be output to the audio output unit.

0018The display interface may include one of D-sub, digital video interface (DVI), high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), unified display interface (UDI) and display port.

0019The display apparatus may further include a power source, and the controller may control the display interface to receive the host information if the power source is turned on.

0020The host device may include a computer.

0021According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a host device which transmits at least one of a video signal and an audio signal to a display apparatus, the host device including: a host interface which is provided to communicate with the display apparatus; and a host controller which controls the host interface to transmit host information including at least one of operating system (OS) information of the host device and feature information of a peripheral device, to the display apparatus.

0022The host controller may control the host interface to transmit the host information to the display apparatus if EDID information of the display apparatus is received through the host interface.

0023The host interface may include one of D-sub, DVI, HDMI, UDI, and display port.

0024According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling a display apparatus, comprising: receiving host information from a host device; receiving at least one of a video signal and an audio signal from the host device; and processing at least one of the image and audio signals according to an output setting value corresponding to the host information.

0025The host information may include at least one of OS information of the host device and feature information of a peripheral device connected with the host device.

0026The output setting value may include a compensation value for at least one of gamma and color temperature of the video signal, and volume and volume ranges of the audio signal, which are changed depending on the host information.

0027The method may further include storing the output setting value corresponding to the host information.

0028The processing of at least one of the video and audio signals may include: transmitting EDID information of the display apparatus to the host device through a display interface; and receiving the host information.

0029The processing of at least one of the video and audio signals may include processing the audio signal according to the output setting value corresponding to the host information to be output to a predetermined audio output unit.

0030The display apparatus may communicate with the host device through one of D-sub, DVI, HDMI, UDI, and display port standards.

0031The method may further include receiving a power signal.

0032The host device may include a computer.

0033According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling a host device, comprising: transmitting host information including at least one of OS information of the host device and feature information of a peripheral device connected with the host device, and at least one of a video signal and an audio signal to a display apparatus.

0034The method may further include receiving EDID information of the display apparatus.

0035The host device may communicate with the display apparatus through one of D-sub, DVI, HDMI, UDI and display port standards.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

0036The above and/or other aspects of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

0037<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a control block diagram of a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

0038<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a control block diagram of a host device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

0039<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates a display system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

0040<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a control flowchart of the display apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

0041<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is a control flowchart of the host device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

0042<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is a control flowchart of the display system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

0043Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like elements and repetitive descriptions will be avoided as necessary.

0044As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, a display apparatus <b>100</b> according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a display interface <b>110</b>, a signal processor <b>120</b> and a controller <b>130</b>.

0045The display interface <b>110</b> communicates with a host device <b>200</b>, and receives a video signal and an audio signal from the host device <b>200</b>. The display interface <b>110</b> according to the present invention may correspond to a communication standard such as video graphic array (VGA) analog, DVI, HDMI, UDI, display port, etc.

0046The signal processor <b>120</b> processes the video signal and audio signal transmitted from the host device <b>200</b>, according to a control of the controller <b>130</b> (to be described later). That is, the signal processor <b>120</b> processes the video signal to be displayable on a display panel, or processes the audio signal to be output through an audio output unit, according to the control of the controller <b>130</b>.

0047The controller <b>130</b> of the display apparatus <b>100</b> controls the signal processor <b>120</b> to process the video signal and audio signal transmitted from the host device <b>200</b> according to an output setting value corresponding to the host information including OS information of the host device <b>200</b> and feature information of a peripheral device, and to output the processed video and audio signals.

0048The host device <b>200</b> processes a video image generated based on EDID information of the display apparatus <b>100</b> and the host information to be optimized according to display environments, and transmits the processed video image to the display apparatus <b>100</b>.

0049For example, a signal which is transmitted from the host device <b>200</b> operating according to an installed OS to the display apparatus <b>100</b> may be changed by the type of the OS, i.e., Windows XP or Windows Vista of Microsoft, Macintosh, Unix, etc. Even if the host device <b>200</b> and the display apparatus <b>100</b> operate according to the same OS, the output value of the signal may be changed according to the features of the peripheral device such as a graphic card and a sound card. That is, the setting value such as brightness, colors, gamma of the video signal and volume curve of the audio signal transmitted to the display apparatus <b>100</b> varies depending on host information including the OS information of the host device <b>200</b> or the feature information of the peripheral device. Thus, the controller <b>130</b> may control the signal processor <b>120</b> to compensate for the transmitted video and audio signals based on the output setting value as a prestored output compensation value corresponding to the host information supplied by the host device <b>200</b>.

0050<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a control block diagram of the host device <b>200</b> according to the present invention. As shown therein, the host device <b>200</b> includes a host interface <b>210</b>, a system unit <b>220</b> and a host controller <b>230</b>.

0051Here, the host controller <b>230</b> may receive the EDID information on monitor features from a monitor and control a graphic card of the system unit <b>220</b> to output an optimal video signal according to the monitor features.

0052The system unit <b>220</b> may operate according to an operating system (not shown) having a graphics device interface (not shown) which supplies functions to generate a video signal according to a control of the host controller <b>230</b>. A video image which corresponds to the video signal may be displayed by an operating system such as a desktop and Windows Explorer or by an application program such as motion pictures, Messenger, etc.

0053The host controller <b>230</b> may supply host information including OS information of the system unit <b>220</b> and feature information of the peripheral device connected with the host device <b>230</b>, to the display apparatus <b>100</b> through the host interface <b>210</b>. For example, the host controller <b>230</b> may store the host information in a register according to a preinstalled program, and transmit the host information to the display apparatus <b>100</b> if a request is input from the display apparatus <b>100</b>, or if the display apparatus <b>100</b> is connected with the host device <b>200</b>.

0054Hereinafter, a display system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the display system according to the present invention includes the host device <b>200</b> and the display apparatus <b>100</b> which operate according to a predetermined operating system and communicate with each other through an interface.

0055The host device <b>200</b> may include a storage unit <b>221</b>, a signal generator <b>222</b> which generates a signal according to an interface standard, a graphic card <b>223</b> which processes a video signal and a sound card <b>224</b> which processes sound. The signal generator <b>222</b> generates a video signal to display a video image on the display apparatus <b>100</b>. The generated video signal is transmitted to the display apparatus <b>100</b> through the host interface <b>210</b>.

0056The signal generator <b>222</b> may operate according to an operating system having a graphics device interface (GDI, not shown) which supplies functions to generate a video signal. A video image which corresponds to the video signal may be displayed by an operating system such as a desktop and Windows Explorer or by an application program such as motion pictures, Messenger, etc. The host device <b>200</b> communicates with the display apparatus <b>100</b> through an internal bus. The host device <b>200</b> may further include a ROM (not shown), a RAM (not shown), a hard disk driver (not shown) and an I/O controller (not shown) to execute the OS and application programs.

0057The controller <b>130</b> of the display apparatus <b>100</b> controls the signal processor <b>120</b> to process the video signal transmitted through the display interface <b>110</b> to be displayable on a panel <b>152</b> of an output unit <b>150</b>.

0058The controller <b>130</b> may process the audio signal transmitted through the display interface <b>110</b> to be output through an audio output unit <b>151</b> which is provided as a speaker of the output unit <b>150</b>. The controller <b>130</b> controls a signal output to the output unit <b>150</b> according to the output setting value corresponding to the host information of the host device <b>200</b>.

0059The host device <b>200</b> may transmit the video signal as RGB analog signals or according to DVI, HDMI, UDI or display port standard.

0060If the display interface <b>110</b> corresponds to the HDMI, UDI or display port standard, the host device <b>200</b> may transmit the audio signal as well as the video signal.

0061Particularly, the display port incorporates low voltage differential signaling (LVDS), i.e., an existing internal interface standard, and DVI, i.e., an external connection standard. The display port enables an internal connection between chips, and an external connection between devices. As the two existing LVDS and DVI interfaces are integrated into a single interface, data is transmitted faster and color realization and resolution are improved. The display port may transmit data at a total data rate of 10.8 Gbps, which is more than double that of the existing DVI (maximum 4.95 Gbps). The display port has a micro-packet architecture and supports multiple streams, thereby transmitting a maximum of six 1080i streams (three 1080p streams) at the same time. Also, the display port has a bi-directional 1 Mbps auxiliary channel and supports application such as video chat and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) without an additional interface.

0062UDI is one of the next generation digital display connection standard, and provides connection compatibility with electronic devices such as HDTV. The UDI is compatible with HDMI, i.e. HDTV connection standard, while providing compatibility with existing DVI connection standard. Thus, a monitor and a HDTV are connected with each other through a single connector.

0063The UDI supports high-bandwidth digital content protection (HDCP) which is used in HDTV to prevent illegal copying. PCs which have UDI may be connected with any display apparatus having HDMI to generate HD contents safely. The UDI provides users with a general-purpose connection interface between computers and display apparatuses, for example, PCs, laptop computers, HDTVs and projectors.

0064The storage unit <b>140</b> according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may store the output setting value as an output compensation value corresponding to the respective host information therein. That is, the storage unit <b>140</b> may store an adjusting value to output equivalent video and audio signals transmitted from the host device <b>200</b>, regardless of the OS.

0065Thus, if the OS information of the host device <b>200</b> is supplied through the display interface <b>110</b>, the controller <b>130</b> searches the output setting value corresponding to the supplied host information from the storage unit <b>140</b>, and controls the signal processor <b>120</b> to process the input video and audio signals based on the output setting value.

0066The controller <b>130</b> may read the OS information from the host device <b>200</b> according to a preinstalled program. For example, if the display apparatus <b>100</b> is initially connected with the host device <b>200</b> such as a computer, the controller <b>130</b> may read the host information including the OS information of the host device <b>200</b>. If a power source <b>160</b> of the display apparatus <b>100</b> is turned on, the controller <b>130</b> may read the host information of the host device <b>200</b>.

0067Hereinafter, operations of the display apparatus, the host device and the display system according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 4 to 6</figref>, respectively.

0068As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, the display apparatus <b>100</b> receives the host information including the OS information of the host device <b>200</b> and the feature information of the peripheral device, from the host device <b>200</b> (S<b>101</b>). Here, the host information may be supplied to the display apparatus <b>100</b> if the display apparatus <b>100</b> is connected with the host device <b>200</b> and requests the OS information according to the prestored program of the host device <b>200</b>. If detecting the connection with the display apparatus <b>100</b>, the host device <b>200</b> may transmit the host information to the display apparatus <b>100</b>.

0069The controller <b>130</b> of the display apparatus <b>100</b> sets the compensation value corresponding to the host information of the host device <b>200</b>. Here, the display apparatus <b>100</b> may store the output setting value corresponding to the plurality of host information. If the video and audio signals are transmitted from the host device <b>200</b> (S<b>103</b>), the controller <b>130</b> of the display apparatus <b>100</b> controls the signal processor <b>120</b> to process the video and audio signals corresponding to the host information based on the stored output setting value (S<b>105</b>).

0070As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, if the host device <b>200</b> receives the EDID information as monitor information, from the display apparatus <b>100</b> (S<b>201</b>), the host device <b>200</b> transmits the host information to the display apparatus <b>100</b> (S<b>203</b>). The host device <b>200</b> generates the video and audio signals and transmits them to the display apparatus <b>100</b>. Then, the display apparatus <b>100</b> compensates for the signals according to the output setting value based on the host information, and outputs the signals.

0071As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, a program may be installed in the host device <b>200</b> to transmit the host information to the display apparatus <b>100</b>. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, if the display apparatus <b>100</b> is connected with the host device <b>200</b> and transmits the EDID information as the monitor information to the host device <b>200</b> (S<b>301</b>), the host device <b>200</b> checks the OS information and the feature information of the peripheral device (S<b>303</b>), and transmits the signals according to the EDID information to the display apparatus <b>100</b>.

0072The display apparatus <b>100</b> then receives the video and audio signals generated by the host device <b>200</b> (S<b>305</b>), checks the output setting value corresponding to the host information of the host device <b>200</b> (S<b>307</b>), and processes the video and audio signals corresponding to the output setting value (S<b>309</b>).

0073The output setting value corresponding to the host information includes the compensation value for brightness, colors and gamma of the video signal; and volume and volume curves of the audio signal.

0074As described above, exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a display apparatus which provides an output setting value corresponding to a plurality of operating systems, and processes a signal transmitted by a host device according to the output setting value corresponding to the operating system of the host device, the host device and control methods thereof.

0075Also, the exemplary embodiments of the present invention provides a display apparatus which processes a signal transmitted from a host device according to an output setting value set in consideration of change in a peripheral device connected with the host device, the host device and control methods thereof.

0076Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.