Electrical apparatus, control device and communication method that control communications performed at different communication rates
View Patent ↗An electrical apparatus includes a controller, a plurality of devices that communicate with the controller at different communication rates, and a common communication line for use in communications therebetween at the different communication rates. The controller performs a first communication process of transmitting data causing a communication error to occur in communication at a second communication rate when transmitting data for use in controlling a first device that supports a first communication rate at the first communication rate via the communication line, the second communication rate being supported by a second device different from the first device, the second communication rate being higher than the first communication rate, and/or a second communication process of transmitting data causing a communication error to occur in communication at the first communication rate when transmitting data for use in controlling the second device at the second communication rate via the communication line.
1. An electrical apparatus comprising:
a controller; and
a plurality of devices configured to communicate with the controller at different communication rates;
a common communication line configured to be used in communications between the controller and the plurality of devices at the different communication rates; wherein
the controller is configured or programmed to perform a first communication process of transmitting data causing a communication error to occur at a second communication rate when transmitting data for use in controlling a first device that supports a first communication rate via the communication line, the second communication rate being supported by a second device different from the first device,
the controller is configured or programmed to transmit a start bit and a stop bit to the first device in the first communication process,
the controller is configured or programmed to transmit a dummy datum that is read by the second device at a timing of the stop bit being transmitted to the first device, and
the dummy datum disables the second device from reading the stop bit transmitted to the first device.
2. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second communication rate is higher than the first communication rate, and the controller is configured or programmed to perform a second communication process of transmitting data causing a communication error to occur in communication at the first communication rate when transmitting data for use in controlling the second device at the second communication rate via the communication line.
3. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the controller is configured or programmed to communicate with the plurality of devices via the communication line using a frame made up of a preset number of bits as a unit; and
one bit in the data for use in controlling the first device transmitted at the first communication rate is set longer in duration than one frame in the data for use in controlling the second device transmitted at the second communication rate.
4. The electrical apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein when transmitting the data for use in controlling the second device at the second communication rate, the controller transmits data in which a final bit is lacking in one frame at the timing of the final bit which is related to the first communication rate.
5. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of devices include a plurality of devices configured to communicate with the controller in conformity with different communication schemes; and
when transmitting data for use in controlling a device that conforms to a first communication scheme in conformity with the first communication scheme via the communication line, the controller transmits data causing a communication error to occur in communication conforming to another communication scheme different from the first communication scheme.
6. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a connector connected to the communication line, the connector being configured to enable external connection of the electrical apparatus.
7. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical apparatus is one of a television, a recorder, a digital media player and an audiovisual system.
8. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a CPU and a memory.
9. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller includes an integrated circuit.
10. The electrical apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the communication schemes include a Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter scheme and an I 2 C scheme.
11. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical apparatus does not include a switch.
12. A control device that is capable of communicating with a plurality of devices mounted in an electrical apparatus at different communication rates,
the control device being connected to the plurality of devices by a common communication line for use in communications with the plurality of devices at the different communication rates; and
the control device configured or programmed to perform a first communication process of transmitting data causing a communication error to occur in communication at a second communication rate when transmitting data for use in controlling a first device that supports a first communication rate via the communication line, the second communication rate being supported by a second device different from the first device, wherein
the control device is configured or programmed to transmit a start bit and a stop bit to the first device in the first communication process,
the control device is configured or programmed to transmit a dummy datum that is read by the second device at a timing of the stop bit being transmitted to the first device, and
the dummy datum disables the second device from reading the stop bit transmitted to the first device.
13. The control device according to claim 12 , wherein
the control device is configured or programmed to communicate with the plurality of devices via the communication line using a frame made up of a preset number of bits as a unit; and
one bit in the data for use in controlling the first device transmitted at the first communication rate is set longer in duration than one frame in the data for use in controlling the second device transmitted at the second communication rate.
14. The control device according to claim 13 , wherein when transmitting the data for use in controlling the second device at the second communication rate, the control device transmits data in which a final bit is lacking in one frame at the timing of the final bit which is related to the first communication rate.
15. The control device according to claim 12 , wherein
the plurality of devices include a plurality of devices configured to communicate with the control device in conformity with different communication schemes; and
when transmitting data for use in controlling a device that conforms to a first communication scheme in conformity with the first communication scheme via the communication line, the control device transmits data causing a communication error to occur in communication conforming to another communication scheme different from the first communication scheme.
16. The control device according to claim 12 , further comprising a connector connected to the communication line, the connector being configured to enable external connection of the electrical apparatus.
17. The control device according to claim 12 , wherein the electrical apparatus is one of a television, a recorder, a digital media player and an audiovisual system.
18. The control device according to claim 12 , further comprising a controller including an integrated circuit.
19. A communication method in which a controller communicates with a plurality of devices at different communication rates, the communication method using a common communication line to communicate between the controller and the plurality of devices at the different communication rates, the communication method comprising:
transmitting data causing a communication error to occur in communication at a second communication rate when transmitting data for use in controlling a first device that supports a first communication rate via the communication line, the second communication rate being supported by a second device difference from the first device;
transmitting a start bit and a stop bit to the first device; and
transmitting a dummy datum that is read by the second device at a timing of the stop bit being transmitted to the first device, wherein
the dummy datum disables the second device from reading the stop bit transmitted to the first device.
20. A non-transitory computer readable medium including a program that causes hardware to perform the communication method according to claim 19 .