IP Library Granted Patent US 10,728,467
Granted Patent B2
US 10,728,467 · App. 16/557,114 · Granted Jul 28, 2020

Audio/video output device

Inventor: Tsutomu Asai (Hirakata, JP)
Assignee: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
H04N5/268G09G5/003G09G5/005G09G5/006H04N5/775H04N7/0117H04N21/43632H04N21/43635H04N21/44004G09G2370/12G09G2370/20G09G2370/22
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,728,467
App. No.
16/557,114
Granted
Jul 28, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An audio/video output device includes a first output component for video and audio output, a second output component for audio output, a video memory and a controller that determines whether an external device connected to the second output component supports video input, and outputs predetermined video signal stored in the video memory from the second output component to display a message screen on the external device connected to the second output component in response to determining that the external device connected to the second output component supports the video input.

Claims (43)

1. An audio/video output device comprising:

a first output component for video and audio output;

a second output component for audio output;

a video memory; and

a controller that determines whether an external device connected to the second output component supports video input, and outputs predetermined video signal stored in the video memory from the second output component to display a message screen on the external device connected to the second output component in response to determining that the external device connected to the second output component supports the video input, with the message screen displayed on the external device indicating a message to prompt a user to switch a connection of the external device from the second output component to the first output component.

2. The audio/video output device according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller temporarily allocates at least part of an area of the video memory that has been allocated to the first output component to the second output component, and outputs the predetermined video signal from the second output component using the allocated part of the area.

3. The audio/video output device according to claim 2 , wherein

the controller changes video output format setting based on information acquired from the external device about reception status of the predetermined video signal at the external device to output the predetermined video signal.

4. The audio/video output device according to claim 2 , wherein

the controller changes video output format setting at a regular time interval to output the predetermined video signal.

5. The audio/video output device according to claim 4 , wherein

the controller changes the video output format setting based on information acquired from the external device about a video output format supported by the external device.

6. The audio/video output device according to claim 2 , wherein

the controller makes all of the area allocatable to the first output component based on a predetermined operation while outputting the predetermined video signal.

7. The audio/video output device according to claim 2 , wherein

the controller makes all of the area allocatable to the first output component in response to detecting a disconnection of the external device relative to the second output component.

8. The audio/video output device according to claim 2 , wherein,

the controller outputs audio signal from the second output component without allocating the area to the second output component while an external video device is connected to the first output component.

9. The audio/video output device according to claim 8 , wherein

the controller makes all of the area allocatable to the first output component in response to detecting a connection of the external video device relative to the first output component while outputting the predetermined video signal.

10. The audio/video output device according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller allocates at least part of an area of the video memory to the second output component and switch a right to use of the video memory from the first output component to the second output component in response to determining that a video output format supported by the external device is supported by the second output component.

11. The audio/video output device according to claim 10 , wherein

the controller switches the right to use and allow the first output component to output only audio signal.

12. The audio/video output device according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller outputs audio signal from the second output component in response to determining that the external device does not support the video input.

13. The audio/video output device according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller acquires identification information of the external device from the external device in response to detecting that the external device is connected to the second output component, and

the controller determines whether the external device supports the video input based on the identification information.

14. The audio/video output device according to claim 1 , further comprising

an audio memory,

the controller allocating the audio memory to the first output component to output audio signal stored in the audio memory from the first output component in response to determining that no external device is connected to the second output component.

15. The audio/video output device according to claim 2 , wherein

the controller changes video output format setting of the predetermined video signal, and determines an allocation amount of the video memory to be allocated to the second output component according to the video output format setting of the predetermined video signal.

16. The audio/video output device according to claim 1 , wherein

the message screen indicates that the second output component is dedicated to the audio output.

17. The audio/video output device according to claim 2 , wherein

the controller repeatedly changes video output format setting of the predetermined video signal until detecting a predetermined operation relative to the audio/video output device.

18. The audio/video output device according to claim 2 , wherein

the controller repeatedly changes video output format setting of the predetermined video signal until detecting a disconnection of the external device relative to the second output component.

19. The audio/video output device according to claim 2 , further comprising

a video scaler that changes video output format of the predetermined video signal.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2025
From: FUNAI GROUP CO., LTD
To: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 073121/0824 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2025
From: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD. (F/K/A FE-TECH CO., LTD.)
To: FEC IP LLC
Reel/Frame 073121/0883 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2019
From: ASAI, TSUTOMU
To: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 050224/0040 →