HDTV downconversion system

Abstract

A video monitor including circuitry that provides information regarding characteristics of the monitor to an external video source. The circuitry may be a register that holds data from which the aspect ratio and resolution of the display may be derived.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method for determining a display format of a display device, the method comprising the steps of: 
 sensing information provided by a display device having a display format, the sensed information being indicative of the display format of the display device; and    determining the display format of the display device responsive to the sensed information.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the display device includes a register containing information indicative of the display format and wherein the sensing step comprises at least the step of: 
 reading the register to obtain the information indicative of the display format.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the register includes a manufacturer and model number of the display device and wherein the determining step comprises at least the step of: 
 determining the display format for the display device based on the manufacturer and model number read from the register.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the register includes an aspect ratio and resolution of the display device and wherein the determining step comprises at least the step of: 
 determining the display format for the display device based on the aspect ratio and resolution read from the register.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the reading step comprises at least the step of: 
 reading the register over at least one video signal line coupled to the display device, the at least one video signal line configured as a two-way data path.    
     
     
         6 . A method for determining display device characteristics, the method comprising the steps of: 
 sensing information provided by a display device having display parameters, the sensed information being indicative of the display parameters of the display device; and    determining the display device characteristics responsive to the sensed information.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the display device includes a register containing data indicative of the display parameters and wherein the sensing step comprises at least the step of: 
 reading the register to obtain the data indicative of the display parameters.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the register includes data indicative of a manufacturer and model number of the display device and wherein the determining step comprises at least the step of: 
 determining a display format for the display device responsive to the manufacturer and model number.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the register includes data indicative of an aspect ratio and resolution of the display device and wherein the determining step comprises at least the step of: 
 determining a display format for the display device responsive to data indicative of the aspect ratio and resolution.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the register includes data indicative of an aspect ratio of the display device and wherein the determining step comprises at least the step of: 
 determining the aspect ratio of the display device from the read data.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the register includes data indicative of a resolution of the display device and wherein the determining step comprises at least the step of: 
 determining the resolution of the display device from the read data.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the reading step comprises at least the step of: 
 reading the register over at least one video signal line coupled to the display device, the at least one video signal line configured as a two-way data path.    
     
     
         13 . A video monitor including: 
 a display device;    a digital register coupled to the display device, the digital register including data indicative of at least one characteristic of the display device; and    a data path coupled to the digital register to provide the data indicative of the at least one characteristic of the display device to an output port.    
     
     
         14 . The video monitor of  claim 13 , wherein the data path is a video signal path configured as a two-way data path.  
     
     
         15 . The video monitor of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one characteristic includes an aspect ratio of the display.  
     
     
         16 . The video monitor of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one characteristic includes a resolution of the display.  
     
     
         17 . The television of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one characteristic includes manufacturer and model number of the display.  
     
     
         18 . A video display system including: 
 a video display having a register including data indicative of at least one characteristic of the video display; and    a decoder configured to read the data in the register of the video display and determine the at least one characteristic of the video display from the data.    
     
     
         19 . A video display system according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one characteristic includes an aspect ratio of the display.  
     
     
         20 . A video display system according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one characteristic includes a resolution of the display.