Daisy Chain Devices and Systems for Signal Switching and Distribution

Abstract

The invention provides systems, devices, methods and software to daisy chain multiple individual transmitters, optionally nodes, optionally extenders, and receivers to form any sized scalable system of digital video and audio signal switching and distribution. The video audio systems are for a simpler system design, wiring, control and expansion, to accomplish signal interfacing, switching, splitting for many varied input and output requirements with a scalable pair of transmitters and receivers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A digital video audio signal switching and distribution system comprising:
 at least one component transmitter for signal switching and distribution, wherein each of the at least one transmitters are connected in a daisy chain series via cables if there is more than one transmitter;   at least one interface with at least one input for receiving a signal from a cable from a source device or another transmitter or a node on each of the at least one transmitters;   at least one interface with at least one output for relaying a signal from a cable to a receiver or a node on each of the at least one transmitters;   optionally at least one node configured to receive at least one signal from any connected transmitter or daisy chain of transmitters and to output the at least one signal to any connected receiver or daisy chain of receivers;   at least one component receiver for distributing signals, wherein each of the at least one receivers are connected to each other in a daisy chain series via cables if there is more than one receiver and optionally to a node if there is a node;   at least one interface with at least one input for receiving signals from a cable from a transmitter or from other receivers or a node on each of the at least one receivers;   at least one interface with at least one output for sending a signal from a cable to a display unit or another receiver or a node on each of the at least one receivers; and   optionally, at least one display unit having an interface with at least one input for receiving a signal from a cable from a receiver.   
     
     
         2 . The video audio signal switching and distribution system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one cable for providing an input signal from a video audio device. 
     
     
         3 . The video audio signal switching and distribution system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one input selection button on each of the at least one transmitters, whereby activating a selection button on a transmitter selects the signal directed from that transmitter to proceed through all of the transmitters and all of the receivers to an at least one display unit, and wherein the last activated selection button controls the signal flow path. 
     
     
         4 . The video audio signal switching and distribution system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one remote control unit positioned at one or more of a plurality of positions within the connected series of daisy chain series of transmitters and daisy chain series of receivers providing for a second level of control for signal routing to the at least one display unit. 
     
     
         5 . The video audio signal switching and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the transmitters and receivers have an Ethernet input connection for accessing the internet, wherein any of the transmitters and receivers can serve as internet access points for any video audio device connected to a transmitter of the system, and whereby all connected video audio devices connected to a transmitter of the system would have internet access via internet signals that are transmitted through the connected series of daisy chain series of transmitters and daisy chain series of receivers. 
     
     
         6 . The video audio signal switching and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein there is one transmitter and one receiver. 
     
     
         7 . The video audio signal switching and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein there is a plurality of transmitters and one receiver. 
     
     
         8 . The video audio signal switching and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein there is one transmitter and a plurality of receivers. 
     
     
         9 . The video audio signal switching and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein there is a plurality of transmitters and a plurality of receivers. 
     
     
         10 . The video audio signal switching and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one transmitters contains a circuit board configured for receiving a plurality of input signal formats, the circuit board further comprising;
 a VGA/audio to HDMI scaler configured to receive a VGA and audio input signal;   a DisplayPort to HDMI converter configured to receive a DisplayPort input signal;   a HDMI switcher configured for selecting among input signals for distribution to a digital transmitter;   a microcontroller and optional selection button configured for selecting and controlling a signal from an activated transmitter;   a digital transmitter configured for sending signals to the next connected transmitter, receiver or node; and   a daisy chain processor for insertion of the signal into the signal path, wherein the signal path may flow from a single transmitter to a single receiver, or wherein the signal path may flow from each of a daisy chain connected series of transmitters to a single receiver or to each of a daisy chain connected series of receivers.   
     
     
         11 . The video audio signal switching and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one transmitter further comprises, an circuit board configured to receive a signal in a format selected from the group consisting of VGA/audio, HDMI, DisplayPort, and DiiVA. 
     
     
         12 . The video audio signal switching and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one receiver further comprises:
 a circuit board configured for receiving an input signal from a transmitter or another receiver or a node;   a digital transmitter for distributing a signal through the next connected receiver or a node;   a processor for extracting the signal for relay to a display; and   a microcontroller for determining and controlling the signal flow path, whereby receivers connected to a display device extracts the signal from the signal flow path for display on the display device.   
     
     
         13 . The video audio signal switching and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the type of cable used to connect transmitter, receiver, and display components is selected from the group consisting of a coaxial cable, a twisted pair cable, and an optical fiber cable. 
     
     
         14 . The video audio signal switching and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the number of the at least one transmitters, extenders or receivers of the system are scalable, wherein additional transmitters, extenders or receivers can be added to the daisy chain series to cover any longer transmission distance 
     
     
         15 . The video audio signal switching and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the transmitters, receivers and nodes are connected via a RJ45 male and female connector pin/pair type A configuration for eight-conductor quad twisted-pair cabling, the pin/pair A configuration further comprising:
 a set of eight pins configured to receive individual wires from four twisted pairs, wherein none of the two individual wires from each of the four twisted pairs are separated by an intervening individual wire from another twisted pair; and   wherein the pin assignments is as follows from all the pin and pair numbering combinations;   pin 1 and 2 are for the first and second wire of twisted pair 3;   pin 3 and 4 are for the first and second wire of twisted pair 2;   pin 5 and 6 are for the first and second wire of twisted pair 1; and   pin 7 and 8 are for the first and second wire of twisted pair 4, whereby the common-mode noise rejection and impedance characteristics are enhanced and crosstalk between wires is reduced, especially in high frequency.   
     
     
         16 . The RJ45 male and female connector pin configuration of  claim 15  wherein the pin outs are alternately configured in a type B configuration wherein pin 1 and 2 are for the first and second wires of twisted pair 2 and wherein pin 3 and 4 are for the first and second wires of twisted pair 3. 
     
     
         17 . The video audio signal switching and distribution transmitter of  claim 10  further comprising; a DiiVA converter for receiving a DiiVA signal input. 
     
     
         18 . The video audio signal switching and distribution transmitter of  claim 10 , wherein the HDMI switcher is selected from the group consisting of a 2 signal by 1 signal switcher, a 3 signal by 1 signal switcher, a 4 signal by 1 signal switcher, and a multiple signal by 1 signal switcher. 
     
     
         19 . The transmitter of  claim 1  or  10 , wherein the circuit board can take power from other transmitters and the receivers or node in the video audio signal switching and distribution system; and whereby no separate external power supply is required. 
     
     
         20 . A transmitter or receiver of  claim 1  or  12 , wherein the circuit board can take power from other transmitters and receivers or node in the video audio signal switching and distribution system; and whereby no separate external power supply is required. 
     
     
         21 . The video audio signals switching and distribution system of  claim 1 , wherein the video, audio, Ethernet and control signals can be bi-directional. 
     
     
         22 . The digital video audio signal switching and distribution system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one component duplexer component for signal switching and distribution, wherein each duplexer has at least one interface with a plurality of inputs for receiving a signal from a cable from a source device and optionally a duplexer or a node and a plurality of signal outputs for sending the input signal out for bi-directional transmission to a device or to a duplexer or a node;   optionally at least one signal selection control configured on a duplexer; and   optionally, at least one display unit having an interface with at least one input for receiving a signal from a cable from a receiver.   
     
     
         23 . The video audio signal switching and distribution system of  claim 22 , wherein the duplexer contains a circuit board further comprising:
 a signal converter/switcher configured to receive a plurality of signal input formats;   a signal converter/distributer configured for outputting the plurality of signals received from the signal converter/switcher;   a digital transmitter/receiver configured to receive at least one signal from an upstream duplexer and send at least one signal to a downstream duplexer;   a daisy chain processor configured to insert signal information into the signal flow path; and   a microcontroller configured for determining and controlling the signal flow path, whereby the duplexer daisy chain processor connected extracts signal information from the signal flow path for display on a display device connected to the duplexer.   
     
     
         24 . The duplexer of  claim 22  wherein the circuit board contains connections to receive and output signals selected from the group consisting of VGA, audio, DisplayPort, and DiiVA. 
     
     
         25 . A digital video audio signal switching and distribution node comprising:
 at least one interface with at least one input for receiving at least one signal from a cable from at least one transmitter, wherein each of the at least one transmitters are connected in a daisy chain series if there is more than one transmitter; or another node;   at least one matrix configured to receive each of the signals from each of the inputs and to output each signal to any of the outputs;   at least one interface with at least one output for transmitting at least one signal received from the at least one matrix to at least one receiver, wherein each of the at least one receivers are connected in a daisy chain series if there is more than one receiver, or another node, wherein each of the signals can be routed from any of the inputs to any of the outputs; and   at least one microcontroller for directing each of the at least one signals.   
     
     
         26 . The node of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 at least one de-multiplexer configured to receive signals from each of the inputs for separating a combined signal to multiple independent signals and feeds to the at least one matrix; and   at least one multiplexer configured to receive multiple independent signals from the at least one matrix and combine them into one combined signal for outputting via a cable to a device selected from the group consisting of a receiver, a daisy chain of receivers and another node.   
     
     
         27 . The node of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a networking switch configured connected to the at least one matrix for providing a connection to the internet.   
     
     
         28 . The node of  claim 27  wherein the networking switch is an Ethernet switch. 
     
     
         29 . The node of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 at least one memory interface operationally connected to the microcontroller for providing instructions for directing each of the at least one signals.   
     
     
         30 . A method for digital video audio signal switching and distribution comprising:
 providing at least one input signal consisting of either VGA/audio, DisplayPort, HDMI, or optionally DiiVA into at least one transmitter or a daisy-chained series of transmitters via a cable from a video audio device, wherein the signal path flows from the video audio devices into and through the transmitter or chain of transmitters if there is more than one transmitter;   converting each input signal into a common signal format using signal converter or scaler circuits on the circuit board of the transmitter;   selecting between the converted signals with a switcher, configured on the circuit board of the transmitter;   inserting input signals into the signal path, wherein a daisy chain processor configured on the circuit board of the transmitter inserts signals into the signal path to flow through the transmitter or chain of transmitters if there is more than one transmitter;   transmitting the inserted signal by linking at least one of the transmitters to a receiver or a daisy chained connected series of receivers, wherein the signal path flows from an individual transmitter to an individual receiver and then through the chain of receivers if there is more than one receiver;   extracting signals for display on a display device wherein a daisy chain processor configured on an circuit board of the receiver extracts selected signals, wherein the extracted signals are converted to at least one signal format which can be shown on a display unit by an optional scaler or converter circuits on the circuit board of the receiver;   optionally controlling signal switching and distribution between the chain of transmitters and the chain of receivers, wherein each of the at least one transmitters contains at least one selection button, whereby activating a selection button on a transmitter controls the selection and distribution of the signal through the transmitter and receiver or chains of transmitters and receivers for relay to a display unit, wherein the last activated selection button controls the signal selection for display;   displaying the signals from the receivers on at least one display unit; and   optionally controlling signal selection and the routing of signals flowing in the signal path at a second level, wherein a remote control unit is inserted at one of a plurality of positions among the connected transmitters and receivers.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing the signal with a twisted pair cable terminated with a male RJ45 connector having a twisted wire pair configuration of  claim 15 ; and   connecting the male RJ45 connector with a cognate female connector with the pin configuration of  claim 15 .