Unified audio/video interface for a digital video disk system

A method of transferring data from a source device to an output device comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving a data request signal transmitted by said output device in a first mode, or receiving a sampling signal from said output device in a second mode;
• (b) asserting a sampling/synchronizing signal which synchronizes and samples said data request signal in said first mode, or asserting a first synchronizing signal which synchronizes data output in said second mode;
• (c) transmitting requested data from said source device to said output device in said first and second modes;
• (d) asserting a second synchronizing signal indicating the start of data transmission in said first mode;
• (e) asserting a data strobe signal which latches said requested data into said output device in said first mode, or asserting a third synchronization signal which synchronizes the left/right audio frames in said second mode;
• and
• (f) asserting an error signal when said requested data contains an error in said first and second modes.

A digital video disk system comprising:

• a channel interface which receives and amplifies data from a disk, and outputs a control signal indicative of scanning conditions of said disk by a light source;
• a servo DSP which receives said control signal and controls the scannings of said disk by said light source;
• a data path controller which stores said data from said channel interface and outputs said data to one or more playback devices via an interface;
• and
• a microcontroller programmed to implement said interface in said data path controller, said interface comprising:
• an input interface terminal at which a data request signal from said one or more playback devices is received in a first mode, and at which a sampling signal from said one or more playback devices is received in a second mode;
• a first output interface terminal at which a sampling/synchronizing signal is transmitted to said one or more playback devices in said first mode, said sampling/synchronizing signal synchronizing and sampling said data request signal, and at which a first synchronizing signal is transmitted from said source device to said one more more playback devices, said first synchronizing signal synchronizing data output;
• at least one data output interface terminal at which requested data is transmitted to said one or more playback devices in said first and second modes;
• a second output interface terminal at which a second synchronization signal is transmitted to said one or more playback devices at the start of data transmission in said first mode;
• a third output interface terminal at which a data strobe signal is transmitted to said one or more playback devices, said data strobe signal latching said requested data into said one or more playback devices, and at which a third synchronization signal is transmitted from said source device to said one or more playback devices in said second mode, said third synchronization signal synchronizing the left/right audio frames;
• and
• a fourth output interface terminal at which a data error signal is transmitted to said one or more playback devices in said first and second modes, said data error signal indicating that said requested data contains an error.