Cable detection method and apparatus

A method of detecting a cable connection, the method comprising:

• receiving a signal from a first conductor of a plurality of conductors;
• inputting the signal into a detection control circuit;
• outputting a first detection signal from the detection control circuit when a predetermined signal level is detected from the first conductor and outputting a second detection signal from the detection control circuit when the first signal level is not detected from the first conductor;
• operably connecting one of an analog signal input and a digital signal input to at least one of the plurality of conductors, except the first conductor, when the first detection signal is received by a multiplexer;
• and
• operably connecting the other signal input to at least one of the plurality of conductors, except the first conductor, when the second detection signal is received by the multiplexer.

A cable detecting system for automatically detecting a cable, the system comprising:

• a computer comprising a video unit, the video unit comprising:
• a cable detection circuit,
• wherein the cable detection circuit comprises:
• a plurality of conductors which transmit signal information;
• a detection control circuit operably connected to a first conductor of the plurality of conductors, wherein the detection control circuit outputs an output signal as a first detection signal when a predetermined signal level is detected from the first conductor and outputs a second detection signal when the predetermined signal level is not detected from the first conductor;
• and
• a multiplexer operably connected to the detection control circuit which receives one of the first and second detection signals and selects between a digital signal input and an analog signal input based on the output signal of the detection control circuit and outputs the selected signal input to a conductor of the plurality of conductors.