System Functions
65 07 04 (105)
Digital and analogue television
E60, E61, E63, E64, E65, E66, E70, E71, E83, E85, E86, E90, E91, E92, E93
Note: Television picture in front is inactive while the vehicle is being driven.
For safety reasons television is forbidden in the front when the vehicle is in motion. For this reason, the TV picture is faded out at roadspeeds greater than 3 km/h. However, TV sound remains audible.
System functions
The video module comprises the following functions:
- Digital and analogue television
- Television when the vehicle is stationary (front)
- Television when the vehicle is in motion (rear compartment only)
- Television reception
- Image build-up
- Sound reception
- Transmission of image signals in the vehicle
- Audio output
- Mute
- Station selection
- Aerial diversity (only with front and rear TV)
Aerial diversity for TV aerials is not a separate component, but rather a software component within the video module.
- Video switch
Note: Digital television: Basic principles and introduction in various countries
This SI Technology bulletin (SBT) describes digital television as used by BMW.
The enclosures also include the following information:
- Fundamental information about digital television
Digital and analogue television
Depending on the equipment variant, analogue and/or digital television can be received.
For digital television the DVB-T standard is supported. Only terrestrial reception is possible.
The abbreviation "DVB-T" stands for "Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial. In other words "DVB-T" means: digital television transmitted via antenna ("terrestrial").
Television when the vehicle is stationary (front)
Viewing television in the front is only possible when the vehicle is stationary.
The television is deactivated when the vehicle reaches walking pace. The sound remains unaffected.
Television when the vehicle is in motion (rear compartment only)
> E65, E66, E70, E71
It is also possible to watch television in the rear when the vehicle is in motion.
Television reception
The analogue television supports the following television standards:
- NTSC: NTSC is most common in North and South America and in Japan. NTSC is an analogue television standard for colour transmission.
NTSC stands for "National Television Standards Committee".
- PAL: PAL is most common in Europe.
PAL is also used in Australia and in most African and Asian countries (except for Japan). PAL is common in all countries that do not have NTSC and SECAM.
PAL is an analogue television standard for colour transmission.
PAL is a further development of NTSC. As with NTSC, the TV pictures are transmitted in lines. PAL, however, evens out colour faults.
PAL stands for "Phase Alternating Line".
- SECAM: SECAM is most common in France and Eastern Europe.
SECAM stands for "Sequentielle Couleur a Memoire", i.e. "sequential colour memory".
Digital television supports data transmission via MPEG.
MPEG stands for "Motion Picture Experts Group". MPEG is the designation of a data compression standard for image signals.
Transmission of image signals in vehicle
Image signals are transmitted as follows, depending on equipment fitted:
> - E60, E61, E63, E64, E90, E91, E92, E93
Television in front
The video module transmits the image data via the FBAS wire (Europe version) to the Car Communication Computer (CCC).
A LVDS data wire transmits the image signal between the CCC and the CID (Central Information Display).
> - E65, E66
Television in front
Depending on the vehicle's equipment, the video module or the navigation system will transmit the RGB signals to the control unit for the monitor.
If a navigation system is fitted, the navigation system will transmit the RGB signals to the monitor (exception: Japan navigation system)
If there is no navigation system fitted, the video module will transmit the image signal to the monitor as follows: From the video module through the RGB wire to the control display.
Front and rear seat television
The navigation system transmits its image data to the video module.
The image signals are transmitted between the SG-FD and rear display through a LVDS data wire.
> - E70, E71
Television in front
The video module transmits the image data via the FBAS wire (Europe version) to the Car Communication Computer (CCC).
A LVDS data wire transmits the image signal between the CCC and the CID (Central Information Display).
Front and rear seat television
The video module transmits the image data via the RGB wire (Europe version) to the Car Communication Computer (CCC) and to the RSE control unit.
An LVDS data wire transmits the image signal between the CCC and the CID (Central Information Display).
The image signals are transmitted between the RSE control unit and rear display through a LVDS data wire.
> - E83, E85, E86
Television in front
The video module transmits the image data via the RGB wire to the Central Information Display (CID).
Image build-up
The TV picture is built up as follows:
- Colours are made up of individual red, green and blue pixels.
- The TV picture is built up line by line.
- Synchronisation of image signals: For a sharp TV picture, the pixels must be precisely synchronised. The synchronisation works as follows:
- Horizontal synchronisation defines when a line ends and a new line starts.
- Vertical synchronisation defines when a new image build-up is to start (in the top left corner.
A separate electrical pulse is provided for synchronisation: The synchronisation pulse. The synchronisation pulse is transmitted with the green signal (all model series).
Sound reception
The sound signal is received together with the image signal in the TV signal.
Audio output
Audio output is in mono or stereo as follows:
- Analogue TV sound in mono:
The video module receives the analogue TV sound in mono.
The analogue TV sound is digitalised.
The video module lays the digitalised signal on both the left and right synchronous channel of the MOST bus.
The ASK or CCC emit the audio signals to the loudspeakers (via the amplifier, depending on equipment variant).
- Digital TV sound in stereo:
The digital TV sound is received and emitted in stereo.
Precondition: The TV program is transmitted in stereo.
- 2-channel sound:
2-channel sound is only available with digital television reception.
2-channel sound allows, for example, a foreign-language broadcast to be overdubbed in English. With 2-channel sound, the language of the country concerned will be output through the loudspeakers. The other language will be muted.
Mute
If necessary, audio output can be switched between navigation system and television.
The sound signals from the radio and television are muted under the following conditions:
- Telephone call
- Navigation system announcements
- Traffic reports
The CCC or the ASK controls the muting.
Station selection
The video module manages a list of all the television stations that can currently be received.
This list of stations is shown on the Control Display (CD) or Central Information Display (CID) as follows:
- Where station names for individual TV programmes can be determined, the list starts with the station names arranged in alphanumeric order (e.g. ARD, BR3, SAT1 ...).
- After this, a list will appear showing the reception channels with unknown station names. This list is also alphanumerically ordered: e.g. CH3, CH7, CH12, ... for Channel 3, Channel 7, Channel 12.
Television in front: The list of stations is updated manually by selecting "Autostore".
Front and rear seat television: The list of stations is updated automatically.
The list of stations is also updated if another entertainment module is selected (e.g. if you change to the radio or DVD changer). When the television is called up again the current list of stations is offered automatically.
Aerial diversity
The aerial diversity function, which is integrated in the video module ensures that the stationary vehicle always has the best possible reception. The aerial diversity uses certain criteria to select the TV aerial that offers the best reception.
2 TV aerials are fitted for TV reception in the front (TV 1, TV 2).
3 TV aerials are fitted for TV reception in the front and rear.
To ensure optimum reception, these 3 TV aerials work as follows:
- 2 TV aerials (TV 1, TV 2) receive the desired TV channel.
- 1 TV aerial (TV 3) searches in the background for other transmission frequencies for this television station.
The required television station is received on the transmission frequencies with the highest signal strength.
Aerial diversity works as follows:
If more than one station have the same name when analogue TV is in use, then there are alternative frequencies. e.g. "Television station 1" is being received on 3 different analogue frequencies. In this case the television station is displayed just once.
Aerial diversity automatically selects the best frequency. "Television station 1" is shown in the display.
If, however, a television station is transmitting "Television station 1" analogue on several frequencies and "1st digital" digitally on another frequency, then the display shows the following:
- Aerial diversity combines all frequencies for analogue television.
The best frequency is selected and displayed. e.g.: "Television station 1".
- However, aerial diversity is not able to combine the following TV stations: Analogue reception for "Television station 1" and digital reception for the "1st digital".
This is because: The video module cannot assign the two different notations and meanings to one another.
This means "Television station 1" appears twice in the list of stations: Once analogue as "Television station 1" and once digitally as the "1st digital".
Video switch
The video module switchers between the various video sources, e.g. between television and video.
This function is called "video switch".
Operation
The following operations are described:
- Adjusting screen settings
- Selecting television stations
- Updating list of stations
Note: Please comply with instructions in Owner's Handbook.
Detailed instructions for the television can be found in the vehicle's Owner's Handbook.
Adjusting screen settings
Users can adjust the screen settings for colour, contrast and brightness: Cal up the corresponding menu (with the controller on the CD or CID).
The controller controls the monitor settings.
Depending on the equipment specification, the screen setting is processed in the following control units:
- Vehicles with television in the front:
> E60, E61, E63, E64, E70, E71, E90, E91, E92, E93: Car Communication Computer (CCC)
> E65, E66, R83, E85, E86:
For vehicles with navigation system, the screen setting is processed in the control unit for the navigation system (NAV).
On vehicles without navigation system, the video module processes the monitor settings.
- Vehicles with rear display
> E65, E66: The video module processes the monitor settings for the rear display.
> E70, E71: The RSE control unit processes the monitor settings for the rear display.
Selecting television stations
- Select country (on Control Display or Central Information Display)
When a country is selected, the video module will set the correct television standard.
- Select the required television station from the list of stations.
The video module administers a list of stations with all receivable television stations. This list is shown on the Control Display or Central Information Display.
Updating list of stations
On vehicles with television in the front, the list of stations is manually updated as follows: Call up "Autostore".
Preconditions for activation
The television is available from terminal R ON.
Notes for service staff
The following information is available for service staff:
- General notes:
- Diagnosis:
- Encoding/programming: ---
- Car and Key Memory: The last settings made remain stored when the vehicle is shut down. The video module remembers the last TV station selected. The colour settings are also stored (in either the video module or navigation system, depending on equipment variant).
National versions
Digital television is already available in many countries.
There are numerous analogue television standards worldwide. The video module supports these television standards and frequencies.
Note: Subscription TV is not supported.
Because special cards and decoders are needed for subscription TV (pay TV), pay TV is not supported.
Pay TV is available, for example in the Netherlands and in the UK.
Free TV stations in the UK are supported.
The following details are available with regard to national versions:
- US
- Japanese national version
- Different switch-off conditions when driving in different national versions
Note: The Japan national version is also valid for China and Korea.
The equipment specifications for the Japanese national version also support television reception in China and Korea.
US national version
In the US version, the television is deactivated by encoding.
Reason: watching television in cars is forbidden in the USA.
However, a video module is fitted, depending on the equipment. This video module serves as a video switch between the different entertainment sources (e.g. radio, CD changer).
Japanese national version
There is no DVB-T in Japan. For this reason, the Japan national version only has analogue television. The image signals are transmitted on an RGB wire (RGB: red-green-blue).
Vehicles with the Japan national version have the following equipment specifications for television:
- E60, E61, E63, E64 - Television in front with Japan navigation system
- E65, E66: Television in front with Japan navigation system
- E65, E66: Television in front and rear, with Japan navigation system
- E70, E71: Television in front and rear, with Japan navigation system
- E83, E85, E86: Television in front with Japan navigation system
The following components are also needed:
- JNAV: Japan navigation system
JNAV is the control unit for the Japan navigation system.
> - E60, E61, E63, E64, E70, E71, E90, E91, E92, E93
The JNAV is a control unit in the MOST network.
> - E65, E66
JNAV is connected to the following control unit:
FBI: Flexible bus interface
The FBI connects the JNAV control unit to the MOST bus.
> - E83, E85, E86
The JNAV is a control unit on the body bus (K-bus).
The Japan navigation system is supported as follows by the video module (example E60):
- When the controller is operated, the CCC receives the prompt "switch on navigation system".
- The CCC sends the message "Navigation system requested" to the video module.
- The video module routes the signals from the Japan navigation system (JNAV) through to the CCC.
Different switch-off conditions when driving in different national versions
- Japan national version: The television in the front is switched off depending on the position of the gear lever or selector lever.
- Australia national version: it is only possible to watch television in the front when the selector lever position is "P" (with automatic transmission) or when the parking brake is applied.
Subject to change.