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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A television signal receiver for selecting a desired broadcast channel
from signals of a plurality of received broadcast channels, comprising:
means for receiving and tuning television signals selectively;
manipulation means for commanding reception of signals of other broadcast
channels in a state where a signal of a predetermined broadcast channel is
being received;
display means responsive to an actuation of said manipulation means and
displaying, on a main screen, the picture of the broadcast channel already
received, while receiving the signals of the other broadcast channels and
displaying the pictures of the other broadcast channels on subsidiary
screens;
change means for sequentially changing the broadcast channels displayed on
the subsidiary screens by said receiving means; and
selection means for selecting a desired broadcast channel from the
subsidiary pictures being displayed,
wherein after completion of the operation of said selection means, display
of the subsidiary pictures is terminated and the selected broadcast
channel is received.
2. The television signal receiver according to claim 1, wherein said change
means sequentially changes the broadcast channels, which are displayed on
the subsidiary screens, in a predetermined period.
3. The television signal receiver according to claim 2, wherein said
display means interrupts the displaying of the pictures on the subsidiary
screens upon completion of one cycle of the sequential change of the
broadcast channels displayed on the subsidiary screens, and displays the
picture of the predetermined broadcast channel received prior to the
display on the subsidiary screens.
4. The television signal receiver according to claim 1, wherein, when a
predetermined command is inputted from said manipulation means in the
state where a plurality of subsidiary pictures are displayed, said change
means changes the broadcast channels being displayed on the subsidiary
screens.
5. The television signal receiver according to claim 4, wherein said
selection means includes a cursor which is produced and displayed by said
display means and indicates the subsidiary picture being currently
instructed, and in an initial state where the subsidiary pictures start to
be displayed, said cursor indicates one subsidiary picture substantially
at the center out of the plural subsidiary pictures being displayed.
6. The television signal receiver according to claim 5, wherein said
selection means further comprises cursor shift means for shifting said
cursor in response to a command transmitted by an operator, and
designation means for designating a desired broadcast channel out of the
subsidiary pictures being displayed; and when said designation means is
actuated during sequential change of the broadcast channels displayed on
the subsidiary screens, said selection means halts the change of the
broadcast channels displayed on the subsidiary screens and then receives,
while interrupting the display of the pictures, the broadcast channel
being received on the subsidiary screen selected by said cursor shift
means and said designation means during a halt of the subsidiary pictures.
7. The television signal receiver according to claim 6, wherein, when said
cursor shift means is actuated a predetermined number of times during a
halt of change of the subsidiary pictures, said change means releases the
halt state of change of the broadcast channels displayed on the subsidiary
screens, and then sequentially changes again, in a predetermined period,
the broadcast channels displayed on the subsidiary screens.
8. The television signal receiver according to claim 7, wherein said change
means sequentially changes, in accordance with each category, the
broadcast channels displayed on the subsidiary screens.
9. The television signal receiver according to claim 6, wherein said cursor
shift means and said designation means are incorporated in a remote
commander.
10. The television signal receiver according to claim 3, wherein said
receiving means has at least a first receiving section and a second
receiving section capable of receiving signals independently of each
other, and also has switching means which selectively switches said
receiving sections in such a manner that, when said first receiving
section is receiving the broadcast channel to be displayed on the
subsidiary screen, said second receiving section is placed in a standby
state ready for receiving the broadcast channel which is to be received
next.
11. The television signal receiver according to claim 10, wherein, when
said manipulation means is actuated during reception of a predetermined
broadcast channel by said second receiving section, said first receiving
section starts reception of the broadcast channels to be displayed on the
subsidiary screens, and said change means sequentially changes, in a
predetermined period, the broadcast channels receivedby said first
receiving section, so that both the picture of the broadcast channel
receivedby said second receiving section and the pictures of the broadcast
channels received sequentially by said first receiving section are stored
and processed as still pictures by said display means.
12. The television signal receiver according to claim 3, wherein, when said
selection means is actuated, said display means additionally displays,
relative to the picture on the subsidiary screen, a mark which signifies
such actuation of said selection means; said display means further
comprising storage means for storing information of the broadcast channel
to which said mark is added, so that the information of the broadcast
channel stored in said storage means is accessed by an actuation of said
manipulation means and the stored broadcast channel is received.
13. The television signal receiver according to claim 12, wherein a mark
displayed for the main picture and a mark for any subsidiary picture are
different from each other.
14. The television signal receiver according to claim 12, further
comprising means for receiving program schedule data transmitted with
television signals and clock means for measuring a present time; wherein
said storage means stores at least a channel number and a program end time
as broadcast channel information, and the stored broadcast channel
information is erased after the program end time.
15. The television signal receiver according to claim 3, wherein said
display means executes such a process that the subsidiary picture being
indicated by said cursor becomes dimensionally maximum and also that the
sizes of the other subsidiary pictures are sequentially reduced as the
channel numbers thereof recede from the broadcast channel of the
subsidiary picture being indicated by said cursor.
16. A broadcast channel selecting method for selection of a desired
broadcast channel from signals of a plurality of broadcast channels,
comprising the steps of:
during reception of a signal of a predetermined broadcast channel by a
first receiving section, outputting a command to sequentially change and
receive signals of a plurality of other broadcast channels by a second
receiving section;
sequentially storing, in a memory, pictures of the broadcast channels
changed and received sequentially;
displaying, on a main screen, the picture of the predetermined broadcast
channel already received by said first receiving section, while reading
out the pictures of the stored other broadcast channels and displaying the
read pictures on a plurality of subsidiary screens;
selecting a desired broadcast channel from the plurality of subsidiary
pictures being displayed; and
after selection of the desired broadcast channel, terminating the display
of the subsidiary pictures and receiving the selected broadcast channel.
17. The broadcast channel selecting method according to claim 16, wherein
the picture of the predetermined broadcast channel received by said first
receiving section is also stored in said memory, and the picture received
by said first receiving section and read out from said memory is displayed
on the main screen, while the plurality of pictures received by said
second receiving section and stored in said memory are read out therefrom
and then are displayed on the subsidiary screens.
18. The broadcast channel selecting method according to claim 16, wherein
the pictures of the broadcast channels received by said second receiving
section and stored in said memory are updated in a predetermined period.
19. The broadcast channel selecting method according to claim 16, wherein
the broadcast channels changed and received sequentially by said second
receiving section are changed sequentially in accordance with each
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a television signal receiver and a
broadcast channel selecting method, and more particularly to a picture
display controller adapted for use in receiving video signals of a
multiplicity of broadcast channels.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a television receiver, a desired program can be viewed by selecting and
designating a predetermined broadcast channel. And when there exist a
plurality of broadcast channels, a channel search function may be provided
in the television receiver so as to find what programs are being broadcast
in the individual channels.
In Japan, twelve channels are allocated in the VHF band, and when such a
channel search function is commanded in the television receiver of this
type, the channels, which succeed the one being currently received, are
received in sequence automatically in such a manner that each channel is
displayed for a period of, e.g., three seconds. This search mode is
released when the channel prior to start of the search is received again.
Consequently it becomes possible to grasp the outline of the program being
broadcast in each channel at that time.
However, if successive different broadcast channels are received
sequentially in this manner, there occurs a disadvantage that the program
that was being watched immediately before the search began cannot be
watched at all during the search time. Furthermore, since the picture of
merely one broadcast channel alone is displayed at a time, a long time is
required for viewing the pictures of all the broadcast channels.
For solving the above problems, there may be contrived such a technique as
illustrated in FIG. 100, wherein the picture being currently watched is
displayed in a main screen while pictures of other channels are displayed
in subsidiary screens. In this example, however, the number of subsidiary
pictures displayable simultaneously with the main picture is only three.
The number of subsidiary screens may be increased to five as shown in FIG.
101. Even in this example, however, the number of broadcast channels
watchable simultaneously is merely six.
Presently in the U.S.A., the progress of multi-channelization is extensive
in the fields of cable or community antenna television (CATV) and digital
satellite system (DSS: trade name of Hughes Communications Corporation) by
applying the high-efficiency encoding technology inclusive of MPEG (Moving
Picture Experts Group) and so forth. And the number of channels reaches a
great value of, e.g., 150 to 175.
Due to such an increase of the number of channels, a total time period of
seven to eight minutes is rendered necessary for sequentially receiving
all of the broadcast channels and displaying each of them for a
predetermined time period. Accordingly, there arises a problem that some
difficulties are unavoidable in rapidly selecting a desired program.
Also due to an increase of the number of channels, if the whole screen is
used to display subsidiary pictures as illustrated in FIG. 102 for
example, it is difficult to grasp the contents of the programs of
individual broadcast channels.
It is a matter of course that, if the area of each subsidiary screen is
reduced to be extremely small, a total of 150 subsidiary pictures may
theoretically be displayable on a single whole screen. But in this case,
the size of each subsidiary picture is rendered excessively small to
eventually bring about difficulty in confirming the content thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the circumstances
mentioned above. And it is an object of the invention to realize an
improvement which enables a user to confirm, while watching a main
picture, the contents of programs of other channels with simplicity and
certainty.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
television signal receiver for selecting a desired broadcast channel from
signals of a plurality of received broadcast channels. This receiver
comprises a means for receiving and tuning television signals selectively;
a manipulation means for commanding reception of signals of other
broadcast channels in a state where a signal of a predetermined broadcast
channel is being received; a display means responsive to an actuation of
the manipulation means and displaying, on a main screen, the picture of
the broadcast channel already received, while receiving signals of the
other broadcast channels and displaying the pictures of the other
broadcast channels on subsidiary screens; a change means for sequentially
changing the broadcast channels displayed on the subsidiary screens by the
receiving means; and a selection means for selecting a desired broadcast
channel from the subsidiary pictures being displayed; wherein, after
completion of the operation of the selection means, display of the
subsidiary pictures is terminated and then the selected broadcast channel
is received.
The change means sequentially changes the broadcast channels, which are
displayed on the subsidiary screens, in a predetermined period.
The display means interrupts its process for displaying the subsidiary
pictures upon completion of one cycle of the sequential change of the
broadcast channels displayed on the subsidiary screens, and displays the
picture of the predetermined broadcast channel received prior to the
display on the subsidiary screens.
And when a predetermined command is inputted from the manipulation means in
the state where a plurality of subsidiary pictures are displayed, the
change means changes the broadcast channels being displayed on the
subsidiary screens.
The selection means includes a cursor which is produced and displayed by
the display means and indicates the subsidiary screen being currently
instructed. In an initial state where subsidiary pictures start to be
displayed, the cursor indicates one subsidiary picture substantially at
the center out of the subsidiary pictures being displayed.
The selection means includes a cursor shift means for shifting the cursor
in response to a command transmitted by an operator, and a decision means
for deciding a desired broadcast channel out of the subsidiary pictures
being displayed. And when the decision means is actuated during sequential
change of the broadcast channels displayed on the subsidiary screens, the
selection means halts the change of the broadcast channels displayed on
the subsidiary screens and then receives, while interrupting the display
of the subsidiary pictures, the broadcast channel being received on the
subsidiary screen selected by the cursor shift means and the decision
means during a halt of the subsidiary pictures.
When the cursor shift means is actuated a predetermined number of times
during a halt of change of the subsidiary pictures, the change means
releases the halt state of change of the broadcast channels displayed on
the subsidiary screens, and then sequentially changes again, in a
predetermined period, the broadcast channels displayed on the subsidiary
screens.
The change means sequentially changes, in accordance with each category,
the broadcast channels displayed on the subsidiary screens.
The cursor shift means and the decision means are incorporated in a remote
commander.
The receiving means has at least two receiving sections capable of
receiving signals independently of each other, and also has a switching
means which selectively switches the receiving sections in such a manner
that, when the first receiving section is in its operation to receive the
broadcast channel to be displayed on the subsidiary screen, the second
receiving section is placed in a standby state ready for receiving the
broadcast channel which is to be received next.
When the manipulation means is actuated during reception of a predetermined
broadcast channel by the second receiving section, the first receiving
section starts reception of the broadcast channels to be displayed on the
subsidiary screens, and the change means sequentially changes, in a
predetermined period, the broadcast channels received by the first
receiving section, so that both the picture of the broadcast channel
received by the second receiving section and the pictures of the broadcast
channels received sequentially by the first receiving section are stored
and processed as still pictures by the display means.
When the selection means is actuated, the display means additionally
displays, relative to the picture on the subsidiary screen, a mark which
signifies such actuation of the selection means. The display means further
has a storage means for storing information of the broadcast channel to
which such a mark is added, so that the information of the broadcast
channel stored in the storage means is accessed by an actuation of the
manipulation means and then the stored broadcast channel is received.
A mark displayed for the main picture and a mark for any subsidiary picture
are different from each other.
The invention further has a means for receiving program schedule data
transmitted with television signals, and a clock means for measuring the
present time. The storage means stores at least a channel number and a
program end time as broadcast channel information, wherein the stored
broadcast channel information is erased after the program end time.
The display means executes such a process that the subsidiary picture being
indicated by the cursor becomes dimensionally maximum and also that the
sizes of the other subsidiary pictures are sequentially reduced as the
channel numbers thereof recede from the broadcast channel of the
subsidiary picture being indicated by the cursor.
The broadcast channel selecting method of the present invention for
selection of a desired broadcast channel from signals of a plurality of
broadcast channels comprises the steps of: during reception of a signal of
a predetermined broadcast channel by a first receiving section, outputting
a command to sequentially change and receive signals of a plurality of
other broadcast channels by a second receiving section; sequentially
storing, in a memory, pictures of the broadcast channels changed and
received sequentially; displaying, on a main screen, the picture of the
predetermined broadcast channel already received by the first receiving
section, while reading out the pictures of the stored other broadcast
channels and displaying the read pictures on a plurality of subsidiary
screens; selecting a desired broadcast channel from the plurality of
subsidiary pictures being displayed; and after selection of the desired
broadcast channel, terminating the display of the subsidiary pictures and
then receiving the selected broadcast channel.
In the above method, the picture of the predetermined broadcast channel
received by the first receiving section is also stored in the memory, and
the picture received by the first receiving section and read out from the
memory is displayed on the main screen, while the plurality of pictures
received by the second receiving section and stored in the memory are read
out therefrom and then are displayed on the subsidiary screens.
The pictures of the broadcast channels received by the second receiving
section and stored in the memory are changed in a predetermined period.
And the broadcast channels changed and received sequentially by the second
receiving section are changed sequentially in accordance with each
category.
The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description which will be given with
reference to the illustrative accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary constitution of an
AV system where a reception controller of the present invention is
applied;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a state of electrical connection in the
AV system of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3, 3A and 3B are block diagram showing an exemplary configuration of
an IRD 2 included in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an upper plane construction of a remote
commander 5 included in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary structure of a
small-sized stick controller for detecting an actuation of a manipulator
52 in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary internal structure
of the embodiment of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating a structure of the embodiment of FIG.
6;
FIG. 8 is a right side view illustrating the structure of the embodiment of
FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating the structure of the embodiment of FIG.
6;
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an exemplary internal constitution of
the remote commander 5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 11 is a flow chart for explaining an operation of the embodiment of
FIG. 3;
FIG. 12 illustrates a display example of a menu;
FIG. 13 is a flow chart for explaining a browsing process executed in a
first embodiment;
FIG. 14 is a flow chart continued from FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a flow chart continued from FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is a flow chart continued from FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a flow chart continued from FIG. 16;
FIG. 18 is a flow chart continued from FIG. 17;
FIG. 19 is a flow chart continued from FIG. 18;
FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining the direction of scroll of subsidiary
pictures;
FIG. 21 is another diagram for explaining the direction of scroll of
subsidiary pictures;
FIG. 22 illustrates display examples of a main picture and subsidiary
pictures;
FIGS. 23 to 37 are diagrams for explaining various display states of a main
picture and subsidiary pictures;
FIG. 38 shows an exemplary main picture;
FIGS. 39 to 41 illustrate display examples of programs each having a
bookmark added thereto;
FIG. 42 is a flow chart for explaining a process to receive a broadcast
channel;
FIG. 43 is a flow chart for explaining a browsing process executed in a
second embodiment;
FIG. 44 is a flow chart for explaining a browsing process executed in a
third embodiment;
FIG. 45 is an explanatory diagram of a state where subsidiary pictures are
displayed in the order of channel numbers;
FIG. 46 is an explanatory diagram of a state where subsidiary pictures are
scrolled in accordance with individual categories;
FIG. 47 is a flow chart for explaining a browsing process executed in a
fourth embodiment;
FIG. 48 is a diagram showing another exemplary arrangement of subsidiary
pictures;
FIG. 49 shows a state where bookmarks are added to subsidiary pictures;
FIG. 50 is a flow chart for explaining a process executed in a normal
reception mode;
FIG. 51 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example on the screen
in a normal reception mode;
FIG. 52 shows a state where a bookmark is added to the example displayed on
the screen of FIG. 51;
FIG. 53 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example on the screen
in a normal reception mode;
FIG. 54 shows a state where a bookmark is added to the example displayed on
the screen of FIG. 53;
FIG. 55 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example on the screen
in a normal reception mode;
FIG. 56 shows a state where a bookmark is added to the example displayed on
the screen of FIG. 55;
FIGS. 57 to 59 show other display examples of selected pictures on the
screen with bookmarks added thereto;
FIG. 60 shows another exemplary construction of the remote commander 5;
FIG. 61 is a block diagram showing an exemplary internal structure of the
remote commander 5 in FIG. 60;
FIG. 62 is a flow chart for explaining a browsing process executed in a
fifth embodiment;
FIG. 63 is a flow chart continued from FIG. 62;
FIG. 64 is a flow chart continued from FIG. 63;
FIG. 65 is a flow chart continued from FIG. 64;
FIG. 66 is a flow chart continued from FIG. 65;
FIG. 67 is a flow chart continued from FIG. 66;
FIG. 68 shows an example displayed when a preceding page button switch is
actuated;
FIG. 69 shows an example displayed when a following page button switch is
actuated;
FIG. 70 is a flow chart for explaining a browsing process executed in a
sixth embodiment;
FIG. 71 shows another method of scrolling subsidiary pictures;
FIGS. 72 to 74 show other exemplary arrangements of subsidiary pictures;
FIG. 75 is a flow chart for explaining a browsing process executed in a
seventh embodiment;
FIG. 76 is a flow chart continued from FIG. 75;
FIG. 77 is a flow chart continued from FIG. 76;
FIG. 78 is a flow chart continued from FIG. 77;
FIG. 79 is a diagram for explaining an arrangement of subsidiary pictures;
FIG. 80 shows a display example of subsidiary pictures;
FIGS. 81 and 82 are diagrams for explaining how subsidiary pictures are
scrolled;
FIG. 83 is a diagram for explaining a display example when a subsidiary
picture is selected;
FIG. 84 is a flow chart for explaining a browsing process executed in an
eighth embodiment;
FIG. 85 is a flow chart continued from FIG. 84;
FIG. 86 is a flow chart continued from FIG. 85;
FIG. 87 is a flow chart continued from FIG. 86;
FIG. 88 is a diagram for explaining an arrangement of subsidiary pictures
in the processing shown in the flow charts of FIGS. 84 to 87;
FIGS. 89 to 94 are diagrams for explaining how a cursor is shifted;
FIG. 95 is a diagram for explaining a display example when a subsidiary
picture is selected in the state of FIG. 94;
FIGS. 96 to 98 show other exemplary constructions of the remote commander
5;
FIG. 99 shows another display example of subsidiary pictures; and
FIGS. 100 to 102 show conventional display examples in the prior art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Hereinafter some preferred embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an exemplary constitution of an AV (Audio Video) system where
a reception controller of the present invention is applied. In this
embodiment, the AV system i comprises an IRD (Integrated Receiver/Decoder)
2 for receiving an input signal by a parabolic antenna 3 via an unshown
broadcast satellite and decoding the received signal, a VHS VCR (Video
Cassette Recorder) 6, an 8 mm VCR 7, an MDP (Multi-Disc Player) 8, an MD
(Mini Disc) player 9 and a monitor unit 4.
The VCR 6, VCR 7, MDP 8 and MD player 9 are connected via AV lines 11 to
the monitor unit 4. And the IRD 2 is connected via an AV line 11 to the
VCR 6. These apparatus are successively connected in series to one another
via control lines 12.
A command can be inputted to the IRD 2 by an infrared (IR) signal emitted
from a remote commander 5. More specifically, when a predetermined one of
button switches 50 of the remote commander 5 is actuated, an infrared
signal corresponding thereto is emitted from an IR transmitter 51 and then
is incident upon an IR receiver 39 of the IRD 2.
The IRD 2 is equipped with a front panel 40 having various kinds of button
switches, so that the same command as the one transmitted by manipulating
the remote commander 5 can be inputted directly to the IRD 2.
FIG. 2 shows a state of electrical connection in the AV system of FIG. 1.
The parabolic antenna 3 has an LNB (Low Noise Block downconverter) 3a to
convert the signal, which has been received from a broadcast satellite,
into a signal of a predetermined frequency and then supplies the converted
signal to the IRD 2. Subsequently the IRD2 supplies its output to the VCR
6 via three AV lines 11. The output of the VCR 6 is supplied via three AV
lines to the monitor unit 4. Meanwhile the VCR 7, the MDP 8 and the MD
player 9 are connected to the monitor unit 4 via six, three or four AV
lines 11, respectively.
The above IRD 2, VCR 6, VCR 7, MDP 8, MD player 9 and monitor unit 4 have
an AV apparatus control signal transceiver 2A, 6A, 7A, 8A, 9A or 4A,
respectively. Such transceivers are successively connected in series to
one another via a control line 12 which consists of a wired SIRCS (Sony
Infrared Remote Control System).
FIG. 3 shows an exemplary internal configuration of the IRD 2. An RF signal
outputted from the LNB 3a of the parabolic antenna 3 is supplied to and
demodulated in a tuner 21A of a front end 20A. The output of the tuner 21A
is supplied to a QPSK demodulator circuit 22A where QPSK demodulation of
the signal is performed. The output of the QPSK demodulator circuit 22A is
supplied to an error corrector circuit 23A where any error is detected and
corrected and, when necessary, a compensation is performed.
Also in a front end 20B consisting of a tuner 21B, a QPSK demodulator
circuit 22B and an error corrector circuit 23B similarly to the front end
20A, the same process is executed independently of the front end 20A.
A key required for deciphering a cipher is stored, together with a decipher
program, in a CAM (Conditional Access Module) 33 which consists of an IC
card comprising a CPU, a ROM, a RAM and so forth. Since the signal
transmitted via a broadcast satellite is ciphered, both a key and a
decipher process are necessary for deciphering the cipher. For this
purpose, the key is read out from the CAM 33 via a card reader interface
32 and then is supplied to a demultiplexer 24. Subsequently the
demultiplexer 24 deciphers the ciphered signal by utilizing the key.
In this CAM 33, accounting information and so forth are also stored in
addition to the aforementioned key and program required for deciphering
the ciphered signal.
The demultiplexer 24 receives the input signal obtained from the error
corrector circuit 23 (23A, 23B) of the front end 20 (20A, 20B) and
supplies the deciphered video signal to a decoding section 44 while
supplying the deciphered audio signal to an MPEG audio decoder 26.
Similarly to the front end 20, the decoding section 44 also consists of
independently operable decoding sections 44A and 44B, which have an MPEG
video decoder 25A and a DRAM 25aA, or an MPEG video decoder 25B and a DRAM
25aB, respectively.
The MPEG video decoders 25A and 25B properly store the input digital video
signal in the DRAMs 25aA and 25aB respectively, and decode the video
signal compressed by the MPEG system. The video signal thus decoded is
supplied via a picture-in-picture (P-in-P) processor 45 to an NTSC encoder
27, where the video signal is converted into a luminance signal (Y), a
chroma signal (C) and a composite signal (V) of the NTSC format. The
luminance signal and the chroma signal are outputted as an S video signal
via buffer amplifiers 28Y and 28C, respectively. Meanwhile the composite
signal is outputted via a buffer amplifier 28V.
The MPEG audio decoder 26 properly stores in a DRAM 26a the digital audio
signal supplied from the demultiplexer 24, and decodes the audio signal
compressed by the MPEG system. The audio signal thus decoded is supplied
to a D-A converter 30 where digital-to-analog conversion is executed, and
the audio signal of a left channel is outputted via a buffer amplifier 31L
while the audio signal of a right channel is outputted via a buffer
amplifier 31R.
An RF modulator 41 outputs RF signals by converting the composite signal
obtained from the NTSC encoder 27 and the audio signal obtained from the
D-A converter 30. The RF modulator 41 passes therethrough the RF signal of
the NTSC format inputted from some other AV apparatus such as an unshown
CATV cable box, and then outputs the signal directly to the other AV
apparatus such as the VCR 6.
In this embodiment, both the video signal and the audio signal are supplied
via the AV lines to the VCR 6.
A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 29 executes various processes in accordance
with the program stored in a ROM 37. For example, the CPU 29 controls the
tuners 21A, 21B, the QPSK demodulator circuits 22A, 22B, the error
corrector circuits 23A, 23B, and the picture-in-picture processor 45. The
CPU 29 further controls the AV-apparatus control signal transceiver 2A,
thereby outputting a predetermined control signal to the other AV
apparatus or receiving a control signal therefrom via the control line 12.
A predetermined command can be directly inputted to the CPU 29 by actuating
a button switch (not shown) of the front panel 40. When the remote
commander 5 (FIG. 4) is manipulated, an infrared signal is outputted from
the IR transmitter 51 and then is received by the IR receiver 39, and the
result of such reception is supplied to the CPU 29. Thus, a predetermined
command can also be inputted to the CPU 29 by manipulating the remote
commander 5 as well.
The CPU 29 takes in signals other than the video and audio signals
outputted from the demultiplexer 24, such as broadcast-channel program
information (e.g., channels of programs, broadcast hours, titles,
categories and so forth) affixed to the essential picture data and
transmitted therewith as additional information which ranges from the
current time to a later time after several ten hours or so, then generates
EPG (Electrical Program Guide) data from the signals thus received, and
supplies such EPG data to and stores the same in an SRAM (Static Random
Access Memory) 36.
In an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) 38,
there is properly stored the data to be held even after switch-off of the
power supply, such as the last channel. The CPU 29 corrects the time
information of a calendar timer 35 at a proper timing in accordance with
the current time information separated from the signal received by the
demultiplexer 24, and then controls a program recording reservation and so
forth on the basis of the time information outputted from the calendar
timer 35.
The CPU 29 further controls the MPEG video decoders 25A and 25B when
generating predetermined OSD (On-Screen Display) data. In response to such
control, the MPEG video decoders 25A and 25B generate predetermined OSD
data, then write the same in the DRAMs 25aA and 25aB, and read out the
data therefrom. Consequently, it becomes possible to output a
predetermined character, figure, pattern or the like to the monitor unit 4
and to display the same thereon.
Under control of the CPU 29, a modem 34 transmits or receives data from or
to the other apparatus via a telephone network.
FIG. 4 shows a detailed exemplary construction of the button switch group
50 of the remote commander 5. As shown in the diagram, the remote
commander 5 has an IR transmitter 51 in its upper portion and a
manipulator 52 thereunder. The manipulator 52 is so formed as to be
operable in any of a total of eight directions, i.e., upward, downward,
leftward and rightward directions, and obliquely upward, downward,
leftward and rightward directions. When depressed in a direction
perpendicular to the drawing paper face, the manipulator 52 functions as
an enter button switch. More specifically, the manipulator 52 is so
actuated that a desired direction is selected by a user's single finger
and further an enter input can be executed by the same finger kept pressed
thereto.
A menu button switch 53 is disposed at a lower right position of the
manipulator 52. This menu button switch 53 is actuated for displaying a
menu on the monitor unit 4.
A bookmark button switch 55 actuated for adding a bookmark to a
predetermined program is disposed under the menu button switch 53, and a
jump button switch 56 actuated for receiving the program with a bookmark
is disposed under the switch 55.
Although a further explanation will be omitted below, other various button
switches are also included in the button switch group 50 besides those
mentioned above.
FIGS. 5 to 9 show exemplary structures for detecting an actuation of the
manipulator 52. A small stick controller illustrated in FIG. 5 is
incorporated in the remote commander 5 at a position below the manipulator
52. More specifically, a stick 61 is joined integrally to the manipulator
52 which is composed of a flexible material such as resin. Accordingly,
when the manipulator 52 is actuated, the stick 61 is moved, in conformity
to the direction of such actuation, in one of the eight directions
indicated by an arrow a in FIG. 5, or is moved vertically as indicated by
an arrow b in the same diagram.
A pin 105 is infixed vertically below the stick 61, and both ends of the
pin 105 are inserted into slots 104 formed in guide plates 103 of an outer
member 101, so as to be guided along the slots 104. The outer member 101
has side plates 102 which are oriented in the X-axis direction and are
joined integrally to the guide plates 103 oriented in the Y-axis
direction. And shafts 62 are infixed on the side plates 102 in a manner to
extend in the X-axis direction.
Meanwhile the stick 61 is inserted into a bore 114A formed in a bottom
plate 114 of an inner member 111 so that the inner member 111 can be
disposed inside the outer member 101. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the bore
114A is shaped to be elongate in the Y-axis direction. Side plates 112 are
provided on the bottom plate 114 of the inner member 111 in a manner to be
opposite to each other in the X-axis direction, and joint plates 113
smaller in height than the side plates 112 are provided also on the bottom
plate 114 in a manner to be opposite to each other in the Y-axis
direction. A shaft 63 extending in the Y-axis direction is infixed in each
of such joint plates 113. The slot 104 formed in each of the guide plates
103 of the outer member 101 is shaped to be a circular arc whose center is
at the shaft 63.
The small stick controller shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 is disposed in a box 116
as illustrated in FIG. 5, wherein the shafts 62 and 63 extend outward
respectively through holes 118 and 119 formed in the box 116. The hole 119
is substantially equal to or slightly larger in diameter than the shaft
63, whereas the hole 118 is shaped to be elongate in the Z-axis direction.
And a variable resistor 64 is disposed outside the box 116 in a manner to
be joined to one end of the shaft 62, while a push-button type switch 66
is disposed below the other end of the shaft 62. Another variable resistor
65 is disposed outside the box 116 in the Y-axis direction and is joined
to the shaft 63.
When the stick 61 is rotated on the X axis, the outer member 101 joined to
the guide plates 103 via the pin 105 is also rotated on the shaft 62 (X
axis). At this time, the inner member 111 is kept in a still state since
the bore 114A, which is elongate in the Y-axis direction, is formed in the
bottom plate 114 of the inner member 111.
Meanwhile when the stick 61 is rotated on the Y axis, the inner member 111
is rotated on the shaft 63 (Y axis) together with the rotation of the
stick 61, since the bore 114A formed in the bottom plate 114 is shaped to
be substantially equal in diameter to the stick 61 in the X-axis
direction. At this time, the pin 105 is guided along the slot 104 formed
on a circular arc whose center is at the shaft 63. In this case, the side
plates 112 of the inner member 111 are kept away from contact with the
side plates 102 of the outer member 101 as a sufficient space is
maintained between the side plates 112 and 102. Consequently, the outer
member 101 is held in a still state.
When the stick 61 is actuated in a direction between the X axis and the Y
axis, the inner member 111 is rotated on the Y axis while the outer member
101 is rotated on the X axis.
A return spring 106 is connected to the lower end of the stick 61, so that
when the actuation to rotate the stick 61 is brought to a halt, the stick
61 is returned to its origin point (vertical position) by the resilience
of the return spring 106.
When the stick 61 is rotated on the X axis, the shaft 62 is also rotated on
the X axis, whereby the resistance value of the variable resistor 64 is
changed. Accordingly it becomes possible to detect, from the resistance
value of the variable resistor 64, both the rotational quantity and the
rotational direction of the stick 61 on the X axis.
Similarly, when the stick 61 is rotated on the Y axis, the shaft 63 is also
rotated on the Y axis, whereby the resistance value of the variable
resistor 65 is changed. Accordingly it becomes possible to detect, from
the resistance value of the variable resistor 65, both the rotational
quantity and the rotational direction of the stick 61 on the Y axis.
Thus, there is detected an actuation in one of the eight directions
indicated by an arrow a in FIG. 5 (in this case, a horizontal actuation)
is detected.
When the stick 61 is depressed vertically downward along an arrow b in FIG.
5, the inner member 111 is not changed particularly since the stick 61 is
inserted into the bore 114A of the bottom plate 114, but the outer member
101 is depressed downward together with the stick 61 since the pin 105
infixed in the stick 61 is inserted into the guide plates 103 via the
slots 104. At this time, the downward motion of the outer member 101 is
guided by a vertically elongate hole 118 formed in the box 116 into which
the shaft 62 is inserted. And upon descent of the shaft 62 down to a
predetermined position, a portion of the shaft 62 depresses the switch 66,
whereby the switch 66 is turned on or off to consequently detect the
downward depression of the stick 61.
And when the actuation for downward depression of the stick 61 is brought
to a halt, the stick 61 is returned to its upper original position by the
resilience of an unshown return spring incorporated in the switch 66.
FIG. 10 shows an exemplary internal circuit configuration of the remote
commander 5. In this example, a microcomputer 71 has a ROM 73 for storage
of a program, a CPU 72 for executing various processes in accordance with
the program stored in the ROM 73, and a RAM 74 for storage of data
required for execution of various processes by the CPU 72. A button switch
matrix 82 is connected to the microcomputer 71 so as to detect an
actuation of any button switch | | |
