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Claims  |
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We claim:
1. A television receiver, comprising:
a video signal processing section for receiving as an input thereto a video
signal and converting the signal into a video display signal;
video signal storage means for receiving the video display signal from the
video signal processing section, recording the video display signal for a
predetermined period of time, and writing the video display signal in an
overwriting fashion after lapse of the predetermined period of time,
thereby repeatedly recording the video display signal at an interval of
the predetermined period of time;
composition switch means for receiving as inputs thereto the video display
signals respectively outputted from the video signal processing section
and the video signal storage means and combining the received signals with
each other in a selective manner, and outputting a combined signal
therefrom;
control means for controlling the video signal storage means and the
composition switch means in response to an indication signal supplied from
an external device and combining the video display signal from either one
or both of the video signal storage means and the video signal processing
section, thereby outputting the combined signal from the composition
switch means; and
display means for displaying thereon the video display signal outputted
from the composition switch means.
2. A television receiver according to claim 1, wherein
the control means controls the composition switch means in response to the
indication signal supplied from the external device and displays on the
display means the video display signal outputted from the video signal
processing section.
3. A television receiver according to claim 1, wherein
the control means reads from the storage means, in response to the
indication signal supplied from the external device, the video display
signal ranging from the video signal at a point of time which is a
predetermined playback time preceding a current time to the video signal
at the current time and controls the composition switch means to display
the video display signal from the video signal processing section in a
primary screen and the video display signal from the video signal storage
means in a subordinate screen disposed in the primary screen and vice
versa.
4. A television receiver according to claim 1, wherein
the control means reads from the storage means, in response to the
indication signal supplied from the external device, the video display
signal ranging from the video signal at a current time to the video signal
at a point of time corresponding to an arbitrary specified playback period
of time within a maximum storage period of time of the video display
signal and controls the composition switch means to display the video
display signal from the video signal processing section in a primary
screen and the video display signal from the video signal storage means in
a subordinate screen disposed in the primary screen and vice versa.
5. A television receiver according to claim 4, wherein
the control means displays, in response to the indication signal supplied
from the external device, the video display signal of an arbitrary
specified time-shift period of time for the arbitrary playback display
period of time in a thinning-out manner.
6. A television receiver according to claim 1, wherein
the control means displays in response to the indication signal supplied
from the external device, the video display signal from video signal
processing means in a primary screen on the display means, continuously
displays the video display signal stored in the video signal storage means
at a current point in a still subordinate screen disposed in the primary
screen, and displays in the subordinate screen, in response to the
indication from the external device after lapse of an arbitrary time-shift
period, the video display signal stored in the video signal storage means
during a period of time ranging from the display of the still subordinate
screen to a point of time corresponding to the lapse of the arbitrary
time-shift period,
the control means alternatively displaying the video display signal of the
video signal storage means in the primary screen and the video display
signal of the video signal processing means in the subordinate screen.
7. A television receiver according to claim 1, wherein
the control means specifies, in response to the indication signal supplied
from the external device, the video display signal recorded in the video
signal storage means in a period of time ranging from a current time to a
point of time corresponding to a specified arbitrary time-shift period of
time within a maximum storage period of time of the video display signal
and controls the composition switch means after lapse of the specified
time-shift period of time to display the video display signal from the
video signal processing section in a primary screen and the video display
signal from the video signal storage means in a subordinate screen
disposed in the primary screen and vice versa.
8. A television receiver according to claim 5, wherein
the control means displays, in response to the indication signal supplied
from the external device, the video display signal of the arbitrary
specified time-shift period of time for the arbitrary playback display
period of time in the thinning-out manner,
the arbitrary display period of time being shorter than the predetermined
time-shift period.
9. A display method for use with a television receiver, comprising the
steps of:
displaying a television signal as an ordinary screen image;
storing, in concurrence with the ordinary screen display of the television
signal, the television signal for a predetermined period of time
repeatedly in an overwriting fashion;
displaying in a subordinate screen, during the ordinary screen display of
the television signal, the stored television signal from a point of time
which is a predetermined playback period of time preceding a current time
to a point of the current time;
alternatively displaying the television signal ranging from the point
related to the predetermined playback period of time to the current point
in a primary screen and the ordinary screen image in the subordinate
screen; and
restoring the ordinary screen display of the television signal after
displaying the television signal ranging from the point related to the
predetermined playback period of time to the current point.
10. A display method for use with a television receiver, comprising the
steps of:
display a television signal as an ordinary screen image;
storing, in concurrence with the ordinary screen display of the television
signal, the television signal for a predetermined period of time
repeatedly in an overwriting fashion;
specifying an arbitrary playback period of time preceding a current time
within the predetermined period of time for the overwrite storage;
displaying in a subordinate screen, after lapse of the playback period of
time during the ordinary screen display of the television signal, the
stored television signal from a point of time which is a predetermined
playback period of time preceding a current time to a point of the current
time;
alternatively displaying the television signal ranging from the point
related to the predetermined playback period of time to the current point
in a primary screen and the ordinary screen image in the subordinate
screen; and
restoring the ordinary screen display of the television signal after
displaying the television signal ranging from the point related to the
predetermined playback period of time to the current point.
11. A display method for use with a television receiver according to claim
10, further including the step of specifying a playback display period of
time shorter than the specified playback period of time and displaying the
television signal corresponding to the playback period of time for the
playback display period of time in a thinning-out manner.
12. A display method for use with a television receiver, comprising the
steps of:
displaying a television signal as an ordinary screen image in a primary
screen;
storing, in concurrence with the ordinary screen display of the television
signal, the television signal for a predetermined period of time
repeatedly in an overwriting fashion;
displaying, during the display of the ordinary screen image, the television
signal stored for a predetermined time at an arbitrary point of time as a
still picture in a subordinate screen;
displaying in the subordinate screen, at a time-shift point after the
arbitrary point of time, the television signal stored for a predetermined
time after the arbitrary point of time in association with the time-shift;
displaying alternatively the television signal stored for the predetermined
time in a range from the arbitrary point of time to a current point in the
primary screen and the ordinary screen image in the subordinate screen;
and
restoring the ordinary screen display after displaying the television
signal stored for a predetermined time ranging from the arbitrary point of
time to the time-shift point of time.
13. A display method for use with a television receiver, comprising the
steps of:
displaying a television signal as an ordinary screen image in a primary
screen;
storing, in concurrence with the ordinary screen display of the television
signal, the television signal for a predetermined period of time
repeatedly in an overwriting fashion;
specifying an arbitrary time-shift period of time associated with the
predetermined period of time beginning at a current time;
displaying in a subordinate screen, after lapse of the time-shift period of
time, within the ordinary screen image of the television signal, the
television signal stored during the time-shift period of time in the
overwriting fashion;
alternatively displaying the television signal stored in the overwriting
fashion during the time-shift period of time in the primary screen and the
ordinary screen image in the subordinate screen; and
restoring the ordinary screen image of the television signal after
displaying the television signal stored during the time-shift period of
time.
14. A display method for use with a television receiver according to claim
11, further including the step of specifying the playback display period
of time shorter than the predetermined period of time and displaying the
television signal corresponding to the predetermined period of time for
the playback display period of time in the thinning-out manner.
15. A display method for use with a television receiver according to claim
10, further including the steps of:
displaying the television signal stored in a period from the point of time
related to the specified playback period of time to the current point of
time in the primary screen and the ordinary screen display in the
subordinate screen;
connecting, after the playback of the television signal of the specified
playback period of time, a last television screen image of the playback
period of time transitioning to a current ordinary screen image in the
primary screen by using thinning-out screen images; and
displaying the ordinary screen image in the primary screen after the
primary screen display has undergone the thinning-out operation. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a television receiver and a display method
of the same in which a screen image of a broadcasted television program
can be displayed again in a repeated manner.
When enjoying a television program, there may occurs a case in which the
viewer for an instant misses some scenes for some reasons or the viewer
cannot watch the program for a short period of time because he or she is
required to leave his or her seat for a short period of time. According to
the prior art, when it is desired to view again any scenes missed during a
television program, there has been used a method in which the viewer
begins recording the television program by a video tape recorder (VTR)
when the program is started or when the viewer leaves the seat.
In the method, the required scenes can be displayed again by playing the
recorded program after the television program is finished. However, in
such a case in which the viewer watches the missed scenes after the
program is completed, the interest of the viewer has already decreased or
destroyed. Namely, it is naturally required that the desired scenes are
displayed while the pertinent program is being televised.
In contrast thereto, according to the technology described in the
JP-A-1-166679 by the present inventor, there is provided a semiconductor
memory in a television receiver to store therein video signals
corresponding to a television program broadcasting period ranging from
about two minutes to about three minutes. While conducting a refreshing
operation, video signals of a received television program are sequentially
memorized in the memory such that scenes of the program televized in the
last two to three minutes are continuously stored therein in a periodic
fashion. When required, the stored video signals are obtained, in response
to a predetermined operation, from the semiconductor memory for the
playback thereof. The reproduced scenes are presented in a subordinate
screen disposed in the display screen for the ordinary television program
of the television set.
In accordance with the conventional technology, since the pictures of the
signals attained from the semiconductor memory can be presented in a
subordinate screen on the screen of the television receiver, the memorized
scenes can be acquired from the memory for the play thereof even when a
desired program is being broadcasted. That is, the television viewer can
again watch the missed scene of the program.
However, according to the prior art above, the video signals written in the
semiconductor memory correspond to the fixed period of time determined by
the storage capacity of the memory. Consequently, it is impossibly to play
again, for example, program scenes missed because the viewer left his or
her seat for a period of time, namely, scenes missed in an arbitrary
period of time. Moreover, it is not practically convenient to entirely
watch program scenes broadcasted for a long period of time, e.g., 20 or 30
minutes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a television
receiver and a display method thereof in which an arbitrary scene of a
television program being broadcasted can be selectively displayed, thereby
solving the problem above.
In order to achieve the object according to the present invention, the
television receiver includes a delay circuit to sequentially keep therein
scenes of a television program received by the television set such that in
response to an indication from an operator thereof, the program scenes are
read from the delay circuit to be presented on the screen as the delayed
screen images of the program.
Timing to read signals from the delay circuit varies depending on the
instruction of the operator. Therefore, according to the instruction, a
scene televised in the program in the past is decided and is read from the
delay circuit for the reproduction thereof. As a result, there are
displayed again the scenes broadcasted in the desired period of time. In
consequence, scenes missed for a moment for some reasons and scenes missed
because the viewer left the seat can be again watched even during the
broadcasting period of the pertinent program.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent by reference to the following description and accompanying
drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the
television receiver and its display method according to the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a concrete example of a delay circuit of
the embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3A and 3B are diagrams schematically showing a relationship between
write and read addresses of a semiconductor memory of the delay circuit of
FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a specific example of an operator's unit of a
remote controller shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a concrete example of a sequence of screen
images displayed in a short-term playback mode in the embodiment of FIG.
1;
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a concrete example of a sequence of screen
images displayed in a long-term playback mode in the embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a concrete example of a sequence of screen
images displayed in a short-term time-shift mode in the embodiment of FIG.
1;
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a concrete example of a sequence of screen
images displayed in a long-term time-shift mode in the embodiment of FIG.
1;
FIGS. 9A and 9B are a flowchart showing operations in the short-term and
long-term playback modes as well as those in the short-term and long-term
time-shift modes in the embodiment of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 10A to 10D are diagrams showing specific examples of screen images
displayed in the playback mode;
FIGS. 11A to 11C are diagrams showing concrete examples of selection
screens for the playback time;
FIGS. 12A to 12C are diagrams showing another method of displaying playback
pictures;
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another concrete example of a sequence of
screen images displayed in a short-term playback mode in the embodiment of
FIG. 1;
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment
of the television receiver and its display method according to the present
invention; and
FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the configuration of further another
embodiment of the television receiver and its display method according to
the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the accompanying drawings, description will be given of an
embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 1 shows in a block diagram the primary portion of an embodiment of the
television receiver and its display method according to the present
invention. The configuration of FIG. 1 includes a remote controller 1, a
signal receive 2, a microprocessor 3, a control circuit 4, delay circuits
5a and 5b, an input terminal 6, a luminance (Y)/chrominance (C) separator
circuit 7, a color decoder circuit 8, a switch circuit 9, a red (R), green
(G), and blue (B) converter circuit 10, a cathode-ray tube (CRT) 11, and a
control unit 20 including the microprocessor 3 and control circuit 4.
In FIG. 1, signals of a television program of a cable television broadcast
system and/or the ordinary television broadcast system are received such
that color video signals of the received program are inputted from the
input terminal 6 to be fed to the Y/C separator 7. The signals are then
separated into a luminance signal Y and a chrominance signal C. The signal
C is further supplied to the color decoder 8 to be decoded into color
difference signals R - Y and B - Y. The luminance signal Y and color
difference signals R - Y and B - Y are stored in the delay circuit 5b and
then are inputted via the switch circuit 9 to the RGB converter 10 to be
converted into primary color signals R, G, and B. The color signals are
fed to the CRT 11 such that the color video signals inputted from the
input terminal 6 are displayed as a color picture on the CRT 11.
Additionally, The luminance signal Y and color difference signals R - Y and
B - Y are sent to the delay circuit 5a including a semiconductor memory.
When the television receiver is powered and a desired television program
is started to be received, the delay circuit 5a automatically initiates a
write operation to sequentially store therein the luminance signal Y and
color difference signals R - Y and B - Y.
When the operator conducts a play operation by the remote controller 1, a
play instruction is accordingly received by the receiver 2 and is then fed
to the microprocessor 3 to be decoded therein. According to a result of
the decode operation, the control circuit 4 achieves a control operation
to read the luminance signal Y and color difference signals R - Y and B -
Y from the delay circuit 5a in the play mode specified by the remote
controller 1 and controls the switch circuit 9. Resultantly, the luminance
signal Y and color difference signals R - Y and B - Y attained from the
delay circuit 5a are combined by the switch circuit 9 with a signal
outputted from the delay circuit 5b to be delivered to the RGB converter
10. The signal is then converted into the primary color signals R, G, and
B to be then sent to the CRT 11. As a result, a color picture is displayed
on the screen of the CRT 11 according to the luminance signal Y and color
difference signals R - Y and B - Y obtained from the delay circuit 5a.
On the display screen of the CRT 11, pictures of signals acquired from the
delay circuits 5a and 5b are presented in a method using a subordinate
display area disposed at a predetermined position of the main screen area
(picture-in-picture (PinP) display) or in a method using a subordinate
display area disposed outside the main screen area (picture-out-picture
(PoutP) display). In these systems, either one of the screens is
designated as the primary or father screen and the remaining one thereof
is assumed as the subordinate or son screen. However, the father-son
relationship may be reversed by the control circuit 4, namely, the circuit
4 can issue control instructions to the delay circuits 5a and 5b and
switch circuit 9 to reverse the relationship.
In the delay circuit 5b, the luminance signal Y and color difference
signals R - Y and B - Y supplied thereto are written in the overall
storage area thereof. When the stored picture is presented as the main
screen image on the display screen or only the memorized picture is
displayed on the screen, the signals thereof are read from the delay
circuit 5b without any delay time, namely, with delay time set to 0. When
the stored picture is presented as the subordinate screen image on the
screen, the picture is minimized in size while being read therefrom at
timing related to the display position of the picture on the display
screen. The read control operation is accomplished by the control circuit
4.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram specifically showing an example of the structure
of the delay circuit 5a of FIG. 1 in which a reference numeral 12
indicates an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter, numeral 13 denotes a
picture compressor circuit, numerals 14Y, 14R, and 14B stand for
semiconductor memories, numeral 15 represents a picture expander circuit,
numeral 16 indicates a semiconductor memory, and numeral 17 designates a
digital-to-analog (D/A) converter. The constituent components
corresponding to those of FIG. 1 are assigned with the same reference
numerals.
In this diagram, a luminance signal Y from the Y/C separator 7 of FIG. 1 is
converted by the A/D converter 12 into a digital signal and is subjected
in the picture compressor 13 to a picture compression to be resultantly
stored in the semiconductor memory 14Y. Similarly, the color difference
signals R - Y and B - Y from the color decoder 8 of FIG. 1 are written in
the memories 14R and 14B, respectively. On receiving signals of a
broadcasted television program, the control circuit 4 starts the write
operations of the memories 14Y, 14R, and 14B such that the control circuit
4 sequentially sends write addresses thereto to sequentially store signals
in the respective areas. Incidentally, the delay circuits 5a and 5b are of
the same configuration.
When a play operation is indicated from the remote controller (FIG. 1) as
described above, the control circuit 4 activates the memories 14Y, 14R,
and 14B to accomplish read operations according to the indication such
that the luminance signal undergone the picture compression and obtained
from the memory 14Y is expanded by the picture expander 15 to be
temporarily stored in the memory 16. Thereafter, the luminance signal is
converted through the D/A converter 17 into an analog luminance signal and
is then delivered to the switch circuit 9. This also applies to the color
difference signals R - Y and B - Y read from the memories 14Y, 14R, and
14B.
Naturally, when the signals are displayed in a vertical display screen
together with a picture read from the delay circuit 5b of FIG. 1 according
to the picture in picture display method, the picture is minimized in size
in the memory 16.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic diagrams showing a relationship between write
and read addresses in the semiconductor memory 14 including the memories
14Y, 14R, and 14B shown in FIG. 2.
In FIG. 3A, assume that about 60-minute compressed pictures can be stored
in the memory 14 and A.sub.w indicates a write address. The address
A.sub.w is shifted in the arrow direction according to the lapse of time
so that picture data of video signals thus compressed is sequentially
written at the write address. When the address A.sub.w is equal to the
last address n, the value of A.sub.w is cleared to 0 to thereby start the
write operation beginning at address 0 such that the picture data is
written in an area in which the previous data is written at least 60
minutes before.
About ten minutes after the setting of address A.sub.w, a first read
address A.sub.R1 is established by the control circuit 4. Similarly, a
second read address A.sub.R2 is designated when about 15 minutes lapse
after the setting of A.sub.w, a third read address A.sub.R3 is designated
about 30 minutes after the setting of A.sub.w, a fourth read address
A.sub.R4 is set when about 45 minutes lapse after the setting of A.sub.w,
and a fifth read address A.sub.R4 is set about 60 minutes after the
setting of A.sub.w by the control circuit 4. Either one of the first to
fifth read addresses is chosen by the play operation on the remote
controller (FIG. 1).
According to the embodiment, the picture signal can be reproduced with a
desired delay time in a relatively simple circuit construction. This is
also applicable to voices only by increasing the memory capacity for voice
signals according to the same principle. The circuit configuration is
simple also in this case. Moreover, as described above, the write address
need only be sequentially increased or decreased such that when the write
address is equal to the predetermined limit value n, it is only necessary
to reset the value of the write address to zero.
On the other hand, the read address is obtained by converting the desired
delay time into a shift time of the write address, namely, the number of
addresses on the basis of the write cycle so as to decide the read address
by delaying the address according to the number of addresses.
As above, pictures and voices can be reproduced by setting an arbitrary
delay time for the view of the desired pictures.
When the function is used in a family, although the delay time may be
arbitrarily set, it will be favorable to preset representative delay time
values in advance so that any family member selects a desired delay time
value through a simple operation.
When it takes a long period of time to play again a scene of an exciting
moment during a sport program, for example, a homer scene of a baseball
program or a goal scene of a football program, the viewer will be
irritated. In this situation, it is favorable that the period of time
necessary to start the play of the desired scene is in a range from five
seconds to 15 seconds. In the embodiment above, the time is set to ten
seconds (in the short-period playback mode, which will be described
later).
Assume in the following paragraphs that the play mode in which the picture
signals are read according to specification of the first to fifth read
addresses is called a playback mode, the play mode using the first read
address A.sub.R1 is denoted as a short-term playback mode, and the
playback mode employing the addresses ranging from the second read address
A.sub.R2 to the fifth read address A.sub.R5 is designated as a long-term
playback mode. When either one of these playback modes is selected, the
read operation is carried out in an area ranging from the indicated read
address A.sub.R1, . . . , or A.sub.R5 to the write address A.sub.w being
specified at the pertinent point of time. For example, assume that the
playback mode using the first address A.sub.R1 is designated at the
current point of time t and the write address at the point t is A.sub.w.
On this occasion, the read operation is accomplished in a region ranging
from the first read address A.sub.R1 to the address A.sub.w beginning at
the point of time t.
In the long-term playback mode, video data is read from the memory at a
read speed other than the data write speed thereof. Namely, in the
operation to read a predetermined number of frames (or fields) of video
data from the memory 14, the number of frames (or fields) actually read
for the subsequent process is less than that of the frames (or fields) in
the memory 14. That is, the frames (or fields) are thinned out for a fast
review to minimize the video data read time for mitigation of the load of
observation time for the operator.
Additionally, there can be implemented a review mode according to an
instruction from the remote controller (FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 3B, the
write address A.sub.w a at the current point of time ta is set to the
first read address A.sub.R a and the write address A.sub.w b at a point of
time tb which is an arbitrary period of time after the point of time ta is
set to the second read address A.sub.R b so that the read operation in a
zone ranging from the first read address A.sub.R a to the second read
address A.sub.R b is achieved beginning at the point of time tb. This
playback mode will be called a time-shift mode herebelow.
Also in the time-shift mode, the review operation can be executed with the
read speed set to the write speed or the operation can be achieved using
the thinning-out function like in the long-term playback mode to minimize
the data read time. The former is efficiently adopted when the read area
is small and is referred to as a short-term time-shift mode herebelow. The
latter is effective for a large read area and is called a long-term
time-shift mode herebelow.
For example, in a situation in which a viewer is watching a television
program, when the time-shift function is initiated because of a telephone
call, a visitor, or something else to do, the video pictures and voices of
the program are stored in the semiconductor memory 14 beginning at the
point of time. For example, when the time-shift function is activated at
the point ta in FIG. 3B, the time-shift mode is effective beginning at the
point ta.
The pictures and voices of the program are continuously written in the
memory 14 with the television receiver powered as described in conjunction
with FIG. 3A. The write address A.sub.w a at the point ta when the time
function is invoked is kept as the read start address (A.sub.R a) by the
control circuit 4. In consequence, when the time-shift mode is set at the
point ta, the pictures and voices of the program after the point of time
are sequentially stored in the memory 14 beginning at the address A.sub.R
a.
When the viewer is free again to re-start watching the program (at the
point tb), if any play operation is conducted, the time-shift playback
mode is assumed. The pictures and voices of the program thus recorded in
the memory 14 up to the playback point tb are then sequentially read from
the area ranging from the address A.sub.R a to the address A.sub.R b,
thereby displaying the reproduced picture.
In this operation, the playback scenes are presented in the
picture-in-picture or picture-out-picture mode together with those of the
ordinary program not delayed. Therefore, all scenes of the entire program
are guaranteed even when there occurs something to do while the viewer is
watching the program.
In the method above, the television program is continuously memorized.
However, in consideration only of the time-shift function, there may be
employed a method in which the program memorizing operation is initiated
when the mode is set.
FIG. 4 shows in a plan view a specific example of the operator's unit of
the remote controller 1 of FIG. 1.
In the diagram, a time-shift record button 47 is used to instruct the
initiation of the program recording in the time-shift mode. Namely, the
button 47 is employed to set the first read address ARa indicating the
read start address of FIG. 3B.
A playback/time-shift playback button 50 initiates the playback operation
in the short-term playback mode when the time-shift record button 47 is
non-active. On the other hand, the button 50 starts the review in the
short-term time-shift mode when the time-shift record button 47 is active.
With the record button 47 kept in the non-active state, when the playback
button 50 is depressed, the picture signal read operation is carried out
in an area ranging from the address A.sub.R1 to the address A.sub.w (which
is an address assumed when the playback button 50 is operated) shown in
FIG. 3A. When the playback button 50 is depressed after the record button
47 is operated, the signal read operation is accomplished in an area
ranging from the write address A.sub.w a corresponding to the depression
of the record button 47 to the write address A.sub.w associated with the
operation of the playback button 50.
A long-term playback/time-shift set button 46 is provided to set the
long-term playback or time-shift mode related to the thinning-out
operation. With the time-shift record button 47 kept in the non-active
state, the button 46 initiates the playback operation in the long-term
playback mode. When the record button 47 is operated, the button 46
activates the review in the long-term time-shift mode.
A playback/time-shift halt/stop button 52 is adopted to temporarily halt or
to stop the operation in the playback or time-shift mode.
The operator's control 1 further includes a screen change-over cross key or
cursor button 53. A picture of video signals reproduced from the
semiconductor memory 14 is displayed on the CRT 11 (FIG. 1) together with
the picture of the received video signal of the television program in the
picture-in-picture mode, which will be described later. When the key 53 is
operated, the father-son relationship between the playback picture and the
ordinary broadcast picture is exchanged.
Additionally, a slow playback button 51 is disposed to conduct the slow
review of pictures in the playback or time-shift mode, whereas a reverse
slow playback button 49 is utilized to achieve the slow playback in the
reverse direction.
The other buttons and keys are the same as those provided in the remote
controller for use with the ordinary television receivers such as, power
button 41, reverse button 42, screen display button 43, input change-over
button 44, direct ch button 45, screen change-over set button 48 and
volume up/down button 54
Next, the operations modes above will be described.
FIG. 5 shows a sequence of screen images displayed in the short-term
playback mode.
When the power switch (FIG. 4) is turned on (FIG. 5(a)), the ordinary
program scene is displayed and the picture recording operation is started
in the semiconductor memory 14 of the delay circuit 5a as described above
(FIG. 5(b)). Scenes A and B of the television program are then
sequentially presented on the display screen 18 of the CRT 11 (FIG. 1) as
respectively shown in (c) and (d) of FIG. 5. Moreover, these scenes are
also written in the memory 14. When the playback/time-shift playback
button (FIG. 4) is depressed as shown in (e) of FIG. 5 in this display
state, the short-term playback mode is established in the system.
Assume now that the previously displayed scenes "A" and "B" are stored as
ten-second picture data in an area ranging from the first read address
A.sub.R1 of FIG. 3(a) to the write address A.sub.w when the short-term
playback mode is set. Displayed on the screen 18 are, as shown in FIG.
5(f), the scene "C" of the running television program as the primary
screen image and the first playback scene, i.e., playback image "A" as the
subordinate screen image in the picture-in-picture or picture-out-picture
mode. In short, the primary and secondary screen images are simultaneously
displayed.
When the screen change-over button (FIG. 4) is operated as shown in (g) of
FIG. 5 to check the playback picture, the screen change-over or switch
operation is carried out such that the playback image "A" and the scene
"C" of the ordinary program are presented respectively in the primary and
subordinate screens in the picture-in-picture mode as shown in (h) of FIG.
5. When the last playback picture "B" and a scene "D" of the program are
displayed in the picture-in-picture mode (FIG. 5(i)) and the short-term
playback mode is finished or the playback/time-shift stop button (FIG. 4)
is depressed, the screen state is automatically changed to present only a
scene "E" of the live program on the screen (FIG. 5(j)).
When the power switch (FIG. 4) is set to OFF (FIG. 5(k)), the ordinary
screen display is turned off and the automatic record operation is also
automatically terminated (FIG. 5(l)).
FIG. 6 shows a sequence of screens displayed in the long-term playback
mode.
When the power switch (FIG. 4) is turned on (FIG. 6(a)), the recording
operation is commenced in the semiconductor memory 14 as described above
(FIG. 6(b)). Thereafter a scene "A" of the live program is displayed on
the screen 18 of the CRT 11 (FIG. 1) as shown in FIG. 6(c)); furthermore,
the scene "A" is also recorded in the memory 14.
When the long-term playback/time-shift set button (FIG. 4) is once
depressed in the display state (FIG. 6(d)), a screen 18a is presented on
the screen 18 to select the playback time as shown in FIG. 6(e). When one
of the selection items is indicated by operating the cross key (FIG. 4), a
screen 18b is displayed on the screen 18 to select a period of time for
the review of the picture related to the selected playback time as shown
in FIG. 6(f). Either one of the selection items is then similarly chosen
by the cross key.
When the playback/time-shift playback button is operated (FIG. 6(h)), a
picture ranging from a scene "A" of FIG. 6(c) to a scene "B" of FIG. 6(g)
corresponding to the point of time of depression of the button is assumed
as the playback picture such that the live pictures "C" to "D" of the
current program as well as the playback pictures "A" and "B" are presented
in the screen 18 of the CRT 11 in the picture-in-picture mode as shown in
FIGS. 6(i) to 6(l). During the operation above, when the screen
change-over button (FIG. 4) is depressed (FIG. 6(j)), the father-son
relationship of the primary and subordinate screens is exchanged between
the images "C" and "D" and the playback images "A" and "B".
When the playback picture is completely reviewed for the specified period
of time or when the playback/time-shift stop button (FIG. 4) is depressed,
the long-term playback mode is terminated and only the picture of the
ordinary program is displayed on the screen (FIG. 6(m)). Thereafter, when
the power switch (FIG. 4) is set to OFF (FIG. 6(n)), the power is turned
off and the automatic recording operation is finished.
Assume in the long-term playback mode that "60 min" is selected in the
screen image 18a shown in FIG. 6(e) and "10 min" is chosen in the screen
image 18b of FIG. 6(f). A 60-minute picture stored in the storage 5a (FIG.
1) is reproduced as the playback picture to be reviewed in ten minutes
according to a fast review mode. That is, the 60-minute image is
compressed with respect to time to the 10-minute picture to be reviewed in
the fast playback mode.
The operation will be described by referring to FIG. 3A. An address
A.sub.R5 is set as the read start address and the current write address
A.sub.w is assumed as the read end address such that the read operation is
conducted in the storage area ranging from the address A.sub.R5 to the
address A.sub.w at a read speed which is six times the write speed. The
video signals read at the high speed are expanded by the picture expander
15 of FIG. 2 such that every sixth frame (or field) is extracted therefrom
through the thinning-out operation to be written in the memory 16. In the
memory 16, the video signals are subjected to a time-axis conversion. The
signals are then read therefrom at timing suitable for the
picture-in-picture display mode and are then converted by the D/A
converter 17 into analog video signals to be fed to the composition switch
circuit 9.
As above, to attain a 60-minute playback picture, when the read start
address is set to A.sub.R5 and the display periods of playback picture are
specified as 20, 15, 10, and 5 minutes, the video signals of the 60-minute
playback picture is compressed with respect to time respectively to 1/3,
1/4, 1/6, and 1/2 the original volume thereof through the thinning-out
playback process.
Similarly, when the playback time is set to 45, 30, and 15 minutes in the
screen 18a of FIG. 6(e), the read start address is respectively set to
A.sub.R4, A.sub.R3, and A.sub.R2 of FIG. 3(a) such that the signal volume
compression is carried out with respect time according to the display
period (20, 15, 10, or 5 minutes) in the thinning-out playback operation.
In this connection, for example, it is not acceptable that the display
time is longer than the playback time, for example, the playback time is
set as 15 minutes and the display time is specified as 20 minutes.
Incidentally, the read start addresses A.sub.R1, A.sub.R2, A.sub.R3,
A.sub.R4, and A.sub.R5 may be obtained by address counters respectively
provided in the control circuit 4. However, there may be used only one
address counter. When the playback mode is specified, the addresses
A.sub.R1, A.sub.R2, A.sub.R3, A.sub.R4, or A.sub.R5 obtained according to
the write address is set as the initial value to the counter. In addition,
the signal read speed of the semiconductor memory 14 can be decided in
each playback mode by altering the clock frequency of the address counter.
FIG. 7 shows a flow of screen images presented in the short-term time-shift
mode.
When the power button (FIG. 4) is depressed (FIG. 7(a)), the picture
recording is initiated in the semiconductor memory 14 as described above
(FIG. 7(b)). Thereafter, scenes "A" and "B" of the current television
program are displayed on the screen 18 as shown in FIGS. 7(C) and 7(d) and
are then recorded in the memory 14.
When the time-shift record button (FIG. 4) is depressed in this situation
(FIG. 7(e)), the write address A.sub.w a of the memory 14 at this point is
set as the read start address A.sub.R a as described in relation to FIG.
3(b) and then a scene "C" at the pertinent point of time is displayed as a
still picture "C" in the subordinate display screen (FIG. 7(f)).
With this state kept retained, when a certain period of time lapses after a
scene "D" of the program is displayed as the primary screen image and the
still picture "C" is presented as the subordinate screen image as shown in
FIG. (g), if the playback/time-shift playback button (FIG. 4) is operated
(FIG. 7(h)), a playback operation is conducted for the pictures "C" and
"D" stored in the memory 14 during the period from when the time-shift
record button is shifted in FIG. 7(e) to when the playback/time-shift
playback button is operated in FIG. 7(h). That is, as described in
conjunction with FIG. 3(b), the write address A.sub.w b of the memory 14
at the point of time is set as the read end address A.sub.R b such that
the pictures stored in the area ranging from the read start address
A.sub.R a to the read end address A.sub.R b are subjected to the playback
operation. The obtained pictures are displayed together with the video
images "E" and "F" of the television program in the picture-in-picture
display mode as shown in (i), (j), (k) and (l) in FIG. 7.
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