Embodiment
Description, particularly Fig. 1 have shown suitable enforcement example context 100 of the present invention.As shown in Figure 1, environment 100 comprises input unit 10 and an equipment 20.According to the embodiment of demonstration, user input apparatus 10 is embodied as hand-hold type, wireless remote controller, but also can be embodied as wired and/or wireless keyboard, the integrated control panel of equipment 20, and/or other user input apparatus.Equally according to the embodiment of demonstration, equipment 20 is embodied as the TV-signal receiver that is provided with integrated display unit, but also can be embodied as another kind of not with the equipment of integrated display unit or device (as set-top box etc.).More detailed details about user input apparatus 10 and equipment 20 will be provided below.
With reference to figure 2, the user input apparatus 10 more detailed schematic diagrames among Fig. 1 that example embodiment according to the present invention provides have been shown.User input apparatus 10 among Fig. 2 has comprised that the user can operate the control button 15 with the various functions of control appliance 20 and/or other devices.Except control button 15, user input apparatus 10 has also comprised one or more other key/button and/or other control systems.Embodiment according to demonstration, user input apparatus 10 can be operated the control signal that produces and export wired or wireless (connecting as infrared ray or radio frequency) mode, the response user is to the rotation of control button 15 and/or push, thus the various functions of control appliance 20 and/or other devices.For instance, control button 15 may be embodied as the Barrel Key that is produced by Telenostra
TM, or a kind of control device of similar kind.
With reference to figure 3, the control button 15 more detailed schematic diagrames among Fig. 2 that example embodiment according to the present invention provides have been shown.Particularly, Fig. 3 provides according to the end-view of control button 15 of the present invention and end view, has described control button 15 and be the specific function of how operating control appliance 20 and/or other devices by the user.As shown in Figure 3, control button 15 can rotate (promptly clockwise with counterclockwise) to first and second directions, and comprises three positions that can be depressed by the user (being right side, middle part, left side).
According to the embodiment of demonstration, control button 15 can be used first group of function with control appliance 20 under first kind of pattern, also can be under second kind of pattern second group of function of control appliance 20.Under first kind of pattern, control button 15 is used in the on-screen menu that comprises multirow row user selectable icons and navigates, and specific icon in the choice menus, thus a specific function of control appliance 20.Embodiment according to demonstration, control button 15 can be to first (as clockwise or upwards) direction rotation, with highlighted cursor move up on on-screen menu each the row between, can also highlighted cursor be moved down between each row on the on-screen menu to second (as counterclockwise or downward) direction rotation.In case needed row of icons is chosen by this cursor is highlighted, this user can select specific icon by pushing the region of interest of control button 15 in being highlighted outstanding row.
In addition, under second kind of pattern, other functions that can under the situation that does not have on-screen menu to assist, use control button 15 to come control appliance 20.According to the embodiment of demonstration, under second kind of pattern, volume from increase equipment 20 to first direction Spin Control button 15 that can come, and can under second kind of pattern, reduce the volume of equipment 20 to second direction Spin Control button 15.Equally under second kind of pattern, the right side that can press control button 15 assign to increase equipment 20 tuning channel, also can press the button 15 left side assign to reduce equipment 20 tuning channel.But under second kind of pattern, push the middle part display screen menu of control button 15, thus with equipment 20 from second kind of mode switch to the first kind of pattern.
In method described above, the various functions that control button 15 advantageously makes the user use on-screen menu to come control appliance 20 under first kind of pattern, and under the situation that is not having on-screen menu to assist under second kind of pattern the various functions of control appliance 20.Below will be presented in the more detailed details of using about control button 15 under first and second kinds of patterns.
As Fig. 4, having shown according to the embodiment of the invention provides among Fig. 1 the more schematic diagram of detail of equipment.Equipment 20 among Fig. 4 comprises front panel apparatus such as front panel assembly (FRA) 21, amplifying device such as amplifier 22, and I/O (I/O) is installed such as I/O module 23, processing unit such as processor 24 and storage device such as memory 25.Among Fig. 4 in the said elements some can be presented as integrated circuit, and some then are included on one or more integrated circuits for instance.Clear for what describe, may not show some certain conventional key element relevant among Fig. 4, such as some control signal, power supply signal and/or other key elements with equipment 20.
FPA21 can operate the user's input that is used to receive from user input apparatus 10 inputs, and imports corresponding signal with the user and export amplifier 22 to.According to the embodiment of demonstration, FPA21 is from user input apparatus 10 received signals, such as IR and/or RF signal, and produces corresponding signal and exports amplifier 22 to.Amplifier 22 signal that is used for amplifying FPA21 and provides can be provided export processor 23 to.
I/O (I/O) module 23 is used for I/O (I/O) function of actuating equipment 20.According to the embodiment of demonstration, I/O (I/O) module 23 can operate be used for from one or more signal sources such as ground, cable, satellite, the Internet and/or other signal sources receive the signal such as the data-signal of audio frequency, video and/or simulation and/or digital modulation formats.I/O (I/O) module 23 also can be operated and is used for to the treated signal of one or more other equipment outputs, and from these equipment received signals.
Processor 24 can be operated and be used for the various signal processing and the controlled function of actuating equipment 20.Embodiment according to demonstration, processor 24 comprises that by execution functions such as tuning, demodulation, forward error correction and transmission process function handle audio frequency, video and/or the data-signal that I/O (I/O) module 23 provides, thereby produces the numerical data that presents audio frequency, video and/or data content.The numerical data that is produced by these processing capacities can be used to further processing (as mpeg decode etc.) and output.
Processor 24 also can be operated and be used for carrying out the software coding that can make the user come control appliance 20 and/or other equipment by the control button on the user input apparatus 10 15.Embodiment according to demonstration, processor 24 detects and the process user input by the control button 15 of user input apparatus 10, and can import to control in response to these users and himself operate and/or export other elements (comprising the element that does not show in Fig. 4) that control signal is come control appliance 20.Processor 24 also can be operated and be used for carrying out and/or other functions of activated equipment 20, for example, but is not limited to, and the OSD menu of excited users setting and control appliance 20 writes to memory from memory 25 reading of data or with data, and/or other functions.
Memory 25 can be operated and be used for the data storage function of actuating equipment 20.According to the embodiment of demonstration, memory 25 storage data include, but are not limited to software code, OSD menu data, user setup data and/or other data.
For the ease of understanding the present invention better, will provide an example now.With reference to Fig. 5, shown the flow chart 500 of describing step according to an embodiment of the invention.For the purpose of illustration and explanation, will step among Fig. 5 be described with reference to aforesaid user input apparatus 10 and equipment 20.Step among Fig. 5 is as just example, and should not be construed as where face restriction the present invention in office.
When step 505, equipment 20 is in closes/holding state.Embodiment according to demonstration, close/holding state is meant that equipment 20 receives electric energy (as being inserted in the power supply) but is in a kind of mode of operation of the situation of being closed.
In step 510, make the judgement whether user supresses any position on the control button 15 of user input apparatus 10.According to the embodiment of demonstration, processor 24 detects user's pushing control button 15 any positions in step 510.If judging whether in step 510 is fixed, process flow loops is got back to equipment 20 and still is in and closes/step 505 of holding state.As selection, if the judgement in the step 510 is sure, handling process enters the step 515 that equipment 20 is transferred to open state.According to the embodiment of demonstration, in step 515, the one or more control signals of processor 24 output, thus with equipment 20 from close/holding state is converted to open state.
In step 520, make the judgement whether user presses the middle part of control button 15.According to the embodiment of demonstration, in step 520, processor 24 detects any the pushing of user to control button 15 middle parts.If the judgement in the step 520 is sure, handling process enters step 525, and in this step, under the control of processor 24, equipment 20 provides an on-screen menu and makes the user come control appliance 20 by the control button on the user input apparatus 10 15.As previously mentioned, the affirmative determination in the step 520 shows that equipment 20 is from second kind of mode switch to the first kind of pattern.
The example that the on-screen menu that provides in the step 525 has been provided among Fig. 6 and Fig. 7.As Fig. 6 and shown in Figure 7, on- screen menu 600 and 700 has comprised multiple lines and multiple rows user selectable icons separately respectively.In Fig. 6, for example, these icons of fourth line are highlighted by screen cursor is highlighted in the on-screen menu 600, and this screen cursor can move up and down the rotation of control button 15 line by line by the user.As previously mentioned, the user can be at first direction (as clockwise or upwards) Spin Control button 15, the highlighted cursor that respectively in the ranks moves up in on-screen menu 600, on the contrary, can second direction (as counterclockwise or downwards) Spin Control button 15, each in on-screen menu 600 moves down highlighted cursor in the ranks.In case the icon that will go is chosen by cursor is highlighted, the user can be subsequently selects special icon in this selected line by the appropriate section of pressing control button 15.In Fig. 6, for example, when the icon of fourth line is highlighted when highlighting, the user can: (i) right side of pressing control button 15 come increase equipment 20 present tuning channel, the left side of (ii) pressing control button 15 reduce equipment 20 present tuning channel, or the middle part of (iii) pressing control button 15 enters " 0 " channel.
As another example, in Fig. 6, to enter channel " 15 ", the user will walk to the icon top line with first direction (as clockwise or upwards) Spin Control button 15 highlighted cursor three that moves up.In case the top line icon is chosen by screen cursor is highlighted, the left side that the user will press control button 15 enters channel " 1 ".The user moves down highlighted cursor one with second direction (as counterclockwise or downward) Spin Control button 15 and walks to the second row icon then.In case the second row icon is chosen by screen cursor is highlighted, the middle part that the user presses control button 15 enters channel " 5 " thereby and enters channel " 15 ".In step 525, to withdraw from Fig. 6 on-screen menu 600, the user can wait for that several seconds are to on-screen menu " termination " and disappearance, or highlighted cursor to being displaced downwardly to the fifth line icon, being pressed the left side of control button 15 then and selected " withdrawing from " icon with second direction (as counterclockwise or downwards) Spin Control button 15.
On-screen menu 700 among Fig. 7 has been described an expanded menu under " sound " icon of Fig. 6.Produce the extended screen menu 700 among Fig. 7, the user moves down highlighted cursor to " sound " icon with second direction (as counterclockwise or downward) Spin Control button 15.In case " sound " icon is chosen by cursor is highlighted, any part (being right side, left side or middle part) that the user presses control button 15 shows and represents " sound " menu that launches among Fig. 7.In case shown " sound " menu of expansion, the right side that whenever clicks control button 15 will be the highlighted cursor icon that moves right.Therefore, if the user presses the right side twice of control button 15, highlighted cursor will move right two icons also with highlighted the choosing of " high pitch " icon, as shown in Figure 7.The user can be respectively adjusts the level of " high pitch " up or down by Spin Control button 15 up or down then.Can adjust other icons among Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 by same mode.Withdraw from expansion " sound " menu of Fig. 7, the user can " bass " icon be highlighted choose time by the left side of control button 15.
Refer again to Fig. 5, if judging whether in the step 520 is fixed, handling process enters step 530, and wherein equipment 20 remains on second kind of pattern, and makes the judgement whether user presses control button 15 right sides.According to the embodiment of demonstration, in step 530, processor 24 detects any the pushing of user to control button 15 right sides.If the judgement in the step 530 is sure, handling process enters step 535, increases present tuning channel at this step equipment 20.According to the embodiment of demonstration, processor 24 its tuber functions of control, thus realize that in step 535 channel increases.From step 535, process flow loops is got back to the step 515 that equipment 20 keeps open state.
Selectively, if judging whether in the step 530 is fixed, handling process enters step 540, judges whether the user presses control button 15 left sides.According to the embodiment of demonstration, in step 540, processor 24 detects any the pushing of user to control button 15 left sides.If the judgement in the step 540 is sure, handling process access arrangement 20 reduces the step 545 of the present channel of being transferred to.According to the embodiment of demonstration, thereby processor 24 control tuber functions realize that in step 545 channel reduces.After step 545, process flow loops is got back to the step 515 that equipment 20 keeps open state.
Selectively, if judging whether in the step 540 is fixed, handling process enters step 550, judges whether the user rotates up control button 15.According to the embodiment of demonstration, in step 550, processor 24 detects the user any of control button 15 is rotated up.If the judgement in the step 550 is sure, handling process access arrangement 20 increases the step 555 of volume.According to the embodiment of demonstration, processor 24 to the audio control circuit of equipment 20 (showing among Fig. 4) thus the one or more control signals of output realize the volume increase in step 555.From step 555, process flow loops is got back to the step 515 that equipment 20 keeps open state.
Selectively, if judging whether in the step 550 is fixed, handling process enters step 560, judges whether the user is rotated down control button 15.According to the embodiment of demonstration, in step 560, processor 24 detects the user any of control button 15 is rotated down.If the judgement in the step 560 is sure, handling process access arrangement 20 reduces the step 565 of volume.According to the embodiment of demonstration, processor 24 is to the one or more control signal of audio control circuit (showing among Fig. 4) output of equipment 20, thereby the realization volume reduces in step 565.After step 565, process flow loops is got back to the step 515 that equipment 20 keeps open state.
Selectively, if judging whether in the step 560 is fixed, handling process enters step 570, judge the user whether at the fixed time in the section not only downwards but also rotated up control button 15.According to the embodiment of demonstration, in step 570, processor 24 detects in the section at the fixed time the user to the rotation up and down of control button 15.If judging whether in the step 570 is fixed, process flow loops is got back to the step 515 that equipment 20 keeps open state.Selectively, if the judgement in the step 570 is sure, handling process enters step 575, and equipment 20 is quiet to its audio frequency output.According to the embodiment of demonstration, the audio control circuit (in Fig. 4 do not show) of processor 24 in equipment 20 exported one or more control signals, thereby realizes mute function in step 575.According to the present invention, can also accomplish to activate other methods of mute function.For example, if in the section control button 15 is rotated down predetermined distance (as being rotated down fast) at the fixed time, just can activate mute function.In case behind the activation mute function, can remove the output of audio mute function recovery audio frequency thereby rotate up control button 15.After the step 575, process flow loops is got back to the step 515 that equipment 20 keeps open state.
As mentioned above, the invention provides and a kind ofly can make the user control a method such as the various functions of the kind equipment of TV-signal receiver by a kind of mode simply and easily.The present invention can be applied to variously to have or not to have on the equipment of integrated display.Therefore, the phrase of herein using " TV-signal receiver " can relate to system or equipment and comprise, but be not limited to, television set, computer or comprise the monitor of integrated display, and other system and equipment such as set-top box, video tape recorder (VCRs), DVD player, game machine, individual video recorder (PVRs), computer or other do not comprise the equipment of integrated display unit.
Though the present invention has described a preferable design, in principle disclosed herein and the scope, can further revise the present invention.Therefore, the application is intended to cover various variations, use or the change of the invention of using its basic principle.And those in the qualification that the application is intended to cover the known technology of affiliated technical field related to the present invention and drop on claims depart from.