CN101227569A - Television box and television box group - Google Patents

Abstract

A TV box suitable for multiple TV sets is composed of a RF processing module for receiving and converting RF signals, a signal processing module for receiving and converting video-audio signals of another TV set, and a picture-in-picture image processor for processing two signals. The control module of the television box selects a signal to be output according to the command and converts the signal into an audio-video signal so as to be played by a computer screen. Wherein the command is from a user's instruction or a control signal from another television box. A plurality of television boxes can be connected for use, so that the limitation that a single traditional computer screen is matched with a single television box is improved.

Description

TV Box and TV Box Set

technical field

The present invention relates to an image communication system, and particularly relates to a TV box.

Background technique

In recent years, the demand for using computer screens as TV screens has increased significantly. Generally, the computer host and computer screen are connected to a TV box, and then the TV box is connected to a TV cable or antenna, and the video signal transmitted by the TV station can be converted through the TV box. while watching on a computer screen.

However, the general TV box is designed for stand-alone use, that is, one computer screen can only be connected to one TV box. When the user wants to watch the programs of two TV channels at the same time, two solutions are usually used. First, use the built-in channel preview function of the TV box to watch multiple channels at the same time. However, because each TV box has only one set of circuits for processing video signals, when using the channel preview function, the TV box needs to switch between multiple TV channels, so that the picture of each channel is intermittent and cannot be displayed smoothly. play.

The second solution is to use two TV boxes to connect two computer screens, so that two channels can be watched at the same time, and the pictures are smooth and complete. However, preparing two sets of TV boxes, computer screens and related peripheral equipment is not only expensive, but also peripheral equipment such as audio and remote control cannot be integrated, and there are many restrictions and inconveniences in operation.

Based on the above problems, a new TV box is needed, which can be connected and used by multiple TV boxes. Not only can multi-channel programs be played on a computer screen at the same time, but also multiple TV boxes can be controlled simultaneously through a control interface, which is convenient for users to operate.

Contents of the invention

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a TV box, which can be used to connect with a second TV box. Improve the limitation of the traditional single computer screen with a single TV box, which is convenient for users to use and operate.

There is a radio frequency processing module in the TV box, which is used to receive the radio frequency signal, and convert the radio frequency signal into the first digital audio-visual signal. In addition, there is a signal processing module in the TV box, which is connected to the second TV box and receives the first audio-visual signal output by the second TV box, and converts the first audio-visual signal into a second digital audio-visual signal. Then, through the picture-in-picture image processor coupled to the radio frequency processing module and the signal processing module, the first digital audio-visual signal and the second digital audio-visual signal are subjected to picture-in-picture processing to generate a third digital audio-visual signal.

The control module of the TV box can receive commands from the user, and can also receive commands from the second TV box. The control module is also connected to the radio frequency processing module, the signal processing module and the picture-in-picture image processor, and according to the command received, selects one of the first digital audio-visual signal, the second digital audio-visual signal and the third digital audio-visual signal, so that It is converted into a second audio-visual signal for playing on a computer screen.

It can be seen that the TV box of this embodiment can be used in multiple stacks. Through the picture-in-picture playback function of the TV box, the user can watch TV programs of two different channels on the same computer screen at the same time. Moreover, the user only needs to issue an operation command to one of the TV boxes, and the TV boxes will transmit the operation commands to each other to control all the TV boxes at the same time, which is convenient for the user to operate and use.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a TV box set with two TV boxes stacked together. The two TV boxes respectively process the radio frequency signals of two different TV channels, and then a TV box integrates them into a picture-in-picture picture, which is output on a single computer screen. Realize the requirement of watching multi-channel programs on a single screen without sacrificing the picture quality of the programs.

The first TV box in the TV box group has a first radio frequency processing module for receiving a first radio frequency signal and converting the first radio frequency signal into a first digital video signal. The active control module of the first TV box is connected to the first radio frequency processing module, receives user commands, and generates a control signal according to the commands to control the first and second TV boxes. In the first TV box, the active control module converts the first digital video signal into a first video signal according to the control signal. In addition, the active control module transmits a control signal to the first radio frequency processing module, and the first radio frequency processing module switches the channel of the first radio frequency signal according to the control signal.

The second TV box coupled to the first TV box has a second radio frequency processing module for receiving the second radio frequency signal and converting it into a second digital video signal. A signal processing module of the second TV box is connected to the active control module of the first TV box to receive the first video signal and convert it into a third digital video signal. There is also a picture-in-picture image processor in the second TV box, which performs picture-in-picture processing on the second digital audio-visual signal and the third digital audio-visual signal to generate the fourth digital audio-visual signal.

A passive control module of the second TV box is connected to the active control module of the first TV box and the picture-in-picture image processor to receive the control signal generated by the first TV box. Wherein, the passive control module will form a second audio-visual signal according to the control signal and the fourth digital audio-visual signal for playing on the computer screen. In addition, the passive control module also transmits a control signal to the second radio frequency processing module, so that the second radio frequency processing module switches the channel of the second radio frequency signal according to the control signal.

It can be seen from this that the user only needs to issue an operation command to the first TV box to control the two TV boxes at the same time. In addition, the radio frequency signals sent by different TV stations are processed separately by the two TV boxes, and finally output by the second TV box. Therefore, only one set of audio-visual peripheral equipment is needed to be connected to the second TV box, which is convenient for users to operate.

The present invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, but not as a limitation of the present invention.

Description of drawings

In order to make the above and other objects, features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention more comprehensible, the detailed description of the accompanying drawings is as follows:

Fig. 1 shows the block diagram of a kind of TV box according to an embodiment;

Fig. 2 shows the block diagram of a kind of TV box group according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an operating method of a TV box according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Among them, reference signs

10: TV box group 110: RF processing module

100: TV box 112: RF input port

112: RF input terminal 114: Tuner

114: Tuner 118: Internal Antenna

116: Analog-to-digital converter 120: Signal processing module

118: Internal antenna 130: Picture-in-picture image processor

122: Signal input terminal 142: Command transmission terminal

140: Control Module 144: Receiver

142: Command transmission end 150: Passive control module

146: Switcher 170: Computer

160: Radio frequency signal receiving device 200: TV box

180: Computer screen 220: Computer signal processing module

210: RF processing module 240: Active control module

230: Picture-in-picture image processor 300: Operation method

310-380: Steps

Detailed ways

The invention provides a TV box, which is suitable for stacking connection of multiple TV boxes. Improve the limitation of the traditional single computer screen with a single TV box, which is convenient for users to use and operate.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which shows a TV box 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The TV box 100 is suitable for connecting multiple TV boxes and sharing the same computer screen 180 . In FIG. 1 , a TV box 100 is connected to a TV box 200 .

Inside the TV box 100 there are a radio frequency processing module 110 , a signal processing module 120 and a picture-in-picture image processor 130 . The radio frequency processing module 110 is responsible for receiving and converting the radio frequency signal provided by the TV station to generate a corresponding digital video signal. The signal processing module 120 is connected to the TV box 200, and converts the video and audio signals generated by the TV box 200 into digital video and audio signals. In other words, when the radio frequency signals of the TV box 100 and the TV box 200 come from different TV channels, the digital audio-visual signal produced by the radio frequency processing module 110 represents the TV channel program received by the TV box 100, and the digital video signal produced by the signal processing module 120 The digital video signal represents the TV channel of the TV box 200 .

Then, the two digital audio-visual signals are sent to the picture-in-picture image processor 130 for picture-in-picture processing, and are also output as digital audio-visual signals. Finally, the control module 140 selects one of the three digital audio-visual signals and converts it into an output video-audio signal that can be played by the computer screen 180 . Therefore, the user can choose the TV channel program to watch, or choose the picture-in-picture in which the programs of two channels appear together. Each component in the TV box 100 will be described in detail below.

The radio frequency processing module 110 is used for receiving radio frequency signals, and converting the radio frequency signals into digital audio and video signals. The radio frequency signal is sent by each TV station and received by the radio frequency signal receiving device 160 such as an antenna. The radio frequency processing module 110 has a radio frequency input port 112 for connecting a radio frequency signal receiving device 160, such as an antenna, a dish antenna, etc., to input a radio frequency signal. In addition, in this embodiment, the radio frequency processing module 110 has an internal antenna 118 for receiving radio frequency signals.

A tuner 114 is connected to the RF input port 112 and the internal antenna 118 to tune the input RF signal to generate an analog signal. Specifically, the radio frequency signal is a high-frequency analog signal, and the tuner 114 is responsible for amplifying and down-converting the radio frequency signal to an intermediate frequency range. In addition, the radio frequency signal usually carries signals of multiple TV channels, and the tuner 114 also selects one channel among the many channels and filters out signals of other channels, that is, performs channel selection. The radio frequency processing module 110 also includes an analog-to-digital converter 116 connected to the tuner 114 to convert the tuned analog signal into a digital video signal.

The signal processing module 120 has a signal input port 122 for connecting to the TV box 200 to transmit the video and audio signals output by the TV box 200 to the TV box 100 . Specifically, the signal input port 122 can be a video image array (Video Graphic Array, VGA) terminal for transmitting video and audio signals in VGA format. In addition, the signal input port 122 can also be a digital visual interface (Digital Visual Interface, DVI) for transmitting video and audio signals in DVI format.

The picture-in-picture image processor 130 is respectively connected to the radio frequency processing module 110 and the signal processing module 120 to receive the generated digital audio-visual signals, to process the two digital audio-visual signals in picture-in-picture and generate a corresponding digital audio-visual signal. Generally speaking, picture-in-picture can be subdivided into picture-in-picture (PIP) mode, picture-on-picture (POP) mode and dual-window (picture-and-picture, PAP) mode. model. Among them, the picture-in-picture mode is to play one digital audio-visual signal in full screen and output its sound effect, while the other digital audio-visual signal is played in a small window. The position of the small window can be changed at will. The picture-on-picture mode is similar to the picture-in-picture mode, but the position of the small window is fixed. The dual-window mode divides the screen into two juxtaposed images, plays two digital audio-visual signals respectively, and the sound effects of the two digital audio-visual signals are respectively output by two audio output devices, such as speakers and earphones.

When the TV box 100 and the TV box 200 are stacked and connected, in addition to integrating video and audio functions, it also has the function of integrating the operation control interface, so as to facilitate the user to control the TV box 100 and the TV box 200 at the same time. Specifically, the control module 140 of the TV box 100 has a command transmitting end 142 connected to the TV box 200 . When the TV box 100 is in the active control mode, when the receiver 144 receives the user's command from the remote controller 190, the command is transmitted to the control module 140, and then the control module 140 transmits the command to the TV box 200 through the command transmission terminal 142. , to operate the TV box 200. Conversely, when the TV box 100 is in the passive control mode, the control module 140 can receive commands transmitted from the TV box 200 through the command transmitting terminal 142, and perform various actions according to the commands, such as channel change, volume adjustment, or image control. In this embodiment, the radio frequency processing module 110 selects the channel of its radio frequency signal according to the command sent from the control module 140 . In addition, in this embodiment, a switcher 146 is included for switching between the active control mode and the passive control mode. Specifically, the switch 146 is connected to the control module 140 , the receiver 144 and the command transmitting end 142 , and one of the receiver 144 and the command transmitting end 142 is selected to be connected to the control module 140 .

The control module 140 is connected to the radio frequency processing module 110 , the signal processing module 120 and the picture-in-picture image processor 130 to input three digital video and audio signals. And according to the command, such as the user's command or the command from the TV box 200, one of the three digital audio-visual signals is selected and converted into an output audio-visual signal for the computer screen 180 to play.

It can be seen from the above embodiments that the TV box 100 can be used in connection with other TV boxes, breaking through the limitation that a single TV box corresponds to a single computer screen. When the TV boxes 100 are stacked and connected, their audio-visual signals can be integrated and output from the same computer screen 180, and share the same set of peripheral audio-visual equipment. Moreover, since the control module 140 can also be integrated, the user only needs to issue instructions to one of the TV boxes 100 to control other TV boxes at the same time.

The above content is a TV box 100 according to one embodiment, and then another embodiment is used to illustrate the connection and function of the TV box 100 and the TV box 200 . Please refer to FIG. 2 , which shows a TV box set 10 according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the TV box group 10 there is a TV box 100 and a TV box 200, both of which are connected to each other. The TV box 100 receives the video and audio signals output by the TV box 200 , integrates them and transmits them to the computer screen 180 . Meanwhile, the TV box 200 is responsible for receiving and processing user commands, and controlling the TV box 200 and the TV box 100 according to the commands. The details are as follows.

The TV box 200 has a radio frequency processing module 210 for receiving a radio frequency signal and converting it into a digital audio-visual signal, which will be referred to as the first digital video-audio signal in the following content for convenience of distinction. A computer signal processing module 220 is connected to a computer 170 for receiving the signal sent by the computer 170 and converting it into a digital audio-visual signal, called the second digital audio-visual signal. The TV box 200 also has a picture-in-picture image processor 230, which is connected to the radio frequency processing module 210 and the computer signal processing module 220, and performs picture-in-picture processing on the first and second digital audio-visual signals to generate a picture-in-picture picture. Three digital audio-visual signals.

There is an active control module 240 in the TV box 200, which is used to receive commands from users and control the TV box 200 and the TV box 100 according to the commands. Specifically, the active control module 240 is connected to the passive control module 150 of the TV box 100 . And when the user transmits a command to the receiver 144 through the remote controller 190 , the receiver 144 transmits the received command to the active control module 240 . When the active control module 240 receives the user's command, it generates a corresponding control signal according to the command, and transmits the control signal to the passive control module 150 . Both the active control module 240 and the passive control module 150 perform various tasks according to the control signal, such as switching TV channels, adjusting volume or picture, and so on. In addition, in this embodiment, the active control module 240 transmits the control signal to the radio frequency processing module 210, so that the radio frequency processing module 210 can select the channel of the radio frequency signal according to the control signal. Similarly, the passive control module 150 will also transmit the control signal to the radio frequency processing module 110, so that it can select the channel of the radio frequency signal according to the control signal.

Therefore, the user can simultaneously control the TV box 200 and the TV box 100 only by giving instructions to the active control module 240 . To achieve the integration of its control interface, which is convenient for use and operation.

The active control module 240 is also connected to the radio frequency processing module 210 , the computer signal processing module 220 and the picture-in-picture image processor 230 to input the first, second and third digital audio-visual signals. And according to the control signal, one of the three digital audio-visual signals is selected, converted into an audio-visual signal, and sent to the TV box 100 . In other words, the user can choose whether the audio-visual signal transmitted to the TV box 100 is a TV channel program, a computer screen, or a picture-in-picture of a TV program and a computer.

The TV box 100 includes a radio frequency processing module 110 , a signal processing module 120 and a picture-in-picture image processor 130 . As mentioned above, the radio frequency processing module 110 receives and converts a radio frequency signal into a digital video signal, which is called a fourth digital video signal. The signal processing module 120 is connected to the active control module 240 of the TV box 200 through the signal input port 122 to receive the audio-visual signal generated by the active control module 240 and convert the audio-visual signal into a fifth digital audio-visual signal. Wherein, the signal input port 122 can be a video image array terminal or a digital video interface.

The picture-in-picture image processor 130 is connected to the radio frequency processing module 110 and the signal processing module 120, and performs picture-in-picture processing on the fourth and fifth digital audio-visual signals, and generates a corresponding sixth digital audio-visual signal. The connections and functions of the radio frequency processing module 110 , the signal processing module 120 and the picture-in-picture image processor 130 have been described in detail above, and will not be repeated here.

The passive control module 150 is connected to the radio frequency processing module 110 , the signal processing module 120 and the picture-in-picture image processor 130 to input the fourth, fifth and sixth digital audio-visual signals. And according to the control signal generated by the active control module 240 , one of the three digital audio-visual signals is selected and converted into an audio-visual signal for playing on the computer screen 180 .

For example, when the user wants to watch the programs of the two TV channels of A and B, he can send a command to the receiver 144 through the remote controller 190, and then transmit the command to the active control module 240 by the receiver 144, and form a command in the active control module 240. A control signal is sent to the radio frequency processing module 210 and the passive control module 150 . The radio frequency processing module 210 selects the radio frequency signal of TV channel A according to the control signal, and converts it into a digital video signal. The active control module 240 also selects the digital audio-visual signal as the output audio-visual signal according to the control signal. The radio frequency processing module 110 selects the radio frequency signal of TV channel B according to the control signal transmitted from the passive control module 150 . The passive control module 150 selects to convert the digital audio-visual signal with the picture-in-picture of TV channel A and B into an output audio-visual signal.

In this embodiment, the radio frequency processing module 110 and the radio frequency processing module 210 respectively have a radio frequency input port 112 , a tuner 114 and an internal antenna 118 . Internal antenna 118 is used to receive radio frequency signals. The radio frequency input port 112 is used for connecting the radio frequency signal receiving device 160 , and the radio frequency signal receiving device 160 receives the radio frequency signal. The tuner 114 is connected to the radio frequency input port 112 and the internal antenna 118, and tunes the input radio frequency signal.

As mentioned above, when the tuner 114 works, it selects a TV channel signal for tuning and filters out other signals. Therefore, when a user uses a single TV box 100 to watch programs of more than two TV channels at the same time, the tuner 114 has to switch among the TV channels, which causes each picture to be intermittent and unable to play continuously.

In this embodiment, the TV box 100 and the TV box 200 respectively have a tuner 114 . When the user wants to watch two programs at the same time, the tuner 114 of the TV box 100 is responsible for the radio frequency signal of one TV channel, and the tuner 114 of the TV box 200 is responsible for the radio frequency signal of the other TV channel. Since each tuner 114 only needs to be in charge of one channel, there is no need to switch between channels, so the continuity of the picture will not be broken.

Although in this embodiment, the connection between one TV box 100 and the TV box 200 is taken as an example. However, in practice, the number of TV boxes 100 included in the TV box set 10 may be multiple, not limited to one.

The TV box set 10 can provide users to watch computer screens or different TV channel programs, or any combination thereof, by stacking and connecting a plurality of TV boxes and integrating video and audio signals. Moreover, one TV box controls other TV boxes as a whole, and the user only needs to issue an operation command to one TV box to control all the TV boxes at the same time, which is convenient for the user to control at the same time.

Based on the above content, it can be seen that when multiple TV boxes are stacked and used in series, the video and audio signals of each TV box can be transmitted to each other, and the control interface, that is, the control signals can be unified and integrated, so as to facilitate overall management of each TV box. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an operating method 300 of a TV box according to another embodiment of the present invention. It is used to explain how to operate multiple TV boxes, and integrate the audio-visual signals and control signals of each TV box, and play them on a computer screen.

The steps of the operation method 300 are as follows. Step 310: Use the first TV box to convert the radio frequency signal into a first digital video signal. Step 320: Use the second TV box to convert the radio frequency signal into a second digital video signal. Next is step 330: transmitting the first digital video signal to the second TV box. Therefore, the second TV box has the first digital audio-visual signal from the first TV box and the second digital audio-visual signal generated by itself.

Step 340: Form a control signal using the first TV box. In step 340, the first TV box receives the user's command through the receiver. Specifically, the user can use the remote controller to transmit the infrared signal to the remote control receiver of the first TV box. Alternatively, the user may enter commands using the control panel on the first TV box. When the first TV box receives the command, it will generate a corresponding control signal according to the command.

Next is step 350 : transmitting the control signal to the second TV box. Therefore, both the first TV box and the second TV box can work according to the control signal. For example, both the first TV box and the second TV box switch the channel of the radio frequency signal according to the control signal. In addition, in step 350, it also includes turning off the receiver of the second TV box, so that the second TV box cannot receive the user's command.

Next is step 360: using the second TV box to form a picture-in-picture signal. Specifically, the second TV box will combine the first digital video signal and the second digital video signal according to the control signal, and perform picture-in-picture processing to form a picture-in-picture signal.

Next is step 370: converting the picture-in-picture signal into an audio-video signal. In step 370, the second TV box converts the picture-in-picture signal according to the control signal to form an audio-visual signal conforming to the display format of the computer screen. Finally, step 380: using the second TV box to transmit video and audio signals to the computer screen for playing on the computer screen.

Although the present invention has been disclosed above with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and the present invention can also have other various embodiments, without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention, those familiar with the field A skilled person can make various corresponding changes and deformations according to the present invention, but these corresponding changes and deformations should all belong to the protection scope of the appended claims of the present invention.

Claims (10)

1. a TV box is applicable to connect one second TV box, it is characterized in that this TV box comprises at least:

One radio frequency processing module in order to receiving a radiofrequency signal, and is converted to one first digital audio-video signal with this radiofrequency signal;

One signal processing module connects this second TV box, receiving one first video-audio signal of this second TV box output, and this first video-audio signal is converted to one second digital audio-video signal;

One picture-in-picture image processor couples this radio frequency processing module and this signal processing module, in order to this first digital audio-video signal and this second digital audio-video signal are carried out the PIP processing, to produce one the 3rd digital audio-video signal;

One control module, connect this radio frequency processing module, this signal processing module and this picture-in-picture image processor, and according to an order, selection becomes one second video-audio signal in this first digital audio-video signal, this second digital audio-video signal and the 3rd digital audio-video signal, plays for a computer screen.

2. TV box according to claim 1 is characterized in that, more comprises a command transfer end and connects this control module and this second TV box, in order to transmit this order that this second TV box produced to this control module.

3. TV box according to claim 2 is characterized in that, more comprises a receiver and connects this control module, in order to receive this order of a user.

4. TV box according to claim 3 is characterized in that, more comprises a switch and connects this receiver, this command transfer end and this control module, and one of them is connected this control module in order to select this receiver and this command transfer end.

5. TV box according to claim 4 is characterized in that, this control module is transmitted this order to this radio frequency processing module, and this radio frequency processing module is according to the channel of this this radiofrequency signal of command selection.

6. TV box according to claim 1 is characterized in that, this radio frequency processing module comprises:

One rf inputs mouth is in order to connect a radiofrequency signal receiving system, to import this radiofrequency signal; And

One tuner connects this rf inputs mouth, and this radiofrequency signal is carried out tuning processing.

7. TV box according to claim 6 is characterized in that, this radio frequency processing module more comprises an inside antenna, connects this tuner, in order to receive this radiofrequency signal.

8. a TV box group is characterized in that, comprises:

One first TV box comprises:

One first radio frequency processing module in order to receiving one first radiofrequency signal, and converts one first digital audio-video signal to;

One ACTIVE CONTROL module, connect this first radio frequency processing module, in order to the order that receives a user to produce a control signal, and this first digital audio-video conversion of signals is become one first video-audio signal according to this control signal, and transmit this and control signal to this first radio frequency processing module, wherein this first radio frequency processing module is switched the channel of this first radiofrequency signal according to this control signal;

One second TV box couples this first TV box, comprises:

One second radio frequency processing module in order to receiving one second radiofrequency signal, and converts one second digital audio-video signal to;

One signal processing module connects this ACTIVE CONTROL module, in order to receiving this first video-audio signal, and converts one the 3rd digital audio-video signal to;

One picture-in-picture image processor connects this second radio frequency processing module and this signal processing module, in order to this second digital audio-video signal and the 3rd digital audio-video signal are carried out the PIP processing, to produce one the 4th digital audio-video signal; And

One Passive Control module, connect this ACTIVE CONTROL module and this picture-in-picture image processor, in order to receive this control signal, and transmit this and control signal to this second radio frequency processing module, and form one second video-audio signal according to this control signal and the 4th digital audio-video signal, play for a computer screen, wherein this second radio frequency processing module is switched the channel of this second radiofrequency signal according to this control signal.

9. TV box group according to claim 8, it is characterized in that, this passive module connects this second radio frequency processing module and this signal processing module, and, in this second digital audio-video signal, the 3rd digital audio-video signal and the 4th digital audio-video signal, select one to be converted into this second video-audio signal according to this control signal.

10. TV box group according to claim 8 is characterized in that, this first radio frequency processing module and this second radio frequency processing module respectively comprise a tuner, respectively in order to this first radiofrequency signal and this second radiofrequency signal are carried out tuning processing.

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