JP2005229495A - Control apparatus for bathroom television or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a channel selection switching means of a bathroom television to switch the channel selection of a digital broadcast when connecting a digital broadcast tuner or the like to the outside of the bathroom television. <P>SOLUTION: A television 1 installed in a bathroom or a bathroom remote controller for a hot water supplier which incorporates a television, comprises a VHF/UHF connection terminal 2 for connecting an antenna line, an analog broadcast tuner 3 and a channel selection switching means 4 such as a channel switch, and a channel selection instruction signal sending means 7 is provided for transmitting a channel selection state instructed by the channel selection switching means 4 to the outside of the bathroom television. Thus, the channel selection state can be transmitted to the digital broadcast tuner, and the channel selection of the digital broadcast can be switched by the channel selection switching means of the bathroom television. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a television set installed in a bathroom, and more particularly to a channel selection means when analog broadcasting is abolished.

  Conventionally, televisions installed in this type of bathroom have been relatively small for the purpose of receiving analog broadcasting (VHF / UHF).

  FIG. 3 shows a configuration of a conventional bathroom television. A signal received by an antenna is transmitted from an antenna connection terminal 2 to an analog broadcast tuner 3 via an antenna line, and a channel selection switch 4 such as a channel switch. The signal selected by the analog broadcast tuner 3 based on the channel selection instruction is demodulated into an image and sound and output to the screen (liquid crystal panel or CRT) and the speaker of the television main body 1.

  In general televisions, there are terminals (D terminal, S terminal, video terminal, etc.) for inputting video signals of various standards, but bathroom televisions are required to be drip-proof, and Since a relatively small television is used, only the antenna connection terminal is used.

  As a method of transmitting an image or sound signal to a bathroom television, a method using a weak radio wave transmitter / receiver (for example, see Patent Document 1) or a method using remote control wiring of a water heater (for example, Patent Document 2) Has been proposed, but due to price issues, it has not been put into practical use.

  On the other hand, analog broadcasting is currently being replaced by digital broadcasting. In 2011, analog broadcasting is about to be abolished.

  In many cases, bathroom televisions are installed in the bathroom. Even if bathroom televisions equipped with digital broadcast tuners are marketed in the future, replacement requires work and labor.

Accordingly, FIG. 4 shows a configuration in which digital broadcasting can be received by using a bathroom television for analog broadcasting as it is. The signal received by the antenna is transmitted to the digital broadcast tuner, and the output (video signal) from the digital broadcast tuner is connected to the antenna connection terminal 2 of the bathroom television via the RF converter. According to this configuration, digital broadcasting can be viewed using the bathroom television as it is.
JP 2001-230716 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-159861

  However, in the conventional configuration, since the channel selection is performed by the tuner for digital broadcasting, there is a problem that the channel selection cannot be switched even if the channel selection switching means 4 such as a channel switch of a bathroom television is operated. .

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and can provide a digital television tuner that can be connected without impairing operability, and is easy to use even when analog broadcasting is abolished in the future. With the goal.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a control device for a bathroom television or the like according to the present invention includes a channel selection instruction signal sending means 7 for transmitting a channel selection state instructed by the channel selection switching means 4 to the outside of the bathroom television. I have.

  As a result, when a digital broadcast tuner is connected to the outside of the bathroom television, the channel selection state instructed by the channel selection switching means 4 can be transmitted to the digital broadcast tuner, such as a bathroom television channel switch. By operating the channel selection switching means 4, it is possible to select a digital broadcast.

  The control device such as a bathroom television of the present invention can easily connect a digital broadcasting tuner without degrading operability when switching from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting.

  The first invention is a television set installed in a bathroom or a bathroom remote controller for a water heater with a built-in television, and a channel selection switch means such as a VHF / UHF connection terminal 2 for connecting an antenna line, an analog broadcast tuner 3 and a channel switch. 4 and a channel selection instruction signal sending means 7 for transmitting the channel selection state instructed by the channel selection switching means 4 to the outside of the bathroom television, thereby providing a digital broadcast tuner outside the bathroom television. Can be transmitted to the tuner for digital broadcasting by operating the channel selection switching means 4 such as a channel switch of a bathroom television. You can tune in.

  In the second invention, in particular, the channel selection instruction signal transmission means 7 of the first invention has a switching function, and the channel selection instruction made by the channel selection switching means 4 is transmitted to the analog broadcast tuner 3 as it is. The analog broadcast tuner 3 is informed of a fixed channel selection instruction, and can switch between the case where the channel selection instruction made by the channel selection switching means 4 is transmitted to the outside of the television, and receives the analog broadcast. In the meantime, the channel selection instruction made by the channel selection switching means 4 is transmitted to the analog broadcast tuner 3 as it is, and when the analog broadcast is abolished and the digital broadcast tuner is externally connected, the analog broadcast tuner 3 is not connected. Configuration for transmitting a fixed channel selection instruction and transmitting the channel selection instruction made by the channel selection switching means 4 to the tuner for digital broadcasting via the channel selection instruction signal sending means 7 It can be easily realized.

  In the third invention, in particular, the signal sent from the channel selection instruction signal sending means 7 of the first or second invention is converted into an infrared light emission type PPM-modulated optical signal. By using the light receiving unit of the infrared remote controller that is normally installed in the broadcast tuner, the channel selection instruction made by the channel selection switching means 4 of the bathroom television can be easily transmitted to the digital broadcast tuner.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a control device such as a bathroom television in the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, a VHF / UHF connection terminal 2 for connecting an antenna line to the interior of a bathroom TV main body 1, an analog broadcast tuner 3, and a channel selection switch 4 such as a channel switch are provided. There is provided a channel selection instruction signal transmission means 7 for transmitting the selected channel selection state to the outside of the bathroom television. The flow of signals between the constituent blocks is indicated by arrows. The VHF / UHF connection terminal 2 is described as a terminal, but it may be a connector or a cable wire.

  The operation and action of the control device such as a bathroom television configured as described above will be described below.

  First, a signal input to the VHF / UHF connection terminal 2 is a signal received by an antenna when receiving an analog broadcast, and when receiving a digital broadcast, the output of the digital broadcast tuner 5 is output by an RF converter 6 as shown in FIG. It becomes the converted signal. The signal input to the VHF / UHF connection terminal 2 is transmitted to the analog broadcast tuner 3. A channel selection instruction from channel selection switching means 4 such as a channel switch is transmitted to channel selection instruction signal sending means 7, and the channel selection state is transmitted from the bathroom television to the outside. The channel selection instruction signal transmission means 7 transmits the channel selection state to the outside of the bathroom television and also transmits the channel selection instruction to the analog broadcast tuner 3. Based on this channel selection instruction, the signal selected by the analog broadcast tuner 3 is demodulated into an image and sound and output to the screen (liquid crystal panel or CRT) and the speaker of the television body 1.

  When receiving the analog broadcast, the channel selection instruction from the channel selection switching means 4 is transmitted as it is to the analog broadcast tuner 3 via the channel selection instruction signal sending means 7.

  When receiving the digital broadcast, the channel selection instruction from the channel selection switching means 4 is transmitted to the digital broadcast tuner 5 installed outside the bathroom television via the channel selection instruction signal sending means 7. Based on this channel selection instruction, the digital broadcast tuner 5 performs channel selection and demodulation processing, and outputs video and audio signals. The output of the digital broadcast tuner 5 is input to the VHF / UHF connection terminal 2 via the RF converter 6 and transmitted to the analog broadcast tuner 3. Since the signal from the RF converter 6 has a frequency of a specific station, the channel selection instruction signal transmitting means 7 transmits the channel selection instruction of the specific station to the analog broadcast tuner 3.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, since the channel selection instruction signal sending unit 7 for transmitting the channel selection state instructed by the channel selection switching unit 4 to the outside of the bathroom television is provided, analog broadcasting is abolished. Even when switching to digital broadcasting, the channel selection switching means 4 of the bathroom television can select a channel, and the operability is not impaired.

  Further, in this embodiment, the channel selection instruction signal sending means 7 switches the channel selection instruction transmitted to the analog broadcast tuner 3 when analog broadcast is received and when digital broadcast is received. Even in the case of a change, the bathroom television itself can be used as it is.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control device such as a bathroom television according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 2, a VHF / UHF connection terminal 2 for connecting an antenna line to the interior of the bathroom TV body 1, an analog broadcast tuner 3, and channel selection switching means 4 such as a channel switch are provided. There is provided a channel selection instruction signal transmission means 7 for transmitting the selected channel selection state to the outside of the bathroom television. Further, there is provided PPM modulated infrared light emitting means 8 for converting the channel selection state transmitted from the channel selection instruction signal transmitting means 7 into an infrared light emission type PPM modulated optical signal. The flow of signals between the constituent blocks is indicated by arrows.

  The operation and action of the control device such as a bathroom television configured as described above will be described below.

  First, a signal input to the VHF / UHF connection terminal 2 is a signal received by an antenna when receiving an analog broadcast, and when receiving a digital broadcast, the output of the digital broadcast tuner 5 is output by an RF converter 6 as shown in FIG. It becomes the converted signal. The signal input to the VHF / UHF connection terminal 2 is transmitted to the analog broadcast tuner 3.

  A channel selection instruction from channel selection switching means 4 such as a channel switch is transmitted to channel selection instruction signal sending means 7, and the channel selection state is transmitted from the bathroom television to the outside. The channel selection instruction signal transmission means 7 transmits the channel selection state to the outside of the bathroom television and also transmits the channel selection instruction to the analog broadcast tuner 3. Based on this channel selection instruction, the signal selected by the analog broadcast tuner 3 is demodulated into an image and sound and output to the screen (liquid crystal panel or CRT) and the speaker of the television body 1.

  When receiving the analog broadcast, the channel selection instruction from the channel selection switching means 4 is transmitted as it is to the analog broadcast tuner 3 via the channel selection instruction signal sending means 7.

  At the time of digital broadcast reception, a channel selection instruction from the channel selection switching means 4 is transmitted to the digital broadcast tuner 5 installed outside the bathroom television via the channel selection instruction signal sending means 7 and the PPM modulated infrared light emitting means 8. Based on this channel selection instruction, the digital broadcast tuner 5 performs channel selection and demodulation processing, and outputs video and audio signals. The output of the digital broadcast tuner 5 is input to the VHF / UHF connection terminal 2 via the RF converter 6 and transmitted to the analog broadcast tuner 3. Since the signal from the RF converter 6 has a frequency of a specific station, the channel selection instruction signal transmitting means 7 transmits the channel selection instruction of the specific station to the analog broadcast tuner 3.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the channel selection instruction from the channel selection switching means 4 is for digital broadcasting installed outside the bathroom television via the channel selection instruction signal sending means 7 and the PPM modulated infrared light emitting means 8. It is communicated to the tuner 5. Since a commercially available digital broadcast tuner is usually equipped with a light receiving portion of an infrared remote controller, a channel selection instruction from the channel selection switching means 4 can be easily transmitted to the digital broadcast tuner 5.

  A dedicated digital broadcast tuner having a circuit for receiving a channel selection instruction from the channel selection instruction signal transmission means 7 of the bathroom television is not required, and a commercially available digital broadcast tuner can be used.

  The channel switching code of the infrared remote control is determined by each manufacturer in accordance with the home-made cooperative format. Therefore, the channel selection instruction from the bathroom TV channel selection instruction signal sending means 7 is an optical signal that matches the channel switching code of the infrared remote control. It is easy to convert to

  In this embodiment, the PPM modulated infrared light emitting means 8 is attached to the outside of the bathroom television. However, the PPM modulated infrared light emitting means 8 is attached to the inside of the bathroom television, and the PPM modulated infrared light emitting means is attached. It is also possible to implement a mode in which the optical signal from 8 is guided to the infrared remote control light receiving unit of the digital broadcasting tuner by an optical fiber or the like.

  As described above, a control device such as a bathroom television according to the present invention can easily connect a digital broadcasting tuner without losing operability when switching from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting. It can also be applied to applications such as a remote controller for a water heater with a built-in television.

The block diagram of the control apparatus of the bathroom television in Embodiment 1 of this invention The block diagram of the control apparatus of the bathroom television in Embodiment 2 of this invention Block diagram of a conventional bathroom TV Block diagram when receiving a digital broadcast on a conventional bathroom TV

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Television set for bathroom 2 (VHF / UHF) terminal for antenna connection 3 Tuner for analog broadcasting 4 Tuning switching means 5 Tuner for digital broadcasting 6 RF converter 7 Tuning instruction signal sending means 8 PPM modulated infrared light emitting means

Claims (3)

A television remote controller installed in a bathroom or a bathroom remote controller for a water heater equipped with a television, comprising: a VHF / UHF connection terminal 2 for connecting an antenna line; an analog broadcast tuner 3; and a channel selection switch 4 such as a channel switch, A control device for a bathroom television or the like provided with a channel selection instruction signal transmission means 7 for transmitting the channel selection state designated by the channel selection switching means 4 to the outside of the bathroom television. When the channel selection instruction given by the channel selection switching means 4 is transmitted to the analog broadcast tuner 3 as it is, and when the channel selection instruction given by the channel selection switching means 4 is transmitted to the analog broadcast tuner 3. 2. A control apparatus for a bathroom television set or the like according to claim 1, wherein a case where the signal is transmitted to the outside of the television via the channel selection instruction signal transmission means 7 can be selected. 3. A control device for a bathroom television set or the like according to claim 1, wherein the signal sent from the channel selection instruction signal sending means 7 is converted into an infrared light emitting PPM modulated optical signal.

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