KR100713282B1 - TV receivers and methods for displaying external devices - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a television receiver and a method for displaying information on an external device such as a video player or a DVD player that provides a video signal currently output on a screen, wherein the video signal input through a jack is included in the video signal. Signal detecting means for detecting peculiar information such as name, manufacturer, model name of the external device; And controlling the display of the video signal input from the external device connected to the jack, and recognizing and recognizing the external device providing the current video signal through the unique information of the external device detected by the signal detecting means. And control means for displaying information on an external device on the screen.

TV, jack, external device, video, display

Description

Television receiver and method for displaying an external device {Television receiver and method for displaying external device}

1 is a block diagram of a conventional television receiver.

2 is a block diagram of a television receiver for displaying an external device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a characteristic diagram of a signal input to a television receiver according to the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for displaying an external device in a television receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is an exemplary screen illustrating a process of displaying an external device in a television receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

200: television receiver 210-1 to 210-n: jack

220: screen 230: video processing unit

240: signal detector 250: controller

260: switching unit 270: image processing unit

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to television receivers and, more particularly, to television receivers and methods capable of displaying information relating to external devices such as video players or DVD players that provide video signals currently output on the screen.

In the rapid development of information and communication, along with the rapid development of technologies such as electricity, electronics, computers, and communication, as well as multimedia fields that combine various types of information such as video and audio, these days, also called digital revolution Is becoming digital from analog. Due to the development of MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) technology, which is a compression standard for moving image data to compress digital image data that requires a relatively large amount of data, the size of digital image data is gradually getting smaller. Increasingly, digital video and audio services have been applied to almost all fields such as communication and telecommunications, and digital devices for providing such services have emerged.

Accordingly, digital broadcasting is also carried out through a television receiver (TV). In the digital broadcasting era, high-definition and high-quality video and audio are compared with the limitation of the data transmission by the analog modulation method and the limitation of image and sound quality. It is possible to broadcast, and not only video and audio broadcasting but also data broadcasting can easily find additional information about the program, such as the profile of the character or the last story, etc. Other independent data broadcasting, such as the more convenient and convenient broadcasting is possible.

On the back of the TV, a number of input / output jacks for connecting external devices such as a video or a DVD player are attached. Generally, a video jack for connecting a video and a device other than video, for example, a DVD player, are connected. The component jack is attached.

However, the conventional television receiver has a complicated circuit configuration because various jacks are attached to each type of external device, and many components are used unnecessarily, resulting in a high manufacturing cost. In order to solve this problem, Korean Patent Application No. 2004-116382 proposed a TV receiver which can connect external devices such as a video or a DVD player in common by using a common jack.

Technical features proposed by the domestic patent application will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

1 is a block diagram of a conventional television receiver.

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional television receiver 100 outputs first to third jacks 101 to 103 for connecting an external device, a screen 104 for displaying a video signal, and an audio signal. And a video processing unit 106 for making a video signal input through the first and third jacks 101 to 103 into a signal form suitable for the screen 104, and the first jack 101. An audio processor 107 for converting a sound signal into a signal suitable for the speaker 105, an image output unit 108 for outputting an image signal output from the video processor 106 to the screen 104, An amplifier 109 for amplifying a sound signal output from the audio processor 107 and outputting the amplified sound signal to the speaker 105 is provided.

In addition, the conventional television receiver 100 includes a first jack switching switch 110 for switching the use of the first to third jacks 101 to 103 and first and third jacks according to the switching direction of the jack switching switch 110. The color modulator 111 for modulating the colors of the second jacks 110 and 102 and the reception and output of the composite video signal, and the first to third jacks according to the switching direction of the jack switching switch 110. A control unit 112 for controlling the use conversion of the 101 to 103 and controlling the video signal processing of the video processing unit 106 and the sound signal processing of the audio processing unit 107 and the control of the control unit 112. An audio switch 113 for switching the one jack 101 to the video processing unit 106 or the audio processing unit 107 is provided.

The first to third jacks 101 to 103 are for alternatively connecting a video and an external device other than the video, for example, a DVD player. When the video is connected to the jacks 101 to 103, The sound signal output from the video is transmitted to the audio processor 107 through the first jack 101, and the video signal output from the video is transmitted to the video processor 106 through the second and third jacks 102 and 103. Delivered.

However, in the case of the conventional television receiver as described above, while simplifying the circuit configuration of the product and lowering the manufacturing cost, when the user does not know the external device that provides the current video signal, the external device connected to the jack is visually exposed. There is still some hassle to confirm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a television receiver capable of displaying information on an external device such as a video player or a DVD player that provides a video signal currently being output on a screen; Provide a method.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a television receiver and a method which can inform a user which external device is providing a video signal by displaying information on an external device that provides a video signal currently being output on a screen.

Yet another object of the present invention is to allow a user to identify an external device that is currently providing a video signal through information about an external device displayed on a screen, thereby visually identifying an external device connected to an input / output jack on the user side. Provided are a television receiver and a method capable of eliminating inconvenience.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is provided with one or more jacks to which an external device is connected, and the video signal input through the jack from the external device is displayed on the screen, which is input through the jack Signal detection means for detecting unique information such as name, manufacturer, model name, etc. of the external device included in the video signal; And controlling the display of the video signal input from the external device connected to the jack, and recognizing and recognizing the external device providing the current video signal through the unique information of the external device detected by the signal detecting means. And control means for displaying information on an external device on the screen.

The present invention provides a method for displaying information about an external device such as a video player or a DVD player that provides a video signal being output on a screen by a television receiver, and as a command to display information about the external device is input, A first step of setting an external device display mode for displaying information on the external device providing a current video signal; In the external device display mode, detecting the unique information of the external device from the video signal input from the external device; And a third step of displaying on the screen information on the recognized external device by recognizing the external device providing the current video signal through the detected unique information of the external device.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram of a television receiver for displaying an external device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the television receiver 200 of the present invention includes a first to n-th jack 210-1 to 210-n for connecting an external device, and a screen 220 for displaying an image signal. And a video processor 230 for making an image signal input through any one of the first to nth jacks 210-1 to 210-n into a signal form suitable for the screen 220. To n-th jacks 210-1 to 210-n, a signal detector 240 for detecting the unique information of the external device carried in the video signal input through any one of the jacks, and the first to Controls input / output of an image signal provided from an external device connected to any one of the n-th jacks 210-1 to 210-n, and transmits the current image through the unique information of the external device detected by the signal detector 240. Table of information about recognized external devices after recognizing external devices that provide signals The control unit 250 for controlling the time is provided.

The television receiver 200 of the present invention includes a video processing unit (not shown) which receives a video signal from the external device among the first to nth jacks 210-1 to 210-n under the control of the controller 250. The switching unit 260 for switching to 230 and the video signal input from the video processing unit 260 is output to the screen 220, the information about the external device transmitted from the control unit 250, the screen 220 And an image output unit 270 for displaying on the screen.

First to nth external devices 300-1 to 300-n, for example, a video player or a DVD player, are connected to the first to n th jacks 210-1 to 210-n. The n-th jacks 210-1 to 210-n receive an image signal provided from the external device connected thereto.

The screen 220 displays an image output from the image output unit 270, and outputs an image provided from the external device in a full screen, and in this state, the information on the external device in the form of OSD subtitles. Display. In addition, the present invention may be implemented to output information about the external device as a pop-up screen while the screen 220 outputs an image provided from the external device to the front screen.

When the video signal input from the external device is switched through the switching unit 260, the video processor 220 converts the video signal into a signal form suitable for the screen 220 and outputs it to the image processor 270.

The signal detector 240 detects the unique information of the external device in the video signal input through the jack from the external device, for example, information about the name of the external device such as a video player or a DVD player and transmits the detected information to the controller 250. However, the unique information of the external device is detected from the vertical blanking interval (VBI) of all the lines forming the image.

The reason why the signal detector 240 detects the unique information of the external device in the vertical blanking interval section will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3 as follows.

FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram of a signal input to a television receiver according to the present invention, and shows characteristics of lines forming a field blanking interval among all lines forming one screen displayed on the screen 220. .

As shown in FIG. 3, among all the lines forming one screen displayed on the screen 220 of the television receiver 200, there is a field blanking interval A1 consisting of a certain number of lines, and this field is present. In the blanking interval section A1, there is a vertical blanking interval section V2 for carrying certain information and sending the information. In the present invention, external devices such as a video player or a DVD player 300-1 to 300-n ) Transmits a video signal to the television receiver 200 to carry its own unique information for identifying itself in the vertical blanking interval section A2. Accordingly, the signal detector 240 may be configured to select one of the entire lines forming one screen when an image signal is input from the external device connected to any one of the first to n-th jacks 210-1 to 210-n. The unique information of the external device is detected from the vertical blanking interval A2.

The controller 250 switches the direction of the jack according to a user's instruction. For example, the controller 250 may output an image signal provided from the first external device 300-1 connected to the first jack 210-1. In order to display on the screen 220, the user is instructed to switch the first jack 210-1 to the video processor 230 among the first to nth jacks 210-1 to 210-n by using a remote controller. In this case, the controller 250 is configured to transmit an image signal input from the first external device 300-1 through the first jack 210-1 to the video processor 230 through the switching unit 260. The switching unit 260 is controlled to switch the first jack 210-1 to the video processor 230.

When the video signal input from the external device is output on the screen 220 as described above, when the user instructs the user to display information on the external device providing the current video signal using the remote controller, the controller 250 Set the "External Device Display Mode" to display the information on the external device.

After setting the external device display mode as described above, the controller 250 instructs the signal detector 240 to detect unique information of the external device, and in response thereto, the signal detector 240 displays the current video signal. When detecting the unique information of the external device providing the information to the control unit 250, the control unit 250 recognizes the external device that provides the current video signal through the detected unique information of the external device to the recognized external device The image processing unit 270 outputs the information about the external device such as a video player or a DVD player to the image processing unit 270, and then displays the information about the external device on the screen 220 as OSD-captioned subtitles. To control.

One side of the switching unit 260 is commonly connected to the first to n-th jacks 210-1 to 210-n, and the other side of the switching unit 260 is connected to the video processing unit 230. The n jacks 210-1 to 210-n are selectively switched to the video processor 230.

The image output unit 270 outputs the image signal output from the video processing unit 230 on the screen 220 under a control under the control of the controller 250 and to the external device transmitted from the controller 250. Related information is displayed on the screen 220 in subtitles of the OSD method. In addition, the present invention may be implemented such that the image output unit 270 outputs the information on the external device on the screen 220 as a pop-up screen under the control of the controller 250.

The process of displaying information on an external device for providing a video signal being output on the screen 220 by the television receiver of the present invention having the configuration and function as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for displaying an external device in a television receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the user presses a menu button on the remote controller, the television receiver 200 displays the top menu items including the external device display item among predetermined menu items on the screen 220 as shown in FIG. 5. (S401).

In the display process S401, the television receiver 200 displays a predetermined top menu item on the screen 220 with subtitles in the OSD system. Here, the external device display item included in the top menu item is set to implement the present invention, and the user selects the external device display item to display information on the external device for providing the current video signal to the television receiver 200. You will be asked to enter a command.

When the user selects the external device display item using the remote controller while the top menu items are displayed (S402), the television receiver 200 sets the "external device display mode" for displaying information about the external device ( S403).

In the external device display mode, the television receiver 200 detects the unique information of the external device currently providing the video signal (S404), and then selects the external device providing the current video signal through the unique information of the detected external device. The recognized and recognized information about the external device is displayed on the screen 220 in the subtitle of the OSD method (S405). In the display process (S405), the television receiver 200 is character information indicating the name of the external device as information about the external device, for example, "currently connected external device is a video player" or currently connected external device is a DVD player. Is displayed.

Although the technical spirit of the present invention has been described in detail according to the above-described preferred embodiment, it should be noted that the above-described embodiment is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. In addition, those skilled in the art will understand that various embodiments are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

As described above, the present invention displays an information about an external device such as a video player or a DVD player that provides a video signal currently output on the screen, so that the user can connect to an external device connected to the input / output jacks attached to the rear of the television receiver. This allows the user to know the external device without visually checking the user's eye, thereby facilitating the user's convenience.

Claims (7)

In the television receiver having one or more jacks to which an external device is connected, and the video signal input through the jack from the external device is displayed on the screen, Signal detecting means for detecting unique information such as a name, a manufacturer, a model name of the external device included in the video signal input through the jack; And Controls the display of the video signal input from the external device connected to the jack, recognizes the external device that provides the current video signal through the unique information of the external device detected by the signal detecting means, and recognized the external And control means for displaying information about the device on the screen. The method of claim 1, The signal detecting means detects the unique information of the external device in the signal input from the external device, and the unique information of the external device in the vertical blanking interval section of the entire line constituting one screen displayed on the screen A television receiver characterized by detecting. The method of claim 1, And a video signal input from the external device is displayed on the screen, wherein the control means displays the information about the external device on the screen in subtitles using an OSD method. delete A method of displaying information about an external device such as a video player or a DVD player that provides a video signal being output on a screen by a television receiver, A first step of setting an external device display mode for displaying information on the external device providing a current video signal when a command to display information on the external device is input; In the external device display mode, detecting the unique information of the external device from the video signal input from the external device; And A third step of displaying on the screen information on the recognized external device by recognizing the external device providing a current video signal through the unique information of the detected external device; Display method of the external device including a. The method of claim 5, The first step is, As a command to display a menu item is input, the television receiver displays first-most menu items including an external device display item among predetermined menu items on the screen; And In the state where the predetermined top menu items are displayed, the television receiver sets the external device display mode as the external device display item is selected; Display method of the external device including a. The method of claim 6, The method of claim 1, wherein the television receiver displays the predetermined top-level menu items on the screen by subtitles in OSD.

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