JP2005295338A - Picture display unit and character screen display method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a picture display unit and a character screen display method capable of optimally adjusting a menu or EPG screen size. <P>SOLUTION: A digital broadcast receiver 100 executes an optimal menu screen size set processing for optimizing a size of a character screen or a character size to be displayed on the character screen based on the input display size and a viewing distance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display device and a character screen display method capable of displaying a character screen on a display for displaying an image.

  In recent years, television broadcasting has also rapidly shifted from analog broadcasting to digital broadcasting. In this digital broadcasting, the number of channels is increased as compared with the analog broadcasting, and at the same time, information (program information) necessary for program selection at the receiver is transmitted together with the program as service information. The user can display this program information on the display screen of the receiver and use it for confirmation of a broadcast program, viewing reservation, recording reservation, and the like. In digital television broadcasting, EPG (Electrical Program Guide) information is transmitted at the same time as a program for convenience to the user.

  In some cases, a menu screen is displayed on an OSD (On Screen Display) in order to adjust video and audio of a television receiver, and a user sets a function on the menu screen displayed on the OSD.

The easy-to-view video is greatly affected by the ambient brightness, which is the viewing environment, and the viewing distance between the receiver and the viewer. Patent Document 2 discloses a television receiver that sets an appropriate video state according to the brightness around the receiver and the viewing distance.
JP-A-4-265268

  However, the television receiver described in Patent Document 1 adjusts the image receiving state and does not adjust the display size of the menu screen. In addition, some television receivers are equipped with a function of switching the menu size in two levels, for example, large or small, but such a switching function does not always allow adjustment to an optimal menu size.

  For example, when viewing a large screen TV in a small room, if the menu or EPG is displayed in a large size on the large screen from the viewpoint that it will be easier to see if the display is large, it may be difficult to see the characters on the menu or EPG. . This is because the viewing angle for reading menu and EPG characters is narrower than the viewing angle for viewing TV programs, and the menu screen size is not necessarily optimally adjusted by adjustments depending on the user's sense. There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a video display device and a character screen display method capable of optimally adjusting a menu and an EPG screen size.

  The video display device of the present invention is a video display device capable of displaying a character screen on a display for displaying video, based on viewing distance input means for inputting a viewing distance to the display, and the inputted viewing distance. And a size setting means for setting the size of the character screen.

  Furthermore, it is more preferable that display size input means for inputting a display size of the display is provided, and the size setting means sets the size of the character screen based on the input display size of the display and the viewing distance. .

  More preferably, the size setting means sets the size of the character screen based on a reading field when the character is viewed.

  More preferably, the size setting means sets the size of the character screen so as to reduce viewpoint movement when viewing characters on the character screen.

  The size setting means may set a size of a character displayed on the character screen based on the inputted viewing distance.

  As a more preferable specific aspect, the character screen is a menu screen, an EPG display screen, or a subtitle display screen for displaying functions in characters.

  The character screen display method of the present invention is the character screen display method of the video display device, wherein the step of inputting the display size of the display, the step of inputting the viewing distance to the display, and the input display size and viewing of the display. Setting the size of the character screen or the size of characters displayed on the character screen based on the distance.

  As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the viewpoint shift for reading the characters in the menu screen or EPG screen by optimizing the size of the characters on the menu screen or EPG screen or the size of the menu screen or EPG screen. And the burden on the user's eyes can be reduced.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a video display device and a character screen display method of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a video display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The video display apparatus according to the present embodiment is an example applied to a digital broadcast receiver that receives and reproduces terrestrial and CS / BS digital satellite broadcasts.

  In FIG. 1, a digital broadcast receiver 100 (video display device) includes a terrestrial antenna 1, a tuner unit 2 including a tuner including a BS tuner, a demodulation circuit 3, an error correction unit 4, a video signal, an audio signal, and data. Transport decoder 5 for dividing into signals, MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) decoder 6, OSD display unit 7, video encoder 8, audio DAC 9, CPU 10 (size setting means), ROM 11 for storing control programs and fixed data, CPU 10 RAM 12 as an execution / working storage area, EEPROM as an electrically rewritable non-volatile memory, non-volatile auxiliary storage device 13 including a power-backed up RAM, an input / output interface (I) for performing infrared communication and the like / F) 14, input I / F15 for accepting user operation input, LAN port Port 16 and a modem port 17. The modem port 17 is connected to an Internet network 18 formed of the Internet or a dedicated line.

  The tuner unit 2, the demodulation circuit 3, and the error correction unit 4 constitute a front end unit 110, and the transport decoder 5 constitutes a transport unit 120. The MPEG decoder 6, OSD display unit 7, video encoder 8 and audio DAC 9 constitute an MPEG decoding unit 130, and each unit is controlled by the CPU 10.

  The OSD display unit 7 displays information such as a channel, volume, setting information, and time, a menu, and an electronic program guide (program guide based on EPG) on a screen of a display unit (not shown). In video devices such as digital television receivers, information such as reception status, time, and volume is generally displayed on a screen. The OSD data is not an image but is held in a format called a bitmap. This bitmap is converted into YUV format pixel values represented by Y, Cb, and Cr, and the converted pixels are converted into an input image or the like. Is superimposed on the original image.

  The CPU 10 controls the entire digital broadcast receiver 100 and executes a menu screen size optimization setting process for optimizing the menu screen size based on the input display size and viewing distance.

  The ROM 11 is a memory that stores a control program, fixed data, and the like. Here, a character screen size setting table 20 (see FIG. 2) that stores a setting value of an optimal character screen character size that is most easily viewed by the viewer. ). The character screen size setting table 20 may be provided in the nonvolatile auxiliary storage device 13. Further, the display size information of the digital broadcast receiver 100 is stored in the ROM 11 as a default value, and when the menu screen size optimization setting process shown in FIG. 3 is executed, the display size default value is read from the ROM 11 without user input. It is good also as a structure which reads and passes to CPU10. In this case, the ROM 11 has a function as display size input means.

  The nonvolatile auxiliary storage device 13 stores work data, auxiliary programs, and the like that must be retained after the power is turned off until the next power on. The nonvolatile auxiliary storage device 13 may be a card-type external extended storage medium that can be removed from the main body.

  The input / output I / F 14 communicates with an external peripheral device by infrared data communication using IrDA (Infrared Data Association) or wired communication using USB (Universal Serial Bus).

  The input I / F 15 is connected to a key input unit including a cross key, a numeric keypad, etc., and an operation input unit (not shown) such as a remote control device, and receives key operation information from the user.

  The input / output I / F 14 and the input I / F 15 together with a key input unit and a remote control device (not shown) function as viewing distance input means for allowing a user to input a viewing distance from a television receiver to a viewing position, and a television. It has a function as a display size input means for inputting the display size of the receiver.

  The LAN port 16 performs local communication with other AV devices constituting the AV network system and also connects to the modem port 17.

  As described above, the modem port 17 is connected to the Internet 18 or the Internet network 18 including a dedicated line.

  The Internet network 18 is a network composed of a mobile communication network, a public telephone network, a LAN, the Internet, and the like, and the type of network and the type of protocol such as a wired system or a wireless system are not particularly limited.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a menu screen size setting table 20 stored in the ROM 11 or the nonvolatile auxiliary storage device 13.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the character screen size setting table 20 stores, as table data, setting values for optimal character sizes that are most easily viewed by the viewer, using the display size and viewing distance of the display as parameters. In this example, the size of characters in the character screen is changed in correlation (positive correlation) with the size of the character screen. That is, when the size of the character screen is increased, the size of characters in the character screen is increased accordingly, and when the size of the character screen is decreased, the size of characters in the character screen is decreased accordingly. Therefore, in the following description, changing the size of the character screen has the same meaning as changing the size of the characters in the character screen.

  The optimum character size of the character screen is not a simple setting value that increases the size of the character screen as the display size increases, but the viewing angle (reading) for reading characters on the menu screen or EPG screen. In view of the fact that the viewing angle is narrower than the viewing angle when viewing a TV program, an optimal setting value is obtained in advance by experiments or the like.

  Hereinafter, the character screen size optimization setting operation of the digital broadcast receiver 100 configured as described above will be described.

  Here, an example is shown in which the image reception adjustment function of the digital broadcast receiver 100 is applied to a menu screen represented by characters as the character screen size optimization setting.

  Further, when the size of the menu screen is changed as described above, the size of characters displayed in the menu screen is also changed correspondingly.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the menu screen size optimization setting operation, which is executed by the CPU 10.

  When “menu screen size optimization setting” is selected from the menu screen, this flow starts (step S1).

  In step S2, the menu screen size optimization setting screen is OSD-displayed to prompt the user to input “display size” and “distance away from viewer's display”. When an appropriate input is made after the user's key input operation by the remote control device or the like, the two elements of “display size” and “distance away from the viewer's display” input in step S3 are shown in FIG. The optimal menu screen size is calculated with reference to the character screen size setting table 20 shown in FIG. 5B, the menu screen is displayed with the optimized menu screen size, and this flow ends. The optimized menu screen size is stored in the nonvolatile auxiliary storage device 13, and the menu is displayed with this menu screen size from the next time.

  By the menu screen size optimization setting process, the menu screen is displayed with the optimized menu screen size. Hereinafter, three typical examples will be described.

  FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 are diagrams showing examples of menu screen display based on the optimized menu screen size.

  [Example 1] in FIG. 4 is a case in which the user is looking up close despite the huge screen size. For example, this is a case where a 100-inch screen is viewed at a distance of 2 meters. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the menu screen 41 is displayed in a size smaller than the display screen 40 of the large screen display. The broken line in FIG. 4 virtually shows the size of the menu screen 41a when this optimization process is not performed. Since the size of the menu screen 41a is displayed in accordance with the large screen display size, the character 42a in the menu screen 41a is also displayed large, and the viewpoint movement for reading the character 42a is large.

  On the other hand, in this example, the size of the menu screen 41 is displayed smaller, so that the characters 42 in the menu screen 41 are also displayed smaller. The characters 42 on the small menu screen 41 can be read with little viewpoint movement, and the burden on the eyes of the user can be reduced.

  [Example 2] in FIG. 5 is a case where the optimal screen size is viewed at an optimal distance (for example, a 30-inch screen is viewed 1.5 meters away). In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the menu screen 51 of the normal size is displayed on the display screen 50 of the display. There are various combinations of the normal size depending on the relationship between the optimal screen size and the optimal distance. However, in consideration of the viewing angle (reading field) for reading the menu and EPG characters, the normal size was obtained in advance through experiments. Optimal setting values are stored in the character screen size setting table 20.

  [Example 3] in FIG. 6 is a case where the user is looking from a distance despite the small screen size. For example, this is a case where a 20-inch screen is viewed at a distance of 5 meters. In this case, the menu screen 61 is made larger than the display screen 60 as shown in FIG. 6 so that the characters on the menu screen can be seen well even from a distance. Display larger.

  In the case of FIG. 6 in which the user is viewing from a distance despite the small screen size, the display screen 60 itself is small just by displaying the menu screen 61 in a larger size. 62 is small and difficult to read. Therefore, in this example, the optimum character displayed on the menu screen 61 with reference to the character screen size setting table 20 shown in FIG. 2 from two elements of “display size” and “distance away from the viewer's display”. The size of 62 is calculated and displayed with the optimum size of the character 62 (here, a large character size). Since the size of the character 62 on the menu screen 61 is displayed larger, the character can be seen well even from a distance. It is preferable to display the arrow 63 for the part that cannot be displayed in the menu screen 61 and to avoid it by scrolling. Alternatively, the screen may be shifted to a dedicated screen.

  As described above, the digital broadcast receiver 100 according to the present embodiment optimizes the menu screen size or the size of characters displayed on the menu screen based on the input display size and viewing distance. Since the setting process is executed, the menu screen can be displayed with characters of an optimum size that is assumed to be most easily seen by the user. In the flow of FIG. 3, an example of optimizing the menu screen size has been described. However, the same size optimization setting process can be performed for the character size of the EPG display screen and the caption display screen. As a result, the menu screen, the EPG screen, and the caption display screen are displayed with characters of an optimized size, so that the characters on the menu screen, the EPG screen, and the like are within easy-to-read fields of view. When reading the characters on the screen, the viewpoint movement is small and the burden on the eyes of the user can be reduced.

  Note that the video display device according to the present embodiment is not limited to a television receiver, but an electronic device other than the television receiver, such as a personal computer or a mobile phone capable of displaying a character screen on a display for displaying video. You may apply to a display apparatus.

  Also, the menu screen display examples in FIGS. 4 to 6 are representative examples, and various menu screens may have any display form. The operation of the television receiver is generally performed by a remote controller in addition to the direct operation of the main body.

  In the present embodiment, the names of the television receiver and the character screen display method are used. However, this is for convenience of explanation, and it is needless to say that the menu screen display device, the character screen display method, and the like may be used. is there.

  Further, the type, number, connection method, and the like of each circuit unit constituting the digital broadcast receiver, for example, a storage device, are not limited to the above-described embodiment.

  The digital broadcast receiver described above is also realized by a program for causing the digital broadcast receiver to function. This program is stored in a computer-readable recording medium. In the present invention, as the recording medium, the main memory itself may be a program medium, or a program reading device is provided as an external storage device and can be read by inserting the recording medium therein. May be.

It is a block diagram which shows the basic composition of the television receiver of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the menu screen size setting table of the television receiver of this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the menu screen size optimization setting operation | movement of the television receiver of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a menu screen display by the optimized menu screen size of the television receiver of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a menu screen display by the optimized menu screen size of the television receiver of this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of a menu screen display by the optimized menu screen size of the television receiver of this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Terrestrial antenna 2 Tuner part 3 Demodulator circuit 4 Error correction part 5 Transport decoder 6 MPEG decoder 7 OSD display part 8 Video decoder 9 Audio DAC
10 CPU (size setting means)
11 ROM (part of display size input means)
12 RAM
13 Nonvolatile auxiliary storage device 14 Input / output I / F (display size input means, viewing distance input means)
15 input I / F (display size input means, viewing distance input means)
16 LAN port 17 Modem port 18 Internet network 20 Character screen size setting table 40, 50, 60 Display screen 41, 51, 62 Menu screen 41a Virtual menu screen when this optimization process is not performed 42, 62 characters 42a Characters displayed on a virtual menu screen 100 Digital broadcast receiver (video display device)
110 Front end section 120 Transport section 130 MPEG decoding section

Claims (7)

An image display device capable of displaying a character screen on a display for displaying an image,
Viewing distance input means for inputting a viewing distance to the display;
And a size setting means for setting the size of the character screen based on the inputted viewing distance. Furthermore, it comprises a display size input means for inputting the display size of the display,
The video display device according to claim 1, wherein the size setting means sets the size of the character screen based on the input display size of the display and the viewing distance.   The video display device according to claim 1, wherein the size setting unit sets the size of the character screen based on a reading field when the character is viewed.   4. The video display according to claim 1, wherein the size setting unit sets the size of the character screen so that viewpoint movement when viewing characters on the character screen is reduced. 5. apparatus.   5. The video display device according to claim 1, wherein the size setting unit sets a size of a character displayed on the character screen based on the input viewing distance.   6. The video display device according to claim 1, wherein the character screen is a menu screen, an EPG display screen, or a caption display screen that displays functions in characters. In the character screen display method of the video display device,
Entering the display size of the display;
Inputting a viewing distance to the display;
A character screen display method comprising: setting the size of the character screen or the size of characters displayed on the character screen based on the input display size and viewing distance.

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