JP2008160240A - Image display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image display apparatus which improves the UI picture visibility of an EPG, a menu or the like on a large screen TV. <P>SOLUTION: The image display apparatus provided with a means for superposing a second image signal to an inputted first image signal and outputting the superposed image signal to a display panel and an input device 122 for receiving a user's remote control instruction and controlling the display of an image signal further comprises: a user position/direction specification means for specifying a user's position or a user's remote control instruction direction; a display position calculation means for calculating a display position of the second image on a screen which corresponds to the specified user's position or user's remote control instruction direction; and a display position calculation conversion means for converting the display position of the second image into the calculated display position. The second image is an electronic program guide, a menu picture or program notification information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display device, and more particularly, to a display method for improving UI (user interface) screen visibility such as EPG (electronic program guide) and menu on a large screen TV.

  2. Description of the Related Art FPDs (flat panel display devices) such as liquid crystal TVs have been rapidly enlarged in recent years. It seems that UI screens such as EPG will increase in size as the screen size increases. Even if the screen itself has been increased in size, there are not a few cases where viewing / operation is performed in the immediate vicinity of the TV when actually viewing / operating.

  Conventionally, several techniques have been proposed as ideas for improving the operability / visibility of an EPG. For example, Patent Document 1 attempts to improve the operability of the EPG by scrolling the EPG using a touch panel. However, this technique is intended for operations on a relatively small screen, and is relatively unsuitable for today's large-screen liquid crystal televisions.

In recent large FPDs, the 40-inch range is commonplace, and some of them are 60 inches or more. When menus and EPGs are displayed on the full screen with these large-screen FPDs (see Fig. 2a), it is impossible to operate with the touch panel, and at the same time, the user must move the viewpoint widely. / It will be poor visibility.
JP 2004-153651 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image display device that improves UI screen visibility of EPG, menus, and the like on a large screen TV.

  The present invention includes means for superimposing a second image signal on the input first image signal and outputting the same to a display panel, and an input device for controlling display of the image signal in response to a remote operation instruction from a user. In the image display device comprising: a user position direction specifying means for specifying a user position or a user remote operation instruction direction; and a screen of the second image corresponding to the specified user position or the user remote operation instruction direction An image display apparatus comprising: a display position calculating unit that calculates an upper display position; and a display position calculating / changing unit that shifts the display position of the second image to the calculated display position.

  According to the present invention, the first image signal is an image signal acquired from at least one of the outside and the inside of the image display device, and the second image signal is acquired from the inside of the image display device. An image display device that is an image signal.

  And this invention is an image display apparatus whose said 2nd image is at least one of an electronic program guide, a menu screen, or program alerting | reporting information.

  Furthermore, the present invention provides an image display device in which the second image signal is a signal of a graphic user interface (GUI) image such as a character signal of an electronic program guide such as numerals, characters or symbols, icon display, graphic display, etc. It is.

  In addition, the present invention is an image display device having display position instruction changing means for changing the display position of the second image in response to an instruction from a remote control transmitter.

  The present invention includes means for changing the size of the display image, and display size calculation means for calculating the size of the display image on the screen of the second image corresponding to the identified user position, In the image display device, the size of the display image on the screen of the second image is changed according to the identified position of the user.

  Furthermore, the present invention includes means for changing the brightness of the display image, and display brightness calculation means for calculating the brightness of the display image on the screen of the second image corresponding to the specified remote operation instruction direction of the user. And an image display device that changes a luminance of a display image on the screen of the second image according to a specified remote operation instruction direction of the user.

  In addition, the present invention has means for changing the color or background color of the display image, and changes the color or background color of the display image of the second image in the image display range designation portion according to a remote operation instruction from the user This is an image display device.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to display an appropriately sized UI screen that is easy to operate even on a large-screen TV at an appropriate position, so that a menu with excellent visibility and operability can be provided.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described.
Embodiments of the image display apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  Examples will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the image display apparatus according to the present embodiment is an analog / digital broadcast receiver 100, which is input from an analog tuner unit 103 that extracts an analog broadcast signal input from an antenna 101 and an input terminal 102. Digital tuner unit 104 that extracts a digital broadcast signal, AV switch unit 105 that separates a video signal and an audio signal from an analog broadcast signal, a digital demodulation unit 106 that demodulates a digital broadcast signal, a video signal, an electronic program guide (EPG) signal, and the like , A separation unit 107 that separates audio signals, a video decoding / capture unit 108 that decodes digital video signals, a video selector unit 109 that selects analog or digital video signals, an electronic program guide creation process, an on-screen display (OSD) process , EPG / OSD for reservation processing Reservation processing unit 110, audio decoding unit 111 for decoding a digital audio signal, video output conversion unit 112 for outputting an analog video signal or a digital video signal in which a video signal and EPG information, OSD information, and reservation information are integrated to a liquid crystal display device An audio selector 113 for selecting an analog or digital audio signal, an audio output converter 114 for outputting an analog audio signal or a digital audio signal to a speaker, and a channel selection unit 115 for selecting an analog broadcast or a digital broadcast. The video signal is output to the liquid crystal display device, and the audio signal is output to the speaker.

  Separation unit 107, video decoding / capturing unit 108, EPG / OSD / reservation processing unit 110, audio decoding unit 111, channel selection unit 115, RAM 116, CPU 117, video mouse microcomputer 119 connected to output terminal 118, nonvolatile memory 120, connection A remote control light receiving unit 122 that receives a user operation instruction from a remote control transmitter (hereinafter also simply referred to as a remote control) 200 using infrared rays or the like, and a communication bus 121 connected to the telephone line or LAN. Send and receive data via

  The analog / digital broadcast receiver 100 according to the present embodiment includes a unit that superimposes a second image signal (sub-image signal) on the input first image signal (main image signal) and displays it on the display panel. An input device for controlling display of an image signal in response to an instruction from a remote operation (remote control transmitter), a user position direction specifying means for specifying a user position or a user's remote operation instruction direction, and a specified user position Alternatively, display position calculation means for calculating the display position of the second image on the screen corresponding to the remote operation instruction direction of the user, and display position calculation transition for shifting the display position of the second image to the calculated display position Have means. With the first image signal, an image can be displayed on the display panel using the synchronization signal, and the second image signal can be superimposed using the first image signal in synchronization with the first image signal. The second image can be one or more of an electronic program guide, a menu screen, or program notification information. Program notification information means the type of broadcast medium (terrestrial / BS / DS, etc.), channel number, audio mode (mono / stereo / duplex), input source (external inputs 1, 2 etc.), volume bar, etc. . The second image signal may be a signal of a graphic user interface image such as a character signal of numbers, characters or symbols of an electronic program guide, icon display, graphic display, or the like.

  In this embodiment, the first image signal is an image signal acquired from at least one of the outside and the inside of the image display device, and the second image signal is an image signal acquired from the inside of the image display device. is there. The acquisition of the first image signal from the outside of the image display device is, for example, an image signal from an antenna, an external CATV tuner, an Internet communication terminal, or an externally connected recording / reproducing device (DVD, HDD, PC, etc.). The acquisition of the first image signal from the inside of the image display device is, for example, an image signal obtained by reproducing an image of a recording / reproduction device (DVD, HDD, memory card, etc.) built in the image display device body, or blue. This is an image signal of a back (a blue color screen, generated inside the apparatus). When an image is to be displayed (synchronized and stopped) on the display panel, a base signal (main signal) accompanied by a synchronization signal is essential. The acquisition of the second image signal from the inside of the image display device means a so-called GUI signal (electronic program guide, adjustment menu screen, channel number, or the like). Is a signal for additionally displaying information in a superimposed manner.

  Further, the analog / digital broadcast receiver 100 of the present embodiment receives a command from the remote control transmitter and shifts the display position instruction changing means for changing the display position of the second image, and means for changing the size of the display image. Display size calculation means for calculating the size of the display image on the screen corresponding to the position of the specified user, means for changing the brightness of the display image, and remote operation instruction of the specified user Display luminance calculation means for calculating the luminance of the display image on the screen of the second image corresponding to the direction, and means for changing the color or background color of the display image can be provided. These means are executed by the CPU 117 by using a program stored in the nonvolatile memory 120 except for a part.

  The analog / digital broadcast receiver 100 of this embodiment identifies the position of the remote control or the reception direction of the instruction signal from the remote control, and sets the display position on the screen corresponding to the position of the remote control or the direction of reception of the instruction signal from the remote control. Since the image display position can be shifted to the calculated display position, when displaying a small EPG, menu screen, channel number, etc., the position or direction of the remote control 200 is detected on the TV side, and the EPG or Menu screens, channel numbers, etc. can be displayed (see FIGS. 3a and 3b). Further, visibility and operability can be improved by detecting the position of the user who operates the remote controller and displaying a small menu screen, channel number, etc. in the direction in which the user is present.

  In order to specify the position of the remote control or the reception direction of the instruction signal from the remote control, for example, the image display device is provided with a plurality of interpersonal position detection infrared sensors, and by detecting in which region a person operating the remote control is detected. It becomes possible. In addition, the remote control signal receiving unit receives the sound wave signal emitted from the speaker of the image display device, and the image display device receives the response whose intensity is returned as the sound wave detection signal. The position of the remote controller can be specified in the direction received by the signal receiving unit. Alternatively, it can be realized by measuring the incident angle of infrared rays from the remote controller.

  By the display position instruction changing means for changing the display position of the image in response to an instruction from the remote controller, the user can freely move the positions of the EPG, the menu screen, the channel number, etc., and can freely move to a position that is easy to see.

  The means for changing the size of the display image and the display size calculating means for calculating the size of the display image on the screen corresponding to the specified position of the remote control are used to display the display image on the screen according to the specified position of the remote control. The size can be changed. When displaying an EPG or a menu screen on a large-screen TV, it is preferable that the user can change the size. Further, when operating relatively close, the visibility and operability are better when the EPG, the menu screen, etc. are made smaller.

  The means for changing the brightness of the display image and the display brightness calculating means for calculating the brightness of the display image on the screen corresponding to the instruction signal receiving direction of the specified remote controller, according to the instruction signal receiving direction from the specified remote controller. The brightness of the display image on the screen can be changed.

  By means of changing the color or background color of the display image, the color or background color of the display image in the image display range designation portion can be changed by the user's remote control operation.

  In general, FPDTVs such as liquid crystal TVs and PDPs (plasma display panels) tend to have a narrower viewing angle than conventional CRTs, and even a relatively wide one is about 176 degrees. (1) EPG / menu screen in order to determine the incident angle of infrared light (including radio and sound waves) from the position), and to make the user interface image easier to see when viewed at an angle as the incident angle increases. Display the brightness level of the display image such as the channel number higher than that of the background video (general viewing video). (2) The part selected by the user from the display image such as EPG / menu screen display (program (For example, changing the color of the character, changing the background color, or darkening the outline of the character to be displayed) When displaying the user interface image, the backlight of the LCD TV is slightly lowered (darkened), and the EPG / menu screen, the display image brightness such as the channel number, etc. is displayed with the same brightness as the EPG. / Make menu screens, channel numbers, etc. easy to see.

  Although the embodiment has been described above, the remote controller 200 is a two-way remote controller, and a small image or partial image such as an EPG / menu screen display can be transmitted from the TV side to the remote controller side and displayed on the remote controller display. good.

Explanatory drawing of the image display apparatus of an Example. Explanatory drawing of the display method of the menu in the image display apparatus of an Example and a prior art example. Explanatory drawing of the example which displays a menu in the direction with a remote control in the image display apparatus of an Example.

Explanation of symbols

100: analog / digital broadcast receiver, 101: antenna, 102: input terminal, 103: analog tuner section, 104: digital tuner section, 105: AV switch section, 106: digital demodulation section, 107: separation section, 108: video Decode / capture unit 109: Video selector unit 110: EPG / OSD / reservation processing unit 111: Audio decoding unit 112: Video output conversion unit 113: Audio selector unit 114: Audio output conversion unit 115: Selection Local part, 116: RAM, 117: CPU, 118: output terminal, 119: video mouse microcomputer, 120: nonvolatile memory, 121: communication control part, 122 remote control light receiving part, 200: remote control transmitter

Claims (8)

An image display comprising means for superimposing a second image signal on the input first image signal and outputting it to a display panel, and an input device for controlling the display of the image signal in response to a user's remote operation instruction In the device
User position / direction specifying means for specifying the user's position or the user's remote operation instruction direction, and the display position of the second image on the screen corresponding to the specified user's position or the user's remote operation instruction direction are calculated. An image display apparatus comprising: a display position calculating unit; and a display position calculating / changing unit that shifts the display position of the second image to the calculated display position. The first image signal is an image signal acquired from at least one of the outside and the inside of the image display device,
The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the second image signal is an image signal acquired from the inside of the image display device.   The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the second image is at least one of an electronic program guide, a menu screen, and program notification information.   The image display device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second image signal is a character signal of an electronic program guide such as a number, a character or a symbol, a graphic user interface image signal such as an icon display or a graphic display.   5. The image display device according to claim 1, further comprising display position instruction changing means for changing a display position of the second image in response to an instruction from a remote control transmitter. 6.   Means for changing the size of the display image, and display size calculation means for calculating the size of the display image on the screen of the second image corresponding to the position of the specified user. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the size of the display image on the screen of the second image is changed accordingly.   A specified user having a means for changing the brightness of the display image and a display brightness calculating means for calculating the brightness of the display image on the screen of the second image corresponding to the specified remote operation instruction direction of the user; The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the brightness of the display image on the screen of the second image is changed according to the remote operation instruction direction.   2. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising means for changing a color or background color of the display image, wherein the color or background color of the display image of the second image in the image display range designation portion is changed in accordance with a remote operation instruction from the user. Image display device.

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