GB2258740A

GB2258740A - Programmable video recorder

Info

Publication number: GB2258740A
Application number: GB9212019A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wan Soo Kim
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 1991-07-15
Filing date: 1992-06-05
Publication date: 1993-02-17
Anticipated expiration: 2012-06-05
Also published as: KR930003116A; JPH05198038A; GB9212019D0; DE4221695A1; GB2258740B

Description

1 1 1 2 2 5) 3 7 4 -J PROGRAMMABLE VIDEO RECORDER

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a programmable video recorder (VCR) and a method of programming thereof.

Programmable VCRs are known.. which permit recording to be carried out at programmed times on programmed channels. However,, known methods of setting the recording time and the recording channel are rather complex.

For example, as shown in Figure 1, Japanese Patent Publication No. 62-97157 discloses a recording programming method to carry out programmed recording at a preset time by utilizing signals from a timer 3 and programmed recording data from a memory 2 under the control of a control signal generator S.' where programmed recording data set by a recording program 4 setting and displaying part 1 is stored in a programmed recording information memory 2. The recording program setting and displaying part 1 includes a programming mode starting and ending button la, a program number setting button lb, a weekday setting button lc, a channel setting button ld, a starting and ending time setting button lf, a common time setting button 1g for the starting and ending time setting button lf, a recording mode setting button 1h, a channel display ii formed of an LCD panel for displaying the set data a time display lk, a weekday display 1m comprising an LED panel, a program number display 1n.. and a recording mode display lp. The buttons la - 1hare used for setting the data from a programmed recording.

and the information is displayed through the displays li - 1P.

When data for a programmed recording is set using the recording program setting and displaying part 1, the information is stored in the programmed recording data memory 2. When the programmed time arrives, a time correspondence detector 4 generates a time correspondence signal for energizing a control signal generator 5. Then a tape driver 6 and a video and audio signal processor 7 of the VCR are activated for recording in the programmed recording mode. When the recording ending time arrives, the time correspondence detector 4 generates a time correspondence signal to disable the control signal generator 5.

As described above, according to the conventional method, a plurality of function keys have to be pressed in a sequential manner. Also,, the VCR must be repeatedly reprogrammed even when the programmed recording data required is the same.

The present invention is intended to overcome the above is described disadvantages of conventional techniques.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a programmable video recorder including means for inputting programmed recording data, said means comprising a first input means; a second input means; and time display means operable in a first mode as a clock and in a second mode as a display for the interactive input of programmed recording data, wherein when in the second mode, the time display means is responsive to the first input means to alter a displayed value and to the second input means to store said displayed value as programmed recording data and to indicate the next item of programmed recording data to be entered.

Preferably, the video recorder includes a buffer store and a microcomputer, wherein the programmed recording data is stored in the buffer store until the completion of the inputting of the necessary programmed recording data whereupon the programmed recording data is transferred to the microcomputer for further storage.

The time display means may display a time by means of digits. Alternatively, it may display time inthe manner of an analogue clock.

Preferably, the video recorder includes converter means for converting signals controlling the timedisplay means into corresponding digital programmed recording data. For instance. if the time display means is in the form of a liquid crystal display, the converter t means processes the signals driving the display to produce corresponding digital data. Thus, if the time display means is displaying 3:15 the converter means outputs data words corresponding to 3 and 15.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of programming a video recorder for unattended recording. comprising the steps of: switching a time display means from a time display mode to a programmed recording data input mode; setting programmed recording data in response to manipulation of a first input means to select a desired programmed recording data value, and operation of a second input means; and storing the set programmed recording data in response to operation of the second input means.

Preferably, the programmed recording data signals are stored in a buffer store until all necessary programmed recording data has been entered, whereupon the programmed recording data is transferred from the buffer store to a microcomputer.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

is Figure 1 is a block diagram of programmable video recorder; a conventional Figure 2 is a block diagram of the programming portion of a video recorder according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a time display with an adjusting means and a function selectingswitch according to the present invention; and Figure 4 is a flow chart for the programming method according to the present invention.

Referring to Figure 2, programmed recording time data is set on a time display 20 by operating a function selecting switch 10. The programmed recording time data displayed by the time display 20 is stored via a digital-to-digital converter 30 in a buffer store, or sub-register, 40. The data stored in the buffer store is transferred to a microcomputer 50,, to be stored there as programmed recording data when a programmed recording ending time has been input. The digital-to-digital converter 30 converts a digital signal for driving a segment of the time display 20 into a digital signal suitable for applying to the microcomputer 50.

Referring to Figure 3, an adjusting means 60 and the function selecting switch 10 are exposed so thatthey can be manipulated by users. The time display 20 is also exposed so that it may be read by users.

Referring to Figure 4, when an initial input from the function selecting switch 10 is made, the microcomputer switches the time display 20 into a programmed recording time setting mode by turning off the displayed c = ent time. In this mode portions of the time display for displaying input data are blinked sequentially to indicate the item of data to be entered next.

Then numerals are selected by manipulating the adjusting means 60, and then, the selected numerals for programmed recording are set by pressing the function selecting switch 10. operation of the selecting switch causes a portion of the time display 20, corresponding to the next item data to be entered, to blink.

When the input of programmed recording data has been completed, the programmed recording data is stored in the buffer store 40 and transferred to the microcomputer 50 as soon as the function selecting switch 10 is operated for the last time necessary.

This operation will be described below in further detail.

The time display 20 is mounted on the VCR for displaying the current time in a digital or analogue form.

In order to set a programmed recording time, the current time has to be set which is done in a similar manner to that of an ordinary watch.

1.

1 1 Upon setting the c = ent time. the time display 20 will display year, month, day, time, and channel for the programme to be recorded, where the channel is the currently selected one.

is With the current time set on the time display 20 as described above, if a programmed recording time is to be set,, the function selecting switch 10 has to be pressed only once. If the function selecting switch 10 is first pressed when the time display 20 is displaying the time, the time display 20 is switched to a programmed recording mode and the time display 20 is reset in preparation for setting a programmed recording time.

For the sake of convenience, the programmed recording time is assumed to be July 21, 1991, from 10 to 11 p.m. for channel 7.

If the function selecting switch 10 is pressed for setting the programmed recording time, the current time of the time display 20 is reset and then, the position for displaying "year,, blinks.

Then the user can input 1,199111 in the blinking place by manipulating the adjusting means 60. The year 1,199111 is input two digits at a time, i.e. 111911 and then 1,9111, by turning the adjusting means 60 up or down between 00 to 99.

is When the year displaying position blinks, the adjusting means 60 is manipulated for selecting 1,1911 and when the function selecting switch 10 is pressed.. the selected number,19,, is displayed in the year displaying position and the remaining portion of the year displaying position continues to blink. Subsequently the adjusting means 60 is further manipulated for selecting 119111 and when the function selecting switch 10 is pressed, the year displaying position displays 11199111. Then the month position will blink.

When the month displaying position blinks, the adjusting means 60 is manipulated for selecting 110711 and if the function selecting switch 10 is pressed, 110711 is set on the month displaying position. Then the day displaying position blinks. Subsequently, the adjusting means 60 is manipulated for selecting 11211' 1 - 11 and when the function selecting switch 10 is pressed,, 1,2111 is set on the day displaying position. After that.. the AM or PM displaying postion blinks.

When the AM or PM displaying position blinks, the adjusting means 60 is manipulated for selecting 110011 to display AM. In the case of PM, the adjusting means 60 is manipulated for selecting 111111 and the function selecting switch 10 is pressed to set PM.

When AM or PM isset, the time displaying position blinks. Then the adjusting means 60 is manipulated to select 1110'I and the function selecting switch 10 is pressed. Further, the adjusting means 60 is manipulated to select 110011 and the function selecting switch 10 is pressed. thereby setting 10:00.

When the setting of the programmed recording starting time is completed, the channel displayingposition blinks. The adjusting means 60 is manipulated to select 1,0711 and the function selecting switch 10 is pressed, thereby setting "711 for the channel.

After the completion of the setting of the channel. the time displaying position blinks. Then the adjusting means 60 is manipulated to select 111111 as a recording ending time, and then the function selecting switch 10 is pressed, thereby setting 111111. Further, 1,0011 is selected by means of the adjusting means 60, and the function selecting switch 10 is pressed, thereby setting 11:00 for the programmed recording ending time.

The programmed recording time set on the time display 20 is transferred via the digital-to-digital converter 30 to the buffer store 40 to be stored there as programmed recording data. When the programmed recording time is set and the function selecting switch is 10 is pressed for the last time, the data stored in the buffer store 40 is transferred to the microcomputer 50 to be stored there, while the time display 20 resumes its normal time display mode wherein it displays the current time.

According to the present invention as described above, the programmed recording time is set using a time display. The programmed recording time is set by means of an adjusting means and a function selectingswitch and then the programmed recording time is automatically stored in a microcomputer, so that any one able to set an ordinary watch may easily set a programmed recording time.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described hereinabove. Various modifications of disclosed embodiment as well as other embodiments of the invention will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention.

4

Claims

1. A programmable video recorder including means for inputting programmed recording data, said means comprising:

first input means; second input means; and time display means operable in a first mode as a clock and in a second mode as a display for the interactive input of programmed recording data, wherein when in the second mode. the time display means is responsive to the first input means to alter a displayed value and to the second input means to store said displayed value as programmed recording data and to indicate the next item of programmed recording data to be entered.

2. A video recorder according to claim 1, including a buffer store and a microcomputer wherein the programmed recording data is stored in the buf fer store - 15 until the completion of the inputting of the necessary programmed recording data, whereupon the programmed recording data is transferred to the microcomputer for further storage.

3. A video recorder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the time display means displays time by means of digits.

4. A video recorder according to claim 1 or.2,, wherein the time display means displays time in the manner of an analogue clock.

is

5. A video recorder according to any preceding claim, including converter means for converting signals controlling the time display means into corresponding digital programmed recording data signals.

6. A method of programming a video recorder for unattended recording, comprising the steps of:

(a) switching a time display means from a time display mode to a programmed recording data input mode; (b) setting programmed recording data in response to manipulation of a first input means.. to select a desired programmed recording data value, and operation of a second input means; and (c) storing the set programmed recording data in response to operation of the second input means.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein step (c) comprises the steps of:

(e) (d) converting time display means driving signals into corresponding programmed recording data signals; and storing the programmed recording data signals.

1

S 8. A method according to claim 7,wherein the programmed recording data signals are stored in a buffer store until all necessary programmed recording data have been entered, whereupon the programmed recording data is transferred from the buffer store to a microcomputer.

9. A programming method of a video cassette recorder using a digital watch thereof, comprising the steps of:

converting said digital watch from a current time displaying mode to a programmed recording time setting mode according to an input from a function selecting switch; setting a programmed recording time by manipulating an adjusting means and pressing said function selecting switch in said programmed recording time setting mode; storing automatically said programmed recording data in a sub-register through a digital-to-digital converter; converting said digital watch from said programmed 20 recording time setting mode to said current time displaying mode according to an input from said function selecting switch; and - 18 storing said progranmied recording data stored in said sub-register in a microcomputer.

10. A programmable video recorder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of programming a video recorder for unattended recording substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.