JP2004235967A - Tv apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a TV apparatus in which the operation of channel selection in a main body of the apparatus can be easily performed while avoiding getting large-size. <P>SOLUTION: There is provided the TV apparatus 1 equipped with a display section 11 for displaying images and a main control unit for displaying on the display section 11 the TV images Pt of a channel that has been selected by the operation of the channel selection. In the TV apparatus 1, there are provided a display control unit for displaying a plurality of button images Pb, Pb, Pb for the manual operation of the channel selection on the display unit 11, and a touch panel 12 that is arranged at a foreside of the display unit 11 and outputs signals corresponding to the manual operation buttons Pb when a portion facing each of displayed positions of the manual operation button images Pb, Pb, Pb is operated. The main control unit displays, on the display section 11, the video pictures of the channel corresponding to the signals output from the touch panel 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a television including an operation unit configured to enable a channel selection operation, a display unit for displaying an image, and a main control unit for displaying an image of a channel selected by the channel selection operation on the display unit. The present invention relates to a John device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Today's television devices are generally configured so that various remote operations can be performed by a remote control device (remote control device) (for example, a television main unit (10) disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-278992). And remote control (20)). In recent years, for example, only a minimum number of operation buttons, such as a power switch button and an up / down type channel selection button, are arranged on the apparatus main body, and many channel selection buttons individually corresponding to each channel are provided. An increasing number of television apparatuses have been arranged in remote control devices in an arrangement pattern in which operation buttons for various settings such as a volume setting button and an image quality setting button are easily operated. In this television apparatus, since the number of operation buttons provided on the apparatus main body is small, the apparatus main body can be reduced in size by that amount, and almost all operations are performed by the remote control apparatus without operating on the apparatus main body side. It has become possible.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-27892 (page 2)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the conventional television device has the following problems. That is, in this television device, various operation buttons are provided on the remote control device, but only a power button or an up / down type channel selection button is provided on the device main body, for example. In this case, since the operation of the up / down channel selection button is generally complicated, when the location of the remote control device is unknown due to misplacement or the like, or when the remote control device breaks down, this television device is frequently used. A complicated operation is forced every time the channel is changed.
[0005]
On the other hand, in the television body (10) and the remote controller (20) disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-278992, as a means for solving this problem, the remote controller operates the search switch (15) in the television body. It is provided with a buzzer (24) for generating an electronic sound in response. Therefore, it is possible to search for a remote control whose location is unknown by relying on the electronic sound. However, this solution still cannot solve the above-mentioned problem when the remote controller breaks down.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and has as its main object to provide a television apparatus which can easily perform a channel selection operation in the apparatus main body while avoiding an increase in the size of the apparatus main body. .
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a television apparatus according to the present invention includes a display unit that displays an image, and a main control unit that displays an image of a channel selected by a channel selection operation on the display unit. An apparatus, comprising: a display control unit configured to display a plurality of operation button images for the tuning operation on the display unit; and a unit disposed on a front side of the display unit and facing a display position of the operation button image. And a touch panel that outputs a signal corresponding to the operation button image when is operated, and the main control unit causes the display unit to display an image of a channel corresponding to the signal output from the touch panel.
[0008]
In this television device, the display control unit causes the display unit to display a plurality of operation button images for channel selection operation. When the touch panel is operated at a part opposing the display position of the operation button image, the operation button is displayed. Outputs a signal corresponding to the video. At this time, the main control unit causes the display unit to display the video of the channel corresponding to the output signal. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a large number of tuning operation buttons individually corresponding to each channel, so that it is possible to avoid an increase in the size of the apparatus body and to perform tuning operation with good operability. A possible device body can be realized.
[0009]
Further, in the television device according to the present invention, in the above-described television device, a plurality of operation buttons for channel selection operation are formed in a predetermined arrangement pattern and formed separately from a device main body that houses the display unit. The display control unit causes the display unit to display an image similar in appearance to each of the operation buttons as the operation button image in an arrangement pattern equivalent to the predetermined arrangement pattern.
[0010]
In this television device, the display control unit causes the display unit to display an operation button image similar in appearance to each operation button of the remote controller in an arrangement pattern equivalent to the arrangement pattern of each operation button. For this reason, the user can accurately operate the desired operation button image without a sense of incongruity even if the channel is switched using the remote controller on a daily basis.
[0011]
Further, in the television device according to the present invention, in the above-mentioned television device, the display control unit causes the display unit to display the operation button images for a predetermined time when the touch panel is operated.
[0012]
In this television device, the display control unit causes the display unit to display each operation button image until a predetermined time has elapsed since the touch panel was operated. Therefore, each operation button image can be displayed without providing a dedicated switch or the like for displaying each operation button image. In addition, since the display of each operation button image is automatically stopped when a predetermined time has elapsed, a manual operation for stopping the display of each operation button image can be eliminated.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a television device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As an example, the television device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a rear projection type television device that displays an image by projecting projection light from the back of a screen panel, and includes a device main body 2 and a remote controller 3. . In this case, the apparatus main body 2 includes a display unit 11, a touch panel 12, a display control unit 13, a main control unit 14, a tuner 15, a panel signal processing unit 16, a light receiving unit 17, a remote control signal processing unit 18, and an audio output unit 19. It is provided (stored). Further, in the television apparatus 1, in addition to the operation of the remote controller 3 shown in FIG. 2, the channel selection is performed by performing a touch operation on the display position of the button images Pb, Pb,. (Channel switching), volume setting, image quality setting, and the like can be performed.
[0014]
The display unit 11 includes a projector unit 21 and a screen panel 22, as shown in FIG. The projector unit 21 is disposed on the bottom side inside the apparatus main body 2 of the television apparatus 1, and projects the projection light L modulated based on the display video signal Se output by the display control unit 13 on the back of the screen panel 22. Project toward the side. Specifically, the projector unit 21 includes, for example, a light source lamp and a modulation unit (for example, a liquid crystal panel, an incident side polarizing plate, and the like) for modulating white light emitted by the light source lamp into projection light L capable of displaying an image. And a projection lens (both not shown) for expanding and projecting the projection light L. In addition, in the television device 1, actually, the projection light L projected by the projector unit 21 is reflected by the reflection mirror and projected on the screen panel 22, but in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention. The illustration and description thereof are omitted. The screen panel 22 displays various images by receiving the projection light L projected by the projector unit 21 and converting it into diffused or parallel light.
[0015]
The touch panel 12 is disposed so as to cover the entire surface (front side) of the screen panel 22, as indicated by a broken line in FIG. In this case, the touch panel 12 is, for example, a resistive touch panel having optical transparency, and outputs a panel signal Sp that can specify a touch position when a touch operation is performed on the surface with a fingertip, for example. Note that a detailed description of the resistive touch panel is omitted because it is a known technique.
[0016]
The display control unit 13 receives the video signal St output from the tuner 15 and transferred by the main control unit 14, and displays, for example, a television image Pt (in this case, an image of a house, a tree, and a cloud) illustrated in FIG. A display video signal Se in an RGB format for causing the display unit to generate the output video signal Se is output to the projector unit 21. When the control signal Sc instructing the display of the remote control image Pr is output from the main control unit 14, the display control unit 13 superimposes the television image Pt and the remote control image Pr as shown in FIG. Is output, for example, for 15 seconds. Here, the remote control image Pr is an image similar to the external appearance of the remote control 3 itself, as shown in FIG. 3, and is displayed on the various operation buttons B, B,. The approximate button images (operation button images) Pb, Pb,... Are arranged in an arrangement pattern equivalent to the arrangement pattern of the operation buttons B, B,.
[0017]
The main control unit 14 controls the display control unit 13, the tuner 15, the audio output unit 19, and the like. The main control unit 14 transfers the video signal St output by the tuner 15 to the display control unit 13 and transfers the audio signal Sv output by the tuner 15 to the audio output unit 19. When the operation signal So is output by the panel signal processing unit 16 or the remote control signal processing unit 18, the main control unit 14 operates (for example, any one of the display control unit 13, the tuner 15, and the audio output unit 19). Is specified, and a control signal Sc is output to the operation target to perform control. Further, when the operation signal So is output from the touch panel 12 in a state where the remote control video Pr is not displayed, the main control unit 14 outputs the control signal Sc instructing the display of the remote control video Pr to the display control unit 13. I do.
[0018]
The tuner 15 extracts a TV broadcast wave of a channel specified by the control signal Sc from a TV broadcast wave received via an antenna (not shown), and outputs the video signal St and the audio signal Sv. The panel signal processing unit 16 specifies the touch position (operation position) on the touch panel 12 based on the panel signal Sp, and the operation signal So of the operation content corresponding to the specified touch position in advance, that is, the button image thereof. An operation signal So of the operation content previously given to Pb is output to the main control unit 14. Further, when the panel signal Sp is output from the touch panel 12 in a state where the remote control video Pr is not displayed, the panel signal processing unit 16 controls the operation signal So indicating that the touch panel 12 has been operated. Output to the unit 14.
[0019]
The light receiving unit 17 receives the infrared signal Si output from the remote controller 3 and photoelectrically converts the operation button B of the remote controller 3 operated to an identifiable electric signal. The remote control signal processing unit 18 specifies the operation button B based on the electric signal photoelectrically converted by the light receiving unit 17, and transmits the operation signal So of the operation content corresponding to the specified operation button B in advance to the main control unit 14. Output to The audio output unit 19 includes, for example, an amplifier and a speaker (both not shown), and amplifies and emits the audio signal Sv transferred by the main control unit 14.
[0020]
The remote controller 3 corresponds to a remote controller in the present invention, and is formed separately from the apparatus main body 2 and includes an operation unit 31 and a light emitting unit 32 as shown in FIG. The operation unit 31 is configured by arranging a plurality of operation buttons B for performing various operations such as channel selection (channel switching), volume setting, image quality setting, and the like. When the operation button B is operated, , A signal capable of specifying the operation button B is output. The light emitting section 32 converts a signal output from the operation section 31 into an infrared signal Si and emits light.
[0021]
Next, the overall operation of the television device 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. In the television device 1, when the power switch button provided on the device main body 2 is turned on, power is supplied to the projector unit 21, and the light source lamp emits white light. Also, the tuner 15 outputs the video signal St and the audio signal Sv of the channel selected when the power supply was cut off immediately before.
[0022]
Next, the display control unit 13 generates a display video signal Se in RGB format based on the video signal St output by the tuner 15 and transferred by the main control unit 14, and outputs the generated video signal Se to the projector unit 21. In response, the modulating means of the projector unit 21 modulates the white light emitted by the light source lamp into projection light L for image display, and the projection lens enlarges the projection light L. Thereby, the projection light L is projected on the screen panel 22 to display the television image Pt, and the television image Pt is visually recognized through the transparent touch panel 12. The audio output unit 19 emits audio based on the audio signal Sv output by the tuner 15 and transferred by the main control unit 14.
[0023]
Next, an operation of the television device 1 when switching channels using the remote controller 3 or the touch panel 12 will be described. First, when the channel is switched using the remote controller 3, the operation buttons B, B,... (The operation buttons B, B, Operate the operation button B corresponding to the desired channel from the following. In response to this, the operation unit 31 outputs a signal capable of specifying the operated operation button B. Next, the light emitting unit 32 converts the signal into an infrared signal Si and emits light, and the light receiving unit 17 receives the infrared signal Si, photoelectrically converts the signal into an electric signal, and outputs the electric signal.
[0024]
Next, the remote control signal processing unit 18 specifies the operated operation button B, generates a channel switching operation signal So that specifies the channel corresponding to the specified operation button B, and outputs the signal to the main control unit 14. . Next, the main control unit 14 outputs a control signal Sc for switching to the channel to the tuner 15. In response to this, the tuner 15 selects a channel specified by the control signal Sc, instead of the previously selected channel, and outputs the video signal St and the audio signal Sv. Hereinafter, in the same manner as the above-described operation, the display control unit 13 outputs the display video signal Se, and the projector unit 21 projects the projection light L, so that the television image of the channel newly selected by the channel switching is output. The Pt is displayed on the screen panel 22 and the sound of the channel is emitted by the sound output unit 19.
[0025]
On the other hand, when performing channel switching using the touch panel 12, first, a touch operation is performed on an arbitrary part of the touch panel 12. At this time, the touch panel 12 outputs the panel signal Sp to the panel signal processing unit 16. In response, panel signal processing section 16 outputs operation signal So to main control section 14. Next, when an operation signal So (a signal only indicating that a touch operation has been performed at this time) is output in a state where the remote control video Pr is not displayed, the main control unit 14 instructs display of the remote control video Pr. The control signal Sc is output to the display control unit 13. Therefore, the display control unit 13 generates a display video signal Se for displaying a composite video in which the television video Pt and the remote control video Pr are superimposed, and outputs the display video signal Se for, for example, 15 seconds. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 2, a composite video in which the television video Pt and the remote control video Pr are superimposed is displayed on the screen panel 22. In this case, the remote control image Pr (each button image Pb, Pb,...) Is displayed large on the right side of the screen panel 22, for example, as shown in FIG. Also, the button images Pb, Pb,... Are arranged and displayed in the same manner as the arrangement pattern of the operation buttons B, B,.
[0026]
Next, the display position of the button image Pb corresponding to the desired channel from the button images Pb, Pb,... (Button images Pb, Pb,. Touch operation is performed on a part on the touch panel 12 facing the. In this case, the button images Pb, Pb,... Are displayed in a large size, and the shape and arrangement pattern of each button image Pb, Pb,. Therefore, erroneous recognition of the button image Pb is prevented, and good operability is ensured as in the case of operating the remote controller 3. Subsequently, the touch panel 12 outputs a panel signal Sp that can specify the touch position. Next, the panel signal processing unit 16 specifies a touch position on the touch panel 12 based on the panel signal Sp, and generates an operation signal So of an operation content corresponding to the specified touch position to generate a main control unit 14. Output to
[0027]
Next, the main control unit 14 outputs a control signal Sc for switching to a channel corresponding to the output operation signal So to the tuner 15. In response, the tuner 15 selects a channel specified by the control signal Sc and outputs a video signal St and an audio signal Sv. Next, the display control unit 13 generates and outputs a display video signal Se for displaying a composite video in which the newly selected television video Pt and the remote control video Pr are superimposed. Subsequently, the projector unit 21 projects the projection light L. As a result, a composite video in which the television video Pt of the channel newly selected by the channel switching operation and the remote control video Pr are superimposed is displayed on the screen panel 22. The sound of the channel is emitted by the sound output unit 19. Next, the main control unit 14 sends the control signal Sc instructing the display control unit 13 to stop displaying the remote control video Pr at a point in time when 15 seconds have passed since the last time the operation signal So was output by the panel signal processing unit 16. Output to As a result, the display control unit 13 outputs the display video signal Se for displaying only the television video Pt instead of the composite video in which the television video Pt and the remote control video Pr are superimposed. Therefore, at that time, the display of the remote control video Pr from the screen panel 22 is stopped, and only the television video Pt is displayed.
[0028]
As described above, according to the television device 1, the control signal based on the panel signal Sp output from the touch panel 12 when a touch operation is performed on a portion of the touch panel 12 opposite to the display position of the tuning button image Pb. By outputting Sc and displaying the television image Pt of the channel corresponding to the button image Pb on the display unit 11, a large number of tuning operation buttons individually corresponding to each channel are arranged in the apparatus main body 2. Can be eliminated, so that the device main body 2 can be prevented from being enlarged, and the device main body 2 capable of selecting a channel with good operability can be realized. In addition, since each button image Pb for tuning operation can be displayed in a large size, the button image Pb can be clearly recognized. As a result, the user can accurately perform a touch operation on the intended display position of the button image Pb. can do.
[0029]
In addition, by displaying a button image Pb having an approximate appearance to the operation button B of the remote controller 3 in an arrangement pattern equivalent to the arrangement pattern of the operation buttons B, the user switches the channel using the remote controller 3 on a regular basis. Even if it is, it is possible to operate the desired button image Pb accurately without discomfort.
[0030]
Also, when the touch panel 12 is touched, the remote control image Pr is displayed for, for example, 15 seconds, so that each button image Pb can be displayed without providing a dedicated switch or the like. In addition, since the display of the button image Pb is automatically stopped when 15 seconds have elapsed, a manual operation for stopping the display of each button image Pb can be omitted.
[0031]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment of the present invention. For example, in the embodiment of the present invention, the method of using the remote controller 3 and the touch panel 12 when switching channels has been described. However, various setting operations such as volume and image quality can be operated by the same operation method. . Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, an example in which the display unit 11 includes the projector unit 21 and the screen panel 22 has been described, but a CRT or a liquid crystal display panel may be employed as the display unit.
[0032]
Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, an example in which each button image Pb is displayed for 15 seconds has been described, but the display time is not limited to this, and can be set to any time. Further, a configuration in which the display time can be changed by the user can be adopted. Further, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the display is stopped when a predetermined position on the touch panel 12 is touch-operated while the respective button images Pb are displayed. Instead of the touch operation on the touch panel 12, for example, an ON / OFF switch may be provided on the apparatus main body 2, and the display and stop of each button image Pb may be performed by the switch operation. Further, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the display of each button image Pb is started in conjunction with the turning on of the power switch, and the display is stopped when a predetermined time elapses.
[0033]
Also, like the television device 41 shown in FIG. 3, channel display images Pc, Pc,... Displaying numbers of respective channels (numbers 1 to 12 shown in FIG. It is also possible to display in an array pattern equivalent to the array pattern of the above. In this case, by performing a touch operation on the display portion of the channel display image Pc on the touch panel 12, it is possible to avoid an increase in the size of the device main body 42 as in the case of the above-described television device 1, and to perform a favorable operation. It is possible to realize the device main body 24 that can perform a channel selection operation with ease.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a television device 1.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus main body 2 and a remote controller 3;
FIG. 3 is a front view of a television device 41 according to another embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 41 television device, 2, 42 device body, 3 remote controller, 11 display unit, 12 touch panel, 13 display control unit, 14 main control unit, B operation button, Pb button image, Pc channel display image, Pt television image, Sp panel signal, St video signal

Claims (3)

A television device including a display unit that displays an image, and a main control unit that displays an image of a channel selected by a channel selection operation on the display unit,
A display control unit for displaying the plurality of operation button images for the tuning operation on the display unit, and a part disposed on the front side of the display unit and facing a display position of the operation button image is operated. A touch panel that outputs a signal corresponding to the operation button image,
The television device, wherein the main control unit causes the display unit to display an image of a channel corresponding to the signal output from the touch panel. A remote controller that is formed separately from the device main body that houses the display unit and has a plurality of operation buttons for tuning operation arranged in a predetermined arrangement pattern,
The television device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit causes the display unit to display an image having an appearance similar to each of the operation buttons as the operation button image in an arrangement pattern equivalent to the predetermined arrangement pattern. The television device according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit displays the operation button images on the display unit for a predetermined time when the touch panel is operated.

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