JP2006042158A - Broadcast receiver and television equipped therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a broadcast receiver capable of instantly deciding a reception direction conforming to the preference of a user by a simple operation when the user selects a channel, and to provide a television equipped with the same. <P>SOLUTION: A tuner 16 extracts a broadcast signal corresponding to a selected channel from broadcast signals including a plurality of channels received via an antenna 30. When a user selects a channel, a control unit 10 performs direction search control to cause a reception direction switching unit 24 to execute an instruction of sequential switching of a reception direction per predetermined time, thereby causing a television 40 to display video signals and audio signals successively generated by decoders 18, 20 and 22. When the user inputs a direction change stopping instruction, the unit 10 stops the direction search control, and decides a reception direction being selected as a reception direction of the antenna 30 for a selected channel. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a broadcast receiving apparatus and a television including the same, and more particularly to a broadcast receiving apparatus using an antenna capable of switching directivity and a television including the same.

  Television broadcasts are assigned frequency bands of VHF (Very High Frequency) and UHF (Ultra High Frequency). In general, a Yagi antenna is used to receive a television broadcast signal.

  The Yagi antenna is composed of a reflector, a radiator, and a director, and has an advantage that it has a strong directivity toward the director and a large gain due to the action of the reflector.

  In order to achieve good reception, the Yagi antenna is installed so that the direction of the broadcasting station and the directivity thereof coincide. Generally, since it is fixedly installed on the roof of a house or the like, once installed, it is not easy to change the directivity.

  Therefore, when a plurality of broadcast stations exist in a distributed manner, only broadcast signals from broadcast stations in a specific direction corresponding to the directivity can be received.

  Therefore, a smart antenna has been devised that can receive radio waves from each broadcasting station by switching the directivity to a plurality of types.

  This smart antenna is composed of a plurality of antenna elements, and directivity can be switched by exciting each antenna element with an appropriate amplitude and phase.

  Therefore, by using the above-described smart antenna, it is possible to receive radio waves from each broadcasting station even when the broadcasting stations are distributed.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an antenna whose directivity can be changed by supplying phase difference power to a plurality of Yagi antennas.

Patent Document 2 discloses an antenna switcher that adjusts the directivity of an antenna so as to correspond to the channel by channel selection by a remote controller.
JP-A-11-330840 JP 2001-168627 A

  By the way, there are an “automatic determination method” and a “manual (manual) determination method” as methods for determining the reception direction of the smart antenna.

  The “automatic determination method” is a method of determining an appropriate reception direction by performing signal processing on a received broadcast signal while the broadcast reception apparatus automatically switches the reception direction of the antenna.

  In addition, the “manual determination method” is a method of selecting a desired reception direction while viewing a displayed image while giving a command for the user to manually switch the reception direction of the antenna.

  According to the “automatic determination method”, an operation for giving a command for switching the reception direction of the antenna becomes unnecessary, but it is impossible to select a reception direction that suits the user's preference. In addition, it may take time to perform signal processing for determining an appropriate reception direction from the received broadcast signal.

  On the other hand, according to the “manual determination method”, it is possible to select the reception direction that suits the user's preference, and the reception direction can be determined instantaneously after viewing the displayed video. The operation becomes complicated.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and its purpose is to instantaneously determine a receiving direction that matches a user's preference by a simple operation when the user selects a channel. The present invention is to provide a broadcast receiving apparatus and a television equipped with the same.

  A broadcast receiving apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention is a broadcast signal including a command means for instructing switching of a receiving direction with respect to a receiving antenna capable of switching directivity, and a plurality of channels received via the receiving antenna. Selection means for extracting a broadcast signal corresponding to the selected channel, signal processing means for generating a video signal and an audio signal from the broadcast signal received from the selection means, and a command when the user selects a channel. Direction search control for instructing the means to sequentially switch the reception direction at predetermined time intervals, thereby displaying the video signal and the audio signal sequentially generated by the signal processing means, and a direction change stop command from the user When is entered, the direction search control is canceled, and the receiving antenna reception for the selected channel is selected. Control means for determining the direction, and the control means determines the reception possibility of the selected reception direction based on the video signal and / or the audio signal generated by the signal processing means, and the control means determines When the reception direction that has been made impossible to receive is selected, the instruction unit immediately instructs the command unit to switch the reception direction without waiting for a predetermined time, and the control unit performs all direction search control. If a direction change stop command is not input from the user even if the direction is repeated a predetermined number of times, if there is a reception direction that can be received by determination, direction search control is stopped and a reception direction that can be received is selected. The receiving direction of the receiving antenna for the selected channel is determined, and the control means determines the receiving direction that can be received by the determination for the selected channel. When determined as the receiving direction of the receiving antenna produces a signal indicative of the message that was determined receiving direction automatically.

  In addition, a broadcast receiving apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes command means for instructing switching of a receiving direction with respect to a receiving antenna capable of switching directivity, and a plurality of channels received via the receiving antenna. Channel selection means for extracting a broadcast signal corresponding to the selected channel from the broadcast signal included, signal processing means for generating a video signal and an audio signal from the broadcast signal received from the channel selection means, and channel selection by the user Sometimes the direction search control is performed to instruct the command unit to sequentially switch the reception direction at predetermined time intervals, thereby displaying the video signal and the audio signal sequentially generated by the signal processing unit, and the direction from the user. When a change stop command is input, the direction search control is stopped and the receiving antenna for the selected channel is selected. And control means for determining as a receiving direction.

  Preferably, the control means determines the receivability of the selected reception direction based on the video signal and / or the audio signal generated by the signal processing means, and the control means is made unreceivable by the determination. When the reception direction is selected, the command means is immediately instructed to switch the reception direction without waiting for a predetermined time.

  Preferably, the control means determines the reception possibility of the selected reception direction based on the video signal and / or the audio signal generated by the signal processing means, and the control means performs direction search control for all directions. When the direction change stop command is not input from the user even if the number of repetitions is repeated, the direction search control is stopped and the reception direction that can be received is selected when there is a reception direction that can be received by determination. It is determined as the receiving direction of the receiving antenna for the channel.

  Preferably, when the control unit determines the reception direction that can be received by the determination as the reception direction of the reception antenna for the selected channel, the control unit automatically generates a signal that displays a message indicating that the reception direction has been determined. To do.

  Preferably, the control means determines the reception possibility of the selected reception direction based on the video signal and / or the audio signal generated by the signal processing means, and the control means performs direction search control for all directions. If the direction change stop command is not input from the user even if the number of repetitions is repeated, the direction search control is canceled and the reception direction cannot be automatically determined when there is no reception direction that can be received by determination. Generate a signal to display.

  Preferably, the control means determines the reception possibility of the selected reception direction based on the video signal and / or the audio signal generated by the signal processing means, and the control means performs direction search control for all directions. If the direction change stop command is not input from the user even if the number of repetitions is repeated, and if there is no reception direction that can be received by judgment, the direction search control is continued and the message that the reception direction could not be determined automatically Generate a signal to display.

  Preferably, the control means does not stop the direction search control until a direction change stop command is input from the user.

  Preferably, the control means accepts the selection of the first or second mode from the user, and when the first mode is selected, the control means prompts the user to repeat the direction search control for all directions a predetermined number of times. When a direction change stop command is not input, if there is a reception direction that can be received by determination, direction search control is stopped, and the reception direction of the reception antenna for the channel for which the reception direction that can be received is selected is selected. When the second mode is selected, the control means does not stop the direction search control until a direction change stop command is input from the user.

  Moreover, the television which concerns on another situation of this invention is provided with one of the above-mentioned broadcast receiving apparatuses.

  When the user selects a channel, the reception direction that matches the user's preference can be determined instantaneously with a simple operation.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the same or corresponding parts in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will not be repeated.

[Embodiment 1]
(Configuration of broadcast receiver)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a broadcast receiving apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 1, broadcast receiving apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention receives a broadcast signal from smart antenna 30 and outputs a reception direction switching signal to smart antenna 30. In addition, the broadcast receiving apparatus 1 outputs a video signal and an audio signal to the television 40. Further, the broadcast receiving apparatus 1 receives a command signal from the remote controller 42.

  The smart antenna 30 receives the reception direction switching signal from the broadcast receiving apparatus 1 and changes the excitation for each antenna element to switch the directivity.

  Since the television 40 and the remote controller 42 are well known, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  The broadcast receiving apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a tuner 16, a digital decoder 18, an MPEG decoder 22, a receiving direction switching unit 24, and a remote control receiving unit 26.

  The control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10a that executes a program, and a memory 10b that stores a program to be executed, data being executed, and data of a program execution result.

  The tuner 16 extracts a broadcast signal corresponding to a channel selected according to a command from the control unit 10 from the received broadcast signal, and outputs the broadcast signal to the digital decoder 18.

  The digital decoder 18 receives the broadcast signal from the tuner 16, decodes it into an MPEG signal that is a video and audio signal, and outputs the MPEG signal to the MPEG decoder 22.

  Here, the digital television broadcast signal is encoded with a Reed-Solomon code and a convolutional code and transmitted. Therefore, the digital decoder 18 can perform error correction in the above decoding process. In this error correction process, the digital decoder 18 calculates the reception data error rate of the received broadcast signal and outputs the reception data error rate to the control unit 10. At this time, since the digital decoder 18 performs error correction for each predetermined number of data included in the received broadcast signal, the received data error rate can be calculated within one frame (1/30 second) from the start of reception.

  In addition to Japanese ISDB-T (Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting for Terrestrial), digital television broadcasting includes US Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) and European DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting for Terrestrial). is there. In either system, since the broadcast signal is encoded and transmitted, error correction is possible, and the received data error rate can be calculated in the process. Therefore, the digital decoder 18 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may use any of the above-described methods.

  The analog decoder 20 receives the broadcast signal from the tuner 16, decodes it into a video and audio signal, and then outputs the digitized video and audio signal to the MPEG decoder 22. Further, the analog decoder 20 outputs to the control unit 10 whether or not the horizontal synchronization signal can be captured.

  Here, the analog television broadcast signal includes a horizontal synchronizing signal and a vertical synchronizing signal in order to control horizontal scanning and vertical scanning of the scanning lines. The analog decoder 20 needs to capture the horizontal synchronization signal and the vertical synchronization signal described above in order to decode the video signal.

  The horizontal synchronization signal has a sufficiently high frequency with respect to the vertical synchronization signal. Therefore, the horizontal synchronization signal is more susceptible to noise and the like than the vertical synchronization signal. That is, the reception state can be determined based on whether or not the horizontal synchronization signal has been captured.

  In capturing the horizontal synchronization signal, the analog decoder 20 performs noise removal processing, frequency separation processing, synchronization signal separation processing, shaping amplification processing, and the like on the received broadcast signal. Therefore, it takes a lot of time from the start of reception to the acquisition of the horizontal synchronization signal as compared with the calculation of the reception data error rate in the digital decoder 18 described above.

  In addition to NTSC (National System Committee) systems such as Japan and the United States, analog television broadcasting includes PAL (Phase Alternation by Line) systems such as Germany and the United Kingdom and SECAM (Sequentiel Couleur a Memoire) systems such as France. However, since the horizontal synchronization signal is included in the broadcast signal in any of the systems, the reception state can be determined based on whether or not the horizontal synchronization signal can be captured.

  Therefore, analog decoder 20 in the first embodiment of the present invention may use any of the above-described methods.

  The MPEG decoder 22 decodes a signal received from the digital decoder 18 or the analog decoder 20 selected according to a command from the control unit 10 into a video signal and an audio signal, and outputs them to the television 40.

  The MPEG decoder 22 further includes an OSD (On Screen Display) 22a.

  The OSD 22 a generates a signal for displaying information on the screen of the television 40 in response to a command from the control unit 10.

  When the signal is generated by the OSD 22a, the MPEG decoder 22 combines the decoded video signal and the signal generated by the OSD 22a, and then outputs the combined signal to the television 40.

  The reception direction switching unit 24 outputs a reception direction switching signal to the smart antenna 30 in response to a command from the control unit 10.

  The remote control receiving unit 26 receives a command from the remote control 42 and outputs it to the control unit 10. The user transmits a command using the remote controller 42 to perform a desired operation.

(Receiving direction)
In the first embodiment, the smart antenna 30 will be described on the assumption that the reception direction can be changed in each of 16 directions divided with respect to the horizontal plane by switching the directivity.

  FIG. 2 is a reception direction switching diagram of the smart antenna according to the first embodiment of the present invention. For simplification, as shown in FIG. 2, numbers are assigned to the receiving directions 1, 2,...

(Direction search during channel selection)
Processing for acquiring the reception direction of smart antenna 30 for the selected channel when the user selects a channel (at the time of channel selection) will be described. FIG. 3 shows the reception direction at the time of channel selection according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a flowchart of the program which determines.

  Referring to FIG. 3, control unit 10 receives a channel selection command from the user through remote controller 42, that is, channel selection, and notifies tuner 16 of the selected channel (step S <b> 101).

  The control unit 10 instructs the OSD 22a to display information related to the setting of the reception direction of the selected channel (step S102).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displaying information related to the setting of the reception direction of the selected channel.

  Referring to FIG. 4, a message 96 indicating that the reception direction of the selected channel is to be searched and a message 97 prompting the user to input a stop key when the desired reception direction comes are displayed on television 40. .

  Next, the control unit 10 sets the number of repetitions N to “1” (step S103).

  Next, the control unit 10 selects the first reception direction whose reception direction number is “1” (step S104).

  The reception direction switching unit 24 outputs a switching signal for the selected reception direction to the smart antenna 30. The smart antenna 30 receives the reception direction switching signal from the reception direction switching unit 24 and changes the excitation for each antenna element to switch the directivity.

  The tuner 16 extracts a broadcast signal corresponding to the channel notified from the control unit 10 from the broadcast signals received from the smart antenna 30. When the selected channel is a digital broadcast channel (YES in step S105), the tuner 16 outputs the extracted broadcast signal to the digital decoder 18 and outputs to the MPEG decoder 22 from the digital decoder 18. To select. Further, when the selected channel is an analog broadcast channel (NO in step S105), the tuner 16 outputs the extracted broadcast signal to the analog decoder 20 and sends the extracted MPEG signal to the MPEG decoder 22 from the analog decoder 20. Select the output of.

  When the selected channel is a digital broadcast channel (YES in step S105), the digital decoder 18 receives the broadcast signal from the tuner 16 and decodes it into an MPEG signal. In addition, the digital decoder 18 calculates the reception data error rate and outputs the reception data error rate to the control unit 10.

  When the selected channel is an analog broadcast channel (NO in step S105), the analog decoder 20 receives a broadcast signal from the tuner 16 and decodes it into a video and audio signal, and then digitized video. The audio signal is output to the MPEG decoder 22. Further, the analog decoder 20 outputs to the control unit 10 whether or not the horizontal synchronization signal can be captured.

  When the selected channel is a digital broadcast channel (YES in step S105), control unit 10 determines whether or not the reception data error rate is equal to or less than a specified value in order to determine whether or not reception is possible ( Step S106). In the embodiment of the present invention, as an example, the specified value is 10%, and the control unit 10 determines that reception is possible if the reception data error rate is 10% or less.

  When the selected channel is an analog broadcast channel (NO in step S105), control unit 10 determines whether or not a horizontal synchronization signal has been captured in order to determine whether or not reception is possible (step S107). ). When the horizontal synchronization signal can be captured, the control unit 10 determines that reception is possible.

  When the received data error rate is equal to or less than the specified value (YES in step S106) or when the horizontal synchronization signal can be captured (YES in step S107), control unit 10 determines that reception is possible, The reception direction number of the selected reception direction is stored in the memory 10b (step S108).

  The MPEG decoder 22 decodes a signal received from the digital decoder 18 or the analog decoder 20 selected according to a command from the control unit 10 into a video signal and an audio signal.

  The OSD 22a generates a signal for displaying information indicating the selected reception direction and information regarding the setting of the reception direction of the selected channel on the screen of the television 40.

  The MPEG decoder 22 combines the decoded video signal and the signal generated by the OSD 22a, and then outputs the combined signal and audio signal to the television 40 (step S109).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen that displays a video signal, information indicating the selected reception direction, and information regarding the setting of the reception direction of the selected channel.

  Referring to FIG. 5, on television 40, information 100 indicating the selected reception direction, message 99 indicating that the reception direction of the selected channel is being searched, and the desired reception direction are displayed together with the video signal. A message 98 is displayed instructing that the stop key should be input when the message comes.

  When the user views the video signal displayed on the television 40 and determines that the selected reception direction is acceptable, the user inputs a reception direction change stop command (direction movement stop key) through the remote controller 42.

  The control unit 10 is selected when a reception direction change stop command is received from the user through the remote controller 42 before a predetermined time has elapsed after switching the reception direction (YES in step S110 and NO in step S112). The reception direction is determined as the reception direction of the selected channel (step S111).

  When the receiving direction change stop command is not input from the user before the predetermined time has elapsed after switching the receiving direction (NO in step S110 and YES in step S112), the control unit 10 determines the last receiving direction. Is selected (step S113). That is, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the reception direction “16” is being selected as shown in FIG.

  If the last reception direction is not selected (NO in step S113), the control unit 10 sets the reception direction of the next reception direction number, that is, the reception direction changed by +22.5 degrees in the positive rotation direction. Select (step S114).

  Hereinafter, the above-described steps S105, S106, S107, S108, S109, S110, S111, S112, and S113 are determined as the reception direction of the selected channel with the reception direction number selected in step S111, or step S113. Repeat until the last receiving direction is selected.

  When the last reception direction is being selected (YES in step S113), control unit 10 increases repetition count N by 1 (step S115).

When the number of repetitions N is 3 or less (NO in step S116), the control unit 10
Whether the above-mentioned steps S104, S105, S106, S107, S108, S109, S110, S111, S112, S113, S115, and S116 are determined as the reception direction of the selected channel with the reception direction number selected in step S111. Alternatively, the process is repeated until the number of repetitions N exceeds “3” in step S116.

  If the number of repetitions N exceeds 3 (YES in step S116), the control unit 10 checks whether or not the reception direction number is stored in the memory 10b (step S117).

  When the reception direction number is stored in the memory 10b (YES in step S117), the control unit 10 selects any one of the stored reception direction numbers and stores the selected reception direction number. The reception direction is determined as the reception direction of the selected channel (step S118).

  Further, the control unit 19 instructs the OSD 22a to display a message indicating that the reception direction of the selected channel has been automatically set on the television 40, and ends the reception direction search (step S119).

  On the other hand, if the reception direction number is not stored in the memory 10b (NO in step S117), the reception direction of the selected channel remains undecided, and the control unit 10 instructs the OSD 22a. Then, a message indicating that the reception direction of the selected channel could not be set is displayed on the television 40, and the reception direction search is terminated (step S120).

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when the reception direction of the smart antenna is automatically switched and the user has selected a desired reception direction, a direction change stop command (direction movement stop key) is input. Then, since the reception direction is determined as the reception direction of the smart antenna, when the user selects a channel, the reception direction suitable for the user's preference can be determined instantaneously with a simple operation.

  Also, even if the reception direction of the smart antenna is switched three times in all directions, the received data error rate is less than the specified value for the digital channel if the user does not input a direction change stop command (direction movement stop key). As for the receiving direction and analog channel, if the receiving direction in which the horizontal sync signal was captured can be acquired automatically, the receiving direction is determined as the receiving direction of the smart antenna. The receiving direction can be determined.

[Embodiment 2]
In the second embodiment, when the received data error rate exceeds a specified value, or when the horizontal synchronization signal cannot be captured, the user changes the direction change stop command (direction movement stop key) unlike the first embodiment. ) Immediately change the reception direction of the smart antenna to the next reception direction without waiting for the stop time to input.

(Direction search during channel selection)
Hereinafter, a process of acquiring the reception direction of the smart antenna 30 for the selected channel when the user selects the channel (at the time of channel selection) will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a program for determining the reception direction at the time of channel selection according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 6, steps S201 to S205 and S208 to S119 of this flowchart are the same as steps S101 to S105 and S108 to S119 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 of the first embodiment. Steps S206 and S207 in this flowchart are different from steps S106 and S107 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, this difference will be described.

  In the first embodiment, step S109 is also performed when the reception data error rate exceeds the specified value (NO in step S106) and when the horizontal synchronization signal cannot be captured (NO in step S107). , S110, S111, S112 were executed.

  Accordingly, even in such a case, as shown in FIG. 5, the television 40 is searched for information 100 indicating the selected reception direction and the reception direction of the selected channel together with the video signal. A message 99 and a message 98 indicating that a stop key should be input when the desired reception direction comes are displayed.

  Then, the user views the video signal displayed on the television 40, determines that the selected reception direction is acceptable, and switches the reception direction, and then, within a predetermined time, switches the reception direction change stop command (direction) through the remote controller 42. When the movement stop key) is input, the selected reception direction is determined as the reception direction of the selected channel. In addition, when the user does not input a reception direction change stop command (direction movement stop key) through the remote controller 42 within a predetermined time after switching the reception direction, the user is switched to the next reception direction.

  On the other hand, in the second embodiment, when the reception data error rate exceeds the specified value (NO in step S206), and when the horizontal synchronization signal cannot be captured (NO in step S207). Steps S209, S210, S211, and S212 are not executed.

  Accordingly, the TV 40 does not display the screen as shown in FIG. 5, does not accept the input of the reception direction change stop command (direction movement stop key) from the user, and does not wait for a predetermined time and immediately receives the next reception. Changed in direction.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, when the user selects a channel, the reception direction of the smart antenna that matches the user's preference is instantaneously determined by a simple operation. be able to. Also, if the received data error rate exceeds the specified value, or if the horizontal sync signal cannot be captured, it is considered that the user cannot select the receiving direction. By switching, the time required for determining the reception direction of the smart antenna as a whole can be shortened.

[Embodiment 3]
Embodiment 3 relates to a broadcast receiving apparatus that continues to execute a process of switching the receiving direction of a smart antenna until a user inputs a direction change stop command (direction movement stop key).

(Direction search during channel selection)
Hereinafter, a process of acquiring the reception direction of the smart antenna 30 for the selected channel when the user selects the channel (at the time of channel selection) will be described.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a program for determining the reception direction at the time of channel selection according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 7, control unit 10 receives a channel selection command from the user, that is, channel selection through remote controller 42, and notifies tuner 16 of the selected channel (step S301).

  The control unit 10 instructs the OSD 22a to display information related to the setting of the reception direction of the selected channel (step S302).

  Next, the control unit 10 selects the first reception direction whose reception direction number is “1” (step S304).

  The reception direction switching unit 24 outputs a switching signal for the selected reception direction to the smart antenna 30. The smart antenna 30 receives the reception direction switching signal from the reception direction switching unit 24 and changes the excitation for each antenna element to switch the directivity.

  The tuner 16 extracts a broadcast signal corresponding to the channel notified from the control unit 10 from the broadcast signals received from the smart antenna 30. When the selected channel is a digital broadcast channel, the tuner 16 outputs the extracted broadcast signal to the digital decoder 18 and also causes the MPEG decoder 22 to select the output from the digital decoder 18. Further, when the selected channel is an analog broadcast channel, the tuner 16 outputs the extracted broadcast signal to the analog decoder 20 and causes the MPEG decoder 22 to select the output from the analog decoder 20.

  When the selected channel is a digital broadcast channel, the digital decoder 18 receives a broadcast signal from the tuner 16 and decodes it into an MPEG signal.

  When the selected channel is an analog broadcast channel, the analog decoder 20 receives the broadcast signal from the tuner 16, decodes it into a video and audio signal, and then outputs the digitized video and audio signal to the MPEG decoder 22. To do.

  The MPEG decoder 22 decodes a signal received from the digital decoder 18 or the analog decoder 20 selected according to a command from the control unit 10 into a video signal and an audio signal.

  The OSD 22a generates on the screen of the television 40 a signal for displaying information indicating the selected reception signal and information regarding setting of the reception direction of the selected channel.

  The MPEG decoder 22 combines the decoded video signal and the signal generated by the OSD 22a, and then outputs the combined signal and audio signal to the television 40 (step S109).

  When the user views the video signal displayed on the television 40 and determines that the selected reception direction is acceptable, the user inputs a reception direction change stop command (direction movement stop key) through the remote controller 42.

  The control unit 10 is selected when a reception direction change stop command is received from the user through the remote controller 42 before a predetermined time has elapsed after switching the reception direction (YES in step S310, NO in step S312). The reception direction is determined as the reception direction of the selected channel (step S311).

  When the receiving direction change stop command is not input from the user before the predetermined time has elapsed since switching the receiving direction (NO in step S310 and YES in step S312), the control unit 10 determines the last receiving direction. Is determined to be selected (step S313). That is, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the reception direction “16” is being selected as shown in FIG.

  When the last reception direction is not selected (NO in step S313), the control unit 10 sets the reception direction of the next reception direction number, that is, the reception direction changed by +22.5 degrees in the positive rotation direction. Select (step S314).

  Hereinafter, the above-described steps S309, S310, S311, S312 and S313 are determined as the reception direction of the selected channel with the reception direction number selected in step S311 or the last reception direction is being selected in step S313. Repeat until

  When the last reception direction is being selected (YES in step S313), the control unit 10 receives the above-described steps S304, S309, S310, S311, S312, and S313 in the reception direction selected in step S311. Repeat until the number is determined as the receiving direction of the selected channel.

  As described above, according to the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, when the user selects a channel, the reception direction of the smart antenna that matches the user's preference is instantaneously determined by a simple operation. be able to. In addition, since the process of switching the reception direction of the smart antenna is executed until the user inputs a direction change stop command (direction movement stop key), the user can continue to search for a reception direction that suits his / her preference.

[Embodiment 4]
Embodiment 4 relates to a broadcast receiving apparatus that continues to perform a search for a reception direction until the reception direction of a selected channel is automatically or manually determined.

(Direction search during channel selection)
Hereinafter, a process of acquiring the reception direction of the smart antenna 30 for the selected channel when the user selects the channel (at the time of channel selection) will be described.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a program for determining the reception direction at the time of channel selection according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 8, steps 401 to S419 in this flowchart are the same as steps S101 to S119 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 of the first embodiment. Step S420 of this flowchart is different from step S120 of the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, this difference will be described.

  In the first embodiment, when the reception direction number is not stored in the memory 10b in step S120 (NO in step S117), the reception direction of the selected channel remains undecided, and the control unit 10 instructs the OSD 22a to display on the television 40 a message that the reception direction of the selected channel could not be set, and the search of the reception direction was terminated.

  That is, in Embodiment 1, the reception direction search is completed without determining the reception direction of the selected channel.

  On the other hand, in the fourth embodiment, when the reception direction number is not stored in the memory 10b in step S420 (NO in step S417), the control unit 10 instructs the OSD 22a to select A message indicating that the reception direction of the channel being set could not be set is displayed on the television 40, and then the process returns to step S404 and the search for the reception direction is continued.

  That is, in the fourth embodiment, the reception direction search is continuously performed until the reception direction of the selected channel is determined.

  As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, as in the first embodiment, when the user selects a channel, the reception direction of the smart antenna that matches the user's preference is instantaneously determined by a simple operation. be able to. In addition, since the process of switching the reception direction of the smart antenna is continued until the user inputs a direction change stop command (direction movement stop key) or the reception direction of the smart antenna is automatically determined, a desirable reception direction Can be obtained.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a schematic block diagram of the broadcast receiving apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a receiving direction switching figure of the smart antenna according to Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart of the program which determines the receiving direction at the time of channel selection according to Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen which displayed the information regarding the setting of the receiving direction of the channel selected according to Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the screen which displayed the video signal according to Embodiment 1 of this invention, the information showing the selected receiving direction, and the information regarding the setting of the receiving direction of the selected channel. It is a flowchart of the program which determines the receiving direction at the time of channel selection according to Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart of the program which determines the receiving direction at the time of channel selection according to Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a flowchart of the program which determines the receiving direction at the time of channel selection according to Embodiment 4 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Broadcast receiving apparatus, 10 control part, 10a CPU, 10b memory, 16 tuner, 18 digital decoder, 20 analog decoder, 22 MPEG decoder, 22a OSD, 24 receiving direction switching part, 26 remote control receiving part, 30 smart antenna, 40 television 42 Remote control, 96-99 message, 100 Information indicating the receiving direction.

Claims (10)

Command means for instructing switching of the receiving direction for a receiving antenna capable of switching directivity;
Channel selection means for extracting a broadcast signal corresponding to a selected channel from broadcast signals including a plurality of channels received via the reception antenna;
Signal processing means for generating a video signal and an audio signal from the broadcast signal received from the channel selection means;
When the user selects a channel, the command means is instructed to perform a direction search control for instructing the sequential switching of the reception direction at predetermined time intervals, whereby a video signal and an audio signal sequentially generated by the signal processing means And when the direction change stop command is input from the user, the direction search control is stopped, and the selected reception direction is determined as the reception direction of the reception antenna for the selected channel. And
The control means determines the reception possibility of the selected reception direction based on the video signal and / or the audio signal generated by the signal processing means,
The control means causes the instruction means to immediately instruct the switching of the reception direction without waiting for the predetermined time when the reception direction that has been made unreceivable by the determination is selected,
The control means performs the direction search when there is a reception direction that can be received by the determination when the direction change stop command is not input from the user even if the direction search control is repeated a predetermined number of times for all directions. Stop the control, determine the reception direction enabled to receive as the reception direction of the reception antenna for the selected channel;
The control means, when determining the reception direction enabled to be received by the determination as the reception direction of the reception antenna for the selected channel, a signal for displaying a message indicating that the reception direction has been automatically determined. A broadcast receiving device to generate. Command means for instructing switching of the receiving direction for a receiving antenna capable of switching directivity;
Channel selection means for extracting a broadcast signal corresponding to a selected channel from broadcast signals including a plurality of channels received via the reception antenna;
Signal processing means for generating a video signal and an audio signal from the broadcast signal received from the channel selection means;
When the user selects a channel, the command means is instructed to perform a direction search control for instructing the sequential switching of the reception direction at predetermined time intervals, whereby a video signal and an audio signal sequentially generated by the signal processing means And when the direction change stop command is input from the user, the direction search control is stopped, and the selected reception direction is determined as the reception direction of the reception antenna for the selected channel. And a broadcast receiving apparatus. The control means determines the reception possibility of the selected reception direction based on the video signal and / or the audio signal generated by the signal processing means,
The control means causes the instruction means to immediately instruct the switching of the reception direction without waiting for the predetermined time when a reception direction that has been made unreceivable by the determination is selected. The broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 2. The control means determines the reception possibility of the selected reception direction based on the video signal and / or the audio signal generated by the signal processing means,
The control means performs the direction search when there is a reception direction that can be received by the determination when the direction change stop command is not input from the user even if the direction search control is repeated a predetermined number of times for all directions. The broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein control is stopped and the reception direction in which reception is possible is determined as a reception direction of the reception antenna for the selected channel.   The control means, when determining the reception direction enabled to be received by the determination as the reception direction of the reception antenna for the selected channel, a signal for displaying a message indicating that the reception direction has been automatically determined. The broadcast receiving device according to claim 4, wherein the broadcast receiving device is generated. The control means determines the reception possibility of the selected reception direction based on the video signal and / or the audio signal generated by the signal processing means,
The control means performs the direction search when there is no reception direction that can be received by the determination when the direction change stop command is not input from the user even if the direction search control is repeated a predetermined number of times for all directions. The broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein control is stopped and a signal for displaying a message indicating that the reception direction could not be automatically determined is generated. The control means determines the reception possibility of the selected reception direction based on the video signal and / or the audio signal generated by the signal processing means,
The control means performs the direction search when there is no reception direction that can be received by the determination when the direction change stop command is not input from the user even if the direction search control is repeated a predetermined number of times for all directions. The broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein control is continued and a signal for displaying a message indicating that the reception direction cannot be automatically determined is generated.   The broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control means does not stop the direction search control until the direction change stop command is input from a user. The control means receives selection of the first or second mode from the user,
When the first mode is selected, the control means is configured to be able to receive by the determination if the direction change stop command is not input from the user even if the direction search control is repeated a predetermined number of times for all directions. When the direction exists, the direction search control is stopped, and the reception direction that is enabled for reception is determined as the reception direction of the reception antenna for the selected channel,
The broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the second mode is selected, the control means does not stop the direction search control until a user inputs the direction change stop command.   A television provided with the broadcast receiving apparatus according to claim 1.

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