JP2006173968A - Device and method for selecting channel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten time for presetting a channel. <P>SOLUTION: In a step S1, "a wide area channel selection processing" for detecting a broadcasting frequency of a broadcasting radio wave from a prescribed broadcasting station with first precision is performed by controlling a first tuner, as channel presetting. In a step S2, the broadcasting frequency is detected with second precision finer than first precision, "A small area channel selection processing" for registering the detected broadcasting frequency as a standard frequency is performed by controlling a second tuner. In a step S3, a processing for detecting information (television system and sound multiplex) on a sound signal in television broadcasting signals corresponding to the broadcasting radio wave from the prescribed broadcasting station is performed by controlling the second tuner (main tuner part). This invention can be applied to a television receiver having two or above tuners. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a channel selection apparatus and method, and more particularly to a channel selection apparatus and method that can reduce the time required for channel presetting for a broadcast station that broadcasts an analog television broadcast signal.

  The television receiver selects a broadcast station associated with a channel (key) designated by the user from a plurality of broadcast stations, and a television broadcast signal broadcast from the selected broadcast station. (Broadcast radio waves) are often received.

  In order to receive the actual broadcast radio wave in this way, the television receiver is searched by searching each broadcast frequency of one or more receivable radio waves at the time of the first channel selection. It is necessary to execute processing for registering the three broadcast frequencies, channels (keys), and broadcast stations in association with each other. Such processing includes various names such as auto preset and channel preset. Therefore, in this specification, such processing is referred to as channel preset.

As a conventional method of such channel preset, for example, there are methods disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.
Japanese Patent No. 3281690 JP 2003-101388 A

  However, conventionally, there has been a problem that channel presetting for a broadcasting station that broadcasts an analog television broadcast signal takes a very long time.

  Note that the method disclosed in Patent Document 1 is based on the assumption that the standard frequency is known in advance. Therefore, when the standard frequency of a broadcasting station that broadcasts an analog television broadcast signal is unknown, for example, in the case of general overseas or when the destination cannot be specified, the method disclosed in Patent Document 1 is applied as it is. Even if channel presetting is performed, it is very difficult to solve this problem.

  The method disclosed in Patent Document 2 is based on channel presets for broadcast stations that broadcast digital television broadcast signals. Therefore, even if the method disclosed in Patent Document 2 is applied as it is and channel presetting is performed for a broadcasting station that broadcasts an analog television broadcast signal, it is very difficult to solve this problem.

  In other words, even if Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 are combined to perform channel preset for a broadcasting station that broadcasts an analog television broadcast signal, it is very difficult to solve this problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and is intended to shorten the time required for channel presetting for a broadcasting station that broadcasts an analog television broadcast signal.

  When the analog television broadcast signal is broadcast from a plurality of broadcast stations as broadcast radio waves, the channel selection apparatus of the present invention includes a tuner that receives broadcast radio waves from a selected broadcast station among the plurality of broadcast stations. A channel selection apparatus comprising two or more, wherein the broadcast frequency of the broadcast radio wave from the predetermined broadcast station is set to the first accuracy as a step for registering or updating the standard frequency of the predetermined broadcast station among the plurality of broadcast stations. When the broadcast frequency is detected with the first accuracy by the first frequency detection step detected in step 1 and the processing of the first detection step, the broadcast frequency is further detected with a second accuracy finer than the first accuracy. A second frequency detection step of registering or updating the detected broadcast frequency as a standard frequency of the predetermined broadcast station, and a sound of the television broadcast signal corresponding to the broadcast radio wave from the predetermined broadcast station And a process execution means for executing at least each process of the voice detection step for detecting information related to the signal, wherein the process execution means includes a first frequency detection step, a second frequency detection step, and a voice detection step. At least one process is performed by controlling a first tuner of the two or more tuners, and the remaining process is performed by a second tuner different from the first tuner of the two or more tuners. It is characterized by being executed by controlling.

  The process execution means executes the process of the first frequency detection step by controlling the first tuner, and executes the process of the second frequency detection step and the voice detection step by controlling the second tuner. Can be.

  When the standard frequency of each of the first broadcast station and the second broadcast station among the plurality of broadcast stations is registered or updated in that order, the process execution means is configured to execute the first broadcast station on the first broadcast station. The processing of the frequency detection step is executed by controlling the first tuner, and when the processing of the first frequency detection step for the first broadcasting station is completed, the second frequency detection for the first broadcasting station is completed. The processing of the step and the voice detection step is executed by controlling the second tuner, the processing of the first frequency detection step for the second broadcasting station is executed by controlling the first tuner, When all processes of the second frequency detection step and the voice detection step for one broadcasting station and the first frequency detection step for the second broadcasting station are completed, the second broadcast is performed. The process of the second frequency detection step and the sound detection step of can be made to run by controlling the second tuner.

  In the channel selection method of the present invention, when an analog television broadcast signal is broadcast as a broadcast wave from a plurality of broadcast stations, a tuner that receives the broadcast waves from the selected broadcast station among the plurality of broadcast stations is provided. A channel selection method for a channel selection apparatus comprising two or more, wherein a first frequency of a broadcast radio wave from a predetermined broadcast station is set as a first channel selection step of a predetermined broadcast station among a plurality of broadcast stations. If the broadcast frequency is detected with the first accuracy by the first detection step of detecting with the accuracy of the first and the processing of the first detection step, the broadcast frequency is further increased with the second accuracy finer than the first accuracy. A second frequency detection step of detecting and registering or updating the detected broadcast frequency as a standard frequency of a predetermined broadcast station; and an audio signal of a television broadcast signal corresponding to a broadcast radio wave from the predetermined broadcast station At least one of the first frequency detection step, the second frequency detection step, and the voice detection step. Control is performed by controlling a first tuner of the tuners, and the remaining processing is performed by controlling a second tuner different from the first tuner of two or more tuners. Can do.

  In the channel selection apparatus and method of the present invention, when an analog television broadcast signal is broadcast as a broadcast radio wave from a plurality of broadcast stations, the broadcast radio wave from the selected broadcast station among the plurality of broadcast stations is received. A channel selection device including two or more tuners to be used is targeted. As a process for registering or updating a standard frequency of a predetermined broadcast station among a plurality of broadcast stations, the channel selection device detects a broadcast frequency of a broadcast radio wave from the predetermined broadcast station with a first accuracy. 1 frequency detection

When the broadcast frequency is detected with the first accuracy by the processing of the step and the first detection step, the broadcast frequency is further detected with the second accuracy finer than the first accuracy, and the detected broadcast frequency is A second frequency detection step of registering or updating as a standard frequency of a predetermined broadcast station, and an audio detection step of detecting information relating to an audio signal of a television broadcast signal corresponding to a broadcast radio wave from the predetermined broadcast station Each process is executed at least. In this case, at least one of the first frequency detection step, the second frequency detection step, and the sound detection step is executed by controlling the first tuner of the two or more tuners. The remaining processing is executed by controlling a second tuner different from the first tuner among the two or more tuners.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to execute a process of registering or updating a standard frequency of a broadcasting station that broadcasts an analog television broadcast signal. That is, a channel preset for the broadcast station can be realized. In particular, when the channel preset is performed, distributed processing using the first tuner and the second tuner becomes possible. That is, for example, while a part of the processing associated with the channel preset for the first broadcasting station is being executed using the first tuner, one of the processing associated with the channel preset for the second broadcasting station is performed. Can be executed using the second tuner. As a result, the time required for channel presetting for a plurality of broadcasting stations can be shortened.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Correspondences between constituent elements described in the claims and specific examples in the embodiments of the present invention are exemplified as follows. This description is to confirm that specific examples supporting the invention described in the claims are described in the embodiments of the invention. Therefore, even though there are specific examples that are described in the embodiment of the invention but are not described here as corresponding to the configuration requirements, the specific examples are not included in the configuration. It does not mean that it does not correspond to a requirement. On the contrary, even if a specific example is described here as corresponding to a configuration requirement, this means that the specific example does not correspond to a configuration requirement other than the configuration requirement. not.

  Further, this description does not mean that all the inventions corresponding to the specific examples described in the embodiments of the invention are described in the claims. In other words, this description is an invention corresponding to the specific example described in the embodiment of the invention, and the existence of an invention not described in the claims of this application, that is, in the future, a divisional application will be made. Nor does it deny the existence of an invention added by amendment.

  According to the present invention, a channel selection device is provided. This channel selection device (for example, the channel selection device in FIG. 2) is configured to receive an analog television broadcast signal from a plurality of broadcast stations as a broadcast radio wave. A channel selection apparatus including two or more tuners that receive the broadcast radio waves of the predetermined broadcast station as a process for registering or updating a standard frequency of a predetermined broadcast station among the plurality of broadcast stations. A first frequency detection step (for example, “wide-area channel selection process” in step S1 of FIG. 4) for detecting the broadcast frequency of the broadcast radio wave with a first accuracy, and the broadcast frequency is determined by the process of the first detection step. When detected with the first accuracy, the broadcast frequency is further detected with a second accuracy finer than the first accuracy, and the detected broadcast frequency is registered as the standard frequency of the predetermined broadcast station Also Second frequency detection step to be updated (for example, “small area tuning process” in step S2 of FIG. 4), and information related to an audio signal in a television broadcast signal corresponding to the broadcast radio wave from the predetermined broadcast station And a processing execution means (for example, the main control unit 22 in FIG. 2) that executes at least each of the processing with the voice detection step (for example, the processing in step S3 in FIG. 4). At least one of the frequency detection step, the second frequency detection step, and the voice detection step is performed by a first tuner (for example, the sub-tuner unit in FIG. 2) of the two or more tuners. 13), and the remaining processing is performed by a second tuner (for example, in FIG. 2) different from the first tuner among the two or more tuners. And to execute by controlling the in-tuner section 12).

  In this channel selection apparatus, the first broadcasting station (for example, the broadcasting station A described above in [Problems to be solved by the invention]) and the second broadcasting station (for example, [the invention is to be solved) among the plurality of broadcasting stations. When the registration or update of the standard frequencies of the broadcasting stations B) described above in the above-mentioned problem is performed in that order, the processing execution means performs the first frequency detection step for the first broadcasting station. Is executed by controlling the first tuner, and the processing of the first frequency detection step for the first broadcasting station is completed. The second tuner is controlled by the second frequency detection step and the voice detection step for the first broadcast station (for example, steps S2-A and S3-A in FIG. 5). And executing the first frequency detection step processing (for example, step S1-B in FIG. 5) for the second broadcasting station by controlling the first tuner, When all the processes of the second frequency detection step and the sound detection step for the first broadcast station and the first frequency detection step for the second broadcast station are completed, the second frequency detection step The processing of the second frequency detection step and the sound detection step (for example, the processing of steps S2-B and S3-B in FIG. 5) for the broadcasting station is executed by controlling the second tuner. can do.

  According to the present invention, the channel selection method of the channel selection apparatus of the present invention described above is provided. Furthermore, according to the present invention, a program corresponding to the channel selection method of the present invention and a recording medium on which the program is recorded are provided.

  Next, before explaining the embodiment of the present invention, the background until the present invention is made will be described.

  First, the present inventor analyzed the factors causing the above-described conventional problems. Therefore, hereinafter, an analysis result by the present inventor, that is, a factor causing the above-described conventional problem will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a conventional channel preset sequence. Specifically, FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a sequence for searching for each broadcast frequency of an analog television broadcast signal broadcast from each of the six broadcast stations A to F.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in order to perform channel presetting for one broadcasting station k (k is one of A to F), a conventional television receiver has three steps 1-k to It is necessary to sequentially execute 3-k in that order.

  Step 1-k refers to a step of scanning at a standard frequency (broadcast frequency), that is, so-called wide-area tuning. In other words, step 1-k refers to a step of detecting a broadcast frequency with a certain degree of accuracy. Specifically, a process of sequentially increasing the frequency set in the tuner of the television receiver with a large step width until AFT (Automatic Frequency Tuning) reacts is performed as Step 1-k.

  Hereinafter, the frequency set in the tuner of the television receiver is referred to as a tuning frequency fi.

  AFT reaction means the following.

  That is, the tuner sees the relative relationship between the channel selection frequency fu and the broadcast frequency fi and supplies a signal having a voltage value corresponding to the relative relationship to the control unit of the television receiver. Such a signal is called an AFT signal (voltage).

  Therefore, the control unit digitizes the AFT voltage by passing through the A / D converter, and uses the two threshold values for the resulting value (hereinafter referred to as the AFT value). The pattern is classified into one of the three patterns. Specifically, for example, if the higher one of the two threshold values is referred to as a first threshold value and the lower one is referred to as a second threshold value, an AFT value exceeding the first threshold value is a high pattern. being classified. On the other hand, AFT values less than the second threshold are classified into low patterns. An AFT value that falls within the range from the second threshold value to the first threshold value is classified as a no pattern.

  Next, the control unit determines whether the value is “high”, “low”, “high low”, or “no response” based on the threshold classification results for the past several times (for example, 10 times). to decide.

  Specifically, for example, when the channel selection frequency fu slightly deviates from the broadcast frequency fi (optimum frequency), some of the past AFT values are classified as high and some are classified as low. As described above, when the AFT value classified as high and the AFT value classified as low are mixed in the past several AFT values, it is determined as “high and low”.

  Further, for example, when the channel selection frequency fu deviates moderately from the broadcast frequency fi (optimal frequency), the AFT values for the past several times are classified into one of high and low. As described above, when only AFT values classified as high are present in the past several AFT values, it is determined to be “high”. In addition, when only the AFT value classified as low is present in the past AFT values, it is determined as “low”.

  Further, for example, if the channel selection frequency fu deviates significantly from the broadcast frequency fi (optimum frequency), all of the past AFT values are classified as none. In this way, when only the AFT values classified as none exist in the past AFT values, it is determined that there is no response.

  Although details will be described later, even when the tuning frequency fu substantially matches the broadcast frequency fi (optimum frequency), all of the past AFT values are classified as none, and as a result, there is no response. It is judged. Therefore, the channel selection frequency fu is significantly different from the broadcast frequency fi (optimal frequency), so it is determined that there is no response, or the channel selection frequency fu substantially matches the broadcast frequency fi (optimum frequency). It is necessary to identify whether it was determined that there was no response. This identification can be realized by using the h_sync signal.

  From the above, in the step 1-k, the control unit previously determined that “no reaction”, but the control unit determines that it is other than that (mainly “high” or “low”). It is said that “AFT has responded”.

  When “AFT reacts” in this way, step 1-k ends and step 2-k proceeds.

  Step 2-k refers to a step of performing adjustment by AFT, that is, so-called small area tuning. In other words, step 2-k refers to a step of further detecting a broadcast frequency with a finer accuracy than step 1-k and registering the detected broadcast frequency as a standard frequency. Specifically, when “AFT responds”, the channel selection frequency fu is gradually increased by decreasing the step width, and finally fine-tuned to the optimum frequency (broadcast frequency fi). The process of registering the optimum frequency as the standard frequency is performed as step 2-k.

  Pulling to the optimum frequency means changing from the state where “AFT reacts” to the state where “AFT does not respond”, that is, control so that “no response” occurs. Note that, as described above, even when the tuning frequency fu substantially matches the broadcasting frequency fi, and even when the tuning frequency fu deviates significantly from the broadcasting frequency fi, the same determination of “no response” is made. Therefore, attention is paid to this point.

  Step 3-k refers to a step of detecting a sound system such as TV-System (television system) or sound multiplex detection. More generally, information relating to an audio signal is detected in a television broadcast signal broadcast from a broadcast station that has been detected (searched) for a standard frequency in steps 1-k and 2-k. The step of performing is step 3-k.

  As described above, in order to perform channel preset for one broadcasting station k, it is necessary to sequentially execute the three steps 1-k to 3-k in that order.

  Conventionally, all of these three steps 1-k to 3-k have been executed using a single tuner. Therefore, as shown in the example of FIG. 1, in order to perform channel presetting for all of the broadcasting stations A to F, the television receiver uses one tuner as shown in FIG. 1-A to 3-A, Steps 1-B to 3-B, Steps 1-C to 3-C, Steps 1-D to 3-D, Steps 1-E to 3-E, and Step 1-F It was necessary to sequentially execute 3 to F in that order. For this reason, it takes a long time such as the time T1 shown in the figure to complete the channel preset for all of the broadcasting stations A to F. That is, the above-described conventional problem occurs.

  As described above, the fact that all of these three steps 1-k to 3-k are executed by using one tuner is a cause of the conventional problem.

  In view of this, the present inventors have invented the following method in order to eliminate such factors and solve the conventional problems. That is, the method invented by the present inventors is based on the assumption that two tuners are used, step 1-k (standard frequency scanning), step 2-k (adjustment by AFT), step 3-k (voice system). Is a method in which at least one step is detected using one tuner and the remaining steps are executed using the other tuner. However, it is assumed that Step 3-k is executed by a tuner having an MSP (Multi-standard Sound Processor).

  In the above, the background until the inventor invented the method has been described.

  Next, an embodiment of a channel selection apparatus to which the technique is applied, that is, a channel selection apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. 2 and subsequent drawings.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of a channel selection device to which the present invention is applied.

  In the example of FIG. 2, step 1-k (standard frequency scanning) of the channel preset for the broadcast station k is executed using the sub-tuner unit 13, and step 2-k (adjustment by AFT) and step are performed. 3-k (audio system detection) is executed using the main tuner unit 12. The details of the channel preset method (the channel selection method to which the present invention is applied) will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  When an analog television broadcast signal is broadcast as a broadcast wave from a broadcast station (not shown) and received by the antenna 11, each of the tuner unit 12 and the tuner unit 13 demodulates the broadcast wave received by the antenna 11. The television broadcast signal obtained as a result is supplied to the input switching unit 15.

  In the present embodiment, in accordance with the description of FIG. 2, the tuner unit 12 on which the MSP 23 is mounted is referred to as the main tuner unit 12, and the tuner unit 13 on which the MSP is not mounted is referred to as the sub tuner unit 13. For example, the MSP 23 executes a process corresponding to the above-described step 3-k.

  Specifically, in order for the main tuner unit 12 and the sub tuner unit 13 to receive broadcast radio waves from a predetermined broadcast station, as described above, channel presets need to be performed in advance. That is, as described above, only after a channel preset for a predetermined broadcast station is performed, the standard frequency of the predetermined broadcast station (to be precise, frequency data that can be specified, frequency data will be described later). be registered. Therefore, if the standard frequency of the selected broadcast station is registered, the main control unit 22 notifies the main tuner unit 12 and the sub tuner unit 13 of the registered standard frequency as the channel selection frequency fu. Then, the main tuner unit 12 and the sub-tuner unit 13 receive and demodulate the broadcast radio wave of the broadcast frequency fi corresponding to the notified channel selection frequency fu, and the resulting television broadcast signal is input to the input switching unit 15. To supply.

  Note that the processing of the main tuner unit 12 and the sub tuner unit 13 is based on the premise that the standard frequency (the notified channel selection frequency fu) and the actual broadcast frequency fi are substantially the same. This assumption is true in many cases, but may not be true. In the latter case, the channel selection apparatus may pull in the channel selection frequency fu to the optimum frequency (actual broadcast frequency fi) by executing the same process as the above-described step 2-k of channel presetting.

  On the other hand, when the standard frequency of the selected broadcast station is not registered, channel preset for the broadcast station is first performed. However, the processes of the main control unit 22, the main tuner unit 12, and the sub tuner unit 13 associated with this channel preset will be described later with reference to FIGS.

  The AV signal input unit 14 is connected to an external device (not shown) and supplies an AV (Audio and Visual) signal output from the external device to the input switching unit 15.

  In the following description, for the sake of simplicity, television broadcast signals output from the main tuner unit 12 and the sub tuner unit 13 to the input switching unit 15 are also referred to as AV (Audio and Visual) signals.

  The input switching unit 15 has an input terminal 15-1 for inputting an AV signal supplied from the AV signal input unit 14, an input terminal 15-2 for inputting an AV signal supplied from the main tuner unit 12, An input terminal 15-3 for inputting an AV signal supplied from the sub-tuner unit 13 is provided. The input switching unit 15 is also provided with an output terminal 15-4 for outputting an AV signal to the AV separation unit 16 described later.

  Therefore, the input switching unit 15 switches the switch to any one of the input terminals 15-1 to 15-3 based on the control of the main control unit 22 described later. For example, when the switch is switched to the input terminal 15-1, the input switching unit 15 supplies the AV signal from the AV signal input unit 14 to the AV separation unit 16. For example, the input switching unit 15 supplies the AV signal from the main tuner unit 12 to the AV separation unit 16 when the switch is switched to the input terminal 15-2. Furthermore, for example, the input switching unit 15 supplies the AV signal from the sub tuner unit 13 to the AV separation unit 16 when the switch is switched to the input terminal 15-3.

  The AV separation unit 16 separates the AV signal supplied from the input switching unit 15 into an audio signal (Audio signal) and a video signal (Visual signal), and supplies the audio signal to the audio processing unit 17. The video signal is supplied to the video processing unit 20.

  The audio processing unit 17 performs various types of audio processing on the audio signal supplied from the AV separation unit 16 and then supplies the audio signal to the amplifier 18. The amplifier 18 adjusts the gain of the audio signal supplied from the audio processing unit 17 and supplies the audio signal after gain adjustment to the speaker 19. The speaker 19 outputs the sound corresponding to the sound signal supplied from the amplifier 19 to the outside at a volume corresponding to the gain of the sound signal.

  The video processing unit 20 performs various types of video processing on the video signal supplied from the AV separation unit 16 and then supplies the video signal to the display unit 21. The display unit 21 displays a video corresponding to the video signal supplied from the video processing unit 20.

  The main control unit 22 controls the entire channel selection device of FIG. That is, in the example of FIG. 2, the main control unit 22 includes the main tuner unit 12, the sub tuner unit 13, the input switching unit 15, the AV separation unit 16, the audio processing unit 17, the amplifier 18, the video processing unit 20, and the display unit. Various controls for each of 21 are performed.

  Specifically, for example, the main control unit 22 performs IIC control on the main tuner unit 12, the sub tuner unit 13, the input switching unit 15, and the like. IIC control refers to control using serial bus communication called I2C or IIC communication. This IIC control is mainly used for device control.

  For example, when channel presetting is performed, the main control unit 22 controls the main tuner unit 12 and the sub tuner unit 13, and information supplied from the main tuner unit 12 or the sub tuner unit 13 is obtained as a result of the control. Use it to execute the corresponding process. Hereinafter, the process executed by the main control unit 22 when the channel preset is performed is referred to as “channel preset process”. Details of the “channel preset process” will be described later with reference to a flowchart of FIG. In the “channel preset processing”, information supplied from the main tuner unit 12 or the sub tuner unit 13 to the main control unit 22 is an AFT signal, an h_sync signal, or the like. Will be described later.

  The detailed configuration of each of the antenna 11 to the main control unit 22 described above is not particularly limited as long as each of the functions described above can be realized.

  For example, the functional blocks such as the audio processing unit 17 and the video processing unit 20 may be configured by hardware alone, may be configured by software alone, or may be configured by a combination of hardware and software. May be.

  In addition, for example, when the channel selection device in the example of FIG. 2 is configured as a television receiver, the main control unit 22 is generally a microcomputer because of being mounted in the housing of the television receiver. It is often composed of. However, the main control unit 22 may be constituted by hardware alone other than the microcomputer, may be constituted by software alone, or hardware including the microcomputer, similarly to other functional blocks. And a combination of software and software. Specifically, for example, in the present embodiment, it is assumed that the main control unit 22 is configured as a computer shown in FIG.

  That is, FIG. 3 shows a detailed configuration example of the main control unit 22 of FIG.

  In the main control unit 22 of FIG. 3, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31 follows a program recorded in a ROM (Read Only Memory) 32 or a program loaded from a storage unit 38 to a RAM (Random Access Memory) 33. Perform various processes. The RAM 33 also appropriately stores data necessary for the CPU 31 to execute various processes.

  The CPU 31, ROM 32, and RAM 33 are connected to each other via a bus 34. An input / output interface 35 is also connected to the bus 34.

  Connected to the input / output interface 35 are an input unit 36 for inputting various types of information corresponding to user operations, an output unit 37 for outputting various types of information to the user, a storage unit 38 such as a hard disk, and a communication unit 39. ing.

  In the present embodiment, the communication unit 39 includes the main tuner unit 12, the sub tuner unit 13, the input switching unit 15, the AV separation unit 16, the audio processing unit 17, the amplifier 18, the video processing unit 20, and the display unit illustrated in FIG. It is assumed that communication with each of 21 is controlled. Further, the communication unit 39 can control communication with other devices (not shown) via a network (not shown) including the Internet as necessary.

  A drive 40 is connected to the input / output interface 35 as necessary, and a removable recording medium 41 made of a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a semiconductor memory, or the like is appropriately attached and read from the removable recording medium 41. The computer program thus installed is installed in the storage unit 38 as necessary.

  Further, for example, at least one block of the main tuner unit 12, the sub tuner unit 13, the input switching unit 15, the AV separation unit 16, the audio processing unit 17, the amplifier 18, the video processing unit 20, and the display unit 21 of FIG. However, the computer program read from the removable recording medium 41 is necessary if it has a memory capable of installing or loading the program and is configured by hardware having a processor capable of executing the program. In response, the data is supplied to those blocks via the communication unit 39.

  When the main control unit 22 is constituted by a microcomputer, the input unit 36, the output unit 37, the storage unit 38, the drive 40, and the like can be omitted.

  The configuration example of the channel selection device to which the present invention is applied has been described above.

  Next, an example of the “channel preset process” among the processes executed by the main control unit 22 of the channel selection apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The “channel preset process” in FIG. 4 is a process associated with a channel preset for a predetermined one of a plurality of broadcast stations, in other words, a predetermined one of a plurality of broadcast radio waves that can be received by the channel selection device. Shows an example of a process for finding and registering the broadcasting frequency (standard frequency), channel (key), and broadcasting station in association with each other.

  The “channel preset processing” in FIG. 4 is executed when necessary for the first time when a predetermined broadcast station is selected, that is, when the standard frequency of the predetermined broadcast station is not registered. That is, if the “channel preset process” in FIG. 4 is executed when the standard frequency of a predetermined broadcast station has been registered, the standard frequency of the predetermined broadcast station is updated and re-registered.

  In step S1 of FIG. 4, the main control unit 22 controls the sub tuner unit 13 to execute processing corresponding to the above-described conventional step 1-k (standard frequency scanning). The process of step S1 is hereinafter referred to as “wide area channel selection process”. Details of the “wide-area channel selection process” will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S2, the main control unit 22 controls the main tuner unit 12 to execute processing corresponding to the above-described conventional step 2-k (adjustment by AFT). Hereinafter, the process of step S2 will be referred to as a “small area tuning process”. Details of the “small area tuning process” will be described later with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S3, the main control unit 22 controls the MSP 23 of the main tuner unit 12 to detect a television system and audio multiplexing. That is, in step S3, the main control unit 22 executes a process corresponding to the above-described conventional process 3-k (audio system detection).

  When the process of step S3 ends, the “channel preset process” for a predetermined one of the plurality of broadcast stations ends. That is, the channel preset for a predetermined one of the plurality of broadcasting stations is completed.

  In other words, when channel presets of a plurality of broadcast stations are performed, the “channel preset process” of FIG. 4 is sequentially executed for each broadcast station.

  What should be noted here is that the sub-tuner unit 13 is used in the process of step S1, while the main tuner unit 12 is used in the processes of steps S2 and S3. In this respect, the main control unit 22 uses the sub-tuner unit 13 to execute another broadcast using the main tuner unit 12 while executing the process of step S1 for a predetermined broadcast station. It becomes possible to execute the processes of steps S2 and S3 for the stations in parallel.

  Specifically, for example, it is assumed that channel presetting is performed for each of the six broadcast stations A to F that broadcast analog television broadcast signals, as described above with reference to FIG.

  In this case, from the viewpoint of man-hours, the processing of steps S1 to S3 is required for each of the six broadcasting stations A to F, so the man-hours are the same as in the conventional art. Hereinafter, steps S1, S2, and S3 for each of the broadcasting stations A to F are respectively referred to as steps S1-A to S1-F, S2-A to S2-F, and S3-A to S3-F. Called.

  However, as shown in FIG. 5, the main control unit 22 uses the sub-tuner unit 13 to perform step S1-m for the first broadcast station m (m is one of A to F). During the process of step S2-n and step S3-n for the second broadcast station n (n is an alphabet immediately before m) using the main tuner unit 12 in parallel. And can be executed. Therefore, from the viewpoint on the time axis, as shown in FIG. 5, the channel selection apparatus executes the “channel preset processing” of FIG. 4 as described above, thereby obtaining the conventional required time T1 (see FIG. 1). It is possible to complete channel presetting for all of the broadcasting stations A to F in a short period of time T2, which is shortened by ΔT compared to. That is, the conventional problem described above can be solved.

  In other words, the “channel preset process” in FIG. 4 is nothing but an embodiment of the channel selection process to which the above-described method of the present invention is applied, that is, the channel selection process of the present invention.

  Here, referring to the flowcharts of FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, each of the “wide-area channel selection process” in step S1 and the “small-area channel selection process” in step S2 in FIG. I will explain.

  In step S <b> 11 of “Wide-area channel selection processing” in FIG. 6, the main control unit 22 performs initial setting of the channel selection frequency fu set in the sub-tuner unit 13.

  Hereinafter, as described in FIG. 6, the tuning frequency fu set in the sub-tuner unit 13 is particularly described as a tuning frequency fus. This is to distinguish from the tuning frequency fu set in the main tuner unit 12. That is, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 7, the channel selection frequency fu set in the main tuner unit 12 will also be described as the channel selection frequency fum.

  In practice, the main control unit 22 notifies the sub-tuner unit 13 not of the channel selection frequency fus itself but the set frequency data (PLL data). That is, actually, the channel selection frequency fus is obtained as a result of multiplying the set frequency data by a predetermined frequency (for example, 31.25 [kHz] here). However, the channel selection frequency fus is uniquely obtained from the set frequency data in this way. Therefore, in this specification, for the sake of simplicity, the main control unit 22 notifies the sub-tuner unit 13 of the channel selection frequency fus. The same applies to the main tuner unit 12. That is, in this specification, for the sake of simplicity of explanation, it is assumed that the main control unit 22 notifies the tuning frequency fum to the main tuner unit 12 as will be described later with reference to FIG.

  Specifically, for example, in step S11, the main control unit 22 actually notifies the sub-tuner unit 13 of the lowest frequency data PLL0 as an initial set value of the set frequency data. It is assumed that a value obtained as a result of multiplying the frequency data PLL0 by 31.25 [kHz] is notified to the sub-tuner unit 13 as an initial set value of the channel selection frequency fus.

  As described above, the sub-tuner unit 13 looks at the relative relationship between the channel selection frequency fus notified from the main control unit 22 and the broadcast frequency fi of the broadcast radio wave actually received via the antenna 11, and the relative An AFT signal having a voltage value corresponding to the relationship is supplied to the main control unit 22.

  Therefore, in step S12, the main control unit 22 acquires the AFT signal from the sub tuner unit 13.

  In step S13, the main control unit 22 determines the voltage value of the AFT signal acquired in the process of step S12 (more precisely, as described above, the classification result for the past several times of the sampling value of the voltage value. Based on the three time transitions of low and none, it is determined whether or not AFT has reacted. In other words, in step S13, the main control unit 22 determines whether or not the tuning frequency fus has approached the optimum frequency to some extent.

  If it is determined in step S13 that the AFT is not responding, that is, if the main controller 22 determines that “no reaction”, the process proceeds to step S14.

  If it is determined in step S13 that the AFT is not responding, the channel selection frequency fus is regarded as significantly deviating from the optimum frequency, and the process proceeds to step S14. However, as described above, the AFT does not react even when the tuning frequency fus becomes the optimum frequency. Therefore, in order to determine whether the AFT does not react because the tuning frequency fus is significantly deviated from the optimum frequency, or to determine whether the AFT does not react because the tuning frequency fus has reached the optimum frequency, 22 actually uses the h_sync signal output from the sub-tuner unit 13. That is, actually, the h_sync signal is also used in addition to the AFT signal in the determination process in step S13.

  In step S <b> 14, the main control unit 22 updates the channel selection frequency fus in the direction of increasing based on the update amount D.

  The update amount D refers to the update amount of set frequency data (PLL data). That is, the set frequency data is updated as in the following equation (1).

  (New) Setting frequency data = (Old) Setting frequency data + D (1)

  In other words, the set frequency data is updated as in the following equation (2). In Equation (2), q indicates the number of updates.

  (New) Setting frequency data = PLL0 + D x q (2)

  Therefore, in step S14, the tuning frequency fus is updated as in the following equation (3).

(New) Tuning frequency fus = (New) Setting frequency data x 31.25 [kHz]
... (3)

  In this way, when the channel selection frequency fus is updated in the process of step S14 and the updated channel selection frequency fus is notified to the sub tuner unit 13, the process returns to step S12, and the subsequent processes are repeated. .

  That is, the sub-tuner unit 13 returns an AFT signal having a voltage value corresponding to the relative relationship between the updated channel selection frequency fus and the broadcast frequency fi to the main control unit 22 this time. Therefore, the AFT signal is acquired in the process of step S12, and it is determined again in the process of step S13 whether the AFT has reacted based on the voltage value of the AFT signal. If the AFT has not yet reacted, the process in step S14 is further updated in the direction in which the channel selection frequency fus is increased according to the above-described equation (3), and the process is returned to step S12 and thereafter. The process is executed repeatedly.

  By repeatedly executing the loop processing of steps S12 to S14, the channel selection frequency fus increases by the update amount D × 31.25 [kHz] and gradually approaches the optimum frequency (broadcast frequency fi). Will go. That is, the update amount D × 31.25 [kHz] corresponds to the “large step width” referred to in step 1-k.

  When the channel selection frequency fus approaches the optimum frequency (broadcasting frequency fi) to some extent, as described above, “high”, “low”, or “high low” (here, “low”) 22 is determined. Then, in step S13, it is determined that AFT has reacted, and the “wide-area channel selection process” ends. That is, the process in step S1 in FIG. 4 ends, and the process proceeds to “small area tuning process” in step S2.

  As described above, since the “wide-area channel selection process” in step S1 is a process corresponding to step 1-k described above, the channel-selection frequency fus at the end of the “wide-area channel selection process” in step S1 is It can be said that this corresponds to the broadcast frequency detected in the step 1-k with a rougher accuracy than the step 2-k.

  Although it is rare, as a result of repeatedly executing the loop processing of steps S12 to S14, the tuning frequency fus may coincide with the optimum frequency (actual broadcast frequency fi). In such a case, as described above, AFT does not react. However, in such a case, as described above, the main control unit 22 can recognize from the h_sync signal that the AFT is not responding because the channel selection frequency fus matches the optimum frequency (broadcast frequency fi). Therefore, in such a case, the main control unit 22 may forcibly determine that the AFT has reacted in step S13 and end the “wide-area channel selection process”. However, in such a case, although not shown, the main control unit 22 does not execute the “small area channel selection process” in step S2 of FIG. 4, and selects the channel selection frequency fus as the current reception channel (key). , It is assumed that the process proceeds to step S3 in FIG. This is to shorten the processing time of the entire “channel preset processing” in FIG.

  However, by changing the flow of “small area tuning process” in step S2 of FIG. 4 to a flow different from the example of FIG. 7 described later, AFT reacts in the process of step S28 even in such a rare case. Of course, it is possible to determine that it is not, and to proceed to step S14.

  The details of the “wide-area channel selection process” in step S1 of FIG. 4 have been described above with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 7, the details of the “small area tuning process” in step S2 of FIG. 4 will be described.

  In step S21, the main control unit 22 updates the update amount D from the update amount D to a smaller update amount d. In other words, the process of step S21 is a process corresponding to “reducing the step width” in step 2-1 described above.

  In step S <b> 22, the main control unit 22 sets the tuning frequency fum set in the main tuner unit 12 to be the same as the tuning frequency fus last set in the sub tuner unit 13. The channel selection frequency fus set last in the sub-tuner unit 13 means the channel selection frequency fus set in the sub-tuner unit 13 at the end of the “wide-area channel selection process” in step S1 of FIG.

  As described above, the main tuner unit 12 looks at the relative relationship between the channel selection frequency fum notified from the main control unit 22 and the broadcast frequency fi of the broadcast radio wave actually received via the antenna 11, and responds accordingly. The AFT signal having the determined voltage value is provided to the main control unit 22.

  Therefore, in step S23, the main control unit 22 acquires an AFT signal from the main tuner unit 12.

  In step S24, the main control unit 22 determines the voltage value of the AFT signal acquired in the process of step S23 (more accurately, as described above, the classification results for the past several times of the sampling value of the voltage value. In other words, it is determined whether or not the polarity of the AFT signal has been determined based on the time transition of three patterns of low and none.

  That is, as described above, the loop processing of steps S23 and S24 and S25 to be described later, as a result of the channel selection frequency fum approaching the optimum frequency (broadcast frequency fi) to some extent, is “high”, “low”, or “ It is often executed when the main control unit 22 determines that “high low” (here, “low”).

  Therefore, for example, a plus (+) sign is attached to “high”, and a minus (−) sign is attached to “low”. In this case, when the determination result of the main control unit 22 changes from “high” to “low” so far, the polarity of the AFT signal is referred to as “inverted from plus (+) to minus (−)” for convenience. . On the other hand, when the judgment result of the main control unit 22 changes from “low” to “high”, the polarity of the AFT signal is reversed from minus (−) to plus (+) for convenience. Called.

  In this case, if the determination result of the main control unit 22 has changed from “low” to “high”, it is determined in step S24 that the polarity of the AFT signal has been reversed.

  On the other hand, when the determination result of the main control unit 22 maintains “low” as it is, it is determined in step S24 that the polarity of the AFT signal is not inverted, and the process proceeds to step S25. It will be. Also in the first step S24, it is forcibly determined that the polarity of the AFT signal is not inverted, and the process proceeds to step S25.

  In step S <b> 25, the main control unit 22 updates the channel selection frequency fum in a direction to increase based on the update amount d.

  The update amount d refers to the update amount of set frequency data (PLL data). That is, the set frequency data is updated as shown in the following equation (4) with respect to the above equation (1).

  (New) Setting frequency data = (Old) Setting frequency data + d (4)

  In other words, the set frequency data is updated as in the following equation (5). In Equation (5), r indicates the number of updates for the update amount d. That is, it should be noted that r does not include the number of updates for the update amount D. PLLs indicates set frequency data corresponding to “the channel selection frequency fus last set in the sub-tuner unit 13” in step S22. That is, according to the above equation (3), PLLs is a value obtained as a result of dividing “the channel selection frequency fus last set in the sub-tuner unit 13” in step S22 by 31.25.

  (New) Setting frequency data = PLLs + d × r (5)

  Therefore, in step S25, the channel selection frequency fum is updated as in the following equation (6).

(New) Tuning frequency fum = (New) Setting frequency data x 31.25 [kHz]
... (6)

  In this way, when the channel selection frequency fum is updated in the process of step S25 and the updated channel selection frequency fum is notified to the main tuner unit 12, the process returns to step S23, and the subsequent processes are repeated. .

  In other words, the main tuner unit 12 returns to the main control unit 22 an AFT signal having a voltage value corresponding to the relative relationship between the selected channel frequency fum and the broadcast frequency fi. Therefore, the AFT signal is acquired in the process of step S23, and it is determined again in the process of step S24 whether or not the polarity is inverted compared to the previous time based on the voltage value of the AFT signal. If the polarity does not react, the process in step S25 is further updated in the direction in which the channel selection frequency fum is increased according to the above-described equation (6), the process returns to step S23, and the subsequent processes are performed. Repeatedly executed.

  By repeatedly executing the loop processing of steps S23 to S25, the channel selection frequency fum increases by the update amount d × 31.25 [kHz], and further approaches the optimum frequency (broadcast frequency fi). It will be. That is, the channel selection frequency fum increases in a step width (= update amount d × 31.25 [kHz]) smaller than the step width (= update amount D × 31.25 [kHz]) in the “wide-area channel selection process” of FIG. Will be updated sequentially.

  However, after the channel selection frequency fum approaches an optimum frequency (broadcast frequency fi) that is less than the step width (= update amount d × 31.25 [kHz]), it is updated so as to further increase the step width. This time, the optimum frequency will be exceeded. That is, the tuning frequency fum is overstepped. Thus, when the channel selection frequency fum is overstepped, the determination result of the main control unit 22 changes from “low” to “high”, that is, the polarity of the AFT signal changes from minus (−) to plus (+). Since it is inverted, it is determined in step S24 that the polarity of the AFT signal has been inverted, and the process proceeds to step S26.

  As described above, when the tuning frequency fum approaches the optimum frequency (broadcast frequency fi), the main control unit 22 may determine “high / low” as the AFT signal. In such a case, that is, when the determination result of the main control unit 22 is updated from “low” to “high low” so far, in this embodiment, the polarity of the AFT signal is inverted in the process of step S24. If it is determined that the channel selection frequency fum is not determined and the process proceeds to step S25, the channel selection frequency fum is overstepped. However, it is possible to determine that the polarity of the AFT signal has been reversed in the process of step S24 in such a case by changing the flow of “small area tuning process” to a flow different from the example of FIG. It is.

  In rare cases, the channel selection frequency fum matches the optimum frequency (broadcast frequency fi), that is, the AFT may not respond. In such a case, in the present embodiment, it is forcibly determined that the polarity of the AFT signal has been inverted in the process of step S24, and although not shown, the process does not proceed to step S26 but proceeds to step S30. I will do so. This is to shorten the processing time of the “small area tuning process”. However, in such a case, it is natural that the channel selection frequency fum is overstepped by determining that the polarity of the AFT signal is not inverted in the process of step S24 and proceeding to step S25. While possible.

  Hereinafter, processing after it is determined that the polarity of the AFT signal has been reversed in the processing of step S24 will be described.

  That is, in step S26, the main control unit 22 updates the update amount d from the update amount d to a smaller update amount Δd.

  In step S27, the main control unit 22 acquires the AFT signal from the main tuner unit 12.

  In step S28, the main control unit 22 determines the voltage value of the AFT signal acquired in the process of step S27 (more precisely, as described above, the classification result for the past several times of the sampling value of the voltage value. Based on the three time transitions of low and none, it is determined whether or not AFT has stopped responding. That is, in step S28, the main control unit 22 determines whether or not the tuning frequency fum has reached the optimum frequency (broadcast frequency fi).

  As described above, AFT responds when the channel selection frequency fum is significantly different from the optimum frequency (broadcast frequency fi) as well as when the channel selection frequency fum is the optimum frequency (broadcast frequency fi). No longer. Therefore, in actuality, when executing the process of step S28, the main control unit 22 receives the AFT signal from the main tuner unit 12 as well as the AFT signal from the main tuner unit 12 in the same manner as the process of step S13 of FIG. The h_sync signal is also used. However, the channel selection frequency fum update amount Δd (more precisely, the set frequency data update amount Δd) is sufficiently small, so that the channel selection frequency fum is determined from the optimum frequency (broadcast frequency fi) in the processing stage of step S28. The probability of a significant departure is low.

  If it is determined in step S28 that the AFT has not stopped reacting, that is, the AFT is still responding, the process proceeds to step S29. In step S29, the main control unit 22 updates the channel selection frequency fum in a direction of decreasing based on the update amount Δd.

  The update amount Δd refers to the update amount of set frequency data (PLL data). Further, since the channel selection frequency fum is updated in the direction of lowering, the update amount Δd is a negative (−) value. That is, the set frequency data is updated as in the following equation (7) with respect to the equations (1) and (4) described above.

  (New) Set frequency data = (Old) Set frequency data + △ d (7)

  In other words, the set frequency data is updated as in the following equation (8). In equation (8), s indicates the number of updates for the update amount Δd. That is, it should be noted that s does not include the number of updates for the update amount D or the update amount d. PLLm0 represents set frequency data corresponding to the channel selection frequency fum at the time when it is determined in the process of step S24 that the polarity of the AFT signal has been inverted. That is, according to the above-described equation (6), PLLm0 is a value obtained as a result of dividing the channel selection frequency fum at the time when it is determined in step S24 that the polarity of the AFT signal has been inverted by 31.25.

  (New) Setting frequency data = PLLm0 + Δd × s (8)

  Therefore, in step S29, the channel selection frequency fum is updated as in the following equation (9).

(New) Tuning frequency fum = (New) Setting frequency data x 31.25 [kHz]
... (9)

  Thus, when the channel selection frequency fum is updated in the process of step S29 and the updated channel selection frequency fum is notified to the main tuner unit 12, the process returns to step S27, and the subsequent processes are repeated. .

  In other words, the main tuner unit 12 returns to the main control unit 22 an AFT signal having a voltage value corresponding to the relative relationship between the selected channel frequency fum and the broadcast frequency fi. Therefore, the AFT signal is acquired in the process of step S27, and it is determined again whether or not the AFT stops reacting based on the voltage value of the AFT signal in the process of step S28. If the AFT is still reacting, the process in step S29 is further updated in the direction in which the channel selection frequency fum is lowered according to the above-described equation (9), and the process returns to step S27 and the subsequent processes Is repeatedly executed.

  By repeatedly executing such loop processing of steps S27 to S29, the channel selection frequency fum decreases by the update amount Δd × 31.25 [kHz], and further approaches the optimum frequency (broadcast frequency fi). It will follow. That is, with the step width (= update amount Δd × 31.25 [kHz]) smaller than the step width (= update amount d × 31.25 [kHz]) in the loop processing of steps S23 to S25, this time, the tuning frequency fum Will be updated sequentially in the direction of decreasing.

  Then, since the AFT does not react when the channel selection frequency fum substantially matches the optimum frequency (broadcast frequency fi), it is determined in step S28 that the AFT does not react, and the process proceeds to step S30.

  In step S30, the main control unit 22 registers the tuning frequency fum as the standard frequency of the current reception channel.

  That is, the channel selection frequency fum at the time when it is determined in step S28 that the AFT has stopped responding is further detected and detected with a finer accuracy than “step 1-k” in step 2-k described above. Corresponds to “broadcast frequency”. Therefore, the process of step S30 corresponds to “register the detected broadcast frequency as a standard frequency” in step 2-k described above.

  When the process of step S30 is completed in this way, the entire “small area tuning process” is also completed. That is, the process of step S2 in FIG. 4 ends, and the process proceeds to step S3.

  The details of the “small area tuning process” in step S2 of FIG. 4 have been described above with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In the example of FIG. 7 described above, only two stages of d and Δd are used as the update amount of the channel selection frequency fum for the main tuner unit 12 (more precisely, the update amount of the set frequency data). The number of steps of the update amount, that is, the number of steps of the step width is not limited to the example of FIG.

  Specifically, for example, if the update amount Δd is large to some extent, an overstep may occur without determining that the AFT has stopped reacting in the process of step S28. In such a case, the main control unit 22 may update from the update amount Δd to a smaller update amount Δd1. After that, the main control unit 22 may repeatedly execute the loop process of steps S27 to S29. However, in this case, the processing in step S29 is processing such as “update in the direction of increasing the tuning frequency fum based on the update amount Δd1”.

  Further, for example, even when the loop process of steps S27 to S29 is repeatedly executed for the update amount Δd1, it is not determined that the AFT has stopped reacting in the process of step S28, and an overstep occurs. The main control unit 22 may perform the loop processing of steps S27 to S29 repeatedly after updating from the update amount Δd1 to a smaller update amount Δd2. However, in this case, the process of step S29 is a process such as “update the tuning frequency fum in a direction of decreasing based on the update amount Δd2.”

  Hereinafter, similarly, the main control unit 22 may reduce the update amount (step width) until the occurrence of an overstep is eliminated.

  Specifically, for example, in the present embodiment, the update amount of the channel selection frequency fus for the sub-tuner unit 13 and the update amount of the channel selection frequency fum for the main tuner unit 12 are assumed to be eight stages. Specifically, for example, it is assumed that 7, 6, 2, 1, -1, -2, -6, -7 are adopted as the update amount. Of course, the number of stages of the update amount is not limited to these eight stages.

  The channel selection apparatus and method to which the above-described method of the present invention is applied (method corresponding to “channel preset processing”), that is, an example of the channel selection apparatus and method to which the present invention is applied have been described.

  However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described example, and can take various embodiments.

  For example, in the above-described example, the main tuner unit 12 is used for the process 1-k (standard frequency scanning), and the sub-tuner is used for the process 2-k (adjustment by AFT) and the process 3-k (speech system detection). Part 13 was used. However, as described above, in the method of the present invention, any tuner can be used for each of the steps 1-k, 2-k, and 3-k. Therefore, for example, the present invention can take a form in which the sub-tuner unit is used for the steps 1-k and 2-k and the main tuner unit is used for the step 3-k. The channel selection apparatus of this form can be realized by the configuration of FIG. 2 described above, but can also be realized by the configuration of FIG. 8, for example.

  That is, FIG. 8 shows a configuration example of a channel selection device to which the present invention is applied, and shows a configuration example different from FIG.

  In the example of FIG. 8, when channel preset for the broadcast station k is performed, Step 1-k (standard frequency scanning) and Step 2-k (adjustment by AFT) are executed using the sub-tuner unit 62 described later. Then, step 3-k (audio system detection) is executed using the main tuner unit 63.

  When an analog television broadcast signal is broadcast as a broadcast wave from a broadcast station (not shown) and received by the antenna 61, each of the sub-tuner unit 62 and the main tuner unit 63 equipped with the MSP 81 is received by the antenna 61. The broadcast radio wave is demodulated, and the resulting television broadcast signal is supplied to both the video switching unit 64 and the audio switching unit 65.

  In the present embodiment, similarly to the above-described example, the television broadcast signal output from each of the sub tuner unit 62 and the main tuner unit 63 is hereinafter referred to as an AV signal.

  In addition to the AV signals from both the sub tuner unit 62 and the main tuner unit 63, AV signals from the external device 91 and the external device 92 are also supplied to the video switching unit 64. Therefore, the video switching unit 64 selects two predetermined AV signals from the two or more input AV signals based on the control of the main control unit 74, and selects one of the two selected AV signals. The video signal is supplied to the chroma decoder 66 and the other video signal is supplied to the chroma decoder 67.

  When the video signal is a composite signal (CVBS: Composite Video Burst Signal) when it is input to the video switching unit 64, the video switching unit 64 converts the composite signal into a luminance signal Y and a color signal C, respectively. Separate and output. That is, the video signal separated into the luminance signal Y and the color signal C is input to the chroma decoder 66 and the chroma decoder 67, respectively.

  The audio switching unit 65 is also supplied with AV signals from the external device 91 and the external device 92 in addition to AV signals from both the sub tuner unit 62 and the main tuner unit 63. Therefore, based on the control of the main control unit 74, the audio switching unit 65 selects a predetermined one (AV signal corresponding to the video displayed on the display unit 70) from the two or more input AV signals. The audio signal of the selected AV signal is supplied to the audio processor 71.

  Each of the chroma decoder 66 and the chroma decoder 67 converts the video signal supplied from the video switching unit 64, that is, the luminance signal Y and the color signal C into a YUV signal, and converts the YUV signal into a MID-XU multi-screen processing unit. 68.

  Based on the YUV signals from the chroma decoder 66 and the chroma decoder 67, the MID-XU multi-screen processing unit 68, for example, outputs signals YIN, YIN as YUV signals for simultaneously displaying two images on one screen. UIN and VIN are generated and supplied to the video processing unit 69.

  The video processing unit 69 performs various video processing on the signals YIN, UIN, and VIN (video signals) supplied from the MID-XU multi-screen processing unit 68 and supplies the video signal after the video processing to the display unit 70. . The display unit 70 displays a video corresponding to the video signal supplied from the video processing unit 69. That is, the display unit 70 displays two different videos on one screen.

  The audio processor 71 performs various audio processing on the audio signal supplied from the audio switching unit 65 and then supplies the audio signal to the amplifier 72. The amplifier 72 adjusts the gain of the audio signal supplied from the audio processor 71 and supplies the audio signal after gain adjustment to the speaker 73. The speaker 73 outputs the audio corresponding to the audio signal supplied from the amplifier 72, that is, the audio corresponding to the main video of the two different videos displayed on the screen of the display unit 70, and the gain of the audio signal. Output to the outside at a volume corresponding to.

  The main control unit 74 controls the entire channel selection device of FIG. That is, in the example of FIG. 8, the main control unit 74 includes the sub tuner unit 62, the main tuner unit 63, the video switching unit 64, the audio switching unit 65, the chroma decoder 66, the chroma decoder 67, and the MID-XU multi-screen processing unit 68. The video processing unit 69, the display unit 70, the audio processor 71, and the amplifier 72 are controlled in various ways.

  Specifically, for example, when channel presetting is performed, the main control unit 74 can execute “channel preset processing” according to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4, 6, and 7 described above.

  However, the main control unit 74 executes “channel preset processing” as follows.

  In step S1, the main control unit 74 controls the sub-tuner unit 62 to execute the “wide-area channel selection process” in FIG. This is because, in the example of FIG. 8, the sub-tuner unit 62 is used for the above-described step 1-k (standard frequency scanning).

  In step S <b> 2, the main control unit 74 controls the sub-tuner unit 62 to execute the “small area tuning process” in FIG. 7. This is because, in the example of FIG. 8, the sub-tuner unit 62 is used for the above-described step 2-k (adjustment by AFT).

  In step S3, the main control unit 74 controls the MSP 81 of the main tuner unit 63 to detect a television system and audio multiplexing. This is because the above-described step 3-k (detection of voice system) uses the main tuner unit 63 on which the MSP 81 is mounted.

  The detailed configuration of each of the antenna 61 to the main control unit 74 described above is not particularly limited as long as each of the functions described above can be realized.

  For example, the functional blocks such as the MID-XU multi-screen processing unit 68 and the video processing unit 69 may be configured by hardware alone, software alone, or hardware and software. You may comprise by the combination of these.

  Further, for example, when the channel selection device in the example of FIG. 8 is configured as a television receiver, the main control unit 74 is generally a microcomputer because it is mounted in the housing of the television receiver. It is often composed of. However, like the other functional blocks, the main control unit 74 may be constituted by hardware alone other than the microcomputer, may be constituted by software alone, or hardware including the microcomputer. And a combination of software and software. Specifically, for example, the main control unit 74 can also be configured as the computer of FIG.

  By the way, the series of processes described above can be executed by hardware as described above, or can be executed by software. When the above-described series of processing is executed by software, various functions can be realized by installing a program that constitutes the software in a dedicated hardware or by installing various programs. For example, a general-purpose personal computer that can be executed is installed from a network or a recording medium.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a recording medium including such a program is distributed to provide a program to a user separately from the apparatus main body, and a magnetic disk (floppy disk) on which the program is recorded is distributed. Removable recording media consisting of optical disk (including compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM), DVD (digital versatile disk)), magneto-optical disk (including MD (mini-disk)), or semiconductor memory (Package medium) 41 is not only configured, but also includes a ROM 32 on which a program is recorded and a hard disk included in the storage unit 38 provided to the user in a state of being incorporated in the apparatus main body in advance.

  In the present specification, the step of describing the program recorded on the recording medium is not limited to the processing performed in time series along the order, but is not necessarily performed in time series, either in parallel or individually. The process to be executed is also included.

  Further, in the present specification, the system represents the entire apparatus including a plurality of apparatuses and processing units.

It is a figure explaining the sequence of the conventional channel preset. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the channel selection apparatus with which this invention is applied. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structural example of the main-control part of FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an example of “channel preset processing” executed by the main control unit in FIG. 2, that is, processing corresponding to a channel selection method to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a channel preset sequence when the “channel preset process” of FIG. 4 is executed. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a detailed example of “wide-area channel selection processing” in “channel preset processing” of FIG. 4. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a detailed example of “small area channel selection process” in “channel preset process” of FIG. 4. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example different from FIG. 2 of a channel selection device to which the present invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Antenna, 12 Main tuner part 12 Sub tuner part, 14 AV signal input part, 15 Input switching part, 16 AV separation part, 17 Audio processing part, 18 Amplifier, 19 Speaker, 20 Video processing part, 21 Display part, 22 Main Control unit, 23 MSP, 31 CPU, 32 ROM, 33 RAM, 38 storage unit, 61 antenna, 62 sub-tuner unit, 63 main tuner unit, 64 video switching unit, 65 audio switching unit, 66, 67 chroma decoder, 68 MID -XU multi-screen processing unit, 69 video processing unit, 70 display unit, 71 audio processor, 72 speakers, 81 MSP, 91, 92 external equipment

Claims (4)

In a channel selection apparatus including two or more tuners that receive broadcast radio waves from a selected broadcast station among the plurality of broadcast stations when an analog television broadcast signal is broadcast as a broadcast radio wave from a plurality of broadcast stations. ,
As a process for registering or updating a standard frequency of a predetermined broadcast station among the plurality of broadcast stations,
A first frequency detecting step of detecting a broadcast frequency of a broadcast radio wave from the predetermined broadcast station with a first accuracy;
When the broadcast frequency is detected with the first accuracy by the processing of the first detection step, the broadcast frequency is further detected with a second accuracy smaller than the first accuracy, and the detected broadcast A second frequency detection step of registering or updating a frequency as the standard frequency of the predetermined broadcast station;
Processing execution means for executing at least each of the processes of audio detection step for detecting information related to an audio signal of a television broadcast signal corresponding to the broadcast radio wave from the predetermined broadcast station,
The process execution means includes
At least one of the first frequency detection step, the second frequency detection step, and the voice detection step is executed by controlling a first tuner of the two or more tuners. The remaining processing is executed by controlling a second tuner different from the first tuner among the two or more tuners. The processing execution means executes the processing of the first frequency detection step by controlling the first tuner, and performs the processing of the second frequency detection step and the voice detection step by using the second tuner. The channel selection device according to claim 1, wherein the channel selection device is executed by controlling. When registration or update of the standard frequency of each of the first broadcast station and the second broadcast station among the plurality of broadcast stations is performed in that order,
The process execution means includes
Executing the first frequency detection step for the first broadcast station by controlling the first tuner;
When the processing of the first frequency detection step for the first broadcast station is completed, the processing of the second frequency detection step and the sound detection step for the first broadcast station is performed by the second tuner. And controlling the first tuner to perform the processing of the first frequency detection step for the second broadcasting station,
When all the processes of the second frequency detection step and the sound detection step for the first broadcast station and the first frequency detection step for the second broadcast station are completed, the second frequency detection step The channel selection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second frequency detection step and the voice detection step for the broadcast station are executed by controlling the second tuner. When an analog television broadcast signal is broadcast as a broadcast wave from a plurality of broadcast stations, a channel selection apparatus including two or more tuners that receive broadcast waves from a selected broadcast station among the plurality of broadcast stations. In the tuning method,
As a step for registering or updating a standard frequency of a predetermined broadcast station among the plurality of broadcast stations,
A first frequency detecting step of detecting a broadcast frequency of a broadcast radio wave from the predetermined broadcast station with a first accuracy;
When the broadcast frequency is detected with the first accuracy by the processing of the first detection step, the broadcast frequency is further detected with a second accuracy smaller than the first accuracy, and the detected broadcast A second frequency detection step of registering or updating a frequency as the standard frequency of the predetermined broadcast station;
An audio detection step for detecting information relating to an audio signal of a television broadcast signal corresponding to the broadcast radio wave from the predetermined broadcast station, and
The channel selection device is:
At least one of the first frequency detection step, the second frequency detection step, and the voice detection step is executed by controlling a first tuner of the two or more tuners. The remaining processing is executed by controlling a second tuner different from the first tuner among the two or more tuners.

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