JP2007060244A - Television - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve operability when selecting an operation item in a menu screen for setting image quality and sound quality, etc., in a television, and to improve the operability corresponding to a user. <P>SOLUTION: The list of the operation items of an end hierarchy in hierarchized operation items is arranged and displayed according to a hierarchical structure, the respective operation items are made to correspond to one of numerals corresponding to the channel keys of a remote controller 60 and are listed and displayed on a screen, and operation input for selecting whether to receive the operation input from a cursor moving key and a cursor selecting key or to receive the operation input from the channel keys is received from the remote controller 60. Also, the number of times of executing the setting processing of the received operation items is counted for each operation item, information indicating the number of times is stored in an EEPROM 12, and when displaying the list of the operation items, they are rearranged in the order of the number of times of executing the setting processing and displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a television that displays a list of a plurality of operation items on a screen, accepts selection input of the operation item, and executes setting processing corresponding to the selected operation item.

  Conventionally, when setting image quality and sound quality on a television, when a specific key on the remote control is operated, the operation item information is read from the storage medium and a menu screen having a plurality of operation items is displayed on the picture tube. An operation input for selecting one of the displayed operation items is received from the remote control. On this menu screen, the user moves the cursor to the desired operation item using the cursor movement key on the remote control, selects the operation item by performing a specific key operation, and performs setting processing corresponding to the selected operation item on the television. Can be executed.

In recent years, for reasons such as an increase in the number of operation items, it has been desired to improve operability according to television users, such as enabling selection of operation items with fewer operations.
JP 2002-152641 A

  A menu for setting image quality, sound quality, etc. in a television generally has operation items arranged side by side as shown in FIG. 11, in order to select and input the operation item “treble” 111 with the cursor 110 at the position of the operation item “contrast” using the remote controller 60 of FIG. 2, the cursor movement key 61c is pressed five times to select the cursor selection key 61e. Must be pressed once, requiring a total of six remote control operations.

  In view of such a current situation, improvement in operability when selecting an operation item on a menu screen and improvement in operability according to the user have been desired.

  The technique described in Patent Document 1 is a technique for a DVD player, and is not a technique for a television, and thus cannot solve the above problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a television capable of improving the operability according to the television user when selecting an operation item.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a television including a video display circuit, an infrared light receiving circuit, a remote controller, an EEPROM, and an OSD circuit, wherein the remote controller is one of the plurality of operation items displayed in a list. A cursor movement key for moving the cursor displayed according to the operation item, a cursor selection key for operating and inputting the operation item at the position of the cursor as a selection content, and a plurality of numbers corresponding to different numbers A channel key, and the EEPROM stores information indicating the number of times the setting process of the operation item for which the operation input has been accepted is stored, and the microcomputer displays a list of operation items across a plurality of hierarchies in a predetermined hierarchical structure. A list of multi-level operation items arranged according to the hierarchical structure is displayed on the screen and the multi-level operation is displayed. An OSD signal to be displayed as a list on the screen is generated in correspondence with one of the numbers in which the plurality of channel keys are associated with each operation item in the terminal hierarchy displayed in the item list, and the cursor movement key and An operation input for selecting whether to use a cursor input setting for receiving an operation input from the cursor selection key or a direct input setting for receiving an operation input from the plurality of numeric keys is received from the remote controller, and the cursor movement key and the For each operation item, the number of times the setting process of the operation item that has received an operation input from the cursor selection key or the plurality of numeric keys is counted, and information indicating the number of times the setting process of the operation item is performed is stored in the EEPROM. When the cursor input setting is selected, it matches one of the displayed operation items in the end hierarchy. When the cursor selection key is operated, selection input of the operation item at the cursor position is accepted, and when the direct input setting is selected, the displayed terminal hierarchy An operation input for selecting one of the numbers corresponding to each of the operation items is received from the numeric key, and the operation item for which the operation input has been received from the cursor movement key and the cursor selection key or the channel key is received. The corresponding setting process is executed.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the television set according to claim 2, a cursor movement for moving a cursor displayed in accordance with any one of a plurality of operation items displayed on the screen is performed. An operation input means having a key, a cursor selection key for inputting an operation item at the position of the cursor as a selection content, and a plurality of number keys corresponding to different numbers; Cursor input setting that displays each operation item in the list corresponding to one of the numbers associated with the plurality of numeric keys on the screen and receives operation input from the cursor movement key and the cursor selection key Or from the operation input means to select the direct input setting for accepting operation inputs from the plurality of numeric keys, When the user input setting is selected, an operation input for moving the cursor position according to any of the plurality of operation items is received from the cursor movement key, and the cursor position is moved according to the operation input. When the cursor selection key is operated, selection input of the operation item at the cursor position is accepted, and when the direct input setting is selected, any of the numbers corresponding to the plurality of operation items is selected. An operation input for selecting is accepted from the numeric key, and a setting process corresponding to the accepted operation item is executed.

  When the cursor input setting is selected by the input setting selection means, an operation input for moving the cursor position according to any of the plurality of operation items displayed on the operation item display means is moved to the cursor. The position of the cursor is moved according to the operation input received from the key, and when the cursor selection key is operated, the selection input of the operation item at the position of the cursor is received, and the setting process execution means performs the operation input. The setting process corresponding to the operation item for which is received is executed.

  When the direct input setting is selected by the input setting selection means, an operation input for selecting any one of the numbers corresponding to the plurality of operation items displayed by the operation item display means is selected. A setting process corresponding to the operation item received from the numeric key and received by the setting process execution means is executed.

  The operation input means selects the cursor movement key for moving the cursor displayed in accordance with one of the plurality of operation items displayed on the screen and the operation item at the position of the cursor. As long as it has a cursor selection key for operation input and a plurality of numeric keys corresponding to different numbers. The cursor movement key, the cursor selection key, and the numeric key are buttons and dials linked to the switch, etc. Various modes can be adopted.

  The input setting selection means accepts an operation input for selecting whether to use a cursor input setting for accepting an operation input from the cursor movement key and the cursor selection key or a direct input setting for accepting an operation input from the numeric key. I can do it. Accordingly, the cursor input setting and the direct input setting may be switched when the menu key is continuously pressed down for a predetermined time (long press), or the menu including a list of the plurality of operation items may be displayed. An operation item for switching between the cursor input setting and the direct input setting may be provided.

  The setting process execution means may include a counting means for counting the number of times the operation item setting process for which an operation input is accepted by the cursor selection means or the direct input means is executed. With this configuration, it becomes possible to display the display order of the list of the plurality of operation items displayed on the operation item display means in the descending order of the number counted by the counting means, and the user frequently uses operations. Items can be selected and executed more easily. The number of times counted by the counting means may be displayed in a list of the plurality of operation items together with each operation item. With this configuration, the user can easily grasp the usage frequency of each operation item.

  In addition, the operation item display means has a plurality of the plurality of the operation items corresponding to the operation items at a position on the screen according to the arrangement of the numeric keys provided in the operation input means. A configuration may be adopted in which operation items are displayed in a list. With this configuration, the user can intuitively grasp the key positions of the numeric keys of the operation input means and the operation items on the screen corresponding to the keys, thereby improving operability. The numeric keys may be channel keys for selecting one of a plurality of television broadcast channels, and the operation input means has a cursor operation key and a cursor selection key on a predetermined operation surface. And a remote controller having the above channel keys.

In addition, the operation item display means displays a list of operation items that are arranged in accordance with the hierarchical structure on the screen, and displays the operation item list across the plurality of layers in the predetermined hierarchical structure on the screen. Different numbers may be displayed on the screen in correspondence with the operation items in the terminal hierarchy.
In this configuration, the direct input means accepts an operation input for selecting one of the numbers corresponding to the displayed operation items of the terminal hierarchy from the numeric keys, and the cursor input means is displayed as described above. The operation input for moving the cursor position according to any of the operation items of the terminal hierarchy is received from the cursor movement key, the cursor position is moved according to the operation input, and the cursor selection key is operated. According to the configuration, a list of operation items classified in advance is displayed on the screen, so that the user can grasp the operation items on the screen. It becomes easier and the operability is improved.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, when selecting an operation item on a television, a list of operation items classified in advance is displayed on the screen, so that it is easy to grasp the operation item on the screen. In addition, the operability can be improved according to the television user.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to improve the operability according to the television user when selecting an operation item on the television.
Further, according to the invention of claim 3, since a list of a plurality of operation items can be displayed in order of the number of times the operation item setting process has been executed, it is possible to grasp the frequency of use of the operation items at a glance. At the same time, in the direct input setting, the more frequently used one can be executed with fewer operations.
Further, according to the inventions according to claims 4 and 5, the user intuitively associates the position of the numeric key of the operation input means with the operation item on the screen corresponding to the key. It becomes possible to grasp and operability is improved.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a separate numeric key, and the cost can be reduced.
According to the invention of claim 6, since the list of operation items classified in advance is displayed on the screen, the user can easily grasp the operation items on the screen and can further improve the operability. .

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
(1) General configuration of the television of the present invention:
(2) Processing when the menu key is pressed:
(3) Modification of processing when the menu key is pressed down 1:
(4) Modification 2 of processing when the menu key is pressed:
(5) Modification 3 of processing when the menu key is pressed:

1) Schematic configuration of television
FIG. 1 schematically shows a configuration of a television (video output device) 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the television 100 includes a television body 50 and a remote control (remote control device) 60. The television main body 50 of this embodiment includes an antenna 10, a tuner circuit 11, an EEPROM 12, an infrared light receiving circuit 14, a microcomputer 15, a low frequency output circuit 21, an IIC bus 27, a speaker 28, and a video display. A video amplification / chroma circuit 13, a video output circuit 22, a vertical deflection circuit 23, a horizontal deflection circuit 24, a high voltage circuit 25, a deflection coil 26, and a picture tube 29 are provided.
The circuit of the television 100 is provided with an IIC bus 27 that is a general-purpose serial communication bus, and the units 11, 12, 13, and 15 connected to the IIC bus 27 transmit and receive data to and from each other according to a predetermined communication protocol. Have been to do.

  The microcomputer 15 includes a CPU 16, a ROM 17, a RAM 18, an I / O circuit 19, and an OSD (On Screen Display) circuit 20 inside. The OSD circuit 20 is connected to the video amplification / chroma circuit 13, generates an OSD signal representing an image to be OSD displayed on the screen of the picture tube 29, and superimposes it on the video signal. When the microcomputer 15 inputs a voltage signal from the infrared light receiving circuit 14 and detects a corresponding key operation under the control of the CPU 16, the microcomputer 15 receives an operation input from the remote controller 60 and generates an OSD signal corresponding to the received operation input. The microcomputer 15 generates an OSD signal for displaying a list of a plurality of operation items on the screen, receives an operation input for selecting one of the operation items displayed on the screen of the picture tube 29 from the remote controller 60, and selects The setting process corresponding to the operated item is executed. In the present embodiment, a television that outputs video from a picture tube will be described as an example. However, the video output device of the present invention includes a liquid crystal television that outputs video from a liquid crystal panel and a plasma that outputs video from a plasma display. A television is also conceivable.

  The tuner circuit 11 receives a television signal having a desired frequency corresponding to the television broadcast band via the antenna 10 under the control of the microcomputer 15 and selects only a required signal from the received television signal to amplify the high frequency. Then, it is converted into an intermediate frequency signal and output. When the intermediate frequency signal output from the tuner circuit 11 is supplied to the video amplification / chroma circuit 13, the video amplification / chroma circuit 13 performs various signal processing on the intermediate frequency signal based on control data from the microcomputer 15. As a result, the video signal (RGB signal) expressed in RGB (red, green, blue), the synchronization signal, and the audio signal are restored. The restored video signal (RGB signal) is output to the video output circuit 22 and irradiates an electron beam applied to the corresponding color component from each electron gun toward the phosphor screen. The restored synchronization signal is subjected to predetermined signal processing and then output as a deflection drive signal to the high voltage circuit 25, and after voltage conversion, is output to the cathode ray tube monitor 29 to deflect the irradiated electron beam. Further, the restored audio signal is output to the speaker 28 via the low frequency output circuit 21.

  The remote controller 60 has a plurality of keys for accepting operations and an infrared transmission circuit for transmitting the infrared signals to the infrared light receiving circuit, and transmits infrared signals according to the operations of the plurality of keys in a predetermined format. . For example, when an operation is performed to receive a desired channel using the remote controller 60 illustrated in FIG. 2, a corresponding infrared remote control signal is transmitted from the infrared transmission unit 65. The microcomputer 15 receives the infrared remote control signal via the infrared light receiving circuit 14 and sends the frequency data to the tuner circuit 11 so as to receive the corresponding channel.

  The remote controller 60 includes a channel key (numeric key) 63, volume control keys 62a, 62b, up / down / left / right cursor movement keys 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d, a cursor selection key 61e, and a menu key 64 on a predetermined operation surface 67. Yes. The microcomputer is provided with an OSD circuit 20. The OSD circuit 20 generates an OSD signal corresponding to various displays based on a control instruction from the CPU 16, and superimposes the OSD signal on the video signal. Supply to the output terminal.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the remote controller 60. The remote controller 60 includes a control circuit 52, and the operation keys 51 (three operation keys are illustrated in the figure) connected to the control circuit 52 are the numeric keys 63, volume adjustment keys 62a and 62b, and up / down / left / right cursor movement in FIG. Corresponds to keys 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d, cursor selection key 61e, and menu key 64. An infrared transmission circuit 56 is connected to the control circuit 52.

  The infrared transmission circuit 56 includes an infrared light emitting element (not shown), and an infrared signal (wireless signal) corresponding to the signal output from the control circuit 52 is transmitted to the outside. The control circuit 52 includes a CPU 53, a ROM 54, a RAM 55, and the like. Then, the CPU 53 executes a predetermined program stored in the ROM 54 while using the RAM 55 as a work area, and controls the entire remote controller 60. The remote controller 60 receives an operation input from an operation key, generates control data corresponding to the input content, converts it into an infrared signal, and transmits it.

2) Processing when the menu key is pressed
Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4, the process of the microcomputer 15 that receives the selection input of the operation item from the menu screen and executes the corresponding setting process will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the process. This flow is repeated while the power of the television 100 is on.

  When the process is started, it is first determined whether or not the menu key 64 of the remote controller 60 has been pressed (step S10). When an operation in which various keys are depressed is performed, the remote controller 60 detects the operation and transmits an infrared signal expressed by a pulse corresponding to the operation from the infrared transmission circuit to the television body. Then, the infrared light receiving circuit 14 receives the infrared signal and generates a corresponding voltage signal. The microcomputer 15 constantly monitors the input of the voltage signal from the infrared light receiving circuit 14, and detects a key operation performed on the remote controller by identifying information represented by the voltage signal. Thereby, the microcomputer 15 receives an operation input from the remote controller 60.

  That is, when the user performs an operation of depressing the menu key 64 of the remote controller 60, the remote controller 60 detects the depressing operation of the menu key 64 and transmits an infrared signal expressed by a pulse corresponding to the depressing operation from the infrared transmission circuit 56 to the television. Send it to the main unit. Then, the infrared light receiving circuit 14 receives the infrared signal and generates a corresponding voltage signal, and the microcomputer 15 identifies the voltage signal and detects the pressing operation of the menu key 64, so that the condition is satisfied in step S10, and the step Proceed to S20. If the menu key 64 is not depressed, the microcomputer 15 does not detect the depression of the menu key 64, so that the condition is not satisfied in step S10, and this flow ends.

In step S 20, information representing the input setting indicating whether the cursor input setting is currently set or the direct input setting is acquired from the EEPROM 12 and stored in the RAM 18. Here, the cursor input setting is a setting for accepting an operation input from a cursor movement key and a cursor selection key, and the direct input setting is a setting for accepting an operation input from a plurality of channel keys. As information representing the input setting, the cursor input setting may be “1”, the direct input setting may be “2”, and the like. Then, information representing a plurality of operation items is acquired from the ROM 17, and the OSD circuit 20 is caused to generate an OSD signal for OSD display of the list of the plurality of operation items together with a cursor corresponding to any position of the operation items. The generated OSD signal is superimposed on the video signal from the chroma circuit 13, and the video signal on which the OSD signal is superimposed is supplied to the video amplification / chroma circuit 13. Then, the RGB signal corresponding to the video signal on which the OSD signal is superimposed is generated by the video amplification / chroma circuit 13, and the video corresponding to the RGB signal is displayed on the screen by the picture tube 29. Here, since the OSD signal is superimposed on the video signal, a list of operation items is displayed on the screen of the television 100 together with the cursor (step S30). FIG. 9 shows a display screen example of the list of operation items.
From the above, the microcomputer 15 that performs the processing of steps S10 to S30 shown in FIG. 5 corresponds to each operation item in the plurality of operation items to one of the numbers associated with the plurality of numeric keys of the remote controller. Then, operation item display means for displaying a list on the screen is configured.

  After step S30 is completed, it is determined in step S40 whether or not it has been detected that the menu key 64 has been pressed down for a predetermined time (long press). If the menu key 64 is not pressed for a long time, the condition is not satisfied and the process proceeds to step S60. The predetermined time for the long press may be 2 seconds or 3 seconds, as long as it can be distinguished from a normal menu key pressing operation.

  When the condition is satisfied in step S40 and the process proceeds to step S50, information indicating the input setting acquired in step S20 and stored in the RAM 18 is acquired from the RAM 18. When the information indicating the input setting is “1”, “2” is obtained. "2" is changed to "1" and stored in the RAM 18 and the EEPROM 12.

  Then, after step S50 is completed or when it is determined that the condition is not satisfied in step S40, the process proceeds to step S60. In step S60, it is determined whether the current input setting is the cursor input setting or the direct input setting, and the determination result is obtained. The process branches accordingly. In the above-described example, information indicating the input setting stored in the RAM 18 is acquired, and when the information indicating the input setting is “1”, it is determined that the input setting is a cursor input setting, and the process proceeds to step S70a. When the information indicating the setting is “2”, it is determined that the input setting is a direct input setting, and the process proceeds to step S70b.

  From the above, the microcomputer 15 that performs the processing of steps S40 to S60 shown in FIG. 4 sets the cursor input setting for accepting the operation input from the cursor movement key and the cursor selection key, or receives the operation input from the plurality of numeric keys. An input setting selection unit is configured to receive from the operation input unit an operation input for selecting whether to accept the direct input setting.

  If the input setting is a cursor input setting, it is determined in step S70a whether or not a pressing operation of any of the cursor movement keys 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d is detected. If any of the cursor movement keys 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d is detected to be depressed, the condition is satisfied and the process proceeds to step S72a. If no depression of the cursor movement keys 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d is detected in step S70a, the condition is not satisfied and the process proceeds to step S74a.

  When the condition is satisfied in step S70a, the cursor is moved in step S72a. For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, when the operation item is arranged on the screen and the cursor is at the cursor 90 position, when the depression operation of the cursor movement key 61a is detected, the cursor is displayed at the position 92 and the cursor is displayed. When the pressing operation of the movement key 61b is detected, the cursor is displayed at the position 91. When the pressing operation of the cursor movement key 61c is detected, the cursor is displayed at the position 94, and the pressing operation of the cursor movement key 61d is detected. When this occurs, the cursor is displayed at the position 93. When the operation item is arranged on the screen and the cursor is at the position of the cursor 96 as shown in FIG. 9B, the cursor is displayed at the position 97 when the pressing operation of the cursor movement key 61a is detected. When the depression operation of the cursor movement key 61c is detected, the cursor is displayed at the position 98, and when the cursor movement key 61b or 61d is depressed, the cursor is displayed at the position 96.

  After the completion of step S72a or when the condition is not satisfied in step S70a, the process proceeds to step S74a, and it is determined whether or not it has been detected that the cursor selection key 61e has been depressed. If it is detected in step S74a that the cursor selection key 61e has been depressed, the process proceeds to step S80 because the condition is satisfied. In step S80, setting processing corresponding to the operation item being selected by the cursor when the cursor selection key 61e is depressed in step S74a is performed, and the flow is terminated. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S74a that it has not been detected that the cursor selection key 61e has been depressed, the condition is not satisfied, and the process returns to step S40 where it is determined whether or not the menu key 64 has been pressed for a long time.

  As described above, the microcomputer 15 that performs the processing of steps S70a to S74a shown in FIG. 4 has the cursor position adjusted to one of the plurality of operation items when the cursor input setting is selected by the input setting selection unit. An operation input for moving the cursor is received from the cursor movement key, and the position of the cursor is moved according to the operation input. When the cursor selection key is operated, a selection input of the operation item at the cursor position is received. Cursor input means is configured.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S60 that the current input setting is a direct input setting, the process proceeds to step S70b to determine whether any of the numeric keys 63 has been pressed. When it is detected that one of the numeric keys 63 has been depressed, the process proceeds to step S80 as a condition is satisfied. In step S80, setting processing is performed for the operation item associated with the numeric key pressed in step S70b, and the flow ends. On the other hand, if none of the numeric keys 63 is depressed in step S70b, the condition is not satisfied, and the processing from the determination in step S40 is repeated.

  As described above, when the direct input setting is selected by the input setting selection unit, the microcomputer 15 that performs the process of step S70b shown in FIG. 4 selects one of the numbers corresponding to the plurality of operation items. A direct input means for receiving an operation input to be selected from the numeric keys is configured. The microcomputer 15 that performs the process of step S80 shown in FIG. 4 constitutes a setting process execution unit that executes a setting process corresponding to an operation item for which an operation input has been received by the cursor input unit or the direct input unit.

  As described above, in this configuration, when selecting an operation item on a television, a list of operation items classified in advance is displayed on the screen, so that it is easy to grasp the operation item on the screen and the cursor input is performed. Since the user can appropriately select the setting and the direct input setting, the operability can be improved. In addition, when the user selects the direct input setting, it is possible to directly select and input the operation item by operating the numeric keys on the remote controller, thereby reducing the number of operations until the user selects and inputs the target operation item. I can do it.

In the above-described embodiment, the switching operation for changing the cursor input setting and the direct input setting is a long press of the menu key. However, the switching operation is performed by providing a dedicated setting switching key and operating the setting switching key. You can go.
Further, a third input setting different from the cursor input setting and the direct input setting may be provided, and these input settings may be sequentially selected by long-pressing a menu key or operating a dedicated setting switching key. .

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9A, a configuration may be adopted in which each operation item in the plurality of selection items is displayed in a list on the screen in association with any of the numbers associated with the plurality of channel keys. Absent. When the corresponding operation items are displayed together with the numbers corresponding to the respective operation items at positions on the screen according to the arrangement of the respective channel keys provided on the operation surface 67 of the remote control as in the above configuration, the user can It becomes possible to intuitively grasp the position of each channel key and the operation item on the screen corresponding to each channel key, and the operability is improved.

3) Processing when the menu key is pressed down 2:
Alternatively, the input setting selection can be displayed on the menu as one of the operation items, and the cursor input setting and the direct input setting can be switched and selected when the operation item is operated. FIG. 5 shows a flow of processing when the menu key is pressed in the configuration. The processing in steps S10 to S30 is the same as the processing in FIG.

  After step S30 ends, the process proceeds to step S140, where it is determined whether the current input setting is a cursor input setting or a direct input setting, and the process branches according to the determination result. Specifically, information indicating the input setting stored in the RAM 18 is acquired. When the information indicating the input setting is “1”, it is determined that the input setting is a cursor input setting, and the process proceeds to step S150a. When the information indicating the setting is “2”, it is determined that the input setting is a direct input setting, and the process proceeds to step S150b.

  In step S150a, it is determined whether or not a pressing operation of the cursor movement key is detected. If any of the cursor movement keys 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d is detected to be depressed, the condition is satisfied and the process proceeds to step S152a. If no pressing operation of the cursor movement keys 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d is detected in step S150a, the condition is not satisfied and the process proceeds to step S154a.

  When the condition is satisfied in step S150a, the cursor is moved in step S152a in accordance with the cursor movement key detected to be depressed.

  After step S152a is completed, or when the condition is not satisfied in step S150a, the process proceeds to step S154a, and it is determined whether or not the depression of the cursor selection key 61e is detected. In step S154a, when it is detected that the cursor selection key 61e has been depressed, the condition is satisfied and the process proceeds to step S156a. On the other hand, if it is not detected in step S154a that the cursor selection key 61e has been pressed, the condition is not satisfied, and the processing from the determination in step S150a is repeated.

  In step S156a, it is determined whether or not the operation item being selected by the cursor when the cursor selection key 61e is depressed in step S154a is an operation item for selecting input settings. As operation items for selecting this input setting, for example, there are two operation items: “direct input setting selection” for changing the input setting to direct input setting and “cursor input setting” for changing the input setting to cursor input setting. A configuration is possible. In addition, an operation item of “input setting switching” for changing the input setting to the cursor input setting if the current input setting is the direct input setting selection or to the direct input setting selection if the cursor input setting is selected may be provided. The flow will be described with the former configuration.

  In step S156a, if the operation item selected and input in step S154a is “direct input setting selection” or “cursor input setting”, the condition is satisfied and the process proceeds to step S158a. In step S158a, information representing the input settings stored in the RAM 18 and the EEPROM 12 is changed and stored in accordance with the operation item selected and input in step S154a, and the processing from the determination in step S140 is repeated. On the other hand, if the operation item selected and input in step S154a is an operation item other than “direct input setting selection” and “cursor input setting”, the condition is not satisfied and the process proceeds to step S160.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S140 that the input setting is the direct input setting, the process proceeds to step S150b, and it is determined whether or not a numeric key pressing operation is detected. If no numeric key input is detected, the condition is not satisfied, and step S150b is repeated until the numeric key input is detected. When the input of the numeric key is detected, the selection of the operation item associated with the numeric key that has been pressed down is accepted as the condition is satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S152b.

  In step S152b, it is determined whether or not the operation item selected and input in step S150b is “direct input setting selection” or “cursor input setting”. When the operation item selected and input is “direct input setting selection” or “cursor input setting”, the condition is satisfied and the process proceeds to step S154b. When the operation item selected and input is an operation item other than these, the condition is not satisfied and step S160 is established. Proceed to In step S154b, information representing the input settings stored in the RAM 18 and EEPROM 12 is changed and stored in accordance with the operation item selected and input in step S150a, and the processing from the determination in step S140 is repeated.

  In step S160, processing corresponding to the operation item for which the selection input has been received in step S154a or step S150b is performed, and the flow ends.

4) Modification 2 of processing when the menu key is pressed:
By the way, in a menu for displaying a list of a plurality of operation items on the screen, the plurality of operation items may be hierarchized in a predetermined hierarchical structure. FIG. 7 shows an example of operation items hierarchized in a predetermined hierarchical structure. When the menu key 64 of the remote controller 60 is pressed down, the main menu that is initially displayed on the television screen is an operation item that roughly classifies the operation items: “image quality”, “sound quality”, “channel setting”. , “Reserve”, etc. are displayed. Next, when the operation items classified broadly are selected and input with the remote controller 60, a menu block of a submenu is displayed on the screen. For example, when “Quality” is selected and entered in the main menu, operation items such as “Return”, “Contrast”, “Luminance”, “Brightness”, “Saturation”, and “Sharpness” are displayed in the submenu. Is displayed.

  At this time, a list of operation items that are arranged in accordance with the hierarchical structure in a list of operation items spanning a plurality of hierarchies in the predetermined hierarchical structure is displayed on the screen, and each end layer displayed in the multi-hierarchy operation item list is displayed. The operation items may be displayed on the screen in correspondence with different numbers. FIG. 10 displays on the screen a list of a plurality of hierarchy operation items in which a list of operation items extending over a plurality of hierarchies in a predetermined hierarchy structure is arranged according to the hierarchy structure, and each operation of the terminal hierarchy displayed in the list of the plurality of hierarchy operation items. An example is shown in which different numbers are associated with items and displayed on the screen. The operation item names of the highest hierarchy such as “Sound Quality”, “Image Quality”, “Channel Setting”, etc. are displayed at the left end of the screen, and the operation item name of each highest hierarchy is to the right of the operation item name of each highest hierarchy. The operation item names in the end hierarchy corresponding to the hierarchy are displayed side by side. Operation items for setting sound quality such as “1. high sound”, “2. low sound”, “3. surround” are displayed to the right of “sound quality”. Operation items for setting image quality such as “4. Contrast”, “5. Luminance”, and “6. Brightness” are displayed to the right of “Image quality”. Operation items for setting a channel such as “7. Channel 1”, “8. Channel 2”, “9. Channel 3”. Different numbers are displayed in correspondence with the operation items of the respective terminal layers.

  Hereinafter, the process of the microcomputer 15 that receives the selection input of the operation item from the menu screen and executes the corresponding setting process will be described with reference to FIG. Steps S10 and S20 and steps S40 to S80 are the same as those in FIG. After step S20 is completed, in step S210, information on the list of operation items in the terminal hierarchy in the predetermined hierarchical structure is acquired from the ROM 17. The hierarchical structure information shown in FIG. 7 stored in the ROM 17 includes information indicating whether or not the operation item is at the end, and whether or not the operation item is at the end of the hierarchy based on the information. Can be judged. As shown in FIG. 10, in the list of operation items at the end layer in the predetermined hierarchical structure, each operation item is associated with a different number, and the list is displayed in OSD together with a cursor corresponding to any position of the operation item. The OSD signal to be generated is generated in the OSD circuit 20, the generated OSD signal is superimposed on the video signal from the video amplification / chroma circuit 13, and the video signal on which the OSD signal is superimposed is supplied to the video amplification / chroma circuit 13. . Then, the RGB signal corresponding to the video signal on which the OSD signal is superimposed is generated by the video amplification / chroma circuit 13, and the video corresponding to the RGB signal is displayed on the screen by the picture tube 29. Here, since the OSD signal is superimposed on the video signal, a list of operation items is displayed on the screen of the television 100 together with the cursor (step S220).

  Steps S40 to S60 executed after step S220 are the same as the processing in FIG. If it is determined in step S60 that the input setting is a cursor input setting, the process proceeds to step S230a. If it is determined that the input setting is a direct input setting, the process proceeds to step S230b. In step S230a, it is determined whether any one of the cursor movement keys 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d has been pressed. When the depression of the cursor movement key is detected, the condition is established and the process proceeds to step S232a. When the depression operation of the cursor movement key is not detected at step S230a, the condition is not established and the process proceeds to step S234a. The processing from step S230a to step S232a is the same as the processing in steps S70a and S72a in FIG.

  When the condition is satisfied in step S230a, the cursor is moved in step S232a in accordance with the cursor movement key that has detected the push-down operation in step 230a. For example, in FIG. 10, if the cursor is at the position of the cursor 120 and if it is desired to move the cursor to “5. Luminance” at this time, the cursor movement key 61c is first pushed down, and the cursor is moved to the “image quality” position. Move. Next, when the cursor movement key 61d is depressed, the cursor is displayed at the position “4. Contrast”. When the cursor movement key 61d is further depressed, the cursor is displayed at the position “5. Luminance”. When the cursor is to be moved from “5. brightness” to “2. surround”, the cursor movement key 61b is pressed twice, the cursor movement key 61a is pressed once, and the cursor movement key 61d is pressed down three times in order. Can be moved.

  After step S232a is completed or when the condition is not satisfied in step S230a, the process proceeds to step S234a, and it is determined whether or not the cursor selection key 61e is detected to be depressed. If it is detected in step S234a that the cursor selection key 61e has been depressed, the condition is satisfied and the process proceeds to step S240. In step S240, setting processing is performed for the operation item currently selected by the cursor when the cursor selection key 61e is pressed down in step S234a, and the flow ends. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S234a that it has not been detected that the cursor selection key 61e has been depressed, the condition is not satisfied, and the process returns to step S40 for determining whether or not the menu key 64 has been pressed for a long time.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S60 that the input setting is the direct input setting, the process proceeds to step S230b. In step S230b, it is determined whether or not it has been detected that any of the numeric keys 63 has been pressed. When it is detected that one of the numeric keys 63 has been depressed, the process proceeds to step S80 as a condition is satisfied. In this step, only the operation items in the terminal hierarchy are selected and input in the displayed list of operation items. Specifically, taking the menu screen of FIG. 10 as an example, when an operation input of the numeric key “1” is detected, it is assumed that the operation item “high tone” is selected and input, and an operation input of the numeric key “2” is detected. Then, it is assumed that the operation item “bass” is selected and input. Hereinafter, “3”, “4”, “5”, “6”, “7”, “8”, “9” are “surround”, “contrast”, “luminance”, “brightness”, “channel 1”. , “Channel 2” and “Channel 3” respectively. In step S80, setting processing is performed for the operation item associated with the numeric key pressed in step S230b, and the flow ends. If it is determined in step S230b that it has not been detected that the numeric key 63 has been depressed, the condition is not satisfied, and the processing from the determination in step S40 is repeated.

  With the above configuration, since a list of operation items classified in advance is displayed on the screen, the user can easily grasp the operation items on the screen, and in the direct input setting, only one push-down operation is performed to select the operation item. Since it is not necessary, the operability can be further improved.

5) Modification 3 of processing when the menu key is pressed:
Further, the setting process execution means is provided with a counting means for counting the number of times the setting process of the operation item accepted by the cursor input means or the direct input means is executed, and the operation item display means performs a plurality of operations. The list of the plurality of operation items may be displayed in order of the number of times the setting process of each operation item counted by the counting unit is performed when the items are displayed as a list on the screen.

  The processing of the microcomputer 15 in the configuration is shown in FIG. The processes in steps S10 to S20, S40 to S60, S70a to S74a, S70b, and S80 are the same as those in FIG. In the configuration, data representing the number of times counted by the counting means is stored in the EEPROM 12 together with information indicating each operation item.

  After step S10 and step S20 are completed, data representing the number of executions of each operation item is obtained from the EEPROM 12, and the order in which each operation item is displayed is sorted in the order of the number of executions (in order of increasing or decreasing) (step S410). The OSD signal that causes the OSD circuit to display the list of the plurality of operation items on the screen in the order of the number of executions is generated based on the information representing the plurality of operation items stored in the screen, and the list of the operation items is displayed on the picture tube 29. (Step S420).

  When the condition is satisfied in the determination process of step S74a or S70b, the process proceeds to step S430. In step S430, data on the number of times setting processing corresponding to the operation item selected by the cursor when the cursor selection key 61e is depressed in step S70a or the operation item associated with the numeric key depressed in S70b is executed. The information of the address storing the data in the EEPROM 12 is acquired, and the execution frequency data at the address is changed to a value increased by 1 and stored (increment). As a result, the number of times the operation item setting process that has accepted the operation input is executed is counted for each operation item. After that, step S80 is executed to end the flow.

As described above, the counting unit that counts, for each operation item, the number of times that the microcomputer 15 performing the process of step S430 shown in FIG. 8 executes the setting process of the operation item for which the operation input is accepted by the cursor input unit or the direct input unit. Configure.
As described above, in this configuration, since a list of a plurality of operation items can be displayed in the order of the number of execution times of the operation items, it is possible to grasp the usage frequency of the operation items at a glance, and at the same time in the direct input setting Can be executed with fewer operations as the frequency of use increases.

It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the television of this invention It is a figure which shows an example of the remote control of this invention It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the remote control of this invention It is a flowchart of the menu operation process of this invention. It is a flowchart of the 1st modification of the menu operation process of this invention. It is a flowchart of the 2nd modification of the menu operation process of this invention. It is an example of operation items hierarchized in a predetermined hierarchical structure It is a flowchart of the 3rd modification of the menu operation process of this invention. Examples of TV menu screens according to FIGS. TV menu screen example according to FIG. Example of a conventional television menu screen

Explanation of symbols

100 ... Television 10 ... Antenna 11 ... Tuner circuit 12 ... EEPROM
13 ... Video amplification / chroma circuit 14 ... Infrared light receiving circuit 15 ... Microcomputer 16 ... CPU
17 ... ROM
18 ... RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 ... I / O circuit 20 ... OSD (on-screen display) circuit 21 ... Low frequency output circuit 22 ... Video output circuit 23 ... Vertical deflection circuit 24 ... Horizontal deflection circuit 25 ... High voltage circuit 26 ... Deflection coil 27 ... IIC bus 28 ... Speaker 29 ... Picture tube 51 ... Operation key 52 ... Control circuit 53 ... CPU
54 ... ROM
55 ... RAM
56 ... Infrared transmission circuit 60 ... Remote control 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d ... Cursor movement key 61e ... Cursor selection key 62a, 62b ... Volume control key 63 ... Numeric key (channel key)
64 ... Menu key 65 ... Infrared transmitter 66 ... Power key

Claims (6)

A video display circuit for inputting a video signal and displaying a video corresponding to the video signal on a screen;
An infrared light receiving circuit that receives an infrared signal expressed in pulses of a predetermined format and generates a corresponding voltage signal;
A plurality of keys for accepting operations and an infrared transmission circuit for transmitting the infrared signals to the infrared light receiving circuit, and a remote controller for transmitting infrared signals according to the operations of the keys in a predetermined format;
EEPROM that can rewrite information,
An OSD circuit for generating an OSD signal to be superimposed on the video signal for OSD display on the screen is provided, and an operation input from the remote control is performed by detecting the corresponding key operation by inputting the voltage signal from the infrared light receiving circuit. And generating an OSD signal corresponding to the received operation input and generating an OSD signal for displaying a plurality of operation items hierarchized in a predetermined hierarchical structure on a screen for each hierarchy. A microcomputer that accepts an operation input for selecting any one of the displayed operation items from the remote controller and executes a setting process corresponding to the operation item of the selected terminal layer;
The remote controller is used to input a cursor movement key for moving a cursor displayed in accordance with one of the plurality of operation items displayed in a list and an operation item at the position of the cursor as selection contents. In a television having a cursor selection key and a plurality of channel keys corresponding to different numbers,
The EEPROM stores information indicating the number of times the setting process of the operation item that has received the operation input is executed,
The above microcomputer
A list of operation items across a plurality of hierarchies in the predetermined hierarchy structure is displayed on the screen as a list of operation items arranged in accordance with the hierarchy structure, and each operation item of the end hierarchy displayed in the list of operation items of the plurality of hierarchies Generating an OSD signal to be displayed in a list on the screen in association with any of the numbers associated with the plurality of channel keys.
An operation input for selecting whether to set a cursor input setting for receiving an operation input from the cursor movement key and the cursor selection key or a direct input setting for receiving an operation input from the plurality of channel keys is received from the remote control,
When the cursor input setting is selected, an operation input for moving the position of the cursor according to any of the displayed operation items of the terminal hierarchy is received from the cursor movement key, and the cursor is set according to the operation input. And when the cursor selection key is operated, the selection input of the operation item at the cursor position is accepted.
When the direct input setting is selected, an operation input for selecting one of the numbers corresponding to the displayed operation items of the terminal hierarchy is received from the channel key,
A television which performs a setting process corresponding to an operation item for which an operation input has been received from the cursor movement key and the cursor selection key or the channel key. A cursor movement key for moving the cursor displayed according to one of the multiple operation items displayed on the screen, and a cursor selection key for inputting the operation item at the position of the cursor as the selection content And an operation input means having a plurality of numeric keys corresponding to different numbers,
In a television that accepts an operation input for selecting one of the operation items displayed in a list on the screen from the operation input means and executes a setting process corresponding to the selected operation item. ,
Operation item display means for displaying each operation item in the plurality of operation items as a list on the screen in association with any of the numbers associated with the plurality of numeric keys;
An operation input for selecting whether to use a cursor input setting for receiving an operation input from the cursor movement key and the cursor selection key or a direct input setting for receiving an operation input from the plurality of numeric keys is received from the operation input means. Input setting selection means;
When the cursor input setting is selected by the input setting selection means, an operation input for moving the cursor position according to any of the plurality of operation items is received from the cursor movement key, and in response to the operation input Cursor input means for moving the cursor position and receiving selection input of the operation item at the cursor position when the cursor selection key is operated;
Direct input means for accepting an operation input for selecting any one of the numbers corresponding to the plurality of operation items from the number keys when the direct input setting is selected by the input setting selection means;
A television comprising: setting processing execution means for executing setting processing corresponding to an operation item for which an operation input has been received by the cursor input means or the direct input means. The setting process execution means includes a counting means for counting, for each operation item, the number of times the operation item setting process that has received an operation input by the cursor input means or the direct input means is executed.
3. The television according to claim 2, wherein the operation item display means displays the list of operation items in the order of the number of times counted by the counting means.   The operation item display means displays a list of the corresponding operation items together with numbers corresponding to the operation items at positions on the screen according to the arrangement of the numeric keys provided in the operation input means. The television according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in. Each numeric key is a channel key for selecting one of a plurality of channels for television broadcasting.
The operation input means is a remote control having the cursor movement key, the cursor selection key, and the channel keys on a predetermined operation surface.
The operation item display means displays a list of the corresponding operation items together with the corresponding numbers at positions on the screen in accordance with the arrangement of the channel keys provided on the operation surface of the remote controller. The television according to claim 4. Multiple operation items are hierarchized in a predetermined hierarchical structure,
The operation item display means displays, on the screen, a multi-hierarchy operation item list in which a list of operation items spanning a plurality of hierarchies in the predetermined hierarchical structure is arranged according to the hierarchical structure, and is displayed in the multi-hierarchy operation item list Displayed on the screen with different numbers corresponding to each operation item of the terminal hierarchy,
The direct input means accepts an operation input for selecting one of the numbers corresponding to the displayed operation items of the terminal hierarchy from the number keys,
The cursor input means accepts an operation input for moving the cursor position according to any of the displayed operation items of the terminal hierarchy from the cursor movement key, and moves the cursor position according to the operation input. 6. The television according to claim 2, wherein when the cursor selection key is operated, selection input of an operation item at the cursor position is accepted.

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