JP2008131360A - Apparatus with standby mode and digital television set - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a standby power control apparatus which is capable of suppressing standby power during a standby mode and can be initiated from a standby state at high speed when a user utilizes the apparatus, and a digital television broadcast receiver provided with the apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: When supply of standby power is started in a state where the apparatus is powered off by remote control operation (S1) and initiation acceleration (S4) based on brightness of the surrounding where the apparatus is installed, initiation acceleration (S6) in accordance with whether broadcasting utilizing electronic program information is much or little and initiation acceleration (S8) in accordance with frequency of utilization are set respectively, the supply of the standby power is stopped when any one of these conditions (S5, S7, S9, S10) becomes "negative"(S13). When all the conditions become "positive", processing is progressed from step S14 to S1 and just before the user utilizes the apparatus, standby power for high-speed initiation is supplied again. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a standby power control technique for suppressing standby power in a device having a standby mode and a digital television device having a standby mode.

AV equipment such as a digital television apparatus has a problem that the startup speed is slow when the power is turned on due to an increase in data processing amount. As a countermeasure, a so-called standby mode (standby mode) is provided in which a low-speed start-up unit that requires time to start up is always energized so that the apparatus can be immediately used as a power supply energization mode. There is a problem in that power consumption increases by always supplying standby power even in a continuous unused state. In the field of information processing devices, the power consumption in the standby mode is reduced on days, days of the week, and time periods when the device is not used, as in Patent Document 1, for example, in order to reduce the standby power. There is something. Also, in the field of AV equipment such as a digital television device, as in Patent Document 2, it is noted that the usage time zone has regularity depending on the user's lifestyle, and data on the usage status of the device is predetermined. There is one that learns for a period and stores it in storage means, and controls the all-power-off mode and standby mode (standby mode) based on the data.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-22395 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-212678

In each of the above prior arts, wasteful power consumption is reduced by not supplying standby power as much as possible on the day of the week when the apparatus is unlikely to be used. However, the above prior art does not take into account the time required from the start of standby power supply until the low-speed start-up unit can be used, and the user powers immediately after shifting from the all power off mode to the standby mode. There is a problem that it may not start at high speed when it is turned on.
The present invention has been made in view of these points, and minimizes standby power in the standby mode, and allows a user to start up at high speed when using the device. An object of the present invention is to provide a device with a standby mode and a digital television device which are environmentally friendly and easy to use.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is characterized by comprising the following technical means.
The first technical means is an apparatus with a standby mode provided with standby power control means for supplying standby power to a low-speed startup unit that takes time to rise even after the power is turned off to speed up startup when the power is turned on. A standby power supply condition for supplying standby power or a standby power stop condition for stopping standby power, and a standby power control unit configured to set the standby power stop set by the condition setting unit. The standby power supply is started a predetermined time earlier than the timing when the period when the condition is satisfied ends or the timing when the standby power supply condition set by the condition setting means is satisfied.

  According to a second technical means, in the first technical means, the predetermined time is a time required for standby power to be supplied to the low-speed activation unit so that the apparatus can be activated at high speed.

  The third technical means comprises the usage frequency storage means for storing the usage frequency of the device for each time zone and / or day of the week in the second technical means, and the usage frequency storage means stores the usage. Frequency information is used as the standby power supply condition or the standby power stop condition.

  A fourth technical means includes a brightness sensor that detects the brightness of a room in which the apparatus is installed in the third technical means, and the standby power control means is configured to supply the standby power supply condition based on the usage frequency information. In addition, standby power is supplied on condition that the brightness sensor detects brightness of a predetermined level or higher.

  According to a fifth technical means, in any one of the first to fourth technical means, the standby power supply stoppage due to the standby power supply stop condition is when a certain time has elapsed since the user last operated the device. It is characterized by being executed.

  A sixth technical means is a digital television comprising standby mode standby power control means for speeding up startup when the power is turned on by supplying standby power even after the power is turned off to a low speed startup unit that takes time to rise. A standby power supply condition for supplying standby power or a standby power stop condition for stopping standby power, wherein the standby power control means is set by the condition setting means The standby power supply is started a predetermined time earlier than the timing when the period during which the standby power stop condition is satisfied ends or when the standby power supply condition is satisfied.

  According to a seventh technical means, in the sixth technical means, the predetermined time is a time required for standby power to be supplied to the low-speed activation unit and the television apparatus to be in a state capable of high-speed activation. To do.

  The eighth technical means includes, in the seventh technical means, broadcast number acquisition means for acquiring the number of broadcasts for each time period from the EPG information received by the television apparatus, and the number of broadcasts acquired by the broadcast number acquisition means. The information is used as the standby power supply condition or the standby power stop condition.

  The ninth technical means comprises the usage frequency storage means for storing the usage frequency of the television apparatus for each time zone and / or day of the week in the seventh or eighth technical means, and the usage frequency storage means stores the usage frequency storage means. The usage frequency information is used as the standby power supply condition or the standby power stop condition.

  A tenth technical means is the ninth technical means, comprising a brightness sensor for detecting the brightness of a room in which the television apparatus is installed, and the standby power control means is configured to include the broadcast number information and the usage frequency. In addition to the standby power supply condition based on information, standby power is supplied on condition that the brightness sensor detects a brightness of a predetermined level or higher.

  An eleventh technical means is that in any one of the seventh to tenth technical means, the standby power control means stops standby power when any one of the above conditions for stopping standby power is satisfied. Features.

  A twelfth technical means comprises any one of the seventh to eleventh technical means, comprising date and time setting means for setting a date and time when the television apparatus is scheduled to be used, and the date and time information set by the date and time setting means is stored in the standby mode. The standby power control unit supplies the standby power based on the date and time set by the date and time setting unit regardless of other standby power stop conditions.

  A thirteenth technical means according to any one of the sixth to eleventh technical means, is that standby power supply stoppage due to the supply stop condition is when a certain time has elapsed since the user last operated the television device. It is characterized by being executed.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the apparatus provided with the standby mode which can suppress the consumption of useless standby electric power in the continuous unused state to the minimum, and can be started at high speed at the time of power-on can be provided.
In addition, according to the present invention, a digital tuner unit, an EPG decoding unit, a reservation data processing unit, a low-speed activation unit such as a CPU that takes time to start up, a short time before the scheduled time or time zone for the user to watch the television arrives. Since standby power is supplied to the digital television device, it is possible to provide a digital television device that can be started at high speed when the device is used with the minimum standby power required.

Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a digital television apparatus (hereinafter also referred to as a television apparatus) provided with standby power control means. The television apparatus 100 is an apparatus capable of receiving both digital broadcasts and analog broadcasts, and includes a reception antenna 101 that receives analog broadcasts and a reception antenna 102 that receives digital broadcasts.

  In addition, an analog tuner unit 103 that tunes (selects) a received signal of an analog broadcast, a digital tuner unit 104 that tunes a received signal of a digital broadcast, and an AV that extracts audio data / video data from the received data of the analog broadcast Separating section 105 and digital demodulating section 106 for demodulating the tuned digital broadcast data are provided.

  Also, a separation unit 107 that extracts EPG data and separates demodulated data, a video decoding / capture unit 108 that decodes the video data of the separated digital broadcast and captures video information as a still image, and an analog A video selector unit 109 for switching between a broadcast video signal and a digital broadcast video signal, a process of separating EPG and a display process of OSD, and a process of mixing and displaying the EPG and the reservation information An EPG / OSD / reservation data processing unit 110 is provided.

  Also, an audio decoding unit 111 that decodes the separated audio data, a video output conversion unit 112 that converts the selected video signal and the EPG or OSD and then converts the video signal into a video output, an analog broadcast audio signal, and a digital broadcast An audio selector 113 for switching the audio signal, an audio output converter 114 for converting the selected audio signal into an output signal, and a channel selection unit 115 for performing channel selection processing in an analog broadcast and digital broadcast tuner. Prepare.

  The semiconductor memory is readable / writable by designating an arbitrary address. The RAM 116 stores the extracted EPG data and the like, and is responsible for the overall processing, as well as the processing of the communication control unit and the operation signal from the remote controller. A CPU 117 that performs processing and the like, a video mouse connector 118 that executes reservation processing via a video mouse, and a video mouse microcomputer 119 that controls signals transmitted by the video mouse are provided.

  Furthermore, the television apparatus 100 controls the rewritable nonvolatile memory 120 in which programs, user data, EPG display format data, and the like are stored, and a network such as a telephone line, a LAN, the Internet, and the EPG. A communication control unit 121 used for data acquisition and the like, and a remote control light receiving unit 122 that receives a signal from a remote controller operated by a user are provided.

  In the television device 100 having the above-described configuration, the standby power control device 10 that is the subject of the present invention controls standby power supply to a low-speed startup unit, which will be described later, with respect to the power supply unit 20 having a function of supplying standby power. To do. The power supply unit 20 includes an all-power-off mode in which the main power is turned off with a main body switch as a power-on mode, and a partial energization mode when the power is turned off by remote control operation, that is, a circuit that takes several minutes for processing and startup, The device has a standby mode in which power is always supplied to the device, and the above-described partial energization in the standby mode is a situation in which the device is not continuously used by the standby power control device of the present invention described below under various conditions. Then, the supply of standby power is stopped, and standby power is supplied prior to the time when the user uses the apparatus.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example in which the standby power control device is applied to a digital television device. The standby power control device 10 connected to the bus includes a control unit 11, a brightness sensor 12, an internal clock 13, a user setting memory 14, a usage frequency memory 15, and the like. When the power is turned off, standby power supply control described later is started.

  The power supply unit 20 includes a low-speed activation unit 30 (such as the digital tuner unit 104, the EPG / OSD / reservation data processing unit 110, and the CPU 117 in FIG. 1), a display unit, and an audio output unit. The power is supplied to the high-speed startup unit 40 such as

The brightness sensor 12 detects the brightness of the surroundings where the television apparatus is installed, and the internal clock 13 is used to generate data relating to various time zones and usage frequencies set by the user. .
The user setting memory 14 is used for storing conditions set by the user, and the usage frequency memory 15 is used for storing data on the usage frequency of the television apparatus.

  The control unit 11 includes a microcomputer that executes a built-in standby power control program, and performs standby power supply / stop control and acquisition of device usage frequency information based on each setting. That is, electronic program information input from the EPG decoding unit via the bus, brightness detection information input from the brightness sensor 12, time information input from the internal clock 13, user input from the user setting memory 14 Based on the setting information and the usage frequency information input from the usage frequency memory 15, a control signal for supplying or stopping standby power is output to the power supply unit 20. The user setting memory 14 stores setting information for speeding up startup based on the above-described information, in addition to the scheduled use date and time information of the apparatus.

  In addition, the standby power is supplied a predetermined time earlier than the timing when the standby power stop condition for stopping standby power supply, which will be described later, is satisfied, or when the standby power supply condition for supplying standby power is satisfied is reached. Settings for starting the supply are stored in the internal memory of the control unit 11.

Next, operations related to the standby power control apparatus 10 in the digital television apparatus 100 described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
When the television apparatus 100 is turned off by a remote control operation, the standby mode is set, and supply of standby power to the low-speed activation unit is started (S1).

  First, in step S2, if the user has set a scheduled date and time for using the television apparatus (S2 / Y), the process proceeds to step S3. If the set date and time is within a predetermined time (S3 / Y), step S3 is performed. Proceed to S14. When the scheduled date / time is not set (S2 / N) or when the set date / time does not arrive within the predetermined time (S3 / N), the process proceeds to step S4. The “setting date and time” here includes a setting based on the day of the week and the time.

  In step S4, when acceleration based on brightness is set (S4 / Y), the process proceeds to step S5, where the brightness detected by the brightness sensor 12 is below a predetermined level, that is, the room in which the apparatus is installed. If is dark (S5 / N), the process proceeds to step S11. When speedup based on brightness is not set (S4 / N), or when the room brightness becomes a predetermined level or more (S5 / Y) because the room lighting is turned on in step S5. Proceed to step S6.

  In step S6, if the start-up speed is set according to the number of broadcasts (S6 / Y), the process proceeds to step S7. If the number of broadcasts does not reach the predetermined number within a predetermined time (S7 / N), step S11 is performed. Proceed to If the start-up speedup due to the number of broadcasts is not set (S4 / N) or the number of broadcasts reaches a predetermined number within a predetermined time in step S7 (S7 / Y), the process proceeds to step S8. It is possible to determine whether or not the number of broadcasts reaches a predetermined number within a predetermined time based on the EPG information.

  In step S8, if startup acceleration based on the usage frequency is set (S8 / Y), the process proceeds to step S9. If the day is not a frequently used day (S9 / N), the process proceeds to step S11. Further, if the day of the week is frequently used (S9 / Y), the process proceeds to step S10, but if the period of high usage frequency does not arrive within the predetermined time (S10 / N), the process proceeds to step S11. If startup acceleration based on usage frequency is not set (S8 / N), or if a time zone with high usage frequency arrives within a predetermined time in step S10 (S10 / Y), the process proceeds to step S14.

In step S11, it is determined whether standby power is being supplied. If standby power is being supplied, the process proceeds to step S12. If standby power is not supplied, the process proceeds to step S2.
In step S12, it is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed since the user last operated the device (channel switching, power on / off, etc.). If there is no operation (S12 / Y), step S13 is performed. Proceed to, and stop supplying standby power. If there is a user operation before the predetermined time has elapsed (S12 / N), the process proceeds to step S14. This step S12 is a fast start-up when the user turns on the power immediately after accidentally turning off the power in a situation where the standby power stop condition is satisfied, that is, a situation that is negative in steps S5, S7, S9, and S10. Is to be done.
In step S14, when the standby power is stopped (S14 / Y), the process proceeds to step S1 to start supplying standby power. If the standby power is not stopped (S14 / N), that is, if standby power is already supplied, the process proceeds to step S2.

In the case of the above-described embodiment, when each setting for the standby power supply condition or the standby power stop condition described above is performed, the timing for starting the standby power supply is as follows.
・ Predetermined time before scheduled use date and time (S3 / Y)
-The indoor brightness is above a predetermined level (S5 / Y), the number of broadcasts is above a predetermined number (S7 / Y), and the day of the week is frequently used (S9 / Y), and a time zone with a high usage frequency arrives. A predetermined time ago (S10 / Y).
The room brightness is a predetermined level or higher (S5 / Y), the day of the week is frequently used (S9 / Y), and the time zone is frequently used (S10 / Y), and the number of broadcasts is a predetermined number or more (S7 / Y). Y) a predetermined time before reaching.
・ The number of broadcasts is more than a predetermined number (S7 / Y), the day of the week is frequently used (S9 / Y), and the time zone is frequently used (S10 / Y). When (S5 / Y).

  The standby power is stopped when the indoor brightness falls below a predetermined level (S5 / N), when the number of broadcasts falls below a predetermined number (S7 / N), and on days of low usage frequency. In any case (S9 / N) or when the usage frequency is low (S10 / N), and there is no user operation for a predetermined time (step S12 / Y) It will be.

  The “predetermined time” in step S3, step S7, and step S10 is set to 3 to 5 minutes for a normal digital television device and 5 to 10 minutes for a digital television device with a built-in hard disk. It is enough.

The operations and features of each setting described above in the television apparatus of the present embodiment are summarized as follows. It is assumed that the standby power supply is stopped.
<Setting the scheduled use date>
In the case of this setting, supply of standby power is started regardless of other settings when the timing of the set date and time comes before a predetermined time. Therefore, in this setting, when the power switch is turned on at the time when a program scheduled to be viewed is broadcast even in the dark at night when the number of broadcasts is low or in a time zone where the frequency of use is low, the television apparatus starts at high speed.
It has only the function of determining the standby power supply start condition.

<Setting by brightness>
In the case of this setting, supply of standby power is started as soon as the user returns home at a normal time and turns on the lighting device in the room where the television apparatus is installed. Accordingly, the television apparatus can be activated at a high speed while changing to home wear, and the television apparatus is activated at a high speed when the power is turned on after the change of clothes.
This setting is based on the idea that there is a high possibility of watching a television program when the user goes home and turns on the lighting of a room with a television device.
Note that this setting can be used when the setting is based on the amount of broadcast or the frequency of use. When is turned on, standby power supply is not started.
In addition, when this setting is made, standby power is supplied when the house is away on business trips, travel, etc., because the room is dark even during high-night use hours or high-broadcast hours. There is nothing.

<Setting by number of broadcasts>
In this setting, the standby power supply is stopped during the midnight hours when the number of broadcasts is small, for example, the number of broadcasts increases from about 5:00 in the early morning, and the number of broadcasts reaches a predetermined number at 6 o'clock. Then, supply of standby power is started shortly before that. Therefore, if there is a TV program that you want to watch at 6:00 AM, turning on the power switch at 6:00 AM will cause the television device to start up at high speed, so that you can watch the desired program immediately.
Although this setting overlaps with the setting based on the usage frequency, it is more accurate than the case based on the usage frequency. In the usage mode where the program is viewed from 6 am in the morning, it is not necessary to set the date and time. Can also be used by fast startup. In the case of holidays such as Saturdays and Sundays, if the number of broadcasts reaches 7 o'clock, standby power will be supplied accordingly, so programs from 6 o'clock on weekday mornings, This is effective when the usage mode is to watch a program from 7 o'clock.
In addition, according to this setting, if you watch an Olympic or World Soccer event that is often broadcast outside normal time zones such as midnight or early morning, the system will recognize that time zone as a frequently used time zone. However, since the number of broadcasts is less when the tournament is over, standby power is not supplied even if the standby power supply condition is satisfied in the setting based on the usage frequency.

<Settings based on usage frequency>
This setting is valid when no other setting is made, or when both the setting based on brightness and the setting judgment based on the amount of broadcasting are both positive, and standby power is reduced on days of the week or times of low usage. It stops and starts supplying standby power when it comes to a time when a frequently used time zone arrives within a predetermined time.
Accordingly, since the TV program that is often watched is being broadcast, it can be started at high speed. Therefore, when the power of the television apparatus is turned on, the broadcast program is promptly displayed.
Further, as described above, even if the determination by other settings is affirmative, standby power is not supplied unless the determination in this setting is affirmative.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when standby power supply control as described above is performed according to each setting condition, wasteful standby power consumption is suppressed and a user is highly likely to use the apparatus. When it arrives, the device can be activated at high speed, and the device can be used comfortably.

It is a block diagram of the digital television apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the example which applied the standby power control apparatus to the digital television apparatus. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the processing operation at the time of applying the standby power control apparatus 10 to a digital television apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Standby power control apparatus, 11 ... Control part, 12 ... Brightness sensor, 13 ... Internal clock, 14 ... User setting memory, 15 ... Usage frequency memory, 20 ... Power supply part, 30 ... Low speed start-up part, 40 ... High speed Start-up unit, 100: digital television broadcast receiver, 104: digital tuner unit, 107: separation unit, 110: EPG / OSD / reservation processing unit, 117: CPU, 122: remote control light receiving unit.

Claims (13)

A device with a standby mode equipped with a standby power control means for supplying standby power to a low-speed startup unit that takes time to start up even after the power is turned off to speed up startup when the power is turned on,
It has condition setting means for setting a standby power supply condition for supplying standby power or a standby power stop condition for stopping standby power,
The standby power control means arrives at a timing when a period when the standby power stop condition set by the condition setting means is satisfied or when the standby power supply condition set by the condition setting means is satisfied A device with a standby mode, characterized in that the supply of standby power is started a predetermined time earlier than the above.   2. The apparatus with a standby mode according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined time is a time required for standby power to be supplied to the low-speed activation unit and the apparatus to be in a state where high-speed activation is possible.   Use frequency storage means for storing the use frequency of the device for each time zone and / or day of the week, and the use frequency information stored in the use frequency storage means is the standby power supply condition or the standby power stop condition The apparatus with standby mode according to claim 2, wherein the apparatus has a standby mode.   A brightness sensor that detects the brightness of a room in which the apparatus is installed, and the standby power control means includes a brightness that is greater than or equal to a predetermined level in addition to the standby power supply condition based on the usage frequency information. 4. The apparatus with a standby mode according to claim 3, wherein standby power is supplied on condition that an error is detected.   5. The standby power supply stoppage according to the standby power supply stop condition is executed when a predetermined time has elapsed since the user last operated the device. With standby mode. A digital television device comprising standby power control means for a standby mode that speeds up startup at power-on by supplying standby power even after power-off to a low-speed startup unit that takes time to start up,
It has condition setting means for setting a standby power supply condition for supplying standby power or a standby power stop condition for stopping standby power,
The standby power control means waits for a predetermined time earlier than the time when the period when the standby power stop condition set by the condition setting means is satisfied or the time when the standby power supply condition is satisfied is reached. The digital television apparatus characterized by starting the supply of TV.   7. The digital television device according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined time is a time required for standby power to be supplied to the low-speed activation unit and the television device to be ready for high-speed activation.   Broadcast number acquisition means for acquiring the number of broadcasts for each time period from the electronic program information received by the television device, and the broadcast number information acquired by the broadcast number acquisition means is the standby power supply condition or the standby power stop condition The digital television device according to claim 7, wherein the digital television device is used as a digital television device.   Use frequency storage means for storing the frequency of use of the television device for each time zone and / or day of the week is provided, and the use frequency information stored in the use frequency storage means is the standby power supply condition or the standby power. 9. The digital television apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the digital television apparatus is used as a stop condition.   A brightness sensor for detecting the brightness of a room in which the television apparatus is installed, and the standby power control means includes the brightness in addition to the standby power supply condition based on the broadcast number information and the usage frequency information. 10. The digital television apparatus according to claim 9, wherein standby power is supplied on condition that the sensor detects brightness of a predetermined level or more.   11. The digital television apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the standby power control means stops standby power when any one of the above conditions for stopping standby power is satisfied.   Date and time setting means for setting the date and time when the television device is scheduled to be used is provided, the date and time information set by the date and time setting means is used as the standby power supply condition, and the standby power control means is another standby power stop condition. 12. The digital television apparatus according to claim 7, wherein standby power is supplied based on the date and time set by the date and time setting means regardless of the date and time.   12. The standby power supply stoppage according to the supply stop condition is executed when a predetermined time has elapsed since the user last operated the television apparatus. Digital television equipment.

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