JP2008244694A - Television receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a television receiver capable of easily disabling a sleep function even if the function is enabled and automatically detecting a failure in switching off the receiver to turn off power supply. <P>SOLUTION: If an input operation is operated by a user until a given time elapses, a control portion 10 determines whether the operation is a negative operation or not. If it is a negative operation, the control portion 10 turns off the receiver after the time elapses. Thereby, current supply is stopped to each part of the receiver. On the other hand, if it is a positive operation, a sleep mode the control portion 10 stops. Thereby, current supply is continued to each part of the receiver. Wherein, if a positive operation is operated, the positive operation disables a sleep function. Accordingly, a user can disable the sleep function with a simple operation. In addition, even a negative operation does not disable the sleep function, hence, the user cannot fail to switch off the receiver. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a television receiver having a sleep function that detects that a device is forgotten to be turned off and automatically turns off the power.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in television receivers, the user is left to control the power supply circuit, such as turning on the power when the user is in use and turning off the power when not in use. Therefore, there is a problem that power consumption is wasted if the user leaves the seat while the power is on and forgets that the power is on even though the device is not used.
Therefore, conventionally, a television receiver having a sleep function for detecting that the device has been forgotten to be turned off and automatically turning off the power has been adopted.

When this sleep function is enabled, even if the user leaves the desk while the power is turned on without using the device and forgets that the power is on, a predetermined time period is set. After the elapse of time, the power is automatically turned off. With this sleep function, the conventional television receiver has saved power consumption.
On the other hand, Patent Document 1 proposes a magnetic television receiver (see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-81733

However, once the sleep function is enabled, the power is always automatically turned off after a predetermined time has elapsed. Therefore, even if the sleep function is enabled once and the user wants to continue watching the TV program that is currently being watched, the power is forcibly turned off with the conventional TV receiver. . Therefore, in order to prevent the power from being forcibly turned off, the user performs an invalid operation for invalidating the sleep function. However, the invalid operation is complicated such as requiring a plurality of key operations.
Therefore, a television receiver having a sleep function has a problem that user usability is poor. For this reason, in the conventional television receiver, the usage rate of the sleep function was low.

  The present invention is intended to solve such a conventional problem, and even if the sleep function is enabled, it can be easily disabled, and the power can be automatically turned off upon detecting that the device is forgotten to be turned off. An object of the present invention is to provide a television receiver that can be used.

  The television receiver of the present invention has the following configuration in order to solve the above problems.

(1) An operation means provided with a plurality of keys and outputting an operation signal corresponding to the operated key;
In a television receiver comprising: detecting means for detecting the operation signal output from the operating means;
A power supply means for supplying current to each part of the apparatus main body when the power is turned on, and when a predetermined input operation is performed, the sleep mode in which the apparatus main body is turned off or in a standby state waiting for power on after a predetermined time has elapsed Power supply means for performing
The power source means
During the execution of the sleep mode, when the operation signal is detected by the detection means during the predetermined time, it is determined whether the operation is a predetermined operation including a decrease in volume,
If the operation is the predetermined operation, after the fixed time has elapsed, the apparatus main body is set to the power-off state or the standby state,
If the operation is not the predetermined operation, the sleep mode is stopped and the supply of the current is continued.

  In this configuration, the predetermined input operation is an operation for enabling the sleep function. The certain time is a preset time, for example, 90 minutes. The predetermined operation is an operation with a high possibility that the user intends to continue the sleep mode. The predetermined operation is defined as a passive operation by the user, for example, the volume is lowered. Here, operations other than passive operations are defined as positive operations. The active operation is, for example, channel switching or volume increase.

In this configuration, it is assumed that the user is watching a television program. In this scene, the user activates the sleep function by a predetermined input operation. And if there exists input operation from a user during execution of sleep mode, a power supply means will perform the process according to the operation.
Specifically, when the input operation from the user is a passive operation, the power supply means sets the apparatus main body to a power-off state or a standby state after a predetermined time has elapsed. In this process, it is estimated that the user intends to continue the sleep mode. On the other hand, when the input operation from the user is an aggressive operation, the power supply unit stops the sleep mode and continues to supply current. That is, if there is an active operation, the sleep function is invalidated by the operation.
As a result, even when the sleep function is enabled once and the user wants to continue watching the TV program currently being viewed, the user can disable the sleep function with a simple operation. That is, the power of the television receiver is not forcibly turned off. Further, even if there is a passive operation, the sleep function is not invalidated by the operation, so that the device will not fail to forget to turn it off.
Therefore, even if the sleep function is enabled, it can be easily disabled and the power can be automatically turned off upon detecting that the device is forgotten to be turned off. For this reason, the usage rate of the sleep function can also be improved.

(2) Provided with reproduction means for reproducing data recorded on a medium set in the apparatus main body,
The predetermined operation further includes stopping playback of the media or ejecting the media.

In this configuration, the television receiver is a multifunction device capable of reproducing media, such as a DVD television or an HDD television. The medium is, for example, an optical disk such as a hard disk (HD) or DVD.
In this configuration, it is assumed that the user is playing back content recorded on a medium and viewing the content. In this scene, the user activates the sleep function by a predetermined input operation.
According to this structure, there exists an effect similar to said (1).

(3) receiving means for receiving a television broadcast signal of a selected channel from a television broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station;
When the predetermined input operation is performed, the recording unit starts recording on the medium of the TV broadcast signal of the selected channel received by the receiving unit,
The power supply means continues supplying the current only to the receiving means and the recording means in the standby state.

In this configuration, the television receiver is a multifunction device capable of recording data on a medium, such as a DVD television or an HDD television.
Here, when the sleep function is enabled by a predetermined input operation, the user is likely to go to sleep after performing the input operation. For this reason, the user often does not remember the content of the currently selected television program.
In this configuration, the currently selected television program is recorded.
Thereby, the user can reproduce the television program recorded on the media next time. For this reason, even if the user falls asleep during the broadcast of the currently selected television program, the user can view the content of the currently selected television program again later. Therefore, user convenience is improved.

  Note that the following configuration may be added to the above configuration. The receiving means further receives an electronic program guide indicating the broadcast end time of the television program broadcast on each channel of the television broadcast signal. Further, the recording means records the television broadcast signal of the selected channel received by the receiving means on the medium based on the electronic program guide until the broadcast end time. As a result, only the currently selected television program can be recorded on the medium. Therefore, it is not necessary to waste the capacity of the media.

  According to the present invention, even if the sleep function is enabled, it can be easily disabled, and the power can be automatically turned off upon detection of forgetting to turn off the apparatus. For this reason, the usage rate of the sleep function can also be improved.

  Hereinafter, a television receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a television receiver that is an embodiment of the present invention. The television receiver 100 is a so-called HDD (hard disk drive) built-in television. The television receiver 100 includes a control unit 10 including a microcomputer (not shown) for centrally controlling and monitoring each unit of the apparatus, a tuner 11 that receives a television broadcast signal via an antenna, and information , A selector circuit 14 that separates a video signal, an audio signal, and EPG data from a television broadcast signal, a decoder 17 that decodes input data, an image processing unit 18, and an OSD that indicates an OSD image. An OSD (on screen display) image generation circuit 19 that generates and outputs a signal, an operation unit 22 that receives an input operation from a user, a display unit 200 that includes an LCD, a speaker 201 that emits sound, And a power supply unit 21 that supplies current to each part of the apparatus body when the power is turned on.

  The control unit 10 includes a ROM 10A for storing a control program, a RAM 10B as a work field for expanding data processed by the control program, a flash memory 10C for storing data, a current time, and a later description. 2 has a timer circuit 10D for measuring time.

  The hard disk device 12 includes a hard disk 120 that stores data, a recording head 12 </ b> W that records data on the hard disk 120, and a read head 12 </ b> R that reads data from the hard disk 120.

The operation unit 22 has a plurality of types of keys that are provided on the front surface of the television receiver 100 and the like to be operated by the user to give instructions. Examples of the multiple types of keys include a sleep key, a volume down key, a channel key, a playback key, and a stop key.
The sleep key is a key for enabling the sleep function. The volume down key is a key for instructing the volume down. The channel key is a key for accepting channel switching. The reproduction key is a key for accepting reproduction of data recorded on the hard disk 120. The stop key is a key for accepting the stop of reproduction.
In this embodiment, the operation unit 22 is provided on the front surface of the housing of the television receiver 100, but may be provided on the operation surface of a separate remote controller.

The power supply unit 21 takes out the drive power supply of the television receiver 100 from a commercial power supply and supplies current to each part of the apparatus body. The television broadcast signal transmitted from the broadcast station is received via the antenna and is given to the tuner 11. . The tuner 11 extracts the television broadcast signal of the selected channel from the reception signal of the antenna based on the instruction of the control unit 10. Here, the channel is instructed when the user performs a channel selection operation on the operation unit 22 and the command is transmitted to the control unit 10. Then, the tuner 11 outputs the extracted television broadcast signal to the selector circuit 14.

The selector circuit 14 demodulates the input television broadcast signal to obtain a transport stream (hereinafter referred to as TS) that is digital data. In this TS, TS packets containing element signals such as images and sounds of each television program are multiplexed. Further, the selector circuit 14 separates and extracts image data, audio data, and EPG data from the TS. Here, the separated and extracted image data is encoded by, for example, MPEG.
Further, the selector circuit 14 outputs the image data and the audio data to the decoder 17 and the EPG data to the control unit 10 at the normal time. In the EPG data, attributes (program name, performer, broadcast start time and end time, etc.) of the program broadcast on each channel are described. Then, the control unit 2 records the EPG data output from the selector circuit 14 in the flash memory 10C.

  On the other hand, the selector circuit 14 outputs image data and audio data to the hard disk device 12 when the control unit 10 instructs to record a television program. The hard disk device 12 records the input image data and audio data on the hard disk 120 by the recording head 12 </ b> W under the control of the control unit 10. Further, the hard disk device 12 reads image data, audio data, and the like from the hard disk 120 by the reading head 12R, and outputs them as read data to the control unit 10 and the decoder 17. An instruction for controlling the operation mode (recording mode, reproduction mode, etc.) of the hard disk device 12 is given by operating the operation unit 22 by the user.

  Here, a buffer memory 7 is provided between the selector circuit 14 and the hard disk device 12. In this case, the image data and audio data output from the selector circuit 14 are temporarily stored in the buffer memory 7 and then sequentially read out and input to the hard disk device 12. A buffer memory 6 is provided between the hard disk device 12 and the decoder 17. In this case, the image data and audio data output from the hard disk device 12 are temporarily stored in the buffer memory 6 and then sequentially read out and input to the decoder 17. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the recording from being stopped during the recording or from being interrupted during the reproduction.

When image data and audio data are input from the hard disk device 12 or the selector circuit 14, the decoder 17 decodes the image data (for example, in MPEG) and outputs the decoded image data to the image processing unit 18. The decoder 17 decodes the audio data and outputs the decoded audio data to the audio processing unit 20.
The OSD image generation circuit 19 generates an OSD image based on the data input from the control unit 10 and outputs the OSD signal to the image processing unit 18.

Under the control of the control unit 10, the image processing unit 18 selectively receives one of the image data and the OSD signal, performs D / A conversion into an analog reproduced image signal, and displays the image on the display unit 200. Output. Alternatively, the image processing unit 18 synthesizes an image based on the image data and an OSD image based on the OSD signal under the control of the control unit 10, and D / A converts the combined data into an analog reproduction image signal. And output to the display unit 200. The display unit 200 processes the reproduced image signal and displays the image on the screen.
Further, the audio processing unit 20 D / A converts the input decoded audio data into an analog reproduction audio signal and outputs the analog reproduction audio signal to the speaker 201. The speaker 201 processes the reproduced audio signal and emits sound outside the apparatus.
As a result, the user views images and sound on the display unit 200 and the speaker 201.

  The hard disk 120 corresponds to the “media” of the present invention. The hard disk 120 corresponds to the “media” of the present invention. The tuner 11 corresponds to the “reception unit” of the present invention. The control unit 10 corresponds to the “detection means” of the present invention. The control unit 10, the selector circuit 14, and the hard disk device 12 correspond to the “recording unit” of the present invention. The control unit 10, the hard disk device 12, and the decoder 17 correspond to the “reproducing means” of the present invention.

  Here, a scene in which the user is watching a television program on the display unit 200 and the speaker 201, or a user plays the content recorded on the hard disk 120 and views the content on the display unit 200 and the speaker 201. I will explain the scenes. In this scene, the user activates the sleep function with the sleep key.

When the sleep function is enabled with the sleep key, the power is always automatically turned off after a predetermined time (90 minutes) has elapsed. Therefore, even if the sleep function is enabled once and the user wants to continue watching the TV program that is currently being watched, the power is forcibly turned off with the conventional TV receiver. . Therefore, in order to prevent the power from being forcibly turned off, the user performs an invalid operation for invalidating the sleep function. However, the invalid operation is complicated such as requiring a plurality of key operations. Specifically, each time the sleep key is pressed, the fixed time gradually decreases from 90 minutes. This fixed time is OSD-displayed on the display unit 200. Then, the sleep function is disabled at the stage where the time is finally zero. When the sleep key is pressed again at the stage where the sleep function is disabled, the sleep function is enabled and the predetermined time is 90 minutes. Thus, the invalid operation is complicated.
Therefore, in this embodiment, when the sleep function is enabled by pressing the sleep key, the control unit 10 executes the sleep mode and sequentially performs the following operations.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation performed by the control unit of the television receiver according to the embodiment of the present invention. This operation is performed when the user activates the sleep function with the sleep key.

  First, the control unit 10 starts measuring time in the timer circuit 10D (S1).

  Then, until a predetermined time (90 minutes in this embodiment) elapses (S2), the control unit 10 determines whether there is an input operation from the user (S3). This determination is made based on whether or not an operation signal from the operation unit 22 is detected.

  When the predetermined time has elapsed (S2), the control unit 10 controls the power supply unit 21 to place the apparatus main body in a power-off state or a standby state (S4). Then, this process ends.

  In the standby state, the power supply unit 21 supplies current only to the control unit 10, the tuner 11, the selector 14, the buffer memory 7, and the hard disk device 12.

On the other hand, if there is an input operation from the user before the predetermined time has elapsed in S2, the control unit 10 determines whether or not the operation is a passive operation (S5). The passive operation is, for example, turning down the volume (including mute) and stopping playback of the hard disk 120. In this embodiment, an operation other than a passive operation is defined as an active operation. The active operation is, for example, channel switching or volume increase.
In this embodiment, the hard disk 120 cannot be ejected. However, in the case of a DVD TV, the passive operation may include ejecting a medium (such as a DVD) in the implementation.

  If it is a passive operation, the control unit 10 returns to S2 and continues the process. That is, the control unit 10 turns off the apparatus main body or puts it into a standby state after a predetermined time has elapsed. Thereby, the supply of current to each part of the apparatus main body is stopped. Here, it is assumed that the user intends to continue the sleep mode by a passive operation.

  On the other hand, if it is not a passive operation, that is, if it is an aggressive operation, the control unit 10 resets the timer of the timer circuit 10D (S6). And the control part 10 stops sleep mode (S7), and complete | finishes this process. Thereby, supply of current to each part of the apparatus main body is continued.

  In S6 and S7, it is estimated that the user intends to cancel the sleep mode in order to prevent the power from being forcibly turned off by the user's active operation. If there is an active operation, the sleep function is disabled by the operation. As a result, even when the sleep function is enabled once and the user wants to continue watching the TV program currently being viewed, the user can disable the sleep function with a simple operation. That is, the power of the television receiver 100 is not forcibly turned off. Further, even if there is a passive operation, the sleep function is not invalidated by the operation, so that the device will not fail to forget to turn it off.

  Therefore, even if the sleep function is enabled, it can be easily disabled and the power can be automatically turned off upon detecting that the device is forgotten to be turned off. For this reason, the usage rate of the sleep function can also be improved.

Moreover, the following modifications can be employed in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation performed by a control unit of a television receiver which is a modification of the embodiment of the present invention. In this operation, S101 and S102 are added between S1 and S2, S4 is replaced by S103 to S105, and S106 is added after S7. The same.

Here, in a scene where the user activates the sleep function with the sleep key, the user is likely to go to bed after pressing the sleep key. For this reason, the user often does not remember the content of the currently selected television program. Therefore, in this modification, when the sleep function is enabled by the sleep key, the control unit 10 executes the sleep mode and sequentially performs the operations of FIG.
In this modification, it is assumed that the user is watching a television program on the display unit 200 and the speaker 201.

  After S1, the control unit 10 starts recording a television program broadcast on the currently selected channel (S101). More specifically, the control unit 10 instructs the selector 14 to output image data and audio data to the hard disk device 12. In addition, the control unit 10 instructs the hard disk device 12 to perform chasing playback (also known as time shift playback). Here, the time shift reproduction function refers to a function of reproducing while recording. In response to this instruction, the hard disk device 12 records the image data and audio data with the recording head 12W, and sequentially reads the image data and audio data recorded with the recording head 12W with the reading head 12R. Here, the read data is output to the decoder 17 and reproduced.

  Next, the control unit 10 refers to the EPG from the flash memory 10C (S102). Thus, the end time of the currently recorded television program is checked.

  When a certain time has elapsed (S2), the control unit 10 controls the power supply unit 21 to place the apparatus main body in a standby state (S4). In this standby state, the power supply unit 21 supplies current only to the control unit 10, the tuner 11, the selector 14, the buffer memory 7, and the hard disk device 12.

When the end time of the television program is reached (S104), the control unit 10 stops recording (S105) and ends this process.
As a result, the user can reproduce the television program recorded on the hard disk 120 the next time the television receiver 100 is used. For this reason, even if the user falls asleep during the broadcast of the currently selected television program, the user can view the content of the currently selected television program again later. Therefore, user convenience is improved.
Since the EPG is referenced, only the currently selected television program can be recorded on the hard disk 120. Therefore, it is not necessary to waste the capacity of the hard disk 120.

  Since the sleep mode is canceled in S7, it is highly likely that the user will continue to watch TV programs thereafter. Therefore, after S7, the control unit 10 stops recording (S106).

The block diagram which shows the structure of the principal part of the television receiver which is embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the operation | movement which the control part of the television receiver which is embodiment of this invention performs. The flowchart which shows the operation | movement which the control part of the television receiver which is a modification of embodiment of this invention performs.

Explanation of symbols

2-control unit 6-buffer memory 7-buffer memory 10-control unit 11-tuner 12-hard disk device 12W-recording head 12R-reading head 14-selector circuit 17-decoder 18-image processing unit 19-OSD image generation circuit 20 -Audio processing unit 21-Power supply unit 22-Operation unit 100-Television receiver 120-Hard disk 200-Display unit 201-Speaker

Claims (4)

A plurality of keys, an operation means for outputting an operation signal corresponding to the operated key;
In a television receiver comprising: detecting means for detecting the operation signal output from the operating means;
Playback means for playing back data recorded on media set in the apparatus body;
Receiving means for receiving a television broadcast signal of a selected channel from a television broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station;
When a predetermined input operation is performed, a recording unit that starts recording the television broadcast signal of the selected channel received by the receiving unit onto the medium;
Power supply means for supplying current to each part of the apparatus main body when the power is turned on, and when the predetermined input operation is performed, the apparatus main body is only connected to the receiving means and the recording means after a predetermined time has elapsed. Power supply means for executing a sleep mode for continuing a supply of the current and waiting for power-on to enter a standby state,
The power source means
When the operation signal is detected by the detection means during the predetermined time during execution of the sleep mode, the operation is a predetermined operation including volume reduction, media playback stop, and media ejection. Whether or not
(1) If the operation is the predetermined operation, the apparatus main body is set to the power-off state or the standby state after the predetermined time has elapsed,
(2) If the operation is not the predetermined operation, the television receiver stops the sleep mode and continues to supply the current. A plurality of keys, an operation means for outputting an operation signal corresponding to the operated key;
In a television receiver comprising: detecting means for detecting the operation signal output from the operating means;
A power supply means for supplying current to each part of the apparatus main body when the power is turned on, and when a predetermined input operation is performed, the sleep mode in which the apparatus main body is turned off or in a standby state waiting for power on after a predetermined time has elapsed Power supply means for performing
The power source means
During the execution of the sleep mode, when the operation signal is detected by the detection means during the predetermined time, it is determined whether the operation is a predetermined operation including a decrease in volume,
If the operation is the predetermined operation, after the fixed time has elapsed, the apparatus main body is set to the power-off state or the standby state,
If the operation is not the predetermined operation, the television receiver stops the sleep mode and continues to supply the current. A reproduction means for reproducing data recorded on a medium set in the apparatus main body;
The predetermined operation further includes a reproduction stop of the media or an ejection of the media. Receiving means for receiving a television broadcast signal of a selected channel from a television broadcast signal transmitted from a broadcasting station;
When the predetermined input operation is performed, the recording unit starts recording on the medium of the TV broadcast signal of the selected channel received by the receiving unit,
The television receiver according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the power supply means continues supplying the current only to the receiving means and the recording means in the standby state.

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