JP4249953B2 - Television receiver - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a television receiver that receives a television broadcast signal and displays a program of a desired channel, and more particularly to a television receiver capable of detecting a state of being left on and automatically turning off the power. It is about.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in order to prevent wasteful power consumption in a so-called “free-standing” television receiver in which the user is not viewing the display image, the television receiver is automatically detected by detecting the “left-out” state. Various proposals have been made that can turn off the power automatically.
[0003]
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 59-171271, 7-29966, and 9-312783 detect the presence or absence of a video signal and a synchronization signal included in a television broadcast signal. When the presence is detected, it has been proposed that the power is turned off by determining that it is in a state of being left in spite of the end of the television broadcast to save energy.
[0004]
Also, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-78246, when a user leaves his / her seat without turning off the power while watching TV, this is detected by a sensor, and when a certain time has passed after detection, the power is automatically turned on. It is disclosed to prevent unnecessary power consumption by controlling and switching to an operation standby mode.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case where the power is controlled to be turned off according to the presence or absence of the video signal and the synchronization signal included in the conventional television broadcast signal described above, it is possible to prevent wasteful power consumption after the end of the television broadcast. In other words, the power cannot be automatically turned off until the television broadcast ends even if it is left on.
[0006]
Therefore, for example, if a user goes out or goes to sleep long after the television broadcast ends, there is a problem that wasteful power consumption occurs. .
[0007]
In addition, when the above-described conventional absence of the viewer is detected, a sensor (infrared sensor) for detecting the viewer is necessary for the power-off control, and the configuration is complicated and the cost is reduced. There was a problem of inviting an increase in
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and even in a time zone during which television broadcasting is being performed, a simple configuration can be used to detect a state of being left on and automatically turn off the power. The present invention provides a television receiver that can be used.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
1st invention of this application is a television receiver which receives a television broadcast signal and displays the program of a desired channel , Comprising: Whether the number of continuous reception programs of the same broadcast channel reached the predetermined number set beforehand. A detecting means for detecting whether or not, and a power control means for controlling the shutoff of the power based on the detection result by the detecting means.
[0010]
That is, when it is detected that the number of continuously received programs on the same broadcast channel has reached a predetermined number , it is determined that the television receiver is in a state of being left on, and the power is automatically turned off. Is possible. As a result, even when TV broadcasting is being performed, it is possible to determine the state in which the television receiver is left on with a simple configuration, and reliably prevent wasteful power consumption. Can do.
[0011]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an OSD means for performing on-screen display for notifying power-off when detecting that the number of continuously received programs on the same broadcast channel has reached a predetermined number set in advance , The power supply control means controls the power supply to be cut off after the on-screen display is performed for a predetermined time.
[0012]
That is, before the power is automatically turned off, by performing an on-screen display for notifying that the power has been turned off, if the user is watching, the user can confirm his intention to continue watching the program. It becomes possible, and usability can be improved.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a television receiver according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, for example, a digital broadcast receiver. Here, FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the main part of the television receiver of this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an automatic power-off control operation in the television receiver of this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an EPG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of (electronic program guide).
[0014]
In FIG. 1, 1 is a tuner, 2 is a demodulator that performs digital demodulation and outputs a TS (Transport Stream) as digital data, 3 is a packet separator (DEMUX) that separates each data packet from the TS, and 4 is a video Video decoding unit that decodes data, 5 is an audio decoding unit that decodes audio data, 6 is an EPG processing unit that performs processing to construct an EPG display screen from data information, and 7 is an OSD processing unit that generates an on-screen display signal , 8 is a control CPU.
[0015]
9 is a synthesis unit that synthesizes a video signal, an audio signal, an EPG display screen, and an on-screen display signal based on the control data from the control CPU 8, 10 is a display device using LCD, CRT, etc., 11 is It is a system power supply control unit of the television receiver. The blocks 1 to 7, 9, and 11 are connected to the control CPU 8. The control CPU 8 determines control data based on data from each block, and receives digital data, displays images, and turns the power on / off. Etc. are controlled.
[0016]
Next, the operation of the above digital broadcast receiver will be described. A broadcast signal received by a receiving antenna (not shown) is input to the tuner 1, and the tuner 1 receives control data indicating a selected channel from the control CPU 8 and selects a channel. The channel-selected received signal is sent to the demodulator 2 where digital demodulation is performed. For example, a TS (Transport Stream) including the selected program is selected according to control data from the control CPU 8, and the TS is digitally converted. Output as data.
[0017]
The packet separation unit 3 separates and extracts the packet of the selected program from the input TS, and outputs video data and audio data of the program. The packet separation unit 3 further separates and extracts program arrangement information (Service Information) simultaneously transmitted in the TS, and outputs it to the EPG processing unit 6.
[0018]
Further, the packet separation unit 3 extracts transmission control signals (PSI: Program Specific Information), time information, and the like transmitted by the TS, and these are sent as control information to the control CPU 8 for control based on this. Control data for controlling packet separation is sent from the CPU 8.
[0019]
The video data output from the packet separator 3 is encoded by MPEG-2, and the video decoder 4 decodes the video data and outputs a video signal. In the video decoding unit 4, the decoding operation is performed based on the control data from the control CPU 8, and at the time of decoding, data such as a sequence header and a sequence end code in the video data is identified, and the image size, aspect Data indicating the video format by the ratio, scanning method and frame frequency, start of sequence, detection of sequence end code (sequence end code), etc. is sent from the video decoding unit 4 to the control CPU 8.
[0020]
The audio data output from the packet separation unit 3 is also encoded, and the audio decoding unit 5 decodes the audio data and outputs an audio signal. In the audio decoding unit 5, as in the video decoding unit 4, the decoding operation is performed based on the control data from the control CPU 8, and data such as a header in the audio data is identified at the time of decoding, and sampling is performed. Data indicating the audio format and the like is sent from the audio decoding unit 5 to the control CPU 8 according to the frequency, the number of audio channels, and the like. Both the video signal and the audio signal that are output from the video decoding unit 4 and the audio decoding unit 5 are sent to the synthesis unit 9.
[0021]
Next, program arrangement information (SI data) output from the packet separation unit 3 to the EPG processing unit 6 will be described. The EPG processing unit 6 processes the input SI data to form an EPG display screen, and outputs a signal indicating the EPG display screen. As described above, the SI data includes information such as the channel name, the title of each program, the start / end time, and the progress status, and the EPG processing unit 6 performs processing based on these data to display the EPG display screen. Configure. Then, an EPG display screen signal that is an output from the EPG processing unit 6 is sent to the synthesis unit 9.
[0022]
Further, the OSD processing unit 7 generates various character signals and character signals based on instructions from the control CPU 8 and outputs them to the combining unit 9. Thus, the video signal from the video decoding unit 4, the audio signal from the audio decoding unit 5, and the EPG display screen signal from the EPG processing unit 6 are sent to the synthesizing unit 9. They are synthesized based on the control data, and the display signal after the synthesis is displayed on the display device 10.
[0023]
Here, the synthesizing unit 9 receives various control data for performing a display operation from the control CPU 8. The control data is a signal for synthesizing the display signal, and is formed based on data such as a video format and an audio format from each block described above.
[0024]
In addition, when a remote controller (not shown) is operated to select a receiving channel, a program, etc. and display / non-display of the EPG screen by the operation of the viewer, the operation content is sent to the control CPU 8, Control data from the control CPU 8 is sent to the synthesizing unit 9 for selecting a reception channel, a program, and the like, and instructing display or non-display of the EPG screen.
[0025]
Therefore, normally, based on the control data from the control CPU 8, the video signal and audio signal of the selected program are output as display signals to the display device 10 as they are in the synthesizing unit 9, and the display device 10 uses the input display signals. A certain video signal and audio signal provide program video and audio to the viewer.
[0026]
On the other hand, when the viewer performs an operation to instruct display (or non-display) of the EPG on the operation member or the like of the remote controller, the operation content is sent to the control CPU 8, and the control CPU 8 displays (or does not display) the EPG. Is output to the combining unit 9. That is, the control data from the control CPU 8 is sent to the combining unit 9 as control data for instructing display of EPG or as control data for instructing non-display.
[0027]
Therefore, when the EPG display screen is not displayed on the display device 10, the combining unit 9 superimposes the EPG display screen signal on the video signal based on the control data instructing the EPG display from the control CPU 8. Then, the display signal combined with the EPG is output to the display device 10. Note that there are methods for combining an EPG display screen with a normal video screen and an EPG display screen superimposed, or by dividing the screen and simultaneously displaying the normal video screen and the EPG display screen. .
[0028]
Furthermore, when the viewer performs a power on / off operation using a remote controller or the like, when the on-timer / off-timer-set time is reached, or when an after-release state described later is detected, control is performed. An on / off control instruction is issued from the CPU 8 to the system power supply control unit 11 to control the power supply driving of the digital broadcast receiver.
[0029]
In the digital broadcast receiver according to the present embodiment, when the switching of a broadcast program is detected with reference to the EPG and n consecutive programs are received and selected in the same broadcast channel, the television receiver Is determined to be in a state of being left on, and after performing an on-screen display informing that the power is shut off, control is performed to turn off the power.
[0030]
This will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. In the flowchart of FIG. 2, when the power is turned on and reception of a television broadcast signal is started, the presence / absence of a channel change instruction operation by the user is monitored (step 1). The program sequence information (SI data) output from the unit 3 to the EPG processing unit 6 is compared with the current time information obtained from the built-in clock to detect a broadcast program change (step 2).
[0031]
When the switching of the broadcast program is detected, the number N of continuously received programs is counted up (step 3), and it is determined whether or not the number N of continuously received programs has reached a predetermined number n (step 3). 4). Here, n is a natural number such as “3” or “4” set at the time of factory shipment, and may be arbitrarily set by the user. If a channel change is detected in step 1 according to a user instruction, the number N of continuously received programs is reset to 1 (step 5), and the presence / absence of channel change is monitored again.
[0032]
When it is detected in step 4 that the number N of continuously received programs has reached a predetermined number n of preset programs, the OSD processing unit 7 displays an on-screen message such as “Power off”. An instruction is output (step 6). Encourage users to confirm their intention to continue viewing. When the user inputs an instruction to continue viewing the received program using an operation member such as a remote controller (step 8), the number N of continuously received programs is reset to 1 (step 8), and the presence / absence of channel change is monitored again. Return to operation.
[0033]
Then, when a preset time t (for example, 10 seconds) has elapsed from the OSD display for confirming the intention to continue viewing (step 9), the user has no intention to continue viewing, that is, in a state of being left on. If it is determined that there is, the system power supply control unit 11 is instructed to turn off the power (step 10), and the operation is terminated.
[0034]
Here, for example, when an EPG as shown in FIG. 3 is acquired and n = 3 is set, the user turns on the system power at 00:00 and starts viewing the broadcast program BBB on the SSS broadcast channel. After that, even if the television receiver is turned on and falls asleep, the third broadcast program DDD continuous from the broadcast program BBB on the SSS broadcast channel starts to be broadcast at 00:50. After performing OSD display for confirming the intention to continue viewing, the system power supply can be automatically turned off.
[0035]
Similarly, when n = 4 is set, at the time 01:25 when the fourth broadcast program EEE continuing from the broadcast program BBB on the SSS broadcast channel is started to be broadcasted, the confirmation of intention to continue viewing is performed. After the OSD display is performed, the system power can be automatically turned off.
[0036]
As described above, in the digital broadcast receiver according to the present embodiment, the switching of the broadcast program is detected by comparing the EPG multiplexed on the television broadcast signal with the current time information, and n consecutive in the same broadcast channel. When the program is selected to be received, it is determined that the television receiver is in a state of being left on, and control is performed to turn off the power.
[0037]
Therefore, not only at the time of the end of the television broadcast, but also at the time of the television broadcast, the television receiver can be left untouched with a very simple configuration without providing a special sensor. By determining the state, it is possible to reliably prevent wasteful power consumption.
[0038]
In addition, the user can confirm the intention to continue viewing the received program by performing on-screen display for notifying the power-off for a predetermined time t before the power is automatically turned off. However, when the program is being viewed, an instruction to continue viewing can be input before the power is turned off, improving usability.
[0039]
In the embodiment of the present invention, the number N of continuously received programs is detected using the EPG included in the digital broadcast signal. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the program included in the TV broadcast signal is used. The number of continuously received programs may be detected using a call sign indicating the start and end of the program. Needless to say, the present invention is applicable not only to a digital broadcast receiver but also to an analog broadcast receiver.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
Since the liquid crystal display device of the present invention is configured as described above, when it is detected that the number of consecutively received programs on the same broadcast channel has reached a predetermined number , the television receiver is in a state of being left on. Therefore, it is possible to automatically turn off the power. In other words, even when a television broadcast is being performed, it is possible to determine the state of the television receiver being left on with a simple configuration, thereby reliably preventing wasteful power consumption. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a schematic configuration of main parts in an embodiment of a television receiver of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an automatic power-off control operation in the embodiment of the television receiver of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example (only a main part) of an EPG (electronic program guide);
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Tuner 2 Demodulation Unit 3 Packet Separation Unit 4 Video Decoding Unit 5 Audio Decoding Unit 6 EPG Processing Unit 7 OSD Processing Unit 8 Control CPU
9 Combining Unit 10 Display Device 11 System Power Control Unit

Claims (2)

A television receiver that receives a television broadcast signal and displays a program of a desired channel,
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the number of continuously received programs on the same broadcast channel has reached a predetermined number ;
A television receiver, comprising: a power supply control unit configured to control a power supply to be cut off based on a detection result of the detection unit. The television receiver according to claim 1,
Providing an OSD means for performing on-screen display for notifying power-off when it is detected that the number of continuously received programs on the same broadcast channel has reached a predetermined number set in advance ;
The television receiver according to claim 1, wherein the power control means controls to shut off the power after the on-screen display is performed for a predetermined time.

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