JP5005312B2 - Video monitor controller - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is an apparatus for controlling a video monitor provided with a plurality of video input systems. Specifically, an internal video signal such as a TV received video and an external video signal from a VTR, or two VTRs are used. For video monitors that input multiple video signals, such as external video signals, and display and output one of those signals, the power and video input system of the video monitor based on the video signal and the signal that is actually displayed and output The present invention relates to a video monitor control device that automatically switches between.

  Video monitors such as TV receivers usually have two or more video signal input systems. That is, in the case of a TV receiver, an internally generated TV broadcast video signal and an external video signal from an external video device such as a video recorder are input, and one of the video signals is displayed on the display screen. An input signal switching circuit for outputting is incorporated. Recent video monitors have two or more external video signal input systems so that, for example, a DVD player and a video recorder can be connected due to the widespread use of various external video devices.

  By the way, as a commercial use form of a video monitor, there is a form in which an externally input signal is almost always displayed and output. For example, at a storefront of a store, the endless videotape or video recorder's repeated playback function is used to constantly display promotional video images that include product descriptions, and karaoke stores are open like karaoke devices. In the case of lyric, the lyrics image from the karaoke apparatus is displayed and output.

The present applicants have developed a karaoke business and conduct daily maintenance and inspection work for karaoke devices delivered to a large number of karaoke stores. Then, a karaoke store may receive a repair request with the content “I want you to repair because the lyrics image of the karaoke is not displayed on the video monitor”. However, when maintenance personnel actually go to the site, it is not a malfunction, the monitor is not turned on, the video signal input system has not been switched to display the image from the karaoke device, etc. May be an operational mistake. Nevertheless, maintenance and inspection personnel do the work at the site just by turning on the monitor power switch and switching the video input system, despite other important maintenance matters. This wastes time and money for maintenance. The following patent documents include a circuit for determining the presence or absence of a video signal and switching to a system with a signal input, or preferentially switching to that system if there is a signal input in a specific input system. A TV receiver is described.
JP-A-5-308588 JP 2002-247457 A

=== Invention ===
If it is a new karaoke store, a TV receiver as described in the above-mentioned patent document may be introduced into the karaoke store, but there are already a huge number of karaoke devices, and all the karaoke devices It is not realistic to replace a video monitor. Here, the present inventors are able to turn on / off the power and switch the video input system by accepting a remote control signal in most current video monitors. In addition, we focused on providing a video output terminal for outputting a video signal corresponding to the video being displayed. And if there is an external device that generates and outputs a remote control signal for monitoring based on the comparison between the video signal from the video output terminal and the video signal to be displayed, the karaoke device is in operation Thought that the lyrics image video from the karaoke device could be displayed regardless of the operating state of the video monitor.

  However, the remote control signal for turning on / off the power is a signal for toggling the power of the video monitor (hereinafter referred to as a toggle operation signal). If the video monitor is in the on state, the remote control signal is off. Turn on. The remote control signal for switching the video input system is a signal for moving forward the video input system (hereinafter referred to as video input switching signal). For example, if the TV receiver has two external video input systems (L1 and L2) and the initial state is to display and output a TV broadcast, TV → L1 → L2 every time a video input switching signal is received. The display changes in order, such as → TV → L1. In many models, when the power is turned off and then turned on again, the video input system returns to the initial state (for example, TV video). Therefore, if it is not known which video input system the video being displayed corresponds to, the video from the karaoke device cannot be selectively switched. The inventors of the present invention have created the present invention in consideration of the above.

The first invention is specified by the following items (1) to (10).
(1) A device for controlling a video monitor configured to display and output a video signal supplied to a selected one of a plurality of video input systems. (2) A power supply for the video monitor. (3) Input for sequentially selecting one system to be displayed and output from among a plurality of video input systems of the video monitor. (4) Provided with means for transmitting a switching remote control signal (4) Provided with a first video input terminal for supplying a video signal supplied from the external device to one video input system in the video monitor. (6) First video input, comprising: a second video input terminal through which a video signal displayed and output on the video monitor is supplied from the video monitor (7) The first video input terminal is provided with detection means for constantly detecting whether or not the video signal is supplied to the child and constantly detecting whether or not the video signal is supplied to the second video input terminal. Comparing means for constantly detecting whether or not the supplied video signal and the video signal supplied to the second video input terminal are the same (8) While constantly monitoring the outputs of the detecting means and the comparing means (9) As a first operation, a video signal is supplied only to one of the first video input terminal and the second video input terminal. (10) As a second operation, when different video signals are supplied to the first video input terminal and the second video input terminal, the power switch remote control signal is transmitted and waits for a predetermined time. input Send a switching remote control signal and wait for a predetermined time

  The second invention changes the contents of the first operation in the first invention, and as the first operation, a video signal is supplied to the first video input terminal and a video signal is supplied to the second video input terminal. If not, the power-switching remote control signal is transmitted to wait for a predetermined time.

=== Configuration of Video Monitor Control Device ===
The video monitor control device (hereinafter referred to as a control device) of the present invention can correspond to a usage mode in which video signals from various video signal output devices such as video players are correctly displayed on the video monitor. Here, as an embodiment of the present invention, an example will be described in which a lyrics image from a karaoke apparatus is displayed correctly on a video monitor. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a control device and a connection state of a karaoke device and a video monitor in the control device. The control device 1 detects and compares the video signal (first video signal) from the karaoke device 30 and the video signal (second video signal) currently displayed on the video monitor 40 (video signal detection / comparison). Unit) 10 and a functional configuration (remote control signal transmission unit) 20 for wirelessly transmitting a remote control signal for controlling the video monitor 40 based on the detection / comparison results of the two video signals according to the configuration 10.

  FIG. 2 shows a detailed functional block configuration of the control device 1 in the embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the remote control signal transmission unit 20 of the control device 1 is almost the same as that of the general-purpose remote control device. As is well known, the general-purpose remote control device stores a control code for remote operation for each maker of the video monitor 40, and operates the video monitor 40 of a specific manufacturer by a predetermined setting operation received by the user interface. Can be used as

  The microcomputer 2 includes a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM, and controls each component of the video signal detection / comparison unit 10 and the remote control signal transmission unit 20. The flash memory 21 stores a control code that is the origin of the remote control signal for each manufacturer and model of the video monitor 40. In this embodiment, only the control code corresponding to the toggle operation signal for turning on / off the power supply and the control code corresponding to the video input switching signal for switching the video input system are stored.

  The user interface includes an operation key 22 for allowing the user to set the manufacturer and model of the video monitor 40 to be controlled, and a liquid crystal display (LCD) 25 for displaying and outputting the set manufacturer name and model. Composed.

  When the user operates the operation key 22 to set a predetermined manufacturer or model, the operation control unit 23 transfers information corresponding to the operation input to the microcomputer 2. The microcomputer 2 stores the correspondence relationship between the operation input information and the manufacturer and model in the ROM, and among the control codes stored in the flash memory 21, the manufacturer corresponding to the operation input information transferred from the operation control unit 23. For example, a flag indicating that it can be used is attached to the control code for the model, and only the control code is set as the origin of the remote control signal. Further, character information corresponding to the setting state such as the set manufacturer name and model name is transferred to the LCD driver 24, and the LCD driver 24 drives the LCD 25 with a drive signal corresponding to the character information, and information related to the setting state. Is displayed on the LCD 25.

  When the video signal detection / comparison unit 10 outputs predetermined information, the microcomputer 2 transfers a control code corresponding to either the toggle operation signal or the video switching signal to the LED driver 26. The LED driver 26 FM modulates the code and drives the LED 27 with the modulation signal. Thereby, the LED 27 transmits a toggle operation signal or a video switching signal by infrared rays. In this embodiment, the signal from the LED driver 26 is guided to the outside of the housing of the control device 1 via the extension cable 28 so that the infrared remote control signal is reliably received by the light receiving unit of the video monitor 40, and the extension is performed. The LED 27 is connected to the end of the cable 28. If the LED 27 is placed toward the remote control signal light receiving portion of the video monitor 40, the remote monitor signal can be reliably received by the video monitor 40 regardless of the arrangement state of the control device 1 and the video monitor 40.

  The video signal detection / comparison unit 10 includes a first video input terminal 11a for inputting the first video signal from the karaoke apparatus 30 and a second video input terminal for inputting the second video signal from the video monitor 40. 11b, and outputs information indicating presence / absence and identity of the first and second video signals input to these input terminals (11a, 11b). The first video signal is amplified by the video amplifier 12 and then input from the video output terminal 13 to a predetermined video input system of the video monitor 40. Of course, the first video signal may be branched before being input to the control device 1 and input to a predetermined video input system of the video monitor 40.

  In this embodiment, the first and second video signals are input as NTSC standard composite video signals, and the synchronization signal separation units (14a, 14b) separate the synchronization signals from the composite video signals. That is, if the synchronization signal can be separated, the video signal is input. The first video signal detection unit 15a and the second video signal detection unit 15b output information indicating the presence or absence of the first and second video signals according to whether or not the synchronization signal can be separated.

  The signal comparison unit 16 compares the first and second video signals and outputs information indicating the coincidence / non-coincidence for both video signals. In the present embodiment, signal coincidence / mismatch is detected based on the phase difference of the synchronization signals separated by the synchronization signal separation units (14a, 14b). That is, if the separated synchronization signals have the same phase, it can be determined that there is no phase difference between the first and second video signals, and both video signals are the same. If there is no phase difference, the signal comparison unit 16 outputs coincidence information indicating that both video signals are coincident, and outputs a mismatch information if there is a phase difference. In addition, even if there is a phase difference due to circuit delay, it can be determined that they are the same and match if a constant phase difference is maintained, and the period is slightly different and the phase difference changes every moment. If it is in a state, it can be determined that there is a mismatch.

  Of course, the determination of the match / mismatch of the first and second video signals is not limited to the method of determining based on the phase difference of the synchronization signal, and various methods are conceivable. For example, a D / A converter and a frame memory for a plurality of screens are mounted in the signal comparison unit 16, and images for a plurality of frames are captured from the first and second video signals, respectively. Then, the images of both frames originating from both video signals are compared. If the same image exists, it can be determined that the first video signal and the second video signal match. As a result, even if a delay occurs when the video monitor 40 outputs the video signal input from the karaoke device 30 as the second video signal, it is possible to determine the match / mismatch of both video signals with high accuracy.

=== Control of video monitor ===
FIG. 3 shows an outline of control of the video monitor 40 by the control device 1. (A) shows the correspondence between the input / output state of the video signal and the type of the remote control signal transmitted by the control device 1, and (B) shows the flow of control. The control device 1 is always in an operating state, and monitors the video signal output state from the karaoke device 30 and the video monitor 40. The time when the karaoke device 30 is not turned on is when the karaoke device is not being used, such as during a closed time, and it is desirable that the video monitor 40 is not turned on. If the first video signal detection unit of the video signal comparison unit outputs information indicating that no video signal is input to the first video input terminal, the microcomputer 2 unconditionally turns off the video monitor 40. Control to be That is, when no signal information is output from the first video signal detection unit, if no signal information is output from the second video signal detection unit, the state is maintained as it is (s1 → s4 → s1). If signal presence information is output from the second video signal detector, a toggle operation signal is transmitted to turn off the video monitor 40 (s1 → s4 → s5).

  On the other hand, when the karaoke device 30 is turned on, the karaoke store is in operation, the video monitor 40 is turned on, and the video signal from the karaoke device 30 is correctly displayed on the video monitor 40. It must be output. That is, it is necessary to perform control so that the first video signal and the second video signal are kept in agreement. When the second video signal detector 15b outputs no signal information while the first video signal detector 15a outputs the signal presence information, the microcomputer 2 first transmits a toggle operation signal. Then, the power source of the video monitor 40 is turned on (s1 → s2 → s5). Thus, both the first and second video signal detectors (15a, 15b) output signal presence information (s1 → s2 → s3). Then, the microcomputer 2 transmits a video switching signal (s3 → s6 → s7 → s1 → s2 → s3 → s6 → s7 → s1...) Until information indicating a match is output from the signal comparison unit 16. When the signal match information is detected, the state is maintained (s3 → s1).

  Note that when a remote control signal is transmitted, the display state of the video monitor 40 changes when the signal is received, and a predetermined time is taken into account until a second video signal corresponding to the display is stably output. After waiting for a time, control is started again from the beginning (s7 → s1).

  FIG. 4 shows an outline of other control by the control device. (A) shows the correspondence between the input / output state of the video signal and the type of remote control signal transmitted by the control device, and (B) shows the flow of control. In FIGS. 4B and 3B, the same processing steps are denoted by the same reference numerals (sX: X is a natural number).

  In this embodiment, only when the karaoke apparatus 30 is in an operating state, the power state of the video monitor 40 is recognized, and control is performed so that the video from the karaoke apparatus 30 is correctly displayed on the video monitor 40. For example, in a snack or the like in which the karaoke device 30 is installed, the food and drink service is mainly used, and the karaoke device 30 may be turned on when necessary. In such a business condition, even when the karaoke apparatus 30 is not in operation, another video such as displaying a TV video on the video monitor 40 may be output. Therefore, if the karaoke apparatus 30 is not in operation, the microcomputer 2 does not know the power-on state of the video monitor 40, and the microcomputer 2 maintains the current state if the first video signal presence information is not output ( s1 → s1).

It is the schematic which shows the schematic structure of the video monitor control apparatus in the Example of this invention, and the connection relation of the karaoke apparatus connected to a video monitor, and a video monitor. It is a functional block diagram of the said video monitor control apparatus. It is the schematic of the video monitor control process by the said video monitor control apparatus. (A) is the schematic which shows the classification of the remote control signal based on the video signal input into a video monitor, (B) is a flowchart of a video monitor control process. It is the schematic of the other video monitor control processing by the said video monitor control apparatus. (A) is the schematic which shows the classification of the remote control signal based on the video signal input into a video monitor, (B) is a flowchart of a video monitor control process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Video monitor control apparatus 2 Microcomputer 10 Video signal detection and comparison part 20 Remote control signal transmission part 30 Karaoke apparatus 40 Video monitor

Claims (2)

An apparatus for controlling a video monitor configured to display and output a video signal supplied to a selected one of a plurality of video input systems,
Means for transmitting a power supply remote control signal for alternately switching on and off the power supply of the video monitor;
Means for transmitting an input switching remote control signal for sequentially selecting one system to be displayed and output from among a plurality of video input systems of the video monitor;
A first video input terminal for supplying a video signal supplied from the external device to one video input system in the video monitor;
A second video input terminal to which a video signal being displayed and output in the video monitor is supplied from the video monitor;
Detection means for constantly detecting whether or not a video signal is supplied to the first video input terminal, and for always detecting whether or not a video signal is supplied to the second video input terminal;
Comparison means for constantly detecting whether or not the video signal supplied to the first video input terminal and the video signal supplied to the second video input terminal are the same;
Control means for performing the first operation and the second operation based on the monitoring result while constantly monitoring the outputs of the detection means and the comparison means,
As a first operation, when a video signal is supplied to only one of the first video input terminal and the second video input terminal, the power switch remote control signal is transmitted and waits for a predetermined time,
As a second operation, when different video signals are supplied to the first video input terminal and the second video input terminal, the input switching remote control signal is transmitted to wait for a predetermined time. The content of the first operation in claim 1 is changed, and when the video signal is supplied to the first video input terminal and the video signal is not supplied to the second video input terminal as the first operation, The video monitor control device according to claim 1, wherein the power supply switching remote control signal is transmitted to wait for a predetermined time.

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