JPH07176993A - Channel preset device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the channel preset device for a television receiver in which a channel number in a VHF broadcast and a number allocated to a channel memory are made coincident. CONSTITUTION:The device is provided with a tuner 4, a synchronization detection circuit 6 detecting the presence of synchronization of a channel, and a nonvolatile channel memory group 12 storing a channel number and stores a synchronized channel number to the channel memory group 12, and also provided with plural discrete work memory groups 10 storing tentatively channel information of a channel whose synchronization is detected to be present by the synchronization detection circuit 6 and a microcomputer 2 used to transfer channel information stored in the work memory group 10 to the channel memory group 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention searches a broadcasting band,
The present invention relates to a channel preset device that automatically tunes to a broadcast channel that can be received with a certain level of quality or better and stores this channel selection control information in a non-volatile memory, and particularly to a channel preset device suitable for use in a television receiver.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a broadcast receiving apparatus such as a television, there is a channel preset apparatus as an apparatus for searching a receivable broadcast channel from a receiving apparatus installation location and storing it in a channel memory.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional channel preset device. This device is a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as microcomputer) 62 for controlling the entire television, and a television frequency controlled by the microcomputer 62. Synthesizer tuner (hereinafter referred to as "tuner") 64, sync detection that outputs to the microcomputer 62 as a binary signal whether or not there is a sync component in the signal currently received by the channel currently set in the tuner 64 (frequency of that channel) A character display circuit (OSD) which receives signals from the circuit 66 and the microcomputer 62 and displays channel information (for example, channel number or information at the time of audio multiplex broadcasting) on the television screen.
Circuit 68, a non-volatile channel memory 72 for semi-permanently recording a broadcast channel group that is normally viewed by a user,
And a key input circuit 74 having a keypad numbered 1 to 12 for instructing the microcomputer 62 to select a channel. The channel memory 72 has 12 storage areas (hereinafter, referred to as CH
(Denoted as P).

In this device, the microcomputer 62 controls the tuner 64 to receive all channels in the frequency band for television broadcasting from the one with the lowest frequency to the one with the highest frequency, and to open a new channel. Each time it is received, it is determined from the synchronization detection circuit 66 whether there is a signal indicating that there is synchronization. If there is synchronization, it is determined that there is broadcasting on the receiving channel, and the receiving channel has not been preset. Of the channel memories 72, the channel memory having the smallest number has been preset.

Further, in this conventional device, each channel memory is preset with a channel having the same number as the channel memory at the time of factory shipment.

An example of presetting to the channel memory when presetting is performed by the above-mentioned conventional apparatus is shown in FIGS.
It will be described based on 9. FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a television broadcast channel arrangement and radio wave quality in a fictitious area in Japan. Numerals 81 to 86 are television broadcasting waves reaching the area, 81 is a broadcasting station A, 82 is a broadcasting station B,
83 is a broadcasting station C, 84 is a broadcasting station D, 85 is a broadcasting station E, 8
6 is a radio wave of the broadcasting station F. Reference numeral 87 indicates a minimum radio wave quality level (C / N, little signal deterioration due to multipath, etc.) determined by the synchronization detection circuit 66 to be "synchronized". FIG. 19 shows the channel arrangement as shown in FIG.
This is the result of presetting to 2.

In the conventional preset device, the channel search is performed from the first channel for the first time in ascending order to a larger channel number. In an area where frequencies are broadcasted as shown in FIG. 18, first, when the channel 4 of the broadcasting station A (81) is selected, the synchronization detection circuit 66 determines that “there is a synchronization signal”. Preset to the first storage area (CHP number 1) of the channel memory.

[0008] The search is further advanced to the channel of the number above and the six channels of the broadcasting station B (82) are selected. In this case, since the radio wave is weak, the sync detection circuit 66 indicates "no sync signal". Since it is judged as "," it is not preset.

Next, the 7th channel of the broadcasting station C (83) becomes "there is a synchronization signal", and preset to the storage area of CHP number 2 which is one number higher than CHP number 1.

In the same way, the broadcast station E (85) is used in the following 1
Channel 3 to the storage area of CHP number 3, broadcasting station F
The 15 channels with (86) are preset in the storage area of CHP number 4, and the search is completed. This allows
The channel memory 72 is preset as shown in FIG. It should be noted that the 5th to 12th storage areas of the non-preset channel memory have the same channel numbers as the respective CHP numbers as they are at the time of factory shipment.

After the receivable channels are preset in this way, when the user inputs the number of the channel to be viewed from the key input circuit 74, the microcomputer 62 corresponds to the channel memory 72 based on the input channel number. The channel selection control information stored in the number CHP is read out, and thereby the tuner 64 is controlled to receive the broadcast of the instructed channel.

[0012]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional channel presetting apparatus, for example, in the storage areas which are not preset in the channel having the sync signal, such as the storage areas 5 to 12 of the channel memory in FIG. Is preset at the time of shipment from the factory, the channels that match the numbers in the storage area are preset.
Poor reception image may appear on the screen when weak radio waves from adjacent areas such as channel 8 arrive.
There has been a problem that the user complains that the television is not good.

In the VHF broadcast frequency band, it is preferable that the key number designated by the key input circuit is set to be equal to the channel number selected when the key is selected. Instead, channel numbers unrelated to key numbers, such as channel memory numbers 1 and 2, are preset in the channel memory.
There was a problem that operability deteriorates when selecting a channel after presetting the channel.

Further, a household television is often connected with a device such as a video game machine or a video tape recorder which outputs video and audio by RF output. Since these devices use channel 1 or channel 2 for RF output, if the received broadcast is preset from the storage area of the channel memory with the lower number, the devices will be connected by RF. In addition, there is a problem that channel 1 or channel 2 must be set at a position having a large key number, and operability is deteriorated when using these devices.

In view of the above problems, the main problem of the present invention is to match the key number selected by the key input circuit with the channel number in the VHF band selected when the key number is selected. It is an object of the present invention to provide a channel preset device for a television receiver capable of performing the above.
Further, another object of the present invention is to provide a television image which can secure the 1st or 2nd key of the key input circuit for a video game machine, a video tape recorder or the like connected by using the RF output. A channel presetting device for a machine. Further, another object of the present invention is to provide a channel preset device for a television receiver which prevents a poor reception image from being displayed on the television screen when a weak radio wave arrives from an adjacent area. .

[0016]

In order to solve the above object, the present invention has the following constitution. That is, the present invention provides a frequency synthesizer tuner, a synchronization detection circuit for detecting the presence or absence of synchronization of reception channels, a key input circuit for instructing channel selection by at least 12 keypads sequentially numbered from 1. A non-volatile channel memory for holding channel selection control information in each of a plurality of storage areas numbered corresponding to each number of the keypad, and channel selection control information from the channel memory by a signal of the key input circuit. And a microcomputer for tuning the frequency synthesizer tuner to the channel instructed to be tuned based on the control information, in a channel preset device of a television receiver, a working memory and a television broadcast being permitted. Search for the existing frequency band for each channel The means for temporarily storing the channel identification information of the channel in which synchronization is detected by the synchronization detection circuit in the working memory, and the range of 1 to 12 channels belonging to the VHF band of the temporarily stored channel are 1 to 12 Means for writing the channel selection control information of a channel into the corresponding numbered storage areas of the channel memory; and when the number of temporarily stored channels is one or more less than the number of keypads, the number of the channel memory is the first. Alternatively, if the second storage area is not written, the means for writing channel selection control information of channel 1 or channel 2 corresponding to the storage area and the channels other than the VHF band of the temporarily stored channel are Channel memory not yet written Means for writing the channel selection control information for each channel in the region, a channel preset apparatus further comprising a.

[0017]

According to the present invention having the above-described structure, the synchronization detection is performed in the channel preset device having the frequency synthesizer tuner, the synchronization detection circuit, and the non-volatile channel memory for permanently storing the channel group normally watched by the user. A working memory for temporarily storing the selected channel and a microcomputer program for transferring the channel information stored in the working memory to the channel memory are provided, and the channel for which synchronization is detected by the channel search is once provided. After storing all the channels in the working memory, the channels in the VHF broadcast frequency band among the channels detected in synchronization are stored in the storage area of the channel memory to which the same number as the channel number is attached. For channels in the UHF broadcast frequency band, leave If there is a vacant storage area of the channel memory that is stored in the storage area of the channel memory, the 1 or 2 channel is reserved for the RF output device in the storage area of 1 or 2 and the storage area is further vacant. When there is a storage area in the channel memory, only the noise is displayed when the channel information of the frequency for which broadcasting is not approved is written and the wrong channel is selected.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the case shown, the channel is CH
, Each storage area of the channel memory is abbreviated as CHP, and each storage area of the working memory is abbreviated as SCHP.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an entire broadcast receiving system according to an embodiment of a channel preset device according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, this broadcast receiving system controls the entire television and also has a working memory 1 which will be described later.
A microcomputer 2 that transfers channel information from 0 to the channel memory 12, a tuner 4 that is controlled by the microcomputer 2 and selects a radio wave received by an antenna 15.
The tuner 4 checks whether or not there is a sync signal in the received channel signal, and outputs the result to the microcomputer 2. The sync detection circuit 6 outputs channel information from the microcomputer 2 to the television screen 16 (for example, channel number or audio multiplex broadcast time). A character display circuit (OSD circuit) 8 for displaying information, etc., a working memory (SCHP group) 10 for temporarily storing all channels determined to be broadcast during full preset, and a channel group normally watched by the user It is composed of a nonvolatile channel memory (CHP group) 12 which is memorized specifically and a key input circuit 14 which allows the user to instruct the microcomputer 2 to select a channel. Further, a program for controlling each part of the television is built in the microcomputer 2, and the working memory 1 described later is included in this program.
A program for transferring channel information from 0 to the channel memory 12 is also included.

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing how channel information is stored in the working memory 10 and the channel memory 12. The work memory 10 is divided into a plurality of storage areas (hereinafter, each storage area will be referred to as SCHP), and each has a number (hereinafter, referred to as a work memory address).
Is attached. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2A, areas 1 to 12 are provided, and nothing is stored in each address of the working memory in which the initial state or the channel is not stored. Identification code φ
Is remembered.

Similarly, in the present embodiment, the channel memory 12 is also divided into areas 1 to 12 (hereinafter referred to as channel memories), as shown in FIG. Memory address). In the factory-shipped state of the channel memory, each storage area stores one channel selection control information corresponding to the address of the storage area. The outline of the operation of this device is as follows: at the start of presetting, the pointer for designating the working memory address is set to "1", and the frequency data of the channel for judging the presence / absence of broadcasting is stored in the microcomputer 2
From the synchronization detector 6, the microcomputer 2 reads from the synchronization detection circuit 6 the presence or absence of a synchronization component in the signal received by the tuner 4.

If the read result is synchronous "yes", the storage area of the smallest address in the storage areas of the working memory 10 from the microcomputer 2 which has not been preset yet, that is, the pointer in this case. Since 1 is 1, the channel being received is written to address 1. If the read result is synchronization "absent", writing is not performed. After writing the channel that is being received, add 1 to the pointer and perform the above operation from the smallest channel number to the largest channel number for all channels that are licensed for broadcasting. Is stored in each address of the work memory 10. When the pointers of the working memory exceed 12 during the search of all the channels (that is, when the channels are preset in the addresses of all the working memories), the search is terminated at that point.

After the search, the microcomputer 2 stores φ in the channel memories of all the addresses to determine the unused channel memory according to the program, and then stores the channel data from the working memory 10 to the channel memory 12 according to the following rules. To transfer. If the channel read out from the working memory 10 is a VHF channel, it is preset in the channel memory at the same address as the channel number. If the channel read from the working memory 10 is not the VHF channel, if the channel memories other than the addresses 1 and 2 are not set, the channels are preset there. Preset to addresses 1 and 2 only when all channel memories other than addresses 1 and 2 are used. When the transfer from the working memory to the channel memory is completed and the 1st channel memory or the 2nd channel memory remains without being preset,
One channel is preset in the No. 1 channel memory and two channels are preset in the No. 2 channel memory, and secured as a channel memory for inputting an RF output device such as a game device, that is, a selected position of a key input circuit. Finally, for each address of the channel memory that was not preset, the tuning data of the channel without broadcasting is written, and even if the channel memory is selected, the incomplete received image by the broadcasting station in the adjacent area, etc. So that is not reflected.

As a result, when the user selects and designates a key of the key input circuit 14, the microcomputer 2 reads the tuner tuning control information from the address of the channel memory corresponding to the selected key and tunes the tuner. You can easily select the desired channel preset in the channel memory from the many authorized channels.

The data transfer processing in this channel search will be described below with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

After searching the frequency band for which broadcasting is permitted, determining whether or not there is broadcasting on all channels, and storing the channels for which it has been determined that there is broadcasting in the working memory 10, the microcomputer 2 executes "search. Move the processing to "End" (n
0).

The contents of all addresses in the working memory are judged,
If it is determined that the channel determined to have broadcasting is only the VHF band channel (n1), the process proceeds to n2,
As shown in FIG. 4, the contents of the working memory are transferred to the channel memory having the same number as the channel stored in each working memory (n2). When all transfers are completed, n1
Move to 0. A flow chart of the subroutine n2 is shown in FIG. 5 (CH (CHP.I) in FIG. 5 is CHP.
Indicates a channel preset to I. The same applies in the attached drawings).

When the address 2 of the channel memory is not used, 2 channels are preset to the address 2 of the channel memory. When address 1 of the channel memory is not used, 1 is assigned to address 1 of the channel memory.
Preset the channel. When both address 1 and 2 are used, nothing is done (n10).

When the determination result in n1 is VHF and UHF mixed, the contents of each work memory are sorted so that the one with the smaller channel number is stored in the one with the smaller work memory address (n3). (See Figure 2 for an example of sorting results.
(See (a)), as shown in FIG. 6, among the addresses of the working memory, the one storing the VHF channel is transferred to the channel memory of the same address as the stored address (n4). A flowchart of the subroutine n4 is shown in FIG.

Next, the number of unused addresses excluding addresses 1 and 2 of the channel memory is less than N or less than N-1, where N is the number of channel data that has not been transferred from the working memory 10. Or compare (n
5). If it is N or more, the smallest address in the unused channel memories except the 1 and 2 channel memories is set as the smallest channel memory address for transferring the channel data from the working memory 10 (n6). Memory 1
From the channel data of 0, the one with the smallest work memory address is transferred first to the unused channel memory address of the minimum address or more defined by n6 (n9). An example of this transfer is shown in FIG. The broken line arrow indicates the transfer process already performed at n4, and the solid line arrow indicates the transfer process performed at n6 and n9. A flowchart of the subroutine n6 is shown in FIG. 9 (in FIG. 9, CHP _min represents the smallest address in the unused channel memory. The same applies to the attached drawings).

If n5 is less than N, VH performed in n4 of the 1-channel memory and 2-channel memory
It is judged whether or not there is an unused channel memory in the preset of F, and if only one or two channel memory is unused, the unused one is used as the channel memory of the minimum address of the transfer destination channel memory. use. If both the 1st and 2nd addresses of the channel memory are unused, the 2nd address of the channel memory is designated as the unused and minimum address in the transfer destination channel memory (n7). Then, the data is transferred from the working memory 10 to the channel memory 12 (n9). An example of this transfer is shown in FIG. The broken line arrow indicates the transfer process already performed at n4, and the solid line arrow indicates the transfer process performed at n7 and n9. In addition,
FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of the subroutine n7.

If n5 is less than N-1, all unused channel memory 1 and channel memory 2 are used as the transfer destination channel memory addresses, and are in the same row as other unused channel memory addresses. The minimum address is designated as an unused and minimum address in the remaining addresses of the channel memory (n8), and the data is transferred from the working memory 10 to the channel memory 12 (n9). An example of this transfer is shown in FIG. The dashed arrow
Transfer processing already performed in n4, solid arrows n8 and n9
Represents the transfer process performed in. Note that the subroutine n8 is shown in FIG. Further, a flowchart of the subroutine n9 is shown in FIG.

After the transfer is completed at n6, n7, or n8 and n9, 1 channel at 1 address and 2 channel at 2 address are preset to those not used at 1 and 2 of the channel memory ( n10). In addition,
A flowchart of the subroutine n10 is shown in FIG.

When the determination result at n1 is only UHF,
The processes n3 and n4 related to the VHF channel are skipped from the process when VHF / UHF is mixed, and the process proceeds to n5. After that, the same process as that when VHF / UHF is mixed is performed.

Finally, channels with no broadcast are preset in all addresses of the unused channel memory (n1
1). Note that a flowchart of the subroutine n11 is shown in FIG. 16 (in FIG. 16, X is a channel for which broadcasting is not approved and only noise is completely present).

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It has the following effects in the channel preset of the television using the frequency synthesizer tuner. (1) The channel selection keys that are not preset are
As is clear to the user, preset a non-broadcast channel in the channel memory corresponding to an unused channel key for a perfect noise screen. (2) When the number of preset channels is less than the number of channel selection keys, RF of game machines, VTRs, etc.
Channels 1 or 2 can be set corresponding to the channel selection keys 1 or 2 for the devices connected by output. (3) The VHF channel data stored in the search is
The operability is improved by transferring the data to the channel memory having the same number as the channel number so that the user does not need to distinguish between the channel selection key number and the channel number selected by the key.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a channel preset device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a working memory group and a channel memory group in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining a channel transfer processing operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of transfer from a working memory group to a channel memory group.

5 is a flowchart of a subroutine n2 in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of transfer from a working memory group to a channel memory group.

7 is a flowchart of a subroutine n4 in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of transfer from a working memory group to a channel memory group.

9 is a flowchart of a subroutine n6 in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of transfer from a working memory group to a channel memory group.

11 is a flowchart of a subroutine n7 in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of transfer from a working memory group to a channel memory group.

13 is a flowchart of a subroutine n8 in FIG.

14 is a flowchart of a subroutine n9 in FIG.

15 is a flowchart of a subroutine n10 in FIG.

16 is a flowchart of a subroutine n11 in FIG.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a conventional channel preset device.

FIG. 18 is an example of an arrangement of broadcast radio waves on a frequency axis in a fictitious area in Japan.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a result of presetting to a channel memory group when presetting is performed on a conventional television with the radio wave arrangement of FIG. 18;

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Microcomputer 4 Tuner 6 Synchronization detection circuit 8 Character display circuit 10 Working memory 12 Channel memory 14 Key input circuit 62 Microcomputer 64 Tuner 66 Synchronization detection circuit 68 Character display circuit 72 Channel memory group 74 Key input circuit 81 Radio wave of broadcasting station A 82 Radio wave of broadcast station B 83 Radio wave of broadcast station C 84 Radio wave of broadcast station D 85 Radio wave of broadcast station E 86 Radio wave of broadcast station F 87 Synchronization determination level

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A frequency synthesizer tuner, a synchronization detection circuit for detecting the presence or absence of synchronization of receiving channels, a key input circuit for instructing channel selection by at least 12 keypads sequentially numbered from 1, and A non-volatile channel memory that holds channel selection control information in each of a plurality of storage areas numbered corresponding to respective numbers of the keypads, and channel selection control information from the channel memory by a signal of the key input circuit. And a microcomputer for tuning the frequency synthesizer tuner to the channel designated to be tuned based on the control information, in a channel preset device of a television receiver, a working memory and a television broadcast being permitted. Search the frequency band for each channel, Means for temporarily storing in the working memory channel identification information of a channel for which synchronization has been detected by the synchronization detection circuit; and 1 belonging to the VHF band of the temporarily stored channel.
A unit for writing channel selection control information of channels 1 to 12 in a correspondingly numbered storage area of the channel memory for a range of to 12 channels; and the number of temporarily stored channels is 1 from the number of keypads. When the number is less than the above, if the No. 1 or No. 2 storage area of the channel memory is not written, a unit for writing channel selection control information of one channel or two channels respectively corresponding to the storage area; A channel presetting device, further comprising: means for writing channel selection control information of each channel to an area of the channel memory which has not been written for channels other than the VHF band of the channel.