JPH08275078A - Caption decoder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To allow the operator to select optionally a tone in response to a video signal by providing plural tones of a caption signal and a non-image area around the caption signal. CONSTITUTION: When the user uses an operation section 10 to command indication of a caption signal, a data slicer 1 extracts data from a video signal and a decoder 2 decodes the caption signal. Then a character generating circuit 3 generates a caption character signal and provides an output of the character at a level set by a 1st luminance and chrominance level adjustment circuit 8 through a changeover circuit 4. Furthermore, a blanking signal generating circuit 5 generates a blanking signal and provides an output of the blanking signal at a level around the caption signal set by a 2nd luminance and chrominance level adjustment circuit 9 through the changeover circuit 4. On the other hand, when the operation section 10 provides a changeover control command of a tone of a caption character or a blanking signal and the caption character, a control section 11 controls the 1st luminance and chrominance level adjustment circuit 8 and the 2nd luminance and chrominance level adjustment circuit 9 to vary the level thereby changing the tone.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a caption decoder device capable of receiving caption broadcasting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the United States, in order to enable people with hearing loss to understand and enjoy TV broadcasting as well as those with normal hearing, the same content as voice is converted into character information, and 2
A system that multiplexes and transfers the first scan line is adopted in many programs and video software.

This multiplexed information is called closed caption, and the information can be decoded and displayed on the display device by using a dedicated caption decoder.

In the United States, a television receiver incorporating the caption decoda still exists,
In particular, produced and imported after July 1, 1993 1
All television receivers with a size of 3 inches or more are also legislated to have a built-in caption decoder.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing scanning lines for a caption signal. As shown in FIG. 6B, the 21st scanning line of this video signal is followed by a horizontal sync signal, a clock run-in signal of 7 cycles (frequency: 503 KHz), a start bit, and a 16-bit character. It consists of code.

The character code is 8 bits to generate one character. The breakdown is 7-bit ASCII
It is a combination of a code and a 1-bit parity code.

Here, a conventional caption decoder will be described. FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram of a conventional caption decoder, in which 1 is an input video signal 21.
A data slicer circuit 2 for extracting the second scanning line is a decoder circuit 2 for decoding the caption extraction signal from the data slicer circuit 1.

Reference numeral 3 is a character signal generation circuit for generating a switching signal composed of a character signal according to the decoded data from the decoder circuit 2. Reference numeral 4 denotes a switching signal obtained from the character signal generation circuit 3, and a character signal level of the brightness / color level adjusting circuit 7 and a blanking signal level (a signal indicating a non-image area) representing the background around the character signal and a video signal. Is a switching circuit for switching between.

The brightness / color level adjusting circuit 7 can output a character signal or a blanking signal level at a brightness level or color level arbitrarily set by the viewer.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to FIG.

The input video signal is extracted by the data slicer circuit 1 from the 21st scanning line and decoded by the decoder circuit 2. The decoded signal (character
Code) is the display mode of the mode displayed on the screen (caption that displays characters in a part of the screen, text that displays characters in the entire display area), display style that indicates how to display (sequential display) It is made up of paint on, pop-on to be displayed for each character temporarily stored), character contents, display position, etc.

Then, the character signal generating circuit 3 creates caption data corresponding to one scanning line based on the signal, and outputs the caption data. That is, the character code is a 16-bit signal for two characters, and the character content, display position, and the like are generated from the signal, thereby generating caption data for each scanning line (the 220th scanning line in FIG. 4c). Two
21 and later are omitted).

As a result, in the switching circuit 4, when the caption data is present and the data is at a high level, the video signal side 4a is switched to the character signal level side 4b and the data is output via the terminal 4c.

When the caption data is present and the data is at a low level, the video signal side 4a is switched to the character signal level side 4b, the terminal 4c is switched to the blanking signal side 4d, and the blanking signal is output. It

By doing so, when only the video signal is input, the switching circuit 4 has the video signal side 4a and the terminal 4
Although c is selected and a normal video signal is output and displayed, when the caption data is input, the character signal level side 4b should be selected only when the caption character signal generation circuit 3 operates. Thus, the predetermined level signal from the brightness / color level adjusting circuit 7 is selected, and the caption can be displayed via the terminal 4c. Further, when the character signal generation circuit 3 operates and the blanking level is reached, the switching circuit 4 switches the character signal level side 4b, but the switching unit in the subsequent stage switches to the blanking side 4d, and the luminance / color is changed. The blanking level of the level adjusting circuit 7 is output.

Therefore, the image signal and the caption signal do not mix, and the viewer can be provided with an image in which the caption signal is easy to understand as shown in FIG.

By the way, in order to make the caption signal easy to understand, as shown in FIG. 7, the characters are outlined in the black non-image area. However, in this case,
It may be difficult to see depending on the background image signal.

In order to solve this, it can be considered to change the brightness level of the caption signal with respect to the brightness level of the background video signal. However, when such a technique is used, the brightness level of the caption signal also changes abruptly when an image is input in which the brightness level of the image repeatedly changes rapidly, which makes it rather difficult to read. There is.

[0019]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, in which a caption signal and a plurality of tones in a non-image area around the caption signal are prepared in advance so that the operator can display the image. The purpose is to enable arbitrary selection according to the signal.

[0020]

According to the present invention, a closed caption data multiplexed on a predetermined scanning line of a video signal is extracted, the signal is decoded, and a character part area and the character part area are emphasized. Character information generating means for generating character information consisting of a non-image area of level, switching means for synthesizing the video signal and the character information and outputting to the display means, and acting on the switching means, the character part area Adjusting at least one of a luminance signal or a color signal of the first
Level adjusting means, second level adjusting means that acts on the switching means and adjusts at least one of a luminance signal or a color signal of the non-image area, and the character information generating means are connected to the non-image area. In a caption decoder device including area setting means for setting the area, the caption decoder apparatus is provided with control means for variably controlling the first level adjusting means and the second level adjusting means. is there.

In the present invention, the control means is the first
It is also a caption decoder device characterized in that when the level adjusting means and the second level adjusting means are controlled to be changeable, the character information generating means is controlled to display that the level is being adjusted.

[0022]

According to the present invention, with the above configuration, a plurality of non-image area regions and a combination of luminance and color of the caption signal are prepared, so that the caption signal that is easy for the operator to see can be displayed.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the present invention, and the same figure numbers as those in the prior art of FIG. 6 show the same functions, and the description thereof will be omitted here.

Explaining a different configuration from the conventional example,
Reference numeral 5 denotes a blanking signal generation circuit that sets a blanking signal area according to a signal from the decoder circuit 2. Reference numeral 6 outputs a control signal to the decoder circuit 2 to control a blank area of the blanking signal generation circuit 5. The ranking adjustment circuit, 8 is a first for adjusting the brightness and color of the caption signal.
An adjusting circuit, 9 is a second adjusting circuit for adjusting the brightness and color of the blanking signal, 10 is an operating section for performing various operations, and 11 is a control section for issuing various instructions in response to commands from the operating section 10.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the input video signal is input to the data slicer circuit 1 and also input to the video signal side 4a of the switching circuit 4 and output.
The data slicer circuit 1 extracts the scanning line in which the caption signal is present, and the decoder circuit 2 decodes it.

The decoded signal is converted into a scanning line signal similar to the video signal in the character signal generation circuit 3. When the scanning line signal of the character signal exists, the switching circuit 4
The front switching unit selects the character signal level side 4b, and
The character signal of the level set by the color level adjusting circuit 8 is output. However, in the blanking period, the post-stage switching section is switched to the blanking side 4d by the signal from the blanking signal generating circuit 5, and the blanking signal level set by the luminance / color level adjusting circuit 8 is output.

Further, since the blanking signal can be adjusted by the blanking adjusting circuit 6, it is possible to change the blanking signal from about 188H (horizontal scanning line) to 2 from which the subtitle display appears.
Adjustment is performed so that blanking display is performed during 40H (450H to 502H in the next field).

As shown in FIG. 4, the signal a on which the caption signal is superimposed is switched by the switching circuit 4 to the caption signal c when the blanking signal d is at a high level, and the output signal f is obtained.

At that time, the blanking signal generating circuit 5 counts the horizontal synchronizing signal and the vertical synchronizing signal from the data slicer circuit 1, and when it reaches a predetermined position (188H in FIG. 4), it generates a blanking signal d. , To the switching circuit 4.

As a result, since the scanning lines before and after the caption signal are switched to the blanking signal, the caption signal is not displayed, and the caption signal and the caption signal are close to each other, which makes it difficult for the viewer to view the caption signal. Things will not happen. By the way, as for such a technique, the present applicant has disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-217199 (H.
04N5 / 265).

Next, the features of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2 and FIG. First, when the operator selects the tone selection mode with the operation unit 10 (S1), the control unit changes the blanking signal to a halftone so that the characters are white characters. 2 The brightness / color level adjusting circuit 9 is controlled, and the character generating circuit 3 is further controlled by "TONE AJUSTMEN".
It is controlled to display the letter "T" indicating that the tone adjustment has been completed (S2). With this control, the screen state is
The state (M) is as shown in B of FIG.

Then, when a tone change switch (not shown) is pressed on the operation unit 10 (S3), the brightness and color level of the tone and the character are changed (S4). For example, as shown in A of FIG. 3, this tone change is such that the blanking is a halftone and the character is white every time the tone change switch is pressed.
The blanking is black and the character is white → the blanking is gray and the character is white → the blanking is white and the character changes to black, and it is configured to switch to Torg.

When not in the tone selection mode, the selected tone is displayed with the caption character displayed (S3). Furthermore, if the tone change switch is not pressed in the tone selection mode, the tone selected before that is displayed as "TONE ADJUSTMEN".
It remains displayed as "T" (S3).

When the tone selection mode is canceled by the operation unit 10 (S6), the caption signal is displayed with the tone finally selected in the tone selection mode.

The tone selection mode is released when the tone selection mode is entered and a time (for example, about 1.5 seconds) during which no operation key is pressed on the operation unit 10 has elapsed, the tone selection mode is released. You may make it display a caption character automatically.

When the power of the caption decoder is turned off and then turned on again or when there is an instantaneous power failure, the selected tone is stored before the power is turned off, and the caption character is displayed with the selected tone. .

[0037]

According to the present invention, with the above-described configuration, the operator can display the caption signal in any tone according to the video signal, and further select a tone that is easy for the operator to see. Therefore, it is possible to provide a comfortable display environment in which the caption signal is easier to see.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen display state of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a caption signal is superimposed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a caption signal.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a conventional technique.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a display state of a caption signal.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 data slicer circuit 2 decoder circuit 3 character signal generation circuit 4 switching circuit 5 blanking signal generation circuit 6 blanking adjustment circuit 8 first brightness / color level adjustment circuit 9 second brightness / color level adjustment circuit 10 operation unit 11 control unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location H04N 9/00

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A closed caption data multiplexed on a predetermined scanning line of a video signal is extracted, the signal is decoded, and a character portion area and a non-image area of a certain level for enhancing the character portion area are formed. Character information generating means for generating character information, switching means for synthesizing the video signal and the character information and outputting to the display means, a luminance signal of the character area or a color signal acting on the switching means A first level adjusting means for adjusting at least one of the above, a second level adjusting means that acts on the switching means and adjusts at least one of a luminance signal or a color signal of the non-image area, and the character information generating means. A caption decoder device that is connected to the first level adjusting means and the area setting means for setting the area of the non-image area. Caption Decoder apparatus characterized in that it comprises a control means for changeably controlled and. 2. The caption decoder device according to claim 1, wherein when the control means controls the first level adjusting means and the second level adjusting means to be changeable, the character information generating means is adjusted in level. A caption decoder device, characterized in that it is controlled so as to display that it is inside.