JPH09224213A - Television receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a viewer to view images discriminated to be required without missing among video images served by a television broadcast program. SOLUTION: A still image data generating circuit 4 receives images served by a television broadcast program at a prescribed time internal each as still images. The received still image is compressed by an image companding circuit 5 at still image data and stored in a DRAM 104. The DRAM 104 stores plural still image data received for a prescribed time interval and compressed. The stored still image data are read as required and expanded by the image companding circuit 5 and displayed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a television receiver having an image storage function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in television broadcasting, the destinations for presenting viewers' presents, maps, statistical figures and graphs broadcast in news programs, etc. are limited to a few seconds or longer because the broadcasting time is limited. However, it will only be broadcast for a short time of 10 to 10 seconds.

In this case, even if the viewer intends to take a memo, the memo is often not ready in time. In addition, even if the user intends to record using a video tape recorder, it may take time and effort to set a video tape and the desired image may not be recorded.

Therefore, in recent years, a small screen called a sub-screen is provided in a part of the display screen, and a function of displaying an image on the sub-screen independently of the main screen (hereinafter,
In a television receiver having a PinP function),
There is provided one having a function to freeze the image on the inset screen.

The still image of the child screen allows the user to view the required image for an appropriate time.

[0006]

However, even in the television receiver having the PinP function as described above, it is impossible to freeze the image unless the child screen is displayed on the screen in advance.

Further, in the case of a television receiver having a function of stopping the image of the small screen, the image that can be stopped is only one screen when the operation of the stop button or the like is performed. For this reason, when the viewer is late to notice that the image information that he / she needs is provided, the intended image cannot be stopped.

Further, when a plurality of images which the viewer wants to freeze and want to watch slowly are continuously provided, since the image that can be still is one screen, the image provided later is a still image. As you can't see slowly.

Further, when the child screen is always displayed so that the image can be viewed still, the child screen may be obstructed during normal television viewing.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a television receiver that allows a viewer to slowly watch an image provided by a television broadcast that he / she wants to watch without giving away. The purpose is to do.

[0011]

In order to solve the above problems, a television receiver according to the present invention includes a still image capturing means for capturing a still image in response to a capture instruction during broadcast reception, and the capture instruction. A capture instruction generation means to be given to the still image capture means, an image compression means for compressing the still image captured by the still image capture means, a storage means for storing a plurality of still images compressed by the image compression means, and a user. According to the request of
And a read-out display unit that reads out a still image from the storage unit, decompresses it, and displays it on the screen.

According to the receiver of the television according to the present invention,
The image of the television broadcast program is captured as still image data by the timing provided with the instruction to capture the image of the television broadcast program. The captured still image data is compressed and stored in the storage means. The storage means stores N still images captured each time a capture instruction is given. As a result, a plurality of images of the television broadcast program are saved as still images.

Then, a still image selected from a plurality of sheets stored in the storage means is displayed in response to a user's instruction. Therefore, the still image can be viewed slowly even if it is past a certain time.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A television receiver according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of a television receiver to which the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, the television receiver of this example includes a tuner section 1, a video display circuit 2, a display 3,
A still image data forming circuit 4, an image compression / expansion circuit 5, a memory 6, a clock circuit 7, a key operation unit 8, a remote control signal reception / decoding circuit 9, and a remote operation device (hereinafter, referred to as a remote commander) 10 for the television receiver. With
A control circuit 100 described later in detail is provided.

The tuner unit 1 of the television receiver of this example is
Upon receiving the broadcast wave signal from the antenna, tuning processing,
Conversion processing to an intermediate frequency signal, amplification processing and demodulation processing of the intermediate frequency signal are performed. The video signal demodulated by the tuner unit 1 is supplied to the video display circuit 2 and the still image data forming circuit 4.

The video display circuit 2 forms a reproduced video signal for displaying an image on the display 3. In addition, in this embodiment, the video display circuit 2 includes the video RAM 2
V is provided, and the display 3 displays a channel display by superimposing (display of numbers and broadcasting station names, etc.), volume bar display, alarm mark and other status display, and characters, figures and symbols such as cursors and input guidance. Superimposition processing for superimposing on the display screen is also performed.

Further, the video display circuit 2 is switched so as to output either one of the selected broadcast program and the past still image before and after the present time stored / held in this television receiver. It also executes processing.

As the display 3, a CRT display is used in this embodiment, and a color image is displayed by receiving a reproduction video signal.

The still image data forming circuit 4 has a frame memory (not shown). Then, based on the control signal (still image capture signal) from the control circuit 100, the video signal from the tuner unit 1 is captured as still image data, and this is supplied to the image compression / decompression circuit 5.

The control circuit 100, in this embodiment, is
A still image capturing signal is supplied to the still image data forming circuit 4 at a predetermined time interval, for example, every 3 to 6 seconds. Also,
As will be described later, the control circuit 100 supplies the still image capture signal to the still image data forming circuit 4 even at the timing when the user inputs a display instruction requesting to display the stored still image.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, each time point at a predetermined interval and the time point T at which an instruction from the user is supplied.
At, the still image data forming circuit 4 captures a still image.

In this embodiment, all still images captured by the still image data forming circuit 4 are not stored in the memory described later, but still image data having the same contents are not captured continuously. ing. Therefore, in this embodiment, the still image data forming circuit 4
Determines the difference between the previously stored still image and the still image captured this time. If the difference is small, the still image captured this time is regarded as the same as the previously stored still image and is supplied to the image compression / decompression circuit 5. Without doing so, it does not save it in memory as a result.

At this time, if the difference is obtained for all image information for one frame, the processing time becomes long and
The buffer for difference processing also becomes large. Therefore, in this embodiment, rapid processing and buffer reduction are achieved as follows.

That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the still image data forming circuit 4 will newly capture and store the image Z (hereinafter referred to as the previous image) Z that was previously stored. The difference processing from the image (hereinafter referred to as the current image) G is performed by dividing one screen into nine equal parts and, for example, 8 pixels × 8 in the substantially central portion in each divided region.
This is performed only for the pixel blocks BZ1 to BZ9 and BG1 to BG9. Further, the difference processing is not performed as color data, but only the brightness data is performed. This is because the brightness data alone is sufficient because it is the detection of the closeness of the image contents.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3, in each of the blocks BZ1 to BZ9 of the previous image Z, the brightness data corresponding to each pixel is set to X00 to X77, and in each of the blocks BG1 to BG9 of the image G this time, When the brightness data corresponding to each pixel is Y00 to Y77, the still image data forming circuit 4 performs the operation shown in the following mathematical expression 1 between the corresponding blocks of the previous image Z and the current image G. The difference value d between blocks is calculated.

[0027]

[Equation 1] Then, in this embodiment, the still image data forming circuit 4 sums the difference values d of the respective blocks obtained by the equation 1 as shown in FIG. 3 to obtain the difference total value. When the difference total value is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value, it is determined that the previous image Z and the current image G are approximate or the same. Further, when the difference total value is larger than the threshold value, it is determined that both images are different images with low similarity.

Then, the still image data forming circuit 4 sends the determination result about the closeness to the control circuit 100, and when it is determined that the previous image Z and the current image G are different images, The still image data of the image G is sent to the image compression / decompression circuit 5.

Therefore, the still image data forming circuit 4
Is a time point J at which still image data is captured as shown in FIG.
For each 1, J2, J3 ..., The above-described difference processing is performed to determine the closeness between the previous image Z and the current image G. Then, when it is determined that the two images are not approximate or identical according to the result of the difference processing, the image of this time (still image data captured at time points J1, J2, J5, and J6 in FIG. 4) is compressed by the image compression / expansion circuit 5. To be stored as described later.

When it is determined that the two images are approximate or the same, the current image (in FIG. 4, time J
3, still image data captured in J4) is not sent to the image compression / expansion circuit 5.

As described above, in this embodiment, the still images having a high degree of approximation are not redundantly stored, so that the memory for storing the still image data is efficiently used, and more still image data is stored. I try to remember.

In this embodiment, the difference processing uses the difference total value as shown in FIG.
When all of the nine difference values d are equal to or less than the predetermined threshold value, the previous image Z may be determined to be similar to or the same as the current image G.

The image compression / decompression circuit 5 has so-called DSP (digital signal processor) and GDC (graphical display controller) functions in this embodiment. Then, processing such as reduction, enlargement, compression, decompression of the input still image data is performed.

In this embodiment, as will be described later, only one of a plurality of past still images stored and held is recorded as one.
There are provided a single display mode for displaying still images as screen images and a list display mode for displaying a plurality of still images as a list on one screen.

Therefore, the image compression / decompression circuit 5 forms still image data of a normal size by compressing the still image data from the still image data forming circuit 4 as it is, and also as still image data used for displaying the list. After reducing the image size, still image data of reduced size obtained by data compression is also formed. The normal size still image data and the reduced size still image data formed here are sent to the control circuit 100 and stored as described later.

In this embodiment, the normal size still image data sent to the control circuit 100 is
As shown in FIG. 5, the data is written in a so-called ring buffer type normal size memory unit 104T set in the DRAM 104. Similarly, the reduced size still image data is written in the reduced size memory unit 104S of the ring buffer format set in the DRAM 104 as shown in FIG. The corresponding normal-size still image and the corresponding reduced-size still image are stored in association with each other.

Then, the image compression / expansion circuit 5 is responsive to a control signal from the control circuit 100 to output the normal size memory unit 1
04T, or when the still image data is read from the reduced size memory unit 104S, the read still image data is expanded.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the image compression / expansion circuit 5 displays one still image on the display 3 when the still image data read from the normal size memory 104T is expanded. Enables the independent display of a still image that is displayed on the entire screen.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the image compression / expansion circuit 5 expands the still image data read from the reduced size memory unit 104S, and successively reads the reduced size still image data. Is expanded to form a one-screen list display image composed of a plurality of reduced-size still images, and this is displayed. In this embodiment, 16 reduced size still images can be displayed on one screen.

The still image compression / expansion processing in the image compression / expansion circuit 5 is performed based on, for example, the JPEG method.

The memory 6 is used as a work memory of the image compression / expansion circuit 5. That is, it is used as a work area when compressing, expanding, reducing, and expanding still image data, or used as a temporary storage area for still image data formed by these processes.

The clock circuit 7 keeps the current time and
As described above, it also serves as a timer for generating an interrupt timing signal when the still image capturing process performed at predetermined time intervals is activated by an interrupt. The power supply voltage is applied to the clock circuit 7 even if the main power switch of the television receiver is off. In this example, although not shown, the clock circuit 7 is supplied with its power supply voltage from another power supply such as a battery or a rechargeable battery.

Next, the control circuit 100 will be described. The control circuit 100 is configured to include a microcomputer, and has a CPU 10 for the system bus 102.
1, the ROM 103, the DRAM 104, and the SRAM 105 are connected.

The ROM 103 stores programs that can be executed by the television receiver of this embodiment, and font data and image data for superimposing display.

In the present embodiment, the DRAM 104 stores and holds the normal size still image data and the reduced size still image data as described above. That is, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the DRAM 104 has a ring buffer type normal size memory unit 104.
T, a storage area as the reduced size memory unit 104S is secured. Then, the captured still image data is sequentially written in the normal size memory unit 104T and the reduced size memory unit 104S.

When the still image data is written to the full storage capacity, the oldest still image data is discarded next, and the discarded still image data is acquired in the latest storage area. Still image data is written. Therefore, the normal size memory unit 104T,
The reduced size memory unit 104S always stores past N still image data up to the latest still image data.

In the television receiver of this example, if the storage capacity of the normal size memory section 104T is, for example, 4 megabits, one screen of normal size still image data is compressed and stored in 100 kilobytes. Then, the number of frames of the normal size still image that can be stored in the normal size memory unit 104T is 4,000,000 bits / 100,000 bytes × 8.
Bit = 5 frames.

In this case, if the time interval for fetching the still image data is set to 3 seconds, 5 frames × 3 seconds = 15 seconds, which means that a continuous image of 15 seconds is acquired every 3 seconds. The normal size still image data of 5 frames to be stored can be stored in the normal size memory unit 104T.

In the normal size memory unit 104T having a storage capacity of 4 Mbits, the time interval is set to 6 seconds and 10
When the normal size still image data compressed to 0 kilobytes is stored, it becomes 5 frames x 6 seconds = 30 seconds, and 5 frames acquired every 6 seconds interval out of 30 seconds continuous images. The normal size still image data can be stored.

Similarly, when the normal size memory unit 104T having a storage capacity of 16 megabits is used, it is possible to store four times as many frames as the normal size memory unit 104T having 4 megabits. Therefore, when the time interval for fetching the still image data is 3 seconds, 6
It is possible to store 20 frames of normal size still image data acquired at 3-second intervals from continuous images of 0 seconds. When the time interval is set to 6 seconds, it is possible to store 20 frames of normal size still image data acquired at 6 second intervals from 120 seconds of continuous images.

Usually, in order to surely store the image that the user notices that the user wants to freeze the screen while watching a TV program, the time until the key operation is performed for capturing the image is set. Allow about 15 seconds. Therefore, as described above, if the still image data is stored at the time interval of 3 seconds in the normal size memory unit 104T having a storage capacity of at least 4 Mbits, the user can surely store the target image. Can be called.

Further, even in the normal size memory section 104T having a storage capacity of 4 megabits, the time interval is lengthened as described above, or the normal size memory section having a storage capacity of 16 megabits is used, so that the past It is possible to store a plurality of still images of and store them.

In this embodiment, since the still image of the reduced size is also stored, the reduced size memory section 104S is set to the optimum storage capacity in consideration of the same as the above. .

The SRAM 105 is used as a last memory for storing the channel and volume set last at the time of the previous viewing, and also used as a storage area for holding other setting information. In this example, SRA
The M105 has a configuration of a non-volatile memory which is a so-called battery power backup. Therefore,
Even if the TV receiver is powered off, this SRAM 10
The contents of 5 are backed up and will not disappear.

A plurality of I / O ports 111 to 116, 118 and an interface 117 are connected to the system bus 102 so that various signals can be input and output.

For the tuner section 1, the control circuit 100
From the I / O port 111, a tuning control signal is supplied from the. Further, in the clock circuit 7, the time information and the timer information are taken into the control circuit 100 via the I / O port 116.

The still image data forming circuit 4 is supplied with a still image fetch timing signal from the control circuit 100 through the I / O port 112. As described above, the capture timing signal is generated at a fixed time interval of 3 to 6 seconds according to the timer information from the clock circuit 7 and is generated at the user's still image display request operation timing. There is. Further, as described above, the still image data forming circuit 4 notifies the control circuit 100 of the determination result of the closeness of the still image by the difference processing via the I / O port 112.

For the image compression / decompression circuit 5, the control circuit 1
A control signal is supplied from 00 through the I / O port 113. Further, as described above, the image compression / decompression circuit 5
The still image data compressed in step S1 and the still image data stored in the DRAM 104 of the control circuit 100 are I / O.
It is transmitted and received via the port 114.

A control signal is supplied from the control circuit 100 to the video display circuit 2 through the I / O port 115. When performing superimposition display, for example, font data and image data of characters and symbols prepared in the ROM 103 are supplied to the video display circuit 2 via the I / O port 115, and this is supplied to the video RA.
It is written in M2V and used for superimposed display.

The key operation unit 8 is used to input an instruction from the user to this television receiver, and is turned on / off.
It is equipped with various operation keys such as an off key, channel selection key, volume adjustment key, and image quality adjustment key. Then, an instruction signal corresponding to the key operated by the user is supplied to the control circuit 100 via the key interface 117.
In response to the instruction signal, the control circuit 100 forms a signal for controlling each unit of the television receiver and supplies the signal to a related circuit so that, for example, a user's instruction such as channel selection processing or image quality adjustment is given. Perform the corresponding process.

Further, in the television receiver of this example, various controls are so-called wirelessly performed by the remote commander 10. When the remote commander 10 generates, for example, a remote control signal by infrared rays, this is received by the television. The light is received by the remote control signal reception decoding circuit 9 on the machine side. Then, the received remote control signal is decoded, and the decoded signal is supplied to the system bus 102 via the I / O port 118.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the appearance of the remote commander 10. In this example, the remote commander 10 has a power key 21 and a still image single call key 2 as operation keys.
2, still image list call key 23, numeric keypad 24, channel display key 25 for switching whether to display the channel number and broadcasting station name on the screen, volume key 26, channel sequential selection key 27, cursor up and down the display screen Up and down cursor keys 31a and 31b for moving the cursor, left and right cursor keys 31c and 31d for moving the cursor left and right on the display screen, a menu key 32 for displaying various setting screens, a return key 33,
A reset key 34, an enter key 35, and the like are provided.

In the case of this example, each cursor key 3
When various setting screens and selection screens are displayed on the display 3, 1a, 31b, 31c, and 31d also function as operation keys for performing settings and selection operations on those screens.

The CPU 101 of the control circuit 100 uses the I / O
The remote control signal taken in through the port 118 is interpreted, and various controls such as channel selection of broadcast programs and volume control are performed.

Then, when the control circuit 100 detects that the single call key 22 of the remote commander 10 is pressed by the user, the control circuit 100 controls the read address for reading the still image of the normal size as shown in FIG. Then, the normal size still image data is read from the normal size memory unit 104T. The control circuit 100 sends the read normal size still image data to the image compression / expansion circuit 5 and controls the image compression / expansion circuit 5 and the video display circuit 2 to independently display the normal size still image. To do.

At this time, the control circuit 100 causes the RO
A display L for sending, for example, font data stored in M103 to the video display circuit 2 and controlling the video display circuit 2 to prompt the user to input an instruction as shown in FIG.
1 and R1 are superimposed and displayed on a still image.

Then, the control circuit 100 displays the indications L1 and R.
In response to the user's instruction corresponding to 1, the related units are controlled so as to change the normal size still image to be displayed, as will be described later in detail.

Further, when the control circuit 100 detects that the list call key 23 of the remote commander 10 is pressed by the user, the reduced size memory unit 104S.
Then, 16 reduced-size still images forming a list screen are sequentially read out as shown in FIG. 6 and sent to the image compression / decompression circuit 5. At this time, the control circuit 100
Also includes an address (hereinafter, referred to as a read base address) indicating the storage area in the reduced size memory unit 104S of the leading reduced size still image among the 16 reduced size still images forming the list screen image. Control. That is, as will be described in detail later, this embodiment is configured so that the read base address can be changed by the user.

Then, the control circuit 100 controls the image compression / expansion circuit 5 and the video display circuit 2 to perform a list display for displaying 16 reduced size still images in one screen. .

At this time, the control circuit 100, as in the case of the above-described single display, displays L2, R2 and cursor C prompting the user to input an instruction as shown in FIG.
1 is displayed. The control circuit 100 then displays the display L2.
In response to the user's instruction corresponding to R2, the read base address is specified by moving the display position of the cursor C1 as described later in detail, and the reduction is the top displayed in the upper left corner of the list display screen. The size of the still image can be changed.

The control circuit 100 causes the displays L3 and R3 and the cursor C2 to be displayed as shown in FIG. 6 after the still image of the reduced size at the beginning is determined. Then, the control circuit 100 receives an instruction from the user according to the displays L3 and R3, and in detail, as described later, reads out a normal size still image corresponding to the reduced size still image instructed by the cursor C2. hand,
I am able to display this.

Next, with reference to FIG. 8, description will be given of an outline of processing relating to still images, such as capturing, compression, and decompression of still images, which is performed in the television receiver of the present embodiment configured as described above. To do.

As described above, in the television receiver of this example, the still image data forming circuit 4 takes in a still image at predetermined time intervals and at the time of user request, and performs difference processing. As a result of the difference processing, when the still image GN captured this time is an image different from the still image stored last time, the still image data is output to the image compression / expansion circuit 5, and the still image of the normal size is output. Storage processing of the data and the reduced size still image data is performed. That is, the still image GN captured this time is processed by the image compression / decompression circuit 5 as indicated by the processing procedure 201.
Data compression, DR as a normal size still image
The data is stored in the ring buffer type normal size memory unit 104T formed in the AM 104.

Next, as indicated by the processing procedure 202, the image compression / expansion circuit 5 reduces the image size of the still image GN to form a reduced size still image SG. Then, as indicated by the processing procedure 203, in the image compression / expansion circuit 5, the reduced size still image SG is data-compressed and stored in the ring buffer type reduced size memory unit 104S formed in the DRAM 104. Also,
As described above, at this time, the normal size still image and the reduced size still image formed from the same still image GN are stored in association with each other.

In this way, the still image information determined to be different from the previous one at the capture timing is sequentially stored in the normal size memory section 104T and the reduced size memory section 104S.

Then, as described above, the television receiver of this example displays a still image when a still image calling instruction is supplied from the user through the remote commander 10.

That is, when the instruction from the user is an instruction to display the still image of the normal size alone, the television receiver of this example has the normal size memory unit as shown in the processing procedure 204. A normal size still image is read out from 104T and decompressed. Then, the decompressed normal size still image is displayed alone.

When the user's instruction is to display a list of reduced-size still images, the reduced-size memory unit 104S is displayed, as indicated by the processing procedure 205.
From that, 16 reduced-size still images forming one screen are sequentially read. Then, the read reduced size still images are sequentially expanded in the image compression / expansion circuit 5, and
A list display image composed of six still images of reduced size is formed. Then, the formed list display image is displayed.

Next, each processing of the still image shown in the above outline will be further described using a flowchart.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart for explaining still image capturing processing in the still image data forming circuit 4. The still image data forming circuit 4 responds to the interrupt signal generated by the clock circuit 7 at predetermined intervals of, for example, about 3 seconds to 6 seconds and at the time of the user's request.
The interrupt process shown in FIG. 9 is executed.

When this interrupt processing is executed, the still image data forming circuit 4 performs so-called capturing, in which the image formed by the supplied video signal is taken in as still image data at that time (( Step 301).

Then, the image that was previously stored,
Both images are compared by performing difference processing on the brightness data of the image captured this time (step 30).
2).

Upon receipt of the comparison result in step 302, it is determined whether or not both images are the same (step 303). When it is determined in the determination processing of step 303 that the two images are not the same image, the capturing flag is turned on and the comparison result is notified to the control circuit 100 (step 304). Then, the still image data fetched this time is sent to the image compression / expansion circuit 5 (step 305), and this routine ends.

If it is determined in step 303 that both images are the same image, the capturing flag is turned off and the comparison result is notified to the control circuit 100 (step 306). Then, this routine ends.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart for explaining the processing in the image compression / expansion circuit 5 at the time of capturing a still image. The image compression / decompression circuit 5 executes the process shown in FIG. 10 under the control of the control circuit 100 when the capturing flag is turned on in the still image data forming circuit 4.

First, the still image data sent from the still image data forming circuit 4 is received and written in the memory 6 used as a work memory (step 401).
After the still image data is held in the memory 6, it is read (step 402) and compression processing is performed (step 403).

Then, the compressed still image data is DRA
The data is transferred to the normal size memory unit 104T formed in M104 (step 404).

Next, the image compression / expansion circuit 5 reads out the still image data stored in the memory 6 again (step 4).
05). At this time, for example, thinning processing is performed in units of pixels in the horizontal direction and units of lines in the vertical direction to form still image data of reduced size for displaying a list (step 406).

Then, the reduced still image data is compressed (step 407) and transferred to the reduced size memory section 104S formed in the DRAM 104 (step 4).
08). Then, this routine ends.

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show DR through the still image data forming circuit 4 and the image compression / expansion circuit 5 as described above.
9 is a flowchart for explaining a process of displaying a still image based on still image data stored in AM 104.

In this example, the remote control signal sent by operating the still image single call key 22 or the still image list call key 23 of the remote controller 10 is transmitted by the television receiver of this example. It is executed by being received, decoded, and supplied to the control circuit 100.

That is, when the control circuit 100 detects that the still image single call key 22 or the still image list call key 23 is pressed, it reads a program for performing the processing shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 from the ROM 103. To execute. Then, it is determined whether the pressed key is the single call key 22 or the list call key 23 (step 501).

If it is determined in step 501 that the single call key 22 has been pressed, DR
The latest recorded still image data is read from the normal size memory unit 104T of the AM 104 (step 50).
2). Then, the read still image data is sent to the image compression / decompression circuit 5, and the image compression / decompression circuit 5 performs decompression processing to form a normal still image (step 50).
3).

The decompressed still image data is D / A converted in the image compression / decompression circuit 5 and supplied to the video display circuit 2. At this time, the video display circuit 2 is controlled by the control circuit 100.
The control is switched to display the still image from the image compression / decompression circuit 5. Then, a normal-size still image is independently displayed on the display screen of the display 3 (step 504). At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the control circuit 100 performs a process of displaying the cursor displays L1 and R1 on the screen.

Next, the control circuit 100 determines whether or not an operation for ending the display of the still image has been performed (step 5).
05). In this example, for example, when the single call key 22 is pressed again or the reset key 34 is pressed while a single still image is displayed, this is determined to be an end operation. .

When it is judged in the judgment processing of step 505 that the ending operation has been performed, the control circuit 100
Controls the video display circuit 2 to display an image based on the video signal from the tuner unit 1 (step 50
6) This routine is ended.

When it is determined in the determination processing of step 505 that the end operation has not been performed, the cursor display L1, R1 of the image prompts the left cursor key 3 to be pressed.
It is determined whether 1c or the right cursor key 31d has been operated (step 507). If it is determined in step 507 that neither cursor key has been operated, the processing from step 504 is repeated.

When it is determined in step 507 that the cursor key has been operated, it is determined whether the next operated cursor key is the left cursor key 31c or the right cursor key 31d (step 50).
8). When it is determined in the determination process of step 508 that the left cursor key 31c is operated, it is determined that the instruction is to display a still image that is one after the still image currently displayed. Then, the normal size memory unit 10
The still image data temporally after the still image currently being displayed is read from 4T (step 509), and the processing from step 503 is repeated.

When it is determined that the right cursor key 31d is operated in the determination processing of step 508, it is determined that the instruction is to display the still image immediately preceding the currently displayed still image. . Then, the still image data immediately preceding the currently displayed still image is read from the normal size memory unit 104T (step 51).
0), the process from step 503 is repeated.

As described above, when the normal size still image is displayed independently, a plurality of normal size memory units 104T stored in the normal size memory unit 104T are operated according to the operation of the cursor keys 31c and 31d by the user. One of the normal size still images can be selected and displayed.

If it is determined in step 501 that the list call key 23 has been pressed, the process proceeds to the process shown in FIG. And initially, D
Reduced size memory unit 104S formed in RAM 104
Using the latest address of 16 as the base address, the still image data of 16 reduced sizes fetched before this are read (step 511).

The read still image data of the reduced size is sequentially sent to the image compression / expansion circuit 5. The image compression / expansion circuit 5 sequentially expands the supplied reduced size still image data, and sequentially stores this in the memory 6 as one reduced size still image forming an image for one screen. , As list display image data (step 512).

Next, the control circuit 100 reads all 16 reduced size still image data to be displayed in one screen, and determines whether or not the image of the list display screen consisting of 16 reduced size still images is formed. (Step 5)
13).

In the control processing of step 513, when it is determined that the image of the list display screen is not formed, the processing from step 511 is repeated, and a list of the reduced size still images including 16 reduced size still images is displayed. The screen forming process is repeated.

When it is judged in the judgment processing of step 513 that the list screen of still images is formed, the control circuit 100 supplies a control signal to the image compression / expansion circuit 5 and the video display circuit 2, and the memory 6 to 16 sheets are displayed. The data of the list display screen consisting of the still image of is read and displayed (step 514).

Next, the control circuit 100 determines whether or not a change instruction operation for a reduced size still image displayed in the upper left corner of the list screen has been performed (step 515). As described above, this operation is an operation in which the user designates a reduced size image to be displayed in the upper left corner of the list screen on the list display screen of FIG. When it is determined that the change instruction operation is performed in the determination processing of step 515, the read base address is changed so that the still image data of the reduced size instructed by the user becomes the still image at the upper left corner of the list screen (step 516). The processing from step 511 is repeated.

When the change instruction operation is not performed by the user, the control circuit 100 determines whether or not an operation for ending the display of the list display screen has been performed (step 51).
7). In this example, the determination process of step 517 is similar to the determination process of step 505 described above, and in this example, when the list display call key 23 is pressed again or the reset key 34 is pressed, this is regarded as an end operation. to decide.

When it is judged in the judgment processing of step 517 that the ending operation is performed, the video display circuit 2 is controlled to display the image by the video signal from the tuner section 1 (step 518). Exit the routine.

When the end operation is not performed by the user, the cursor keys 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d.
It is determined whether any of the buttons has been pressed (step 51).
9). When it is determined in step 519 that none of the cursor keys 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d has been pressed, the processing from step 514 is repeated.

When it is determined in step 519 that one of the cursor keys 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d has been pressed, the control circuit 100 operates the operated cursor key 31a, 31d as shown in FIG.
The display position of the cursor C2 is moved according to b, 31c and 31d. Then, in the case of this example, the user positions the cursor C2 on the still image of the desired reduced size,
When the enter key 35 is pressed, the still image of the reduced size indicated by the cursor at that time is determined (step 52).
0).

Then, the control circuit 100 reads out the normal size image data corresponding to the instructed reduced size still image from the normal size memory section 104T (step 521). After that, the processing from step 503 shown in FIG. 11 is performed, and the target normal size still image is displayed on the screen.

This is convenient because it is possible to enlarge a still image to be noticed from the reduced-size list screen to a normal-size still image and display it on the screen.

As described above, the television receiver of this embodiment captures still images at predetermined time intervals and always holds the latest still image of the storage capacity of the memory for storing still image data. Further, the still image data is prevented from being duplicately stored in the same image, and the still image data to be stored is compressed and stored, so that the memory is used efficiently.

Further, since the normal size still image data and the reduced size still image data are stored, a single display,
It is possible to display a list, and by using the list display,
This makes it possible to easily and quickly search for the desired still image.

The still image data fetching process in the still image data forming circuit 4 takes 3 seconds to 3 seconds as described above.
Although repeated at a time interval of about 6 seconds, this time interval can be changed by the user. That is, the user can set the above-mentioned time to a general time length during which a still image such as a telop is displayed in a television broadcast, that is, a time length similar to a general broadcast time of a still image such as an address or map of an application. You can set the interval.

This time interval can be set in various setting processing executed by pressing the menu key 32 of the remote commander 10, for example.

Further, in the television receiver of the above-described embodiment, the image at every predetermined time interval is automatically captured as a still image, but at the time when the user gives an instruction in response to the instruction from the user. The displayed image can be stored as a still image separately from the images captured at regular intervals.

In this case, the normal size memory unit 104T and the reduced size memory unit 104S for storing still images.
As shown in FIG. 13, (reduced size memory unit 104S
(Not shown) is provided with a storage area SR of a manually captured image for storing an image (hereinafter referred to as a manually captured image) at a time point designated by the user. Then, in the television receiver of this example, for example, the image displayed at the time when the enter key 35 is pressed is stored in the manually captured image storage region SR.

As a result, the user can see not only the still image automatically stored and held but also the image at the time point designated by the user as a still image. Further, a plurality of manually captured images can be stored and held by increasing the storage area of the manually captured images.

By dividing the storage area,
The still image captured by the user's instruction can be specified and read out and displayed on the screen.

For example, when displaying a manually captured image, by pressing the menu key 32, for example,
By selecting a process for displaying a manual image from the processes registered in the displayed menu and activating it, it is displayed, and by operating the cursor keys 31c and 31d, a plurality of manually captured images are sequentially displayed. Can be

Incidentally, instead of using the enter key 35 as a key for instructing the capturing of the manual image, a special key for capturing the manually captured image may be provided, or another key may be used. Good.

Further, in the television receiver of the above-described embodiment, in order to prevent the same image from being captured in duplicate, as shown in FIG. The images of the areas are compared. But,
As shown in FIG. 14, by increasing the number of blocks of the luminance image to be compared in one screen of the still image and devising the position of the region to be compared, it is possible to more accurately determine whether or not the image is an overlapping image. be able to.

Further, in the television receiver of this example,
As the display mode of the still image, the single display and the list display shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 can be performed. However, as shown in FIG. Alternatively, a reduced size still image may be displayed on the child screen S.

As described above, when a still image is displayed on the child screen, for example, a child screen display process that can be activated is selected from the menu displayed by pressing the menu key 32 of the remote commander 10. As a result, the control circuit 100 executes the program for displaying the still image on the child screen.

Then, the control circuit 10 according to the program
With the control of 0, the video display circuit 2 performs a process of forming a child screen on the display screen and a process of fitting a still image displayed on the child screen.

The still image to be displayed on the small screen may be read from the reduced size memory 104S, decompressed by the image compression / decompression circuit 5, and sent to the video display circuit 2.

Further, when the swap key for the sub screen and the main screen is operated, the normal size memory unit 10 is displayed on the main screen.
It is also possible to read and display the corresponding still image from 4T.

Next, another example of the television receiver according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining a television receiver of another example. The television receiver of this example includes an interface 119.
A storage device 20 is connected via 19. Other than that, it is formed similarly to the television receiver shown in FIG.

Then, the television receiver of this example stores in the storage device 20 the still image captured automatically or manually. In this case, as the storage device, a disk device using a small-sized magneto-optical disk called a so-called mini disk as a recording medium, various magnetic disk devices, and the like are used.

By using the large-capacity storage device as a storage means for still images in this way, for example, the entire TV broadcast program for about one hour or the entire TV broadcast program for one day is taken in at predetermined time intervals. Still image data can be stored and held. Still image data stored and held on a mini disk or a magnetic disk can be called for random access, and a desired still image can be easily retrieved and displayed.

Further, when the still image is stored and held in the storage device 20 as described above, the DRAM 104
Since it is only used as a work area for temporarily storing the image-compressed still image data, the DRAM 104 having a small storage capacity can be used.

A memory card or the like may be used as the storage device.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, DR
Although the still image data is stored in the AM 104 and the storage device 20, the still image may be stored in the SRAM 105.

Further, in the television receiver of the above-described embodiment, the still image captured by the image compression / expansion circuit 5 is reduced in order to form a reduced size still image. The control circuit 100 can also be used. In that case, the image compression / expansion circuit 5 does not perform the reduction processing during compression storage, and therefore only the compressed normal size still image data need be transferred to the control circuit 100.

[0136]

As described above, according to the television receiver of the present invention, a plurality of images of the provided television broadcast program are set as still images at predetermined time intervals or at timings designated by the user. Can be memorized.

With the television receiver according to the present invention, it is possible to easily and quickly retrieve and display the still image that the user has determined necessary from the plurality of stored still images.

As a result, the user can view the necessary image information among the image information provided by the television broadcast program being viewed as a still image for an appropriate time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of a television receiver according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a still image capture timing in the television receiver of this example.

[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining a process of determining the closeness of a still image, which is performed in the television receiver of this example.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a storage process of a still image of the television receiver of this example.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a single display mode of a still image of the television receiver of this example.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a still image list display mode of the television receiver of this example.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of a remote commander of a still image of the television receiver of this example.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for describing a normal size still image and a reduced size still image stored in the television receiver of this example.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining processing in the still image data forming circuit 4.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining processing in the image compression / expansion circuit 5.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining still image display processing in the television receiver of this example.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart following FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining another example of a storage area for storing still image data.

FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining another example of the process of determining whether or not the previous still image is the same as the current still image.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining another example of the display pattern in the television receiver of this example.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram for explaining another example of the television receiver according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Tuner section, 2 ... Video display circuit, 2V ... Video RA
M, 3 ... Display, 4 ... Still image data forming circuit,
5 ... Image compression / decompression circuit, 6 ... Memory, 7 ... Clock circuit, 8
... key operation part, 9 ... remote control signal reception decoding circuit, 1
0 ... Remote commander, 100 ... Control circuit, 101 ...
CPU, 102 ... System bus, 103 ... ROM, 10
4 ... DRAM, 105 ... SRAM, 111-116 ... I
/ O port, 117 ... Key interface, 118 ...
I / O port, 119 ... Interface, 20 ... Storage device

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A still image capturing means for capturing a still image in response to a capturing instruction during broadcast reception, a capturing instruction generating means for giving the capturing instruction to the still image capturing means, and a capturing by the still image capturing means. Image compression means for compressing still images, and a plurality of still images compressed by the image compression means,
A television receiver comprising storage means for storing and still-readout means for reading out a still image from the storage means, decompressing it, and displaying it on a screen in response to a user's request. 2. The fetching instruction generating means automatically generates the fetching instruction at regular time intervals, and the storage means compresses the storage capacity by the image compression means. The image is discarded so that the oldest still image is discarded and the latest still image is stored, and the latest image corresponding to the storage capacity is always stored.
The television receiver according to the above. 3. The television receiver according to claim 1, wherein the capture instruction generating means receives the input instruction from the user and generates the capture instruction. 4. The image compression means forms a still image of a normal size obtained by compressing the still image from the still image capturing means and a still image of a reduced size obtained by reducing the still image, The television receiver according to claim 1, wherein a normal-size still image and the reduced-size still image are stored in the storage unit while holding a corresponding relationship. 5. The television receiver according to claim 1, wherein a still image read from the storage means and expanded and displayed on the screen is changed according to a user's operation input. 6. A sub-screen display means for providing a sub-screen on a part of the display screen, wherein one of N still images stored in the storage means is displayed as an image of the sub-screen. The television receiver according to claim 1, wherein the television receiver is a television receiver. 7. The display screen is provided with a means for displaying a plurality of small screens, and a plurality of still images read from the storage means are displayed on the plurality of small screens. Alternatively, the television receiver according to claim 4. 8. The television receiver according to claim 5, wherein one of the N still images stored in the storage means is displayed on the entire surface of the display screen. 9. A reduced image display instructing means for receiving an input of an instruction to display the reduced size still image stored in said storage means, and said storage means in response to a display instruction from said reduced image display instructing means. Reduced image reading means for reading a plurality of reduced size still images; list image display means for expanding a plurality of reduced size still images read by the reduced image reading means and displaying them in a list on a display screen; A selection instruction input unit that receives a selection instruction for selecting one of the plurality of reduced images displayed as a list image on the display screen, and a corresponding normal-size still image according to the selection instruction. Selected image reading means for selecting and reading from the storage means, and decompressing a normal size still image read by the selected image reading means A list image consisting of a plurality of reduced size still images, and a normal size still image corresponding to the reduced size still image selected on the list image is displayed. The television receiver according to claim 4.