JPH1175126A - Broadcast receiver - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a broadcast receiver capable of more simply and surely sething a channel. SOLUTION: To a channel selection microcomputer section 2, an operation switch 5 to change a channel or the like of a television receiver and a remote control light receiving section 6 that converts an infrared ray signal from a remote commander into a voltage signal and to given the signal to the channel selection microcomputer are connected. To a tuner unit 1, a VIF/SIF circuit 7 that converts a television signal into an intermediate frequency of a video and an audio signal and provides an output to a next-stage detection output circuit is connected. A transmission radio wave by this configuration is received by the control of the channel selection microcomputer. Then the receiver is applied to a television receiver, a VCR(video cassette recorder) and a device having a broadcast reception function such as a personal computer incorporating a television reception function and various data to receive a broadcast adapted to an applied area are acquired by using a MODEM 4 of an external device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a television receiver, a VCR, and a broadcast receiver applied to a personal computer with a built-in television receiver. The present invention relates to a broadcast receiver using a communication line for obtaining tuning information such as a band identification voltage, a pulse modulation voltage, and a local oscillation frequency.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a broadcast receiver is constituted, for example, as a television receiver equipped with a channel selecting device using a communication line. In the case of a television receiver, a voltage synthesizer method and a frequency synthesizer method (phase tuning loop method / Phase-Locked Loop) are mainly used as channel selection methods of a tuner unit for receiving terrestrial broadcasting. In the case of this voltage synthesizer system, the channel selection microcomputer uses VHF (L) / VHF for each reception channel.
A desired channel is selected by applying a band identification voltage of (H) / UHF and a tuning voltage modulated by pulse width of 14 bits or more to the tuner unit. In the case of a VHF / UHF band television signal, the video is 5
8.75 MHz and audio are converted to an intermediate frequency of 54.25 MHz and output to the intermediate frequency amplifier circuit and video / audio detection circuit at the next stage.

In the case of the frequency synthesizer system, a channel selection microcomputer outputs VHF (L) / VHF (H) / UHF band data and local oscillation data to a tuner unit. On the tuner unit side, the local oscillation frequency is generally controlled by comparing a reference frequency of a crystal oscillator or the like with a frequency obtained by dividing the local oscillation data.

When a user of a television receiver intends to receive a broadcast with the television receiver, the user operates a remote controller unit (hereinafter referred to as "remote controller") or a switch of the television receiver to set a channel setting screen. Then, the local oscillation frequency of the tuner unit for television reception is changed to receive a broadcast program. Check the broadcast station name from the received program by referring to the TV column of the newspaper or the broadcast program table of the magazine, and place the received broadcast station on the channel (remote control) position desired by the user. It is necessary to allocate by operating the switch and specifying the position.

[0005] The user needs to repeat the above operation at least as many times as the number of broadcast stations that the user wants to receive. Also, when the number of broadcast stations is less than the number of channel (remote control) positions, many television users dislike that a channel (remote control) position for which no channel is set is in a no-signal (snow noise) state. Therefore, in that case, you can set a channel (remote control)
It is necessary to repeat the channel setting operation for the number of positions.

A conventional channel setting operation method will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional channel setting unit. In FIG. 3, a channel setting unit of a conventional example includes a tuner unit 101 for receiving a television signal and an IF from the tuner unit 101.
It comprises a VIF / SIF (video intermediate frequency / audio intermediate frequency) circuit 107 for detecting an (intermediate frequency) signal, a channel selection microcomputer 103, a memory 104, a remote controller (remote control) light receiving unit 105, and an operation switch 106.

The channel setting method using the conventional channel setting unit shown in FIG. 3 is based on a method in which the receiving tuner unit 101 for television broadcasting outputs VHF (L) / VHF (H) / VHF (L) output from the channel selection microcomputer 103. By adding UHF band data and channel data, control is performed in the following manner.

In the case of the receiving tuner unit 101 for a television broadcast of a voltage synthesizer system,
In the case of a frequency synthesizer type tuner unit, the tuning microcomputer 103 applies VH to the band identification voltage and the tuning voltage modulated by pulse width modulation of 14 bits or more.
It is common to output band data of F (L) / VHF (H) / UHF and local oscillation data to the tuner unit 101 to control the local oscillation frequency.

The channel selection microcomputer 103 has VHF (L) / V
The memory 104 stores HF (H) / UHF band data, channel (remote control) position, and channel data. The tuning microcomputer 103 has
VHF (L) / VHF (H) / U of television receiver
An operation switch 106 of the main body for operating the HF band data, channel (remote control) position and channel data, and a remote control light receiving unit 105 for converting an infrared signal of the remote control into a voltage signal and inputting the voltage signal to a channel selection microcomputer are connected. ing.

A television broadcast receiving system using such a conventional channel setting method will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a conventional channel setting procedure. In FIGS. 3 and 4, first, when a user wants to receive a broadcast with a television receiver, the user operates the remote control transmitter or the operation switch 106.
To set the channel setting mode (or screen) (S11). In the case of the television synthesizer tuner unit of the voltage synthesizer system, the channel selection microcomputer 103 changes the band identification voltage and the tuning voltage channel data obtained by pulse width modulation of 14 bits or more.

In the case of the tuner unit of the frequency synthesizer system, the channel selection microcomputer performs the VHF (L) / VHF (H) according to the television broadcast channel plan.
/ UHF band data and local oscillation data are changed and output to the tuner unit 1. The tuner unit 101 changes the local oscillation frequency and outputs VHF / UHF
The video of the TV signal of the band is 58.75 MHz and the audio is 5
The signal is converted to an intermediate frequency of 4.25 MHz and output to the intermediate frequency amplifier circuit and the video / audio detection circuit at the next stage.

The user checks the broadcast station name from the program received by the television receiver in the channel setting mode with reference to the TV column of a newspaper or the broadcast program table of a magazine, and selects a channel desired by the user (remote control). ) The broadcast station received is allocated to the position by operating the remote control or the switch of the main body of the television receiver. That is, the channel position is specified (S12).

By this operation, the channel (remote control) position address of the memory 104 connected to the channel selection microcomputer 103 stores the VHF of the channel to be stored.
(L) / VHF (H) / UHF band data and local oscillation data are stored.

[0014] Channel plan data for all over Japan (main cities) is stored in advance in the nonvolatile memory of the broadcast receiver side, and when the user sets the channel, the area code (telephone area code) described in the instruction manual is set. There is also a method of checking the area in which the broadcast receiver is used by checking the area code and postal code) and inputting the area code with the remote control transmitter.

As described above, the conventional channel setting method uses a VHF (L) signal for allowing a user to receive a television broadcast by a television broadcast tuner unit at a channel (remote control) position of a television receiver.
The operation of allocating the channel data to the band data of / VHF (H) / UHF and the local oscillation data is repeated for the number of broadcast stations desired to be received (S13, S14). After all the settings are completed, the channel setting mode is released (S15), and the channel setting ends. Conventionally, a method based on the above procedure has been mainstream. Alternatively, there is a method of selecting channel plan data of all over Japan (main cities) stored in the memory of the broadcast receiver in advance.

As a conventional example similar in technical content to the present invention, there is a "video tape recorder which can be controlled by a telephone" in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 63-142952. In this conventional example, a timer recording function of a VTR device is directly operated by using a telephone line, and a timer recording program and the like can be set.

[0017]

However, the conventional channel setting method has the following drawbacks. First, in an area where there are many broadcasting stations, VHF (L) for receiving a television broadcast by a television receiving tuner unit as many as the number of broadcasting stations desired by the user.
It is necessary to repeat the operation of allocating the band data of / VHF (H) / UHF and the data of local oscillation to the channel (remote control) position, which requires time. Even when selecting an area code, it is necessary to read the instruction manual and search for the area code. If the instruction manual is lost, it may not be possible to select a channel.

In a broadcast receiver for setting a channel by inputting a telephone area code and a postal code with a remote controller, if a channel is changed from a channel plan stored in advance at the time of manufacturing the broadcast receiver, I can not cope.
In addition, there are many receivers that do not correspond to the area code other than the major cities, and there is a problem that it is necessary to set channels one by one.

[0019] An object of the present invention is to provide a broadcast receiver capable of simpler and more reliable channel setting.

[0020]

In order to achieve the above object, a broadcast receiver according to the present invention has a tuner unit for receiving a transmission radio wave, and a tuning microcomputer unit for applying a band identification voltage to the tuner unit. The local oscillation frequency of the tuner unit is controlled based on the band identification voltage, converted to an intermediate frequency, and broadcast is received.

The broadcast receiver may be applicable to a device having a broadcast receiving function such as a television receiver, a VCR (video cassette recorder), and a personal computer with a built-in television receiving function.

Further, the above-mentioned broadcast receiver has a two-way communication means for communicating with an external device. Using this communication means, the external device can broadcast a band identification voltage, a local oscillation frequency or the like suitable for an application area. May be made available to receive the data.

The above-mentioned communication means is a modem, and the broadcast receiver further has a memory unit so that various data obtained from an external device can be stored in this memory unit. It is good to be able to set to the base.

[0024]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a broadcast receiver according to the present invention; Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, one embodiment of the broadcast receiver of the present invention is shown. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a circuit and a memory of a channel setting circuit on the receiver side of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the channel setting setting service base side according to the present invention.

<Description of Configuration> The receiver shown in FIG. 1 includes a tuner unit 1 for television reception, a channel selection microcomputer unit 2 for controlling a band identification voltage, a pulse width modulation voltage, a local oscillation frequency, and the like of the tuner unit. A channel data (band identification voltage data, pulse width modulation voltage data, local oscillation frequency data, etc.) for the tuning microcomputer to control the television receiving tuner, a memory unit 3 for storing the channel position, and an external device. And a modem unit 4 for connection via a telephone line 8.

The tuning microcomputer unit 2 includes an operation switch 5 for changing the channel of the television receiver and the like, and a remote control light receiving unit 6 for converting an infrared signal from a remote controller into a voltage signal and inputting it to the tuning microcomputer. And are connected. The tuner unit 1 is connected to a VIF / SIF circuit 7 for converting a television signal into an intermediate frequency of video / audio and outputting it to a detection output circuit at the next stage.

On the channel setting service base (external device) side of FIG.
The control unit 13 that recognizes the area information and the receiver information and outputs the channel plan information, and the memory unit 14 that stores the channel selection information of the receiver and the nationwide channel plan information,
It is connected to a cascade and configured.

<Description of Operation> A case where a user sets a channel will be described using a television receiver having a communication function as an example. In step S1, a remote control or a switch on the main body is pressed to select a channel setting operation.

At step S2, guide characters for selecting a telephone area code / postal code / area necessary for specifying an area where the television receiver is used are displayed on the screen. The user presses the number buttons on the remote control or the up / down / left / right cursor buttons to input any of the area code / postal code / area of the telephone. Step S2
In the case of a television receiver or the like having an Internet function, when a provider contract is made, a use area must be input in advance, and for those who have made a contract, regional data can be stored in the memory unit 3. In some cases, it can be omitted.

In addition, NTT and the "calling telephone number service"
If the user has a contract, the external device side can use the telephone number of the user to determine the region used, and thus the user may be able to omit it.

The channel selection microcomputer 2 stores any one of the area code / postal code / area of the telephone in the memory unit 3. In addition, the channel selection microcomputer 2 outputs a model name to the modem unit 4 in order to notify any one of the area code / postal code / area of the telephone and the channel selection system of the television receiver to the external device. This model name is the tuning information (the type of tuner used,
(The number of selectable broadcasting stations) can be replaced with a number assigned to the same model group.

The modem unit 4 converts any one of the area code / postal code / area of the telephone from the channel selection microcomputer 2 and the digital signal of the model name of the television receiver into an analog signal. Send to external device.

The external device converts the area code / postal code / area information of the telephone received through the telephone line 8 into a digital signal by the modem unit 12, and the control unit 13 converts the area code where the television receiver is used. Band identification voltage suitable for the television receiver from the local channel plan,
The pulse width modulation voltage, the local oscillation frequency, etc. are stored in the memory unit 14.
Choose from After that, the channel position and reception channel data (band identification voltage, pulse width modulation voltage,
The local oscillation frequency is converted into an analog signal via the modem unit 12 and transmitted to the telephone line 8.

The modem unit 4 on the broadcast receiver side has a telephone line 8
, And converts the channel position, the band identification voltage, the pulse width modulation voltage, the local oscillation frequency, and the like input to the microcomputer 2 into digital signals.

The tuning microcomputer 2 stores the channel position, the band identification voltage, the pulse width modulation voltage,
The local oscillation frequency is output, and the memory section 3 stores the channel position, the band identification voltage, the pulse width modulation voltage, the local oscillation frequency, and the like, thereby completing the channel setting operation.

In this embodiment, the case where a wired telephone line is used has been described. However, in the case of a broadcast receiver having a wireless communication function represented by a portable telephone or a PHS telephone, the broadcast receiver side is used. And channel setting service base (external equipment)
Both sides need not be connected to the wired telephone line 8.

The first feature of the above embodiment is that it has a broadcast receiving function such as a television receiver, a VCR (video cassette recorder), and a personal computer with a built-in television receiver, and the channel selection microcomputer is a tuner VHF / UHF. The purpose is to control band identification and tuning data.

A second feature is that the broadcast receiver has a two-way communication function such as a modem, and by using this modem unit, information on the area where the broadcast receiver is used, and selection of the receiver. The system (model name) is transmitted, and the tuner band identification and tuning data required for tuning can be received.

A third feature is that, in the above-described broadcast receiver, if the user performs a selection operation such as “set channel” using the two-way communication function, the broadcast receiver side can set a telephone in the area of use. Number data / postal code data / area code data, etc. for external equipment and receiver tuning method (model name)
And transmitting a tuner band identification and tuning data necessary for channel setting from the external device side to complete the channel setting operation.

In a receiver having the "calling telephone number display service" function of NTT, since the area used by the external device can be determined from the telephone number of the user, the tuner necessary for channel selection to the broadcasting receiver is obtained. Receiving the band identification, tuning data, etc., and completing the channel setting operation.

The above embodiment is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. However, it is not limited to this.
Various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0042]

As is clear from the above description, the broadcast receiver of the present invention can receive a transmission radio wave under the control of the channel selection microcomputer. Therefore, television receiver, VCR
(Video cassette recorder), applied to devices having a broadcast receiving function such as a personal computer with a built-in television receiving function, and other means for receiving broadcasts suitable for the application area using two-way communication means with external devices. Data becomes available.

Further, in the case of a television receiver having an Internet function or the like, when a provider contract is made, area data may be stored in a memory unit for a user who has input a use area in advance. If the telephone area code /
It is possible to omit the input of postal code / area.

When a new broadcasting station is opened,
Even when the channel plan is changed, if only the external device side (channel setting service side) responds to the new channel plan change, the user only needs to perform the channel setting operation of the present invention again to obtain a new channel plan. It is possible to match the channel settings to the channel plan.

Further, since it is not necessary for the receiver to store various data for setting channels nationwide, the storage capacity of the memory unit can be saved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram and a memory data configuration diagram showing a configuration example of a channel setting circuit of a broadcast receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram and a memory data configuration diagram illustrating a configuration on a channel setting service site (external device) side according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a channel setting circuit configuration of a conventional television receiver.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a channel setting procedure of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 Tuner unit for broadcast reception 2 Tuning microcomputer 3 Memory unit 4 Modem unit 5 Operation switch 6 Remote control light receiving unit 7 VIF / SIF (video intermediate frequency / audio intermediate frequency) circuit 8 Telephone line 12 Channel setting service base (external device) side Modem section 13 control section 14 memory section

Claims (6)

[Claims] A tuner unit for receiving a transmission radio wave; a tuning microcomputer unit for applying a band identification voltage to the tuner unit; controlling a local oscillation frequency of the tuner unit based on the band identification voltage; A broadcast receiver characterized by receiving a broadcast after converting to a frequency. 2. The broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein the broadcast receiver is applicable to an apparatus having a broadcast receiving function such as a television receiver, a VCR (video cassette recorder), and a personal computer with a built-in television receiving function. Claim 1
The broadcast receiver as described. 3. The broadcast receiver further includes a bidirectional communication unit with an external device, and the band identification voltage adapted to an application area is transmitted from the external device using the communication unit.
The broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein various data for receiving the broadcast, such as the local oscillation frequency, are available. 4. The broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein said communication means is a modem. 5. The broadcast receiver according to claim 1, further comprising a memory unit, wherein the various data obtained from the external device can be stored in the memory unit.
5. The broadcast receiver according to any one of 4. 6. The data processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said various data can be set based on a telephone number of said application area.
A broadcast receiver according to any one of the preceding claims.