KR100614325B1 - Television receiver having test ability and test method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a television receiver capable of self-testing a receiving function of a tuner for receiving channel information, comprising: a demodulator for demodulating and outputting a first data pattern received through an OOB tuner to a cable card; A data generator for generating a predetermined second data pattern; A buffer for buffering the first data pattern demodulated to the demodulator and connected through the cable card and the second data pattern output from the data generator; And when the cable card notifies that the first data pattern has been received, instructs the data generator to output the second data pattern, compares whether the first and second data patterns transmitted through the buffer are the same, and compares the OOB with the comparison result. And a control unit for determining whether the tuner reception function is normal and outputting the determination result on the screen.

TV, Tuner, Test, Data, Pattern

Description

Television receiver having test function and its test method {Television receiver having test ability and test method etc}             

1 is a configuration diagram of a test system of a conventional television receiver.

2 is a block diagram of a signal generator used in the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of a television receiver having a test function according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flow chart of a test method for a television receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

200: signal generator 210, 330: data generator

220: modulator 230: channel up-converter

300: TV receiver 310: OOB tuner

320: demodulator 340: buffer

350: control unit 360: cable card

370: screen

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a television receiver, and more particularly, to a television receiver and a method capable of self-testing a receiving function of a tuner for receiving channel information.

In the rapid development of information and communication, to the multimedia field that combines various forms of information such as video and audio, as well as the rapid development of technology such as electricity, electronics, computer and communication, these days, also called digital revolution And presence forms are becoming digital from analog. Due to the development of MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) technology, which is a compression standard for moving image data to compress digital image data that requires a relatively large amount of data, the size of digital image data is gradually getting smaller. Increasingly, digital video and audio services have been applied to almost all fields such as communication and telecommunications, and digital devices for providing such services have emerged.

Among them, broadcasting and TV occupy an important place as an easy and effective information transmission medium in daily life, and thanks to the digital technology described above, video data and audio data are compressed and transmitted by MPEG technology, thereby adding a large amount of information. With the advent of digital TV, which can provide fast and reliable, more broadcasts can be easily enjoyed at home with clearer picture quality and more vivid sound.

Therefore, the capacity can be increased by 4 ~ 8 times compared to the existing analog method, so that it can provide services in various fields such as sports, movies, home shopping, and music, and also includes broadcasting, cable broadcasting, video on demand (VOD, Video On) As more and more video services are provided, such as demand, viewers can select and watch according to their own preferences, and viewers have a wider choice, and as a variety of broadcasts are provided, viewers can watch TV corresponding to many channels. Select to watch the desired broadcast.

Since various broadcasts are provided through a plurality of channels, an OOB (Out Of Band) tuner for receiving a plurality of channel information is employed in a TV, and channel information is received through the OOB tuner. However, when such an OOB tuner does not receive channel information normally, the TV cannot receive a plurality of channel information transmitted from an over-the-air station and a cable station, and therefore, the receiving function of the OOB tuner must be tested during the manufacturing process of the TV. Should be. To this end, conventionally, the reception function of the OOB tuner mounted on the TV was tested in the following manner.

1 is a configuration diagram of a test apparatus of a conventional television receiver, and shows a configuration of a system for testing an OOB tuner.

Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional test system 100 includes a test apparatus 120 for testing a function of the OOB tuner 110, and a data pattern generated by generating a constant data pattern. Consisting of a signal generator 130 for transmission to the device 120.

Referring to the operation of the conventional test system having such a configuration as follows.

First, when the signal generator 130 generates a certain data pattern and simultaneously transmits the data pattern generated to the OOB tuner 110 and the test device 120, the test device 120 receives the data pattern received by the OOB tuner 110. After the detection, the received function of the OOB tuner 110 is determined by comparing the detected data pattern with the same data pattern directly received.

For example, if the data pattern received by the OOB tuner 110 and the data pattern directly received by the test device 120 match, the test device 120 determines that the reception function of the OOB tuner 110 is normal and displays the display. The part (not shown) indicates that the OOB tuner 110 is normal.

If the data pattern received by the OOB tuner 110 and the data pattern directly received by the test device 120 do not match, the test device 120 determines that the reception function of the OOB tuner 110 is abnormal. The display indicates that the OOB tuner 110 is abnormal.

However, when testing the reception function of the OOB tuner 110 by using the test device 120 implemented separately from the TV as described above, it was necessary to purchase the test device 120 at a high cost. Many inconveniences have been caused to the manufacturer by connecting the 120 to the OOB tuner 110 to perform the test procedure.

 The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a television receiver and a method capable of self-testing a reception function of a tuner for receiving channel information.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a television receiver and a method for testing a tuner's channel information reception function on its own and displaying a test result on a screen so that a manufacturer can test the tuner more easily.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a television receiver and a method which can reduce the test cost by not separately using a test apparatus in testing the reception function of the tuner.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an OOB tuner for receiving and tuning channel information transmitted from a broadcasting station and a first data pattern transmitted from a signal generator, and a first data pattern and channel received through the OOB tuner. A television receiver having a cable card for connecting information and a screen for outputting images and text, said television receiver comprising: a demodulator for demodulating and outputting said first data pattern received through said OOB tuner to said cable card; A data generator for generating a predetermined second data pattern; A buffer for buffering the first data pattern demodulated to the demodulator and connected through the cable card and the second data pattern output from the data generator; And when the cable card notifies that the first data pattern has been received, instructs the data generator to output the second data pattern, and compares whether the first and second data patterns transmitted through the buffer are the same. And a control unit for determining whether the reception function of the OOB tuner is normal through the comparison result and outputting the determination result on the screen.

The present invention relates to a method for testing a reception function of an OOB tuner that receives channel information transmitted from a broadcasting station using a first data pattern generated from a signal generator in a television receiver, wherein a test instruction command is inputted so that the OOB is received. A first step of setting a test mode for testing a reception function of the tuner; A second step of modulating the first data pattern received from the signal generator and generating a predetermined second data pattern in the set test mode; A third step of buttering the first and second data patterns; And a fourth step of comparing whether the buffered first and second data patterns are the same, determining whether the reception function of the OOB tuner is normal through a comparison result, and outputting a determination result on the screen.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram of a signal generator used in the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the signal generator 200 may include a data generator 210 for generating a constant data pattern and a signal system suitable for transmitting the data pattern generated from the data generator 210 to a television receiver. A modulator 220 for modulating and converting the data pattern modulated by the modulator 220 into a radio frequency signal and transmitting the converted radio frequency signal to a television receiver (shown in FIG. 3) through a specific channel And a channel up-converter 230.

The data generator 210 outputs a constant data pattern used for testing a reception function of the OOB tuner mounted on the television receiver to the modulator 220.

The modulator 220 transmits the data pattern input from the data generator 210 to a signal system suitable for transmission to the television receiver, but if the radio frequency signal is transmitted through a specific channel, the data pattern is carried on a carrier wave. The signal system converts the signal to a channel upconverter 230.

The channel up-converter 230 transmits the modulated data pattern to the television receiver through wireless or wired communication.

For example, when transmitting via wireless communication, the channel up-converter 230 carries a modulated data pattern on a carrier and transmits the modulated data pattern to the television receiver over a specific channel.

If transmitted via wired communication, the channel up-converter 230 transmits the modulated data pattern to the television receiver in series.

A configuration of a television receiver for receiving a test data pattern transmitted from the signal generator 200 having such a configuration and function and testing the reception function of the OOB tuner will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the television receiver 300 of the present invention includes an OOB tuner 310 for receiving and tuning a data pattern transmitted from the signal generator 200 and received through the OOB tuner 310. A demodulator 320 for demodulating the data pattern, a data generator 330 for generating a constant data pattern, a demodulated data pattern by the demodulator 320 and data output from the data generator 330. The buffer 340 for buffering the pattern and the data output of the data generator 330 are controlled, and the two data patterns transmitted through the buffer 340 are compared with each other and the OOB tuner 310 is compared through the comparison result. The control unit 350 determines whether the reception function of the control unit is normal and outputs a determination result, and the data pattern demodulated by the demodulation unit 320 under the control of the control unit 350 to the buffer 340 and the control unit 350. Cable Card (360) to connect to , It includes a display 370 for outputting the video signal and the character signal that is transmitted by the control unit 350.

The OOB tuner 310 serves to receive channel information transmitted from an over-the-air broadcaster and / or a cable broadcaster, and when the signal generator 200 transmits a modulated data pattern as a radio frequency signal through a specific channel, the data is transmitted. The pattern is received and tuned to the demodulator 320. If the signal generator 200 transmits the modulated data pattern serially through the wire, the OOB tuner 310 receives the data pattern transmitted serially from the signal generator 200 through the wire.

The demodulator 320 demodulates the modulated channel information so that the controller 350 can recognize the modulated channel information when the channel information transmitted from the broadcasting station is modulated and transmitted through the OOB tuner 310, and then transmits the demodulated channel information to the cable card 360. When the data pattern modulated and transmitted by the signal generator 200 is received through the OOB tuner 310, the controller 350 demodulates the modulated data pattern so that the controller 350 can recognize the data pattern and transmits the demodulated data pattern to the cable card 360.

When the control unit 350 instructs the generation of data, the data generator 330 outputs a preset test data pattern to the buffer 340. The generated data pattern may include a data pattern generated from the signal generator 200. The same is used to test the receiving function of the OOB tuner 310. The data generator 330 may be implemented separately from the cable card 360 or embedded in the cable card 360 as shown in the drawing. When the data generator 330 is embedded in the cable card 360, the cable card 360 additionally performs a function of generating a predetermined data pattern.

The buffer 340 temporarily stores the data pattern transmitted through the cable card 360 according to the buffering instruction of the controller 350, temporarily stores the data pattern generated from the data generator 330, and then temporarily stores the data pattern. When the number of bits of the two data patterns reaches a certain number, the two temporarily stored data patterns are simultaneously transferred to the control unit 350, and only the data patterns including a predetermined number of bits are output from the temporarily stored data patterns.

The control unit 350 determines whether the reception function of the OOB tuner 310 is normal by comparing two data patterns transmitted through the buffer 340, which will be described in detail below.

First, the signal generator 200 modulates the test data pattern and transmits it to the television receiver 300, which is received through the OOB tuner 310 and then demodulated by the demodulator 320 to be demodulated by the cable card 360. ), The cable card 360 notifies the controller 350 that the test data pattern has been received and simultaneously connects the received data pattern to the buffer 340. At this time, the controller 350 instructs the data pattern generation of the data generator 330, and then the data generator 330 generates a predetermined data pattern under the control of the controller 350 and outputs the predetermined data pattern to the buffer 350. do.

As described above, when both test data patterns are buffered through the buffer 350 and transferred to the control unit 350, the control unit 350 compares the two data patterns bit by bit to determine whether they are the same.

For example, when the data pattern received through the OOB tuner 310 is "010011" and the data pattern generated by the data generator 330 is "010011", the bits constituting the two data patterns are all As a result, the controller 350 compares the two data patterns bit by bit and displays on the screen 370 that there are no error bits, that is, there are no discrepancies. When the content of the error bit is displayed on the screen 370, the manufacturer determines that the reception function of the OOB tuner 310 is normal.

If the data pattern received through the OOB tuner 310 is composed of "011001" and the data pattern generated from the data generator 330 is composed of "010011", the controller 350 forms two data patterns. The bits are compared one by one in descending order, and after confirming that the second bit and the fourth bit from the right are inconsistent, it is displayed on the screen 370 that two error bits have occurred. When the content indicating that two error bits are generated on the screen 370 is displayed, the manufacturer determines that the reception function of the OOB tuner 310 is abnormal.

A process of testing the reception function of the OOB tuner by the television receiver of the present invention having the configuration and function as described above will be described with reference to a flowchart.

Referring to FIG. 4, when a manufacturer instructs a test of the OOB tuner 310, the controller 350 sets a test mode for testing a reception function of the OOB tuner 310 (S401).

When the test mode is set, when the signal generator 200 modulates a predetermined data pattern and transmits it to the television receiver 300 (S402), the demodulator 320 modulates the transmitted data pattern to the OOB tuner 310. When received through the demodulated data pattern is demodulated and transmitted to the buffer 340 through the cable card 360 (S403). At this time, the data generator 330 outputs a predetermined data pattern identical to the data pattern transmitted from the signal generator 200 to the buffer 340 under the control of the controller 350 (S404).

Subsequently, the buffer 340 temporarily stores the data pattern demodulated by the demodulator 320 and the data pattern generated from the data generator 330, and then transfers the data pattern to the controller 350 (S405).

When the data pattern received through the OOB tuner 310 and the data pattern generated from the data generator 330 are transferred to the control unit 350 through the above process, the control unit 350 converts the two data patterns in units of bits. In operation S406, the result of the determination is determined by comparing and determining the same result on the screen 370.

In an output process S406, the controller 350 compares the two data patterns bit by bit to determine whether all the bits forming the data pattern match. As a result of the determination, if the bits constituting the two data patterns coincide, the controller 350 displays a content that there is no error bit on the screen 370, and if it is determined that the inconsistent bits among the bits constituting the two data patterns are found. If one or more exist, the controller 350 displays on the screen 370 that an error bit has occurred, and displays the number of mismatched error bits on the screen 370.

Although the technical spirit of the present invention has been described in detail according to the above-described preferred embodiment, it should be noted that the above-described embodiment is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. In addition, those skilled in the art will understand that various embodiments are possible within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, the TV receiver can test the reception function of the OOB tuner in the manufacturing process and display the test result on the screen, thereby facilitating the manufacturer and reducing the cost of purchasing the test apparatus. Can be.

Claims (9)

An OOB tuner for receiving and tuning channel information transmitted from a broadcasting station and a first data pattern transmitted from a signal generator, a cable card for connecting a first data pattern and channel information received through the OOB tuner, and an image; And a television receiver having a screen for outputting characters, A demodulator for demodulating the first data pattern received through the OOB tuner and outputting the demodulated data pattern to the cable card; A data generator for generating a predetermined second data pattern; A buffer for buffering the first data pattern demodulated to the demodulator and connected through the cable card and the second data pattern output from the data generator; And When the cable card notifies that the first data pattern has been received, the cable generator instructs the output of the second data pattern, compares whether the first and second data patterns transmitted through the buffer are the same and compares the results. A control unit which determines whether the reception function of the OOB tuner is normal and outputs a determination result on the screen through TV receiver comprising a. The method of claim 1, And the second data pattern generated from the data generator and the first data pattern transmitted from the signal generator are the same. The method of claim 1, And the data generator is built in the cable card. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, And the control unit compares the first and second data patterns bit by bit. The method of claim 4, wherein And the control unit compares the bits of the first and second data patterns one by one and displays a mismatched error bit number on the screen when a predetermined number of bits are inconsistent as a result of the comparison. A method for testing a reception function of an OOB tuner for receiving channel information transmitted from a broadcasting station using a first data pattern generated from a signal generator in a television receiver, the method comprising: A first step of setting a test mode for testing a reception function of the OOB tuner as a test instruction command is input; A second step of modulating the first data pattern received from the signal generator and generating a predetermined second data pattern in the set test mode; A third step of buttering the first and second data patterns; And A fourth step of comparing the buffered first and second data patterns with each other and determining whether the reception function of the OOB tuner is normal through a comparison result and outputting a determination result on the screen; Test method of a television receiver comprising a. The method of claim 6, And in said third step, generating said predetermined second data pattern equal to said first data pattern. The method according to claim 6 or 7, In the fourth step, when the first and second data patterns are compared, the test method of the television receiver, characterized in that the comparison in bit units. The method of claim 8, When the bits of the first and second data patterns are compared one by one and a certain number of bits are inconsistent as a result of the comparison, a mismatched error bit number is displayed on the screen. And if the bits constituting the first and second data patterns coincide with each other as a result of the comparison, indicating that there are no error bits on the screen.

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