KR19990004721A - Adjusting Caption Character Size on Television - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for adjusting the caption character size of a television, and is provided in the remote controller 12 to increase the recognition by appropriately adjusting the size of the caption character displayed at a predetermined position of the CRT apparatus part of the television. A caption character magnification adjustment button 12c for specifying magnification adjustment, a caption character display area determiner 22 for determining a caption character display area designated on the CRT device unit 10 from an external video signal, and the caption A caption character extraction / recognition unit 24 for extracting / recognizing caption characters in the caption character display area determined by the character display area determiner 22, and the extracted / recognized caption character data is stored and scaled. A caption character storage unit 26 for reading out and controlling the reading of the caption character data stored in the caption character storage unit 26 at a magnification of the caption character designated by the caption character scaling button 12c; 14, to the scale of the caption text data, combining processing on external image signal configured by including a caption character synthesis unit 28 for providing the video signal processor 20.

Description

Adjusting Caption Character Size on Television

The present invention relates to a caption character size adjusting apparatus for a television, and more particularly, to a caption character size adjusting apparatus for a television configured to adjust the size of a caption character included in an external video signal at an externally set magnification.

Currently, so-called 'caption letters' are recorded on a video tape capable of repeatedly recording / reproducing video / audio signals so that viewers can recognize the contents of a program recorded on the video tape as characters. The recorded videotape is often produced in the form of a program for learning a foreign language or a movie program in a foreign language, for example.

The video tape on which such caption characters are recorded can be played back only by a video tape recorder with a playback function of caption characters. A video signal containing caption characters reproduced from the video tape by the video tape recorder is usually used for television. It is applied to the CRT device of the screen output.

That is, the video signal (and caption character) reproduced on the video tape by the video tape recorder is generally displayed in reverse in the caption display area 10a designated on the CRT apparatus portion 10 of the television as shown in FIG. Will be. That is, the caption characters normally reproduced on the video tape and displayed on the CRT device unit 10 are displayed by the white color in the caption display area 10a of the black color.

Here, the caption characters recorded on the videotape are usually not displayed on the screen of the television's CRT unit unless the viewer sets the caption function, for example, by remote control operation, while the viewer sets the caption function for the videotape recorder. In this case, it is common to display the caption character display area 10a in the television CRT apparatus unit.

However, when the caption characters reproduced on the video tape in the form illustrated in FIG. 1 are displayed on the CRT apparatus unit 10, the size of the caption characters displayed on the caption character display area 10a at the designated position is the CRT apparatus unit. When the screen size of the CRT apparatus 10 is large, for example, the caption character is also displayed relatively large so that the viewer can easily recognize the caption character. When the screen size of the device unit 10 is small, the size of the caption character display area 10a and the caption character are also relatively small, and the recognition of the caption character is disadvantageous.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and a maximum magnification in a caption character display area or a caption character display area and caption character at the same time is set at a magnification set by the viewer. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for adjusting the caption character size of a television for expanding the recognition rate of caption characters.

In order to achieve the above object, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the external image signal provided through the switching unit under the setting of the VCR mode and the caption function set by the remote controller is reproduced by the image processing unit and displayed on the CRT apparatus unit. A television, comprising: a caption character magnification adjustment button provided on the remote control for designating a magnification adjustment of the caption character; and a caption character display area plate for determining a caption character display area designated on the CRT apparatus unit from the external video signal; A caption character extraction / recognition unit for extracting / recognizing caption characters in the caption character display area determined by the caption character display area determination unit, and the extracted / recognized caption character data is stored and read out in a scaled form Caption character storage unit, the caption character storage at the magnification of the caption character specified by the caption character scaling button A caption character size adjusting device of a television comprising a control unit for controlling reading of caption character data stored in the caption character data, and a caption character synthesizing unit for synthesizing the scaled caption character data to the external image signal and providing the image signal processing unit to the external image signal; Is provided.

Preferably, the maximum magnification of the caption character is limited to the horizontal scanning section of the caption character display region or is set in conjunction with the scaling of the caption character display region. The caption character data stored in the caption character storage unit is pattern data determined from the white level detection result for each horizontal scan line forming a section of the caption character display area.

According to the apparatus for adjusting the caption character size of the television according to the present invention having the above-described configuration, when the caption character size is adjusted under the condition that the caption function is turned on in the video mode set by the remote controller, the control unit adjusts the caption character. Based on the magnification, the caption character storage is digitally converted to control the data reading to adjust the size of the stored caption character or to control the data reading to adjust the caption character display area and caption character size. Recognition of enlarged caption characters is improved.

1 is a view illustrating a state in which a caption character included in an external video signal is displayed on a CRT device of a television;

2 is a block diagram showing an apparatus for adjusting the caption character size of a television according to the present invention;

3 (a) to 3 (c) are views for explaining an example of adjusting the caption character size by the caption character size adjusting apparatus of the television according to the present invention;

3 (d) is a view for explaining another example of adjusting the caption character size by the caption character size adjusting apparatus of the television according to the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

10: CRT unit, 12: remote control,

14: control unit, 16: video IF module,

18: video switching unit, 20: image processing unit,

22: caption character display area judgment, 24: caption character extraction / recognition unit,

26: caption character storage, 28: caption character synthesis.

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

2 is a block diagram of a caption character size adjusting apparatus for a television according to the present invention. Reference numeral 12 denotes a remote controller capable of setting a specific function among all functions provided in a corresponding television. The TV has a TV / VCR mode setting button 12a for selecting a TV mode for reproducing a broadcast signal and a VCR mode for reproducing an external video signal provided from, for example, a video tape recorder, and the video tape recorder. When caption characters are recorded on the video tape to be played back, the caption function selection button 12b for turning on / off the screen display of the caption characters on the CRT apparatus unit 10 is provided. And a caption character scaling button 12c for adjusting the size (magnification).

14 is a control unit which is responsible for the reproduction processing of the video (audio) signal under the TV / VCR mode of the corresponding television based on a specific function set by the remote control unit 12, wherein the control unit 14 is in accordance with the present invention. According to the operation of the caption function selection button 12b of the remote controller 12, the display of the caption characters is turned ON / OFF on the CRT device unit 10, while the caption character scaling button 12c of the remote controller 12 is turned on. It also includes a control for adjusting the size of the caption character displayed on the CRT device unit 10 according to the operation state.

16 shows an image IF module for IF-converting a composite video signal of a specific channel to a predetermined video IF signal when a television corresponding to the control of the controller 14 is set to the TV mode, and 18 represents the remote controller 12. According to the TV mode or the VCR mode set by the TV / VCR mode selection button 12a, the video IF signal from the video IF module 16 is switched or outputted, or an external video signal (ExV) provided from, for example, a video tape recorder (ExV). Represents a video switching unit for switching output.

20 is an image processing unit which reproduces a broadcast video signal or an external video signal switched by the video switching unit 18 and outputs the screen to the CRT apparatus 10 according to the present invention. 20 is a caption character scaled to a magnification set by the caption character scaling button 12c while the caption function selection button 12b of the remote controller 12 is operated under the control of the control unit 14; Screen display processing is also performed.

22 is a caption character display area determiner for counting horizontal and vertical synchronization signals from an external video signal ExV by the switching output of the video switching unit 18 to determine a caption character display area (10a in FIG. 1). Preferably, the caption character display area determiner 22 typically counts the horizontal synchronizing signal included in one vertical scanning period of the video signal displayed by the CRT apparatus unit 10, and the count result (Hsy, Vsy). The position of the caption character display area is determined.

24 is a horizontal scan line digitally converting an external video signal ExV by the switching output of the video switching unit 18 to determine a white level in the caption character display area determined by the caption character display area determiner 22. Caption character extraction / recognition unit for extracting the caption character by detecting the unit and recognizing the pattern of the caption character based on the detection result of the white level. 26 denotes caption character data extracted / recognized by the caption character extraction / recognition unit 24 to the recording / reading control signal R / W 'and address Ad applied from the control unit 14; A caption character storage unit for recording / reading on the basis of the caption character storage unit, and 28 denotes caption character data scaled by the caption character storage unit 26 of the horizontal / vertical synchronization signal provided by the caption character display area determiner 22. FIG. Based on the count result (Hsy / Vsy), the caption character synthesizing unit synthesizes the original external video signal ExV switched through the video switching unit 18 and applies it to the image processing unit 20 to reproduce the caption character synthesis unit. Indicates.

Next, the operation of the caption character size adjusting device of the television according to the present invention having the above-described configuration will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 (a) to 3 (c).

First, when the TV mode is selected by the TV / VCR mode setting button 12a of the remote controller 12, the control unit 14 controls the video switching unit 18 to be connected to the image IF module 16 side. (SW) is applied, and accordingly, the video switching 18 sets the switching path of the broadcast video signal under the TV mode. Therefore, when a composite video signal of a specific channel is applied from a tuner (not shown), the video IF module 16 performs IF conversion processing by applying a predetermined video IF signal to the video signal component of the composite video signal. An image signal subjected to the image IF conversion process is applied to the image processing unit 20 through the video switching unit 18. The video signal of the TV mode reproduced by the image processing unit 20 is applied to the CRT device unit 10 to reproduce the color image.

On the other hand, when the VCR mode is applied by the TV / VCR mode setting button 12a of the remote controller 12, the control unit 14 applies a control signal SW to the video switching unit 18, The video switching unit 18 controls to set the switching path of the external video signal ExV from the video tape recorder, for example. In this state, the external video signal ExV is applied to the image processing unit 20 through the video switching unit 18 to be reproduced and reproduced on the CRT device unit 10.

Here, when the caption character is included in the external video signal ExV and applied, the caption character of the CRT device 10 is set when the caption character is displayed by the caption function selection button 12b of the remote controller 10. In the display area 10a, the caption character is displayed in reverse. Usually, the caption character area 10a is previously designated on the CRT apparatus part 10, and the caption character area 10a is set to the horizontal scanning period (Hn-Hn + m) of FIG. 3 (a). Although the size of the caption character displayed in the caption character area 10a is always set to 'S1', the dimensions of the screen display are differently observed by the screen dimensions of the CRT apparatus unit 10.

Therefore, when the viewer sets, for example, the magnification for enlarging the caption character by the caption character magnification adjustment button 12c of the remote controller 10, the control unit 14 performs the enlargement process of the caption character at the set magnification. The control unit 14 provides a control signal CS to the image processing unit 20 to enlarge the caption character.

In this case, the caption character display area determiner 22 counts the caption character display area 10a (Hn-Hn + M horizontal scanning section) included in the external video signal ExV to display the caption character display area ( 10a) is determined, and the count results Hsy and Vsy indicating the caption character display area 10a are output when the horizontal scan line corresponding to the initial and end positions of the caption character display area 10a is counted. .

Then, the caption character extraction / recognition unit 24 digitally converts the external video signal ExV based on the count result of the caption character display area 10a and then determines the determined caption character display area 10a. Detects the white level at each horizontal scanning line (ie, Hn-Hn + m) in the extracted / recognized pattern of the caption character, and outputs the extracted / recognized caption character data to the caption character storage unit 26. do. Accordingly, the caption character data extracted / recognized by the caption character extraction / recognition unit 24 is the caption character storage unit 26 according to the recording signal W ′ and the address Ad applied from the control unit 14. Are stored in.

Subsequently, the controller 14 controls the caption character data stored in the caption character storage 26 based on the adjustment magnification set by the caption character magnification adjustment button 12c of the remote controller 10. The address Ad is specified in units of the white level detected pixels and the read signal R is output. In this case, the controller 14 displays the caption character display area 10a shown in FIG. The caption character is preferably within the range shown in Fig. 3 (c) from the size S1 of the designated caption character in the i), i.e., the entire section (Hn-Hn + m) of the designated caption character display area 10a. On the basis of the white level detected for each horizontal scanning line so as to be enlarged in the vertical direction, a reading is performed so that the pixel having a high white level has a size of 'S2' under one address designation.

Preferably, when caption data is read from the caption character storage unit 26 for the enlargement process of the caption character, the maximum caption character enlargement size S2 is the interval Hn − of the caption character display area 10a. Hn + m), the display area of the program image displayed on the CRT apparatus 10 during the enlargement process of the caption character does not cause any trouble.

As described above, the caption character data read out from the caption character storing unit 26 is applied to the caption character synthesizing unit 28 to be synthesized with the original external video signal ExV. F. The caption character synthesizing unit 28 superimposes the scaled caption characters on the caption character display area 10a determined by the caption character display area determiner 22, and accordingly the The resized caption characters are matched in the caption character display area 10a of the designated position and applied to the image processing unit 20.

Accordingly, an external video signal including the caption character processed by the image processing unit 20 is displayed on the CRT apparatus unit 10, and in this case, the caption character display area (shown in the CRT apparatus unit 10). The caption character in 10a) has a state in which the magnification is adjusted compared to the original size (that is, the size 'S2'; see FIG. 3 (c)), thereby improving the recognition of the caption character.

In addition, the reduction process of the caption character can also be performed inversely to the above process, and such reduction process is preferably applied when the screen size of the CRT apparatus 10 is large and viewed at a relatively close distance. .

On the other hand, the caption character scaling process of the type shown in Fig. 3 (c) is a process in which the maximum magnification of the caption character is set only within the caption character display area 10a having the position designated by the CRT apparatus 10. Is not limited to the application examples. For example, assuming that the caption character recognition is more important than the image signal displayed on the CRT apparatus 10, the caption character display area 10a by the caption character scaling button 12c of the remote controller 10 is assumed. The caption character data stored in the caption character storage unit 26 under the control of the control unit 14 when the magnification change of the caption character and the caption character can be adjusted accordingly accordingly are shown in FIG. 3 (d). By enlarging to, the caption character can be recognized at a more enlarged size.

That is, in the example of adjusting the size of the caption character illustrated in FIG. 3 (d), the caption character display area 10a designated in the CRT apparatus 10 is separated from the period Hn-Hn + m by the period Hn-l-Hn. In this case, l is assumed to be enlarged to a horizontal scan line of 10 to 30, and the processing is executed so that the caption characters in the extended caption character display area 10a are also enlarged interworkingly. Therefore, in that case, the caption text can be displayed in a larger size, and thus the recognition of the caption text can be further improved.

As described above, according to the apparatus for adjusting the caption character size of the television according to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately adjust the size of the caption character included in the external video signal to be displayed on the CRT apparatus. Accordingly, the recognition of the caption character provided under the caption function can be further improved without being significantly affected by the screen size of the CRT device.

Claims (4)

Under the setting of the VCR mode and caption function set by the remote controller 12, an external video signal provided through the switching unit 18 is reproduced by the image processing unit 20 and displayed on the CRT device unit 10. In A caption character scaling button 12c provided in the remote controller 12 for designating a magnification adjustment of the caption character; A caption character display area determiner 22 for determining a caption character display area designated on the CRT apparatus 10 from the external video signal; A caption character extraction / recognition unit 24 for extracting / recognizing caption characters in the caption character display area determined by the caption character display area determiner 22, A caption character storage unit 26 in which the extracted / recognized caption character data is stored and read out in a scaled form; A control unit 14 for controlling the reading of the caption character data stored in the caption character storage unit 26 at a magnification of the caption character designated by the caption character scaling button 12c, And a caption character synthesizing unit (28) for synthesizing the scaled caption character data to the external image signal and providing the caption character data to the image signal processing unit (20). 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the maximum magnification of the caption character is limited to the horizontal scanning section of the caption character display area. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scaling factor of the caption character is set in conjunction with the scaling of the caption character display area. The method of claim 1, wherein the caption character data stored in the caption character storage unit 26 is pattern data determined from a white level detection result for each horizontal scan line forming a section of the caption character display area. Adjust the caption character size of the television.