KR20090074623A - Method of extending an image - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of enlarging an image is provided to differentiate contrast or brightness of an enlarged image from a basic image. If an expansion image request signal is received(502), a controller extracts an image signal of a coordinate on which an enlarged image will be displayed(504). The controller enlarges the image signal extracted from an enlarged image basic coordinate by a preset enlarging ratio(506). The controller sets contrast or brightness of the enlarged image higher than contrast or brightness of the basic image(508). The controller determines whether an enlarged image storing or output request is inputted(510). When the enlarged image storing or output request is inputted, the controller outputs or stores a current enlarged image(512).

Description

How to magnify an image {METHOD OF EXTENDING AN IMAGE}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image display method on a television, and more particularly, to an image magnification method for enlarging a portion of an image output to a television.

The digitalization of information spread from the computer industry to the information and communication industry has recently expanded to television. The digitization of television will realize an interactive multimedia age in which a new paradigm that is fused with technology of computer and communication is realized.

The difference between digital television and traditional analog television is divided into picture quality, sound quality, aspect ratio and others as follows.

First, in terms of image quality, an analog television using 525 horizontal scanning lines has a horizontal resolution of about 330 lines that determines viewing quality, whereas a high definition (HD) class digital television has an analog resolution of about 700 lines. It's more than twice as sharp as the picture quality on television.

In terms of sound quality, conventional analog televisions provide only two channels of stereo sound, whereas digital televisions using AC3 technology provide 5.1 channels of stereo sound that can be enjoyed in theaters.

In contrast, the aspect ratio of the conventional analog television is 4: 3, while the digital television is based on a wide screen with a 16: 9 aspect ratio, similar to a theater screen.

What distinguishes digital television from analog television is not only the groundbreaking change in picture quality and sound quality described above. In other words, digital televisions are compatible with data through serial interfaces implemented through IEEE 1394 interface technology such as digital video disc (DVD) players, digital camcorders, digital VCRs, and the like that process digital signals as well as PCs.

Accordingly, the digitalization of television and the spread of media utilizing the compression method will accelerate the convergence of communication, computer, and broadcasting, and digital television will be internationalized and multi-channel as a single media having a complex function. Above all, the introduction of digital systems to televisions is characterized by the ability to provide a variety of data services that could not be realized in analog. In addition, the digitization of the television is transmitted by multiplexing the information in the vertical retrace period of the television video signal, or by using a separate channel, character information, image information, product information, and electronic program guide (EPG) for television or computer owners. Data broadcasting, which is a new media service that provides multimedia information such as a guide), can be implemented.

Therefore, digital television created by the digitalization of television is not only replaced the generation of analog television. It will be a catalyst that has a huge ripple effect in various related industries such as home appliances, computers, broadcasting and telecommunications.

On the other hand, the digital television as described above is not only a medium that can be viewed by anyone of all ages, but also has the characteristics of being the most easily used medium in daily life. Moreover, since digital television provides various information from all walks of life such as shopping information, stock information, weather information, local information and current affairs information, elderly people in their 60s and over can get the information they want from digital television. Can be.

However, some viewers who are in their 60s or older and those who are younger than those who have bad eyes are not able to clearly recognize subtitles or letters output through the screen of a digital television.

As a method for solving the above problems, the document of Patent Application No. 10-1999-0028689 and the like provides a method of enlarging a part of the image through the method as shown in Figure 1 below.

1 is an exemplary view showing a screen generated by a conventional image magnification method, showing an example of a method for generating an enlarged image and controlling the size of the enlarged image.

That is, in the conventional video magnification method, when a user presses a specific button of the wireless remote controller of the digital television, the cursor 201 appears in a predetermined region of the basic video 200 as shown in (a). Thereafter, when the user applies a command to enlarge the size by pressing a button and a direction key, the enlarged image 202 appears as shown in (b). At this time, the size of the enlarged image may be adjusted by the user's selection, and the position may be moved as shown in (c).

However, the conventional image magnification method as described above has a problem that it is difficult for the elderly with weak wits to obtain accurate information through the magnified image because the user can obtain information only through the magnified image.

In addition, if only the enlarged image is provided in a state in which there is no contrast or brightness difference from the base image as in the conventional image magnification method, it is difficult for the viewer to distinguish the magnified image from the base image, and thus the viewer obtains accurate information from the magnified image. There is a problem that is difficult.

An object of the present invention for solving the above problems, when the magnification of the specific portion of the basic image output through the digital television output, the contrast or brightness of the magnified image can be differentiated from the basic image, It is to provide a method of enlarging.

According to the present invention for achieving the above object, in the video magnification method applied to a digital television, when a magnified video request signal is received, the controller of the digital television receives information on the video signal output from the magnified video basic coordinates. Extracting; The control unit using the information to enlarge the image signal at a preset magnification ratio to output an enlarged image, and output the contrast or brightness of the enlarged image higher than the contrast or brightness of the base image; And when the enlarged image release request is received, terminating the enlarged image by the controller.

The present invention has an excellent effect of allowing the user to recognize the contents of the enlarged image more clearly by enlarging and outputting the selected portion of the basic image by the user.

In addition, the present invention has an excellent effect of being able to output the enlarged image to the printer.

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

2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a digital broadcasting system to which an image magnification method according to the present invention is applied.

Due to the proliferation of high speed internet and the advent of digitalized broadcasting program production environment, digital broadcasting system using digital television which can provide various additional contents as well as the function of existing television is being developed.

In addition, digital television not only provides various information to the user through the Internet, but also stores and provides various contents to the user, and can exchange information with various digital electronic products. Have

As shown in FIG. 2, the digital broadcasting system to which the image zooming method according to the present invention is applied includes a plurality of broadcasting system 100 for transmitting various broadcasting programs, and a digital television for outputting broadcasting programs transmitted from the broadcasting system. 400), a computer 300 capable of receiving and displaying magnified image information from a digital television, and a printer 500 capable of printing an enlarged image of a digital television when a magnified image output request is received from the digital television. It is. In the following description, the computer 300 and the printer 500 are collectively referred to as external devices.

The broadcasting station system 100 is a system for providing broadcast programs as described above, and may be variously operated according to its type. That is, the broadcasting station system may be at least one of an over-the-air broadcasting system, a cable broadcasting system, a satellite broadcasting system, an internet broadcasting system, and a wired broadcasting system. The broadcasting program provided by the broadcasting system may also include dramas, movies, sports, and stocks. , News, and more.

The digital television 400 not only performs a basic function of outputting a broadcast program transmitted wirelessly or wired from a broadcasting station system, but also implements an image enlargement method according to the present invention, thereby allowing the user to view information provided by the broadcast program. It has a feature that can be recognized correctly.

The computer 300 is a device capable of processing various types of information by a central processing unit (CPU), and may be a personal computer (PC) that is currently generally used. That is, the user may check the enlarged image information stored in the digital television through an output device (monitor) of the computer.

The printer 500 is a device having a function of outputting an enlarged image output from a digital television. When the user watches the enlarged image on a digital television and requests the enlarged image output for more accurate information, the digital television is output. It receives the information of the magnified image from the output to the paper.

3 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the digital television shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the image zooming method according to the present invention includes a channel tuning unit 410, a signal processing unit 420, a display unit 430, a speaker 440, a data storage unit 450, and an interface 460. ), A user selector 470, and a controller 490.

The channel tuning unit 410 may include one or more tuners for tuning a broadcast signal received through an antenna, and a demodulator for outputting the tuned signal in a transport stream form through a demodulation process and an error correction process. The broadcast signal having a frequency band corresponding to the tuning control signal of the controller is tuned.

The signal processor 420 processes a broadcast signal of a channel tuned through the channel tuner and displays the same on the display. In addition, the signal processing unit processes not only the broadcast signal received through the channel tuning unit but also an image signal of an electronic program guide (EPG) (hereinafter, simply referred to as 'EPG') stored in the data storage unit. It can also be displayed on the display unit. An EPG refers to organization information of a broadcast program individually received from a broadcasting station or a second broadcast service provider, and is stored and managed in a data storage unit.

The display unit 430 performs a function of outputting a video signal decoded by a signal processor from a broadcast signal of a selected channel so that a user can view it, and may include digital light processing (DLP), liquid crystal display (LCD), and PDP ( Various types of display modules such as Plasma Display Penal) may be applied. In addition, the display unit outputs the base image and outputs the magnified image processed by the controller and the signal processor on the base image.

The speaker 440 performs a function of outputting the audio signal decoded by the signal processor among the broadcast signals of the selected channel so that a user can hear it.

The data storage unit 450 is composed of a hard disk drive and the like, and stores a broadcast signal and EPG information received from the channel tuning unit. In addition, the data storage unit stores the enlarged image when there is a storage request for the enlarged image.

The interface 460 performs a basic function of receiving various broadcast programs by being connected to a broadcasting station system through a network, and is connected to a computer to transmit enlarged image information to a computer, or is connected to a printer to transmit enlarged image information to a printer. It performs the function.

The user selector 470 includes various buttons for controlling the control unit. In particular, the user selector 470 includes a button for allowing a user to select an enlarged image, a button for adjusting the size or position of the enlarged image, and an enlarged image. It includes buttons for saving or outputting to a printer.

The controller 490 is implemented as a CPU or a microcomputer. The controller 490 not only outputs a broadcast program among the broadcast signals transmitted through the channel tuning unit, but also stores the broadcast signal in the data storage unit. It may be. In particular, the controller applied to the present invention may perform a function of outputting an enlarged image on the base image of the broadcast program by controlling the signal processor as described above.

On the other hand, the present invention is to provide a magnified image to a digital television comprising the configuration as described above, to allow the user to view the magnified image on a computer or to output it to a paper through a printer to check, Hereinafter, an image magnification method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

4 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of an image magnification method according to the present invention.

When the power of the digital television is turned on, the controller of the digital television outputs the received broadcast program through the display unit, and when an enlarged image request signal is received through the user selection unit (502), coordinates for displaying the enlarged image are displayed. Extract the video signal of (504). That is, according to the present invention, when the enlarged image basic coordinates for outputting the enlarged image are stored in the data storage unit and the enlarged image request is received, the controller extracts information of the image signal currently output from the enlarged image basic coordinates. In this case, the basic coordinate of the enlarged image is set to a specific coordinate value at the time of manufacture of the product, but may be reset by the user. For example, in the case of a user who prefers a shopping mall channel broadcasted on a digital television, since the price and information of the product are mainly displayed on the lower left part of the screen, the default magnified image coordinate may be set to the lower left part of the screen. In addition, in the case of a user who enjoys watching sports such as baseball or soccer, since information on scores of each team is mainly displayed on the upper left or lower center of the screen, the basic image of the enlarged image may be set at the position.

Meanwhile, the controller enlarges the video signal extracted from the enlarged video basic coordinates at a preset enlargement ratio (506). Here, the enlargement ratio may also be set by the user at a desired ratio, and the controller enlarges the video signal at the set enlargement ratio. In this case, the video output through the basic coordinates of the enlarged video is not a video that does not change for a predetermined time such as product price information, product characteristic information, and scores of sports games, but is a video that changes frequently from time to time. It may be difficult to extract and enlarge the changed video signal, and the present invention basically enlarges and displays the video signal captured at the time when the enlarged video request signal is received. However, according to the present invention, when a predetermined time, for example, about 5 seconds has elapsed, another image signal extracted from the basic image of the enlarged image may be enlarged and output at the enlargement ratio. In other words, the magnified image may be provided to the user by expanding a new video signal at intervals of 5 seconds. The above operation may be equally applied even when the coordinates of the enlarged image are changed by the user's change request. That is, when the coordinates of the enlarged image are changed by the enlarged image coordinate change request, the controller enlarges and outputs the image at the changed coordinates at the time when the coordinates are changed, while another time at the changed coordinates after 5 seconds has elapsed. The image can be enlarged and output. However, since the present invention is not limited thereto, the enlarged image may be an enlarged video. That is, the controller may enlarge and output the information about the video which is changed in real time from the coordinates of the enlarged image in real time.

As described above, when the base image is enlarged and output as a magnified image, the contrast or contrast of the magnified image may be set higher than the contrast or brightness of the base image. (508). That is, the present invention sets the contrast or brightness of the enlarged image higher than the contrast or brightness of the base image, so that the user can recognize the enlarged image more clearly in the base image.

The controller determines whether an enlarged image storage or output request is input through the user selection unit while outputting the enlarged image in the basic image (510).

In response to the input determination result 510, when the enlarged image storage or output request is input, the controller determines whether there is a request to release the enlarged image (512). 514) is repeated, and when the release request is input, the enlarged image is terminated.

When the input determination result 510, the magnified image storage or output request is input, the control unit may transmit the current magnified image to the computer 400 to be stored in the computer, or to the printer 500 to be sent to the paper It may be output (512).

That is, the present invention allows the information of the enlarged image to be transmitted to a computer or a printer, so that the user can check not only the display unit of the digital television but also the monitor or paper of the computer.

On the other hand, if there is a request for the storage of the enlarged image, the controller may transmit and store the enlarged image information to the computer as described above, but may also be stored in the data storage unit. In this case, the user may execute the enlarged image reading menu after ending the enlarged image, and may view the enlarged image stored in the data storage unit through the display unit.

If a request for releasing the enlarged image is input through the user selector 514 during the processes 502 to 504, the controller terminates the output enlarged image.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention should not be limited to the contents described in the detailed description of the specification but should be defined by the claims.

1 is an exemplary view showing a screen generated by a conventional image magnification method.

2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a digital broadcasting system to which an image magnification method according to the present invention is applied;

3 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the digital television shown in FIG. 2;

4 is a flowchart of an embodiment of an image magnification method according to the present invention;

<Description of Major Symbols in Drawing>

410: channel tuning unit 420: signal processing unit

430: display unit 440: speaker

450: data storage unit 460: interface

470: user selection unit 490: control unit

Claims (5)

In the video magnification method applied to digital television, When the enlarged image request signal is received, extracting information on an image signal output from the enlarged image basic coordinates by the controller of the digital television; The control unit using the information to enlarge the image signal at a preset magnification ratio to output an enlarged image, and output the contrast or brightness of the enlarged image higher than the contrast or brightness of the base image; And And terminating the magnified image by the controller if a magnified image release request is received. The method of claim 1, The magnified image basic coordinates may be changed. The method of claim 1, When the coordinate change request is received through the user selector of the digital television, changing, by the controller, the coordinate of the enlarged image from the enlarged image basic coordinate to the requested coordinate change; And The control unit enlarges the image signal at a preset magnification ratio using the information on the image signal at the changed coordinates and outputs the magnified image, while contrast or brightness of the magnified image is converted to the contrast or brightness of the base image. The image magnification method further comprising the step of outputting higher. The method of claim 1, The enlarged image, The image magnification method of claim 1, wherein the changed base image is enlarged and output for each preset time. The method of claim 1, And transmitting, by the controller, the enlarged image information to an external device connected to the digital television when a request for storing or outputting the enlarged image is received.

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