KR960006828B1 - Auto channel search apparatus & method - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a tuning unit for converting frequency into a high frequency by a user; an image detecting unit for detecting an image signal in the intermediate frequency signal; a high frequency signal discriminating unit for discriminating whether there is information on TV in the intermediate frequency signal of the tuning unit; a memory for storing a reception channel information for the TV signal; a chromatic processing unit for separating a blue-luminance signal and a red-luminance signal from the image signal of the image detecting unit, and checking the phase difference between the blue and red-luminance signals; and a control unit for changing the channel of the tuning unit, and storing tuned data including the channel information under tuning by the high frequency signal discriminating unit, and transfer information of the TV signal received from the chromatic processing unit.

Description

Channel automatic search device and method

1 is a block diagram of a reception channel search apparatus of a conventional arm / secam system signal.

2 is a flowchart of a method for searching a received channel of a conventional arm / secam signal.

3 is a block diagram of a channel automatic search apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart of a channel automatic search method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

76: tuner 77: aerial

78: IF amplifier 80: VCO

82: image detector 84: image amplifier

86: luminance processing unit 88: color processing unit

92: RF signal presence section 94: memory

96: key matrix 98: microcomputer

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for searching for a reception channel of a television signal that is receivable in a multiple television receiver capable of receiving two or more transmission television signals having different transmission methods. The present invention relates to a channel automatic search apparatus and method for automatically receiving television signals that can be received.

Conventional television signal transmission methods include NTSC (National Television System Committee), PAL (Phase Altemation Line (PAL)) and SECAM (Sequentielle A Memoire) (SECAM) hereinafter depending on multiple methods of color signals. The dual arm and secam transmission schemes are mainly used in Europe, and the NTSC transmission schemes are mainly used in North America, including Korea, Japan, and the United States. In the European region where the arm and the Secam transmission method are used, there are regions capable of receiving both the television signal and the Secam method of the television signal, and for the viewers in the region where the two-way television signal is received. BACKGROUND ART An arm / secam combined television receiver capable of receiving a Secam system television signal is prevalent. The arm / secam combined television receiver is provided with a channel search function capable of searching for a reception channel of an arm-type television signal currently received and a reception channel of a secam system television signal.

However, the conventional channel search apparatus applied to the arm / secam combined television receiver is designed to allow the user to manually designate a television system to search for the reception channels, thereby making the user uncomfortable and hassle to operate the key several times. It has a problem to burden it. In addition, the conventional channel search apparatus and method have a problem in that it is not possible to search for a reception channel of another transmission method because it is determined whether the received channel is a reception channel based on whether or not the detected signal includes a television signal. Problems of the conventional channel searching apparatus and method will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, an arm having a tuner 10 for tuning an RF signal including a television signal from a Radio Frequency (hereinafter referred to as `` RF '') signal received through the aerial line 11 / A conventional channel search apparatus applied to a Secam combined television receiver has been described. The tuner 10 frequency-converts the tuned RF signal to generate an intermediate frequency (hereinafter, referred to as IF) signal and supplies the generated IF signal to the IF amplifier 12. The IF amplifier 12 amplifies the IF signal from the tuner 10 at a predetermined amplification rate so as to be processable and supplies the amplified IF signal to the image detector 16. The image detector 16 detects the amplified IF signal from the IF amplifier 12 to generate an image signal and supplies the detected image signal to the image amplifier 18. The image detector 16 is supplied from a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) 14 when a Secam method television signal transmitted on a frequency band of the VHF-L is received. The frequency array of the video information and the audio information included in the amplified IF signal from the IF amplifier 12 by the oscillation frequency signal is the frequency array of the audio and video information of the arm type television signal and the frequency of the VHF-H. The video signal is detected by frequency-aligning and detecting the frequency-arranged IF signal so as to be the same as the frequency array of the audio and video information of the Secam method of the television signal carried on the band. In addition, the image detector 16 may generate a positive or negative voltage value of a sync signal included in the detected image signal according to a logic value of a method control signal applied from the microcomputer 26. The amplified IF signal from the IF amplifier 12 is detected to have. The image amplifier 18 transmits the image signal from the image detector 16 to the display device (not shown) via the output terminal 13, while the image existence discriminator 20 is supplied. do. Then, the video presence discrimination unit 20 detects whether the video signal from the video amplifying unit 18 includes the video information and is high (or low) when the video signal includes the video information. Generates an image presence discrimination signal with logic

In addition, the conventional channel search apparatus further includes a keyboard 24 for inputting a user-specified command to the microcomputer 26. The microcomputer 26 controls the television system according to a user-specified command flowing through the keyboard 24 and tunes recorded in the memory 22 to receive a broadcast program of a channel of a user-specified transmission method. The tuner 10, the image detector 16, and the VCO 14 are controlled according to the data, and the tuner 10, the image detector 16, and the VCO 14 are controlled according to a program. The receiving channels of the television signal of the type scheme are searched and the searched tuning data is stored in the memory 22.

2 is a flow chart of a conventional channel search method performed by the microcomputer 26 shown in FIG. 1, which will be described below.

The microcomputer 26 scans the key matrix 24 at regular intervals to determine whether a method switching key for designating a broadcast method or a search key for searching for a receiving channel through which a television signal is received is input (28th). To step 32).

When the method switching key is input in steps 28 to 32, the microcomputer 26 switches the broadcasting mode from the current arm mode to the Secam mode or from the current Secam mode to the arm mode. When switching from the Secam mode to the arm mode, the oscillation operation of the VCO 14 is stopped so that the oscillation frequency signal generated by the VCO 14 is not supplied to the image detector 16 (34). To step 38).

On the other hand, when the search key is input in steps 28 to 32, the microcomputer 26 performs steps 40 to 72 to search for channels on which a television signal of the currently set broadcast method is broadcast. It will be explained in detail.

First, the microcomputer 26 turns off or on the oscillation operation of the VCO 14 depending on whether the currently set broadcast method is an arm or a secam method (steps 40 to 44). The microcomputer 26 controls the tuner 10 to tune channels from the base channel of the frequency band of the VHF-L to the last channel of the frequency band of the UHF, while from the image signal discrimination unit 20. It is checked whether a video presence / absence discrimination signal having a predetermined logic that video information is included in the received video signal (steps 46 to 56). In addition, in each of operations 46 through 56, whenever a predetermined logical presence / absence discrimination signal is introduced, the currently set broadcast method, the band and channel tuned by the tuner 10, and the operating state of the VCO 14 Tuning data having information on is stored in the memory 22 in sequence (steps 58 to 66 and 72). When the microcomputer 26 searches for the reception channel of the Secam type television signal, the microcomputer 26 determines whether the currently tuned channel is the last channel of the frequency band of the VHF-L, and turns off the VCO 14 that is currently oscillating. 67 and 70 are further performed.

As described above, the conventional channel searching apparatus and method is configured to allow a user to manually designate a television method to search for receiving channels by operating a method switching key, thereby causing inconvenience and inconvenience for the user to manipulate the key several times. Has a problem of burdening the user. In addition, the conventional channel searching apparatus and method have a problem in that a receiving channel of another transmission method cannot be searched because it is determined whether or not the receiving channel is included in the detected video signal.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a television signal capable of receiving two or more transmission television signals having different transmission methods so that a receivable television signal can automatically search for receiving channels regardless of the television signal method. The present invention provides a channel automatic search apparatus and method.

In order to achieve the above object, the automatic search apparatus of the present invention comprises tuning means for tuning a high frequency signal desired by a user and frequency converting the tuned high frequency signal, and detecting a video signal from an intermediate frequency signal from the tuning means. Image detection means, high frequency signal presence / absence means for detecting the presence or absence of television information in the intermediate frequency signal from the tuning means, memory means for storing received channel information of the television signal, and from the image detection means A chroma processing unit for separating the red-luminance signal and the blue-luminance signal from the video signal and detecting the transmission method of the received television signal by checking the phase difference between the red-luminance signal and the blue-luminance signal; The channel is variable and tuned by the output of the high frequency signal presence and absence means. Characterized in that the information transmission system provided with a control means of the received television signal detected by the sync data and the chroma processor including a channel being tuned information.

In order to achieve the above object, the channel automatic search method of the present invention provides a process of injecting a command requesting a search for a receiving channel of a television signal, and a reception of a high frequency signal containing a television signal by varying a tuning channel of the tuning means. Detecting a transmission method of the received television signal, and storing tuning data including information on the detected transmission method of the television signal and channel information of the tuning means. It is characterized by one.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention other than the above objects will become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 attached to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

Referring to FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention applied to an arm / secam combined television receiver having a tuner 76 for tuning an RF signal including a television signal from an RF signal received through an aerial line 77 Channel auto search is described. The tuner 76 frequency-converts the tuned RF signal to generate an IF signal and supplies the generated lF signal to the lF amplifier 78. The IF amplifier 78 amplifies the IF signal from the tuner 76 by a predetermined amplification ratio so as to be a processable size and transmits the amplified IF signal to the RF signal discriminator 92 and the image detector 82. Supply. The image detector 82 detects the amplified IF signal from the IF amplifier 78 to generate an image signal, and supplies the detected image signal to the image amplifier 84. The image detector 82 receives the IF signal from the IF amplifier 78 by an oscillation frequency signal supplied from the VCO 80 when a television signal of the Secam method, which is carried on the main fruit band of the VHF-L, is received. The audio sequence of the video signal and the audio information contained in the amplified IF signal of the audio signal of the Secam system and the frequency array of the audio and video information of the arm-type television signal and the VHF-H frequency band is transmitted. The video signal is detected by frequency-aligning and detecting the frequency-arranged IF signal so as to be the same as that of the video information. In addition, the image detector 82 generates a positive or negative voltage value of a synchronization signal included in the detected image signal according to a logic value of a method control signal applied from the microcomputer 98. The amplified IF signal from the IF amplifier 78 is detected. The image amplifier 84 amplifies the image signal from the image detector 82 at a predetermined amplification rate and supplies the amplified image signal to the luminance processor 86 and the chroma processor 88. do. The luminance processor 86 separates the luminance signal from the amplified image signal from the image amplifier 84 and transmits the separated luminance signal to the display device (not shown) through the first output terminal 78. do. On the other hand, the chroma processing unit 88 also receives a red-luminance (hereinafter referred to as "RY") signal and a blue-luminance (hereinafter referred to as "BY") signal from the amplified image signal from the image amplifier 84. The separated and separated RY and BY signals are sent to the display device via the second output terminal 81. The chroma processor 88 checks whether the RY signal and the BY signal included in the amplified video signal from the image amplification unit 84 have a constant phase difference to determine whether the amplified video signal is a Secam method. To judge. The chroma signal processing unit 88 has a Secam method having a predetermined logic (high logic) indicating that the currently received television signal is a Secam broadcasting television signal when the RY signal and the BY signal included in the video signal do not have a phase difference. A discrimination signal is generated and the generated Secam method discrimination signal is supplied to the microcomputer 98. The RF signal presence discriminator 92 integrates the intermediate frequency signal from the IF amplifier 78 and checks whether the voltage level of the integrated signal is greater than or equal to a predetermined voltage. The RF signal presence discriminator 92 generates and generates an RF signal presence discrimination signal having a predetermined logic (for example, high logic) indicating that a television signal is received when the voltage level of the integrated signal is greater than or equal to a predetermined voltage. The RF signal presence discrimination signal is supplied to the microcomputer 98.

In addition, the channel search apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention further includes a key matrix 96 for inputting a user-specified command to the microcomputer 98. The microcomputer 98 records in the memory 94 to control the television system according to a user-specified command flowed through the key matrix 96 and to receive a broadcast program of a channel of a user-specified transmission method. The tuner 76, the image detector 82, and the VCO 80 are controlled according to the tuned data. The microcomputer 98 controls the tuner 76, the image detector 82, and the VCO 80 according to a program, and outputs from the RF signal discriminator 92 and the chroma processor 82. The receiving channels of the arm and secam type television signals are detected by the logical state of the signal, and the tuning data for the detected receiving channels is stored in the memory 94.

4 is a flow chart of a channel automatic search method according to an embodiment of the present invention performed by the microcomputer 98 shown in FIG. The flowchart shown in FIG. 4 performed by the microcomputer 98 will be described in detail in conjunction with the channel automatic search apparatus of FIG.

The microcomputer 98 scans the key matrix 94 by a kisscan interrupt generated at a predetermined cycle and checks whether key data corresponding to a user-specified command is input (step 100). When there is key data input from the key matrix 94 in step 100, the microcomputer 98 examines the logical value of the input key data and receives the television signal in which the key data is received. It is determined whether or not the search key designates a search (step 102). When it is determined in step 102 that the input key data is a search key, the microcomputer 98 has a band selection signal having a logic value for designating a frequency band of the base band VHF-L and the base frequency of the base band. The base frequency selective signal is generated to supply a band selection signal and a frequency selection signal generated to the tuner 76 so that the tuner 76 receives the RF signal of the lowest frequency band of the VHF-L frequency band. Tuning is performed (step 104). After performing step 104, the microcomputer 98 has an RF signal having a predetermined logic (for example, high logic) indicating that an IF signal including a television signal is flowing from the RF signal discriminator 92. It is checked whether a discrimination signal is input (step 106). The microcomputer 98 is supplied to the tuner 76 when the RF signal presence / absence discrimination signal of a predetermined logic (that is, high logic) does not flow from the RF signal presence / absence discriminator 92 in step 106. The logic value of the frequency selection signal is checked to determine whether the tuner 76 tunes to an RF signal of the last frequency band of the frequency band being tuned (step 108).

When the tuner 76 tunes the RF signal of the last frequency band of the currently tuned frequency band in step 108, the microcomputer 98 performs a logic of the band selection signal applied to the tuner 76. In operation 110, the tuner 76 determines whether the frequency band being tuned is the frequency band of the UHF, which is the last frequency band. When the logic value of the frequency selection signal being applied to the tuner 76 in step 108 is smaller than the logic value designating the last frequency band of the currently selected frequency band, the microcomputer 98 performs the frequency selection signal. Increment the logic value of " 1 " to cause the tuner 76 to tune the RF signal of the next frequency band (step 112). In operation 110, when the logical value of the band selection signal applied to the tuner 76 is smaller than the logical value designating the frequency band of the UHF, which is the last frequency band, the microcomputer 98 transmits to the tuner 76. Increment the logic value of the band selection signal applied by " 1 " and initialize the logic value of the frequency selection signal applied to the tuner 76 so that the tuner 76 tunes the RF signal of the base frequency band of the next frequency band. (Step 114). In addition, the microcomputer 98 returns to step 104 after performing step 112 or step 114.

In step 106, when the RF signal presence / absence discrimination signal having a predetermined logic (that is, high logic) flows from the RF signal presence / absorption unit 92, the microcomputer 98 transmits the Secam broadcast from the chroma processing unit 88. In operation 116, it is determined whether the broadcast signal discrimination signal having a predetermined logic (for example, high logic) indicating that the video signal of the video signal is received is an television signal of an arm or secam method. ). In step 116, when a broadcasting method discrimination signal having a predetermined logic (for example, high logic) indicating that a Secam broadcasting video signal is received from the chroma processing unit 88, the microcomputer 98 enters the data. According to the logic value of the band selection signal applied to the tuner 76, the tuner 76 checks whether the frequency band being tuned is the main fruit band of VHF-L, which is the base frequency band, and the frequency array of the video information and the audio information is adjusted. It is judged whether the Secam-b type television signal which is the same as the arm type television signal is received or the Secam-b type television signal whose frequency arrangement of the video information and the audio information is different from the arm type television signal. step).

In operation 116, when the broadcasting method discrimination signal having a predetermined logic (for example, high logic) indicating that the Secam broadcasting video signal is received from the chroma processor 88, the microcomputer 98 is an image detector. The logic value of the broadcast mode control signal applied to the block 82 is checked to determine whether the currently set broadcast mode is the arm mode (step 120). In operation 120, when the logic value of the broadcast mode control signal applied to the image detector 82 has a logic value of “0” indicating that the broadcast mode control signal is in the security mode, the microcomputer 98 controls the broadcast mode control. The arm mode is set by setting the logic value of the signal to "1" (step 122). Is the VCO 80 in the oscillation operation after the operation of step 122 or in step 120, when the broadcast mode control signal has a logic value of '0' indicating that it is a Secam method? In operation 124, the logic value of the oscillation control signal applied to the VCO 80 is examined in order to determine whether or not it is determined. In the step 124, when the oscillation control signal has a logic value of "1" indicating that the VCO 80 is in oscillation operation, the microcomputer 98 stops the oscillation operation of the VCO 80. An oscillation control signal having a logic value of "0" is applied to the VCO 80 (step 126). After performing the operation 126 or in operation 124, when the oscillation control signal has a logic value of "0" indicating that the VCO 80 is in oscillation stop, the microcomputer 98 enters the broadcast mode. Tuning data including a logic value of a control signal, a logic value of a band selection signal and a frequency selection signal applied to the tuner 76, and a logic value of the oscillation control signal are stored in the memory 94 (step 128). ).

In operation 118, when the frequency band tuned by the tuner 76 is different from the frequency band of VHF-L, which is a base frequency band, the microcomputer 98 controls the broadcast mode mode applied to the image detector 82. The logic value of the signal is examined to determine whether the currently set broadcast method is the arm mode (step 130). In operation 130, when the logic value of the broadcast mode control signal applied to the image detector 82 has a logic value of “1” indicating that it is an arm mode, the microcomputer 98 controls the broadcast mode control. The security mode is set by resetting the logic value of the signal to " 0 " (step 132). Whether the VCO 80 is in the oscillation operation after performing the operation 132 or in operation 130, when the broadcasting mode control signal has a logic value of "0" indicating that it is a Secam method. In operation 134, the logic value of the oscillation control signal applied to the VCO 80 is examined to determine. When the oscillation control signal has a logic value of "1" indicating that the VCO 80 is in an oscillation operation, the microcomputer 98 stops the oscillation operation of the VCO 80 in step 134. An oscillation control signal having a low logic is applied to the VCO 80 (step 136). After performing the operation 136 or in operation 134, when the oscillation control signal has a logic value of "0" indicating that the VCO 80 is in oscillation stop, the microcomputer 98 enters the broadcast mode. Tuning data including a logic value of a control signal, a logic value of a band selection signal and a frequency selection signal applied to the tuner 76, and a logic value of the oscillation control signal are stored in the memory 94 (step 138). ).

In addition, in step 118, when the frequency band being tuned by the tuner 76 is a frequency band of VHF-L which is a base frequency band, the microcomputer 98 controls the broadcast mode mode applied to the image detector 82. The logic value of the signal is examined to determine whether the currently set broadcast method is the arm mode (step 140). In step 140, when the logic value of the broadcast mode control signal applied to the image detector 82 has a logic value of "1" indicating that it is an arm mode, the microcomputer 98 controls the broadcast mode control. The Secam broadcasting mode is set by resetting the logic value of the signal to "0" (step 142). After performing the operation 142 or when the broadcasting mode control signal has a logic value of "0" indicating that the security mode is the Secam method, the microcomputer 98 determines whether the VCO 80 is in oscillation operation. In operation 144, the logic value of the oscillation control signal applied to the VCO 80 is examined in order to determine. In step 144, when the oscillation control signal has a logic value of "0" indicating that the VCO 80 is in oscillation stop, the microcomputer 98 generates " 1 " An oscillation control signal having a logic value of 0 is applied to the VCO 80 (step 146). When the oscillation control signal has a logic value of "1" indicating that the VCO 80 is in an oscillation operation after performing operation 146 or in operation 144, the microcomputer 98 enters the broadcast mode. Tuning data including a logic value of a control signal, a band selection signal and a frequency selection signal applied to the tuner 76, and a logic value of the oscillation control signal are stored in the memory 94 (step 148). ). After performing the 128th, 138th, or 148th steps, the microcomputer 98 sets a storage area of the tuning data in the memory 94, and returns to the 108th step (step 150). .

On the other hand, when the input key data is not the same as the search key in step 102, the microcomputer 98 performs a function corresponding to the logical value of the input key data (step 152).

As described above, the channel automatic search method of the present invention determines whether the television signal is included in the IF signal output of the tuner and determines whether the detected video signal is a Secam method. Provides the advantage of sequential and automatic discovery of received channels.

Claims (9)

Tuning means for tuning a desired high frequency signal and frequency converting the tuned high frequency signal, an image detecting means for detecting an image signal from an intermediate frequency signal from the tuning means, and an intermediate frequency signal from the tuning means. A high frequency signal presence determining means for detecting the presence of information, a memory means for storing reception channel information of a television signal, and a red luminance signal and a blue luminance signal for separating a red luminance signal and a blue luminance signal from an image signal from the image detection means. At the same time, the chroma processing unit which detects the phase difference between the red-luminance signal and the blue-luminance signal to detect the transmission method of the reception television signal, and the tuning channel of the tuning means are varied, and by the output of the high frequency signal presence / exception means Sync data including the channel information that the tuner is tuning and Transmission scheme of the received television signal is detected by the information processing unit the channel auto-searching apparatus, characterized in that the control means for storing in the memory means. 2. The automatic channel search apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the chroma processor detects whether the video signal from the video detection means is a television signal of the Secam method. 3. The voltage controlled oscillator of claim 2, connected between said control means and said image detecting means, and adjusting a distribution frequency band of video information contained in an intermediate frequency signal from said tuning means under control of said control means. Channel automatic search device characterized in that it further comprises. The channel according to claim 1, wherein the image detecting means selectively detects the arm type video signal and the Secam type video signal included in the intermediate frequency signal from the tuning means under the control of the control means. Auto search device. A process of inputting a command requesting a search channel of a television signal, a high frequency detection process of varying a tuning channel of the tuning means and detecting reception of a high frequency signal including a television signal, and a transmission scheme of the received television signal And a recording method for storing tuning data including information on the transmission method of the detected television signal and channel information being tuned by the tuning means. . 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the high frequency detection process varies the tuning channel of the tuning means from the base channel of the frequency band of VHF-L to the last channel of the frequency band of UHF. 6. The channel of claim 5, wherein the signal detection process determines whether the received television signal is an arm or secam method signal by multiple forms of luminance and chromatic components included in the received television signal. Auto search method. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the signal detection process detects whether the received television signal is a Secam L and Sekam L / L 'type signal according to whether the frequency band tuned by the tuning means is a frequency band of VHF-L. Channel auto search method characterized in that it further comprises a process. 9. The method of claim 7 or 8, further comprising the step of switching the reception mode of the current television signal to the transmission method of the received television signal after the signal detection process. .