WO2010018881A1

WO2010018881A1 - Display apparatus for variable picture size

Info

Publication number: WO2010018881A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/004711
Authority: WO
Inventors: Du Jeong Lee
Original assignee: Du Jeong Lee
Priority date: 2008-08-13
Filing date: 2008-08-13
Publication date: 2010-02-18

Abstract

Disclosed is a display apparatus for a variable picture size. The display apparatus includes an input unit to input adjustment signals for adjusting a picture size, a converting unit to convert a picture size varying based on image signals in accordance with an input of the input unit, a display unit to display the converted picture in the converting unit, a power supply unit to supply an electric power to the display unit, and a control unit to control the power supply unit so that a power is selectively supplied or interrupted to the display unit. In this instance, the control unit provides power supply only to a part corresponding to the picture size converted in the display unit, and interrupts the power supply to the remaining parts.

Description

DISPLAYAPPARATUS FOR VARIABLE PICTURE SIZE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a display apparatus for a variable picture size, and more particularly, to a display apparatus for a variable picture size which may adjust a picture size in accordance with image signals, and interrupt a power supply to parts of a screen displayed as a black color without a picture, thereby reducing power consumption.

Background Art

In general, a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) is widely used as a display apparatus. However, the CRT is inconvenient for mobile or portable use due to its high power consumption and relatively huge size.

Accordingly, in order to overcome the above-mentioned problems, a display apparatus known as a Flat Panel Display (FPD) has been developed. As examples of a FPD, a Plasma Display Panel (PDP), a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a Light Emitting Diode (LED) Display, and the like may be given.

These display apparatuses have a trend of getting larger owing to consumer's desires for increase of size and expansion in the use of the technique of the entire industry. Power consumption of the display apparatus generally increases along with an increase in a size of a screen.

Hereinafter, a structure of a conventional display apparatus is described in detail.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a structure of a conventional LCD.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a conventional display apparatus 10 includes a liquid crystal panel 11, a driving circuit 12, and a back light 13.

The liquid crystal panel 11 is provided with liquid crystals injected between two glasses, and the driving circuit 12 includes a Driver large scale integrated circuit (Driver LSI for driving the liquid crystal panel 11 and a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) on which various circuit elements are mounted. Also, the back light 13 is provided for supplying a white light to the liquid crystal panel 11. Here, the display apparatus 10 controls and displays the white light supplied from the back light 13 in such a manner so that a light transmitted to pixels is controlled and displayed in accordance with signal voltages of each pixel inputted from the driving circuit 12. Also, the display apparatus 10 may control the transmitted light not to be transmitted while maintaining lights from the back light 13 to be on, thereby being displayed as a black color.

However, the display apparatus 10 has several problems as below.

First, the display apparatus 10 is always supplied with the white light from the back light 13 even in a part of the screen displayed as the black color, thereby increasing power consumption.

Second, the display apparatus always displays images via a large sized screen, and thus not changing a size of the screen.

Third, the display apparatus always maintains lights from the back light 13 lights to be on, and thus reducing a life of the back light 13.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a structure of a conventional PDP.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a display apparatus 20 includes a front panel 21, a rear panel 22, a phosphor 23, and a driving circuit 24. The front panel 21 includes a transparent electrode, a bus electrode, a dielectric layer, and a protection layer. The rear panel 22 includes an address electrode, a dielectric layer, and barrier ribs. The phosphor 23 fills the space between the barrier ribs, and the front and rear panels 21 and 22 are provided to be sealed.

The phosphor 23 is provided such that three grooves corresponding to red (R), green (G), and blue (B) each coated along the barrier ribs constitute a single pixel.

Thus, the phosphor 23 is discharged by the driving circuit 24 in accordance with signal voltages, and colors are emitted for each pixel, thereby displaying images.

However, the display apparatus 20 has several problems as below.

First, the display apparatus 20 displays images using a discharge phenomenon, and thus requiring relatively high power consumption in a case of displaying images on an entire screen.

Second, the display apparatus 20 displays images on an entire screen, and thus not changing a size of the screen as necessary.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Goals An aspect of the present invention provides a display apparatus for a variable picture size which may require relatively low power consumption.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a display apparatus for a variable picture size which may change a picture size as necessary.

Still another aspect of the present invention provides a display apparatus for a variable picture size which may extend a life of a back light.

Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a display apparatus for a variable picture size which may display images only on a part of a screen, and thus required power consumption may be relatively low, even when using a discharge phenomenon.

Technical solutions

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display apparatus for a variable picture size, the display apparatus including: an input unit to input adjustment signals for adjusting a picture size; a converting unit to convert a picture size varying based on image signals in accordance with an input of the input unit; a display unit to display the converted picture in the converting unit; a power supply unit to supply a power to the display unit; and a control unit to control the power supply unit so that a power is selectively supplied or interrupted to the display unit. In this instance, the control unit may provide power supply only to a part corresponding to the picture size converted in the display unit, and interrupt the power supply to the remaining parts.

Also, the adjustment signals may include at least one of a relative size ratio of the converted picture size to an original picture size before being converted, a ratio in width-to-height of the converted picture size, a length of a diagonal, and relative location coordinates of a picture of the converted picture displayed in the display unit. Also, the converting unit may determine a location of the picture of the converted picture when the adjustment signals include the relative location coordinates of the picture.

Also, the display unit may be provided with at least one of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and a Plasma Display Panel (PDP).

Also, the display apparatus may further include a memory for storing adjustment information. In this instance, the adjustment information may be adjustment signals for adjusting a picture size or picture location corresponding to at least one signal for each program, for each time, and for each channel to correspond to the image signals, respectively. Also, the converting unit may change the picture size and picture location in accordance with the adjustment information.

Advantageous Effects

As described above, according to the present invention, required power consumption may be relatively low.

According to the present invention, a picture size may be changed as necessary. According to the preset invention, a life of a back light may be expanded.

According to the present invention, images may be displayed only on a part of a screen, and thus required power consumption may be relatively low, even when using a discharge phenomenon.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a structure of a conventional Liquid Crystal Display (LCD);

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a structure of a conventional Plasma Display Panel (PDP); FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a display apparatus for a variable picture size according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; FIG. 4 is a plane view illustrating a back light unit of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is an operation view illustrating operations of a display apparatus for a variable picture size according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a display apparatus for a variable picture size according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention; and FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating operations Sl and S2 of FIG. 6. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a display apparatus 30 for a variable picture size according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. For reference, general structures of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and a Plasma Display Panel (PDP) which will be described in detail below are well-known in the related art, and thus detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the display apparatus 30 includes an input unit 400, a converting unit 300, a display unit 100, a power supply unit 250, and a control unit 200. The input unit 400 is provided such that adjustment signals for adjusting a picture size are inputted, and the converting unit 300 is provided such that a picture size varying based on at least one of image signals sent from a broadcasting station and other image signals received from a peripheral device (not shown) capable of displaying picture images on the display apparatus 30 is converted in response to an input of the input unit. The display apparatus 30 is generally provided such that the image signals are displayed on an entire screen with a ratio in width-to-height such as 16:9, 5:4, or 2.35:1 in accordance with a size of the screen. However, according to the present exemplary embodiment of the invention, a picture size generally displayed in accordance with the adjustment signals is converted and displayed. The display unit 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment of the invention displays the picture size converted in the converting unit 300, and is provided with an LCD unit.

More specifically, the display unit 100 includes a liquid crystal panel 115, a driving circuit 110, and a back light unit 120. In this instance, the liquid crystal panel 115 is provided such that a C/F panel

113 and a TN liquid crystal 112 are filled between two glasses 111 and 114, and the liquid crystal panel is the same as a liquid crystal panel 11 of FIG. 1. The driving circuit 110 has the same configuration as that of a driving circuit 12 of FIG. 1, and thus descriptions thereof will be omitted.

The back light unit 120 includes a prism film, a diffusion layer 123, and a light emitting unit 122. FIG. 4 is a plane view illustrating a back light unit of FIG. 3. As described in FIG. 4, the back light unit 120 includes a plurality of light emitting units 122. The plurality of light emitting units 122 may emit a white light 150 for each element, and provide the emitted white light to the liquid crystal panel 115. Detailed descriptions for light on and light off of the light emitting unit 122 will be described with reference with FIG. 5. The power supply unit 250 supplies an electric power to the display unit 100, and more specifically converts voltages such as 100 volts or 220 volts normally used in homes or offices to thereby supply an electric power corresponding to the display unit 100.

Here, the control unit 200 controls the power supply unit 250, and is provided with a commonly used micro processor, so that the power supply unit 250 selectively supplies or interrupts power supply to the display unit 100.

Here, operations of the display apparatus 30 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 6. FIG. 5 is an operation view illustrating operations of a display apparatus for a variable picture size according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a display apparatus for a variable picture size according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Here, for convenience of description thereof, FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIG. 5 using reference numerals illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, in operation Sl, the adjustment signals for adjusting the picture size are inputted in the input unit 400. In this instance, the adjustment signals may enable the picture size to be displayed with a ratio in width-to-height or a length of a diagonal, however, the present invention is not limited thereto. Also, the adjustment signals may be inputted such that the picture size is displayed with a ratio of the converted picture size to an original picture size before being converted according to predetermined setting values, for example, 1/2 screen, 2/3 screen, or 1/4 screen.

Here, the input unit 400 includes a remote controller 410 transmitting the adjustment signals, and a receiving unit 415 receiving the transmitted adjustment signals.

Next, in operation S2, the picture size is converted in accordance with the adjustment signals inputted in the input unit 400. In this instance, the converted picture size is converted only in its size, and all parts of the screen included in the image signals are displayed within the converted size.

Next, in operation S3, a picture 135 of the converted picture size is displayed on the display unit 100.

Next, in operation S4, an electric power supplied to the back light unit 120 corresponding to the remaining parts other than the picture 135 of the converted picture size is interrupted, so that the operations of the display apparatus 30 are completed. More specifically, the power supply is provided only to the light emitting unit 122 corresponding to the picture 135 of the converted picture size illustrated as a dotted line in FIG. 4, and the power supply to the remaining light emitting unit 122 corresponding to the remaining parts other than the picture 135 is interrupted. According to the present exemplary embodiment of the invention, operation S4 for interrupting the power supply to the remaining parts other than the converted picture size in the control unit 200 is performed after operation S3 for displaying the converted picture size, however, the present invention is not limited thereto. Specifically, operations S3 and S4 may be simultaneously performed, and operation S3 may be performed after operation S4.

Here, the adjustment signals function to adjust the picture size, however the present invention is not limited thereto. Specifically, the adjustment signals may include relative location coordinates of the picture 135 of the converted picture size displayed in the display unit 100 to thereby determine a location of the picture 135. In this instance, the converting unit 300 determines the location of the picture 135 of the converted picture size.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating operations Sl and S2 of FIG. 6.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, in operation SIl, adjustment signals for adjusting a picture size or a picture location are inputted to correspond to at least one of for each time, for each program, and for each channel.

More specifically, in a case of inputting the adjustment signals for each program, an non-dynamic program such as a news program may be displayed using a relatively small sized picture size in an entire screen, and a lively program such as movies may be displayed using the entire screen by maximizing the picture size. Also, in a case of inputting the adjustment signals for each time or for each channel, a similar method as that in the case of inputting the adjustment signals for each program may be provided.

According to the present exemplary embodiment of the invention, the adjustment signals are inputted by a user oneself, however the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the adjustment signals are provided to be inputted for each option in the manufacturing process, so that a user selects a desired one from the options.

Next, in operation S 12, the adjustment signals are stored in a separate memory (not shown).

In operation S 13, the adjustment signals stored in the memory according to the stored condition, that is, at least one condition of for each time, for each program, and for each channel are inputted.

Next, in operation S21, the picture size and picture location varying based on image signals are converted in accordance with the outputted adjustment signals.

Specifically, the adjustment signals are inputted for each desired channel and time, so that a user using the display apparatus 30 may view the picture displayed with the automatically converted picture size and picture location, thereby not needing to separately repeat identical operations.

According to the present exemplary embodiment of the invention, the display unit 100 (see FIG. 3) is provided as an LCD, however the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the display unit 100 may be provided as a PDP. In this instance, in a case where the display unit 100 is provided as a PDP, another configuration, instead of the back light unit 120 (see FIG. 3), in which the power supply is selectively provided or interrupted by controlling the driving circuit 24 (see FIG. 2) may be preferably provided to have similar effects as those in the case of being provided as an LCD. Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A display apparatus for a variable picture size, the display apparatus comprising: an input unit to input adjustment signals for adjusting a picture size; a converting unit to convert a picture size varying based on image signals in accordance with an input of the input unit; a display unit to display the converted picture in the converting unit; a power supply unit to supply an electric power to the display unit; and a control unit to control the power supply unit so that a power is selectively supplied or interrupted to the display unit, wherein the control unit provides power supply only to a part corresponding to the picture size converted in the display unit, and interrupts the power supply to the remaining parts.

2. The display apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustment signals include at least one of a relative size ratio of the converted picture size to an original picture size before being converted, a ratio in width-to-height of the converted picture size, a length of a diagonal, and relative location coordinates of a picture of the converted picture size displayed in the display unit.

3. The display apparatus of claim 2, wherein the converting unit determines a location of the picture of the converted picture size when the adjustment signals include the relative location coordinates of the picture.

4. The display apparatus of claim 2, wherein the display unit is provided with at least one of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and a Plasma Display Panel (PDP).

5. The display apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a memory for storing adjustment information.

6. The display apparatus of claim 5, wherein the adjustment information is adjustment signals for adjusting a picture size or picture location corresponding to at least one signal for each program, for each time, and for each channel to correspond to the image signals, respectively.