Channel selecting apparatus

0001The present invention relates generally to a television receiver, and more particularly, to a channel selecting apparatus of the television receiver for selecting received broadcast signals associated with a prescribed broadcast station among those received through an antenna from a plurality of broadcast stations.

0002Conventionally television receivers are provided with a channel selecting apparatus for selecting broadcast signals received from a prescribed broadcast station from those received through an antenna from a plurality of broadcast stations. Some of the channel selecting apparatus have a plurality of regular channels associated with respective broadcast stations and are equipped with a selector for selecting received broadcast signals from a corresponding prescribed broadcast station by selecting one <i>of</i> the regular channels, an instruction key for generating an operating instruction to the selector by operating the instruction key, a storage device for storing a plurality of regular channel data associated with the respective regular channels, and a controller for controlling the operation of the selector by reading the regular channel data of the storage device based on the operating instruction from the instruction key and referring to this regular channel data.

0003The instruction key has a remote controller. This remote controller is provided with twelve channel selection keys, a channel shift-up key and a channel shift-down key all of which are manually controlled.

0004Each of the channel selection keys is assigned with a number corresponding to the regular channels. For instance, when selecting a desired channel, the channel selection key assigned the number corresponding to the desired channel is pushed. The operating instruction generated by pushing this channel selection key is given to the control means.

0005The channel shift-up key and the channel shift-down key are used for sequentially shifting the channels. Whenever the channel shift-up key is manually pushed, the operating instruction is given to the control means to switch the currently selected channel to a channel which is set at the upstream side as shown in FIGURE 1. On the contrary, whenever the channel shift-down key is manually pushed, the operating instruction is given to the control means to switch the currently selected channel sequentially to the channels which are set at the downstream.

0006In recent years, many broadcast stations have been put into operation, for instance, for satellite broadcasting, CATV and the like and many broadcasting programs are provided. With the increase in broadcast stations, it has been demanded to make it more simple to select a desired broadcast station.

0007To satisfy the above requirement, it is considered necessary to provide additional channel selection keys corresponding to increased channels to a remote controller of a channel selecting apparatus. However, the increase of channel selection keys makes the size of a remote controller large. Furthermore, the operability of a remote controller can be deteriorated if the number of the channel selection keys is increased.

0008Instead of the channel selection keys, a remote controller may be provided with a ten-key pad for entering channel numbers. However, it is not possible to select a desired channel only by one operation and its operability is inferior to the channel selection key.

0009As described above, on such a conventional channel selecting apparatus, if channel selection keys increase in consonance with the increase of broadcast stations, a remote controller, etc. will become large in size and the operability will be deteriorated.

0010EP-0477756 describes a television receiver, having multiple RF input terminals. Each input terminal provides access to a respective list of channels. Means are provided for linking the respective lists to form a single composite list, which can be scanned by channel up/down keys.

0011The present invention seeks to provide a channel selecting apparatus which is capable of selecting channels to cope with a number of broadcast stations without causing a large sized key operating means and deterioration of the operability resulting from the increase in the number of channel selection keys.

0012The present invention also seeks to provide a channel selecting apparatus which is capable of facilitating a desired channel selection without possibility for selecting the same channel twice in selecting channels by sequentially shifting a current channel among a plurality of channels in the upward or downward direction, and of storing and setting more channels desired and promoting its operability of the apparatus.

0013According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a channel selecting apparatus for selecting a desired broadcast signal on a desired channel from a plurality of received broadcast signals on respective received channels, the apparatus comprising: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>key operating means, the key operating means including (a) a plurality of channel selecting keys for directly selecting respective channels of a group chosen from the received channels, (b) a channel shift key for selecting channels in a predetermined sequence, the sequence of channels including the channels of the chosen group, and (c) means for generating operating instructions associated with any key which is operated; and</li><li>storage means comprising storage areas for storing channel data associated with the channels of the chosen group and of the predetermined sequence; and</li><li>broadcast receiving means, including a tuner controlled by the operating instructions;</li></ul>    characterised in that the apparatus further comprises:    control means, for comparing stored channel data, and, if data relating to the same channel are stored in more than one storage area, selecting said channel only once in said predetermined sequence.

0014According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a channel selecting apparatus for selecting a desired broadcast signal on a desired channel from a plurality of received broadcast signals on respective received channels, the apparatus comprising: <ul id="ul0002" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>key operating means, the key operating means including (a) a plurality of channel selecting keys for directly selecting respective channels of a group chosen from the received channels, (b) a channel shift key for selecting channels in a predetermined sequence, the sequence of channels including the channels of the chosen group, and (c) means for generating operating instructions associated with any key which is operated;</li><li>storage means comprising storage areas for storing channel data associated with the channels of the chosen group and of the predetermined sequence; and</li><li>broadcast receiving means, including a tuner, controlled by the operating instructions;</li></ul>    characterised in that the apparatus further comprises:    control means, for comparing input channel data associated with a channel intended to be added to the predetermined sequence with stored channel data associated with the channels of the predetermined sequence, and, if data relating to the channel intended to be added are already stored, inhibiting storage of said input channel data.

0015For a better understanding of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, wherein: <ul id="ul0003" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>Figure 1 is a diagram for explaining the channel shift sequence in the channel shift operation of a conventional channel selecting apparatus;</li><li>Figure 2 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the channel selecting apparatus according to the present invention;</li><li>Figure 3 is a diagram showing a remote controller which is used as a key operating means of the channel selecting apparatus shown in FIGURE 2;</li><li>FIGURE 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the channel increasing operation of the channel selecting apparatus shown in FIGURE 2;</li><li>FIGURE 5 is a diagram for explaining the channel shift sequence in the channel shift operation of the channel selecting apparatus shown in FIGURE 2;</li><li>FIGURE 6 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the channel selecting apparatus according to the present invention;</li><li>FIGURE 7 is a block diagram showing the remote controller which is used as a key operating means of the channel selecting apparatus shown in FIGURE 6;</li><li>FIGURE 8 is a flowchart showing the operating procedures of the channel selecting apparatus shown in FIGURE 6; and</li><li>FIGURE 9 is a diagram for explaining the channel shift sequence in the channel shift operation of the channel selecting apparatus shown in FIGURE 6.</li></ul>

0016The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the FIGURES 2 through 9.

0017Referring now to FIGURES 2 through 5, a first embodiment of the channel selecting apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail. FIGURE 2 shows a block diagram of the channel selecting apparatus according to the first embodiment, while FIGURE 3 shows a remote controller which is used as a key operating means of the channel selecting apparatus of FIGURE 2.

0018Television receivers capable of receiving satellite broadcasting signals, CATV signals, etc. are provided with a channel selecting apparatus for selecting a desired broadcast signal from a plurality of broadcast signals including satellite broadcast signals.

0019This channel selecting apparatus has a plurality of channels corresponding to respective broadcast signals received through an antenna 1 and a tuner 2 for selecting a desired broadcast signal from the plurality of the broadcast signals by selecting a channel corresponding to the desired broadcast signal as shown in FIGURE 2. The channels of the tuner 2 consist of a plurality of channels corresponding to ground wave broadcast stations, a plurality of channels corresponding to satellite broadcast stations and a plurality of channels corresponding to CATV stations. The operating instructions to the tuner 2 for the channel selecting operation are generated by operating keys on a key pad 4.

0020The key pad 4 is provided on a remote controller 3. The remote controller 3 corresponds to a channel increasing key 8 which is provided on the television receiver. The remote controller 3 includes twelve channel selection keys 5, a channel shift-up key 6 and a channel shift-down key 7 which are manually operated.

0021Each of the channel selecting keys 5 corresponds to a predetermined channel, and is assigned with a corresponding channel number. If the channel selection key 5 with, for instance, the channel number "1" (referred as to CH-1) assigned is pushed, the operating instruction is generated for selecting the CH-1.

0022Whenever the channel shift-up key 6 is manually pushed, a channel selecting instruction is generated to switch the currently selected channel to a channel set up at the upstream side. On the contrary, whenever the channel shift-down key 7 is manually pushed, the instruction is generated to sequentially switch the currently selected channel to the channels set up at the downstream from the current channel.

0023The channel increasing key 8 is composed of an operating key to give an instruction for the channel increasing. When this key is pushed, an instruction directing the number of channels to be increased is generated. Further, this instruction means to increase at least one channel in addition to the CH-1 through the CH-12. When the channel increasing instruction is issued, the channel selection keys 5 are used as operating keys for issuing an instruction for the channel increasing.

0024The operating instruction and the channel increasing instruction are given to a control unit 9 from the key pad 4. The channel selection mode and the channel increasing mode have been set up for the control unit 9.

0025When given an operating instruction, the control unit 9 establishes the channel selection mode. In the channel selection mode, channel data corresponding to the operating instruction are read out of a memory 10 based on this channel data, a control signal for controlling the channel selecting operation of the tuner 2 is generated and given to the tuner 2. With the generation of this control signal, channel information to express the currently selected channel is generated and thus the channel information is applied to a display unit 11 and is displayed on the display unit 11.

0026On the contrary, when applied with the channel increasing instruction, the control unit 9 establishes the channel increasing mode. In the channel increasing mode, a storage area corresponding to the number of channels to be increased in a memory unit 10 is defined based on the channel increasing instruction and corresponding auxiliary channel data are written into this storage area. When the channel increasing data are written into the storage area, information showing the number of channels to be increased and information showing the number of the auxiliary channels to be established for respective channels is generated and these information is applied to the display unit 11 and is displayed on the display unit 11.

0027Now the channel increasing operation and the channel selecting operation in the channel selecting apparatus will be explained with reference to FIGURES 4 and 5. FIGURE 4 shows a flowchart for explaining the channel increasing operation performed by the channel selecting apparatus of FIGURE 2, while FIGURE 5 shows a sequence of the channel shift operation also performed by the channel selecting apparatus of FIGURE 2.

0028When establishing two auxiliary channels for the satellite broadcasting, the channel increasing key 8 is first operated (step S1) as shown in FIGURE 4, and the channel increasing instruction is issued to the control unit 9, which in turn establishes the channel increasing mode based on the channel increasing instruction (step S2).

0029In the channel increasing mode, the number of channels to be increased is first established (step S3). When establishing the number of the auxiliary channels, the channel selection key 5 with the number "2" assigned is pushed and the auxiliary channel number "2" (referred to as AUX.CH-2 herein after) is applied to the control unit 9, the control unit 9 defines storage areas in the memory unit 10 according to the number of channels to be increased, and position data of the corresponding channels are written into the respective storage areas (step S4). That is, the position data of the AUX.CH-1 and the AUX.CH-2 are written into the storage areas in the memory unit 10.

0030When the position data of the auxiliary channels are written into the storage areas, the information showing the number of channels to be increased and the information showing the numbers that are established for the auxiliary channels are generated and displayed on the display unit 11.

0031Then, a corresponding broadcast station is set up for each of the auxiliary channels. This set-up operation is made by operating the channel set-up keys provided on a television receiver and data required for bringing the broadcast stations and the auxiliary channels correspond to each other are set up. Tuning voltage, etc. are included in these data, which are stored in the memory unit 10 corresponding to the auxiliary channels.

0032Next, the channel selecting operation performed in the channel selecting apparatus as shown in FIGURE 2 will be explained.

0033When selecting a prescribed channel from various channels including the auxiliary channels, either the channel shift-up key 6 or the channel shift-down key 7 is first pushed. When the channel shift-up key 6 is pushed, an instruction is issued for shifting a current channel to another channel located its upstream side. The control unit 9 reads out the position data of the channel locating at the upstream side from the memory unit 10 based on the instruction and controls the tuner 2 to select the upstream channel from the position data of this channel. On the contrary, when the channel shift-down key 7 is pushed, an instruction is issued to switch the current channel to a channel located at its downstream side.

0034During the channel shift operation, a channel is shifted along the pre-set channel shifting path. This channel shifting path is composed of a closed loop including the regular channels CH-1 to CH-12 and then auxiliary channels AUX.CH-1 and AUX.CH-2. When selecting a desired channel, the channel selecting key 5 is first pushed and an instruction is applied to the control unit 9 to switch the current channel to a channel corresponding to the pushed channel selecting key 5. Based on this instruction, the control unit 9 reads the position data of a channel corresponding to the pushed channel selecting key 5 out of the memory unit 10 and controls the tuner 2 to select the channel corresponding to the pushed channel selecting key 5 from the position data of this channel.

0035Thus, it is possible to select the channels corresponding to many broadcast stations without increasing the channel selecting keys 5 and further, it is also possible to prevent a remote controller from becoming large in size and deterioration of the operability resulting from the increase in the number of channel selecting keys 5.

0036As described above, the channel selecting apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention allows selection of channels corresponding to a large number of broadcast stations without making the size of a remote controller large and causing deterioration of the operability of the channel selecting apparatus resulting from the increase in the number of channel selecting keys.

0037Referring now to FIGURES 6 through 9, a channel selecting apparatus according to the second embodiment of the prevent invention will be explained in detail.

0038In FIGURE 6, the channel selecting apparatus in this second embodiment is comprised of a television receiver 202 and a remote controller 204 which remotely controls the television receiver 202.

0039The television receiver 202 has an antenna 206 for receiving television broadcast signals and a tuner 208 for selecting a channel for a desired signal among channels of the broadcast signals supplied from the antenna 206. IF signals from the tuner 208, after detection, are processed in an audio signal processor 210 and audio signals are supplied to a loudspeaker 212.

0040Further, the television receiver 202 is provided with a video signal processor 214 for processing a video detection and an amplification of IF signals from the tuner 208, a CRT 216 for displaying video signals from the video signal processor 214, an operating unit 218 provided on a control panel of the television receiver 202 for performing a selection of a desired channel, a sequential channel shift-up or shift-down, a set-up of sound volume, power ON/OFF operation, a set-up of luminance, hue, etc.; a photo-receiver 220a for receiving such remote control signal W as infrared rays from the remote controller 204 and a receiving circuit 220b for demodulating the contents of direction (command) of the remote controller 204 from the received signal output from the photo-receiver 220a.

0041Furthermore, the television receiver 202 is provided with a channel increase directing button (switch) 222 for storing and setting channel data together with the operating unit 218, a memory unit 224 for storing channel data which are set by the operating unit 218 and the channel increase directing button 222, a character generator 226 for generating characters to be displayed on the CRT 216 through the video signal processor 214, and a control unit 228 for controlling these units.

0042As shown in FIGURE 6, the remote controller 204 contains twelve direct channel selecting buttons (switches) 230, a channel shift-up button 232a, channel shift-down button 232b, a power switch 233, a set of volume up/down buttons 234, and a channel increase directing button 235 for storing/setting desired channels together with the twelve direct channel selecting buttons 230.

0043FIGURE 7 is a block diagram showing the electrical construction of the remote controller 204. In FIGURE 7, the remote controller 204 is provided with the direct channel selecting buttons 230, the channel shift-up button 232a, the channel shift-down button 232b, the power switch 233, a control unit 240 which outputs an encoded signal identifying the pushed down positions of these buttons together with the channel increase directing button 235, and a memory unit 242 for storing channel numbers when setting desired channels for buttons "1" through "12" of the direct channel selecting buttons 230 and the channel increase directing button 235.

0044Further, the remote controller 204 is also provided with a remote control signal generator 244 which outputs an encoded signal (command) from the control unit 240 modulated to infrared rays etc. and a light emitting element 246 for sending a remote control signal W. In addition, a timer ON/OFF button, a channel number display button, an audio output stop button, a channel storing/setting button, etc. may be provided when they are required.

0045Now the operation of the channel selecting apparatus constructed as in the embodiment will be explained.

0046FIGURE 8 is a flowchart showing the operating procedures of the channel selecting apparatus in the construction as described above. The units of the television receiver 202 shown in FIGURE 5 start to operate (step S10) when a viewer turns ON the power switch 233. That is, the tuner 208 selects a prescribed channel and sound is output from the loudspeaker 212 and a picture is displayed on the CRT 216.

0047Thereafter, a viewer operates the remote controller 204 and a channel number of a television broadcast station desired by a viewer is set for Buttons "1" through "12" of the direct channel selecting buttons 230 and the channel increase directing button 235 of the remote controller 204 (steps S11, S12). In this case, an instruction for storing a new desired channel number is sent from a storing direction button (not shown) (step S13). Now, it is assumed that the desired channel number, that is, the CH-13 of the UHF band is set for Button "12" of the direct channel selecting buttons 230 and similarly, the CH-13 is set for the channel increase directing button 235. The control unit 240 shown in FIGURE 7 recognizes this setting, and erasing the previously stored channel number, writes a new channel number (step S14).

0048Now the channel selection made by the remote controller 204 for the television receiver 202 will be explained. The channels which are set for the direct channel selection buttons 230 and the channel increase directing button 235 are selected by pushing the channel shift-up button 232a or the channel shift-down button 232b continuously or repeatedly (step S15). Then, the control unit 240 judges whether the channel selection has been carried out (step S16). In case of Yes where the channel selection was made, the operation proceeds to the next step. In the case of No where no channel selection was made in step S16, this judgment is repeated, that is, the channel selecting apparatus is put in the channel selection waiting state.

0049FIGURE 9 is a diagram showing the state of this channel selection. In FIGURE 9, the control unit 240 shown in FIGURE 7 controls the channel selection so that the CH-1 through the CH-12 which have been set for Buttons "1" through "12" of the direct channel selection buttons 230 as well as the channel increase directing button 235 are sequentially selected in the upward direction when the channel shift-up button 232a is depressed continuously or repeatedly. Similarly, the control unit 240 controls the channel selection so that the CH-1 through the CH-12 which have been set for individual buttons "1" through "12" of the direct channel selection buttons 230 as well as the channel increase directing button 235 are sequentially selected in the downward direction when the channel shift-down button 232b is depressed continuously or repeatedly (step S17).

0050Then, the channel storing/setting operation carried out by the channel increase directing button 235 is judged. That is, the control unit 240 shown in FIGURE 7 retrieves a channel data stored in the memory unit 242 and judges whether there is a channel which has been set for the channel increase directing button 235 (step S18). Here, the CH-13 of the UHF band has been set. In succession, it is judged whether the same channel CH-13 as the channel increase directing button 235 has been set for Buttons "1" through "12" of the direct channel selection buttons 230 (step S19).

0051If no channel number was set for the channel increase directing button 235 in step S18, the operation proceeds to step S21 and the desired channel number setting process is carried out. Further, if the CH-13 of the UHF band has been set for Buttons "1" through "12" of the direct channel selection buttons 230, the control unit 240 shown in FIGURE 7 selects either one of Button "12" for which the CH-13 of the same UHF band has been set or the channel increase directing button 235.

0052That is, the process is carried out as shown by the dotted line a in FIGURE 9 so that the channel increase directing button 235 is not selected. Further, if the same channel number has been set twice in Buttons "1" through "12" of the direct channel selection buttons 230, for instance, if the same channel number has been set for Buttons "3" and "6", the process as shown by the dotted line b in FIGURE 9 is carried out so that Button "3" is not selected (step S20).

0053Thereafter, a viewer stops the issue of the direction by the channel shift-up button 232a and the channel shift-down button 232b. The selection of a desired channel number at the position where this cycle channel selection was stopped or at the position where the intermittent depressing of the buttons was stopped is controlled by the control unit 240 shown in FIGURE 7 (step S21). In succession, a code of the set channel number is output from the control unit 240 to the remote control signal generator 244 and the remote control signal W is sent out through the light emitting element 246 (step S22).

0054This remote control signal W is received by the photo-receiver 220a and an encoded signal is demodulated there in the receiving circuit 220b and output to a control unit 228. The control unit 228 outputs this encoded signal to the character generator 226, from where a character of the channel number corresponding to the encoded signal is displayed on the CRT 216 through the video signal processor 214. The same procedures are also applicable to a case where the channel shift-down button 232b is depressed continuously or repeatedly. At the same time, in the television receiver 202, the channel selection is carried out while the control unit 228 controls the tuner 208 based on the encoded signal (step S23).

0055As described above, if the same channel number has been set for Buttons "1" through "12" of the direct channel selection buttons 230 and the channel increase directing button 235, because either one of the repetitively set channel numbers is selected, the same channel number will never be selected twice during the channel selection cycle by the channel shift-up button 232a and the channel shift-down button 232b. Therefore, the channels can be selected easily, many more desired channels can be set. Thus, the operability is improved without causing cost increase.

0056Further, although the operating procedures shown in FIGURE 8 have been explained using the remote controller 204 in this embodiment, if the operating unit 218 and the channel increase directing button 222 of the television receiver 202 are used, this channel selecting apparatus operates in the same manner and the same operating effect is obtained. Further, this embodiment is also applicable to the combination of a video tape recorder (VTR) with a BS tuner provided and the remote controller 204 instead of the combination of the television receiver 202 and the remote controller 204. Furthermore, when a FM receiver is combined with the operating unit of the main body of the apparatus or the remote controller 204, the channel selection is carried out in the same manner and the same operating effect is obtained.

0057Further, it is possible to inform the repetitive setting of the same channel number by an LED under the control by the control unit 240 if the same channel number has been set for Buttons "1" through "12" of the direct channel selection buttons 230 and the channel increase directing button 235. In this case, a viewer is able to know the repetitive setting of the same channel number rapidly. Similarly, on the television receiver 202, it is possible to inform the repetitive setting of the same channel number if so set by displaying it on the CRT 216 through the character generator 226 and the video signal processor 214.

0058In addition, if it would be tried to repetitively set the same channel number by the direct channel selection buttons 230, such an attempt is inhibited by inhibiting means.

0059That is, when a prescribed channel selection data are set/stored after they are set/stored in a memory unit, it is possible to prevent the repetitive setting of those data by retrieving whether those channel data have been already stored and if so, by inhibiting the new storage of the data.

0060Further, it will be more effective if a viewer is notified a reason for why channel data cannot be newly stored using the means for informing as described above.

0061As clearly seen from the explanation above, if at least two same channel numbers have been set for the channel selection buttons and the channel increasing button and the channel selection at the tuner is directed from the channel selection directing means, the channel selecting apparatus according to the present invention selects only one of the same channel numbers which have been set twice and sequentially selects a plurality of channel numbers in the upward or downward direction. Further, as a viewer is informed of the repetitive storage of the same channel number, a desired channel selection is facilitated and many more desired channel numbers can be stored/set and the operability is thus improved.

0062As described above, the present invention can provide an extremely preferable channel selecting apparatus.

0063While there have been illustrated and described what are at present considered to be preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teaching of the present invention without departing from the central scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention, but that the present invention include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.