Method and equipment for treating input signal of display equipment

DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display device and more particularly to a method and device for processing input signals from a display device.

Description of the State of the Art

With advances in technology, the types of input signals that can be processed by a display device have become very diverse. Consequently, display devices have different external input terminals, such as a set top box connection terminal, an audio video signal input terminal, a DVD connection terminal, a PC connection terminal, etc.

The set top box supplies AV signals to the display device through the set top box connection terminal from various signal sources, such as a personal computer, a DVD player and a wired / wireless broadcast receiver.

The display can receive different input signals directly from the external input terminal or can receive these input signals via the set top box.

Generally, the display device selects one of the input signals depending on the connection state to the set top box, which will now be briefly described.

When the display is connected to the set top box or does not receive a signal from the set top box, the

102245 2

<img file="NL1022452C2_D0001.tif" />

display selectively outputs one of the signals supplied from the external input terminals. Otherwise, when it receives the signal from the set top box, the display selectively outputs one of the signals supplied from the set top box.

Accordingly, there is a problem in that during the reception of another signal from the set top box, even when the signal is received directly from the external input terminal, the conventional display cannot output the signal.

This interrupts a portion of different signals regardless of a user's intent, which does not satisfy the user. In addition, an inexperienced user will perceive failure to output the signal supplied to the external input terminal as a malfunction of the display device, thereby decreasing the reliability of the product in the user's perception.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for processing input signals from a display device which largely overcome one or more problems due to the limitations and drawbacks of the prior art.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for processing input signals from a display device in which an external input signal can be selected and output regardless of whether a display device receives the signal from a set top box, thereby passing it on to the user providing ease of use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for processing input signals from a display device in which an input signal is selected depending on the connection state to a set top box and the signal receive state from the set top box, to preserve of consistency with a conventional method of selecting the input signal.

To achieve these objectives and other advantages in accordance with the object of the present invention, as embodied and widely described herein, a method of processing inputs from a display device with a plurality of external input terminals and connected to a set top box 10 provides a plurality of external input terminals. The method includes the steps of: a) detecting a link state to the set top box, a signal receive state from the set top box, and a signal receive state through the external input terminals of the display device; b) selecting and outputting signals supplied from the set top 15 box and signals supplied through external input terminals of the display device; and c) during the output of the selected signal, when a user requests to output, select and output a signal supplied from one of the external input terminals of the set top box and the display device.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a device for processing input signals from a display device having a plurality of external input terminals and connected to a set top box with a plurality of external input terminals is provided. The device includes an AV switch for selecting and outputting one of signals supplied from the set top box and the external input terminals of the display device; a video / image processor for processing the signal selected and output by the AV switch for conversion into a signal that can be output; a display for receiving an output signal from the video / image processor for displaying the output signal; a control unit for providing an interface to a user; and a microcomputer for selecting and outputting one of signals supplied from the set top box and signals supplied through external input terminals of the display device, after a connection condition to the set top box and a signal reception condition from the set top box have been detected, and for during the delivery of the selected signal, when a user requests to output a signal supplied from one of the external input terminals of the set top box and the display device, controlling the set top box, the AV switch and the video / image processor to output the selected signal .

Additional advantages, objects and features of the invention will be shown partly in the following description and will become partly clear to those skilled in the art after reading the following or from the practice of the invention. The objects and other advantages of the invention can be realized and attained by the structure set forth in particular in the description and the claims thereof as well as the enclosed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which have been added to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and form part of this application, illustrate embodiment (s) of the invention and together with the description, explain the principle of the invention. invention. In the drawings is:

Figure 1 shows a schematic block diagram of a display device with a set top box which can be used in the present invention;

Figure 2 is a flow chart showing a method of processing input signals from a set top box display device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present

<img file="NL1022452C2_D0002.tif" />

invention; and Figure 3 is a view showing input modes according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference is now made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The construction of the set top 10 display device which can be used in the present invention will now be described with reference to Figure 1.

The set top box 100 includes various external input terminals such as a PC, AVI, AV2, AV3 and DVD, which are respectively denoted by reference numerals 102 to 110. The set top box 100 receives various signals, such as a wired / wireless broadcast signal , a DVD reproduction signal, etc., through the AV1 104, AV2 106, AV3 108 and DVD 110 of the input terminals. These signals are applied to an AV switch 112.

The AV switch 112 selects one of the via AV1 104,

AV2 106, AV3 108 and DVD 110 input signals under the control of a microcomputer 116, and apply the selected signal to a video processor 114. The video processor 114 processes the input signal supplied by the AV switch 112 to output the signal to an RGB switch 118.

The external input terminal (ie, PC 102) receives an image signal from a computer for outputting it to the RGB switch 118 under control of the microcomputer 116. The RGB switch 118 selects one of the signals supplied from the computer and the video processor 114 to output the selected signal to a display device 200.

The microcomputer 116 of the set top box 100 controls the AV switch 112 and the RGB switch 118 under the control of a controller 210 provided in the display device 200, and as a whole controls the set top box 100 so as to connect the AV switch 206 of the display device supplying the input signal desired by the user.

The display device 200 includes an external input terminal (ie AV 202 and DVD 204) and a set top box connection terminal 216. From the external input terminal (ie AV 202 and DVD 204) and the set top box connection terminal 216, signals supplied to the AV switch are 206 supplied. In particular, the set top box connection terminal 216 detects the connection state to the set top box 100 and outputs the detected result to the microcomputer 210. The connection state is detected based on the instantaneous capacity of the respective connection point. Such a detection method is known per se in the prior art and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The AV switch 206 selects one of the signals supplied from the external input terminal (ie, AV 202 and DVD 204) and the set top box connection terminal 216 to output the selected signal to the video processor 208. The video processor 208 processes the signal provided by the AV switch 206 to output the processed signal to an image processor 212.

The image processor 212 processes the signal provided by microcomputer 210 or video processor 208 to output the processed signal to display 214. Display 214 shows the signal output from video processor 208, and a DVD module can be used as display 214.

The microcomputer 210 of the display device 200 controls

<img file="NL1022452C2_D0003.tif" />

Generally the display device 200 and controls the AV switch 112 and the RGB switch 118 by means of the microcomputer 116 of the set top box 100, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention and controls the AV switch 206, for thereby delivering the signal desired by the user. The microcomputer 210 additionally controls the AV switch 112, the RGB switch 118 and the AV switch 206 to select the input signal according to the connection state to the set top box 100 and its signal reception state, so that the consistency between the 10 current and usual microcomputers can be retained. A controller 218 forms the interface between the user and the microcomputer 210.

Referring now to Figure 2, a method of processing the input signal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention for use in the display device 200 will be described.

The microcomputer 210 of the display device 200 detects the connection state to the set top box 100 by reference to the detected signal supplied through the set top box connection terminal 216 (step S300). When the microcomputer 210 is not connected to set top box 100, the microcomputer selects and processes one of the external input terminals of the display device 200 (i.e.

AV 202 and DVD 204) supplied signals. The microcomputer 210 displays the signal to the user through the current input mode through the display 214 (step S302).

Otherwise, when the microcomputer 210 is connected to the set top box 100, the microcomputer 210 detects whether or not a signal is received from the set top box 100 (step S304). When receiving the signal from the set top box 100, the microcomputer 210 detects whether or not signals are received from the

022452

<td>8 external input terminals of the</td><td>display</td><td> 200</td><td>(i.e</td>

<td>AV 202 and DVD 204) (step S308).</td><td></td><td></td><td></td>

<td>Upon receipt of the</td><td>signals from</td><td>the</td><td>external</td>

<td colspan="2">input terminals of the display device 200 and the</td><td>set</td><td>top box</td>

100, the microcomputer 210 preferably selects and processes the signal output from the set top box 100 and displays the signal to the user about the current input mode through the display 214 (step S310). In case the set top box 100 outputs the signal supplied to the AV1 104 (in addition to the signals supplied through the external input terminals, ie AVI, AV2, AV3 and DVD3), the microcomputer 210 displays, for example, STB AV1 on the screen by means of a so-called on-screen display (OSD) in order to display the signal about the current input mode to the user. The microcomputer 210 of the display device 200 can receive the information regardless of the input mode of the set top box 100 from the microcomputer 116 of the set top box 100 via an interface integrated circuit (IIC) 120.

On the other hand, when microcomputer 210 receives the signals not from the set top box 100 but from the external input terminals of the display device 200 (ie AV 202 and DVD 204), the microcomputer 210 selects and processes one of the external input terminals of the display device 200 (ie AV 202 and DVD 204) supplied signals (step S306). The microcomputer 210 further presents the signal to the user about the instantaneous input mode through the display 214. For example, in case the set top box 100 outputs the signal supplied to the DVD 204 (in addition to the signals supplied through the external input terminals, ie AV 202 and DVD 204), the microcomputer 210 outputs MNT COMPONENT through the OSD in order to about the current input mode to the user.

In the condition where the signal is not sent through the external

<img file="NL1022452C2_D0004.tif" />

input terminals of the display device 200 (i.e. AV 202 and DVD 204) is supplied, the microcomputer 210 processes the signal supplied from the set top box 100 when the microcomputer 210 receives the signal from the set top box 100, and simultaneously outputs the current input mode return the signal to the user (step S312).

At the time when microcomputer 210 is one of the external input terminals of the display device 200 (i.e. AV 202 and DVD 204) or the external input terminals of the set top box

100 (i.e. PC 102, AV1 104, AV2 106, AV3 108, and DVD 110) automatically selects and outputs input signals, the microcomputer 210, when the user requests the input mode change through the processing unit 218 (step S314), displays the desired input mode that allows the user to select the desired input mode (step S316). The user selectable input mode includes, as shown in Figure 3, STB PC 402, MNT COMPONENT 404, STB COMPONENT 406, MNT AV 408,

STB AV1 414, STB AV2 412, STB AV3 410, and so on. STB PC means a computer input mode via the set top box 100, MNT COMPONENT means a reproducing input mode of the DVD, CD or cassette tape via the external input terminal of the playback device 200, STB 20 COMPONENT means a reproducing input mode of the DVD, CD or cassette tape via the set top box 100, MNT AV means that the AV signal is supplied directly to the display device 200 and STB AVI through STB AV3 means AV signals supplied through the set top box 100.

When the user using the controller

218 select the desired input mode by referring to the displayed input mode, the microcomputer 210 controls the AV switch 112 and the RGB switch 118 of the set top box 100 and the AV switch 206 of the display device 200 so as to input 30 corresponding to selectively display the selected mode.

In addition, the microcomputer 210 displays the signal to the user

I Π 9 9 Λ co about the instantaneous input mode via display 214 (step 318).

In the above description, the present invention can select and output the external input signal regardless of whether or not a signal is received from the set top box, thus providing ease of use to the user.

The present invention additionally selects the input signal depending on the connection state to the set top box and the signal receive state from the set top box, thereby maintaining consistency with the usual method 10 for selecting the input signal and thus applicable to users with experience in the usual operating method.

The foregoing embodiment is exemplary only and should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention. The present teaching can be easily applied to other types of devices. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications and variations will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

<img file="NL1022452C2_D0005.tif" />

Deletion figures

<td> 100</td><td>set top box</td>

<td> 102</td><td>PC</td>

<td> 104</td><td>AV1</td>

<td> 106</td><td>AV2</td>

<td> 108</td><td>AV3</td>

<td> 110</td><td>DVD</td>

<td> 112</td><td>AV switch</td>

<td> 114</td><td>video processor</td>

<td> 116</td><td>microcomputer</td>

<td> 118</td><td>RGB switch</td>

<td> 120</td><td>ICC</td>

<td> 200</td><td>display</td>

<td> 202</td><td>AV</td>

<td> 204</td><td>DVD</td>

<td> 206</td><td>AV switch</td>

<td> 208</td><td>video processor</td>

<td> 210</td><td>microcomputer</td>

<td> 212</td><td>image processor</td>

<td> 214</td><td>display</td>

<td> 216</td><td>set top box connection terminal</td>

<td> 218</td><td>control unit</td>

<td> 300</td><td>connected to set top box?</td>

<td> 302</td><td>process signal supplied through external input terminal from display device and display the current input mode</td>

<td> 304</td><td>receive signal from set top box?</td>

<td> 306</td><td>process signal supplied through external input terminal from display device and display current input mode</td>

<td> 310</td><td>preferably select the signal supplied from the set top box and display the current input mode</td>

<img file="NL1022452C2_D0006.tif" />

312 preferably select the signal supplied from the set top box and display the current input mode

314 request to change the input mode?

316 display changeable input mode

318 process the signal corresponding to the requested input mode and display the current input mode

320 Start

322 end

400 channel display (HF input)

402 STBPC

404 MNT COMPONENT

406 STB COMPONENT

408 MNTAV

410 STBAV3

412 STBAV2

414 STBAV1

10224^2