Broadcast receiver and control method thereof

• US 10,153,855 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2017
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Dong-jin, Kang, Jun-Seok, Kim, Chang-hyo, Noh, Kyoung-seok, Son, Sung-ki, Shin, Hyun-jong, Lee, Young-jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Lana N
• Application Number:
  US15/456,764
• Publication Number:
  US 20170272189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 2201/206 being in radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 2201/307 being radio frequency signal
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3052 in bandpass amplifiers (H.F. or I.F.) or in frequency-changers used in a (super)heterodyne receiver H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3063 using at least one transistor as controlling device, the transistor being used as a variable impedance device
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/06 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/088 with parts of the receiver detachable or collapsible
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/32 Arrangements for monitoring conditions of receiving stations, e.g. malfunction or breakdown of receiving stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/0002 analog front ends; means for connecting modulators, demodulators or transceivers to a transmission line duplex arrangements H04L5/143

Abstract

Disclosed is a broadcast receiver that includes an antenna connector configured to connect with an antenna for receiving a broadcast signal including broadcast content. The broadcast receiver also includes a signal processor configured to generate a reference signal having a strength corresponding to a signal input through the antenna connector and to process the generated reference signal to output an image signal for displaying the broadcast content, and a controller configured to determine whether the antenna is connected to the antenna connector based on an output value of the reference signal and to perform subsequent operations related to whether the antenna is connected based on the determination.

Claims

1. A broadcast receiver comprising:

an antenna connector configured to connect to an antenna receiving a broadcast signal comprising broadcast content;

a signal processor configured to generate a reference signal having a strength corresponding to the broadcast signal input through the antenna connector, and to process the generated reference signal while processing the broadcast signal to output an image signal for displaying the broadcast content; and

a controller configured to identify whether the antenna is connected to the antenna connector based on the strength of the reference signal, and to perform subsequent operations related to whether the antenna is connected based on the identification,

wherein the signal processor comprises an automatic gain controller configured to maintain a strength of the broadcast signal input through the antenna connector to be constant based on the reference signal, and

wherein the strength of the reference signal is detected based on an output signal of a level detector of the automatic gain controller.

2. The broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor is configured to generate the reference signal by performing at least one of:

amplifying, filtering and/or mixing the signal input through the antenna connector to output the image signal.

3. The broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to identify that the antenna is connected to the antenna connector based on the strength of the reference signal being equal to or higher than a first reference value, the strength of the reference signal being measured based on frequencies of the broadcast signal.

4. The broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to identify that the antenna is connected to the antenna connector based on the strength of the reference signal being equal to or higher than a first reference value, or based on the strength of the reference signal being equal to or higher than a second reference value lower than the first reference value occurring more than a reference number of times.

5. The broadcast receiver according to claim 4, wherein the reference number of times is set based on a probability that a signal having a strength corresponding to the second reference value will be detected because of noise even when the antenna is not connected to the antenna connector.

6. The broadcast receiver according to claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the second reference value.

7. The broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein the antenna connector comprises a single input port to which one of a plurality antennas for respectively inputting signals corresponding to one of a plurality of broadcast types is connectable.

8. The broadcast receiver according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to perform a channel auto-scan with respect to the broadcast signal based on the identification that the antenna is connected to the antenna connector.

9. A method of controlling a broadcast receiver comprising a signal processor and an antenna connector, the method comprising:

generating, by the signal processor, a reference signal having a strength corresponding to a broadcast signal input through the antenna connector while processing the broadcast signal to output an image signal for displaying a broadcast content;

identifying whether an antenna is connected to the broadcast receiver based on the strength of the reference signal; and

performing subsequent operations related to whether the antenna is connected based on the identification whether the antenna is connected to the broadcast receiver,

further comprising maintaining, by an automatic gain controller of the signal processor, a strength of the broadcast signal input through the antenna connector to be constant based on the reference signal, and

wherein the strength of the reference signal is detected based on an output signal of a level detector of the automatic gain controller.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the reference signal is generated by performing at least one of:

amplifying, filtering and/or mixing the signal input to output the image signal.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the identifying whether the antenna is connected comprises identifying that the antenna is connected to the broadcast receiver based on the strength of the reference signal being equal to or higher than a first reference value, the strength of the reference signal being measured based on frequencies of the broadcast signal.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the identifying whether the antenna is connected comprises identifying that the antenna is connected to the broadcast receiver based on the strength of the reference signal being equal to or higher than a first reference value, or based on the strength of the reference signal being equal to or higher than a second reference value lower than the first reference value occurring more than a reference number of times.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the reference number of times is set based on a probability that a signal having a strength corresponding to the second reference value will be detected because of noise even when the antenna is not connected to the antenna connector.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

adjusting, by the broadcast receiver, the second reference value.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

performing a channel auto-scan with respect to a broadcast signal received in the broadcast receiver based on the identification that the antenna is connected to the broadcast receiver.