Apparatus and method for performing PIP in display device

• US 20040201780A1
• Filed: 04/09/2004
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Joo Won
• Application Number:
  US10/820,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20040201780A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/565
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/06 Adjustment of display parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/045 Self-contained testing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4858 for modifying screen layout parameters, e.g. fonts, size of the windows
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen

Abstract

An apparatus and method for performing a picture-in-picture (PIP) in a display device is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first video processor converting a first video signal into data representing a displayable main picture, a second video processor converting a second video signal into data representing a displayable sub-picture, and a microcomputer controlling the first video processor and the second video processor, so that at least one of the main picture data and the sub-picture data is partially outputted in accordance with a shape of the sub-picture.

Claims

1. An apparatus for performing a picture-in-picture (PIP) in a display device, comprising:

a first video processor converting a first video signal into data representing a displayable main picture;

a second video processor converting a second video signal into data representing a displayable sub-picture; and

a microcomputer controlling the first video processor and the second video processor, so that at least one of the main picture data and the sub-picture data is partially outputted in accordance with a shape of the sub-picture.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the microcomputer provides a user with a sub-picture setting menu for selecting and modifying the sub-picture shape.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sub-picture setting menu includes a plurality of selectable sample shapes.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sub-picture setting menu further includes a selectable option for creating and adding new sub-picture sample shapes based on the user'"'"'s preference.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the sub-picture setting menu includes a plurality of selectable options for controlling a size and a position of the sub-picture.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the microcomputer displays the sub-picture on a screen depending upon a pixel information corresponding to the sub-picture shape selected or modified by the user.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the microcomputer controls the first video processor, so as to output a portion of the main picture data corresponding to an area of the screen excluding the sub-picture shape selected or modified by the user.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the microcomputer controls the second video processor, so as to output a portion of the sub-picture data corresponding to the sub-picture shape selected or modified by the user.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a multiplexer combining the main picture data and the sub-picture data and controlling an emphasis ration of the sub-picture to the main picture in accordance with a control of the microcomputer.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first memory storing the first video signal; and

a second memory storing the second video signal.

11. A method for performing a picture-in-picture (PIP) in a display device, comprising:

selecting or modifying a sub-picture shape by a user;

converting a first video signal and a second video signal into data representing a main picture and data representing a sub-picture, respectively;

outputting at least one of the main picture data and the sub-picture data partially depending upon the sub-picture shape selected or modified by the user; and

combining the outputted main picture data and sub-picture data.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the user selects or modifies the sub-picture shape by using a sub-picture setting menu being displayed on a screen.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the user selects any one a plurality of sub-picture sample shapes included in the sub-picture setting menu.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the user modifies a pixel information of the sub-picture from the sub-picture setting menu, so as to modify a shape of the sub-picture.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the sub-picture setting menu includes a plurality of selectable options for controlling a size and a position of the sub-picture.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the outputting the main picture data and the sub-picture data comprises selectively outputting a portion of the main picture data corresponding to an area of the screen excluding the selected or modified sub-picture shape.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the outputting the main picture data and the sub-picture data comprises selectively outputting a portion of the sub-picture data corresponding to the selected or modified sub-picture shape.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the outputting the main picture data and the sub-picture data comprises selectively outputting a portion of the main picture data corresponding to an area of the screen excluding the selected or modified sub-picture shape and selectively outputting a portion of the sub-picture data corresponding to the selected or modified sub-picture shape, simultaneously.

19. The method according to claim 11, wherein the main picture data is an on screen display data.