Method and apparatus for controlling a video signal processing apparatus to prevent screen aging

• US 20060130105A1
• Filed: 04/21/2003
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Mears, Mark Gilmore, Dinwiddie, Aaron Hal, Lefevre, Chad Andrew, Simmons, Carlton Jethro Jr., Zemer, Richard Allen
• Granted Patent: US 7,538,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/105
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/043 Preventing or counteracting the effects of ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/046 Dealing with screen burn-in prevention or compensation of the effects thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/022 in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 3/20 Prevention of damage to cathode-ray tubes in the event of failure of scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/57 Control of contrast or brightness
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/68 Circuit details for cathode-ray display tubes deviation circuits H04N3/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/31 Projection devices for colour picture display , e.g. using electronic spatial light modulators [ESLM]

Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling a video signal processing apparatus having a browser feature to protect a display device associated with the apparatus against the premature aging effects of screen burn due to an idle display when the browser feature is activated. The method includes the steps of detecting a first user input to a video apparatus, determining whether the first user input activates a browser feature of the video apparatus, and controlling the operation of the apparatus to reduce the screen burn. The operation can include setting a display parameter for the video apparatus to a first predetermined level responsive to determining that the first user input activates the browser feature, or determining an idle time and inactivating the browser feature if the idle time exceeds a predetermined period of time.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a video display apparatus, comprising the steps of:

receiving a program signal from a source of program signals;

processing the received program signal and providing an output signal suitable for generating a display on a display device;

setting a display parameter at a first level for the display in response to user input;

activating a browser feature of the video display apparatus in response to a first user input;

generating display signals for generating a browser display in response to the activation of the browser feature; and

controlling a characteristic of the display signals or the display parameter to reduce screen burn in the display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling step comprises activating a timer for determining an idle time period that no user input is received while the browser is activated, and deactivating the browser feature and replacing the browser display signals with program signals on the display device if the idle time period exceeds a predetermined period of time.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined period of time is set in response to user input.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined period of time is set in response to the source of the browser activation command, wherein browser activation command from a keyboard results in a first predetermined period of time, and browser activation command via an on-screen menu results in a second predetermined period of time.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the controlling step includes distinguishing between browser commands and program viewing commands, wherein receipt of the browser commands resets the activation of the timer for determining the idle time period, and the receipt of the program viewing commands does not reset the activation of the timer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling step comprises setting the display parameter at a second level in response to the activation of the browser feature.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the display parameter is one of contrast, brightness, color level, sharpness, and tint.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the second parameter level represents a lower level than the first parameter level.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the second parameter level is set in response to a second user input.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the second parameter level is a predetermined percentage of the first parameter level.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the processing means sets the display parameter at a second level in response to the activation of the browser feature.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the display parameter is one of contrast, brightness, color level, sharpness, and tint.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the second parameter level represents a lower level than the first parameter level.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the second parameter level is set in response to a second user input.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the second parameter level is a predetermined percentage of the first parameter level.

11. A video apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of program signals;

means for receiving user inputs; and

means, coupled to the signal receiving means, for processing the program signals and providing output signals suitable for display to a display device, the processing means setting a display parameter associated with the output signals at a first level, the processing means including means for generating browser display signals and coupling the browser display signals to the display device in response to user activation of a browser feature, wherein the processing means controls the browser display signals or the display parameter to prevent screen burn in the display device in response to the activation of the browser feature.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the processing means activates a timer for determining an idle time period that no user input is received while the browser is activated, and deactivates the browser feature and replaces the browser display signals with program signals on the display device if the idle time period exceeds a predetermined period of time.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined period of time is set in response to user input.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the predetermined period of time is set in response to the source of the browser activation command, wherein browser activation command received from activation of a switch on a keyboard results in a first predetermined period of time, and browser activation command received via an on-screen menu results in a second predetermined period of time.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the processing means is adapted to distinguish between browser commands and program viewing commands, wherein receipt of the browser commands resets the activation of the timer for determining the idle time period, and the receipt of the program viewing commands does not reset the activation of the timer.