METHOD FOR CHANGING CHANNEL ACCORDING TO STATUS OF IMAGE SIGNAL AND IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS ADOPTING THE METHOD

• US 20080024679A1
• Filed: 04/06/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Chang-jin
• Application Number:
  US11/697,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20080024679A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/731
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44209 Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/50 Tuning indicators; Automatic tuning control

Abstract

Provided are a method for changing a channel according to a status of an image signal and an image display apparatus adopting the method. The method includes: determining a status of an image signal received from an external source; and if it is determined that the status of the received image signal is instable, changing a channel according to one of an automatic channel selection mode and a manual channel selection mode. Thus, a user can directly select a channel having good receiving sensitivity according to a change in a wireless environment without requesting services.

Claims

1. A method for changing a channel according to a status of an image signal, the method comprising:

determining a status of an image signal received from an external source; and

if it is determined that the status of the received image signal is instable, changing a channel according to one of an automatic channel selection mode and a manual channel selection mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the status of the received image signal comprises determining an intensity of the image signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the automatic channel selection mode comprises a mode in which a current channel is automatically changed to a channel through which an image signal is stably received, and

wherein the manual channel selection mode comprises a mode in which the current channel is changed according to a selection of a user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the changing of the channel according to one of the automatic channel selection mode and the manual channel selection mode comprises:

if the automatic channel selection mode is selected, determining whether an intensity of the received image signal is instable for a pre-set period of time,

wherein if it is determined that the intensity of the received image signal is instable for the pre-set period of time, the channel is automatically changed to a channel through which an image signal is received in a highest intensity.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the changing of the channel according to one of the automatic channel selection mode and the manual channel selection mode comprises:

if the manual channel selection mode is selected, displaying an intensity of an image signal received through each channel,

wherein the channel is changed to a channel selected by a user with reference to the displayed intensity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein an intensity of the received image signal is checked to determine the status of the received image signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein an intensity of the received image signal is determined based on an automatic gain control (AGC) voltage of the received image signal.

8. An image display apparatus comprising:

an automatic gain control (AGC) unit which outputs an AGC voltage of an image signal received from an external source; and

a controller which changes a channel according to one of an automatic channel selection mode and a manual channel selection mode if it is determined that a status of the received image signal is instable based on the AGC voltage output from the AGC unit.

9. The image display apparatus of claim 8, wherein the status of the received image signal is determined based on an intensity of the received image signal.

10. The image display apparatus of claim 8, wherein the automatic channel selection mode comprises a mode in which a current channel is automatically changed to a channel through which an image signal is stably received, and

wherein the manual channel selection mode comprises a mode in which the current channel is changed according to a selection of a user.

11. The image display apparatus of claim 8, wherein if the automatic channel selection mode is selected, the controller determines whether an intensity of the received image signal is instable for a pre-set period of time, and

if it is determined that the intensity of the received image signal is instable for the pre-set period of time, the controller automatically changes the channel to a channel through which an image signal is received in a highest intensity.

12. The image display apparatus of claim 8, wherein if the manual channel selection mode is selected, the controller displays an intensity of an image signal received through each channel, and

wherein the controller changes the channel to a channel selected by a user with reference to the displayed intensity.

13. The image display apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller checks an intensity of the received image signal to determine the status of the received image signal.

14. The image display apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller determines an intensity of the received image signal based on an AGC voltage of the received image signal.

15. The image display apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

an on-screen display (OSD) generator which generates a channel selection menu for selecting the automatic channel selection mode and the manual channel selection mode; and

a key input unit comprising at least one of a key for selecting one of the automatic channel selection mode and the manual channel selection mode and a key for changing the channel when the manual channel selection mode has been selected.