Information display apparatus

• US 5,214,622 A
• Filed: 04/26/1991
• Issued: 05/25/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Sakai, Kazuo, Ohki, Hiroshi, Nemoto, Yasuhiro, Tanaka, Hideki, Enoki, Hideo, Nakamura, Ichiro, Kawauchi, Masataka, Tanaka, Kihachiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US07/691,853
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/47, 358/93, 358/194.1, 358/335, 364/569, 340/825.69, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 11/00 Producing optical signals at preselected times
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/422 Input-only peripherals , i.e. input devices connected to specially adapted client devices, e.g. global positioning system [GPS] input devices also receiving signals from specially adapted client devices H04N21/4104
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895

Abstract

An information display apparatus which accumulates arbitrary information inputted to a television receiver from the outside, superimposes the information in a memory on an ordinary video signal and displays the superimposed image on a television display in accordance with a calender timer built in the television receiver. A remote control unit is provided for inputting information to the information display apparatus from the outside. Memories are disposed in the information display apparatus and the remote control unit for accumulating arbitrary information. A calender timer is provided for serving as a reference for displaying information are also disclosed. Arbitrary information inputted from the outside can be displayed on a television display at a previously appointed date.

Claims

1. An information display apparatus comprising:

a first memory, coupled to said display apparatus, for storing arbitrary information, to which at least a desired display period is added;

a first calendar timer, coupled to said display apparatus, for generating a time signal such as data;

a remote control unit for permitting input of said arbitrary information and transferring said arbitrary information to said first memory, said remote control unit having an alphanumeric keypad and handwritten character recognizing means for recognizing input of handwritten characters;

a second memory, coupled to said remote control unit, for storing said arbitrary information input by said remote control unit;

a second calendar timer, coupled to said remote control unit, for generating a time signal such as data;

means for synthesizing said arbitrary information stored in said first memory as a television image, and displaying the synthesized television image on a television display at a predetermined time derived on the basis of the time signal generated by said first calendar timer and said desired display period; and

means for changing at least one of said arbitrary information contents such as, color, size, typeface on said television display in a predetermined manner, in accordance with said first calendar timer.

2. An information display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a memory card interface for both said display apparatus and said remote control unit, exchanging said arbitrary information physically by exchanging said memory card.

3. An information display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said second calendar timer of said remote control unit and said first calendar timer coupled to said display apparatus comprises means for transmitting a synchronizing signal to the other calendar timer to synchronize the same with its time.

4. An information display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of said second calendar timer of said remote control unit and said first calendar timer coupled to said display apparatus comprises means for transmitting a synchronizing signal to the other calendar timer to synchronize the same with its time.

5. An information display apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for automatically starting a display mode and displaying necessary information when said calender timer indicates the arrival of a time at which information is to be displayed.

7. An information display apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising means for maintaining information, after it has been displayed, to be stored in said memory for a predetermined period.

8. An information display apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising means for maintaining information, after it has been displayed, to be stored in said memory for a predetermined period.

6. An information display apparatus according to claim 16 further comprising means for automatically starting a display mode and displaying necessary information when said calender timer indicates the arrival of a time at which information is to be displayed.

9. An information display apparatus comprising:

a first memory, coupled to said display apparatus, for storing arbitrary information, to which at least a desired display period is added;

a first calendar timer, coupled to said display apparatus, for generating a time signal such as date;

a remote control unit for permitting input of said arbitrary information and transferring said arbitrary information to said first memory, said remote control unit having an alphanumeric keypad and handwritten character recognizing means for recognizing input of handwritten characters;

a second memory, coupled to said remote control unit, for storing said arbitrary information input by said remote control unit;

a second calendar timer, coupled to said remote control unit, for generating a time signal such as date;

means for synchronizing said first calendar timer and said second calendar timer, by transferring a synchronizing signal from said remote control unit, when said arbitrary information is transferred;

means for synthesizing said arbitrary information stored in said first memory in said display apparatus as a television image, and displaying the synthesized television image on a television display at a predetermined time derived on the basis of the time signal generated by said first calendar timer and said desired display period; and

means for transferring said arbitrary information automatically, read out from said second memory to said first memory, in accordance with said time signal generated by said second calendar timer and said predetermined display period of said arbitrary information.

10. An information display apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said means for synthesizing information stored in said first memory and a television image includes means for changing at least one of display contents of the information read out of said first memory and a display method in accordance with said first calender timer.

11. An information display apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising means for automatically starting a display mode and displaying necessary information when said first calender timer indicates the arrival of a time at which information is to be displayed.

12. An information display apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising means for maintaining information, after it has been displayed, to be stored in said first memory for a predetermined period.

13. An information display apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising means for maintaining information, after it has been displayed, to be stored in said first memory for a predetermined period.