Apparatus for displaying television receiver operational parameters in a separate area of the screen

• US 5,237,417 A
• Filed: 02/28/1991
• Issued: 08/17/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Teramoto, Satoshi, Fujisawa, Kenji, Hayashi, Toshihide
• Primary Examiner(s): Groody, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HSIA, SHERRIE Y
• Application Number:
  US07/662,455
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 358/183, 358/22 PIP, 358/191.1, 358/194.1, 358/192.1
• US Class Current: 348/569
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/57 Control of contrast or brightness

Abstract

A television receiver includes a display control device for providing, in a portion of a main screen area adapted for displaying an image for input video signals, a subsidiary screen area adapted for displaying other images than the image by input video signals, and a character signal generator for generating character signals on the basis of control data. The character signals from the character signal generator are supplied to the display control device for displaying the control data on the subsidiary screen area to display a variety of the control data on the subsidiary screen area of the television receiver without obstructing its main screen area to improve operability of the television receiver.

Claims

1. A television receiver having a main screen area for displaying a primary picture image generated by input video signals, comprising:

a remote commander for generating user commands and having a plurality of keys actuable by a user of the television receiver, said keys corresponding to operating parameters of the television receiver commandable by the user;

a controller for generating control data in response to said user commands from said remote commander;

display control means for providing a generally rectangular subsidiary screen area in a portion of said main screen area for displaying a secondary picture image different than said primary picture image;

a first video signal processing circuit including a first color matrix circuit for processing said input video signals for display as a primary picture image in said main screen area;

character signal generating means for generating character signals on the basis of said control data; and

a second video signal processing circuit including a second color matrix circuit for selectively processing one of said character signals or said input video signals for display in said subsidiary screen area of said main screen area, said input video signals being processed for display as said secondary picture image in said subsidary screen area,

wherein said character signals from said character signal generating means or said input video signals comprise said secondary image and are supplied to said display control means for displaying said control data or said input video signals on said subsidiary screen area, and wherein said secondary image does not extend beyond the boundaries of said subsidiary screen area.

2. A television receiver according to claim 1 wherein said control data comprise various data for adjusting the quality of said primary image.

3. A television receiver according to claim 2 wherein the character signals for displaying the control data are displayed as level bars.

4. A television receiver according to claim 1 wherein said control data comprise an operational sequence for presetting display parameters of a broadcast program.

5. A television receiver according to claim 1 wherein said control data comprise receiver antenna reception level data.

6. A television receiver according to claim 1, further comprising a switch for supplying secondary image signals to said subsidiary screen area, said switch adapted for switching between a signal source for broadcast programs and said character signal generating means.