Television receiver having video accompaniment functions

• US 5,496,178 A
• Filed: 01/21/1994
• Issued: 03/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Back, Dong-cherl
• Primary Examiner(s): CHENG, JOE H
• Application Number:
  US08/183,848
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 434/118, 434/307 R, 434/307 A, 434/308, 434/309, 434/318, 434/362, 348/512, 348/515, 348/725, 380/15, 380/20, 360/33.1, 340/825.2, 340/825.22, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 340/825.76, 84/456, 84/477 R, 84/601-615, 84/625, 84/645, 455/353
• US Class Current: 434/307.00A
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/368 displaying animated or moving pictures synchronized with the music or audio part
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/011 Lyrics displays, e.g. for karaoke applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/478 Supplemental services, e.g. displaying phone caller identification, shopping application
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44504 Circuit details of the additional information generator, e.g. details of the character or graphics signal generator, overlay mixing circuits

Abstract

A television receiver capable of performing a video accompaniment function includes a television signal generator for receiving a television signal and providing a video signal and an audio signal, a video accompaniment signal generator for reading background/lyrics information and accompaniment information of a program selected tom among a plurality of programs stored in a memory, providing a video signal for accompaniment and an accompaniment signal, and generating a pseudo-sync signal, a first selector for selectively providing the video signal supplied from the television signal generator and the pseudo-sync signal supplied from the video accompaniment signal generator, a second selector for selectively providing the audio signal supplied from the television signal generator and the accompaniment signal supplied from the video accompaniment signal generator, a video output unit for receiving a signal selected from the first selector and the accompaniment video signal as a video output, an audio output unit for receiving a signal selected in the second selector as an audio output, and a controller for controlling respective elements according to the mode selection of television/video accompaniment. The television receiver is incorporated with the video accompaniment apparatus, thereby enhancing usage.

Claims

1. A television receiver having a video accompaniment function comprising:

a television signal generator for receiving a television signal and providing a video signal and an audio signal;

a video accompaniment signal generator for reading background/lyrics information and accompaniment information of a program selected among a plurality of programs stored in a memory, providing a video signal for accompaniment and an accompaniment signal, and generating a pseudo-sync signal;

a first selector for selectively providing the video signal supplied from the television signal generator and the pseudo-sync signal supplied from the video accompaniment signal generator;

a second selector for selectively providing the audio signal supplied from the television signal generator and the accompaniment signal supplied from the video accompaniment signal generator;

a video output unit for receiving a first signal selected from the first selector and the accompaniment video signal and for providing the received signal as a video output;

an audio output unit for receiving a second signal selected in the second selector and providing the received signal as an audio output; and

a controller for controlling said video accompaniment signal generator, said first selector and said second selector responsive to selection between a television mode of operation and a video accompaniment mode of operation.

2. The television receiver according to claim 1, further comprising an audio signal mixer for mixing said accompaniment signal supplied from said video accompaniment signal generator and the audio signal input through a microphone and supplying a mixed signal to said second selector.

3. The television receiver according to claim 1, further comprising:

an instruction input circuit including

a television/video accompaniment mode selection key;

an accompaniment video signal selection key;

a numerical keypad for program selection;

a start/cancel key;

a reserve key;

a volume adjustment key; and

a speed adjustment key,

wherein said instruction input circuit permits input of an instruction signal to said controller.

4. The television receiver according to claim 3, wherein said first selector is controlled so as to perform a switching operation according to the accompaniment mode selection key signal generated by said instruction input circuit.

5. The television receiver according to claim 3, wherein said second selector is controlled so as to perform a switching operation according to the television/video accompaniment mode selection key signal generated by said instruction input circuit.

6. The television receiver according to claim 1, further comprising:

a remote controller for permitting input of an instruction signal to said controller including

a channel up/down key;

a volume up/down key;

a television/video accompaniment mode selection key;

an accompaniment video signal selection key;

a numerical keypad for program selection;

a start/cancel key;

a reserve key;

a tone up/down key; and

a speed up/down key.

7. The television receiver according to claim 6, wherein said remote controller commonly uses said numerical keypad so as to select channels in said television mode and select programs in said video accompaniment mode.

8. The television receiver according to claim 1, wherein said video accompaniment signal generator comprises:

a graphics/character signal generator for generating a graphics signal and a character signal;

an accompaniment signal generator for generating an accompaniment audio signal; and

a video accompaniment controller for controlling the operation of said graphics/character signal generator and said accompaniment signal generator, and for generating a pseudo-sync signal.

9. The television receiver according to claim 8, wherein said graphics/character signal generator comprises:

a graphics memory for storing graphics information;

a character memory for storing character information; and

a graphics/character processor for combining the graphics information read from said graphics memory and the character information read from said character memory to produce a combined signal, and converting said combined signal into a television signal having a predetermined format.

10. The television receiver according to claim 8, wherein said accompaniment signal generator comprises:

an audio source memory for storing audio information; and

an audio source information processor for receiving the audio information read from said audio source memory to provide a received signal, and converting said received signal into an accompaniment signal for output.

11. The television receiver according to claim 10, wherein said audio information is supplied from a mini disk (MIDI).

12. The television receiver according to claim 8, wherein said video accompaniment controller comprises:

a microprocessor for controlling said graphics/character signal generator and said accompaniment signal generator responsive to a software program incorporated therein;

an interface circuit for receiving a control instruction input from a remote control apparatus, and transmitting the received control instruction to said microprocessor; and

a sync signal generator for generating a pseudo-sync signal identical to the sync signal of said television signal.

13. The television receiver according to claim 8, wherein said video accompaniment signal generator further comprises an external interface circuit for receiving the graphics/character information and the audio source information supplied from an external source, and supplying received said graphics/character information and said audio source information to said graphics/character signal generator and said accompaniment signal generator.

14. The television receiver according to claim 13, wherein said external interface circuit is a read only memory (ROM) pack interface device.

15. The television receiver according to claim 13, wherein said external interface circuit is a random access memory (RAM) pack interface device.

16. The television receiver according to claim 13, wherein said external interface circuit is a memory card interface device.

17. A television receiver having a video accompaniment function comprising:

a television signal generator for receiving a television signal and providing a video signal and an audio signal;

a video accompaniment signal generator for reading background/lyrics information and accompaniment information of a program selected among a plurality of programs stored in a memory, and providing a video signal for accompaniment and an accompaniment signal;

a first selector for selectively providing the video signal supplied from the television signal generator and the accompaniment video signal supplied from the video accompaniment signal generator;

a second selector for selectively providing the audio signal supplied from the television signal generator and the accompaniment signal supplied from the video accompaniment signal generator;

a video output unit for receiving a first signal selected from the first selector and the accompaniment video signal and providing the received signal as a video output;

an audio output unit for receiving a second signal selected in the second selector and providing the received signal as an audio output; and

a controller for controlling said video accompaniment signal generator, said first selector and said second selector responsive to selection of a television mode of operation and video accompaniment mode of operation.

18. The television receiver according to claim 17, further comprising an audio signal input circuit for mixing said accompaniment signal supplied from said video accompaniment signal generator and the audio signal input through a microphone and supplying a mixed signal to said second selector.

19. The television receiver according to claim 17, further comprising:

an instruction input circuit including

a television/video accompaniment mode selection key;

an accompaniment video signal selection key;

a numerical keypad for program selection;

a start/cancel key;

a reserve key;

a tone adjustment key; and

a speed adjustment key,

wherein said instruction input circuit permits input of an instruction signal to said controller.

20. The television receiver according to claim 19, wherein said first selector is controlled so as to perform a switching operation according to the accompaniment mode selection key signal of said instruction input circuit.

21. The television receiver according to claim 19, wherein said second selector is controlled so as to perform a switching operation according to the television/video accompaniment mode selection key signal of said instruction input circuit.

22. The television receiver according to claim 17, further comprising:

a remote controller including

a channel up/down key;

a volume up/down key;

a television/video accompaniment mode selection key;

an accompaniment video signal selection key;

a numerical keypad for program selection;

a start/cancel key;

a reserve key;

a tone up/down key; and

a speed up/down key,

wherein said remote controller permits input of an instruction signal to said controller.

23. The television receiver according to claim 22, wherein said remote controller commonly uses said numerical keypad so as to select channels in a television mode and select programs in said video accompaniment mode.

24. The television receiver according to claim 17, wherein said video accompaniment signal generator comprises:

an accompaniment video/character signal generator for generating an accompaniment video signal and a character signal;

an accompaniment signal generator for generating an accompaniment audio signal; and

a video accompaniment controller for controlling the operation of said accompaniment video/character signal generator and said accompaniment signal generator.

25. The television receiver according to claim 24, wherein said accompaniment video/character signal generator comprises:

an accompaniment video generator for generating said accompaniment video signal;

a character memory for storing character information; and

a character processor for processing the character information read from said character memory.

26. The television receiver according to claim 24, wherein said accompaniment signal generator comprises:

an audio source memory for storing audio information; and

an audio source information processor for receiving the audio information read from said audio source memory as a received signal, and converting the received signal into an accompaniment signal for output.

27. The television receiver according to claim 26, wherein said audio information is mini disk (MIDI) information.

28. The television receiver according to claim 24, wherein said video accompaniment controller comprises:

a microprocessor for controlling said accompaniment video/character signal generator and said accompaniment signal generator by performing a software program incorporated therein; and

an interface circuit for receiving a control instruction which is input from a remote control apparatus, and transmitting the received control instruction to said microprocessor.

29. The television receiver according to claim 24, wherein said video accompaniment signal generator further comprises an external interface circuit for receiving the video/character information and the audio source information supplied from an external source, and supplying the received said graphics/character information and said audio source information to said accompaniment video/character signal generator and said accompaniment signal generator.

30. The television receiver according to claim 29, wherein said external interface circuit is a ROM pack interface device.

31. The television receiver according to claim 29, wherein said external interface circuit is a RAM pack interface device.

32. The television receiver according to claim 29, wherein said external interface circuit is a memory card interface device.

33. A television receiver providing a video accompaniment function and having a television signal generator for receiving a television signal and providing a video signal and an audio signal, a video output unit for receiving a selected video signal as a video output and an audio output unit for receiving a selected audio signal as an audio output, said receiver comprising:

a video accompaniment signal generator for reading background and lyric information and accompaniment information corresponding to a program selected from a plurality of programs stored in a memory, and providing an accompaniment video signal and an accompaniment audio signal;

a first selector for providing a selected one of the video signal supplied from the television signal generator and the accompaniment video signal supplied from the video accompaniment signal generator to said video output unit as said selected video signal;

a second selector for providing a selected one of the audio signal supplied from the television signal generator and the accompaniment audio signal supplied from the video accompaniment signal generator to said audio output unit as said selected audio signal; and

a controller for controlling said video accompaniment signal generator, said first selector and said second selector responsive to mode selection between a television mode of operation and a video accompaniment mode of operation.

34. The television receiver according to claim 33, further comprising an audio signal input circuit for mixing said accompaniment audio signal supplied from said video accompaniment signal generator and the audio signal input through a microphone and supplying a mixed signal to said second selector.

35. The television receiver according to claim 33, further comprising an instruction input circuit including a television/video accompaniment mode selection key, an accompaniment video signal selection key, a numerical keypad for program selection, a start/cancel key, a reserve key, a tone adjustment key and a speed adjustment key, said instruction input circuit permitting input of an instruction signal to said controller.

36. The television receiver according to claim 33, further comprising a remote controller having at least a channel up/down key, a volume up/down key, a television/video accompaniment mode selection key, an accompaniment video signal selection key, a numerical keypad for program selection, a start/cancel key, a reserve key, a tone up/down key and a speed up/down key, wherein said remote controller permits input an instruction signal to said controller.

37. The television receiver according to claim 33, wherein said video accompaniment signal generator comprises:

an accompaniment video/character signal generator for generating an accompaniment video signal and a character signal;

an accompaniment signal generator for generating an accompaniment audio signal; and

a video accompaniment controller for controlling the operation of said accompaniment video/character signal generator and said accompaniment signal generator.

38. The television receiver according to claim 37, wherein said accompaniment video/character signal generator comprises:

an accompaniment video generator for generating said accompaniment video signal;

a character memory for storing character information; and

a character processor for processing the character information read from said character memory.

39. The television receiver according to claim 37, wherein said accompaniment signal generator comprises:

an audio source memory for storing audio information; and

an audio source information processor for receiving the audio information read from said audio source memory, and converting the received signal into an accompaniment signal for output.

40. The television receiver according to claim 37, wherein said video accompaniment controller comprises:

a microprocessor for controlling said accompaniment video/character signal generator and said accompaniment signal generator by performing a software program incorporated therein; and

an interface circuit for receiving a control instruction which is input from a remote control apparatus, and transmitting the received control instruction to said microprocessor.

41. The television receiver according to claim 37, wherein said video accompaniment signal generator further comprises an external interface circuit for receiving the video/character information and the audio source information supplied from an external source, and supplying the received information to said accompaniment video/character signal generator and said accompaniment signal generator.