Apparatus for displaying inhibited menu functions in a television receiver

• US 5,650,827 A
• Filed: 09/10/1992
• Issued: 07/22/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hayashi, Toshihide, Tsumori, Koki
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Application Number:
  US07/942,615
• Time in Patent Office: 1,776 Days
• Field of Search: 348/565, 348/569, 348/601, 348/734, 348/566, 348/567, 348/564, 348/563, 348/553, 348/570, 348/687, 348/706, 348/725
• US Class Current: 725/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence

Abstract

A display microcomputer displays a menu corresponding to several functions, such as picture-in-picture display and satellite broadcast reception on a mini-viewing screen that is part of the cathode-ray tube picture screen of a television receiver. A remote controller permits selection of different video and audio signal sources and, if the user selects sources that are incompatible or inconsistent, a system controller returns the menu to the condition prior to the incorrect selection. The system controller also controls a display microcomputer in such a way that items on the menu that are inhibited from selection are displayed in halftone. That is, if any inhibited item appears in the menu by a modification of the mode of operation, the display microcomputer is controlled so that the menu is returned to the condition prior to the selection and the inhibited item is displayed in halftone. For example, erroneous operation that would change the reproduced sound of a duplex sound channel while the user is watching a picture reproduced from a video tape recorder is prevented, because the set value for the duplex sound can not be varied by the user.

Claims

1. A television receiver operable in a plurality of modes of operation including reproduction of signals from different video and audio sources, the television receiver comprising:

display means including a display screen for displaying on a portion thereof a main menu having a plurality of displayed menu items for selection of respective operational parameters including a mode of operation by a user of the television receiver and a cursor for indicating a chosen menu item from the plurality of displayed menu items for selection, the plurality of displayed menu items including inhibited menu items that cannot be selected;

setting means for selecting the chosen menu item from the plurality of menu items displayed by the display means and for determining and setting values thereof, the setting means including a remote control unit having a plurality of manually operable keys for controlling movement of the cursor to a position adjacent to the chosen menu item from the plurality of displayed menu items for selection, for selecting the chosen menu item from the plurality of displayed menu items at the position adjacent to the cursor, and for setting values thereof;

control means for issuing an inhibit command to control the display means to indicate on the display screen that a displayed menu item is inhibited from selection when a present first mode of operation is changed to a second mode of operation and the displayed menu item is inconsistent with the second mode of operation, and for returning the inhibited menu item to its original uninhibited condition when the second mode of operation is changed to the first mode of operation or a third mode of operation with which the uninhibited menu item is consistent, the control means having memory means for storing a set value of the uninhibited menu item when the first mode of operation is changed to the second mode of operation, the control means retrieving the stored value and resetting the displayed menu item to the stored value when the first mode of operation is restored; and

the display means further including a display microcomputer for generating a control signal in response to the inhibit command from the control means and for generating output signals corresponding to a red signal, a green signal and a blue signal, and a resistor network connected to the display microcomputer for lowering a signal level of the red, green and blue signals in response to the control signal in order to reduce a brightness of the inhibited menu item,

wherein the user can visually confirm the selection of a menu item, and is prevented from selecting menu items that are not compatible with a selected video and audio source.

2. A television receiver according to claim 1, wherein each of the menu items of the main menu has a corresponding sub-menu having a plurality of sub-menu items selectable by the setting means, including predetermined inhibited sub-menu items, and upon selecting predetermined ones of the plurality of sub-menu items the control means controls the display means to reduce the brightness of the predetermined inhibited sub-menu items.

3. A television receiver according to claim 2, wherein the display means further comprises:

a RGB switch for receiving the red, green, and blue signals produced by the display microcomputer after being passed through the resistor network and for switching signals corresponding to the main menu and the sub menu in response thereto;

a video processing circuit for processing signals output from the RGB switch; and

a cathode ray tube providing the display screen for displaying processed signals from the video processing circuit.

4. A television receiver according to claim 1, further comprising signal bus means connecting the display means and the setting means, and wherein the control means includes a system microcomputer also connected to the signal bus means.

5. A television receiver according to claim 2, further comprising a memory for storing data corresponding to the inhibited menu items or inhibited sub-menu items and signal bus means for connecting the memory, the display means and the setting means, and wherein the control means includes a system microcomputer also connected to the signal bus means, the system microcomputer reading the data stored in the memory and controlling the display means to display the inhibited menu items or inhibited sub-menu items with a reduced brightness relative to a full display brightness.