Image display apparatus having audio output control means in accordance with image signal type

• US 6,697,687 B1
• Filed: 11/08/1999
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Kasahara, Yasuhiro, Tomita, Yasuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Application Number:
  US09/435,781
• Time in Patent Office: 1,569 Days
• Field of Search: 348/43, 348/46, 348/51, 348/69, 348/242, 348/246, 348/301, 348/346, 348/426, 348/429, 348/437, 348/441, 348/443, 348/462, 348/71, 348/114, 348/426.1, 348/454, 348/487, 348/500, 348/516, 348/552, 348/555, 700/94, 381/61, 381/12, 345/625, 345/634, 345/656, 345/603, 345/718, 345/716, 345/727, 345/728, 345/714, 345/717
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4113 PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440218 by transcoding between formats or standards, e.g. from MPEG-2 to MPEG-4 conversion of standards in analogue television systems H04N7/01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4852 for modifying audio parameters, e.g. switching between mono and stereo
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8106 involving special audio data, e.g. different tracks for different languages
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/60 for the sound signals

Abstract

An image display apparatus capable of automatically controlling an output status for each of audio information signals inputted with image information signals from various different image sources. A first signal input circuit inputs an image information signal and an audio information signal from a personal computer. A second signal input circuit inputs an image information signal and an audio information signal of a television signal. An image selection circuit selects the first or second signal input circuit. An image conversion circuit converts the selected image information signal to a signal having the number of pixels corresponding to a display circuit. An audio signal selection circuit selects the first or second signal input circuit. An audio signal control circuit controls an output status for the input audio signal. An operation device inputs a setting of the image display apparatus, such as luminance, by user'"'"'s operation. A control circuit controls the selection circuits and the audio signal control circuit, in accordance with the operation device. A memory circuit is used for storing the setting of the image display apparatus set by the user and the output status for the audio signal. The stored contents are read by the controller, and audio output is controlled by the audio signal control circuit.

Claims

1. An image display apparatus which inputs a first image information signal and a second image information signal in a signal format different from that of said first image information signal, and displays an image based on at least one of said first and second image information signals, comprising:

an audio signal selection circuit that selects and outputs one of a first audio information signal inputted with said first image information signal and a second audio information signal inputted with said second image information signal;

an audio control circuit, connected to said audio signal selection circuit, that controls an audio output status for the audio information signal outputted from said audio signal selection circuit, and outputs the audio information signal to an audio output unit;

a memory circuit that is used for storing first control data for outputting said first audio information signal in a first audio output status, and second control data for outputting said second audio information signal in a second audio output status having a sound effect different than that of said first audio output status; and

a controller, connected to said memory circuit and said audio control circuit, that reads and supplies either one of said first control data and said second control data from said memory circuit to said audio control circuit, wherein said controller reads out and supplies said first control data from said memory circuit to said audio control circuit if said audio selection circuit outputs said first audio information signal, and reads out and supplies said second control data from said memory circuit to said audio control circuit, if said audio selection circuit outputs said second audio information signal, and

wherein said audio control circuit controls said first audio information signal to be in said first audio output status based on said first control data supplied from said controller, and controls said second audio information signal to be in said second audio output status based on said second control data.

2. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first image information signal and said first audio information signal are signals output from a personal computer, and said second image information signal and said second audio information signal is included in a television broadcast signal.

3. The image display apparatus, as described in claim 1, wherein said audio signal selection circuit selects one of said first audio signal and said second audio signal in response to a user'"'"'s instruction.

4. The image display apparatus, as described in claim 1, wherein said second control data stored in said memory includes at least one of high-pitched tone control data, low-pitched tone control data, balance control data, stereo mode control data, and surround-sound function control data.