Display apparatus having multiple source-dependent display modes

• US 7,545,447 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2005
• Issued: 06/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Matsumura, Kenichiro, Yoritate, Miwako
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak; Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US11/031,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20050179816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,614 Days
• Field of Search: 348/554, 348/553, 348/552, 348/705, 348/706, 348/839, 348/569, 725/38, 710 8- 12
• US Class Current: 348/839
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4122 additional display device, e.g. video projector digital output for controlling a plurality of local displays G06F3/1423
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42206 characterized by hardware details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42228 the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43632 involving a wired protocol, e.g. IEEE 1394 high-speed IEEE 1394 serial bus H04L12/40052
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/64 Constructional details of receivers, e.g. cabinets or dust covers furniture aspects of television cabinets A47B81/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17318 Direct or substantially direct transmission and handling of requests

Abstract

A display apparatus for video signals has improved operability. The display apparatus includes a tuner which receives a video signal, an external input unit into which a video signal is input from the outside, a display processor operable to select one of the video signal received by the tuner or that obtained from the external input unit as a main video and to perform display processing on the main video, a display unit operable to display the video signals processed in the display processor, an operation unit and a controller operable to combine an operation guidance video with the main video to form a combined display based on a predetermined operation in the operation unit, and to display the combined display, wherein the combined display is displayed in different display modes depending on which video signal forms the main video. The operation unit may be in the form of a touch panel. Furthermore, when a specific button is operated, a display to select a function is performed.

Claims

1. A display apparatus, comprising:

a tuner operable to receive a video signal;

an external input unit into which a video signal is input from the outside;

a display processor operable to select one of the video signal received by the tuner and the video signal obtained from the external input unit as a main video on which to perform display processing;

a display unit operable to display video signals processed by the display processor;

an operation unit; and

a controller operable to cause the display processor to combine an operation guidance video with the main video to form a combined display based on a predetermined operation in the operation unit and to display the combined display, wherein the combined display is displayed in a first display mode when the main video is the video signal received by the tuner, and the combined display is displayed in a second display mode when the main video is the video signal obtained from the external input unit;

wherein the combined display includes an indication of a remaining battery life for the display unit and an indication of a state of communication between the display unit and the tuner.

2. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first display mode displays the main video on the display unit in a display area having a display size which is the same as a display size of the display area of the main video when no operation guidance video is displayed, and displays the operation guidance video superimposed with a part of the display area of the main video;

and

the second display mode displays the main video on the display unit in a display area having a display size which is smaller than a display size of the display area of the main video when no operation guidance video is displayed, and displays the operation guidance video in a vacant area made by the reduction of the display size of the display area of the main video.

3. The display apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

when the video signal received by the tuner is displayed as the main video, a video of a list of channels which are selectable by the tuner is displayed as the operation guidance video, and

when the video signal obtained from the external input unit is displayed as the main video, a video for operating an output device from which the video signal input into the external input unit originates is displayed as the operation guidance video.

4. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit includes a touch panel on a video display screen of the display unit so that the predetermined operation can be performed by touching the touch panel, and

when the operation of touching the touch panel is detected, the controller causes the display processor to combine the operation guidance video and the main video to form the combined display and to display the combined display, and when the operation guidance video is displayed and the operation of touching the touch panel is detected, the controller causes the operation displayed on a touched area of the touch screen to be performed.

5. The display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tuner and the external input unit are accommodated in a casing provided separately from the display apparatus, and the selected video signal is transmitted to the display apparatus either through wire or wirelessly.