System for selectively extinguishing a light source that illuminates a television power button

• US 20020186325A1
• Filed: 12/13/2001
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Madison Patent Holdings (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Mears, Mark Gilmore, Gospel, Thomas Edward, Munson, Wesley Guy, Johnson, Gene Harlow
• Granted Patent: US 7,209,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/730
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/63 Generation or supply of power specially adapted for television receivers

Abstract

A system for selectively illuminates a light source that illuminates a power indicator of a video apparatus when the indicator distracts a viewer. The power button illumination is selectively set to be extinguished or illuminated when the video apparatus is powered on by means of an on-screen menu as an example. Extinguishing the power button light source does not affect the ability of the indicator to become illuminated to provide information to a viewer regarding the operating status of the video apparatus such as when a TV projection lamp has failed.

Claims

1. A system for indicating the status of a video apparatus, comprising:

a power indicator illumination; and

a user interface operative to allow a user to selectively illuminate the power indicator illumination when the video apparatus is powered on.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein even when the power indicator illumination has been selected by the user to not be illuminated when the video apparatus is powered on, the power indicator illumination can still be illuminated to provide information to the user regarding operating status of the video apparatus.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the illumination is at least one light emitting diode (LED).

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises an on-screen menu.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a microprocessor for controlling the illumination in response to information entered by the user on the on-screen menu.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the illumination blinks at a plurality of different speeds, each speed indicating a different one of a plurality of operating status of the video apparatus.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the operating status of the video apparatus comprising at least one of following conditions:

non-operating projection lamp and cooling down of projection lamp.

8. A method of controlling the power indicator illumination of an apparatus, comprising the steps of:

illuminating the power indicator illumination of the apparatus when the apparatus is powered on; and

providing a user interface for allowing a user to selectively turn the power indicator illumination off, even when the apparatus is powered on.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of allowing a microprocessor to illuminate the power indicator illumination of the apparatus, even if the user has selected to turn the power indicator illumination off.