Method and apparatus for controlling a video signal processing apparatus to prevent screen aging

• US 7,538,790 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2003
• Issued: 05/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Simmons, Carlton Jethro Jr., Mears, Mark Gilmore, Dinwiddie, Aaron Hal, Lefevre, Chad Andrew, Zemer, Richard Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Kostak; Victor R.
• Application Number:
  US10/512,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20060130105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,227 Days
• Field of Search: 348/173, 348/377, 348/378, 348/189, 348/687, 348/745, 715/867, 345/589
• US Class Current: 348/173
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/043 Preventing or counteracting the effects of ageing
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/046 Dealing with screen burn-in prevention or compensation of the effects thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/022 in absence of operation, e.g. no data being entered during a predetermined time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4782 Web browsing , e.g. WebTV
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 3/20 Prevention of damage to cathode-ray tubes in the event of failure of scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/57 Control of contrast or brightness
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/68 Circuit details for cathode-ray display tubes deviation circuits H04N3/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/31 Projection devices for colour picture display , e.g. using electronic spatial light modulators [ESLM]

Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling a video signal processing apparatus having a browser feature to protect a display device associated with the apparatus against the premature aging effects of screen burn due to an idle display when the browser feature is activated. The method includes the steps of detecting a first user input to a video apparatus, determining whether the first user input activates a browser feature of the video apparatus, and controlling the operation of the apparatus to reduce the screen burn. The operation can include setting a display parameter for the video apparatus to a first predetermined level responsive to determining that the first user input activates the browser feature, or determining an idle time and inactivating the browser feature if the idle time exceeds a predetermined period of time.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a video display, comprising the steps of:

receiving a program signal from a signal source;

enabling display of a video program corresponding to the received program signal on a display device, wherein the video program is displayed with a display parameter at a first level;

activating a browser feature of the video display apparatus in response to a first user input;

enabling display of a browser on the display device in response to the activation of the browser feature, wherein the browser is displayed with the display parameter at a second level different from the first level, and the display parameter is automatically switched from the first level to the second level in response to the activation of the browser feature.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating a timer for determining an idle time period that no user input is received while the browser feature is activated, and deactivating the browser feature and replacing the browser with the video program on the display device if the idle time period exceeds a predetermined period of time.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined period of time is set in response to user input.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined period of time is set in response to a source of a browser activation command, wherein the browser activation command from a keyboard results in the predetermined period of time being set to a first period of time, and the browser activation command via an on-screen menu results in the predetermined period of time being set to a second period of time different from the first period of time.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising a step of distinguishing between browser commands and program viewing commands, wherein receipt of the browser commands resets the activation of the timer for determining the idle time period, and the receipt of the program viewing commands does not reset the activation of the timer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the display parameter is one of contrast, brightness, color level, sharpness, and tint.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second level represents a lower level than the first level.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second level is adjustable in response to a second user input.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second level is a predetermined percentage of the first level.

10. A video apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of program signals;

means for receiving user inputs; and

means for processing the received program signals and enabling display of video programs corresponding to the received program signals on a display device, the processing means causing the video programs to be displayed with a display parameter at a first level, the processing means enabling display of a browser on the display device in response to user activation of a browser feature, wherein the processing means causes the browser to be displayed with the display parameter at a second level and causes the display parameter to be automatically switched from the first level to the second level in response to the user activation of the browser feature.

11. The video apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processing means activates a timer for determining an idle time period that no user input is received while the browser feature is activated, and deactivates the browser feature and replaces the browser with one of the video programs on the display device if the idle time period exceeds a predetermined period of time.

12. The video apparatus of claim 11, wherein the predetermined period of time is set in response to user input.

13. The video apparatus of claim 11, wherein the predetermined period of time is set in response to a source of a browser activation command, wherein the browser activation command received from activation of a switch on a keyboard results in the predetermined period of time being set to a first period of time, and the browser activation command received via an on-screen menu results in the predetermined period of time being set to a second period of time different from the first period of time.

14. The video apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processing means is adapted to distinguish between browser commands and program viewing commands, wherein receipt of the browser commands resets the activation of the timer for determining the idle time period, and the receipt of the program viewing commands does not reset the activation of the timer.

15. The video apparatus of claim 10, wherein the display parameter is one of contrast, brightness, color level, sharpness, and tint.

16. The video apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second level represents a lower level than the first level.

17. The video apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second level is adjustable in response to a second user input.

18. The video apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second level is a predetermined percentage of the first parameter level.

19. A video apparatus, comprising:

an input for receiving a plurality of program signals; and

a processor, coupled to the input, for processing the received program signals and enabling display of video programs corresponding to the received program signals on a display device, the processor causing the video programs to be displayed with a display parameter set to a first level, the processor enabling display of a browser on the display device in response to user activation of a browser feature, wherein the processor causes the browser to be displayed with the display parameter set to a second level and causes the display parameter to be automatically switched from the first level to the second level in response to the user activation of the browser feature.