Television – Basic receiver with additional function – For display of additional information
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-10
2001-01-09
Kelley, Chris S. (Department: 2711)
Television
Basic receiver with additional function
For display of additional information
C386S349000, C386S349000, C348S564000, C348S731000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06172715
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a picture-in-picture (PIP) control method and apparatus therefor, and more particularly, to a PIP control method and apparatus for a video television system (TVCR) which can selectively control an operation of a video cassette recorder (VCR) according to a PIP control. The present application is based upon Korean Application No. 96-52979, which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
A general PIP system simultaneously displays a parent picture on an entire screen and a child picture, having a size smaller than that of the parent picture, on a predetermined position of the parent picture. Video equipment adopting such a PIP system includes at least two tuners. One tuner receives a TV broadcasting signal to be displayed as a parent picture, and the other tuner receives a TV broadcasting signal to be displayed as a child picture.
A general video television system (TVCR), which integrally incorporates a television set with a video cassette recorder (VCR), includes a single tuner and a VCR. Thus, when adopting the above described PIP system, the TVCR displays a TV broadcasting signal received via the tuner as a parent picture and a playback signal output from the VCR as a child picture. Alternatively, a playback signal output from the VCR is displayed as the parent picture and a TV broadcasting signal received via the tuner is displayed as the child picture.
In the TVCR having such a PIP function, when a TV broadcasting signal received via the tuner is displayed as a parent picture and a playback signal output from the VCR is displayed as a child picture, if the PIP mode is turned off, only the child picture disappears, and the VCR continues to operate. As a result, a separate key manipulation is required in order to stop a playback operation of the VCR, thereby causing an inconvenience to users.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a PIP control method which can stop or maintain a playback operation of a VCR in a video television system (TVCR) according to a PIP control signal.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a PIP control apparatus which can stop or maintain a playback operation of a VCR in a video television system (TVCR) according to a PIP control signal.
To accomplish the above object of the present invention, there is provided a picture-in-picture (PIP) control method for use in a video television system (TVCR). The PIP control method first determines whether a child picture is displayed by the TVCR system, and whether a PIP control signal is input to the TVCR system. The contents of the PIP control signal, when the PIP control signal is input, are then determined. The method then displays only a parent picture and at the same time stops a playback operation of a VCR when the contents of the PIP control signal indicate that the VCR is to be turned off, and displays only the parent picture when the contents of the PIP control signal indicate that a PIP display is to be turned off.
To accomplish another object of the present invention, there is also provided a picture-in-picture (PIP) control apparatus for use in a video television system (TVCR) which integrally incorporates functions of a TV and a VCR. The PIP control apparatus includes a key input unit, a controller, a switching unit, a parent picture video signal processor, a child picture video signal processor and a display.
The key input unit generates key input signals including a channel select signal, a video operating signal and a PIP control signal. The controller generates a function control signal according to the key input signals generated by the key input unit. The switching unit selects and outputs a TV broadcasting signal and a playback signal output from the VCR according to the function control signal of the controller. The parent picture video signal processor processes a video signal output from the switching unit into a video signal to be displayed as a parent picture. The child picture video signal processor processes a video signal output from the switching unit into a video signal to be displayed as a child picture. The display combines the child picture on a predetermined portion of the parent picture and displays the combination thereon. The controller controls the display to display only a parent picture and at the same time to stop a playback operation of the VCR when the PIP control signal received from the key input unit indicates that the VCR is to be turned off and a PIP display mode is to be turned off.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4845564 (1989-07-01), Hakamada et al.
patent: 4949179 (1990-08-01), Hosono
patent: 5285284 (1994-02-01), Takashima et al.
patent: 5432561 (1995-07-01), Strubbe
patent: 5852704 (1998-12-01), Kim
Brown Reuben M.
Kelley Chris S.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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