Patent Application
20080089534
The above and/or other aspects of the present invention will be more apparent by describing certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the following description, same drawing reference numerals are used for the same elements even in different drawings. The matters defined in the description, such as a detailed construction and elements, are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention. Thus, it is apparent that the present invention can be carried out without those specifically defined matters. Also, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention with unnecessary detail.
In one exemplary embodiment, a video playing apparatus 1 may be implemented as a digital TV.
The channel tuning unit 10 may include a tuner which tunes to a broadcast being received over the antenna, and a demodulator which conducts processing such as demodulation and error correction of the tuned broadcast and outputs the broadcast in the form of a transport stream (TS). The channel tuning unit 10 may tune to the broadcast at a frequency band which corresponds to a control signal of the control unit 80, which will be explained in greater detail below.
The signal processing unit 20 may include a demultiplexer 21, a video decoder 23, a video processor 25, an audio decoder 27, and an audio processor 29.
The broadcast is demodulated at the channel tuning unit 10 and separated into a video signal, an audio signal, and additional data defined by the program and service information protocol (PSIP) at the demultiplexer 21, and output in the form of a bit stream.
The video signal being separated at the demultiplexer 21 is decoded at the video decoder 23, and converted at the video processor 25 to conform to the output specifications of the display unit 30 such as vertical frequency, resolution, aspect ratio, and the like. The video processor 25 may include a scaler.
The display unit 30 is adaptable to various display modules, including Digital Lighting Processing (DLP), Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), and Plasma Display Panel (PDP).
The audio signal being separated at the demultiplexer 21 is decoded at the audio decoder 27, and volume of the sound is adjusted at the audio processor 29, such that the adjusted audio signal is output through the speaker 40.
The additional data under PSIP being separated at the demultiplexer 21 may include EPG data, the guide information of the broadcast programs.
The user selection unit 60 may include a remote controller having a function of sound volume adjustment, and the remote controller may have a mute key and a key signal generator which generates a key signal in response to a manipulation on the key. In alternate embodiments, the user selecting unit 60 may include a mouse, a keyboard, or may be incorporated into a panel on the TV.
The key signal receiving unit 90 may receive a key signal being output from the user selecting unit 60 and transmit the received key signal to the control unit 80.
The digital TV 1 according to an aspect of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may additionally include the UI generating unit 70. The UI generating unit 70 operates to generate an OSD including a message which notifies that the current volume has been adjusted to a predetermined level. The UI generating unit 70 may be implemented by use of an OSD generating integrated circuit (IC). The OSD being generated at the UI generating unit 70 may be processed at the video processing unit 25 and displayed at the display unit 30. The OSD being generated at the UI generating unit 70 may include an OSD which notifies the specific level of volume of the digital TV 1.
The control unit 80, upon receiving a signal corresponding to a mute key via the user selecting unit 60, controls the respective components to perform designated functions. The control unit 80 may be implemented as a micro processor, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), or the like.
More specifically, in response to a signal corresponding to the mute key being received at the key signal receiving unit 90 via the user selection unit 60, the control unit 80 determines whether the signal is being received more than a predetermined period of time, i.e., one second.
If it is determined that the mute key has been pressed for more than one second, that is, if the mute key is determined to have been continuously input more than one second, the control unit 80 may cause the current volume to be adjusted to a predetermined volume, such as, 0 (i.e., no sound). The control unit 80 may control the audio processing unit 29 in accordance with the adjusted volume such that the audio is output through an audio output unit such as the speaker 40 at the adjusted volume. The control unit 80 may control the audio processing unit 90 so that the audio is blocked from being output through the speaker 40.
If the mute key is not continuously pressed, the control unit 80 performs the ordinary operation of the mute key.
Accordingly, the control unit determines whether it is in mute mode. If it is determined that it is not in the mute mode and that the audio is currently being output, the control unit enters into the mute mode. According to the entry into the mute mode, the control unit 80 controls the audio output so that it is blocked while the current volume is retained.
If the mute key is pressed and it is the mute mode, that is, where the audio is not being output, the control unit 80 causes the mute mode to be released. That is, the control unit 80 may cause the audio to be output at the latest volume.
The memory 50 always stores the latest volume. Accordingly, if the control unit 80 causes the current volume to be adjusted to 0, the memory 50 stores 0 as the latest volume.
The video playing apparatus 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may receive a signal of a predetermined key and accordingly adjust the volume, even when it is turned off.
Because the volume of the TV can be adjusted to 0 by pressing a mute key for more than one second when the TV (i.e., video playing apparatus 1) is in an off state, user discomfort due to an unexpectedly loud sound of the TV when the user turns the TV on, can be avoided.
In another exemplary implementation, the video playing apparatus 1 may perform the same volume adjustment that is provided when the video playing apparatus 1 is activated in response to a mute key pressed more than one second as a part of the initialization process of the video playing apparatus 1. In this way, the user's inconvenience can be avoided because the user does not have to turn on the video playing apparatus 1 by pressing a power key, and then press the mute key more than one second to lower the volume.
The volume adjusting method of a video playing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be explained below with reference to
First, it is determined whether a signal corresponding to a predetermined key is received (S10). The predetermined key may comprise a mute key. Upon determining that the signal corresponding to predetermined key is received at operation S10, it is determined whether the signal is continuously received for more than a predetermined period of time (S20). In other words, it is determined whether the predetermined key is pressed continuously. The predetermined period of time may desirably be one second.
If it is determined at operation S20 that the signal is continuously received for more than the predetermined period of time, that is, if it is determined that the key is being pressed continuously, the current volume, is adjusted to a predetermined level (S30). The predetermined level may desirably be 0 (i.e., no sound). As a result, audio output through the speaker 40 may be blocked.
The predetermined volume level 0 may be stored as the latest volume.
As shown in
Alternatively, the currently volume may be displayed through the user interface screen, as shown in
A method of adjusting the volume of the video playing apparatus according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be explained below with reference to
The volume adjusting method may include operations S10 to S30 of the above exemplary embodiment, and operations S10 to S30 will not be explained below for the sake of brevity. At operation S20, if it is determined that the signal is not received continuously, that is, if it is determined that the key is input briefly, it is determined whether it is currently a mute mode (S40).
Upon determining it to be the mute mode at operation S40, that is, upon determining that no audio is being output currently, the mute mode is released (S50). Audio can be output at the latest volume when the mute mode is released. Additionally, the mute OSD is not displayed any more, when the mute mode is released.
Upon determining that it is not the mute mode and that audio is being output currently at operation S40, the video playing apparatus enters into the mute mode (S60). Upon entering into the mute mode, audio output through the speaker 40 is blocked, but the current volume is retained. Additionally, a mute OSD may be displayed on the display unit 30 to indicate that it is mute mode.
With the volume adjusting method according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a signal corresponding to the predetermined key may be received and the volume can be adjusted to a predetermined level, even when the video playing apparatus is in the off state.
More specifically, the volume can be adjusted to 0 by pressing the mute key for more than one second, when the TV is in the off state. Because the volume of the TV can be adjusted even when the TV is in the off state, user discomfort due to unexpectedly loud sound of the TV when the user turns it on, can be avoided.
Although the digital TV was explained above according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, one will understand that the present invention can be incorporated into other video playing apparatuses which receive signal corresponding to a mute key and adjust the volume. For example, the present invention may apply to a set top box.
Furthermore, although the digital TV was explained above as receiving a broadcast according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, one will understand that the digital TV may receive a signal from an external device and output the received signal.
Furthermore, although the video playing apparatus was explained above as being adjusted to volume 0 in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, one will understand that the level of adjustment may vary in a range that is audible and not unpleasantly loud for the viewers.
Furthermore, although the predetermined key was explained as being pressed more than 1 second in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, one will understand that the period of time may vary to, for example, three seconds, if viewers feel it more convenient.
As explained above, according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a volume of a video playing apparatus can be adjusted in a mute mode by pressing a predetermined key continuously.
Additionally, the volume of the video playing apparatus can be adjusted to a desirable level before the mute mode is released so that user can turn down the volume if the video playing apparatus was played at a loud volume before entering into the mute mode.
Furthermore, the volume of the video playing apparatus can be adjusted in a standby mode, that is, in power-off state, so that user discomfort due to unexpected loudness of the apparatus when the apparatus is turned on, can be avoided.
The foregoing exemplary embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Also, the description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2006-0099382 | Oct 2006 | KR | national |
