Patent ID: 7509666
Filing Date: 2009-03-24
Classification: H04H,H04N

Abstract:
1. A digital television broadcast signal receiver to which a multi-directional antenna is to be connected for receiving a television broadcast signal by making one of the multiple receiving directions active, the digital television broadcast signal receiver comprising: a control signal output unit for outputting, to the multi-directional antenna, a control signal to command a receiving direction for receiving the television broadcast signal; a tuner which is to be connected to the multi-directional antenna for receiving the television broadcast signal and measuring signal intensity of the received television broadcast signal; a broadcast signal processing unit for subjecting the television broadcast signal received by the tuner to a predetermined signal processing; an image signal output unit for outputting, to a monitor, the television broadcast signal having been subjected to the predetermined signal processing by the broadcast signal processing unit; a memory for temporarily storing the television broadcast signal having been subjected to the predetermined signal processing by the broadcast signal processing unit; a receiving direction determining unit for determining a best receiving direction for each receivable channel using the television broadcast signal stored in the memory; a main controller for controlling respective elements in the digital television broadcast signal receiver; and an antenna connection selecting switch for selecting connection of antenna and for starting an operation of the control signal output unit, wherein when the antenna connection selecting switch is set in an automatic mode, the control signal output unit sequentially outputs, to the multi-directional antenna at given time intervals, a control signal to sequentially command receiving directions of the multi-directional antenna, wherein the tuner sequentially measures signal intensities of the television broadcast signal in the multiple receiving directions for at least one channel, the measured signal intensities being stored in the memory, wherein based on the measured and stored signal intensities, the main controller detects a maximum receiving direction to give a maximum signal intensity among the receiving directions of the multi-directional antenna, wherein the tuner further measures signal intensity of the television broadcast signal in an opposite receiving direction 180 degrees opposite to the maximum receiving direction to give the maximum signal intensity, the measured signal intensity in the opposite receiving direction being stored in the memory, wherein if the signal intensity in the maximum receiving direction is significantly different from the signal intensity in the opposite receiving direction for the at least one channel, the main controller determines that the multi-directional antenna is connected to the tuner, and wherein if the signal intensity in the maximum receiving direction is substantially the same as the signal intensity in the opposite receiving direction for the at least one channel, the main controller determines that the multi-directional antenna is disconnected from the tuner.