Abstract:
A video display device is provided with: an insertion section that enables direct insertion of a specified external device that outputs a video stream; and a control section. An input terminal is provided in the insertion section, said input terminal being for inputting the video stream output by the specified external device. The video display device has multiple choices as choices for an ‘item to input’, said multiple choices including a choice corresponding to the input terminal When the specified external device is inserted in the insertion section, the control section sets the ‘item to input’ to the choice corresponding to the input terminal.

Description:
Technical Field 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an video display apparatus that includes an external input terminal for inputting an video stream from outside. 
       Background Art 
       [0002]    Video display apparatuses such as a television receiver and the like include a function for displaying an video based on an video stream that is produced by internal circuits such as a broadcast tuber and the like, besides, usually include an external input terminal for inputting an video stream from outside, and also include a function for displaying an video based on the video stream from outside. Besides, it is a general structure in which the video display apparatus is provided with a plurality of external input terminals. 
       CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
       [0003]    PLT1: JP-A-2006-217116 
         [0004]    PLT1: JP-A-2008-53814 
         [0005]    PLT1: JP-A-1997-83881 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0006]    In a case where an external device for outputting an video stream is used and an video is displayed on an video display apparatus based on the video stream from the external device, conventionally, it is necessary that an output terminal of the external apparatus for outputting the video stream and an external input terminal of the video display apparatus are connected to each other over a data transmission cable and a power supply terminal of the external device and a commercial power supply outlet are connected to each other over a power supply cord. In other words, it is time-consuming to install the external device that outputs the video stream. 
         [0007]    Besides, conventionally, an input switchover of the video display apparatus is performed by a user operating an “input switching key” of a remote control transmitter or by the user operating an “upper key” or a “lower key” of the remote control transmitter in a state where a menu screen for switching the input of the video display apparatus is displayed, which is onerous for the user. 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0008]    An video display apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an insertion portion enables direct insertion of a specific external device that outputs an video stream, and a control portion, wherein the insertion portion is provided with an input terminal for inputting the video stream output from the specific external device; as choices for an “input target,” a plurality of choices including a choice corresponding to the input terminal are included; and when the specific external device is inserted into the insertion portion, the control portion sets the choice corresponding to the input terminal as the “input target.” 
       Advantageous Effects of Invention 
       [0009]    According to the video display apparatus of the present invention, it is easy to connect to the specific external device and it is not time-consuming to switch the input to the specific external device. 
         [0010]    The significance and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the embodiment described below. Here, the following embodiment is an embodiment of the present invention and the present invention and the meaning of a term of each constituent element are not limited to those described in the following embodiment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    [ FIG. 1 ] is a block diagram of an video display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]    [ FIG. 2A ] is a front view of an video display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]    [ FIG. 2B ] is a right side view of an video display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]    [ FIG. 2C ] is a left side view of an video display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]    [ FIG. 2D ] is a perspective view of an video display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]    [ FIG. 3 ] is a view showing an insertion portion that is disposed in a front lower portion of an video display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]    [ FIG. 4 ] is a perspective view in a case of seeing from a rear surface of Apple TV (registered trademark of Apple Inc.). 
           [0018]    [ FIG. 5 ] is a block diagram of Apple TV. 
           [0019]    [ FIG. 6 ] is a flow chart showing operation of an video display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention relevant to a characterizing portion of the present invention. 
           [0020]    [ FIG. 7 ] is a view showing a display screen example of an video display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    An embodiment of the present invention is described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention. The video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention is a television receiver that has an internet connection function, and as shown in  FIG. 1 , includes: a tuner/descrambler  11 ; a DEMUX circuit  12 ; an AV decoder  13 ; a signal processing circuit  14 ; an input switching circuit  15 ; an video processing circuit  16 ; a scaler  17 ; a complex circuit  18 ; an video output circuit  19 ; a display  20 ; a sound processing circuit  21 ; a sound output circuit  22 ; a speaker  23 ; a remote control light receiver  24 ; a system controller  25 ; a memory  26 ; an OSD [On-Screen Display] display circuit  27 ; and an internet processing circuit  28 . A remote control transmitter  29  is a device that comes with the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention. A user can remotely operate the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment by operating the remote control transmitter  29 . 
         [0023]    In the meantime, the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention has, as choices for an “input target,” “digital terrestrial broadcasting,” “digital satellite broadcasting,” “HDMI [High Definition Multimedia Interface] 1,” “HDMI 2,” and “HDMI 3.” 
         [0024]    The tuner/descrambler  11  applies a process (channel selection process) for extracting a signal corresponding to an “input target” set presently and a “reception channel,” a predetermined high-frequency process, an unscrambling process, a demodulation process and the like to a television broadcast signal that is transmitted from an antenna and the like. Signals obtained by these operations are output as a packet to DEMUX circuit  12 . In the meantime, the “input target” and the “reception channel” are switchable by the system controller  25 . 
         [0025]    The DEMUX circuit  12  decodes the packet received from the tuner/descrambler  11 . Here, the packet is divided by the DEMUX circuit  12  into: MPEG data that indicates content of a television program; and additional information. And, the MPEG data including an video stream and a sound stream is output to the AV decoder  13  and the additional information is output to the system controller  25 . In the meantime, the additional information is, for example, guidance information of a television program that is presently broadcasted or is scheduled to be broadcasted in the future, or information such as notification from a broadcasting company and the like that is broadcasted together with the content of the television program at predetermine time intervals. 
         [0026]    The AV decoder  13  decodes the MPEG data received from the DEMUX circuit  12  into an video signal and a sound signal, and outputs the video signal and the sound signal to the input switching circuit  15 . 
         [0027]    Based on an external input signal (video stream and sound stream) corresponding to the “input target” that is presently set, the signal processing circuit  14  obtains an video signal and a sound signal that indicate contents. The signal processing circuit  14  outputs the obtained video signal and sound signal to the input switching circuit  15 . 
         [0028]    The input switching circuit  15  transmits an video signal and sound signal only, which are signals of the video signals and sound signals transmitted from the pre-stage and correspond to the “input target,” to the post-stage circuit. 
         [0029]    In other words, when the “digital terrestrial broadcasting” or the “digital satellite broadcasting” is set as the “input target,” the input switching circuit  15  transmits the video signal and sound signal transmitted from the AV decoder  13  to the video processing circuit  16  and the sound processing circuit  21 , respectively. On the other hand, when the “HDMI  1 ,” the “HDMI  2 ,” or the “HDMI  3 ” is set as the “input target,” the input switching circuit  15  transmits the video signal and sound signal transmitted from the signal processing circuit  14  to the video processing circuit  16  and the sound processing circuit  21 , respectively. 
         [0030]    Besides, the video processing circuit  16  applies various processes to the video signal received from the input switching circuit  15  and outputs the processed video signal to the scaler  17 . The processes performed by the video processing circuit  16  include various video-quality adjustment processes (e.g., contrast adjustment, brightness adjustment, sharpness adjustment and the like). 
         [0031]    In accordance with an instruction from the system controller  25 , the scaler  17  outputs the video signal received from the video processing circuit  16  to the complex circuit  18  as it is. Or, the scaler  17  applies a process (video small-sizing process) to the video signal received from the video processing circuit  16  such that the video is small-sized and displayed, and outputs the processed video signal to the complex circuit  18 . 
         [0032]    The complex circuit  18  receives the video signal from the scaler  17 , an OSD signal from the OSD display circuit  27 , and an video signal of internet contents from the internet processing circuit  28 , and outputs any one of these signals to the video output circuit  19 , or generates a display signal, which indicates composite (combined) content of contents of at least two signals of these signals, and outputs the display signal to the video output circuit  19 . 
         [0033]    The video output circuit  19  outputs the received display signal to the display  20  such that the content of the display signal is displayed on the display  20 . In the meantime, as the display  20 , various displays such as, for example, a CRT [Cathode Ray Tube], a liquid crystal display and the like, are employable. 
         [0034]    The sound processing circuit  21  applies a necessary predetermined process to the sound signal received from the input switching circuit  15  and outputs the processed sound signal to the sound output circuit  22 . The sound output circuit  22  outputs the received sound signal to the speaker  23  such that the sound based on the sound signal is output from the speaker  23 . 
         [0035]    The remote control light receiver  24  receives an infrared signal transmitted from the remote control transmitter  29 , transduces the infrared signal into an electric signal, and transmits the electric signal to the system controller  25 . 
         [0036]    In accordance with user&#39;s operations on a plurality of kinds of operation keys (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) disposed on the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention or on a plurality of kinds of operation keys disposed on the remote control transmitter  29 , the system controller  25  controls each portion of the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention. The memory  26  stores information such as various kinds of OSD display screen data and the like. 
         [0037]    The OSD display circuit  27  receives from the system controller  25  an OSD control signal that includes the OSD display screen data, generates an OSD signal based on this control signal, and outputs the OSD signal to the complex circuit  18 . 
         [0038]    The internet processing circuit  28  has a function for connecting to the internet  30 , receives internet contents from a predetermined server via the internet  30 , outputs an video signal of the internet contents to the complex circuit  18 , and outputs a sound signal of the internet contents to the sound output circuit  22 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2B ,  FIG. 2C , and  FIG. 2D  are respectively a front view, a right side view when seeing from the front, a left side view when seeing from the front, and a perspective view of the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the meantime,  FIG. 2A ,  FIG. 2B ,  FIG. 2C , and  FIG. 2D  each show a state in which an Apple TV  2  is inserted in a front lower portion of the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0040]    As shown in  FIG. 2B , an operation portion  101  is disposed in a right-side lower portion in a case of seeing from the front of the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention. The operation portion  101  includes a power supply switch for switching power supply ON/OFF of the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIG. 2C , a terminal portion  102  is disposed in a left-side rear portion in the case of seeing from the front of the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention. The terminal portion  102  includes: an HDMI terminal corresponding to “HDMI 1” that is one of the choices for the “input target”; an HDMI terminal corresponding to “HDMI 2” that is one of the choices for the “input target”; an antenna terminal for antenna connection; and a LAN [Local Area Network] terminal for the internet connection. 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2D , the front of the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided with: a display screen  103  of the display  20  (see  FIG. 1 ); a light reception surface  104  of the remote control light receiver  24  (see  FIG. 1 ); and a power supply lamp  105 . The power supply lamp  105  brightens greenly when the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention is in an power supply ON state, brightens redly when the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention is in a standby state, and goes out when the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention is in an power supply OFF state. In the meantime, a switchover among the power supply ON state, the standby state, and the power supply OFF state is possible by operation of the power supply switch included in the operation portion  101  (see  FIG. 2B ), while a switchover between the power supply ON state and the standby state is possible by operation of the power supply key included in the remote control transmitter  29  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0043]    And, the front lower portion of the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided with an insertion portion  106  into which the Apple TV 2  is directly insertable as shown in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2D . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the insertion portion  106  includes: an HDMI terminal  107  corresponding to the “HDMI  3 ” that is one of the choices for the “input target”; and an AC power supply terminal  108 . The AC power supply terminal  108  is a terminal that outputs a commercial power supply voltage (e.g.,  100  VAC in Japan), which the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention receives from a commercial power supply outlet via a power supply cord, to outside. As described above, the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the insertion portion  106  into which the Apple TV 2  is directly insertable; accordingly, it is easy to connect to the Apple TV 2 . 
         [0044]    Dispositions of the HDMI terminal  107  and AC power supply terminal  108  are designed such that when the Apple TV 2  is inserted into the insertion portion  106 , the HDMI terminal  107  of the insertion portion  106  and an HDMI port  201  (see  FIG. 4 ) disposed on a rear surface of the Apple TV 2  are connected to each other and the AC power supply terminal  108  of the insertion portion  106  and an AC power supply port  202  (see  FIG. 4 ) disposed on the rear surface of the Apple TV 2  are connected to each other. Accordingly, when the Apple TV 2  is inserted into the insertion portion  106 , the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention and the Apple TV 2  are connected to each other via HDMI, and further, the AC power supply terminal  108  of the insertion portion  106  and the AC power supply port  202  (see  FIG. 4 ) disposed on the rear surface of the Apple TV 2  are connected to each other, so that the AC power supply voltage is supplied from the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention to the Apple TV 2 . 
         [0045]    Here,  FIG. 5  shows a block diagram of the Apple TV 2 . The Apple TV 2  includes: a main CPU  31 ; a sub-CPU  32 ; a wireless communication portion  33  that performs wireless communication with a mobile terminal, a personal computer, a cloud server and the like obeying Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark) and the like; an Ethernet communication portion  34  that performs cable communication with a personal computer and the like; an Ethernet port  203 ; a remote control light receiver  35 ; an video sound processing portion  36  that is composed of an HDMI transmission portion and a digital sound interface portion; an HDMI port  201 ; and an optical digital sound port  204 . 
         [0046]    The remote control light receiver  35  receives an infrared signal which is transmitted from a remote control transmitter that is used to operate the Apple TV 2 , transduces the infrared signal into an electric signal, and transmits the electric signal to the sub-CPU  32 . The sub-CPU  32  controls operation of the main CPU  31  based on the electric signal received from the remote control light receiver  35 . 
         [0047]    The main CPU  31  obeys the control by the sub-CPU  32  to decode a signal, which is input from the Ethernet port  203  and received by the Ethernet communication portion  34 , or a signal received by the wireless communication portion  33  into an video stream, a sound stream, still video data and the like, and outputs them to the video sound processing portion  36 . 
         [0048]    The video sound processing portion  36  outputs the video stream, the sound stream the still video data and the like received from the main CPU  31  to the HDMI port  201  in a form of TMDS [Transition Minimized Differential Signaling], transduces the sound stream received from the main CPU  31  into an optical sound signal, and outputs the optical sound signal to the optical digital sound port  204 . 
         [0049]    Next, signal lines used for the HDMI transmission are described. The signal lines used for the HDMI transmission are the following first to fifth signal lines. 
         [0050]    The first signal line is a TMDS data signal line that is used to transmit sound-video data and an infoframe (information such as a data format of the sound-video data and the like) in the TMDS form from a source device (the Apple TV 2  in the present embodiment) to a sync device (the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention in the present embodiment) in a one-way direction. 
         [0051]    The second signal line is a HPD [Hot Plug Detect] signal line that is mainly used to indicate a start timing of outputting the sound-video data from a source device to a sync device. 
         [0052]    The third signal line is a DDC (Display Data Channel) signal line that is used to transmit unique information (vendor name, model number, acceptable resolution, HDMI terminal number and the like) of a sync device to a source device. Besides, the DDC signal line is also used for HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) authentication. 
         [0053]    The fourth signal line is a DDC 5V signal line that is used to supply a power supply voltage 5 V from a source device to a sync device. In the meantime, a sync device has a hardware structure in which after the power supply voltage 5 V from a source device is supplied via the fourth signal line, a HPD signal is output to a HPD pin of the HDMI terminal 
         [0054]    The fifth signal lien is a CEC signal line that is used to achieve a CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) function. 
         [0055]    The CEC function is a function that enables bilateral-directional control between a source device and a sync device and is defined in the HDMI standards together with a protocol for the sound-video data output. Many electronic devices compatible with the CEC function are already put in the market. The CEC function enables a command transmission in a bilateral direction between a source device and a sync device; accordingly, both of one-to-one device control and one-to-a plurality of devices control are possible. The CEC standards define various functions; however, it is left to makers which function to achieve in a product. 
         [0056]    Next, operation of the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention relevant to a characterizing portion of the present invention is described with reference to a flow chart shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0057]    The video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention goes to the power supply ON state to start operation of the flow chart shown in  FIG. 5 . In the meantime, even in the standby state, the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention may start the operation of the flow chart shown in  FIG. 5 . In a case of starting the operation of the flow chart shown in  FIG. 5  in the standby state, the standby state may be switched to the power supply ON state at a time point of starting an operation of a step S 20 . 
         [0058]    When the operation of the flow chart shown in  FIG. 5  is started, the system controller  25  determines whether the Apple TV 2  is inserted into the insertion portion  106  or not (step S  10 ). As a determination method, a method is conceivable, in which it is determined that the Apple TV 2  is inserted into the insertion portion  106  in a case where the power supply voltage 5 V is supplied to the fourth signal line of the HDMI terminal  107  disposed on the insertion portion  106 . Besides, a method is also conceivable, in which the system controller  25  uses a CEC command to interrogate a source device connected to the HDMI terminal  107  disposed on the insertion portion  106  whether it is the Apple TV or not and in a case where there is a response to the interrogation, it is determined that the Apple TV 2  is inserted into the insertion portion  106 ; however, the Apple TV 2  must have the specification to be compatible with the CEC command for interrogating whether the Apple TV 2  is the Apple TV or not. Besides, a method is also conceivable, in which the insertion portion  106  is provided with a touch switch that is turned on when the Apple TV 2  is inserted into the insertion portion  106  and in a case where the touch switch is turned on, it is determined that the Apple TV 2  is inserted into the insertion portion  106 . It goes without saying that a method other than the above-described methods may be used to perform the determination. 
         [0059]    In a case where the Apple TV 2  is not inserted in the insertion portion  106  (NO in the step S 10 ), the system controller  25  continuously executes the determination in the step S 10 . 
         [0060]    On the other hand, in a case where it is determined that the Apple TV 2  is inserted into the insertion portion  106  (YES in the step S 10 ), the system controller  25  sets the “HDMI 3” as the “input target” (step S 20 ). The Apple TV 2  begins the startup after being inserted into the insertion portion  106 ; accordingly, there is a risk that the display screen  103  turns into a black display screen from a time when the process of the step S 20  is executed to a time when the Apple TV 2  completes the startup and an uncomfortable feeling is given to the user. Accordingly, it is desirable that upon executing the process of the step S 20 , the system controller  25  outputs the OSD control signal to the OSD display circuit  27  to turn the display screen  103  into, for example, an OSD display screen as shown in  FIG. 7 , thereafter, upon detecting that the signal processing circuit  14  receives the sound-video data from the Apple TV 2 , stops the output of the OSD control signal to prevent the OSD display from being superposed onto the video that is based on the video data from the Apple TV 2 . 
         [0061]    In a step S 30  that follows the step S 20 , the system controller  25  determines whether the Apple TV 2  is removed from the insertion portion  106  or not. As a determination method, a method is conceivable, in which for example, in a case where the supply of the power supply voltage 5 V to the fourth signal line of the HDMI terminal  107  disposed on the insertion portion  106  is stopped, it is determined that the Apple TV 2  is removed from the insertion portion  106 . Besides, a method is also conceivable, in which the insertion portion  106  is provided with a touch switch that is turned on when the Apple TV 2  is inserted into the insertion portion  106  and in a case where the touch switch is switched from an ON state to an OFF state, it is determined that the Apple TV 2  is removed from the insertion portion  106 . It goes without saying that a method other than the above-described methods may be used to perform the determination. 
         [0062]    In a case where it is determined that the Apple TV 2  is not removed from the insertion portion  106  (NO in the step S 30 ), the system controller  25  continuously executes the determination in the step S 30 . 
         [0063]    On the other hand, in a case where it is determined that the Apple TV 2  is removed from the insertion portion  106  (YES in the step S 30 ), the system controller  25  changes the “input target” from the “HDMI 3” to another choice (step S 40 ), thereafter, returns to the step S 10 . In the step S 40 , for example, the “input target” may be changed from the “HDMI 3” to a choice for a default (e.g., “digital terrestrial broadcasting”), besides, for example, the “input target” may also be changed from the “HDMI 3” to the “input target” that is set immediately before the Apple TV 2  is inserted into the insertion portion  106 . Information of the choice for the default or information of the “input target” that is set immediately before the Apple TV 2  is inserted into the insertion portion  106  may be stored in the memory  26 . 
         [0064]    Because of the above-described operation, in the video display apparatus  1  according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the Apple TV 2  is inserted into the insertion portion  106 , the “input target” is automatically switched to the “HDMI 3” and the video based on the video stream transmitted from the Apple TV 2  is displayable; accordingly, it is not time-consuming to switch the input to the Apple TV 2 . 
         [0065]    In the meantime, in the above-described embodiment, the specific external device, which is inserted into the insertion portion of the video display apparatus according to the present invention, is the Apple TV; however, devices (e.g., set top box and the like) other than the Apple TV may be used. 
         [0066]    Besides, in the above-described embodiment, the insertion portion into which the specific external device is inserted is disposed in the front lower portion of the video display apparatus according to the present invention; however, another position (e.g., side surface, upper surface or the like) may be used. 
         [0067]    Besides, in the above-described embodiment, the video stream is transmitted from the specific external device to the video display apparatus according to the present invention via the HDMI; however, the video stream may be transmitted from the specific external device to the video display apparatus according to the present invention via an interface other than the HDMI. 
         [0068]    Besides, in the above-described embodiment, the insertion portion of the video display apparatus according to the present invention is provided with the AC power supply terminal; however, in a case where the specific external device is a device that is drivable even if the AC power supply voltage is not supplied, the AC power supply may not be disposed. Besides, in a case where the specific external device is a device that is driven on a DC power supply voltage and the specific external device cannot be driven on a DC power supply voltage (e.g., power supply voltage  5  V of the HDMI) that is suppliable via the interface for the video stream transmission, the insertion portion of the video display apparatus according to the present invention may be provided with a DC power supply terminal instead of the AC power supply terminal 
       REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       [0000]    
       
           1  video display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention 
           2  Apple TV 
           11  tuner/descrambler 
           12  DEMUX circuit 
           13  AV decoder 
           14  signal processing circuit 
           15  input switching circuit 
           16  video processing circuit 
           17  scaler 
           18  complex circuit 
           19  video output circuit 
           20  display 
           21  sound processing circuit 
           22  sound output circuit 
           23  speaker 
           24  remote control light receiver 
           25  system controller 
           26  memory 
           27  OSD display circuit 
           28  internet processing circuit 
           29  remote control transmitter 
           30  internet 
           31  main CPU 
           32  sub-CPU 
           33  wireless communication portion 
           34  Ethernet communication portion 
           35  remote control light receiver 
           36  video sound processing portion 
           101  operation portion 
           102  terminal portion 
           103  display screen 
           104  light reception surface 
           105  power supply lamp 
           106  insertion portion 
           107  HDMI terminal 
           108  AC power supply terminal 
           201  HDMI port 
           202  AC power supply port 
           203  Ethernet port 
           204  optical digital sound port