Apparatus and method for controlling television receiver

Apparatus and method for controlling, using a rotary encoder, a television receiver. The remote control unit comprises a keyboard, a rotary encoder controlling the volume and the output level of a selected OSD signal as well as selecting a channel and a position of OSD signal, a remote control microprocessor and a remote signal transmitter. The television receiver unit comprises a remote signal receiver, a microprocessor and a signal processing circuit. The remote control microprocessor checks whether an input signal is a rotary encoder signal and whether the input signal is an increase signal, and operates in accordance with the rotary encoder signal or the corresponding key signal. The microprocessor of the television receiver unit checks whether a rotary encoder signal has been inputted, operates the inputted rotary encoder signal as a channel increase or decrease signal or as a control signal corresponding to a selected on-screen display signal, displays an OSD signal indicative of the output level of the selected OSD signal, and displays the OSD signal on the screen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates in general to a television receiver, and more 
particularly to an apparatus and method for controlling a remote 
controllable television receiver. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown in a block diagram a television 
set, comprising a remote controllable television receiver unit and a 
remote control unit, according to the prior art. The television receiver 
unit is controlled by a remote controller or the remote control unit 1R 
which comprises a remote control microprocessor 1a, a keyboard 1b and a 
remote control signal transmitter 1c and outputs a radio signal 
corresponding to a manually selected channel. The television receiver unit 
includes a remote signal receiver 2, which receives the channel selecting 
radio signal outputted from the remote control unit 1R and amplifies the 
radio signal to a predetermined level and in turn outputs the amplified 
signal. The television receiver unit further includes a key matrix unit 3, 
outputting an electric signal of a predetermined level corresponding to a 
VHF or UHF channel manually selected by the user. A microprocessor 4 is 
provided in the television receiver unit for outputting, upon receiving 
the signals outputted from both the remote signal receiver 2 and the key 
matrix unit 3, a channel increases/decreases signal enabling the selection 
of a required channel. The microprocessor 4 is connected to a tuner 5 
which, upon receiving a broadcast signal inputted by an antenna, tunes and 
outputs a corresponding broadcast signal according to the output signal of 
the microprocessor 4. The tuner 5 is connected to an IF/demodulator 6 
which IF(intermediate frequency)-processes the output signal of the tuner 
5 and demodulates the IF-processed signal. The IF/demodulator 6 is in turn 
connected to a video signal processing circuit unit 7, which comprises a 
comb filter 7a, a color processing circuit 7b, a luminance processing 
circuit 7c, a matrix unit 7d and a CRT drive unit 7e. This video signal 
processing unit 7 processes only a video signal of the output signals of 
the IF/demodulator 6 and outputs the processed video signal through a CRT 
8. The IF/demodulator 6 is also connected to an audio signal processing 
circuit 9 which processes only an audio signal of the output signal s of 
the IF/demodulator 6 and outputs the processed audio signal through a 
speaker SP. An on-screen code generating circuit 10 is connected between 
the microprocessor 4 and the CRT drive unit 7e of the video signal 
processing unit 7. The circuit 10 generates an on-screen code under the 
control of the microprocessor 4 and outputs the on-screen code to the CRT 
drive unit 7e for displaying the on-screen code on the CRT 8. The 
television receiver unit further includes a deflection circuit 11 between 
the luminance processing circuit 7c, the CRT 8 and the on-screen code 
generating circuit 10. The deflection circuit 11 separates a synchronous 
component from the output signal of the luminance processing circuit 7c 
and deflects, according to the separated synchronous component, the 
electron beam of an electron gun of the CRT 8. 
In the drawing, the block 12 defines a tuning and video/audio processing 
section of the television receiver unit controlled by a rotary type tuning 
device while the block 13 defines the construction of the television set 
controlled by a remote control type tuning device. 
Turning to FIG. 2, there is shown in a plan view a keyboard of the 
conventional remote control unit 1R. On the keyboard, a plurality of 
numeral keys, respectively numbered 1 to 9 and adapted for selection of 
channel, are arranged together with a plurality of function keys. 
In operation, the matrix unit 3 provided on the television receiver unit or 
the remote control unit 1R is operated under the condition of powering on 
the television receiver unit such as for performing the channel selection. 
A corresponding selection signal is thus outputted from the matrix unit 3 
or from the remote control unit 1R to the microprocessor 4 of the 
television receiver unit. Upon reception of the selection signal, the 
microprocessor 4 controls the tuner 5 to output a complex video signal, 
corresponding to a tuned channel, of the broadcast signals inputted by the 
antenna ANT to the IF/demodulator 6. 
Upon receiving the complex video signal, the IF/demodulator 6 separates the 
video signal of the complex broadcast signals from the audio signal. The 
audio signal is in turn processed by the audio signal processing circuit 9 
and outputted from the speaker SP. The video signal is received by the 
comb filter 7a wherein the color signal is separated from the luminance 
signal. The color signal and the luminance signal are processed by the 
color signal processing circuit 7b and the luminance signal processing 
circuit 7c, respectively, and transmitted to the CRT drive unit 7e by way 
of the matrix unit 7d. 
In addition, the deflection circuit 11, connected between the luminance 
processing circuit 7c, the CRT 8 and the on-screen code generating circuit 
10, separates the synchronous component from the output signal of the 
luminance processing circuit 7c. The circuit 11 in turn deflects the 
electron beam of the electron gun of the CRT 8 according to the separated 
synchronous component, thereby displaying the picture on the screen of the 
CRT 8. 
At the same time, the on-screen code generating circuit 10 generates a 
corresponding on-screen display (OSD) signal, which is displayed on the 
CRT 8, under the control of the microprocessor 4. 
In order to change the channel, at least two numeral keys of the remote 
control unit 1R corresponding to the required channel are manually pushed 
so as to directly tune the channel or the channel increase or decrease key 
is sequentially pushed. 
In addition to the above channel selection, various information, such as of 
time, volume, video and audio, may be displayed on the CRT 8 by pushing 
individual function keys of the remote control unit 1R. 
However, such a remote control of the television receiver unit has a 
problem in that it requires such a complex remote control unit in that it 
is provided with the plurality of numeral keys numbered 1 to 9 as well as 
the plurality of function keys, such as for channel up, channel down, 
volume up and volume down. In addition, it is necessary to repeatedly push 
the channel increase and decrease keys one by one in channel selection, 
thereby causing inconvenience and the presence of an error in use of the 
remote control unit. Furthermore, such a complex remote control unit makes 
it difficult to be familiar with the functions of the respective keys and 
causes most of the plurality of keys to be unnecessary to users requiring 
a simple control, such as the aged and users preferring the rotary type 
tuning method. 
In addition, there has been proposed a remote control unit having a jog 
shuttle key performing the tape winding function as well as an edit 
function key. However, key such a remote control unit having a jog shuttle 
key is not used in controlling a television receiver unit but is used only 
for operating the tape of a VCR. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an 
apparatus and method for controlling a television receiver in which the 
above-mentioned problems can be overcome and which simply performs various 
functions, including channel selection, by employing rotating a rotary 
encoder, which is provided to a remote control unit having the has a 
minimum number of keys. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a 
method for controlling a television receiver in which at least one rotary 
encoder is provided with switch means, such as a tact switch or a pushing 
switch, for performing the recall function as well as the enter function 
at the same time as channel selection. 
To accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides an 
apparatus for controlling a television receiver comprising: a remote 
control unit performing selection of various functions of the television 
receiver and including volume control, the increase or decrease of the 
channel, and control of the position of an on-screen display on a screen 
of a cathode ray tube (CRT). The present invention also provides a 
television receiver unit performing a selected function in response to a 
remote signal outputted from the remote control unit or to a signal 
outputted from a keyboard, the remote control unit including a keyboard 
provided with a plurality of keys controlling various functions of the 
television receiver unit, a rotary encoder controlling the volume, the 
increase or decrease of the channel, the increase or decrease of the 
output level of the on-screen display signal and the position of the 
on-screen display. The present invention also provides a remote control 
microprocessor outputting a control signal for performing a selected 
function in response to both a selection signal outputted from a key of 
the keyboard and a signal outputted from the rotary encoder, and a remote 
signal transmitter outputting the control signal of the microprocessor in 
the form of a radio signal. The television receiver unit comprises: a 
remote signal receiver for receiving the radio signal outputted from the 
remote signal transmitter of the remote control unit; a microprocessor for 
outputting a control signal performing the selected function in accordance 
with a signal outputted from the rotary encoder or with a signal outputted 
from the keyboard and; a signal processing unit performing the selected 
function in accordance with the control signal outputted from the 
television receiver microprocessor. 
The present invention also provides a method for controlling a television 
receiver comprising the steps of: checking whether the input signal is a 
rotary encoder signal outputted from the rotary encoder; checking whether 
the input signal is an increase signal or a decrease signal by comparing 
the input signal when the input signal is the rotary encoder signal, 
checking whether the input signal is a key signal when a input signal is 
not the rotary encoder signal and performing a selected function when the 
input signal is the key signal; checking whether electric power has been 
applied, and checking whether the rotary encoder signal has been inputted 
when the electric power has been applied; operating the inputted rotary 
encoder signal as a channel increase or decrease signal when the rotary 
encoder signal has been inputted and no on-screen display signal has been 
displayed on the screen but operating the inputted rotary encoder signal 
as a control signal corresponding to the on-screen display signal when the 
rotary encoder signal has been inputted and an on-screen display signal 
has been displayed on the screen; checking whether a recall key signal has 
been inputted when no rotary encoder signal has been inputted, and 
displaying the on-screen display signal, indicative of the output level of 
the selected on-screen display signal, on the screen when the recall key 
signal has been inputted; checking whether a key signal has been inputted 
and displaying an on-screen display signal of the selected function when 
the key signal has been inputted. 
In accordance with the apparatus and the method for controlling the 
television receiver of the present invention, when no on-screen display 
signal has been displayed on the screen, the channel is increased or 
decreased in accordance with the rotary encoder signal and the volume 
output level is controlled in accordance with the recall key signal, and 
the on-screen display signal selected by the key selection signal is 
displayed on the screen. 
At this time, the on-screen display signal on the screen is set in its 
select position in accordance with the rotary encoder signal inputted 
after the on-screen display signal is displayed on the screen. At the same 
time, the on-screen display signal at the selected position is selected 
when the recall key signal has been inputted. 
The on-screen display signal indicative of the output level of the selected 
on-screen display signal is displayed on the screen. At this time, when 
the rotary encoder signal has been inputted, the on-screen display signal 
is controlled to be increased or decreased in its output level. 
That is, in accordance with the present invention, the channel selection as 
well as the volume control of the television receiver unit are performed 
by a rotary encoder, so that it is easy to operate various functions of 
the television receiver unit by a simple remote control unit having a 
minimum number of keys.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
With reference to FIG. 3, there is shown in a block diagram a first 
embodiment of the present invention in which a rotary encoder is provided 
on a remote control unit and performs various functions including channel 
selection. The control apparatus of the present invention comprises a 
remote control unit 10 and a television receiver unit 20. The remote 
control unit 10 (hereinafter remote controller 10) comprises a keyboard 
10a, the rotary encoder 10b, a remote control microprocessor 10c and a 
remote signal transmitter 10d. The remote controller 10 outputs a radio 
signal for controlling various functions of the television receiver unit 
20, including increase decrease of the volume and of the channel. The 
remote control let 10 also outputs a radio signal for controlling the 
on-screen display (OSD) signal output. The television receiver unit 20 
comprises a remote signal receiver 20a, a key matrix unit 20b, a 
microprocessor 20c and a signal processing circuit unit 20d and performs 
selected functions in response to the radio signals outputted from the 
remote control unit 10. 
FIGS. 4A and 4B are plan views of remote controllers according to different 
embodiments of the present invention, respectively. The remote controller 
of FIG. 4A has a rotary encoder used for controlling channel selection as 
well as the increase or decrease of the volume. The remote controller of 
FIG. 4B has two integrated rotary encoders of which the outer rotary 
encoder controls the channel selection while the inner rotary encoder 
controls the increase or decrease of the volume as well as the OSD 
position. 
Turning to FIG. 5, there is shown in an exploded perspective view an 
embodiment of a rotary encoder of the present invention. The rotary 
encoder includes three lead terminals 14 to 16 of which one is connected 
to a power supply and the others are connected to the remote control 
microprocessor 10c of FIG. 3. The two lead terminals connected to the 
microprocessor 10c are also grounded but the grounding of the terminals is 
not shown in the drawling. The rotary encoder further includes a bracket 
29 which is formed with a semicircular copper plate 31 of the slit type 
having a circular protrusion 30. The bracket 29 engages with a shaft unit 
26 having a shaft 27 and a guide tooth part 28 guiding the circular 
protrusion 30 of the copper plate 31. The shaft unit 26 engages with a 
rotary knob 32 and is rotated together with the rotary knob 32. The shaft 
unit 26 further includes on its front disc 25 a slit type iron piece 24 
which has a plurality of resilient slit terminals 21 to 23. The terminals 
21 to 23 come into contact with a plurality of patterns 18 to 20 of a 
printed circuit board (PCB) 17 whenever the user rotates the shaft 27 by 
rotating the rotary knob 32, thereby generating pulse signals. 
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the construction of the remote control 
unit having the rotary encoder of FIG. 5. In this drawing, the slit 
terminals 21 to 23 of the iron piece 24 of FIG. 5 are equivalent to the 
interlocking switches SW.sub.1 and SW.sub.2 generating two trigger pulses 
having a phase difference. 
Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a relative position between the slit 
type iron piece 24 and the copper patterns 18 to 20 of the PCB 17 in 
accordance with the rotation of the rotary knob 32. This drawing also 
shows wave forms of the two trigger signals generated by the rotary 
encoder and applied to the remote control microprocessor 10c of FIG. 3 
through a plurality of lead lines 14a, 15b and 16a shown in FIG. 5. 
That is, a high signal is outputted when the slit terminal 21 comes into 
contact with the pattern 20 but a low signal is outputted when the slit 
terminal 21 is not in contact with pattern 20. In the same manner, a high 
signal is outputted when the slit terminal 22 comes into contact with the 
pattern 19 but a low signal is outputted when the terminal 22 is not in 
contact with pattern 19. In this regard, the two trigger pulses having a 
phase difference are generated and applied to the remote control 
microprocessor 10c. 
FIGS. 8A and 8B are flow diagrams, each showing a process for transmission 
of a control signal outputted from the remote control unit 10 having the 
rotary encoder of this invention. As represented in these flow diagrams, 
all the two input signals A and B are processed by the interrupt terminals 
INT A and INT B in order to prevent a faulty operation of the remote 
control microprocessor 10c due to a noise. 
As represented in the flow diagram of FIG. 8A, when the first input signal 
A has been applied to the first interrupt terminal INT A, at steps S.sub.1 
and S.sub.2 the second input signal B applied to the second interrupt 
terminal INT B is read and checked top determine whether it is a high 
signal. When the input signal B is high, the increase flag is set at a 
step S.sub.3 and the operation is ended. However, when the input signal B 
is low, at a step S.sub.5 it is checked whether the decrease flag has been 
set. When the decrease flag has been set, at steps S.sub.6 and S.sub.7 the 
decrease flag is reset and a decrease direction recognizing signal is 
outputted. In addition, when no decrease flag has been set, at a step 
S.sub.8 the signal is regarded as a pulse caused by a noise and recognized 
as an error. 
Turning to the flow diagram of FIG. 8B, when the second input signal B has 
been applied to the second interrupt terminal INT B, at steps S.sub.9 and 
S.sub.10 the first input signal A applied to the first interrupt terminal 
INT A is read and checked whether it is a high signal. When the input 
signal A is high, the decrease flag is set at a step S.sub.11 and the 
operation is ended. However, when the input signal A is low, at a step 
S.sub.13 it is checked whether the increase flag has been set. When the 
increase flag has been set, at steps S.sub.14 and S.sub.15 the increase 
flag is reset and an increase direction recognizing signal is outputted. 
In addition, when no increase flag has been set, at a step S.sub.16 the 
signal is regarded as a pulse caused by a noise and recognized as an 
error. 
FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of the operation of the remote control unit having 
the rotary encoder for further explanation of the control signal 
transmission processes of FIGS. 8A and 8B. At a step S.sub.17, it is 
checked whether a rotary encoder input signal has been applied to an 
interrupt terminal INT A or INT B. When there is a rotary encoder input 
signal, at a step S.sub.18 it is determined whether the input signal is an 
increase directional signal. When the signal is the increase directional 
signal, at a step S.sub.20 the increase key is operated. However, when the 
signal is not the increase directional signal, at a step S.sub.19 the 
decrease key is operated. Thereafter, at a step S.sub.23 a corresponding 
key signal is transmitted through a light emit unit of the remote control 
unit 10 and the operation is ended. On the other hand, when there is no 
rotary encoder input signal applied to the interrupt terminal, at a step 
S.sub.21 it is checked whether a key signal has been inputted. When the 
key signal has been inputted, a corresponding key is operated and a 
corresponding key signal is transmitted prior to ending the operation. 
However, when no key signal has been inputted, the operation is directly 
ended. 
FIGS. 10A and 10B are flow diagrams of an on screen display (hereinafter 
OSD operation in accordance with both a turning operation of the rotary 
encoder and key operations of other function keys. When the user turns the 
rotary encoder under the condition of no OSD, the rotary encoder is 
increased by 1 pitch at a step S.sub.26 or decreased by 1 pitch at a step 
S.sub.27. When a recall key signal has been inputted under the condition 
of no OSD signal on the screen, the volume output level is controlled at a 
step S.sub.28 and this control state is outputted as an OSD signal at a 
step S.sub.29. When a video key signal or an audio key signal has been 
inputted under the condition of no OSD signal on the screen, a 
corresponding OSD signal is displayed on the screen at a step S.sub.30 or 
S.sub.31. At this state, when a rotary encoder signal has been inputted, 
the OSD signal on the screen is changed in its select position at a step 
S.sub.32 or S.sub.33. At this time, when a recall key signal has been 
inputted, at a step S.sub.34 or S.sub.35 a selected OSD signal, such as 
the character "Brightness" or "Low-Pitched Sound", is displayed on the 
screen together with a present output level code. At this state, when a 
rotary encoder signal has been inputted, at a step S.sub.36 or S.sub.37 a 
selected output level code is displayed on the screen together with the 
character. When a focal 1 key signal has been inputted, the OSD signal is 
erased from the screen. 
On the other hand, when a menu key signal has been inputted, a selectable 
menu is displayed in the form of an OSD signal on the screen. Here, when a 
channel set menu has been selected at a step S.sub.38, the channel is 
automatically or manually selected in accordance with rotary encoder 
signals and recall key signal s at steps S.sub.39 to S.sub.42. However, 
when a time set menu has been selected at a step S.sub.43, at steps 
S.sub.39 to S.sub.54 a reserved automatic turn off time, a present time 
and a reserved automatic turn on time are set in accordance with rotary 
encoder signals and recall key signals. 
Turning to FIGS. 11A and 11B, there are shown continued flow diagrams of an 
operation of the microprocessor 4 of the television receiver unit 20 in 
accordance with a signal outputted from the remote control unit 10 having 
the rotary encoder lob of the present invention. At steps S.sub.55 to 
S.sub.57 is checked whether the power has been applied. When the power has 
been applied, at a step S.sub.58 it is checked whether a rotary encoder 
increase or decrease key signal has been inputted. When the rotary encoder 
key signal has been inputted, at a step S.sub.59 it is checked whether 
there has been an OSD signal on the screen. When there is no OSD signal on 
the screen, at a step S.sub.61 the inputted rotary encoder key signal is 
operated as a channel increase or decrease signal. However, when an OSD 
signal has been on the screen, at steps S.sub.80 to S.sub.77 the inputted 
rotary encoder signal is operated as a control signal corresponding to the 
OSD signal. When at the step S.sub.58 it is determined that no rotary 
encoder key signal has been inputted, at a step S.sub.78 it is checked 
whether a recall key signal has been inputted. When it is determined that 
the recall key signal has been inputted, at steps S.sub.79 to S.sub.92 an 
OSD signal indicative of the output level of the selected OSD signal is 
displayed on the screen. However, when no recall key signal has been 
inputted, at steps S.sub.93 to S.sub.102 it is checked whether a function 
key signal, such as a menu key signal, a video key signal, an audio key 
signal or a mute key signal, has been inputted. When a function key signal 
has been inputted, an OSD signal indicative of the selected function is 
displayed on the screen. 
Hereinafter, the operational effect of the rotary encoder according to the 
primary embodiment of the present invention will be described in 
conjunction with FIG. 5. 
Upon rotation of the rotary knob 32 of the rotary encoder for controlling 
the television receiver unit, the shaft 27 of the shaft un it 26 is 
rotated together with the knob 32, thereby causing the circular protrusion 
30 of the bracket 26 to move with respect to the guide tooth part 28 of 
the shaft unit 26. 
At the same time of rotation of the shaft unit 26, the resilient slit 
terminals 21 to 23 of the slit type iron piece 24 of the shaft unit 26 
come into contact with the copper patterns 18 to 20 of the PCB 17, 
respectively. 
Otherwise stated, the rotation of the rotary knob 32 for channel selection 
causes the slit type iron piece 24 of the shaft unit 26 to move on the 
printed circuit board 17 (hereinafter PCB 17) in such a manner that the 
slit terminal 21 moves on the pattern 18, the slit terminal 22 moves on 
the pattern 19 and the slit terminal 23 moves on the pattern 20. 
Therefore, the two trigger pulses, or the input signals A and B of FIG. 7, 
are applied to the remote control microprocessor 10c. At this time, since 
there may be the presence of faulty operation caused such as by a noise 
when a single trigger pulse is applied to the microprocessor 10c, the 
present invention applies two trigger pulses having a defined the phase 
difference to the microprocessor 10c, thereby providing a stable 
operation. 
The process for transmission of the corresponding control signal performed 
by turning the rotary encoder 10b will be described hereinbelow in 
conjunction with the flow diagrams of FIGS. 8A and 8B. 
In the remote control microprocessor 10c, the two input signals A and B are 
processed by the interrupt terminals INT A and INT B in order to prevent 
faulty operation of the microprocessor 10c caused by noise. 
As represented in the flow diagram of FIG. 8A, when the input signal A has 
been applied to the interrupt terminal A, ("INTA" in FIG. 8A) at step 
S.sub.1 the input signal B applied to the interrupt terminal B ("INT B" in 
FIG. 8B) is read and at step S.sub.2 it is checked whether the signal B is 
a high signal or a low signal. 
When input B is high signal, at the step S.sub.3 the increase flag is set 
prior to ending the operation. 
However, when input B is the low signal, at step S.sub.5 it is checked 
whether the decrease flag has been set. When it is determined that the 
decrease flag has been set, the decrease flag is reset at the step 
S.sub.6, the input signal is recognized as a decrease directional signal 
at step S-, and the operation is ended. At step S.sub.5 it is determined 
that no decrease flag has been set, at the step S.sub.8 the low level 
input signal is regarded as an error pulse caused by a noise. 
Turning to the flow diagram of FIG. 8B, when the input signal B has been 
applied to the interrupt terminal B, at the step S.sub.9 the input signal 
A applied to the interrupt terminal A is read and at step S.sub.10, it is 
checked whether the signal A is a high signal or a low signal. When the 
input signal A is high, at the step S.sub.11, the decrease flag is set 
prior to ending the operation. 
However, when at step S.sub.10 it is determined that the input signal A is 
low, at step S.sub.13 it is checked whether the increase flag has been 
set. When it is determined that the increase flag has been set, the 
increase flag is reset at the step S.sub.14, and the input signal is 
recognized as an increase directional signal at step S.sub.15, and the 
operation is ended. At step S.sub.13 it is determined that no increase 
flag has been set, and at step S.sub.16 the low level input signal is 
regarded as an error pulse caused by noise. 
In order to further explain the above interrupt signal processing, the 
operation of the remote control unit having the rotary encoder will be 
described in conjunction with FIG. 9. At the step S.sub.17, it is checked 
whether a rotary encoder input signal has been applied to interrupt 
terminals INTA or INTB. When the rotary encoder input signal is present, 
at the step S.sub.18, it is determined whether the signal is the increase 
directional signal. When the input signal is the increase directional 
signal, at step S.sub.20 the increase key is operated. However, when the 
input signal is not the increase directional signal, at the step S.sub.19 
the decrease key is operated. Thereafter, at step S.sub.23 the 
corresponding key signal is transmitted to the television receiver unit 20 
through the remote signal transmitter of the remote control unit and the 
operation is ended. 
At the step S.sub.17 it is determined that there is no rotary encoder input 
signal applied to the interrupt terminal and at the step S.sub.21 it is 
checked whether a function key signal has been inputted. When the function 
key signal has been inputted, at the steps S.sub.22, respectively and 
S.sub.23 a corresponding key is operated and a corresponding key signal is 
transmitted to the television receiver unit 20 prior to ending the 
operation. However, when it is determined that no key signal has been 
inputted, the operation is directly ended. 
The signal outputted from the remote control unit 10 is received by the 
television receiver unit 20. Upon reception of the signal, the television 
receiver unit 20 performs the selected function in accordance with the 
processing flow diagram of FIGS. 11A and 11B. For further explanation of 
the present invention, the change of OSD is described in accordance with 
the turning operation of the rotary encoder and the key operations of 
other function keys, in conjunction with FIGS. 10A and 10B. 
During watching a program of channel 10 under the condition of no OSD at 
the step S.sub.25, clockwise turning of the rotary encoder by 1 pitch 
causes the step S.sub.26 to be performed for increasing the channel by 1 
step, so that the channel 10 is changed to a channel 11 and the character 
"CH 11" is displayed on the screen. 
At this state, when the step S.sub.27 is performed as a result of 
counterclockwise turning of the rotary encoder by 1 pitch, the channel is 
decreased by 1 step, so that the channel 11 is changed to the channel 10 
and the character "CH 10" is displayed on the screen. When the 
recall/enter key is pushed during watching the program of channel 10, the 
character "CH 10" indicative of the channel 10 and the volume level code 
are displayed on the screen together with the character "Volume", At this 
state, when the rotary encoder is turned clockwise by 1 pitch in order to 
perform the step S.sub.29 wherein the volume level is increased by 1 step. 
Thereafter, pushing of the recall/enter key causes the character and the 
code displayed on the screen to be erased. On the other hand, when the 
video key is pushed, the step S.sub.30 is performed for displaying data, 
stored in the memory of the microprocessor 20c of the television receiver 
unit 20, on the screen. At this state, when the rotary encoder 10b is 
turned clockwise by 1 pitch, the step S.sub.32 is performed for moving the 
select position downwardly by 1 step and, at this state, pushing of the 
recall/enter key causes the character "Brightness" to be displayed on the 
screen together with the brightness code indicative of the present 
brightness level. 
In this case, clockwise turning of the rotary encoder 10b by 2 pitches 
causes the step S.sub.36 to be performed for increasing the output level 
of the brightness by 2 steps and for displaying the brightness code 
indicative of the increased brightness level on the screen. 
When the recall/enter key is pushed at this state, the OSD is erased from 
the screen. In the same manner, when the audio key is pushed, the step 
S.sub.31 is performed for displaying data, stored in the memory of 
microprocessor 20c of the television receiver unit 20, on the screen. At 
this state, when the rotary encoder is turned clockwise by 1 pitch, the 
step S.sub.33 is performed for moving the select position downwardly by 1 
step and, at this state, pushing of the recall/enter key causes the 
character "Low-Pitched Sound" to be displayed on the screen together with 
the volume code indicative of the present volume level. 
In this case, clockwise turning of the rotary encoder 10b by 3 pitches 
causes the step S.sub.37 to be performed for increasing the output level 
of the volume by 3 steps and for displaying the volume code indicative of 
the increased volume on the screen. 
When the recall/enter key is pushed at this state, the OSD is erased from 
the screen. 
On the other hand, in the case of selection of menu, pushing of the menu 
key causes displaying of the OSD on the screen. When the recall/enter key 
is pushed at this state, the step S.sub.39 is performed for displaying the 
characters "Input Selection", "Automatic Channel Selection" and "Manual 
Channel Selection" on the screen. At this state, when the recall/enter key 
is pushed again, the step S.sub.40 is performed for displaying the 
characters of the input selection menu, that is, the characters 
"TV.fwdarw.Wire.fwdarw.Video", on the screen. Pushing of the recall/enter 
key at this state enables selection of a desired menu. 
When the recall/enter key is pushed after clockwise turning of the rotary 
encoder by 1 pitch, the step S.sub.41 is performed for displaying the 
character "Automatic Channel Memory" on the screen. On the other hand, 
when the recall/enter key is pushed after clockwise turning of the rotary 
encoder by 2 pitches, the step S.sub.42 is performed for displaying the 
character "Manual Channel Memory" on the screen. 
At this state, pushing of the recall/enter key makes the OSD be erased. 
In addition, the step S.sub.43 of FIG. 10B is performed as a result of 
clockwise turning of the rotary encoder by 1 pitch at the step S.sub.38 
and results in the selection of time set. At this state, pushing of the 
recall/enter key causes the step S.sub.44 to be performed for displaying 
the menu characters "Slip Timer", "Time Set" and "ON-Timer" on the screen. 
When the recall/enter key is pushed at the state of selection of "Slip 
Timer", the step .sub.45 is performed for displaying the character "Turn 
Off After 60 min". At this state, when the rotary encoder 10b is turned 
clockwise by 1 pitch, at the step S.sub.46 the character "Turn Off After 
90 min" is displayed on the screen. As described above, the slip timer is 
controlled by the clockwise turning of the rotary encoder. 
In addition, when the recall/enter key is pushed after clockwise turning of 
the rotary encoder by 1 pitch under the condition of selection of "slip 
Timer", at the step S.sub.47 the character "Present Time" is displayed on 
the screen. At this state, the rotary encoder 10b is turned clockwise 
until the character indicative of a desired time is displayed on the 
screen, so that at the steps S.sub.48 and S.sub.49 the desired time is set 
and its character is displayed on the screen. 
On the other hand, when the recall/enter key is pushed after clockwise 
turning of the rotary encoder by 2 pitches under condition of selection of 
"Slip Timer", at the step S.sub.50 the character "Turn On Reservation" is 
displayed on the screen. At this state, the rotary encoder is turned 
clockwise until the character of a desired time is displayed on the 
screen, so that at steps S.sub.51 to S.sub.54 the on-timer function is 
performed. 
Turning now to FIGS. 11A and 11B, there is shown the process for receiving 
the signal outputted from the remote control unit. 
As represented in the flow diagrams of these figures, at the step S.sub.55 
it is checked whether a power key signal has been inputted. When the power 
key signal has been inputted, at the step S.sub.56 a conventional power 
on/off control function is performed. However, when no power key signal 
has been inputted, at the step S.sub.57 it is checked whether the power 
has been turned on. When the power has been turned on, at an step S.sub.58 
it is checked whether the encoder increase or decrease key signal has been 
applied. When an encoder increase or decrease key signal has been applied, 
at the step S.sub.59 it is checked whether there has been no OSD. When 
there has been no OSD, at the step S.sub.5l the channel is increased or 
decreased under the control of the channel increase or decrease key. When 
there has been OSD, at the step S.sub.60 it is checked whether the present 
OSD is the channel OSD. When the step S.sub.61. However, when the present 
OSD is not the channel OSD is the channel OSD, the operation proceeds to 
the OSD, at the step S.sub.62 it is checked whether the present OSD is the 
volume OSD. When the present OSD is the volume OSD, at the step S.sub.63 
the volume is controlled by the volume increase or decrease key. However, 
when at the step S.sub.64 it is determined that the present OSD is the 
first video OSD for selection of the video position, such as brightness, 
luminosity, hue and etc., at the step S.sub.65 the video position is 
controlled by the video position select key. When at the step S.sub.66 it 
is determined that the present OSD is the second video OSD indicative of 
the output level, at the step S.sub.67 the output level of a selected 
video is increased or decreased under the control of the corresponding 
video output level increase or decrease key. 
However, when at the step S.sub.68 it is determined that the present OSD is 
the first audio OSD for selection of the audio position, such as 
high-pitched sound or low-pitched sound, at the step S.sub.69 the audio 
position is controlled by the audio position select key. When at the step 
S.sub.70 it is determined that the present OSD is the second audio OSD 
indicative of the output level, at the step S.sub.71 the output level of a 
selected audio is increased or decreased under the control of the 
corresponding audio output level increase or decrease key. 
When at the step S.sub.72 it is determined that the present OSD is the 
first menu OSD for selection of the menu position, such as channel set and 
time set at the step S.sub.73 the menu position is controlled by the menu 
position select key. When the channel set has been selected and at the 
step S.sub.74 it is determined that the present OSD is the second menu OSD 
for automatic channel selection or manual channel selection, at the step 
S.sub.75 the channel selection style is selected by the menu position 
select key. 
On the other hand, if at the step S.sub.58 it is determined that no encoder 
increase or decrease key signal has been applied, at the step S.sub.78 
(FIG 11B) it is checked whether a recall key signal has been applied. 
Thereafter, when at one of the steps S.sub.79, S.sub.82 and S.sub.85, 
respectively it is determined that the present OSD is either the-first 
video OSD, the first audio OSD or the first menu OSD, at a step S.sub.80, 
S.sub.83 or S.sub.86 the present OSD in the form of the second video OSD, 
the second audio OSD or the second menu OSD is displayed on the screen. 
However, when at one of the steps S.sub.81, S.sub.84, S.sub.89 and 
S.sub.90, respectively it is determined that the present OSD is either the 
second video OSD, the second audio OSD, the third menu OSD or the volume 
OSD. At the step S.sub.92 the present OSD is erased. 
On the other hand, when at the step S.sub.78 it is determined that no 
recall key signal has been applied, the steps S.sub.93, S.sub.95, S.sub.97 
and S.sub.99, respectively it is checked whether either a menu key signal, 
a video key signal, an audio key signal or a mute key signal has been 
applied. When it is determined that a menu key signal has been applied, at 
the step S.sub.94 the first menu OSD is displayed on the screen. When it 
is determined that the video key signal has been applied, at the step 
S.sub.98 the first video OSD is displayed on the screen. When it is 
determined that the audio key signal has been applied, at the step 
S.sub.99 the first audio OSD is displayed on the screen. When it is 
determined that the mute key signal has been applied, at the step 
S.sub.100 the mute processing is carried out together with displaying the 
mute OSD on the screen. When it is determined that there is no key signal 
input, at the step S.sub.101 it is checked whether the OSD time has 
expired. When the OSD time has expired, at the step S.sub.102 the OSD is 
erased prior to ending of the operation. However, when the OSD time has 
not expired, the operation is directly ended. 
Turning to FIG. 12, there is shown in an exploded perspective view a rotary 
encoder in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
This second embodiment is constructed such that, upon pushing the rotary 
knob 32, a tact switch shaft 34 of the shaft 27 moves to cause a 
protrusion 33 fixed to the switch shaft 34 to compress a diaphragm spring 
35 in a spring holder 36. At the same time of compressing the diaphragm 
spring 35, the switch shaft 24 makes two resilient tact terminals 38 and 
39 come into contact with each other. That is, in this second embodiment, 
the rotary encoder is provided with switch means such that it is 
integrated with the recall/enter key section. 
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the construction of a remote control 
unit combined with the rotary encoder of FIG. 12. As shown in this 
drawing, the remote control microprocessor 10c is connected to a switch 
SW.sub.3 which controls the supply of power thereto in accordance with 
ON/OFF of the resilient tact terminals 38 and 39. 
In operation of the rotary encoder according to the second embodiment, upon 
pushing the rotary knob 32, the tact switch shaft 34 moves to cause the 
protrusion 33 of the switch shaft 34 to compress the diaphragm spring 35 
in the spring holder 36. At the same time, the two resilient tact 
terminals 38 and 39 come into contact with each other due to the movement 
of the shaft 34. 
At this state, when the pushing force of the rotary knob 32 is removed, the 
switch shaft 34 is spaced apart from the spring holder 36 due to the 
restoring force of the diaphragm spring 35, thereby separating the tact 
terminals 38 and 39 from each other. Hence, the microprocessor 10c 
recognizes that there is one pushing signal. 
In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 12, those elements which are common 
to both the primary first embodiment and the second embodiment carry the 
same reference numerals as described above and no further explanation 
thereof is deemed necessary. 
For further explanation, the operation of the remote control unit having a 
rotary knob according to the second embodiment will be described in 
conjunction with FIG. 13. 
The short state of the tact terminals 38 and 39 means that the rotary knob 
32 is pushed. At this short state, the remote control microprocessor 10c 
is applied with electric power B.sup.+ at its input terminal. 
The open state of the tact terminals 38 and 39 means that the rotary knob 
32 is released from the pushing force. At this state, the microprocessor 
10c is applied with no electric power. 
In accordance with the second embodiment of the rotary encoder of FIG. 12, 
the rotary encoder itself is provided with the switching part, thereby 
removing a key (the recall/enter key), from the keyboard of the remote 
control unit and thus simplifying the construction of the remote control 
unit. Furthermore, this second embodiment facilitates the use of the 
recall/enter key, which is often used in controlling the volume as well as 
the menu, since the recall/enter key is located near the rotary encoder. 
With reference to FIG. 14, there is shown a block diagram of a remote 
controllable television receiver unit 20 and a remote control unit 10, 
provided with individual rotary encoders 20b and 10b, according to a third 
embodiment of the present invention. The rotary encoder 20b is connected 
to the microprocessor 20c of the television receiver unit 20. 
Turning to FIGS. 15A and 15B, there are shown flow diagrams of operations 
in accordance with the third embodiment of FIG. 14. In the third 
embodiment, the channel is increased or decreased in accordance with 
turning of the rotary encoder 20b. 
In the same manner as described in FIG. 8A, when the input signal A has 
been applied to the interrupt terminal INT A, at steps S.sub.103 and 
S.sub.104 of FIG. 8A the input signal B applied to the interrupt terminal 
INT B is read and checked whether it is a high signal. When the input 
signal B is high the increase flag is set at step S.sub.105 and the 
operation is ended. However, when the input signal B is, at step S.sub.106 
it is checked whether the decrease flag has been set. 
When no decrease flag has been set, at step S.sub.107 the signal is 
regarded as pulse caused by a noise and recognized as an error, and the 
operation is ended. However, when the decrease flag has been set, at a 
step S.sub.108 the decrease flag is reset and at a step S.sub.109 it is 
checked whether the present channel is the minimum channel. 
When at the step S.sub.109 it is determined that the present channel is the 
minimum channel, this means that there is no channel which can be 
decreased from the present channel, so that at a step S.sub.110 the 
present channel is changed to the maximum channel. However, when the 
present channel is not the minimum channel, at a step S.sub.111 the 
present channel is decreased by 1 step, and thereafter, at a step 
S.sub.112 the tuner is operated and outputted, thereby causing the tuned 
channel to be displayed on the screen thereby allowing the user to easily 
recognize the tuned channel. 
Turning to the flow diagram of FIG. 15B, when the input signal B has been 
applied to the interrupt terminal INT B, at steps S.sub.115 and S.sub.116 
the input signal A applied to the interrupt terminal INT A is read and 
checked whether it is a high signal. When the input signal A is high, the 
decrease flag is set at a step S.sub.117, and the operation is ended. 
However, when the input signal A is low signal, at a step S.sub.118 it is 
checked whether the increase flag has been set. When no increase flag has 
been set, at step S.sub.119 the input signal is regarded as a pulse caused 
by noise (i.e. recognized as an error) and the operation is ended. 
However, when the increase flag has been set, at a step S.sub.120 the 
increase flag is reset and at a step S.sub.121 it is checked whether the 
present channel is the maximum channel. When at the step S.sub.121 it is 
determined that the present channel is the maximum channel, this means 
that there is no channel which can be increased from the present channel, 
so that at a step S.sub.122 the present channel is changed to the minimum 
channel. However, when the present channel is not the maximum channel, at 
a step S.sub.123 the present channel is increased by 1 step, and 
thereafter, at a step S.sub.124 the tuner is operated and outputted, 
thereby causing the tuned channel to be displayed on the screen. 
As described above, the present invention facilitates channel selection and 
other functions of television receiver since they are simply performed by 
turning of a rotary encoder other than pushing of conventional various 
keys of the remote control unit. The conventional numeral keys can be thus 
removed from the remote control unit, thereby simplifying the construction 
of the remote control unit and facilitating the design of remote control 
unit. Furthermore, it is not necessary to provide a remote controller for 
the user in the case of selling a multi-functional television receiver. In 
accordance with the present invention, it is possible to provide to a user 
preferring to a rotary type television receiver with such a desired 
television receiver. Particularly in the present invention, two trigger 
pulse signals are outputted from the rotary encoder to a remote control 
microprocessor as the input signal for channel selection, so that it more 
efficiently prevents a faulty operation of the microprocessor due to noise 
in comparison with the prior art which use one trigger signal as the input 
signal. 
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been 
disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will 
appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are 
possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as 
disclosed in the accompanying claims.