Abstract:
A combination system capable of recording and reproducing analog and digital broadcast signals and outputting one of the analog and digital broadcast signals for watching while recording the other signal is provided. The combination system can record analog and digital broadcast signals on a single storage medium, and is configured to enable a user to record any of the analog and digital broadcast signals while watching another broadcast signal. Further, the combination system of the present invention does not require extra storage medium for storing the digital and analog broadcast signals by recording all the digital and analog broadcast signals on the storage medium such as a video tape. Therefore, the user can easily record a desired broadcast program while watching a broadcast program corresponding to the digital broadcast signal or the analog broadcast signal, and can watch and record broadcast programs regardless of whether a broadcast program being recorded is a digital broadcast signal or an analog broadcast signal.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 2004-55123, entitled “Combination System”, filed on Jul. 15, 2004, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a combination system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a combination system capable of recording and reproducing analog and digital broadcast signals and outputting one of the analog and digital broadcast signals for watching while recording the other signal.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     In general, a combination system refers to a video recording/reproducing apparatus which integrates different types of devices such as an optical medium reproduction device, for example, like a digital versatile disc (DVD) and a video cartridge recorder (VCR) for reproducing a video signal recorded on a video tape or recording the video signal on the video tape. The combination system has a VCR reproduction device and a DVD reproduction device accommodated in a single housing thereof, so as to enable a user to selectively reproduce a video tape or an optical medium such as a DVD or a compact disc recordable (CDR). That is, the conventional combination system is configured for a user to selectively drive a reproduction device provided in the single housing, so the user can not operate the VCR while reproducing an optical medium, or vice versa.  
         [0006]     Further, the conventional combination system mainly uses a hard disc drive (HDD) or a flash read only memory (ROM) as a storage medium to store a video signal read from an optical medium such as a DVD or a compact disc (CD), and uses an analog storage medium such as a video tape for the VCR. That is, the conventional combination system records video signals on storage media corresponding to the respective analog and digital formats. Some conventional combination systems record an analog/digital-converted video signal and a digital video signal on a hard disc drive. But the hard disc drive is very expensive and is difficult to install and remove. Furthermore, the conventional combination system mainly reproduces and records digital and analog video signals recorded on a video tape or an optical medium such as a DVD or a CD, and, when a user wants to record a video source while watching another video source, the conventional combination system has difficulties in satisfying such user demands  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention has been developed in order to solve the above drawbacks and other problems associated with the conventional combination system and to provide other advantages. An aspect of the present invention is to provide a combination system capable of, when receiving a digital broadcast signal and an analog broadcast signal, recording one signal while watching the other signal.  
         [0008]     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a combination system capable of reproducing any of a plurality of video signals while recording another video signal.  
         [0009]     The foregoing and other objects and advantages are substantially realized by providing a combination system. The combination system comprises a first signal-receiving part for receiving an analog broadcast signal, a second signal-receiving part for receiving a digital broadcast signal, a controller for establishing signal paths in order that any of the analog and digital broadcast signals from the first and second signal-receiving parts according to an externally applied control signal to be applied to a display device and the other broadcast signal is recorded on a storage medium, and a video signal switching part for selectively providing the output signals of the first signal-receiving part and the second signal-receiving part to the display device and the storage medium, respectively, based on the signal paths established by the controller.  
         [0010]     Preferably, the combination system further comprises an optical medium reproduction device for reproducing optical media.  
         [0011]     The controller establishes the signal paths to enable any output signal of the first signal-receiving part, second signal-receiving part, and optical medium reproduction device to be recorded on the storage medium, and to enable the other output signal to be applied to the display device.  
         [0012]     The first signal-receiving part has a video cassette recorder (VCR) function capable of reproducing and recording a video tape.  
         [0013]     Preferably, the second signal-receiving part comprises a moving picture experts group (MPEG) decoder for MPEG-decoding the digital broadcast signal, and a digital/analog converter for analog/digital-converting an output signal of the MPEG decoder.  
         [0014]     Preferably, the storage medium is a video tape.  
         [0015]     Preferably, the control signal is generated by any of a remote controller and an operation key provided on the combination system.  
         [0016]     The foregoing and other objects and advantages are substantially realized by providing a combination system. The combination system comprises first and second signal-reproducing units for reproducing different video signal sources, a display device for reproducing video signals output from the first and second signal-reproducing units, a storage medium for recording any of the video signals output from the first and second signal-reproducing units, and a switching unit for sending to the display device one of the video signals respectively output from the first and second signal-reproducing units, and for sending the other video signal to the storage medium, in response to an external control signal.  
         [0017]     Preferably, the first signal-reproducing unit establishes a signal path for the switching unit.  
         [0018]     Preferably, the second signal-reproducing unit sends an output signal to one of the display devices and the storage medium along a signal path established by the first signal-reproducing unit.  
         [0019]     Preferably, the control signal is applied to the first signal-reproducing unit.  
         [0020]     Preferably, the first signal-reproducing unit has a VCR function capable of reproducing and recording a video tape.  
         [0021]     Preferably, the second signal-reproducing unit is at least one of a digital broadcast signal-receiving device and an optical recording/reproducing device.  
         [0022]     Preferably, if the second signal-reproducing unit is a plurality of digital devices, the plurality of digital devices are each connected to any of the display devices and the storage medium through a signal path established by the first signal-reproducing unit.  
         [0023]     Preferably, the storage medium is a video tape. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]     The above aspects and features 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:  
         [0025]      FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  are schematic diagrams illustrating a combination system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a recording process for the combination system of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a combination system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
       [0028]     Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features and structures.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]     Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0030]      FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  are schematic diagrams illustrating a combination system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0031]     First of all,  FIG. 1A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a recording of an analog broadcast signal while a user receives a digital broadcast signal. As shown in  FIG. 1A , a digital broadcast signal received by a digital tuner  310  is sent for viewing to a display device such as a television (TV) through a video signal switching unit  400 , and an analog broadcast signal received by an analog tuner  110  is sent for recording to a video cartridge recorder (VCR) deck part  130 .  
         [0032]     Next,  FIG. 1B  is a schematic diagram illustrating the recording of a digital broadcast signal by a user while receiving an analog broadcast signal. As shown in  FIG. 1B , an analog broadcast signal received by the analog tuner  110  is sent for viewing to a display device such as a TV through the video signal switching unit  400 , and a digital broadcast signal received by the digital tuner  310  is sent for recording to the VCR deck part  130 .  
         [0033]     Therefore, a user can record an analog broadcast program on a video tape ejectably inserted into the VCR deck part  130  while watching a digital broadcast program, as well as record a digital broadcast program at the VCR deck part  130  while watching an analog broadcast program.  
         [0034]      FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating a recording process for the combination system shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B .  
         [0035]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a digital broadcast signal (DBS)  20  sent from the digital tuner  310  is sent to the video signal switching unit  400  through a moving picture experts group (MPEG) decoder  41  and a digital/analog (D/A) converter  42 , and an analog broadcast signal  30  is directly sent to the video signal switching unit  400 . That is, the video signal switching unit  400  receives a digital signal for a digital broadcast signal  20  and an analog signal sent from the analog tuner  110 , and enables one of the two signals to be recorded on the video tape  131 .  
         [0036]     The analog signal  30  can be an over the air broadcast signal or a video signal obtained from the VCR deck part  130 , and the digital broadcast signal  20  can be a video signal obtained from an optical recording medium such as a digital versatile disc (DVD), a compact disc read only memory (CDROM), or a video signal output from a set-top box. If the digital broadcast signal  20  is a video signal obtained from an optical recording medium such as a DVD or a CDROM, such a video signal is converted into an analog video signal through the digital/analog converter  42 , recorded on the video tape  131 , or reproduced on a display device.  
         [0037]     The main control unit  120  shown in  FIG. 2  is provided in the combination system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and controls overall operations of the combination system. The main control unit  120  enables one of the broadcast and video signals received from the video signal switching unit  400  to be recorded on the video tape  131 , and enables the other signal to be reproduced on a display device, in response to the control signals generated from a light-receiving unit  610  inputting a control signal from a remote controller  630  as well as generated from the operation key  620  provided in the main body of the combination system.  
         [0038]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating the combination system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0039]     The combination system shown in  FIG. 3  is provided with a VCR part  100 , a DVD part  200 , a digital broadcast-receiving part  300 , an input/output part  500 , and a signal input part  600 .  
         [0040]     The VCR part  100  reads and reproduces a video signal recorded on a medium such as a video tape  131 , or records on the video tape  131  an external analog broadcast signal. Therefore, the VCR part  100  comprises the analog tuner  110  for receiving analog broadcast signals, the VCR deck part  130  for driving the video tape  131 , a video encoder  140  for converting a video signal applied to the VCR deck part  130  into one of the national television system committee (NTSC), phase alternating line (PAL), and sequential couleur avec memoire (SECAM) standards, and the main control unit  120  for controlling the above components.  
         [0041]     The main control unit  120  has a function for enabling one of the VCR part  100 , DVD part  200 , and digital broadcast-receiving part  300  in response to a control signal applied through the signal input part  600 . Further, the main control unit  120  outputs a video signal to the input/output part  500  from any of the VCR part  100 , DVD part  200 , and digital broadcast-receiving part  300  in response to a control signal applied through the signal input part  600 , so as to send the video signal to a video reproducing device such as plasma display panel (PDP), liquid crystal display (LCD), or TV, and, at the same time, the main control unit  120  sends another video signal to the video encoder  140  via the video signal switching unit  400  so that the video signal can be stored on a video tape.  
         [0042]     For example, a remote controller  630  generates a control signal to be applied to the signal input part  600 . The remote controller  630  selects and drives any of the VCR part  100 , DVD part  200 , and digital broadcast-receiving part  300  provided in the combination system. For example, if a user presses the record key on the remote controller  630 , a video signal output from the DVD part  200  can be applied to the VCR deck part  130  for recording, and, at the same time, if the user drives the digital broadcast-receiving part  300 , the main control unit  120  controls the video signal switching unit  400  without cancellation of the recording process of the previously driven DVD part  200  so that a video signal output from the digital broadcast-receiving part  300  can be sent to a video reproduction device such as PDP, LCD, or TV through the input/output part  500 .  
         [0043]     The aforementioned driving method is only exemplary, and the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, that is, the selectively reproducing and recording by the main control unit  120  the video signals output from plural reproduction devices can be implemented by diverse methods.  
         [0044]     The DVD part  200  reproduces a video signal stored on a DVD title or a compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM). The DVD part  200  comprises a DVD deck unit  240  for reading a video signal from the DVD title, a DVD control unit  210  comprising a MPEG decoder  211  therein for MPEG-decoding the read video signal, a random access memory (RAM)  220  for providing storage space necessary for decoding when the read video signal is MPGE-decoded by the DVD control unit  210 , and a flash ROM  230  comprising control programs therein for the DVD control unit  210 .  
         [0045]     The digital broadcast-receiving part  300  comprises a digital tuner  310  for receiving a digital broadcast signal transmitted from satellites or receiving digital broadcast signals through a wired network, a DBS control unit  320  comprising a MPEG decoder  321  therein for MPEG-decoding a digital broadcast signal received from the digital tuner  310 , a RAM  330  for providing storage space necessary for decoding when the received video signal is MPEG-decoded, and a flash read only memory (ROM)  330  comprising control programs therein for the DBS control unit  320 .  
         [0046]     The signal input part  600  receives a control signal generated from a remote controller  630  or an operation key  620 , and sends the control signal to the main control unit  120 .  
         [0047]     The input/output part  500  receives a video signal from video signal sources different from the DVD part  200 , VCR part  100 , and digital broadcast-receiving part  300  or sends video signals to a display device such as TV, PDP, LCD, and projector.  
         [0048]     The video signal switching unit  400  sends to the VCR deck part  130  one of digital and analog video signals selected by the main control unit  120  in response to a control signal generated from a light-receiving unit  610  or a operation key  620 , so that the video signal can be recorded on the video tape  131 , and the other video signal is output to the input/output part  500  to be sent to a display device such as TV, LCD, PDP, or projector.  
         [0049]     Preferably, the video signal switching unit  400  sends a digital video signal to the input/output part  500  when an analog broadcast signal is recorded on the video tape  131 , or sends the analog broadcast signal to the input/output part  500  while recording the digital broadcast signal on the video tape  131 . That is, the video signal switching unit  400  can establish transmission paths of the two video sources for the analog broadcast signal and the digital broadcast signal in different directions.  
         [0050]     Therefore, a user selectively watches an analog broadcast signal or a digital broadcast signal he or she wants, while another video signal can be recorded on a storage medium such as the video tape  131 . Furthermore, there is an advantage to recording the analog and digital broadcast signals on a low-priced storage medium such as the video tape  131  since the manufacturing cost of the combination system can be reduced.  
         [0051]     As aforementioned, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention records one of the broadcast signals output from the respective tuners capable of receiving analog and digital broadcast signals while reproducing the other video signal through a display device, so a user can record a broadcast program corresponding to the digital broadcast signal while watching a broadcast program corresponding to the analog broadcast signal or record the broadcast program corresponding to the analog broadcast signal while watching the broadcast program corresponding to the digital broadcast signal.  
         [0052]     Therefore, the present invention eliminates the conventional storage media respectively corresponding to the analog and digital broadcast signals, as well as not requires a high-priced storage medium such as hard disc drive in order to integrate the storage media.  
         [0053]     The foregoing 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 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.