Abstract:
An on screen display (OSD) device and the message displaying method thereof are provided. The OSD device includes an operating interface, a display unit and a storage unit. The display unit, which is used for displaying a screen-adjustment window having a message option when the operating interface is pressed, displays a message window having a message-editing item for editing a message when the message option is selected via the operating interface. The store unit is for storing the message. The message will be displayed on the display unit when selected via the operating interface.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of Taiwan application Serial No. 93104159, filed Feb. 19, 2004, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention relates in general to a display and a display method, and more particularly to an on screen display (OSD) device and a message displaying method.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     With the rapid advance in science and technology, display has become an indispensable device to modern people&#39;s everyday life. The display may be a cathode ray tube (CRT) screen or a plane display. The CRT screen is an analog display, while the plane display is a digital display such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display. Owing to the advantages of slimness, compactness, low radiation and better resolution, the plane display has gradually taken the market share from the CRT screen and become modern people&#39;s most favorite display.  
         [0006]     When adjusting the frame of a display, the user used to use the button disposed at the lower part of the casing of the display to adjust frame parameters such as brightness, contrast, and vertical/horizontal width and position. Along with the advance in the technology of adjusting display frame, an OSD device with on screen display (OSD) function and more frame adjusting parameters, such as vertical/horizontal waves, horizontal distortion, rotation, color, zooming and demagnetization, has already been developed.  
         [0007]     When the user presses a function key disposed at the lower part of the OSD device, the OSD device will display a corresponding frame adjusting window containing a plurality of frame adjusting parameters. Next, when the user uses a select key disposed at the lower part of the OSD device to select needed frame adjusting parameter, the user can adjust the frame adjusting parameter via a direction key disposed at the lower part of the OSD device. It is noteworthy that when the OSD device is coupled to the computer, the OSD function is supported by the OSD device directly and is not driven by the drive routine of operating system of the computer. Therefore, the user can use the OSD function of OSD device no matter the computer is switched on or switched off.  
         [0008]     It is noteworthy that the OSD function of a conventional OSD device has been set fixed, so the user can adjust only a few frame adjusting parameters, which do not suffice for editing purpose. For example, if the user would like to leave his/her seat, the user normally puts the message on an adhesive paper and has it adhered onto the OSD device. However, after the adhesive paper is removed, dusts might easily get alighted on the residual glue left on the OSD device, affecting the appearance of the OSD device greatly. On the other hand, the user can use the computer&#39;s screen protection routine to leave message on the frame of the OSD device only when the computer is switched on; however, once the computer is switched off, the user would not be able to leave a message on the frame of the OSD device.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an on screen display (OSD) device and a message displaying method thereof. The extra design of having a message board item allows the user to edit and select a message and have the selected message displayed on the OSD device, enabling the OSD device to display the message even when the computer is switched off and the screen protection routine is not available, and greatly enhancing the practicality of the OSD device.  
         [0010]     The invention achieves the above-identified object by providing an OSD device, which includes an operating interface, a display unit, and a storage unit. The display unit is for displaying a frame adjusting window when the operating interface is pressed, wherein the frame adjusting window includes a message board item. The display unit will display a message board window when message board item is selected via the operating interface. The message board window includes a message editing item for editing a message, while the storage unit is for storing the message. When the message is selected via the operating interface, the display unit will display the message.  
         [0011]     The invention achieves the above-identified object by further providing an OSD device, which includes an operating interface, a display unit, and a storage unit. The display unit is for displaying a frame adjusting window when the operating interface is pressed, wherein the frame adjusting window includes a message board item. The display unit will display a message board window when the message board item is selected via the operating interface. The message board window includes at least a default message, while storage unit for storing the default message. When the default message is selected via the operating interface, the display unit displays the default message.  
         [0012]     The invention achieves the above-identified object by providing a message displaying method. In the method, firstly, open a frame adjusting window having a message board item. Next, select the message board item and accordingly display a message board window including a message editing item. After that, select the message editing item, and edit a message. Next, store the message. After that, select and display the message.  
         [0013]     The invention achieves the above-identified object by further providing a message displaying method. In the method, firstly, open a frame adjusting window having a message board item. Next, select message board item and accordingly display a message board window including at least a default message. After that, select and display the default message.  
         [0014]     Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred but non-limiting embodiments. The following description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1A  is a circuit diagram of an OSD device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 1B  is a structural front view of an OSD device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a diagram showing the status of the display unit in  FIG. 1B  when the display unit displays a frame adjusting window;  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a diagram showing the status of the display unit in  FIG. 1B  when the display unit displays a message board window;  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  is a diagram showing the status of the display unit in  FIG. 1B  when the display unit displays a message editing frame;  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is a diagram showing the status of the display unit in  FIG. 1B  when the display unit displays message selecting frame;  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  is a diagram showing the status of the display unit in  FIG. 1B  when the display unit displays a message;  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  is a diagram showing the status of the display unit in  FIG. 1B  when the display unit displays a default message;  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart for a message displaying method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart for another message displaying method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B ,  FIG. 1A  is a circuit diagram of an on screen display (OSD) device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and  FIG. 1B  is a structural front view of an OSD device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B , OSD device  10  at least includes an operating interface  11 , a display unit  12 , and a storage unit  13 . The operating interface  11  at least includes a function key, a select key, and a direction key. When a user presses the operating interface  11 , the display unit  12  will display a frame adjusting window  21  as shown in  FIG. 2 . In  FIG. 2 , the frame adjusting window  21  includes a plurality of frame adjusting parameters  22  and a message board item  23 , wherein the frame adjusting parameter  22  at least includes frame adjusting parameters of brightness, contrast, and vertical/horizontal width and position.  
         [0026]     When the user selects the message board item  23  via the operating interface  11 , the display unit  12  will display a message board window  24  as shown in  FIG. 3 . In  FIG. 3 , the message board window  24  at least includes a message editing item  25  and a message select item  26 , wherein the message board window  24  further has a first cursor  50 . The user can move the first cursor  50  to the message editing item  25  or the message select item  26  via operating interface  11  to select the message editing item  25  or the message select item  26 . When the user uses the first cursor  50  to select the message editing item  25 , the display unit  12  will display a message editing window  27  as shown in  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 4 , the message editing window  27  has a plurality of characters  28 ; the user can use the operating interface  11  to select parts of the characters  28  to be edited as an input message  29  such as “meeting”. Next, the user can use the operating interface  11  to select the ‘save  30 ’ function item from the message editing window  27  for storing the input message  29  in the storage unit  13  to be selected from the message select item  26  in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0027]     When the user uses the message editing window  27  to edit message, the message editing window  27  further has a second cursor  60 , and the user can use the second cursor  60  to select any characters  28  from the operating interface  11 . The characters  28  are arranged in a one-dimensional array, a two-dimensional array, or a gradient window. Also, the characters  28  can be any of the Arabic numerals, Chinese characters, English alphabets, punctuation marks, symbols, facial expressions, and combination thereof.  
         [0028]     When the user does not want to edit message, the user can use message select item  26  to select a default message. When the user selects message select item  26 , the display unit  12  will display a message selecting frame  31  as shown in  FIG. 5 . In  FIG. 5 , the message selecting frame  31  has at least a default message  32  such as “smoking”, and the default message  32  is pre-stored in the storage unit  13 . When the user uses the above disclosed method to store the input message  29  in the storage unit  13  beforehand, the message selecting frame  31  further has the input message  29  such as “meeting”.  
         [0029]     When the user uses the operating interface  11  to select the input message  29  in  FIG. 5 , the display unit  12  will display the input message  29  as shown in  FIG. 6 . After the input message  29  has been selected, the input message  29  on the frame of the display unit  12  may be displayed by ways of free movement, blinking, or scrolling. Also, when the user uses the operating interface  11  to select the default message  32 , the display unit  12  will display a default message  32  as shown in  FIG. 7 . After the default message  32  has been selected, the default message  32  on the frame of the display unit  12  may be displayed by ways of free movement, blinking or scrolling.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a flowchart for a message displaying method according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. Please refer to FIGS.  2 ˜ 6  again. Firstly, the method begins at step  81 : open a frame adjusting window  21 . The frame adjusting window  21  at least has a message board item  23  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Next, proceed to step  82 : select the message board item  23  and accordingly display a message board window  24 . The message board window  24  at least includes a message editing item  25  as shown in  FIG. 3 . After that, proceed to step  83 : select a message editing item  25  and edit an input message  29  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Next, proceed to step  84 : store the input message  29 . After that, proceed to step  85 : select and display the input message  29  as shown in FIGS.  5 ˜ 6 .  
         [0031]     Referring to  FIG. 9 , a flowchart for a message displaying method according to another preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. Refer to  FIGS. 2, 3 ,  5 , and  7  again. Firstly, the method begins at step  91 : open a frame adjusting window  21 . The frame adjusting window  21  at least has a message board item  23  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Next, proceed to step  92 : select the message board item  23  and accordingly display a message board window  24 . The message board window  24  at least includes a default message  32  as shown in FIGS.  2 ˜ 3 . After that, proceed to step  93 : select and display the default message  32  as shown in  FIGS. 5, 7 .  
         [0032]     However, anyone who is familiar with the technology will understand that the technology of the invention is not limited thereto. For example, the display unit  12  can be a liquid crystal display panel (LCD panel) or an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display panel. Also, the storage unit  13  is a memory.  
         [0033]     In the OSD device and message displaying method disclosed in the above preferred embodiments of the invention, the extra design of having a message board item allows the user to edit and select a message and have the selected message displayed on the OSD device, enabling the OSD device to use a screen protection routine to display message even when the computer is switched off and greatly enhancing the practicality of the OSD device.  
         [0034]     While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms of a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.