Patent Publication Number: US-2013239061-A1

Title: Display apparatus and control method thereof

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0024976, filed on Mar. 12, 2012 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to a display apparatus and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a display apparatus and a control method thereof which receives a user&#39;s input by using a manipulation panel. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A display apparatus processes image signals/image data transmitted by various external image supply sources or stored in the display apparatus to display an image on a display panel. For example, a display apparatus which is provided to general users includes a television (TV) or a monitor. The display apparatus which is realized as a TV processes a broadcasting signal transmitted from the outside through various image processing operations, such as decoding and scaling operations, and provides an image of a desired broadcasting channel. 
     A user may select a desired channel by manipulating a user input unit such as a remote controller. For example, a user selects a channel by manipulating a number key pad in the remote controller and inputting a desired channel (content) number. 
     A user may also select a channel by manipulating a manipulation panel of a display apparatus. Such manipulation panel generally includes a tact switch and a touch sensor. 
     The tact switch is contacted and released by physical pressure of a user&#39;s finger, and has a tact protruding to the outside, and therefore is less durable. 
     The touch sensor uses electrical features of a user&#39;s finger, and thus may not recognize a nonconductor. Further, the touch sensor is sensitive to a surrounding environment, i.e., temperature or moisture and may not normally operate. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a display apparatus including: an image processor which processes an image signal; a display unit which displays an image thereon based on the processed image signal; a user input unit which includes an optical device including a light emitter, an input pad receiving a user&#39;s input, and a detector receiving an optical signal from the light emitter according to the received user&#39;s input to the input pad; and a controller which controls the display unit to display thereon a user interface (UI) including a plurality of icons, wherein the optical device receives a user&#39;s manipulation in multi-directions and a push direction to the input pad, and the controller controls the display unit to display thereon the UI corresponding to a moving direction of the received user&#39;s manipulation. 
     The optical device may be provided in the display apparatus and the user&#39;s manipulation in the multi-directions may include a user&#39;s manipulation in up, down, left, right and diagonal directions. 
     The optical device may receive a user&#39;s selection of one of the plurality of icons according to a user&#39;s manipulation in the push direction to a predetermined icon. 
     The plurality of icons may correspond to a menu of the display apparatus, and the controller may control the display unit to display thereon a sub-menu of a predetermined menu if an icon corresponding to the predetermined menu is selected from the plurality of icons. 
     The light emitter may include a light source emitting an infrared ray or a laser, and the detector may include an optical sensor which reads a value of the received optical signal and senses the moving direction of the user&#39;s manipulation to the input pad. 
     The light emitter and the detector may be provided toward a rear surface of the input pad. 
     The optical device may further include a reflection panel which is provided in a rear surface of the input pad and changes a quantity of light transmitted from the light emitter to the detector according to the user&#39;s manipulation to the input pad. 
     According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a control method of a display apparatus, the control method including: displaying a user interface (UI) including a plurality of icons; receiving a user&#39;s manipulation in multi-directions and a push direction to an input pad of an optical device; and displaying the UI corresponding to a moving direction of the received user&#39;s manipulation, wherein the optical device includes a light emitter, the input pad receiving a user&#39;s input, and a detector receiving an optical signal from the light emitter according to the received user&#39;s input to the input pad. 
     The optical device may be provided in the display apparatus and the user&#39;s manipulation in the multi-directions may include a user&#39;s manipulation in up, down, left, right and diagonal directions. 
     The control method may further include receiving a user&#39;s selection of one of the plurality of icons according to a user&#39;s manipulation in the push direction with respect to a predetermined icon. 
     The plurality of icons may correspond to a menu of the display apparatus, and the control method may further include displaying a sub-menu of a predetermined menu if an icon corresponding to the predetermined menu is selected from the plurality of icons. 
     The light emitter may include a light source emitting an infrared ray or a laser, the detector may include an optical sensor, and the receiving the user&#39;s manipulation may include reading a value of the received optical signal and sensing the moving direction of the user&#39;s manipulation to the input pad by the optical sensor. 
     The light emitter and the detector may be provided toward a rear surface of the input pad. 
     The optical device may further include a reflection panel which is provided in a rear surface of the input pad, and the receiving the user&#39;s manipulation may further include changing a quantity of light transmitted from the light emitter to the detector according to the user&#39;s manipulation to the input pad through the reflection panel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is an example of an optical device that is installed in a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view showing a structure of an optical device of a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a screen displayed on a display unit of a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIGS. 5 to 7  illustrate a user interface (UI) which is displayed corresponding to a selection of an optical device according to an exemplary embodiment; and 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing a control method of a display apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Below, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings so as to be easily realized by a person having ordinary knowledge in the art. Exemplary embodiments may be embodied in various forms without being limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Descriptions of well-known parts are omitted for clarity, and like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a display apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     As shown therein, the display apparatus  100  processes an image signal supplied by an external image supply source (not shown) according to a preset image processing operation, and displays an image based on the processed image signal. 
     The display apparatus  100  according to the present exemplary embodiment may include a TV which displays a broadcasting image based on at least one of broadcasting signals, broadcasting information, and broadcasting data transmitted by a transmission device of a broadcasting station. However, it is understood that in one or more other exemplary embodiments, the display apparatus  100  may apply to various other devices which process and display an image, in addition to the TV. For example, the display apparatus  100  may include a monitor. 
     The display apparatus  100  may display other images as well as a broadcasting image. For example, the display apparatus  100  may display video, still images, applications, and on-screen display (OSD) images based on at least one of signals/data supplied by various image supply sources, a graphic user interface (GUI) for controlling various operations, etc. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the display apparatus  100  includes an image receiver  110  which receives an image signal; an image processor  120  which processes an image signal received by the image receiver  110 ; a display unit  130  which displays an image thereon based on the image signal processed by the image processor  120 ; a user input unit  140  which receives a user&#39;s input; a storage unit  150  which stores therein various data; and a controller  160  which controls the display apparatus  100 . 
     The image receiver  110  transmits an image signal to the image processor  120 . The image receiver  110  may vary depending on a standard of a received image signal and the embodiment type of the display apparatus  100 . For example, the image receiver  110  may receive a radio frequency (RF) signal in a wireless manner from a broadcasting station (not shown), or image signals according to at least one of standards such as composite video, component video, super video, Syndicat des Constructeurs d&#39;Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs (SCART), high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), etc. The image receiver  110  may include a tuner to tune a broadcasting signal by channel if the image signal includes a broadcasting signal. 
     The image signal may be input from the outside, e.g., from an external device such as a personal computer (PC), audio/video (AV) device, digital camera, smart phone, smart pad, etc. The image signal may be data which is received through a network such as the Internet. In this case, the display apparatus  100  may further include a network communication unit (not shown) which communicates through a network. The image signal may be data stored in a non-volatile storage unit  150  such as a flash memory, a hard disc drive, etc. The storage unit  150  may be provided internally or externally with respect to the display apparatus  100 . If the storage unit  150  is provided externally to the display apparatus  100 , the display apparatus  100  may further include a connector (not shown) to which the storage unit  150  is connected. 
     The image processor  120  may perform preset various image processing operations with respect to an image signal. The image processor  120  outputs the processed image signal to the display unit  130  to display an image on the display unit  130  based on the image signal. 
     The image processing operations of the image processor  120  may include at least one of a decoding operation corresponding to various image formats, a de-interlacing operation, a frame refresh rate conversion operation, a scaling operation, a noise reduction operation to improve an image quality, a detail enhancement operation, a line scanning operation, etc. The image processor  120  may be realized as a group of individual elements which may individually perform the foregoing operations, a system-on-chip (SoC) which integrates such operations, etc. 
     The display unit  130  displays thereon an image based on an image signal processed by the image processor  120 . The display unit  130  may include liquid crystal, plasma, light-emitting diode, organic light-emitting diode, surface-conduction electron-emitter, carbon nano-tube, nano-crystal, etc. 
     The display unit  130  may further include additional elements depending on its embodiment type. For example, if the display unit  130  includes liquid crystal, the display unit  130  may further include a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel (not shown), a backlight unit (not shown) emitting light to the LCD panel, and a panel driving substrate (not shown) driving the LCD panel. 
     The user input unit  140  transmits preset various control commands and information to the controller  160  by a user&#39;s manipulation and input. By way of example, the user input unit  140  may be provided on an external side of the display apparatus  100  or may be realized as a remote controller that is separated from the display apparatus  100 . If the user input unit  140  includes a remote controller, there is no restriction in transmitting a user&#39;s input from the user input unit  140  to the controller  160 , and a wireless communication may be used. The wireless communication includes infrared communication, RF communication, etc. In this case, the display apparatus  100  may further include a communication module (not shown) which receives a signal corresponding to a user&#39;s input from the user input unit  140  and transmits the signal to the controller  160 . 
     According to the present exemplary embodiment, the user input unit  140  which is installed in the external side of the display apparatus  100  includes an optical device  141 . 
       FIG. 2  is an example of an optical device  141  that is installed in a display apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the optical device  141  is provided on a front surface of the display apparatus  100 , though it is understood that one or more other exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto, and the optical device  141  may be otherwise provided in a rear, upper, lower, or lateral side of the display apparatus  100 . In  FIG. 2 , the optical device  141  is provided in a lateral lower side in the front surface of the display apparatus  100 . Alternatively, the optical device  141  may be installed in other various locations. 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view showing a structure of an optical device  141  of a display apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     As shown therein, the optical device  141  includes an input pad  11 , a supporter  12 , a light emitter  13 , a detector  14 , a substrate  15 , a reflection panel  16  and a shield  17 . 
     The input pad  11  receives a user&#39;s input. The optical device  141  recognizes a user&#39;s manipulation in multi-directions and a push direction with respect to the input pad  11 . 
     The user&#39;s manipulation in multi-directions includes a user&#39;s manipulation in up, down, left, right, and diagonal directions in an input area of the input panel  11 . The diagonal direction includes a diagonal direction at various angles (e.g., 10°, 45°, 80°, 130°, 260°, etc.) and a user&#39;s manipulation in a curved line as well as in a straight line. The user&#39;s manipulation in the push direction corresponds to click, multi-click (including double click), enter, push and hold from the input pad  11  to the substrate  15 . 
     The supporter  12  is installed in the substrate  15  and supports the input pad  11 . 
     The light emitter  13  includes a light source emitting a light, e.g., infrared ray, laser, etc. 
     The detector  14  receives an optical signal from the light emitter  14  according to a user&#39;s input to the input pad  11 . The detector  14  includes an optical sensor which reads a value of the received optical signal (angle, etc.) and senses a moving direction of the user&#39;s manipulation with respect to the input pad  11 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the light emitter  13  and the detector  14  according to the present exemplary embodiment are located toward a rear surface of the input pad  11 , and an optical signal from the light emitter  13  is reflected according to a user&#39;s input to the input pad  11  and transmitted to the detector  14 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , there is one light emitter  13  and one detector  14 . However, the optical device  141  according to one or more other exemplary embodiments may include a plurality of light emitters  13 , a plurality of detectors  14 , or a plurality of both light emitters  13  and detectors  14 . 
     The substrate  15  has elements provided therein, and may include, e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB). A switch (not shown) is provided in the substrate  15  to recognize a user&#39;s manipulation in the push direction. 
     The reflection panel  16  is provided in a rear surface of the input pad  11 , and changes the quantity of light transmitted from the light emitter  13  to the detector  14  according to a user&#39;s manipulation to the input pad  11 . The reflection panel  16  according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a lens or a prism, and may have a convex shape as in  FIG. 3  to change the quantity of light of the optical signal which has been transmitted through the reflection panel  16 , according to a user&#39;s manipulation. The reflection panel  16  according to the present exemplary embodiment is designed to change the quantity of light according to a user&#39;s manipulation, and changes in thickness like a concave shape as well as a convex shape. 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , detection of a user&#39;s input by changing the quantity of light with the reflection panel  16  is described as an example. However, the optical device  141  according to one or more other exemplary embodiments is not limited to the foregoing example, and may include the cases where a brightness of a rear surface of the input panel  20  is changed (e.g., becomes brighter or darker from the center to the outside), or a groove which becomes wider or narrower from the center to the outside is provided in a rear surface of the input panel  20 . 
     The shield  17  is provided between the reflection panel  16 , the light emitter  13  and the detector  14 . A through hole may be formed in the shield  17  to transmit a reflected optical signal to the detector  14 . 
     The user input unit  140  of the display apparatus  100  may employ the optical device  141  which recognizes a user&#39;s manipulation in multi-directions to the input pad  11 , and usability may improve compared to a related art technology which uses a tact switch that is less durable or a touch sensor that is sensitive to the surrounding environment. 
     The user input unit  140  may include a user interface (UI) (or a status display window) displayed on the display unit  130  for a user&#39;s selection. The UI according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of icons  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  41  and  42  shown in  FIGS. 4 to 7 . If the display unit  130  includes a touch screen, the user input unit  140  may transmit to the controller  160  a command corresponding to a user&#39;s input that is received by touching the UI of the display unit  130  by a user. 
     A user may manipulate the optical device  141  and select the UI displayed on the display unit  130 . According to the present exemplary embodiment, a user manipulates the optical device  141  as the user input unit  140  and selects a UI displayed on the display unit  130 . However, it is understood that one or more other exemplary embodiments are not limited to the foregoing case, and a user may manipulate a remote controller other than the optical device  141  or may manipulate an optical device according to an exemplary embodiment located on the remote controller. 
     The storage unit  150  stores therein data according to a control of the controller  160 . The storage unit  150  may include a non-volatile storage medium such as a flash memory and a hard disc drive. The storage unit  150  is accessed by the controller  160 , and data is read, recorded, modified, deleted, updated, etc., by the controller  160 . 
     The data stored in the storage unit  150  may include, e.g., an operating system for driving the display apparatus  100 , and other various applications, image data and additional data which are executed in the operating system. 
     The storage unit  150  according to the present exemplary embodiment further stores therein coordinates information and angle information to recognize a user&#39;s input in multi-directions to the input pad  11  by the optical device  141 . 
     The controller  160  performs control operations for various elements of the display apparatus  100 . For example, the controller  160  controls operations of the display apparatus  100  by controlling the image processor  120  to process an image and performing a corresponding control operation to a command of the user input unit  140 . 
     More specifically, referring to  FIGS. 4 to 7 , the controller  160  controls the display unit  130  to display thereon a UI including a plurality of icons  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  41  and  42 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a screen displayed on the display unit  130  of the display apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment.  FIGS. 5 to 7  illustrate a user interface (UI) which is displayed corresponding to a selection of the optical device  141 . 
     The UI is displayed in a predetermined location of the display unit  130 . In the present exemplary embodiment, the UI is provided on a lower portion of the display unit  130  around the optical device  141  so that a user may manipulate the optical device  141  while checking the UI, improving a user&#39;s convenience. However, it is understood that the UI is not limited to the lower portion of the display unit  130 , and may be displayed in any area of the display unit. The plurality of icons  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  41  and  42  may include at least one of a text, a graph, etc. 
     The plurality of icons  31 ,  32  and  33  included in the UI shown in  FIG. 4  corresponds to an initial menu (top menu) of the display apparatus  100 , and displays each menu by category. The controller  160  may display the initial menu as in  FIG. 4  on the display unit  130  if a user&#39;s initial input to the input pad  11  of the optical device  141  is detected. 
     The controller  160  controls the display unit  130  to highlight a current selected icon (e.g., channel icon)  32  in the UI as in  FIG. 4 . The controller  160  may control the display unit  130  to distinguish the selected icon  32 , e.g., with a highlight, a pointer, a cursor, a flicker, etc. A user may easily recognize that the distinguished (e.g., highlighted) icon  32  in the UI is the currently selected icon. 
     Upon receiving a user&#39;s manipulation to the input pad  11  of the optical device  141 , the controller  160  controls the display unit  130  to display thereon a UI corresponding to a moving direction of the received user&#39;s manipulation. More specifically, upon receiving a user&#39;s input in multi-directions to the input pad  11 , the controller  160  calculates an angle of the received input and controls the display unit  130  to display thereon a UI corresponding to a moving direction of the calculated angle. 
     For example, if a volume icon  31  is displayed as a selected icon as in  FIG. 4 , a user may input a user&#39;s manipulation in a left direction to the input pad  11  of the optical device  141  as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Corresponding to the input user&#39;s manipulation as in  FIG. 5 , the controller  160  controls the display unit  130  to change the selected icon to a channel icon  32  provided to the left side of the volume icon  31 . 
     Likewise, if the channel icon  32  is displayed as a selected icon as in  FIG. 5 , a user may input a user&#39;s manipulation in a diagonal direction toward a left lower side with respect to the input pad  11  of the optical device  141  as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Corresponding to the user&#39;s manipulation input as in (a) in  FIG. 6 , the controller  160  controls the display unit  130  to change an external input icon  33  provided in a left lower side of the channel icon  32  to a selected icon. 
     The optical device  141  according to the present exemplary embodiment may detect a user&#39;s manipulation in a diagonal direction at various angles, and a user may perform a user&#39;s input to the input pad  11  to change the selected icon to the external input icon  33  as in (b) in  FIG. 6 . 
     A user may intuitively confirm the manipulation to the optical device  141  through the UI, and thus user&#39;s convenience to the optical device  141  may improve. 
     The optical device  141  receives a user&#39;s selection of a particular icon  32  of the plurality of icons according to a user&#39;s manipulation in a push direction with respect to an icon (e.g., channel icon  32 ) corresponding to a predetermined menu. 
     If the particular icon  32  is selected from the plurality of icons, the controller  160  controls the display unit  130  to display thereon a sub-menu of the menu corresponding to the selected icon  32  or to perform an operation corresponding to the selected icon  32 . 
     For example, if a user&#39;s manipulation in a push direction is received while the channel icon  32  is highlighted as a selected icon, the controller  160  controls the display unit  130  to display thereon a plurality of icons  41  and  42  as sub-menus of the channel menu as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     When the icons  41  and  42  of the channel menu are displayed as in  FIG. 7 , a user may move to or select a desired icon by inputting a user&#39;s manipulation in multi-directions and a push direction to the input pad  11  of the optical device  141 , and the controller  160  controls the display unit  130  to display thereon the foregoing through the UI. 
     Hereinafter, a control method of a display apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart showing a control method of a display apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     As shown therein, the display apparatus  100  may display on the display unit  130  a UI including a plurality of icons (operation S 502 ). 
     While the plurality of icons is displayed, the controller  160  may receive a user&#39;s manipulation to the input pad  11  of the optical device  141  (operation S 504 ). The optical device  141  as the user input unit  140  may be provided in a front surface of the display apparatus  100 , and receives a user&#39;s input in multi-directions and a push direction. The optical sensor of the detector  14  reads a value of an optical signal reflected according to a user&#39;s manipulation to the input pad  11  and received from the light emitter  13 , i.e., a light source, and detects a moving direction of the user&#39;s input, and the received optical signal may change in the quantity of light according to a user&#39;s manipulation to the input pad  11  through the reflection panel  16 . 
     The controller  160  controls the display unit  130  to display thereon a UI at operation S 502  corresponding to the user&#39;s manipulation which has been received at operation S 504  (operation S 506 ). 
     According to one or more exemplary embodiments, the UI is displayed and a menu is selected by using the optical device  141 . As the UI according to exemplary embodiments may vary, a channel number may be input through the optical device  141  by displaying a number key pad for selection of a channel number, or a letter is input by displaying a letter key pad and the result may be displayed as a UI. 
     According to one or more exemplary embodiments, the user input unit  140  of the display apparatus  100  employs the optical device  141  which recognizes a user&#39;s manipulation in multi-directions and a push direction to the input pad  11 , and usability may improve compared to a related art technology which uses a tact switch that is less durable or a touch sensor that is sensitive to surrounding environment. 
     A user may intuitively confirm the manipulation to the optical device  141 , through the UI, and thus user&#39;s convenience for the optical device  141  may improve. 
     While the above-described exemplary embodiments relate to an optical device  141  provided on a display apparatus  100 , it is understood that other exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, according to other exemplary embodiments, the optical device  141  may be provided on a remote controller or may be provided on an image processing apparatus such as a set-top box, a stand-alone control device, an audio/video receiver, an optical media player, an image source, etc. 
     While not restricted thereto, an exemplary embodiment can be embodied as computer-readable code on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium is any data storage device that can store data that can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical data storage devices. The computer-readable recording medium can also be distributed over network-coupled computer systems so that the computer-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. Also, an exemplary embodiment may be written as a computer program transmitted over a computer-readable transmission medium, such as a carrier wave, and received and implemented in general-use or special-purpose digital computers that execute the programs. Moreover, one or more units or elements of the above-described apparatuses may include a processor or microprocessor executing a computer program stored in a computer-readable medium. 
     Although a few exemplary embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.