Patent Publication Number: US-2009237368-A1

Title: User input apparatus for controlling image display device and method of controlling the image display device by using the user input apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0024874, filed on Mar. 18, 2008, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Apparatus and methods consistent with the present invention relate to controlling an image display device by using the user input apparatus, and more particularly, to a user input apparatus for controlling an image display device to provide a new manipulation method in combination with a discontinuous method of inputting a signal and a continuous method of inputting a signal. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Until recently, a 4-way navigation button and channel/volume buttons of a remote controller have been frequently used together. 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  are diagrams of 4-way navigation buttons and channel/volume buttons of conventional remote controllers. Referring to  FIG. 1A , a 4-way navigation button  110  is combined with channel/volume buttons  111 ,  112 ,  113 , and  114 . Generally, an up button  111  is used to select an upper channel, a down button  112  is used to select a lower channel, a right button  113  is used to increase volume, and a left button  114  is used to reduce the volume. The channel/volume buttons  111 ,  112 ,  113 , and  114  and the 4-way navigation button  110  having a different function from the channel/volume buttons  111 ,  112 ,  113 , and  114  may cause users to erroneously operate the remote controller. To address this problem, referring to  FIG. 1B , a 4-way navigation button  140 , a channel button  120 , and a volume button  130  are separated from one another. 
     However, the 4-way navigation button  140 , the channel button  120 , and the volume button  130  need to be repeatedly pressed so as to search channels unless the conventional remote controller memorizes all channel numbers, making it impossible to quickly search channels. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a user input apparatus for controlling an image display device so as to make a fast channel/volume change in combination with a discontinuous method of inputting a signal and a continuous method of inputting a signal, and a method of controlling the image display device by using the user input apparatus. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a user input apparatus for controlling an image display device, the user input apparatus comprising: a first input unit receiving an instruction to perform a predetermined function of controlling the image display device when a discontinuous signal is received; a second input unit coupled to the first input unit and receiving an instruction to perform a predetermined function of controlling the image display device when a continuous signal is received; and a controller generating a control signal for performing a second function in conjunction with a first function in the image display device when the continuous signal is received from the second input unit within a predetermined period of time after an instruction for performing the first function of controlling the image display device is received from the first input unit. 
     The control signal may generate a control signal for performing the first function in the image display device when the continuous signal is received from the second input unit within the predetermined period of time after the instruction for performing the first function of controlling the image display device is received from the first input unit. 
     The first function may be to make a channel change, and the second function is to make a fast channel change with regard to channels broadcasted to the image display device. 
     The first function may be to make a volume change in the image display device, and the second function is to make a fast volume change with regard to channels broadcasted to the image display device. 
     The first input unit may comprise a button based input unit receiving the instruction to perform the predetermined function of controlling the image display device when a pressure is detected, wherein the second input unit comprises a touch based input unit coupled to the button based input unit and receiving the instruction to perform the predetermined function of controlling the image display device when a touch is detected from a touch area of the touch based input unit. 
     The button based input unit may comprise a 4-way navigation button, and the touch based input unit comprises a touch pad. 
     The controller may generate a control signal for performing the fast channel change in the image display device when the touch based input unit is scrolled in a circular direction within a predetermined period of time after receiving an instruction to perform the channel change from up or down buttons of the 4-way navigation button. 
     The predetermined period of time may be indicated by an on screen display (OSD) indicating channel information displayed on the image display device. 
     The controller may generate a control signal for performing the fast volume change in the image display device when the touch based input unit is scrolled in a circular direction within the predetermined period of time after receiving an instruction to perform the volume change from left or right buttons of the 4-way navigation button. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling an image display device by using a user input apparatus, the method comprising: receiving an instruction to perform a first function of controlling the image display device when a discontinuous signal is received; and generating a control signal for performing a second function in conjunction with the first function in the image display device when a continuous signal is received within a predetermined period of time after receiving the instruction. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable medium to contain computer-readable codes as a program to execute method of controlling an image display device by using a user input apparatus, the method comprising: receiving an instruction to perform a first function of controlling the image display device if a discontinuous signal is received; and generating a control signal for performing a second function in conjunction with the first function in the image display device if a continuous signal is received within a period of time after receiving the instruction 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other features and aspects of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are diagrams of 4-way navigation buttons and channel/volume buttons of conventional remote controllers; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a user input apparatus for controlling an image display device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of an input apparatus to which a button based input unit and a touch based input unit are attached according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate applications of a touch pad according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram of an image display device that displays on screen display (OSD) indicating channel information according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are diagrams of fast channel and volume changes according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an image display device by using a user input apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating a fast channel changing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a user input apparatus  220  for controlling an image display device  210  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 2 , the image display device  210  comprises an interface unit  211 , and the user input device  220  comprises a first input unit  221 , a second input unit  222 , a controller  223 , and a communication unit  224 . 
     The user input device  220  may be a remote controller for remotely controlling a variety of devices or a key input device of a mobile communication apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and the user input device  220  may be attached to or separated from an image data reproducing device and may directly control the image data reproducing device. 
     When the first input unit  221  receives a discontinuous signal, the first input unit  221  receives an instruction to perform a predetermined function of controlling the image display device  210 . When the first input unit  221  detects pressure, the first input unit  221  may be a button-based input unit that receives the instruction to perform the predetermined function of controlling the image display device  210 . The button-based input unit is a general switch type keypad. Examples of the switch type keypad are a pure mechanical switch type keypad, a form element type keypad, a rubber dome type keypad, a membrane switch type keypad, a capacitive switch type keypad, a composite type keypad, and the like. The switch type keypad of the present embodiment may be the rubber dome type keypad. The rubber dome switch type keypad uses the elasticity of a rubber dome to restitute a button, which is mainly used for a small device. In the present embodiment, the button-based input unit may be a 4-way navigation button. The 4-way navigation button includes up/down/right/left buttons that are used to give an instruction to perform their own intrinsic function. Although not shown, the 4-way navigation button includes a select button in the center thereof. The 4-way navigation button is included in the user input device  220 . 
     When the second input unit  222  is attached to the first input unit  221  and receives a continuous signal, the second input unit  222  receives the instruction to perform the predetermined function of controlling the image display device  210 . When the second input unit  222  is attached to the button based input unit and detects a touch from a touch area, the second input unit  222  may be a touch based input unit that receives the instruction to perform the predetermined function of controlling the image display device  210 . The touch based input unit refers to a general touch pad. For example, the touch based input unit detects touch based on an electrical change that occurs according to the touch of an object such as a change in capacitance or resistance between electrodes. When the touch based input unit detects a physical touch in the touch area, i.e. a touch, the touch based input unit performs a specific function. The touch based input unit is attached to the button based input unit and is the same size as the button based input unit. The continuous signal refers to a signal received by the user input apparatus  220  in response to a user&#39;s scrolling of the touch pad. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of an input apparatus to which a button based input unit and a touch based input unit are attached according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 3 , when a button  301  is pressed, a dome  303  is pressed, is connected to a substrate, sends an electrical signal, and performs a specific function corresponding to the button  301 . Thereafter, the button  301  is restituted by the elasticity of the dome  303 . A touch based input unit  302  is attached to a keypad. The touch based input unit  302  can perform continuous scrolling. In more detail, the touch based input unit  302  performs scrolling without pressing the button  301  so that it is suitable for a fast movement of a predetermined item compared to a button type input unit. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate applications of a touch pad  420 . Referring to  FIG. 4A , a menu of a digital television (DTV) application is displayed on a screen of an image display device  410  such as a DTV. A user can use up/down/right/left buttons to select an application  411  performing a desired function. A cross arrow  422  indicates a direction in which the user scrolls or drags a touch pad  420  to which a 4-way navigation button is attached. When the user scrolls the touch pad  420  right and left, a selection item moves right and left on the menu. When the user scrolls the touch pad  420  up and down, the selection item moves up and down. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4B , the touch pad  420  can perform a function of a pointer that freely scrolls. When the image display device  410  such as the DTV accesses the Internet, the user scrolls the touch pad  420  in a direction that is not fixed in a Web page so that the touch pad  420  can perform the same function as a mouse. 
     The controller  223  receives an instruction to perform a first function of controlling the image display device  210 , receives the continuous signal from the second input unit  222  within a predetermined period of time, and generates a control signal to perform a second function in conjunction with the first function. The controller  223  may receive an instruction to perform the first function from the button based input unit, detect a touch from the touch based input unit within the predetermined period of time, and generate the control signal to perform the second function in conjunction with the first function. The control signal is transmitted to the interface unit  211  of the image display device  210  through the communication unit  224  so that an application is executed according to the instruction. 
     The controller  223  receives the continuous signal from the second input unit  222  after the predetermined period of time after receiving the instruction to perform the first function of controlling the image display device  210 , and when there is no continuous signal or when an instruction is received from the first input unit  221 , the controller  223  generates a control signal for performing the first function in the image display device  210 . The controller  223  may receive an instruction to perform the first function of controlling the image display device  210  from the button based input unit, and generate the control signal for performing the first function in the image display device  210  according to the instruction. The control signal is transmitted to the interface unit  211  of the image display device  210  through the communication unit  224 , so that an application is executed in the image display device  210  according to the control signal. 
     When the image display device  210  is a television set or an image device, the first function may be a channel or volume change, and the second function may be a fast channel or volume change, which is coupled to the first function. 
     The predetermined period of time is indicated by an on screen display (OSD) indicating channel information displayed on the image display device  210 . If the first function is the volume change, the predetermined period of time may be a period of time previously designated by the user. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram of the image display device  210  that displays OSD  501  indicating channel information according to an embodiment of the present invention. A standby time is needed to view broadcasting after channel manipulation because of quality of content and other additional information in a digital broadcasting environment. A current standby time is about 3.5 seconds. For example, the OSD  501  indicating the channel information including a channel number is only displayed on the image display device  210  before broadcasting starts. In this case, content of a channel can be known after broadcasting starts. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  are diagrams of fast channel and volume changes according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 6A , when a user clicks 4-way navigation buttons  601  and  602 , a general channel change is made. When the user clicks an up button  601 , an upper channel is selected. When the user clicks a down button  602 , a lower channel is selected. After the user clicks the up or down buttons  601  or  602 , the fast channel change is made when the user scrolls a touch pad in a rotational direction within a period of time for displaying an OSD indicating channel information on the image display device  210 . A clockwise arrow  603  indicates that the user continuously scrolls the touch pad clockwise. In this case, a fast change to an upper channel is made. However, a scrolling direction is not limited to a clockwise direction but may be counter-clockwise. The user starts scrolling the touch pad from the up button  601  indicating a change to the upper channel. A counter-clockwise arrow  604  is that the user continuously scrolls the touch pad counter-clockwise. In this case, a fast change to a lower channel is made. However, a scrolling direction is not limited to counter-clockwise but may be clockwise. The user starts scrolling the touch pad from the down button  602  indicating a change to the lower channel. Alternatively, irrespective of a location in which the user starts scrolling, the fast change to the upper channel may be made by clockwise scrolling, and the fast change to the lower channel may be made by counter-clockwise scrolling. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6B , when the user clicks right/left buttons  605  and  606  of a 4-way navigation button, a general volume change is made. When the user clicks the right button  605 , a volume is increased. When the user clicks the left button  606 , the volume is reduced. The volume with regard to the left/right buttons  605  and  606  can be determined by a manufacturing company of the image display device  210 . After the user clicks the left or right buttons  605  or  606 , the fast volume change is made when the user scrolls a touch pad in a rotational direction within a predetermined period of time. A clockwise arrow  607  indicates that the user continuously scrolls the touch pad clockwise. In this case, the volume is increased quickly. However, a scrolling direction is not limited to a clockwise direction but may be counter-clockwise. The user starts scrolling the touch pad from the right button  605  indicating an increase in the volume. A counter-clockwise arrow  608  indicates that the user continuously scrolls the touch pad counter-clockwise. In this case, the volume is reduced quickly. However, a scrolling direction is not limited to a counter-clockwise direction but may be clockwise. The user starts scrolling the touch pad from the left button  606  indicating a reduction in the volume. Alternatively, irrespective of a location where the user starts scrolling, the fast increase of the volume size may be made in clockwise scrolling, and the fast reduction of the volume size may be made in counter-clockwise scrolling. In the present embodiment, the up and down buttons  601  and  602  are used to change channels and the right and left buttons  605  and  606  are used to change the volume. However, the present invention is not limited thereto but the definition of the above buttons can be determined during the manufacturing thereof. 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an image display device by using a user input apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 7 , when a discontinuous signal is received, an instruction to perform a first function of controlling the image display device is received (operation  710 ). In more detail, the instruction to perform the first function of controlling the image display device is received from a button based input unit. 
     After receiving the instruction to perform the first function, it is determined whether a continuous signal is received within a predetermined period of time (operation  720 ). In more detail, after receiving the instruction to perform the first function, it is determined whether a touch is detected by a touch based input unit within the predetermined period of time. When the image display device is a television set or an image device, the first function may be a channel or volume change, and a second function may be a fast channel or volume change, which is performed in conjunction with the first function. In the channel change, the predetermined period of time is indicated by an OSD indicating channel information displayed on the image display device. 
     When the continuous signal is received within the predetermined period of time, a control signal for performing the second function in conjunction with the first function is generated in the image display device (operation  730 ). When the continuous signal is not received within the predetermined period of time, a control signal for performing the first function in the image display device is generated (operation  740 ). 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating a fast channel changing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 8 , when a user clicks up or down buttons of a 4-way navigation button, an instruction to perform a channel change with regard to channels of an image display device is received (operation  810 ). In general, the up button is used to select an upper channel, and the down button is used to select a lower channel. 
     It is determined whether a second input unit, i.e. a touch based input unit is scrolled in a circular direction within a period of time indicated by an OSD indicating channel information displayed on the image display device (operation  820 ). In spite of an operation of a channel change, a standby time indicating a channel number that is indicated by the OSD is displayed on the image display device before a program of a changed channel starts. A current standby time is about 3.5 seconds. In a volume change, the standby time may not be displayed on the image display device or may be very short. Therefore, the standby time may be a predetermined period of time determined by a manufacturer of a user input apparatus or the user. 
     When the touch based input unit is scrolled in the circular direction within the time indicated by the OSD displayed on the image display device, a control signal for performing a fast channel change is generated (operation  830 ). In the fast channel change to an upper channel, the user continuously scrolls the touch based input unit clockwise. However, the scrolling direction is not limited to a clockwise direction but may be counter-clockwise. The user starts scrolling the touch based input unit from the up button of the 4-way navigation button indicating the change to the upper channel. In the fast channel change to a lower channel, the user continuously scrolls the touch based input unit counter-clockwise. However, the scrolling direction is not limited to a counter-clockwise direction but may be clockwise. The user starts scrolling the touch based input unit from the down button of the 4-way navigation button indicating the change to the lower channel. Alternatively, irrespective of a location where the user starts scrolling, the fast change to the upper channel may be made by clockwise scrolling, and the fast change to the lower channel may be made by counter-clockwise scrolling. In the volume change, the up and down buttons for the channel change correspond to right and left buttons. A fast volume changing method is similar to the fast channel changing method. When the right button is clicked and is scrolled in a rotational direction, a fast increase in volume is performed. When the left button is clicked and is scrolled in the rotational direction, a fast reduction in volume is performed. Unlike the channel change, time indicated by the OSD displayed on the image display device may be a predetermined period of time determined by the manufacturer of the user input apparatus or the user. 
     When the touch based input unit is scrolled in the rotational direction after the time indicated by the OSD displayed on the image display device or is not scrolled, a control signal for performing a general channel change is generated (operation  840 ). 
     The present invention can also 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 which 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, optical data storage devices. In another embodiment, the computer readable recording medium can also be distributed network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. Also, functional programs, code and code segments for accomplishing the present invention can be easily construed by programmers of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. 
     The user input apparatus for controlling the image display device and the method of controlling the image display device by using the user input apparatus according to the present invention can quickly change channel/volume, thereby increasing user convenience. Also, the present invention can perform a new function by using a combination of a button and a touch pad. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The exemplary embodiments should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by the detailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope will be construed as being included in the present invention.