JPH01286158A - Video tape recorder with operation guide function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the operation of a VTR by reading out data of a text data storage means according to a button operation, converting the data into a character signal by a character signal generating means and displaying a guide message on a monitor. CONSTITUTION:When a guide button 17 of a remote controller unit 16 is operated after switching on the VTR 20, remote control data are inputted to a microcomputer 1, so that a guide menu is displayed on a screen of the TV monitor 19. Then, for instance, when a guide for a reproducing operation is desired, and then a button 18 corresponding to the guided number of the button 18 in the menu is response to the reproducing operation is operated, the guide contents of a text memory 2 corresponding to this request are read out via the microcomputer 1 to be converted into the character signal by a character signal generating circuit 3. This character signal is supplied to the monitor 19, where the guide message for the reproducing operation is displayed on its screen, and based on this, operations such as reproducing, etc. can easily be performed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a video tape recorder, and in particular to an operation guide function equipped with an on-screen display function that displays an operation guide for handling the recorder on a monitor screen. Regarding a video tape recorder.

[Conventional technology]

A video tape recorder (hereinafter abbreviated as VTR) is
They are now widely used in general households, and their functions are diversifying. Therefore, when handling it, it is often necessary to refer to the attached operation manual, which is cumbersome and prone to erroneous operation.

Furthermore, most of the recent VTRs are equipped with a remote controller, which makes the operation of multi-function VTRs particularly complicated.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 154984/1984 discloses a VTR equipped with a remote controller in which operations can be confirmed on a monitor screen;
For example, channel number, volume.

etc.) is displayed as a character signal superimposed on the video signal output from the VTR, and the operating procedures etc. depend on the operating manual.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned conventional technology, the operation of the VTR must be done by referring to the attached operation manual, and operating the controller while referring to the operation manual is extremely complicated and easy to operate incorrectly. The problem was that it was impossible.

An object of the present invention is to provide an operation guide function that allows an operator to easily operate various functions of a VTR by displaying the operation guide on a monitor screen by operating buttons provided on the VTR body or remote controller. With VT
Our goal is to provide R.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a text storage means that stores data of VTR operation guides or troubleshooting messages, and retrieves necessary text data from the text storage means according to button operations by the operator. It is characterized in that it is configured so that it is extracted and displayed on a monitor screen as a text signal message.

[For production]

When operating a VTR, if the operating procedure is unknown, accurate operation is possible without a manual by referring to the operating guide retrieved from the text storage means and displayed on the monitor screen.

[Example〕 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as a microcomputer), 2 is a text storage means (hereinafter abbreviated as a text memory), and 3 is a microcomputer (hereinafter abbreviated as a microcomputer); Character signal generator, 4 is a video/message selection switch, 5 is an RF converter, 6 is a timer/tuner microcomputer, 7 is a remote controller (hereinafter abbreviated as remote control) signal receiving section, 8 is a VTR main unit operation unit, 9 is a System controller (hereinafter abbreviated as system controller), 10 is a video signal processing system, 11 is a servo system, 12
is a drive system, 15 is a tuner, 16 is a remote control unit,
17 is a guide button, 18 is a menu selection button, 19
is a television monitor, and 21 is an antenna.

In the figure, a microcomputer 11 text memory 2
Except for the parts related to the two-character signal generator 3, the configuration and operation are similar to those of a conventional VTR with remote control.

Operations as a VTR, such as recording video signals from the antenna 21 and playing back from a magnetic tape, are performed in the same manner as in the past.

Hereinafter, an operation guide system (hereinafter referred to as HELP) using the on-screen display function (hereinafter abbreviated as O, S, and D), which is the main point of the present invention, will be described.
will be explained in detail.

The operation by the remote control unit 16 is controlled by the control data generated from the remote control unit 16 and input to the remote control receiver 7, and the microcomputer 19 text memory 2° character signal generator 3 provides help with O, S, and D. The operating guide system is activated.

In addition, (7) VTR with O, S, D functions (7) O, S.

D is normally controlled by the timer/tuner microcomputer 6 of the VTR. Therefore, the help system is installed between this timer/tuner microcomputer 6 and 0.8°D.
Usually the timer/tuner microcontroller is 6 and 0.5. O, S, and D are controlled by permitting signal transmission between D and receiving an operation start signal from the remote control receiving section 7. Also,
At this time, 0, S, and D give priority to the signal from microcomputer 1.

Furthermore, by interfering with the input of remote control signals to the timer/tuner microcomputer 6, the timer/tuner microcomputer 6 is prevented from operating while the help system is operating.

A microcomputer 1 controls O, S, and D character signal generators 3° and a video/message changeover switch 4. At this time, the selector switch 4 selects message signal display based on internal synchronization.

The character signal obtained from the character signal generator 3 is displayed on the screen of the television monitor 19 via the RF converter 5.

The help system using 0, S, and D is activated by pressing a guide button 17 on the remote control unit 16, and the microcomputer 1 receives a guide mode signal issued by pressing the guide button 17 and starts a help operation. When the microcomputer 1 enters the guide mode, the microcomputer 1 retrieves the stored guide menu data from the text memory 2, converts it into a character signal with the character signal generator 3, and presses the changeover switch 4.
．． It is displayed on the screen of the television monitor 19 via the RF converter 5.

The operator looks at the guide menu displayed on the screen of the TV monitor 19, selects the necessary item, and presses a dark blue key such as a numeric keypad or a specific key on the remote control unit 16 to display the contents of the menu and operate it. Do the following.

Next, a more detailed explanation will be given based on a specific operation example.

FIG. 2 is an explanation of a specific example of menu selection and operation guide in the present invention, and is an explanatory diagram of an example of the guide menu display in the guide mode activated by the remote control unit and an example of the operation guide, and 20 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the operation guide. , 22 is a guide menu displayed on the screen of the TV monitor, 2
3 indicates an operation guide.

After turning on the VTR 20, by pressing the guide button 17 on the remote control unit 16, for example, 32-bit infrared remote control data is transmitted to the remote control signal receiving section 7.
input to microcontroller 1 through Thereby, the microcomputer 1 displays a guide menu (MENU) 22 on the screen of the television monitor 19.

If the operator wishes to be guided through playback operations, by pressing the "l button" 18 on the remote control unit 16 for the number l corresponding to TAPR PLAY in the guide menu 22, the help system will display the text (TAPE PLAY) associated with that number.
The data of AY and the text of its operating procedure) 23 is read out from the text memory 2, converted into text by the text signal generator 3, and displayed on the screen of the television monitor 19 via the RF converter 5.

The operator operates the VTR while looking at this display.
After completing this operation, press the guide button 17 again to return to the normal mode (video mode).

Incidentally, by increasing the number of menus and increasing the branches of the guide, the number of displayed pages increases as long as the capacity of the text memory 2 allows, and it is possible to provide sufficient operation explanations corresponding to the functions.

In addition, various types of sensors are installed on the VTR body to constantly monitor various information such as the presence or absence of a tab on the cassette tape, the amount of remaining tape, dew condensation, and the playback envelope, allowing the operator to monitor the information displayed on the screen. Please check (but not automatically, depending on the information that the help system is working on)
Items to be dealt with can be displayed on the screen of the TV monitor.0 For example, when the VTR is not working due to condensation, if you press the dark blue guide on the remote control unit, the sensor will determine the state of condensation and the determination result will be displayed. On the basis of the,
The help system can also display dew condensation countermeasures on the screen of the television monitor, and perform countermeasure operations according to the display.

Note that although the above description has been made regarding operations using a remote control unit, the present invention can also provide the same operation as described above by providing appropriate buttons or the like on the operation section of the VTR main body.

Furthermore, the output of the character signal generator is not limited to the method of supplying the output to the television monitor via the RF converter, but can be configured to be supplied in the form of a video signal or R, G, B signals.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained above, according to the present invention, V
Regarding how to use the TR, most of the contents can be displayed and can be easily selected according to the user's purpose, so it is possible to improve the convenience of the user's handling of the VTR, and to improve the operation manual. It is possible to provide a VTR with an operation guide function that is effective in preventing loss and has excellent functions while eliminating the drawbacks of the prior art.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example of menu selection and operation guide in the present invention. 1...Microcomputer, 2...Text memory, 3...Character signal generator, 4...Video/message changeover switch,
5... RF converter, 6... Timer/tuner microcomputer, 7... Remote control signal receiving section, 8... Operation unit, 9... System controller, lO... Video system, 15... Tuner, 16...Remote control unit, 19...TV monitor, 20...VTR, 2
1...Antenna. Fig. 1 3″H to J:′w-y
20: VTR stop 2nd

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A video tape recorder with an operation guide function, which has a function of displaying information according to input operations on a monitor screen, comprising a text data storage means and text data from the text data storage means. A character signal generation means for converting into a character signal, an input operation means independent of normal operation, and means for supplying the output of the character signal generation means to the monitor in response to an input operation of the input operation means, A video tape recorder with an operation guide function, characterized in that the operation guide message stored in the text data storage means is displayed on a monitor screen in response to a command from the input operation means. 2. Claim 1 characterized in that data of a troubleshooting message for a video tape recorder is stored in the text data storage means, and the troubleshooting message is displayed on a monitor screen depending on the state of the trouble.
Video tape recorder with operation guide function as described.