U.S. patent application number 13/189906 was filed with the patent office on 2011-11-17 for bezel color coordination.
This patent application is currently assigned to SONY ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to RAFAEL CALDERON, ROBERT HARDACKER, STEVEN RICHMAN.
Application Number | 20110279731 13/189906 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43068071 |
Filed Date | 2011-11-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110279731 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HARDACKER; ROBERT ; et
al. |
November 17, 2011 |
BEZEL COLOR COORDINATION
Abstract
A processor, such as a TV processor, determines which one of at
least two audio-video components is sending signals to a TV for
display. Based on the determining act, the processor establishes a
color of a bezel of the TV.
Inventors: |
HARDACKER; ROBERT;
(Escondido, CA) ; CALDERON; RAFAEL; (San Diego,
CA) ; RICHMAN; STEVEN; (San Diego, CA) |
Assignee: |
SONY ELECTRONICS INC.
SONY CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
43068071 |
Appl. No.: |
13/189906 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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12582274 |
Oct 20, 2009 |
|
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13189906 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
348/655 ;
348/E9.051 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09G 2320/0626 20130101;
H04N 1/00347 20130101; H04N 21/4223 20130101; H04N 21/4318
20130101; H04N 1/0035 20130101; G09G 2330/022 20130101; G09G
2320/0666 20130101; H04N 21/41407 20130101; G06F 3/147 20130101;
G09G 2360/144 20130101; G09G 2310/0232 20130101; H04N 5/58
20130101; G09G 2380/16 20130101; G09G 2354/00 20130101; H04N
21/42202 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/655 ;
348/E09.051 |
International
Class: |
H04N 9/73 20060101
H04N009/73 |
Claims
1. System comprising: a TV including a TV display framed by a TV
bezel; at least one TV bezel light source disposed in the TV bezel,
light from the light source passing through the TV bezel to be
visible to a person; a first component communicating with the TV
and having a first component bezel; at least one first component
bezel light source disposed in the first component bezel, light
from the first component bezel light source passing through the
first component bezel to be visible to a person, the first
component bezel light source emitting light of a first color; a
second component communicating with the TV and having a second
component bezel; at least one second component bezel light source
disposed in the second component bezel, light from the second
component bezel light source passing through the second component
bezel to be visible to a person, the second component bezel light
source emitting light of a second color different from the first
color; and a processor causing the TV bezel light source to emit
light of the first color when the TV presents information from the
first component, the processor causing the TV bezel light source to
emit light of the second color when the TV presents information
from the second component.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is a TV processor
in the TV.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first component is a disk
player.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the second component is a home
theater.
5. Method comprising: determining which one of at least two
audio-video components is sending signals to a TV for display; and
based on the determining act, establishing a color of a bezel of
the TV.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the determining act is executed
by a TV processor in the TV.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the light source includes plural
LEDs, and the processor executes the establishing act by energizing
select LEDs.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the first component is a disk
player.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second component is a set top
box.
10. System comprising: a TV including a TV display framed by a TV
bezel; TV bezel light sources disposed in the TV bezel and emitting
light of a color demanded by a user of the TV, light from the light
source passing through the TV bezel to be visible to a person; a
first component communicating with the TV and having a first
component bezel; a first component bezel light source disposed in
the first component bezel, light from the first component bezel
light source passing through the first component bezel to be
visible to a person, the first component bezel light source being
controlled by the TV to emit light having the color demanded by the
user; a second component communicating with the TV and having a
second component bezel; a second component bezel light source
disposed in the second component bezel, light from the second
component bezel light source passing through the second component
bezel to be visible to a person, the second component bezel light
source being controlled by the TV to emit light having the color
demanded by the user.
11. The TV of claim 10, comprising LEDs establishing the light
sources.
12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first component is a disk
player.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second component is a home
theater or set-top box.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent
app. 61/179,304, filed May 18, 2009.
I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Present principles apply to coordinating bezel illumination
color in home entertainment systems.
II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Home entertainment systems come in a variety of colors,
shapes, and sizes. One or more individual electronic pieces may
make up the entertainment system. Often individual pieces of
equipment work separately, such as a TV by itself, or can
synchronize their functions to perform tasks that no single piece
could accomplish, i.e. TV displaying a picture from a DVD player
and sending its sound to a stereo system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] As understood herein, synchronization of light sources
mounted on each component allows for easily visible designation of
the active component.
[0005] Home entertainment systems may include a number of
components in addition to a TV, such as a DVD player, Blue ray
player, VCR player, etc. In order to visually distinguish which
component is active, each is designated with a color of light
emitted by a light source within the bezel of the component. The
light sources may be disposed within any number of corners or as a
decorative edge border on the front of the bezel. The TV contains a
processor that synchronizes with an audio/video component when
active as a light source(s) capable of emitting the colors specific
to components. When a first component is active, its light source
will emit light of a particular color and the TV's light source
will emit light of the same color.
[0006] Accordingly, a system includes a TV including a TV display
framed by a TV bezel. At least one TV bezel light source is
disposed in the TV bezel. Light from the light source passes
through the TV bezel to be visible to a person. A first component
communicates with the TV and has a first component bezel. At least
one first component bezel light source is disposed in the first
component bezel, with light from the first component bezel light
source passing through the first component bezel to be visible to a
person. The first component bezel light source emits light of a
first color. Also, a second component communicates with the TV and
has a second component bezel. At least one second component bezel
light source is disposed in the second component bezel, with light
from the second component bezel light source passing through the
second component bezel to be visible to a person. The second
component bezel light source emits light of a second color
different from the first color. A processor causes the TV bezel
light source to emit light of the first color when the TV presents
information from the first component. In contrast, the processor
causes the TV bezel light source to emit light of the second color
when the TV presents information from the second component. Without
limitation, the first component can be a disk player and the second
component can be a home theater or a set-top box (STB) (cable,
satellite, SSD server, etc) attached to the TV via a networking
method including HDMI, LAN, wireless, etc.
[0007] In another aspect, a method includes determining which one
of at least two audio-video components is sending signals to a TV
for display, and based on the determining act, establishes a color
of a bezel of the TV.
[0008] In another aspect, a TV has a display, a tuner receiving
video signals for presentation on the display, and a processor
communicating with the tuner. A bezel frames the display. First
light sources characterized by a first color are positioned to
illuminate the bezel from the interior of the bezel. And, second
light sources characterized by a second color are positioned to
illuminate the bezel from the interior of the bezel. The processor
energizes the first light sources but not the second light sources
to internally illuminate the bezel with the first color in response
to the processor determining that it is receiving audio-video data
from a first component. In contrast the processor energizes the
second light sources but not the first light sources to internally
illuminate the bezel with the second color in response to the
processor determining that it is receiving audio-video data from a
second component.
[0009] The details of the present invention, both as to its
structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to
like parts, and in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display device, showing
interior components schematically;
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates the connections that may exist in a home
theatre system; and
[0012] FIG. 3 is a flow chart of example logic for selecting a
bezel illumination color.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a TV, generally designated
10, contains a display screen 12 and is encased by a bezel 14. The
display 12 may be of any type and form, i.e. flatscreen LCD. The
bezel material may be, but is not limited to, plastic. Internal
components of the TV 10 include a tuner 16 used for receiving a
signal, a medium 18, and a microprocessor (MP) 20. The processor 20
may be a TV processor and receives and interprets signals from
other components of a home theatre system.
[0014] A light source 22 is disposed within the bezel 14 of the TV
10 near the edge of the front panel of the bezel 14 in a decorative
fashion, where light passes through the bezel 14 and can be seen by
a person. The light source 22 may also be disposed in one or more
corners of the bezel 14. The light source 22 may use light
diffusing techniques, and may include multiple triluminous LED's to
create a color-customizable illuminated edge around the TV 10. The
light source 22 may emitted various forms of light including simple
color, color patterns, and dynamic color patterns.
[0015] Moving in reference to FIG. 2, the TV 10 is shown in a
manner similar to that of FIG. 1, including a display 12, bezel 14,
internal components 16, 18, and 20, and a light source 22. An
example non-limiting first component 24 of the same home theatre
system that comprises the TV 10 incorporates a first component
bezel 26, a first component display screen 28, and at least one
first component light source 30 disposed within the first component
bezel 26. The first component 24 may be, but is not limited to, a
disk player. The color of light emitted from the first component
light source 30, designated as first light color, passes through
the first component bezel 26 and can be seen by a person. In some
embodiments, multiple light sources 30 of different colors may be
implemented for purposes to be shortly disclosed.
[0016] An example non-limiting second component 32 includes a
second component bezel 34, second component display screen 36, and
a second component light source 38. The color of light emitted from
the second component light source 38, designated second light
color, passes through the second component bezel 26 and can be seen
by a person. The second component 32 may be, but is not limited to,
a home theatre or a set-top box (STB) (cable, satellite, SSD
server, etc) attached to the TV via a networking method including
HDMI, LAN, wireless, etc. In some embodiments, multiple light
sources 38 of different colors may be implemented for purposes to
be shortly disclosed.
[0017] In one implementation, the processor 20 causes the TV bezel
light source 22 to emit light of the first color when the TV
presents information from the first component 24, the bezel of
which also emits the first color of light. Moreover, the processor
20 causes the TV bezel light source 22 to emit light of the second
color when the TV presents information from the second component
32, the bezel of which emits light of a second color. Both the
component light source 30 and second component light source 38 may
be disposed in any number of corners the corresponding bezel 26 or
34, or as a decorative edging similar to that which may comprise
the TV light source 22. In any case, in this embodiment and
assuming that the component bezels emit light of only a single
color, the color of the TV bezel, which may be selected from a menu
of colors by a user, is automatically established to match the
color of light emitted from the bezel of the "active" component,
i.e., the component that is sourcing content to or sinking content
from the TV.
[0018] In another embodiment, the TV bezel may emit a user-selected
color of light, with the TV processor causing the controllers of
the other components, which in this case have multiple colors of
light sources in their bezels, to match the user-selected color of
the TV bezel.
[0019] Now referring to FIG. 3, a flow diagram is shown to
demonstrate an embodiment of the method accomplished by the
processor 20. The TV 10 is linked to and communicates with the
first component 24. At state 40 the processor 20 determines whether
the first component 24 is active. If the information presented to
the processor 20 confirms the first component 24 is in fact active
at block 42, the light sources 22 and 30 are synchronized at state
46 in that they are caused by the one of the above processors,
e.g., the TV processor 20, to emit corresponding, preferably
identical, colors, intensities, durations, synchronization, and/or
synchronized sub-time. This may be done by simply causing the light
sources in the TV bezel to emit only the color of light emitting by
the light sources in the bezel of the component 24, or vice-versa,
i.e., by causing the light sources in the component bezel to emit
only the color of light, preferably user-selected, emitted by the
TV bezel. If the processor 20 determines that the first component
24 is not active (state 44), no action is taken to synchronize the
light sources 22 and 30.
[0020] The processing for the second component 32 is identical. The
second component 32 is analyzed for activity at state 48. If the
second component 32 is active (state 50), the light sources 22 and
38 are synchronized at state 54 as described above. If the
processor 20 determines that the second component 32 is not active
(state 52), no action is taken to synchronize the light sources 22
and 38. Neither first component 24 nor second component 32 require
a wired link with the TV as any networking (wired or wireless) may
be used.
[0021] While the particular BEZEL COLOR COORDINATION is herein
shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the
subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is
limited only by the claims.
* * * * *