The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 22, 1997
Filed:
Sep. 10, 1992
Koki Tsumori, Tokyo, JP;
Toshihide Hayashi, Kanagawa, JP;
Sony Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A display microcomputer displays a menu corresponding to several functions, such as picture-in-picture display and satellite broadcast reception on a mini-viewing screen that is part of the cathode-ray tube picture screen of a television receiver. A remote controller permits selection of different video and audio signal sources and, if the user selects sources that are incompatible or inconsistent, a system controller returns the menu to the condition prior to the incorrect selection. The system controller also controls a display microcomputer in such a way that items on the menu that are inhibited from selection are displayed in halftone. That is, if any inhibited item appears in the menu by a modification of the mode of operation, the display microcomputer is controlled so that the menu is returned to the condition prior to the selection and the inhibited item is displayed in halftone. For example, erroneous operation that would change the reproduced sound of a duplex sound channel while the user is watching a picture reproduced from a video tape recorder is prevented, because the set value for the duplex sound can not be varied by the user.