An onscreen display (OSD) is a layer that has been placed on top of a picture screen. This layer is used to display information consisting of text and pictures. Browsing the menu of a television or DVD player is a common use for an OSD as it displays various information such as picture brightness, volume control, and channel programming. An OSD timeout refers to the time the information remains on screen before it disappears.
OSD Timeout
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When you browse the menu of your television or DVD player, you've probably noticed that the information will disappear after a certain period of time if a selection is not made. An OSD timeout refers to the period of time between the moment you stop using the menu and the moment the menu disappears. Some DVD players and televisions have an adjustable timeout, while others do not have this feature. If your device does not have an OSD timeout it will continue to display the information until you manually leave the menu or turn off the device.
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The OSD modules that are inserted into televisions and other devices are designed to be as small and inexpensive as possible. Their value is measured in how much information it can display at once, the size of its internal memory, as well as certain special capabilities such as its ability to display visual effects such as shadows, 2-D shapes or logos.
Synchronized Superimposition
In order for an OSD to display correctly over the image of a television screen it has to be synchronized with the TV signal. The signal can come either from the antenna of the television, cable or satellite signal, or any other devices that are connected to the TV such as a DVD player or a gaming console. The OSD takes the video signal and places a graphical display on top of it which it reads from its own internal memory.
Adjustable OSD Timeout
You can adjust the OSD timeout to your preference. Onscreen displays on newer devices generally have an option for how long they should stay up. If you wish to adjust the OSD timeout, you will typically find this setting under the general-options menu or OSD options.