JP2000125373A - Remote controller, controlled device and remote control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote controller that can control a plurality of controlled devices where the user of the remote controller easily selects and confirms the controlled devices. SOLUTION: When a user desires to operate a television receiver 102 and the user depresses a television selection button 106, a remote controller 101 transits to a television control mode. First, a control code table registered for the television control mode is selected among a plurality of tables and a control code of 'device selection confirmation' is read and transmitted from a signal transmission section 105 as a control signal 110 to the television receiver. A signal receiving section 112 of the television receiver 102 receives the control signal 110, and when it receives the control code of 'device selection confirmation', a lamp 111 is lighted for a prescribed time. The user can confirm the television receiver 102 which is an operation opposite party, even when other television receiver or video tape player are in existence in the vicinity.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote controller, a controlled device controlled by the remote controller, and a remote control system including the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a remote controller capable of controlling a plurality of devices. The present invention relates to a remote controller, a controlled device, and a remote control system capable of easily selecting a controlled device to be controlled and further easily confirming the selected controlled device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, the number of electronic devices in homes has increased, and the number of remote controllers for remotely controlling the electronic devices has also increased. As a result, many remote controllers have existed in homes. It is becoming more and more common that a desired remote controller cannot be found when controlling a certain device. As means for improving such a situation, what is called an “integrated remote controller” capable of controlling a plurality of devices has been developed. The integrated remote controller stores control code tables of a plurality of devices in advance, and switches the switches depending on the devices to be controlled.
Use it by setting so that the control code of the device can be issued.

A conventional integrated remote controller is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-86365. Hereinafter, a conventional integrated remote controller will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG.
, An integrated remote controller; 902, a graphic display serving as a display means;
4, 905 are command buttons;
7, 908, 909, 910, 911, 912, 913
Is a function button. In this example, the integrated remote controller 901 stores control code tables for a plurality of devices in advance.

When it is desired to control a certain device, first, a controlled device to be controlled is selected by a command button 903.
The currently selected controlled device is displayed on the graphic display unit 902, and the command button 90
Each time you press 3, the displayed device changes. The user of the integrated remote controller may press the command button 903 until the device to be controlled is displayed. After the device to be controlled is displayed, a desired operation is selected from the function buttons 906 to 913 that can change the control code to be transmitted in correspondence with the graphic display unit 902, and when the button is pressed, the corresponding button is pressed. The control code is transmitted, and the controlled device can be controlled. However, in this example, when a plurality of videos or a plurality of lighting devices are installed adjacent to each other, the user cannot easily identify which device is currently controllable.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above situation, the present invention allows a user to reliably select a device to be controlled from a plurality of devices, and the selected device is intended. It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote controller, a controlled device, and a remote controller system that can easily confirm that the remote controller is operating.

[0006]

In order to solve this problem, in a remote control system according to the present invention, in a remote controller capable of controlling a plurality of devices, a controlled device to be controlled is selected from the plurality of devices. Means for providing, to the remote controller, means for transmitting a device selection confirmation signal for prompting the selected controlled device that the device is selected to be displayed, and means for receiving a device selection confirmation signal from the remote controller. And display means for externally displaying the reception of the device selection confirmation signal in the controlled device.

[0007]

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

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a remote control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 101 is a remote controller, 102 is a television, 103 and 104 are videos, 105 is a signal transmission unit, 106 is a television selection button,
107 is a video 1 selection button, 108 is a video 2 selection button, 109 is a power button, 110 is a control signal, 111
Is a lamp, and 112 is a signal receiving unit. FIG. 2 shows an internal configuration diagram of the remote controller and the controlled device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a remote controller, 202 denotes an input button, 203 denotes an overall control unit, 204 denotes a control code table, 205 denotes a signal transmission unit, 206 denotes a controlled device, and 207 denotes a controlled device.
Denotes a signal receiving unit, 208 denotes a signal analyzing unit, 209 denotes a light emitting display unit, 210 denotes a control code table, and 211 denotes a main unit of the controlled device. FIG. 3 shows a signal sequence of the remote control system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an example of a television control code table according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes a control code, 402 denotes a maker code, 402 denotes a device type code, and 403 denotes an individual code.

The operation of the thus configured remote control system according to the first embodiment will be described below.

First, an outline of the operation will be described with reference to FIG. The remote controller 101 stores a plurality of control code tables corresponding to a plurality of devices in a built-in memory. For example, a control code table for televisions of a plurality of manufacturers and a control code table for video of a plurality of manufacturers are built in. For example, in the case of a television, the control code table stores various control codes transmitted to the device in response to button operations, such as a "power ON / OFF" code, a "volume +" code, and a "volume-" code. It is a table to have as.

[0011] For example, consider a remote controller that can be controlled by switching between one television and two videos. The user of the remote controller selects a controlled device to be assigned to the television, video 1 and video 2 in the same manner as the conventional integrated remote controller, and registers it in the remote controller. For example, the registration process is performed as follows. After pressing the TV selection button to set the remote controller to the TV control mode, press the power button while pressing the CH +
Press the button multiple times. Each time the CH + button is pressed, one of a plurality of built-in control code tables is sequentially selected, and “power ON” in the control code table is selected.
/ OFF ”control code is transmitted to the television.
When the other party's television is actually turned on or off, the control code table used at that time is known to be a valid control code table for the television. Let go. By this series of operations, when the television selection button is pressed, the control code table to be used is stored and registered in the remote controller. Video 1, Video 2
Is registered in the same manner.

After registration, when the user wants to operate the television 102, for example, he presses the television selection button 106.
Thereafter, the television control mode is set, and the registered television control code table is used. First, as soon as the television selection button 106 is pressed, the remote controller 101 reads out a control code of “device selection confirmation” from the registered control code table, and sends a control signal 110 to the television from the signal transmission unit 105. Send as. The television 102 turns on the lamp 111 for a certain period of time when the signal receiving unit 112 receives the control signal 110 and receives the control code of “device selection confirmation”. The user
By turning on the lamp 111, the television 102 of the other party can be confirmed. After that, when the power button 109 is operated, for example, “power ON / OF” in the control code table is displayed.
The control code “F” is transmitted from the remote controller 101, and the power supply of the television 102 is controlled.

Similarly, when the video 1 selection button 107 is pressed, a control code of “device selection confirmation” in the registered video control code table is transmitted, and the corresponding video 103 lamp 111 is turned on. Video 2
When the selection button 108 is pressed, the corresponding video 10
4 lights up. That is, when two videos are registered as video 1 and video 2, when the video 1 selection button 107 is pressed, the lamp provided for the video registered in association with the video 1 selection button 107 is turned on. ,
When the video 2 selection button 108 is pressed, the lamp of the other video is turned on. In this case, the user can easily select the video to be operated while checking the lighting of the video lamp.

Next, the internal operation of the remote controller 201 and the controlled device 206 will be described with reference to FIG.

The input button 202 is a button for the user to perform an operation input. For example, there are a device selection button such as a TV selection button, a video 1 selection button, and a video 2 selection button, and a function control button such as a power button and a volume + button. When the user performs a button operation, the overall control unit 20
At 3, it is determined which button has been operated.
The determination of the button can be realized by, for example, a polling method that periodically checks whether or not the button is pressed.
The overall control unit 203 also performs mode management of which control code table among a plurality of built-in control code tables 204 to use, corresponding to the operated button. For example, when the television selection button is operated, the mode shifts to the television control mode, and the control code table to be used is switched to the control code table registered for the television. The same applies when another device selection button such as the video 1 selection button is operated. At the same time, a transmission signal is generated by referring to the control code of "confirmation of device selection" in the newly switched control code table. Also, when a function button such as a power button is operated, a corresponding control code is referred to from the control code table to generate a transmission signal. The generated transmission signal is transmitted to a signal transmission unit 2 including a modulation circuit, an infrared LED, and the like.
05 to the corresponding device. The overall control unit 203 also manages the device registration sequence described above. The overall control unit 203 can be realized by, for example, a microcomputer. Further, the control code table 204 is stored in the memory.

On the other hand, in the controlled device 206, a signal is received by a signal receiving unit 207 composed of a photodiode, a demodulation circuit, and the like, and a built-in control code table 210 for the own device is stored in a signal analyzing unit 208. The received signal is analyzed with reference to the received signal. If the received signal contains the control code of “Confirm Device Selection” for the device itself,
It notifies the light-emitting display unit 209 and performs display such as lighting for a certain period of time. The light emitting display unit can be realized by a visible LED, a light bulb, or the like. In addition, when other control codes for the own device, such as “power”, are included, the main unit 211 of the controlled device is notified, and the main unit 211 of the controlled device has a corresponding function, for example, power ON. / OFF is executed. The signal analysis unit 208 can be realized by a microcomputer or the like, and the control code table 210 can be built in a memory. Further, the signal analysis unit 208 and the control code table 210 can be configured by a logic circuit or the like.

Next, a signal sequence in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The user operates the TV selection button on the remote controller (step 301).
And the operation mode shifts to the operation mode of the television (step 302).
A "device selection confirmation" signal is transmitted to the television (step 303). Thereafter, the remote controller operates as a television remote controller.
On the other hand, when the television receives the “device selection confirmation” signal for its own device, it turns on the lamp for a certain period of time and notifies the user that the device is selected (step 30).
4). Similarly, when the user presses the video 1 selection button (step 305), the corresponding video lamp is turned on (step 307), and the video can be operated (step 306). When the video 2 selection button is pressed (step 308), the lamp of the video registered as the video 2 is turned on (step 310), and the operation of the video becomes possible (step 309).

Finally, an example of the TV control code table will be described with reference to FIG. The control code 401 is assigned to each signal corresponding to individual buttons and functions such as power supply, volume +, volume-, CH +, CH-, and device selection. Maker code 402 for identifying a maker, device type code 4 for identifying a device type such as a television or a video
03, and an individual code 404. At the time of button operation or the like, a corresponding control code is selected and transmitted.

As described above, when a remote controller capable of controlling a plurality of devices selects a device to be controlled, the device selection confirmation signal is transmitted to the partner device, and the device side receives the device selection confirmation signal. In addition, since the light emission display is performed, the user can easily identify the controllable device at present. When a plurality of devices of the same device type, such as a plurality of videos, can be registered and switched for control, there is an advantage that the device to be operated can be easily selected by checking the light emission display on the device side. .

In this embodiment, a light-emitting display such as a lamp is used as a display on the device side. However, other display devices such as a buzzer sound and a voice response can be used as long as they can be recognized by the user. Is also good. Although an example of an infrared signal is shown as a transmission signal of the control code, another wireless signal such as an electric wave or a wired medium such as a coaxial cable may be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the controlled device is selected, the device selection confirmation signal is transmitted to the device.
A device confirmation button or the like may be provided so that the device selection confirmation signal can be transmitted at any time, and the partner device may be confirmed by lighting a lamp or the like.

Further, in the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the control code tables of a plurality of devices are built in the remote controller in advance. However, recording media such as a floppy disk, radio signals such as infrared rays, or other wired The control code table may be externally rewritable via a signal or the like.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 5 shows a configuration diagram of a remote control system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 501 denotes a remote controller, 502 denotes a device switching button, and 503 denotes a display. FIG. 6 shows an internal configuration diagram of the remote controller and the controlled device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, 601 is a remote controller, 602 is a display unit, and 603 is a display data table. FIG. 7 shows a signal sequence of the remote control system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The operation of the remote control system according to the second embodiment configured as described above will be described below. First, an outline of the operation will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, the remote controller 501 does not have a device selection button such as a TV selection button or a video 1 selection button for uniquely selecting individual devices, but has a device switching button 502 instead. Each time the device switching button 502 is pressed, the remote controller 50
1 switches the control mode. That is, a control code table to be used is selected from a plurality of built-in control code tables, and a display data table to be used is selected from a plurality of display data tables to be used for display on the display 503. The combination is sequentially changed each time the device switching button 502 is pressed,
Switch controllable devices. At the same time, the control code of “device selection confirmation” in the control code table is transmitted to the device. When the device receives the control code of “device selection confirmation”, the lamp 111 is turned on for a certain period of time. The contents of the display data table include a device name, a model name, a manufacturer name, operation icon data for device control, and the like.

For example, if three devices, a television 102, a video 103, and a video 104, are controllable devices,
Each time the device switching button 502 is pressed, the mode transits to the TV control mode, the video control mode 1, and the video control mode 2. When the device switching button 502 is further pressed, the mode returns to the TV control mode. Simultaneously with the transition of these control modes, the television 102, the video 103, and the video 104
A device selection confirmation signal is transmitted. The device that has received the device selection confirmation signal addressed to the own device turns on the lamp 111 and notifies the user that this device is currently selected.

Next, the internal configuration of the remote controller 601 will be described with reference to FIG. Remote controller 6
01 is a control code table 204 for a plurality of devices;
A display data table 603 for a plurality of devices is provided. The general control unit 604 stores a plurality of control modes each including a combination of one display data table and one control code table. Each time a device switching button provided as one of the input buttons 202 is pressed, the mode is shifted to a new control mode, and the control code table and display data table to be used are switched. The newly selected control code table is used when transmitting a control code when operating a button. The display data table is used as display data to be displayed on the display unit 602.
Each time the device switching button is operated and the mode shifts to a new control mode, a “device selection confirmation” code in the control code table is transmitted to the device. The controlled device is
The configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. When the “device selection confirmation” code is received, the light-emitting display unit 209 performs display such as lighting.

A signal sequence according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. When the user operates the device switching button of the remote controller (step 701), the mode shifts to a new device control mode, here, the TV control mode (step 702), and a signal of "device selection confirmation" is sent to the TV. It is transmitted (step 703). Later,
The remote controller operates as a remote controller for a television. On the other hand, when the television receives the "device selection confirmation" signal for its own device, it turns on the lamp for a certain period of time and notifies the user that the device is selected (step 704). Further, when the user presses the device switching button (step 705), the mode is shifted to the control mode of the next device, here, video 1 (step 706),
The corresponding video lamp is turned on (step 70)
7). Further, a device switching button is pressed (step 7).
08), the mode is shifted to the control mode of the next device, that is, video 2 (step 709), and the lamp of the video registered as video 2 is turned on (step 71).
0).

In the present embodiment, each time the device switching button is pressed, the mode is shifted to the control mode of the new device, and the device selection confirmation signal is transmitted to the new device. Without looking at it, the user can easily select and confirm the device he wants to control by looking at the lamp on the device side.

In the present embodiment, the control code table and the display data table have been described as being built in the remote controller in advance. However, a recording medium such as a floppy disk, a radio signal such as infrared rays, or other wired cables The control code table and the display code table may be rewritable from the outside via a signal or the like.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 8 shows an internal configuration diagram of a remote controller according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. 8, reference numeral 801 denotes a bidirectional remote controller; 802, an overall control unit; 803, a control code table; 804, a display data table; 805, a signal transmitting / receiving unit;

The operation of the remote control system according to the third embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

In this embodiment, the bidirectional remote controller 801 includes a signal transmitting / receiving unit 805. As described in the first and second embodiments, the bidirectional remote controller 801 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of control code tables 803 and a display data table 804,
It has a function of selecting a table that can be used for a device to be controlled, generating a control signal in the overall control unit 805, and transmitting a control signal 110 from the signal transmitting / receiving unit 805 to control the device. The bidirectional remote controller 8
01, a plurality of control code tables built in and stored in
The display code table is written with the reception control signal 806 as a medium and can be rewritten.

The control code table and the display data table to be newly written may be transmitted by the device having the bidirectional communication function itself to the bidirectional controller or by a personal computer. , Or other devices.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, a remote controller for controlling a plurality of controlled devices transmits a device selection confirmation signal to the controlled devices,
Since the external display such as lighting is performed when the device selection confirmation signal is received, the effect is obtained that the user can easily and reliably select the controlled device to be controlled.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a remote control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of a remote controller and a controlled device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a signal sequence of the remote control system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a TV control code table according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a remote control system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an internal configuration diagram of a remote controller and controlled devices according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a signal sequence of the remote control system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an internal configuration diagram of a remote controller according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a conventional integrated remote controller.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 remote controller 102 television 103 video 104 video 105 signal transmission unit 106 television selection button 107 video 1 selection button 108 video 2 selection button 109 power button 110 control signal 111 lamp 112 signal receiving unit 201 remote controller 202 input button 203 overall control unit 204 Control code table 205 Signal transmission unit 206 Controlled device 207 Signal reception unit 208 Signal analysis unit 209 Light emission display unit 210 Control code table 211 Main unit of controlled device 401 Control code 402 Manufacturer code 402 Device type code 403 Individual code 501 Remote controller 502 Device switching button 503 Display 601 Remote controller 602 Display section 603 Display data table 8 1 bidirectional remote controller 802 overall control unit 803 controls the code table 804 displays the data table 805 signal transmission and reception unit 806 receives the control signal

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Toshihiko Kurosaki 1006 Kazuma Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture F-term (reference) 5K048 AA04 AA13 BA03 DA02 DB04 DC01 EB02 EB07 FB11 FB15 HA04 HA06 HA21

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A remote controller capable of outputting control signals for a plurality of devices, comprising: a device selection confirmation signal for prompting a controlled device selected from the plurality of devices to display that a device is selected. Remote controller with means for transmitting. 2. A controlled device controlled by a remote controller, comprising: means for receiving a device selection confirmation signal from the remote controller; and display means for displaying externally that the device selection confirmation signal has been received. Controlled equipment provided. 3. A remote controller capable of controlling a plurality of devices, means for selecting a controlled device to be controlled from the plurality of devices, and a device being selected for the selected controlled device. Means for transmitting a device selection confirmation signal for prompting the display of the remote controller, means for receiving the device selection confirmation signal from the remote controller, and display means for externally displaying that the device selection confirmation signal has been received. And a remote control system provided in the controlled device. 4. The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein control signals of a plurality of output-capable devices can be externally rewritten. 5. The controlled device according to claim 2, wherein the display means is a lamp. 6. The controlled device according to claim 2, wherein the display means is a buzzer.