JP2003005904A - Pointer remote controller and interface system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pointer remote controller for making it unnecessary to match a position where a remote control part is directed with a position where a pointer on a screen is moved. SOLUTION: An optical signal from a remote control device 11 is received by photodiodes 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d, and the moving direction of a pointer 17 is calculated from the code of the change within a predetermined time of each signal level outputted by each photodiode, and the moving amounts of the pointer 17 is calculated from the scale of the change of each output signal level.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pointer remote control device for controlling the moving position of a pointer on a screen and an interface system using this pointer remote control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An apparatus having an interface system in which an operator selects a selection menu displayed on a screen with a pointer has been conventionally provided.

In this conventional interface system, a pointer on the screen can be remotely controlled by a cross key or a ball point added to a remote control device (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller).
However, in the case of the interface system using the cross key, the pointer movement is stepwise, and in the case of the interface system using the ball point, there is a difference in the operation feeling of the operator and the movement of the pointer on the screen, which is intuitive. Since it was not possible to move the pointer, it took a long time to select a menu on the screen, which was very difficult to use.

Therefore, as a device for solving the above problems, there is a pointer remote control device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 161654/1994. Hereinafter, the pointer movement control method disclosed in this publication will be described with reference to FIG. In this device, a remote controller is used as a remote control unit for transmitting an optical signal, and an optical signal from the remote controller is received by a light receiving element of a signal processing unit (not shown) to control the moving position of the pointer. Has become.

In FIG. 13, reference numeral 11 denotes a remote controller for transmitting an optical signal, which has a pair of a light emitting element and a lens. 12 is the direction in which the light intensity is strongest (direction of pointing), 1
3 is a directional characteristic which is an intensity distribution of an optical signal, 14 is a display device, 15 is a screen of the display device 14, 16a
16d is a light receiving element, and 17 is a pointer.

This device utilizes the fact that the intensity of the optical signal from the remote controller 11 received by each light receiving element varies depending on the angle at which the remote controller 11 points, and the position at which the remote controller 11 points (extended line of the pointing direction 12). The position indicated on the screen 15) is calculated by a signal processing unit (not shown), and the pointer 17 is displayed at this position.

In this way, the position at which the remote controller 11 points (the direction of the remote controller 11) becomes the position of the pointer 17, and the pointer moves in correspondence with the direction of the remote controller 11. Therefore, the operator intuitively moves the pointer. It can be performed.

However, in the interface system using the pointer remote control device of the publication, it is necessary to match the directivity direction of the remote controller with the selection menu. Therefore, if there is a small selection menu on the screen, the alignment margin becomes small. . In particular, as the distance between the operator and the display device increases, the margin decreases. When the margin is small as described above, the pointer position is difficult to set due to the influence of camera shake or the like, which is not convenient for the operator and has a problem in operability.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above problems, the present invention obtains the intensity of an optical signal received by each light receiving element for each predetermined time, and calculates the change amount of the light intensity for each predetermined time. By controlling the moving position of the pointer according to
A pointer remote control device and a pointer remote control device that do not require the pointing direction of the remote control unit to be aligned with the position to be pointed to by the pointer, are easy to operate, have excellent operability, and are easy for the operator to use. The purpose is to provide an interface system.

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Claim 1 in the present invention
The pointer remote control device described, when receiving an optical signal from a remote control unit having a pair of a light emitting element and a lens, displays the pointer at a predetermined pointer initial position on the screen, and displays the pointing direction of the remote control unit. A pointer remote control device for moving a pointer on a screen in response to a change, having a light-receiving element arranged for each side of the screen periphery, wherein each of the light-receiving elements is dependent on the intensity of a received optical signal. The level of the signal to be output is obtained at every predetermined time, the moving direction of the pointer is obtained for each of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the screen based on the sign of the change in each output signal level, and the change in each output signal level A signal processing unit that determines the amount of movement of the pointer in each of the horizontal and vertical directions of the screen based on the size of the It is characterized in.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the pointer remote control device displays a pointer at a predetermined pointer initial position on the screen when receiving an optical signal from a remote control unit having a light emitting element and a lens as a pair. A pointer remote control device for moving a pointer on a screen in response to a change in the directivity direction of the remote control unit, the light receiving element being arranged on each side of the screen periphery,
The level of the signal output by each light receiving element is obtained at predetermined time intervals according to the intensity of the received light signal, and the directivity direction of the remote control unit is orthogonal to the horizontal coordinate axis of each side of the screen. When it is within the area sandwiched by the extension lines of the two rows of light receiving elements arranged along the side, based on the sign of the change in each output signal level, when it is outside this area, Based on the sign of the change in each output signal level and the magnitude of each output signal level,
Find the movement direction of the pointer in the horizontal direction of the screen,
The amount of movement of the pointer in the horizontal direction of the screen is obtained based on the magnitude of the change in each output signal level, and the pointing direction of the remote control unit is relative to the vertical coordinate axis of each side of the screen. When it is within the region sandwiched by the extension lines of the two light receiving element columns arranged along the orthogonal side, when it is outside this region based on the sign of the change of each output signal level Is based on the sign of the change of each output signal level and the magnitude of the size of each output signal level, the moving direction of the pointer in the vertical direction of the screen is obtained, and the magnitude of the change of each output signal level is calculated. It is characterized by including a signal processing unit for obtaining the amount of movement of the pointer in the vertical direction of the screen based on the basis and controlling the movement position of the pointer.

The pointer remote control device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the pointer remote control device according to the first or second aspect, wherein each of the light receiving elements is arranged at four corners around the screen. .

A pointer remote control device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the pointer remote control device according to the first or second aspect, wherein a plurality of the light receiving elements are provided for each side of the screen. Is characterized by.

The pointer remote control device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the pointer remote control device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the remote control section is arranged so that the light intensity distributions overlap. It is characterized in that it is composed of a plurality of pairs of light emitting elements and lenses that are formed, and that optical signals are simultaneously transmitted from the pairs of these light emitting elements and lenses.

The pointer remote control device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the pointer remote control device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the remote control section has optical signals with different directivity characteristics. It is characterized in that it is composed of a plurality of pairs of light emitting elements and lenses which emit light, and a pair of the light emitting elements and lenses for transmitting an optical signal can be selected from the plurality of pairs of light emitting elements and lenses.

The pointer remote control device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the pointer remote control device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the pair of the light emitting element and the lens in the remote control section emits light. The feature is that the distance between the element and the lens can be adjusted.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pointer remote control device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the pointer remote control device has a directional characteristic for displaying the pointer on a narrow screen. An optical signal having a narrow directional characteristic is transmitted from the remote control unit subsequently to a wide optical signal. First, the control of the moving position of the pointer is started in the signal processing unit by transmitting the optical signal having the wide directional characteristic. After that, the optical signal having the narrow directional characteristic is transmitted, and the optical signal having the narrow directional characteristic is received within a predetermined time after receiving the optical signal having the wide directional characteristic by each of the light receiving elements. If no light is received, it is necessary to confirm that the pointing direction of the remote control unit in the signal processing unit is outside the effective range for moving the pointer. Characterized in that it tell.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the pointer remote control device according to the first aspect, the function of the pointer remote control device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects determines the number of intermittent optical signals predetermined by the signal processing unit. When light is received by the light receiving element within a predetermined time, a function of turning on and off the power of the device incorporating the signal processing unit and peripheral devices connected to the device is added.

An interface system using a pointer remote control device according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is an interface system using a pointer remote control device for displaying a selection menu on a screen and selecting the selection menu with a pointer. Therefore, the pointer remote control device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is used as the pointer remote control device.

An interface system using the pointer remote control device according to claim 11 of the present invention is the interface system using the pointer remote control device according to claim 10, wherein the pointer initial position is
It is characterized in that it is predetermined for each screen on which the selection menu is displayed.

An interface system using the pointer remote control device according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is the interface system using the pointer remote control device according to the tenth aspect, wherein the initial position of the pointer is the center of the screen. Is characterized by.

An interface system using the pointer remote control device according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention is the interface system using the pointer remote control device according to the tenth aspect, wherein the initial position of the pointer is a corner of the screen. It is characterized by

An interface system using the pointer remote control device according to claim 14 of the present invention is the interface system using the pointer remote control device according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the pointer initial position It is characterized by arranging a selection menu so as to surround.

An interface system using the pointer remote control device according to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention is an interface system using the pointer remote control device according to any one of the tenth to fourteenth aspects, wherein the signal processing unit Controls the moving position of the pointer.
The extension line direction from the initial coordinate of the pointer to the final coordinate within a predetermined time is defined as the movement direction of the pointer, and when the selection menu exists on the extension line of this movement direction, the pointer is jumped to this selection menu. And

An interface system using the pointer remote control device according to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention is an interface system using the pointer remote control device according to any one of the tenth to fourteenth aspects, wherein the signal processing unit Controls the moving position of the pointer.
When a primary regression line is obtained from the movement position of the pointer for each predetermined time within a predetermined time, and a selection menu exists on the primary regression line from the initial coordinates of the pointer to the final coordinates within the predetermined time. , The pointer is jumped to this selection menu.

As described above, the pointer remote control device of the present invention and the interface system using the pointer remote control device are easy to control the movement of the pointer, have excellent operability, and are convenient for the operator.

[0027]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same configurations as the above-described conventional example in FIG.

(First Embodiment) The pointer remote control device according to the first embodiment uses a remote controller having a pair of a light emitting element and a lens as a remote control unit for transmitting an optical signal, and an optical signal from the remote controller is used. Is received by a light receiving element included in a signal processing unit (not shown), and the moving position of the pointer is controlled.

In FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, reference numeral 11 denotes a remote controller for transmitting an optical signal, which has a light emitting element and a lens as a pair. 12 is the direction in which the light intensity is the strongest (direction), 13 is the directional characteristic that is the intensity distribution of the optical signal, 14
Is a display device, 15 is a screen of the display device 14, 16a to 16d are light receiving elements, and 17a and 17b are pointers. In the first embodiment, the display device 14
It is assumed that photodiodes are arranged as light receiving elements at four corners around the screen 15 of FIG. It should be noted that not only the four corners around the screen 15 but also one or more photodiodes may be arranged on each side of the screen 15, and in particular, if a plurality of photodiodes are arranged, the influence of unevenness in the intensity distribution of the optical signal is affected. Therefore, it becomes possible to accurately obtain the moving direction and the moving amount of the pointer. Further, the light receiving element is not limited to the photodiode.

In describing the movement position control of the pointer in this device, the position to which the remote controller 11 points will be
As shown in FIG. 5, it is divided into nine areas. However, area 5
Is an area (screen 15 of the display device 14) surrounded by the light receiving elements.

The method of moving the pointer in this apparatus will be described below based on the case of moving the pointer in the x direction (horizontal direction). In this case, the remote controller 11
The region pointed to by is the region (1,
4, 7), areas (2, 5, 8), and areas (3, 6, 9).

First, when the pointing position of the remote controller 11 is within the area (2, 5, 8), that is, in the two rows of light receiving elements arranged around the side of the screen orthogonal to the x axis. Regarding the movement position control of the pointer in the area sandwiched by the extension lines of the photodiodes (16a, 16b) and the photodiodes (16c, 16d), the position to which the remote controller 11 points is within the area 5 (in the screen 15). It will be described based on the case. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the pointer when the pointing position of the remote controller 11 is within the area (area 5) surrounded by the light receiving elements (photodiodes).

First, when the light emitting button of the remote controller 11 is pressed and an optical signal is transmitted, each photodiode outputs a signal corresponding to the intensity of the received optical signal to a logic circuit in a signal processing unit (not shown). To do. The signal processing unit calculates the sum of these output signal levels (PDa + PDb + PDc + PDd),
The sum of output signal levels from the photodiodes (16a, 16b) and the photodiodes (16c, 16d) forming each column (PDa + PDb) and (PDc + P).
Calculate Dd). However, the photodiode (16a,
16b, 16c, 16d) output signal level (P
Da, PDb, PDc, PDd). As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the sum of the output signal levels is the threshold value Vt.
If h is exceeded, the device displays the pointer at a predetermined initial position 17a.

Next, when the position pointed by the remote controller 11 is changed in the minus x direction, the light intensity distribution 1
3a moves like 13b. As a result, the light intensity received by each photodiode changes, and the output signal level also changes.

After waiting for a predetermined time Δt, the sum (PDa + PDb) and (PDc + PDd) of the output signal levels from the photodiodes (16a, 16b) and the photodiodes (16c, 16d) forming each column are obtained, Sum of output signal levels obtained before Δt (PDa + PD
b) and (PDc + PDd) are used to change the output signal level between Δt (hereinafter referred to as output change) Δ (PDa + P
Db) and Δ (PDc + PDd) are obtained by the signal processing unit. As shown in FIG. 1, when the directivity direction of the remote controller 11 is within the screen 15 (area 5), the output change on one side (the side on which the position to which the remote controller 11 points is closer) increases and the other (the remote controller 11 directs The change in the output on the side far from the position to be operated decreases. That is, the output change Δ (PDa + PDb)
Is positive, and Δ (PDc + PDd) is negative. In this way, the output change Δ (PDa + PD
Since the signs of b) and Δ (PDc + PDd) are always different signs, the direction of the plus side when viewed from the minus side can be determined as the movement direction of the pointer with respect to the x-axis direction. in this case,
Since the position to which the remote control 11 is directed is changed in the minus x direction, the sign of the output change on the side of the photodiode (16a, 16b) is positive. On the contrary, when changing in the plus x direction, the photodiodes (16c, 16c
The sign of the output change on the d) side is positive. Also, each output change Δ (Δa, PDa, PDb, PDc, P
The signal processor calculates the amount of change in the pointer coordinate based on Dd), and sets it as the amount of movement of the pointer in the x direction when Δt has elapsed.

Here, the operation of the pointer when the position pointed by the remote controller is within the area surrounded by the light receiving elements (area 5) has been described, but the position pointed by the remote controller is the area (2, 8). The same can be applied to the case.

Next, when the position pointed by the remote controller 11 is within the area (1, 4, 7) and the area (3, 6, 9), the position pointed by the remote controller 1 shown in FIGS. Areas (1 ,,) outside the diodes (16a, 16b)
4 and 7), the operation of the pointer will be described with reference to the drawings. 2 shows a case where the pointing position of the remote controller 11 is changed in the minus x direction, and FIG.
This is a case where the pointing position of 1 is changed in the plus x direction.

When the position pointed by the remote controller 11 is changed in the minus or plus x direction, the light intensity distribution 13a moves accordingly as indicated by 13b. As a result, the light intensity received by each photodiode changes, and the output signal level also changes.

After waiting for a predetermined time Δt, the output change Δ (PDa, PDb, PDc, PD of each photodiode is
When d) is obtained by the signal processing unit, the signs of the output changes of the respective photodiodes when the remote controller 11 is changed in the minus x direction are all negative, and the respective photodiodes when the remote controller 11 is changed in the plus x direction. The signs of changes in the output of the diode are all positive. That is, the distance becomes negative when the distance from the area surrounded by the light receiving element is positive, and becomes positive when the distance is close to the area.
6d) is the sum of the output signal levels from (PDa + PD
b) and output change of (PDc + PDd) Δ (PDa + P
The signs of Db) and Δ (PDc + PDd) are always the same. In addition, the pointing position of the remote controller 11 is a region (1, 4, 7) outside the photodiodes (16a, 16b).
Is the sum of the output signal levels of each column (PDa
+ PDb) and (PDc + PDd) are always in the relationship of (PDa + PDb)> (PDc + PDd).

On the contrary, the position where the remote controller 11 is directed is located in the area (3, 3) outside the photodiodes (16c, 16d).
6 and 9), the sign of the output change of each photodiode when the remote controller 11 is changed in the minus x direction is positive, and the output of each photodiode when the remote controller 11 is changed in the plus x direction. The signs of changes are all negative. In other words, it becomes negative when moving away from the area surrounded by the light receiving element and positive when approaching it.
In this case also, the photodiodes (16a, 16b) and the photodiodes (16
c, 16d) is the sum of the output signal levels (PDa
+ PDb) and (PDc + PDd) output change Δ (PD
The signs of a + PDb) and Δ (PDc + PDd) are always the same. In addition, the position to which the remote controller 11 is directed is located outside the photodiodes (6c, 6d) (3, 6,
9) is the sum of the output signal levels of each column (P
Da + PDb) and (PDc + PDd) are always in the relationship of (PDa + PDb) <(PDc + PDd).

From the above, in this pointer remote control device, the position to which the remote controller 11 points is located in the area (1, 4, 7) outside the photodiodes (16a, 16b) or outside the photodiodes (16c, 16d). In the region (3, 6, 9), the signal processing unit outputs changes Δt between Δt Δ (PDa + PDb) and Δ (PDc + PDd).
Is obtained, and when the sign is negative, the side where the sum of the output signal levels is large is determined to be the moving direction of the pointer with respect to the x-axis direction. Also, the output change Δ between Δt
When the signs of (PDa + PDb) and Δ (PDc + PDd) are plus, the side where the sum of the output signal levels is small is determined to be the moving direction of the pointer with respect to the x-axis direction. Also, each output change Δ (PD
a, PDb, PDc, PDd), the signal processor calculates the change amount of the pointer coordinate, and x at the time when Δt has elapsed
It is the amount of movement of the pointer with respect to the direction.

The above processing is shown in a flow chart showing the movement processing of the pointer in the x-axis direction in the signal processing unit of FIG. Whether the region (2, 5, 8) or another region is determined is determined in advance by the photodiodes (light receiving elements) arranged along the side of the screen 15 of the display device which is orthogonal to the x-axis direction. It can be determined whether or not the signs of the output changes Δ (PDa + PDb) and Δ (PDc + PDd) during the set time Δt are different signs. The case of different codes corresponds to the area (2, 5, 8), and the case of the same code corresponds to the other area. In case of different sign, output change Δ (PD
a + PDb) and Δ (PDc + PDd), the pointer movement direction is determined based on the signs, and in the case of the same sign, output changes Δ (PDa + PDb) and Δ (PDc + PDd) between Δt.
And the output signal level (PDa + PDb) and (PD
The moving direction of the pointer is determined based on the size of (c + PDd).

Although the movement position control of the pointer in the x direction has been described here, the movement position control of the pointer in the y direction (vertical direction) is also performed on the side of the photodiodes (16a, 16c) and the photodiodes (16b, 1b).
Control can be performed in the same manner as in the x direction by using the output signal level on the 6d) side and the magnitude and sign of the output change.
However, in this case, the areas to which the remote controller 11 is directed are area (1, 2, 3), area (4, 5, 6), area (7, 8,
Divide into 9).

As described above, the moving direction and the moving amount of the pointer obtained for each coordinate axis direction are combined to determine the moving position (moving coordinate) of the pointer after Δt. This process is Δt
The light emitting button of the remote controller 11 is released, and the sum of the output signal levels (PD
When the signal processing unit confirms that (a + PDb + PDc + PDd) is below the threshold value Vth, the coordinates of the pointer are fixed.

The feature of the first embodiment is that in each coordinate axis direction, the time Δ of the output signal caused by the difference in the output signal level of the light receiving element and the position of each light receiving element.
The point is to determine the moving direction and the moving amount of the pointer based on the magnitude of the level change per t and the sign of the change. As a result, the coordinates after the movement of the pointer are determined by the relative temporal change in the pointing direction of the remote control (remote control section), so it is necessary to point the pointing direction of the remote control (remote control section) to the target position on the screen. Therefore, the movement control of the pointer becomes easier.

By incorporating the signal processing unit in the display device, a compact and simple appearance can be obtained. In addition, since the photodiodes, which are light receiving elements, are arranged at the four corners around the screen, two rows of light receiving elements are arranged along the sides of the screen that are orthogonal to the horizontal (x-axis direction) coordinate axis. The rows are photodiodes (16a,
16b) and the photodiodes (16c, 16d), the relationship between the number and arrangement of the light receiving elements is not limited to this, and thus the configuration of the two light receiving element rows is not limited to this. Of course, the same applies to the vertical direction (y-axis direction).

Next, the mode of the remote controller (remote control unit) of the first embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 7, 11 is a remote controller, 21a, 2
Reference numeral 1b denotes a pair of a light emitting element and a lens included in the remote controller 11. In the first embodiment, a light emitting diode having a lens function is used as the pair of the light emitting element and the lens. 22
Reference characters a and 22b are the directivity directions of the light emitting diodes 21a and 21b, and reference characters 23a and 23b are the intensity distributions of the optical signals transmitted from the light emitting diodes 21a and 21b.

As shown in FIG. 7, the light emitting diode 21
The light intensity distributions 23a and 23b of the respective a and 21b are arranged so as to overlap with each other, that is, the directivity directions 22a and 22b of the light emitting diodes 21a and 21b intersect.

As described above, by using a plurality of light emitting diodes (a pair of a light emitting element and a lens) and arranging them so that the light intensity distributions of the light emitting diodes overlap with each other, the light intensity is strengthened. Operation is possible even when and are far apart. The number of light emitting diodes is not limited to two.

Further, when one light emitting diode is used, there is an advantage that the remote controller (remote control section) becomes smaller and the battery life of the remote controller becomes longer. Next, another mode of the remote controller (remote control unit) will be described with reference to FIG. This pointer remote control device
The movement position of the pointer is controlled based on the difference in the intensity of the optical signal received by each light receiving element between the light receiving elements. The difference in the light intensity received by each light receiving element is determined by the operator (remote control unit). ) And the display device (light receiving element). That is, the greater the distance, the smaller the difference and the lower the control sensitivity of the pointer. Therefore, when the distance between the operator and the display device changes, the control sensitivity of the pointer changes, and the operation feeling of the operator is not constant. Therefore, in this device, in order to prevent the control sensitivity of the pointer from being lowered or to keep it constant, the mode of the remote controller (remote control unit) is as follows.

In FIG. 8A, 11 is a remote controller and 3
Reference numerals 1a and 31b denote pairs of a light emitting element and a lens included in the remote controller 11, and in the first embodiment, the pair of the light emitting element and the lens is a light emitting diode having a lens function. Three
2a and 32b are intensity distributions (directivity characteristics) of the optical signals transmitted from the light emitting diodes 31a and 31b.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the light emitting diodes 31a and 31b have the same directing direction, but the directivity characteristics of the optical signals to be transmitted are different, and the light emitting diode 31a emits light more than the light emitting diode 31b. The directional characteristics of the optical signal are narrow. In this way, it is possible to select, on the remote controller, light emitting diodes having different directivity characteristics of the transmitted optical signal.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, a light emitting diode (light emitting element) 33 and a lens 34 having no lens function are installed at the end of the remote controller 11, and the operator emits light from the lens 34 on the remote controller 11. The diode 33 can be moved in the pointing direction. That is, the directional characteristic can be changed from the light intensity distribution 35a to the light intensity distribution 35b.

As described above, by providing light emitting diodes (a pair of a light emitting element and a lens) having different directivity characteristics of the transmitted optical signal so that the elements for emitting light can be selected and the directivity characteristics can be switched, Alternatively, the light emitting element and the lens are separately provided, and the distance between the light emitting diode (light emitting element) having no lens function and the lens is made variable so that the directional characteristics can be continuously changed. Even if the distance changes, it is possible to prevent the control sensitivity of the pointer from decreasing and keep it constant.

Next, in this apparatus, a method of turning on / off the power of the device incorporating the signal processing unit and the peripheral devices connected to this device will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 9, the horizontal axis represents the elapsed time and the vertical axis represents the total output signal level of the photodiode (light receiving element). In FIG. 9A, the sum of the output signal levels of the photodiodes is twice the threshold value (V) within the specified time (t0 to t1).
Th) is exceeded and it is recognized that the light emitting button is double-clicked. FIG. 9B shows a case where the click is recognized only once. Further, FIG. 9 (c)
The case where the light emitting button is pressed once, but the output change of the total output signal level of the photodiode does not occur within the specified time.

This device is a device in which a signal processing section is incorporated by detecting an optical signal from the intermittent remote controller a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time (display device in the first embodiment). ) And peripheral devices connected to it are turned on and off. For example, the device can be turned on and off by double-clicking the light emitting button (in the case of FIG. 9A). As a result, all the operations can be performed with only one light emitting button of the remote controller (remote control section), so that the remote controller can be made compact and lightweight and easy to use.

(Second Embodiment) Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described.
Will be described with reference to FIG. The members having the same configurations as those of the first embodiment described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 10 shows a device 42 having a narrow overall panel (screen) such as a VCR as a display device.
, A pointer remote control device is installed in the device 42. In this case, the photodiode 16
Since the area surrounded by a, 16b, 16c, and 16d becomes small, the output change of the photodiode due to the change in the directivity direction of the remote controller 11 becomes small. That is, since the difference in the light intensity received by each photodiode is small, the control sensitivity of the pointer deteriorates. Therefore, to improve sensitivity,
It is necessary to use a pair of a light emitting element and a lens that emits an optical signal 41b having a narrow directional characteristic. However, if the directional characteristic is narrowed, the range of the directional position of the remote controller for operating the pointer is narrowed, and the remote controller 1 is outside this range.
Even if 1 transmits an optical signal, there is no response from the device 42, and the operator feels inconvenient.

Therefore, when the pointer is displayed on the narrow screen, the remote controller 11 can emit an optical signal having a wide directional characteristic and an optical signal having a narrow directional characteristic, and first transmits the optical signal 41a having a wide directional characteristic. As a result, the signal processing unit (not shown) is informed that the control of the moving position of the pointer is started, and then the optical signal 41b having a narrow directional characteristic is transmitted. After receiving the optical signal 41a having a wide directional characteristic, if each photodiode does not receive the optical signal 41b having a narrow directional characteristic within a predetermined time, the signal processing unit issues a warning.

The feature of the second embodiment is that when the control of the moving position of the pointer is started, that is, when the pointer is displayed on the screen, a light having a wide directional characteristic is emitted from the remote controller (remote control section). If the photodiode does not receive an optical signal with a narrow directional characteristic within a predetermined time after transmitting the signal, the directional position of the remote control (remote control section) is out of the effective range for operating the pointer. Is to warn that.
This makes it possible to provide an environment in which the operator does not feel inconvenience even when the present apparatus is installed in a device having a narrow overall panel such as a video deck.

As a method of switching from a wide directional characteristic to an optical signal with a narrow directional characteristic, a pair of a light emitting element and a lens for transmitting an optical signal with a narrow directional characteristic, and an optical signal with a wide directional characteristic are transmitted. A pair of the light emitting element and the lens may be provided in the remote controller (remote control section), or the light emitting element and the lens may be separately provided so that the distance between the light emitting element and the lens can be adjusted. The remote control is set to automatically perform such an operation. Of course, the operator may operate the buttons provided on the remote controller.

(Third Embodiment) An interface system using the pointer remote control device of the third embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. An interface system using this pointer remote control device uses the pointer remote control device described in the first and second embodiments as a pointer remote control device and allows a selection menu displayed on the screen to be selected by the pointer. is there.

In FIG. 11, the selection menus 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d, 51e, 5 displayed on the screen 15 are shown.
1f and the initial position 52a or the initial position 52 where the pointer is displayed when an optical signal from the remote controller is received.
b and the fixed position 52c of the pointer are shown.

As shown in FIG. 11, by setting the initial position of the pointer to 52a at the center of the screen 15, the moving distance to any selected menu position on the screen becomes the most efficient, and smooth pointer movement is possible. Become. Alternatively, by setting the initial position of the pointer to 52b on the 15th corner of the screen, the initial position of the pointer does not block the selection menu, so that the desired selection menu position can be easily searched.

Further, by arranging the selection menu so as to surround the initial position of the pointer, or by setting the initial position of the pointer at a position surrounded by the selection menu,
The distance from the initial position of the pointer to each selection menu becomes approximately the same, which enables efficient pointer movement.

If the initial position of the pointer can be set in advance for each menu selection screen, the layout of the selection menu and the like is different for each menu selection screen, whereas the initial position of the most suitable pointer is different. Can be set, and the pointer can be moved efficiently.

Next, a method of moving the pointer in this system will be described. In FIG. 12, an initial position 61a of the pointer and pointer positions 63a, 63b, 63c, 63d, 63 starting at the initial position and at each time Δt.
e, the fixed position 61b of the pointer, and the selection menu 62 are shown.

In the interface system using this pointer remote control device, the time Δ within a predetermined time
The moving direction of the pointer is determined based on the pointer moving position for each t, and when the selection menu exists on the extension line of this moving direction, the pointer is jumped to the selection menu. More specifically, of the pointer movement positions for each time Δt within a predetermined time, the extension line direction from the pointer initial position 61a to the final coordinate 63e is set as the pointer movement direction, or the pointer initial position 61a A linear regression line is obtained using the pointer movement position for each time Δt between the coordinates 63e, and the direction of the linear regression line from the pointer initial position 61a to the final coordinate 63e is set as the movement direction. This enables more rapid pointer movement.

In the first, second, and third embodiments,
The case where a remote controller is used as a remote control unit for transmitting an optical signal has been described, but also when a pair of a light emitting element and a lens is provided inside a mobile device such as a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant (commonly referred to as PDA). The same effect can be realized.

[0070]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to adjust the position of the remote control unit to the position where the pointer on the screen is desired to be displayed (the position where the pointer is desired to be moved). It becomes easy, excellent operability can be realized, and the usability for the operator can be improved.

Further, since the pointer can be moved even when the remote control unit is directed outside the screen, the range of positions where the remote control unit can be directed is wide, and the movement control of the pointer becomes easy,
It is possible to realize excellent operability and improve the usability of the operator.

By arranging a plurality of light receiving elements for each side of the screen, the influence of unevenness in the intensity distribution of the optical signal can be reduced, and the moving direction and the moving amount of the pointer can be accurately obtained. , Excellent operability can be realized.

Further, by increasing the intensity of the light emitted from the remote control section, the operator can operate the display apparatus even if it is far away from the display apparatus. In addition, by making it possible to select the directional characteristics of the optical signal transmitted from the remote control unit, even if the distance between the operator (remote control unit) and the display device (signal processing unit) changes, the distance between the light receiving elements is increased. Since it is possible to prevent a decrease in the light intensity difference and to prevent a decrease in the control sensitivity of the pointer, the operator can control the movement of the pointer with a constant feeling.

Further, by varying the directional characteristic of the optical signal transmitted from the remote control section, even if the distance between the operator (remote control section) and the display device (signal processing section) changes, each light receiving element is changed. Since the difference in light intensity between them can be kept constant, and therefore the control sensitivity of the pointer can be kept constant, the operator can control the movement of the pointer with a constant feeling.

In an environment in which the light receiving elements are arranged close to each other because the screen is small and an optical signal with a narrow directional characteristic must be used, the light signal with a narrow directional characteristic is received by the light receiving element. By making it possible to warn that no light is being received, it is possible to provide an environment in which the operator does not feel inconvenience even when the light receiving element is installed on a narrow overall panel such as a video deck.

Further, when the optical signal from the remote control unit is received a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time, the power source of the device incorporating the signal processing unit and the peripheral devices connected to this device is supplied. By turning on and off the power, the button for moving the pointer and the button for turning on and off the power can be made to be one light emitting button for making the light emitting element emit light. Since it is compact and lightweight, it is possible to improve the usability of the operator.

Also, by setting the initial position of the pointer for each screen on which the selection menu is displayed, the pointer can be moved efficiently, and the usability for the operator can be improved.

Further, by moving the initial position of the pointer to the center of the screen, the movement to any position can be made the most efficient, and the usability for the operator can be improved.

Further, since the initial position of the pointer is set at the corner of the screen, the initial position of the pointer does not obstruct the selection menu and the desired selection menu can be easily searched for, which is convenient for the operator. can do.

Further, by arranging the selection menu and the initial position of the pointer so that the initial position of the pointer is surrounded by the selection menu, the distance from the initial position of the pointer to each selection menu is set to be approximately the same. Since the pointer can be moved efficiently, the usability of the operator can be improved.

Further, when the selection menu exists on the extension line of the movement direction of the pointer, the pointer can be jumped to the selection menu so that the pointer can be moved quickly, which improves the usability of the operator. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a pointer when a pointing direction of a remote controller of a pointer remote control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention is within a region surrounded by a light receiving element.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the pointer in the minus x direction when the pointing direction of the remote controller of the pointer remote control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is outside the area surrounded by the light receiving elements.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the pointer in the plus x direction when the pointing direction of the remote controller of the pointer remote control device according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is outside the area surrounded by the light receiving elements.

FIG. 4 is a diagram explaining a movement time of a pointer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a region pointed to by the remote controller according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the movement processing of the pointer in the x-axis direction in the signal processing unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a pair of a light emitting element and a lens included in the remote controller according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a pair of a light emitting element and a lens included in the remote controller according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a method of turning on / off the power of a device incorporating the signal processing unit and peripheral devices of the device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a pointer remote control device installed in a device with a narrow screen according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an initial position of a pointer and an arrangement of selection menus in an interface system using the pointer remote control device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining movement of a pointer of an interface system using the pointer remote control device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of a pointer in a conventional pointer remote control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 Remote Controller (Remote Control Unit) 12, 22a, 22b Directional Direction 13, 13a, 13b, 23a, 23b, 32a, 32
b, 35a, 35b, 41a, 41b Intensity distribution (directivity characteristic) of optical signal 14 Display device 15 Screen 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d of display device Photodiode (light receiving element) 17, 17a, 17b Pointer 21a, 21b, 31a , 31b Light emitting diode (a pair of light emitting element and lens) having a lens function 33 Light emitting diode (light emitting element) having no lens function 34 Lens 42 Video deck 51a, 51b, 51c, 51d, 51e, 51f, 6
2 Selection menu 52a, 52b, 61a Initial position of pointer 52c, 61b Fixed position of pointer 63a, 63b, 63c, 63d, 63e Time Δt
Backward pointer position

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Masashi Watanabe             1 Juden Matsushita, 1-8 Koshinmachi, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture             Child Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Miki Hosokawa             1 Juden Matsushita, 1-8 Koshinmachi, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture             Child Industry Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 5B087 AA09 AB09 CC00 CC11 CC26                       CC33 DE03 DG02                 5K048 AA04 BA02 DB02 FB03 FC01                       HA01 HA02 HA21

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. When a light signal is received from a remote control unit having a light emitting element and a lens as a pair, a pointer is displayed at a predetermined pointer initial position on the screen to respond to a change in the pointing direction of the remote control unit. A pointer remote control device for moving a pointer on the screen, having a light receiving element arranged on each side of the screen periphery, and a signal output by each light receiving element according to the intensity of the received optical signal. Of the output signal level is determined for each predetermined time, the moving direction of the pointer is determined for each of the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the screen based on the sign of the change in each output signal level, and the magnitude of the change in each output signal level is calculated. Based on, obtain the amount of movement of the pointer in each of the horizontal and vertical directions of the screen,
A pointer remote control device comprising a signal processing unit for controlling a moving position of a pointer. 2. Upon receiving an optical signal from a remote control unit having a pair of a light emitting element and a lens, the pointer is displayed at a predetermined pointer initial position on the screen, and the pointing direction of the remote control unit is changed. A pointer remote control device for moving a pointer on the screen, having a light receiving element arranged on each side of the screen periphery, and a signal output by each light receiving element according to the intensity of the received optical signal. Is obtained every predetermined time, and an extension line of two rows of light-receiving elements arranged along the side in which the directivity direction of the remote control section is orthogonal to the horizontal coordinate axis among the sides of the screen. If it is within the area sandwiched between the two, based on the sign of the change in each output signal level, if it is outside this area, the sign of the change in each output signal level and each output signal The moving direction of the pointer in the horizontal direction of the screen is obtained based on the magnitude of the level, and the moving amount of the pointer in the horizontal direction of the screen is obtained based on the magnitude of the change in each output signal level. And the directional direction of the remote control unit is arranged along one of the sides of the screen which is orthogonal to the vertical coordinate axis.
When it is within the region sandwiched by the extension lines of the light receiving element columns of the column, it is based on the sign of the change of each output signal level, and when it is outside this region, the sign of the change of each output signal level And the pointer movement direction in the vertical direction of the screen based on the magnitude of each output signal level, and the pointer in the vertical direction of the screen based on the magnitude of the change in each output signal level. 2. A pointer remote control device comprising a signal processing unit for determining the amount of movement of the pointer and controlling the movement position of the pointer. 3. The pointer remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the respective light receiving elements are arranged at four corners around the screen. 4. The pointer remote control device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the light receiving elements are provided for each side of the screen. 5. The remote control unit comprises a pair of a plurality of light emitting elements and lenses arranged so that light intensity distributions are overlapped with each other, and an optical signal is simultaneously transmitted from the pair of the light emitting elements and the lens. The pointer remote control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. The remote control section comprises a pair of a plurality of light emitting elements and lenses, each of which emits an optical signal having a different directional characteristic, and transmits an optical signal from the pair of the plurality of light emitting elements and a lens. 5. The pointer remote control device according to claim 1, wherein a pair of a light emitting element and a lens can be selected. 7. The pointer remote control device according to claim 1, wherein a pair of the light emitting element and the lens in the remote control unit is capable of adjusting a distance between the light emitting element and the lens. . 8. An optical signal having a wide directional characteristic so that the pointer can be displayed on a narrow screen, and subsequently an optical signal having a wide directional characteristic can be transmitted from the remote control unit. By telling the signal processing unit to start controlling the movement position of the pointer, and then transmitting the optical signal having the narrow directional characteristic, and the optical signal having the wide directional characteristic in each light receiving element. If the optical signal having the narrow directional characteristic is not received within a predetermined time after receiving the light, the directional direction of the remote control unit in the signal processing unit is within an effective range for moving the pointer. The pointer remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the pointer remote control device warns that the device is outside. 9. The function of the pointer remote control device according to claim 1, wherein when the signal processing unit receives a predetermined number of intermittent optical signals by the light receiving element within a predetermined time, A pointer remote control device having a function of powering on and powering off a device incorporating this signal processing unit and peripheral devices connected to this device. 10. An interface system using a pointer remote control device for displaying a selection menu on a screen and selecting the selection menu with a pointer, wherein the pointer remote control device is any one of claims 1 to 9. An interface system using a pointer remote control device characterized by using the pointer remote control device described in the above. 11. The interface system using a pointer remote control device according to claim 10, wherein the pointer initial position is predetermined for each screen on which the selection menu is displayed. 12. The interface system using a pointer remote control device according to claim 10, wherein the initial position of the pointer is at the center of the screen. 13. The interface system using the pointer remote control device according to claim 10, wherein the initial position of the pointer is a corner of the screen. 14. A selection menu is arranged so as to surround the initial position of the pointer.
An interface system using the pointer remote control device according to any one of 3 above. 15. The signal processing unit, when controlling the moving position of the pointer, defines an extension line direction from the initial coordinate of the pointer to the final coordinate within a predetermined time as the moving direction of the pointer, and extends the moving direction. 15. The interface system using the pointer remote control device according to claim 10, wherein when there is a selection menu on the line, the pointer is jumped to the selection menu. 16. The signal processing unit, when controlling the moving position of the pointer, obtains a primary regression line from the moving position of the pointer for each of the predetermined times within a predetermined time,
15. The pointer is jumped to this selection menu when a selection menu exists on the primary regression line from the initial coordinate of the pointer to the final coordinate within the predetermined time, and the pointer is jumped to this selection menu. Interface system using a remote control device for the Pointer.