JP2006086559A - Remote control unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stepwise inform a user about the remaining capacity of the battery of itself so as to urge the user to early replace the battery in a remote control unit. <P>SOLUTION: A remote control section detects the entry of a remote control key (S1); a battery remaining capacity detection section measures the remaining battery capacity (S3), when the remote control section discriminates that the entry key is allocated for confirming the battery remaining capacity (S2); and a remote control signal comprising key signals whose number of times corresponds to the battery remaining capacity is generated and a remote control transmission section transmits the remote control signal to a television broadcast receiver (S4). The remote control reception section of the television broadcast receiver receives this signal and displays the battery remaining capacity corresponding to the number of received times of the key signal on a display apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control device (hereinafter abbreviated as a remote control device) used in various AV devices such as a television receiver, a set top box (STB), a VTR device, and a DVD device.

  In recent years, various home AV devices have appeared on the market due to digitalization, and most of them have introduced remote control functions using infrared rays, and have become more sophisticated and more complicated due to the development of digital technology. It is coming.

Also, in response to the use of a plurality of AV devices in the home, a large number of AV devices are operated by a single remote control device, and the remote control device is frequently used. As a result, the consumption of the batteries used as the battery tends to increase and the consumption of the batteries tends to be accelerated. In such a case, when a voltage drop due to battery consumption occurs, the operation of the remote control device becomes unstable, and the device itself stops. Conventionally, as a display of battery voltage drop information, a television receiver (see Patent Document 1) that detects the consumption of a power supply battery of a remote control device and displays a warning message on a TV screen, or a battery A battery life display device (refer to Patent Document 2) that displays battery voltage information of a remote control unit such as a built-in remote commander in five stages on the main body side at a remote location, and when the battery life is detected A remote control transmitter (see Patent Document 3) that notifies the receiver of the end of the battery life by changing the coordinate information transmission interval from the normal case without using a data code is known.
JP-A-5-260338 JP-A-6-245281 JP-A-5-76067

  In a remote control device (abbreviated as a remote control device) used in a conventional AV device, the voltage drop of a battery used as an internal power source is usually not known. If the AV device such as a video machine or a video device does not accept the remote control operation, it is a failure of the remote control device itself, an error in the remote control operation, a failure of the AV device controlled by the remote control device, or It is difficult to determine whether the voltage drop of the battery itself is the cause, and there is a problem that makes the user bothersome. In particular, the failure of the remote control device is often caused by battery deterioration. Therefore, in order to resolve the failure of the remote control device, it is desirable to first inform the user at least at the earliest of information about the battery low. Yes.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problem, and is capable of informing the user of the remaining battery level of the remote control device in a stepwise manner, prompting early replacement of the battery, and always providing the remote control device. An object of the present invention is to provide a remote control device capable of maintaining normal operation.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 uses a battery as an internal power supply, a number of operation keys, and a remote control control signal (hereinafter abbreviated as a remote control signal) according to the operation of the key by the user. Remote control signal transmission means for transmitting the battery, battery remaining amount detection means for detecting the remaining battery level, and remote control control means for controlling the entire apparatus. By the remote control signal transmitted from the remote control signal transmission means In a remote control device for remotely controlling an electric device such as a television receiver or a video device, the many operation keys include a battery remaining amount confirmation key. When the key is pressed by the user, the remaining battery level is detected by the remaining battery level detecting means, and the level corresponding to the detected remaining battery level is detected. Signal generating means for generating a number of predetermined remote control signals, wherein the remote control means transmits the remote control signal generated by the signal generating means to the electrical device by the remote control signal sending means. Accordingly, the level of the remaining battery level according to the number of times the remote control signal is generated by the signal generating means is displayed on the display unit of the electric device or the display unit of another electric device connected to the electric device. The electric device is remotely controlled to display.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote control signal sending means which uses a battery as an internal power supply and transmits a number of operation keys and a remote control control signal (hereinafter abbreviated as a remote control signal) in accordance with the operation of the key by a user. A battery remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the battery, and a remote control control means for controlling the entire apparatus. A television receiver and a video device are controlled by a remote control signal transmitted from the remote control signal sending means. In a remote control device that remotely controls an electrical device such as, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the remaining battery level is detected by the remaining battery level detection means, and the number of times according to the level of the detected remaining battery level, And / or a signal generating means for generating a predetermined remote control signal with a signal pattern corresponding to the detected battery level. The remote control means is connected to the display unit of the electrical equipment or the electrical equipment by transmitting the remote control signal generated by the signal generating means to the electrical equipment by the remote control signal sending means. The electric device is remotely controlled so that the number of generations of the remote control signal generated by the signal generating means or the level of the remaining battery level according to the signal pattern is displayed on the display unit of the other electric device. Is.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the operation keys include a battery remaining amount confirmation key, and the predetermined condition is the battery remaining amount confirmation amount. Key is pressed by the user.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the predetermined condition is that a key other than the power key among the operation keys is turned on by a user after the electric device is turned on. It is the first pressed.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the predetermined condition is that the total number of times the operation key is pressed reaches a certain number.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the user can check the remaining battery level of the remote control device step by step using the remaining battery level confirmation key, and can grasp the decrease in the battery voltage early. As a result, the remote control device becomes unstable or the battery can be replaced before it stops, so that the user does not have to worry about it. In addition, since the battery remaining amount information can be transmitted to the electrical device by the number of times the remote control signal is generated, the battery remaining amount information signal transmission processing and signal reception processing can be realized easily and at low cost.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the level of the remaining battery level of the remote control device is notified to the electric device by the number of times corresponding to the level of the remaining battery level and / or the remote control signal of the signal pattern. An effect similar to that of the first aspect can be obtained. In addition, in the above, when a remote control signal having a signal pattern corresponding to the level of the remaining battery level is transmitted to the electrical device, the remaining battery level of the remote control device is not affected even when the electrical device is difficult to receive the remote control signal. The quantity level can be reliably notified to the electrical equipment. Furthermore, in the above case, when the remote control signal of the frequency and signal pattern corresponding to the level of the remaining battery level is transmitted to the electrical device, the electrical device automatically transmits the remote control signal based on the transmission frequency and signal pattern of the remote control signal. It is possible to easily determine whether the machine is in a state where it is difficult to receive the remote control signal or whether the battery voltage level of the remote control device is lowered.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the battery remaining amount confirmation key is provided among the many operation keys, and the user simply presses this key to easily display the remaining battery amount on the display unit. You can check the display.

  According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 2, after the power of the electric device is turned on, a key other than the power key among the operation keys of the remote control device is first pressed by the user. When the power is turned on, the remaining battery level is automatically displayed on the display unit, so that even if the user forgets to check the remaining battery level, the user can immediately notice it after the power is turned on. In this case, there is no need to provide a dedicated key for checking the remaining battery level in the remote control key, and the number of key buttons can be reduced.

  According to the invention of claim 5, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 2, every time the total number of times the key for operating the remote controller is pressed reaches a certain number such as 100 times, 200 times, etc., automatically. Since the battery level is detected and displayed on the display unit, even if the user has forgotten to check the battery level, it can be automatically noticed. Since the number of times the remote control key button is pressed is reduced, contact failure can be reduced and the life of the remote control key can be extended. In addition, since the time interval for checking the remaining battery level can be controlled by setting the cumulative number of times of pressing, it is possible to restrict the check contents from being frequently displayed on the display unit. Also in this case, it is not always necessary to provide a dedicated key for checking the remaining battery level in the remote control key, and the number of key buttons can be reduced.

Hereinafter, a remote control device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a remote control device 1 (hereinafter abbreviated as a remote control device) according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a television broadcast receiving device 2 remotely controlled by the remote control device 1 (electric equipment in claims) ). The remote control device 1 receives a remote control control signal (hereinafter abbreviated as a remote control signal) generated by the remote control unit 12 in response to a key operation of the remote control key unit 11 by a user from a remote control transmission unit 13 (remote control signal sending means). Then, the television broadcast receiver 2 is subjected to a remote control operation (hereinafter abbreviated as a remote control operation). The internal power supply battery 15 has a power supply voltage E ₀ and supplies power to each part of the remote control device 1. The remote control key unit 11 having a number of operation keys for channel selection, volume adjustment, and the like includes a battery remaining amount confirmation key. When the user presses the remaining battery amount confirmation key. In addition, the remaining battery level detection unit 14 (remaining battery level detection means) detects the remaining battery level. The detected level of the remaining battery level is stored in the remote control memory 16, and the remote control unit 12 (remote control unit, signal generation unit) outputs a predetermined remote control signal for the number of times corresponding to the detected level of the remaining battery level. The remote controller control signal is transmitted from the remote controller transmitter 13.

  The television broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is connected to an antenna 3 and includes a tuner 21 that receives a TV broadcast signal, a video decoder 22 that decodes a video signal included in the TV broadcast signal received and demodulated by the tuner 21, and a TV broadcast signal. An audio decoder 23 that decodes the audio signal, an on-screen display unit (OSD) 24 that superimposes a predetermined display image on the decoded video signal, a main control unit 26 that controls the video decoder 22 and the audio decoder 23, etc. The main memory 27 etc. which memorize | stores a video signal temporarily and memorize | stores the display image superimposed on the decoded video signal are comprised. The video signal decoded by the video decoder 22 is output and displayed on the display device 4 via the on-screen display unit 24, and the audio signal decoded by the audio decoder is output to the speaker 5 via the audio output unit 25. The

  Here, the main control unit 26 of the television broadcast receiving device 2 generates a remote control signal corresponding to the remaining battery level transmitted from the remote control transmission unit 13 by a key operation for checking the remaining battery level of the remote control key unit 11. The battery level is detected and stored in the main memory 27 according to the number of occurrences, and the battery level is displayed on the display device 4 stepwise by the OSD 24. This display allows the user to check the remaining battery level.

  The main control unit 26 displays the remaining battery level detected by OSD on the display device 4 in the form of numbers, scales, etc., and in addition to these data displays, various messages such as warnings to the user are displayed. Can be stored and recalled and displayed as necessary.

  Next, a process of checking the remaining battery level by the remote controller 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when the user inputs a battery remaining amount confirmation key provided in the remote control key unit 11 in the remote controller 1 (YES in S1), the pressed key is assigned for confirming the remaining battery amount. If not (NO in S2), the remote control unit 12 sends a remote control signal corresponding to the contents of the input key. Thereby, remote control processing according to the content of the remote control key is performed (S6). On the other hand, when the pressed key is assigned for checking the remaining battery level (YES in S2), the remote control control unit 12 measures the voltage of the battery 15 using the remaining battery level detection unit 14 and determines the battery. The remaining amount is checked (S3), and the key signal (remote control signal) of the number of times corresponding to the remaining battery level is transmitted from the remote control transmission unit 13 to the remote control reception unit 28 of the television broadcast receiving device 2 based on the measurement result. (S4). When the main control unit 26 on the television broadcast receiving apparatus 2 side receives the key signal of the number of times corresponding to the remaining battery level by the remote control receiving unit 28, detects the remaining battery level, and displays the detected remaining battery level on the display. (YES in S5), the remote control operation ends normally. Therefore, when the remaining battery level is not displayed on the display (NO in S5), the signal from the remote control device 1 has not arrived (S7). According to this battery remaining amount confirmation process, when the battery remaining amount confirmation key is pressed, the remaining amount of battery is displayed immediately, so that the state of the remaining amount of battery can be known quickly.

Next, as an example of displaying the remaining battery level step by step, an example of displaying in three steps will be described with reference to the battery voltage and battery remaining area classification diagram shown in FIG. In the figure, the horizontal axis represents time and the vertical axis represents the battery voltage curve V when a constant load on the battery of the initial voltage E ₀ is connected. Here, for example, three battery remaining areas of R1 ≧ 0.9E ₀ , 0.9E ₀ > R2 ≧ 0.8E ₀ , and 0.8E ₀ > R3 ≧ 0.7E ₀ are provided as the battery remaining areas in advance. R1, R2, and R3 are set. Then, the remote control unit 12 detects which region of the battery remaining amount region R1, R2, R3 the battery voltage at that time corresponds to, and outputs the remote control signal of the number of times corresponding to the detected region, Transmission from the remote control transmission unit 13 to the television broadcast receiver 2 is performed. On the television broadcast receiving device 2 side, the level of the remaining battery level of the remote control device 1 is determined based on the number of received remote control signals, and the level of the remaining battery level is displayed on the display device 4. Thereby, since the battery remaining amount is displayed in stages, the user can easily check the state of the battery remaining amount.

  As described above, according to the remote control device 1 according to the first embodiment, the user can check the remaining battery level of the remote control device 1 step by step using the remaining battery level confirmation key. Since the decrease can be grasped early, the remote control device 1 becomes unstable due to a shortage of battery voltage, or the battery can be replaced before it stops, so that the user does not have to worry about it. In addition, since the battery remaining amount information can be transmitted to the television broadcast receiving device 2 by the number of times the remote control signal is generated, the battery remaining amount information signal transmission processing and signal reception processing can be realized easily and at low cost. it can.

  Next, a battery remaining amount confirmation method in the remote control device 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the second embodiment, the user can select two types of automatic remaining amount confirmation methods for the remaining amount of the battery 15 of the remote control device 1. First, when the user selects the automatic remaining amount confirmation method 1, after the television broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is turned on (S11), the remote control control unit 12 determines that any one of the remote control keys except the power key is present. When it is detected that the first input is made (YES in S12), the remaining battery level is checked by measuring the voltage of the battery 15 using the remaining battery level detector 14 (S13). Based on the measurement result, a key signal (remote control signal) of the number of times corresponding to the remaining battery level is transmitted from the remote control transmitter 13 to the remote control receiver 28 of the television broadcast receiver 2 (S14). Then, the main control unit 26 on the television broadcast receiving apparatus 2 side receives the key signal of the number of times corresponding to the remaining battery level by the remote control receiving unit 28, determines the remaining battery level, and displays the remaining battery level on the display. Then (YES in S15), the remote control operation ends normally. Therefore, when the battery remaining amount is not displayed on the display (NO in S15), the signal from the remote control device 1 has not arrived. According to this automatic remaining amount confirmation method 1, the main control unit 26 of the television broadcast receiving apparatus 2 can display the battery remaining amount on the display immediately by pressing one key after the power is turned on.

  In the figure, when the user selects the automatic remaining amount confirmation method 2, first, the remote controller 12 automatically sets the number of key presses n (for example, n = 100, n = 200, etc.). Here, n = 100 is set) (S17). When any one of the remote control keys of the remote control key unit 11 is input (YES in S18), the remote control control unit 12 counts the number of times the remote control key is input (S19), and the cumulative count m of the number of key inputs is m. Is stored in the remote control memory 16 (S20). Next, the remote control unit 12 calculates a difference (nm) between the previously set key press count value n and the key input count count number m, and this difference (nm) is zero. (When n = 100, when the cumulative number m of key inputs reaches 100) (S21), S13 to S15 are the same as when the automatic remaining amount confirmation method 1 is selected. Perform step processing. Then, the remote controller control unit 12 resets the cumulative count number m to zero and continues the same operation. According to this automatic remaining amount confirmation method 2, since it can be set to display the remaining battery level every time the remote controller key is pressed and accumulated, when the battery is about to be replaced, the display interval is increased. The interval can be changed and adjusted.

  As described above, according to the remote control device 1 according to the second embodiment, since the remaining battery level can be automatically displayed on the display device 4, even if the user forgets to check the remaining battery level, In addition, the remaining battery level can be checked, and a remote control device that is highly convenient for the user can be provided. At the same time, the number of times the remote control key button is pressed to check the remaining battery level can be reduced, so that contact failure can be reduced and the life of the remote control key can be extended. In addition, this automatic setting eliminates the need to provide a dedicated battery remaining amount confirmation key button on the remote control key unit 11, and can contribute to downsizing and cost reduction of the apparatus.

  Furthermore, the automatic remaining amount confirmation method 2 with a long check interval is used at the beginning of battery replacement, and when the equivalent period has elapsed since the battery replacement, the automatic remaining amount confirmation method 1 with a short check interval is used. The automatic remaining amount confirmation method can be switched and used according to the period after the battery replacement, and this switching can also be automatically switched by a time timer, further enhancing convenience.

  In addition, this invention is not restricted to the said embodiment, Various deformation | transformation are possible. For example, in the above embodiment, the remote control device 1 transmits the remote control signal for the number of times corresponding to the detected remaining battery level, but the remote control signal of the signal pattern corresponding to the remaining battery level or the remaining battery level By transmitting the remote control signal having the number of times and the signal pattern corresponding to the TV broadcast reception device 2, even if it is difficult for the television broadcast reception device 2 to receive the remote control control signal, the remaining battery level information is sent to the television broadcast reception device 2. It can be transmitted reliably. In addition, in the above, when the remote control signal of the signal pattern and the number of times corresponding to the remaining battery level is transmitted, the television broadcast receiving apparatus 2 is based on the number of transmissions of the received remote control signal and the signal pattern. Thus, it is possible to easily determine whether the own device is in a state where it is difficult to receive the remote control signal or whether the remaining battery level of the remote control device 1 is low. Therefore, when the battery level is low based on the above determination result, the remote control device 1 displays the message “Please replace the battery.” And when it is difficult to receive the remote control signal, The message “Remote control signal reception is not good. Please remove the obstacle.” Can be displayed. Further, each message described above may be output by voice.

1 is an electrical block diagram illustrating a configuration of a remote control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The flowchart which shows the step of battery remaining amount confirmation by the said remote control apparatus. The figure which shows the division of the battery voltage curve at the time of fixed load, and a battery residual amount area | region. The flowchart which shows the step of the automatic battery remaining charge confirmation by the remote control apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Remote control device (remote control device)
2 Television broadcast receiver (electric equipment)
4 Display device 11 Remote control key section 12 Remote control section (remote control means, signal generation means)
13 Remote control transmitter (remote control signal sending means)
14 Battery level detection part (Battery level detection means)
15 Battery 16 Remote control memory 24 On-screen display (OSD)
26 Main control unit 27 Main memory 28 Remote control receiving unit

Claims (5)

A battery as an internal power supply, a number of operation keys, remote control signal transmission means for transmitting a remote control control signal (hereinafter abbreviated as a remote control signal) according to the operation of the key by a user, and the remaining amount of the battery The battery level detection means for detecting the remote control and the remote control control means for controlling the entire apparatus, and the remote control signal transmitted from the remote control signal sending means is used to remotely control electrical equipment such as a television receiver and video equipment. Remote control device
The operation keys include a key for checking the remaining battery power,
When the battery remaining amount confirmation key is pressed by the user, the remaining battery amount is detected by the remaining battery amount detecting means, and a predetermined number of remote control signals corresponding to the detected remaining battery level Further comprising signal generating means for generating
The remote control means is connected to the display unit of the electric device or the electric device by transmitting the remote control signal generated by the signal generating means to the electric device by the remote control signal sending means. The electric device is remotely controlled so that the level of the battery level corresponding to the number of times the remote control signal is generated by the signal generator is displayed on the display unit of the other electric device. Remote control device. A battery as an internal power supply, a number of operation keys, remote control signal transmission means for transmitting a remote control control signal (hereinafter abbreviated as a remote control signal) according to the operation of the key by a user, and the remaining amount of the battery The battery level detection means for detecting the remote control and the remote control control means for controlling the entire apparatus, and the remote control signal transmitted from the remote control signal sending means is used to remotely control electrical equipment such as a television receiver and video equipment. Remote control device
When a predetermined condition is established, the remaining battery level is detected by the remaining battery level detecting means, and the number of times corresponding to the detected remaining battery level and / or the detected remaining battery level is determined. The signal pattern further comprises a signal generating means for generating a predetermined remote control signal;
The remote control means is connected to the display unit of the electric device or the electric device by transmitting the remote control signal generated by the signal generating means to the electric device by the remote control signal sending means. Remotely controlling the electric device to display the number of times the remote control signal is generated by the signal generating means or the remaining battery level according to the signal pattern on the display unit of the other electric device. Features remote control device. The operation keys include a key for checking the remaining battery power,
The remote control device according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined condition is that a user presses a key for checking the remaining battery level.   3. The predetermined condition is that, after the electric device is powered on, a key other than the power key among the operation keys is first pressed by a user. The remote control device described in 1.   The remote control device according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined condition is that a cumulative number of times of pressing of the operation key reaches a certain number.

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