JP2015091044A - Remote control module - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote control module capable of reliably controlling an electric apparatus controlled by an infrared signal.SOLUTION: A remote control module 1 for controlling an electric apparatus 3 controlled by an infrared signal comprises: a communication unit 11 for receiving control information from a communication terminal 2 by BLE communication; a control signal determination unit 12 for determining a control signal to control the electric apparatus 3 on the basis of the control information; and an infrared communication unit 13 for transmitting an infrared signal on the basis of the control signal.

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control module for operating an electric device that operates by receiving an infrared signal.

  Currently, there are many electrical devices that are configured to receive an infrared signal and control operations based on the signal. Conventionally, a dedicated remote controller (remote controller) has been used to transmit an infrared signal to such an electrical device.

  When using a remote controller dedicated to the device, the same number of remote controllers as the number of devices that can be operated by the remote controller is required, which is cumbersome for the user and also difficult to place the remote controller (Problem 1). There is. In addition, when an infrared signal is used, there is a problem (problem 2) that it becomes difficult to use the remote control if there is an obstacle between the remote control and the electric device.

  In response to the former problem, it has been proposed to replace communication devices such as mobile phones with remote controllers. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that a remote control function is mounted on a smartphone by using a smartphone user interface and an infrared communication function. Further, cited document 2 discloses an infrared remote controller having a Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication function and an infrared communication function. An instruction is transmitted to the infrared remote controller from an electronic product having a Bluetooth communication function such as a computer using the Bluetooth communication, and the infrared remote controller transmits an infrared signal in accordance with the instruction.

JP 2013-76493 A Utility Model Registration No. 3135141

  If the techniques as described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above are used, it is possible to control a plurality of electrical devices with a single remote controller, and therefore Problem 1 can be solved. However, Problem 2 cannot be solved. On the other hand, if the infrared remote controller of Patent Document 2 is placed in the vicinity of the electric device, both the problems 1 and 2 may be solved. However, since this infrared remote control uses Bluetooth, power consumption is high and a problem of power supply occurs. In order to solve this problem, it is necessary to connect a commercial power source to the infrared remote controller, and to frequently replace and charge the battery. However, the former loses portability as a remote controller, and the latter imposes an excessive burden on the user.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a remote control module that can reliably control an electric device controlled by an infrared signal.

  In one preferred embodiment of the remote control module of the present invention for controlling an electric device controlled by an infrared signal, a communication unit that receives control information from a communication terminal by BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) communication, A control signal determining unit that determines a control signal for controlling the electric device based on the control information; and an infrared communication unit that transmits an infrared signal based on the control signal.

  In this configuration, the remote control module receives control information from the communication terminal, and irradiates an electric device with an infrared signal based on the control information. Since communication between the communication terminal and the remote control module uses BLE, the remote control module can communicate with the communication terminal with very little power. For example, this remote control module can operate for several years with a so-called coin battery. For this reason, this remote control module hardly requires consideration for the power source such as battery replacement. Thereby, even if there are a plurality of electrical devices to be controlled, a remote control module can be installed in the vicinity of each electrical device, and the electrical device can reliably receive infrared rays. Further, by disposing the remote control module in the vicinity of the electric device, the power required for irradiation with the infrared signal can be reduced, and the power consumption can be further suppressed.

  In one preferred embodiment of the remote control module of the present invention, the remote control module includes a sensor that measures the state of the surrounding environment that changes according to the operation of the electrical device, and the control signal determination unit includes the control information and the measured value of the sensor. And determining the control signal.

  In this configuration, the electric device can be feedback-controlled based on the measured value of the sensor included in the remote control module and the control information sent from the communication terminal. For example, when the electrical device is an air conditioner and a set temperature (the temperature of a room where the air conditioner is installed) is transmitted as control information from the communication terminal to the remote control module, the remote control module has a measured value of its own temperature sensor. And the set temperature thereof, an infrared signal is transmitted so as to decrease / increase the set temperature of the air conditioner. Thus, with this configuration, feedback control can be performed on a conventional electric device. Further, as described above, since the remote control module has a high degree of freedom in installation location, the remote control module can be installed in any location, and the electrical equipment is controlled so that the surrounding environment of the installation location is in a desired state.

It is a block diagram of the control system using the remote control module in Example 1. It is a functional block diagram of a control system using a remote control module in Example 1. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow of a control system in the first embodiment. It is an example of the operation screen of a communication terminal. It is a functional block diagram of the control system using the remote control module in Example 2. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of a control system in Embodiment 2.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a control system for an electric device using a remote control module according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

〔overall structure〕
1 and 2 are a configuration diagram and a functional block diagram of a control system in the present embodiment, respectively. As shown in the figure, the control system includes a remote control module 1, a communication terminal 2, and an electric device 3.

[Electrical equipment]
The electric device 3 is a device controlled by a conventional infrared signal. As the electrical device 3, for example, various devices such as an air conditioner 3a and a lighting fixture 3b shown in the figure, and an AV device such as a television and an audio device can be used.

[Communication equipment]
The communication terminal 2 is a terminal device such as a smartphone, a mobile phone, or a PDA having a BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy) communication function. Although only one communication terminal 2 is shown in the figure, the number of communication terminals 2 can be changed as appropriate. In the present embodiment, the communication terminal 2 is configured by a smartphone.

  The communication terminal 2 includes a user interface unit 21, a BLE communication unit 22, and a control information storage unit 23. The user interface unit 21 is a functional unit that realizes an interaction with the user such as obtaining an input from the user. As described above, in the present embodiment, since the communication terminal 2 is configured by a smartphone, the user interface unit 21 is configured by a display and a touch panel. The BLE communication unit 22 is a functional unit that transmits control information to the remote control module 1 using BLE communication. The control information storage unit 23 is a functional unit that stores control information. Here, the control information is information for controlling the electric device 3. This control information may be specified between the communication terminal 2 and the remote control module 1 or may be specified for the electric device 3.

  Considering the case where it is desired to operate the air conditioner 3a to “set the temperature to 27 ° C.”, the information itself “set temperature = 27 ° C.” or an identifier corresponding to this information can be used as the control information. In this case, the remote control module 1 needs to have a function of converting the control information into an infrared pulse pattern for operating the air conditioner 3a to “set the temperature to 27 ° C.”.

  Further, an infrared pulse pattern for operating the air conditioner 3 to “set the temperature to 27 ° C.” can be used as the control information.

  In this embodiment, the latter, that is, an infrared pulse pattern is used as control information. For this reason, the control information storage unit 23 stores an input value (control content) input via the user interface unit 21 and an infrared pulse pattern corresponding to the input value.

  A so-called application is installed in the communication terminal 2, and the application and the smartphone hardware cooperate to control the electric device 1 via the remote control module 1.

[Remote control module]
As shown in FIG. 2, the remote control module 1 includes a communication unit 11, a control signal determination unit 12, and an infrared communication unit 13. The communication unit 11 has a function of receiving control information from the communication terminal 2 using BLE communication.

  The control signal determination unit 12 determines a control signal for controlling the electric device 3 based on the control information received from the communication terminal 2, that is, an infrared pulse pattern. In this embodiment, as described above, since the control information is an infrared pulse pattern, the control signal determining unit 12 outputs the input control information as a control signal. When the information itself “set temperature = 27 ° C.” or an identifier corresponding to this information is used as control information, the control signal determination unit 12 converts the control information into an infrared pulse pattern corresponding to the operation. Convert.

  The infrared communication unit 13 drives an infrared light emitting element (not shown) according to the pulse pattern output from the control signal determination unit 12 to emit an infrared signal.

  Although it is possible to use one remote control module 1 for a plurality of electric devices 3, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, each electric device 3 (air conditioner 3a, lighting fixture 3b) is used. On the other hand, one remote control module 1a, 1b is installed. In this way, by installing one remote control module 1 for each electric device 3, the electric device 3 can reliably receive infrared rays from the remote control module 1. In particular, it is desirable to arrange the remote control module 1 in the vicinity of the electric device 3 so that the direction of the infrared rays emitted from the infrared communication unit 13 faces the light receiving unit of the electric device 3.

  Further, since the remote control module 1 of the present invention performs BLE communication with the communication terminal 2, it is possible to reduce the power required for communication. Furthermore, as described above, if the remote control module 1 is installed in the vicinity of the electric device 3, the power required for infrared irradiation can be reduced. Therefore, the remote control module 1 of the present invention can operate for several years with the power of a so-called coin battery.

  The remote control modules 1a and 1b in the present embodiment have the same configuration.

  The processing flow of the control system in the present embodiment will be described below using the flowchart of FIG. Here, a case where the air conditioner 3a is controlled will be described. As described above, an application for a control system is installed in the communication terminal 2, and information stored in the control information storage unit can be added or updated by appropriately downloading.

  When an application for the control system of the communication terminal 2 is activated (# 01), an operation screen 4 as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display. Here, although the operation screen 4 for controlling the air conditioner 3a is displayed, when there are a plurality of electric devices 3 to be controlled, the electric device 3 to be controlled is displayed prior to this. It is preferable to display a screen to be selected.

  FIG. 4 is an example of the operation screen 4 for setting the set temperature of the air conditioner 3a, and includes an up button 41, a down button 42, an enter button 43, and a set temperature display area 44. The up button 41 and the down button 42 are used to raise and lower the set temperature by 1 ° C., respectively. The set temperature at this time is displayed in the set temperature display area 44. The determination button 43 is used to determine the set temperature.

  The user touches the touch panel (user interface unit 21) and selects a desired operation. For example, the temperature is changed by touching the up button 41 or the down button 42. At this time, the changed temperature is displayed in the set temperature display area 44. While watching the temperature displayed in the set temperature display area 44, the user touches the enter button 43 when the desired temperature is reached (# 02). When the determination button 43 is touched, the set temperature at that time is notified from the user interface unit 21 to the BLE communication unit 22.

  The BLE communication unit 22 that has received the set temperature refers to the control information storage unit 23 and acquires an infrared pulse pattern corresponding to the set temperature (# 03). The acquired infrared pulse pattern is transmitted as control information to the remote control module 1 using BLE communication (# 04).

  The control information is received by the communication unit 11 of the remote control module 1 and sent to the control signal determination unit 12. The control signal determination unit 12 determines a control signal based on the control information (05). The determined control signal is sent to the infrared communication unit 13. In the present embodiment, as described above, the control signal determination unit 12 performs through output using the control information as a control signal.

  The infrared communication unit 13 drives the infrared light emitting element based on the received control signal, that is, the pulse pattern, and emits an infrared pulse (infrared signal) (# 06). The air conditioner 3a adjusts its set temperature in response to the infrared pulse (# 07).

  FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram and a functional block diagram of the control system in the present embodiment. The configuration of the control system in the present embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment, but each functional configuration is different as will be described later. In addition, the function part similar to Example 1 attaches | subjects the same code | symbol, and abbreviate | omits description.

[Electrical equipment]
The electrical equipment 3 in the present embodiment is controlled by an infrared signal as in the first embodiment. In particular, like the air conditioner 3a and the lighting fixture 3b, the state of the surrounding environment is changed by its own operation. Equipment. The peripheral environment is an environment such as a room where the electric device 3 is installed in a broad sense, and an environment around the remote control module 1 in a narrow sense. The environmental state includes temperature and humidity in the case of the air conditioner 3a, and illuminance in the case of the lighting fixture 3b, and is defined in relation to the electric device 3.

[Communication equipment]
The communication terminal 2 of the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the control information storage unit 23 is not provided. Therefore, in this embodiment, the control information is not an infrared pulse pattern but, for example, information itself “set temperature = 27 ° C.” or an identifier corresponding to this information.

[Remote control module]
The remote control module 1 of the present embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in that it includes a control signal storage unit 14 and a sensor 15. The control signal storage unit 14 is composed of a nonvolatile storage medium or the like, and stores control information and control signals (infrared pulse patterns) in association with each other. The sensor 15 measures the state of the surrounding environment of the electric device 3 that is changed by the operation of the electric device 3. For example, the state of the surrounding environment of the air conditioner 3a is temperature and humidity, and the surrounding environment of the lighting fixture 3b is brightness (illuminance). In the present embodiment, each remote control module 1 includes a sensor 15 corresponding to the corresponding electric device 3. For example, the remote control module 1a corresponding to the air conditioner 3a includes a temperature sensor 15a. On the other hand, the remote control module 1b corresponding to the lighting fixture 3b includes an illuminance sensor 15b.

  The processing flow of the control system in this embodiment will be described below using the flowchart of FIG. Here, a case where the air conditioner 3a is controlled will be described.

  First, the user determines the set temperature by the same operation as in # 01 to # 02 of the first embodiment (# 11). The determined set temperature is notified to the BLE communication unit 22. The BLE communication unit 22 that has received the set temperature transmits information “set temperature = 24 ° C.” as control information to the remote control module 1a using BLE communication (# 12).

  The control information is received by the communication unit 11 of the remote control module 1a and sent to the control signal determination unit 12. The control signal determination unit 12 that has received the control information refers to the control signal storage unit 14 and determines a control signal corresponding to the control information (# 13). The determined control signal is sent to the infrared communication unit 13.

  The infrared communication unit 13 that has received the control signal drives the infrared light emitting element to irradiate infrared rays corresponding to the pulse pattern that is the control signal (# 14).

  Thereafter, the control signal determination unit 12 acquires a measurement value from the temperature sensor 15a every time a predetermined period has elapsed (Yes branch of # 15) (# 16). The acquired measured value is compared with the set temperature, and if there is a difference between them (Yes branch of # 17), the control signal determination unit 12 determines a new control signal (# 18). For example, if the measured temperature is 30 ° C. and the set temperature is 27 ° C., the process of # 17 is a Yes branch. At this time, the control signal determination unit 12 sets a temporary temperature (for example, 25 ° C.) lower than the set temperature (27 ° C.), and outputs a control signal corresponding to the temporary temperature in the same process as # 13. Determine (# 18). For example, the control signal determination unit 12 determines a pulse pattern corresponding to “set temperature = 25 ° C.” as a control signal. The infrared communication unit 13 irradiates the air conditioner 3a with infrared rays based on the determined control signal (# 14). Thereby, the air conditioner 3a operates to lower the temperature.

  On the other hand, when there is no difference between the measured value and the set temperature (No branch of # 17), the control signal determination unit 12 does not operate and monitoring is continued.

  In the process of # 17, the difference between the measured value and the set temperature may be compared with a predetermined threshold value. That is, if the difference between the measured value and the set temperature is larger than the threshold value, the branch is Yes. In this case, the frequency | count of infrared irradiation can be reduced and the consumption of the battery of the remote control module 1 can be suppressed.

  As described above, in the control system of this embodiment, only the setting value (temperature in the above example) is set from the communication terminal 2 to the remote control module 1, and the surrounding environment of the electric device 3 is set to the setting value. The remote control module 1 can perform feedback control on the electric device 3 so as to approach. Further, such feedback control can be applied not only to the air conditioner 3a but also to the lighting apparatus 3b and other electrical equipment 3 that changes the state of the surrounding environment by its operation.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for controlling an electric device that operates by receiving an infrared signal.

1, 1a, 1b: Remote control module 11: Communication unit 12: Control signal determination unit 13: Infrared communication unit 15: Sensor 15a: Temperature sensor (sensor)
15b: Illuminance sensor (sensor)
2: Communication terminal 3: Electric equipment 3a: Air conditioner (electric equipment)
3b: Lighting equipment (electric equipment)

Claims (2)

A remote control module for controlling an electric device controlled by an infrared signal,
A communication unit that receives control information from a communication terminal by BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) communication;
A control signal determining unit that determines a control signal for controlling the electric device based on the control information;
A remote control module comprising: an infrared communication unit that transmits an infrared signal based on the control signal. A sensor that measures the state of the surrounding environment that changes according to the operation of the electrical device;
The remote control module according to claim 1, wherein the control signal determination unit determines the control signal based on the control information and a measured value of the sensor.

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