JPH04235497A - Remote control transmitter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily impart a remote control command relating to plural equipments to respective equipments by providing a function to copy the remote control code of a second remote control transmitter on a first remote control transmitter. CONSTITUTION:The remote control transmitter A of a TV set is provided with a CPU 1, a read-only ROM 2 and a freely reading/writing static RAM (SRAM) 3. The remote control code of a VTR is transmitted to a remote control signal receiving part 6 by depressing the channel key of the remote control transmitter B of the VTR. After an inputted remote control code is analyzed and data is compressed, the code is stored to the static RAM 3 corresponding with the depressed key by the CPU 1. Thus, the remote control code registered in advance to the transmitter B is copyed into the RAM 3 of the transmitter A.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to remote control transmitters for, for example, television/video systems.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art A common remote control method for a television/video system is to operate a television using a television remote control transmitter and to operate a VTR using a VTR remote control transmitter. However, it is quite troublesome to operate the TV and VTR individually using dedicated remote control transmitters.

[0003] Therefore, a remote control transmitter that could be used commonly for televisions and VTRs was devised (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 57-769
(See Publication No. 92). For example, by simply operating the playback key, you can: ■ Set the VTR to playback mode, ■ Change the TV to an available channel (1CH in Kansai, 2CH in Kanto).
), and (1) switching the VTR's TV/video switch to the video side.

[0004] By the way, since the code system and number of bits of remote control signals differ depending on the manufacturer,
If you replace one of the TRs with one from another company,
It is possible that it does not respond to the shared remote control transmitter mentioned above.

On the other hand, learning remote control (memory remote control)
There is such a thing. This device inputs remote control signals from other companies' equipment, analyzes the signal code, and stores it in memory. Of course, you can also store remote control signal codes for other devices from the same company. To explain the operation when storing the "playback" code of Company B's VTR in the learning remote control transmitter of Company A's TV, first, switch to the learning mode (memory mode) on the learning remote control transmitter of Company A's TV. , select and press one key that should be associated with "Play", press the "Play" key on the remote control transmitter attached to Company B's VTR, and send the remote control signal related to "Play" to Company A's learning remote control transmitter. do. The built-in microcomputer in Company A's learning remote control transmitter analyzes the received remote control signal according to a predetermined procedure and "regenerates" it into RAM.
Memorize the code. When the "play" key is pressed on the learning remote control transmitter manufactured by Company A, the microcomputer reads the code and transmits the remote control signal. As a result, the VTR of Company B can be operated for reproduction.

[0006] As mentioned above, the code system for remote control signals differs from manufacturer to manufacturer, and even from the same manufacturer, it differs for each type of equipment. In recent years, remote control transmitters have been adopted in many home appliances, and in light of the fact that many remote control transmitters from different manufacturers are used in each household, malfunctions may occur between each home appliance. This is to ensure that there is no such thing. However, this does not avoid the complexity of having to use a separate remote control transmitter for each home appliance. Each of the above-mentioned conventional examples was proposed in an attempt to simplify the operation as much as possible.

[0007]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Nowadays, VTRs have become widespread in most households, and for users, television and VTRs are inseparable. It is also true that this is one of the causes of misunderstandings regarding operation among users.

[0008] For example, some users mistakenly believe that when they are watching a TV program and want to record it, all they have to do is press the "record" key on the remote control transmitter. However, if by chance the TV channel and VTR channel match,
If they do not match, it means that a program different from the program being watched on TV has been recorded. Some users only realize something is wrong when they play the program after it ends, but they don't know why. If you are not aware of the correct operating procedures, you will end up making the same mistakes over and over again. but,
The cause of such mistakes cannot be solely attributed to the user.

The present invention was devised in view of the above circumstances, and is a method for correctly giving related remote control commands to each device among a plurality of devices without bothering the user too much. The purpose is to

0010

[Means for Solving the Problems] A remote control transmitter according to the present invention provides a first transmitter that is either a television or a VTR.
a first storage means non-volatilely storing remote control codes that give various operation commands to the device in a state where each remote control code is individually associated with a corresponding key; and a second device in a learning mode. a second storage means capable of storing and updating the remote control code transmitted from the remote control transmitter of the controller and received by the remote control signal receiving section in association with the key being pressed at that time; and the key being pressed in the normal mode. readout control means for alternately switching between an operation of reading a remote control code corresponding to the first storage means from the first storage means and sending it to the remote control signal transmission section and an operation of reading it from the second storage means and sending it to the remote control signal transmission section. ing.

[0011]

[Operation] When copying the remote control code registered in the remote control transmitter of the second device to the remote control transmitter of the first device, the first remote control transmitter is set to learning mode, and the second remote control transmitter is A key corresponding to the key being pressed is pressed on the first remote control transmitter. The remote control code transmitted from the second remote control transmitter is received by the remote control signal receiving section of the first remote control transmitter, and the remote control code is stored in the second storage means of the first remote control transmitter. It is stored in association with the existing key.

When one key is pressed while the first remote control transmitter is in the normal mode, the reading control means reads out the remote control code corresponding to that key from the first storage means and reads out the remote control code corresponding to that key. The operation of reading out the corresponding remote control code from the second storage means is alternately switched. Accordingly, the remote control signal transmitter is alternately switched between transmitting a remote control code to the first device and transmitting a remote control code to the second device.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a remote control transmitter for a television/video system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the first device is a television, and the second device is a VT.
Suppose it is R.

The television remote control transmitter A includes a CPU 1 constituting a microcomputer, a read-only ROM 2 as a first storage means, a read/write static RAM (SRAM) 3 as a second storage means, and a key matrix. an input operation section 4, a remote control signal transmission section 5, a remote control signal reception section 6, a waveform shaping section 7,
It is equipped with a static RAM 3 backup capacitor 8, etc. The ROM2 stores necessary programs including programs for learning functions, and
Remote control codes for giving various operation commands to the television are stored in a state where each remote control code is individually associated with each key on the input operation section 4.

The procedure for copying the remote control code previously registered in the remote control transmitter B of the VTR to the static RAM 3 of the remote control transmitter A of the television will be explained. When a learning mode key (memory key) of the input operation section 4 is pressed on the television remote control transmitter A, the CPU 1 is switched to the learning mode. While pressing and operating the "1CH" key on the input operation section 4,
The user presses the channel key "1CH" on the remote control transmitter B of the TV to transmit the remote control code of the VTR "1CH" to the remote control signal receiving section 6 of the remote control transmitter A of the television. The remote control code received by the remote control signal receiving section 6 undergoes waveform shaping in the waveform shaping section 7 and is input to the CPU 1. The CPU 1 analyzes the input remote control code, compresses the data, and then reads the key currently being pressed.
1CH" and stored in the static RAM 3. Below, as shown in the key/code correspondence diagram in Figure 2, "2CH
'' to ``12CH'' are similarly stored in the static RAM 3 in association with the remote control codes transmitted from the remote control transmitter B of the VTR for each channel key.

Furthermore, while pressing and operating the "video recording" key assigned in advance to the input operation section 4, the VT
Press the "Record" key on R's remote control transmitter B and press V.
The remote control code for TR "record" is stored in the static RAM 3 in association with the "video record" key. Also, while pressing and operating the "video playback" key assigned in advance to the input operation section 4, press and operate the "playback" key on the remote control transmitter B of the VTR to change the remote control code for the VTR "playback" to "video playback". The data is stored in the static RAM 3 in association with the "Playback" key. Also, while pressing and operating the "video power" key assigned in advance to the input operation section 4, press and operate the "power" key of the remote control transmitter B of the VTR to change the remote control code of the VTR "power" to the "video power" key. power supply"
It is stored in the static RAM 3 in association with the key. Note that when the "video recording" key or the "video playback" key is pressed in the normal mode, the television enters the "video 1 mode" for direct input. Here, direct input means that even if the same code is repeated, "Video 1 mode" is maintained and "Video 2 mode" is maintained.
This means that the camera will not go into "Video 3 mode".

Next, the operation when transmitting a remote control code from the television remote control transmitter A to the television and VTR will be explained. At this time, the television remote control transmitter A is in the normal mode. Further, the remote control transmitter B of the VTR is not required. Note that even if Vcc disappears due to battery replacement, the remote control code stored in the static RAM 3 will not be lost within a certain period of time because the capacitor 8 backs up the static RAM 3.

Now, when the channel key "1CH" is pressed on the input operation section 4 of the television remote control transmitter A, as shown in the timing chart of FIG.
PU1 sets the chip select signal in ROM2, reads the remote control code of TV "1CH" from ROM2, decompresses it, and outputs the front code of "1CH", the back code of "1CH", the front code of "1CH", and so on. The front, back, and front sides are sent as one set to the remote control signal transmitter 5, and transmitted from the remote control signal transmitter 5 in the form of infrared rays (or ultrasonic waves). When the transmission of the remote control code for one set of TVs "1CH" for front, back, and front is completed, CPU 1 switches the chip select signal to static RAM 3, reads the remote control code for VTR "1CH" from static RAM 3, and , and the tables are transmitted as one set from the remote control signal transmitter 5. When the transmission of the remote control code for one set of VTR "1CH" is completed, the CPU 1 switches the chip select signal to the ROM 2 and repeats the above operation alternately. As a result, one key, the channel key “1C
By pressing "H", you can change the TV reception channel and V.
Both the TR reception channel can be switched to "1CH". When the push operation on the channel key "1CH" is released, the remote control code reading operation by the CPU 1 ends.

When the channel key "2CH" is pressed and operated, the TV and VTR are switched to "2CH", and in the same manner, each channel key "3CH" to "12CH" is pressed.
By pressing , you can select the receiving channel from TV or VTR.
While maintaining the same channel, the channel changes from "3CH" to "12CH" in response to the pressed channel key. In any case, one channel key "n
By pressing "CH" (n=1, 2, . . . , 12), both the TV reception channel and the VTR reception channel can be switched to "nCH".

[0020] Now, if a user wants to record a program that is being displayed on a TV screen when the reception channel is "6CH," the user must be aware that the reception channel on the current VTR will actually be "6CH" as in the past. There is no need to check whether it is true or not. This is because the receiving channel of the VTR is always the same as the channel displayed on the television screen. All the user has to do is press the "Video Record" key. This puts the VTR in recording mode and records the program being displayed on the television screen. At the same time, the TV is in "video 1 mode" (direct),
The program of the channel input through the VTR is displayed on the screen. At this time, before pressing the "Video Record" key, the same program as the program you requested to record (this is input without going through the VTR) will be displayed, and you can check the program currently being recorded. can do. If the VTR
When the power is off, nothing is displayed on the screen, so the user can be informed of the power off status. If you want to watch a program on another channel, for example "4CH" after recording a program on "6CH", press the "TV mode" key and then press the channel key "4CH" as usual. Bye. At this time, since the VTR is in recording mode, it does not accept channel switching, and therefore only the TV channel is switched.

Assume that you have replaced your VTR with a new one from another manufacturer. In this case, by switching to learning mode and copying the remote control code from the remote control transmitter that came with the new VTR to the TV's remote control transmitter A,
The same effect as above can be achieved.

In the above embodiment, the remote control code of the VTR remote control transmitter B is copied to the TV remote control transmitter A, but in contrast, the TV remote control code is copied to the VTR remote control transmitter B. Alternatively, the remote control code of transmitter A may be copied.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the first remote control transmitter has the function of copying the remote control code of the second remote control transmitter, it is possible to easily copy the second device from another manufacturer. Even if it is replaced, it can be adequately coped with. Further, since a single key press operation is sufficient to give a remote control command related to a plurality of devices, for example, a television and a VTR, the operability can be improved. For example, if you press "6CH" on the channel key, the receiving channel will be 6CH for both TV and VTR.
TV reception channel and VT
Since it is possible to switch simultaneously with the R reception channel while matching each other, pressing the "Record" key will ensure that the program currently displayed on the TV screen is recorded. You can prevent recording mistakes.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a remote control transmitter for a television/video system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a key/code correspondence diagram according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

A TV remote control transmitter B VTR remote control transmitter 1 CPU 2 ROM (first storage means) 3 Static RAM (second storage means) 4
Input operation section (key matrix) 5 Remote control signal transmission section 6 Remote control signal reception section

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A remote control transmitter that controls a plurality of devices, the remote control transmitter having a remote control code that gives various operation commands to a first device individually associated with a corresponding key in a non-volatile manner. The stored first storage means and the remote control code transmitted from the remote control transmitter of the second device in the learning mode and received by the remote control signal receiving unit are stored in a state in which the remote control code is associated with the key being pressed at that time. Updatable second storage means, an operation of reading a remote control code corresponding to a key pressed in the normal mode from the first storage means and sending it to the remote control signal transmitter, and reading the remote control code from the second storage means and transmitting it to the remote control signal transmitter. A remote control transmitter comprising readout control means that alternately switches between an operation of transmitting a signal to a signal transmitter and a signal transmitter.