JPH04243400A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the general-purpose of a transmitter and to simplify the operation by outputting a relevant control data from a RAM when a remote control signal received by a microcomputer and a remote control signal stored in the RAM are coincident. CONSTITUTION:When a reception section 1 receives a remote control signal from a transmitter 8, a microcomputer 3 compares the remote control signal with a remote control signal stored in the microcomputer 3 sequentially. When th registered remote control signal is coincident with a remote control signal in a RAM 4, a control data corresponding to the remote control signal is read from the RAM 4 and a control signal in response to the control data is outputted from the microcomputer 3. Thus, the operation of a control object section is controlled based on the control data and the operation by the registered remote control signal is executed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention is provided in a device such as a VTR that can be remotely controlled using a transmitting device provided separately from the main body of the device. This invention relates to a remote control device that controls equipment based on.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, home appliances such as VTRs and televisions are often equipped with remote control (hereinafter referred to as remote control) functions.

[0003] The remote control system added to such equipment is now common, in which a remote control signal is constructed by combining various codes made of binary digital data, and this remote control signal is used to amplitude modulate infrared rays. be.

[0004] Devices with a remote control function such as those described above often come with a transmitting device that sends remote control signals to the device itself at the time of purchase, and the device is usually operated using the transmitting device. ing. Conventionally, when operating equipment using such a transmitter, one transmitter must be used to operate each other's equipment because the remote control signals are different between different types of equipment, such as VTRs and televisions, even if they are from the same manufacturer. However, there was the inconvenience of having to change the transmitting device each time the operation changed between devices. Further, since remote control signals are different for each manufacturer, it is not possible to perform remote control operations between devices of different manufacturers using a single transmitting device, resulting in the same inconvenience.

[0005] To solve this inconvenience,
Recently, transmitting devices with pre-registered remote control signals for multiple devices from the same manufacturer have been adopted as commercially available products, and transmitting devices that pre-store remote control signals from other companies' devices have also appeared. .

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above-mentioned transmitting device that can operate equipment made by other companies or different types of equipment is limited to devices manufactured by specific manufacturers that have registered remote control signals.
Since it is limited to the device or function, if the remote control signal is not registered, the above-mentioned inconvenience will still occur. In response to this, transmitting devices called memory remote controllers and the like have appeared that allow the user to register remote control signals corresponding to each device regardless of the manufacturer or type of device. However, this type of transmitter has a problem in that the types of remote control signals that can be registered are limited in order to correspond to a plurality of devices, and special remote control signals cannot be registered. for example,
In transmitting devices such as VTRs and laser disc players,
With the increasing number of functions, in addition to the basic operation keys, there are also functions for performing special operations such as jog dials and shuttle rings, but the above-mentioned registerable transmitter also has functions for performing special operations such as jog dials and shuttle rings. It is difficult to register everything. For this reason, even when a plurality of devices are operated using a transmitter that can be registered, when performing a special operation that cannot be registered, the user must switch to the transmitter of the device that performs that operation.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the remote control device of the present invention includes a receiving means for receiving a remote control signal transmitted by a transmitting device, and a remote control signal received by the receiving means. and control data for controlling each control target section, respectively, and stored in a storage means such as a RAM, and a remote control signal stored in the storage means and a remote control signal received by the receiving means. a comparison means for comparing the two remote control signals with the control signal; and when a match between the two remote control signals is detected by comparison between the comparison means, control data corresponding to the remote control signal is outputted from the storage means; The present invention is characterized by comprising a control means for controlling each control target section based on the following.

[0008]

[Operation] When operating a device with the above configuration using a transmitting device of another company or a transmitting device of a different type of device, the remote control signal of the transmitting device and the control data for controlling each control target section must be prepared in advance. are individually stored in the storage means by the storage control means. When the receiving means receives a remote control signal transmitted from the transmitting device, the comparing means compares the remote control signal with the remote control signal stored in the storage means. As a result of this comparison, when a match between both remote control signals is detected, the control means outputs the control data stored in the storage means corresponding to the remote control signal, and each control target part is controlled by the control means. Controlled by data. As a result, each control target unit performs an operation according to the remote control signal, and the device is operated according to the remote control signal stored in the storage means.

[0009] In this way, in the above configuration, the remote control signal is stored in the device, so that even a transmitting device originally dedicated to another device can operate the device. That is, it becomes possible to add functions other than the functions originally provided to the transmitter.

0010

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a VTR will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

The VTR according to this embodiment is provided with a remote control device, as shown in FIG. In this remote control device, a receiving section 1 and an operating section 2 are equipped with a microcomputer (
(hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) 3 and a RAM 4.

The receiving section 1 as receiving means includes a photodiode PD, a resistor R, a capacitor C, and a light receiving/amplifying circuit 6 comprising a preamplifier 5, and a detecting/waveform shaping circuit 7. In the receiving/amplifying circuit 6,
The photodiode PD has an anode connected to ground via a resistor R, an input terminal of a preamplifier 5 via a capacitor C, and a cathode connected to a power source (not shown) or the like. This light receiving/amplifying circuit 6 is connected to the main VTR.
The infrared rays emitted from the transmitting device 8, which is provided separately, are received by the photodiode PD and converted into an electrical signal.The DC component is removed from this electrical signal by the capacitor C, and the passed AC component is sent to the preamplifier 5. It's meant to be amplified. On the other hand, the detection/waveform shaping circuit 7
This circuit detects and shapes the electrical signal output from the amplifier circuit 6, and restores it as a remote control signal in a format suitable for processing by the microcomputer 3.

Although not shown, the operation unit 2 is provided with various operation keys for registering remote control signals.
The setting signals input by these operation keys are sent to the microcontroller 3.
It is designed to be sent to The above operation keys are:
For example, there are function setting keys corresponding to various operating functions such as channel switching and power on/off, and a registration mode key for specifying or canceling a registration mode.

The microcomputer 3 has a ROM (not shown) in which a remote control signal for the VTR and control data assigned to this remote control signal are stored in correspondence. The above control data is data for operating each control target unit (not shown), and is given to each control target unit based on the judgment of the microcomputer 3, and it is possible to allocate a plurality of remote control signals to one control data. . Furthermore, when the registration mode is specified by operating the registration mode key of the operation unit 2, the microcomputer 3 reads control data from the ROM that corresponds to the setting signal output by inputting the function setting key of the operation unit 2. This control data and the remote control signal inputted from the receiver 1 to the microcomputer 3 at this time are associated and stored in the RAM 4 as a storage means to register the remote control signal, and functions as a storage control means. have. When registering a remote control signal, when the registration is completed, a registration completion signal is sent from the microcomputer 3 to the operation unit 2, and the operation unit 2 performs the operation by turning on a display lamp (not shown) in response to this registration completion signal. The system is designed to notify the user that remote control signal registration is complete. Furthermore, the microcomputer 3
It has a function as a comparison means and a control means, and when the registration mode is canceled by operating the registration mode key, the remote control signal from the receiving section 1 is compared with the remote control signal stored in the ROM and RAM 4. Then, the control data corresponding to the remote control signals that match as a result of the comparison is read out from the above or the RAM 4, and a control signal corresponding to the control data is sent to each control target unit.

The procedure for registering a remote control signal in the above configuration will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG.

First, specify the registration mode by operating the registration mode key on the operation section 2 (S1), select the one corresponding to the operation function to be registered from the function setting keys on the operation section 2, and operate the operation key. to set the function (S2),
A remote control signal to be registered is selected from the operation keys of the transmitting device 8, and the remote control signal is transmitted by operating the operation key (S3). For example, if you want to register the remote control signal of the transmitter 8 in correspondence with the power on/off function of this VTR, press any operation key of the transmitter 8 while holding down the power on/off function setting key. Press to send remote control signal. As a result, the remote control signal received by the receiving section 1 and the control data for turning the power on and off are stored in the RAM 4 in correspondence with each other.

Next, it is determined whether or not the registration of the remote control signal has been completed (S4). This determination is made based on the completion of registration, which is indicated by a display lamp or the like provided on the operation section 2. If the registration is completed in S4, the function setting is canceled by stopping the operation of the function setting key (S5), and the registration mode is canceled by operating the registration mode key (S6). Further, in S4, if the registration of the remote control signal is not completed, the process returns to S3 and the remote control signal is transmitted again.

Next, the operation of the remote control device when the transmitting device 8 operates the VTR using the remote control signal registered as described above will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG.

When the receiving section 1 receives a remote control signal from the transmitting device 8 (S11), the microcomputer 3 compares the remote control signal with the remote control signal stored in the microcomputer 3 and the remote control signal stored in the RAM 4. They are compared sequentially (S12). As a result of the comparison, it is determined whether or not both remote control signals match (S13). Then, in S13, the registered remote control signal and RAM4
If the two remote control signals match, control data corresponding to the remote control signal is read from the RAM 4, and a control signal corresponding to the control data is output from the microcomputer 3 (S14). As a result, the operation of the controlled unit is controlled based on the control data, and the operation based on the registered remote control signal is executed. On the other hand, S1
In step 3, if coincidence between both remote control signals is not detected, the process returns to S11 and waits for reception of the next remote control signal.

[0020] Furthermore, the transmitting device 8 attached to this VTR
When performing the operation, the microcomputer 3 outputs control data from the ROM in response to a remote control signal from the receiving section 1, thereby controlling the operation of the controlled section.

In the configuration of this embodiment, by registering the remote control signal of the transmitting device 8 in the VTR in advance, the transmitting device 8 can be operated. This makes it possible to operate the transmitting device 8 even if it is made by a different manufacturer than the VTR, or even if it is a different device from the same manufacturer, such as a television. Also, R
AM4 allows multiple remote control signals to correspond to one control data, so if the above transmitting device 8 is for a television, the remote control signal corresponding to the power key of the transmitting device 8 can be sent to the VTR. If you register the power on/off function of the TV, you can turn on/off the TV and the VTR at the same time by operating the power key above.
It can be turned off. Furthermore, the television transmitter 8
other operation keys, such as the channel selection key on this VTR.
It becomes possible to assign functions such as playback and fast forwarding, and it is also possible to provide each operation key with a function different from its original function. In this way, according to this embodiment,
It is possible to add functions to the transmitting device 8 that exceed the functions that it originally has.

[0022] In this embodiment, a case has been described in which the remote control device with the above configuration is applied to a VTR, but it can also be applied to other devices having remote control functions such as televisions, laser disc players, and audio equipment. It is possible to apply similar remote control devices. For example, when operating a TV while mainly operating a VTR, if the TV is equipped with the above configuration, the VTR transmitter 8
By appropriately assigning the basic operating functions of the television to operation keys that are rarely used, it is possible to perform intensive operations on the transmitting device 8, and the rich functions of the transmitting device 8 can be effectively utilized. It becomes possible.

[0023]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the remote control device of the present invention includes a receiving device that receives a remote control signal transmitted by a transmitting device, and controls the remote control signal received by the receiving device and each control target unit. storage control means for storing control data in the storage means in individual correspondence with the control data for the storage means; comparison means for comparing the remote control signal stored in the storage means with the remote control signal received by the reception means; Control for outputting control data corresponding to the remote control signal from the storage means when a match between the two remote control signals is detected by comparing the comparison means, and controlling each control target unit based on this control data. The configuration includes means.

Therefore, by equipping a device with the above configuration, if a remote control signal for performing a desired operation is stored in the storage means in advance, the device can be operated using the remote control signal. Can be done. As a result, a new function can be added to the transmitting device, which until now has been exclusively used for devices to be operated, such that it can operate devices of other companies or different types of devices. Therefore, if the present invention is adopted, it is possible to improve the versatility of the transmitting device and to make the operation of the transmitting device easier.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of main parts of a remote control device.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for registering a remote control signal in the remote control device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operating procedure of the remote control device in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Receiving unit (receiving means) 2 Operating unit 3 Microcomputer (storage control means, comparison means, control means) 4 RAM (storage means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A receiving means for receiving a remote control signal transmitted by a transmitting device; and a storing means for individually associating the remote control signal received by the receiving means with control data for controlling each control target unit. a storage control means for storing the remote control signal in the storage means; a comparison means for comparing the remote control signal stored in the storage means with the remote control signal received by the reception means; and a comparison between the comparison means to determine whether the two remote control signals match. A remote control characterized by comprising: control means for outputting control data from the storage means according to the remote control signal when the remote control signal is detected, and controlling each control target unit based on this control data. Device.