JPH04371094A - Remote control transmitter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To change over between plural control modes with a single mode switching key and to reduce the number of keys. CONSTITUTION:A remote control transmitter 1 is provided with a mode switching key 22, a mode setting means, a first transmission means, a common key and a second transmission means. The mode switching key 22 changes over between control modes. The mode setting means periodically changes over and set the control mode each time the mode switching key 22 is operated. The first transmission means transmits a first signal indicating the set control mode each time the mode switching key 22 is operated. The common key is commonly used for the plural control modes. The second transmission means transmits a second signal corresponding to the control mode set by the mode setting means.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control transmitter, and more particularly to a remote control transmitter that can remotely control a plurality of devices.

0002

[Prior art and its problems] In recent years, television receivers, VT
The R device and the satellite tuner use a remote control transmitter (hereinafter referred to as a remote control) that allows various controls to be performed at hand. This has made it possible to control television receivers and the like from a distance, making them easier to operate.

[0003] Conventionally, these remote controllers are provided individually for each device. For this reason, for example, VT
When displaying images, etc. reproduced by the R device on a television receiver, there is the inconvenience of having to operate both the remote control for the television receiver and the remote control for the VTR device. Similarly, if you want to watch satellite broadcasting on a television receiver, you must operate the satellite tuner's remote control and the television receiver's remote controller.

[0004]As a technique to solve this problem,
There is a remote control disclosed in Japanese Patent No. -25170. This remote control has three types of switches: a television operation switch, a VTR operation switch, and a television and VTR device operation switch, and these are used to control the television or VTR.

However, in this conventional technology, the television is
For example, duplicate channel keys are required with TR,
There is a problem that the number of keys increases.

[0006] Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 129719/1983 discloses a remote control equipped with a group of mode keys for switching control modes for controlling a plurality of devices, and a group of common command keys common to each mode. ing. According to this configuration, the number of keys can be reduced by the common command key group.

In this prior art, the number of operation keys can be reduced by using a common command key group, but in order to switch control modes, it is necessary to press the mode key for each control mode. Therefore, a mode key is required for each control mode, and when controlling a plurality of devices with one remote control device, there is a problem that the number of keys increases.

An object of the present invention is to provide a remote control that can switch between a plurality of control modes using one mode switching key and reduce the number of keys.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A remote control according to the present invention includes a mode switching key, a mode setting means, a first transmitting means, a common key, and a second transmitting means. The mode switching key is for switching the control mode. The mode setting means periodically switches and sets the control mode each time the mode switching key is operated. The first transmitting means transmits a first signal indicating the set control mode each time the mode switching key is operated. The common key is commonly used in multiple control modes. The second transmitting means transmits a second signal corresponding to the control mode set by the mode setting means each time the common key is operated.

0010

In the present invention, when the mode switching key is operated to switch the control mode, the mode setting means periodically switches and sets the control mode each time the mode switching key is operated. Further, the first transmitting means transmits a first signal indicating the set control mode. Next, when a common key commonly used in a plurality of control modes is operated, a second signal corresponding to the control mode set by the mode setting means is transmitted by the second transmitting means each time the common key is operated. .

[0011] Therefore, since the control mode can be switched with one mode switching key, the number of keys can be reduced, and the number of keys can be further reduced by using a common key.

0012

[Embodiment] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a television receiving system employing a remote control according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2
is a detailed circuit diagram of the remote control. The remote control transmitter 1 is
It is controlled by a remote control control section 2. The remote control control unit 2 includes a microcomputer, ROM, RAM, and I
/O etc. Connected to the remote controller control section 2 are a key panel 3, a transmitting section 4, a power supply section 5, an initial reset circuit 4a that generates a reset signal, and an oscillation circuit 5a that includes a crystal resonator. The remote controller controller 2 provides the transmitter 4 with a key code corresponding to the key input on the key panel 3. The transmitter 4 is equipped with an infrared LED, modulates the given key code into infrared light, and transmits it to the television receiver 6.

The television receiver 6 includes a receiving section 7, which demodulates the key code transmitted using infrared light. The demodulated key code is given to the television control section 8, BS control section 9, and video control section 10, respectively. TV control section 8
TV tuner 1 according to the given key code
1 or analog switch 14. BS control section 9
controls the BS tuner 12 using the given key code. Video control section 10 controls video tuner 13 according to the given key code.

[0014] TV tuner 11, BS tuner 1
2 and the outputs of the video tuner 13 are given to an analog switch 14.

[0015] The analog switch 14 is connected to the television control section 8.
One tuner or external input AUX is selected by the control mode signal from the control mode signal, and the video signal and audio signal from the selected tuner or external input are output to the video processing section 17 and the audio processing section 15, respectively. The video processing section 17 processes the applied video signal and supplies it to the CRT 18, thereby displaying the video from the selected tuner.

The audio processing unit 16 also processes the provided audio signal and causes the speaker 16 to output audio.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of the key panel 3 of the remote control 1. The key panel 3 of the remote control 1 has 4
There are 32 keys in 8 rows.The first row, from left to right, is a mute (MUTE) key 20, an external input (AUX) key 21, and a mode switching (TV/BS/VTR) key 2.
2. A power key 23 is provided. From the second row to the fourth row, 1, 2 to 0 and -1 to -
Numeric keys 24 up to 5 and audio multiple selection (S.MPX)
A key 25 is provided. Further, a channel down key 26 and a channel up key 27 are provided in the fifth row, and a volume down key 28 and a volume up key 29 are provided in the sixth row. The external input key 21 is a key used to input video and audio from an external device such as a laser disc device, for example. By operating the mode switching key 22, the control mode of the television receiver 6 can be changed from TV→BS→VTR→TV...
It is used for periodic switching.

When the external input key 21 or the mode switching key 22 is operated, the remote control control section 2 switches the control mode and transmits a key code indicating the control mode to the television receiver 6 via the transmission section 4. do. When any other key is pressed, a key code corresponding to the control mode is transmitted to the television receiver 6 via the transmitter 4.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the control contents of the remote controller control section 2. When a battery is first set in the power supply section 5, in step S1, initial settings such as resetting the microcomputer of the remote control control section 2, initializing the RAM, and resetting the AUX flag described later are performed. Subsequently, in step S2, an input from any key on the key panel 3 is awaited. If there is a key input, it is determined in step S3 whether the input key is the mode switching key 22 or not. If it is determined in step S3 that the input key is not the mode switching key 22, the process advances to step S4. Similarly, in step S4, the input key is external input key 2.
Determine whether it is 1 or not. If it is determined in step S4 that the input key is not the external input key 21, the process advances to step S5. In step S5, it is determined that another key has been pressed, and it is determined whether the control mode at that time is the TV mode.

If it is determined in step S5 that the mode is not TV mode, the process advances to step S6. In step S6, it is determined whether the control mode at that time is the BS mode. Further, if it is determined in step S5 that the mode is TV mode, the process advances to step S9. In step S9, the key code of the other pressed key is output in TV mode format. If it is determined in step S6 that the mode is BS mode, the process advances to step S10. In step S10, the key code of the other pressed key is output in BS mode format. If it is determined in step S6 that the mode is not BS mode, the process advances to step S11. In step S11, VT
Outputs the key code of the other pressed key in R mode format.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S4 that the external input key 21 has been pressed, the process advances to step S7. In step S7, the AUX flag is set to 1, and the fact that the external input key 21 has been pressed is stored. In step S8, an AUX code indicating the AUX mode is output to the television receiver 6.

If it is determined in step S3 that the mode switching key 22 has been pressed, the process advances to step S12. In step S12, it is determined whether the AUX flag is 1 or not. If the AUX flag is not 1, that is, if it is determined that the external input key 21 is not pressed before the mode switching key 22 is pressed, the process advances to step S13. In step S13, it is determined whether the current control mode is the TV mode. When the current control mode is the TV mode, the process advances to step S15. In step S15, the control mode is switched from TV mode to BS mode. Step S1
At step 6, a BS code indicating the BS mode is output to the television receiver 6.

Further, when it is determined in step S13 that the current control mode is not the TV mode, step S1
Proceed to step 4. In step S14, the current control mode is B.
Determine whether or not it is in S mode. When it is determined that the current control mode is the BS mode, the process advances to step S17. In step S17, the control mode is changed from BS mode to VT.
Switch the mode to R mode. In step S18,
A VTR code indicating the VTR mode is output to the television receiver 6. If it is determined in step S14 that the mode is not BS mode, the process advances to step S19. In step S19, the control mode is switched from VTR mode to TV mode. In step S20, a TV code indicating the TV mode is output to the television receiver 6.

[0024] Steps S8 to S11, Step S16,
When S18 and S20 are completed, the process advances to step S2. On the other hand, if the AUX flag is determined to be 1 in step S12, the process proceeds to step S21 in FIG. Step S21
Now, reset the AUX flag to 0. Step S2
In step 2, it is determined whether the control mode at that time is the TV mode. When it is determined in step S22 that the control mode is TV mode, the process advances to step S24. In step S24, a TV code is output. If it is determined in step S22 that the mode is not TV mode, the process advances to step S23. In step S23, it is determined whether the mode is BS mode. When it is determined in step S23 that the mode is BS mode, the process advances to step S25. In step S25, the BS code is output to the television receiver 6. Also, in step S23, B
If it is determined that the mode is not S mode, the process advances to step S26. In step S26, the VTR code is output to the television receiver 6.

The processing from step S21 to step S26 is performed so that the control mode will not be switched if the mode switching key 22 is pressed again to exit the AUX mode after pressing the external input key 21. This is done in order to achieve this goal. For example, in TV mode, if you press the external input key 21 to use the laser disc, enter AUX mode, and press the mode change key 22 to exit it, the mode will change to the next mode. Instead of switching, the mode returns to the TV mode before the external input key was pressed.

[0026] When the processing in steps S24 to S26 is completed, the process advances to step S2 in FIG. In addition, AUX code,
The BS code, VTR code and TV code are output in TV mode format.

On the other hand, when the television receiver 6 receives the AUX code, BS code, VTR code, and TV code, it provides them to the television control section 8 . The television control unit 8 switches the analog switch 1 according to the input code.
Outputs a control mode signal for switching between 4 and 4. The analog switch 14 selects one of the video signals and audio signals from the TV tuner 11, BS tuner 12, video tuner 13, and external input AUX according to the input control mode signal, and outputs the selected video signal and audio signal. are output to the video processing section 17 and the audio processing section 15, respectively.

Further, if a key other than the mode switching key 22 and the external input key 21 is pressed, steps S9 and S10 are executed.
, S11, when the key codes in the formats of the respective control modes are output, the television receiver 6 receives the key codes output from the respective control sections 8, 9, and 10. For example, when a key code is output in the TV mode format, only the television control unit 8 accepts the key code, and the other control units 9 and 10 do not accept the key code. Similarly, BS mode format (or V
The key code output in TR mode format) is B.
Only the S control unit 9 (or video control unit 10) accepts,
Other control units 8, 10 (or 8, 9) do not accept it.

With this configuration, the television tuner 11, BS tuner 12, and video tuner 13 can be controlled using separate formats, eliminating the need to control them using a unified format.

[Other Embodiments] (a) In this embodiment, the key code of the common key is output in a different format depending on the control mode, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the key code of the common key is output in the same format depending on the control mode. You may also send the key code of In this case, it is necessary to control the television tuner, BS tuner, and video tuner with one control unit.

(b) In the above embodiment, the control mode was explained using TV, BS, and VTR as examples, but the control mode is not limited to this, and may be a mode for controlling other devices such as CDs and LDs. It's okay.

[0032]

[Effects of the Invention] In the present invention, multiple control modes can be easily switched by operating the mode switching key, so there is no need to provide multiple keys for mode switching, and the number of keys can be reduced. . Furthermore, since a common key can be used in each control mode instead of providing a key for each control mode, the number of keys can be further reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a television receiving system that employs a remote control according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a remote control according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of a remote control key panel.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing control details of a remote controller control unit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control details of a remote controller control unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Remote control transmitter 2 Remote control control section 3 Key panel 4 Transmission section 22 Mode switching key 24 Numerical keys

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A mode switching key for switching a control mode; a mode setting means for periodically switching and setting a control mode each time the mode switching key is operated; and a mode setting means for periodically switching and setting a control mode each time the mode switching key is operated; a first transmitting means for transmitting a first signal indicating a control mode that has been selected;
A common key commonly used in a plurality of control modes, and a second transmitting means for transmitting a second signal according to the control mode set by the mode setting means each time the common key is operated. remote control transmitter.