JPH05128828A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a remote controller easy to operate and with which easy judgement of an operational content is enabled. CONSTITUTION:This controller is provided with a function key 13 for selecting the kinds of electronic equipments and operation keys 15, 16 and 17 for operating the electronic equipments respectively so as to remote-control plural kinds of electronic equipments. This remote controller 11 is provided with a LED 23 for turning on the light of the pressed key by pressing the function key 13 and a microcomputer 41 for making an operation possible by turning on the light of the operation key corresponding to the pressed function key 13 by the LED 33.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control device for remotely controlling electronic equipment such as a television receiver (TV), a satellite broadcast receiver (BS), a laser disk device (LD), a video tape recorder (VTR). (Hereinafter referred to as a remote controller).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art TV, BS, L with one remote control
A device for remotely controlling D, VTR, etc. has been conventionally configured as shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, the remote controller 1 is provided with a power switch 2, a function key 3, an operation key 4, a volume key 5, and the like. Then, the electronic device to be operated is selected by the function key 3, and the electronic device selected by the operation key 4 and the volume key 5 is operated.

However, the remote controller 1 shown in FIG. 8 is not provided with a lighting device, and there is a problem that the contents currently operated are not known.

Another conventional remote controller is also known in which the operation keys 4 are displayed on the liquid crystal as shown in FIG. For example, when the function key 3 of the VTR is pressed, the operation key 4 required for operation is displayed on the liquid crystal display, and the set operation is performed by pressing the displayed key.

However, according to the remote controller 1 shown in FIG. 9, the contents currently operated are known, but since the function key 3 itself does not light up, it is difficult to operate and the contents are difficult to understand because the display color is one color. was there. Further, the liquid crystal display has a drawback that the cost is high.

[0006]

As described above, according to the conventional remote controller, there is a problem that the contents currently operated are difficult to understand or difficult to operate.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a remote controller which is easy to operate and whose operation contents can be easily determined.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a function key for selecting the type of the electronic device and a remote control for the electronic device in order to remotely control a plurality of types of electronic devices. In a remote control device provided with an operation key to be operated, a lighting unit that lights the pressed key by pressing the function key, and lights and operates the operation key corresponding to the pressed function key It is characterized in that it is provided with a control means that enables it.

[0009]

According to the above construction, when the function key of the electronic device to be selected is pressed, the function key is lit, and at the same time, the operation key of the selected electronic device is lit and the operation is possible. Therefore, the key to be operated lights up so that it is easy to see, and only the electronic device of the displayed key can be operated, which facilitates the operation.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the remote controller of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 6 show the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the remote controller 11 includes a power switch 1
2, function key 13, selector fixed key 14, TV, LD, V
TR dedicated operation key 15, LD, VTR dedicated operation key 16, B
An S-only key 17 and a volume key 18 are provided. Further, touch sensors 19 are provided on both opposite sides of the remote controller 11.

Function key 13 is TV, BS, LD, VTR
1 and VTR2, and as shown in FIG. 2, it is a self-illuminated tact switch. As shown in (a) and (b), the tact switch 21 is composed of an LED 23 mounted on a printed wiring board 22 and a rubber knob 24 that covers the upper portion of the LED 23. The upper portion of the rubber knob 24 is a rubber layer. Is thin, and the light emitted from the LED 23 is transmitted as shown in (c). Further, a contact pattern 25 as shown in (d) is formed on the printed wiring board 22, and when the rubber contact 26 provided on the lower surface of the rubber knob 24 contacts, the LED 23 lights up.

As shown in FIG. 3, the LED 23 may be provided beside the rubber knob 24.

The selector fixing key 14 is used when one function key 13 is pressed and fixed and another function key 13 is pressed to perform another operation.

The operation keys 15 for TV, LD and VTR are 12
Individual channel setting knobs 31 are provided. As shown in FIG. 4 (a), the upper surface of the operation key 15 is covered with an acrylic plate 32 in which a knob 31 is opened in a round hole shape.
Further, LEDs 33 are provided at the four corners of the acrylic plate 32, and the LED 33 is turned on by pressing the knob 31 as in the case of the function key 13. Then, the acrylic plate 32 acts as a light guide plate, and the entire surface emits bright light. As shown in FIG. 4B, the surface of the acrylic plate 32 may be shielded from light and light may be emitted from the periphery 34 of the round hole-shaped opening of the acrylic plate 32. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 5, bosses 35 projecting from the acrylic plate 32 may be provided at positions lateral to the knob 31, and these bosses 35 may emit light.

The LD, VTR dedicated operation key 16 and the BS dedicated operation key 17 are also composed of the TV, LD, VTR dedicated operation key 15
The configuration is the same. Then, for example, when the TV function key 13 is pressed, the key is lit, and at the same time, the periphery of the TV, LD, and VTR dedicated operation keys 15 are lit. At this time, LD, VTR dedicated operation key 16 and BS dedicated operation key
The area around 17 does not light up, only the TV operates, and LD, VTR, B
S does not work. However, the volume key 18 works in all modes.

The touch sensor 19 is provided at a position where the hand is touched when the remote controller 11 is operated, and is made of a metal or a conductive film. And touch sensor
When the hand touches 19, the LEDs 23 and 33 will light for a few seconds.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the remote controller 11 of this embodiment. O from the function key 13 or the touch sensor 19 to the microcomputer 41 built into the remote controller 11.
When the N signal is input, the LED2
3, 33 lights up. In addition, function key 13, operation keys 15, 16, 1
The signals from the 7 and the volume key 18 are respectively sent to the infrared ray emitting section 43 via the microcomputer 41, and are emitted to an electronic device such as a TV for remote control.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. In step 51, remote control
When you hold 11 and touch the touch sensor 19,
At, the touch sensor 19 detects this. Next, in step 53, the microcomputer 41 receives this detection signal, and in step 54, a signal is sent to the LED drive section 42. Then, in step 55, the LEDs 23 and 33 are turned on for several seconds. On the other hand, in step 56, the function key 13, for example L
When the D key is pressed, the LD which is the model to be operated is selected in step 57 via step 53, and the LD key 13 is lit in, for example, green in step 55 via step 54. At the same time, the LEDs 33 around the operation keys 15 and 16 also light up. Next, in step 58, when the play or stop operation keys 15 and 16 are pressed, infrared rays are emitted from the infrared ray emitting section 43 in step 59 to remotely operate the LD.

In the above embodiment, the case where the LD key of the function keys 13 is pressed has been described, but the same applies when other function keys 13 are pressed. If you press the selector fixed key 14, all the function keys 13 will blink in red light and the desired function key
When you press 13, only that key lights red.

According to this embodiment, the function key 13 to be operated
Lights up, and the periphery of the operation key for operating the electronic device selected by the function key 13 also lights up, so that the contents currently operated can be clearly recognized. Moreover, since only the operation keys that are lit are activated, the operation becomes simple. In addition, it is easy to see even in the dark and costs less than a remote controller with a liquid crystal display.

The touch sensor 19 can be omitted by using a conductive material for the molded case of the remote controller itself.

[0023]

As described above, according to the remote controller of the present invention, the keys to be operated are lit, and only the lit keys can be operated. Therefore, the operation is simple and the operation content can be easily judged. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the configuration of an embodiment of a remote controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a lighting means of the function key of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing another example of the lighting means of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a lighting means for the operation keys of FIG. 1.

5 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the lighting means of FIG. 4. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing a circuit configuration of this embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of this embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing the configuration of an example of a conventional remote controller.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing the configuration of another example of a conventional remote controller.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Remote control 13 Function keys 15, 16, 17 Operation keys 23, 33 LED (lighting means) 41 Microcomputer (control means)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A remote control device provided with a function key for selecting a type of the electronic device and an operation key for operating the electronic device in order to remotely control a plurality of types of electronic devices. The remote control is provided with lighting means for lighting the pressed key by pressing the key, and control means for lighting and operating the operation key corresponding to the pressed function key. apparatus.