JPH05284568A - Remote control adaptor device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a remote control adaptor device which is controlled by the control signal supplied via a network and also can perform the control as conventional even with a conventional remote control that is attached to an equipment. CONSTITUTION:A signal converter means 102 converts the 1st control signal received from an input connector 101 into a remote control electric signal. A light emitter means 103 converts the remote control electric signal into a remote control optical signal. A half mirror 104 reflects the remote control optical signal to change its direction and at the same time transmits the external incident light in the same direction as the remote control optical signal to lead the incident light to a remote control light receiving part 105 set at the equipment side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control adapter device which is attached to a device having a remote control light-receiving part and which controls the device from the outside by utilizing a remote control function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as the number of remote controls for equipment has increased, the number of remote controls has increased, and confusion and malfunctions due to the presence of many remote control units in one room pose problems. .. As a countermeasure against this, an attempt has been made to reduce the burden on the user by connecting the devices with a network such as a home bus and operating them systematically. Hereinafter, a conventional method of controlling a device will be described by taking an AV device as an example.

Conventionally, AV equipment such as televisions and videos used at home is generally controlled by a remote controller, and normally one remote controller exists for one equipment. As a result, it is necessary to combine the operations of multiple remote controllers in order to operate across multiple AV devices.
Not easy to use. Two major measures have been taken to solve this. One is an integrated remote controller that has the functions of multiple remote controllers. Another is to connect a plurality of AV devices via a network and automatically exchange the necessary information between the AV devices to reduce the amount of user operation. It is something to reduce. Examples of the latter include HBS standardized by EIAJ and D2B defined by IEC. However, it takes time for AV equipment compliant with new standards such as HBS and D2B to become common, and the AV equipment already owned by the user cannot be combined with these equipment. As one method of solving this problem, a remote control adapter device for controlling an existing AV device is made, mounted on the existing AV device, and a network signal is converted into a remote control optical signal and supplied to this. There is an idea to do it. An example of such a remote control adapter device is, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-23419.
No. 9 publication.

[0004]

However, the above remote control adapter device has a problem that it cannot receive light from the conventional remote control because the remote control light receiving portion of the device is covered with the adapter. ..

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and can be controlled by a control signal supplied via a network, and can be controlled as usual by a conventional remote controller attached to the equipment. The purpose is to provide a device.

[0006]

In order to achieve this object, a remote control adapter device of the present invention comprises an input connector for receiving a first control signal and a signal conversion means for converting the first control signal into a remote control electric signal. And a light emitting means for converting a remote control electric signal into a remote control optical signal and a direction for reflecting the remote control optical signal while changing the direction of incident light from the outside.
And a half mirror that transmits the reflected remote control optical signal in the same direction.

Also, the remote control adapter device of the present invention is
An input connector for receiving the first control signal, a signal converting means for converting the first control signal into a first remote control electric signal, and a light receiving means for converting incident light from the outside into a second remote control electric signal, A signal synthesizing means for synthesizing the first and second remote control electric signals into a third remote control electric signal, and a light emitting means for converting the third remote control electric signal into a remote control optical signal are provided.

The remote control adapter device of the present invention is
An input connector for receiving the first control signal, a signal converting means for converting the first control signal into a first remote control electric signal, and a light receiving means for converting incident light from the outside into a second remote control electric signal, A second signal converting means for adding necessary processing to the second remote control signal to convert it into a third remote control signal, and a signal for synthesizing the first and third remote control electrical signals into a fourth remote control electrical signal. It comprises a synthesizing means and a light emitting means for converting the fourth remote control electric signal into a remote control optical signal.

The remote control adapter device of the present invention is
An input connector for receiving the first control signal, a signal conversion means for converting the first control signal into the first remote controller electric signal and outputting the conversion control signal, a plurality of conversion tables, and the conversion control signal according to the conversion control signal. A conversion table selecting means for selecting one from the conversion tables, a light receiving means for converting an incident light from the outside into a second remote controller electric signal, and a second remote controller signal required for the second remote controller signal according to the selected conversion table. Second signal conversion means for processing and converting into a third remote controller signal, signal combining means for combining the first and third remote controller electric signals into a fourth remote controller electric signal, and a fourth remote controller And a light emitting means for converting an electric signal into a remote control optical signal.

[0010]

With the above configuration, the remote control adapter device of the present invention converts a control signal input as an electric signal from the outside into a remote control optical signal and optically combines it with a control signal input as an optical signal from the outside. To the remote control receiver of the device.

Further, a control signal inputted as an optical signal from the outside is converted into an electric signal, electrically combined with a control signal inputted as an electric signal from the outside, and then converted into an optical signal to be received by a remote controller of the device. Give to the department.

Further, a control signal inputted as an optical signal from the outside is converted into an electric signal, and after processing such as deletion of unnecessary commands is performed, it is electrically combined with a control signal inputted as an electric signal from the outside. After that, it is converted into an optical signal and given to the remote control light receiving unit of the device.

Also, after converting a control signal input as an optical signal from the outside into an electric signal and performing processing according to a rule set according to the control signal input as an electric signal from the outside, the electric signal from the outside is processed. Is electrically combined with a control signal input as, converted into an optical signal, and given to the remote control light receiving unit of the device.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a remote control adapter device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which 101 is an input connector for receiving a first control signal, and 102 is a remote control electric signal for the first control signal. Signal conversion means for converting, 103 is a light emitting means for converting a remote control electric signal into a remote control optical signal,
104 reflects the remote control optical signal and changes the direction,
A half mirror that transmits incident light from the outside in the same direction as the reflected remote control optical signal, and 105 is a remote control light receiving unit of a device to which the adapter is attached.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a remote control adapter device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, in which 201 is an input connector for receiving a first control signal, and 202 is a first remote control for receiving the first control signal. Signal conversion means for converting to an electric signal, 20
3 is a light receiving means for converting incident light from the outside into a second remote controller electric signal, 204 is a signal combining means for combining the first and second remote controller electric signals into a third remote controller electric signal,
Reference numeral 205 is a light emitting means for converting the third remote control electric signal into a remote control optical signal, and 206 is a remote control light receiving section of a device to which the adapter is attached.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a remote control adapter device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, in which 301 is an input connector for receiving a first control signal, and 302 is a first remote control for receiving the first control signal. Signal conversion means for converting to an electric signal, 30
3 is a light receiving means for converting incident light from the outside into a second remote control electric signal, 304 is a second signal converting means for performing necessary processing on the second remote control signal and converting it into a third remote control signal, 305 Is a signal combining means for combining the first and third remote control electric signals into a fourth remote control electric signal, 306 is a light emitting means for converting the fourth remote control electric signal into a remote control optical signal, and 307 is an adapter attached It is the remote control light receiving unit of the target device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the remote control adapter device in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 401 is an input connector for receiving a first control signal, and 402 is a first control signal for the first control signal. A signal converting means for converting the remote control electric signal and outputting a conversion control signal, a light receiving means 403 for converting incident light from the outside into a second remote control electric signal, 40
4 is a plurality of conversion tables, 405 is a conversion table selecting means for selecting one from the conversion tables 404 according to the conversion control signal, and 406 is a first conversion table after adding necessary processing to the second remote control signal according to the selected conversion table. Second signal conversion means for converting the remote control signal into the third remote control signal, 407 is signal combining means for combining the first and third remote control electric signals into a fourth remote control electric signal, and 408 is the fourth remote control electric signal. A light emitting means for converting into a remote control optical signal, and 409 is a remote control light receiving section of a device to which the adapter is attached.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a manner in which the remote control adapter device according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention is mounted on an AV device. 501 is a remote control adapter device and 502 is an AV device.
A device and 503 are remote controls.

The operation of the remote control adapter device of this embodiment having the above configuration will be described below.

In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a control signal from an external controller is input to the input connector 101. This will be called a first control signal. The signal converting means 102 converts the first control signal into a remote control electric signal according to the remote control format. The light emitting means 103 converts the remote control electric signal into a remote control optical signal. On the other hand, the half mirror 104 reflects the remote control optical signal and guides it to the remote control light receiving section 105 of the device to which the remote control adapter device is attached, and also transmits the light from another remote control that comes in from the outside through the window etc. Transmitted through remote control receiver
It is installed so as to lead to 105. As a result, systematic control is possible with the first control signal sent from an external device such as a centralized controller, and when used alone, it can also be controlled with the remote control attached to the device. You can do it.

In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the light signal from the external remote controller is once converted into the second remote controller signal by the light receiving means 203, and the first control signal is converted into the remote controller format. The first remote control signal thus obtained is combined with the signal combining means 204 to form a third remote control signal. The light emitting means 205 converts the third remote control signal into a remote control light signal and irradiates the remote control light receiving section 206 of the device to which the remote control adapter device is attached. In the second embodiment, in addition to the first embodiment, the stability of the control by the attached remote controller is improved by not using the means for attenuating the light, such as the half mirror, and the signal combining means.
A new function can be added by devising the composition method by 204. For example, the signal synthesizing means 204 is provided with the function of inhibiting one of the two remote controller electric signals, and the control from the external remote controller by the first control signal, that is, the instruction to inhibit the second remote controller electric signal is signal synthesized. By giving the means 204, it is possible to prevent a malfunction caused by the control from the external remote controller during the system-like operation by the first control signal. In the third embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the second signal converting means 304 adds necessary processing to the second remote control signal output from the light receiving means 303 in advance. By doing so, signals from remote controllers other than the attached remote controller, that is, remote controllers with different formats can also be controlled by converting the formats.

Furthermore, in the fourth embodiment shown in FIG.
The conversion table selection unit 405 selects the conversion procedure performed by the second signal conversion unit 406 from among the prepared conversion tables 404. The signal conversion unit 402 gives the selection instruction in accordance with the first control signal.

[0024]

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a conventional remote control adapter device capable of controlling conventional AV equipment by both an external network such as D2B and an attached remote controller as needed. Can be provided.

Further, according to the second embodiment, in addition to the effect of the first embodiment, the stability of the control by the attached remote controller can be improved, and the control by the attached remote controller is prohibited if necessary. be able to.

Further, according to the third embodiment, the first and second
In addition to the effect of the above embodiment, control using a remote controller other than the attached one can be realized.

Further, according to the fourth embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first, second, and third embodiments, a plurality of types of remote controllers other than the attached ones are used as necessary to control the equipment. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote control adapter device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote control adapter device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote control adapter device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote control adapter device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing how the remote control adapter device according to the first to fourth embodiments of the present invention is attached to an AV device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101,201,301,401 Input connector 102,202,302,402 Signal converting means 103,205,306,408 Light emitting means 104 Half mirror 105,206,307,409 Remote control light receiving section 203,303,403 Light receiving means 204,305,407 Signal combining means 304,406 Second signal converting means 404 Conversion table 405 Conversion table selecting means 501 Remote control adapter device 502 AV equipment 503 Remote control

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An input connector for receiving a first control signal, a signal conversion means for converting the first control signal into a remote control electrical signal, a light emitting means for converting the remote control electrical signal into a remote control optical signal, A remote control adapter device comprising: a half mirror that reflects a remote control optical signal to change its direction and transmits incident light from the outside in the same direction as the reflected remote control optical signal. 2. An input connector for receiving a first control signal, a signal conversion means for converting the first control signal into a first remote control electric signal, and an incident light from the outside into a second remote control electric signal. A light receiving means for converting; a signal synthesizing means for synthesizing the first and second remote controller electric signals to form a third remote controller electric signal; and a light emitting means for converting the third remote controller electric signal into a remote controller optical signal. A remote control adapter device comprising: 3. An input connector for receiving a first control signal, signal conversion means for converting the first control signal into a first remote control electric signal, and incident light from the outside into a second remote control electric signal. A light receiving means for converting; a second signal converting means for converting the second remote control signal into a third remote control signal by subjecting the second remote control signal to necessary processing; 4. A remote controller adapter device comprising: a signal synthesizing unit for generating a remote controller electrical signal of No. 4, and a light emitting unit for converting the fourth remote controller electrical signal into a remote controller optical signal. 4. An input connector for receiving a first control signal, signal conversion means for converting the first control signal into a first remote controller electric signal and outputting the conversion control signal, and a plurality of conversion tables. A conversion table selecting means for selecting one of the conversion tables according to the conversion control signal, a light receiving means for converting an incident light from the outside into a second remote control electric signal, and the conversion table according to the selected conversion table. Second signal conversion means for performing necessary processing on the second remote control signal to convert it into a third remote control signal, and the first and third remote control electric signals are combined into a fourth remote control electric signal. A remote controller adapter device comprising: a signal synthesizing unit; and a light emitting unit that converts the fourth remote controller electrical signal into a remote controller optical signal.