JPH06261372A - Bi-directional remote control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute remote control corresponding to controlled units without work for increasing the number of operation keys on a remote controller even when controlled units are extended or for storing a command signal which is to be transmitted to the extended units. CONSTITUTION:A bi-directional remote control system which transmits/receives an information signal between the controlled units 2, 3, 4 5 and 6 and the remote controller 9 for operating them is provided with an identification signal generation means generating an identification signal showing the types of the controlled units 2-6, and a transmission means transmitting the identification signal generated in response to an identification signal transfer command. The remote controller 9 gives the identification signal transfer command, receives the identification signal, displays an operation command corresponding to the received identification signal and transmits an operation signal for operating the controlled units 2-6 in accordance with the displayed operation command.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control system, and more particularly to transmitting and receiving information signals between controlled equipment such as video equipment and audio equipment and a remote controller for operating these equipment. Bi-directional remote control system that can.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a remote controller (hereinafter, abbreviated as a remote controller) prepared for each controlled device is individually operated remotely, and an operation signal to be transmitted to each controlled device is stored in advance. It was controlled remotely by a single remote control.

In a system such as the former, when a controlled device is added, a remote controller corresponding to the added device must be newly prepared, and when the number of controlled devices is large, a large number of remote controllers are provided. It is inconvenient in the actual operation because it will be handled. In this respect, the latter system is more advantageous. However, in the latter system, when the controlled device is added, the number of operation buttons on the remote controller corresponding to the added device is increased,
This involves a task of storing an operation signal to be transmitted to the extension device, which imposes a great burden on the user when handling such a remote controller.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to increase the number of operation buttons on a remote controller even if a controlled device is added. Another object of the present invention is to provide a bidirectional remote control system capable of performing remote control corresponding to a controlled device without the work of storing a command signal to be transmitted to the additional device.

[0005]

A bidirectional remote control system according to the present invention is a bidirectional remote control system for mutually transmitting and receiving information signals between a controlled device and a remote controller for operating the controlled device. And an identification signal generation unit that generates an identification signal indicating the type of the controlled device, and a transmission unit that transmits the identification signal in response to an identification signal transfer command. Characterized by transmitting a transfer command, receiving the identification signal, displaying an operation command corresponding to the received identification signal, and transmitting an operation signal for operating the controlled device in response to the displayed operation command. There is.

[0006]

The bidirectional remote control system according to the present invention generates an identification signal indicating the type of controlled device, transmits the identification signal generated in response to the identification signal transfer command, and the remote controller sends the identification signal. A transfer command is issued, an identification signal is received, an operation command corresponding to the received identification signal is displayed, and an operation signal for operating the controlled device is transmitted in response to the displayed operation command.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a bidirectional remote control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a master amplifier 1 is responsible for a system controller that controls the operation of the entire system,
For example, a laser disc player (LDP) 2, a compact disc player (CDP) 3, a first video cassette recorder (VCR) 4 having a reproducing function, a second video cassette recorder (VCR) 5 having a reproducing function, and a tuner 6. , An input source signal line, an input and output control signal line, and a power supply line, respectively. The master amplifier 1 is provided with a dedicated connection terminal group for each of these source devices. The LDP has a terminal group (LDP) and the CDP has a terminal group (CDP).
VCR has two terminal groups (VCR1), (VCR2)
However, in addition to the terminal group (TUN) provided in the tuner, two terminal groups (CTR1) and (CTR2) as connection terminals for the cassette tape recorder and a terminal group (ADP as connection terminals for the analog disc player). ) Is provided.

Various signal lines and power supply lines connected to these terminal groups in the master amplifier 1 are guided to the signal controller 10. The signal control unit 10 includes an input / output interface circuit, a selector for selecting any one of a plurality of input source signals, an input control signal, and an output control signal according to a command signal from a remote controller transmission / reception control unit 11 described later. It includes a CPU that controls generation and switching of the selector, an amplifier that amplifies a selected source signal, and the like. The output source signals obtained by the signal control unit 10 are supplied to dedicated connection terminals. The master amplifier 1 is also connected to, for example, the video monitor 7 and the speaker 8 via the connection terminal and the output source signal line, respectively.

Further, in the master amplifier 1, a predetermined signal line or power supply line for each corresponding source device in the source device connection terminal group including a terminal not connected to the source device is provided in the remote control transmission / reception control section 11. It is guided to the connection state detection circuit 111. The connection state detection circuit 111 detects the connection state of each of the guided lines with the source device, that is, whether or not the source device corresponding to the line is connected, and outputs a detection signal corresponding to the detection result to the CPU 112. Supply. C
The PU 112 generates source identification data according to each of the supplied detection signals and uses this as source identification data memory 11
Store in 3. The source identification data here carries information indicating which of the connection terminal groups for the source device is connected to the master amplifier 1. The remote controller transmission / reception control unit 11 also receives a system operation signal from the remote controller 9 and supplies the system operation signal to the CPU 112, and C
It has a transmitter 115 for transmitting a remote controller control signal issued from the PU 112 to the remote controller 9. CPU1
Reference numeral 12 supplies a command signal to the signal control unit 10 according to a system operation signal supplied from the reception unit 114, and remote control based on the control signal from the signal control unit 10 and the read data from the source identification data memory 113. The signal is supplied to the transmission unit 115.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific structure of the remote controller 9. In FIG. 2, the remote controller 9 receives a remote controller control signal from the master amplifier 1 and supplies the remote controller control signal to a control section 91 composed of a microcomputer, and a system operation signal issued from the control section 91 to a master amplifier. Sending unit 93 for sending to 1
Have and. The control unit 91 displays the program memory 94 storing the program data, the command memory 95A storing the command data corresponding to all the source devices connectable to the master amplifier 1, and the source device connected to the master amplifier 1. And a command display memory 95C for displaying the command corresponding to the source device selected by the user as an operation device among the source devices connected to the master amplifier 1 Read and write control and signal processing and control based on program data.

Further, the remote controller 9 has a display unit 96, and a key operation detection circuit 98 for detecting an operated state from a touch sensor 97 provided on the display surface of the display unit 96 and a sensor output signal thereof. And have. Display 9
6 performs display based on the display control signal supplied from the control unit 91, and the key operation detection circuit 98 supplies the key operation signal according to the detected operation state to the control unit 91. The key operation detection circuit 98 is also provided independently of the key operation signal corresponding to the output signal of the touch sensor 97, the power control key switch 99a independently provided on the operation panel of the remote controller 9, and the same independently. A key operation signal corresponding to the output signal of the source device preset key 99b or the like is supplied to the control unit 91.

Next, the operation of this system will be described. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the processing executed by the control unit 91 in the remote controller 9 based on the program data. In FIGS. 3 and 4, when it is determined that the power control key 99a for turning on the power of the system is pressed based on the output key operation signal of the key operation detection circuit 98, the control unit 91 repeats step S1. After leaving the flow, the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, the control unit 91 supplies the system operation signal indicating the power-on command to the transmission unit 93, and then proceeds to step S3 to wait for the reception of the source identification data.

As a result, the transmitter 93 transmits the supplied system operation signal to the master amplifier 1. When the master amplifier 1 receives the system operation signal at the reception unit 114, the operation signal is transmitted from the reception unit 114 to the CPU 112.
Be transmitted to. In response to this, the CPU 112 turns on the main power source of the master amplifier 1 and turns on the connected source devices 2 to 6 via the signal control unit 10. Then, the CPU 112 uses the connection state detection circuit 11
The source identification data corresponding to the detection result is stored in the source identification data memory 113 as well as the type of the connected source device is detected. As the source identification data, for example, code data corresponding to the source device is applied as shown in FIG. 5, and in this case, the codes “1” to “5” are stored in the memory 113. At the same time, the source identification data and the predetermined data are transferred to the transmission unit 115, and the transmission unit 115 issues a remote control signal in the format as shown in FIG. 6 containing the source identification data. In FIG. 6, one remote control signal is composed of a reader code LC, which means transmission start, a control code CC, a data code DC, and a stop code SC, which means transmission end. In this case, the control code CC means that the remote controller control signal is a signal for transmitting the source identification data, and the data code DC indicates the source identification data of the code “1” to “5”. . The remote controller control signal having such a form is received by the receiver 92 of the remote controller 9.
When received at, the control signal is transmitted from the receiving unit 92 to the control unit 91. In response to this, the control unit 91
Extracts the source identification data of the codes "1" to "5" in the transmitted remote control signal and moves to step S4.

In step S4, the control section 91 confirms that each of the extracted source identification data, that is, the codes "1" to "5" are stored in the command memory 95A. The command memory 95A has, for example, a memory map as shown in FIG. 7, and a plurality of touch sensors 97 arranged in a grid on the display unit 96 as shown in FIG.
The information data to be displayed on the surface (or under the surface) of the respective parts A11 to A55 is stored for each address. The display information data indicates an operation command name of the source device, a mark indicating the command, and the like.

After the confirmation in the command memory 95A, the control section 91 shifts to step S5 and determines whether or not there is any unstored code among the extracted source identification data codes. When it is determined in step S5 that there is a code that is not stored, the control section 91 shifts to step S6 and sends a display control signal to the display section 96 to display an error to notify the fact. Supply, and the process proceeds to step S7. When it is determined in step S5 that all the extracted codes are stored in the command memory 95A, the control unit 91 immediately proceeds to step S7. Step S
7, the control unit 91 displays only the source identification data of the code confirmed to be stored as the source device display memory 9
5B, and the process proceeds to step S8. Step S8
In the above, the control unit 91 controls the source device display memory 95.
The code confirmed to be stored is read from B, and it is displayed that the source devices corresponding to the read code are respectively connected to the master amplifier 1. At this time, on the operation panel of the remote controller 9, for example, a display as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed, and the user can see the source device connected and can confirm the source device to be operated. After step S8, the process proceeds to step S9.

In step S9, the controller 91 detects whether or not a key operation signal has been issued from the key operation detection circuit 98 in order to detect that the user has issued an operation command for selecting the source device to be operated. Determine whether or not. For example, when the user wants to operate the CD player on the operation panel as shown in FIG. 9, by pressing the area A21 or A22 (see FIG. 8) where the name is displayed, the CD player can be operated as a source device. A key operation signal indicating that it has been selected is issued. When it is determined in step S9 that the key operation signal has been issued, the control section 91 proceeds to step S10 and stores the operation command of the selected source device in the command display memory 95C. According to the above example, when the CD player is selected, the display information data A211, A212, ..., A225 (see FIG. 7) stored together with the code "2" corresponding to the CD player is read from the command memory 95A. And stores it in the command display memory 95C. Then, the process proceeds to step S11, and the display based on the display information data A211, A212, ..., A225 is performed. At this time, on the operation panel of the remote controller 9, for example, a display as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed, and the user can see the operation command of the CD player and can instruct these commands. After step S11, the process proceeds to step S12.

In step S12, the control unit 91
In order to detect that the user has issued an operation command for selecting a command, it is determined whether or not such a key operation signal is issued from the key operation detection circuit 98. For example, when the CD player is selected as the source device, in the operation panel as shown in FIG. 10, when the user wants to put the CD player in the play mode, the area A33 (see FIG. 8) where the command name is displayed is pressed. As a result, a key operation signal indicating that the play mode should be started is issued to the CD player. When it is determined in step S12 that the key operation signal for command selection has been issued, the control unit 91 proceeds to step S13 and transmits the selected command to the master amplifier 1 by the transmission unit 93. Excuse me. When the receiving unit 114 receives this command in the master amplifier 1, it is transferred to the CPU 112. And the CPU 112
In response to this, the control signal for starting the play mode is sent to the CDP 3 via the signal control unit 10, and thus the CD
P3 will start the play mode.

If the key operation signal for selecting the command is not issued in step S12, the process proceeds to step S14, and it is determined whether or not the key operation signal for selecting another source device is issued. On the operation panel as shown in FIG. 10, a key operation which means that the user should select another source device by pressing the area A55 (see FIG. 8) where it is displayed that another source device is selected. A signal is emitted. When it is determined in step S14 that the key operation signal for selecting the source device is issued, the control unit 91 determines that
In step S8, the source device corresponding to the code read from the source device display memory 95B is displayed again as shown in FIG. When it is determined in step S14 that the key operation signal for selecting the source device is not issued, the control unit 91 proceeds to step S12.

In this embodiment, when the system is powered on, the master amplifier 1 sends source identification data indicating the information of the source device connected to the master amplifier to the remote controller 9, and based on this information. Since the source device and the command are displayed on the remote control operation panel, even if the number of source devices connected to the master amplifier 1 is increased, the operating environment of the remote controller can be automatically changed correspondingly. Therefore, the user is not burdened each time the source device to be connected is changed.

In the above embodiment, the source identification data is transmitted immediately after the power is turned on. However, as shown in FIG. 2, this is not the only response to the source device preset key 99b being pressed. By doing so, it is possible to deal with the case where the source device connected after the power is turned on is changed. Further, in the above embodiment,
Although the display control on the remote controller is performed using the source device display memory 95B and the command display memory 95C, it is also possible to make full use of the command memory 95A for display control.

Further, in the above embodiment, it is assumed that the source device and the master amplifier are made by the same manufacturer, and the source identification data only needs to distinguish the source device according to the connection state of the source device. In a system that supports source devices of different manufacturers, it is necessary to distinguish between manufacturers. In this case, FIG.
This can be realized by further providing such a setting switch circuit for maker distinction in the master amplifier 1A as described above. That is, in FIG. 11, the setting switch circuit 116 is configured by a rotary type DIP switch prepared corresponding to the source device connection terminal group. Then, the makers A to I are assigned to the scales A to I of the dip switches, and the switch output signals are supplied to the CPU 112. CP
In U112, the switch output signal and the information on the source device connected to the master amplifier 1A, which is obtained by the connection state detection circuit 111, can obtain the correspondence relationship as shown in FIG. 12, for example. That is, FIG.
The information indicated by the circles in FIG. 3 also bears the source device connected to the master amplifier 1A and the manufacturer type thereof. When the CPU 112 obtains this information, the CPU 112 obtains the code “1A”, “ 2B ",
"3D" ... Generated and stored in the source identification data memory 113. Thus, the operation environment of the remote controller 9 as described above is controlled based on the source identification data thus generated. This makes it possible to control not only the type of source device but also the manufacturer. When the source identification data also makes a distinction between manufacturers as described above, it is necessary that command data for each manufacturer is stored in the command memory 95A of the remote controller 9.

The source identification data may be generated only by the setting switch circuit without using the connection state detection circuit 111. In this case, the setting switch circuit also takes charge of determining the connection information of the source device. On the other hand, the source identification data may be generated by a configuration capable of bidirectional communication between the source device and the master amplifier, which are connected as follows, regardless of the connection state detection circuit and the setting switch circuit.

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram showing an example thereof, in which the source device connected to the master amplifier 1B is
CPU 2A1 and memory 2 read-controlled by this
It is constructed like LDP2A with A2. In such a configuration, data indicating the manufacturer name and the type of the source device is stored in the memory 2A2 in advance, and this data is exchanged between the CPU 2A1 of the LDP 2A and the CPU 112 of the master amplifier 1B. That is, in response to a power-on command from the remote controller 9 or a source device preset command, the CPU 112 causes the LDP 2 to operate via the signal control unit 10.
When the LDP 2A receives a command to transfer the data, the LDP 2A reads the data from the memory 2A2 and transfers the data to the CPU 112 via the signal control unit 10. Other source device 3 connected to the same operation as this
This is also performed for A, 4A, 5A, and 6A, and the source identification data is generated by all the relevant data corresponding to each source device.

Next, an example of application of the system as described above to a so-called multi-room system will be described. 14
2 is a schematic block diagram of a multi-room remote control system, in which parts equivalent to those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 14, the source device 2 is provided in the main room.
3, 4, 5 and 6 are installed, and these source devices are centrally signal-controlled by the master amplifier 1C. The source signal from each source device distributed by the signal control unit 10 of the master amplifier 1C is supplied to the video monitor 7 and the speaker 8 installed in the main room, and further, the video monitor 7A installed in the subroom 1 and It is also supplied to the speaker 8A. In other sub-rooms, it is supplied to the video monitor and the speaker as well. The master amplifier 1C is the same as the master amplifier 1 of FIG.
The signal lines of and are led to external terminals. These external terminals are connected via signal lines to the receiver 114 ′ and the transmitter 115 ′ of the remote control transmitter / receiver 117 installed in the subroom. These transmitting / receiving units have the same functions as the transmitting / receiving units 114 and 115. In the other sub-rooms as well, the same signal line is connected to a device equivalent to the remote controller transmitting / receiving device 117 in the same manner.

In the system having such a configuration, by operating the remote controller 9 in the sub-room as shown in the figure and operating it as in the previous embodiment, any source device can be operated at a distance from the main room. It is preferable that you can know what you can do. In the above embodiments, the system in which the controlled device is an audio and visual device has been described, but the present invention can be applied to various devices other than the controlled device.

[0026]

As described in detail above, according to the bidirectional remote control system of the present invention, the identification signal indicating the type of the controlled device is generated and the identification signal generated in response to the identification signal transfer command is generated. The remote controller sends the identification signal transfer command, receives the identification signal, displays the operation command according to the received identification signal, and operates the controlled device in response to the displayed operation command. Since the operation signal is transmitted, even if the controlled device is expanded, the number of operation buttons on the remote controller is not increased, and the command signal to be transmitted to the expanded device is not stored and Corresponding remote control can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of a remote controller in the system shown in FIG.

3 is a first flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by a control unit of a remote controller in the system of FIG. 1 based on program data.

4 is a second flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by a control unit of a remote controller in the system of FIG. 1 based on program data.

5 is a diagram for explaining a source identification data generation operation in the system of FIG.

6 is a diagram showing a format of a remote control signal in the system of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a storage mode of a command memory of the remote controller in the system of FIG.

8 is a diagram showing a form of a touch sensor of the remote controller in the system of FIG.

9 is a diagram showing a source device display mode of a remote controller in the system of FIG.

10 is a diagram showing a display mode of a remote controller when a CD player is selected in the system of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a modification of the system of FIG.

12 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the system of FIG.

13 is a diagram showing another modification of the system of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram showing an application example of the system of the present invention to a multi-room system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1A, 1B, 1C Master amplifier 10 Signal control unit 11 Remote control transmission / reception control unit 111 Connection state detection circuit 112 CPU 113 Source identification data memory 114, 114 'Reception unit 115, 115' Transmission unit 116 Setting switch circuit 117 Remote control transmission / reception device 2,2A LDP 2A1 CPU 2A2 memory 3,3A CDP 4,4A, 5,5A VCR 6,6A tuner 7,7A video monitor 8,8A speaker 9 remote controller 91 control unit 92 receiving unit 93 transmitting unit 94 program memory 95A command memory 95B Source device display memory 95C Command display memory 96 Display unit 97 Touch sensor 98 Key operation detection circuit 99a Power control key switch 99b Source device preset key switch

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Reference number within the agency FI Technical display location // G11B 31/00 M 8322-5D (72) Inventor Hiroshi Shimada 4-15-5 Omori Nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. Pioneer Co., Ltd. Omori Plant (72) Hideaki Nishikura Inventor Hideaki Nishikura 4-15-5 Omori Nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo Pioneer Co., Ltd. Omori Plant (72) Inventor Andrew Gilfuley 4-chome Omori Nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. 5 Pioneer Co., Ltd. Omori Plant (72) Inventor Koji Osawa 4-15 Omori Nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo Pioneer Co., Ltd. Omori Plant

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A bidirectional remote control system for mutually transmitting and receiving an information signal between a controlled device and a remote controller for operating the controlled device, the identification signal indicating the type of the controlled device being generated. Identification signal generating means and transmitting means for transmitting the identification signal in response to the identification signal transfer command, wherein the remote controller issues the identification signal transfer command to receive the identification signal and receives the identification signal. A two-way remote control system, which displays an operation command corresponding to a signal and transmits an operation signal for operating the controlled device in response to the displayed operation command. 2. The transmitting means transmits the identification signal in response to a power-on command, and the remote controller issues the power-on command to receive the identification signal. Bidirectional remote control system described.