JPH07336781A - Remote controller, electronic device and remote control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a remote controller, a electronic device and a remote control system in which unused codes of an existing remote controller are effectively utilized. CONSTITUTION:After a remote control format of an existing remote controller is learned, all the remote control codes of the remote control format are outputted sequentially from an LED4 to the electronic device. When the electronic device is not in operation, the codes are stored in a RAM7 as unused codes. The unused codes are allocated to operation keys of a key entry section 2 of the remote controller properly and in the case of making an electronic device for extension, the codes are used to control the operation of the electronic device.

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, an electronic device and a remote control system for controlling various electronic devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a learning type remote control device has been used to control a plurality of electronic devices such as a television receiver, a video tape recorder, a CD (compact disc) player and the like with a single remote control device. In this learning type remote control device, the format of the existing remote control device used in the electronic device is learned for each electronic device, and the remote control code of the format is output according to the electronic device to be controlled. It has become.

[0003]

By the way, in the conventional remote control device, a format for each electronic device and a remote control code for actually operating the electronic device are assigned to an arbitrary key, and when the key is operated, the corresponding operation is performed. Since it is designed to output a remote control signal to be used, an unused remote control signal unrelated to the operation of the electronic device is never used. Therefore, the conventional remote control device has a problem that the unused remote control signal is not used at all and is wasted.

That is, as described above, since an unused remote control signal cannot be used, when a remote control system is created by hand, a remote control code not used by an existing remote control device is searched and a new format is newly added. There is a problem that must be set.

Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to output all the remote control codes in the learned format and effectively use the unused codes.
An object is to provide an electronic device and a remote control system.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a remote control device according to the invention of claim 1 comprises:
In a remote control device that learns a format used by an existing remote control device and assigns a code valid for an electronic device controlled by the existing remote control device to a predetermined key together with the format, all the codes of the learned format It is characterized by comprising control means for sequentially outputting to the electronic device and storing the code as an unused code when the electronic device does not operate.

Further, the control means may be provided with a discrimination means for discriminating whether or not the electronic device has operated, for example as described in claim 2. Further, for example, the determination means determines whether or not the electronic device has operated by determining the operation state of a key pressed by the operator when the electronic device does not operate, as in claim 3. You may make a judgment. Further, as a preferable mode, for example, as described in claim 4, a key input section to which the unused code and a format corresponding to the unused code are assigned may be provided.

The electronic device according to the present invention uses a format used by an existing remote control device and operates a predetermined function by an unused code which is not used by the existing remote control device. It is characterized by

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a remote control system learns a format used by an existing remote control device, and all the codes of the learned format are controlled by the existing remote control device. When the electronic device does not operate, the remote control device includes a control unit that stores the code as an unused code, and an electronic device that operates a predetermined function by the unused code. It is composed of and.

Further, for example, the control means sequentially outputs all the codes in the learned format to the electronic device as claimed in claim 7, and when the electronic device operates in response thereto, It is a control means for storing a code.

[0011]

In the present invention, the control means sequentially outputs all the codes in the learned format to the electronic device, and when the electronic device does not operate, the code is stored as an unused code. Therefore, the unused code can be output. As a result, unused code can be used, for example, and it is not wasted. For example, it is also possible to combine unused codes and perform remote control only for oneself.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A. Configuration of this Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a remote control device in one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a photodiode, which receives infrared rays and supplies them to the remote control unit 3 when learning the remote control format of the remote control device attached to the electronic device. Reference numeral 2 denotes a key input unit, which is composed of a key for switching between a learning mode and an electronic device control mode, a plurality of operation keys for operating a function of each electronic device, and the like.
A signal according to the operated operation key is supplied to the remote control unit 3.

The remote controller control section 3 controls each section according to a predetermined program. For example, in the learning mode, while learning the remote control format received by the photodiode 1, the remote control code of the remote control format is sequentially output from the LED 4, and when an electronic device (not shown) operates in response to the remote control code, A remote control code is assigned to an arbitrary operation key of the key input unit 2 together with the remote control format, and when the electronic device does not operate, the remote control code is stored in the RAM 7 described later.

As described above, the LED 4 emits the code output from the remote controller control unit 3 as infrared rays having a predetermined wavelength. Reference numeral 5 denotes a display unit composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, which displays the operation status of the remote control device output from the remote control unit 3 and various data. A ROM 6 stores the above-mentioned predetermined program executed by the remote controller control unit 3 and data. Further, the RAM 7 stores the data generated by the operation of the remote controller control section 3 and the remote controller code (hereinafter referred to as an unused code) when the electronic device does not operate, as described above.

Now, various registers and data storage areas of the RAM 7 will be described with reference to the conceptual diagram shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the RAM 7 has various registers and data storage areas set forth below. First,
The following are registers and counters used in the learning mode. Remote control R: A register format that stores a number (or code) for identifying the remote control device to be learned Type: A register that represents the remote control format used by the remote control device to be learned Code counter: In learning mode A counter used when updating the remote control code output in the learned remote control format

Next, the data shown below are the identification number, format and unused code of the remote controller stored for each existing remote control device. Remote controller R1: Number (or code) for identifying any learned remote control device (first) Format F1: Format used by remote controller R1 (or number or code representing it) Unused codes C1-1 to C1- n: Remote control code not used by remote control R1 Remote control R2: Number (or code) identifying any learned remote control device (second) Format F2: Format used by remote control R2 (or number representing it or Code) Unused code C2-1 to C2-n: Remote control code not used by remote controller R2 ... Remote controller Rn: Number (or code) for identifying any learned remote control device (nth) Format Fn : Format used by remote controller Rn (or Unused code Cn-1 to Cn-n: remote control code not used by the remote controller Rn If the above-mentioned code (including unused code) is composed of 6 bits, for example, The total is 2 ⁶ . The unused code is a code that does not participate in the operation of the electronic device, that is, is not used, among the ²⁶ codes.

Next, the operation of the remote control device of the above embodiment will be described. B. Operation of the Embodiment FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the embodiment. In FIG. 3, in steps S10 to S20, after learning the remote controller format, all remote controller codes of the remote controller format are output, and a process for storing an unused code not used by the electronic device in the RAM 7 is shown. . (A) Remote control format learning process First, in step S10, the remote control format of an existing remote control device (non-learning type) is learned. Specifically, the LED of the existing remote control device (not shown) to be learned is made to face the photodiode 1 of the remote control device, and an appropriate key is operated with the existing remote control device.

In the remote control device of the present invention,
The photodiode 1 receives the infrared light output from the existing remote control device and supplies it to the remote control unit 3. In the remote control unit 3,
Based on the data received by the photodiode 1,
Learn the remote control format used in the existing remote control device. The number for identifying the existing remote control device is temporarily stored in the remote controller R shown in FIG. 2, and its remote controller format is
It is stored in the format type shown in FIG.

(B) All remote control code output process Next, the remote control device is directed to an electronic device (not shown) controlled by the existing remote control device to be learned. And step S1
Go to 2 and in the format learned in the above learning mode,
The remote control code is output from LED4. The remote control code is initialized (0) and stored in the code counter shown in FIG. At this time, if the remote control code is used to operate some function of the electronic device, the electronic device naturally operates the function. On the other hand, when the remote control code is not used in the electronic device, the electronic device does not operate at all. The operator looks at the operation state of the electronic device at this time, and if the electronic device does not operate, presses a predetermined key provided on the key input unit 2.

(C) Unused code storage processing In the remote control device, it is determined in step S14 whether or not the electronic device has operated. That is,
It is determined whether or not a predetermined key is pressed. Then, if the operator does not press the predetermined key, that is, if the electronic device does not operate, step S14
The result of the determination is NO, and the process proceeds to step S16. In step S16, the remote control code is stored in the RAM 7 as an unused code C1-1 shown in FIG. On the other hand, when a predetermined key is pressed by the operator,
That is, when the electronic device operates, step S14
The result of the determination in step 6 is "YES", and the remote control code at that time is not stored in the RAM 7, and the process proceeds to the next step. Although not described in detail in this embodiment, when the electronic device operates, a process of assigning the remote control code at that time to an arbitrary key of the key input unit 2 is executed.

Next, in step S18, it is determined by referring to the code counter shown in FIG. 2 whether all remote control codes have been output. If all the remote control codes have not been output yet, the result of the determination in step S18 is "NO", and the process proceeds to step S20.
In step S20, the remote control code is incremented by "1", stored in the code counter shown in FIG. 2, and the process returns to step S12. Hereinafter, as described above, steps S12 to S20 are repeatedly executed, and while the remote control code is sequentially incremented, the remote control code is LE.
When the electronic device is output from D4 and the output remote control code does not operate, the remote control code is sequentially stored in the RAM 7 as an unused code C1-i (i = 1 to n).

When all the remote control codes have been output, the determination result in step S18 is "YES".
Then, the process ends. Even when the remote controller format of another existing remote control device is stored, the above-mentioned processing is executed, and as shown in FIG. 2, the unused codes C2-1, C2-2, ..., C2-n of the remote controller R2 are used. Is stored, and the unused codes Cn-1, Cn-2, ..., Of the remote controller Rn are stored.
Cn-n is stored. This unused code C1-1 to C1-n,
C2-1 to C2-n, ..., Cn-1 to Cn-n are appropriately assigned to the operation keys of the key input unit 2 of the remote control device 11, and, for example, when an electronic device is self-made and added, It is used to control the operation of the electronic device.

(D) Example of operation control of self-made electronic device For example, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of controlling the operation of the self-made electronic device by the remote control device described above. In the figure, 10 is a self-made electronic device,
Reference numeral 11 denotes a photodiode built in the electronic device 10,
A code analysis unit 12 demodulates and analyzes a code from infrared rays received by the photodiode 11. Also, 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes a remote control device according to this embodiment.
The unused codes C1-1 to C1-n, C2-1 to C2-n, ..., Cn-1 to Cn-n stored in the RAM 7 by the above-mentioned processing are
As a remote control code for controlling the operation of the self-made electronic device 10 shown in FIG.
Assigned to the operation key of the key input unit 2. On the other hand, in the self-made electronic device 10, the unused codes C1-1 to C1-
The code analysis unit 12 is set so that n, C2-1 to C2-n, ..., Cn-1 to Cn-n can be analyzed. Therefore, by operating the operation key of the key input unit 2 with the remote control device 11, the operation of the electronic device 10 can be controlled by an unused code which has not been used in the past and can be effectively used.

In the above embodiment, the unused code is stored. However, by storing the used code, the used code can be easily stored when the existing remote control device is lost. Can be set.

[0025]

According to the present invention, the control means sequentially outputs all the codes in the learned format to the electronic device,
On the other hand, when the electronic device does not operate, the code is stored as an unused code, so that the following effects can be obtained. (1) For example, if you make your own device or add more electronic devices, you can control the above-mentioned device by the unused code that is not used in the existing electronic device in the already learned format. can do. (2) The unused code which has not been used so far can be effectively used. (3) The labor for learning the format of the remote controller can be greatly reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the contents of a RAM of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a remote control system when controlling an operation of an electronic device of homebrewed by the remote control device according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photodiode 2 Key input part 3 Remote control part (control means, discrimination means) 4 LED 5 Display part 6 ROM 7 RAM 10 Electronic equipment 11 Photodiode 12 Code analysis part 14 Remote control device

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A remote control device that learns a format used by an existing remote control device, and assigns a code valid for an electronic device controlled by the existing remote control device together with the format to a predetermined key. A remote control device comprising: a control unit that sequentially outputs all codes of a format to the electronic device, and stores the code as an unused code when the electronic device does not operate. 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a determination unit that determines whether or not the electronic device has operated. 3. The determination means determines whether or not the electronic device has operated by determining an operation state of a key pressed by an operator when the electronic device does not operate. The remote control device according to claim 1. 4. The remote control device according to claim 1, further comprising a key input unit to which the unused code and a format corresponding to the unused code are assigned. 5. An electronic device which utilizes a format used by an existing remote control device and operates a predetermined function by an unused code which is not used by the existing remote control device. 6. A format used by an existing remote control device is learned, and all codes in the learned format are sequentially output to an electronic device controlled by the existing remote control device. If the code does not work, the remote control comprises a remote control device having control means for storing the code as an unused code, and an electronic device for operating a predetermined function by the unused code. system. 7. The control means is a control means for sequentially outputting all the codes in the learned format to the electronic device and storing the codes when the electronic device operates. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein: