JPH0898282A - Remote control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To suppress the occurrence of a mis-operation when a reservation setting operation is performed or a device is used in dark environment, to facilitate the operation and to miniaturize the device by light-emitting plural operating buttons sequentially at every operating stage corresponding to the order of the operation for reservation setting, etc. CONSTITUTION: LEDs 23a, 24a, 25a, 26a, 26b and 27a are provided on a setting start button 23, a reservation number button 24, a setting button 25, a setting item guide button 26 and a transfer button 27 in an operating part 1. Those LEDs form a light emitting part to illuminate each reservation setting button, and illuminates a required operating button by the control of a control part 3 sequentially at every stage of reservation setting operation. Therefore, A user can perform the reservation setting operation as depressing the operating button illuminated by putting on the LED.

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 operating a remote controlled device which is an electronic device from a remote position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, many television receivers, video tape recorders (VTRs), satellite broadcasting (BS) channel selectors, etc., are equipped with a remote control device that enables remote operation. ing. This remote control device
It has come to be used not only for simply turning on and off the power of the electronic device and for changing the channel, but also for various other purposes.

Usually, electronic equipment has a function of turning on the power, for example, according to a preset time. This is the so-called reservation function. For example, there is known a so-called answering machine reservation function for allowing a VTR to record a television broadcast program in an answering machine. The answering machine reservation function can be operated by using the remote control device. First, the user presses the setting start button from among the plurality of operation buttons arranged on the operation unit of the remote operation device. afterwards,
Press the reservation number button to set the reservation number. Then, setting items such as a day of the week, a channel, a start time, and an end time are set by making full use of a plurality of operation buttons. When the setting is completed, the command corresponding to each item is sequentially executed according to the built-in timer of the VTR, and the above-mentioned answering machine recording is performed.

The remote control device may be used in a darkened environment.

It has also been considered to remotely control a plurality of electronic devices with a single remote control device. For example, it is possible to remotely control a compact disc player, a tuner, and a cassette deck with a single remote control device. In this case, each operation button corresponding to each electronic device,
They are arranged in different places.

[0006]

By the way, the above reservation setting operation is difficult for a person who is not familiar with the operation. For example V
This is because an answering machine recording reservation setting operation such as performed in TR must be performed by using a plurality of operation buttons or by repeatedly using the same operation button.

If the remote control device is used in a dark state, the operation button may be erroneously pressed, and the desired operation may not be performed.

Further, it is troublesome to operate a plurality of electronic devices with one remote control device because the number of operation buttons is large. Moreover, since the number of operation buttons increases, it is difficult to reduce the size.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and suppresses an erroneous operation during a reservation setting operation and an erroneous operation during use in a dark environment, and facilitates the operation of a plurality of electronic devices. In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a remote control device that can achieve further miniaturization.

[0010]

A remote control device according to the present invention sequentially illuminates an operation section having a plurality of operation buttons and one or a plurality of operation buttons required among the plurality of operation buttons. Light emitting means, control means for controlling illumination of the light emitting means with respect to the operation part, transmission data generating means for generating transmission data corresponding to operation of the operation part, and transmission data generated by the transmission data generating means The above-mentioned problem is solved by having a transmitting means for transmitting.

In this case, the control means controls the illumination of the operation button of the light emitting means in accordance with the procedure of the reservation operation for the remote controlled device.

The control means controls the illumination of the operation button of the light emitting means according to the purpose of use.

The remote control device according to the present invention comprises a contact sensing means for sensing whether or not both sides of the main body portion are gripped, an operation portion having a plurality of operation buttons on the main body portion, and the plurality of operation buttons. Light emitting means for illuminating, the control means for controlling the illumination of the light emitting means with respect to the operation portion according to the operation of the operation portion and the sensing state of the contact sensing means, and the transmission data corresponding to the operation of the operation portion. The above problem can be solved by having a transmission data generating means for generating the transmission data and a transmitting means for transmitting the transmission data generated by the transmission data generating means.

[0014]

The remote control device according to the present invention sequentially illuminates one or more required operation buttons among the plurality of operation buttons of the operation section by using the light emitting means according to the control of the control means. Occurrence of erroneous operation at the time of complicated reservation setting operation can be suppressed.

In this case, since the control means illuminates the operation buttons on the operation part required for each purpose of use through the light emitting means, it becomes easy to remotely operate a plurality of electronic devices. Further, downsizing can be achieved by providing operation buttons that can be commonly used for remote operation of a plurality of electronic devices.

Further, since the remote control device according to the present invention illuminates a plurality of operation buttons of the operation part in response to the operation of the operation part and the detection of the contact detection means, no erroneous operation occurs even in a dark environment.

[0017]

Embodiments of the remote control device according to the present invention will be described below. First, the circuit configuration of the first embodiment is shown in FIG. In the first embodiment, an operation unit 1 including a plurality of operation buttons pressed by a user, and a plurality of, for example, light emitting diodes (LEDs) that illuminate one or a plurality of the operation buttons desired by the user. ), A control unit 3 for controlling the illumination state of the light emitting unit 2 with respect to the operation unit 1, and a transmission for generating transmission data corresponding to the operation of the operation unit 1. It has a data generation unit 4 and a transmission unit 5 such as an LED for transmitting the transmission data generated by the transmission data generation unit 4.

Some specific examples of the first embodiment will be described below.

First, the concrete example shown in FIG. 2 is a remote control device 10 for remotely controlling a video tape recorder (VTR). On the surface of the remote operation device 10, an operation unit 11 in which various operation buttons are arranged, and a VT which is remotely operated.
A liquid crystal (LCD) display unit 12 is provided for displaying the operation state of R and the operation state during the reservation setting operation described later.

The operation unit 11 has a power button (to be referred to as POWER in the drawing) 13 for turning on / off the power of the VTR, and V.
A TV / VTR switch button 14, a play button 15, a stop button 16, a fast forward button 17, a rewind button 18, a record button 19, a pause button 20, which switches images output from a television receiver connected to the TR.
A channel button 21 and a volume control button 22 are provided. Further, the operation unit 11 is also provided with operation buttons used for a reservation setting operation for recording a television broadcast program in an answering machine. As the operation buttons for this reservation setting operation, a setting start button 23 for notifying the start of the reservation setting operation mode, a reservation number button 24 for inputting the number of the reservation of the present reservation setting operation in this VTR, Each time a setting item is input, the setting button 25 is pressed like the so-called enter key to confirm the input, and the setting item guide button 26 for instructing the shift to each setting item and incrementing the day of the week, the number, etc. There is a transfer button 27 for transferring the transmission data formed on the remote control device 10 after the reservation setting operation is finally completed to the VTR.

The setting start button 23, the reservation number button 24, the setting button 25, the setting item guide button 26 and the transfer button 27 have LEDs 23a, 24a, 25a, 26a and 26 for illuminating the respective reservation setting operation buttons.
b and 27a are provided. These LEDs 23a, 2
4a, 25a, 26a, 26b and 27a are shown in FIG.
The light emitting unit 2 described in 1 is formed. That is, the LEDs 23a, 24a, 25a, 26a, 26b and 2
7a is a setting start button 2 that is pressed during a reservation setting operation.
Of the 3, reservation number button 24, setting button 25, setting item guide button 26 and transfer button 27, one or a plurality of operation buttons required for each stage are illuminated. The user can perform the reservation setting operation while pressing the operation button illuminated by the LED.

The reservation setting operation performed by the remote control device 10 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, when the setting start button 23 is pressed as shown in step S1, the control section corresponding to the control section 3 shown in FIG. 1 lights up the LED 23a arranged on the setting start button 23. . Then, in order to indicate that the reservation number button 24 should be pressed next to select a number, the control unit blinks the LED 24a arranged on the reservation number button 24 as shown in step S2. That is, when the setting start button 23 is pressed, the control unit sets a flag, resets the time counter to "0", and runs the time counter. Here, while the flag is set, the mode is the reservation setting mode. The time counter forcibly resets the flag when it reaches a set value of, for example, several seconds. Therefore, the control unit can exit this routine and invalidates all the operation buttons except the power button 13 and the volume button 22 in addition to the reservation number button 24.

Next, the control section judges whether or not the reservation number button 24 has been pressed, as shown in step S3. If it is determined that the reservation number button 24 has been pressed, the control unit resets the time counter and the step counter. Each time the reservation number button is pressed, the memory number is incremented, and when it exceeds the set value, it is reset to "1". The control unit displays the reservation number on the LCD display unit 1
It is displayed in 2 and the number of memories in which the reservation information is input is clearly indicated.

Next, as shown in step S4, the control unit displays "day of the week" on the LCD display unit 12, blinks the LEDs 26a and 26b of the setting item guide button 26, and waits for input.

Next, as shown in step S5, the controller determines whether or not the setting item guide button 26 has been pressed. When determining that the setting item guide button 26 has been pressed, the control unit resets the time counter and sets a step flag. Then, the control unit increments (or decrements) the value of the built-in clock every time the setting item guide button 26 is pressed, and displays the date and the day of the week. If it is determined that the setting item guide button 26 is not pressed, the process returns to step S4.

Next, the control section determines YES in step S5.
In response to the determination, the LED 25a provided on the setting button 25 blinks as shown in step S6. This LE
The blinking of D25a prompts the user to press the setting button 25 to guide the progress to the next setting step.

Next, the control section judges the pressing of the setting button 25, as shown in step S7. Here, when it is determined that the setting button 25 is pressed, the control unit resets the time counter and the step flag, increments the step counter, and sets the start time, the end time, the channel, the recording mode, etc. corresponding to the value of the step counter. Move on to the setting step.

For example, when the setting step corresponding to the value of the step counter is the start time, the control unit controls the LC
The "start time" is displayed on the D display unit 12, the LEDs 26a and 26b of the setting item guide button 26 are blinked, and the input of a numeral indicating the time is waited for.

In steps S9, S10 and S11, the same processes as those in steps S5, S6 and S7 described above are performed.

After that, the control unit displays each setting item corresponding to the value of the step counter incremented by the setting item guide button 26, for example, the channel, the end time, etc. on the LCD display unit 12, and the setting item guide button 26. The LEDs 26a and 26b are blinked.

When the step counter becomes equal to the preset total number of steps, the contents set up to this point are sequentially displayed on the LCD display section 12 for confirmation, and the transfer button 27 is provided. The LED 27a blinks. Therefore, the user is prompted by the blinking of the LED 27a and, as shown in step S13, the transfer button 27.
Press. When the transfer button 27 is pressed, the reservation setting information based on the transmission data formed by the remote controller 10 is transferred to the VTR. Then, the control unit resets the first flag and exits from the reservation setting operation mode.

As described above, according to the specific example shown in FIG. 2, since the operation button to be pressed for performing the reservation setting operation can be known by the guide of the LED, the occurrence of erroneous operation can be suppressed.

FIG. 4 shows the appearance of another specific example of the first embodiment shown in FIG. Another specific example shown in FIG.
A remote control device 30 for a compact disc (CD) player, tuner, and cassette deck. On the surface of the remote control device 30, a selection section 31 for selecting an electronic device to be remotely controlled, a CD player operation section 35, a tuner operation section 41, and a cassette deck operation section 45 are common. An operation unit 53 is provided.

The selection section 31 is provided with a CD player selection button 32, a tuner selection button 33, and a cassette deck selection button 34. The CD player operation section 35 includes a play button 36, a stop button 37, and a song return button 3.
8, a song feed button 39, and a pause button 40 are provided. Channel setting (+) on the tuner operation unit 41
A button 42, a channel setting (-) button 43, and a band selection button 44 are provided. Playback buttons 46 and 47 and stop button 4 are provided on the cassette deck operating section 45.
8, a fast forward button 49, a rewind button 50, a recording button 51, and a pause button 52 are provided. The common operation section 53 includes a volume setting (+) button 54 and a volume setting (-) button.
A button 55 and a power on / off button 56 are provided. Here, each operation button of each operation unit is provided with an LED for illumination.

The remote operation performed by the remote control device 30 will be described below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S21, one of the selection buttons 32, 33 and 34 is pressed. Step S2
In step 2, it is determined whether the selection button pressed in step S21 is a CD player, a tuner, or a cassette deck. That is, the control unit of the remote control device 30 determines which button is pressed, resets the time counter to "0", and runs the counter. When it is determined that the CD selection button 32 is pressed, the control unit of the remote control device 30 turns on the LED of each button of the CD operation unit 35 as shown in step S23. When it is determined that the tuner selection button 33 has been pressed, the control unit turns on the LED of each button of the tuner operation unit 41 as shown in step S24. When it is determined that the cassette deck selection button 34 has been pressed, the control unit, as shown in step S25,
The LED of each button of the cassette operation unit 45 is turned on. Further, the control unit turns on both the LEDs of the volume setting (+) button 54 and the volume setting (-) button 55 of the common operation unit 53, as shown in step S26. Then, the control unit invalidates all the buttons except the lit buttons and the power on / off button.

Next, the control section determines whether or not the validated button has been pressed, as shown in step S27. The control unit resets the time counter each time the valid button is pressed, but when the time counter reaches a certain set value (about several seconds), the LED is turned off as shown in step S28, and this routine ends.

As described above, according to another specific example shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to carry out individual operations of a plurality of electronic devices without error by the guide of the LED.

FIG. 6 shows the appearance of a modified example (hereinafter referred to as a modified example) of another specific example. In the modification shown in FIG. 6, not only the CD player, tuner, and cassette deck but also the VTR and VDP are remotely controlled. On the surface of the remote control device 60, a selection unit 61 for selecting an electronic device to be remote-controlled and a common operation unit 62 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 7, the CD player, tuner, cassette deck, VTR, and VDP can have the same function by each operation button. Therefore, the common operation unit 6
By assigning each command to each button of 2, it is possible to remotely operate many electronic devices with a small number of buttons.

For example, when the selection unit 61 selects the CD player selection button 63, the LE that illuminates the button 63 is selected.
D lights up, and each of the playback button 64, the stop button 65, the forward button 66, the backward return button 67, and the volume adjustment button 68 arranged in the selection section 61 of the common operation section 62.
The ED lights up.

As described above, the modification shown in FIG. 6 illuminates the operation buttons on the operation section, which are required for each purpose of use, so that a plurality of electronic devices can be operated without error. In addition, since the operation buttons that can be used in common with multiple electronic devices are provided,
Miniaturization can be achieved.

Next, the circuit configuration of the second embodiment is shown in FIG. In the second embodiment, the touch sensor unit 6 that senses whether or not both sides of the main body are grasped, the operation unit 1 including a plurality of operation buttons, and the operation buttons among the plurality of operation buttons are desired by the user. One or a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for illuminating one or a plurality of them, and the operating unit 1 according to the operating state of the operating unit 1 and the sensing state of the touch sensor 6.
The control unit 3 for controlling the illumination of the light emitting unit 2 with respect to the, the transmission data generation unit 4 for generating the transmission data corresponding to the operation of the operation unit 1, and the transmission data generated by the transmission data generation unit 4 are transmitted, for example. And a transmitter 5 such as an LED.

A concrete example of this second embodiment is shown in FIG.

This specific example is a remote control device 7 for a VTR.
It is 0. Touch sensors 71a and 71b are provided on both sides of the remote control device 70. The touch sensors 71a and 71b supply a sensing signal to a control unit (not shown) corresponding to the control unit 3 shown in FIG. 8 when they are simultaneously gripped by the user. When the touch-on / off changeover switch 73 on the operation unit 72 is turned on and when the sensing signal is received, the control unit 72 operates the operation unit 72.
Illuminate each transparent button. Each transparent button is illuminated by each embedded LED.

By this, even if the remote control device is grasped on both sides even in a dark environment, reproduction, stop, pause, volume,
The operation buttons such as channels are illuminated by the LEDs and can be visually recognized. In addition, this function of the touch sensor can prevent the battery from being wasted by basically turning it off by a switch during the daytime or when it is not used. Further, the battery consumption can be reduced by using the power supply by the solar cell and the normal battery together.

As described above, the remote control device 70 can prevent the occurrence of erroneous operation even in a dark environment.

In each concrete example of the first embodiment,
Although the LEDs are arranged on the respective operation buttons, they may be embedded under the transparent buttons to illuminate them as in the specific example of the second embodiment.

[0050]

The remote control device according to the present invention comprises an operation section having a plurality of operation buttons, and a light emitting means for sequentially illuminating one or a plurality of operation buttons required among the plurality of operation buttons. Control means for controlling illumination of the light emitting means to the operation part, transmission data generation means for generating transmission data corresponding to the operation of the operation part, and transmission for transmitting the transmission data generated by the transmission data generation means Since it has a means, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of erroneous operation.

In this case, since the control means illuminates the operation button on the operation part required for each purpose of use through the light emitting means, it becomes easy to remotely operate a plurality of electronic devices. Further, downsizing can be achieved by providing operation buttons that can be commonly used for remote operation of a plurality of electronic devices.

Further, the remote control device according to the present invention comprises a contact sensing means for sensing whether or not both sides of the main body are gripped, an operating section having a plurality of operation buttons on the main body, and a plurality of the plurality of operating buttons. Light emitting means for illuminating the operation button, depending on the operation of the operation section and the sensing state of the contact sensing means,
Control means for controlling illumination of the light emitting means to the operation part, transmission data generation means for generating transmission data corresponding to the operation of the operation part, and transmission for transmitting the transmission data generated by the transmission data generation means Since the control means causes the light emitting means to illuminate the plurality of operation buttons of the operation part according to the operation of the operation part and the detection of the contact detection means, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of erroneous operation even in a dark environment. .

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a VTR which is a specific example of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a remote control device for use with a vehicle.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart when a reservation setting operation is performed by the VTR remote operation device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a C showing another specific example of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
It is an external appearance perspective view of the remote control device for D, a tuner, and a cassette deck.

5 is a flowchart of remote control performed by the remote control device for the CD, tuner, and cassette deck shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a CD, tuner, cassette deck, VTR, VD which is a modification of the other specific example of the first embodiment shown in FIG.
It is an external appearance perspective view of the remote control device for P.

7 is a view for explaining the arrangement of operation buttons of the CD, tuner, cassette deck, VTR, and VDP remote operation device shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a remote control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a VTR as a specific example of the second embodiment shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a remote control device for use with a vehicle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Operation part 2 Light emitting part 3 Control part 4 Transmission data generation part 5 Transmission part 6 Touch sensor part

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An operation section having a plurality of operation buttons, a light emitting means for illuminating one or a plurality of operation buttons required among the plurality of operation buttons, and an illumination of the light emitting means for the operation section. A remote control comprising: a control unit for controlling, a transmission data generation unit for generating transmission data corresponding to an operation of the operation unit, and a transmission unit for transmitting the transmission data generated by the transmission data generation unit. Operating device. 2. The control means controls the illumination of the operation button of the light emitting means in accordance with a procedure of a reservation operation for the remote controlled device.
The described remote control device. 3. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the illumination of the operation button of the light emitting means for each purpose of use. 4. A contact sensing means for sensing whether or not both sides of the main body portion are gripped, an operation portion having a plurality of operation buttons on the main body portion, and a light emitting means for illuminating the plurality of operation buttons. Control means for controlling the illumination of the light emitting means with respect to the operation portion according to the operation of the operation portion and the sensing state of the contact sensing means, and transmission data generation means for generating transmission data corresponding to the operation of the operation portion. And a transmission means for transmitting the transmission data generated by the transmission data generation means.