JPH0918971A - Electronic apparatus operating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an electronic apparatus operating device offering convenience of use for the user. CONSTITUTION: Personal characteristic information and specific function information entered by a key board 308 are registered in a nonvolatile memory 304 in the registration mode. Furthermore, the corresponding specific function information is read from the nonvolatile memory 304 based on the personal characteristic information entered from the key board 308 in the operation mode and corresponding buttons are displayed on a liquid crystal display device 305. Moreover, the depression position of the liquid crystal display device 305 is detected by a transparent touch panel 307 and a control signal corresponding to the depressed button is generated. The control signal is sent to an electronic apparatus via a remote control signal transmission circuit 312. Since the content of operation buttons displayed on the liquid crystal display device 305 is freely customized by the needs of the user in this way, undesired buttons for the operation are eliminated and only proper buttons in response to the function used by each under are arranged.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic equipment operating device, and more specifically, to operate a plurality of functions of electronic equipment (TV, VTR, laser disk reproducing device, audio device, personal computer, etc.). The present invention relates to an electronic device operating device for.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in various electronic devices such as a TV, a VTR, a laser disk reproducing device, an audio device, a personal computer, etc., a remote control device (hereinafter referred to as a remote control device) for operating the functions of these electronic devices. ) Is used.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional remote control device for remotely controlling an electronic device as described above, for example, a TV. In FIG. 9, remote control device 200 is provided with buttons 201, 202, and 203 for operating each function of electronic device 100. Here, as an example, the button 201 is a button for increasing voice, the button 202 is a button for reducing voice, and the button 203 is a button for switching main / sub voice between Japanese voice and English voice. To do. Further, in the remote control device 200, a control signal generation unit 308 that generates a corresponding control signal when each of the buttons 201 to 203 is pressed, and a control signal transmission unit 310 that transmits the control signal to the electronic device 100. Is provided.

The remote control device 20 constructed as described above
When the button 201 is pressed at 0, the control signal generation unit 308 generates a corresponding volume increase control signal. The control signal transfer unit 310 transfers the control signal to the electronic device 100. As a result, the volume of electronic device 100 is increased by one unit. On the contrary, when the button 202 is pressed, the volume of the electronic device 100 is decreased by one unit. When the button 203 is pressed once, the voice of the electronic device 100 is changed to English, and when it is pressed again, the electronic device 10 is pressed.
The voice of 0 returns to Japanese.

[0005]

By the way, recent electronic devices are becoming more and more multifunctional, and accordingly, the number of buttons provided on the remote control device is also increasing. However, not all users need all the functions of the electronic device. Rather,
The reality is that there are far more users who use only certain limited basic functions than users who use all the functions. For this reason, the conventional remote control device is provided with a large number of disturbing buttons that the user does not intend to operate. As a result, there is a risk that the user will press the wrong button and an unexpected function will operate. Furthermore, when an unexpected function operates, there is a problem that the operation of the electronic device becomes unclear.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device operating device which is convenient for the user.

[0007]

The invention according to claim 1 is
An electronic device operating device for operating a plurality of functions of an electronic device, comprising: personal characteristic information input means for inputting personal characteristic information for expressing characteristics of a user of the electronic device; and an electronic device that the user wants to use. Function specifying information input means for inputting function specifying information for specifying the function of the device, registration means for registering individual feature information and function specifying information input in the registration mode for each user, and input in the operation mode Reading means for reading the corresponding function specifying information from the registration means based on the individual characteristic information, and display data generating means for generating the display data of the operation button corresponding to the function specifying information read by the reading means; The operation button display means for displaying the corresponding operation button based on the display data and the operation button displayed on the operation button display means are pressed. And a control signal generating means for generating a control signal corresponding to the operation button that is.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a remote control device for operating a plurality of functions of an electronic device from a remote position, and personal characteristic information for inputting characteristics of a user of the electronic device is input. Personal characteristic information inputting means, and function specifying information inputting means for inputting function specifying information for specifying the function of the electronic device that the user wants to use,
Registration means for registering the individual characteristic information and function specifying information input in the registration mode for each user, and reading means for reading the corresponding function specifying information from the registration means based on the individual characteristic information input in the operation mode. When,
Display data generating means for generating display data of operation buttons corresponding to the function specifying information read by the reading means, operation button displaying means for displaying corresponding operation buttons based on the display data, and operation button displaying means Of the operation buttons displayed on the control signal generating means for generating a control signal corresponding to the pressed operation button, and a control signal transmitting means for transmitting the control signal generated by the control signal generating means to the electronic device. ing.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the registration means and the reading means are provided in the electronic device, and the personal characteristic information and the function specifying information input in the registration mode are stored in the electronic device. The apparatus further comprises first transmitting means for transmitting to the registering means in the device, and second transmitting means provided in the electronic device for transmitting the function specifying information read by the reading means to the display data generating means. There is.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the registration means, the reading means and the display data generating means are provided in the electronic device, and the personal characteristic information and functions input in the registration mode. First transmitting means for transmitting the specific information to the registering means in the electronic device, and second transmitting means provided in the electronic device for transmitting the display data generated by the display data generating means to the operation button display means. And are further equipped.

[0011]

In the invention according to claim 1, the personal characteristic information and the function specifying information inputted in the registration mode are registered in the registration means for each user, and based on the personal characteristic information inputted in the operation mode. The corresponding function specifying information is read from the registration means and the corresponding operation button is displayed on the operation button display means. The electronic device is controlled by generating a control signal corresponding to the pressed operation button among the operation buttons displayed on the operation button display means. In this way, the contents of the operation buttons displayed on the operation button display means can be freely customized according to the needs of the user. As a result, it is possible to eliminate unnecessary buttons for operation and arrange only appropriate buttons according to the functions used by each user. Therefore, problems such as erroneous operation can be solved.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the personal characteristic information and the function specifying information input in the registration mode are registered in the registration means for each user, and based on the personal characteristic information input in the operation mode. The corresponding function specifying information is read from the registration means and the corresponding operation button is displayed on the operation button display means. Then, by generating a control signal corresponding to the pressed operation button among the operation buttons displayed on the operation button display means and transmitting the control signal to the electronic device, the electronic machine is operated from a remote position. In this way, the contents of the operation buttons displayed on the operation button display means can be freely customized according to the needs of the user. As a result, it is possible to eliminate unnecessary buttons for operation and arrange only appropriate buttons according to the functions used by each user. Therefore, problems such as erroneous operation can be solved.

In the invention according to claim 3, the registration means and the reading means are provided in the electronic device. for that reason,
The configuration of the remote control device body is simplified.

In the invention according to claim 4, the registration means, the reading means and the display data generating means are provided in the electronic device. Therefore, the configuration of the main body of the remote control device is simplified, and different electronic devices can be controlled using the same remote control device.

[0015]

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a remote control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
The remote controller 300 includes a CPU 301 and a CPU 3
ROM 302 storing the operation program 01, and RAM 3 storing the calculation result etc. in executing the operation program
03, an EEPROM or the like for storing personal characteristic information and a function for individual use, a non-volatile memory 304, a liquid crystal display 305 for displaying operation buttons for controlling functions of the electronic apparatus main body, and a liquid crystal display 305 for driving display. Liquid crystal drive circuit 306, a transparent touch panel 307 for detecting the pressed position of the liquid crystal drive circuit 306, a keyboard 308 in which a plurality of keys are arranged, and a control signal to the electronic device body by wire or wirelessly. And a remote control signal transmitting circuit 312 for transmitting the signal. The personal registration start button 30 is displayed on the keyboard 308.
9, a personal identification start button 310, and “0” to “9”
Up to ten keys 311 are provided.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of remote control device 300 shown in FIG. The operation of remote control device 300 will be described below with reference to FIG. First,
The operation in the registration mode will be described. When the user presses the personal registration start button 311 of the remote control device 300, the CPU 301 starts the operation of registering the characteristic information of the person who uses the remote control device 300 (step S1).
01).

Any information may be registered as the information indicating the characteristics of the individual, as long as the information can identify the individual. For example, a human appearance, a voice print, a fingerprint, a retina pattern, or the like may be registered, but an ID number may be simply assigned to each individual and the ID number may be registered. In this embodiment, an individual is specified by registering an ID number composed of letters or numbers.

That is, the user of the remote control device 300 (probably Mr. A) operates the ten-key pad 311 to display, for example, "0001" as his own ID number.
Enter In response, the CPU 301 registers "0001" as the ID number of Mr. A in the nonvolatile memory 304 (step S102). In addition, personal registration start button 31
1 is not always necessary if the start of personal registration can be identified by a method such as voice recognition.

Next, Mr. A inputs the function name he wants to use (step S103). Enter the function name to use
For example, all the function names of the remote control device 300 are once displayed on the liquid crystal display 305, and the user can select the function name to be used from these. FIG. 3 shows an example of the display contents of the liquid crystal display 305 in this case. Mr. A presses the display position of the function name he / she needs from the function names displayed on the liquid crystal display 305. Transparent touch panel 307
Detects the pressed display position and displays the detection result in CP
Output to U301. Based on this detection result, the CPU 301 determines which function name has been selected by Mr. A.

At this time, if Mr. A inputs, for example, "voice increase" and "voice decrease", the CPU 301 determines that
It is registered in the nonvolatile memory 304 that the function names used by Mr. A specified by the ID number "0001" are "voice increase amount" and "voice decrease amount" (step S104).

Now, let us consider a case where another person who uses remote control device 300 (probably Mr. B) registers the function name he / she wants to use. In this case, Mr. B uses the ten-key pad 311 as the ID number of Mr.
"002" is input, and the nonvolatile memory 304 registers this (step S102). Next, Mr. B inputs the function name he wants to use from the transparent touch panel 307 (step S103). At this time, if Mr. B inputs, for example, "voice increase amount", "voice decrease amount", and "voice change", the ID number "000" is stored in the nonvolatile memory 304.
It is registered that the function names used by Mr. B specified by "2" are "voice increase amount", "voice decrease amount", and "voice switch" (step S104).

Next, the operation in the operation mode will be described. When Mr. A registered with the ID number “0001” in the non-volatile memory 304 uses the remote control device 300, the individual specifying start button 312 is pressed. According to the CPU3
01 starts the individual specifying operation (step S10).
5). Next, Mr. A inputs his ID number "0001" by operating the ten keys 311. In response, the CPU 301 determines that the input ID number "0001"
Based on the above, it is specified that the user of remote control device 300 is Mr. A (step S106).

Next, the CPU 301 controls the nonvolatile memory 3
The function name of Mr. A registered in 04, that is, the operation button is displayed on the liquid crystal display 305 (step S107). FIG. 4 shows an example of the display contents of the liquid crystal display 305 in this case.

Next, Mr. A presses one of the operation buttons displayed on the liquid crystal display 305 (step S108). At this time, for example, if the "voice increase" button is pressed, the CPU 301 generates a corresponding control signal (step S109). This control signal is
The remote control signal transmission circuit 312 transmits the signal to the electronic device body (step S110). Accordingly, the volume of the electronic device body is increased by one unit.

Here, Mr. B registered with the ID number “0002” in the non-volatile memory 304 is the remote control device 3.
Consider the operation when 00 is used. In this case, Mr. B inputs his own ID number "0002" after pressing the personal identification start button 312 as in the above.
In response, CPU 301 starts the individual specifying operation (step S105), and specifies that the user of remote control device 300 is Mr. B (step S106). Next, C
The PU 301 displays the used function name of Mr. B registered in the non-volatile memory 304 on the liquid crystal display 305 (step S107). FIG. 5 shows an example of the display contents of the liquid crystal display 305 in this case.

Next, when Mr. B presses, for example, a "voice switching" button from the operation buttons displayed on the liquid crystal display 305 (step S108), the CPU 301
Generates a corresponding control signal (step S10).
9). This control signal is transmitted to the main body of the electronic device by the remote control signal transmission circuit 312 (step S11).
0). In response, the voice of the electronic device body switches from Japanese to English. After that, the operations of steps S108 to S110 are repeated until it is determined in step S111 that the operation has ended.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the contents of the operation buttons displayed on the liquid crystal display 305 can be freely customized according to the needs of the user. As a result, there are no unnecessary buttons for operation,
Only appropriate buttons can be arranged according to the function used by each user. Therefore, problems such as erroneous operation can be solved.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a remote control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 6, the remote control device 400 of the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment (see FIG. 1) in that the non-volatile memory 304 is not provided, and instead of the remote control signal transmission circuit 312, the signal transmission / reception circuit 313. Is different. The signal transmission / reception circuit 313 transmits / receives signals to / from the electronic device main body 500. The rest of the configuration of the second embodiment is similar to that of the remote control device shown in FIG. 1, and the corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic equipment main body 500 shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, the electronic device main body 500 includes a CPU 501, a ROM 502 that stores an operation program of the CPU 501, a RAM 503 that stores a calculation result in executing the operation program, and the like.
A signal transmission / reception circuit 5 for transmitting / receiving a signal between the non-volatile memory 504 configured by an EEPROM or the like for storing individual characteristic information and a function for individual use and a remote control device 400.
05.

In the second embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration, the registration unit (nonvolatile memory 504) for the personal characteristic information and the information of the function name used for each individual is provided on the electronic equipment main body 500 side instead of the remote control device 400. By providing the remote control device 400, the configuration of the remote control device 400 is simplified.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Below, this figure 8
The operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As in the case of the first embodiment, in the registration mode, the user first starts the personal registration start button 311.
Press. In response, CPU 301 starts the registration operation of the personal characteristic information (step S201). Next, the user inputs his / her characteristic information (for example, ID number) using the ten keys 311 (step S202). The input personal characteristic information is transmitted to the signal transmission / reception circuit 505 in the electronic device main body 500 via the signal transmission / reception circuit 313 and registered in the non-volatile memory 504 (step S203).

Next, the CPU 50 in the electronic equipment main body 500
1 transmits the display data of all the function names executable by the electronic device main body 500 to the signal transmitting / receiving circuit 505 in the remote control device 400 via the signal transmitting / receiving circuit 505 (step S204). Next, the CP in the remote control device 400
U301 displays operation buttons corresponding to the received functions.
It is displayed on the liquid crystal display 305. Next, the user selects the function name he / she wants to use from the displayed operation buttons and inputs it to the CPU 301 (step S
205). The function name input to the CPU 301 is transmitted to the signal transmission / reception circuit 505 in the electronic device main body 500 via the signal transmission / reception circuit 313 and registered in the non-volatile memory 504 (step S206).

Next, the operation in the operation mode will be described. First, the user starts the personal identification start button 312.
Press. In response, CPU 301 starts the individual specifying operation (step S207). Next, the user inputs his / her characteristic information through the ten keys 311. CPU
301 identifies an individual based on the input characteristic information (step S208). And the CPU 301
Through the signal transmitting / receiving circuit 313,
The signal is transmitted to the signal transmission / reception circuit 505 in the electronic device body 500 (step S209).

The CPU 501 of the electronic equipment main body 500 reads out the personal use function name corresponding to the received personal identification result from the non-volatile memory 504, converts it into corresponding operation button display data, and then, via the signal transmission / reception circuit 505. And transmits it to the signal transmission / reception circuit 313 of the remote control device 400.

The CPU 301 of the remote control device 400 causes the liquid crystal display 305 to display the operation button corresponding to the function name used, based on the received display data (step S211). The following operation procedure, that is, steps S212 to S214 is the same as the operation of steps S108 to S111 of the flowchart (see FIG. 2) of the first embodiment.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the registration of the personal identification information and the used function information is all performed on the electronic equipment main body side, the remote control device 400 can perform the functions on the electronic equipment main body side. No need to know. As a result, different electronic devices can be controlled using the same remote control device.

Although each of the above embodiments is constructed as a remote control device for remotely controlling the function of the electronic device, all the components may be provided in the electronic device and the function may be controlled by the electronic machine. good.

[0039]

According to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the contents of the operation buttons displayed on the operation button display means can be freely customized according to the needs of the user, which is unnecessary for operation. It is possible to eliminate the buttons and arrange only appropriate buttons according to the function used by each user. Therefore, problems such as erroneous operation can be solved.

According to the invention of claim 3, the registration means and the reading means are provided in the electronic device.
The configuration of the main body of the remote control device can be simplified.

According to the invention of claim 4, since the registration means, the reading means and the display data generating means are provided in the electronic device, the structure of the main body of the remote control device can be simplified and the same remote control device can be provided. Can be used to control different electronic devices.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of remote control device 300 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of display contents of a liquid crystal display in a registration mode in the remote control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of display contents of a liquid crystal display in an operation mode in the remote control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of the display content of the liquid crystal display in the operation mode in the remote control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electronic device body 500 in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a conventional remote control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 300, 400 ... Remote control device 301 ... CPU 302 ... ROM 303 ... RAM 304 ... Non-volatile memory 305 ... Liquid crystal display 306 ... Liquid crystal drive circuit 307 ... Transparent touch panel 308 ... Keyboard 309 ... Personal registration start button 310 ... Personal identification start button 311 ... Numeric keypad 312 ... Remote control signal transmission circuit 313 ... Signal transmission / reception circuit 500 ... Electronic device main body 501 ... CPU 502 ... ROM 503 ... RAM 504 ... Non-volatile memory 505 ... Signal transmission / reception circuit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An electronic device operating apparatus for operating a plurality of functions of an electronic device, comprising: personal characteristic information input means for inputting personal characteristic information for expressing characteristics of a user of the electronic device. The function specifying information input means for inputting function specifying information for specifying the function of the electronic device that the user wants to use, and the personal characteristic information and the function specifying information input in the registration mode for each user. Registration means for registering, reading means for reading corresponding function specifying information from the registering means based on the personal characteristic information input in the operation mode, and operation corresponding to the function specifying information read by the reading means. Display data generating means for generating display data of buttons, and operation button displaying means for displaying corresponding operation buttons based on the display data. Of the operation buttons displayed on the operation button display means,
An electronic device operating device, comprising: a control signal generating means for generating a control signal corresponding to a pressed operation button. 2. A remote control device for operating a plurality of functions of an electronic device from a remote position, wherein personal characteristic information input for inputting personal characteristic information indicating a characteristic of a user of the electronic device. Means, function specifying information input means for inputting function specifying information for specifying a function of the electronic device that the user wants to use, the personal characteristic information and the function specifying information input in a registration mode, Registration means for registering for each user, reading means for reading corresponding function specifying information from the registering means based on the personal feature information input in the operation mode, and function specifying information read by the reading means. Display data generating means for generating display data of the corresponding operation button, and displaying the corresponding operation button based on the display data. Of the operation buttons displayed on the operation button display means, and the operation button display means shown,
A remote control device comprising: a control signal generating unit that generates a control signal corresponding to a pressed operation button; and a control signal transmitting unit that transmits the control signal generated by the control signal generating unit to the electronic device. 3. The registration means and the reading means are provided in the electronic device, and the personal characteristic information and the function specifying information input in a registration mode are stored in the registration device in the electronic device. The first transmitting means for transmitting, further comprising a second transmitting means provided in the electronic device, for transmitting the function specifying information read by the reading means to the display data generating means. The remote control device described in. 4. The registration unit, the reading unit and the display data generating unit are provided in the electronic device, and the personal characteristic information and the function specifying information input in a registration mode are stored in the electronic device. A first transmitting means for transmitting to the registering means in the electronic device, and a second transmitting means provided in the electronic device for transmitting the display data generated by the display data generating means to the operation button display means. Claim 2 further comprising:
The remote control device described in.