JPH09259515A - Av controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To operate a plurality of AV equipments simply under unified control environment by accomodating the operation of a remote control and control contents and displaying the corresponding table on a TV monitor. SOLUTION: The corresponding relationship of an input command from a command input means 11, the marking of an equipment to be controlled and a remote control signal output from an infrared remote-control transmitter 12 is stored in the storage means 10 of a remote controller 10. A control means 14 converts the input command from the means 11 into a remote control signal based on the above-mentioned corresponding relationship corresponding to a current page stored in a means 13 and outputs it. On the other hand, the operation screen preparation means 22 of a main body device 20 prepares an operation screen displaying the corresponding table of the operation contents of the means 11 and the equipment to be controlled in the current page on the basis of the remote control signal received by an infrared remote-control receiver 21. An input image signal and an image signal indicating the operation screen prepared by the means 22 are input to an input changeover section 23, and the input changeover section 23 changes over the image signals to either image signal and outputs it from a monitor output terminal by the control of a control means 24.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to various remotely controllable AV devices including a TV monitor, such as TV, video, audio, etc., as main control target devices, and to an AV controller for controlling those control target devices. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, remote control operation of AV equipment is mainly performed by a remote controller (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as "remote control") for each equipment. In many cases, it is difficult to understand because the arrangement of the operation buttons and the operation method are different, and when operating a plurality of AV devices, the number of remote controllers is also large and the operation is complicated.

In addition, the number of remote controllers is controlled by a so-called learning remote controller that can store remote controller signals of a plurality of devices and switch a device to be operated with a switch on the remote controller or store a new remote controller signal. Although there is also a technology to reduce the number of remote controls, the learning remote controller generally has a large number of operation buttons in order to have versatility, and the complexity of operation has not been solved only by reducing the number of remote controllers. In addition, when a function is registered, it is necessary to remember the operation method for executing the function, which is easy for not only those who are not good at operating AV equipment but also high-end users who are accustomed to handling AV equipment. It cannot be said that it is a thing.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, the present invention is an AV controller that can easily operate AV equipment and can create a unified control environment when handling a plurality of AV equipment. The purpose is to provide.

[0005]

A first AV controller of the AV controllers of the present invention that achieves the above object comprises (1) a remote controller and (2) a main body device. Here, (1) the remote controller is (1-1) remote control signal output means for outputting a remote control signal for controlling one or a plurality of control target devices including a TV monitor (1-2) a plurality of commands Command input means for inputting (1-3) Control target equipment or a plurality of pages having different menus of control contents, which are switched by any of the commands input by the command input means, For each page, a command input by the command input unit, a storage unit that stores the correspondence between the control target device and the description of the control content, and the remote control signal (1-4) The command input by the command input unit , Converted to a remote control signal based on the above correspondence corresponding to the current page The remote control signal output means is provided with control means.

Further, (2) the main body device is one of the above-mentioned controlled objects controlled by the remote controller, and (2-1) inputs the remote control signal output by the remote control signal output means. Remote control signal input means (2-2) Based on the remote control signal input by the remote control signal input means, the command input by the command input means and the notation of the controlled device and the control content on the current page Operation screen creating means for creating an operation screen showing the correspondence table (2-3) The video output means for outputting the video signal representing the operation screen created by the operation screen creating means to the TV monitor.

Since the first AV controller of the present invention displays the operation screen on the TV monitor by the main body device in addition to the concept of the conventional learning remote controller, even if the detailed operation method is not remembered, By looking at the operation screen on the TV monitor, it is possible to easily operate the control target device that requires complicated operation by remote control. The second AV controller of the AV controllers of the present invention that achieves the above object is also composed of (3) remote controller and (4) main unit.

(3) The remote controller in the second AV controller of the present invention is (3-1) command input means for inputting a plurality of commands. (3-2) responding to a command input by the command input means. And a command signal output means for outputting a remote command signal.

The (4) main body device in the second AV controller of the present invention is (4-1) command signal input means for inputting the remote command signal output by the command signal output means (4-2) TV Remote control signal output means for outputting a remote control signal for controlling any one of a plurality of control target equipment including a monitor (4-3) Remote command input by command signal input means A remote command signal input from the command signal input means, which has a plurality of pages with different menus of controlled devices or control contents, which are switched by any remote command signal among the signals; Correspondence between the control target device and the description of the control content and the remote control signal (4-4) Control for converting the remote command signal input by the command signal input means into a remote control signal based on the above correspondence corresponding to the current page and outputting it by the remote control signal output means Means (4-5) Based on the remote command signal input by the command signal input means and the correspondence relationship stored in the storage means, the command input by the command input means and the controlled device in the current page And an operation screen creating means for creating an operation screen showing a correspondence table with the notation of control contents (4-6) Video output means for outputting a video signal representing the operation screen created by the operation screen creating means to the TV monitor. Is equipped with.

The second AV controller of the present invention sends a remote control command signal from the remote controller to the main body device, the main body device interprets the remote control command signal, and sends the remote control signal to each controlled device. As with the first AV controller, an operation screen is output on the TV monitor so that complicated operations can be easily performed while viewing the operation screen, and remote command signals are interpreted to control each control target device. Since the main device has a function of distributing the remote control signal for controlling each device to be controlled, the number of operation buttons on the remote controller can be greatly reduced, and a more user-friendly system can be constructed.

Here, it is preferable that the first AV controller or the second AV controller is provided with remote control learning means for building the correspondence and storing it in the storage means. When this remote control learning means is provided, an extremely versatile AV controller adapted to each user's system is constructed.

In the first AV controller and the second AV controller, the main body device is
Input video signal for displaying video on V monitor 1
Input / output switching processing for a video signal group consisting of one or a plurality of input terminals, an output terminal for outputting a video signal to a TV monitor, and a video signal input from the input terminal and a video signal representing the operation screen. , At least one of a conversion process of converting a screen size into a video signal in which a plurality of screens are arranged, and a conversion process into a video signal representing a video in which a plurality of videos are superposed or embedded. It is preferable to include a signal processing means for outputting the processed video signal from the output terminal.

By providing such signal processing means, versatility and usability can be further improved. Further, it is preferable that the first AV controller or the second AV controller of the present invention is provided with an operation reservation unit for making an operation reservation of the controlled device.

Some control target devices, such as video devices, have a reservation function. However, by providing the AV controller of the present invention with the reservation function, the control target device having no reservation function is effectively reserved. Is added, or a coordinated operation of a plurality of control target devices is reserved only by a reservation operation with respect to the AV controller main unit device, without making an operation reservation using the reservation function of each of the plurality of control target devices. be able to. In addition, a unified reservation environment is provided for a plurality of control target devices (for example, a plurality of video devices) of the same type that originally perform different reservation operations (regardless of which video device is reserved, For example, the same screen can be output to a TV monitor). Information on the reservation operation performed on the AV controller may be stored in the AV controller and the control target device may be operated by a remote control signal from the AV controller at the reservation time. Has a reservation function, the information by the reservation operation performed on the AV controller is sent to the control target device by a remote control signal before the operation timing of the control target device, and the control is performed. It may be stored in the target device.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. 1 and 2 are block diagrams showing the configurations of a remote controller and a main body device, respectively, which constitute the first AV controller of the present invention. The remote controller (remote control) 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a command input means 11, an infrared remote control handset 12, a storage means 13,
And control means 14 are provided.

As the command input means 11, switches such as operation buttons and a touch panel are typically used, but the command input means 11 is not limited to this, and may be such as voice input. Here, the description will be continued by taking as an example an operator having a plurality of operation buttons arranged as will be described later. The infrared remote control handset 12 is usually used as a transmitter that outputs an infrared signal, and outputs a remote control signal for controlling one or a plurality of control target devices as an infrared signal.

However, in the infrared remote controller handset 12, in the remote controller learning mode, for example, the remote control signal transmitted from the remote controller dedicated to the controlled device to be learned is received. In the remote control learning mode, the remote control signal received by the infrared remote control handset 12 is associated with the command and command name input from the command input means 11 for associating with the remote control signal, and the storage means is associated with each other. 13 is stored.

Here, the control target equipment is mainly AV equipment such as a video deck, a television set, an audio equipment and the like which can be operated by a remote controller, but may also include equipment such as an air conditioner and an electric light. The remote control signal is an infrared signal as an example here, but it may be a signal transmitted by radio waves (wireless) or wire. When wireless can be used, for example, a cordless phone is provided as a device to be controlled, and an operation screen is used to make a call to a telephone number stored in the storage means, or a remote controller
0 is equipped with a wireless receiver, and you can use a cordless phone,
The controlled device may be remotely controlled via the remote controller 10.

In the storage means 13, the commands input from the command input means 11, created in the remote control learning mode described above, the target equipment and the control contents (command name), and the infrared remote control transmitter 12 are used. The correspondence with the output remote control signal is stored. There are multiple pages in this correspondence,
Each page corresponds to a control target device or a control mode in the case where the control target device has a plurality of control modes with different menus of control contents. That is, in each page, control of different control target devices, or different control contents even for the same control target device, is assigned to the same command input from the command input means 11. For example, when you try to operate a VCR and operate a certain operation button for command input, and when the video is stopped, the operation of that operation button means a'play 'instruction. In the case of, it means the instruction of "stop", and in the recording reservation mode, it means the instruction of the "reservation order selection". By thus assigning the same operation to different control target devices or control contents for each page, it is possible to reduce the number of operators such as operation buttons of the remote controller.

It should be noted that one command does not have to correspond to only one control content on a certain page.
It may include a coordination operation. Coordination operation means outputting a plurality of types of remote control signals simultaneously or sequentially, or at each predetermined time, for example,
For one command "go home", for example, the water heater is activated 30 minutes before the prescribed return time, the air conditioner is activated 10 minutes before the prescribed return time, and a light is turned on at the prescribed return time. The operation of.

Information common to a plurality of devices such as a clock is automatically set by the time setting of the AV controller for all control target devices constituting the system so that the time is always unified. You may leave it. In this case, the control target device, for example, a video deck may be operated to receive a time signal and the time may be adjusted in accordance with the time signal.

Further, the control means 14 converts the command input from the command input means 11 into a remote control signal stored in the storage means 13 based on the above-mentioned correspondence relationship corresponding to the current page, The infrared remote control transmitter 12 outputs the remote control signal. The control means 14
Has a remote control learning function for building the above correspondence and storing it in the storage means 13. This remote control learning function may be one function registered in the remote control learning mode for each device to be registered as a control target device, but a standard VCR remote control signal set is stored from the beginning. The remote control signal set for the VCR may be registered only by specifying the manufacturer and model of the VCR.

Further, the main body device 20 shown in FIG. 2 is provided with an infrared remote control receiver 21, an operation screen creating means 22, an input switching section 23, and a control means 24. A video signal from a control target device (not shown), for example, a video deck is input to the input terminal, and a video signal is output from the monitor output terminal to a TV monitor (not shown).

The infrared remote control receiver 21 receives the infrared remote control signal transmitted from the infrared remote control transmitter / receiver 12 of the remote controller 10 shown in FIG. The infrared remote control transmitter / receiver 12 of the remote controller 10 mainly transmits a remote control signal to a control target device (for example, a video deck) not shown, but the main body device 20 is also one of the control target devices. The infrared remote control signal transmitted from the infrared remote controller 12 of the remote controller 10 is also received by the infrared remote controller receiver 21 of the main body device 20.

The operation screen creating means 22 is based on the remote control signal received by the infrared remote control receiver 21, and the operation contents of the command input means 11 of the remote controller 10 shown in FIG. This is to create an operation screen showing a correspondence table with devices and control contents. The input switching section 23 inputs the video signal input via the input terminal and the video signal representing the operation screen created by the operation screen creating means 22, and controls either of the videos by the control of the control means 24. The signal is switched to output from the monitor output terminal.

The control means 24 is responsible for controlling the entire main body device 20. Here, in displaying the operation screen on the AV controller, an image of the input means on the screen (for example, a picture of the operation button) is displayed, and the command input means 11 is operated by the remote controller 10 (for example, the operation button is pressed).
While the button is being pressed, the color of the picture on the operation button on the screen may be changed so that it can be known that the button is being pressed.

In creating the operation screen in the operation screen creating means 22, when a specific command is input from the command input means 11 of the remote controller 10, the information representing the above-mentioned correspondence of the page at that time is remote controlled. A signal is transmitted from the remote controller 10 as a signal, the main body device 20 side receives a remote control signal indicating information indicating the correspondence, and an operation screen is created based on the information. In this case, all the information necessary for creating the operation screen is managed by the remote controller 10 side, and only the information necessary for interpreting the remote control signal sent from the remote controller 10 is managed by the main body device 20 side. All you have to do is In this case, when an operation button on the remote controller 10 side is pressed, information indicating which operation button is currently pressed on the remote controller 10 is displayed in order to display the button on the operation screen as if the button was pressed. 20 is transmitted.

Alternatively, when creating the operation screen on the main body device 20 side, the operation screen creating means 2 on the main body device 20 side
2 is provided with storage means, and the correspondence information managed by the remote controller 10 side and management information indicating which operation button has been pressed are duplicated in the storage means, and each time the operation button is operated. The operation screen may be created based on the information stored in the storage means. In this case, when the operation button on the remote controller 10 side is pressed, in order to display the button as pressed on the operation screen, the remote controller transmitted to the control target device other than the main body device 20, such as a VCR, is displayed. By intercepting the signal by the main body device 20 and comparing it with the information in the storage means on the main body device 20 side, it is possible to know which operation button has been pressed and reflect it on the button on the operation screen.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a system configuration using the AV controller main unit shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an external appearance example of the remote controller shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, in addition to the AV controller main unit 20, this system is provided with two TVs 1 and 2, and one TV having two video inputs 1 and 2. The video 1 is connected to the video input 1 of the television 3 via the AV controller main unit 20, and the video 2 is directly connected to the video input 2 of the television 3. Since the remote controller 10 as shown in FIG. 4 directly controls the videos 1 and 2 and the television 3, there may be a device such as the video 2 which is not connected to the AV controller main unit.

The remote controller 10 shown in FIG. 4 has one menu button and 15 operation buttons A to O.
The menu button is also one operation button. Therefore, in the remote controller 10 shown in FIG. 4, the command input means 11 shown in FIG. 1 is composed of 16 operation buttons. An infrared remote control signal is transmitted from the remote controller 10 from the end on the menu button side.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the transition of the operation screen in the AV controller shown in FIGS. Starting from the case where the power of the entire system shown in FIG. 3 is not turned on, first, when the menu button of the remote controller 10 shown in FIG. 4 is pressed, the power of the TV 3 and the AV controller main unit 20 is turned on, and the input of the TV 3 is video. Switching to the input 1 side and the operation screen shown in FIG. 5A is displayed.

On this operation screen, the device to be controlled (here, the AV controller) and the remote controller 10 shown in FIG.
The control contents assigned to the operation buttons A to O are displayed. The screen of FIG. 5 (a) has a menu of "E: remote control learning". When the operation button E of the remote controller 10 is pressed, the remote control learning mode is entered, and the operation buttons (for example, Correspondence is established between “O”), the name of the control content (for example, “all power off”), and the remote control signal to be output at that time.

In the screen of FIG. 5A, "A: Switch device" is displayed, and when the operation button A of the remote controller 10 is pressed while this screen is displayed, the screen of FIG.
The operation screen of the television (TV) 3 is displayed as shown in. “D: Input switching” on the screen of FIG. 5B is for switching television radio waves to ground waves, BS, and CS.

When the operation button A is further pressed, FIG.
Move to the operation screen of video 1 shown in. The video 1 has more operation target items than the number of operation buttons A to O, and a plurality of operation screens are prepared for the video 1, and the operation screen shown in FIG.
When the screen of (c) is displayed, the remote controller 10
When the menu button of (Fig. 4) is pressed, the operation screen of Fig. 5 (d) is displayed, and when the menu button is pressed further, the operation screen is switched to the next operation screen, and the final operation screen of video 1 is displayed. If the menu button is pressed while the user is present, the screen returns to the first menu screen shown in FIG. As described above, the screens can be switched, and a desired operation can be performed on a desired controlled device.

In the present embodiment, since the operation screen is displayed in this way, it is not necessary to remember the correspondence between the operation buttons of the remote controller 10 and its control functions, and it is possible to control a plurality of AV devices in a unified manner. Can be easily operated under the environment. 6 and 7 are respectively a remote controller, which constitutes a second AV controller of the present invention,
It is a block diagram showing the composition of the main unit.

The remote controller 30 shown in FIG. 6 includes a command input means 31, an infrared remote controller transmitter 32, and a storage means 3.
3 and control means 34. A plurality of commands are input from the command input means 31. The infrared remote control transmitter 32 exclusively transmits infrared signals and has no function of receiving infrared signals. This is because the remote controller learning function is built into the main body side in the AV controller described here, and therefore the remote controller 30 does not need to receive an infrared signal. Here, the infrared signal transmitted from the infrared remote control transmitter 32 will be referred to as a remote command signal in order to distinguish it from a remote control signal used when operating a device to be controlled by remote control. This remote command signal is received by the main body device of the AV controller.

In this embodiment, since the remote control learning function is built in the main body side, the storage means 33 on the remote control 30 side transmits the command input from the command input means 31 and the infrared remote control transmitter 32. It only stores a table in which remote command signals are associated with one-to-one correspondence. When the command input means 31 is operated and a command is input, the control means 34 refers to the table stored in the storage means 33 and converts the command into a remote command signal, and the infrared remote control transmitter 3
Send from 2 to the main unit.

An infrared remote control transmitter / receiver 41 is provided on the main device 40 side shown in FIG. The infrared remote control transmitter / receiver 41 receives the remote command signal transmitted from the infrared remote control transmitter 32 of the remote controller 30 shown in FIG. 6, and also transmits the remote control signal to the control target device. This infrared remote control handset 4
One channel may be provided for each of transmission and reception, or two channels may be provided for the transmission side so that two control target devices can be controlled simultaneously.
Further, the infrared remote control handset 41 is normally connected to the main body device 40 by a cable, and is placed at a position where it can be transmitted to the infrared receiving parts of all control target devices.
In consideration of the case where all control target devices cannot be controlled from one place, a plurality of infrared remote control transmitters may be connected.

Storage means 43 on the main device 4 side shown in FIG.
In the embodiment described with reference to FIGS.
It plays the same role as the storage means 13 of the remote controller 10, and this storage means 43 has the remote controller 3 shown in FIG.
0 from the infrared remote control transmitter 32 and the main unit 4
There is a correspondence relationship between the remote command signal received by the infrared remote control handset 41 on the 0 side, the names of the control target device and the control content, and the remote control signal transmitted from the infrared remote control handset 41 to the control target device. Remembered Similar to the above-described embodiment, the storage unit 43 stores the corresponding relationship over a plurality of pages.

To store the correspondence in the storage means 43, the main body device 40 is switched to the remote controller learning mode, the remote controller 30 shown in FIG. 6 is operated, and a command corresponding to a certain operation is issued from the remote controller 30. And a remote command signal carrying the information of the name given to the operation (control) to be transmitted and received by the infrared remote control handset 41 on the main body device 40 side, and the remote control dedicated to the controlled device is operated to operate from the remote control. The remote control signal to be transmitted is also transmitted and received by the infrared remote control transmitter / receiver 41 on the main device 40 side, and these are associated with each other by the control means 44 and stored in the storage means 43. This storage means 43
Is provided on the main device 40 side, so that there is no need to place a limit on the number of learning as compared with the case where a storage means for storing this correspondence is provided on the remote control side as shown in FIG. It can have a large storage capacity.

When the remote controller 30 shown in FIG. 6 is operated to control the equipment to be controlled, the infrared remote controller transmitter 32 of the remote controller 30 transmits a remote command signal corresponding to the operation, and the remote command signal is transmitted. It is received by the infrared remote controller 41 of the main body device 40. In the control means 44, the infrared remote controller control means 45 refers to the correspondence relationship corresponding to the current page among the above-mentioned correspondence relationships stored in the storage means 43, and informs the infrared remote controller control means 45 of the received remote command signal and the current page. Generate a remote control signal corresponding to. The remote control signal is transmitted from the infrared remote control handset 41 to the control target device. For controlled devices,
The controlled device receives the remote control signal and operates according to the remote control signal.

Here, when operating the remote controller 30, an operation screen is displayed on the TV monitor, and the remote controller 30 is operated while watching the operation screen. less than,
The video output to the TV monitor including the operation screen will be described. The operation screen creating means 42 has the same role as the operation screen creating means 22 shown in FIG. 2 in the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, and the infrared rays of the remote controller 30 shown in FIG. Operation of the remote controller 30 shown in FIG. 6 based on the remote command signal transmitted from the remote controller transmitter 32 and received by the infrared remote controller handset 41 on the main device 40 side and the above-mentioned correspondence stored in the storage means 43. An operation screen is created that represents a correspondence table between the contents and the names of the control target device and the control contents on the current page. The created operation screen is input as a video signal to the screen division arrangement unit 48 and the overlay processing unit 49.

Further, the main body device 40 shown in FIG.
A plurality of (n in FIG. 7) input / output terminals connected to AV equipment such as a video deck and a monitor output terminal connected to a TV monitor are provided. For each input / output terminal 1-n,
For example, n video decks are connected, and the video signals generated by those video decks are input / output terminals,
It is input to the input / output switching means 46. The input / output switching means 46 has m monitor output stages 1 to m for outputting video signals to be sent to the TV monitor side.
Then, the input / output terminals 1 to n are controlled by the control means 44.
Up to m video signals among the video signals input via the monitor output stages 1 to m are output. The video signals output from the monitor output stages 1 to m are input to the reduction processing means 47_1 to 47_m, and the reduction processing means 4 are supplied.
In 7_1 to 47_m, reduction processing for reducing the screen size is performed by thinning out the pixels of the image represented by the input video signal, and the video signal representing the image after the reduction processing is generated. The reduction processing means 47_1
It is also possible to output the input video signal as it is, without performing the reduction processing in ~ 47_m. It is preferable that the reduction processing means is provided with the same number as the number of screen divisions, but the number of the reduction processing means is only one and only one image is reduced at a time, and the other images are the reduced images. You may make it memorize | store in a memory, reproduce | regenerate it, and perform this sequentially and cyclically about each image.

The video signals output from the reduction processing means 47_1 to 47_m are input to the screen division arrangement means 48.
The operation screen creation means 42 is included in the screen division placement means 48.
A video signal representing the operation screen created in step S4 is also input, and in the screen division arranging means 48, under control of the control means 44, T of the image represented by the plurality of input video signals is displayed.
The layout on the V monitor is determined, a plurality of images are laid out, and a video signal in the state of being configured as one image is output. The screen division arrangement unit 48 can also pass the video signals input from the reduction processing units 47_1 to 47_m. The video signal output from the screen layout dividing unit 48 is input to the overlay processing unit 49. A video signal representing the operation screen created by the operation screen creating means 42 is also input to the overlay processing means 49, and in accordance with the control of the control means 44, the screen dividing means 48.
A video signal representing an image in a state where the operation screen created by the operation screen creating means 42 is superimposed on the image represented by the video signal output from is generated. This video signal is output from the monitor output terminal to a TV monitor (not shown) and displayed as an image on the TV monitor.

That is, on the TV monitor, the image represented by the video signal input from any one of the input / output terminals 1 to n, the operation screen created by the operation screen creating means 42, and these are displayed. It is possible to switchably display an arbitrarily combined image and an image in which an operation screen is superimposed on an image represented by a video signal input from the input / output terminals 1 to n. The image thus created may be returned to the video device side connected to the input / output terminals 1 to n so that the video device side can record the image.

FIG. 8 is an external view of the remote controller 30 whose functional blocks are shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of the remote controller. The recon 30 includes a power button 30a, a joystick type up / down / left / right lever / execution button 30b,
A control ring 30c, a menu button 30d, a cancel button 30e, and a transmission display LED 30f are provided. Further, the remote controller 30 has a transmitter 30g for transmitting an infrared signal at the upper end of FIG.

Further, the remote controller 30 is provided with a slide type expansion button 30h which is usually built in the main body and taken out along the arrow of FIG. 8 when necessary.
The power button 30a, the menu button 30d, and the cancel button 30e are push button switches. As shown in FIG. 9, the up / down / left / right lever / execution button 30b is movable up / down / left / right along a slightly forwardly tilted elliptical spherical surface 30i. When the execution button is pressed after moving to, the moving position at that time is detected and an infrared signal (remote command signal) is transmitted from the transmitting unit 30g. When the upper / lower / left / right lever / execution button 30b is released, it returns to the central position by the urging force of a spring (not shown).

Here, the up / down / left / right lever / execution button 3 is used.
By making 0b a movement of a substantially spherical surface instead of a parallel movement, the operation amount (position movement amount) can be easily understood even with a blind touch. Further, here, since the elliptic spherical movement is slightly tilted forward, there is an advantage that the finger is less burdened when operated with one hand and can be operated naturally as compared with the case of a simple circular orbital movement.

Although an example of a joystick type has been shown here as the up / down / left / right lever, an input means such as a trackball or a direction button may be provided instead of the joystick type. Further, the control ring 30c has a ring shape and can be rotated up and down by 90 ° to the left and right, and the speed of, for example, frame advance of video, slow reproduction, picture search, etc. changes depending on the amount of rotation. This control ring 30c also
When the hand is released, the spring returns to the central position by the urging force of a spring (not shown).

Further, the slide type expansion button 30h is a button group capable of directly selecting and executing a function. Normally, it is stored in the main body to prevent erroneous operation. The button group is not directly related to the present invention, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, the functions of these button groups may be freely assignable or may be fixed. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the operation may be facilitated by displaying a TV monitor screen showing the arrangement of these buttons and their function allocation.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an operation screen for video operation created by the operation screen creating means 42 in the main body device 40 shown in FIG. In this operation screen,
Display of the controlled device currently being operated (here video 1), display 62 by the information display function of the currently operated controlled device (here video 1), cue button (+) for video operation ,-) 71a, 71b, fast forward,
Rewind buttons 72a and 72b, play button 73, stop button 74, pause button 75, recording standby button 76, video channel buttons 77a and 77b for switching the tuner channel of video 1, and information display function of video 1 A video data display button 78 for switching whether or not to display the display 62 on the screen and a video setting button 79 for shifting to a screen for video screen adjustment are displayed.

When the up / down / left / right lever / execution button 30b of the remote controller 30 shown in FIG. 8 is tilted, the selection of the button (the selected button is displayed in blue) changes accordingly and the desired button is changed. When the execution button of the remote controller 30 is pressed after selection, the operation corresponding to the selected button on the screen is executed. Buttons in this execution state are displayed in red. Remote control 3 during playback
When the control ring 30c of 0 is turned, slow reproduction and fast-forward reproduction are executed. When the cancel button 30e of the remote controller 30 is pressed, this operation screen disappears and the screen of video 1 is displayed. Note that this operation screen may be displayed by being overlaid on the screen of the video 1 which is the current controlled device, or may be displayed instead of the screen of the video 1.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of screen division. In FIG. 11A, the screen is divided into two, and operation screens for both video 1 and video 2 are displayed. Whether to operate the video 1 or the video 2 is selected by the up / down / left / right lever / execution button 30b of the remote controller 30. Also, on this screen, video 1 to video 2
A dubbing button 80 for executing the dubbing of the image to is also displayed.

In FIG. 11B, the screen is divided into four, three of which are operation screens for the respective videos 1, 2 and 3 and the remaining one.
One is an operation screen for operating the AV controller. Up / down / left / right lever / execution button 30b of the remote controller 30
To move the cursor to the AV controller operation screen, and bring the cursor to the "device selection" field as shown in the figure, and tilt the up / down / left / right lever / execution button 30b to the left or right, the remote controller 30 Cancel button 3
The device (video 1 in this example) selected as the source of the image displayed on the TV monitor is switched to another device (for example, video 2) after pressing 0e to turn off the operation screen. When the up / down / left / right lever / execution button 30b is tilted in the vertical direction, the cursor on the screen moves up or down. For example, when the cursor is moved to the reservation setting mode and the execution button is pressed, the reservation setting mode (described later) is entered. To do.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram showing another embodiment of the main body device that can be employed instead of the main body device 40 shown in FIG. Main unit 4 shown in FIG.
Differences from 0 will be described. When making a video recording reservation, it is convenient if the program guide is electronically input by some means. Here's how to do that,
For example, when electronic information such as a program guide is transmitted by radio waves for television, electronic information separating means 5 from an analog signal is sent.
1, the electronic information is separated, and the electronic information is separated from the TV radio wave in the electronic information input interface (I
When the electronic information is input via F), the electronic information is extracted by the electronic information extraction means 52, and when the electronic information is input via the telephone line, the personal computer communication means 5 is used.
3 is received, and the electronic information is extracted by the electronic information extracting means 52. Further, when the electronic information is supplied by a recording medium such as a floppy disk or a CD, the recording medium reading means 54 reads the electronic information and the electronic information extracting means 52 extracts the electronic information. It is not necessary to have all the means for obtaining these multiple types of electronic information,
It should be prepared if necessary.

The main unit shown in FIG. 12 is equipped with a general-purpose interface 55 such as a printer,
A video label printer for recording a video label is connected to the general-purpose interface 55 such as a printer. When a video recording reservation is made, the title of the reserved program is automatically recorded and output by the video label printer. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the transition of the operation screen in the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 6 and subsequent figures.

First, when the power button 30a of the remote controller 30 (see FIG. 8) is pressed in the power-off state, the power is turned on and the state when the power was turned off last time is restored. Here, it is assumed that the video 1 was used last time. In this case, when the power button 30a is pressed, the power of the TV and the video 1 is automatically turned on, and the image based on the video signal output from the video 1 is displayed on the TV. Then, the operation screen of the video 1 is displayed as shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the operation when the power is turned on. Detailed description is omitted. With the operation screen shown in FIG. 14A displayed, the cancel button 30 of the remote controller 30 is displayed.
When e is pressed, the operation screen of video 1 disappears and the screen of video 1 is displayed (FIG. 13 (b)). Also, when the screen of the video 1 (FIG. 13B) is displayed, the remote controller 3
When the 0 execution button 30b is pressed, the operation screen of FIG. 13 (a) is displayed.

While the operation screen of FIG. 13 (a) is displayed, the video setting button 79 (see FIG. 10) is selected by the up / down / left / right levers of the remote controller 30 and the execute button is pressed. (It is simply called "press the button")
Then, the video side setting screen appears. FIG. 13 (b)
In this state, when the cancel button 30e of the remote controller 30 is pressed, a split screen in the mode designated by "screen split" (see FIG. 13D) is displayed.

Further, when the menu button 30d of the remote controller 30 is pressed once in the states of FIGS. 13 (a) and 13 (b), the menu button 30d is displayed once more on the operation screen shown in FIG. 13 (c). When is pressed, the operation screen shown in FIG. 13D is displayed. With these screens displayed, the up / down / left / right lever / execution button 30b of the remote controller 30 can be used to perform, for example, channel / input switching, volume setting, device selection, and transition to various modes.

The cancel button 30e of the remote controller 30 is pressed while the operation screen of FIG. 13 (c) is displayed, or the cancel button 30e of the remote controller 30 or the cancel button 30e of the remote controller 30 is displayed while the operation screen of FIG. 13 (d) is displayed. When the menu button 30d is pressed, the screen moves to the screen 13 (b). FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing the manner in which the screens sequentially shift as described above. Since the outline has been described so far, the description of FIG. 15 alone will be omitted.

Representative modes of the various modes shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 will be described below. Since the details of the operation in each mode deviate from the essence of the present invention,
The description may be omitted or may be omitted. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an operation screen in the TV / audio setting mode.

When "to TV / audio setting mode" is selected and executed in the operation screen of FIG.
The operation screen of (a) is displayed, and "TV (Hitachi) Setting 2" is displayed.
If you select and execute (Image quality adjustment / Channel setting),
The operation screen of FIG. 16B is displayed, the brightness of the TV,
The contrast and other settings can be set. This figure 1
6 (b) The middle screen portion 51a is a display based on the display function of the television. On the other hand, the screen portion 51b is an overlay display of the AV controller, and the operation method of the remote controller 30 is displayed.

FIG. 17 is a schematic view showing an operation screen in the dubbing mode (single dubbing). FIG.
When the cursor is placed on the "dubbing mode" in the operation screen of 3 (d), the up / down / left / right levers of the remote controller 30 are tilted to the left / right to select single dubbing, and the execute button is pressed.
The operation screen of (a) is displayed.

When the "dubbing input switching" button 81 in the operation screen of FIG. 17A is pressed, the dubbing input source device is switched, and when the "dubbing destination switching" button 82 is pressed, the dubbing output destination device is switched. When the dubbing start button 80 is pressed, the screen moves to the screen during dubbing shown in FIG. During this dubbing, only the stop button and the pause button are effective, and when the stop button or the pause button is pressed, the screen of FIG. 17A is returned. FIG.
When the cancel button 30c of the remote controller 30 is pressed while the screen of (b) is displayed, the screen of the dubbing destination device shown in FIG. 17 (c) is displayed, and when the screen of FIG. 17 (c) is displayed. When the execute button on the remote controller 30 is pressed, FIG.
Return to the screen of (b).

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing an operation screen in the dubbing mode (multidubbing). FIG.
When the cursor is placed on the "dubbing mode" in the operation screen of (d), the up, down, left, and right levers of the remote controller 30 are tilted to the left and right to select multi-dubbing, and the execute button is pressed, FIG.
The operation screen of is displayed.

When the operation screen of FIG. 18A is displayed and the up / down / left / right lever / execution button 30b of the remote controller 30 is operated to select a dubbing source device (here, "video 1"), As shown in 18 (b), a square mark is displayed in the column of the video 1 of the dubbing source. Next, when selecting a dubbing destination device (here, “video 2”),
As shown in (c), □
Mark is displayed. Similarly, in the example shown here, "LD (laser disk) 1" is selected as the dubbing source and "video 3" is selected as the dubbing destination (FIG. 18 (d)). In this way, select the combination of the dubbing source and the dubbing destination, move the cursor to the position corresponding to the dubbing source of the combination to be executed in the "Standby" column, and press the execute button. The split dubbing mode screen (FIG. 18E) is displayed. This FIG. 18 (e)
The operation on the screen of is for single dubbing (Fig. 17
See). However, the "dubbing destination switching" button is effective only when there are a plurality of dubbing destinations. FIG. 18 (e)
When the "Dubbing setting" button on the screen of
The screen shifts to the dubbing setting screen shown in (f).

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing types of reservation methods and reservation items in the reservation setting mode, and FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an operation screen in the reservation setting mode. FIG.
When "Video 1" is selected in "Device selection" on the operation screen of (d) and "Reservation setting mode" is selected and executed, the reservation setting mode for making a reservation for Video 1 is entered, and as shown in FIG. The operation screen of a) is displayed. Figure 20
When the "normal reservation mode" is selected and executed from the operation screen of (a), the operation screen of FIG. 20 (b) is displayed.

When the up / down / left / right lever of the remote controller 30 is moved up / down / left / right while the operation screen of FIG. 20 (b) is displayed, the cursor moves up / down / left / right within the operation screen, When the execute button is pressed, the item selected at that time (the cursor is moving) is executed, and when the cancel button 30e of the remote controller 30 is pressed, the reserved item is canceled when the cursor is in the reservation list. The operation screen display is reduced when the cursor is outside the reservation list.

In the operation screen of FIG. 20B, the "mode" column is a column for designating the VHS triple speed mode and Hi-8 double speed mode. Also, the "Deck" column is a column for specifying the VCR to be used for recording, and in the case of "Automatic", use the "Automatic Deck Sorting" button so that the recording load of each VCR becomes even. They are sorted so that they can be recorded for as long as possible without replacement. The "reservation control" column is a column for designating whether to register the recording reservation function of the VCR or to select the reservation operation by the AV controller. If you select the one registered in the reservation function on the video side,
When the "Reserve" button is pressed, the reservation information is transferred to the VCR.

When "tape ID", "data recording" or "tape information display mode" is selected and the execute button of the remote controller 30 is pressed, a "tape selection window" opens,
It is possible to select an existing tape or input a new tape ID. For a new tape, set the length and type of tape as well. The recording contents set to "on" in the "data recording" item are recorded as a database, and the remaining tape amount is displayed. The database can be viewed and modified in the "tape information display mode".

Further, if the cursor is placed in the column with no reservation (the cursor is located at the reservation date of reservation number 5 in FIG. 20), the execution button of the remote controller 30 is pressed or the up / down / left / right levers are tapped to the right. "G code input window"
Appears. In addition, the "sort by deck" button,
By pressing the "Sort by time" button, you can sort the reserved time by deck or in order of time. "Tape information display mode"
When the button is pressed, the tape information display mode is entered, and when the "tape replacement schedule display mode" button is pressed, a list of when the tapes need to be replaced according to the tape ID and the recording time is displayed.

When the "program guide reservation mode" is selected and executed on the operation screen of FIG. 20 (a), the program guide reservation mode is entered. In this program reservation mode, when there is a means (see FIG. 12) for inputting an electronic program guide, a program is displayed by using the information, and a recording reservation can be made by selecting the program on the screen. . Details are omitted. Further, FIG.
When the "quick reservation mode" is selected and executed on the operation screen of (a), the operation screen of the quick reservation mode shown in FIG. 20 (c) is displayed. The quick reservation is a reservation for immediately starting reserved recording, such as recording the program currently being watched for up to one hour later or recording a program starting 15 minutes later for 30 minutes. The marks "△" and "▽" in the figure are marks for up / down of channels, recording start times, and recording times.

Furthermore, by selecting and executing the "other device reservation mode" on the operation screen of FIG. 20 (a), it is possible to make reservations for air conditioners, lights, and the like. Details are omitted. FIG.
[Fig. 6] is a schematic view of a "G code input window". As described above, this “G code input window” is displayed in FIG.
20. By holding the cursor in the column in the 0 (b) operation screen where no reservation is registered and pressing the execute button on the remote controller 30 or by pushing the up, down, left, and right levers to the right, FIG.
It is displayed overlaid on the operation screen of (b).

When the cursor is placed on the button of, for example, "1" on the ten-key pad in the G code input window and the execute button is pressed, the selected number "1" is displayed in the display frame 83. Repeat this to specify the number,
A G code reservation is made by pressing the "confirm" button. When the "back one" button is pressed, the last one character displayed in the display frame 83 disappears. When the "Cancel" button is pressed, the G code reservation work is canceled and the G code input window disappears.

FIG. 22 shows the "tape information display window".
FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram of the “search condition window”. The "tape information display window" shown in FIG.
This is displayed when the "tape information display mode" described above is entered. In the tape ID list box 84, “ID
In order of ID number, one for each tape, depending on which of the "order", "usage order" or "last recording order" button is pressed (here, "ID order" button is pressed). The tape ID numbers are displayed in order of the oldest recording date and time or the latest recording date and time of each tape. Also,
By using the "ascending order" button and the "descending order" button, the order of the upper and lower sides of the tape ID list is switched. This tape ID
The list is scrolled by pressing the scroll buttons 85a and 85b, and page update buttons 86a and 86 are displayed.
It is changed in page units by pressing b.

When the cursor is placed on any tape ID in the tape ID list displayed in the tape ID list box 84, a list of recorded contents of the tape designated by the tape ID is displayed in the information display box 87. To be done. When the "Search" button is pressed, the "Search condition input window" shown in FIG. 23 opens, and the search condition (keyword) is input to the search condition input window (by moving the left and right levers of the remote controller 30 left and right, the items can be moved up and down. When a value is set to that item) and the execute button of the remote controller 30 is pressed, the search condition input window is reduced and the tape information display window shown in FIG. 22 is returned to, and a tape matching the search condition is searched. When a tape matching the search condition is found, the tape ID of the tape is displayed in the tape ID list box 84 and the cursor is automatically set there, and a list of contents of the tape is displayed in the information display box 87. Is displayed.

When the "correct information" button is pressed, the cursor can be moved in the information display box 87, and the information displayed there can be modified. You can add a new tape to the list by pressing the "New Tape" button. Tape I to add a new tape
D and tape type are set. When the "display end" button is pressed, the tape information display window disappears, and the screen shown in FIG.
Return to the operation screen of.

FIG. 24 is a schematic view of the "tape change schedule display window". This "tape replacement schedule display window" is displayed when the "tape replacement schedule display mode" is selected and executed in the operation screen of FIG. Detailed description is omitted.
FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram of the setting means in the “function setting mode”.

By selecting and executing the "function setting mode" on the operation screen of FIG. 13D, the function setting mode is entered. This function setting mode includes a "device registration mode" for registering a control target device, a "remote control command learning mode" for registering the correspondence between the operation of the remote controller 30 and a remote control signal sent to the control target device, and a control panel for the user It is divided into a "control panel customization mode" that customizes it to your liking and a "warning display setting mode" that sets various warning displays.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation screen of the "control panel customization mode" and its contents. Detailed description is omitted.

[0082]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to easily operate a plurality of AV devices under a unified control environment.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a remote controller that constitutes a first AV controller of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main body device that constitutes a first AV controller of the present invention.

3 is a schematic diagram showing a system configuration example using the AV controller main unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the external appearance of the remote controller shown in FIG.

5 is a block diagram of the AV controller shown in FIGS.
It is a schematic diagram showing the change of the operation screen.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing a remote controller that constitutes a second AV controller of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing a main body device that constitutes a second AV controller of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an external view of a remote controller whose functional blocks are shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view of a remote controller.

10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an operation screen for video operation created by an operation screen creating means in the main body device shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of screen division.

12 is a functional block diagram showing another embodiment of a main body device that can be adopted instead of the main body device shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a transition of an operation screen.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an operation when the power is turned on.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which screens sequentially shift.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an operation screen in a TV / audio setting mode.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing an operation screen in a dubbing mode (single dubbing).

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing an operation screen in a dubbing mode (multidubbing).

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing types of reservation methods and reservation items in the reservation setting mode.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an operation screen in a reservation setting mode.

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram of a “G code input window”.

FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram of a “tape information display window”.

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram of a “search condition window”.

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of a “tape replacement schedule display window”.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram of setting means in a “function setting mode”.

[Fig. 26] "Control panel customization mode"
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation screen of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Remote Controller (Remote Control) 11 Command Input Means 12 Infrared Remote Control Handset 13 Storage Means 14 Control Means 20 Main Unit 21 Infrared Remote Control Receiver 22 Operation Screen Creating Means 23 Input Switching Section 24 Control Means 30 Remote Controller (Remote Control) 31 Command Input Means 32 Infrared remote control transmitter 33 Storage means 34 Control means 40 Main unit 41 Infrared remote control handset 42 Operation screen creating means 43 Storage means 44 Control means 45 Infrared remote control control means 46 Input / output switching means 47_1, 47_2, ..., 47_m Reduction processing Means 48 Screen division arrangement means 49 Overlay processing means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Yoshiyasu Nakajima, 1015 Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Fujitsu Limited (72) Inventor, Toshiya Miyazaki, 1015, Kamiodanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A remote control signal output means for outputting a remote control signal for controlling one or a plurality of control target devices including a TV monitor, a command input means for inputting a plurality of commands, and the command input means. The control target device or the control target has a plurality of pages which are switched by any one of the commands to be input and the menu of the control content is different, and the command input by the command input means and the control target A command input by the command input means and a storage means for storing the correspondence between the equipment and the control content and the remote control signal,
A remote controller having control means for converting the remote control signal based on the correspondence relationship corresponding to the current page and outputting the remote control signal by the remote control signal output means, and the remote control signal output by the remote control signal output means are input. Remote control signal input means, a correspondence table of commands input by the command input means based on the remote control signal input by the remote control signal input means, and the controlled device and the notation of control contents on the current page 1 of the control target equipment, which is provided with an operation screen creating means for creating an operation screen representing the above, and a video output means for outputting a video signal representing the operation screen created by the operation screen creating means to a TV monitor.
An AV controller, comprising: 2. A remote controller comprising command input means for inputting a plurality of commands, and command signal output means for outputting a remote command signal according to the command input by the command input means; and the command signal. Command signal input means for inputting the remote command signal output by the output means, remote control signal output means for outputting a remote control signal for controlling one or more control target devices including a TV monitor, and the command signal input means Has a plurality of pages which are switched by any one of the remote command signals input by the control target device or have different menus of control contents, and each page is input from the command signal input means. Remote command No., a device to be controlled and a description of control contents, and a storage means for storing a correspondence relationship between the remote control signal and a remote command signal input by the command signal input means to the correspondence relationship corresponding to the current page. Based on the remote command signal converted by the remote control signal output means and output by the remote control signal output means, the remote command signal input by the command signal input means, and the correspondence relationship stored in the storage means. Operation screen creating means for creating an operation screen showing a correspondence table between the command input by the input means and the control target device and the control content mark on the current page, and the operation screen created by the operation screen creating means And a video output means for outputting a video signal indicating An AV controller comprising the main unit. 3. The AV controller according to claim 1, further comprising remote control learning means for building the correspondence and storing it in the storage means. 4. The main body device includes one or more input terminals for inputting a video signal for displaying an image on the TV monitor, an output terminal for outputting a video signal to the TV monitor, and the input. A video signal group consisting of a video signal input from a terminal and a video signal representing the operation screen, input / output switching processing, conversion processing into a video signal in which a plurality of screens are arranged by reducing the screen size, and a plurality of videos A signal processing means for performing at least one process of converting into a video signal representing a superimposed or fitted video and outputting the processed video signal from the output terminal. The AV controller according to claim 1 or 2, which is characterized in that. 5. The AV controller according to claim 1, further comprising operation reservation means for making an operation reservation for the controlled device.