JPH11272371A - Power saving device for electronic unit with remote operation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the power consumption of a stand-by state to the minimum while the convenience of a remote operation function is maintained by permitting a control computer means to supply the operation power of a remote operation signal reception means and a restarting signal generation means and the memory holding power of the control computer means with a stand-by power means in power saving mode. SOLUTION: Operation power is supplied from a stand-by power circuit 16 to a remote control light reception circuit 11, a control micro computer 12, a clock generation circuit 15 and a restarting signal generation circuit 18 in the stand-by state of an electronic unit. At a power saving mode, the supply of a reference clock signal from the clock generation circuit 15 to the control micro computer 12 is stopped and only power for memory back up in the control micro computer 12 is supplied from the stand-by power circuit 16. When the reference clock signal from the clock generation circuit 15, which is supplied to the control micro computer 12, is stopped and the supply of power from the stand by power circuit 16 to the clock generation circuit 15 is stopped at the time of turning off a main power circuit 14, the control micro computer 12 becomes the power saving mode.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to remote control of electronic devices such as a television receiver, a video cassette tape recorder, a video cassette disk device, a digital video disk device, and an air conditioner. It is intended to save power consumption in a remote operation standby mode while the main power is shut off by the remote operation and the main power is turned on again by the remote operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, in electronic devices such as a television receiver, a video cassette tape recorder, a video cassette disk device, a digital video disk device, and an air conditioner, a place remote from the electronic device by a remote control function using infrared rays. A function of automatically turning on / off the operation of the electronic device by operating the electronic device from the user or by incorporating a clock function is adopted.

When the electronic device is not normally used by using the remote control function, that is, the operation power supply to the main circuit function of the electronic device is turned off (hereinafter, referred to as a standby state) from the remote control function. The operating power is supplied to the main circuit functions of the electronic device in an instant, and the operating state is instantaneously used (hereinafter, referred to as a normal operating state). When the operation state is changed to the standby state at a preset time from the normal use state, even when the operation power supply of the main circuit function of the electronic device is turned off, the remote control function and the clock function are maintained. Supply of operating power is required.

In general, a remote control function and a clock function of the electronic device are controlled by a control microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a control microcomputer), and the control microcomputer controls various operation modes of the electronic device. And the watch mode is holding. The control microcomputer of the electronic device is operated by a high-frequency reference clock signal of about several MHz, a mode to stop the high-frequency reference clock signal and stop the operation of the control microcomputer,
The high frequency reference clock signal is stopped, and several tens KHz
(Hereinafter, referred to as a power saving mode) that operates with a low frequency clock signal. This power saving mode is internally held for the purpose of holding the memory of the control microcomputer and holding the operation of clock counting when a commercial power supply fails or when an outlet for connection to the commercial power supply of the electronic device is disconnected. Operation is maintained by a backup power supply using a battery or capacitor.

On the other hand, in recent years, the spread of the electronic equipment has been remarkable,
At home, a plurality of television receivers, video cassette tape / disk devices, and digital video devices, air conditioning devices, and various cooking devices are used. The total power consumption of the electronic devices in the standby state reaches several tens of watts, and there is a demand for further reduction in power consumption of home electronic devices.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In various electronic devices having a remote operation function, in order to bring the electronic device from a standby state to a normal use state with the remote operation function, a transmission is made from a remote operation transmitting section of the electronic device. A control microcomputer that generates various operation modes based on the key code received by the remote operation receiving unit and controls the electronic device requires an operation power supply, and it is desired to reduce power consumption in a standby state of the electronic device. It is rare.

On the other hand, the electronic device also includes a main power switch for turning on / off the connection to a commercial power supply. When the main power switch is turned off, the operating power to the remote control receiving portion and the control microcomputer is turned off. The supply is also cut off, and there is no power consumption, but unless the main power switch is turned on again, the remote control function does not allow the operation of the electronic device to be performed. Contrary to the function, the user is subjected to complicated operations, and there is a problem that the reduction of power consumption in the standby state of the electronic device is hindered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a power saving device for an electronic device in which the power consumption of the electronic device in a standby state is minimized while maintaining the convenience of the remote control function.

[0009]

The present invention has a remote control function comprising remote control signal receiving means and control microcomputer means, and decodes a remote control code supplied from the remote control signal receiving means to the control microphone computer means. A remote control device for an electronic device which controls a main circuit and a function by a control signal supplied from the control microcomputer means and controls on / off of a main power supply means for supplying driving power to the main circuit and the function;
When a remote control code for turning off the main power supply is supplied from the remote control signal receiving means to the control microcomputer, the control microcomputer turns off the main power supply and controls the control microcomputer. A power saving means for setting the computer means to a power saving mode; and a restart for releasing the power saving mode of the control computer means added to a remote control code for turning on the main power supply means supplied from the remote operation signal receiving means. Restart signal generating means for decoding a remote control code and generating a signal for releasing the power saving mode of the control computer means, the remote control signal receiving means when the control computer means is in the power saving mode, and the restart signal The operating power is supplied to the generating means, and the memory of the control computer means is supplied. And a standby power supply unit for supplying a holding power, wherein the power supplied from the standby power supply unit is reduced when the control computer unit is in the power saving mode. It is a power device.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to the present invention, a control microcomputer for controlling a remote operation of the electronic device has a power saving mode. In this power saving mode, the control microcomputer stopped the operation of the control microcomputer and the reference clock signal supplied to the control microcomputer, and the control microcomputer operated with a low-frequency clock with a drive current of 1 μA or less for holding the memory. In this case, since the driving current is about several tens of μA, the power consumption is as low as 1 mW or less. The power-saving mode of the control microcomputer is generally used as a backup by a battery or a capacitor at the time of a power failure. Has been made with a focus on the fact that it can be significantly reduced.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an embodiment of a power saving device for an electronic device according to the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a remote control light receiving circuit (hereinafter, referred to as a remote control light receiving circuit) which is a receiving means of a remote control function using infrared rays, which is transmitted from a remote control function transmitting means (not shown). After receiving and amplifying and detecting the key code signal by infrared rays, shaping the waveform, and outputting it as a remote control pulse code. The output of the remote control light receiving circuit 11 is supplied to a control microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a control microcomputer) 12 that controls various circuits and operation functions of the electronic device. The control microcomputer 12 is a system microcomputer unit that generates a control mode for controlling a signal processing circuit, a circuit for controlling an operation function, and the like constituting the electronic device according to a remote control pulse code supplied from the remote control light receiving circuit 11. 12a and a timer microcomputer unit 12b for controlling a clock function and an operation display of the electronic device. The control mode generated by the system microcomputer 12a of the control microcomputer 12 is output to a signal processing / operation circuit 13 including various signal processing circuits and a circuit for controlling an operation function of the electronic device. The time and operation display generated by the timer microcomputer 12b of the control microcomputer 12 are output to display means (not shown). The signal processing / operation circuit 13
Is connected to a main power supply circuit 14 for supplying operating power. The main power supply circuit 14 turns on / off the operation power supply to the signal processing / operation circuit 13 according to a power supply mode supplied from the control microcomputer 12. The control microcomputer 12 is connected to a clock generation circuit 15 for supplying a reference clock signal. A standby power supply circuit 16 for supplying operating power is connected to the remote control light receiving circuit 11, the control microcomputer 12, and the clock generation circuit 15. The main power supply circuit 14 and the standby power supply circuit 16
Are connected to a commercial power supply via a main power switch 17. Further, the remote control light-receiving circuit 11 is operated by an operation power supplied from the standby power supply circuit 16.
And a restart signal generation circuit 18 for generating a start signal in response to a specific remote control pulse code and restarting the control microcomputer 12.

Next, the operation of this power saving device will be described. First, the main power switch 17 is turned on, and the commercial power is supplied to the main power circuit 14 and the standby power circuit 16. At this time, the main power supply circuit 14
It is turned off in the power supply mode generated by the control microcomputer 12 by the power supply remote control pulse code supplied from the remote control light receiving circuit 11, and the signal processing / operation circuit 13 is operated by the main power supply circuit 14. An electronic device in which power is not supplied and operating power is supplied from the standby power supply circuit 16 to the remote control light-receiving circuit 11, the control microcomputer 12, the clock generation circuit 15, and the restart signal generation circuit 18; In the standby state. In a standby state of the electronic device, the remote control light receiving circuit 1
1. Since operating power is supplied to the control microcomputer 12, the clock generation circuit 15, and the restart signal generation circuit 18, the remote control light receiving circuit 11 and the restart signal generation circuit 18 generate several mW of power. The control microcomputer 12 and the clock generation circuit 15 consume several tens of mA.
The above current flows, and at least 100 mW of power is consumed. In the power supply mode in which the main power supply circuit 14 is turned off, the supply of the reference clock signal from the clock generation circuit 15 to the control microcomputer 12 is stopped, and the standby power supply circuit 16 supplies a memory backup for the control microcomputer 12. If you set the power saving mode to supply only power,
The power supply current of the control microcomputer 12 becomes 1 μA or less,
The power consumption is also about several μW. Therefore, when the main power supply circuit 14 is turned off, the reference clock signal from the clock generation circuit 15 supplied to the control microcomputer 12 is stopped, and further, the standby power supply circuit 16 Is stopped, the control microcomputer 12 enters the power saving mode.

After shifting to the power saving mode, the control microcomputer 12 releases the power saving mode at the rising edge of the rising edge dedicated terminal of the microcomputer 12 or resets the reset terminal of the control microcomputer 12 to the reset terminal. There is a method of releasing a power saving mode by supplying a signal to perform a reset operation. Accordingly, a restart signal is supplied from the restart signal generation circuit 18 to the control microcomputer 12 to release the power saving mode and shift to the standby mode.

The operation of the restart signal generation circuit 18 will be described in detail with reference to the signal waveform diagram of FIG. FIG.
3A is an operation waveform showing a remote control pulse code which is received by the remote control light receiving circuit 11 and output to the control microcomputer 12 by a key operation of a remote control transmitting means (not shown). In the period of time t0 to t3 in the drawing, the output of the remote control light receiving circuit 11 indicates a non-output state. The time t3 indicates the output start position from the remote control light receiving circuit 11. 9ms from time t3 to t4
The (millisecond) period is the reader portion of the remote control pulse code, and the 54 ms period from time t5 to time t6 is the pulse sequence of the remote control pulse code, which is represented by a 32-bit remote control pulse code sequence. The time t
The period from 4 to t5 is a period for clarifying the division between the reader portion and the pulse train. That is, the remote control light receiving circuit 1
Based on the leader portion output from 1 at time t3 to t4 and the contents of the pulse train during a period of time t5 to t6 4.5 ms after time t4, the data is pre-stored in the system microcomputer 12a of the control microcomputer 12. The operation mode is read out, and the operation and operation of the signal processing / operation circuit 13 including the ON / OFF of the main power supply circuit 14 are controlled.

When the main power supply circuit 14 is turned off by operating the power key of the remote control transmission means using such a remote control pulse code, power supply from the main power supply circuit 14 to the signal processing / operation circuit 13 is stopped. When the supply of the reference clock signal from the clock generation circuit 15 to the control microcomputer 12 is stopped,
The control microcomputer 12 enters the power saving mode. In the power saving mode of the control microcomputer 12, even if a remote control pulse code for turning on the main power supply circuit 14 is output from the remote control light receiving circuit 11,
Is only supplied with power for holding the memory, and
Since the reference clock signal is not supplied, it is impossible to read the remote control pulse code and determine the operation mode.

Therefore, when the main power supply circuit 14 is turned off and the control microcomputer 12 is in the power saving mode state, the remote control light receiving circuit 11 is newly switched to the control microcomputer 12.
FIG. 2B illustrates a state in which is restarted from the power saving mode to the standby mode.

When the control microcomputer 12 is restarted from the power saving mode to the standby mode, the time t3 of the remote control pulse code waveform in the normal operation shown in FIG.
20 during the time t0 to t3 before the start of the leader portion of
The remote control pulse code format to which a restart pulse of 0 ms was added was used. The remote control pulse code to which the restart pulse is added is transmitted from the remote control transmitting means, received by the remote control light receiving circuit 11, and supplied to the control microcomputer 12 and the restart signal generating circuit 18. The control microcomputer 12 cannot decode the remote control pulse code with the restart pulse because of the power saving mode state.
The restart signal generation circuit 18 detects a restart pulse in a period of time t0 to t3 in the supplied remote control pulse code with a restart pulse, and generates a rising pulse based on the detected restart pulse. Then, the power is supplied to the control microcomputer 12 to release the power saving mode. The restart signal generation circuit 18 includes an integration circuit and a monostable multivibrator, and the time constant T of the integration circuit is 100
ms. A trigger signal is generated when a restart pulse exists within the period of 100 ms, and a rising pulse is generated from the trigger signal by the monostable multivibrator. FIG. 2C shows the state of occurrence of the rising pulse. The time t shown in FIG.
With the restart pulse in the period from 0 to t2, a rising pulse is generated at time t1 from the time t0 to the time constant T of 100 ms. At this time, in the remote control pulse code shown in FIG. 2A in which the restart pulse does not exist, the time constant T is not satisfied during the period of time t0 to t3 because the non-output signal state occurs, so that the rising pulse becomes Does not occur. The rising pulse generated by the restart signal generation circuit 18 is supplied to the control microcomputer 12 as a restart signal. The control microcomputer 12 to which the rising pulse has been input cancels the power saving mode at the time t1, and supplies the reference clock signal from the clock generation circuit 15 to oscillate the oscillation clock, as shown in FIG. The standby mode is restarted at the timing of time t2 after the warm-up in which the frequency is stabilized. At time t2, the standby mode is restarted, and reading of the remote control pulse code is performed from the timing of time t3. At this time,
When a pulse code for turning on the power of the main power supply circuit 14 is continuously output from the remote control light receiving circuit 11, an operation mode for turning on the main power supply circuit 12 is generated and supplied from the control microcomputer 12, and the signal processing / operation is performed. The operation power supply to the circuit 13 is started, and the normal operation of the electronic device is started.

Although the time when the control microcomputer 12 is released from the power saving mode is time t1 and the time when the standby mode is started is time t2, a high frequency of several MHz which is a reference clock signal for controlling the control microcomputer 12 is used. This is set because a warm-up time of about several tens of ms is required to stably oscillate, and is a time necessary for maintaining stable oscillation of this clock signal.

The reason why the restart pulse width added to the remote control pulse code shown in FIG. 2B is 200 ms is that the restart signal generation circuit 18 detects the presence of the restart pulse shown in FIG. In the normal operation remote control pulse code, the time constant T at which the control microcomputer 12 is not restarted is set to 100 ms, and the warm-up time until stable oscillation when the reference clock signal for driving and controlling the control microcomputer 12 rises is considered. The time is set to 100 ms, which is sufficiently longer than the warm-up time, and the total time is used. Therefore, the restart signal generation circuit 18 reliably sets the time constant T at which the restart pulse can be recognized in accordance with the format of the various remote control pulse code strings.
The restart pulse width to be added to the remote control pulse code is determined in consideration of the warm-up time of the reference clock pulse for controlling the drive until the stable oscillation state, and the restart pulse width can be changed. Further, although the restart pulse has a simple pulse waveform as shown in FIG. 2B, the restart signal generation circuit 18 discriminates the restart pulse from a normal pulse other than the restart pulse. It is also possible to change to a waveform in which a rising pulse can be obtained from the restart signal generation circuit 18 in response to only the restart pulse.

Further, after the control microcomputer 12 shifts to the standby mode by the restart pulse, if the normal remote control pulse code is not output from the remote control light receiving circuit 11 to the control microcomputer 12, the clock generation circuit 15 is stopped again. However, it is also possible to return the control microcomputer 12 to the power saving mode. That is, the remote control pulse code for turning on the main power supply circuit 14 even after a predetermined time elapses after the control microcomputer 12 shifts to the standby mode by the restart rising pulse from the restart signal generation circuit 18. When the control microcomputer 12 is not supplied from the remote control light-receiving circuit 11 to the control microcomputer 12, the control microcomputer 12 is returned to the power saving mode. If the normal remote control pulse code is not supplied, for example, for one second after restarting in the standby mode, unnecessary power consumption can be avoided by returning the control microcomputer 12 to the power saving mode again.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The above-described embodiment of the present invention employs the control microcomputer 12
And the reference system clock signal of the control microcomputer 12 is completely stopped. However, the control microcomputer 12 has a high-frequency reference system clock signal for controlling the operation of the system microcomputer 12a of the control microcomputer 12 and the drive control of the timer microcomputer. In some cases, a low-frequency reference system clock signal is used. In this other embodiment, even if the reference system clock of the system microcomputer 12a is stopped, the reference system clock signal of the timer microcomputer 12b is continuously supplied, and only the clock function of the control microcomputer 12 is continued. This is related to switching between the power saving mode and the standby mode of the control microcomputer 12 in the case where the control microcomputer 12 is driven. Examples of the case where the clock function is most necessary are, for example, a digital television used for recording and recording a specific television program at a reserved time in a video cassette device, or for receiving and reproducing a multi-channel digital television broadcast. It is used when making a viewing reservation for a program at a receiver. Even when the timer microcomputer 12b of the control microcomputer 12 is driven and the low-frequency clock signal generation portion is additionally driven from the clock generation circuit 15, the power supply current for driving them is about several tens μA. It is possible to suppress the power consumption significantly lower than the time. Accordingly, a remote control pulse code for turning off the main power supply circuit 14 is supplied from the remote control light-receiving circuit 11, the main power supply circuit 14 is turned off by operation control from the control microcomputer 12, and the control microcomputer 1
2 shifts to the power saving mode, the remote control light receiving circuit 11
Then, when the restart pulse is received and the rising pulse from the restart signal generation circuit 18 is supplied to the control microcomputer 12, it is possible to restart from the power saving mode to the standby mode.

Further, when making a reservation for recording and recording a television broadcast program, or for making a reservation for a timer for normally operating an electronic device at a reserved time, the control microcomputer 12 is used.
In the power saving mode, the timer microcomputer 12b is continuously driven, the timer microcomputer 12b of the control microcomputer 12 compares the reservation time with the current time, and when the reservation arrives, the restart shown in FIG. Generate a pulse,
Further, following the restart pulse, the main power supply circuit 1
4 is supplied to the system microcomputer 12a, so that the system microcomputer 12a is connected to the timer microcomputer 12a.
The system microcomputer 12a is shifted from the power saving mode to the standby mode by the remote control pulse code with restart from b, and the power of the main power supply circuit 14 is turned on to record and record the program reserved in advance. , Viewing, or normal operation.

[0024]

According to the electronic device having the remote control function, when the main power supply of the electronic device is turned on / off by using the remote control function, the control microcomputer which configures the remote control function when the main power supply is turned off is provided. By setting the power saving mode driven by the power for the memory backup, the main power of the electronic device is turned off, and the power consumption in the electronic device standby state while the electronic device is restarted by the remote control function is significantly reduced. It has become possible. In addition, by adding an identifiable restart pulse to the normal remote control pulse code for remote control, there is an effect that the convenience of the remote control function of the electronic device can be maintained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of an embodiment of a power saving device for an electronic device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a signal waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Remote control light receiving circuit, 12 ... Control microcomputer, 13 ...
Signal processing / operation circuit, 14: main power supply circuit, 15: clock generation circuit, 16: standby power supply circuit, 17: main power switch, 18: restart signal generation circuit.

Claims (5)

[Claims] A remote control code provided from said remote control signal receiving means to said control microphone computer means; and said control microcomputer decodes a remote control code supplied from said remote control signal receiving means to said control microphone computer means. A remote control device for electronic equipment, which controls a main circuit and a function by a control signal supplied from a computer means and controls on / off of a main power supply means for supplying driving power of the main circuit and the function, wherein the remote control signal When a remote control code for turning off the main power supply means is supplied from the reception means to the control microcomputer means, the control microcomputer means controls the main power supply means to be turned off, and the control microcomputer means is omitted. Power saving means for setting a power mode; and the remote control signal A signal for decoding the restart remote control code for releasing the power saving mode of the control computer means added to the remote control code for turning on the main power supply means supplied from the communication means and releasing the power saving mode of the control computer means Restart signal generating means for generating and supplying the power supply; and when the control computer means is in the power saving mode, the remote control signal receiving means and the restart signal generating means are supplied with operating power and the memory holding power supply of the control computer means is provided. A power supply device for a remote control device, wherein the power supply from the standby power supply device is reduced when the control computer means is in a power saving mode. . 2. A signal width of a restart remote control code added to an ON remote control code of the main power supply supplied from the remote operation signal receiving means, the signal width of the restart signal generation means being determined by the main power supply means or the main power supply means. A remote control code that can be distinguished from a remote control code that controls main circuits and functions,
2. The power saving device for an electronic device with a remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission time of the restart remote control code has a time during which the control microcomputer means can restart and warm up. 3. The restart remote control code supplied from the restart signal generation means causes the main power supply means to be turned on because the control microcomputer means is the remote operation signal reception means even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the restart. 3. The power saving device for an electronic device with a remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the control computer means is again set to the power saving mode when no remote control code is supplied. 4. The control computer means has a clock function, and when the control computer means is set to a power saving mode, a power supply for driving the clock function of the control computer means is supplied from the standby power supply means. The power saving device for an electronic device with a remote control device according to claim 1. 5. In the power saving mode of the control computer means, the restart remote control code and the remote control code for turning on the main power supply means are generated at a preset time by using a clock function of the control computer means. 5. The power saving device according to claim 4, wherein said control computer means is in a standby mode.