KR101801731B1 - Remote controller having interface for character input function - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a remote controller having keys which is added to the remote controller for a set-top box and is operated by both hands to be used for various external devices, and having a character input function of easily inputting various characters by using limited number keys. Therefore, characters are inputted by dragging by using the keys which are not visible.

Description

REMOTE CONTROLLER HAVING INTERFACE FOR CHARACTER INPUT FUNCTION < RTI ID = 0.0 >

The present invention relates to a remote controller having a character input function capable of easily inputting various characters with a limited number of keys as well as being usable for various kinds of external devices by adding a key operated by both hands to a remote controller for a TV or a set- will be.

The remote control is used to control other kinds of external devices such as game consoles, audio devices, video devices, lighting devices as well as TVs and set-top boxes.

A remote controller having a character input function developed in recent years has made it possible to control these various external devices with a single remote controller.

For example, Japanese Patent Application No. 10-1611200 discloses a remote control function for controlling an external device using an infrared signal and a remote control function for controlling an external device using a Bluetooth signal, as well as a single remote control, It can also be used as a remote control for game consoles.

However, the remote controller according to the Japanese Patent Application No. 10-1611200 merely collects the keys necessary for the remote controllers of different external devices in a single remote controller, and thus the number of keys is large, and furthermore, To do this, you need to add more keys, and it's also complicated, inconvenient, and confusing to use.

Especially, as the spread of Internet TV becomes active in recent years, the frequency of inputting and using characters other than numbers is also increasing.

However, since the character input function implemented in the existing remote controller uses a very small number of keys compared to the number of characters (or alphabets), the number of key operations required to input one character is large, and in order to reduce the number of key operations, In some cases, a screen is used, but it is expensive and power consumption is not practical for a remote controller.

KR 10-1611200 B1 2016.04.05.

Therefore, a problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a key input device capable of diversifying a control input while using a necessary limited key and having a character input function that realizes a small size, a reduced complexity, an ease of use, Thereby providing a remote controller.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a remote controller having a character input function, comprising: a case 100 formed to be longer than the left and right widths; A basic input unit 300 in which a direction key 310, a numeric key 320, a character type selection key 330, and a button type function key 340 are arranged on the upper surface between the longitudinal ends of the case 100; A two-handed input section 400 disposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the case 100 so as to be operated by both hands and symmetrical; An operation mode selection key 200 for selectively activating the basic input unit 300 and the two-handed input unit 400; A plurality of radio signal transmitting units 520 provided separately for transmitting a radio signal corresponding to the input of the basic input unit 300 and a radio signal corresponding to the input of the two-handed input unit 400; And a microcontroller (510) for controlling to transmit a radio signal corresponding to the input of the input unit activated by the operation mode selection key (200).

The number key 320 includes a main touch sensor 322a arranged in four rows and three columns and a row of four columns arranged in the left and right of the main touch sensor 322a, A touch pad 321 having a capacitive touch sensor 322 including a side touch sensor 322b arranged above and below the touch pad 322a and mounted on the inner surface of the case 100; A numeral display part 323 displayed in three rows and four columns on the upper surface of the case 100 according to the position of the main touch sensor 321a; And a control unit.

The thickness of the surface covering the position of the capacitive touch sensor 322 in the upper surface of the case 100 covering the touch pad 321 is set to a thickness capable of being electrostatically sensitive.

The microcontroller 510 divides the touch of the main touch sensor 322a or the side touch sensor 322b adjacent to the touch of the main touch sensor 322a and the touch of the main touch sensor 322a, Or by assigning an alphabet to the character type selector 330, the character type selector 330 processes the alphabet or alphabet more than the number of the number keys.

The upper surface of the case 100 has a cross section in the width direction curved upward and a surface covering the touch pad 321 is a flat surface having edges on both sides in the width direction as a boundary and has a constant thickness, And the touch pad 321 is brought into close contact with the touch pad 321.

The capacitive touch sensor 322 of the touch pad 321 is divided into 6 rows and 5 columns and the 4 rows and 3 columns of the central portion are used as the main touch sensor 322a corresponding to the character display portion 324 and the remaining portions are the touch position display portion 323 The microcontroller 510 controls the touch of the main touch sensor 322a or the side touch sensor 322b adjacent to the diagonal line following the touch of the main touch sensor 322a The alphabets or alphabets are assigned to the input characters.

The present invention configured as above has a basic input unit 300 to be provided in a remote controller of a TV or a set-top box, and a both-handed input unit 400 for an external device to be controlled by both hands, and a hidden key Can be input in a drag manner by arranging the numeric keys 320 on the outskirts of the numeric keys 320. Thus, it is possible to input Korean alphabet or alphabet relatively more easily and correctly than the limited number of numeric keys 320. [

In addition, the present invention allows input of the hidden key position only by the dragging method, with the position of the numeric key as the starting point and the input of the hidden key at the input of the drag method, Input can be diversified.

1 is a top view, a left side view, a right side view, a front view, and a rear view of a remote controller having a character input function according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view of a remote controller having a character input function according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is an exploded perspective view of the upper cover 120, the handles 411 and 311, and the external connection terminal cap 540a separated from each other in the state of FIG.
4 is a bottom perspective view of the upper cover 120 showing a state in which the touch pad 321 is mounted on the upper cover 120. FIG.
5 is a top view (a) and a top perspective view (b) of the upper cover 120 in which the touch pad 321 is closely attached to the inner surface.
6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion where the number key 320 is formed in a width direction.
7 is a cross-sectional view cut in the longitudinal direction.
8 is an electric circuit block diagram.

The remote controller having the character input function according to the embodiment of the present invention can control the external device that requires both hands such as a game console in addition to the basic input unit 300 that should be ordinarily provided for controlling a TV or a set- Hand input unit 400 for activating and operating the two-handed input unit 400 while permitting the input of a part of the keys of the basic input unit 300 within the range of the finger's operation, The keys of the basic input unit 300 are arranged so as to easily operate the keys.

Here, the remote controller having the character input function according to the present invention may be set to be an external device such as an audio device, a lighting device, a radiator, a radiator, etc. in addition to a TV, a set-top box, and a game console.

In addition, the present invention can also be used to visually display the numeric keys 320 to be arranged in the basic input unit 300, to secure a touch area to which a virtual key not displayed is added, And the symbol character is input by touch or dragging once.

Thus, the present invention can be used not only in various external devices but also in diversifying the input when using the two-handed input unit 400 while using a limited key, diversifying the control input, have.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 to 7 show a structure of a remote controller having a character input function according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a top view, a left side view, a right side view, a front view and a rear view, 3 is a perspective view showing the upper cover 120 and the handle 411 and 311 of the jog shuttle 410 and the direction key 310 and the cap 540a of the external connection terminal 540 4 is a bottom perspective view of the upper cover 120 showing a state in which the touch pad 321 is mounted on the upper cover 120 and FIG. A top view 120 and top view 120 of the top cover 120 are shown and the positions of the numeric display 323 and character display 324 displayed on the surface of the top cover 120, 6 shows a position where the number key 320 is formed in the width direction Sectional view is shown in Fig. 7, and Fig. 7 is a sectional view cut in the longitudinal direction.

8 is a block diagram of an electrical circuit of a remote controller having a character input function according to an embodiment of the present invention. The signal line activated and input when the basic input signal processing unit 511 is operated is indicated by a solid line, Signal lines activated and input when the input signal processing unit 512 is operated are indicated by dotted lines.

The remote controller having a character input function according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a body 100 that is opened at an upper portion and is capable of loading or replacing the battery 600 through a battery cover 111 provided at the bottom, And a cover 120 covering the main board 500 and fixing the main board 500 to the main body 110 after the motherboard 500 is mounted on the open upper portion of the main body 110.

The outer shape of the remote controller having the character input function is formed to be longer than the width of the left and right, and the width becomes narrower from both ends in the longitudinal direction toward the middle in the longitudinal direction. So that the constricted middle portion can be stably held with one hand and both ends in the longitudinal direction which are thicker than the middle portion can be stably held with both hands.

The operation mode selection key 200, the reset key 210, the basic input unit 300 and the both-handed input unit 400 are mounted or mounted on the main board 500 accommodated in the case 100, The portion to be manipulated is passed through the surface of the case 100 and exposed to the outside or protruded to the outside through the surface. Herein, the reset key 210 is used in a process of initializing a page with the external device or allowing the external device to recognize the remote control, and the external device to be controlled by the basic input unit 300 and the two- And it is also possible to determine which one of the plurality of radio signal transmitting units 520 described below is to be used for each external device. The operation mode selection key 200 is a key for selecting an input unit to be activated in the basic input unit 300 and the two-handed input unit 400. [

The microcomputer 510, the wireless signal transmitter 520, the acceleration / gyro sensor 530, the external connection terminal 540, the charging circuit 541, and the LED 550 are connected to the main board 500 The external connection terminal 540 allows the connector to be inserted into the case 100 through the case 100 so that the LED 550 can emit the light emitted from the outside of the case 100 .

The external connection terminal 540 and the charging circuit 541 may be used for charging the battery 600. In addition, the external connection terminal 540 and the reset key 210 are connected to each other and can be blocked by the cap 540a.

The wireless signal transmitting unit 520 includes an IR transmitter 521 for transmitting an infrared (IR) signal that can be recognized by a TV or a set-top box, a Bluetooth transmitter 521 for recognizing an external device And a short range wireless communication module 522 for transmitting short range wireless signals such as WiFi and UWB, and are provided for input through the basic input unit 300 and input through the two-handed input unit 400, It is possible to transmit the radio signal corresponding to the input using the individually corresponding one.

Hereinafter, a method of transmitting the radio signal corresponding to the input according to the arrangement and structure of the basic input unit 300 and the two-handed input unit 400 and the operation mode selected by the operation mode selection key 200 will be described.

The basic input unit 300 allows input of characters other than numbers by using a direction key 310 for allowing a press input, an up / down / left / right press input, a plurality of numeric keys 320 arranged in four rows and three columns, A button type function key 340 for using functions provided by the TV or the set-top box, a power key 350 for turning on and off the power of the TV or the set-top box, And a volume control key 360 for using the volume control function of the controller. The direction key 310 is a key commonly used in a remote controller and senses the pressing and tilting of the handle 311 exposed to the outside of the case 100 from the base 312 mounted on the main board 500 . Such a basic input unit 300 typically corresponds to an input key required for a remote control for a TV or a set-top box.

However, according to the present invention, the direction key 310, the numeric key 320, the character type selection key 330, the button type function key 340, and the power key 350 are included in the basic input unit 300, A numeric key 320, a character type selection key 330, and a button type function key 340 on the upper surface between both ends except for both ends in the longitudinal direction of the case 100, Are disposed adjacent to each other in this order.

The power key 350 is disposed on both lateral side clearance surfaces between the end portion and the direction key 310, and the volume control key 360 is disposed on the right side.

The input unit 400 includes a push button, a rotary wheel and a joystick. The input unit 400 includes a jog shuttle 410 disposed on the upper surface of the case 100 and a jog shuttle 410, And a function key 420 disposed on one side (right side in FIG. The jog shuttle 410 is configured to detect movement of the handle 411 exposed to the outside of the case 100 by the base 412 provided on the main board 500. The function key 420 includes a trigger 421 capable of adjusting the intensity of the input and a button 422 of a push input method, so that two types of input can be performed. For convenience of use, the button 422 is placed on the trigger 421 and the trigger 421 is placed on the button 422. [

The two-handed input section 400 is disposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the case 100 so as to be operated simultaneously with both hands, and is vertically symmetrical. Of course, the jog shuttle 410 at both ends are respectively disposed on the upper surface of the case 100, and the function keys 420 at both ends are disposed on either side (right side in the figure) of both sides of the case 100.

As described above, the jog shuttle 410, the direction key 310, the number key 320, the character type selector 330, the button type function key 340 And the jog shuttle 410 at the other end are sequentially disposed on the upper surface of the case 100.

The button type function key 340 and the direction key 310 of the basic input unit 300 are operated when both the side jog shuttle 410 is operated with the thumb after simultaneously gripping both ends of the case 100 in the longitudinal direction It will be within the range of your thumb.

The present invention activates both the button type function key 340 and the direction key 310 when the both-handed input unit 400 is activated and uses the same as the input key.

In addition, the present invention enables numeric keys 320 and character type selection keys 330 arranged in the center of the upper surface of the case 100 to be activated together with the input unit 400 for both hands and to input numbers and characters So that the area where the number keys 320 are disposed is extended to both sides in the width direction of the case 100 so that characters other than numbers can be easily and conveniently input as described below.

The button-type function key 340 is a function key for controlling the TV or the set-top box, and includes, for example, a menu selection key, a switch to a previous state, a mute key, a search key, And a key for activating a mouse function using the acceleration / gyro sensor 530 according to an embodiment.

The plurality of button-type function keys 340 are configured in a push button type and are arranged in at least three rows and three columns, and four keys of the rhombus arrangement are designated by the special keys 342. [ That is, the intermediate key of one row, the intermediate key of three rows, the intermediate key of one column, and the intermediate key of three columns are designated by the special key 342, and the remaining general key 341 The height protruded to the upper side was relatively increased.

Accordingly, when both ends of the remote controller according to the present invention are simultaneously gripped and operated by both hands, the special keys 342 are disposed one above the other in the up, down, left, and right directions close to the jog shuttle 410 to operate the jog shuttle 410 And is protruded relatively higher than the normal key 341, so that it can be pressed and operated accurately.

In addition, since the direction key 310 is also close to the jog shuttle 410 on the opposite side, it can be operated by pushing with the finger operating the jog shuttle 410.

The plurality of numeric keys 320 may include numerals 0, 1, 2, ... , And 9, ten keys are required, but they are usually arranged in 4 rows and 3 columns in combination with keys for inputting '*' and '#'.

The character type selection key 330 is a key for assigning characters to the numeric keys 320 to input Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, special characters, etc. by using the plurality of numeric keys 320, The embodiment includes a key for selecting one of Korean and English input, one of English uppercase and lowercase letters, a number, and a special character.

According to the present invention, the number key 320 includes a touch position display portion 323 that displays a touch position on a 4-by-3 row after flatly arranging an upper surface of the case 100, a touch position display portion 323 And a touch pad 321 fixedly attached to the inner surface of the portion indicated by the touch position display portion 323 in the case 100. [

Here, the touch position display section 323 displays 0, 1, 2, ... , 9, '*' and '#'.

The capacitive touch sensor 322 mounted on the touch pad 321 includes a main touch sensor 322a arranged in four rows and three columns in accordance with the position of the touch position display portion 323, And a side touch sensor 322b which is further arranged on the right and left sides of the touch sensor 322a and which has one row of three upper and lower sides added.

That is, the touch pad 321 expands the touch area of the touch pad for inputting a number up, down, left, and right.

The thickness of the surface covering the positions of the touch sensors 322 (322a and 322b) on the upper surface of the case 100, which fixes the touch pad 321 thus configured and is covered with the touch pad 321, , The user can touch the position of the touch sensor 332 inside the upper surface of the case 100 to input.

6 and 7, the upper surface of the remote controller has a shape in which the cross-sectional shape in the width direction is curved upward, but only the upper surface with the touch position display portion 323 has the border on both sides in the width direction, As shown in FIG. The surface of the case 100 on which the touch position display portion 323 is provided can be brought into close contact with the entire surface of the touch pad 321. The thickness of the touch surface 321 can be uniformly distributed to the main touch sensor 322a and the side touch sensor 322b The thickness of the capacitive touch sensor 322 can be reduced so that it can be capacitively sensed when the position of each capacitive touch sensor 322 is touched on the upper surface.

On the other hand, the surface of the upper surface of the case 100 that covers the side-touch sensor 322b, which is provided with one row on both sides in the width direction, is not marked, but the surface covering the touch pad 321 is flat, The range can be recognized by its flat surface.

That is, the drag range can be recognized as a flat surface with respect to the input of the drag method using the side touch sensor 322b.

The basic input unit 300 and the two-handed input unit 400 arranged and configured as described above are selectively activated by the operation mode selection key 200 and input by the microcontroller 510.

The operation mode selection key 200 selectively activates the basic input unit 300 and the two-handed input unit 400 and activates the basic input unit 300 to select a character of a selected type according to the character type selection key 330 May be input by using the numeric key 320. According to a specific embodiment, the operation mode selection key 200 is a key for sliding in the longitudinal direction. When the operation mode selection key 200 is placed at a neutral position (middle position), the operation mode selection key 200 activates the basic input unit 300, Mode, a two-handed input mode for enabling the two-handed input unit 400 to be activated when it is pulled forward, and a second input mode for holding the basic input unit 300 activated by pushing back from an intermediate position that is a position of the basic input mode, It is possible to switch to a character input mode in which characters can be input by using the character input unit 320.

The selective activation performed by the operation mode selection key 200 will be described with reference to FIG.

The microcontroller 510 includes a basic input signal processing unit 511 for generating a wireless transmission signal in accordance with a key input by the basic input unit 300 and transmitting the wireless transmission signal through the wireless signal transmission unit 520, And a two-hand input signal processing unit 512 for generating a wireless transmission signal according to a key input by the wireless signal transmission unit 520 and transmitting the wireless transmission signal. Of course, the control code pre-assigned to the external device to be controlled by the remote controller is set for each key input, so that the control code corresponding to the key input is transmitted wirelessly when there is a key input.

In FIG. 7, the key input processed by the basic input signal processing unit 511 is indicated by a solid line, and the key input processed by the both-hand input signal processing unit 512 is indicated by a dotted line.

7, the basic input signal processing unit 511 is activated when the basic input unit 300 is activated by the operation mode selection key 200, and each key constituting the basic input unit 300 is activated by the basic input signal And is processed by the key input unit. At this time, when the operation mode selection key 200 is switched to the character input mode, the character of the type selected by the character type selection key 330 is assigned to the number key 320, and the character corresponding to the input of the number key 320 . Here, the both-handed input section 400 is cut off by the switch S4 and is not subjected to input processing, and the acceleration / gyro sensor 530 determines whether or not the input processing is performed according to the operation of the button-type function key 340.

The two-hand input signal processing unit 512 is activated when the two-handed input unit 400 is activated by the operation mode selection key 200 and the direction key 310, the numeric key 320, The special key 342 and the volume control key 350 of the character type selection key 330 and the button type function key 340 also transmit the key input to the both hand input signal processing unit 512 by the switch operation of the switch S1 Signal processing. In addition, the acceleration / gyro sensor 530 also transmits the sensing value to the both-hand input signal processing unit 512 through the switching operation of the switch S3, thereby causing signal processing according to the sensing value. Here, the general key 341 and the power key 360 of the button-type function key 340 are blocked by the switch S2 so that signal processing for the key input is not performed.

The above-mentioned switches S1, S2, S3, and S4 may be hardware switches. On the other hand, when the key input is treated as a software switch, good.

Of course, the basic input signal processing unit 511 and the both-hand input signal processing unit 512 may be connected to the key input unit using the corresponding ones of the IR transmitter 521 and the short-range wireless communication module 522 provided in the wireless signal transmitting unit 520 And transmits a signal for the corresponding code.

Both the basic input signal processing unit 511 and the both-hand input signal processing unit 512 can transmit a radio signal by performing signal processing on character input.

The touch of the main touch sensor 322a and the touch of the main touch sensor 322a or the side touch sensor 322b adjacent to the touch of the main touch sensor 322a are distinguished from each other, And the main touch sensor 322a arranged in 4 rows and 3 columns as well as the input of characters corresponding to the independent touch of the main touch sensor 322a arranged in 4 rows and 3 columns, It is also possible to input corresponding characters for each direction.

As a result, it is possible to process input of a character composed of alphabet or alphabet more than the number of numerical keys.

Referring to FIG. 5, a plurality of alphabets are assigned to one key of the character display unit 324 displayed for each numeric display unit 323. The assigned alphabet is composed of the alphabet assigned to the single touch of the numeric display unit 323 and the alphabet assigned when the user touches and drags the touch and touches another position successively. Different alphabets are assigned according to the direction of the drag.

Thus, five alphabets totaling one alphabet assigned to the single touch and four alphabets assigned to each drag direction can be allocated to each of the numeric display portions 323 displayed in four rows and three columns. That is, since the keys corresponding to the keys of 4 rows and 3 columns are able to be input corresponding to 5 times of 12, characters such as Korean alphabet input, English alphabet input, Japanese Kanji input can be inputted by touch or drag of one stroke.

With this input method, since the touch of the numeric display section 323 can be used as a numeric input and dragging can be made using an alphabetic input method, the function of the character type selection key 330 can be reduced, Allows you to enter several types of characters.

On the other hand, after the capacitive touch sensor 322 is mounted on the touch pad 321 in six rows and five columns, the four rows and three columns of the center portion are used as the main touch sensor 322a and the remaining portions are used as the side touch sensor 322b . In this case, more input of characters can be performed by allowing the input to be dragged in the diagonal direction.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, . ≪ / RTI > Accordingly, such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention should be determined by the following claims.

100: Case 110: Body
111: Battery cover 120: Upper cover
200: operation mode selection key 210: reset key
300: basic input unit
310: Direction key
320: Numeric key 321: Touchpad
322: capacitive touch sensor 322a: main touch sensor
322b: side touch sensor 323: numeric display section
324:
330: Character type selection key
340: button type function key 341: general key 342: special key
350: Power key
360: Volume control keys
400: Two-handed input unit
410: Jog Shuttle
420: function key 421: trigger 422: button
500: Motherboard
510: Microcontroller 520: Radio signal transmitter
521: IR transmitter 522: short-range wireless communication module
530: acceleration / gyro sensor 540: external connection terminal
541: Charging circuit 550: LED
600: Battery

Claims (3)

delete A case 100 formed to be longer than the left and right widths;
A basic input unit 300 in which a direction key 310, a numeric key 320, a character type selection key 330, and a button type function key 340 are arranged on the upper surface between the longitudinal ends of the case 100;
A two-handed input section 400 disposed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the case 100 so as to be operated by both hands and symmetrical;
An operation mode selection key 200 for selectively activating the basic input unit 300 and the two-handed input unit 400;
A plurality of radio signal transmitting units 520 provided separately for transmitting a radio signal corresponding to the input of the basic input unit 300 and a radio signal corresponding to the input of the two-handed input unit 400;
A microcontroller (510) for controlling to transmit a radio signal corresponding to an input of an input unit activated by an operation mode selection key (200);
, ≪ / RTI &
The number key 320
A main touch sensor 322a arranged in four rows and three columns and a row consisting of four each are additionally arranged on the left and right sides of the main touch sensor 322a and one row consisting of three each is arranged on the upper and lower sides of the main touch sensor 322a A touch pad 321 mounted with a capacitive touch sensor 322 including the arranged side touch sensors 322b and fixed to the inner surface of the case 100;
A numeral display part 323 displayed in three rows and four columns on the upper surface of the case 100 according to the position of the main touch sensor 321a;
And,
The upper surface of the case 100 covering the touch pad 321 has a flat surface with a boundary at both sides in the width direction as a boundary and has a predetermined thickness and is in contact with the inner surface of the case 100 to closely contact the touch pad 321, Thickness,
The microcontroller 510
By distinguishing the touch of the main touch sensor 322a adjacent to the main touch sensor 322a or the touch of the side touch sensor 322b adjacent to the touch of the main touch sensor 322a, A remote controller having a character input function for inputting a character or alphabet more than the number of the number keys for the character of the type selected by the type selector 330; 3. The method of claim 2,
The capacitive touch sensor 322 of the touch pad 321 is divided into 6 rows and 5 columns and the 4 rows and 3 columns of the central portion are used as the main touch sensor 322a corresponding to the character display portion 324 and the remaining portions are the touch position display portion 323 Side touch sensor 322b,
The microcontroller 510 assigns alphabets or alphabets to the touches of the main touch sensor 322a or the side touch sensor 322b adjacent diagonally to the touch of the main touch sensor 322a, Remote control with function.

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