JP2000030167A - Remote controller capable of additional storage - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a remote controller capable of additional storage, which can recognize the exchanged state of a battery in a simple constitution by judging that a battery is removed and a DC voltage is supplied by a backup power source, and notifying a period in which the storage content of a memory can be maintained to the outside. SOLUTION: When a battery 14a is removed, and the maintenance of a memory 20d is executed by a backup power source 17, the emitted state of an LED 18 or a display time on a display part is obtained. That is, when additional storage information is maintained by a DC voltage impressed from the battery 14a, and the battery 14a is removed for the exchange, the DC voltage of the backup power source 17 is applied so that the storage information can be maintained. A status that the storage content of the memory 20d can be maintained by the backup power source 17 is reported to the outside as the emitted state of the LED 18 or the remaining time of the battery of the backup power source 17. Thus, an operator performing the exchanging operation can recognize a time to be used for the exchange.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control device capable of additionally storing data, and more particularly to a remote control device capable of additionally storing a voltage of a backup power supply.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2-74125 shown in FIG. In the figure, a remote control device 1 that can additionally store a rectifier circuit 3 that converts an AC voltage into a DC voltage and supplies the DC voltage to a memory 2 that is a volatile memory that additionally stores tuning information and the like, A battery 4 connected to the rectifier circuit 3 for supplying a backup DC voltage to the memory 2; a switch 5 for disconnecting the battery 4 from the rectifier circuit 3 when the battery 4 is replaced; and an output from the rectifier circuit 3 or the battery 4 as a power source A light emitting circuit 6 including a light emitting diode which is in a light emitting state or a light extinguishing state according to the state of the contact point of the switch 5.

In the above configuration, the normal memory 2 maintains the storage contents additionally stored using the output of the rectifier circuit 3 as a power supply. Then, the battery 4 is connected to the rectifier circuit 3 and performs charging using the rectifier circuit 3 as a power source. Here, when the power supply is cut off in the rectifier circuit 3, the memory 2 maintains the stored contents using the output of the battery 4 as a power supply. However, the battery 4 has a service life, and when it becomes impossible to obtain a predetermined voltage, the battery must be replaced. At this time, the battery 4 is separated from the rectifier circuit 3 by the switch 5, and the battery is replaced. The switching of the switch 5 causes the light emitting diode of the light emitting circuit 6 to change states and notify the operator that the battery 4 is being replaced.

[0004]

The above-mentioned conventional remote control device capable of additionally storing data has the following problems. That is, when the battery is exchanged, the switch has to be switched, so that the operation is complicated. In addition, contact failure of the switch has occurred in switching by the hardware switch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has an additional storage capable of performing battery replacement by a simple operation and recognizing a battery replacement state with a simple configuration. It is intended to provide a possible remote control device.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 comprises a detachable battery for supplying power, a backup power supply for supplying charging power by the battery, and an infrared ray. A light receiving unit capable of receiving signals, a light emitting unit capable of emitting infrared signals,
A notification unit for notifying a predetermined operation state to the outside, an operation panel for instructing an operation, a rewritable memory for storing a blinking pattern of an infrared signal, and power supplied by the battery and the backup power supply; When the memory operation is instructed on the operation panel, the blinking pattern of the infrared signal received by the light receiving unit is stored in the memory, and the blinking pattern of the infrared signal instructed to emit light on the operation panel is read from the memory. To make the light emitting unit emit light,
A control unit for issuing a notification by the notification unit before the storage of the memory content cannot be maintained by the backup power supply when the battery is removed.

[0007] In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, the battery is connected to each unit and the operation panel to be able to supply operating power, and is connected to a backup power supply to supply charging power. Further, the backup power supply is connected to the control unit so that the storage contents of a memory described later can be maintained. Here, the control unit detects the operation content from the operation key pressed down on the operation panel, and emits a predetermined infrared signal from the light emitting unit. This light emission is a blinking pattern of infrared rays, and the television that has received the blinking pattern performs channel switching, volume adjustment, and the like according to the blinking pattern.

The control unit has a rewritable memory for storing a blinking pattern of the infrared signal, and when the storing operation is instructed on the operation panel, the flashing pattern of the infrared signal received by the light receiving unit is stored. The flash pattern of the infrared signal, which is stored in the memory and whose light emission is instructed by the operation panel, is read out from the memory and emitted by the light emitting unit. Here, the control unit takes in a DC voltage from the battery described above,
A predetermined process is executed based on these DC voltage values. When the battery is removed and the supply of the DC voltage from the backup power supply is detected, the same state is output to the notification unit. The notification unit uses this output to notify the outside of a period during which the storage contents of the memory can be maintained by the backup power supply in a predetermined manner.

That is, when the control unit determines from the taken DC voltage value that the battery has been removed and the DC voltage is being supplied by the backup power supply, the control unit notifies the outside of the period during which the storage contents of the memory can be maintained by the backup power supply. I do. Whether the storage of the memory contents can be maintained by the backup power supply can be determined by detecting the remaining capacity of the backup power supply or by determining at a predetermined time, but is limited to this. Not something.

Various methods can be applied to a method of recognizing a period during which the storage contents of the memory can be maintained by the backup power supply by issuing a notification from the notification unit. For example, there is a method of visually appealing using a light emitting medium. Also,
As another method, a method of not only visually appealing but also notifying the operator of a period during which the storage content of the memory can be maintained by the backup power supply can be considered. Therefore, the former method is an example of a preferable configuration of the notification unit that can recognize a state in which the storage content of the memory can be maintained by the backup power supply with a simple configuration.
2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit includes a light-emitting diode that changes states depending on whether the DC voltage is applied to the control unit. 3.

In the invention according to claim 2, the power supply from the battery is cut off, the backup power supply operates, and the light-emitting diode included in the notification unit is operated by the backup power supply to the memory. On the other hand, when a DC voltage is applied, the state transits to a light emitting state. That is, the light emitting diode is turned on when the memory contents are maintained by the backup power supply, and the voltage of the backup power supply drops, and when the memory contents cannot be maintained, the light emitting diode is turned off. Therefore, it is possible to identify a period during which the battery can be removed by turning on the light-emitting diode, that is, a period during which the memory contents can be maintained by the backup power supply.

As an example of the configuration of the control unit which is the latter method of the notification unit, the invention according to claim 3 is a remote control device capable of additionally storing information according to claim 1 or 2. The control unit has a voltage detection circuit for detecting an output voltage of the backup power supply, and a display for displaying a remaining time, and displays the remaining time of the backup power supply on the display according to the detected output voltage. It is configured to display.

In the invention according to claim 3 configured as described above, the control unit measures a DC voltage value from a backup power supply input from the power supply detection circuit, and measures a time until the voltage drops and disappears. In addition to the calculation, the remaining time of the backup power supply is output to the display according to the decrease in the DC voltage. Then, the display unit displays the same time and notifies the outside of the period in which the memory contents can be maintained by the backup power supply. That is, it is possible to notify how long the backup power supply operates afterward. Such a notification may be configured to display the remaining time, or may be configured to gradually turn off the light emitting state of the light emitting diode according to a voltage drop. At this time, the remaining time can be recognized from the light emission intensity of the light emitting diode.

The backup power supply only needs to be connected to a battery and be able to charge a predetermined voltage at which the control unit and the like can operate, and various forms of charging can be adopted. on the other hand,
Such a backup power supply often needs only to be able to maintain the contents stored in a volatile memory such as a normal memory. Therefore, the invention according to claim 4 is an example of a suitable configuration of a backup power supply that has a simple configuration and can maintain the stored contents of the volatile memory. In the above remote control device capable of additionally storing, the backup power supply includes a capacitor that is charged with charging power.

In the invention according to claim 4 configured as described above, the capacitor is connected to the battery, and is charged with the charging power using the battery as a power source.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, the battery can be replaced by a simple operation, and the battery can be replaced with a simple configuration, that is, the storage contents of the memory can be stored by the backup power supply. It is possible to provide an additional storage capable of recognizing a maintenance period. According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to remove the battery with a simple configuration,
The period during which the memory contents can be maintained by the backup power supply can be recognized.

Further, according to the invention according to claim 3,
With a simple configuration, the removal of the battery can be recognized, and the remaining time in which the memory contents can be maintained by the backup power supply can be recognized. further,
According to the invention of claim 4, a backup power supply can be constructed with a simple configuration.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic external view of a television remote control transmitter (hereinafter, referred to as a remote control transmitter) to which a remote control device capable of additionally storing data according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. The internal configuration of the transmitter is shown by a block diagram. In the figure, the remote control transmitter 10 is connected to the television 50.
The key operation unit 11 is provided for performing various operations in the remote control by remote control, and outputs a press information corresponding to the press of each operation key, and a remote control signal generating IC 12 which outputs a remote control signal based on the press information. And a light emitting unit 13 for outputting a blinking pattern by infrared rays based on the remote control signal, and a battery box 14 containing a battery 14 a for driving the remote control signal generating IC 12 and the light emitting unit 13. Therefore, the battery 14a constitutes a detachable battery that supplies power, outputs a remote control signal based on the depression information, and outputs a blinking pattern by infrared rays based on the remote control signal. 13 constitute a light emitting unit. The key operation unit 11 forms an operation panel by outputting press information corresponding to the press of each operation key.

Here, when the operation key of the key operation unit 11 is pressed down, the microcomputer 20 detects a predetermined signal by the pressing down in the input / output circuit 20a and notifies the CPU 20c via the internal bus 20b. Then, the CPU 20c outputs the operation contents of the operation keys to the remote control signal generation IC 12 via the connected bus 14. The remote control signal generation IC 12 outputs a remote control signal corresponding to the corresponding pressing information to the light emitting unit 13, and the light emitting unit 13 outputs an infrared blinking pattern based on the remote control signal. The television 50 to which the infrared flickering pattern has been input receives the infrared flickering pattern by a receiver (not shown) and executes a predetermined operation such as switching channels or increasing or decreasing the volume.

Further, the remote control transmitter 10 can separately store a blinking pattern of infrared rays for remotely controlling a television. More specifically, the key operation unit 11 instructs a storage operation of a predetermined infrared flickering pattern. That is, the user selects an operation key or operation content to which the blink pattern of the infrared ray to be stored is to be assigned, and enters a standby state for inputting the blink pattern of the infrared ray output from a light emitting unit such as another remote control transmitter. Here, when the flickering pattern of infrared rays is input to the light receiving unit 15, the light receiving unit 1
The input / output circuit 20a of the microcomputer 20 connected to the microcomputer 5 reads the flashing pattern of the infrared rays, and the memory 2 of the volatile memory connected via the internal bus 20b.
0d is stored.

The flashing pattern of the infrared ray stored in the memory 20d is stored in the memory 20d as additional storage information in association with the set operation content. That is, the remote control transmitter 10 can capture the blinking pattern of infrared rays from the outside, store the captured blinking pattern of infrared rays, and assign it to a desired operation key of the key operation unit 11. It has.

The additional storage information stored in the memory 20d is maintained using the battery 14a for supplying the operating voltage of the microcomputer 20 as a power supply. Then, when the operation content of the additional storage information stored in the memory 20d is selected from the key operation unit 11 by depressing the operation key, the CPU 20c reads the additional storage information stored in the memory 20d, and reads the corresponding infrared information. The blinking pattern is determined and output to the remote control signal generating IC 12 via the bus 14. And an IC for generating a remote control signal.
Reference numeral 12 outputs a predetermined remote control signal to the light emitting unit 13, and the light emitting unit 13 outputs a blinking pattern of infrared rays to the television 50 based on the remote control signal.

The memory 20d in which the additional storage information is stored is normally supplied with a DC voltage from the battery 14a, and maintains the storage contents of the additional storage information with the DC voltage. On the other hand, when the battery life of the battery 14a is reached in the remote control transmitter 10 and the battery 14a is to be replaced, the backup power supply 17 is provided to the microcomputer 20 so that the contents stored in the memory 20d are not lost by removing the battery 14a. Is connected to the memory 20
d can be supplied with power. Here, the backup power supply 17 includes a capacitor 17a inside, and terminals 17a1 and 17a2 of the capacitor 17a are connected to the battery box 1a.
4 is connected to the positive and negative poles of the battery 14a. Therefore, the capacitor 17a is connected to the battery 14a
Is charged by the charging power by the DC voltage output by

If the replacement of the battery 14a is prolonged, the electric power stored in the capacitor 17a of the backup power supply 17 is discharged, and the additional storage information stored in the memory 20d is erased. Occurs. In order to prevent the erasure of the additional storage information, the microcomputer 20 is connected to a light emitting unit 18 having a resistor 18a for realizing a predetermined voltage drop and an LED 18.

Then, the CPU 20c of the microcomputer 20
The application of the DC voltage to the battery 14a input to the input / output circuit 20a is checked to detect that the battery 14a has been removed from the battery box 14 and that the battery 14a has been supplied with the DC voltage from the backup power supply 17. Then, it is determined that the contents stored in the memory 20d are maintained by the backup power supply 17, and an LED light emission signal is output to the light emitting unit via the input / output circuit 20a, and the LED 1
8 emits light in accordance with the LED emission signal. That is, while the light emitting state of the LED 18 continues, the stored contents of the memory 20d can be maintained by the backup power supply 17, and the replacement of the battery 14a may be performed during this light emitting state.

As described above, the light receiving section 15 constitutes a light receiving unit by inputting the blinking pattern of infrared rays from the outside, and the backup power supply 17 notifies the outside of the period during which the stored contents of the memory 20d can be maintained by the light emitting state. The light emitting unit 18 including the LED 18 and the resistor 18a for reducing the voltage applied to the LED 18 constitutes a notification unit. The memory 20d, which is a volatile memory, forms a rewritable memory by storing the blinking pattern of infrared rays input from the light receiving unit 15, and the memory 20d and the microcomputer 20 form a control unit.

In this embodiment, the remote control device capable of additional storage is employed in the remote control transmitter 10 for television. Of course, the electric equipment employing the remote control device capable of additional storage is a television remote control. The present invention is not limited to the transmitter, and may be employed in a remote control transmitter used in other electric devices.

Next, the contents of the LED light emission control processing executed by the CPU 20c of the microcomputer 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the figure, a battery 1 as a DC power supply is shown.
Whether the DC voltage is supplied from 4a is determined from the applied voltage value (step S100). If it is determined that there is no such voltage value, it is next determined from the applied voltage value whether a DC voltage is supplied from the backup power supply 17 (step S105). When the DC voltage is not supplied from the battery 14a and the DC voltage is supplied from the backup power supply 17, it is determined that the memory 20d is maintained by the backup power supply 17, and an LED emission request is output (step S1). S110). This LED emission request is
8a to the LED 18 (step S11).
5) The LED 18 is turned on (step S120).
Needless to say, the voltage value in this case is set in a certain range, and the voltage value of the new battery 14a is set as a reference, and 1/2 or more is set as a range in which the storage content of the memory 20d can be stored.
A fixed value such as 0.7 V may be set.

In this embodiment, a microcomputer 20 is connected to a light emitting unit 18 having a resistor 18a and an LED 18, and an input battery 14a and a backup power supply 17 are connected.
A configuration is adopted in which the LED 18 emits light according to the state of the DC voltage supplied from the microcomputer. Of course, the configuration is not limited to this configuration. As shown in FIG.
While connecting the display unit 21 capable of displaying the time to 0,
A voltage detection circuit 20e for detecting the DC voltage value of the DC voltage input from the backup power supply 17 is installed, and the CPU 20
c calculates the remaining time during which the backup power supply 17 can maintain the contents stored in the memory 20d based on the DC voltage value input to the voltage detection circuit 20e, and displays the remaining time via the input / output circuit 20a on the display. 21 and output
The display 21 may display the remaining time.

FIG. 5 shows the CPU 2 of the microcomputer 20 described above.
0c is a flowchart showing the content of the remaining power display process of the backup power supply 17 executed by Oc. In the figure, it is determined from the applied voltage value whether or not a DC voltage is supplied from the battery 14a which is a DC power supply (step S200). If it is determined that there is no voltage value, then it is determined from the applied voltage value whether the DC voltage is supplied from the backup power supply 17 (step S205). When the DC voltage is supplied from the backup power supply 17, the memory 20d is determined to be maintained by the backup power supply 17, and the voltage value applied by the backup power supply 17 is detected via the voltage detection circuit 20e. (Step S210). If the voltage value is not equal to or greater than "0.8 V", the backup power supply 17 determines that the memory 20d can be maintained, and calculates the remaining time during which the backup can be performed (step S220). Of course, the reference of “0.8 V” can be changed as appropriate. Then, a predetermined signal corresponding to the calculated remaining time is output to the connected display unit 21. The display unit 21 displays the remaining time of the backup power supply 17 according to the input signal (step S230).

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be described. A user of the remote control transmitter 10 performs channel setting and volume setting of the television 50 using the remote control transmitter 10. When the blinking pattern of the infrared signal is stored, a predetermined storage operation is instructed by the key operation unit 11, and a light emitting unit of an arbitrary remote control transmitter is brought close to the light receiving unit 15 to input a desired blinking pattern of infrared light. Let it. Then, this blinking pattern is stored in memory 2
It is stored together with the key operation content corresponding to 0d. Thereafter, when a key operation corresponding to the stored infrared blinking pattern is performed by the key operation unit 11, the blinking pattern of the infrared signal is read from the memory, and the light emitting unit 13 emits light.

Here, when the battery of the battery 14a is low and the operation such as the setting and the additional storage cannot be performed in the remote control transmitter 10, the battery 14a is removed from the battery box 14, and the new battery 14a is inserted. Perform replacement work. At the time of this battery replacement work, the user needs to pay attention so that the additional storage information stored in the memory 20d does not disappear. At this time, when the battery 14a is removed and the memory 20d is maintained by the backup power supply 17, the light emitting state of the LED 18 or the display time is displayed on the display unit 21. Therefore, the user checks the light emitting state or the display time. However, the battery 14a needs to be replaced before the light emitting state transitions to the extinction state or before the display time becomes “0”, that is, before the remaining battery power of the backup power supply 17 disappears.

On the other hand, with the battery 14a removed, LE
When D18 is in the extinction state or when the display time is "0", it can be determined that the additional storage information stored in the memory 20d has disappeared. Therefore, it is necessary to register the additional storage information again after replacing the battery. You can see that.

As described above, the additional storage information normally stored in the memory 20d is normally maintained by the DC voltage applied from the battery 14a, and when the battery 14a is removed for replacement, the DC voltage of the backup power supply 17 is applied. And maintain. At this time, the memory 2
In order to notify the state in which the stored contents of 0d can be maintained to the outside as the light emitting state of the LED 18a or the remaining time of the battery of the backup power supply 17 of the display 21, the worker performing the replacement work recognizes the period during which the replacement is possible. It becomes possible to do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic external view of a remote control transmitter for television to which a remote control device capable of additionally storing according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the remote control transmitter.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of a light emission control process executed by a microcomputer provided in the remote control transmitter.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a modified example of the remote control transmitter.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process of a remaining time display process executed by a microcomputer provided in the remote control transmitter according to the modification.

FIG. 6 shows a conventional remote control device capable of additional storage.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 remote control transmitter 11 key operation unit 12 remote control signal generation IC 13 light emitting unit 14 battery box 14 a battery 15 infrared light receiving unit 16 Memory 17 Backup power supply 17a Capacitor 18 LED 18a Resistor 20 Microcomputer 20a D / A port 20b A / D port 20c A / D port

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A detachable battery for supplying power, a backup power supply for supplying charging power with the battery, a light receiving unit capable of receiving an infrared signal, a light emitting unit capable of emitting an infrared signal, A notification unit for notifying the operation status of the device to the outside, an operation panel for instructing an operation, a rewritable memory for storing a blinking pattern of an infrared signal, and power supplied by the battery and the backup power source. The flashing pattern of the infrared signal received by the light receiving unit when the storage operation is instructed on the panel is stored in the memory, and the flashing pattern of the infrared signal instructed to be emitted by the operation panel is read out from the memory. The light emitting unit emits light, and the battery is removed. And a control unit for issuing a notification by the notification unit before the storage of the memory content cannot be maintained by the backup power supply. 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein said notifying unit includes a light emitting diode which changes its state depending on whether or not said DC voltage is applied to said control unit. Remote control device capable of additional storage. 3. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein said control unit includes a voltage detection circuit for detecting an output voltage of said backup power supply, and displaying a remaining time. And a display device that displays the remaining time of the backup power supply according to the output voltage. 4. The remote storage device according to claim 1, wherein said backup power supply has a capacitor that is charged with charging power. Remote control device.