JP2000139000A - Remote controller for headphone stereo equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote controller for headphone stereo equipment where the need for carrying both a display device of electronic money balance and the headphone stereo equipment is eliminated by integrating the function of the display device of electronic money balance to the controller. SOLUTION: The remote controller is provided with a connector 44 that is placed on the way of a cord interconnecting a headphone stereo main body 5 and a headphone and is connected to a connector of an IC card for electronic money, a card read section 42 that reads information denoting the balance at the bank recorded on the IC card through the connector 44, and a microcomputer 41 that displays the balance at the bank recorded on the IC card on a display section 37 on the basis of the information read by the card read section 42.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a headphone stereo, and more particularly, to a remote control device for a portable reproducing apparatus using a medium such as a CD or MD, and more particularly to a headphone stereo incorporating a balance display device for electronic money. Related to a remote control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Electronic money in which value information is represented by an amount converted into electronic information is about to be put into practical use. IC cards are used as "containers" for electronic money. Specifically, the usable amount is stored in an IC card, and when making a payment, this IC card is inserted into the payment device, the required amount is subtracted from the IC card, and the same amount is used for payment. Payment is made by adding to the above device. A large-scale demonstration experiment of such electronic money has been started in, for example, Swindon City in the United Kingdom since 1995, and has already been used on a trial basis in some regions of Japan.

[0003] The distribution of electronic money involves the amount of money described above,
That is, an IC card that stores a balance as electronic information is used, but the owner cannot pay without worry if the balance is not known, so a balance display device is required. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of such a balance display device.

In the balance display device 1 shown in FIG. 1, one side close to a portion provided with a connector 21 of a rectangular electronic money IC card 2 having the same size as a normal credit card is inserted. When one side of the IC card 2 is inserted into the slot 11, a connector (not shown) for electrically reading out the balance stored in the internal LSI through the connector 21, and the IC card 2 is read from the IC card 2. It has a display unit 12 for displaying the balance, and is configured as a key chain so as to be easily portable as a whole and always portable.

Although not shown, the balance display device 1 determines whether or not the IC card 2 inserted into the slot 11 is genuine. Only when it is determined that the IC card 2 is genuine, the IC A microcomputer programmed to read and display the balance from the card 2 is provided.

On the other hand, since the headphone stereo using a cassette tape as a medium has been put to practical use, various headphone stereos using a medium such as a CD or MD have been widely used, and many people carry the headphone stereo at all times. Such a portable headphone stereo generally has a remote control device in the middle of the cord connecting the main body containing the medium and the headphones, and this is connected to, for example, a chest pocket or a collar of a jacket. There are many configurations that can be hooked on or stopped with clips.

The above-described headphone stereo remote control device has an external appearance as shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 2 as an example. At the bottom of the remote control device 3, a cord 31 for connecting to a main body (not shown) of the headphone stereo is provided, and at the top, a cord 32 for connecting to a headphone (not shown).
Are connected respectively. The remote control device 3 has a play key 33, a stop key 34, a pause key 3
5. A display unit 37 for displaying information such as a track number and a reproduction time is provided along with various control keys such as a volume control key 36.

The cord 32 connecting between the remote control device 3 and a headphone (not shown) is a three-wire signal line for audio signals of both left and right channels and a common signal line. The cord 31 connecting between the remote control device 3 and the main body (not shown) includes some communication lines for transmitting and receiving various information between the remote control device 3 and the main body. Therefore, the three signal lines for transmitting the audio signal from the main body to the headphones only pass through the remote control device 3.

[0009]

[0007] Electronic money is also said to be a currency of the 21st century, and is required to rapidly spread in the near future. On the other hand, the headphone stereo is expected to be used in the near future, for example, although the medium is expected to be changed to a semiconductor memory, for example. In that case, many people always carry both the electronic money balance display device and the headphone stereo, which is very complicated.

The electronic money balance display device and the headphone stereo remote control device have in common that they are electronic devices provided with a display unit such as an LCD. Manufacturing a money balance display device is an easy technique.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and incorporates a function of an electronic money balance display device so that it is not necessary to carry both of them together. For the purpose of providing.

[0012]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a control section for controlling the main body and a display section for displaying a control state are provided in the middle of a cord for connecting the main body of the headphone stereo and the headphones. A remote control device for a headphone stereo, comprising: an information reading unit that reads information recorded in an IC card from the IC card and displays the information on the display unit.

In the headphone stereo remote control device of the first aspect, it is of course possible to remotely control the main body of the headphone stereo. It can also be displayed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control unit for controlling the main unit, which is located in the middle of a cord connecting the main unit of the headphone stereo and the headphones, and a display unit for displaying a control state. In the headphone stereo remote control device, a signal input / output unit coupled to an external signal input / output unit of an electronic money IC card, and information representing a balance recorded on the IC card is read from the signal input / output unit. A reading unit; and a balance display unit configured to display a balance recorded on the IC card on the display unit based on information read by the reading unit.

In the headphone stereo remote control device according to the second aspect of the invention, it is of course possible to remotely control the main body of the headphone stereo, but it is stored in the IC card for electronic money. It is also possible to display the balance.

In a third aspect based on the second aspect, the signal input / output section is electrically connected to an external signal input / output section of the IC card.

Still further, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned second aspect, the signal input / output section is adapted to be contactlessly coupled to an external signal input / output section of the IC card. I do.

In the headphone stereo remote control devices according to the third and fourth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to display the balance of both the so-called contact type and non-contact type electronic money IC cards.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments. However, there are two types of IC cards: a contact type in which the external terminal is directly electrically connected to the terminal of the reader, and a non-contact type in which signals are transmitted and received by electromagnetic waves without direct contact. A first embodiment will be described in the case of a contact type.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the appearance of the first embodiment of the headphone stereo remote control device according to the present invention.

A cord 31 for connecting to a headphone stereo body (not shown) is connected to a lower portion of the remote control device 4 of the present invention, and a cord 32 for connecting to headphones is connected to an upper portion thereof. The remote control device 4 of the present invention includes a play key 33, a stop key 3,
4. A display unit 37 for displaying information such as a track number and a reproduction time is provided along with various control keys such as a pause key 35 and a volume control key 36.

The above configuration is basically the same as the conventional headphone stereo remote control device shown in FIG. 2, but the remote control device 4 of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3 as an example. As described above, the portion between the connection of the code 31 and the code 32 is slightly longer than the short side of the IC card 2 for electronic money. Further, a slot 11 is provided between the two codes 31 and 32 so that the short side of the IC card 2 for electronic money can be inserted.

The cord 32 connecting between the remote control device 4 of the present invention and a headphone (not shown) is a three-line signal line for audio signals of both left and right channels and a common signal line. Cord for connecting between the remote control device 4 of the invention and a main body (not shown)
31 is the remote control device 4 of the present invention in addition to those.
It includes several communication lines for transmitting and receiving various information between and the main body. Therefore, the three signal lines for transmitting the audio signal from the main body to the headphones only pass through the remote control device 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration provided inside the remote control device 4 of the present invention. The microcomputer 41 controls the entire remote control device 4 of the present invention. Specifically, the microcomputer 41 receives inputs from the key group 30 indicated by reference numerals 33 to 36 in FIG. 3, performs necessary display on the display unit 37, and performs key input on the encoder / decoder 45. And transmits it to the main body 5 of the headphone stereo via the communication line 46. On the other hand, when a signal is given from the main body 5 of the headphone stereo via the communication line 46, the microcomputer 41 decodes the signal by the encoder / decoder 45 and performs a necessary display on the display unit 37.

When, for example, the volume control key 36 is operated under the control of the microcomputer 41 as described above, a display is displayed on the display unit 37 in which, for example, an arrow becomes larger in response to the key input, and the headphone is also displayed. A signal instructing the stereo main unit 5 to increase the volume is encoded by the encoder / decoder 45 and transmitted via the communication line 46. In accordance with this signal, the main body 5 of the headphone stereo controls to increase the volume.

On the other hand, in the case where the track is advanced by one during reproduction in the main body 5 of the headphone stereo, for example, an encoded signal indicating this is transmitted to the communication line 46.
Is transmitted to the remote control device 4 of the present invention via the. The microcomputer 41 decodes the signal by the encoder / decoder 45 and changes the display of the track number displayed on the display unit 37.

The operation of the microcomputer 41 as described above is the same as that of the conventional headphone stereo remote control device. However, in the remote control device 4 of the present invention, the microcomputer 41 is connected to the microcomputer 41 via the card reading unit 42 and the control unit 43. An IC card connector 44 is connected. This connector 44 has the slot shown in FIG.
The electronic money IC card 2 is arranged so as to be exposed in the IC card 11 and to be in contact with a connector 21 provided near one short side of the electronic money IC card 2.

The number of connectors 21 of the IC card 2 according to the ISO standard (eight, but two unused), size,
The position is determined.

Accordingly, when one side of the electronic money IC card 2 is inserted into the slot 11 of the remote control device 4 of the present invention, the microcomputer 41 can communicate with the IC card 2. However, between the remote control device 4 of the present invention and the IC card 2, only the amount stored in the IC card 2, ie, the balance, is read out by the remote control device 4 of the present invention. Operation cannot be performed.

Specifically, when a short side near the connector 21 of the electronic money IC card 2 provided with the connector 21 is inserted into the slot 11 of the remote control device 4 of the present invention, the microcomputer 41 firstly controls the control unit. By outputting a predetermined signal from 43 to the connector 44, the IC card 2 inserted into the slot 11 outputs a signal proving that it is authentic. The signal output from the IC card 2 is read from the card reading unit 42, and the microcomputer 41 determines this signal to determine whether the IC card 2 inserted in the slot 11 is authentic. .

When it is determined that the IC card 2 is genuine, the microcomputer 41 outputs a predetermined signal from the control unit 43 to the connector 44 again, so that the microcomputer 41 is inserted into the slot 11. The IC card 2 outputs a signal indicating the balance. The signal output from the IC card 2 is read from the card reading unit 42, and the microcomputer 41 displays the balance on the display unit 37 according to the signal.

FIG. 3 shows a case where the reproduction time is displayed in the upper part of the display part 37, the track number is displayed in the center part, and the case where the balance is 25,000 yen is displayed in the lower part. Of course, for example, such that only the balance is displayed. In addition, the upper limit is set for the amount of money that can be held in the electronic money IC card 2, and five or six digits are sufficient for Japan, so the configuration of the display unit 37 is not so large. Is not complicated.

Next, a second embodiment in which the electronic money IC card is of a non-contact type will be described.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an example of the appearance of a remote control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
Basically, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. The difference from the first embodiment is that a slot is not provided, and a coil 51 as a coupling means by an electromagnetic induction method is built in. On the other hand, the non-contact type IC card 20 also has a built-in coil 22 as a coupling means by an electromagnetic induction method, and when both coils 51 and 22 are at a certain distance or less, the two coils 51 and 22 become Signal transmission and reception and non-contact type IC card by coupling by induction method
Power supply to 20 becomes possible.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration provided inside the remote control device according to the present invention. A coil is used in place of the connector 44 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 51 is connected. This coil
The microcomputer 41 is connected to the coil 22 built in the non-contact IC card 20 for electronic money by an electromagnetic induction method, so that the microcomputer 41 can communicate with the non-contact IC card 20. The following operation is the same as in the first embodiment.

In the above-described second embodiment, an example in which the non-contact type IC card and the remote control device of the present invention are coupled by the electromagnetic induction method has been described. It is of course possible to use a method or the like.

[0037]

As described in detail above, the headphone stereo remote control device according to the first aspect of the present invention has a function of reading and displaying the contents stored in the IC card, so that the headphone stereo is always carried. When the person using the IC card uses the IC card, the information stored therein can be checked immediately and easily when necessary, so that it is not necessary to carry a device for displaying the contents of the IC card separately.

As described in detail above, the headphone stereo remote control device according to the second aspect of the present invention has the electronic money balance display function, so that a person who always carries the headphone stereo uses the electronic money. In this case, the balance held in the electronic money IC card can be confirmed immediately and easily when needed, so that it is not necessary to carry the balance confirmation device separately.

Further, according to the third and fourth aspects of the invention, it is possible to support both a contact type IC card and a non-contact type IC card.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a conventional electronic money balance display device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the appearance of a conventional headphone stereo remote control device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an appearance of a headphone stereo remote control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration provided inside the first embodiment of the headphone stereo remote control device according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an appearance of a headphone stereo remote control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration provided inside a second embodiment of the headphone stereo remote control device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 IC card for electronic money (contact type) 4 Remote control device of headphone stereo 5 Headphone stereo body 20 IC card for electronic money (non-contact type) 21 External connector of IC card 22 IC card coil 37 Display 41 Microcomputer 42 Card reader 44 Connector 51 Coil

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A remote control device for a headphone stereo, comprising a control unit for controlling the main unit and a display unit for displaying a control state, which is located in the middle of a cord connecting the main unit of the headphone stereo and the headphones. 2. The headphone stereo remote control device according to claim 1, further comprising an information reading unit that reads information recorded on the IC card and displays the information on the display unit. 2. A headphone stereo remote control comprising a control unit for controlling the main body, which is located in a middle of a cord connecting the main body of the headphone stereo and the headphone, and a display unit for displaying a control state. A signal input / output unit coupled to an external signal input / output unit of an electronic money IC card; a reading unit for reading information representing a balance recorded on the IC card from the signal input / output unit; A balance display unit for displaying a balance recorded on the IC card on the display unit based on information read by the unit. 3. The headphone stereo remote control device according to claim 2, wherein said signal input / output unit is electrically connected to an external signal input / output unit of said IC card. 4. The headphone stereo remote control device according to claim 2, wherein said signal input / output unit is connected to an external signal input / output unit of said IC card in a non-contact manner.