JP2001186579A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance an utility value of a remote controller by providing a storage means with a high capacity and a display section and to facilitate the operation of a device which is object of remote control. SOLUTION: A signal transmission section 13 of the remote commander 30 transmits a control signal to control an operating state of a receiver 21. A signal receiving section 14 receives image information used to operate at least the receiver among signals received by the receiver 21. This image information is stored in a memory card 32. This image information is displayed by a display device 15, when necessary.

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 to which a large-capacity semiconductor memory can be mounted. In addition, the operation of a device to be remote-controlled is facilitated.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional remote control device (hereinafter abbreviated as a remote control device) has a display unit such as a liquid crystal. The content displayed on the display unit indicates the function of a device to be remote-controlled (such as an air conditioner and a television receiver).
For example, power on, power off, temperature, and the like.

[0003] Such display contents use data such as characters and icons prepared in advance in a remote control device.

[0004]

As described above, the display contents of the conventional remote control device are limited. In other words, the display content uses data prepared in the apparatus in advance. However, in recent years, various electronic devices have been developed, and the contents of remote control operations have become rich. Also, in television broadcasting and the like, a large number of channels are transmitted, and the operation for selecting a channel is complicated for the viewer.

Therefore, according to the present invention, a storage means having a large capacity and a display section are provided to enhance the utility value of the apparatus.
An object of the present invention is to provide a remote control device capable of facilitating operation of a device to be remote-controlled.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a remote control device capable of flexibly coping with a new electronic device developed for realizing a remote control function.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a control signal transmitting means for transmitting a control signal for controlling an operation state of a television receiver, and a control signal transmitting means for receiving the control signal. Receiving means for receiving at least a plurality of reference signals used for operating the television receiver among signals, a semiconductor memory for storing the plurality of reference signals received by the receiving means, and the semiconductor memory And a display unit for displaying a plurality of reference signals stored in the memory.

[0010] Even if a new reference signal for remote control is newly added by the above means, it can be easily displayed. In addition, a new remote control function can be added by utilizing the contents stored in the semiconductor memory.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 21 denotes a receiver for receiving a text broadcast in addition to a television broadcast. Further, communication with the remote control device 30 can be performed.

The receiver 21 receives a broadcast wave including normal video information and image information (including character information) transmitted from a broadcast station by the tuning unit 1 via the antenna 23 and converts it into an electric signal. After that, it is supplied to the signal processing unit 2. The signal processing unit 2 separates video information and image information.

The video information is supplied to the display switching / synthesizing unit 3 via the television control unit 4, and the other image information is supplied to the screen information signal processing unit 6 of the screen information processing unit 20 and then stored in the storage device. 9 is stored.

The screen information processing section 20 has a screen information control section 8, a storage device 9, and a display control section 7. The screen information control unit 8 controls the display control unit 7 and the storage device 9, and can display the screen information once stored in the storage device 9 on the display device 5 via the display switching / combining unit 3.

The screen information control unit 8 can transmit the screen information stored in the storage device 9 to the remote control device 30 via the remote control transmission unit 12. Further, the screen information control unit 8 can receive the command received by the remote control receiving unit 11 via the input control circuit 10. In addition, if the command transmitted from remote control device 30 controls television receiver 21, input control unit 10 gives the command to television control unit 4.
As a result, power on / off, channel selection, adjustment of volume and image quality, switching of operation mode, and the like can be performed.

The display switching / synthesizing unit 3 can also synthesize the screen information from the display control unit 7 and supply it to the display device 5 in addition to the received television program.

The remote control device 30 can supply the screen information received by the signal receiving unit 14 to a semiconductor memory such as a memory card 32 via an external storage device connection means 31 and store the same. The memory card 32 is detachable from the remote control device main body and can be replaced. Furthermore,
Although only one is shown in the figure, a plurality may be mounted. Further, the storage device 18 stores an RO or the like in which a program for controlling the operation of the remote control device 30 is stored.
M, and the control unit 17 operates based on this program as well. The display device 15 is a display device such as a liquid crystal provided on the remote control device 30, and may include, for example, a touch panel unit 16. The touch panel means 16 also includes a switch of an operation unit.

The signal transmission unit 13 operates when transmitting a control signal from the remote control device 30 to the receiver 21. Signal transmission and reception between the remote control device 30 and the receiver 21 can be performed, for example, via a wireless line using infrared rays, but is not limited thereto. Is also good.

Remote control device 30 is shown in FIG.
(A) or FIG. 2 (B).
In FIG. 2A, reference numeral 301 denotes a main body, and an antenna 302 is attached around the main body. Also 30
Reference numeral 3 denotes a display unit. 311 is a power on / off switch, 3
Reference numeral 12 denotes a menu key, and 313 denotes a button for moving a cursor. Reference numeral 314 denotes an end switch, 315 denotes a reproduction switch, and 316 denotes a recording switch.

The remote control device shown in FIG.
Are different in size. Therefore, the other parts are the same as those in the apparatus shown in FIG. In the case of such a display portion 333, a touch panel can be formed on a screen.

When the menu key is operated, for example, items of normal operation of the television receiver (volume, image quality, power on / off, etc.) are displayed on the display section, and the menu screen is viewed hierarchically.
It is possible to shift to actual adjustment. Further, when the menu key is operated, a screen information standby command of the screen information processing unit 20 can be given. In this way, the screen information processing unit 20 of the receiver 21 can store the video currently being received in the storage device 9. This accumulation method,
There are various methods. When compressed, it is possible to continuously store several minutes of video, and when uncompressed, it is possible to store a plurality of frames of video.

Here, assuming that the recording button is operated on the remote control device 30, the command is transmitted to the signal transmitting unit 1
3, transmitted to the screen information control unit 8 through the remote control receiving unit 11 and the input control unit 10. Then, the screen information control unit 8
Transmits the screen information stored in the storage device 9 to the remote control device 30 through the remote control transmission unit 12.

The remote control device 30 stores the received screen information in the memory card 32 via the external storage device connection means 31.

In order to obtain such an operation, desired screen information can be captured and stored in the memory card 32 of the remote controller 30 of the present system.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the above operation on the receiving side. Screen information standby command is remote controller 3
0 to the receiver 21, the screen information processing unit 20
Then, a process of fetching image data of the channel being received is executed. Then, the captured screen information is stored in the storage device 9 (steps A1, A2, A3). It is checked whether the capacity of the storage device 9 is full (step A4). If it is full, it is determined whether there is a recording command from the remote control device 30 (step A5). If there is a recording command, the latest screen information is displayed on the remote control device 3.
0 (step A6). When the storage device 9 is full and there is no recording command, a process of sequentially discarding the oldest screen information is performed (step A7).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the remote control device 30 corresponding to the above processing. The image information standby command and the recording command are transmitted from the remote control device 30 to the receiver 2.
It is determined whether the data has been transmitted to the first side (steps B1, B2, B3). If the recording command has been output, it waits for transmission data from the receiver 21 (step B4). And when you receive the desired screen information,
The data is stored in the memory card 32 (B4, B6).

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a screen operation of the memory card 32 by performing a menu operation.
3 is an example displayed in FIG. In this example, a screen of a program for cooking is recorded and displayed on a display unit of a remote controller. Examples of ingredients and seasonings for making fried rice are shown. The material is displayed on the screen of FIG. 5 (A), and the seasoning is displayed on the screen of FIG. 5 (B).

When the display unit and the large-capacity memory card are present in the remote control device, the TV screen information and various other information are stored, and the stored information can be viewed at another place (for example, kitchen). it can.

Further, when a profile of a sports player is displayed in a sports program or the like, the screen information can be stored in the memory card 32. Further, according to the remote controller 30, by exchanging the memory card 32, new information stored in the memory card 32 can be displayed on the display unit of the remote controller.

With the above configuration, when a new icon is issued on the broadcast station side, the screen information can be read and stored in the memory card 32 of the remote control device 30. It is adaptable to various systems.

In the case of the display portion 333 having a large display area, the display portion 333 can function as a touch panel. Then, for example, an electronic program guide (EPG) can be displayed on the display unit 333. Since the electronic program guide is transmitted through a television signal, the television receiver has a character information processing function, so that the storage device 9 is used.
Can be accumulated. Therefore, the remote control device 3
A command for storing the data of the electronic program guide is transmitted according to 0, and then the electronic program guide data is transferred from the receiver 21 to its own memory card 32. Next, the contents of the memory card 32 are displayed, and a desired program can be displayed on the television receiver 21 by selecting a program name on the touch panel for program selection.

The television receiver can be controlled to various states by using the touch panel, the display icons on the display unit of the remote controller itself, and the touch panel.

In the above description, when transmitting the screen information of the remote control device 30 from the television receiver 21, the data format thereof is not particularly described. However, in the case of transmitting by compressing based on a predetermined standard, a compression circuit block is provided in the receiver.
When reading out and displaying after storing it in the memory card, it goes without saying that the decoding circuit block is provided. Information transmitted from the receiver 21 to the remote control device 30 includes screen information and other control information, but the control information does not need to be particularly subjected to compression processing.

In the above example, a set of a television receiver and a remote controller has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a disk reproducing device, a video tape recorder, and the like.

Further, by giving the memory card 32 an ID, it is possible to use the memory card 32 only with a specific remote controller. It is also possible to limit the functions. That is, when a command read from the memory card 32 is transmitted to a receiver or a device to be controlled, the command cannot be transmitted without a specific key operation.

Further, when a new electronic device is added, the control command is written into the memory card 32, or by adding a remote control memory card to the new electronic device and selling the new electronic device, the remote control main body can be operated by the user. Can also use what is currently used.

Even if the memory card is not replaced, a command for controlling itself is transferred from the newly added electronic device to the remote controller, and the command is written in the existing memory card. Equipment can be increased.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, even if a new electronic device for realizing the remote control function is developed,
It is possible to respond flexibly and to facilitate the operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram shown for explaining an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of a remote control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an operation example of the receiver according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart shown to explain an operation example of the remote control device according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a display example of a display unit of the remote control device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Tuning section, 2 ... Signal processing section, 3 ... Display switching / combining section,
4 TV control unit, 5 display unit, 6 screen information signal processing unit, 7 display control unit, 8 screen information control unit, 9 storage unit, 10 input control unit, 11 remote control receiving unit, 12 …
Remote control transmission unit, 13: signal transmission unit, 14: signal reception unit, 15: display device, 16: touch panel means, 17 ...
Control unit, 18: storage device, 31: external storage device connection means, 32: memory card.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5C056 AA05 BA02 BA03 BA04 BA05 CA19 EA01 EA05 EA20 5K048 AA04 BA03 BA08 EB02 EB15 FB10 FB15 HA04 HA06 HA21

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A control signal transmitting means for transmitting a control signal for controlling an operation state of a receiver, and a plurality of reference signals used for operating at least the receiver among signals received by the receiver. Receiving means for receiving the plurality of reference signals received by the receiving means, and a display unit for displaying the plurality of reference signals stored in the semiconductor memory. And a remote control device. 2. A reference signal selecting means for selecting one of the plurality of reference signals displayed on the display unit; and a control signal corresponding to the reference signal selected by the reference signal selecting means, to the receiver. 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, further comprising: a unit for supplying the control signal to the control signal transmitting unit. 3. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the reference signal is screen information. 4. The remote control device according to claim 2, wherein said reference signal selecting means has a touch panel provided integrally with said display unit. 5. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the semiconductor memory is detachable from a remote control main body.