JP2002135869A - Wireless remote controller searching method, wireless remote controller and electronic equipment with wireless remote controller searching function - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily search a location of a wireless remote controller remotely controlling electronic equipment with less power consumption. SOLUTION: A search signal generating part 14 of electronic equipment 10 is activated, a search signal is transmitted and the received field strength of a response signal returned from the wireless remote controller in response to the search signal is detected by a response signal field strength detecting part 13 and compared with a reference field strength A17a of a reference field strength generator 17 by a comparator A16a in a field strength comparator 16. In the case that a field strength is equal to or above reference field strength A17a, a search timer 18 is started and after the lapse of a predetermined fixed time limit, the next search signal is generated by the search signal generating part 14. Besides, the received field strength of the response signal is compared with reference field strengths 17 of a plurality of stages by the field strength comparator 16, the output level of warning corresponding to each of stages is detected, a warning command generating part 15 is activated and a warning command with output level instruction information is generated through a warning amplification instruction part 19.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of searching for a wireless remote control device, and more particularly, to a method of searching for a location of the wireless remote control device in both an electronic device remotely controlled by the wireless remote control device and the wireless remote control device. The present invention relates to a method for searching for a wireless remote control device provided. Further, the present invention relates to a wireless remote control device and an electronic device with a wireless remote control device search function for realizing such a search method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, many household appliances, for example,
Television, video tape recorder, CD player,
In an electronic device represented by a boombox, a stereo set, and the like, an electronic device for which remote control is considered to be effective can be remotely controlled by a wireless remote control device. On the other hand, the wireless remote control device is very small, and the location of the wireless remote control device may become unclear due to infants and pets playing as toys, which is inconvenient when the location is lost. Needless to say. In order to cope with such a situation, inventions have conventionally been provided that provide means for specifying the location of the wireless remote control device. For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-11081, "Electrical Equipment", an electronic device is provided with a search switch for a wireless remote control device, and the search switch is operated when searching for a wireless remote control device, so that the wireless remote control device can be operated on the wireless remote control device side. A means for transmitting a specific radio signal that can be received is provided, and when the wireless remote control device receives the radio signal, the location of the wireless remote control device is separated from the electronic device by a certain distance or more, and the reception is performed. When the electric field strength of the radio signal is lower than a certain reference electric field strength, an alarm sound or an alarm light is output from a speaker or a light emitting means provided in the wireless remote controller.

[0003] Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 2-231479, "Anti-theft alarm system", a wireless remote controller constantly transmits a weak radio signal, and transmits the radio signal to an electronic device controlled by the wireless remote controller. By receiving, when the location of the wireless remote control device has moved to a position away from the electronic device,
Since the electric field strength of the radio signal received by the electronic device is reduced, the occurrence of such a situation can be reliably detected by constantly monitoring the occurrence.

As described above, the searching means disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-110881, "Electrical Equipment", is provided in an electronic device controlled by the wireless remote control device when it is desired to search for the wireless remote control device. By operating a search switch that is operating, a wireless signal is transmitted to the wireless remote control device, and an alarm sound or an alarm light is output from the wireless remote control device. If the location of the remote control device cannot be detected immediately and the response is delayed, and the wireless remote control device is moved outside the reach of the wireless signal, such as when it is taken out of the room, the wireless remote control device It becomes completely impossible to search for whereabouts.

On the other hand, the search means disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-231479 "Anti-theft alarm system"
Since a weak radio signal is constantly being transmitted from the wireless remote control device, it is possible to immediately notify the location of the wireless remote control device at the time when it is almost missing.

[0006]

However, in the prior art as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-231479, "Anti-theft alarm system", it is also necessary to monitor the time when the wireless remote control device is just missing. Since the wireless signal for searching is continuously transmitted from the wireless remote control device so that the wireless remote control device can be continued, there is a disadvantage that the power consumption of the wireless remote control device increases. Furthermore, even if the situation where the wireless remote control device is just going to be detected is detected, since the wireless remote control device does not have a means for confirming where it is located afterwards, the missing position is detected. It is not easy to search for the wireless remote controller.

On the other hand, by applying the technology disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-111081, "Electrical Equipment", a search radio signal is always sent from the electronic equipment without using the search switch described in the publication. And transmitting an alarm sound or an alarm light in accordance with the electric field strength of the wireless signal received by the wireless remote control device, if the location of the wireless remote control device is Can be easily searched. However, in the wireless remote control device, it is necessary to always operate a receiving circuit for receiving a radio signal and a comparing circuit for comparing the received radio signal with an electric field intensity based on the electric field intensity of the received radio signal. However, there is a disadvantage that the power consumption of the wireless remote control device increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and includes a transmission circuit for a search radio signal (ie, a search signal) provided on an electronic device which is a controlled device controlled by a wireless remote controller. And a comparison circuit for receiving a response wireless signal (ie, a response signal) from the wireless remote controller and comparing the received electric field intensity of the response signal with a plurality of levels of reference electric field intensity on the electronic device side. By doing so, in a normal state where the wireless remote controller is located near the electronic device main body, the reception electric field strength is set to be larger than a certain reference electric field strength, and in such a state, By setting the transmission cycle of the search signal to a thinning operation mode of transmitting the search signal at regular intervals, the power consumption of the wireless remote control device can be reduced. It is an do.

Further, when the wireless remote control device moves to a place away from the electronic device main body and the received electric field strength is weakened, the wireless remote control device transmits the search signal immediately after receiving the response signal, and The remote control device is set to a constant operation mode in which the remote control device is constantly monitored. Further, when the wireless remote control device is moved to a location far away from the device just about to be lost and the reception electric field intensity is further weakened, the location of the wireless remote control device that is going to be lost is located. In order to easily search for, a warning sound or warning light indicating the location is output from the wireless remote control device.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides means for solving the above problems, and is constituted by the following technical means. That is, in the present invention, the electronic device that is the controlled device main body of the wireless remote control device,
The wireless remote controller has a search signal generator for transmitting a search signal for searching for the wireless remote controller in response to the start signal, and the wireless remote controller has a search signal receiver for receiving the search signal. Further, upon receiving the search signal, the wireless remote control device includes a response signal transmitting unit that transmits a response signal to the search signal, and the electronic device includes a response signal receiving unit that receives the response signal. ing.

The received electric field intensity of the response signal received by the response signal receiving means in the electronic device may be an alarm instruction reference electric field intensity arbitrarily defined as an electric field intensity serving as a reference for issuing an alarm indicating the location. If it falls below,
The wireless remote control device, which has an alarm command generating unit that sends an alarm command from the electronic device to the wireless remote control device, receives the alarm command, and includes an alarm generating unit that outputs an alarm light and / or an alarm sound. Have. Further, the electronic device may be configured such that the received electric field strength of the received response signal is equal to or greater than a thinning operation instruction electric field strength arbitrarily defined as a reference electric field strength for thinning out and transmitting the search signal at regular intervals. A timer circuit for controlling an activation signal of the search signal generating means so that the search signal to the wireless remote control device is generated only at predetermined time intervals.

Further, in the present invention, the electronic device also has a plurality of arbitrarily determined levels of the warning instruction reference electric field. When the received electric field intensity of the response signal received from the wireless remote control device has become weaker, the alarm signal is issued from the alarm generating means of the wireless remote control device every time the electric field falls below the plurality of alarm instruction reference electric field strengths by one stage. Means for transmitting the alarm command to which alarm amplification instruction information (i.e., output level instruction information) for amplifying the intensity of the alarm light and / or the alarm sound step by step is provided. The apparatus further includes the alarm generation unit that controls and outputs an amplification level of an alarm light and / or an alarm sound based on the received alarm amplification instruction information (output level instruction information).

More specifically, the present invention is constituted by the following technical means. The first technical means transmits a search signal for searching for the location of the wireless remote control device from an electronic device controlled by the wireless remote control device, and transmits the search signal to the electronic device from the wireless remote control device receiving the search signal. By causing the response signal to be returned, in the electronic device, the received electric field strength of the returned response signal is compared with a predetermined alarm instruction reference electric field strength, and the received electric field strength of the response signal is set to the alarm instruction. If the electric field strength is equal to or higher than the reference electric field strength, the operation of transmitting the search signal is repeated, and conversely, if the reception electric field strength of the response signal is lower than the alarm instruction reference electric field strength, the An alarm command is transmitted to the wireless remote controller, and an alarm light generator provided in the wireless remote controller is provided. And / or by driving an alarm speaker, and to the wireless remote control unit searching method characterized by generating the wireless remote control device alarm light and / or audible alarm indicating the location of.

The second technical means is the first technical means, wherein the reception electric field strength of the response signal returned from the wireless remote controller is compared with a predetermined thinning operation instruction electric field strength, and When the received electric field strength of the signal is equal to or greater than the electric field strength of the thinning operation instruction electric field, a thinning search operation for transmitting the search signal from the electronic device with a delay of a predetermined period of time is performed. Wireless remote device searching method.

A third technical means is the first or second technical means, wherein the value of the warning instruction reference electric field strength is provided in a plurality of stages, and the warning light generating element and / or the warning of the wireless remote controller are provided. The drive output level of the speaker can be switched to a plurality of stages corresponding to the alarm instruction reference electric field intensity of the plurality of stages,
Each time the received electric field strength of the response signal returned from the wireless remote control device falls below the plurality of alarm indication reference electric field strengths by one step, the drive output level of the alarm light generating element and / or the alarm speaker Is raised step by step to generate a stronger alarm light and / or an alarm sound.

A fourth technical means is a wireless remote control device that receives a search signal for searching for the location of the wireless remote control device from an electronic device controlled by the wireless remote control device and responds to the location of the wireless remote control device. In, signal receiving means for receiving the search signal from the electronic device and an alarm command for generating an alarm, in response to the received search signal, to generate a response signal to the electronic device, Response signal transmitting means for transmitting to the electronic device, based on the received alarm command,
A wireless remote control device having an alarm light generating means and / or an alarm sound generating means for generating an alarm light and / or an alarm sound.

According to a fifth technical means, in the fourth technical means, the warning light generating means and / or the warning sound generating means are provided in a plurality in accordance with output level instruction information specified by the warning command from the electronic device. It is a wireless remote control device characterized in that it can generate a warning light and / or a warning sound at a stepwise output level.

A sixth technical means is an electronic device having a wireless remote control device search function which is controlled by a wireless remote control device and can transmit a search signal for searching for the location of the wireless remote control device. Search signal generation means for generating a search signal for searching for the location of the wireless remote control device, alarm command generation means for generating an alarm command for generating an alarm indicating the location of the wireless remote control device, the search signal generated and Signal transmitting means for transmitting the alarm command to the wireless remote control device, signal receiving means for receiving a response signal returned from the wireless remote control device in response to the search signal, and reception of the received response signal The electric field strength is detected, and a predetermined alarm indication reference electric field strength When the received electric field strength of the received response signal is equal to or greater than the alarm instruction reference electric field strength, the search signal generating means is activated to generate the search signal. Conversely, when the electric field strength is lower than the alarm instruction reference electric field strength, the alarm instruction generation means is activated to generate the alarm instruction. That is, the electronic device has a device search function.

A seventh technical means is the thinning operation according to the sixth technical means, wherein the electric field strength comparing means compares the received electric field strength of the received response signal with a predetermined thinning operation instruction electric field strength. When the detection electric field strength of the response signal is equal to or greater than the electric field strength of the thinning operation instruction, the start of the search signal generating means is immediately performed. The electronic device with a wireless remote control device search function, characterized in that it has a search timer that generates a thinning start signal that starts the search signal generation means when a predetermined time has elapsed without performing It is to be.

An eighth technical means according to the sixth or seventh technical means, wherein a plurality of alarm instruction reference electric field intensities are provided as the alarm instruction reference electric field intensity, and the electric field intensity comparing means comprises: An electric field intensity comparing unit that compares the received electric field intensity with the alarm instruction reference electric field intensity of the plurality of stages, respectively, corresponding to the alarm instruction reference electric field intensity of the plurality of stages, for an alarm of an output level of a plurality of stages. Alarm amplification instructing means for instructing to generate any one of the output level alarms, and the alarm command generating means is based on the output level alarm instructed by the alarm amplification instructing means. An electronic device with a wireless remote control device search function, characterized by comprising means for generating the alarm command.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment for realizing a wireless remote control device search method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a circuit section having a search function of a wireless remote control device according to the present invention, which is provided in an electronic device that is a controlled device main body controlled by the wireless remote control device. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a circuit unit provided in the wireless remote controller and having a search function of the wireless remote controller according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes an electronic device controlled by the wireless remote controller, 11 denotes a signal receiver for receiving a response signal from the wireless remote controller as a radio signal, and 12 denotes a signal receiver. A signal transmitter for transmitting a search signal or an alarm command to the wireless remote controller as a wireless signal; Also, 1
Reference numeral 3 denotes a response signal electric field intensity detection unit for detecting a reception electric field intensity of a response signal returned from the wireless remote control device in response to a search signal. Reference numeral 14 denotes a unit for searching for the location of the wireless remote control device. A search signal generating unit for generating a search signal directed to the wireless remote control device; 15 is a response signal from the wireless remote control device when the location of the wireless remote control device is more than a predetermined location; To output an alarm light and / or an alarm sound when the received electric field strength of the alarm signal falls below an alarm instruction reference electric field strength (reference electric field strength B in FIG. 1) which is an electric field strength arbitrarily determined in advance. And an alarm command generation unit for generating an alarm command issued to the wireless remote control device.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a response signal electric field strength detector 1.
3, the received electric field strength S of the response signal detected in
And field reference comparators for comparing various reference field strengths generated by the reference field strength generator 17 with reference field strengths A, B, C, D, E,... 17a, 17b, 1
.. 16a, 16a, 16c, 17d, 17e,... Corresponding to the comparators A, B, C, D, E,.
, 16c, 16d, 16e,... are provided. Here, the reference electric field strength A is determined by the wireless remote controller,
As the search is not necessary again, the wireless remote control device is in a normal state located near the electronic device, the received signal strength S of the response signal from the wireless remote control device is large, and the search signal of the wireless remote control device is continuously transmitted. The lower limit value of the received signal strength S of the response signal for determining that the transmission interval may be set to the thinning operation mode in which the transmission interval is thinned out at regular time intervals indicated by the search timer 18 and transmitted. That is, the reference electric field intensity A indicates the electric field intensity for instructing the thinning operation. The search timer 18 is a circuit that starts counting when a start signal is input from the comparator A 16a and generates an output signal when a predetermined time period has elapsed.

The reference electric field intensity B is a reception electric field of a response signal indicating that the location of the wireless remote control device is moved from the vicinity of the electronic device and is located at a location far away from the electronic device. The lower limit of the strength S is shown. The received electric field strength S of the response signal is equal to the reference electric field strength B.
As described above, when the electric field strength is smaller than the reference electric field strength A, the wireless remote control apparatus is in a state of being moved to a place farther than a predetermined location, and there is a possibility that the wireless remote control apparatus is just missing. In the state, the search signal generator 14 is activated by the output from the comparator B 16b, and the search signal is continuously transmitted to the wireless remote controller. That is, the reference electric field strength B indicates the alarm instruction reference electric field strength. If the reference electric field strength is equal to or higher than the reference electric field strength B, the operation mode is set to the always-on operation mode, and after the response signal is received from the wireless remote controller, the next search signal is immediately transmitted. On the other hand, when the intensity is lower than the reference electric field intensity B, the alarm command generator 15 is activated to output an alarm light and / or an alarm sound, and the alarm command is transmitted to the wireless remote controller.

Further, the reference electric field strength C indicates that the location of the wireless remote controller has been moved to a location far from the electronic device to the extent that it needs to be searched, and has been lost. Although a warning light and / or a warning sound indicating the location is output, the reception signal strength S of the response signal indicating that the output level of the warning light and / or the warning sound may be a normal output level. Indicates the lower limit of. When the received electric field strength S of the response signal is equal to or higher than the reference electric field strength C but is smaller than the reference electric field strength B, that is, the electric field strength smaller than the alarm instruction reference electric field strength, the alarm amplification is performed by the output from the comparator C16c. The alarm command generation unit 15 is provided via the instruction unit 19.
Is activated, and an alarm command for outputting an alarm indicating the location of the wireless remote controller as a normal output level is transmitted to the wireless remote controller. That is, the reference electric field strength C indicates the normal alarm instruction reference electric field strength.

The reference electric field strength D is determined by the output level of the warning light and / or warning sound indicating the location of the wireless remote control device when the wireless remote control device has moved to a location farther than the aforementioned remote location. Are amplified by one stage and output to indicate the lower limit value of the received electric field strength S of the response signal, which indicates that the situation is to further draw attention. If the received electric field strength S of the response signal is equal to or higher than the reference electric field strength D but is smaller than the reference electric field strength C, that is, the electric field strength smaller than the normal alarm instruction reference electric field strength, an alarm indicating the location of the wireless remote control device is issued. In order to perform one-stage amplification and output, the alarm command generation unit 15 is activated by the output from the comparator D16d via the one-stage amplification instruction unit 19a in the alarm amplification instruction unit 19 to perform one-stage amplification. An alarm command to which alarm amplification instruction information (that is, output level instruction information) is added is transmitted to the wireless remote controller. That is, the reference electric field strength D is 1
The step amplification warning instruction reference electric field strength is shown.

Thereafter, if necessary, the reference intensity generator 17
.. Are provided with a plurality of alarm instruction reference electric field intensities, and the electric field intensity comparator 16 compares the received electric field intensity S of the response signal with the electric field intensity of the alarm signal. Further, a means for further amplifying and outputting in a plurality of stages can be provided.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 20 denotes a wireless remote controller, and reference numeral 21 denotes a signal transmitting unit for transmitting a response signal to the electronic device 10 as a radio signal.
Reference numeral 22 denotes a signal receiving unit for receiving a search signal from the electronic device 10 or a wireless signal related to an alarm command. Reference numeral 23 denotes a response signal generation unit that generates a response signal that is immediately returned to the electronic device 10 when the search signal or the alarm signal from the electronic device 10 is received. 2
Reference numeral 4 denotes a search signal detection unit for detecting the search signal from the electronic device 10. 25 is an alarm command detection unit for detecting the alarm command from the electronic device 10,
26 is for decoding the alarm amplification instruction information (that is, output level instruction information) added to the alarm command and instructing the alarm light generation unit 27 or the alarm sound generation unit 28 of the alarm output level. Alarm command decoding unit.

The warning light generating section 27 has a warning light amplification section 27a capable of controlling the output level of the warning light in multiple stages based on the output level instruction information of the warning command decoded by the warning command decoding section 26. And an alarm light generating element 27b such as an alarm lamp that blinks based on a drive signal from the alarm light amplifier 27a. On the other hand, the alarm sound generator 2
8, an alarm sound amplification unit 28a capable of controlling the output level of the alarm sound in multiple stages based on the output level instruction information of the alarm instruction decoded by the alarm instruction decoding unit 26; And an alarm speaker 28b for sounding an alarm sound based on the drive signal of.

Next, the operation of each circuit block shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the wireless remote control device search method according to the present invention. In FIG. 3, steps indicated by a solid frame indicate operations on the electronic device 10 side, while steps indicated by a broken line indicate operations on the wireless remote control device 20 side. First, in FIG. 1, when the power of the electronic device 10 is turned on, the search signal generation unit 14 in the electronic device 10 is activated, a search signal is generated, and the wireless remote control device 20 side is transmitted via the signal transmission unit 12. Then, the search signal is transmitted as a wireless signal (S10). The search signal is
The signal is received by the signal receiving unit 22 in the wireless remote control device 20, and the electronic device 1 is received by the search signal detecting unit 24.
0 is detected (S
11). When the reception of the search signal is detected, the response signal generator 23 is activated, and a response signal to be transmitted to the electronic device 10 is generated. The generated response signal is transmitted as a wireless signal to the electronic device 10 via the signal transmission unit 21 (S12).

The response signal from the wireless remote controller 20 is received by the signal receiving section 11 in the electronic device 10 (S13), and is sent to the response signal electric field strength detecting section 13. The response signal electric field strength detector 13 extracts the received electric field strength S of the received response signal (S14) and inputs it to the electric field strength comparator 16. In the electric field intensity comparator 16, first, in order to determine whether or not to perform the operation of transmitting the thinning search signal, the reference electric field intensity A of the reference electric field intensity generator 17, that is, the electric field intensity of the thinning operation instruction and the reception electric field of the response signal are determined. The comparison with the intensity S is performed in the comparator A16a (S15). If the received electric field strength S of the response signal is equal to or higher than the reference electric field strength A (YES in S15), the wireless remote control device 20
, The search timer 18 is started (S16). When the search timer 18 has timed out after a predetermined time has elapsed, the search timer 18 returns to step S10 to generate an output signal and activate the search signal generator 14, and the next search signal Is generated.

Therefore, in such a case, a thinning operation mode is set in which a thinning search operation in which a next search signal is transmitted after a predetermined time counted by the search timer 18 elapses. Thus, in a normal state where the wireless remote control device 20 is located near a predetermined place very close to the electronic device 10 and the reception electric field strength S of the response signal is strong,
, The transmission operation of the response signal that operates in response to the search signal on the wireless remote control device 20 side is also the thinning operation. As a result, the number of search signal reception operations and the number of response signal transmission operations that consume a large amount of power in the wireless remote control device 20 are greatly reduced, and the power consumption of the wireless remote control device 20 is significantly reduced. You.

On the other hand, the reception electric field strength S of the response signal is
When the reference electric field intensity A is smaller than the electric field intensity of the thinning operation instruction (NO in S15), the comparison with the reference electric field intensity B of the reference electric field intensity generator 17 is next performed by the comparator in the electric field intensity comparator 16. B16b (S1
7). The reference electric field intensity B is an alarm instruction reference electric field intensity, and the nearer the wireless remote control device 20 becomes missing, the more the remote control device 20 moves away from the electronic device 10, and the location of the wireless remote control device 20 is changed. This is the electric field strength immediately before the alarm for indicating is output. Therefore, when the reference electric field intensity B, that is, the alarm instruction reference electric field intensity, is smaller than the reference electric field intensity A, that is, the thinning operation instruction electric field intensity (YES in S17),
Wireless remote control device 20 on the verge of missing
In order to keep monitoring continuously, a transition is made to a continuous operation mode in which the search signal is continuously transmitted. That is, an output signal is generated from the comparator B16b, and the search signal generator 14 is directly started without starting the search timer 18, thereby returning to step S10 and immediately generating the next search signal. Thereafter, the above-described circuit operation after step S10 is repeated, and the exchange of the search signal and the response signal is continuously repeated. That is, in such a case, as the wireless remote control device 20 exceeds the usable range of the wireless remote control device 20, there is a possibility that the wireless remote control device 20 is being moved to a place away from the electronic device 10. The search signal and the response signal are continuously exchanged in order to keep the monitoring state at all times.

Further, the reception electric field strength S of the response signal
Is smaller than the reference electric field intensity B, that is, the alarm instruction reference electric field intensity (NO in S17), the location of the wireless remote control device 20 exceeds the allowable limit and the electronic device 1
It indicates that the situation is going away from zero and is going missing. In such a case, first, comparison with the reference electric field intensity C17c of the reference electric field intensity generator 17 is performed by the comparator C16c in the electric field intensity comparator 16 (S18). The reference electric field strength C indicates a normal alarm instruction reference electric field strength. When the wireless remote control device 20 is going missing, the wireless remote control device 20 outputs an alarm at a normal output level, and the location of the wireless remote control device 20 is determined. The lower limit of the received electric field strength S of the response signal when it is necessary to indicate

Here, the received electric field strength S of the response signal
Is equal to or higher than the reference electric field strength C, that is, the normal alarm instruction reference electric field strength (YES in S18), the comparator C16c
, An output signal is generated, and via the alarm amplification instructing unit 19,
The alarm command generator 15 is activated. Alarm command generator 15
, An alarm command to which alarm amplification instruction information indicating a normal output level is added (that is, output level instruction information) is generated, and the alarm command is converted into a radio signal via Remote control device 20
(S19).

The alarm command is transmitted to the wireless remote controller 2
The signal is received by the signal receiving unit 22 within 0, and the warning command detecting unit 25 detects that the warning command is received from the electronic device 10 (S20). When the alarm command is detected, in order to send a response signal to the electronic device 10, the response signal generation unit 23 is activated to transmit a response signal (S21), and the alarm command decoding unit 26 is activated. The alarm amplification instruction information (that is, output level instruction information) added to the alarm command is decoded (S
22). In this case, since the alarm command from the electronic device 10 has been instructed to output a normal output level alarm, the alarm command decoding unit 26 outputs the alarm at the normal output level as the alarm command output level. In order to emit light and / or an alarm sound, the alarm light amplifier 27a in the alarm light generator 27 and / or the alarm sound amplifier 28a in the alarm sound generator 28 are activated (S23). Warning light amplifier 27
After performing an amplification process at a normal output level, the alarm light a and the alarm light amplifying unit 28a respectively drive an alarm light generating element, for example, an alarm lamp 27b and an alarm speaker 28b, to flash an alarm light and sound an alarm sound. (S2
4).

In step S21, the response signal generator 23 is activated to send the response signal from the signal transmitter 21 to the electronic device 10. When the signal is received by the receiver 11 (S13), the received signal strength S of the response signal is extracted by the response signal field strength detector 13 (S14), and compared with various reference field strengths by the field strength comparator 16. Here, the location of the wireless remote control device 20 is
If the received electric field strength S of the response signal from the wireless remote controller 20 is smaller than the reference electric field strength C, that is, the normal alarm instruction reference electric field strength, the electric field strength comparator 16 Is compared with the reference field strength D17d of the reference field strength generator 17 (S25). The reference electric field intensity D is a one-stage amplification alarm instruction reference electric field intensity, and since the location of the wireless remote control device 20 is further away from the electronic device 10, a normal output level alarm is issued to further draw attention. However, the lower limit of the received electric field strength S of the response signal indicating that the warning light and / or the warning sound needs to be output at the output level amplified by one stage is shown.

If the electric field strength S of the reception response signal is equal to or higher than the reference electric field strength D, that is, the electric field strength of the one-stage amplification alarm instruction (S
25), an output signal is generated from the comparator D16d, and the one-stage amplification instruction unit 19a in the alarm amplification instruction unit 19 outputs a signal indicating an instruction to amplify the output level of the alarm by one stage to the alarm command generation unit 15. (S26). An alarm command with a one-stage amplification instruction to which alarm amplification instruction information indicating the output level of the one-stage amplification (that is, output level instruction information) is added is generated by the alarm instruction generation unit 15. The alarm instruction with the one-stage amplification instruction is transmitted as a wireless signal via the signal transmitting unit 12 as:
It is transmitted to the wireless remote control device 20 (S1
9).

An alarm command with a one-stage amplification instruction is received by the signal receiving unit 22 in the wireless remote control device 20.
When the warning command detection unit 25 detects that the command is a warning command from the electronic device 10 (S20), the response signal generation unit 23 sends a response signal to the electronic device 10.
Is activated to transmit a response signal (S21), and the alarm command with the one-stage amplification instruction is output from the alarm command decoding unit 2
6 is sent. The alarm command decoding unit 26 decodes that the alarm amplification instruction information (that is, the output level instruction information) of the reception alarm command is instructed to output an alarm of an output level amplified by one stage (S2).
2) In order to emit an alarm light and / or an alarm sound at the output level of the one-stage amplification, the alarm light amplifier 27a in the alarm light generator 27 and / or the alarm sound amplifier 28a in the alarm sound generator 28 are provided. Activate (S23). Warning light amplifier 27
a and an alarm sound amplifier 28a perform an amplification process so as to have an output level of one-stage amplification, and output an alarm level larger than a normal output level to generate an alarm light generating element 27b such as an alarm lamp and an alarm speaker 28b.
Is driven to make the warning light blink more strongly, and the warning sound is made to sound louder (S24).

That is, as the location of the wireless remote controller 20 moves away from the electronic device 10, various reference electric field intensity values C, D, E,. That is, the alarm light generating element 2 in the wireless remote controller 20 is output at a plurality of output levels in accordance with the plurality of levels of the alarm instruction reference electric field strength.
7b and the alarm speaker 28b are driven. Thus, the warning light and the warning sound will be stronger and louder in multiple stages, and can provide a stronger warning in as many stages as necessary.

[0041]

According to the present invention, in a normal state where the wireless remote control device is located near the electronic device controlled by the wireless remote control device, the electronic remote control device is provided at predetermined time intervals. A search signal is transmitted to the wireless remote control device from
Since it is possible to set a thinning operation mode in which the wireless remote control device performs a thinning operation in which a response signal is returned to the electronic device in response to the search signal, it is possible to reduce a case where the search signal and the response signal are always transmitted. However, the power consumption of the wireless remote controller can be significantly reduced.

Further, when the location of the wireless remote control device is away from the electronic device and is about to disappear, a search signal and a response signal are continuously transmitted. Therefore, it is possible to shift to the always-on operation mode in which the location of the wireless remote control device is constantly monitored. You can figure out.

Further, as the location of the wireless remote control device moves away from the electronic device, the received electric field strength of the response signal from the wireless remote control device becomes smaller, but depending on the level at which the received electric field strength becomes smaller, Since the luminosity of the alarm light or the volume of the alarm sound can be output at a large level, it is possible to easily search for the wireless remote controller.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a circuit unit having a search function of a wireless remote control device according to the present invention provided in an electronic device which is a controlled device main body controlled by the wireless remote control device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a circuit portion having a search function of the wireless remote control device according to the present invention provided in the wireless remote control device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a search method for a wireless remote control device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Electronic equipment, 11 ... Signal reception part, 12 ... Signal transmission part, 13 ... Response signal electric field strength detection part, 14 ... Search signal generation part, 15 ... Alarm command generation part, 16 ... Electric field strength comparator,
17 ... Reference electric field strength generator, 18 ... Search timer, 19 ...
Alarm amplification instructing unit, 20 ... wireless remote control device, 21
... Signal transmitting unit, 22 ... Signal receiving unit, 23 ... Response signal generating unit, 24 ... Search signal detecting unit, 25 ... Alarm command detecting unit, 2
Reference numeral 6: alarm command decoding unit, 27: alarm light generation unit, 27a: alarm light amplification unit, 27b: alarm light generation element, 28: alarm sound generation unit, 28a: alarm sound amplification unit, 28b: alarm speaker.

Claims (8)

[Claims] An electronic device controlled by a wireless remote control device transmits a search signal for searching for the location of the wireless remote control device, and a response signal from the wireless remote control device that has received the search signal to the electronic device. Is returned, in the electronic device,
The received electric field strength of the returned response signal is compared with a predetermined alarm instruction reference electric field strength, and if the received electric field strength of the response signal is equal to or greater than the alarm instruction reference electric field strength, the The operation of transmitting the search signal is repeated, and conversely, when the received electric field strength of the response signal is lower than the alarm instruction reference electric field strength, an alarm command is transmitted to the wireless remote control device, and A wireless remote control device characterized by generating an alarm light and / or an alarm sound indicating the location of the wireless remote control device by driving an alarm light generating element and / or an alarm speaker provided in the wireless remote control device. Method. 2. The wireless remote control device searching method according to claim 1, wherein the received electric field intensity of the response signal returned from the wireless remote control device is compared with a predetermined thinning operation instruction electric field intensity. When the received electric field strength of the response signal is equal to or more than the electric field strength of the thinning operation instruction electric field, a thinning search operation of transmitting the search signal from the electronic device after a predetermined time is performed. Wireless remote control device search method. 3. The wireless remote control device searching method according to claim 1, wherein a value of the alarm instruction reference electric field strength is provided in a plurality of stages, and the alarm light generating element and / or the alarm of the wireless remote control device are provided. The drive output level of the speaker can be switched to a plurality of stages corresponding to the alarm instruction reference electric field intensity of the plurality of stages, and the reception electric field intensity of the response signal returned from the wireless remote control device is Each time the alarm instruction reference electric field strength of a plurality of steps falls below one step,
A method for searching for a wireless remote control device, characterized in that a drive output level of the alarm light generating element and / or the alarm speaker is increased step by step to generate stronger alarm light and / or alarm sound. 4. A wireless remote control device that receives a search signal for searching for the location of the wireless remote control device from an electronic device controlled by the wireless remote control device and responds to the location of the wireless remote control device. Signal receiving means for receiving the search signal and an alarm command for generating an alarm, and generating a response signal to the electronic device in response to the received search signal, and transmitting the signal to the electronic device. A wireless remote control device comprising: a response signal transmitting means; and an alarm light generating means and / or an alarm sound generating means for generating an alarm light and / or an alarm sound based on the received alarm command. . 5. The wireless remote control device according to claim 4, wherein the warning light generating means and / or the warning sound generating means perform a plurality of steps in accordance with output level instruction information specified by the alarm command from the electronic device. A wireless remote control device capable of generating an alarm light and / or an alarm sound having an output level of: 6. An electronic device having a wireless remote control device search function controlled by a wireless remote control device and capable of transmitting a search signal for searching for the location of the wireless remote control device, wherein the location of the wireless remote control device is searched. Search signal generating means for generating a search signal for generating, an alarm command generating means for generating an alarm command for generating an alarm indicating the location of the wireless remote control device, and generating the search signal and the alarm command. Signal transmitting means for transmitting to the wireless remote control device, signal receiving means for receiving a response signal returned from the wireless remote control device in response to the search signal, and detecting a reception electric field strength of the received response signal , The electric field strength ratio to be compared with a predetermined alarm indication reference electric field strength Comparing means, when the received electric field strength of the received response signal is an electric field strength not less than the alarm instruction reference electric field strength, activates the search signal generating means to generate the search signal, and conversely And an activation means for activating the alarm command generation means to generate the alarm command when the electric field strength falls below the alarm instruction reference electric field strength. machine. 7. The electronic device with wireless remote control device searching function according to claim 6, wherein said electric field intensity comparing means compares said received electric field intensity of said received response signal with a predetermined thinning operation instruction electric field intensity. A thinning operation determination comparing means for comparing, and when the thinning operation determination comparing means detects that the received electric field strength of the response signal is equal to or greater than the thinning operation instruction electric field strength, the search signal generating means Wireless remote control device search function, characterized in that it has a search timer that generates a thinning start signal that starts the search signal generation means when a predetermined time has elapsed without immediately starting the device. With electronic equipment. 8. The electronic device with a wireless remote control device search function according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of levels of alarm instruction reference electric field strengths are provided as the alarm instruction reference electric field strength, and the electric field intensity comparing means includes: Electric field intensity comparing means for comparing the received electric field intensity of the response signal with the alarm instruction reference electric field intensity of the plurality of stages, respectively, and a plurality of output levels corresponding to the alarm instruction reference electric field intensity of the plurality of stages. Alarm amplification instructing means for instructing generation of an alarm of any output level among the alarms, and wherein the alarm command generating means includes an alarm of the output level indicated by the alarm amplification instructing means. An electronic device with a function of searching for a wireless remote control device, comprising: means for generating the alarm command based on the command.