JP2003087882A - Cradle for inspecting remote controller and remote controller inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inspect various remote controllers with high accuracy. SOLUTION: The remote control inspection device includes: a remote control inspection cradle 1; a display device 2 for displaying the inspection state; and a personal computer 3 for controlling inspection of the remote controller. The remote control inspection cradle 1 includes: a remote control holding section 10 for holding a remote controller 4 to be held; a power supply 11 for supplying power to the remote controller 4 held in the remote controller holding section 10; and a remote control signal reception section 12 for receiving a remote control signal outputted when an operation button of the remote controller 4 held in the remote control holding section 10 is operated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control inspection cradle and a remote control inspection apparatus suitable for inspecting various remote controls at the time of manufacturing various remote controls.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an inspection at the time of manufacturing a remote controller is performed by a dedicated inspection device for the remote controller, and the inspection device must be changed every time the remote controller model is changed. There was an inconvenience.

Further, since the inspection of the remote controller is performed by an inspector by visually observing a meter or the like, there is a problem that the inspection result varies.

In view of the above point, the present invention has an object to enable various remote controls to be inspected with high accuracy.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a remote control inspection cradle used for inspecting a remote control, comprising: a remote control holding unit for holding a remote control to be inspected; and the remote control held by the remote control holding unit. It has a power supply section for supplying power and a remote control signal receiving section for receiving a remote control signal output when the operation button of the remote control held in the remote control holding section is operated.

Further, the present invention is a remote control inspection device having a remote control inspection cradle, a display for displaying the inspection status, and a personal computer for controlling the remote control inspection. The remote control inspection cradle holds a remote control to be inspected. Remote control holding section, a power supply section for supplying power to the remote control held in the remote control holding section, and a remote control signal output when the operation button of the remote control held in the remote control holding section is operated And a remote control signal receiving section for

According to the present invention, the remote control signal received when the operation button of the remote control is operated is received by the remote control signal receiving section, and the personal computer is used by the remote control signal received by the remote control signal receiving section. Since the inspection is performed according to the inspection program, various remote controllers can be inspected accurately.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a remote control inspection cradle and a remote control inspection apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the remote control inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment as a whole, 1 is a remote control inspection cradle, 2 is a display for displaying the inspection status, 3 is a personal computer (personal computer) for controlling the remote control inspection, and the remote control The inspection cradle is connected to the personal computer 3 via a predetermined bus line and displays the inspection status from the personal computer 3 on the display 2.

Prior to describing the remote control inspection cradle and the remote control inspection device, an example of the remote control 4 to be inspected by the remote control inspection device will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 shows the upper surface of the remote controller 4, and the remote controller 4 is provided with predetermined operation buttons such as a number button, a power button, a channel up button, a channel down button, a volume up button, and a volume down button.

The remote controller 4 is an infrared remote controller adapted to output an infrared remote controller signal of a predetermined format. When the operation button is operated, the remote controller 4 is operated through a window 4a provided on the front surface of the remote controller 4. A predetermined infrared remote control signal corresponding to the operation button is emitted.

FIG. 7 shows the lower surface of the remote controller 4 and shows a state in which the battery case cover 7 of the battery housing portion 6 for housing the battery 5 as a power source is removed. That is, the remote controller 4 is configured so that the battery 5 as a power source is stored in the battery storage portion 6 without the battery case cover 7.

Next, the remote control inspection cradle 1 used when inspecting the remote control 4 will be described. This remote control inspection cradle 1 has a remote control 4 to be inspected as shown in the perspective views of FIGS. 2 and 3.
A remote control holding portion 10 formed of a remote control-shaped concave portion for holding is provided in the center of the upper surface.

When the remote controller 4 is inserted and held in front of the remote controller holder 10 as shown in FIG. 3, the window 4a of the remote controller 4 corresponds to a portion through which an infrared remote controller signal passes. 10a is provided, and the remote controller 4 is attached to a part corresponding to the battery storage part 6 when the remote controller 4 is held in the remote controller holding part 10 with the battery case cover 7 of the remote controller 4 removed. Power supply unit 11 for supplying power
Is provided.

A remote control signal receiving section 12 including a light receiving element for receiving the infrared remote control signal is provided at a position corresponding to the infrared remote control signal passage hole 10a of the remote control holding section 10 in the remote control inspection cradle 1.

In this case, an ND filter (Neutral Density Filter) for reducing the light quantity of the infrared remote control signal is provided between the passage hole 10a and the remote control signal receiving section 12.
13 is provided.

In the remote control inspection cradle 1, the remote control signal received by the remote control signal receiving section 12 is passed through an amplifier circuit 14 to a decoder 1 as shown in FIG.
5, the decoder 15 decodes the remote control signal, converts it into a predetermined signal format, and the control unit 16
Also, the data is supplied to the personal computer 3 through the bus line, and the personal computer 3 processes it according to a predetermined inspection program to judge whether it is good or bad.

The remote control signal received by the remote control signal receiving section 12 is output to the output level detecting section 1 as shown in FIG.
7 and supplies the level of the remote control signal obtained by the output level detection unit 17 to the personal computer 3 via the control unit 16 and the bus line, and the personal computer 3 processes it according to a predetermined inspection program to determine this level. To do.

The power supply unit 11 provided in the remote control holding unit 10 has a first position in which power is supplied from the power supply unit 18 to the remote control 4 held in the remote control holding unit 10 and a second position in which no power is supplied. The first position where the remote controller 4 is automatically supplied with power when the remote control inspection is started by operating the inspection start button 21 for starting the remote control inspection so that the position can be freely moved by the power supply terminal drive unit 20. To move to.

Therefore, in this example, when the remote controller 4 is inspected, the power source is automatically supplied to the remote controller 4, and the power supply to the remote controller 4 is not forgotten.

A plurality of kinds of predetermined inspection programs for inspecting a plurality of kinds of predetermined remote controllers 4 to be inspected are stored in the personal computer 3, and when the predetermined remote controllers 4 are inspected, the predetermined kinds of predetermined inspection programs are stored. A predetermined inspection program corresponding to the remote controller 4 is selected.

In the inspection of the predetermined remote controller 4 by the selected predetermined inspection program, the array of operation buttons of the predetermined remote controller 4 to be inspected is displayed on the display 2 as shown in FIG.

According to the predetermined inspection program, when the operation buttons to be inspected of the remote controller 4 are sequentially operated in the inspection of the predetermined remote controller 4, it is displayed on the display 2 which operation button is already operated, for example. The display is made by changing the color, and the operation button after the inspection is notified.

Further, according to the predetermined inspection program of this example, when the predetermined remote controller 4 is inspected, the operation button of the remote controller 4 to be inspected is already operated, that is, the inspected mark is displayed on the display 2. It should be put in this list of operation buttons.

Since this example is constructed as described above, the inspection of the remote controller 4 is performed according to the flow chart of FIG. To explain the flowchart of FIG. 9, first, it is determined whether the inspection start button 21 has been operated (turned on) (step S1). When this inspection start button 21 is operated, an initial screen for inspection of the remote controller 4 for inspecting the display 2 according to the selected inspection program, for example, as shown in FIG. The screen 31 is displayed (step S2), and power is supplied to the remote controller 4 (step S3).

It is judged whether the operation button to be inspected is operated, that is, whether the remote control signal receiving section 12 has received the remote control signal (step S4). When the remote control signal is received, the output level detecting section 17 obtains it. It is judged whether the output level of the remote control signal is good (OK) or bad (NG) (step S5). When the output level is good (OK), the waveform of the remote control signal obtained at the output side of the decoder 15 is good (OK). Or defective (NG) (step S
6).

In this case, the status of the output level of the remote control signal is displayed on the screen 32 of the display 2 as shown in FIG. 8, and the waveform of the remote control signal is displayed on the screen 33.

When both of the steps S5 and S6 are OK, as shown in FIG. 8, the OK button on the arrangement screen 30 of the operation buttons of the remote controller 4 displayed on the screen of the display 2 is OK.
The color of the operation button (the operated operation button) that generated the remote control signal is changed (step S7)
As shown in FIG. 5, an inspected mark is added to the list of operation buttons that generated the OK (OK) remote control signal on the operation button list screen 31 displayed on the screen of the display 2 (step S8).

Next, in step S9, it is determined whether or not all the operation buttons of the remote controller 4 have been inspected, and in steps S5 and S6, all the operation buttons of the remote controller 4 are inspected as long as they are OK. When all the operation buttons have been inspected (operated), the process proceeds to step S10 and the inspection result is stored in the memory 22.

At this time, the power supply to the remote controller 4 is stopped (step S11), the display 2 displays "OK" (step S12), and the inspection is completed.

When the result is defective (NG) in step S5, the process proceeds to step S10, the inspection result is stored in the memory 22, the power supply to the remote controller 4 is stopped (step S11), and the display 2 is defective. (NG) is displayed (step S12), and this inspection ends.

When the result is defective (NG) in step S6, the process proceeds to step S10, the inspection result is stored in the memory 22, the power supply to the remote controller 4 is stopped (step S11), and the display 2 is defective. (NG) is displayed (step S12), and this inspection ends.

According to this example, the inspection program stored in the memory of the personal computer 3 is selected according to the type of the remote controller 4 and the remote controller 4 to be inspected is held in the remote controller holder 10 of the remote controller inspection cradle 1. Then, the remote control signal receiving section 12 receives a remote control signal output when the operation button of the remote control 4 is operated, and the remote control signal received by the remote control signal receiving section 12 is used to select this selection using the personal computer 3. Since the inspection is performed according to the inspection program, it is possible to inspect various remote controllers with high accuracy.

In the above-mentioned example, the arrangement screen 30 of the operation buttons of the remote controller 4 to be inspected by the selected inspection program has been described as being displayed on the display 2.
It is configured so that a new remote controller operation button array can be input.

When inputting an array of operation buttons of a new remote controller of the personal computer 3, a predetermined operation button group 40 is prepared in advance on the upper end of the screen 2a on the display 2 as shown in FIG. 10, and the prepared operation buttons are prepared. Each operation button is pulled out from the group 40 with a cursor or the like and is arranged at a predetermined position on the screen 2a so that a new array of operation buttons of the remote controller is input.

11 and 12 show another example of the remote control inspection cradle 1, respectively. 11 and 12, parts corresponding to those in FIGS. 2 to 4 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the example shown in FIG. 11, a column 50 having a predetermined height is provided at the center of the rear portion of the remote control inspection cradle 1.
The video camera 51 is rotatably held on the upper end of the column 50, and the video camera 51 is used to hold the remote control holding portion 10 of the remote control inspection cradle 1.
The upper surface of the remote control 4 held by the remote control 4 is imaged, and lights 52a and 52b for illumination are provided on the left and right sides of the video camera 51 so that the operation button of the remote control 4 is illuminated obliquely from above. A shadow is formed on the operation button of No. 4.

In this example of FIG. 11, the type of the remote controller is discriminated by image recognition, and the array of operation buttons of the new remote controller is captured from the image. Reference numeral 53 indicates an image capture button for determining the remote controller model, and reference numeral 54. The image capture button of the new remote control is shown. The remote control inspection cradle shown in FIG. 11 is configured as shown in FIGS.

The remote control inspection cradle 1 shown in FIG. 11 is connected to the personal computer 3 and the display 2 in the same manner as in FIG. 1, the video signal picked up by the video camera 51 is processed by the personal computer 3, and the video camera is further processed. 51
The above image can be displayed on the display 2.

Generally, although the remote controller has the same outer shape, the remote controller for controlling a television receiver, a video tape recorder, a DVD player, etc. has different operation buttons.

Next, an example of the operation of the personal computer 3 for recognizing the remote controller model from the image from the video camera 51 is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, it is determined whether the image capture button 53 has been pressed (step S
20).

When the image capture button 53 is pressed, predetermined image processing is performed (step S21). For example, when the video camera 51 picks up the image of the remote controller 4 from diagonally above, the image is a trapezoid, and thus the image is processed into a rectangle.

Next, it is judged whether or not the image-processed remote control image matches the already stored remote control image of the inspection program (step S22). If it does not match the already stored image, the display 2 is displayed. "This remote control cannot be recognized" is displayed on the screen (step S2
3) This process ends.

When there is a model that matches the one already stored, the test program for this model is selected and activated (step S24), the test program as shown in FIG. 9 is executed (step S25), and the process ends.

In step S22, the image capture button 54 is pressed when there is no model that matches the model already stored in the memory of the personal computer 3. At this time, the image from the video camera 51 is displayed on the screen 2a of the display 2. In this case, operation buttons may be arranged and defined according to the image on the screen 2a of the display 2.

Separately from this, a transparent layer is put on the screen of the display 2 and is drawn out from the operation button group 40 prepared in advance on the screen 2a described with reference to FIG.

In this case, the operation buttons are arranged on the display 2
Since the image on the screen 2a of 1 is referred to, it can be performed more easily.

The lights 52a and 52b in FIG. 11 are turned on during the inspection work and the image capturing. Also,
The left and right lights 52a and 52 are being captured during this image capture.
If b is sequentially turned on and each image is captured, the image can be processed from the shape of the shadow of the convex portion of the operation button or the like to find where the convex portion is and how high it is.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a remote control inspection cradle 1.
A column 50 having a predetermined height is provided at the rear center position, arms 55a and 55b are rotatably provided on the left and right of the upper end of the column 50, and the arms 55a and 55b are rotatably provided at the respective tip portions. The video cameras 51a and 51b are provided in the above, and the other parts are configured in the same manner as in FIG.

In the example shown in FIG. 12, the remote controller 4 held in the remote control inspection cradle 1 is picked up by two left and right video cameras 51a and 51b to capture an image. If the image processing is performed, the unevenness becomes clear and the shape of the remote controller 4, the shape of the operation button, and the like can be used to reliably determine the remote controller.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned examples, and it goes without saying that various other configurations can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, the inspection program stored in the memory of the personal computer is selected according to the type of the remote controller, and the remote controller to be inspected is held in the remote controller holding section of the remote controller inspection cradle. The remote control signal output when the operation button of the remote control is operated is received by the remote control signal reception unit, and the remote control signal received by this remote control signal reception unit is used to inspect according to the selected inspection program using a personal computer. Therefore, various remote controls can be inspected with high accuracy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an embodiment of a remote control inspection device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an embodiment of a cradle for remote control inspection of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example in which the remote controller of FIG. 2 is held.

4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG.

5 is a partial schematic configuration diagram of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view showing an example of a remote controller.

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view showing a state in which the battery case cover of the remote controller is removed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen of a display.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another example of the embodiment of the remote control inspection cradle of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing another example of the embodiment of the remote control inspection cradle of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart for explaining the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... remote control inspection cradle, 2 display, 3 personal computer, 4 remote control, 10 remote control holding section, 11 power supply section, 12 remote control signal receiving section, 13 ND filter

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 17/00 H04N 17/00 Z (72) Inventor Jaime Maeda Avenida, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil Itauba No. 3667 Sony Da Amazonia Limited (72) Inventor Cezar Peris Brazil Manaus, State of Amazonas, Brazil Manus City Avenida Itauba No. 3667 Sony Da Amazonia Limited (72) Inventor Ajemuson Pimenteo Brazil Republic Manaus, State of Amazonas Avenida Itauba No. 3667 Sony da Amazonia Limiteda (72) Inventor Marcos Mascher Brazil Republic of Amazonas State of Amazonas Usb City Avenida Itauba No. 3667 Sony da Amazonia Limiteda (72) Inventor Fabio Cardosozo Mana, Brazil Amazona City Avenida Itauba No. 3667 Sony da Amazonia Limiteda (72) Inventor Marcelo Gomez Brazil State of Amazonas mana wusu Avenida Itauba 3667 number Sony da Amazonia Ltda in the F-term (reference) 2G036 AA19 AA27 BA14 BA46 CA07 CA08 CA09 5C056 BA00 BA10 CA01 DA08 EA02 EA05 EA09 EA12 EA17 EA20 KA05 5C061 BB01 CC09 5K048 AA05 AA11 BA01 BA02 DB04 EB02 EB10 FB05 FB09 FB10 FC01 GB01 HA07 HA12 HA20 HA22 HA23

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A remote control inspection cradle used to inspect a remote control, the remote control holding section holding the remote control to be inspected, and a power supply for supplying power to the remote control held in the remote control holding section. A remote control inspection cradle, comprising: a remote control signal receiving section for receiving a remote control signal output when an operation button of the remote control held in the remote control holding section is operated. 2. The cradle for remote control inspection according to claim 1, wherein the remote control is an infrared remote control that outputs an infrared remote control signal, and the remote control signal receiving section is configured to receive the infrared remote control signal. The infrared remote control signal having a decoder and an output level detection unit, the infrared remote control signal received by the remote control signal reception unit is decoded by the decoder and converted into a predetermined signal format, and the infrared remote control signal is output by the output level detection unit. A cradle for remote control inspection, which is configured to measure the output level of. 3. The cradle for remote control inspection according to claim 2, wherein a neutral density filter for reducing the light quantity of the infrared remote control signal is provided between the remote control held by the remote control holding section and the remote control signal receiving section. Cradle for remote control inspection characterized by. 4. The remote control inspection cradle according to claim 1, wherein the power supply unit has a first position for supplying power to the remote controller held by the remote controller holding unit and a second position for not supplying power. A cradle for remote control inspection, which is configured to be movable, and is configured to automatically move to the first position when starting remote control inspection. 5. A remote control inspection device having a remote control inspection cradle, a display for displaying the inspection status, and a personal computer for controlling the remote control inspection, wherein the remote control inspection cradle holds a remote control to be inspected. A power supply unit for supplying power to the remote control held in the remote control holding unit, and a remote control signal reception for receiving a remote control signal output when an operation button of the remote control held in the remote control holding unit is operated. And a remote control inspection device. 6. The remote control inspection device according to claim 5, wherein the remote control is an infrared remote control that outputs an infrared remote control signal, and the remote control signal receiving section is configured to receive the infrared remote control signal, and further a decoder. And an output level detection unit, the infrared remote control signal received by the remote control signal reception unit is decoded by the decoder and converted into a predetermined signal format,
The remote control inspection device is configured to measure the output level of the infrared remote control signal by the output level detection unit. 7. The remote control inspection device according to claim 6, further comprising a neutral density filter provided between the remote controller held in the remote controller holding section and the remote control signal receiving section to reduce a light amount of the infrared remote control signal. Characteristic remote control inspection device. 8. The remote control inspection device according to claim 5, wherein the power supply unit has a first position for supplying power to the remote controller held by the remote controller holding unit and a second position for not supplying power. Is configured to be movable, and is configured to automatically move to the first position when a remote control inspection is started. 9. The remote control inspection apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the personal computer stores a predetermined inspection program for inspecting a predetermined remote controller, and the predetermined remote controller executes the predetermined inspection program according to the predetermined inspection program. In the inspection, the remote controller inspection device is characterized in that the operation button array of the predetermined remote controller is displayed on the display. 10. The remote control inspection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, according to the predetermined inspection program, when the operation buttons of the remote controller are sequentially operated in the inspection of the predetermined remote controller, which operation button has already been operated. A remote control inspection device, characterized in that it is configured to display whether or not the display has been performed. 11. The remote control inspection device according to claim 5, wherein the personal computer is configured to be able to input an operation button array of a new remote controller, and when the operation button array is input, it is displayed on the display. The remote control inspection device is characterized in that each prepared operation button is arranged on the display by a predetermined method. 12. The remote control inspection device according to claim 5, wherein the remote control inspection cradle is provided with a camera, and the remote control held in the remote control holding unit is configured to be photographed. Inspection device. 13. The remote control inspection device according to claim 12, wherein a model of the remote controller is limited by an image of the remote controller taken by the camera, and a plurality of pre-stored inspection programs are changed to a limited model. A remote control inspection device, characterized in that a corresponding inspection program is selected and displayed on the display for inspection. 14. The remote control inspection device according to claim 12, wherein a new operation button array of the remote controller can be input by an image of the operation button of the remote controller taken by the camera. Remote control inspection device. 15. The remote control inspection apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the remote control inspection cradle is provided with illumination, and the illumination illuminates an operation button of the remote control from diagonally above to produce a shadow on the operation button of the remote control. A remote control inspection device configured as described above.