JP2003151248A - Portable audio playback unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a portable audio playback unit having a remote controller or the button switch of the main body of the playback unit which can easily control various kinds of operations by one button switch. SOLUTION: The portable audio playback unit is provided with a remote controller 1 which consists of one button switch So and with the main body 10 of the playback unit connected with the power source Vcc line 3, the signal line 5 and the ground line 4 of the remote controller 1 and having, a microcomputer 9 for control and a button switch SW. A predetermined operation command signal P is transmitted to input terminals IN or KEYIN of the microcomputer 9 for control of the main body 10 of the playback unit by the pushing operation of the button switch So of the remote control 1 or the button switch SW of the main body 10 of the playback unit. The microcomputer 9 for control is provided with a means to discriminate command signals P for a plurality of different operations determined according to the number of times (the number of L times) of continuous depression of once or more and the length of time (L time) of the last depression of the button switch SW or of the button switch So of the remote control 1, and a means to control the operation of the main body 10 of the playback unit by the discriminated operation command signals P.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a cassette tape,
The present invention relates to the technical field of a portable audio reproducing device for reproducing music data recorded on a recording medium such as a CD (compact disc), an MD (mini disc), and a memory card, and particularly to an operation control means of the portable audio reproducing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A portable audio device (including a recording / reproducing device) for reproducing a recording medium such as a cassette tape on which music data is recorded, a CD, an MD, a memory card or the like is usually controlled by the reproducing device itself. A button switch is provided, and a wired or wireless remote control device (abbreviated as a remote control hereinafter) is attached to headphones or earphones. By pressing, a predetermined operation command signal is transmitted to the control microcomputer of the reproducing apparatus main body, and the control microcomputer controls the operation of the reproducing apparatus main body by this operation command signal.

The remote controller has a display screen such as a liquid crystal display and a plurality of button switches such as a power button, a volume button, a sound quality selection button, a fast forward / fast rewind button, a play / stop button, and the like. A remote controller with a display is generally provided with a microcomputer for transmitting a predetermined operation command signal to a computer and receiving display data from the control microcomputer to display it on a display screen.

[0004]

A remote controller having a display screen such as a liquid crystal display and a large number of button switches as described above is too large for some users to carry around. Not a few people have only the device body and earphones to enjoy it. However, there was a desire for a remote controller that was small enough to be portable and had excellent operability.

In this respect, even if the remote controller is composed of simple button switches without the display screen and the microcomputer, various operations can be performed if the number of button switches remains large as in the prior art, but the operability of the remote controller is increased. It cannot be said that it is insufficient for improvement and miniaturization.

For example, the wired remote controller shown in FIG. 7 is an AD of a microcomputer for controlling the reproducing apparatus main body.
(Analog to digital) This is a form using an input terminal, and when the user presses any one of the five button switches S1 to S5 connected in parallel between each connection point of the series-connected resistors R1 to R5 and the ground, the button is pressed. A voltage corresponding to the button switch is generated, and the control microcomputer reads the voltage value as an operation command signal at its AD input terminal to cause the reproducing apparatus to perform a predetermined operation.

However, the above-mentioned embodiment requires five button switches S1 to S5 to perform the five kinds of operations, which is not preferable from the viewpoint of downsizing and operability of the remote controller.

It is also conceivable that the remote controller is configured as a one-button switch and various operations are performed by an operation command signal determined by the number of times the button is pressed, but this mode contributes to downsizing of the remote controller, but the number of times the button is pressed. If there are too many, the operation becomes rather cumbersome, and the kind of operation is naturally limited.

On the other hand, if the number of button switches arranged on the main body of the reproducing apparatus is large, the mounting area is large, which is an obstacle to downsizing as a portable device.

The present invention has been made in view of improvement in operability and miniaturization of a remote controller in the above-mentioned conventional portable audio reproducing apparatus and miniaturization of the reproducing apparatus main body, and various operation controls can be realized with a small number of button switches. A remote controller and a reproducing apparatus main body are provided.

[0011]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides (1) a remote controller for transmitting a predetermined operation command signal to a control microcomputer 9 of a reproducing apparatus main body 10 by operating a button switch. In the portable audio reproducing apparatus having the above-mentioned No. 1, the control microcomputer 9 continuously presses the button switch S0 of the remote controller 1 one or more times (L times) and the length of the last pressing time (L time). ), A means for discriminating a plurality of different operation command signals P, and means for controlling the operation of the reproducing apparatus body 10 according to the discriminated operation command signals P. I will provide a. (2) In the portable audio player, the control microcomputer 9 sets the operation button switch SW to 1
The operation command signal is provided with a means for determining a plurality of different operation command signals P determined according to the number of times of continuous pressing (L times) and the length of last pressing time (L time). Provided is a portable audio reproducing apparatus characterized by including means for controlling the operation by P.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a portable audio reproducing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a wired remote controller including a reproducing apparatus main body and a 1-button switch in a portable audio reproducing apparatus according to the present invention (all driving / reproducing system circuits other than a control microcomputer are omitted). ).

2 to 5 are a series of flow charts showing the operation of the one-button switch of the wired remote controller according to the present invention and the operation control of the reproducing apparatus by the control microcomputer.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of the operation command signal of the wired remote controller and the time determination process of the control microcomputer.

The portable audio reproducing apparatus of the present invention comprises a wired remote controller 1 consisting of a simple button switch S0 as shown in FIG. 1 and its power source Vcc.
The line 3, the signal line 5, and the ground line 4 are connected, and a control microcomputer (system controller) 9
And a playback device body 10 including a button switch SW,
Based on the circuit configuration consisting of, a predetermined operation command signal P is pressed by the button switch S0 of the wired remote controller 1 or the button switch SW of the reproducing apparatus body 10.
Is transmitted to the input terminal IN or KEYIN of the control microcomputer 9 of the reproduction apparatus body 10. Then, the control microcomputer 9 determines the number of times (L times) the button switch SW or the button switch S0 of the wired remote controller 1 is continuously pressed once or more and the length of the last pressing time (L time). A means for discriminating a plurality of different operation command signals P to be determined by a programmed timer counter and a comparison / determination circuit is provided, and the reproduction apparatus main body 10 is reproduced, stopped, and powered on / off by the operation command signals P thus determined.
It is provided with the same means (circuit omitted) as the conventional one for controlling the operation such as OFF and skip.

Since the wired remote controller 1 is constructed on the basis of S01 button switches, downsizing can be realized despite various operation controls, and buttons for operation control provided in the reproducing apparatus main body 10. Switch S
Since there is only one W, the number of button switches can be drastically reduced, and the substrate area of the reproducing device body 10 and the number of parts can be reduced.

Hereinafter, the button switch SW or the button switch S0 of the wired remote controller 1 which is the gist of the present invention.
The control microcomputer 9 discriminates a plurality of different operation command signals P by the operation of the reproducing apparatus main body 1
2 to 5 for the means or method for controlling the operation of 0.
A specific description will be given based on a series of flowcharts of FIG. 6 and an example of the operation command signal and the time determination process of FIG. It should be noted that the button switch SW or the button switch S0 of the wired remote controller 1 is assumed to generate all the operation command signals P by one to five pressing operations. The operation by the wired remote controller 1 will be described below.

First, in FIG. 2, (a) when the power of the reproducing apparatus main body is turned on, the control by the wired remote controller 1 becomes possible, the flow starts, and the number of times the button switch S0 of the wired remote controller 1 is pressed, That is, the button switch S0 resets the counter that counts the number of times the voltage of the input terminal IN of the control microcomputer 9 changes from H to L (L times) to 0.

(B) If the input terminal IN = L is judged to be Y (yes), if the L time satisfies> t0, 1 is added to the counter for the L number of times. On the other hand, when L time ≤t0, N
If it is (no), this L signal is judged to be noise and returns to (a). Note that t0 is a value appropriate for distinguishing the operation command signal P and noise, and is set to approximately several milliseconds.

Next, (c) the state of the input terminal IN = L is t
It is determined whether or not 1 is exceeded, and if L time <t1 is not exceeded, it is determined that this button press is a short press and the process returns to (B). If L time> t1, it is determined that this button press is a long press. T1 which is the criterion for short press and long press is approximately 1
Set to ~ 2 seconds.

Next, (d) if the count number of L times is checked and if L = 1, then the power is turned off when the reproducing apparatus is in the STOP state and returns to (A), and the reproducing apparatus is not in the STOP state. At the time (playback state, etc.), STOP and return to (A).

Further, in (b), the input terminal IN = L
If it is N (no), that is, H, then (e) in the flow of FIG.
If the time is exceeded, if it is determined to be Y, it is determined that the button switch operation of only the short press is completed at this point, and the operation control of the operation command corresponding to each is checked by checking the count number of L times. I do. In FIG. 3, L = 1
If it is PLAY at that time, it will be in PAUSE state,
If it is not in the PLAY state, the PLAY state is set and the process returns to (A). If L = 2 times, move to the beginning of the next song (F.SKI
P). If L = 3 times, return to the beginning of the currently reproduced song (R.
SKIP). If L = 4 times, the volume is lowered by one level (VOL-). If L = 5 times, the volume is increased by 1 level (VOL +). After the above control, return to (a),
If the L number is other than the above, the process directly returns to (A).

Next, in (d) of FIG. 2, if the count number of L times is checked and it is not L = 1, (e) if the count number of L times is L = 2 in the flow of FIG. If F. SK
IP operation control is performed, and (f) F.F. Time that the input terminal IN = L continues from the time of SKIP processing (L time)
And L time> t2, the F. Return to the SKIP process. In this loop, if the last pressed button switch is kept pressed for a long time, the F.S.T. The SKIP process is repeated. When the button switch S0 is turned off, the process returns to (a).

Next, (g) the count number of L times is L = 3
If the number is R. After the SKIP process, the following (F)
Similarly, if the button switch that was pressed last is kept pressed for a long time, the R.V. The SKIP process is repeated.

Next, (h) the count number of L times is L = 4
If it is, the VOL- process is performed, and if the button switch S0 that was pressed last is held down as it is, the VOL- process is repeated one after another at a time interval of t2 (volume control). Gradually decreases).

Next, (i) the count number of L times is L = 5
If it is, the VOL + process is performed, and if the button switch S0 that was pressed last is held for a long time as in the case of (f), the VOL + process is repeated one after another at a time interval of t2 (the volume gradually increases). Go up).

As described above, the control microcomputer 9 controls the operation of the reproducing apparatus main body 10 depending on the number of times the button switch S0 is pressed. When the count number of L times is L = 2 to 5 times, If the last pressed time is longer than a certain time t2 (generally 0.5 to 1 second), the corresponding operation is first performed once, and the button switch S0 is continuously pressed. In this case, the corresponding operation is performed once every fixed time t2.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the determination in the case where the operation command signal P is L = 2 times and is pressed for a long time. In the figure, P1 is a noise pulse of several milliseconds or less, and is removed from the count of L times from L time <t0 at the determination time t0 shorter than the time (several hundreds of milliseconds) required for a short press by the person, and the pulse P2 Is determined to be a short press by the determination of t0 <L time <t1, and the number of L times is incremented by 1, and the pulse P3 is L time>
At time t0, the number of times L is incremented by 1, and further, t1 <L
It is confirmed from the time judgment that the button has been pressed for a long time, and the number of times of L = 2 times. SK
IP operation control is performed once. Then, since the L time after the long press is confirmed is L time> t2, the F. SKIP
And then L time> t2, so once F.S. S
We are doing KIP. Further, the L time from then is reset because L time <t2.

In order to make it easy for the operator to understand the operation of the button switch S0, it is preferable that the wired remote controller 1 light up the light emitting diode 2 each time the button is pressed or make a beeping sound in the earphone. .

In addition, as a reminder, the portable audio reproducing apparatus of the present invention can be implemented by a wireless remote controller in addition to the operation control of the reproducing apparatus main body 10 using the wired remote controller 1 as in the above embodiment. Of course, it is within the range of the present invention.

That is, the wireless remote controller in the conventional portable audio reproducing apparatus using weak FM radio waves has the one-button switch configuration as described above, and the signal of the button switch is input to the microcomputer incorporated in the wireless remote controller to obtain the signal shown in FIG. ~ After generating a plurality of different operation command signals determined by the same flow chart as in Fig. 5, FM-modulated and transmitted, the FM reception circuit of the playback apparatus main body receives, detects, demodulates and extracts the operation command signal. Input to the control microcomputer. In the case of a wireless remote controller, a battery, an oscillation circuit, a microcomputer, etc. must be built in the remote controller itself, so that a one-button switch is required for further miniaturization, and the present invention responds to this. There is no doubt that it will be.

[0033]

Since the portable audio reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is constructed as described above, (1) a plurality of portable audio reproducing apparatuses are selected according to the number of times one button switch is pressed and the length of the last pressing time. It is possible to provide different operation command signals, and it is possible to provide a small remote controller that allows the operator to easily control the operation of the reproducing apparatus main body. (2) It is possible to reduce the number of button switches in the main body of the reproducing apparatus to reduce the board area and the number of parts.

[0034]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a wired remote controller including a playback device main body and a 1-button switch in a portable audio playback device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a part of a flowchart of operation control of a reproducing apparatus by a one-button switch operation and a control microcomputer of the wired remote controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a part of a flowchart of operation control of the playback device.

FIG. 4 is a part of a flowchart of operation control of the playback device.

FIG. 5 is a part of a flowchart of operation control of the playback device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation command signal of a wired remote controller and a time determination process of a control microcomputer.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of a wired remote controller of a conventional portable audio reproducing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 wired remote control 2 Light emitting diode 3 power supply Vcc line 4 ground lines 5 signal lines 9 Control microcomputer 10 Playback device body S0 button switch S1-S5 button switch SW (on playback device) button switch IN, KEYIN input terminal P operation command signal F. SKIP Next song cue operation R. SKIP Cue operation of the currently playing song VOL + Volume 1 level up operation VOL- Volume 1 level down operation t0 Short press judgment time t1 Long press judgment time t2 Repetitive operation determination time

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A portable audio reproducing apparatus comprising a remote controller for transmitting a predetermined operation command signal to a controlling microcomputer of a reproducing apparatus main body by a button switch operation, wherein the controlling microcomputer operates the button switch of the remote controller by one.
Means for discriminating a plurality of different operation command signals that are determined according to the number of times the button is continuously pressed more than once and the length of the last pressing time, and means for controlling the operation of the reproducing apparatus main body based on the discriminated operation command signal A portable audio reproducing apparatus comprising: 2. In a portable audio reproducing apparatus, a control microcomputer discriminates a plurality of different operation command signals that are determined according to the number of times the operation button switch is continuously pressed once or more and the length of the last pressing time. And a means for controlling the operation according to the determined operation command signal.