JP2005150988A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of a television receiver that when a televiewer wants to check the channel number of a program which is currently televiewed, the televiewer must display the channel number on the screen of the television receiver by operating a screen display button provided in a remote controller each time when the channel number is checked. <P>SOLUTION: A light emitting element is incorporated in a channel select button and when a channel is selected, light is emitted from that light emitting element and light emitting state is sustained until next channel is selected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control device for remotely operating electronic equipment, and more particularly to a remote control device suitable for remote operation of home AV (audio / video) equipment.

  In recent television receivers, a television receiver main body (that is, a frame) that does not have a function of displaying a channel is mainly used due to a design problem. Instead, it is equipped with a function to display the channel number currently being viewed in one corner on the screen by an operation from an attached remote control device (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller).

  This will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 7 is an external view of the remote controller. In the figure, 1 is a channel selection button group, 2 is a screen display button, 3 is a power on / off button, 4 is a channel up / down button, and 5 is a volume up / down button. FIG. 8 is an external view showing a state of screen display of the television receiver. In the figure, 6 is a display screen, and 7 is a channel number displayed on the screen.
Here, when a channel is selected by operating the channel selection button group 1 or the channel up / down button 4 with the remote controller of FIG. 7, the channel number of the selected channel as shown in FIG. ) Is displayed at one corner of the screen (upper right in the figure). Then, when a certain time (usually several seconds) elapses, the channel display automatically disappears, and only the program content is displayed on the display screen 6 as shown in FIG.
Japanese Utility Model Publication 1-139680 JP-A-4-051683

  In such a television receiver, when it is desired to confirm the channel number of the program that the viewer is currently viewing, the screen display button 2 provided on the remote control in FIG. 7 is pressed. With this operation, the channel number of the program currently being viewed is displayed on the screen of the television receiver as shown in FIG.

  As described above, in the conventional television receiver, when the viewer wants to check the channel number of the program that the viewer is currently viewing, the screen display button provided on the remote control is operated each time, and the screen of the television receiver is displayed. The channel number must be displayed above. There is a problem that such an operation is sometimes very troublesome for the viewer, and a method for confirming the channel number of the program currently being viewed more easily and quickly is desired.

  In the above description, the television receiver has been described as an example. However, the same problem occurs in an electronic device (for example, a VTR, a personal computer, etc.) equipped with a television receiving tuner.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has taken the following measures.

  That is, the remote control device of the present invention is a remote control device having a plurality of operation buttons, and is expressed in each of the plurality of operation buttons in conjunction with the operation, and is expressed until another operation button is operated. The present invention is characterized in that an identification means for visually distinguishing the last operated button from the other buttons is provided.

  The remote control device of the present invention is a remote control device having at least a plurality of channel selection buttons, each of the plurality of channel selection buttons appearing in conjunction with an operation, and other operation buttons are operated. An expression means is provided until the expression state is maintained until the last operated channel selection button is visually distinguished from other channel selection buttons.

  Also, the remote control device of the present invention is a remote control device having at least a plurality of channel selection buttons, wherein the light emitting elements provided in each of the plurality of channel selection buttons and the respective channel selection buttons are operated. Control means for causing the light emitting element corresponding to the case to emit light to emit light, and then causing the corresponding light emitting element to emit light when the other channel selection button is operated, and to turn off the previously emitted light emitting element. The light emitting state of the light emitting element is held until another channel selection button is operated.

  Further, the remote control device of the present invention is a remote control device having at least a plurality of channel selection buttons, wherein a multicolor light emitting element provided in each of the plurality of channel selection buttons, and the respective channel selection buttons. The light emitting element corresponding to the operation is caused to emit light in the first light emission color, and then the light emitting element corresponding to the case where the other channel selection button is operated is caused to emit light in the first light emission color and light is emitted first. Control means for switching the light emission color of the light emitting element to the second light emission color, and holding the light emission state of the light emitting element until another channel selection button is operated. .

  The remote control device of the present invention is a remote control device in which at least a plurality of channel selection buttons are provided on a liquid crystal display element, and the liquid crystal of the operated button when each of the channel selection buttons is operated. When the display black / white is reversed and then another channel selection button is operated, the liquid crystal display black / white of the operated button is reversed and the liquid crystal display of the channel selection button that has previously reversed black / white is used as the basis. And a control means for returning, which holds the liquid crystal display in a black and white inverted state until another channel selection button is operated.

  The remote control device of the present invention further includes a remote control having a plurality of direct selection type channel selection means for directly selecting a desired channel and a sequential selection type channel selection means for sequentially selecting a channel adjacent to the current channel. A light emitting element provided in each of the plurality of channel selection buttons, and the corresponding light emitting element when the channel selection button is operated, and then the other channel selection buttons are operated. In the case where the light emitting element corresponding to the light is emitted and the light emitting element previously emitted is turned off, and the sequential selection type channel selection means is operated, the direct selection type channel is interlocked with the operation. The light emitting element provided on each channel selection button of the selection means is turned on or off. Anda control unit configured to, it is characterized in that the hold up another channel selection button or sequential selection formula channel selection means the light emitting state of the light emitting element is operated.

  The remote control device of the present invention is a remote control device having at least a plurality of channel number input buttons, comprising display means, and displaying the channel number input by the channel number input means on the display means. The display state is held until the next channel number is input.

  Here, a memory for storing the history of the channel number input by the channel number input button may be provided, and the history of the channel number stored in the memory may be displayed on the display means.

  Furthermore, the remote control device of the present invention comprises a power operation button for controlling power on / off of the controlled device, and the light emitting element that emits light when the controlled device is powered off by the power operation button. Is preferably turned off.

  Alternatively, when the controlled device is turned off with the power operation button, the display on the display means is preferably deleted.

  According to the present invention, there is no need to perform a special operation for confirming the channel number of a program that is currently being viewed, and this has the effect of improving the operability and convenience of the viewer.

  FIG. 1 shows a remote controller according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Constituent elements similar to those in FIG.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a channel selection button group in which a light emitting element is incorporated in each button, and reference numeral 10 denotes a channel selection button in a state in which the incorporated light emitting element emits light.

  In the same figure, when any one of the channel selection buttons 11 of the channel selection button group 11 is pressed by the operation of the viewer, the remote control transmits a channel selection signal to the television receiver and is incorporated in the pressed button. The light emitting element emits light.

  This is shown in FIG. In FIG. 9A, the button pressed for channel selection is “1”, and the light emitting element built in the button “1” emits light. In addition, LED, EL, etc. are applicable as a light emitting element. This light emission state is maintained until any one of the channel selection buttons in the channel selection button group 11 is pressed next time.

  Next, a state where the channel tuning operation is performed is shown in FIG. The channel currently being viewed is “1” ((a) in the figure), and when the channel selection button “6” is pressed from this state, the channel that has been emitting until then is selected as shown in FIG. The light emitting element of the button “1” is turned off, and the light emitting element incorporated in the newly selected channel selection button “6” is turned on instead. This light emission state is maintained until one of the channel selection buttons in the channel selection button group 11 is further pressed.

  According to the configuration of the first embodiment, the channel selection button (that is, the channel number of the currently viewed program) in the channel selection button group 11 that is last operated continues to emit light. With this configuration, when the viewer wants to check the channel number of the program that the viewer is currently viewing, it is only necessary to check the button that is emitting light with the remote control. No need to press a display button).

  In the above-described first embodiment, the configuration in which the light emitting element is built in the channel selection button has been described. However, the configuration is naturally not limited to such a configuration.

  That is, the effect of the present invention can be achieved if the channel selection button operated last can be visually distinguished from other channel selection buttons. For this reason, for example, the channel selection button may be a push-button type so that the channel selection button operated last is pushed. According to this configuration, there is an effect that power consumption can be reduced as compared with the case where a light emitting element is provided.

  Alternatively, the channel selection button group 11 may be realized by a liquid crystal display element so that the monochrome of the channel selection button operated last is reversed. This is shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 20 denotes a channel selection button group realized by a liquid crystal display element. In this example, the last-selected channel selection button that has been reversed in black and white is “6”. According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce power consumption compared to a configuration in which a light emitting element is provided, and further, there is no need for a mechanical structure such as a configuration in which a channel selection button is a push button type, and there is an effect of excellent durability. is there.

  Channel selection means by the remote control includes selection by a channel selection button group and selection by a channel up / down button. Depending on the remote control, only one of the channel selection button group and the channel up / down button is mounted. Although there are some, it is the mainstream to provide both selection means.

  In FIG. 1, the channel selection button group 11 and the channel up / down button 4 are also provided.

  According to this configuration, when a channel selection operation is performed using the channel selection button group 11 as in the first embodiment and then a channel selection operation is performed using the channel up / down button 4, the currently selected channel number and the channel selection button group are selected. 11 has a problem that the correspondence with the channel selection button emitting light is broken.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, the channel selection button group 11 and the channel up / down button 4 are synchronized with each other.

  That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 1A, if the currently selected channel selection button that is emitting light is “1” and the channel up / down button 4 is used to sequentially increase the channel from this state, the light emission occurs. The corresponding channel selection button also emits light following “1”, “2”, “3”,. When the channel number “6” finally settles, the channel selection button “6” continues to emit light as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 shows a remote controller according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Constituent elements similar to those in FIGS. 1 and 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the first and second embodiments, the channel of the program that is currently being viewed can be identified by continuing to emit light, etc., from the channel selection button selected last. In the third embodiment, in addition to this, the channel selection button selected immediately before is also made to emit light. In this case, the channel selection button selected last and the channel selection button selected last are distinguished by changing the emission color. With such a configuration, it is possible to easily recognize a channel that has been viewed before when the channel is frequently changed.

  In FIG. 3, 30 is a previously selected channel selection button, and 31 is a channel selection button group in which a multicolor light emitting element is incorporated in each button. Here, the multicolor light emitting element can be realized by combining light emitting elements of a plurality of colors (for example, red, green, and blue) into one package.

  In this example, first, a state where the channel “1” is viewed in FIG. In this case, the channel selection button for channel “1” is emitting light (reference numeral 10 in FIG. 5A). The emission color in this state is, for example, “red”. Next, when channel “6” is selected from this state, the channel selection button of channel “6” emits light (reference numeral 10 in FIG. 5B). At this time, the channel selection button of channel “6” emits “red” light, and the emission color of the channel selection button of channel “1” changes from “red” to “blue”.

  When the third embodiment is realized by the channel selection button group 20 using the liquid crystal display element as shown in FIG. 2, it is sufficient to color the liquid crystal display element.

  FIG. 4 shows a remote controller according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Constituent elements similar to those in FIG.

  Recently, multi-channel broadcasting such as digital broadcasting has been started. The fourth embodiment relates to a remote controller in a form corresponding to such multi-channel broadcasting.

  In multi-channel broadcasting, since the number of channels is several hundred, the channel number is also multi-digit (3 to 4 digits). For this reason, the channel cannot be directly selected by the channel selection button. Therefore, in the case of a remote control in a form compatible with multi-channel broadcasting, a method is generally provided in which a numeric keypad is provided, a multi-digit channel number is input using the numeric keypad, and the input is confirmed with a determination button.

  In FIG. 4, reference numeral 40 is a numeric keypad for inputting a multi-digit channel number, 41 is an enter button for confirming the input, and 42 is a display means for displaying the input multi-digit channel number. As the display means, a liquid crystal display element, an EL display element or the like can be applied.

  In the fourth embodiment, when the viewer inputs a desired channel number with the ten key 40, the channel number is displayed on the display means 42 as needed. Then, by pressing the enter button 41, the channel number is confirmed, and at the same time, a channel selection signal is transmitted to the television receiver.

  Here, the channel number displayed on the display means 42 is retained thereafter, and the state displayed on the display means is maintained. With this configuration, if you want to check the channel number of the program that the viewer is currently watching, you can check the channel number displayed on the display of the remote control and perform special operations to check the channel number. (For example, pressing a screen display button) is not necessary.

  In the case of the configuration in which the channel up / down button 4 is provided, the channel number selected by the channel up / down button is displayed on the display means 42 as needed, and the display is maintained.

  FIG. 5 shows a remote controller according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Constituent elements similar to those in FIGS. 4 and 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the fourth embodiment, only the channel number currently being viewed is displayed on the display means 42. In the fifth embodiment, in addition to this, the history of channel numbers selected in the past is displayed in parallel with the display means. Is displayed. Displaying the channel number history in parallel on the display means can be realized by storing the channel number history in a memory.

  In FIG. 5, 50 is a history of the channel selected in the past displayed on the display means 42. In this example, channel number 120 is selected first, then channel number 361 is selected, then channel number 222 is selected, and finally channel number 101 is selected. With this configuration, it is possible to easily grasp a channel selected in the past.

  In the fifth embodiment, the past history has been described for three channels. Naturally, more past history may be stored in the memory as the history. In this case, it is conceivable that not all histories can be displayed on the display means 42, but in that case, it can be solved by taking means such as scrolling the display.

In Embodiments 1 to 5 described above, when the television receiver is turned off by operating the power on / off button 3 of the remote controller, the light emitting element of the remote controller is turned off in conjunction with this, and the liquid crystal display is turned off. It is desirable. Thereby, the power consumption of the remote control can be reduced.
The first to fifth embodiments of the present invention have been described above. FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of specific means for realizing the functions described in these embodiments.

  In FIG. 6, 60 is a control means, 61 is a channel selection button group, 62 is an individual channel selection button, 63 is a light emitting means for emitting an individual channel selection button, 64 is a channel up / down button, 65 is a display means, Reference numeral 66 denotes a memory. Here, a microcomputer or the like can be applied to the control means 60.

  When the channel selection button 62 is pressed, the information is input to the control means 60, and the control means 60 causes the light emitting means 63 corresponding to the selected channel selection button 62 to emit light. At the same time, the channel selection signal is transmitted to the television receiver via a decoder and transmission means (not shown). When the channel up / down button 64 is operated, the information is input to the control means 60, and the channel selection signal is controlled by this information and the light emission / extinction of the light emission means 63 is controlled.

Alternatively, the control unit 60 transmits a control signal for displaying the channel number to the display unit 65. In addition, the past channel selection history is recorded in the memory 66.
The first to fifth embodiments can be realized by using some or all of the components shown in FIG.

  The constituent elements of the first to fifth embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other as much as possible.

It is a 1st Example in the remote control apparatus concerning this invention. It is another form of the 1st Example in the remote control apparatus concerning this invention. It is a 3rd Example in the remote control apparatus concerning this invention. It is a 4th example in a remote control device concerning the present invention. It is a 5th Example in the remote control apparatus concerning this invention. It is a block diagram of the remote control apparatus concerning this invention. It is a conventional remote control device. It is the screen display form of the television receiver by the conventional remote control apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Channel selection button group 2 Screen display button 3 Power on / off button 4 Channel up / down button 5 Volume up / down button 6 Television receiver screen display 7 Channel number displayed on the television receiver screen 10 Selection Channel selection button 11 that emits light 11 Channel selection button group that incorporates light emitting elements 20 Channel selection button group that is realized by a liquid crystal display element 30 Channel selection button that was previously selected 31 Multicolor light emitting element is incorporated Channel selection button group 40 Numeric keypad 41 Enter button 42 Display means 50 History of previously selected channel number 60 Control means 61 Channel selection button group 62 Individual channel selection button 63 Light emitting means for emitting individual channel selection button 64 channels up Down button 65 display means 66 memory

Claims (10)

In a remote control device having a plurality of operation buttons,
Each of the plurality of operation buttons is expressed in conjunction with the operation, the expression state is maintained until another operation button is operated, and the identification means for visually identifying the last operated operation button from the other operation buttons A remote control device characterized by comprising: In a remote control device having at least a plurality of channel selection buttons,
Each of the plurality of channel selection buttons is expressed in conjunction with the operation, and the expression state is maintained until the other operation buttons are operated. The channel selection button operated last is visually distinguished from the other channel selection buttons. A remote control device characterized in that identification means is provided. In a remote control device having at least a plurality of channel selection buttons,
A light emitting element provided in each of the plurality of channel selection buttons;
The light emitting element corresponding to when each of the channel selection buttons is operated emits light, and then the light emitting element corresponding to when the other channel selection button is operated is caused to emit light, and the light emitting element that previously emitted light Control means for turning off
The remote control device is characterized in that the light emitting state of the light emitting element is held until another channel selection button is operated. In a remote control device having at least a plurality of channel selection buttons,
A multicolor light emitting element provided in each of the plurality of channel selection buttons;
The light emitting element corresponding to when each of the channel selection buttons is operated emits light in the first light emission color, and then the light emitting element corresponding to when the other channel selection button is operated is set to the first light emission color. And a control means for switching the light emission color of the light emitting element that previously emitted light to the second light emission color.
The remote control device is characterized in that the light emitting state of the light emitting element is held until another channel selection button is operated. In a remote control device having at least a plurality of channel selection buttons on a liquid crystal display element,
When the respective channel selection buttons are operated, the black and white of the liquid crystal display of the operated buttons are reversed, and when the other channel selection buttons are operated, the black and white of the liquid crystal display of the operated buttons are reversed. And a control means for returning the liquid crystal display of the channel selection button which has previously reversed black and white,
A remote control device characterized in that the liquid crystal display is maintained in black and white inversion until another channel selection button is operated. In a remote control device having a plurality of direct selection type channel selection means for directly selecting a desired channel and sequential selection type channel selection means for sequentially selecting a channel adjacent to the current channel,
A light emitting element provided in each of the plurality of channel selection buttons;
The light emitting element corresponding to when each of the channel selection buttons is operated emits light, and then the light emitting element corresponding to when the other channel selection button is operated is caused to emit light, and the light emitting element that previously emitted light In addition, when the sequential selection type channel selection means is operated, the control to turn on or off the light emitting element provided in each channel selection button of the direct selection type channel selection means when the sequential selection type channel selection means is operated. Means,
The remote control device is characterized in that the light emission state of the light emitting element is held until another channel selection button or sequential selection type channel selection means is operated. In a remote control device having at least a plurality of channel number input buttons,
A remote control device comprising a display means, wherein the channel number input by the channel number input means is displayed on the display means, and the display state is maintained until the next channel number is input. The remote control device according to claim 7, wherein
A memory for storing a history of the channel number input by the channel number input button;
A remote control device for displaying a history of channel numbers stored in the memory on the display means. The remote control device according to claim 3, 4, or 6,
It has a power operation button to control the power on / off of the controlled device,
A remote control device characterized in that, when the controlled device is powered off with the power operation button, the light emitting element emitting light is turned off. The remote control device according to claim 7 or 8,
It has a power operation button to control the power on / off of the controlled device,
A remote control device, wherein when the controlled device is powered off by the power operation button, the display on the display means is erased.

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