JP2005167562A - Remote control device with television function - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote control device enabling a user to continue to watch television even when a mode is switched from a television mode to a remote control mode. <P>SOLUTION: When the mode is switched from the television mode to the remote control mode, a television image is allowed to pass through the background 7 and is continuously displayed on a portion where background 7 is displayed while setting items 6 are displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention includes a liquid crystal display unit, displays a control item related to operation control of the device on the liquid crystal display unit, and controls a remote control mode for controlling the operation of the device, and a television mode for displaying a television image on the liquid crystal display unit. The present invention relates to a remote control device with a television function that can be switched freely.

  In the remote control device, values for various control items are set or changed when the operation of the device is controlled. A display unit is provided in order to confirm the value set for each control item during or after the setting and changing. Conventionally, this display unit has been able to perform only limited display such as display non-display of preset marks and display using a 7-segment display means.

  On the other hand, in recent years, there has been provided a remote control device in which a liquid crystal display unit is provided in a remote control device and control items and setting contents for various control items can be freely displayed. Also, since setting operations and changing operations for various control items are not always performed, a TV image is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit in a state where setting operations and changing operations for control items are not performed. A remote control device with a TV function has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the conventional remote control device with a TV function, it is possible to switch between a remote control mode that functions as a remote control and a television mode that functions as a television receiver. That is, when functioning as a remote control, the mode is switched to the remote control mode. Then, various control items are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit. The user selects a desired item from among the control items, and sets a setting value for the selected control item, or changes a setting value that has already been set.

When the setting value setting operation or changing operation for the control item is completed, the mode is switched to the TV mode. Then, the image displayed on the liquid crystal display unit is switched to a television image. When it is desired to function as a remote control again while the remote control device is operating in the television mode, the television mode may be switched to the remote control mode.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-17289

  In the conventional remote control device with a TV function, when the TV image is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit in the TV mode, the display content of the liquid crystal display unit is completely switched from the TV image to the control item. You will not be able to continue watching the images. If you finish setting work for control items and return to TV mode from the remote control mode, you can watch the TV screen again, but you cannot watch the contents of the TV image while it was switched to the remote control mode. Therefore, in particular, when watching a drama or the like, there is a problem that the story cannot be understood.

  In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a remote control device with a TV function that can continue to watch TV images even when the TV mode is switched to the remote control mode.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a remote control device with a television function according to the present invention includes a liquid crystal display unit, displays a control item related to device operation control on the liquid crystal display unit, and controls the operation of the device. In a remote control device with a TV function that can be switched between a TV mode for displaying a TV image on the liquid crystal display unit, when the TV mode is switched to the remote control mode, the background of the screen on which the control items are displayed is transmitted, It is characterized by continuously displaying TV images.

  The control items are not displayed so as to cover the entire screen of the liquid crystal display unit, but are displayed at intervals. The portion where the control item is not displayed is usually displayed as an opaque background in a color or pattern that does not impair the visibility of the control item. When this background is transmitted, a television image can be displayed on the background portion. For the part where the control item is displayed, the television image of the background part can be seen although the television image cannot be seen. For example, the problem that the story of the drama cannot be understood even in the remote control mode can be solved.

  By the way, when the television mode is not temporarily switched to the remote control mode but is switched to the remote control mode when the television mode is not activated, it is not necessary to transmit the background in the remote control mode. Therefore, in such a case, the background in the remote control mode is semi-transparent or opaque and can be arbitrarily selected from a plurality of types of backgrounds of a plurality of colors or patterns so that the user can change them. The design may be changed to a display screen that suits the taste.

  In addition to the background, the display design of the control items may be arbitrarily selected from a plurality of types of display designs and changed.

  As is clear from the above description, the present invention can continue to watch TV images that have been viewed until now even when switching to the remote control mode. Watching TV images is not interrupted, and there is no problem that the story cannot be understood.

  Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a bath remote controller installed in a bathroom, which is connected via a communication line 11 to a hot water supply device 2 that controls the operation. Reference numeral 3 denotes a kitchen remote controller installed in the kitchen, which is also connected to the communication line 11 and can control the operation of the hot water supply apparatus 2.

  The bath remote controller 1 is provided with a large liquid crystal display unit 4, and control items relating to operation control of the hot water supply device 2 are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 4. Further, the bath remote controller 1 has a television function, and a television image is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 4.

  Referring to FIG. 2, to activate the television function, the television-side power switch 12 is pushed. Then, the operating state of the bath remote controller 1 is set to the television mode, a television image is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 4, and television sound is produced from the pair of speakers 5. The volume of the television sound generated from the speaker 5 can be adjusted by operating the volume switch 51. Further, the channel can be changed by operating the channel switch 41.

  On the other hand, when the power switch 13 on the remote control side is pressed and operated, the bath remote control 1 enters the remote control mode, and the liquid crystal display unit 4 displays various control items as shown in the figure. Then, the cross switch 14 located at the center is operated to select a predetermined control item, and the operation of the hot water supply device 2 is controlled. These controls are performed by a microcomputer built in the bath remote controller 1 (not shown).

  The liquid crystal display unit 4 shown in FIG. 2 shows a state in which the power switch 13 on the remote controller is turned on with the power switch 12 on the television set turned off, and the operation mode of the bath remote controller is set to the remote control mode. That is, various control items 6 are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 4 on the background 7 with a constant interval.

  When the power switch 12 on the television side is turned on in this state, the operation mode of the bath remote controller 1 is switched to the television mode, and a television image is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 4. In this state, when the power switch 13 on the remote controller is pressed again, the operation mode of the bath remote controller 1 is switched again to the remote controller mode. However, the television mode continues at that time, and as shown in FIG. 3, the portion of the background 7 is transmitted and the television image is continuously displayed.

  For this reason, the television image continues to be displayed in the background portion 7 while each setting item 6 is selected and various setting operations are performed. When various setting operations are completed and the power switch 12 on the television side is pushed, the operation mode of the bath remote controller 1 returns to the television mode. At this time, the various setting items 6 disappear from the liquid crystal display unit 4, and only the television image is continuously displayed.

  When the remote control mode is selected while the TV mode is stopped, the background 7 does not need to be transmitted and the TV image need not be displayed. Therefore, any color may be selected according to the user's preference. Alternatively, an image may be displayed.

  Further, the setting item 6 may be designed to be changeable as shown in FIG. That is, the mark 61 may be displayed on the side of the setting item 6, and a plurality of frame lines and the mark 61 of the setting item 6 prepared in advance and stored in the storage means in the bath remote controller It may be possible to select and change any item.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to an above-described form, You may add a various change in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

The figure which shows the structure of one embodiment of this invention Diagram showing details of bath remote control The figure which shows the other state of a chanting display part Diagram showing control item design

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bath remote control 2 Hot-water supply apparatus 4 Liquid crystal display part 5 Speaker 6 Setting item 7 Background 11 Communication line 12 Power switch 13 Power switch 61 Mark

Claims (3)

  A liquid crystal display unit is provided, and control items related to device operation control are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit, and a remote control mode for controlling the operation of the device and a television mode for displaying a television image on the liquid crystal display unit can be switched. In a remote control device with a TV function, when the TV mode is switched to the remote control mode, the background of the screen on which the control items are displayed is transmitted, and the TV image is continuously displayed. Remote control device with function.   2. The remote control device with a television function according to claim 1, wherein the background in the remote control mode is translucent or opaque and can be arbitrarily selected from a plurality of types of backgrounds of a plurality of colors or patterns. 3. The remote control device with a television function according to claim 1, wherein the display design of the control items can be arbitrarily selected from a plurality of types of display designs and can be changed.

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