JP2005323236A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that an infrared remote controller has a large number of keys and is made large in size since all functions are allocated to hardware keys as a home electric appliance becomes multifunctional and composite remote control for operating a plurality of devices is demanded. <P>SOLUTION: The remote controller is equipped with a display means, software keys which are put together by functions instead of hardware keys, and a pointing device, and functions which are low in use frequency are allocated to software keys to decrease the number of hardware keys. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control device for remotely operating a home appliance.

As a conventional remote control device, there is a device that performs two-way communication between a remote control and a device body to be controlled, and switches the mode of the remote control to minimize the number of keys of the remote control. For example, it is disclosed in Patent Document 1.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-257795

  In recent years, with the demand for a composite remote controller capable of operating a plurality of devices typified by home appliances and televisions and VTRs, conventional infrared remote control devices have led to an increase in the number of keys and an increase in the size of the remote control body. .

  In Patent Document 1, bidirectional communication is performed between a remote controller and a controlled device body to switch the mode of the remote controller, thereby minimizing the number of keys on the remote controller. However, in this configuration, since all functions are assigned to hardware keys unique to the remote control main body, there is a limit in reducing the number of keys. Furthermore, since a plurality of roles are assigned to one key, there is a problem that operation becomes complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a remote control device that can reduce the number of hardware keys, reduce the size of a remote control body, and simplify the operation.

  The remote control device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes an infrared irradiation unit, software keys classified by function, display means for displaying the software keys, and a pointing device for selecting the software keys.

  Further, the pointing device may be a pointing device.

  The remote control device according to the second invention of the present application includes an infrared irradiation unit, software keys classified by function, and a touch panel for displaying and selecting the software keys.

  In addition, the software key in the remote control device of the present invention is characterized in that the function is added or changed by downloading software.

  According to the present invention, by classifying remote control functions, assigning less frequently used functions to software keys and assigning only frequently used functions to hardware keys, the number of hardware keys can be reduced and the remote control body can be downsized. Is possible. In addition, since software keys with no key limit are used, it is not necessary to assign a plurality of functions to one key, and the operation can be simplified.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  101 is an infrared irradiation unit that transmits a remote control code, 102 is a display unit configured by, for example, liquid crystal for displaying a software key, and 103 is a pointing unit for selecting a software key displayed on the display unit 102 A device 104 is a hardware key group that is frequently used and assigns a minimum necessary key.

  Next, an example of software key assignment for the TV and VTR composite remote controller according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4. FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of software key arrangement of the remote control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 201 is a function page display, 202 is a transition key to another function page, 203 is a cursor for selecting a software key, and 204 is a space for assigning a software key having a function classified in the function page display 201. .

  The TV and VTR composite remote control functions include TV power ON / OFF, channel change, volume adjustment, initial setting, input switching, VTR power ON / OFF, tape operation, recording reservation, and the like. Of these, TV power ON / OFF and VTR power ON / OFF are assigned to the hardware key group 104, volume adjustment and channel UP / DOWN are assigned to pointing devices, and other functions are grouped for each function shown in FIG. Assign as a paged software key. This is shown in FIG.

  Next, the operation of the remote control device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described. The user operates the pointing device 103 and clicks a transition key 202 to another function page with the cursor 203 to shift to a function page containing a desired software key. Next, by clicking the software key displayed on the display means 102, the television or VTR is operated remotely.

  In this embodiment, a pointing device is used as the determining means. However, a trackball or a cross key may be used, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since functions that are not frequently used are assigned to software keys and hardware keys need not be assigned, the number of hardware keys can be reduced, and the size of the remote control body can be reduced. Become. In addition, since there is no limit on the number of keys in software keys, it is not necessary to assign a plurality of functions to one key, and only one function can be assigned to one key, so that the operation can be simplified. .

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a remote control device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the case of a composite remote control of TV and VTR, TV power ON / OFF and VTR power ON / OFF are assigned to hardware key groups, and all other functions are assigned to software keys.

  Regarding the operation of the remote control device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the user remotely operates the television or VTR by touching the software key on the touch panel.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since functions that are not frequently used are assigned to software keys and hardware keys need not be assigned, the number of hardware keys can be reduced, and the size of the remote control body can be reduced. Become. In addition, since there is no limit on the number of keys in software keys, it is not necessary to assign a plurality of functions to one key, and only one function can be assigned to one key, so that the operation can be simplified. . Furthermore, the operability can be further improved by using a touch panel instead of a pointing device.

(Embodiment 3)
Next, a remote control device according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  Reference numeral 601 denotes a memory card storing key information of the remote controller, and reference numeral 602 denotes a memory card insertion slot. By inserting the memory card 601 into the memory card 602 and rewriting the software key information, the hardware key and software key assignment and the transmission code are changed.

  The operation is the same as in the first or second embodiment, but as a modification example, a function is added from a TV-dedicated remote control to a TV and VTR combined remote control, and a manufacturer from a remote control for a company A to a remote control for a company B Changes, key arrangement changes, etc. are possible.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, a single remote controller can have a plurality of functions by rewriting key information. For manufacturers, various functions can be added simply by rewriting the software, so the remote control for all home appliances can be unified with a common remote control hardware, thus reducing costs.

  The remote control device of the present invention is useful as a remote control device for all household appliances because the number of hardware keys can be reduced, the remote control body can be downsized, and the operation can be simplified.

The figure which shows the structure of the remote control apparatus in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows software key allocation in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the function classification and icon arrangement | positioning of the software key in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the hardware key allocation and software key allocation in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the hardware key allocation and software key allocation in Embodiment 2 of this invention The figure which shows the remote control main body and memory card in Embodiment 3 of this invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Infrared irradiation part 102 Display means 103 Pointing device 104 Hardware key 201 Function classification display 202 Shift key to another function classification 203 Cursor 204 Soft key allocation space 501 Touch panel 601 Memory card 602 Memory card slot

Claims (4)

A remote control device comprising: an infrared irradiation unit; software keys classified for each function; display means for displaying the software keys; and a pointing device for selecting the software keys. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the pointing device is a pointing device. A remote control device comprising: an infrared irradiation unit; software keys classified by function; and a touch panel for displaying and selecting the software keys. 4. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the software key adds or changes a function by downloading software.

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