JP2006157114A - Remote controller and electronic apparatus equipped with apparatus body corresponding to it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote controller in which the duplicate operation key of the remote controller can be eliminated and additional operation key is arranged in each kind of electronic apparatus equipped with the remote controller detachably attached on the apparatus main body, and to provide an electronic apparatus equipped with the apparatus main body corresponding to it. <P>SOLUTION: The operation unit of the apparatus main body 41 consists of a group of first operation keys 51 exposed from a detachably attached remote controller 61. In detaching the remote controller 61 from the apparatus main body 41 to use it, a group of operation keys 52 arranged in a remote controller enclosure and function-set differently from that of the group of first operation keys 51 are exposed to the outside and the apparatus main body 41 can be remotely controlled by an operation to the group of first keys 51 or second keys 52. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention can be applied to various electronic devices including an operation unit, and relates to an electronic device including a remote control device and a corresponding device main body.

  In recent years, various electronic devices have been reduced in size and weight, and along with this, video cameras have become widespread in AV devices. Among them, the one using a DVD or the like as a recording medium next to a video tape has begun to spread.

  Here, a conventional electronic device will be described below by taking a video camera as an example.

  4 is an external perspective view of a conventional video camera, FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the remote control device used by being mounted on the video camera, and FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of the remote control device viewed from the back side. FIG.

  In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an apparatus main body formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, having a lens 2 on the front side, and a finder 3 disposed on the upper end of the rear side.

  And the remote control mounting part 4 is arrange | positioned at the left side part at the recessed part shape.

  On the other hand, reference numeral 10 denotes a wireless type remote control device. As shown in FIG. 5, the remote control device 10 is provided with operation key groups 11 for basic functions on the front surface side. As shown in FIG. 6, the remote control device 10 is provided with an operation key group 12 for applied functions in addition to the operation key group 11 for basic functions on the back side. The front and back surfaces of the device main body 1 are configured so as to be mounted and held so that either of the front and back surfaces is exposed outwardly.

  The remote control device 10 is configured to transmit a signal corresponding to the operation state of each operation key group 11 or 12 to the device main body 1 by, for example, infrared light from the transmission means 15 and is attached to the device main body 1. In the held state, the transmission information is received via the light receiving means 5 arranged on the bottom of the remote control mounting portion 4 of the device main body 1 so that the device main body 1 can be operated.

As prior art document information related to the invention of this application, for example, Patent Document 1 is known.
JP-A-5-83610

  According to the user's preference, the above-described conventional video camera can be used with a preferred operation key arrangement by attaching and holding either the front or back surface of the remote control device 10 to the device body 1 in an outwardly exposed state. Although it was easy to use from beginner to expert, the operation key group 11 of the basic functions such as play, stop, fast forward and rewind is necessary on both the front and back sides, and its overlapping arrangement There is a problem that the minute leads to a cost increase factor.

  The present invention solves such a conventional problem, can be attached to and detached from the device main body, eliminates duplicate operation keys, and provides additional operation keys for use only during remote control of the device main body. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device including a remote control device that is also arranged and a device body corresponding to the remote control device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration.

  The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a remote control device including a first operation key group that is detachable from an apparatus main body and that serves as an operation unit of the apparatus main body in the mounted holding state. The device main body can be operated by operating the first operation key group in the mounting and holding state in the device main body, and in the detached state from the device main body, in addition to the operation to the first operation key group, the remote controller A second operation key group arranged in a housing state and having a function setting different from that of the first operation key group is exposed to the outside, and the device is operated by operating the first or second operation key group. The remote control device can be remotely controlled by the main body.

  Thereby, it can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body, the duplication of the operation keys can be eliminated, and an operation key that is compactly arranged for use only at the time of remote control of the apparatus main body can be realized.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the remote control casing includes a remote control movable casing section that performs a planar sliding operation relative to the remote control fixed casing section. The operation key group is subjected to a planar slide operation and is exposed to the outside. With this configuration, the first and second operation key groups are associated with the planar slide movement operation of the remote control housing. Can be easily exposed on substantially the same plane, and can be easily operated by keys when in the arrangement state, and can be made compact even when stored.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the strength of the remote control transmission signal made up of infrared light when used by being detached from the device main body is in the state of being attached to the device main body, Control is performed to reduce the strength of the remote control transmission signal based on the operation state of the first operation key group. In the state where the remote control device is mounted on the device body, control is performed to reduce the current flowing to the LED to emit light. As a result, battery consumption can be suppressed, and a remote control transmission signal from the remote control device can be satisfactorily received by the light receiving means of the adjacent device body and a predetermined function can be activated.

  The invention according to claim 4 includes a device main body corresponding to the remote control device according to claim 1, and when the mounting holding state of the remote control device to the remote control mounting portion provided in the device main body is detected, The electronic device is controlled to switch the receiving means arranged in the remote control mounting portion to the operating state, and the first operation key group that is exposed to the outside when the remote control device is mounted on the device main body is used as the operation portion of the device. Thus, there is an effect that the remote control transmission signal from the remote control device based on the operation on the first operation key group can be reliably received by the receiving means in the remote control mounting portion.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate duplication of operation keys in a remote control device that can be attached to and detached from the device main body, and further operation keys for use only during remote control of the device main body are also arranged in a compact manner. The advantageous effect of being able to be achieved is obtained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

(Embodiment)
In this embodiment, a video camera is described as an example from various electronic devices as in the conventional section, and the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those described in the section of the related art. The detailed description will be simplified.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a state in which a remote control device is detached from a device main body and used in a video camera which is an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a state in which the remote control device is mounted and held on the device main body. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing a state where the remote control device is detached from the device main body.

  In the figure, reference numeral 41 denotes a device main body having a lens 2 on the front side thereof, a finder 3 disposed on the upper end of the rear surface, and a display made of liquid crystal or the like on the left side surface portion via a hinge mechanism. The part 42 is provided so as to be freely opened and closed.

  Although not shown or described in detail in the apparatus main body 41, various mechanisms for operating a predetermined function, an electric circuit unit, and a control unit for performing various controls are arranged and a recording medium is accommodated. For example, a recording medium storage unit is configured. Further, a battery 43 is externally attached to the rear surface portion of the device main body 41.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first operation key group 51 for activating a predetermined function of the device main body 41 is arranged on the left side surface portion in a state where the display unit 42 is opened. The remote control device 61 is detachable from the main body 41. As shown in FIG. 3, the remote control device 61 can be used as a wireless type remote control device 61 in a state where it is detached from the device main body 41.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when used alone as the remote control device 61, the remote control movable casing 62 in which the first operation key group 51 is arranged is stacked on the lower side. A relatively flat linear slide movement is performed with respect to the remote control fixed casing 63, and the second operation key group 52 arranged on the storage side of the remote control fixed casing 63 is displayed outward. The key setting assignment of the second operation key group 52 is a function setting that does not overlap with the first operation key group 51. It should be noted that the second operation key group 52 may be exposed outward as necessary, and as shown in FIG. 3, the first operation key group 51 is not moved without sliding the remote control movable casing 62. Only the operation may be performed.

  With the configuration of the remote control device 61, it is possible to provide a large number of operation keys, and there is no duplication of the first and second operation key groups 51 and 52, which is advantageous in terms of cost and the first. Since the operation surfaces of the second operation key groups 51 and 52 are configured to be substantially the same surface, any key operation can be easily performed.

  The first operation key group 51 is set by assigning operation keys used in a state where the remote control device 61 is mounted and held on the device main body 41, and the second operation key group 52 is set as described above. All key settings except for. The key setting of the second operation key group 52 can be used when the remote control device 61 is detached from the device main body 41 and used as a single wireless type remote control device 61, for example, additional keys for use in the editing function. It may be assigned to a setting or the like. The key setting of the second operation key group 52 may be set so as to be controlled including an editing function connected to the video camera.

  The remote control device 61 performs predetermined control when any of the operation keys of the first or second operation key group 51 or 52 is operated, and is disposed at the front end of the remote control movable casing 62. Infrared light corresponding to the operation state is transmitted from the transmitting means 62A.

  Then, when the remote control device 61 is detached, the device main body 41 is placed in the device main body 41 so that a predetermined function is activated by receiving the remote control transmission signal by a light receiving means (not shown) on the front side. It is controlled by a distributed control unit.

  In addition to this, the device main body 41 is also provided with a second light receiving means 44 on the front inner wall portion of the remote control mounting portion 41A configured in a concave shape. Switching control is performed by a control unit arranged in the apparatus main body 41 so that the main body 41 functions only when it is determined that the remote control device 61 is mounted.

  The detection means is not particularly limited, and illustrations and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted. However, the detection means is configured to be inexpensive and simple using a detection switch, for example, and a signal from the switch is transmitted to the device main body 41. A configuration that is determined by a control unit arranged inside is preferable in view of arrangement space and cost.

  In addition, by providing the device main body 41 with the function of switching to the second light receiving means 44, a predetermined operation is performed on the first operation key group 51 serving as an operation unit of the device in a state of being attached to the device main body 41. In this case, the remote control transmission signal from the remote control device 61 obtained thereby can be surely received by the second light receiving means 44 in the remote control mounting portion 41A and can be operated properly.

  The remote control device 61 also has a determination means (not shown) for determining whether or not it is attached to the device main body 41, and is incorporated in the remote control device 61 when it is determined that it is attached. The function of reducing the consumption of the used battery is configured to work.

  The function is that when the remote control device 61 is mounted on the device main body 41, the transmission means 62A of the remote control device 61 and the second light receiving means 44 of the device main body 41 are arranged close to each other. A process of reducing the intensity of infrared light is performed to transmit a remote control transmission signal that can be satisfactorily received by the second light receiving means 44. At this time, if the intensity of the infrared light is reduced by controlling the current flowing to the LED that emits the infrared light to reduce the intensity of the infrared light, the consumption of the battery built in the remote control device 61 can be suppressed.

  In addition to the above method, it is possible to devise a technique for suppressing the consumption of the battery built in the remote control device 61. For example, the remote control device and the remote control mounting portion of the device main body are each added with a compatible connector. The connector is connected to the main body of the device, the connection state between the connectors is determined, the power supply from the battery built in the remote control device is stopped, and the connected connector The remote control device may be operated by receiving power supply from the battery on the apparatus main body side via the. Further, an electromagnetic induction circuit may be configured in the device main body and the remote control device, and the remote control device may be supplied with power from the electromagnetic induction circuit in the device main body in a state where the remote control device is attached to the device main body.

  Note that the remote control device 61 is mounted and held on the device main body 41 so that the first operation key group 51 of the remote control movable casing 62 appears on the left side in the mounting and holding state on the device main body 41 as described above. Therefore, since the arrangement area of the operation keys is limited, it is preferable to arrange electronic parts having operation portions that can be operated in multiple directions. At this time, in general-purpose remote control devices, various types of electronic components having operation parts that can be operated in multiple directions are widely used. Therefore, when the remote control device 61 is used alone after being detached from the device main body 41. This is preferable because there is little uncomfortable feeling during the operation and the usability can be improved.

  As described above, according to the present invention is a remote control device that can be attached to and detached from the equipment main body, which eliminates the redundant arrangement of the operation keys, and also has additional operation keys for use only during remote control of the equipment main body. A compact arrangement can be realized.

  In the above description, the infrared signal is used as the transmission signal means of the remote control device 61. However, the transmission signal means using radio waves or the like may be used.

  Further, in the remote control device 61, the remote control movable casing 62 and the remote control fixed casing 63 in which the first operation key group 51 is arranged are relatively moved in a linear linear sliding manner to set the second control key group 52. Although the configuration to be exposed outward has been described, other than that, for example, the remote control movable casing portion is planarly slid and moved relative to the remote control fixed casing portion, and the first and second operation key groups are substantially on the same plane. Although it is preferable that the second operation key group 52 can be configured to be compact when the second operation key group 52 is housed, it is not limited thereto.

  In the above description, a video camera has been described as an example. However, the present invention is applicable to all types of electronic devices including an operation unit.

  The electronic device including the remote control device according to the present invention and the device main body corresponding to the remote control device can eliminate the redundant operation keys that can be attached to and detached from the device main body, and can be used for further operation keys only for remote control of the device main body. This has the effect of realizing what can be arranged, and is useful for various electronic devices equipped with an operation unit.

1 is an external perspective view showing a state in which a remote control device is detached from a device main body and used in a video camera which is an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. External perspective view showing a state where the remote control device is mounted and held on the device body External perspective view showing a state in which the remote control device is detached from the device body External perspective view of a conventional video camera External perspective view of a remote control device mounted and held on the video camera as seen from the front side External perspective view of the remote control device viewed from the back side

Explanation of symbols

2 Lens 3 Finder 41 Device Main Body 41A Remote Control Mounting Unit 42 Display Unit 43 Battery 44 Second Light Receiving Unit 51 First Operation Key Group 52 Second Operation Key Group 61 Remote Control Device 62 Remote Control Movable Housing 62A Transmitting Unit 63 Remote Control Fixed Housing Body

Claims (4)

A remote control device that can be attached to and detached from the device main body and includes a first operation key group that is exposed as an operation unit of the device main body in the mounting and holding state. The device main body can be operated by operating the operation key group, and in the detached state from the device main body, in addition to the operation to the first operation key group, the first operation key is disposed in a remote control housing. A remote control device in which a second operation key group having a function setting different from that of a key group is exposed to the outside, and the device body can be remotely controlled by operating the first or second operation key group. The remote control housing includes a remote control movable housing portion that performs a planar sliding operation relative to the remote control fixed housing portion, and the second operation key group is exposed to the outside by performing the planar sliding operation. The remote control device according to claim 1 to be issued. In contrast to the strength of the remote control transmission signal composed of infrared light when it is detached from the device main body, the strength of the remote control transmission signal based on the operation state of the first operation key group is maintained in the state of being attached to the device main body. 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein control is performed to reduce the height. Receiving means disposed on the remote control mounting portion when the mounting state of the remote control device is detected in the remote control mounting portion provided in the device main body. An electronic device that is controlled to switch to a working state.

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