JP2006222613A - Remote controller and controlled device, and control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote controller capable of controlling a controlled device as desired through easy-to-intuitively-understand and relatively-simple operation of changing the position and attitude of the remote controller (so to speak, a way of shaking), the controlled device, and a control system. <P>SOLUTION: A relative position detecting means 211 comprising an inertia sensor etc., provided in the remote controller 200 acquires movement of the controller itself (how much the remote controller is shaken) and sends a control signal Sc corresponding to the type of the controlled equipment on the basis of the acquisition to control the target controlled device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control device for remotely controlling a control target device by a user, a controlled device corresponding to the remote control device, and a remote control system. A remote controller having an external shape like a remote controller used for remote control of a machine and capable of controlling a control target device such as a video recording / reproducing apparatus by being held by a user and swinging in a specific manner. The present invention relates to a control device, a controlled device, and a remote control system.

  In recent years, for example, it has become common to remotely control various devices to be controlled used in a home with a remote control device (remote controller) on hand. More specifically, many video recording / playback devices (television receivers, DVD recorders, HDD recorders, VTRs, etc.), acoustic systems, air conditioners, lighting fixtures, etc. are remotely controlled by infrared remote controllers. Operated.

  When there are many devices that are remotely operated by the remote controller in this way, it becomes very troublesome to use a dedicated remote controller for each device to be controlled. Furthermore, there is a reality that if the operation of the remote controller has to be remembered for each device to be controlled, the complexity is further promoted. Paying attention to the problem of complicated handling of such remote control devices, proposals have been made on how to solve them.

  For example, the remote controller is configured to detect its own movement with an inertial sensor such as a gyro sensor and output a control signal corresponding to this movement as a code signal. Correspondingly, a function for controlling the broadcast receiving apparatus is set in the code signal function setting unit, and a function set corresponding to the code signal generated and output according to the movement of the remote controller is set. There is a proposal to make it possible to operate the broadcast receiving apparatus lightly and intuitively by moving the remote controller by performing the control based on the system (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .

  In addition, an infrared light signal is projected according to the operation status of the joystick provided in the remote controller, and once received by the light receiving unit in the television receiver, the target device (for example, a plurality of devices) is provided in the television receiver. In addition, it is converted into an infrared light control signal suitable for a predetermined operation of one of the VTRs, and is projected onto the target device, to one operation unit (joystick). There has also been proposed a technique that allows a plurality of types of control target devices to be operated as intended by the above operation.

  In the case of this proposal, as an image representing an image of the operation unit of the control target device (VTR), a layout diagram of operation switches of a remote controller dedicated to the device (VTR) is originally used in a television receiver in the form of a so-called picture-in-picture. The video to be displayed is superimposed on the screen and the desired operation is performed by moving and confirming the index on the screen with respect to the layout diagram of the operation switch. Is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 2).

Furthermore, a system has been proposed in which a plurality of devices to be controlled can be remotely operated with a single remote controller. This is because when an operation menu on the screen of the television receiver is remotely operated by operating a cursor movement button provided on the remote controller, an MPU in the television receiver generates a control signal corresponding to the operation. The infrared light control signal is transmitted by wirelessly from the indoor antenna to the infrared light control signal projector mounted on the ceiling of the room where the television receiver and the devices to be controlled are installed. By projecting a remote control signal by infrared light from a projection device to a target control target device in the same room, the control target device is controlled as intended (see, for example, Patent Document 3). ).
JP 2000-173003 (paragraphs 0011 to 0013, FIG. 1) Japanese Patent No. 3291765 (paragraphs 0056 to 0066, FIGS. 6 and 8) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-209895 (paragraphs 0013 to 0021, FIGS. 1 and 2)

  However, in the technique of operating a device to be controlled by a code signal that is output according to the movement of the remote controller as in Patent Document 1, an intuitive operation (remote control) that does not require a different level of skill is required. Even if the device to be controlled can be operated according to how the controller itself is moved), the relationship between the remote controller and the device to be controlled is a one-to-one relationship It is.

  For this reason, it is required to prepare a dedicated remote controller corresponding to each of various devices to be controlled remotely. The fact that a dedicated remote controller must be prepared for each device to be controlled in this way is extremely troublesome for the user in terms of how to store them and how to select them during use. There is a problem of becoming.

  Further, in the technique proposed in Patent Document 2, it is possible to remotely operate a plurality of types of control target devices with a single remote controller having a joystick, but the original remote controller corresponding to each control target device In reality, a key operation is virtually performed by operating a joystick while visually confirming the arrangement of the operation keys on the display screen. In order to freely operate each control target device as desired by such a method, the user is required to learn more than when operating a dedicated remote controller for each control target device. Become.

  Furthermore, the proposal disclosed in Patent Document 3 also enables the remote control of a plurality of types of control target devices with a single remote controller. ) In addition to the remote controller and the television receiver that is the device to be controlled, it is essential to install a ceiling-mounted infrared control signal radiation device. As a result, the system configuration becomes complicated, and the initial installation and relocation of the installation requires bothersomeness and expense.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems in the predetermined technology, and it is relatively simple and intuitive to easily change the position / orientation by holding the control device (remote controller) itself. It is possible to control a controlled device as desired by operation (ie, depending on how to swing), and to control a plurality of controlled devices by a single common control device. It is an object to provide a control device, a controlled device, and a control system.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present application proposes the following techniques.
(1) A housing having an outer dimension that can be handled so that the user's own position and posture can be changed, and housing predetermined components therein, and a relative change relating to the position and posture of the housing. Relative displacement detection means for detecting non-contact and generating displacement data corresponding to the detected value, the displacement data generated by the relative displacement detection means and the type of control function selected by the user in association with each other Preliminary registration means for preliminarily registering, and applied to an operation on one control target device selected from a plurality of predetermined control target devices for each type of control function associated with displacement data preliminarily registered by the preliminary registration means Control signal generating means for generating a control signal to be transmitted; and control signal transmitting means for transmitting the control signal generated by the control signal generating means toward the control target device. Remote control device.

  According to the remote control device of (1) above, when the position and orientation of the housing is changed by the user holding it in his / her hand, the relative change relating to the position and orientation is not contacted by the relative displacement detecting means. And displacement data corresponding to the detected value is generated. Preliminary registration is performed by the preliminary registration unit in association with the displacement data generated in this way and the type of control function selected by the user (for example, “start”, “stop”, etc.). . A control signal applied to an operation on one control target device selected from a plurality of predetermined control target devices for each type of the control function associated with the pre-registered displacement data (corresponding relationship is registered) Is generated by the control signal generation means, and the control signal generated in this way is transmitted to the target control target device by the control signal transmission means, and the control target device is remotely controlled.

(2) A housing having an external dimension that can be handled so that the user's own position and posture can be changed, and storing predetermined components therein, and a relative change related to the position and posture of the housing. Relative displacement detection means for detecting non-contact and generating displacement data corresponding to the detected value, the displacement data generated by the relative displacement detection means and the type of control function selected by the user in association with each other Preliminary registration means for preliminarily registering, and applied to an operation on one control target device selected from a plurality of predetermined control target devices for each type of control function associated with displacement data preliminarily registered by the preliminary registration means A control signal generating means for generating a control signal to be transmitted; and a control signal transmitting means for transmitting the control signal generated by the control signal generating means toward the control target device. Thus, the preliminary registration means has a plurality of operation members that receive an operation for selecting the type of the control function by the user, and each predetermined control function selected by each predetermined operation on these operation members. A preliminary registration operation accepting unit for recognizing the type of the pre-registration, a type of each predetermined control function recognized based on an operation on the preliminary registration operation accepting unit, and each predetermined displacement data obtained as an output of the relative displacement detecting means, And a preliminary registration data forming unit that preliminarily registers the predetermined registration data in a predetermined storage unit.

  According to the remote control device of (2) above, when the position and orientation of the housing is changed by the user holding it in his / her hand, the relative change relating to the position and orientation is not contacted by the relative displacement detection means. And displacement data corresponding to the detected value is generated. Preliminary registration is performed by the preliminary registration unit in association with the displacement data generated in this way and the type of control function selected by the user (for example, “start”, “stop”, etc.). . A control signal applied to an operation on one control target device selected from a plurality of predetermined control target devices for each type of the control function associated with the pre-registered displacement data (corresponding relationship is registered) Is generated by the control signal generation means, and the control signal generated in this way is transmitted to the target control target device by the control signal transmission means, and the control target device is remotely controlled. In this remote control device, in particular, the preliminary registration means includes a plurality of operation members (such as operation keys for instructing start and stop) that receive an operation for selecting the type of the control function by the user. The preliminary registration operation receiving unit recognizes the type of each predetermined control function selected by each predetermined operation (for example, a function selection operation or a confirmation operation) on these operation members, and each of the recognized predetermined control functions The preliminary registration data forming unit generates preliminary registration data that associates each type of the predetermined displacement data with each predetermined displacement data (for example, displacement data generated in response to the vertical movement of the casing of the remote control device). Formed and pre-registered in a predetermined storage means.

(3) The control signal generation means includes a plurality of predetermined controls for each predetermined control function in which a correspondence relationship with each predetermined displacement data is defined by the preliminary registration data preliminarily registered by the preliminary registration means. Based on the model-specific correspondence data held in the model-specific correspondence data holding means that holds the model-specific correspondence data indicating the correspondence with the control signal applied to each predetermined operation for each target device, the displacement The remote control according to (2), wherein the remote control is configured to generate a control signal to be applied to a predetermined operation of one control target device, assuming that the data has a known correspondence relationship. apparatus.

  According to the remote control device of (3) above, in addition to the operation of the remote control device described in (2), it is held in the correspondence data holding means in the form of an appropriate server that can be connected through an IP network, for example. On the basis of the corresponding relationship data, a predetermined operation (for example, displacement data (for example, displacement data generated corresponding to the vertical movement of the casing of the remote control device) is determined from the displacement data) Since the control signal to be applied to the start and stop etc. is generated, it becomes easy to adaptively cope with the change of the correspondence.

(4) The remote control device according to any one of (1) to (2), wherein the relative displacement detection means includes an inertial sensor.
According to the remote control device of (4), in addition to the action of any one of the remote control devices of (1) to (2), the position and posture of the remote control device can be accurately detected by the inertial sensor.

(5) The remote control device according to any one of (1) to (2), wherein the control signal sending means is configured to emit a remote control signal using infrared rays.
According to the remote control device of the above (5), in addition to the operation by any one of the remote control devices of (1) to (2), the remote control by using the infrared remote control method that has already been widely used is applied. The device can be easily realized.

(6) The model-specific correspondence data holding means is a data storage that is set apart from the remote control device so that it can exchange data according to access from the remote control device as required. The remote control device according to (3), wherein the remote control device is configured to acquire and store the model-specific correspondence data from the device.

  According to the remote control device of (6) above, in addition to the operation of the remote control device described in (3), it is held in the correspondence data holding means in the form of an appropriate server that can be connected through an IP network, for example. Correspondence data is acquired and stored in an appropriate memory. Based on the correspondence data held in this way, the predetermined displacement of one control target device is determined from the displacement data (for example, displacement data generated in response to vertical movement of the casing of the remote control device). Since the control signal applied to the operation (for example, starting and stopping) is generated, it is easy to adaptively cope with the change in the correspondence.

(7) When the relative displacement detection means obtains displacement data that coincides with pre-registered authentication displacement data within a predetermined allowable error range, it is authenticated that the user is an authorized user of the remote control device. The remote control device according to any one of (1) to (2), further comprising an authentication unit that permits use.
According to the remote control device of the above (7), in addition to the operation by any one of the remote control devices of (1) to (2), the remote control that can be handled only by authorized users who meet the authentication. A device is realized.

(8) The authentication means is a plurality of users corresponding to a plurality of pieces of authentication displacement data registered in advance and corresponding displacement data within a predetermined allowable error range. The remote control device according to (7), wherein the remote control device is configured to authenticate and authenticate each authorized user by the authentication and to allow the authorized use.
According to the remote control device of (8) above, in addition to the action of any one of the remote control devices of (1) to (2), handling is permitted only to a plurality of authorized users who conform to the authentication. A remote control device is realized.

(9) The relative displacement detecting means is configured to be able to change a detection characteristic of the amount or speed of the relative change when detecting the relative change related to the position and orientation of the housing in a non-contact manner. The remote control device according to any one of (1) to (2).
According to the remote control device of (9) above, in addition to the action of any one of the remote control devices of (1) to (2), a relative change related to the position and orientation of the housing is detected without contact. By appropriately changing the correspondence relationship of the detected value with the amount or speed of the relative change at the time, the remote control device is appropriately adapted to various conditions such as the purpose, place, time, user personality and intuition of using the remote control device. The operation for control can be selected arbitrarily by the operator.

(10) A housing having an outer dimension that can be handled so that the user's own position and posture can be changed, and storing predetermined components therein, and a relative change related to the position and posture of the housing. Relative displacement detection means for detecting non-contact and generating displacement data corresponding to the detected value, the displacement data generated by the relative displacement detection means and the type of control function selected by the user in association with each other Preliminary registration means for preliminary registration, and applied to an operation on one control target device selected from a plurality of predetermined control target devices for each type of control function associated with the displacement data registered by the preliminary registration means According to a remote control device comprising: a control signal generating unit that generates a control signal; and a control signal transmitting unit that transmits the control signal generated by the control signal generating unit to the control target device. A controlled device that can be remotely controlled, a receiving unit that receives a control signal from the control signal sending means in response to an operation including a change in position and posture of the housing from the remote control device; A controlled device comprising: a system controller that recognizes an index movement / determination operation on a screen of a display device in accordance with a control signal received by a receiving unit, and performs a controlled operation based on the recognition .

  According to the controlled device of (10) above, the control signal issued from the control signal sending means is received from the remote control device as in (1) above according to the operation including the change in the position and orientation of the casing. And recognizing the movement / determining operation of the indicator on the screen of the display device to be applied (this display device itself may be applied regardless of whether it is external or not) Based on the recognition, a controlled operation can be performed.

(11) A GUI unit that displays a GUI screen on the screen of the display device and recognizes the movement / confirmation operation of the index on the GUI screen is further provided, and the system controller is configured to recognize the GUI based on the recognition by the GUI unit. The controlled apparatus according to (10), which is configured to perform a control operation.

  According to the controlled device of (11) above, in addition to the action of the controlled device of (10), the GUI screen is displayed on the screen of the applied display device by the GUI unit, and the movement of the index on this GUI screen A recognition operation is recognized, and a controlled operation is performed by the system controller based on the recognition by the GUI unit.

(12) The system controller is configured to allow continuous movement of the index on the screen of the display device, recognize the movement / determination operation of the index, and perform a controlled operation based on the recognition. (10) The controlled apparatus according to (10).

  According to the controlled device of (12) above, in addition to the action of the controlled device of (10), the indicator on the screen of the display device moves in a discontinuous manner between the displayed specific patterns. Without being restricted, it is allowed to move continuously along the user's discretion, and controlled by the system controller based on recognition of such free indicator movement / determination operations. Is made.

(13) A housing having an external dimension that can be handled so that the user's own position and posture can be changed, and storing predetermined components therein, and a relative change relating to the position and posture of the housing. Relative displacement detection means for detecting non-contact and generating displacement data corresponding to the detected value, the displacement data generated by the relative displacement detection means and the type of control function selected by the user in association with each other Preliminary registration means for preliminary registration, and applied to an operation on one control target device selected from a plurality of predetermined control target devices for each type of control function associated with the displacement data registered by the preliminary registration means A remote control device comprising: a control signal generating means for generating a control signal; and a control signal sending means for sending the control signal generated by the control signal generating means toward the control target device;
A receiving unit that receives a control signal issued from the control signal sending means in response to an operation including a change in position and orientation of the casing from the remote control device, and a display device that responds to the control signal received by the receiving unit A controlled device comprising: a system controller for recognizing a movement / determining operation of an index on the screen of the system and performing a controlled operation based on the recognition;
A control system comprising:

  According to the control system of (13) above, it is relatively simple and intuitive to easily select one controlled device from various controlled devices and change its position and orientation by holding the remote controller itself. It is possible to control the controlled device as desired by a simple operation (in other words, depending on how to swing).

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings to be referred to below, for the sake of convenience, the main part that is the subject of the description is exaggerated as appropriate, and other than the main part is appropriately simplified or omitted.
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention including a controlled device (a digital television receiver main body as a control target device) and a remote control device (a remote controller corresponding to the digital television receiver main body). It is a conceptual diagram showing a control system (digital television receiver system). In FIG. 1, a digital television receiver main body (hereinafter referred to as digital television) 100 as a remote control device receives a control signal by infrared light or the like from a remote controller 200 as a remote control device corresponding thereto, and operates. Is configured to be controlled.

  The digital television 100 has a housing 102 with a screen 102 for projecting images, a left speaker 103 and a right speaker 104 constituting a stereo acoustic device at a position lower than the bottom of the screen 102, and the screen 102. A light receiving window 105 that receives a control signal Sc (typically shown by one two-dot chain line) by infrared light or the like from the remote controller 200 is provided immediately below the bottom right.

  On the other hand, the remote controller 200 has an independent casing 201 that can be arranged at a position separated from the digital television 100 (its casing 101). The casing 201 has an external dimension that can be handled so that the position and posture of the user can be changed by a user, and stores therein predetermined components as will be described in detail later with reference to the drawings. These components include a relative displacement detector that detects a relative change related to the position and orientation of the housing 101 in a non-contact manner and generates displacement data corresponding to the detected value, and is generated by the relative displacement detector. Control signal generating means for generating a control signal Sc to be applied to an operation on a selected control target device among a plurality of predetermined control target devices based on the displacement data, and the control generated by the control signal generating means Control signal sending means for sending a signal to the control target device.

  A control system (digital television system) 100 + 200 as an embodiment of the present invention is configured including the digital television 100 and the remote controller 200 described above. The control signal Sc using infrared light or the like includes communication between the digital television 100 and the remote controller 200 in addition to a control signal representing information for controlling the digital television 100 according to an arbitrary operation of the operator. A signal representing information for performing is included.

In this example, a battery charger 500 for charging a secondary battery, which is an operating power source in the remote controller 200, is disposed at a fixed position of the digital TV 100, for example, near the left side of the screen, and the remote controller. When not in use, 200 is connected to the battery charger 500 and used to charge an internal secondary battery.
When the remote controller 200 is not used, the battery charger 500 is placed at a position shown by a broken line and connected by a contact portion (not shown) to charge the internal secondary battery. When used, the remote controller 200 is schematically shown by a one-dot chain line. As shown in the figure, the position and orientation are picked up, and when the digital television 100 is remotely controlled, the tip portion for projecting the control signal Sc by infrared light or the like is directed to the digital television 100.

  One feature of the embodiment of the present invention is that in the process that results in the above-mentioned position / posture, intentionally reaching the resultant posture shown in the solid line through the posture shown in the dashed line, Or, as indicated by the white arrow, by moving the head in a specific way as if shaking the head at a fixed position, etc., a plurality of behaviors registered in the device in advance (each corresponding displacement data for authentication) and It is the point that it authenticates that it is each regular user by collation of this, identifies each regular user by this authentication, and is authorized so that regular use is permitted.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the digital television 100 of FIG. Broadcast waves received by the antenna 110 are demodulated by the demodulation / filtering unit 120, a transport stream is extracted, and filtering is performed to acquire video and audio according to the channel selection by the viewer (user) and program information. Is called. The video output of the demodulation / filtering unit 120 is supplied to the video processing unit 130, the audio output is supplied to the audio processing unit 140, and the program information is supplied to the OSD unit 131.

  The output from the OSD unit 131 is superimposed on the output of the video processing unit 130, and the video is displayed on the liquid crystal display 160 by the video signal on which such program information is superimposed. In addition to the video processing unit 130 (tuner output), any one of outputs from various other video playback devices such as a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) 300 is selectively supplied to the video processing unit 130. An input switching unit 161 is interposed. Note that the display device (the liquid crystal display 160 in this example) itself may be applied regardless of whether it is external or not.

  Further, based on the output of the OSD unit 131, program information and other information are displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display 160 so as to be superimposed on the above-mentioned video or to occupy one screen in the screen. In addition, pointing described later is also performed by displaying a specific marker or the like at a target position on the screen of the liquid crystal display 160 via the OSD unit 131. Further, the GUI (Graphical User Interface) of the digital television 100 is also configured to be realized by supplying a signal for projecting a predetermined pattern from the OSD unit 131 to the liquid crystal display 160.

  On the other hand, the output of the audio processing unit 140 that processes the audio signal from the demodulation / filtering unit 120 is supplied to the corresponding speaker 14 2 via the amplifier 141 to produce stereo sound. In order to produce stereo sound in this way, the amplifier 141 and the speaker 142 are provided with two systems, a left channel and a right channel, but in FIG. 2, for convenience, both systems are expressed together. is there.

  A system controller 170 including a microprocessor that controls the entire system of the digital television 100 including the demodulation / filtering unit 120, the audio processing unit 140, the OSD unit 131, and the input switching unit 161 as main components. Is provided. The system controller 170 is supplied with an output of an operation unit 171 configured to include operation keys for accepting an operation by a viewer (user), and a memory 172 is connected so as to be accessible. Data (information) is stored and read at the timing.

  On the other hand, the output of the remote controller signal receiver 181 provided to receive the control signal Sc behind the light receiving window 105 described above with reference to FIG. The signal received at 181 is connected to be supplied to the system controller 170 via a remote controller signal decoding unit 182 that converts the signal suitable for handling in the system controller 170.

  The system controller 170 functions as each means or a part constituting it as an essential constituent element of the present invention by the function of each corresponding functional part. A signal representing a predetermined pattern supplied from the OSD unit 131 to the liquid crystal display 160 to realize the above-described GUI is also generated based on a signal supplied from the system controller 170 to the OSD unit 131. . In accordance with the control signal received by the remote controller signal receiving unit 181 (the signal decoded by the remote controller signal decoding unit 182), the movement / determination operation of the index on the screen of the display device is recognized, and the object to be performed based on the recognition is recognized. Control operations are also executed by the system controller 170.

  Also, input from the system controller 170 in accordance with an operation for selecting a video information source for the operation unit 171 by the user or a signal for selecting a video information source received by the remote controller signal receiving unit 181 based on a remote operation. In accordance with a command given to the switching unit 161, the video information source supplied to the liquid crystal display 160 by the input switching unit 161 is selected. As a result, the output of the video processing unit (tuner output), the playback output of the PVR 300, or the output from other video signal sources is selected as desired by the user and supplied to the liquid crystal display 160 to display the video. Will be issued. The digital television 100 (system controller 170) always recognizes the information source of the video currently displayed on the liquid crystal display 160 at the present time.

  Further, the system controller 170 is connected with an IP network interface unit 151 for enabling connection with an IP network 400 that is normally used in this type of video equipment. The digital television 100 of this example is connected to an information source such as the server 450 via the IP network 400 through the IP network interface 151, and accordingly can exchange information over a wide range. is there.

  Furthermore, in recent years, signs of widespread use are becoming clear, and so-called home networks connect digital AV devices and personal computers to each other, and DLNA related to specifications for mutual use of data such as video, music, still images, etc. (Digital Living Network Alliance) A DLNA interface unit 152 is also connected to the system controller 170 for connecting to an external device such as a PVR by a communication method compliant with predetermined guidelines. In the illustrated example, the digital television 100 and the PVR 300 exchange control signals related to the operation through the DLNA interface unit 152.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the remote controller 200 in the control system of FIG. The independent casing 201 described with reference to FIG. 1 is provided with a relative position detecting unit 211 configured by a known inertia sensor or a so-called gyro or the like that detects a relative change in its position without contact. . Some of the recently developed inertial sensors that have been developed recently are extremely small and have excellent detection accuracy. Therefore, when such a sensor is applied, the position and orientation of the remote control device can be accurately detected. A detection characteristic adjusting unit 212 that adjusts the detection characteristic in the relative position detecting unit 211 by, for example, filtering with a variable characteristic filter is provided, and the output is supplied to the system controller 230.

  By appropriately changing the correspondence of the detected value to the amount or speed of the relative change when the relative change related to the position and orientation of the housing 201 is detected by the detection characteristic adjusting unit 212 in a non-contact manner, It is possible for the operator to arbitrarily select an operation for remote control that is well suited to various conditions such as purpose, location, time, user personality, and intuition using the remote control device (remote controller 200).

  The system controller 230 is configured to include a microprocessor that controls the circuit system of the remote controller 200 in an integrated manner and executes various operations as a main component. It is designed to function as each means as a requirement. The control signal projection unit 220 including a light emitting element such as an infrared LED that emits a control signal Sc using infrared light or the like described with reference to FIG. 1 performs necessary control in accordance with a command from the system controller 230 described above. A signal Sc is generated. A remote control device can be easily realized by applying an infrared remote control method that has already been widely used.

  An operation / display unit 231 having an operation key and a liquid crystal display provided on the housing 201 of the remote controller 200 is connected to the system controller 230 so that signals for control and display can be exchanged. A memory 232 is connected so as to be able to access and exchange data, and an external device interface 240 for communicating with an external information processing apparatus such as a personal computer is connected.

The remote controller 200 is provided with a charger connection detector 251 for detecting that the remote controller 200 is in a connected state, particularly when connected to the battery charger 500 described with reference to FIG. The controller 230 is connected to be input.
In the remote controller 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the relative position detection means is operated in accordance with an operation in which the user swings up and down and left and right to change the position and orientation of the user while holding the housing 201 and intentionally drawing a locus in the space. Displacement data corresponding to the detected value in 211 is generated by the system controller 230. In other words, the relative position detecting means 211 and the corresponding functional units of the system controller 230 constitute a relative displacement detecting means.

  Further, the system controller 230 applies control applied to an operation on one control target device selected from a plurality of predetermined control target devices (digital television 100, PVR 300, or other similar or different devices) based on the displacement data. Control signal generating means for generating a signal is constituted by the corresponding functional unit. The generated control signal is sent out from the control signal projection unit 220 that emits a control signal Sc by infrared light or the like constituting the control signal sending means toward the control target device.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an arrangement of operation keys and a display in an operation / display unit of a remote controller which is a remote control device as an embodiment of the present invention. The liquid crystal display 1 disposed on the top end (upper side in FIG. 4) of the top surface of the casing 201 of the remote controller 200 performs character display and graphic display in various display modes for setting and operation. On the right side of the liquid crystal display 1, a power operation key 2 for turning on / off the power is arranged, and on the left side, a clear key 3 is arranged to cancel the setting (input) operation and return to the previous operation stage.

  Along the vicinity of the lower edge of the liquid crystal display 1, from left to right, three types of selection keys, a control object selection key 4, a numeric key function selection key 5, and a movement direction function selection key 6, are arranged in a horizontal line. Has been. The control target selection key 4 is a key for selecting a control target device by the remote controller. The control target device is, for example, DTV (digital TV receiver) → PVR → light 1 → light 2 every time it is operated. → …… → Air conditioner → DTV and the like are sequentially and cyclically switched and displayed on the liquid crystal display 1.

  The numeric function selection key 5 is a key for selecting the function of a set of numeric keys 1 to 12 arranged in four horizontal rows in the center of the top surface of the remote controller 200 (its casing 201) once. Each time an operation is performed, the control target device sequentially changes, for example, DTV channel selection → input (video source to the DTV display unit) → program reservation code → …… → light 1 illumination → …… → air conditioner set temperature → DTV channel selection, etc. It is switched cyclically and displayed on the liquid crystal display 1.

  The moving direction function selection key 6 is a set of four types of movements of the upward, downward, leftward, and rightward arrow lines arranged in a horizontal row along the lower side of the above-mentioned three horizontal selection keys. The function of the selection operation by the direction selection key 8 is, for example, transition of the display hierarchy of the liquid crystal display (up / down) → movement of the cursor of the liquid crystal display (up / down, left / right) → …… → illumination 1 illuminance (up / down) → …… → Air-conditioner set temperature (up and down) → The display layer transition (up and down) of the liquid crystal display is sequentially and cyclically switched.

  Below the number keys 7, a set of screen operation keys 9 is arranged with a center square determination key and four triangular movement operation keys surrounding it. The screen operation key 9 is used for moving and determining an index (an arrow, a finger pattern, etc.) on a screen of a DTV (digital television receiver) or the like by the remote controller 200. In the apparatus according to the present embodiment, if the corresponding function is provided on the corresponding control target device side, the function of the screen operation key 9 can be executed by “addition / subtraction” of the remote controller 200 itself. So-called pointing can be performed.

Confirmation operation keys 10 and 11 are arranged symmetrically on the upper left and upper right of the set of screen operation keys 9. The left confirmation operation key 10 is provided for the left-handed user, and the right confirmation operation key 11 is provided for the right-handed user, so that the same confirmation operation is performed. belongs to.
Three mode setting switches are arranged in a horizontal row on the rear end side (lower side in FIG. 4) of the top surface of the casing 201 of the remote controller 200. From left to right, there are a preliminary registration mode setting switch 12, a registration mode setting switch 13, and an operation mode setting switch.

  The pre-registration mode setting switch 12 is operated as a preparatory operation at the beginning of the use of the remote controller 200 by swinging it up, down, left and right as if intentionally drawing a locus in the space with the remote controller 200 (housing 201). Displacement data generated by the system controller 230 corresponding to the detection value in the relative position detecting means 211 in response to an operation for changing the position and orientation, and the operation using the above-described keys (for example, “activation” selected by the operation on them) (Start) ”and“ stop (stop) ”, etc., which are registered in the memory 232 (FIG. 3) (preliminary registration) with a corresponding relationship with the control function type (displayed on the display 1) For example, a slide switch for setting the registration mode operation to a possible state.

  When the preliminary registration mode is set by the preliminary registration mode setting switch 12, the above-described various operation keys (4 to 11 and the like) are a plurality of operation members that receive an operation for the user to select the type of control function. It corresponds to. The type of each predetermined control function selected by each predetermined operation (for example, a function selection operation or a confirmation operation) on these operation members is recognized by the system controller 230 (the corresponding functional unit) constituting the preliminary registration operation receiving unit. , The recognized type of each predetermined control function is associated with each predetermined displacement data (for example, displacement data generated in response to the vertical movement of the casing of the remote control device). Preliminary registration data is formed by the system controller 230 (corresponding functional unit) constituting the preliminary registration data forming unit, and is preliminarily registered in the memory 230 which is a predetermined storage unit.

As understood from the above, the preliminary registration means is configured to include the above-described various operation keys (4 to 11 and the like) and the system controller 230 (corresponding functional unit), and is configured to cover a predetermined function. Has been.
Preliminary registration is registration of correspondence between displacement data and operation by each key as described above when focusing on registered data. From the user's point of view, pre-registration is performed by adding and subtracting (moving) the remote controller and keys. It can be said that this is registration of association with the operation by (the type of the remote control function by that operation). For example, the user selects the type of the remote control function by key operation, and confirms the function type by operating the confirmation key 10 or 11 in a state where the function type is confirmed on the display 1, and then the function type When the user operates the confirmation key 10 or 11 after waving (moving) the remote controller with the intention of corresponding to the type, registration of this association is performed.

  The registration mode setting switch 13 selects an operation by each key (type of remote control function by the operation) preliminarily registered in association with the operation of the remote controller by the operation in the above-described pre-registration mode. For example, it is a slide switch for setting the operation of the registration mode registered in the memory 232 of FIG. 3 in association with each corresponding control signal.

  Based on the data registered in this registration mode, one control target selected from a plurality of predetermined control target devices for each type of control function that has been pre-registered (thus, the position data corresponding to the type of control function) A control signal to be applied to the operation on the device is generated by the control signal generation means (system controller 230 in FIG. 3), and the control signal generated in this way is generated by the control signal transmission means (control signal projection unit 220 in FIG. 3). The data is sent to the target control target device, and the control target device is remotely controlled.

  The operation mode setting switch 14 is for setting an operation mode for controlling (operating) a target control target device by shaking (moving) the remote controller 200. The pre-registration mode and the registration mode described above are operations in a preparatory stage for performing control originally planned by the remote control device (remote controller 200) of the present embodiment. After setting the mode, the remote controller 200 is in a state of performing this originally scheduled control.

  It should be noted that the preliminary registration can be set to a specification that does not require that all necessary registrations be performed exclusively by so-called end users. That is, with respect to the minimum functions that are easily associated with “rising” such as “advance”, “increase”, and “raise”, the remote controller 200 is associated with an appropriate operation that tends to swing up from below. With respect to the minimum functions that are easily connected to “descent” sensuously such as “return”, “decrease”, and “lower”, it is previously known to associate the remote controller 200 with a corresponding operation that tends to swing down from the top to the bottom. The default setting may be performed at the time of shipment, and this association may be changed or additionally set as desired later if the end user needs.

  In the above description, the setting member for the authentication registration mode (authentication registration mode) for performing authentication registration of the authorized user of the remote controller 200 by pressing the power operation key 2 for a predetermined time or longer (for example, 2 seconds or longer). It is also configured to function as a key. When the authentication registration mode is set by this operation, “authentication registration mode” is displayed on the display 1, and the user operates the confirmation key 10 or 11 while confirming the “authentication registration mode” on the display 1. If the user operates the confirm key 10 or 11 after shaking the remote controller with the intention of authenticating himself / herself as an authorized user, the user confirms the type of function (mode). Is registered as a reference for authenticating the user as a legitimate user.

  Such authentication registration can be performed for each of a plurality of users. After the registration, after the power operation key 2 is pressed for less than a predetermined time to turn on the power, immediately after the user moves the remote controller 200 with the “swing” (movement pattern) that the user has authenticated and registered as his / her own, the system controller 230 designates a plurality of users corresponding to each of a plurality of pre-registered authentication displacement data (data corresponding to the registered movement pattern) and each displacement data corresponding to each other within a predetermined allowable error range. It authenticates that it is each regular user, identifies each regular user by this authentication, and permits regular use.

FIG. 5 shows that the remote control device (remote controller 200) described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 stores external information through communication means (cable 241 connected to the external device interface 240 described with reference to FIG. 3). It is a conceptual diagram showing embodiment which performed the cooperation operation | movement with a processing apparatus.
As described above with reference to FIG. 3, the remote controller 200 includes an external device interface 240 as communication means for communicating with a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer) 600 as an external information storage / processing device. Yes. More strictly, the communication unit includes the external device interface 240, the cable 241, and the corresponding functional units of the system controller 230.
The personal computer 600 is further connected to an information source such as the server 450 via the IP network 400 and can exchange information over a wide range. As a result, the remote controller 200 can be exchanged via the personal computer 600 and the IP network 400. Information can be exchanged with the server 450. The server 450 has a predetermined control function (for example, the correspondence relationship with each predetermined displacement data ("remove" of the remote controller)) defined by the preliminary registration data that has been pre-registered by the operation of the above-described preliminary registration mode (for example, , Corresponding to each type of control signal applied to each predetermined operation for each of a plurality of predetermined control target devices for each type of “start (start)” and “stop (stop)” It can function as a model-specific correspondence data holding unit that holds relation data.

  Therefore, according to the control system of FIG. 5, by utilizing the function of the external information storage / processing device through the communication means, the model-specific correspondence data relating to all candidate devices to be controlled is previously stored in the remote control device (remote controller). There is no need to be prepared for. For this reason, it becomes possible to perform more advanced control with a simple configuration without significantly increasing the burden on the remote controller itself. Furthermore, it becomes easy to adaptively cope with the change in the correspondence.

It is a conceptual diagram showing the control system as embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the digital television in the control system of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the remote controller in the control system of FIG. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | sequence of the operation key and display in the operation / display part of the remote controller of FIG. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing an embodiment in which the remote controller of FIGS. 3 and 4 performs a cooperative operation with an external information storage / processing device.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Display device 2 ... Power supply operation key (authentication registration mode key) 3 ... Clear key 4 ... Control object selection key 5 ... Number key function selection key 6 ... Movement direction function selection key 7 ... Number key 8 ... Movement direction selection key 9 ... Screen operation key 10 ... Confirmation operation key 11 ... Confirmation operation key 12 ... Preliminary registration mode setting switch 13 ... Registration mode setting switch 14 ... Operation mode setting switch 100 ... Digital television 101 ... Case 102 ... Screen 103 ... Left speaker 104 ... Right speaker 105 ... Light receiving window 110 ... Antenna 120 ... Demodulation / filtering unit 130 ... Video processing unit 131 ... OSD unit 140 ... Audio processing unit 141 ... Amplifier 142 ... Speaker 151 ... IP network interface unit 152 ... DLNA interface unit 160 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Liquid crystal display 161 ... Input switching part 170 ... System controller 171 ... Operation part 172 ... Memory 181 ... Remote controller signal receiving part 182 ... Remote controller signal decoding part 200 ... Remote controller 201 ... Housing | casing 211 ... Relative position detection means 212 ... Detection characteristic adjustment unit 220 ... Control signal projection unit 230 ... System controller 231 ... Operation / display unit 232 ... Memory 240 ... External device interface 241 ... Cable 251 ... Charger connection detection unit 300 ... PVR 400 ... IP network 450 ... Server 500 ... Battery Charger 600 ... PC

Claims (13)

  A housing having an external dimension that can be handled so that the user's position and posture can be changed by a user, and housing a predetermined component therein, and a relative change related to the position and posture of the housing without contact Relative displacement detection means for detecting and generating displacement data corresponding to the detected value, preliminarily registering the displacement data generated by the relative displacement detection means and the type of control function selected by the user in association with each other Preliminary registration means and a control signal applied to an operation on one control target device selected from a plurality of predetermined control target devices for each type of control function associated with the displacement data preliminarily registered by the preliminary registration means A control signal generating means for generating the control signal, and a control signal transmitting means for transmitting the control signal generated by the control signal generating means to the control target device. Control device.   A housing having an external dimension that can be handled so that the user's position and posture can be changed by a user, and housing a predetermined component therein, and a relative change related to the position and posture of the housing without contact Relative displacement detection means for detecting and generating displacement data corresponding to the detected value, preliminarily registering the displacement data generated by the relative displacement detection means and the type of control function selected by the user in association with each other Preliminary registration means and a control signal applied to an operation on one control target device selected from a plurality of predetermined control target devices for each type of control function associated with the displacement data preliminarily registered by the preliminary registration means A control signal generating means for generating the control signal, and a control signal sending means for sending the control signal generated by the control signal generating means to the control target device. The preliminary registration means has a plurality of operation members that accept an operation for selecting the type of the control function by the user, and sets the type of each predetermined control function selected by each predetermined operation on these operation members. Recognizing the preliminary registration operation accepting unit, the type of each predetermined control function recognized based on the operation on the preliminary registration operation accepting unit, and each predetermined displacement data obtained as an output of the relative displacement detecting unit respectively A remote control apparatus comprising: a preliminary registration data forming unit that forms attached preliminary registration data and performs preliminary registration in a predetermined storage means.   The control signal generating unit is configured to control a predetermined plurality of control target devices for each predetermined control function for which a correspondence relationship with each predetermined displacement data is defined by the preliminary registration data preliminarily registered by the preliminary registration unit. Based on the model-specific correspondence data held in the model-specific correspondence data holding means that holds the model-specific correspondence data representing the correspondence with the control signal applied to each predetermined operation, the displacement data is The remote control device according to claim 2, wherein the remote control device is configured to generate a control signal to be applied to a predetermined operation of one control target device as having a known correspondence relationship.   The remote control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the relative displacement detection unit includes an inertial sensor.   The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the control signal transmission unit is configured to emit a remote control signal using infrared rays.   The model-specific correspondence data holding means transmits the data according to the access from the remote control device as necessary, from the data storage device installed separately from the remote control device. 4. The remote control device according to claim 3, wherein the remote control device is configured to acquire and retain model-specific correspondence data.   When the relative displacement detection means obtains displacement data that coincides with pre-registered authentication displacement data within a predetermined allowable error range, it is used by authenticating that the user is an authorized user of the remote control device. The remote control device according to claim 1, further comprising an authentication unit that permits the authentication.   The authenticating means authenticates a plurality of users as each authorized user in correspondence with a plurality of pieces of pre-registered displacement data for authentication and corresponding displacement data within a predetermined allowable error range. 8. The remote control device according to claim 7, wherein each remote user is identified by the authentication and allowed to be used normally.   The relative displacement detection means is configured to be able to change a detection characteristic of an amount or speed of the relative change when detecting a relative change related to the position and orientation of the housing in a non-contact manner. The remote control device according to any one of claims 1 and 2.   A housing having an external dimension that can be handled so that the user's position and posture can be changed by a user, and housing a predetermined component therein, and a relative change related to the position and posture of the housing without contact Relative displacement detection means for detecting and generating displacement data corresponding to the detected value, preliminarily registering the displacement data generated by the relative displacement detection means and the type of control function selected by the user in association with each other A control signal to be applied to an operation on a selected control target device among a plurality of predetermined control target devices for each type of control function associated with the preliminary registration means and the displacement data registered by the preliminary registration means. A remote control device comprising: a control signal generating means for generating; and a control signal transmitting means for transmitting the control signal generated by the control signal generating means to the control target device. A controlled device that can be controlled, a receiving unit that receives a control signal from the control signal sending means in response to an operation including a change in position and orientation of the housing from the remote control device; and the receiving unit And a system controller for recognizing an index movement / determination operation on the screen of the display device according to the control signal received in step (b) and performing a controlled operation based on the recognition.   A GUI unit for displaying a GUI screen on the screen of the display device and recognizing the movement / determination operation of the index on the GUI screen; and the system controller performs a controlled operation based on the recognition by the GUI unit. The controlled device according to claim 10, wherein the controlled device is configured to perform.   The system controller is configured to allow continuous movement of an index on a screen of a display device, recognize a movement / determination operation of the index, and perform a controlled operation based on the recognition. The controlled device according to claim 10. A housing having an external dimension that can be handled so that the user's position and posture can be changed by a user, and housing a predetermined component therein, and a relative change related to the position and posture of the housing without contact Relative displacement detection means for detecting and generating displacement data corresponding to the detected value, preliminarily registering the displacement data generated by the relative displacement detection means and the type of control function selected by the user in association with each other A control signal to be applied to an operation on a selected control target device among a plurality of predetermined control target devices for each type of control function associated with the preliminary registration means and the displacement data registered by the preliminary registration means. A remote control device comprising: a control signal generating means for generating; and a control signal transmitting means for transmitting the control signal generated by the control signal generating means to the device to be controlled;
A receiving unit that receives a control signal issued from the control signal sending means in response to an operation including a change in position and orientation of the casing from the remote control device, and a display device that responds to the control signal received by the receiving unit A controlled device comprising: a system controller for recognizing a movement / determining operation of an index on the screen of the system and performing a controlled operation based on the recognition;
A control system comprising:

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