JP2006270407A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote controller for effectively using four buttons different in color. <P>SOLUTION: LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, 2Y for emitting light mutually different in color are adjacently arranged in four selection switches 11-14. A function switch 3 is arranged to set the functions of the selection switches. When an operation recognizing means 5 detects the operation of the function switch, a state reading means 6 reads the state of the function switch. A lighting control means 7 turns on the LEDs in the read one of the states of the function switch and turns off the LEDs in the other state. By the four selection switches, the first kind of remote control to receive a data broadcasting is performed when the LEDs are turned on and the second kind of remote control for a case other than the data broadcasting is performed when the LEDs are turned off. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control apparatus, generally called a remote control, in which a user remotely controls a digital broadcast receiver.

  Data broadcasting is one of digital broadcasting implemented in Japan. In data broadcasting, a remote control device (hereinafter abbreviated as a remote controller) as a user interface is provided with four color buttons. At the time of data broadcast reception, instructions for using the color buttons are appropriately displayed on the digital broadcast receiver, and the user is prompted to select it. The user operates the color button according to the usage instructions displayed on the screen, and the digital broadcast receiver displays various information according to the operation of the color button.

The four color buttons provided on the remote control are buttons that should be used as a user interface for data broadcasting, but display usage instructions on the screen for purposes other than receiving data broadcasting, for example, when making a program reservation. Thus, a digital broadcast receiver having various functions has also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).
JP 2002-135676 A

  However, when the four color buttons are used for purposes other than data broadcasting, it is ambiguous for the user to distinguish whether the current operation is a data broadcasting receiving operation or an operation other than data broadcasting receiving. There was a problem that. In addition, the four color buttons cannot be used to voluntarily call a function assumed by the user at an indefinite time regardless of whether or not the data broadcast is received. There was also a problem.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a remote controller that can effectively use four color buttons.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a first remote control in which a user operates a remote control of the digital broadcast receiver in accordance with an instruction displayed on the screen when receiving a data broadcast by the digital broadcast receiver. And a remote control device capable of performing a second remote control for remotely controlling the digital broadcast receiver by being operated by a user for purposes other than receiving a data broadcast,
Used to receive the data broadcast when lit, used for purposes other than receiving the data broadcast when unlit, contains LEDs that emit light in different colors, or is close to the LED, A plurality of selection switches that have no color difference when turned off, and allow the user to recognize the relationship with the color of the adjacent LED when the LED is turned on;
A function switch for setting the function of the selection switch;
Operation recognition means for detecting that the function switch has been operated;
A state reading unit that reads a state of the function switch when an operation of the function switch is detected by the operation recognition unit;
Lighting control means for turning on the LED in any one state of the function switch read by the state reading means, and turning off the LED in the other state;
The first remote control is executed when the LED is turned on, and the second remote control is executed when the LED is turned off.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the LED is turned on in any one of the function switches, the LED is turned off in the other state, the first remote control is executed when the LED is turned on, and the LED is turned off. Since the second remote control is configured to be executed, a remote control capable of effectively using the four color buttons is provided.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the drawings.
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of a remote control according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, four selection switches 11, 12, 13, and 14 are provided in the vicinity of each of the selection switches 11 to 14 and emit light in different colors, that is, “blue”, “ LED 2B, 2R, 2G, 2Y that emits light in red, green, and yellow, function switch 3 that sets the functions of selection switches 11 to 14, and a digital broadcast receiver (not shown) as a main unit are remote controlled. And an infrared LED 4 for transmitting the code.

  Furthermore, the operation recognizing means 5 for detecting that the function switch 3 and the selection switches 11, 12, 13, 14 are operated, and the operation recognizing means 5 operates the function switch 3 or the selection switches 11, 12, 13, 14 LED 2B, 2R, 2G and 2Y are turned on in either state of the state reading means 6 for reading the respective states and the function switch 3 read by the state reading means 6 Based on the lighting control means 7 for turning off the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, and 2Y in the state, the state of the function switch 3 read by the state reading means 6 and the state of the selection switches 11, 12, 13, and 14, the LEDs 2B, 2R, When 2G and 2Y are lit, the selection switches 11, 12, 13, and 14 are used as four color buttons to select them. A remote control code for selecting a corresponding data broadcast is generated, and in addition to the infrared LED 4, a remote control code corresponding to a normal button operation is generated for purposes other than receiving the data broadcast when the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, and 2Y are turned off. When the remote control code generation means 8 to be added to the infrared LED 4 and the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G and 2Y are turned on, the selection switches 11, 12, 13 and 14 are not operated even after a predetermined time has passed. 2R, 2G, and 2Y are provided.

  The operation of the remote controller configured as described above will be described below. The function switch 3 sets the function of the selection switches 11, 12, 13, and 14. When the operation recognition unit 5 detects that the function switch 3 has been operated, the state reading unit 6 sets the state of the function switch 3 and The states of the selection switches 11, 12, 13, and 14 are detected, the state detection signal of the function switch 3 is added to the lighting control means 7, and the state detection signals of the function switch 3 and the selection switches 11, 12, 13, and 14 are remote-controlled. Add to the code generation means 8. The lighting control means 7 turns on the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, 2Y in any one state of the function switch 3 read by the state reading means 6, and turns off the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, 2Y in the other state. . The remote control code generation means 8 regards the operation signals of the selection switches 11, 12, 13, and 14 as the operation signals of the four color buttons when the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, and 2Y are lit, and performs remote control at the time of data broadcasting reception. Operation signal for use other than receiving the data broadcast of the operation signals of the selection switches 11, 12, 13, 14 when the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, 2Y are turned off in addition to the infrared LED 4 Then, a remote control code for remotely controlling the digital broadcast receiver is generated and added to the infrared LED 4. The lighting time limiting means 9 outputs a signal for turning off the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, and 2Y when the selection switches 11, 12, 13, and 14 are not operated after the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, and 2Y are turned on. This is added to the lighting control means 7.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a specific configuration example of the remote controller shown in a block diagram in FIG. In FIG. 2, tact switches 101, 102, 103, and 104 as selection switches are arranged in a row in the horizontal direction near the front end of the operation surface of the casing 10 whose outer shape is a rectangular parallelepiped. Corresponding to the switches 101, 102, 103, and 104, LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, and 2Y that emit light in “blue”, “red”, “green”, and “yellow” are arranged in the vicinity thereof. Also, a slide switch 30 as a function switch is provided on the right side of the distal end portion of the operation surface, and an infrared LED 4 is provided on the end side surface of the distal end of the operation surface. However, this drawing shows only switches for performing operations for realizing functions necessary for explaining the present embodiment, and switches necessary for actual digital broadcast reception are not limited to this.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the remote controller shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 denote the same elements. Here, the microcomputer 100 is provided inside the remote controller housing 10 (see FIG. 2). The microcomputer 100 includes tact switches 101, 102, 103, 104, LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, 2Y, and a slide switch 30. And the infrared LED 4 are electrically connected. Among these, the tact switches 101, 102, 103, and 104 have a single color key top, and in particular, other than blue, red, green, and yellow, and the user associates colors of blue, red, green, and yellow. It is desirable that the color is not the same color (for example, it is not a color reminiscent of blue such as light blue).

  Next, the operation of the remote controller whose specific configuration is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will be described below. The slide switch 30 is a switch for switching the data broadcast mode. Here, if the user performs an operation to change the slide switch 30 from the off state to the on state, the microcomputer 100 indicates that the slide switch 30 has been turned on from the off state. Is detected and all of the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G and 2Y are turned on. If the user performs an operation to change the slide switch 30 from the on state to the off state, the microcomputer 100 detects that the slide switch 30 has been turned off from the on state and detects the LED 2B, 2R. All of 2G and 2Y are turned off.

  The tact switches 101, 102, 103, and 104 are switches that combine the functions of four color buttons and other normal button functions. For example, the tact switch 101 is a switch having both a blue button function and another button function. Another button function is that, for example, a function for entering the image quality adjustment mode is assigned.

  Therefore, it is assumed that the user performs an operation of pressing the tact switch 101. The microcomputer 100 detects that the tact switch 101 has been pressed, and then checks the state of the slide switch 30. At this time, if the state of the slide switch 30 is OFF, the microcomputer 100 generates a remote control code for the image quality adjustment mode and adds it to the infrared LED 4. On the contrary, if the state of the slide switch 30 is ON, the microcomputer 100 generates a remote control code indicating that the blue button has been pressed and adds it to the infrared LED 4. The infrared LED 4 transmits an infrared code signal toward the main body in accordance with the remote control code signal added thereto.

  As described above, the feature of the present embodiment is that the code generated and transmitted when the tact switch 101, 102, 103, 104 is pressed is switched according to the state of the slide switch 30. In this case, it is desirable that the operation surface of the remote controller is marked with both operations corresponding to both the functions of the four-color buttons and other functions. For example, it is conceivable that a character “image quality correction / blue” is imprinted in the vicinity of the tact switch 101.

  Further, the microcomputer 100 turns on the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, and 2Y, and if the tact switches 101, 102, 103, and 104 are not pressed for a certain period of time, or after the slide switch 30 is turned off once. When the operation to turn on again is not performed, the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, and 2Y are turned off. If the tact switch 101, 102, 103, 104 is pressed after the light is turned off, or if the slide switch 30 is once turned off and then turned on again, the LEDs 2B, 2R 2G and 2Y are lit.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a specific processing procedure of the microcomputer 100 when the slide switch 30 is operated, and corresponds to the state reading means 6 and the lighting control means 7 of the present invention. The processing operation will be described below according to this flowchart. In the following description, for example, step 401 is described as S401. Here, first, when the operation of the slide switch 30 is detected, the state of the slide switch 30 is confirmed (verified) in S401. If the slide switch 30 is on, the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, and 2Y are turned on in S402. If the slide switch 30 is in the OFF state, it is checked in S403 whether the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, 2Y are lit. If it is not lit, the process proceeds to S405 and no processing is performed. In S405, the LED 2B, 2R, 2G, 2Y may be turned on for a moment and then immediately turned off.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a specific processing procedure of the microcomputer 100 when the tact switches 101, 102, 103, 104 are operated, and corresponds to the state reading means 6 and the remote control code generating means 8 of the present invention. . The processing operation will be described below according to this flowchart. It is assumed that any one of the tact switches 101, 102, 103, 104 is operated and the operation is detected by the operation recognition unit 5. At this time, the state of the slide switch 30 is collated in S501. If it is determined that the slide switch 30 is in the OFF state, the tact switch 101, 102, 103, 104 is pressed in S502 for a predetermined button operation other than the normal button operation, that is, receiving data broadcasting. Recognizing the button operation, a remote control code corresponding to the normal button operation is generated and transmitted to the infrared LED 4.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S501 that the slide switch 30 is on, it is checked in S503 whether the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, and 2Y are lit. As a result, if the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, and 2Y are not lit, the tact switches 101, 102, 103, and 104 are lit in S504. On the other hand, if the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, and 2Y are already lit, four color button codes are generated and transmitted to the infrared LED 4 in S505. Further, in the state of S504, that is, when the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, and 2Y are turned off and turned on, the codes of the four color buttons are generated and transmitted to the infrared LED 4 in S505. Note that the transition from S504 to S505 is not necessarily performed. At this time, the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, and 2Y may be turned on again when a tact switch (not shown) other than the tact switches 101, 102, 103, and 104 is pressed.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a specific processing procedure of the microcomputer 100 when the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G and 2Y are turned on, and corresponds to the lighting time limiting means 9 of the present invention. The processing operation will be described below according to this flowchart. When the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, and 2Y are turned on, the microcomputer 100 starts an internal timer in S601. Here, starting the timer means setting the value of the variable of the timer counter held by the microcomputer 100 to an integer of 1 or more. In S602, it is detected whether or not there is any operation on the remote control. If there is any operation, the timer is reset in S603. This reset is to return the value of the variable of the timer counter to the state of S601. If no operation is performed by the remote controller, it is checked in S604 whether the value of the timer counter variable is greater than zero. If larger, the value of the timer counter variable is decremented (minus 1) in S605, and the process returns to S602. If the value of the timer counter variable is 0, the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, and 2Y are turned off in S606. If the timer is set to 30 seconds, for example, by the processing shown in FIG. 6, the LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, and 2Y are turned off when 30 seconds have passed without the tact switches 101, 102, 103, and 104 being operated. .

  As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the four color buttons can be effectively used for other functions, and the number of buttons on the remote control can be reduced. Can also be obtained. Further, by using the LED, it is possible to provide a remote control that is visually superior and has a good appearance at the store.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a specific configuration example of the second embodiment of the remote control according to the present invention. In FIG. 7, the same elements as those in FIG. 2 showing the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. The remote control shown in FIG. 7 uses self-illuminated tact switches 201, 202, 203, and 204 instead of the tact switches 101, 102, 103, and 104 and LEDs 2B, 2R, 2G, and 2Y shown in FIG. The point differs from the configuration of the first embodiment, and the other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. The self-illuminating tact switch is a combination of a push button made of a light transmitting material and an LED, and has an effect that the button itself appears to shine. The tact switch 201 incorporates a blue LED 20B and shines blue in the data broadcast mode. The tact switch 202 incorporates a red LED 20R, and shines red in the data broadcasting mode. The tact switch 203 incorporates a green LED 20G and shines green in the data broadcasting mode. The tact switch 204 incorporates a yellow LED 20Y and shines yellow in the data broadcasting mode. Thus, by using a self-illuminating tact switch, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In the digital broadcast receiver having the remote control described as the first and second embodiments described above, when using the four color buttons, the user is prompted to use the four color buttons on the display screen. However, it is assumed that the four colors are not displayed on the remote control. In this case, although the user desires to press the four color buttons, the user may be confused because the four colors are not displayed on the remote control. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, a message prompting the user to operate the slide switch 30 to use the four color buttons is displayed on the data broadcast screen. This can prevent the user from being confused beforehand.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of 1st Embodiment of the remote control which concerns on this invention. It is a top view which shows the specific structural example of the remote control shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the whole structure of the remote control shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the specific process sequence of the microcomputer which comprises the remote control shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the specific process sequence of the microcomputer which comprises the remote control shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the specific process sequence of the microcomputer which comprises the remote control shown in FIG. It is a top view which shows the specific structural example of 2nd Embodiment of the remote control which concerns on this invention. It is an example of a display screen of a digital broadcast receiver that is preferably applied to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

3 Function switch 4 Infrared LED
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 5 Operation recognition means 6 Status reading means 7 Lighting control means 8 Remote control code generation means 9 Lighting time restriction means 11, 12, 13, 14 Selection switch 30 Slide switch 100 Microcomputer 101, 102, 103, 104, 201, 202, 203 204 tact switch 2B, 2R, 2G, 2Y, 20B, 20R, 20G, 20Y LED

Claims (1)

When the data broadcast is received by the digital broadcast receiver, the user operates the first remote control to remotely control the digital broadcast receiver according to the usage instructions displayed on the screen, and the user uses for purposes other than receiving the data broadcast. In a remote control device capable of operating and performing a second remote control to remotely control the digital broadcast receiver,
Used to receive the data broadcast when lit, used for purposes other than receiving the data broadcast when unlit, contains LEDs that emit light in different colors, or is close to the LED, A plurality of selection switches that have no color difference when turned off, and allow the user to recognize the relationship with the color of the adjacent LED when the LED is turned on;
A function switch for setting the function of the selection switch;
Operation recognition means for detecting that the function switch has been operated;
A state reading unit that reads a state of the function switch when an operation of the function switch is detected by the operation recognition unit;
Lighting control means for turning on the LED in any one state of the function switch read by the state reading means, and turning off the LED in the other state;
The remote control device, wherein the first remote control is executed when the LED is turned on, and the second remote control is executed when the LED is turned off.

Images