JP2006304097A - Digital broadcast receiving system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problems that when terrestrial digital broadcast starts, an existing television set 2 capable of receiving only analog broadcast must be provided with a digital tuner 3 to input a signal outputted from an RF converter 32 of the digital tuner into the television set 2, and that an infrared type remote controller 21 cannot operate the digital tuner 3 installed on the outside of a bathroom 1 because an infrared ray does not reach the outside of the bathroom 1. <P>SOLUTION: A relay unit 4 for receiving an infrared ray having a superimposed signal and transmitting the signal while superimposing the signal on a radio wave. Thus, the radio wave emitted from the relay unit 4 is received by a receiving section 31 and the infrared type remote controller 21 can operate the digital tuner 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiving system in which a digital broadcast can be viewed on an analog broadcast compatible television apparatus already installed in a bathroom.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a television device that is installed in a bathroom so that a user can watch a television broadcast while taking a bath. Many of these television devices only support analog broadcasting and cannot receive digital terrestrial broadcasting.

  Terrestrial digital broadcasting started in 2003, and has spread throughout the country in 2006, and terrestrial analog broadcasting is scheduled to be abolished in 2011.

  In this way, when television broadcasting has shifted from terrestrial analog broadcasting to terrestrial digital broadcasting, in order to appreciate terrestrial digital broadcasting, the television device itself must be replaced with one compatible with terrestrial digital broadcasting, or the television device and antenna It is necessary to interpose a digital tuner between the two.

  In the case of interposing a digital tuner, it is necessary to install the digital tuner outside the bathroom, but it is necessary to perform channel switching and the like on the digital tuner instead of the television device.

A remote controller using radio waves is known as a device for controlling the operation of equipment outside the bathroom from inside the bathroom without opening a hole for passing a communication cable through the bathroom (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2004-177101 (paragraphs 0015 and 0016)

  The remote control of the television apparatus and the digital tuner is mostly an infrared type, and the remote control of the television apparatus already installed in the bathroom is also generally an infrared type. Therefore, when a radio remote controller is used for a digital tuner, there is a problem that two remote controllers, that is, a remote controller for an existing television apparatus and a remote controller for a digital tuner must be used.

  In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a digital broadcast receiving system capable of operating a digital tuner from inside a bathroom without using a new hole in the bathroom even when using an infrared remote controller. Let it be an issue.

  In order to solve the above problems, a digital broadcast receiving system according to the present invention can be placed outside a bathroom where a television set capable of receiving an analog broadcast is installed, and can receive a digital broadcast that the television set cannot receive. It has a digital tuner and an RF converter that converts an output signal of the digital tuner into an analog signal that can be received by the television device, and receives infrared rays emitted from an infrared remote control in the bathroom and is superimposed on the infrared rays. A relay unit for operating the digital tuner by transmitting a radio wave having the same meaning as a signal is provided.

  The signal superimposed on the infrared ray emitted from the infrared remote controller is superimposed on the radio wave by the relay unit and transmitted to the digital tuner. For this reason, the content of the operation performed on the infrared remote controller can reach the digital tuner outside the bathroom without making a hole in the bathroom wall.

  The relay unit may be detachably attached to a wall surface in the bathroom.

  Further, a solar cell may be attached to the relay unit, and the relay unit may be operated by electric power generated by the solar cell.

  The infrared remote controller may be capable of operating the television device.

  As is apparent from the above description, the present invention allows the digital tuner to be used because the signal superimposed on the infrared light is superimposed on the radio wave by the relay unit even if the remote control used in the bathroom is of the infrared type. Even if it is installed outside the bathroom, it is possible to operate the digital tuner outside the bathroom using an infrared remote controller without making a hole or the like in the bathroom wall. If the relay unit is a separate body, the existing remote controller may be retrofitted without changing the remote controller, and the remote controller may not be replaced.

  Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a bathroom, and a television device 2 is attached to the inner wall surface of the bathroom 1. This television apparatus 2 has an antenna input terminal to which radio waves of terrestrial analog broadcasting are input. The television apparatus 2 reproduces an analog broadcast signal input from the antenna input terminal to display an image or sound TV sound. is there.

  The operation of the television apparatus is performed by an infrared remote controller 21. This remote control 21 has a waterproof structure. By operating the remote controller 21, the TV apparatus 2 can be turned on / off, the volume is increased / decreased, the channel is switched, and the like. Since the television device 2 is a device dedicated to terrestrial analog broadcasting, the channel can only be selected from 1 to 12. On the other hand, the remote controller 21 is configured to be able to operate channels in the UHF region employed in terrestrial digital broadcasting in addition to 1 to 12. Even if the channel of the UHF area is selected by the remote controller 21, the television apparatus 2 does not correspond to the UHF area, so that the channel is not switched.

  A digital tuner 3 is installed outside the bathroom 1. In this embodiment, it is installed behind the ceiling of the bathroom 1, but may be installed in an appropriate place. The digital tuner 3 is provided with a receiving unit 31 that receives control radio waves. Further, an RF converter 32 is provided that receives a digital signal for digital broadcasting and generates an image signal and an audio signal, and then converts both signals into signals that can be input to the antenna input terminal of the television apparatus 2.

  The digital tuner 3 is controlled such as channel switching by the radio wave received by the receiving unit 31 as described above.

  A relay unit 4 that transmits radio waves to the receiving unit 31 is attached in the bathroom 1. The relay unit 4 is preferably installed in the vicinity of the illumination unit 11 in the bathroom 1.

  Referring to FIG. 2, relay unit 2 includes a permanent magnet 41 on the back surface. The wall surface of the bathroom 1 is formed of a steel plate, and the relay unit 4 can be freely attached to and detached from the wall surface of the bathroom 1 by the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 41. In addition, you may use a suction cup instead of the permanent magnet 41, and even if the wall surface of the bathroom 1 is not formed with the steel plate, the relay unit 2 can be detachably attached to a desired position.

  Further, a solar cell 42 is provided on the front surface of the relay unit 4, and when the relay unit 4 is attached in the vicinity of the illumination unit 11 as described above, the solar cell 42 generates power by the light from the illumination unit 11, The relay unit 4 is activated by the generated power. A light receiving portion 43 is provided at the lower front portion of the relay unit 4, and the infrared light emitted from the remote controller 21 is received by the light receiving portion 43.

  When the infrared ray is received by the light receiving unit 43, a signal superimposed on the infrared ray is separated, and a radio wave on which the signal is further superimposed is transmitted. Therefore, for example, when the remote controller 21 performs an operation to switch channels, the infrared light emitted from the remote controller 21 is once received by the relay unit 4, and the radio wave on which the same signal is superimposed is transmitted from the relay unit 4.

  Since the radio wave transmitted from the relay unit 4 is received by the receiving unit 31, when the remote controller 21 is operated to switch to a desired channel for digital broadcasting, the relay unit 4 is relayed and the signal reaches the digital tuner 3, The channel of the digital tuner 3 is switched to the selected channel. At this time, the channel of the television apparatus 2 is set to 1 or 2 so that the signal input from the RF converter 32 can be reproduced.

  Thus, even if the digital broadcast channel in the UHF region is selected by the remote controller 21, the channel of the television device 2 remains 1 or 2 as described above. Further, the volume of the television apparatus 2 can be increased or decreased with the remote controller 21.

  In the above embodiment, the solar cell 42 is provided on the front surface of the relay unit 4. However, as shown in FIG. 3, the solar cell 42 is provided on the back surface of the relay unit 4 a and a suction cup 44 is provided instead of the permanent magnet 41. As shown in FIG. 4, the relay unit 4 a may be attached to the illumination unit 11. If comprised in this way, the light of the illumination part 11 can be made to enter into the solar cell 42 more strongly.

  By the way, there is a case where a cover for makeup is attached to the television apparatus 2, and in that case, an infrared light receiving part attached to the cover is prepared, and an existing cover and a cover provided with the infrared light receiving part are prepared. May be exchanged. If the infrared light receiving part is provided by replacing the cover in this way, it is not necessary to use the above-described permanent magnet or suction cup.

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

The figure which shows the structure of one embodiment of this invention Figure showing details of relay unit Diagram showing another form of relay unit The figure which shows the attachment state of the relay unit of other forms

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bathroom 2 Television apparatus 3 Digital tuner 4 Relay unit 4a Relay unit

Claims (4)

  A digital tuner capable of receiving a digital broadcast that cannot be received by the television apparatus, and a TV tuner output signal that can be received outside the bathroom where the television apparatus capable of receiving the analog broadcast is installed. It has an RF converter that converts it into an analog signal, receives infrared light emitted from an infrared remote controller in the bathroom, and operates the digital tuner by transmitting a radio wave having the same meaning as the signal superimposed on the infrared light. A digital broadcast receiving system comprising a relay unit.   The digital broadcast receiving system according to claim 1, wherein the relay unit is detachably attached to a wall surface in the bathroom.   The digital broadcast receiving system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a solar cell is attached to the relay unit, and the relay unit is operated by electric power generated by the solar cell. The digital broadcast receiving system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the infrared remote controller can operate the television apparatus.

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