JP2007214863A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem wherein complicated operation is needed for a remote controller having multiple signal transmitters, since a changeover switch should be manipulated whenever the operation changes between the one at the controller carried by hand and the one at the controller placed on a desk. <P>SOLUTION: A control unit comprises a control unit having buttons pressed down by a user, a signal generator for receiving a button information associated with a pressed down button and generating corresponding a corresponding button code signal, multiple signal transmitters for transmitting the button code signal, and a transmission switch for switching between two signal transmitters for signal transmission, according to a chassis angle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote controller having a plurality of signal transmission units.

  In recent years, television receivers and the like have been digitized and highly functionalized, and many functions such as the Internet and mail have been installed. Along with this, remote controllers have been equipped with buttons used for these functions. The arrangement of buttons has become complicated, and it has become increasingly common to press buttons while looking at the display on the front of the remote controller. On the other hand, you may place it on a flat surface such as a desk and press a button.

Conventionally, this type of remote controller is configured to transmit remote control signals from a plurality of transmitting elements having different transmission directions, as described in Patent Document 1, so that the remote control device can be naturally operated with one hand. Some devices can be operated even when placed on a horizontal surface such as a desk. This remote controller has a changeover switch, and can switch a plurality of signal transmission units.
JP-A-3-239092

  However, the remote controller described in Patent Document 1 has a drawback that the switching operation is complicated. Today, as remote control operation opportunities increase, this drawback is a major obstacle to input operability. Specifically, there is a problem that it is necessary to operate the switching every time the operation of the operation with the remote controller held by hand and the operation on the desk is changed, and it is necessary to check the switching state.

  The remote controller of the present invention has a function of automatically switching a plurality of transmission units according to the angle at which the remote controller is operated, and simultaneously transmitting a signal from only one transmission unit.

  Specifically, the operation unit includes an operation unit having a button to be pressed by the user, a signal generation unit that receives the pressed button information and generates a corresponding button code signal, and a plurality of signal transmissions that transmit the button code signal. And a transmission switching unit that switches which of the two signal transmission units transmits a signal according to the main body angle.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to perform button input by switching the transmission unit without actively performing the switching operation, and there is an effect that the operation can be performed smoothly.

(Embodiment 1)
An example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are side views showing the appearance of a remote controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Buttons for instructing various operations are arranged on at least one surface of the remote controller. In the drawing, since the drawing of the code becomes complicated, only a part of the buttons are indicated, but all the buttons displayed in the drawing are shown. The entire button is detected by an internal circuit to determine which button is pressed by the user. The entire button is arranged, and a portion for detecting which button is pressed is referred to as an operation unit 2.

  The remote controller of the present invention can be operated in two operating states: a case where the main body is naturally held by hand and the main body is tilted slightly forward, and a main body is placed on a desk or floor and the main body is operated horizontally. It is what has.

  Depending on the angle of the remote controller in each state, the two signal transmitters can be connected so that the signal is transmitted toward the receiver, such as a television, even if the angle of the remote controller is different in each state. It automatically switches from which signal is sent. When operating by tilting forward, a signal is transmitted from the first signal transmission unit 8 attached at an angle near the bottom of the remote controller. When operating in a horizontal state, a signal is transmitted from the second signal transmission unit 10 mounted horizontally.

  3 and 4 are diagrams showing the structure of the transmission switching unit according to the present embodiment.

  The transmission switching unit 6 includes a non-metallic ball case 12 in contact with at least two surfaces of the metal ball 14. The ball case 12 is installed with a slight incline backward with respect to the remote controller main body. Due to this inclination, the metal ball 14 rolls backward when the remote controller main body is horizontal, and the metal ball 14 rolls forward when the main body is tilted forward. A first contact 16 and a second contact 18 are provided at the rear end of the ball case 12 so as to be energized when the metal ball 14 rolls. Based on this energized state, the angle of the main body is detected and the signal transmission unit is switched.

  In this description, the position of the contact point is the rear side, but it may be provided on the near side.

  Next, the operation of the remote controller of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram of this configuration. In FIG. 5, the operation unit 2 includes a button 22 pressed by the user. When the user presses the button unit 22, the operation unit 2 outputs button information indicating which button is pressed.

  The button information indicating which button has been pressed is input to the signal generation unit 4, and the signal generation unit 4 encodes and generates a button code signal corresponding to the pressed button.

  The transmission switching unit 6 receives the button code signal output from the signal generation unit 4 and switches the signal transmission unit from the two signal transmission units based on the button code signal. When the current operation state is the horizontal state, the button code signal output from the signal generation unit 4 is transmitted from the second signal transmission unit 10 to the main device by infrared rays or the like. When the main body is tilted forward, the first signal transmission unit 8 transmits the main body device.

  A method of using the remote controller configured as described above and the operation accompanying it will be described. In the present embodiment, for example, it is assumed that the channel number “1” is pressed.

  First, the case where the remote controller of the present invention is used on a desk will be described. The user places the main body horizontally as shown in FIG. 1 and presses the channel number “1” button. The operation unit 2 notifies the signal generation unit 4 that the channel number “1” button has been pressed. The signal generator 4 generates a button code signal indicating channel 1 which is the button code signal of the channel number “1” button. Since the transmission switching unit 6 is horizontal and the transmission switching unit 6 is inclined slightly rearward, the metal ball 14 is energized, so that the channel number “1” button of the second signal transmission unit 10 is turned on. Send a button code signal.

  Next, a case where the remote controller of the present invention is used in hand will be described. The user holds the main body as shown in FIG. 2 and presses the channel number “1” button. The operation unit 2 notifies the signal generation unit 4 that the channel number “1” button has been pressed. The signal generator 4 generates a button code signal indicating channel 1 which is the button code signal of the channel number “1” button. Since the transmission switching unit 6 is tilted toward the front and the transmission switching unit 6 is also tilted toward the front, the metal ball 14 is turned off, so that the channel number “1” button of the first signal transmission unit 8 is Send a button code signal.

  As described above, since the remote controller of the present invention employs the above-described switching method, the transmitter can be switched to perform button input without actively performing the switching operation, and the operation can be performed smoothly. There is an effect that can be done.

  In addition, about the structure of the transmission switch part 6, although the example of the metal ball | bowl 14 and a terminal was described, it is not limited to this, A thing like a non-metal sphere and a switch may be sufficient. Although it is spherical when placed in a shape, it may be a pendulum type or a cylindrical shape of a watch as long as it is movable. Further, the same effect can be obtained by detecting the angle by using a conventional angle sensor such as a gyro and switching the transmission unit.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which there are two transmission units has been described. However, a plurality of transmission units may be used, and three or more transmission units may be switched.

  The remote controller according to the present invention is multifunctional and excellent in operability, and is useful in other remote controlled devices such as television receivers, AV devices such as VTRs and DVDs.

The 1st side view which shows the external appearance of the remote controller which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention The 2nd side view which shows the external appearance of the remote controller which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention 1st overview which shows the transmission switching part of the remote controller which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention 2nd overview figure which shows the transmission switching part of the remote controller which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention The block diagram which shows the structure of Embodiment 1 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

2 Operation unit 4 Signal generation unit 6 Transmission switching unit 8 First signal transmission unit 10 Second signal transmission unit 12 Ball case 14 Metal ball 16 First contact 18 Second contact 22 Button

Claims (1)

According to the main body angle, an operation unit having a button operated by the user, a signal generation unit that receives the operated button information and generates a corresponding button code signal, a plurality of signal transmission units that transmit the button code signal, A remote controller, comprising: a transmission switching unit that switches a signal transmission unit from among a plurality of signal transmission units.

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