JP2007318336A - Remote control system, electronic equipment, and remote control device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote control system that saves the electric power of a remote control device while securing user's convenience by automatically powering off the remote control device in synchronism with the disconnection of the power source of electronic equipment, and the electronic equipment and remote control device as elements of the remote control system. <P>SOLUTION: When a television set 10 as the electronic equipment is powered off, a notice signal indicating that the power source is turned off is sent from the television set 10 to the remote control device 20. Then the remote control device 20 turns off its power source in response to the notice signal sent from the television set 10. The television set 10 does not freely turn off the power source independently of the remote control device 20, but informs the remote control device 20 that the power source is to be turned off, and then the remote control device 20 turns off its power source in synchronism with the notice. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric device (for example, a television device, a video recording device, etc.), a remote operation device that operates the electric device by transmitting an operation signal from a position away from the electric device, and the electric device and the remote operation device. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electric device, a remote operation device, and a remote operation system that can save power for the remote operation device while ensuring user convenience.

In recent years, interest and demand for power saving (energy saving) are increasing in the field of electrical equipment. For example, there is a demand for power reduction in all states, such as power reduction during viewing of electrical equipment and power reduction during standby. In particular, standby power is wasted, and many efforts are being made toward zero power. For example, the user can stop power consumption in the standby state of the remote control device (remote control) without manually performing a troublesome action such as turning off the power switch of the television receiver main body or unplugging the power plug from the outlet. Techniques that enable this have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-59710 A

  However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 relates to a technique for power saving on the electric equipment side, and it is a fact that a sufficient power saving measure is not taken for the remote control device. The remote control device generally uses a battery such as a dry battery as a power source. When the remaining capacity of the battery runs out, remote control cannot be performed. In particular, in a remote control device that performs two-way communication of information with an electrical device, it is necessary to always energize the receiving unit in order to receive information transmitted from the electrical device. It was not enough.

  A method of turning off the power supply of the receiving unit of the remote control device by key operation of the remote control device is conceivable. However, in this method, since the power saving effect depends on the key operation of the user, the user can operate the key operation. If you forget, there is no power saving effect and it is not realistic. In addition, there is a method of turning off the power of the receiving unit of the remote control device when a predetermined time has elapsed after the reception of the operation signal from the electric device side, but there is an interval of use time for each user. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to realize power saving of the remote control device while ensuring user convenience.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to ensure convenience for the user by adopting a configuration in which the power source of the remote control device is automatically turned off in synchronization with the power source of the electric device being turned off. On the other hand, it is an object of the present invention to provide a remote operation system capable of realizing power saving of a remote operation device, and an electric device and a remote operation device as components of the remote operation system.

  A remote operation system according to the present invention includes an electric device and a remote operation device that operates the electric device by transmitting an operation signal from a position away from the electric device. A means for transmitting a notification signal to the effect that the power supply is cut off when the electric device is turned off, to the remote control device, the remote control device being configured to transmit the remote control device based on the notification signal transmitted from the electric device; A means for cutting off the power supply of the operating device is provided.

  In the present invention, when the electric device cuts off the power supply of the electric device, a notification signal indicating that the power supply is cut off is transmitted from the electric device to the remote control device. Then, the remote operation device turns off the power supply of the remote operation device based on the notification signal transmitted from the electric device. The electric device does not freely turn off the power independently of the remote operation device, but notifies the remote operation device that the power is cut off, so that the remote operation device is synchronized with the notification. Turn off the power. When the power supply of the electrical device is cut off, the remote control device cannot be used to operate the electrical device, so it is useless even if the remote control device is turned on. Therefore, the remote control device is synchronized with the notification signal. It is possible to realize power saving of the remote control device while ensuring the convenience for the user by automatically disconnecting the power source.

  The remote control system according to the present invention is characterized in that when the remote control device receives the notification signal, the remote control device includes means for transmitting a response signal indicating that the notification signal has been received to the electrical device.

  In the present invention, when the remote operation device receives the notification signal transmitted from the electric device, a response signal indicating that the notification signal has been received is transmitted from the remote operation device to the electric device. Thereby, the electric device can recognize from the response signal that the transmitted notification signal has reached the remote control device. On the other hand, when the response signal is not transmitted from the remote control device, the electric device can recognize that the notification signal has not reached the remote control device.

  The remote operation system according to the present invention is characterized in that when the electrical device receives the response signal, the remote operation system includes means for turning off the power of the electrical device.

  In the present invention, when the electric device receives the response signal transmitted by the remote control device, the electric device is turned off. When the response signal is received by the electric device, the transmitted notification signal has reached the remote control device, so that it can be determined that the remote control device knows that the electric device is powered off.

  An electrical device according to the present invention is an electrical device operated by an operation signal transmitted from a remote location, and a means for transmitting a notification signal to the outside when the power is turned off when the power is turned off; It is characterized by comprising means for receiving a response signal corresponding to the notification signal and means for cutting off the power supply when the response signal is received.

  In the present invention, when the power is turned off, first, a notification signal to the effect that the power is turned off is transmitted to the outside. Then, when a response signal corresponding to the notification signal is received from the outside, the power is turned off. That is, after notifying the outside (remote control device) that the power is to be cut off, the power is turned off in accordance with the reception of the response signal transmitted from the outside.

  The remote operation device according to the present invention is a remote operation device that operates an electric device by transmitting an operation signal from a remote location, and a means for receiving a notification signal from the outside to turn off the power of the electric device; And a means for cutting off the power based on the notification signal.

  In the present invention, a notification signal to the effect that the power supply of the electrical device is to be disconnected is received from the outside, and the power supply is disconnected based on the received notification signal. When the power supply of the electrical device is cut off, the remote control device cannot be used to operate the electrical device, so it is useless even if the remote control device is turned on. Therefore, the remote control device is synchronized with the notification signal. It is possible to realize power saving of the remote control device while ensuring the convenience for the user by automatically disconnecting the power source.

  The remote control device according to the present invention comprises means for transmitting a response signal indicating that the notification signal has been received to the outside when the notification signal is received.

  In the present invention, when the notification signal transmitted by the electric device is received, a response signal indicating that the notification signal has been received is transmitted to the outside (electric device). Thereby, the electric device can recognize from the response signal that the transmitted notification signal has reached the remote control device. On the other hand, when the response signal is not transmitted from the remote control device, the electric device can recognize that the notification signal has not reached the remote control device.

  According to the present invention, the electric device does not freely turn off the power independently of the remote operation device, but the remote operation device synchronizes with the notification by notifying the remote operation device that the power supply is cut off. Turn off the remote control device. When the power supply of the electrical device is cut off, the remote control device cannot be used to operate the electrical device, so it is useless even if the remote control device is turned on. Therefore, the remote control device is synchronized with the notification signal. It is possible to realize power saving of the remote control device while ensuring the convenience for the user by automatically disconnecting the power source.

  According to the present invention, when the remote control device receives the notification signal transmitted by the electric device, the electric device transmits the response signal indicating that the notification signal has been received to the electric device, so that the transmitted notification signal is transmitted to the electric device. It can be recognized from the response signal that the remote control device has been reached. On the other hand, when the response signal is not transmitted from the remote control device, the electric device can recognize that the notification signal has not reached the remote control device. Therefore, when the response signal is not transmitted from the remote control device, the notification signal can be prevented from being delivered by transmitting the notification signal to the remote control device again.

  According to the present invention, when the electric device receives the response signal transmitted from the remote operation device, it can be determined that the remote operation device grasps that the electric device is powered off. Both power supplies of the apparatus are cut off synchronously, and the power saving of the remote operation apparatus can be optimized, and thus excellent effects are exhibited.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a remote control system according to the present invention. Hereinafter, as an example, a mode in which the electrical apparatus is a television device will be described.
The remote operation system according to the present invention includes a television device 10 as an electrical device, and a remote operation device 20 that operates the television device 10 by transmitting an operation signal from a position away from the television device 10.

  A main power key 12a is arranged at the lower right of the display surface of the television device 10, and power supply from a commercial power source is turned on and off by pressing the main power key 12a. When the power supply from the commercial power supply is cut off, the television apparatus 10 stops all functions. On the other hand, a sub power key 22a is arranged at the upper left of the operation surface of the remote control device 20, and the transition to the standby mode is performed by pressing the sub power key 22a. In the standby mode, power is supplied from a commercial power supply, but power consumption is minimized to save power. In the standby mode, communication between the television device 10 and the remote control device 20 is performed. Is possible.

  In the case of short-time power-off, the sub-power key 22a is depressed to minimize power consumption as a standby mode. On the other hand, when the power supply is cut off for a long time, the power supply from the commercial power supply is cut off by depressing the main power key 12a, so that all functions are stopped and power consumption is eliminated.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a remote control system according to the present invention.
The television apparatus 10 includes a control unit 11, an operation unit 12, a tuner unit 13, a video signal processing unit 14, a display unit 15, a signal transmission unit 16, a signal reception unit 17, a power supply connection unit 18, and a power supply switching unit 19. Yes. Specifically, the control unit 11 is configured by a CPU, and controls each unit described above and executes various functions according to a control program stored in a built-in ROM.

  The operation unit 12 includes various function keys for operating the television device 10. In this example, a main power key 12a for turning on and off the main power switch 19a by being pressed by the user is provided. When the main power switch 19a is off, the main power key 12 is pressed to turn it on, and when the main power switch 19a is on, the main power key 12a is pressed to turn it off.

  The tuner unit 13 is connected to an antenna arranged in the direction of the broadcast relay base, and has a function of selecting and demodulating a video signal in a specific frequency band among video signals transmitted from the broadcast relay base. The video signal processing unit 14 performs signal processing on the video signal demodulated by the tuner unit 13. The display unit 15 is a thin display device such as a liquid crystal display or an EL display, and displays the video of the video signal processed by the video signal processing unit 14.

  The signal transmission unit 16 is a transmission unit that transmits various signals to the remote operation device 20. The signal transmission unit 16 converts information such as time, a selected channel number and channel name, and a volume into a signal and transmits the signal to the remote operation device 20. In the present invention, when the main power supply of the television apparatus 10 is cut off, a notification signal to the effect that the main power supply is cut off is transmitted from the signal transmission unit 16 to the remote control device 20. The timing for transmitting the notification signal is transmitted before the user shifts to the off state by pressing the main power key 12a.

  The signal receiving unit 17 is a receiving unit that receives various signals transmitted from the remote operation device 20. In the present invention, the signal receiving unit 17 outputs a response signal transmitted when the remote operation device 20 receives a notification signal. Receive at.

  The power connection unit 18 is an AC outlet and supplies power to the television apparatus 10 from a commercial power source. A power source switching unit 19 is connected to the power source connection unit 18, and the operation of the power source switching unit 19 is controlled by the control unit 11, thereby controlling power supply from a commercial power source.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the power supply switching unit 19 controls the connection between the power supply connection unit 18, the main power supply circuit 181 and the sub power supply circuit 182, and includes a main power switch 19a and a sub power switch 19b. . The main power switch 19a is disposed between the power connection 18 and the sub power switch 19b and the sub power circuit 182, and the sub power switch 19b is disposed between the main power switch 19a and the main power circuit 181.

  When the main power switch 19a is turned off, power supply from the commercial power supply to the main power supply circuit 181 and the sub power supply circuit 182 is stopped. On the other hand, when the main power switch 19a is turned on and the sub power switch 19b is turned off, power is supplied from the commercial power source to the sub power circuit 182 but power supply to the main power circuit 181 is stopped. When the main power switch 19a is turned on and the sub power switch 19b is turned on, power is supplied from the commercial power source to the main power circuit 181 and the sub power circuit 182. In this example, when the signal reception unit 17 receives a response signal transmitted from the remote control device 20, the control unit 11 instructs the power supply switching unit 19 to cut off the power supply from the commercial power supply. Thus, the power supply switching unit 19 cuts off the power supply from the commercial power supply.

  The remote operation device 20 includes a control unit 21, an operation unit 22, a signal reception unit 23, a signal transmission unit 24, a display unit 25, a battery 26, and a power supply switching unit 27. Specifically, the control unit 21 is configured by a CPU, and controls each unit described above and executes various functions according to a control program stored in a built-in ROM.

  The operation unit 22 includes various function keys for operating the television device 10. In this example, a sub power key 22a for setting the television device 10 to the standby mode, a channel key for specifying a video signal to be selected by the tuner unit 13, a volume key for specifying the volume, and the like are provided. .

  The signal receiving unit 23 is a receiving unit that receives various signals transmitted from the television apparatus 10 and receives, for example, signals such as time, a selected channel number and channel name, and volume. In the present invention, the notification signal transmitted from the television device 10 is received when the main power of the television device 10 is cut off.

  The signal transmission unit 24 is a transmission unit that transmits various signals to the television apparatus 10. In the present invention, when the notification signal transmitted from the television apparatus 10 is received, a response indicating that the notification signal has been received. The signal is transmitted to the television apparatus 10.

  The display unit 25 is a thin display device such as a liquid crystal display or an EL display, and displays various signals received by the signal receiving unit 23 to notify the user. For example, the time, the selected channel number and channel name, the volume, etc. received by the signal receiving unit 23 are displayed on the display unit 25.

  The battery 26 is a general-purpose dry battery, a button-type battery, or the like, and supplies power to the remote control device 20. A power switching unit 27 is connected to the battery 26, and the power supply from the battery 26 is controlled by controlling the operation of the power switching unit 27 by the control unit 21. Specifically, when the signal reception unit 23 receives the notification signal transmitted from the television device 10, the control unit 21 instructs the power supply switching unit 27 to cut off the power supply from the battery 26. As a result, the power supply switching unit 27 cuts off the power supply from the battery 26.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure performed by the remote control system according to the present invention. The processing procedure is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  First, the television apparatus 10 determines whether or not the main power key 12a is pressed by the user (step S1). That is, it is determined whether or not there is a request to stop the power supply from the commercial power source. If the main power key 12a is not pressed (S1: NO), the process is terminated. If the main power key 12a is pressed (S1: YES), a notification signal is generated to disconnect the main power. Then, it transmits to the remote control device 20 (step S2).

  The remote control device 20 receives the notification signal transmitted from the television device 10 (step S3), generates a response signal as a response to the received notification signal, and transmits the response signal to the television device 10 (step S4). In addition, the remote control device 20 controls the power supply switching unit 27 to cut off the power supply from the battery 26 (step S5).

  On the other hand, the television device 10 receives the response signal transmitted from the remote operation device 20 (step S6), and when receiving the response signal, controls the power supply switching unit 19 to cut off the power supply from the commercial power supply. (Step S7). More specifically, the main power switch 19a is turned off, and power supply from the commercial power supply to the main power supply circuit 181 and the sub power supply circuit 182 is stopped.

  In the remote operation system having the above configuration, the television apparatus 10 does not disconnect the power supply independently of the remote operation apparatus 20, but notifies the remote operation apparatus 20 that the power supply is to be disconnected. The operation device 20 turns off the power supply of the remote operation device 20 in synchronization with the notification. When the power of the television device 10 is cut off, the remote operation device 20 cannot operate the television device 10, so it is useless even if the remote operation device 20 is turned on. Power saving of the remote operation device 20 can be realized while ensuring convenience for the user by automatically turning off the power supply of the remote operation device 20 in synchronization.

  In addition, when the remote control device 20 receives the notification signal transmitted by the television device 10, the television device 10 transmits the response signal indicating that the notification signal has been received to the television device 10. It can be recognized from the response signal that the notification signal has reached the remote control device 20. Conversely, when the response signal is not transmitted from the remote operation device 20, the television device 10 can recognize that the notification signal has not reached the remote operation device 20. Therefore, when the response signal is not transmitted from the remote operation device 20, it is possible to prevent the notification signal from being delivered by transmitting the notification signal to the remote operation device 20 again.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the television apparatus 10 determines whether or not the main power key 12a is pressed by the user (step S11), and when the main power key 12a is pressed (S11: YES). Generates a notification signal to disconnect the main power supply and transmits it to the remote control device 20 (step S12).

  Then, the television apparatus 10 starts measuring the elapsed time starting from the transmission of the notification signal (step S13). The television apparatus 10 determines whether or not a response signal corresponding to the transmitted notification signal has been received (step S14). If the response signal is received (S14: YES), the television apparatus 10 controls the power supply switching unit 19. Then, the power supply from the commercial power supply is cut off (step S15).

  When the television apparatus 10 does not receive the response signal (S14: NO), the television apparatus 10 determines whether or not the elapsed time exceeds the reference time (step S16), and the elapsed time does not exceed the reference time. (S16: NO), the process proceeds to S14, and the response signal reception determination is performed again.

  On the other hand, when the elapsed time exceeds the reference time (S16: YES), the process proceeds to S12 and the notification signal is transmitted to the remote controller 20 again. As described above, after a notification signal is transmitted, if a response signal is not received even after a predetermined reference time has elapsed, it is determined that the notification signal has not reached the remote control device 20, and the notification signal is By retransmitting to the controller device 20, non-delivery of the notification signal is prevented.

  In addition, since a problem may occur in each signal transmission unit or signal reception unit of the television device 10 and the remote control device 20, a limit on the number of times to retransmit the notification signal is provided, and if the number of times exceeds the limit, an error will occur. Display may be performed.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the remote control system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the remote control system which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of a power supply switching part. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which the remote control system which concerns on this invention performs. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which the television apparatus as an electric equipment concerning this invention performs.

Explanation of symbols

10 Television equipment (electrical equipment)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Control part 12a Main power key 16 Signal transmission part 17 Signal reception part 18 Power supply connection part 19 Power supply switching part 20 Remote operation device 21 Control part 22a Sub power supply key 23 Signal reception part 24 Signal transmission part 25 Display part 26 Battery 27 Power supply switching Part

Claims (6)

In a remote operation system including an electric device and a remote operation device for operating the electric device by transmitting an operation signal from a position away from the electric device,
The electrical equipment is
Means for transmitting a notification signal to the effect that the power supply is cut off when the electric device is turned off, to the remote control device;
The remote control device is:
A remote operation system comprising: means for cutting off the power supply of the remote operation device based on a notification signal transmitted from the electric device. The remote control device is:
The remote control system according to claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting a response signal indicating that the notification signal has been received to the electric device when the notification signal is received. The electrical equipment is
The remote control system according to claim 2, further comprising means for cutting off the power supply of the electric device when the response signal is received. In an electric device operated by an operation signal transmitted from a remote location,
Means for transmitting a notification signal to the effect that the power supply is cut off when the power supply is cut off;
Means for receiving a response signal corresponding to the notification signal from the outside;
An electrical device comprising: means for cutting off a power supply when the response signal is received. In a remote control device that operates an electrical device by transmitting an operation signal from a remote location,
Means for receiving a notification signal from the outside that the power of the electrical device is to be disconnected;
Means for cutting off the power based on the notification signal. The remote control device according to claim 5, further comprising means for transmitting a response signal indicating that the notification signal has been received to the outside when the notification signal is received.

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