JP2008219710A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote controller requiring no key press operation for changeover operation when selecting an operable operation key. <P>SOLUTION: The remote controller 1 has a casing 9. On the surface of the casing 9, there are a display section (display means) 4, an operation button 5, a holding button (selection fixing means) 6, a setting button 8, and a light-emitting diode 7 emitting light, for example, with a wavelength in an infrared-ray region. Inside the casing 9 of the remote controller 1, there are a battery 11 supplying power for operating the remote controller 1, a microcomputer 3, an angle sensor (angle detection means) 2, and a memory 12 of the microcomputer 3. When the remote controller 1 simultaneously has a plurality of operation buttons 5 for controlling a plurality of pieces of equipment remotely, the holding button 6 holds the selection of the group of operation buttons 5 selected by changing the angle of the remote controller 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote operation device that remotely operates a plurality of devices.

  Conventionally, in order to remotely operate a plurality of devices, it is known to provide a model switching key in a remote control device such as a remote controller, and operate a desired device by operating the model switching key. . That is, a configuration is known in which an operable operation key is selected from grouped operation keys provided in a remote controller by operating a model switching key (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-348213 A

  However, in the case of the above-described conventional technology, it is necessary to press a model switching key when selecting an operable operation key, which causes a problem that it is troublesome.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and as an example of the problem, a remote operation device that does not require pressing of an operation key for switching operation when an operable operation key is selected. Is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, a remote operation device according to claim 1 is a remote operation device for remotely operating different functions for each of a plurality of devices, and the functions necessary for the remote operation are grouped for each device. An operation instruction input means having a configuration assigned to each of the divided operation buttons, an angle detection means for detecting a relative angle with respect to the horizontal, and one group previously associated with the detected relative angle A group selection means for enabling the remote operation by selecting the display, a display means for displaying the name of the group selected by the group selection means, and a selection fixing for fixing the selection by the group selection means And means.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram according to an embodiment of a remote control device.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a remote control 1 as an example of a remote control device capable of remotely operating various devices such as a DVD recording / playback device, a TV, and a stereo receiver. The remote controller 1 has a housing 9. On the surface of the housing 9, a display unit 4 as a display unit, an operation button 5 as an operation instruction input unit, a holding button 6 as a selection fixing unit, A setting button 8 and a light emitting diode 7 capable of emitting light with a wavelength in the infrared region, for example, are arranged. Further, inside the housing 9 of the remote controller 1, there are a battery 11 for supplying power for operating the remote controller 1, a microcomputer 3, an angle sensor 2 as an angle detection means, and a memory 12 provided in the microcomputer 3. Provided.

  When a user (not shown) holds and operates the remote controller 1 having such a configuration, various devices such as a DVD recording / reproducing apparatus, a TV, and a stereo receiver can be remotely operated. In this operation, the relative angle of the remote control 1 with respect to the horizontal plane is generated by the angle at which the user holds the remote control 1 with his hand. The relative angle of the remote controller 1 generated in this way is detected by the angle sensor 2. The angle sensor 2 includes, for example, a method in which a metal sphere or the like is held inside and a speed or position at which the metal sphere is pulled by gravity according to an angle or a piezoelectric element with a weight attached to the tip is used. A method of detecting the potential generated by the deformation of the piezoelectric element by the force that is held inside and the weight is pulled by gravity according to the angle is applicable.

  The detected angle value detected by the angle sensor 2 is sent to the microcomputer 3. The microcomputer 3 can be applied with, for example, a one-chip arithmetic element or the like, and is provided with a memory 12 that constitutes an area for storing data and arithmetic results used for arithmetic operations, a temporary storage area for arithmetic processing steps, and the like.

  The memory 12 stores grouping setting information including a plurality of operation buttons 5 necessary for remote operation for each device to be remotely operated in accordance with the detected value of the relative angle from the angle sensor 2. ing. A group of a plurality of operation buttons 5 is arranged on the surface of the casing 9 of the remote controller 1, and each operation button 5 is individually assigned a function necessary for remote operation of the device. These operation buttons 5 to which functions are individually assigned are grouped for each model, and these groups are respectively associated with the angles of the remote controller 1 detected by the angle sensor 2. Then, the microcomputer 3 selects one group associated with the angle according to the change of the angle, and validates the function of the operation button 5 belonging to the group. Note that the operation buttons 5 belonging to other groups not selected do not function.

  Next, the relationship between the effective operation button 5 and the angle will be described with reference to an example of the operation shown in FIG. The remote control 1 is provided with a group of operation buttons 5 and, for example, a display unit 4 is also provided. As described above, the operation buttons 5 are configured as a plurality of groups each having a function necessary for remote operation for each device.

  In addition, the display unit 4 displays, for example, a character display indicating which group of the operation buttons 5 the remote control 1 is currently set to be effective, and names and types of devices that can be easily remotely operated by a user operating the remote control 1. Can be visually confirmed. For example, an existing liquid crystal display device, a fluorescent display tube, an EL panel, or a display device such as an LED character display can be applied to the display unit 4.

  In FIG. 2, FIG. 2 (a) shows a state where the remote controller 1 is tilted upwards from 0 ° to + 30 °, and FIG. 2 (b) shows a case where the remote controller 1 is set to 0 ° horizontally. 2 (c) shows a case where the remote controller 1 is tilted downward by −30 °.

  In each of these angles, in FIG. 2A, in association with an upward angle of + 30 °, only the operation button 5 group having a function for remotely operating the TV 20 is effective. Further, in FIG. 2B, the operation of only the group of the operation buttons 5 having a function for remotely operating the DVD recording / reproducing apparatus 21 in association with the angle of 0 ° in the horizontal direction is effective.

  Further, in FIG. 2 (c), a group selection unit is configured which is associated with a downward angle of −30 ° and enables the operation of only the group of operation buttons 5 having a function for remotely operating the stereo receiver 22. Has been. When the user operates the operation button 5 which has become effective here, for example, an infrared ray 10 is emitted from the light emitting diode 7 connected to the microcomputer 3, and a control signal using this infrared ray 10 as a medium is sent to the target device. The information is transmitted to control the device.

  2A to 2C, the display unit 4 provided in the remote controller 1 displays the types and names of devices that can be operated in association with the respective angles. Specifically, for example, in the state of + 30 ° shown in FIG. 2A, “TV” is displayed on the display unit 4, and the user functions only the buttons related to the remote operation of the TV 20 among the operation buttons 5 of the remote control 1. You can see that Similarly, in the state of 0 ° in FIG. 2B, “DVD” is displayed on the display unit 4, and in the state of −30 ° in FIG. 2C, “receiver” is displayed on the display unit 4. The user can know the group of operation buttons 5 that can be operated in each state.

  Next, the holding button 6 and the setting button 8 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. The hold button 6 is configured to input an instruction to the microcomputer 3 to hold the selection of the currently selected group of the operation buttons 5. Although a group consisting of a plurality of operation buttons 5 is selected and determined according to the angle of the remote controller 1, if the user subsequently changes the angle of the remote controller 1 unconsciously, the group is again selected and changed accordingly. In order to prevent this change, the user presses the hold button 6 in a state where a desired group is selected. When the hold button 6 is pressed, an instruction to hold the current group of operation buttons 5 is issued to the microcomputer 3, and the microcomputer 3 stops the group selection operation regardless of the angle detection value from the angle sensor 2. Keep the current status.

  When the group is changed again, the microcomputer 3 again selects and changes the group of the operation buttons 5 according to the detected angle value from the angle sensor 2 by pressing the holding button 6 again.

  Next, FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of the setting operation according to the present embodiment. A process for the microcomputer 3 to select one group from the group of the operation buttons 5 based on the detection value of the angle sensor 2 will be described with reference to this flowchart.

  The microcomputer 3 monitors whether or not the holding button 6 is pressed in step S1. If the holding button 6 is not pressed in this monitoring (NO), the monitoring is continued. If the holding button 6 is pressed (YES), the process proceeds to the next step S2. In step S1, the group selection is confirmed, and the group reselection is not executed even if the angle of the remote controller 1 is changed. Further, the release / non-release of the state hold is repeated alternately between the release state and the non-release state each time the hold button 6 is pressed.

  Next, in step S2, the angle of the remote controller 1 is detected. This angle detection is executed by inputting the angle detection value from the angle sensor 2 to the microcomputer 3. The value of the angle to be detected in step S2 can be arbitrarily set according to the design intent and the user's preference by operating the setting button 8 described later. With respect to this angle, in the present embodiment, three kinds of angle settings of 0 ° horizontally, −30 ° downward, and + 30 ° upward are used as an example for explanation.

  When the angle detected in step S2 is + 30 °, a group of TV operation modes associated with the angle of + 30 ° is selected in step S3. Note that the TV operation mode refers to a state in which only a group of operation buttons having functions necessary for operation of the TV 20 (see FIG. 2) among the plurality of operation buttons 5 provided in the remote controller 1 accepts user operations. In the TV operation mode, the operation buttons 5 of the groups not related to the operation of the TV 20 are not accepted and do not function even if operated (pressed) by the user.

  When the angle detected in step S2 is 0 °, a DVD operation mode group associated with the 0 ° angle is selected in step S4. In the DVD operation mode, only a group of operation buttons 5 having functions necessary for operation of the DVD recording / reproducing apparatus 21 (see FIG. 2) among a plurality of operation buttons 5 provided in the remote controller 1 is operated by the user. Refers to the accepting state. In the DVD operation mode, the operation buttons 5 of the groups not related to the operation of the DVD recording / reproducing apparatus 21 are not accepted and do not function even if operated (pressed) by the user.

  If the angle detected in step S2 is −30 °, a group of receiver operation modes associated with the angle of −30 ° is selected in step S5. The receiver operation mode is a state in which only a group of operation buttons 5 having functions necessary for operation of the stereo receiver 22 (see FIG. 2) among a plurality of operation buttons 5 provided in the remote controller 1 accepts user operations. Point to. The operation buttons 5 of the groups not related to the operation of the stereo receiver 22 are not accepted and do not function even when operated (pressed) by the user in this receiver operation mode.

  Then, the name of the operation mode selected in any of S3 to S5 is displayed on the display unit 4 in step S6. The display unit 4 always displays the name of the current operation mode.

  In the next step S7, it is detected whether or not the holding button 6 has been pressed. If the holding button 6 is not pressed in this detection (NO), the process returns to step S2. If the button is pressed (YES), the process proceeds to the next step S8, and the selection of the current operation mode is confirmed. In the state where the operation mode is confirmed, the process returns to step S1 again.

  Next, FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of the initial setting operation according to the present embodiment. With reference to this flowchart, the process for initializing the correspondence between the detected angle value of the angle sensor 2 and the group of the selected operation buttons 5 will be described in advance.

  In step S20 in FIG. 4, the microcomputer 3 monitors whether or not the setting button 8 has been pressed. If the setting button 8 is not pressed in this monitoring (NO), the monitoring is continued. If the setting button 8 is pressed (YES), the process proceeds to the next step S21. In step S20, the association between the group and the angle is confirmed, and even if the angle of the remote controller 1 is changed, the resetting of the association between the group and the angle is not executed. In addition, as for cancellation / non-release of association, the release and non-release states are alternately repeated every time the setting button 8 is pressed.

  Next, when execution is instructed by pressing the setting button 8 in the execution / non-execution monitoring of the setting button 8 in step S23, the angle of the remote controller 1 is detected in step S21. This angle detection is executed by inputting the angle detection value from the angle sensor 2 to the microcomputer 3. The angle detected in step S21 can be arbitrarily set according to the design intention and the user's preference. With respect to this angle, in this embodiment, as an example for explanation, three types of angle settings of 0 ° horizontally, −30 ° downward, and + 30 ° upward are assumed. In the following, as an example, a case will be described in which a TV operation mode is associated with + 30 ° upward, a DVD operation mode is 0 ° horizontally, and a receiver operation mode is −30 ° downward with user selection.

  In contrast to the angle of + 30 ° detected in step S21, a group in the TV operation mode is associated with the angle of + 30 ° in step S22. Also, in contrast to the angle of 0 ° detected in step S21, in step S23, the DVD operation mode group is associated with the angle of 0 °. Further, in step S24, the group in the receiver operation mode is associated with the angle of −30 °, in contrast to the angle of −30 ° detected in step S21.

  And the name of the operation mode matched in either of S22-S24 is displayed on the display part 4 in step S25. The display unit 4 always displays the name of the current operation mode.

  In the next step S26, it is detected whether or not the setting button 8 has been pressed. If the setting button 8 is not pressed in this detection (NO), the process returns to step S21 again. If the button is pressed (YES), the process proceeds to the next step S27, and the relationship between the associated current operation mode and the current angle is determined. In the state where the association is confirmed, the process returns to step S27 again. In this way, group association means is configured.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the arrangement of operation buttons according to the present embodiment. The remote controller 1 shown in FIG. 5 includes the display unit 4, the hold button 6, and the setting button 8 that have already been described. Further, a plurality of operation buttons 5 are arranged, and these operation buttons 5 are grouped into, for example, three groups. As the first group, a TV operation button 31 including an operation button group having functions necessary for remotely operating the TV 20 in the TV operation mode is arranged.

  As the second group, a DVD operation button 32 including an operation button group having functions necessary for remotely operating the DVD recording / reproducing apparatus 21 in the DVD operation mode is arranged. In the third group, receiver operation buttons 33 including operation button groups having functions necessary for remotely operating the stereo receiver 22 in the receiver operation mode are arranged.

  For example, the group of TV operation buttons 31 receives an operation when the remote controller 1 is inclined at + 30 °. Similarly, the group of DVD operation buttons 32 receives an operation when the remote control 1 is tilted at 0 °, and the group of receiver operation buttons 33 is operated when the remote control 1 is tilted at −30 °. Accept. In order to hold the state that can be received at each angle, it is executed by pressing the holding button 6, and the button that can be received does not change even if the angle of the remote controller 1 is changed thereafter.

  According to the present embodiment described above, in a configuration in which a single remote controller 1 is provided with a plurality of operation buttons 5 necessary for remotely controlling a plurality of devices, a desired remote control 1 can be used by changing the angle of the remote controller 1. A group of operation buttons for operating the device can be easily selected, and the selected state can be easily maintained. That is, when switching the operation key according to the device to be operated, the angle of the remote controller 1 can be simply changed to set a desired group, and the holding button 6 is provided so that the group can be reselected due to an unexpected angle change. Can be prevented.

  Further, the association between the angle of the remote controller 1 and the group that functions at the angle can be arbitrarily changed by the user.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this remote control apparatus was described, in the range which does not deviate from the technical point of this remote control apparatus, various deformation | transformation and change can be performed with respect to embodiment of this remote control apparatus. it can.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the remote controller 1 shown in FIG. 5 is taken as an example. However, for example, the remote controller 100 configured as shown in FIG. 6 may be used. The remote controller 100 shown in FIG. 6 includes a holding button 38 and a display unit 39. Each function is the same as the function of the holding button 6 and the display unit 4 described in the remote controller 1, and thus the description thereof is omitted. On the other hand, as with the operation button 5, the operation button 40 for remotely operating the device includes the TV operation button 34 as the first group, the DVD operation button 35 as the second group, and the receiver operation as the third group. A button 36 is provided. Further, a common operation button 37 is provided as a fourth group.

  The user who operates the remote controller 100 tilts the remote controller 100 to make an angle of + 30 °, for example, to remotely control a desired device, selects the TV operation button 34 to function, and presses the hold button 38 to change its state. Hold. The operation buttons 40 functioning in this state can also operate a group of TV operation buttons 34 and a group of common operation buttons 37 other than that. The common operation button 37 always functions in the same manner when the DVD operation button 35 or the receiver operation button 36 is selected.

  In the common operation button 37, for example, functions common to remote operation of the TV 20, the DVD recording / reproducing apparatus 21, the stereo receiver 22, and the like shown in FIG. 2 are set. In this way, for a plurality of devices subject to remote operation, the same operation buttons can be used jointly without duplicating operation buttons having common functions for each group of devices. Yes. With this configuration, the number of operation buttons 40 arranged on the remote controller 100 can be reduced, the size of the remote controller 100 can be reduced, and the operability for the user can be improved.

The schematic block diagram concerning embodiment of a remote control device is shown. An explanatory view for explaining an example of operation concerning an embodiment is shown. The flowchart for demonstrating the process of the operation which concerns on embodiment is shown. The flowchart for demonstrating the process of the operation which concerns on embodiment is shown. An explanatory view for explaining an example of arrangement of an operation button concerning an embodiment is shown. An explanatory view for explaining an example of arrangement of an operation button concerning an embodiment is shown.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Remote control 2 Angle sensor 3 Microcomputer 4 Display part 5 Operation button 6 Holding button 7 Light emitting diode 8 Setting button 9 Case 10 Control signal light 11 Battery

Claims (2)

In a remote control device for remotely controlling different functions for each of a plurality of devices,
An operation instruction input means having a configuration in which functions necessary for the remote operation are assigned to each of a plurality of operation buttons grouped for each device;
Angle detection means for detecting a relative angle with respect to the horizontal;
Group selecting means for enabling the remote operation by selecting one of the groups previously associated with the detected relative angle;
Display means for displaying the name of the group selected by the group selection means;
Selection fixing means for fixing the selection by the group selection means;
A remote control device comprising: A remote operation device comprising group association means for previously associating the selected group at the angle detected by the angle detection means.

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