JP2012060383A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem in conventional technology that an operation for alternative selection required directing eyes alternately to a GUI screen and a remote controller held in a hand, because when manipulating color buttons or the like in order to make alternative selection while referring to a GUI screen, it was necessary to check the information displayed on the GUI screen to see which color button corresponds to what (or which operation).SOLUTION: A remote controller of the present invention has a plurality of option buttons for making alternative selection disposed in circular ring form around the largest button mounted thereon which is assumed to be easily recognizable by only touching with a hand without having to look at. More specifically, the remote controller has the above option buttons disposed so as to form a circular ring around the largest of operation buttons which are disposed on the operation surface and whose peripheries are substantially circular.

Description

  The present invention relates to a structure of a remote control that can easily grasp the arrangement of buttons on the remote control even when operating while watching a television screen without looking at the remote control at hand.

  Conventionally, a remote control is generally used as an operation input device for remotely operating a television, a video recorder, or the like. This remote control is provided with the number of physical contact buttons necessary for such operations as channel selection and volume increase / decrease, and a unique remote control code is assigned to each button. When the user presses down the button, the code assigned to the button is transmitted to the operation target device by, for example, infrared communication, and the device control indicated by the code is executed.

  An operation system that displays a GUI (Graphical User Interface) screen on the TV and performs operation input with the remote controller at hand while viewing the GUI screen in accordance with the diversification of services available on the TV and the advanced functions of the TV. Is also provided. Specifically, for example, digital television provides a service that allows viewers to participate in the quiz problem of choice by data broadcasting in accordance with the broadcasting of a quiz program. In this case, since four answer candidates to which four colors are assigned are displayed on the television, the viewer selects a color that seems to be correct from the four color buttons arranged on the remote controller and presses it. And can receive a determination as to whether the answer is correct.

  Alternatively, televisions with various functions other than viewing TV programs such as a recording function, a remote operation function of an external recording device, or an Internet connection function are also provided. Even when such a function is used, in addition to a selection operation using a simple arrow key or enter key, for example, a daily “green button” or a “green button” for turning pages on a daily or weekly basis in an electronic program guide. It is configured to be operated by pressing a “yellow button” for weekly units.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, four function buttons for calling various functions are provided with respect to a remote controller for operating a television or the like, and the lower two function keys are surrounded by the lower two function keys. A configuration in which device buttons and the above four color buttons are arranged in order from left to right is disclosed.

JP 2007-104188 A

  Here, in the case of a selection operation using a simple arrow key or enter key, it is possible to confirm that the cursor in the GUI screen moves in accordance with the operation input of the arrow key without checking which button is pressed with the remote controller at hand. Basically, it is possible to operate while looking only at the TV. On the other hand, for example, when operating a color button in which each color is arranged for an alternative selection operation as described above, what GUI (which operation) the button of each color corresponds to is displayed on the GUI screen. It is necessary to operate while checking the display information.

  That is, in order to perform an alternative selection operation in the above-described conventional technique, there is a problem that it is necessary to perform an operation while alternately switching eyes between the GUI screen and the remote controller held in hand.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is used for the above-described alternative selection operation around the maximum button in the remote control that is assumed to be easily identifiable without touching the remote control. Provided is a remote control characterized in that a plurality of option buttons are arranged in an annular shape. Specifically, a remote controller is provided which is arranged on the operation surface and arranged so as to form a ring around a maximum button which is the largest button among the operation buttons having a substantially circular outer edge.

  In addition to the above configuration, there is also provided a remote controller that uses the maximum button as a home button for displaying a screen at the highest level of the remote control operation screen on a television screen that is a remote control operation target. That is, the home button is a button for displaying the screen of the highest hierarchy of the remote control operation screen on the television, and is basically a button premised on an operation while viewing the screen. Therefore, by arranging a plurality of option buttons used for an alternative selection operation around such a home button, the effect of the present invention is more remarkably exhibited. In addition to the above configuration, a remote controller is also provided in which some or all of the plurality of option buttons are color buttons used for digital broadcast bidirectional operations.

  As described above, the remote control according to the present invention has a plurality of option buttons used for alternative selection operations around the maximum button in the remote control that is assumed to be easily identifiable without touching the eyes. Is arranged in an annular shape. Therefore, there is an effect that it is not necessary or less necessary to perform an operation while alternately switching between the GUI screen and the remote controller held in the hand in order to perform the alternative selection operation.

Front view showing an example of button arrangement in the remote controller of the first embodiment The figure showing an example of the GUI screen (electronic program guide) for reservation recording operated using the remote control of Example 1 The top view showing an example of arrangement | positioning of the several choice button in the remote control of Example 1 Front view showing an example of a remote controller of Embodiment 2 The figure showing an example of the home screen which is a portal GUI operated using the remote control of Example 2. The figure showing an example of each operation screen which makes a home screen using a remote control of Example 2 a base point The figure showing another example of each operation screen which makes a home screen using a remote control of Example 2 a base point

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In the first embodiment, claims 1 and 3 will be mainly described. In the second embodiment, claim 2 will be mainly described.

Example 1
<Overview>
FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an example of button arrangement in the remote controller of the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, for example, a “remote control” (0100) for a recording apparatus is provided with a playback button for playback / recording operation, a fast forward / rewind button, a recording button, or a channel button for channel selection. ing. In addition, an electronic program guide display button (0101), which is the largest and substantially circular button among them, is provided at the lower center of the remote control, and in addition, a “selection” for each color of red, blue, green, and yellow Buttons "(0102A to D) are arranged in an annular shape.

For example, when performing a scheduled recording operation using a scheduled recording GUI screen (electronic program guide) displayed on a television display as shown in FIG. 2, the user displays the screen while viewing this screen. According to the information, for example, press the “green button” twice to display the program table two days later, and then press the “yellow button” once to display the time zone of “evening (12 o'clock to 18 o'clock)”. For example, a desired program is selected and determined with a cursor, and recording is reserved.
And at that time, since these buttons are arranged around the largest button, it is possible to easily grasp the arrangement position without looking at the hand, and it is possible to operate while looking only at the above screen. .

<Configuration>
Next, with reference to FIG. 1, an example of the arrangement of buttons on the remote controller of this embodiment and a detailed description thereof will be given. The “remote control” in the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is operated while looking at the (connected) screen device provided for the operation target. For example, a remote control of a television or a recording device, a display, Examples include a microwave oven and a remote controller for a refrigerator that can perform a selection operation such as a prepared cooking menu, and a remote controller for an air conditioner that is similarly equipped with a display and can be used for setting operations such as temperature and humidity.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the “remote control” (0100) of this embodiment has a “maximum button” (0101) and a “plurality of choice buttons” (0102).

  The “maximum button” (0101) is a button that is arranged on the operation surface and has the largest of the operation buttons having a substantially circular outer edge. Specifically, regarding this maximum button, if the outer edge is substantially circular and has the feature that the size is the largest among such substantially circular buttons, the button for which it is particularly limited is limited. do not do. For example, in the case of a TV remote control, in addition to the electronic program guide display button as described above, there are a determination button, a cancel button, a power button, an Internet screen display button, an input switching button, etc. If it is a remote control, there are a playback button, a recording button, and the like. In addition, the maximum button may be a home button for displaying a top layer screen of a remote control operation screen as described later in the second embodiment.

  Since the maximum button has the largest size, it can be distinguished from other buttons by just touching it with the hand without visually recognizing it. Therefore, the buttons arranged along the outer periphery of the button can be easily grasped without looking at the remote control.

  Although the size of the maximum button itself is not limited, it can be 1.3 times or more compared to at least the second largest button in order to distinguish it from other substantially circular buttons. For example, the size is preferably 1.5 times or more. The type of the maximum button is not particularly limited. In order to achieve the effect of the present invention, it is preferable that the button has a shape that can be recognized by touching without being visually recognized. Therefore, for example, even a physical button or a touch button may be a button in which the touch panel itself is a single button and a concave line or a convex line is provided around it. On the other hand, the virtual button displayed in the touch panel is not appropriate as the maximum button of the present invention because the button shape or the like is not known due to the touch.

  The “plurality of choice buttons” refers to buttons used for alternative selection operations that are arranged on the operation surface and arranged to form a ring around the maximum button. The “selective selection operation” refers to an operation for selecting one of a plurality of candidates only by operating the button, for example, a decision button for selecting in combination with an arrow button operation, It does not include buttons for executing / calling a single function such as a power button. This option button is not particularly limited as long as it is used for the above-described alternative selection operation. For a remote control for a television, for example, a color button having a color such as red, blue, green, yellow, or ( Number buttons such as channels, selection buttons for broadcast types such as BS / CS / terrestrial digital / terrestrial analog, and the like are included.

  FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of the arrangement of the plurality of option buttons. As shown in FIG. 3A, for example, the option buttons may be arranged in an annular shape so that they are in contact with each other without any gap around the maximum button. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3B, a gap may be provided between each option button, and the option buttons including the gap may be arranged in an annular shape. Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, the shape may be various shapes such as a protrusion on the side opposite to the maximum button.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 3D, if some or all of the plurality of option buttons are color buttons used for interactive operation of digital broadcasting on a television, the color buttons can perform bidirectional communication. Since it is often used in data broadcasting, a button (d button) for calling up the data broadcasting screen may be arranged on a part of the outer periphery.

  Such an alternative selection operation is generally performed after selection candidates are displayed on the screen, that is, many operations are performed while viewing the screen. In the remote control of this embodiment, since the “option buttons” are arranged around the “maximum button” that is easy to arrange without being visually recognized as described above, the screen is viewed without looking at the remote control. The position of this option button can be easily grasped and operated with the tactile sensation as it is.

  The number of option buttons is not particularly limited. However, it is desirable that the number of options buttons be several, for example, about 2 to 6, assuming that an alternative selection is made while looking at the screen without checking the hand. . This is because if it is more than that, it is difficult to remember the arrangement of each button itself, and the position of each selection button can be grasped without being visually recognized, but the position of each button is grasped. This is because there is a high possibility that it will be necessary to look at the remote control at hand. On the other hand, when there are four buttons such as four color buttons, the buttons can be arranged especially in the upper, lower, left and right directions, so that the arrangement positions can be stored very easily.

<Brief description of effect>
As described above, the remote control according to the present embodiment has a plurality of options used for alternative selection operations around the maximum button in the remote control that is assumed to be easily identifiable without touching the eyes. The buttons are arranged in an annular shape. Therefore, there is an effect that it is not necessary or less necessary to perform an operation while alternately switching between the GUI screen and the remote controller held in the hand in order to perform the alternative selection operation.

<< Example 2 >>
<Overview>
FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating an example of the remote controller according to the present embodiment. As shown in this figure, the remote controller of this embodiment is a so-called “simple remote controller” (0400) with a small number of buttons. ) And a color button that is a “plurality of choice buttons” (0402) arranged in an annular shape around the home button.

  That is, if a normal remote control is a television remote control, for example, various buttons are arranged so that basic operations such as channel buttons and volume control buttons can be completed only by the remote control. That is, it can be said that an ordinary remote control itself serves as a portal (base point) for operation. On the other hand, in the case of the “simple remote controller” with few buttons as described above, as shown in FIG. 5, a “home screen” which is a portal GUI for operation is displayed on the screen. Then, various operations can be performed with few buttons by appropriately assigning different functions to the buttons with respect to the operation on the home screen.

  In this way, with a remote controller that has a small number of operation buttons and displays a “home screen” that serves as an operation portal, it is assumed that operations are performed mainly while viewing the screen. Therefore, by positioning a plurality of “choice buttons” for alternative selection operations around the “home button” for displaying the home screen, only the portal screen, which is a GUI screen, can be more effectively displayed. You can operate while watching.

<Configuration>
Next, with reference to FIG. 4, an example of the arrangement of buttons on the remote controller of this embodiment and a detailed description thereof will be given. As shown in this figure, the “remote control” (0400) of this embodiment has a “maximum button” (0401) and a “plurality of option buttons” (0402) based on the above embodiment. The feature of this embodiment is that the maximum button is a “home button”.

  The “home button” is a button for displaying the highest level screen of the remote control operation screen on the TV screen that is the target of the remote control operation, and an arrow based on this screen as described above depending on the screen display. Various operations can be realized by key operations (touch panel slide operation), determination operations, return operations, and alternative selection operations. Hereinafter, an example of the screen transition by the operation of the remote controller according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6A, the home screen is pressed to display a portal screen serving as a base point for the operation. Here, for example, when the “channel operation icon” α is selected by operating the touch panel, a “channel button screen” as shown in FIG. 6B is displayed, and a channel selection operation can be performed. Also, as shown in the figure, information of “red: terrestrial digital, blue: BS, green: CS, yellow: cable” is displayed. Therefore, the user presses the color button indicating the desired broadcast type from among the selection buttons arranged around the home button while looking at the screen without looking at the remote control as described above, thereby operating the channel of the desired broadcast type. It can be.

  When the return button is operated to return to the portal screen shown in FIG. 7A and a “recorded program list icon” β (not shown) is selected from the “disk management” icon, recording is performed as shown in FIG. 7B. A program list is displayed. In addition, information such as “red: report, blue: music, green: drama, yellow: variety” is displayed there. Therefore, the user similarly presses the color button indicating the desired program category from among the option buttons arranged around the home button while looking at the screen without looking at the remote control as described above, thereby only the desired program category is displayed. List display.

<Brief description of effect>
As described above, the remote control according to the present embodiment is an alternative selection around the “home button” for displaying the home screen in the remote control that performs the operation by displaying the “home screen” that is an operation portal. By positioning a plurality of “option buttons” for operation, it is possible to operate more effectively while only looking at the portal screen which is a GUI screen.

0100 Remote control 0101 Maximum button 0102A-D Choice buttons

Claims (3)

  Multiple selection buttons used for alternative selection operations that are arranged on the operation surface and arranged to form a ring around the largest button, which is the largest button among the operation buttons with a substantially circular outer edge. With remote control.   2. The remote control according to claim 1, wherein the maximum button is a home button for displaying a top-level screen of a remote control operation screen on a television screen that is a remote control operation target.   The remote controller according to claim 1 or 2, wherein some or all of the plurality of option buttons are color buttons used in bidirectional operation of digital broadcasting on a television.

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