JP4483429B2 - Remote control receiver - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control receiver for an electronic device that operates by receiving a key operation signal from a remote control transmitter having a large number of function keys.

  Recent electronic devices include remote control transmitters in many electronic devices such as television receivers, video cassette recorders, optical disk devices such as CDs and DVDs, and air conditioners. In addition, the number of function keys provided in the remote control transmitter tends to increase due to the multi-functionalization of these electronic devices, and many function keys are densely provided in a narrow space.

  In such a multi-function remote control transmitter, there are many function keys that are not normally used, such as a setup key. On the other hand, when such a function key is inadvertently pressed, there are many cases where it is difficult to go through a plurality of procedures to restore it. In particular, it may not be possible for the elderly or children who cannot keep up with recent multifunctionalization. Even a function key that is frequently used may cause a serious situation if it is carelessly pressed. For example, the “Record” key automatically enters the recording mode by simply pressing this key, but when the user tries to load and play a video cassette etc., the “Record” key is accidentally pressed. In such a case, another image is recorded on the tape of the video cassette until it is noticed and the recording is canceled, so that the original recorded image has a missing portion.

  Therefore, in order to prevent such a problem, a slide type lid is attached to the remote control transmitter, and keys that are not normally used are hidden by this lid.

  There has also been proposed a remote control receiver devised so that function keys that are not normally used can be disabled by a specific key operation (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

  The device of Patent Document 1 (electronic device control key lock method using a remote control) ignores the original function by pressing a specific key that is not frequently used for a predetermined time (long press), and electronic device control key lock. The function is to be performed. Similarly, when enabling, the original function can be validated by pressing (holding) the specific key for a predetermined time.

Further, the device (remote control lock system) of Patent Document 2 is a remote control lock system in which a key of a remote control transmitter can be set to be invalidated. It can be set. As a method for canceling invalidation settings, for example, a method for automatically canceling invalidation settings when a power switch of the apparatus main body is turned off has been proposed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-200480 JP 2004-56529 A

  However, in the structure in which the slide cover is provided in the remote control receiver, the manufacturing cost is high, and the function keys that cannot be used with the slide cover are function keys set by the manufacturer, so these functions are often used. On the contrary, there was a problem that it was difficult for users to use.

  In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, only the key desired by the user can be set to be invalidated. However, in order to use the invalidated key, the invalidation setting needs to be canceled once and validated. there were. In this case, once you have used the key as valid and forgot to disable it again, you may inadvertently press the key afterwards, causing a serious situation. It was. That is, both the invalidation setting and the validation setting must be performed by the user, and if the setting is forgotten, an unexpected situation may occur.

  Further, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, although the user can set an invalid key, the invalidation setting is canceled when the apparatus main body is turned off. Therefore, the invalidation setting is performed every time the power is turned on. There was a problem that it had to be bothersome. In addition, if the user has forgotten the invalidation setting, the user may inadvertently press the key thereafter, which may cause a serious situation.

  The present invention was devised to solve such problems. The purpose of the present invention is to make it possible to disable any function key as desired by the user, and to enable the function key, a simple key operation is possible. It is to provide a remote control receiver that solves the above-described problems such as forgetting to set invalidation settings by temporarily enabling them and then returning to invalidation settings again.

In order to solve the above problems, a remote control receiver of the present invention is a remote control receiver for an electronic device that operates by receiving a key operation signal from a remote control transmitter having a large number of function keys. ability to disable setting any key, and comprises a temporary enable it function keys the being remote invalidated set by the transmitter of the key operation, in the temporarily activated can function temporarily If function keys that cause problems when set as keys to be set in advance are set in advance and operations are performed to set these function keys as enable keys, setting registration as an enable key is not possible. It is characterized by displaying something. Further, the invalidation setting function is characterized in that the plurality of function keys are classified from the aspect of operation and are grouped as each mode, and the invalidation setting can be performed for each mode. Specifically, the key operation of the remote control transmitter for temporarily enabling the function keys set to be invalidated is a combination of two or more specific function keys among the many function keys. ing. In this case, one of the specific function keys may be a unique function key prepared separately for activation.

  As an example of a combination of two or more specific function keys, for example, a key operation in an order not normally used, such as a combination of a numeric key (for example, “3” key) and a “pause” key, can be considered. When a separate key (for example, “ID” key) for enabling is separately provided in the remote control transmitter, as an example of a combination of two or more specific function keys, the “ID” key and a number Various combinations such as a combination with a key (for example, “1” key) and a combination of an “ID” key and a character key are conceivable.

  In addition, according to the present invention, when the key operation signal of the function key set to be invalidated is received from the remote control transmitter, the display unit displays that the function key is set to be invalidated. Also good. As the display means, a display panel such as an LE tube or LCD provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body can be used. In this way, by displaying on the display panel that the function key operated by the user is a key set to be invalidated, the user can feel as if the remote control transmitter or the light receiving unit on the apparatus body side is out of order. An illusion can be prevented.

  In this case, the display means may be configured to display a combination of specific function keys for temporarily enabling the function keys set to be invalidated. In the above example, “To activate the key, press the“ 3 ”key and the“ pause ”key. ] Is displayed. As a result, the user can immediately activate the function key. In this case, the state in which the function key is valid is temporary (for example, 10 seconds), and after that, since the setting again returns to the invalidation setting, the user has to perform the invalidation setting again from the activation state. Can be omitted.

  In addition, according to the present invention, a plurality of combinations of specific function keys for temporarily enabling function keys that are set to be invalidated may be prepared. The display means displays that the function key for which an arbitrary set of the plurality of sets is set is invalidated on the display means, while the function key for enabling is displayed. You may comprise so that it may not display about a combination.

  For example, as specific function key combinations, two combinations (two types) of “ID” key and “3” key combination and “ID” key and “9” key combination will be described. Prepare. For example, the combination of the “ID” key and the “3” key is used to activate a normal function key that is not normally used, and the combination of the “ID” key and the “9” key is not normally used. Used to activate function keys that are important to the user (for example, a “setup” key). For the combination of the “ID” key and the “9” key, even if the function key to which it is assigned (such as the “setup” key) is pressed, the function key is set to be invalidated. Although it is displayed on the display means, the above combination for enabling it is not displayed.

  In this way, by preparing multiple combinations of specific function keys for temporarily enabling function keys that are set to be disabled, a function key that can be easily enabled by anyone and a specific person Since the function keys that can only be activated can be used properly, the usability is improved for the user.

  According to the remote control receiver of the present invention, a configuration is provided that can set any key of a remote control transmitter to be invalidated and can temporarily enable a key that is set to be invalidated by key operation of the remote control transmitter. Therefore, the inconvenience that the setting is changed by inadvertently pressing the function key of the remote control transmitter and it is difficult to restore the setting to the original setting can be solved. In addition, for example, by setting the recording key to be invalid, if the recording key is inadvertently pressed during playback, another image is recorded in a part of the recorded image, and a missing part occurs in the recorded image. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a serious situation such as that.

  According to the remote control receiver of the present invention, the display means for displaying that the function key is set to be invalidated when receiving the key operation signal of the function key set to be invalidated from the remote control transmitter. Since the configuration is provided, it is possible to prevent the user from having an illusion as if the remote control transmitter or the light receiving unit on the apparatus main body side failed. In addition, since it is configured to display a combination of specific function keys for temporarily enabling function keys that are set to be disabled, the function keys that are set to be disabled are immediately enabled and operated. It becomes possible. In this case, the state in which the function key is valid is temporarily set, and thereafter, it is configured to return to the invalidation setting again. Therefore, it is possible to save the user from performing the invalidation setting again from the activation state. it can.

  Furthermore, according to the remote control receiver of the present invention, anyone can easily enable the function keys by preparing a plurality of combinations of specific function keys for temporarily enabling the function keys that are set to be disabled. The function key that can be used and the function key that can be activated only by a specific person can be used properly, and the usability for the user can be improved.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a system configuration when the remote control receiver of the present invention is applied to a DVD recorder.

  The output of the optical pickup 3 that writes data to the loaded optical disc 1 and reads data from the optical disc 1 is connected to the digital signal processing circuit 7 via the RF amplifier 5, and the output of the digital signal processing circuit 7 is optical It is connected to a laser driver 8 that controls the laser output when data is written or read by the pickup 3. The output of the servo processing circuit 9 is connected to a feed motor 4 for moving the optical pickup 3 in the radial direction of the optical disk 1 and a spindle motor 2 for rotationally driving the optical disk 1. These digital signal processing circuit 7 The servo processing circuit 9 is bidirectionally connected to a system controller 10 that controls the operation of the entire apparatus.

  The digital signal processing circuit 7 is connected to a DRAM 6 as a buffer for temporarily storing data during a recording operation and a reproducing operation. The digital signal processing circuit 7 converts the digital data into analog data and displays a display device such as a CRT. A D / A conversion circuit 12 for output to the terminal 21 is connected. The digital signal processing circuit 7 is connected to a tuner circuit (BS tuner, CS tuner, etc.) 16 that receives digital television broadcast signals.

  The system controller 10 is bi-directionally connected to an EEPROM 11 for storing unique information such as parameters of the optical disc 1 and laser power parameters, and receives a infrared signal from the remote control transmitter 18. 14 is connected. The system controller 10 is connected to a display panel 13 made of an LCD or the like provided on the front surface of the apparatus main body.

  The digital signal processing circuit 7 has a function of processing data read by the optical pickup 3 and converts a 16-bit signal according to an error correction method using EFM demodulation or ACIRC (Advanced Cross Interleaved Reed-Solomon Code). Processing such as dividing into 8 bits and converting the 8 bits into 14 bits is performed. Further, the digital signal processing circuit 7 performs voice decompression processing on the demodulated audio data and outputs it to the D / A conversion circuit 12. The D / A conversion circuit 12 converts the audio data subjected to the voice expansion processing into an analog signal and outputs it. The digital signal processing circuit 7 performs processing such as data compression for writing the digital television broadcast signal received by the tuner circuit 16 to the optical disc 1.

  Although not shown, the system controller 10 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like, and controls the optical pickup 3 to execute program recording processing and playback processing. A program for executing these processes is stored in advance in the ROM, and the system controller 10 develops a program read from the ROM on the RAM and executes the process when each process is executed.

  In addition, the system controller 10 has a function capable of invalidating and setting an arbitrary function key of the remote control transmitter 18 and can temporarily enable a key set to be invalidated by a key operation of the remote control transmitter 18. It has a function. When the system controller 10 receives the key operation signal of the function key set to be invalidated from the remote control transmitter 18, the system controller 10 displays that the function key is set to invalidation on the display panel 13 and temporarily. It also has a function of displaying a combination of specific function keys for effective activation. In this case, the function key for which an arbitrary set of a plurality of sets is set is displayed on the display panel 13 as being disabled, while the function key combination for enabling is displayed. It has a configuration that does not.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating an example of function keys provided in the remote control transmitter 18.

  The remote control transmitter 18 mainly includes a “power” key 18a, a tray “open / close” key 18b, an “image quality” key 18c for adjusting image quality, an up / down / left / right scroll key 18d, and a channel up / down key. 18e, "volume" key 18f, "play" key 18g, "stop" key 18h, "fast forward" key 18i, "rewind" key 18j, "pause" key 18k, "menu" key 18m, "setup" key 18n, a “record” key 18s, a numeric key 18r, and the like are provided. Although not shown, various function keys are provided as necessary. In the present embodiment, an “ID” key 18 t can be newly provided.

  In the DVD recorder having the above configuration, first, the processing operation of the function key invalidation setting by the system controller 10 will be described.

  For example, the user can arbitrarily select function keys that are not normally used or function keys that are considered problematic if operated inadvertently according to his / her preference. The invalidation setting is performed when setting up the DVD recorder. That is, the function key invalidation setting screen is called from the setup screen and displayed on the display device 21.

  The invalidation setting screen is as shown in FIG. 3, for example, and names of all function keys provided in the remote control transmitter 18 are listed together with the check boxes 31. In addition, a screen (ID registration screen) 32 for registering a combination of key operations for temporarily enabling the function keys set to be disabled on this screen is displayed at the lower left of the screen. The ID registration screen 32 is a combination of two keys in this embodiment, but the number of combinations may be three or more. However, since the ID registration here is not for so-called security, it should be relatively simple, and from the viewpoint of preventing inadvertent operation, there are about two ID registrations. Combinations are preferred. The ID registration screen 32 is provided with a selection window 32c for selecting whether to display the key combination registered here on the display panel 13 or not.

  While viewing this screen, the user appropriately operates the scroll key 18d of the remote control transmitter 18 to move the cursor to the key to be invalidated and check the check box 31 in that state (for example, the scroll key 18d). The “ENTER” key in the center of the This operation is performed for all keys to be invalidated. Thereafter, the user performs key setting on the ID registration screen 32 to temporarily enable the function key set to be disabled here. Here, the key setting may be applied to all function keys provided in the remote control transmitter 18, but for example, when the first key is the power key 18a, before operating the second function key. The DVD recorder may be turned off. Therefore, function keys that may have such problems are set in advance as ID registration non-registration keys on the system side in advance and cannot be registered when the user tries to register these keys. May be displayed on the screen.

  As an example of ID registration, for example, a combination of the “3” key 18r3 and the “pause” key 18k in the numeric key 18r can be considered. FIG. 3 shows an example of registration at this time. If the remote control transmitter 18 is provided with a dedicated “ID” key 18t, “ID” is displayed from the beginning in the first key input window 32a of the ID registration screen 32, and the user presses the second key. An arbitrary function key may be registered only in the input window 32b. As an example of ID registration at this time, for example, a combination of an “ID” key 18t and an arbitrary number (for example, “9” key 18r9) in the number key 18r is conceivable. Here, when the user does not want to display the contents of the ID registration set this time on the display panel 13, the user checks the selection window 32c. As a result, the combination of keys whose IDs are registered is set to non-display.

  Thereafter, when the key combination on the ID registration screen 32 is registered, the user operates the “OK” key 33 provided at the lower right of the screen. As a result, all the function keys whose check boxes 31 are checked can be set to be invalidated, and a combination of keys for temporarily activating them and the combination of these keys is displayed. The setting of whether to hide is also registered at the same time. In this case, it is also possible to register a plurality of combinations of keys for temporarily activating. That is, the combination of keys for enabling a plurality of function keys to be invalidated is not limited to one type. For example, for a certain number of function keys among a plurality of function keys to be invalidated, 1 key combination (for example, “3” key and “pause” key combination), and for the other one or more function keys, the second combination (for example, “ID” key and “9” key) Combination). The system controller 10 stores the invalidation setting data set in this way, key combination data for validation, and display / non-display information thereof in the EEPROM 11.

  In the above example, all the function keys are displayed in a list on the invalidation setting screen, and the function keys are individually selected from the function keys and invalidated. May be classified from the aspect of operation into a single mode, and the invalidation setting may be performed for each mode. As a result, a group of function keys can be invalidated at a time, so even a weak user of a DVD recorder can easily make invalidation settings in units of modes and improve operability.

  Next, the processing operation when temporarily invalidating the function key set as invalidated as described above will be described.

  Here, it is assumed that the “setup” key 18n and the “recording” key 18s are set as the function keys that are set to be disabled, and the “setup” key 18n is temporarily enabled. The “ID” key 18t and the “9” key 18r9 are registered as the key combination of “3”, and the “3” key 18r3 and the “pause” are temporarily combined as the key combination for enabling the “recording” key 18s. ”Key 18k is registered. Further, in the present embodiment, when the function key set to invalidation of the remote control transmitter 18 is operated, the display panel 13 displays that the function is invalidated. It is assumed that, for example, the “setup” key 18n, which is an important function key, is set so as to hide the key combination for enabling the key.

  Hereinafter, with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, a process for temporarily enabling a function key set to be disabled will be described in detail.

  The system controller 10 always monitors whether or not a key operation signal from the remote control transmitter 18 has been received (step S1). When the key operation signal is received, it is confirmed by referring to the invalidation setting data stored in the EEPROM 11 whether or not the received key operation signal is a signal of a function key that is invalidated (step S1). S2). As a result, when the key operation signal is not set to be invalidated (when it is determined No in step S2), the system controller 10 executes processing according to the key operation signal (step S9).

  On the other hand, if the received key operation signal is a function key signal set to be invalidated (if it is determined Yes in step S2), then a key combination for validating the function key Is set to hide (step S3).

  As a result, if it is not hidden (when it is determined No in step S3), the display panel 13 displays that the function key is set to be invalidated, and temporarily activates the function key. A combination of keys for the purpose is also displayed (step S4). On the other hand, if it is set to be non-displayed (if determined to be Yes in step S3), the function key is displayed on the display panel 13 while the function key is disabled. The key combination for temporarily enabling is not displayed (step S5).

  Specifically, when the key operation signal transmitted from the remote control transmitter 18 is a signal of the “record” key 18s, it is not set to non-display (determined No in step S3). Therefore, in this case, the “Record” key is disabled on the display panel 13. ”And a message“ Press the “3” key and the “pause” key to activate the “record” key. ” Is displayed. On the other hand, when the key operation signal transmitted from the remote control transmitter 18 is a signal of the “setup” key 18n, it is set to non-display (since it is determined Yes in step S3), this In this case, the “Setup” key is disabled on the display panel 13. Is displayed for a key combination that activates the “setup” key.

  Thereafter, the system controller 10 confirms whether or not the key combination for enabling has been operated (step S6). When a key operation for enabling is performed (when it is determined Yes in step S6), a certain time (for example, 10 seconds) from that point is measured by an internal timer circuit (not shown) ( Step S7), until the predetermined time elapses, the key operation signal from the remote control transmitter 18 (the key operation signal at this time is substantially temporarily validated among the function keys set to be invalidated). It is confirmed whether or not a function key key operation signal is received (step S8).

  As a result, when a key operation signal is received for a predetermined time (when it is determined Yes in step S8), the system controller 10 executes processing according to the key operation signal (step S9). On the other hand, if a new key operation signal is not received even after a certain time has elapsed after the key operation for enabling is performed (if it is determined No in step S7), the processing is performed as it is. finish. The system controller 10 returns the function keys that have been activated to the original invalidation setting state again after a predetermined time has elapsed in step S7 or after the processing of step S9 has been completed.

  In the above-described embodiment, a message indicating that the function key is set to be invalidated and a combination of keys for temporarily enabling the key are configured to be displayed on the display panel 13. You may comprise so that it may display on the screen of the apparatus 21. FIG.

It is a system block diagram at the time of applying the remote control transmitter of this invention to a DVD recorder. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows an example of the function key provided in the remote control transmitter. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of an invalidation setting screen when invalidating a function key. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process sequence which temporarily validates the function key set to invalidation.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical disk 2 Spindle motor 3 Optical pick-up 4 Feed motor 5 RF amplifier 6 DRAM (memory buffer)
7 Digital signal processing circuit 8 Laser driver 9 Servo processing circuit 10 System controller 11 EEPROM (memory)
12 D / A conversion circuit 13 Display panel 14 Receiver 16 Tuner circuit 18 Remote control transmitter 21 Display device

Claims (7)

A remote control receiver for an electronic device that operates by receiving a key operation signal from a remote control transmitter having a large number of function keys,
A function capable of invalidating and setting an arbitrary key of the remote control transmitter, and a function capable of temporarily enabling a key that has been invalidated by a key operation of the remote control transmitter;
In the functions that can be temporarily activated, function keys that cause problems when set as keys to be temporarily activated are set in advance in advance, and operations for setting these function keys as activation keys have been performed. In some cases, it is displayed that setting registration as an enabling key is impossible. On the other hand, in the disabling setting function, the plurality of function keys are classified according to the operation and grouped as each mode, and the unit of each mode is displayed. It ’s configured to be disabled,
The key operation of the remote control transmitter for temporarily enabling the function keys that are set to be disabled is a combination of two or more specific function keys among the plurality of function keys. There are several combinations of specific function keys.
When receiving the key operation signal of the function key set to be disabled from the remote control transmitter, the function key is set to be disabled and displayed on the display means, and the function key for temporarily enabling the function key While a combination of specific function keys is displayed together, a function key for which an arbitrary set of the plurality of sets is set is displayed on the display means that it is set to be invalid, while enabled A remote control receiver characterized by not displaying a combination of function keys for realizing the function. A remote control receiver for an electronic device that operates by receiving a key operation signal from a remote control transmitter having a large number of function keys,
A function capable of invalidating and setting an arbitrary key of the remote control transmitter, and a function capable of temporarily enabling a key that has been invalidated by a key operation of the remote control transmitter;
In the functions that can be temporarily activated, function keys that cause problems when set as keys to be temporarily activated are set in advance in advance, and operations for setting these function keys as activation keys have been performed. In some cases, the remote control receiving apparatus displays that setting registration as an enabling key is impossible.   3. The invalidation setting function is configured to classify the plurality of function keys from the aspect of operation and group them as respective modes, and perform invalidation setting for each mode. The remote control receiver described in 1.   The key operation of the remote control transmitter for temporarily enabling the function keys that are set to be invalidated is a combination of two or more specific function keys among the many function keys, and the specific key 4. The remote control receiver according to claim 3, wherein one of the function keys is a unique function key prepared separately for validation.   3. A display means for displaying, when a key operation signal of a function key set to be invalidated is received from the remote control transmitter, that the function key is set to be invalidated. The remote control receiver according to claim 4.   6. The remote control receiver according to claim 5, wherein the display unit also displays a combination of the specific function keys for temporarily enabling the function keys set to be invalidated.   A plurality of combinations of specific function keys for temporarily enabling the function keys set to be invalidated are prepared, and the display means is set to an arbitrary set of the plurality of sets. 6. The remote control receiver according to claim 5, wherein a function key is displayed on the display means that the function key is invalidated, but a function key combination for enabling the function key is not displayed.