JP4508832B2 - Remote control system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is based on a remote control signal (a remote control signal, hereinafter also referred to as a remote control signal) from a remote control transmitter (hereinafter also referred to as a remote control signal). it relates to control the remote control system.

  Various electric devices such as a television receiver (hereinafter also referred to as a television), a video tape recorder (hereinafter also referred to as a VTR), a digital video decoder (hereinafter also referred to as a DVD), and an air conditioner are provided in the home. In general, the operation of each of these electric devices is controlled based on a remote control signal from each corresponding remote control transmitter.

  Since it is cumbersome for the user to use all the remote control transmitters associated with each electrical device, a system has been proposed in which a plurality of electrical devices can be remotely controlled by a single remote control transmitter. (For example, refer to Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  As remote control transmitters that can remotely control a plurality of electrical devices, preset remote control transmitters and memory remote control transmitters are commercially available. The preset remote control transmitter has a unique remote control code (hereinafter also referred to as a remote control code) included in a remote control signal for each of a plurality of electric devices in a ROM in advance, and a desired electric device is selected from these remote control codes. The remote control code for is selected, and the selected remote control code is transmitted. The memory remote control transmitter learns a remote control code unique to the electrical device by data communication with the electrical device, and sequentially stores the learned remote control code in the RAM.

By using such a remote control transmitter, it is possible to remotely control a plurality of electrical devices with a single remote control transmitter. However, since memory remote control transmitters are expensive, many preset remote control transmitters are commercially available. As a typical example, a remote control code unique to each manufacturer's television is preset in a remote control transmitter for VTR. There is a product.
JP-A-4-328998 JP 2001-282426 A

  By the way, a tuner (Set Top Box) and a projection type projector are connected and used like a television. In such a case, when using with a DVD, the user must use three types of remote control transmitter for DVD, remote control transmitter for tuner, and remote control transmitter for projector according to the corresponding electrical equipment. There is a problem that it is very complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when a plurality of electric devices are connected and used as one electric device having a predetermined function, existing remote control transmission corresponding to each of the plurality of electric devices is performed. and to provide a remote control system that can be used as it is a machine.

A remote control system according to the present invention is based on a first electric device having a first control unit that controls its operation based on a remote control signal from a remote control transmitter, and a remote control signal from a remote control transmitter. In a remote control system in which a second electric device having a second control unit for controlling its own operation is connected, first connection means for connecting the first control unit and the second control unit, 2 comprising a transmission means for transmitting a remote control signal to the first electrical device to the first control section, and a second connection means for connecting the transmission means and the first control section , wherein the first electrical equipment comprises: A first receiving means for receiving a remote control signal from the outside; and a remote control signal received by the first receiving means and a remote transmitted from the second electric equipment when connected to the second electric equipment. And analyzing the control signal, the second electric And a control unit for analyzing the remote control signal received by the first receiving means when not connected to a device, and the second electric device has a second receiving means for receiving a remote control signal from the outside. The remote control signal received by the second receiving means is transmitted to the first electrical device when connected to the first electrical device, and the first control device transmits the remote control signal received when not connected to the first electrical device. Switching means for switching a transmission destination of the received remote control signal in order to transmit the remote control signal received by the second receiving means to the second control unit .

In the remote control system of the present invention, the first electric device operates as a main (master) electric device and the second electric device operates as a sub (slave) electric device in response to an external remote control signal. That is, the remote control signal received by the first electrical device is directly analyzed by the first control unit of the first electrical device, and the remote control signal received by the second electrical device is analyzed by the second control unit. Instead, it is transmitted to the first electrical device via the second connection means and analyzed by the first control unit. And the analysis result is sent to the 2nd control part from the 1st control part via the 1st connection means, and the 2nd electric equipment performs operation according to the analysis result.
In the first electric device functioning as the main (master) electric device in the remote control system, when connected to the second electric device, the remote control signal received by its own first receiving means; The remote control signal transmitted from the connected second electric device is analyzed, and when not connected to the second electric device, the remote control signal received by the first receiving means is analyzed.
In the second electrical device that functions as a slave (slave) electrical device in the remote control system, when connected to the first electrical device, the remote control signal received by its second receiving means is used. When it is not connected to the first electric device, the remote control signal received by the second receiving means is analyzed by its own second control unit.

  In the present invention, when the first electric device and the second electric device are connected and used as a third electric device having a predetermined function, the first electric device, the second electric device, and the third electric device are respectively supported. The existing remote control transmitter can be used as it is, the operability for the user is improved, and the convenience for the user can be improved.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an example of a remote control system of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 10 is a projector as a first electric device, and 20 is a tuner as a second electric device. By connecting the projector 10 and the tuner 20 in combination, a TV as a third electric device is obtained. Function. The projector 10 and the tuner 20 are manufactured as devices that can be connected to each other.

  The projector 10 includes a CPU 11 as a first control unit, an RC light receiving unit 12 as a receiving unit, a video output unit 13, and an audio output unit 14. The CPU 11 is connected to other hardware units in the projector 10 and controls them and executes various software functions. The RC light receiving unit 12 receives a remote control signal (remote control signal) transmitted as infrared rays from the remote control transmitter, and sends the light reception result to the CPU 11. The CPU 11 analyzes the remote control signal, reads a remote control code (remote control code) included in the remote control signal, and executes various operations based on the read remote control code.

  The video output unit 13 includes, for example, a projection display panel, and displays a video corresponding to video data sent from the tuner 20. The video output unit 13 also displays a screen for performing user settings for each device. The audio output unit 14 includes a speaker and outputs audio corresponding to audio data sent from the tuner 20.

  The tuner 20 selectively transmits broadcast waves from a CPU 21 as a second control unit, an RC light receiving unit 22 as a reception unit, a switch circuit 23 as a transmission unit and a switching unit, and a communication network (not shown). And a broadcast receiving unit 24 for receiving. The CPU 21 of the tuner 20 and the CPU 11 of the projector 10 are connected by a control signal line 31 as first connection means. Further, the switch circuit 23 of the tuner 20 and the CPU 11 of the projector 10 are connected by a remote control signal line 32 as second connection means. Further, a data transmission line 33 for transmitting video data and audio data received by the broadcast receiving unit 24 is provided between the tuner 20 and the projector 10.

  The CPU 21 is connected to other hardware units in the tuner 20 and controls them and executes various software functions. The RC light receiving unit 22 receives a remote control signal (remote control signal) transmitted as infrared rays from the remote control transmitter, and sends the light reception result to the switch circuit 23.

  When the tuner 20 is not connected to the projector 10, the switch circuit 23 sends a light reception result (remote control signal) to the CPU 21, which analyzes the remote control signal and analyzes the remote control code (remote control) included in the remote control signal. Control code), and various operations are executed based on the read remote control code.

  On the other hand, when the tuner 20 is connected to the projector 10, the switch circuit 23 transmits the remote control signal received by the RC light receiving unit 22 to the CPU 11 of the projector 10 via the remote control signal line 32. Then, the CPU 11 analyzes the remote control signal received from the tuner 20 (switch circuit 23), reads a remote control code (remote control code) included in the remote control signal, and sends a control signal based on the read remote control code to the control signal line. The data is transmitted to the CPU 21 of the tuner 20 via 31. The CPU 21 performs various operations based on this control signal.

  The remote control transmitter includes a remote control transmitter 15 for the projector 10 (hereinafter also referred to as a projector transmitter 15), a remote control transmitter 25 for the tuner 20 (hereinafter also referred to as a tuner transmitter 25), and a television. Remote control transmitter 35 (hereinafter also referred to as TV transmitter 35). The CPU 11 of the projector 10 can analyze all the remote control signals from the projector transmitter 15, the tuner transmitter 25 and the television transmitter 35. The CPU 21 of the tuner 20 can analyze only the remote control signal from the tuner transmitter 25, and the television CPU can analyze only the remote control signal from the television transmitter 35.

  In the operation control based on the remote control signal, the projector 10 functions as a master device, and the tuner 20 functions as a slave device. That is, the tuner 20 (CPU 21) operates only when the CPU 11 of the projector 10 controls the CPU 21 of the tuner 20. When the projector 10 and the tuner 20 are connected, the switch circuit 23 of the tuner 20 is switched so that the remote control signal received by the RC light receiving unit 22 is transmitted to the projector 10 (CPU 11). In this state where the switch circuit 23 is switched (a state where the projector 10 and the tuner 20 are connected), all remote control signals received by the RC light receiving unit 22 are transmitted to the projector 10 (CPU 11), and the CPU 11 The analysis process is performed.

  Next, the operation of the remote control system having such a configuration will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure when the projector 10 and the tuner 20 are connected.

  The control signal line 31, the remote control signal line 32, and the data transmission line 33 are respectively connected to connect the projector 10 and the tuner 20 (step S1). Communication is performed between the CPU 11 of the projector 10 and the CPU 21 of the tuner 20 (step S2), and it is determined whether or not the communication state is good (step S3). If not good (S3: NO), the communication process is repeated. When the communication state is good (S3: YES), a control signal for switching the output of the switch circuit 23 to the projector 10 (CPU 11) side is transmitted from the CPU 11 to the CPU 21 via the control signal line 31 (step) S4). The CPU 11 determines whether or not a switching completion signal has been received from the CPU 21 (step S5). If not received (S5: NO), the control signal is transmitted again. When the switching completion signal is received (S5: YES), a screen for prompting the user to perform the initial setting of the remote control is displayed on the video output unit 13 of the projector 10 (step S6), and the operation is performed. finish.

  Next, the initial setting for remote control by the user will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen display example at this time. This initial setting can be performed by any one of the remote control transmitters of the projector transmitter 15, the tuner transmitter 25, and the television transmitter 35, and the CPU 11 analyzes the remote control signal.

  When the projector 10 and the tuner 20 are connected, a menu key pressing guidance is displayed, and the menu key is pressed by the user (FIG. 3A). The RC key setting is selected by pressing the up / down cursor keys (FIG. 3B). The RC key setting screen is displayed, and the power is selected by pressing the up / down cursor keys (FIG. 3C). By turning on the tuner and television power in the channel selection-related items on the screen, tuning can be performed by both the tuner transmitter 25 and the television transmitter 35.

  For example, after selecting the tuner numeric keypad with the up / down / left / right cursor keys (FIG. 3D), the enter key is pressed to switch from valid (O) to invalid (X) (FIG. 3 (e)). When set to invalid (x), remote operation using the numeric keypad of the tuner transmitter 25 is invalid. Pressing the menu key cancels the menu screen and returns to the normal screen (FIG. 3 (f)).

  Hereinafter, a control operation by an actual remote operation using the remote control transmitter will be described as an example of a tuning process in the tuner 20 by a remote control signal. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the projector 10 (CPU 11).

  The CPU 11 receives a remote control signal from the remote control transmitter (any one of the projector transmitter 15, the tuner transmitter 25, or the television transmitter 35) (step S11). In this case, there are two systems for receiving the remote control signal. One system is a case where the RC light receiving unit 12 of the projector 10 receives a remote control signal and sends it to the CPU 11. The other system is a remote control signal received by the RC light receiving unit 22 of the tuner 20. This is a case where transmission is made to the CPU 11 via the switch circuit 23 and the remote control signal line 32.

  The CPU 11 analyzes the received remote control signal (step S12). It is determined whether or not it is a projector remote control code by the projector transmitter 15 (step S13). If so (S13: YES), the operation proceeds to step S16. If it is not a projector remote control code (S13: NO), it is determined whether or not it is a tuner remote control code by the tuner transmitter 25 (step S14). If so (S14: YES), the operation is performed. Advances to S16. If it is not a tuner remote control code (S14: NO), it is determined whether or not it is a television remote control code by the television transmitter 35 (step S15). If so (S15: YES), the operation is performed. Advances to S16. If it is not a remote control code for television (S15: NO), it is determined as an irrelevant remote control code, and the operation ends.

  It is determined whether or not the analyzed remote control code is a code related to the channel selection process (S16). If the code is other than channel selection (S16: NO), other processing is performed (step S19), and the operation is terminated.

  When the remote control code is a code related to the channel selection process (S16: YES), the CPU 11 transmits a control signal based on the code to the CPU 21 of the tuner 20 via the control signal line 31 (step S17). It is determined whether a channel selection processing completion signal has been received from the CPU 21 of the tuner 20 (step S18). When the signal for channel selection processing completion is not received (S18: NO), the control signal transmission processing is repeated. When a signal indicating completion of channel selection processing is received (S18: YES), the operation ends.

  Next, the operation of the tuner 20 during the tuning process by remote operation will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the tuner 20 (CPU 21).

  The CPU 21 receives a control signal based on the code related to the channel selection process from the CPU 11 of the projector 10 via the control signal line 31 (step S21). The CPU 21 controls the broadcast receiving unit 24 to receive a channel corresponding to the code (step S22). It is determined whether or not the channel selection process in the broadcast receiving unit 24 has been completed (step S23). If it has not been completed (S23: NO), the control of the broadcast receiving unit 24 is repeated. When the channel selection process is completed (S23 :: YES), a signal indicating the completion of the channel selection process is transmitted from the CPU 21 to the CPU 11 of the projector 10 (step S24), and the operation ends.

  By such an operation procedure, the tuning process can be performed by the tuner 20 based on the remote control signal. For example, when channel 1 is pressed by the television transmitter 35, the remote control signal from the television transmitter 35 is received by the RC light receiving unit 12 of the projector 10 (S11) and analyzed by the CPU 11 of the projector 10 (S12). ), A control signal for channel selection based on the analysis result is transmitted to the CPU 21 of the tuner 20 (S17) to instruct the CPU 21 to perform channel selection. The CPU 21 controls the broadcast receiving unit 24 to cause the broadcast receiving unit 24 to receive one channel (S22).

  Further, for example, when one channel is pressed with the television transmitter 35 directed toward the tuner 20, the remote control signal from the television transmitter 35 is received by the RC light receiving unit 22 of the tuner 20, and the received remote control signal is received. The signal is transmitted to the CPU 11 of the projector 10 via the switch circuit 23 and the remote control signal line 32 (S11), analyzed by the CPU 11 (S12), and a control signal for channel selection based on the analysis result is transmitted to the CPU 21 of the tuner 20. (S17) The CPU 21 is instructed to select one channel. The CPU 21 controls the broadcast receiving unit 24 to cause the broadcast receiving unit 24 to receive one channel (S22).

  Although the case where the television transmitter 35 is used has been described, it is needless to say that the case where the tuner transmitter 25 is used can be similarly performed.

  As described above, according to the present invention, an electric device that functions as a television by connecting the projector 10 and the tuner 20 can be remotely operated with one remote control transmitter. In this case, any of the existing projector transmitter 15, tuner transmitter 25, and television transmitter 35 can be arbitrarily selected and used.

  In addition, although the case where the projector and the tuner are connected to function as a television has been described as an example, the type of the electrical device is not limited to this, and this type of electrical device can also be remotely controlled by a remote control transmitter. The invention can be applied. However, since a display unit for displaying a menu screen is necessary for initial setting of remote control by the user, it is necessary to provide a display unit such as a liquid crystal display panel in at least one electric device to be connected. is there.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of an example of the remote control system of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure at the time of connection with a projector and a tuner. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen display at the time of the initial setting of the remote control by a user. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the projector at the time of remote control. It is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the tuner at the time of remote control.

Explanation of symbols

10 Projector (first electrical equipment)
11 CPU (first control unit)
12 RC light receiving unit (receiving means)
13 Video output unit 14 Audio output unit 15 Transmitter for projector (remote control transmitter)
20 Tuner (second electrical equipment)
21 CPU (second control unit)
22 RC light receiving unit (receiving means)
23 Switch circuit (transmission means, switching means)
24 Broadcast receiver 25 Tuner transmitter (remote control transmitter)
31 Control signal line (first connection means)
32 Remote control signal line (second connection means)
33 Data transmission line 35 TV transmitter (remote control transmitter)

Claims (1)

A first electric device having a first control unit that controls its own operation based on a remote control signal from a remote control transmitter, and a second electric device that controls its own operation based on a remote control signal from a remote control transmitter In a remote control system in which a second electric device having a control unit is connected,
A first connection unit that connects the first control unit and the second control unit; a transmission unit that transmits a remote control signal to the second electrical device to the first control unit; the transmission unit and the first control unit; 1 is provided with a second connection means for connecting the control unit ,
The first electric device has a first receiving means for receiving a remote control signal from the outside, and the remote control signal received by the first receiving means and the second electric signal when connected to the second electric device. Analyzing a remote control signal transmitted from the device, and analyzing the remote control signal received by the first receiving means when not connected to the second electrical device,
The second electric device is configured to receive a remote control signal received from the outside by a second receiving unit that receives a remote control signal from the outside, and when the second electric device is connected to the first electric device, If the remote control signal transmitted to the device is not connected to the first electrical device, the remote control signal received by the second receiving means is transmitted to the second control unit. A remote control system comprising switching means for switching .

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