JP5566224B2 - Remote control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control device that can remotely control home appliances and the like.

  In order to improve visibility and operability, a remote control device (remote control) that remotely controls home appliances such as air conditioners and televisions may be equipped with a color liquid crystal screen or wireless communication means to improve performance and functionality. Has been done. Since the remote control is generally used by battery driving, low power consumption is required to reduce the labor for battery replacement. Therefore, an increase in power consumption of the remote controller accompanying such high performance and high functionality becomes a problem.

  To solve this problem, when the user is not using the remote control, the projector switches to a standby mode in which the backlight of the liquid crystal is turned off or the power supply to the control circuit and communication circuit of the remote control is restricted. Therefore, it is conceivable to reduce power consumption. For example, Patent Document 1 includes a vibration detection unit that detects the vibration of a remote controller. When vibration is detected, the backlight on the back of the liquid crystal panel and the white LED on the back of the button are turned on, and then time elapses. Accordingly, a remote controller is disclosed that reduces power consumption when not in use when vibration of the remote controller is not detected by turning off the white LED, dimming the backlight, and finally turning off the backlight.

  As a method of detecting the vibration of the remote control device, it is conceivable to mount a semiconductor acceleration sensor that can be downsized. However, the semiconductor type acceleration sensor is relatively expensive, and there is a problem that the manufacturing cost of the remote control device increases.

  Further, as another method for detecting the vibration of the remote control device, it is conceivable to use an inclination sensor as described in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3. This tilt sensor detects a tilt by arranging a rollable conductor sphere inside and rolling the conductor sphere to change the contact state of the contact. The conductor ball also rolls against vibration, and the contact state of the contact changes, so that it is possible to detect the vibration using this inclination sensor. In addition, since this tilt sensor has a relatively simple structure, it can be manufactured at a lower cost than a semiconductor acceleration sensor or the like.

JP 2007-174327 A JP 2003-234050 A JP-A-11-111130

  When the vibration of the remote controller is detected using the tilt sensor described in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, the output to the vibration differs if the tilt of the stationary tilt sensor is different. The sensitivity of detection is different, and there is a problem that vibration cannot be detected with high accuracy.

  In particular, the remote control of home appliances such as air conditioners can be installed in either a horizontal position on a desk by a user or a vertical position such as hanging on a wall or standing on a stand. It is necessary to detect vibration correctly from the state.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a remote control device that can detect vibrations accurately in an assumed installation state and can transition from a standby state to a normal state. To do.

In order to achieve the above object, a remote control device according to the present invention is a remote control device that transitions from a normal state to a standby state with less power consumption when there is no operation for a predetermined time. A vibration detecting means for detecting a vibration of the housing; a control means for transitioning to a normal state when the vibration detecting means detects vibration in a standby state; and a display means for displaying information. Includes a case having a storage portion, a conductive ball that is stored in the storage portion so as to be able to roll, and a plurality of contacts that are disposed on the inner surface of the storage portion and are conductive through the conductive ball. , Detecting a vibration when the conduction state between the contacts changes due to rolling of the conductive ball, and the vibration detecting means is configured to install the housing in a preset installation state. , So that the limit of the conductor ball rolls, and when said user from a state in which the enclosure is placed horizontally rotates the said housing in a direction closer to the display surface of the display means, said conductor The ball is fixed in the housing so that the ball can roll more easily .

  According to the present invention, the vibration detector is fixed so as to reach the limit of rolling of the conductor ball when the remote controller is installed in a preset installation state. Therefore, it is possible to detect vibrations accurately in the assumed installation state, and transition from the standby state to the normal state.

(A) is a figure which shows the external appearance of the remote control apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (B) is a figure which shows an inside. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the remote control apparatus shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of a vibration detection part. It is the figure which showed the stationary state of the remote control apparatus. It is the figure which showed the inside of the conventional remote control apparatus. It is a figure which shows the state of the vibration detection part at the time of leaving the remote control apparatus shown in FIG. 1 horizontally. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the rotation direction of a vibration detection part, and the state of a conductor ball. It is a figure which shows the state which the user picked up the remote control apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the inside when the remote control apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is left still vertically. It is a figure which shows the state of the vibration detection part at the time of leaving the remote control apparatus shown in FIG. 1 still vertically. It is the figure which showed the example which fixes a vibration detection part in a housing | casing. It is the figure which showed the example which fixes a vibration detection part in a housing | casing. It is the figure which showed the example which fixes a vibration detection part in a housing | casing. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement at the time of starting of the remote control apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the inside of the remote control apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by the following embodiment and drawing. It goes without saying that the following embodiments and drawings can be modified without changing the gist of the present invention. Moreover, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same or an equivalent part in a figure.

  FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an overview of a remote control device 10 (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller 10) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1B is a diagram showing the inside of the remote controller 10 shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the remote controller 10.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the remote controller 10 according to the present embodiment includes a housing 11, a display unit 12, an input unit 13, a control board 14, a vibration detection unit 15, and a power supply unit 16. .

  The display unit 12 is configured by a liquid crystal panel, for example, and is incorporated on the upper surface side of the housing 11. The display surface of the display unit 12 is exposed from the housing 11, and the instruction content selected by the input unit 13 and various types of information related to the operation target device are displayed on the display surface of the display unit 12.

  The input unit 13 includes various buttons. When each button is pressed by the user, a signal corresponding to the button is input to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 145 described later.

  The power supply unit 16 supplies power to each unit of the remote controller 10 based on the control of the CPU 145.

  A control circuit for controlling the entire remote controller 10 is formed on the control board 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the control circuit includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 141, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 142, a timer unit 143, a communication unit 144, a CPU 145, and an oscillation circuit 146.

  The ROM 141 stores fixed data such as a program to be executed by the CPU 145.

  The RAM 142 becomes a work space when the CPU 145 executes the program stored in the ROM 141. The RAM 142 stores information indicating the current operation state.

  The timer unit 143 is composed of a crystal resonator or the like, and measures time based on an instruction from the CPU 145.

The communication unit 144 includes an infrared light emitting unit and the like, and generates a predetermined signal (that is, an infrared command: an operation command) from the infrared light emitting unit based on a command from the control unit 16. When the operation target device (air conditioner, television, etc.) receives this infrared command, it performs an operation in accordance with the received infrared command.
The transmission circuit 146 generates a clock pulse and supplies it to the CPU 145.

  The CPU 145 operates with the clock pulse supplied from the oscillation circuit 146 and controls the operation of each unit of the remote controller 10 by executing a program stored in the ROM 141. For example, the CPU 145 performs a process of switching the display of the display unit 12 or transmitting an infrared command from the communication unit 144 based on an operation signal from the input unit 13.

  In addition, the CPU 145 performs processing for switching the operation state of the remote controller 10 between the normal state and the standby state according to the usage state of the remote controller 10. Specifically, the CPU 145 switches the state of the remote controller 10 to the standby state when there is no operation input for a certain period of time in the normal state and no vibration is detected. In addition, the CPU 145 switches the state of the remote control to the operation state when vibration is detected in the standby state or when there is an operation input. Details of these processes will be described later.

  The normal state indicates a state in which sufficient power is supplied to each part of the remote controller 10. The user can cause the CPU 145 to execute various processes by operating the input unit 13 in a normal state.

On the other hand, the standby state indicates a state in which the power consumption of the remote controller 10 is suppressed by stopping or limiting the power supply to a part of the remote controller 10.
For example, when the display unit 12 is composed of a liquid crystal with a backlight, in a standby state, the CPU 145 controls the power supplied from the power supply unit 16 to turn off the backlight and display the liquid crystal display or communication unit. The power supply to 144 is stopped. Further, in the standby state, the CPU 145 may control the oscillation circuit 146 to lower its own operation clock frequency.

  The vibration detection unit 15 detects the vibration of the housing 11 and outputs a signal indicating the detection to the CPU 145. Note that the vibration detection unit 15 in the present embodiment has a configuration similar to the tilt sensor disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3, and applies tilt detection to vibration detection.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the vibration detection unit 15 includes a case 151 formed in a box shape by an insulator such as a synthetic resin having a storage unit S, and a conductor ball 152 that is stored in the storage unit S so as to be able to roll. With. A pair of fixed contacts 153a and 153b made of a conductive metal plate are disposed on the inner surface of the storage portion S. The pair of fixed contacts 153a and 153b is connected to the CPU 145 on the control board 14 via a lead wire (not shown), and the ON signal when the fixed contacts 153a and 153b become conductive. (Electrical signal) is transmitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, when the vibration detection unit 15 is positioned horizontally, the conductor ball 152 does not contact the fixed contacts 153a and 153b, and an open state in which no current flows between the fixed contacts 153a and 153b. On the other hand, when FIG. 3A is rotated 90 degrees and the vibration detector 15 is positioned vertically as shown in FIG. 3B, the conductive ball 152 rolls and is fixed in the storage portion S by gravity. Contact the contacts 153a and 153b. Therefore, a current flows between the fixed contacts 153a and 153b through the conductive ball 152 to be in a conductive state, and an ON signal is transmitted to the CPU 145. Note that the position state of the vibration detection unit 15 shown in FIG. 3A will be described as a horizontal state, and the position state of the vibration detection unit 15 shown in FIG. 3B will be described as a vertical state.

  Therefore, the CPU 145 can determine the inclination of the vibration detection unit 15 by determining the presence or absence of an ON signal from the vibration detection unit 15. In addition, when the vibration is applied to the vibration detector 15, the conductive ball 152 rolls to come in contact with and separate from the fixed contacts 153a and 153b, and the open / conductive state between the fixed contacts 153a and 153b changes. Therefore, vibration can be detected. Specifically, the CPU 145 determines that vibration has occurred when an on signal is received from the vibration detection unit 15 or when reception of the received on signal is interrupted.

3B, when the vibration detector 15 is stationary, the conductor ball 152 is temporarily separated from the fixed contacts 153a and 153b even if the vibration is small, and between the fixed contacts 153a and 153b. Since it is in an open state instantaneously, vibration can be detected with high sensitivity.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the vibration detection unit 15 is placed in a horizontal state, the conductive ball 152 is large in the storage unit S because the connection between the fixed contacts 153a and 153b becomes conductive. Since it is necessary to move (roll), a small vibration cannot be detected as compared with the vertical state of FIG.
Therefore, when the vibration detection unit 15 is in a horizontal state as shown in FIG. 3A and in a case where the vibration detection unit 15 is in a vertical state as shown in FIG. It will be different.

  Generally, as shown in FIG. 4, the remote controller 10 is assumed to be placed horizontally on a desk or the like, or placed vertically such as leaning against a wall or a stand.

  Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the remote controller 10 is configured by simply fixing the vibration detection unit 15 horizontally or vertically on the control board 14, it is perpendicular to the case where the remote controller 10 is placed horizontally. The accuracy of vibration detection differs depending on the placement, and the vibration cannot be detected accurately depending on the placement state.

  On the other hand, in the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1B, when the remote controller 10 is placed horizontally, the angle (the angle with respect to the horizontal plane) is the limit at which the conductor ball 152 in the storage portion S rolls. The vibration detector 15 is fixed in the housing 11 by α).

  That is, when the remote controller 10 is placed horizontally, the conductor ball 152 of the vibration detector 15 is barely stopped as shown in FIG. Therefore, even if it is a slight vibration, the conductor sphere 152 rolls to the state shown in FIG. 6B or 6A, and the conduction / open state between the fixed contacts changes. Therefore, vibration can be detected with high accuracy.

When the conductor ball 152 is at the rolling limit position as shown in FIG. 7 (A), the left direction is greater than when the vibration detection unit 15 is rotated in the right direction from this state (FIG. 7 (C)). In the case of the rotating operation (FIG. 7B), the conductor ball 152 is easier to roll, and vibration can be detected with high accuracy.
Generally, when the user holds the remote control 10 placed in a horizontal state, the display surface of the display unit 12 is brought closer as shown in FIG. 8 in order to make the display unit 12 of the remote control 10 easy to see. The remote controller 10 is often rotated in the direction. Accordingly, the angle of the conductive ball 152 of the vibration detecting unit 15 is a limit of rolling, and the conductive ball 152 rolls when the user rotates the display surface of the display unit 12 in a direction close to the horizontal state. By fixing the vibration detection unit 15 so that it is easy to do, vibration when the user holds the remote control 10 in his hand can be detected more reliably. Specifically, when the remote controller 10 is placed horizontally in the orientation as shown in FIG. 1B, the conductor ball is in the state shown in FIG. 6A rather than the state shown in FIG. 6B. Thus, it is desirable to fix the vibration detection unit 15.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 1 (B), the case where the remote controller 10 placed horizontally is hung on the wall, for example, is placed vertically as shown in FIG. In this case as well, as shown in FIGS. 10 (A) and 10 (B), the vibration detection unit 15 is attached to the housing at an angle α that is a limit for rolling the conductor ball 152 in the storage unit S, as shown in FIGS. 11 is fixed. Therefore, even with a slight vibration, the conduction / open state between the fixed contacts changes, and the vibration can be detected with high accuracy.

  A method for fixing the vibration detection unit 15 in the housing 11 is arbitrary. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, a socket 16 having an inclined surface 16 a having an angle that causes the conductive ball 152 to roll when the remote controller 10 is placed horizontally and vertically is disposed on the control board 14. Then, the vibration detection unit 15 may be fixed on the inclined surface 16a with an adhesive or a screw, or the lead wire of the vibration detection unit 15 may be inserted into the socket 16 and fixed.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 12, when the vibration detection unit 15 is placed horizontally and vertically, the vibration detection is performed by forming the storage unit S in a shape that is inclined at an angle that will limit the rolling of the conductor ball 152. The unit 15 may be fixed horizontally or vertically on the control board 14 as shown in FIG.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 13A, the control board 14 is inclined at an angle that is a limit of rolling of the conductive ball 152 when the vibration detecting unit 15 is placed horizontally and vertically, and the control board 14 is placed thereon. The vibration detector 15 may be fixed.

  13A, the entire control board 14 is inclined. However, as shown in FIG. 13B, the control board 14 is composed of a plurality of control boards 14a, 14b, and 14c, and the vibration detection unit 15 is provided. You may make it incline only the control board 14b mounted. In this case, it is necessary to join the substrates at the joint 17 such as a cable harness or a connector.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 13C, the control board 14 may be bent to provide a horizontal portion and an inclined portion, and the vibration detector 15 may be disposed on the inclined portion.

  Note that the method of fixing the vibration detection unit 15 is not limited to the method described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 13, and may be a limit of rolling of the conductive ball 152 when the remote controller 10 is placed horizontally and vertically. As long as the vibration detection unit 15 can be fixed at an angle, the vibration detection unit 15 may be fixed by any method.

(Operation of remote control 10)
Next, the operation of the remote controller 10 according to the present embodiment will be described using the flowchart of FIG.

  When the power switch of the remote controller 10 is pressed, power is supplied to each part and the remote controller 10 is activated. At this time, the operation state starts in the normal state. When the activation is completed and an operation input such as pressing a button is received from the input unit 13 (step S101; Yes), the CPU 145 performs a predetermined process corresponding to the operation input (step S102). Here, the predetermined process is, for example, a process of transmitting an infrared command from the communication unit 144 or displaying specific information on the display unit 12.

  If there is no operation input from the input unit 13 (step S101; No), the CPU 145 controls the time measuring unit 143 to set the time measuring time to 0 in order to measure a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes), and the predetermined time. Is started (step S103). If it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed (step S104; Yes), the CPU 145 changes the operation state from the normal state to the standby state (step S107). Specifically, the CPU 145 performs processing such as stopping the supply of power to the display unit 12, the input unit 13, and the communication unit 144 and lowering its own operating frequency.

  If a signal indicating vibration detection is received from the vibration detection unit 15 before the predetermined time has elapsed (step S104; No) (step S105; Yes), the CPU 145 controls the time measurement unit 143 to set the time measurement time. The count is reset to 0 and the predetermined time is restarted (step S106), and the process returns to step S104.

  If there is an operation input from the input unit 13 after the transition to the standby state in step S107 (step S108; Yes), the CPU 145 transitions the operation state from the standby state to the normal state (step S109). Specifically, the CPU 145 performs processing such as supplying sufficient power to each part of the remote controller 10 and increasing the number of operating clocks of the CPU 145.

  The CPU 145 may control the communication unit 144 when transmitting to the normal state, transmit a request for inquiring display data to the operation target device, and display the received display data on the display unit 12. Note that the display data is, for example, data indicating the current operation state and further the energy-saving operation state if the operation target device is an air conditioner. By doing so, the information on the operation target device side is displayed on the display unit 12 of the remote control 10 as soon as it is detected by the vibration detection unit 15 that the user has held the remote control 10, thereby improving convenience. To do.

  After the transition to the normal state, the CPU 145 performs a predetermined process according to the operation input (step S110), and the process shifts to step S101.

  In addition, when the signal indicating vibration detection is received from the vibration detection unit 15 after the transition to the standby state in Step S107 (Step S111; Yes), the CPU 145 changes the operation state from the standby state to the normal state (Step S112). ), The process proceeds to step S101. Further, when there is no operation input (Step S108; No) and no signal indicating vibration detection is received (Step S111; No), the standby state is maintained.

  As described above, the remote controller 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention functions by providing a color liquid crystal screen or wireless communication means in order to transition to a standby state with low power consumption when it is stationary. Even when the power consumption in the normal state is large, it is possible to operate with low power consumption as a whole. In addition, when the remote controller 10 is left stationary, it is in a standby state, and when the vibration is detected by the vibration detection unit 15, the user transitions to an operation state. Therefore, the user can display various information such as information display on the remote controller 10 in the standby state. Since there is no need to perform an operation such as a switch for transitioning to the normal state in order to execute the processing, the convenience for the user can be improved.

  Furthermore, since the remote controller 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention uses an inclination sensor that uses rolling of the conductive ball 152 as the vibration detection unit 15, the cost is lower than when a semiconductor acceleration sensor or the like is used. Can be manufactured.

  Furthermore, when the remote controller 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is installed in a preset installation state, the vibration detection unit 15 is installed in the housing 11 so that the conductor ball 152 becomes a limit for rolling. The Therefore, it is possible to accurately detect vibrations in the assumed installation state, and to reliably transition from the standby state to the normal state.

  Furthermore, as a preset installation state, vibration detection is performed so that the conductive ball 152 becomes a rolling limit regardless of whether the remote controller 10 is installed horizontally or installed vertically. Since the unit 15 is installed, it is possible to accurately detect the vibration of the remote controller 10 in both the horizontal state and the vertical state, and it is possible to reliably shift from the standby state to the normal state.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, the various change in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention is possible.

  For example, the preset installation state of the remote controller 10 according to the present invention includes a horizontal and vertical installation state as shown in FIG. 4, but the installation state is not limited to these states. Absent. For example, when it is assumed that the remote controller 10 is installed on a dedicated stand or the like inclined at a predetermined angle from the horizontal, the state inclined at the predetermined angle may be set as a preset installation state. In this case, the vibration detection unit 15 may be fixed in the housing 11 so that the conductor ball 152 reaches a limit of rolling in a state inclined by the predetermined angle.

  In the embodiment described above, one vibration detection unit 15 is fixed at a position where the conductor ball 152 becomes a limit for rolling when the remote controller 10 is placed horizontally. However, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, a plurality (two in FIG. 15) of vibration detection units 15 may be fixed in the housing at different angles. As described above, since the vibration detection unit 15 has different vibration detection sensitivities depending on the inclination of the vibration detection unit 15, the remote controller 10 is not limited to the horizontal and vertical states by fixing the plurality of vibration detection units 15 at different angles. Any vibrations can be reliably detected regardless of the direction in which they are placed.

10 Remote control device (remote control)
11 Housing 12 Display unit 13 Input unit 14 Control board 141 ROM
142 RAM
143 Timekeeping unit 144 Communication unit 145 CPU
146 Oscillation circuit 15 Vibration detection unit 151 Case 152 Conductive balls 153a and 153b Fixed contact 16 Power supply unit S Storage unit

Claims (5)

A remote control device that transitions from a normal state to a standby state with less power consumption when there is no operation for a predetermined time,
A housing,
Vibration detecting means for detecting vibration of the housing;
Control means for transitioning to a normal state when the vibration detection means detects vibration in a standby state;
Display means for displaying information ,
The vibration detection means includes
A case having a storage part;
A conductive ball that is stored so as to be able to roll in the storage unit;
A plurality of contacts disposed on the inner surface of the housing portion and capable of conducting through the conductor ball,
Vibration is detected when the conductive state between the contacts changes due to rolling of the conductive ball,
The vibration detecting means is configured so that when the casing is installed in a preset installation state, the user can start from a state where the casing is installed horizontally so that the conductive ball reaches a limit of rolling. When the casing is rotated in a direction in which the display surface of the display means is brought closer, the conductor ball is fixed in the casing so that it can be more easily rolled .
A remote control device characterized by that. The preset installation state is a state where the casing is installed horizontally and vertically,
The remote control device according to claim 1. A socket having an inclined surface is fixed to the substrate inside the housing, and the vibration detecting means is fixed on the inclined surface of the socket.
Remote control device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that. When the casing is installed in a preset installation state, the storage portion is formed so as to be a limit on which the conductive ball rolls.
Remote control device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that. The vibration detecting means is fixed to an internal substrate in the housing,
The substrate is installed in the housing at an angle that is a limit to which the conductive ball rolls when the housing is installed in a preset installation state.
Remote control device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.

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