JP5751882B2 - Remote control transmitter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control transmitter having an operation unit on a plurality of surfaces of a housing.

  For example, remote control transmitters that transmit command codes capable of controlling a plurality of devices such as broadcast reception display devices such as digital televisions and broadcast program recording / playback devices such as digital disk recorders and hard disk recorders are known (for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the remote control transmitter of Patent Document 1, in order to arrange many operation buttons on the remote control transmitter, operation buttons are arranged on both sides of the main body (housing). Normally, the remote control transmitter is gripped by the user and the operation button on the upper surface side is operated with the thumb. However, the remote control transmitter disclosed in Patent Document 1 causes the user's finger to accidentally touch the operation button on the lower surface side. In order to prevent erroneous operation that occurs, only the operation buttons on the upper surface side are configured to be effective (see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-9-233576

  The remote control transmitter of Patent Document 1 includes a gravity sensor for detecting the posture (which of the operation buttons on both sides is up). The gravity sensor described in Patent Document 1 uses a metal sphere, but a general gravity sensor that is currently widely used includes a light emitting diode and a phototransistor, and requires electric power to operate. Therefore, when the gravity sensor is incorporated in the remote control transmitter, the power consumption increases accordingly. Since a battery is used as a power source for the remote control transmitter, reduction of power consumption is an important issue.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. In a remote control transmitter including a plurality of operation units arranged on different surfaces, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation while suppressing an increase in power consumption. Objective.

A remote control transmitter according to the present invention includes a housing having first and second surfaces having different directions, first and second operation units respectively disposed on the first and second surfaces, and a predetermined A transmission unit that can transmit the command code to the outside, a control unit that generates a command code according to the operation of the first and second operation units, and transmits the command code to the outside from the transmission unit; A posture detection unit that detects the posture of the body, and the control unit invalidates one operation of the first and second operation units based on a detection result of the posture of the housing by the posture detection unit, When the control unit receives the output signal of the posture detection unit at least once, the detection of the posture of the housing is completed, and the posture detection unit is one of the first and second operation units. When there is an operation, Ri, after the detection of the posture of the casing is completed and serves as a small stand-by state of rapid power consumption.

  According to the remote control transmitter of the present invention, erroneous operation can be prevented by invalidating one of the first and second operation units based on the attitude of the housing. In addition, the posture detection unit that detects the posture becomes operable after the operation of the first or second operation unit is performed, and enters a standby state when the detection of the posture of the housing is completed. Power consumption due to can be suppressed, and the battery life can be extended.

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote control transmitter according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of the remote control transmitter according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart of an attitude detection process of the remote control transmitter according to the first embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of an operation validity determination process of the remote control transmitter according to the first embodiment. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a remote control transmitter according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of attitude detection processing of the remote control transmitter according to the second embodiment.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a remote control transmitter according to the first embodiment. The remote control transmitter 100 includes a microcomputer 10, a television operation button group 11, a recorder operation button group 12, a battery 13, an attitude detection unit 14, a sensor power switch 15 and a transmission unit 16.

  The television operation button group 11 is a first operation unit for remotely operating the digital television 110 (first device), and the recorder operation button group 12 remotely operates the digital recorder 120 (second device). It is the 2nd operation part for. For example, a power button, a channel switching button, an input switching button, and the like of the digital television 110 are assigned to the television operation button group 11. On the other hand, a power button, a recording button, a playback button, and the like of the digital recorder 102 are assigned to the recorder operation button group 12.

  The television operation button group 11 and the recorder operation button group 12 are respectively disposed on different surfaces of the casing (not shown) of the remote control transmitter 100. In the present embodiment, the shape of the casing of the remote control transmitter 100 is a thin rectangular parallelepiped, the television operation button group 11 is disposed on the front surface (front surface), and the recorder operation button group 12 is disposed on the back surface (front surface). It is assumed that it is disposed on the back surface.

  The microcomputer 10 performs a key scan of the television operation button group 11 and the recorder operation button group 12 to determine whether or not the user has operated (pressed) the buttons of the television operation button group 11 and the recorder operation button group 12. Monitor. Further, when any one of the television operation button group 11 and the recorder operation button group 12 is operated, the microcomputer 10 generates a command code corresponding to the operation and transmits the command code to the outside from the transmission unit 16. Functions as a control unit.

  The posture detection unit 14 detects the posture of the remote control transmitter 100, that is, which surface of the housing is upward (located on the upper side). The posture detection unit 14 according to the present embodiment includes a gravity sensor 14a as a posture detection element, and either the front surface on which the television operation button group 11 is disposed or the back surface on which the recorder operation button group 12 is disposed is upward. Can be detected.

  The gravity sensor 14a includes a light emitting diode, a phototransistor, and a movable part that moves in accordance with the direction of gravity. The gravity sensor 14a is disposed in the remote control transmitter 100 in such a direction that the operating component blocks light between the light emitting diode and the phototransistor when the remote control transmitter 100 is in a specific posture. Therefore, the microcomputer 10 can detect the attitude of the remote control transmitter 100 by observing the change in the output signal of the gravity sensor 14a (phototransistor output signal). Further, the microcomputer 10 includes a memory (attitude information memory) for storing the result of attitude detection by the gravity sensor 14a.

  The microcomputer 10 determines which one of the TV operation button group 11 and the recorder operation button group 12 is upward based on the output signal of the gravity sensor 14a, and enables only the upward operation button, so that the downward operation is enabled. Prevent misoperation. That is, when the television operation button group 11 is upward, the recorder operation button group 12 is invalid, and when the recorder operation button group 12 is upward, the television operation button group 11 is invalid.

  The battery 13 is a power source for operating the microcomputer 10 and the gravity sensor 14a. However, the supply / interruption of power to the gravity sensor 14a is switched by a sensor power switch 15 controlled by the microcomputer 10. The microcomputer 10 supplies power to the gravity sensor 14a when any one of the television operation button group 11 and the recorder operation button group 12 is operated, and recognizes the detection result of the attitude of the remote control transmitter 100 by the gravity sensor 14a. The sensor power switch 15 is controlled so as to cut off the power.

  Gravity sensor 14a is in a state where it can perform posture detection operation of remote control transmitter 100 while power is being supplied, and is in a standby state while the power is cut off. During the period in which the gravity sensor 14a is in the standby state, no power is consumed by the gravity sensor 14a because no power is supplied to the gravity sensor 14a.

  Hereinafter, the operation of remote control transmitter 100 according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

  Referring to FIG. 2, microcomputer 10 of remote control transmitter 100 starts operation (step S201), and monitors whether or not TV operation button group 11 and recorder operation button group 12 are operated (button pressing) (step S201). S202, S203).

  When the microcomputer 10 detects that any one of the television operation button group 11 and the recorder operation button group 12 has been operated, the microcomputer 10 stores which button has been operated, and then uses the gravity sensor 14a. A detection process is performed (step S204).

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the microcomputer 10 in the posture detection process. When the microcomputer 10 starts the posture detection process (step S301), the microcomputer 10 initializes the posture information memory (step S302), and controls the sensor power switch 15 to supply power from the battery 13 to the gravity sensor 14a. (Step S303).

  The gravity sensor 14a, which has been supplied with power, detects which of the front surface on which the television operation button group 11 is disposed and the back surface on which the recorder operation button group 12 is disposed is upward. A corresponding signal is output. In the present embodiment, the gravity sensor 14a outputs an H (High) level signal when the surface of the remote control transmitter 100 is in an upward posture (defined as “normal posture”), and the rear surface is in an upward posture (“ In the case of “reverse posture”, an L (Low) level signal is output.

  The microcomputer 10 receives the output signal of the gravity sensor 14a (step S304), determines the attitude of the remote control transmitter 100 based on the level (step S305), and stores the result in the attitude information memory. . For example, if the output signal of the gravity sensor 14a is at the H level, the information on “normal posture” is stored in the posture information memory (step S306), and if it is at the L level, the information on “reverse posture” is stored in the posture information memory. Stored (step S307).

  The microcomputer 10 stores the posture information of the remote control transmitter 100 in the posture information memory, and then controls the sensor power switch 15 to shut off the power of the gravity sensor 14a (step S308), and the posture detection process is terminated. (Step S309).

  In FIG. 3, the power supply to the gravity sensor 14 a is stopped after the step (steps S <b> 306 and S <b> 307) in which the microcomputer 10 stores the information on the attitude of the remote control transmitter 100. It may be after the reception of the output signal 14a is completed (step S305).

  As described above, in the remote control transmitter 100 of the present embodiment, the gravity sensor 14a is powered immediately after the TV operation button group 11 and the recorder operation button group 12 are operated. And is supplied only until the microcomputer 10 receives the output signal (detection result) of the gravity sensor 14a.

  Referring to FIG. 2 again, when the posture detection process (step S204) ends, the microcomputer 10 performs a determination process (operation validity determination process) as to whether or not the operated button is valid based on the result of the posture detection. (Step S205).

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the operation validity determination process. When the microcomputer 10 starts the operation validity determination process (step S401), it is checked whether the operated button belongs to the television operation button group 11 or the recorder operation button group 12 (step S402).

  When the operated button belongs to the television operation button group 11, the microcomputer 10 determines whether the information stored in the posture information memory in the posture detection process (FIG. 3) is “normal posture”, that is, the television. It is confirmed whether or not the operation button group 11 is upward (step S403). At this time, if the information in the posture information memory is “normal posture”, it can be determined that the user has operated the upward button of the remote control transmitter 100, so the microcomputer 10 determines that the operation is valid ( Step S405). On the contrary, if the information in the posture information memory is “reverse posture”, it can be determined that the downward button of the remote control transmitter 100 has been operated by mistake, and therefore the microcomputer 10 determines that the operation is invalid ( Step S406).

  On the other hand, if the operated button belongs to the recorder operation button group 12, the microcomputer 10 determines whether the information stored in the posture information memory in the posture detection process (FIG. 3) is “reverse posture”. That is, it is confirmed whether the recorder operation button group 12 is upward (step S404). At this time, if the information in the posture information memory is “reverse posture”, it can be determined that the user has operated the upward button of the remote control transmitter 100, and therefore the microcomputer 10 determines that the operation is valid ( Step S407). Conversely, if the information in the posture information memory is “normal posture”, it can be determined that the downward button of the remote control transmitter 100 has been operated by mistake, and therefore the microcomputer 10 determines that the operation is invalid ( Step S408).

  When the microcomputer 10 determines the validity / invalidity of the button operation, the microcomputer 10 ends the operation validity determination process (step S409). Thus, in the operation validity determination process, only the upward button operation of the TV operation button group 11 and the recorder operation button group 12 is effective based on the attitude of the remote control transmitter 100 detected in the previous attitude detection process. And disable the down button operation.

  Referring again to FIG. 2, when the microcomputer 10 determines that the button operation is valid by the operation validity determination process, the microcomputer 10 generates a command code corresponding to the operation, and controls the transmission unit 16 to send the command code to the outside. Send to. For example, if the operation determined to be valid is for the television operation button group 11, a command code for controlling the digital television 110 is transmitted from the transmission unit 16. If the operation determined to be valid is for the recorder operation button group 12, a command code for controlling the digital recorder 102 is transmitted from the transmission unit 16. Thereafter, the microcomputer 10 returns to the operation monitoring step (step S202) of the television operation button group 11 and the recorder operation button group 12.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the button operation is invalid as a result of the operation validity determination process, the microcomputer 10 does not generate and transmit the command code, but monitors the operation of the television operation button group 11 and the recorder operation button group 12. Return to step (step S202).

  As described above, according to remote control transmitter 100 according to the present embodiment, only when an upward button operation is performed among television operation button group 11 and recorder operation button group 12, the operation is handled. A command code is sent. Therefore, an unintended command code is prevented from being transmitted when the user touches the downward button.

  The power of the gravity sensor 14a is supplied only for a short period after the operation of the television operation button group 11 and the recorder operation button group 12 until the microcomputer 10 reads the output signal (detection result) of the gravity sensor 14a. Therefore, power consumption by the gravity sensor 14a (internal light emitting diode, phototransistor, etc.) can be minimized. Therefore, the life of the battery 13 can be extended.

  In the present embodiment, the gravity sensor 14a is described as being operable only by supplying electric power. However, depending on the type of the gravity sensor, a predetermined initialization process may be required at the start of the operation.

  In the present embodiment, the gravity sensor 14a has been described as being in a standby state when the power is cut off. However, for example, the gravity sensor 14a can be in a standby state in which power consumption is suppressed while power is supplied. A gravity sensor 14a having a so-called “disable function” may be used. In this case, the microcomputer 10 can switch between the operable state (enabled state) and the standby state (disabled) of the gravity sensor 14a, and the sensor power switch 15 becomes unnecessary.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, an example in which the attitude detection operation of the remote control transmitter 100 by the gravity sensor 14a is performed only once each time the TV operation button group 11 or the recorder operation button group 12 is operated is shown. The detection operation may be performed a plurality of times with a predetermined time interval. If the detection is performed a plurality of times (for example, twice) and the detection is repeated until the detection results coincide with each other so as not to proceed to the next step, the accuracy of detecting the attitude of the remote control transmitter 100 can be improved. . For example, it is conceivable that the gravity sensor 14a erroneously detects the attitude of the remote control transmitter 100 due to vibrations when the user changes the remote control transmitter 100, but such erroneous detection is performed by performing detection multiple times. And the operational reliability of the remote control transmitter 100 can be improved.

<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the remote control transmitter according to the second embodiment. In the figure, elements having the same functions as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted here. Similarly to the first embodiment, it is assumed that the television operation button group 11 is disposed on the front surface of the remote control transmitter 100 and the recorder operation button group 12 is disposed on the rear surface thereof.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the posture detection unit 14 included in the remote control transmitter 100 according to the second embodiment includes two gravity sensors 14a (first gravity sensor) and gravity sensor 14b (second gravity sensor) as posture detection elements. ing. The gravity sensors 14a and 14b have the same structure, and are configured to include a light emitting diode, a phototransistor, and a movable part that moves in accordance with the direction of gravity. The sensor power switch 15 switches supply / cut-off of power to both the gravity sensors 14 a and 14 b under the control of the microcomputer 10.

  Since the gravity sensor detects the posture using the characteristic that the moving parts move according to the direction of gravity, for example, when vibration is applied from the outside, chattering occurs due to shaking of the moving parts, and the correct detection result is It may not be obtained. However, the vibration resistance (difficulty of chattering) varies depending on the direction in which vibration is applied. Depending on the gravity sensor, for example, the state where the movable part is located on the side where the light of the light emitting diode is blocked is more than the state where the movable part is located on the side where the light of the light emitting diode can be received by the phototransistor. It has characteristics such as chattering.

  In this embodiment, using this characteristic, the gravity sensors 14a and 14b are arranged in the remote control transmitter 100 in directions different by 180 °, and the microcomputer 10 compares the outputs of the gravity sensors 14a and 14b. ing. By disposing the two gravity sensors 14a and 14b in directions different by 180 °, the difference in the direction of vibration applied to the gravity sensors 14a and 14b is canceled out, and the attitude detection accuracy of the remote control transmitter 100 by the attitude detection unit 14 is increased. be able to.

  The operation of remote control transmitter 100 according to the present embodiment is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, but the operation of posture detection processing (step S204 in FIG. 2) is different. Therefore, only the posture detection process will be described below.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the attitude detection process according to the second embodiment. In the present embodiment, the gravity sensors 14a and 14b both output an H level signal when the front surface of the remote control transmitter 100 is in an upward posture (normal posture), and when the rear surface is in an upward posture (reverse posture). Output an L level signal.

  When the microcomputer 10 starts the posture detection process (step S601), it initializes the posture information memory (step S602), controls the sensor power switch 15, and supplies power to the gravity sensors 14a and 14b (step S603). .

  The gravity sensors 14a and 14b, which are supplied with power, respectively detect which of the front surface on which the television operation button group 11 is disposed and the back surface on which the recorder operation button group 12 is disposed is upward. A signal corresponding to the detection result is output.

  Subsequently, the microcomputer 10 receives the output signals of the gravity sensor 14a (first gravity sensor) and the gravity sensor 14b (second gravity sensor) (steps S604 and S604) and compares their levels (step S606). ). If the levels (detection results) of the output signals of the gravity sensors 14a and 14b do not match, there is a high possibility that there has been a false detection due to vibration or the like. The posture is detected and the operation of receiving those output signals is repeated.

  If the levels of the output signals of the gravity sensors 14a and 14b match, it can be determined that the attitude of the remote control transmitter 100 has been correctly detected, so the microcomputer 10 determines the attitude of the remote control transmitter 100 based on that level. (Step S607), and the result is stored in its own posture information memory. For example, if the output signals of the gravity sensors 14a and 14b are both at the H level, the information on the “normal posture” is stored in the posture information memory (step S608). Is stored (step S609).

  The microcomputer 10 stores the posture information of the remote control transmitter 100 in the posture information memory, and then controls the sensor power switch 15 to cut off the power to the gravity sensors 14a and 14b (step S610), and performs posture detection processing. The process ends (step S610).

  In FIG. 6, the power supply to the gravity sensors 14a and 14b is stopped after the step (steps S608 and S609) in which the microcomputer 10 stores the attitude information of the remote control transmitter 100. It may be after the output signals of the gravity sensors 14a and 14b match (after it is determined Yes in step S606).

  As described above, in this embodiment, the posture of the remote control transmitter 100 is determined after comparing the detection results of the posture of the remote control transmitter 100 by the two gravity sensors 14a and 14b. It is possible to prevent malfunction caused by erroneous detection of 14b and to improve the operation reliability of the remote control transmitter 100.

  In this embodiment, if the detection results of the attitude of the remote control transmitter 100 by the two gravity sensors 14a and 14b do not match, the gravity sensors 14a and 14b immediately detect the attitude of the remote control transmitter 100 again. However, a certain interval may be provided between them.

  In the above description, the operation unit is described as being disposed on two opposite surfaces (front and back) of the remote control transmitter 100, but the arrangement of the operation unit in the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the operation unit may be further provided on the side surface as long as it is configured to detect multi-directional postures other than up and down by increasing the number of gravity sensors provided in the posture detection unit 14. Even in this case, if only the operation on the upward surface is validated, an erroneous operation due to the user's finger touching the operation portion on the other surface can be prevented.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Remote control transmitter, 110 Digital television, 120 Digital recorder, 10 Microcomputer, 11 Television operation button group, 12 Recorder operation button group, 13 Battery, 14 Attitude detection part, 14a, 14b Gravity sensor, 15 Sensor power switch, 16 Transmission Department.

Claims (10)

A housing having first and second surfaces with different orientations;
First and second operation portions respectively disposed on the first and second surfaces;
A transmission unit capable of transmitting a predetermined command code to the outside;
A control unit that generates a command code corresponding to the operation of the first and second operation units, and transmits the command code to the outside from the transmission unit;
An attitude detection unit that detects the attitude of the housing;
The control unit invalidates one operation of the first and second operation units based on a detection result of the posture of the casing by the posture detection unit,
When the control unit receives the output signal of the posture detection unit at least once, the detection of the posture of the housing is completed,
The posture detection unit becomes operable when there is an operation of either the first or second operation unit , and immediately after the detection of the posture of the housing is completed, the posture detection unit quickly enters a standby state with low power consumption. A remote control transmitter characterized by that. The posture detection unit detects the posture of the housing a plurality of times at predetermined intervals,
The remote control transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the control unit does not transmit the command code from the transmission unit to the outside unless the detection results of the plurality of times match. The remote control transmitter according to claim 2, wherein the attitude detection unit repeats an operation for detecting the attitude of the housing until the detection results of the plurality of times coincide with each other. The posture detector is
Each includes first and second attitude detection elements for detecting the attitude of the housing,
2. The remote control transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the control unit does not transmit the command code from the transmission unit to the outside unless the detection results of the attitude of the housing by the first and second attitude detection elements match. The said 1st and 2nd attitude | position detection element repeats the operation | movement for detecting the attitude | position of the said housing | casing until the detection result of the attitude | position of the said housing | casing by the said 1st and 2nd detection part corresponds. Remote control transmitter. 6. The remote control transmitter according to claim 4, wherein the first and second attitude detection elements have the same structure and are installed in different directions. The remote controller transmitter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein power of the posture detection unit is not supplied during the standby state of the posture detection unit. The control unit disables the second operation unit when the first surface is upward, and disables the first operation unit when the second surface is upward. The remote control transmitter according to any one of the above. The remote control transmitter according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first and second surfaces are opposite to each other. The first operation unit is for operating a first device,
The remote control transmitter according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the second operation unit is for operating a second device different from the first device.

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