JPH03211996A - Remote manipulator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operability and to miniaturize the remote manipulator by selecting at least three different functions with one select input means. CONSTITUTION:At least three different functions are selected with one select input means in a remote manipulator consisting of at least one communication means, at least one display means 2 on which information is optically displayed, at least one select input means 3 to 16, and a control means. Figures 0 to 9 are printed or displayed on key inputs 7 to 16 and correspond to functions of modes displayed on a liquid crystal display device LCD 2, and key inputs 7 to 16 are selected to select corresponding functions displayed on the LCD 2. Thus, the remote manipulator is obtained which has a small number of key inputs and an easy operation and is miniaturized.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a remote control device.

[Conventional technology]

Remote control device (remote control) with conventional electro-optical display
As shown in FIG. 2, a number of input means (input keys) such as rubber switches were required depending on the function to be selected. Figure 2 shows a remote control for AV. This allows CDs (compact discs), TVs, VTRs (video tape recorders), tape recorders, tuners, etc. to be operated with a single remote control. 1
2 is the remote control body, and 2 is an LCD (liquid crystal display).

One function of each remote-controlled device corresponds to one key input key 103-139.

For example, 103 to 105 turn on the power of the remotely controlled device;
You can control three devices by turning it off. Input keys 125 to 131 correspond to the operational functions of the tape recorder, and perform the respective operations of running, stopping, fast forwarding, rewinding, recording, and pausing. In this way, each function corresponded to one person. In the example shown in FIG. 2, far infrared rays are used as the communication means, an LCD is used as the display means, and a rubber switch is used as the input means.

Furthermore, in remote controllers for air conditioners and the like that have many function selections, even if a touch panel is used as the selection input means or a two-layer LCD panel is used as the display means, one input means can normally only support two functions at most.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

As described above, the conventional technology can only support one or two different functions for one key human power. For this reason, human power is required for each function, and a remote control that combines multiple remote controllers for air conditioners (such as the one shown in Figure 2) requires a lot of human power for the keys, making operations complicated and bulky. There was a problem.

The present invention is intended to solve these problems, and its purpose is to provide a small-sized remote control device that is easy to operate.

[Means to solve the problem]

The remote control device of the present invention includes at least one communication means, at least one display means for displaying information electro-optically, at least one selection input means, and a control means. The present invention is characterized in that at least three different functions can be selected by the selection input means.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the remote control device of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1st
The figure is a plan view of a remote controller for a room air conditioner, which is a remote control device. 1 is the main body of the remote control, 2 is the LCD panel, 3 to 16 are the keys (rubber switches for selection input)
It is. This device also uses far infrared rays as a means of communication and is also equipped with a transmitting device. Numbers 0 to 9 are printed or displayed for 7 to 16, respectively. This number corresponds to the function displayed on the LCD, and by manually selecting the key that matches the number, the function displayed on the LCD can be selected. Normally, the screen shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the LCD. Here, if the remote control user wishes to set the temperature, he or she presses the input key 7. Since the number 1 is displayed on input key 7, this means that the function that matches the number on the LCD panel ("Temperature Setting" item in Figure 3) has been selected, and the temperature can be set. . Next time you want to change the driving mode, press the input key that shows the number 2.
By pressing 8, the operating mode is selected in the same manner as above. Similarly, you can select the air volume, wind direction, timer reservation, change timer settings, etc. The displays shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 are displayed for each selection shown in FIG. 3. And since there are options depending on the function, multiple functions correspond to one person. Temperature setting (Fig. 3), temperature increase (Fig. 4), automatic operation (Fig. 5), automatic air volume (Fig. 6), wind direction 1 (Fig. 7) for input oyster 7
, the off timer reservation function (shown in FIG. 8) corresponds to this function. In other words, with this alone, the input key 7 already supports six functions.

Similarly, AV remote control can be handled in the same way by appropriately changing the display screen. Display examples are shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. It is suitable for remotely controlling a large number of different devices, and the system shown in FIG. 10 allows six types of devices to be remotely controlled. Operations can be selected for the menu in Figure 10,
For each device, when selected, the functions required for the device are displayed. For example, when a tape recorder is selected, the display screen shown in FIG. 11 appears.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the communication means is serial communication using far infrared rays, but it is also possible to use a cable, radio waves, etc. as a communication means for remote control. Further, in the embodiment, communication is one-sided from the remote control to the device, but by providing bi-directional communication, more advanced functions can be realized.

Furthermore, various similar forms can be considered for human power means and display means.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the remote control device of the present invention. In Figure 1, the numbers displayed on the input keys were referred to, but in Figure 9, the keys are lined up next to the LCD so that you can select the function by pressing the key next to the displayed function. It has become.

The functions described above can be realized by a flowchart as shown in FIG. Each circuit (display circuit, input circuit, communication circuit, etc.) is controlled by a control means (controller, etc.) as shown in the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 13 shows the circuit configuration.

The control circuit shown in FIG. 13 operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the control circuit 32 displays a menu display 21 and waits for a key input 22. When a key is pressed, it determines the function corresponding to the key and moves on to the next step. In the case of the menu key, the display returns to the menu display 21 unconditionally. In the case of the send key, send the latest currently set contents to the operated device 26
Waiting for key input 22 occurs. Other function keys 23-25
If it is determined that this is the case, the operation as described in FIG. 1 is performed and the key input waiting state 22 is entered. The flowchart shown in FIG. 12 is only an example, and it can be easily constructed as long as it is equipped with a control means.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a remote control device with excellent operability and multifunctionality, and it is also possible to reduce the size of the device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the prior art. 3 to 8, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the display of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a flowchart for implementing the present invention. FIG. 13 is a circuit configuration diagram for realizing the present invention. 1 ・ φ ・ ψ ・ 2 fist・ψ・ 3~16・ ・ 21 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ 22 ・ ・ φ Fist 23・ ・ ・ ・ ・ 24 ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ 25 ・ ・ ・ ・ φ Remote control device Display means (LCD) Selection input means (input key) Menu display flow Key input waiting flow Input operation flow of human key-7 Input operation flow of human key-8 Input operation flow of human key-16 Input operation flow 26...・Transmission flow 27...Function display or change flow 31...
・Indicator and display circuit 32 ・・Fist Φ 33 φ ・Share Φ 34 φ ・Life ・103-139 ・Control circuit・Communication circuit・Input switch and input circuit・Selection input means and above

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a remote control device comprising at least one communication means, at least one display means for displaying information electro-optically, at least one selection input means, and a control means, at least three different functions can be performed by one selection input means. A remote control device characterized by being able to select.