JPH04262699A - Controller for video and acoustic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To offer a control means showing a function which is aimed by a whole system by means of a simple connecting method and a simple operation by connecting plural video, acoustic and electronic equipments which have different functions. CONSTITUTION:The control means is constituted in such a way that the tuner amplifier part 1B of a television unit 1, as the example of an equipment, is connected with the input of a video tape recording and reproducing device 2 and a cassette tape recorder for voice 3, an operation part 4 is provided with a control circuit giving a serial control signal, the signal reception circuits of the respective equipments are connected by control signal lines A, B and C from the output terminal of the control circuit, the operation of the operation part 4 successively and serially transmits plural commands corresponding to the respective equipments and the control reception circuits in the respective equipments are controlled so as to control the whole system.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video/audio equipment control device that simultaneously controls equipment with a plurality of different functions.

0002

[Prior Art] In recent years, video/audio equipment has not only integrated the desired functions into a single device, but also has included devices that combine multiple devices with different functions and operate as a system to achieve the desired function. many.

[0003] In this case, in the past, in many cases, each device was individually operated by a remote controller (hereinafter referred to as a remote control) or manually, so that the entire device would perform its intended function.

[0004] Hereinafter, a conventional video/audio equipment control device will be explained based on FIG. 4. The input terminal of the television unit 5, which has a separate monitor section and tuner amplifier section in which the monitor section 5A and tuner amplifier section 5B are separated, is connected to a video tape recording/playback device 6 and other AV equipment, such as an audio cassette tape recorder 7. is connected. Further, each device has its own remote controller 8, 9, and 10, respectively.

[0005] With the above-mentioned structure, its operation will now be explained. The audio cassette tape recorder 7 is now operating, and its output is applied to the input terminal of the tuner amplifier section 5B of the television unit 5. It is assumed that the input selection circuit selects the output of the audio cassette tape recorder 7 and is reproducing the audio of APE. When you want to play a videotape using this system, first use the remote control 9 for the videotape recording and playback device 6 to play the videotape, select the video input using the remote control 8 for the television unit 5, and then select the audio cassette tape. It was necessary to instruct the tape to stop using the remote control for the recorder 7, or to make a similar selection by switching the operating points on each device.

[0006]

However, the above-mentioned conventional method has problems such as the number of operating points being large, malfunctions that may cause the device to not operate, and the time it takes to reach the desired operation.

[0007]Although some remote controllers have become available that can operate multiple devices with a single remote control, they have not been able to operate the entire system at once.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and to provide a video/audio equipment control device that can perform functions with easy operation.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes a plurality of devices each having a control receiving circuit and having different functions, a control section having a control circuit that generates a serial control signal, and a plurality of devices having a control receiving circuit and having different functions. A control signal line is provided that connects a control circuit and a control receiving circuit of each of the devices, and the serial signal carries a command to individually operate the control receiving circuit of each device for the purpose of the system operation. , has a configuration in which a plurality of devices are serially transmitted, and if necessary, a control circuit is provided in each device in place of the above-mentioned control section.

0010

[Operation] With the above configuration, the control circuit continuously generates a plurality of commands by operating one part of one control section or by operating the operation section of one device, and each of the plurality of devices can be operated. By operating a command corresponding to the device, each device in the entire system can be made to perform the desired operation aimed at by the system.

[0011]

[Embodiment] Hereinafter, based on FIG. 1, which is a block diagram of a video/audio equipment control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2, which shows control signal waveforms, the device used in a moving object such as a bus or a ship will be explained. The case of a video/audio equipment control device will be explained.

A video tape recording/reproducing device 2 and other AV equipment, such as an audio cassette, are connected to the input terminal of the television unit 1, which is a separate monitor section/tuner amplifier section in which the monitor section 1A and the tuner amplifier section 1B are separated. A tape recorder 3 is connected. Further, a control signal line A is connected between the operation unit 4 in which a control circuit (not shown) is built-in and the videotape recording/playback device 2, and a control signal line A is connected between the videotape recording/playback device 2 and the audio cassette tape recorder 3. A control signal line B is connected between the audio cassette tape recorder 3 and the television unit 1, and a control signal line C is connected between the audio cassette tape recorder 3 and the television unit 1. Inside each device, the input terminal and output terminal of each control signal line are connected through-through, and are connected to a control receiving circuit (not shown) within each device.

[0013] With the above-mentioned structure, its operation will now be explained. The audio cassette tape recorder 3 is now operating, and its output is applied to the input terminal of the tuner amplifier section 1B of the television unit 1. It is assumed that the input selection circuit selects the output of the audio cassette tape recorder 3 and reproduces the audio on the tape. Here, operation section 4
When videotape playback is selected, serial control signals as shown in FIG. 2 are transmitted to each device in the same way through control signal lines A, B, and C.

This serial signal is, for example, as shown in FIG. 2(a).
As shown in FIG. 2(b), one group consists of a combination of 3 bits + 8 bits of data, and the first command for controlling the first device is followed by a command for controlling the second device. Second
The command and, if necessary, multiple commands are subsequently emitted, and as shown in FIGS. 2(c) and 2(d), the signal from the first pulse to the next pulse is For example, 0 or 1 for 1msec or 2msec
It is stipulated to determine whether Then, the control receiving circuit within each device is operated in accordance with the command. This control receiving circuit may be constructed using microcomputer software that controls the operation of each device, or may be constructed using a general-purpose IC. In this example, the three bits k0 to k2 are commands that determine which of the devices the control signal is directed to, and predetermined commands are determined in advance.

Now, when a button that generates a control signal for videotape playback is pressed on the operation unit 4, the control signal is transmitted to each device, and the videotape recording/playback device 2 receives a control signal for playing the videotape. , the tuner amplifier section 1B of the television unit switches its input switching circuit from the audio cassette tape recorder to the video tape recording and reproducing device 2, and also receives a control signal to operate the monitor, and the audio cassette tape recorder 3 receives the tape signal. Serially generates a control signal for stopping. Each device performs function control by decoding a signal representing the role of each device from the received control signal using a control receiving circuit. In this way, by operating with a single purpose, the operating section serially generates control signals for each device to perform different operations in the necessary order so as to achieve the purpose as a whole. It works organically as a whole.

The above is just an example, but even if the number of devices is increased, the applications can be expanded by adding necessary control signals to them.

[0017] In the above example, the operation unit 4 may not be a stand-alone unit, but may be built into one of a plurality of devices.

[0018] In addition to the exemplified equipment, it is of course possible to connect related equipment such as a video disc player, a CD player, and a karaoke machine.

Furthermore, in another embodiment shown in FIG.
As a modification of the configuration shown in FIG. 1, it does not have a specific operation section, and for example, just by inserting a video cassette into the video tape recording/playing device 2, the video tape recording/playing device 2 is automatically turned on, starts playing, and the TV is turned on. john unit 1
The tuner amplifier section 1B automatically switches from on-air tuner image reception to video playback image, and the audio cassette tape recorder 3 also automatically stops, so that each device achieves its assigned function. In order to control other devices, the device may be configured to have a control circuit (not shown) that continuously sends out a plurality of commands serially.

[0020]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, a plurality of serial control signals for controlling each device are sent from a control circuit to a simple control signal line connected between each device. The objective of the present invention is to provide a video/audio equipment control device that has great practical effects, such as being able to operate each device individually, performing desired operations as a system, and easily expanding the system devices.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a video/audio equipment control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Waveform diagram also showing control signals

[Figure 3] Block diagram of another embodiment

[Figure 4] Block diagram of a conventional video/audio equipment control device

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Television unit 1A Monitor section 1B Tuner amplifier section 2 Video tape recording/playback device 3 Audio cassette tape recorder 4 Operation section

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of devices each having a control reception circuit and having different functions, a control section having a control circuit that generates a serial control signal, a control circuit of the control section, and the control reception circuit of each of the devices. and a control signal line connecting between the two, and the serial signal is configured to serially and serially send a plurality of commands to individually operate the control receiving circuit of each device for the purpose of operating the system. A video/audio equipment control device configured as follows. 2. A plurality of devices having different functions, comprising a control circuit that generates a serial control signal to control other devices in order to achieve the function of the device, and a control receiving circuit that receives the serial control signal. , a control signal line connecting each control circuit of each of the devices to the control receiving circuit of each of the devices, and the serial signal is connected to the control signal line of each of the devices for the intended operation of the system. A video/audio equipment control device configured to serially send multiple commands to operate individual circuits.