JPH05145973A - Programmable remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the scale of device from being enlarged and to facilitate operation by setting the key matrix of operational contents corresponding to the equipment. CONSTITUTION:A touch panel 22 is used for an operation part, and a function picture 46 is prepared corresponding to the respective equipments operated by the programmable remote controller. Afterwards, when operating one of various equipments, the function picture 46 of the equipment type is displayed on the touch panel 22 by selecting the equipment type. By pushing a picture character 44 displayed on the screen for expressing a key required for the control, the key input is executed and operated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a programmable remote control device, and more particularly to a programmable remote control device in which functions having different properties are displayed on different screens.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, many audio and visual devices such as televisions and stereos are equipped with a remote control device so that a viewer can switch on / off and switch channels while keeping a distance. There is a programmable remote controller that can be used for each device instead of one remote controller for one device, and can even turn on and off the room lighting and adjust the temperature of the room air conditioner. .. A conventional example of such a programmable remote controller is shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 is an operation unit for key-inputting various commands when operating the programmable remote controller, and has a built-in keyboard matrix. Reference numeral 2 is a memory in which various data necessary for operating the programmable remote controller is stored, and 3 is a light emitting diode which emits a signal (usually an infrared signal is used) to a device whose operation is controlled by the programmable remote controller. Reference numeral 4 denotes a driver which drives the light emitting diode 3 together with the light emitting diode 3; 6 is a photodiode which receives a signal from another programmable remote control device to take in data; 7 is a receiving portion together with the photodiode 6; 8 is an amplifier that amplifies a signal received by the photodiode 6, 9 is a waveform shaping circuit that shapes the waveform of the signal input from the photodiode 6, and 10 is a key input command and the corresponding operation. A learning function selector switch for learning correspondence, 11 is a programmable remote controller Equipment changeover switch for switching the equipment to be controlled by the device, 12 is a display unit represented by LED details of operation of the programmable remote control device,
Reference numeral 13 denotes a system control unit which is composed of a CPU and controls the operation of the entire programmable remote controller.

In such a programmable remote controller, in order to store data in the memory 2 in the apparatus,
A command is sequentially given from the keyboard matrix 1 by key input to create data for performing a predetermined operation, or a receiver of the programmable remote controller faces a transmitter of a remote controller of an existing television or other device. Then, the former is set to the transmission mode and the latter is set to the reception mode to capture a signal, convert the signal into data, and write it in the memory 2. Then, when the data for the remote control operation is completed in the programmable remote control device, the operation of the corresponding equipment can be controlled by switching the equipment changeover switch 8 from now on.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional programmable remote controller, since the operation of a number of devices can be controlled by one programmable remote controller, the key which is the operation unit thereof. A large number of key buttons and character displays for operating instructions must be incorporated in the matrix 1 so as to be able to correspond to the operation of each device, and the key matrix 1 may become complicated and confuse the operator. In addition, there is a problem in that the structure of the programmable remote control device situation becomes large due to the increase in the number of key buttons and it is difficult to handle.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object thereof is a programmable remote controller which can prevent an increase in size and can be easily operated by forming a key matrix of operation contents corresponding to a device. It is to provide a device.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an operation unit having a touch panel capable of displaying various screens on a programmable remote control device and inputting control data of equipment on the screens by keys. When,
A first memory for storing various pictographic data for inputting data and operating the device, a second memory for storing learned remote control signals, an element for displaying an image on the touch panel, and various screens on the touch panel. Send out and display
The gist of the present invention is to provide a control unit for setting and registering data so that a screen for operation control corresponding to each of a plurality of devices can be created using a touch panel.

[0007]

Operation: The touch panel is used to call a setting / registration screen and a creation screen corresponding to each device to set and register control data suitable for each device. As a result, a function screen is created for each device operated and controlled by the programmable remote controller. When operating one of various devices, the initial screen of the programmable remote controller is called to select the model. As a result, the function screen of the called model appears on the touch panel, and pictograms representing keys necessary for operation and control of the corresponding device are displayed on the screen. Therefore, the user can perform a key input by pressing the pictogram, for example, volume adjustment or channel switching.

[0008]

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a programmable remote controller according to the present invention. In this figure, reference numeral 21 is an operation unit for keying in various commands when operating the programmable remote controller. The operation unit 21 displays a screen and a touch panel 22 on which an operator makes a key input, a key matrix 23 for analyzing the input from the touch panel 22, and a data transfer matching between the touch panel 22 and the key matrix 23. Interface 24 to take.
Reference numeral 25 is an input circuit that takes in the data input from the operation unit 21 into the programmable remote controller main body, 26 is a light emitting diode that emits a signal to a device whose operation is controlled by the programmable remote controller, and 27 is a transmitter together with the light emitting diode 26. 28 is a driver for driving the light emitting diode 26; 29 is a photodiode for receiving a signal from another programmable remote control device to take in data; 30 is a receiving unit 31 together with the photodiode 29, and is received by the photodiode 29. An amplifier for amplifying the generated signal, 32 is a photodiode 2
9 is a waveform shaping circuit that shapes the waveform of the signal input from the signal generator 9. Reference numeral 33 is a cursor key for moving and operating the cursor that appears on the display screen of the touch panel 22 during data registration, 34 is a cursor control unit for controlling the operation of the cursor 33, and 35 is a changeover switch for inputting various data to the programmable remote controller. is there. Further, reference numeral 36 is a read-only memory (ROM) as a first memory for holding a downloaded program and storing pictographic data, and 37 is a rewritable memory as a second memory for storing learned remote control signals. Memory (SRA
M) and 38 are liquid crystal display elements (LC) for displaying necessary images.
D) and 39 are LCs for controlling the operation of the LCD 38.
Reference numeral 40 is a D control circuit, 40 is an image memory (VRAM) for storing image data for LCD display, and 41 is a system control unit which is composed of a CPU and controls the operation of the entire programmable remote controller.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the external arrangement of the programmable remote controller according to this embodiment. As is apparent from this figure, a touch panel 22 for displaying an image and key input is provided on the front surface of the programmable remote controller main body, and a cursor key 33 and a changeover switch 35 are provided adjacent to the touch panel 22. ing. The changeover switch 35 includes an initial screen switch 35a for calling the initial screen on the touch panel 22, a setting for calling the registration screen on the touch panel 22, and a setting for calling the registration screen.
A registration screen switch 35b, a page feed switch 35c for instructing a page turning operation between screens displayed on the touch panel 22, and a registration confirmation switch 35d for determining registration of key input data at the time of setting and registration operation are included. .. The cursor key 33 also has a function as a setting switch.

The operation of the programmable remote controller having the above structure will be described below. The programmable remote control device is turned on to switch the initial screen switch 35a.
When is pressed, an initial screen 42 as shown in FIG. 2 appears on the touch panel 22. This initial screen 42 has a TV (T
V), video (VIDEO), air conditioner (AC), lighting (LIGHT), and the like, the names of devices whose operations are controlled are displayed on the LCD 38. On the other hand, when the setting / registration screen switch 35b is pressed, the setting / registration screen 43 as shown in FIG. On this setting / registration screen 43, various characters, symbols, numbers, and pictograms 44 such as alphabetic characters that clearly indicate the operation content of the device are displayed. The setting / registration screen is composed of multiple screens. The page feed switch 35c
By pressing, the creation screen 45 as shown in FIG.
Appears.

In this programmable remote controller, when setting and registering control data for each operation suitable for a certain device, the setting and registration screen 43 and the creation screen 45 are alternately displayed to set and register screen 43. Select the corresponding pictogram 44, display it on the creation screen 45, move it with the cursor key 33 and set it at an appropriate position on the creation screen 45, and enter the registration confirmation switch 35d.
Press to register. By repeating this several times, the control data for the device is created. Then, in order to set and register the control data suitable for another device, a creation screen different from the above is called and the control data for that device is created. Of course, control data of a plurality of models may be registered on the same screen between devices having many common data such as a television and a video.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a function screen 46 for operating a television as an example of the screen created as described above. On this screen, channel numbers and + and-symbols for volume adjustment are displayed as keys necessary for operating the television. Further, a TV / VIDEO switching key 47 is provided, and by pressing this switching key 47, it is possible to switch from the television mode to the video mode or vice versa. FIG. 5 is a view showing a function screen 48 for video operation as an example of the screen created as described above. On this function screen, pictograms for key-in are displayed because there is a video tape feeding operation or the like.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When you use the touch panel to create a function screen for each device and then operate one of the various devices, select the model to display the function screen of that model on the touch panel, and then Since the key input is performed by pressing the pictogram representing the key required for the above control, the programmable remote control device can be prevented from being upsized, and the operation of the device can be facilitated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a programmable remote controller to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an external configuration and an initial screen of the embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a plan view showing a setting / registration screen of the embodiment, and FIG. 3B is a plan view showing a creation screen of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a function screen for operating a television according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a function screen for operating a video according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional programmable remote controller.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 Operation Section 22 Touch Panel 23 Key Matrix 24 Interface 25 Input Circuit 33 Cursor Key 35 Changeover Switch 36 ROM (First Memory) 37 SRAM (Second Memory) 38 Liquid Crystal Display Element 40 VRAM 41 System Control Section 42 Initial Screen 43 Setting , Registration screen 44 pictogram 45 creation screen 46, 48 function screen

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An operation unit which displays various screens and has a touch panel capable of keying in control data of the device on the screen, and stores various pictographic data for inputting the control data and operating the device. 1
Memory, a second memory for storing learned remote control signals, an element for displaying an image on the touch panel, a control unit for sending and displaying various screens on the touch panel, and for setting and registering control data. A programmable remote control device, characterized in that the control section can create a screen for operation control corresponding to each device.