JPH0572160B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless remote control transmitter.

Conventional technology Conventional wireless remote controllers have different carriers, signal formats, and code systems (number of bits of transmitted data, meaning of each data bit, etc.) for each device such as an air conditioner, television, or video camera, or for each manufacturer of the same device. ) were different.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Therefore, users were required to use their own remote controls. When operating a plurality of different devices at the same time, there is an inconvenience that remote controllers for the number of devices must be kept at hand. Additionally, there are remote controls that can be used for both TVs and video cameras from the same manufacturer, but these are not very common as they are only effective for specific models from the same manufacturer.

The present invention has been made to eliminate such conventional drawbacks, and has the following objectives.

(1) A single remote controller can be used to support wireless reception equipment with any code system and signal format using multiple arbitrary carriers, and the number of parts used is reduced and the configuration is simple. Realize it.

(2) Things that rarely need to be changed, such as the number of bits of transmitted data, carrier, and signal format,
The input is only required once, and the input of the transmission data is simple regardless of the number of bits.

(3) It shall be possible to transmit multiple consecutive transmission data, and the data necessary for multiple operations of the device can be transmitted at once.

(4) If the receiving device is of the same carrier, it can be used without any modifications or special operations.

Means for Solving the Problems Therefore, the present invention provides a data setting switch for inputting transmission data, a transmission start switch for inputting the start of transmission, a bit number setting switch for inputting the number of bits of transmission data, and a carrier. a carrier setting switch to set the time, a T time setting switch to input the T time from the carrier, a time setting switch to input the signal format in units of T time,
an input means for inputting each switch; a transmission data storage means for sequentially storing input transmission data;
a transmission condition storage means for storing the input transmission bit number, carrier, T time and signal format; a sequential reading means for reading transmission data one by one from the transmission data storage means in response to input of a transmission start switch; Code generation for generating a wireless code signal by further modulating the transmission data as serial data into a pulse train based on the number of bits, carrier, T time, and signal format stored in the transmission condition storage means using a predetermined carrier. and a transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting the generated wireless code signal.

Effect: With such a configuration, it is possible to sequentially transmit a plurality of arbitrary data in an arbitrary signal format as a wireless signal using an arbitrary carrier.

Embodiment Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11 of the accompanying drawings showing one embodiment thereof.

First, the outline of the system configuration of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG.

First, the carrier, T time, and signal format of the transmission data to be transmitted to the receiving device are input and stored. The data setting switch 1 and the carrier setting switch 30 store the carrier in the transmission condition storage means 8 through the input means 6. The data setting switch 1 and the T time setting switch 4 store the T time in the transmission condition storage means 8 through the input means 6. The data setting switch 1 and the time setting switch 5 store the signal format in the transmission condition storage means 8 through the input means 6.

Next, the data setting switch 1 and the bit number setting switch 3 store the number of bits of the transmission data in the transmission condition storage means 8 through the input means 6.

Next, the data setting switch 1 inputs the transmission data through the input means 6 to the transmission data storage means 7.
is stored for each transmitted data.

Next, the transmission start switch 2 inputs a transmission start signal through the input means 6, and sequentially instructs the reading means 9 to start transmission. The sequential reading means 9 is
The transmission data stored in the transmission data storage means 7 is sequentially read out one transmission data at a time, and the transmission data is transmitted to the code generation means 10.

Next, the code generation means 10 reads the number of bits, carrier, T time, and signal format of the transmission data stored in the transmission condition storage means 8, and based on the contents, sequentially reads the transmission data transmitted from the reading means 9. It is converted and generated into a wireless code signal, subjected to predetermined carrier modulation, and transmitted to the transmitting means 11.

Next, the transmitting means 11 converts the wireless code signal transmitted by the code generating means 10 into a wireless transmission signal and transmits it. When the transmission of one data is completed, the code generation means 10 sequentially outputs a transmission end signal to the reading means 9.

Next, upon receiving this transmission end signal, the sequential reading means 9 reads the next transmission data to the transmission data storage means 7.
, and transmits it to the code generation means 10. Thereafter, the reading of transmission data, wireless code signal generation, and wireless transmission are repeated until all input transmission data is transmitted.

That is, based on the transmission conditions stored in the transmission condition storage means 8, a plurality of arbitrary pieces of transmission data stored in the transmission data storage means 7 are automatically transmitted wirelessly.

Next, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in FIGS. 2 to 1.
This will be explained in detail below using FIG.

In this example, a microcontroller with built-in carrier generation and modulation functions essential for wireless transmission is used.
For wireless transmission, we adopted infrared light (generally in remote controls, infrared light has a peak wavelength of around 900 to 950 nm). However, the wireless signal is not particularly limited to infrared rays, and may be radio waves, ultrasonic waves, or the like. In addition, the microcontroller is a custom-made one that satisfies the configuration of the present invention.
It can also be an LSI or gate array. In either case, this does not depart from the gist of the present invention. In addition, the external shape of the wireless receiver, receiving device, transmitter, and the meaning of the transmitted data corresponding to the receiver, etc.
Parts not directly related to the present invention will be omitted from illustration and description. Also, the internal structure and operation of the microcomputer will be omitted.

FIG. 2 shows an electronic circuit diagram of the wireless transmitter of this embodiment.

In the figure, 12 to 16 are switches, 17 is a microcomputer with built-in carrier generation and modulation functions, 18 is an oscillator that obtains the primary oscillation for microcomputer operation and carrier generation, and 19 is a transistor for driving a light emitting diode. , 20 is a current limiting resistor, 21
2 represents an infrared light emitting diode, 22 represents a battery as a power source for an electronic circuit, and 23 represents a smoothing electrolytic capacitor.

The P20 to P23 terminals of the microcomputer 17 are input terminals, and the P00 to P03 terminals and P30 to P32 terminals are output terminals.By sequentially scanning the output terminals and looking at the input terminals, it is determined which switch has been pressed. . Since this method is a well-known scan input method, a detailed explanation will be omitted. In addition, the X1 and X2 terminals of the microcomputer 17 are connected to the oscillator 1.
The oscillation terminal to which 8 is connected is shown. The RMO terminal is
It shows an output terminal that outputs a wireless code signal determined and generated by the microcomputer 17 (detailed explanation will be given later).

Data setting switch 1 is a hexadecimal key switch here, but it is not specified.
Alternatively, a cord switch or rotary switch may be used. In any case, including the case where the form of the switch shown in the same figure is changed, the gist of the present invention cannot be avoided. As will become clear from the explanation below, the hexadecimal key switch was particularly adopted because input is relatively easy regardless of the number of transmitted bits.

The switch 12 is provided to assist the input of the data setting switch 1. The switch 13 is for the header, the switch 14 is for bit "0", the switch 15 is for bit "1", and the switch 16 is for the ender.
Indicates each switch to be input in units of time,
Switches 13 to 16 indicate time setting switch 5. The scanning input/output terminal of the microcomputer 17 represents the input means 6. Also, transistor 1
9, a resistor 20, and an infrared light emitting diode 21, the transmitting means 11 is shown. Note that the transmission data storage means 7
(Equivalent to RAM) - Transmission condition storage means 8
(corresponds to RAM) - Sequential reading means 9 (corresponds to processing to store in ROM) - Code generation means 10
(Details will be described later) are included in the microcomputer 17, so they do not appear on the circuit diagram.

Next, the operation in the figure will be explained.

Data setting switch 1, transmission start switch 2,
The respective contents are input into the microcomputer 17 using the bit number setting switch 3, carrier setting switch 30, T time setting switch 4, and time setting switch 5, respectively. The microcomputer 17 stores all input data, processes it according to the stored content and a predetermined procedure, and finally outputs a wireless code signal (the details of which will be described later) from the RMO terminal. . Upon receiving this output, the electronic circuit of the transmitting means 11 operates and transmits it to the receiver as a wireless infrared signal. Note that a detailed explanation of the operation of this part of the electronic circuit is well known and will therefore be omitted.

The operation of the microcomputer 17 is explained in Figs. 3 to 11.
This will be explained in detail below using figures.

First, the code generation means 10 built into the microcomputer 17 will be explained in detail below using FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the main configuration of the code generation means 10, showing the parts closely related to carrier generation and wireless code signal generation inside the microcomputer 17.

In the figure, 24 is an oscillator, 25 is a 1/N frequency division prescaler (hereinafter referred to as PS1), and 26 is a 1/M frequency division prescaler (hereinafter referred to as PS2).
, 27 is a program timer (hereinafter referred to as PT)
, 28 is an output latch that latches the contents from the internal RMO' terminal of the microcomputer 17, and 29 is an AND gate.

Next, the operation in the figure will be explained.

First, the oscillator 18 and the oscillator 24 perform original oscillation to obtain a clock for operating the microcomputer. Next, this clock is input to PS1, frequency divided by 1/N to obtain a carrier signal, and transmitted to AND gate 29. This carrier signal is simultaneously transmitted to PS2, divided by 1/M to obtain T time, and further counted for a predetermined time by PT to generate an overflow (OVF).
Output a signal. The OVF signal is generated as an interrupt and causes the microcomputer 17 to start interrupt processing. Interrupt processing (hereinafter referred to as IRQ routine)
By driving the RMO' terminal with a program (details will be described later), the output latch 28 latches the RMO' terminal. The latched output is connected to the carrier signal.
It is applied to an AND gate 29 and output as a wireless code signal.

Here, a description will be given using a header as an example.

PS1, PS2, and PT can be programmed through the microcontroller's internal bus; PS1 has the frequency division ratio for carrier generation, PS2 has the T time programmed in advance, and PT has the header HI time value programmed in the IRQ routine. Set each with . Also,
The RMO' pin is set HI by the IRQ routine.
After the HI time has elapsed, the OVF signal is automatically output.
The IRQ routine is called again, this time setting the header's LO time value and setting the RMO' terminal to LO. The output of this RMO′ terminal and the carrier are
They are synthesized by the action of AND gate 29.

As a result, a pulse interval modulated and further carrier modulated wireless code signal is output to the RMO terminal. Note that the same process is performed for other signal formats, only the time values are different, and any of them can be output as a wireless code signal.

Incidentally, the applicant adopted the following values in the examples.

(1) Original oscillation frequency = 440kHz (2) Carrier frequency = 36.7kHz (3) N = 12 (4) M = 32, ∴T time = 0.9ms Next, the overall operation of the microcomputer 17 will be explained in Figure 4~ This will be explained in detail below using FIG. 9.

4 and 5 show flowcharts showing the overall operation of the microcomputer 17.

This will be explained below using FIGS. 2 and 4.

First, a switch is pressed and input is made to set the signal format. This is a bit “1” signal format, and depending on the coding system of the receiving device, for example, the HI time is 1T and the LO time is
If it is 3T, in data setting switch 1,
After pressing key 1 and key 3, press bit "1" switch 15. Each key press is processed as follows.

Since key 1 is a data switch, it is shifted once. Next, since key 2 is also a data switch, it is similarly shifted. Since the next switch is the switch 15, it is interpreted as "1", and this "13" is stored in the transmission condition storage means 8. A diagram showing how the data is shifted and stored is shown in FIG.

This series of data input and storage operations continues until all inputs of "Header", "O", "T", "Ender", and "Carrier" are completed. FIG. 7 shows an example in which all the bit numbers are stored in the transmission condition storage means 8, although the number of bits has not yet been set.

Furthermore, when all inputs are completed, the carrier frequency division ratio is set in PS1, the T time is set in PS2, and
Later, when the timer is activated, the actual time will be generated by the PS2.

Although the frequency division ratio for carrier generation is input and set here, a method of inputting the number of carriers, calculating and setting the frequency division ratio does not depart from the gist of the present invention.

This will be explained using FIGS. 2 and 5.

Next, the transmission data and the number of bits of the transmission data are input by pressing the respective switches.

As an example, if the code system of the device receiving the transmission data is 5A23H (expressed in hexadecimal notation, and the number of bits is 16 bits), first, in data setting switch 1, key 5, key A,
Press key 2 and key 3, then memory switch 12
Press. Each key press is processed as follows.

When key 5, key A, key 2, and key 3 are pressed, the data is shifted one after another because these are data switches. This situation is shown in FIG.
Next, when the memory switch 12 is pressed, this data is stored in the transmission data storage means 7, and at the same time the number of transmission data is counted up and stored in the transmission data storage means 7.

If there is other transmission data, it is similarly stored in the transmission data storage means 7 by pressing each key corresponding to the transmission data and pressing the storage switch 12. FIG. 9 shows an example where four pieces of transmission data are stored.

On the other hand, the number of bits is input and stored in the same manner as described above, but is stored in the transmission condition storage means 8. Therefore, it is not necessary to input the number of bits for each transmitted data. In addition, according to this example of transmission data, "16" bits are stored. In addition, if the number of transmission bits and transmission data are different, the transmission data read in hexadecimal (corresponding to the receiver, it is more convenient to investigate and summarize it in a table etc.) and the transmission data. Just enter the number of bits. Therefore, inputting transmission data is very easy regardless of the number of bits.

As mentioned above, inputting transmission data and signal formats is very easy as all you have to do is press a key, and there are no particular restrictions on what you can input.
Basically, any data can be input.

Finally, by pressing the transmission start switch 2, the process moves to the transmission routine.

What has been described in detail above corresponds to the input means 6.

To explain the sending routine using an example, first,
One piece of transmission data is extracted from the stored transmission data shown in FIG. In this case, “5A23H”
is taken out. Next, start the IRQ routine. This startup is generally done with EI (interrupt enabled)
A command is used. In the activated IRQ routine, while reading the transmission conditions stored in the transmission condition storage means 8 as necessary, this transmission data is converted into a wireless code signal according to a predetermined processing procedure (details will be described later). When the transmission is completed, the IRQ routine notifies the transmission routine that the transmission is complete, and the transmission routine decrements the number of data items. Next, the next data "5B3FH" is extracted and the same process is repeated. This series of processing continues until all transmission data is transmitted. In addition, such multiple pieces of data can be obtained by, for example, taking a television as an example, and controlling the receiving device by "power on", "channel 2", "volume up", etc.
It is best to use it to control the desired state with one transmission.

In summary, the operation of the transmission routine corresponds to the sequential reading means 9, which sequentially reads out the transmission data,
The code generation means 10, ie, the IRQ routine, is activated to perform wireless transmission, and this is repeated until all transmission data has been transmitted.

Here, an example of the waveform of the wireless code signal generated in this embodiment will be explained below using FIG. 10. As explained above, in this method, the transmitted data is serial data, which is modulated using the pulse interval modulation method to form a pulse train, which is then added with a header and an ender, and is further modulated with a subcarrier. This is a wireless transmission method.

FIG. 10 is a timing chart of an example of a wireless code signal generated in this example.

Since each signal format is generated according to the transmission conditions stored in the transmission condition storage means 8 (the contents of which are stored, for example, as shown in FIG. 7), "header", bit "0", and bit "1" are generated. ” and “Ender”, the waveform becomes as shown in the upper part of the figure. The wireless code signal is stored in the transmission data storage means 7 based on this signal format.
This example is shown in the lower part of the figure.

Next, the processing procedure (IRQ routine) for generating a wireless code signal will be explained in detail below using FIGS. 3 and 11.

FIG. 11 shows a detailed flowchart of the IRQ routine described in FIG.

In this example, the well-known table jump technique was adopted for ease of processing.
It is not limited to this. The IRQ routine is invoked by the send routine. When started,
Jump to table 0, and as the first process,
Set the HI time of the header to PT, and connect the RMO′ terminal.
Set it to HI, change the table to number 1, and finish the process once. The next time the program returns to the IRQ routine is precisely after the header HI time since this routine is interrupted by a timer. After this, the IRQ routine jumps to table 1, sets the LO time of the header in PT, sets the RMO' terminal to LO, and sends the transmitted data instructed by the transmit routine bit by bit (in other words, (as serial data), here it is determined whether the first bit is "0" or "1", and the next processing is performed according to this result (if it is "0", the
If it is "1", then number 4) is set, and the process is finished. As explained in Figure 3,
By controlling the RMO' terminal, a signal format as shown in FIG. 10 can be obtained, so the header is now converted into a wireless code signal. Processing of "0" or "1" is also performed in the same way as processing of the header, and all bits of the transmission data are converted into wireless code signals. The number of bits to be transmitted is checked by reading the number of transmitted bits from the transmission condition storage means 8 and comparing it with the actual number of transmitted bits. When all bits are completed, the table is changed to number 6, so the ender is converted into a wireless code signal in the same way. When the wireless code signalization is completed, it notifies the transmission routine of the end of one transmission data, stops its own interrupts, and completes all processing.

As the above description of the IRQ routine makes clear,
Since transmission is performed according to the input contents of transmission data and signal format, basically any data can be transmitted. Therefore, the wireless code signal necessary for the receiving device can be transmitted as is. Therefore, as long as the carrier on the receiving side is the same, there is no need for modification or special operations at all.

Although the detailed description above concerns one type of code system, different code systems can be easily handled by starting the input again from the beginning.

In the embodiment, the transmission data storage means 7 and the transmission condition storage means 8 are built into the microcomputer 17.
Although RAM is used, it is not specific to this. External large capacity RAM, non-volatile memory,
It is easy to think of ways to change the configuration to connect PROM, etc., and use this external memory. In this case, it is not possible to depart from the gist of the present invention.

Effects of the Invention As detailed above, according to the present invention, a single remote controller can handle and operate wireless reception devices using multiple carriers and having any code system and signal format. Moreover, the number of parts used is small and it can be realized with a simple configuration. In addition, items that hardly need to be changed, such as the number of bits of the transmission data, carrier, and signal format, need only be input once, and the input of the transmission data is simple regardless of the number of bits. Furthermore, by being able to send a plurality of consecutive transmission data, it is possible to send the data necessary to set the device to a desired state in a single operation. Since the wireless code signal necessary for the receiving device is transmitted as is, the receiving device does not require any modifications or special operations as long as it has the same carrier, and can be used easily, making it extremely practical and useful. be.

As mentioned in the embodiment, the effects of the present invention can be achieved by making the memory part a separate component and making use of its large storage capacity to further increase the effects of the present invention.
It is easy to develop and has great flexibility.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless transmitter showing an outline of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an electronic circuit diagram of a wireless transmitter showing an embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 3 is a generation of a wireless code signal of the same embodiment. FIGS. 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing the processing procedure of the microcomputer of the same embodiment, and FIGS. 6 to 9 are layouts showing examples of data stored in the built-in RAM of the microcomputer. 10 is a timing chart showing an example of a wireless code signal generated by the microcomputer, and FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure for generating a wireless code signal by the microcomputer. 1...Data setting switch, 2...Transmission start switch, 3...Bit number setting switch, 4...T
Time setting switch, 5...Time setting switch, 6
...Input means, 7...Transmission data storage means, 8...
...Transmission condition storage means, 9...Sequential reading means, 10
...Code generation means, 11... Transmission means, 17...
...Microcomputer, 30...Carrier setting switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 Transmission data corresponding to the receiver is modulated as serial data using a pulse interval modulation method to form a pulse train, and further predetermined signals are added before and after (hereinafter, the front part is referred to as a header, and the rear part is referred to as a header. (thing is called Enda)
It constitutes a transmitter that modulates the data with a subcarrier (hereinafter referred to as carrier) and transmits it wirelessly to a receiver, and includes a data setting switch for inputting transmission data and a transmission start switch for inputting the start of transmission. , a bit number setting switch for inputting the number of bits of transmission data, a carrier setting switch for setting the carrier, a T time setting switch 4 for inputting a predetermined unit time T from the carrier, and a header and bit number setting switch 4 for inputting a predetermined unit time T from the carrier. A time setting switch for inputting a signal format consisting of a bit "1" and the ender pulse interval time length in units of T time, input means for inputting each of the switches, and a transmission data memory for sequentially storing input transmission data. a transmission condition storage means for storing the input transmission bit number, T time, and signal format; a sequential readout means for reading transmission data one by one from the transmission data storage means in accordance with the input of the transmission start switch; code generation means for generating a wireless code signal by converting the output transmission data into serial data and converting it into a pulse train based on a signal format stored in the transmission condition storage means using a carrier; 1. An arbitrary data wireless transmitter that sequentially transmits a plurality of arbitrary data in an arbitrary signal format using a plurality of arbitrary carriers. 2. The arbitrary data wireless transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the input means, the transmission data storage means, the transmission condition storage means, the sequential readout means, and the code generation means are constituted by a single-chip microcomputer. 3. The arbitrary data wireless transmitter according to claim 1 or 2, which uses a hexadecimal key switch as the data setting switch.