JPH0576087A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the number of operation keys and to provide the versatility to make the remote controller easy to use by displaying a combination of the name of switches on an LCD panel and selecting the name of the required switch by a transparent witch key. CONSTITUTION:When selecting the 'air conditioning' by depressing, for example, a key 6 from among machine-type selection keys 6 to 9, the initializing display is displayed on the menu column of the LCD panel and the name of each switch representing the selection contents such as the 'operation mode' and the 'wind amount mode' are displayed. In this case, when the 'operation mode' is selected by depressing the transparent switch key on the display 'operation mode', the name of each switch representing the details of the 'operation mode', for example, 'automatic' and 'heating' or the like is displayed. When selecting the 'heating' by depressing the transparent switch key on the display 'heating', the control data is sent to the air conditioner which is the device to be controlled and the remote display is returned to the initializing display.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control device for remotely controlling controlled equipment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional remote control device, one key corresponds to one function, or one key corresponds to at most two or three functions. Was needed.

[0003]

Conventionally, this type of remote control device has been used for various controlled equipment such as an air conditioner. However, the more detailed the control becomes and the more complicated the operation becomes, the more the number of operation keys becomes. B) It becomes difficult for consumers to use or it is difficult to use.

(B) It takes time to search for a key to be operated.

There are problems such as the above.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the number of operation keys and obtain a versatile and easy-to-use remote control device.

[0007]

A remote control device according to the present invention has a menu field for displaying a plurality of types of switch names, which is provided corresponding to the plurality of switch names and selects the corresponding switch name. A plurality of transparent switch key-equipped LCD panels, a storage means for storing a combination of a plurality of switch names, and a control means for fetching the data of the menu selected by the switch key.

[0008]

In the present invention, the switch name display on the LCD panel is changed by pressing the transparent switch key, and when the desired switch name is displayed, the corresponding switch key is pressed to select the switch name.

[0009]

1 is an explanatory view showing the external appearance of a remote control device (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller) according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the remote controller. In these figures, 1 is a dot matrix type LCD panel with a transparent switch, 2 to 5 are transparent switch keys, 6 to 9 are model selection keys, and 10 is a display switching key. An interface 20 receives input signals from various keys 2 to 9. 21 is a CPU, 22
Is a ROM that stores a program that controls the arithmetic operation of the CPU 21, and 23 is a RAM that stores a combination of various switch names to be described later. Reference numeral 24 is an LCD controller.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the remote controller according to the above embodiment, and the operation will be described below with reference to this flowchart.

First, the controlled device is selected by the model selection keys 6-9. For example, when the model selection key 6 is pressed to select "air conditioner" (S30), an initial screen is displayed in the menu section of the LCD panel (S31). On the initial screen, a combination of switch names indicating the control contents for "air conditioner" is displayed. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the switch names “operation mode”, “air volume mode”, “temperature setting”, and “timer” are displayed. Where, for example,
When the "operation mode" is selected by pressing the transparent switch key on the "operation mode" display (S32), a combination of switch names indicating details of the "operation mode" is displayed next. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, "automatic""heating"
Switch names such as "dehumidification" and "cooling" are displayed (S
33). Then, when the transparent switch key on the "heating" display is pressed to select "heating" (S34), the control data is transmitted to the air conditioner body which is the controlled device (S35),
The display on the remote control returns to the initial screen (S36).

Further, if the display switching key 10 is pressed when the switch is selected incorrectly, it is possible to return to the previous display screen.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, L
When a combination of a plurality of switch names is displayed on the CD panel and a desired switch name is displayed, the transparent switch key is used for selection, so that the number of operation keys having a hardware configuration is reduced as compared with the conventional one. It is easy to use.
Furthermore, the dot matrix type LCD panel with a transparent switch is used, and the switch is realized by software, so that it has versatility and can be used as a remote controller for various controlled devices.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an appearance of a remote controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a combination of switch names according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Dot matrix type LCD panel with transparent switch 2-5 Transparent switch key 6-9 Model selection switch 10 Display switching key

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of LCD panels with transparent switch keys, each of which has a menu field for displaying a plurality of kinds of switch names, is provided corresponding to the plurality of switch names, and selects a corresponding switch name, and a plurality of LCD panels. A remote control device comprising: a storage unit that stores a combination of switch names, and a control unit that captures data of a menu selected by a switch key.