JPH06133378A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To operate each AV equipment with a small sized remote controller by providing a liquid crystal display device to a key top of each key and adopting the configuration that each key is switched to a function required for the operation of an object device when a specific key designating the object device desired to be operated is depressed. CONSTITUTION:A liquid crystal display panel 7 is provided to a key top 6 of each key 3 and the controller is provided with a drive section driving the liquid crystal display panel 7, a character generator generating display data corresponding to code data and a decoder decoding the code data. That is, When a specific key 2 designating an object device desired to be operated is depressed, each key 3 is switched to a function extracting prescribed code data required for the operation of the object device and the liquid crystal display panel 7 of the key top 6 displays a name representing its key function. Thus, the remote controller is changed quickly to an exclusive remote controller for each object device by operating the specific key 2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote controller having a liquid crystal display key top for switching and displaying key names.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, television receivers have the function of receiving broadcasts and displaying images, as well as home video, video discs,
A function as a display device for displaying video information of a personal computer, a character broadcasting, a satellite broadcasting, etc. has been demanded. Under such circumstances, an AV television has appeared as a television capable of systematically connecting various video / audio devices. Therefore, a remote controller for operating various AV devices such as an AV television is required to have a function of operating various devices such as a television, satellite broadcasting, home video and text broadcasting with one remote controller. However, the number of keys to be installed is limited due to the size of the remote control that you can hold and operate. In addition, the number of keys and the size of each key are limited due to operability and ease of use conditions. Conventionally, in order to solve those problems, for example, a liquid crystal display device is used for a remote control transmitter, and key names are freely registered and displayed.
There was one that operated a large number of devices with a single remote controller (Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-57092). There, using the operation unit with a transparent touch panel with electrodes on the liquid crystal panel, or using conventional push button keys,
For example, there is proposed a remote control transmitter including a liquid crystal panel for switching and displaying the push button key name in a remote control case immediately above the push button key. However, the remote controller with a transparent touch panel on the liquid crystal display,
The feeling of key touch is inferior to the independent key (push button key). In addition, since the remote control that has a liquid crystal panel in the remote control case around the independent key requires an area for display separately from the key, the key becomes smaller, it is difficult to press, or the number of keys is large. There was a problem I could not do.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems. When a key top of a push button is equipped with a liquid crystal display device and a specific key for designating a target device to be operated is pressed, An object of the present invention is to provide a remote controller in which a key is switched to a function of taking out predetermined code data necessary for operating the device, and a liquid crystal display provided on each key top displays a name indicating the function of the key. To do.

[0004]

To achieve the above object, a key operation unit, a memory for storing code data corresponding to each key of the key operation unit, and a signal carrying the code data are transmitted. In a remote controller including a sending unit and a control unit that controls each unit, a liquid crystal panel provided on a key top of each key, a driving unit that drives the liquid crystal panel, and a character generator that generates display data corresponding to code data. , And a decoder that decodes code data.

[0005]

With the above configuration, when a specific key for designating a target device to be operated is pressed, the key name display of the liquid crystal panel provided on the key top of each key of the key operation unit switches for each target device, Instead of the specific key, the remote controller is provided with only a key dedicated to the target device. at the same time,
By pressing the key, the code data retrieved from the memory is assigned so as to correspond to the key name display.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A remote controller according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view (a) of a key operation unit of a remote controller according to the present invention and a sectional view (b) of a key. 1 is a remote control case. Reference numeral 2 is a specific key (mode key) indicating the operation target device installed in the key operation unit. Reference numeral 3 is a general operation key of a device related to the mode key 2. Reference numeral 4 is a window for transmitting a remote control signal.
FIG. 6B is a sectional view of the key taken along the line AA ′ in FIG. Reference numeral 6 denotes a key top having a liquid crystal panel 7 at the upper end. Reference numeral 7 is a liquid crystal panel for displaying key names and the like. 8
Is the upper surface of the remote control case. 9 is a printed circuit board (P
CB).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a remote controller according to the present invention. Reference numeral 30 denotes a liquid crystal panel provided on a key top of each key for displaying a key name and the like. 31 is the liquid crystal panel 3
This is a drive unit that drives 0. A character generator 32 generates display data corresponding to the code data.
Reference numeral 33 is a decoder for decoding the code data corresponding to the pressed key. Reference numeral 34 is a ROM that stores code data corresponding to keys and data such as key names displayed on the liquid crystal panel 30. Reference numeral 35 denotes a sending unit that sends the remote control signal generated by modulating the code data with infrared rays or the like. Reference numeral 36 is a key input unit. Reference numeral 37 is a control unit that controls each unit.

The operation will be described. FIG. 3 is a view showing a liquid crystal display of a key top of the remote controller according to the present invention.
(C) shows the key display of the remote controller in TV mode,
(D) represents the key display of the remote controller in the VTR mode. Two
0 is a mode key of each device from TV to CD. 21
Is the TV channel key. Reference numeral 22 is a VTR operation key. For example, when the VTR key is pressed with the mode key of the TV mode remote controller (C), each key is switched to the VTR operation key as shown in FIG. Specifically, the channel key [1] "(c) diagram" of the TV remote controller replaces the REC key "(d) diagram" of the VTR remote controller. Incidentally, it goes without saying that each remote controller has a function of transmitting a remote controller signal carrying a predetermined code by pressing a key in accordance with the display on the key top. Also, the display of the mode key of each device does not change.

[0009]

As described above, according to the present invention, the key top of the push button is provided with the liquid crystal panel, and when a specific key for designating a target device to be operated is pressed, each key is set to a predetermined value necessary for operating the device. And a liquid crystal display of each key top that displays a name indicating the key function. Therefore, the remote controller of the present invention can be quickly changed to a remote controller dedicated to each device by operating the mode key. Therefore, it is necessary to arrange all the keys for operating the plurality of devices in the remote controller operation unit, as seen in the conventional remote controller for a plurality of devices. There is no. In other words, it is a small remote controller that has a minimum number of keys that are easy to press, and is similar to a remote controller dedicated to a single device, and yet an easy-to-use remote controller that can operate each AV device with one unit. it can. Further, the key display and the key function can be changed by software by changing the data in the ROM, which is suitable for the production of a small amount of remote controllers of other types.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view (a) of a key operation unit of a remote controller according to the present invention and a sectional view (b) of a key.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a remote controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a liquid crystal display of a key top of a remote controller according to the present invention. The figure (c) shows the key display of the remote control in the TV mode, and the figure (b) shows the key display of the remote control in the VTR mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 remote control case 2 specific key (mode key) 3 general operation key 4 window 6 key top 7 liquid crystal panel 8 upper surface of remote control case 9 printed circuit board (PCB) 20 mode key 21 TV channel key 22 VTR operation key 30 Liquid crystal panel 31 Drive unit 32 Character generator 33 Decoder 34 Memory 35 Sending unit 36 Key input unit 37 Control unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A key operating unit, a memory for storing code data corresponding to each key of the key operating unit, a sending unit for sending a signal carrying the code data, and a control unit for controlling each unit. In the remote control, a liquid crystal panel provided on the key top of each key, a drive unit that drives the liquid crystal panel, a character generator that generates display data corresponding to the code data, and a decoder that decodes the code data are provided. Characteristic remote control. 2. When a key indicating a device to be operated is operated,
2. The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the code data assigned to each key is switched to predetermined code data for each operation target device, and the key display on the liquid crystal panel is switched in synchronization with the code data.