JPH0756997B2 - Remote control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (a) Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a remote control device including a remote controller that outputs a wireless signal for controlling a specific device by a key operation, and a support device for the remote controller. It is about.

(B) Conventional Technology As a conventional technology for controlling an electric device in general, JP-A-
There was a thing as described in 62-278867 gazette. What is described in this publication is, "When the called party is absent, it automatically responds to the caller or remotely controls the electric device in the called party's home by sending the sending section based on the caller's command. The remote control device is provided with a connection unit to which a transmission unit equivalent to the transmission unit can be additionally connected ”. With such a configuration, the operation of the electric device can be controlled by the remote device, and the operation of the electric device can be controlled by the remote controller dedicated to the electric device.

(C) Problem to be Solved by the Invention In the remote control device configured as described above, since the remote control device and the remote controller output wireless signals independently of each other, the set operating states of the electric devices are different from each other. There was something that happened.

Further, different persons can operate the remote device and the remote controller, respectively, and interference due to simultaneous transmission of wireless signals is inevitable.

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention checks the state of optical coupling between the remote controller and the supporting device, and the remote controller and the electric device when sharing the wireless signal transmission unit for controlling the electric device, and malfunctions. Is to prevent.

(D) Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has a remote controller for remotely controlling a specific electric device by outputting a wireless signal corresponding to control data obtained by key operation, and a remote controller held at a predetermined position. In a remote control device comprising a supporting device configured to perform, when the remote controller holds the remote controller on the supporting device, a light receiving element is provided at a position facing a light emitting element provided on the supporting device, A control unit for the remote controller that converts the control data corresponding to the optical signal output from the light emitting element of the supporting device to a wireless signal and outputs the wireless signal is provided, and the supporting device is provided with a DTMF obtained through a general telephone line.
(Dial tone signal) A control unit for the supporting device that outputs an optical signal obtained from the light emitting element to the light receiving element, and an optical signal corresponding to the control data that switches the ON / OFF state of the electric device. And a switch for outputting from.

(E) Operation The remote controller configured as described above can output a wireless signal corresponding to the control data by key operation and the control data from the supporting device, and by operating the switch, the remote controller, the supporting device, It is possible to check the coupling state by the optical signal between the electric devices.

(F) Embodiments Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an implementation state of the present invention. In this figure, 1 is an air conditioner (electrical device) installed on the wall surface of the room to be conditioned, 2 is a remote controller, and control data (operation start / stop data,
Data to set cooling / heating / dry / circulator, data to increase / decrease the temperature set value, data to set the amount of air blown by the blowing fan, data to set the blowing direction,
A wireless signal (for example, an infrared signal, which may be a radio wave or a sound wave) based on data detected by a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor built in this remote controller
To the light receiving unit 3 of the air conditioner. Reference numeral 4 denotes a supporting device placed on a table or the like, and FIG. 1 shows a state in which the remote controller 2 is held. The remote controller 2 is configured to fit on the supporting device 4 so that it is held only at a predetermined position of the supporting device 4. Reference numeral 5 denotes a power supply unit of the supporting device 4, which is connected to the supporting device 4 by four signal lines. Two of these signal lines are DC power supply lines, and the remaining two lines are connected to a general telephone line via a terminal 6 such as a rosette. A telephone used by the user is branch-connected to the terminal 6. That is, the supporting device 4 can obtain a voice signal, a DTMF signal (dial tone signal), or a dial pulse signal from a general telephone line.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the supporting device 4 holding the remote controller 2. In the remote controller 2, 8 is a liquid crystal display panel, which displays various control data values which are converted into wireless signals and transmitted to the air conditioner. Reference numeral 9 denotes an operation / stop switch. Every time the switch is pressed, the remote controller 2 outputs a wireless signal to change the operation / stop state of the air conditioner. Reference numeral 10 is a lid of a switch group. By opening the lid, setting switches for cooling / heating / drying / circulator, a switch for raising / lowering a temperature set value, a switch for setting a blowing amount of a blower fan, and a blowing direction are set. It is possible to operate switches such as a switch, a timer operation time setting switch, and a current time setting switch displayed on the liquid crystal display panel. 11 is a slit,
This is for naturally circulating the air in the controlled room to the temperature sensor and humidity sensor housed inside the remote controller. Some of these slits go around the back of the remote controller. Reference numerals 12 and 13 denote infrared light emitting elements, which output a wireless signal (optical signal) based on control data. Reference numeral 14 denotes a confirmation switch provided on the support device 4. Every time the switch is pressed, an optical signal representing control data having the same function as the switch 9 of the remote controller 2 is output to the light receiving section of the remote controller. (The output method of this signal will be described later.) Therefore, if the air conditioner changes to the operation or stop when the switch 14 is pressed, the wireless signal from the remote controller 2 is held with the remote controller 2 held by the supporting device 4. Can be confirmed to have arrived at the air conditioner. Reference numeral 15 denotes an LED lamp (light emitter), which lights up when the remote controller 2 is correctly held by the supporting device 4.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state in which the remote controller 2 is slightly lifted from the supporting device 4. 16 is a storage unit for dry batteries. 17 and 18 support device 4 for remote controller 2
These are the contact parts that contact each other when held. The remote controller 2 whose back surface is straight like this
On the other hand, since there is a gap depending on the position on the holding surface side of the support device 4, the remote controller 2 can be easily removed from the support device by inserting a finger into this gap. As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 4, the contact portion 17 has a hole 19 at a position facing the slit 11 of the remote controller 2 as shown in the sectional view of FIG. By providing this hole 19, even when the remote controller 2 is held on the supporting device, air naturally circulates through the temperature sensor and the humidity sensor of the remote controller, and the correct temperature and humidity can be detected. The contact portion 18 is formed as shown in the sectional view of FIG. In FIG. 5, 20 to 24 are microswitches that close the contacts only when they are pressed, the switch 20 closes the contacts in response to the operation of the switch 9, and the switch 21 closes the contacts in response to the operation of the switch 14. , The switch 23 is pushed by the protrusion 25 of the supporting device 4 to close the contact when the remote controller 2 is held by the supporting device 4, and the switch 24
Is pressed by the back surface of the remote controller 2 while the remote controller 2 is held by the supporting device 4 to close the contact. The switches 23 and 24 are pushed only when the remote controller 2 is properly held by the supporting device 4 to close the contact, and the position of the protrusion 25 and the holding portion 26 to which the remote controller 2 is fitted.
Has a fixed shape. Therefore, only when the remote controller 2 is properly fitted to the supporting device 4, the switch 2
Both 3,24 close the contacts. Reference numerals 27 and 28 denote light emitting elements (such as infrared light emitting elements) that output optical signals, and 28 denote light receiving elements (such as phototransistors) that receive optical signals. These elements 27 to 29 are provided on the support device 4. . 30 to 32 respectively support the remote controller 2 and the supporting device 4
The optical signal can be transmitted to the light emitting element provided at a position where the optical signal from the light emitting element 27 can be received while being held at, the light receiving element provided at the position where the optical signal from the light emitting element 28 can be received, and the light receiving element 29. It is a light emitting element provided at a position. In this way, the elements 27 to 29 of the supporting device 4 and the elements 30 to 32 of the remote controller 2 are optically coupled by holding the remote controller 2 on the supporting device 4, respectively.

FIG. 6 is a main part electronic circuit diagram of the remote controller 2 and the supporting device 4. This figure shows the remote controller 2
Is held by the supporting device 4 and the respective elements 27 to 32 are optically coupled. First, in the remote controller 2, 33 is a microprocessor. A temperature sensor 34 detects the temperature of the air in the controlled room supplied from the slit 11. The internal resistance of this temperature sensor changes depending on the detected temperature, and the microcomputer 33 converts this resistance value into data by an internal A / D (analog / digital) converter and inputs it. Reference numeral 35 denotes a humidity sensor, which the microcomputer converts into data and inputs the same as the temperature sensor. 36 is a switch group, which includes switches for starting / stopping operation, switching between cooling / heating / drying / circulator mode, raising / lowering the temperature setting value, setting the blowing amount of the blowing fan, setting the blowing direction, etc. ,
The open / closed state or the set state of the contacts of these switch groups 36 is input by the microcomputer 33 by a scanning operation. 37 is a power source (such as dry batteries) of the remote controller. The remote controller thus configured outputs wireless signals (optical signals) based on the control data operated or set by the switch group 36 from the infrared light emitting elements 12 and 13. Further, the microcomputer 33 is optically coupled to the supporting device 4 via the elements 27 to 32. The light emitting element 27 sends a synchronizing signal to the light receiving element 30 and uses it as a timing pulse for signal transmission / reception. The light emitting element 28 sends a signal to the light receiving element 31, and the light emitting element 32 sends a signal to the light receiving element 29. Therefore, the microcomputer 33 operates based on the optical signal output from the light emitting element 28 and outputs the operation result as the light emitting element 31.
To the light receiving element 29 of the supporting device 4.

Next, in the supporting device 4, 38 is a microprocessor. 39 to 42 are terminals, which are connected to the power supply unit 5 by signal lines. The terminals 41 and 42 are terminals that receive power from the power supply unit 5, and the terminals 39 and 40 are general telephone lines. 44 is a ringer detection circuit, terminal 3
Ringer signal (call signal) given via 9,40
And outputs a signal to the microcomputer 38 according to the ringer signal. The microcomputer 38 outputs a signal circuit from the ringer detection circuit 44 (one signal for one ringer signal)
Is counted, and when the count value exceeds a certain value (switched between 6 times and 11 times by the switch 54), the telephone line is put into a talking state. Reference numeral 45 is a rectifier circuit, and 46 is a voice circuit, which exchanges a voice signal with a telephone line through the rectifier circuit. The audio signal (including the DTMF signal) output from the audio circuit 46 is output to the MF signal receiving unit 48 via the amplifier 47. The MF signal receiving unit 48 converts the DTMF signal into digital data and then outputs it to the microcomputer 38. Reference numeral 49 is a voice synthesizing unit, which synthesizes voice from the data stored in the storage element 50 according to the signal from the microcomputer 38 and then amplifies the voice.
It outputs to the audio circuit 46 via 51. This synthesized voice is output to the telephone line. Therefore, the microcomputer 38 can input a DTMF signal from the telephone line and can respond with a synthetic voice. The response voice is not limited to voice synthesis, and a real voice prestored in the storage unit may be used. 52 and 53 are dip switches, and a two-digit code (password) can be set by combining both switches. Reference numeral 55 is a changeover switch for selecting the presence or absence of an answering machine.

The operation of the supporting device 4 thus configured will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this flowchart, in step S1, the ON / OFF of the switch 24 is first determined. That is, it is determined whether or not the remote controller 2 is properly held by the supporting device 4. Switch 24 is off
When, the remote controller 2 is in use, that is, the user determines that he / she is at home and does not respond to the telephone line. After it is determined in step S1 that the switch 24 is ON, the light emitting element 15 is turned on (when the light emitting element 15 is not turned on, the remote controller 2 is not correctly set on the supporting device 4), and then step S2. Then switch 14
It is determined whether or not it is ON, that is, whether or not the user has operated the switch 14. When the switch 14 is operated, the process proceeds to step S3. In this step S3, "ON to remote controller
Output data of / OFF. That is, the support device 4 transmits an optical signal corresponding to control data for causing the infrared light emitting elements 12 and 13 of the remote controller to output an ON / OFF switching signal to the air conditioner to the remote controller via the light emitting element 28. The remote controller 2 that receives this control data outputs an ON / OFF switching signal to the air conditioner as a wireless signal.When this wireless signal does not change the ON / OFF state of the air conditioner, the air is output. This means that the harmony machine is not receiving the wireless signal.At this time, change the transmission direction of the remote controller 2. When the switch 14 is not operated in step S2, or the check by the operation of the switch 14 is finished. In step S4, the ringer signal is detected and counted, that is, the ringing tone of the telephone sounds N times. In step S5, the value of N is set to 6 or 11 by the switch 54. If it is determined that the switch 55 is ON (the answering machine is connected) during execution of step S4, the process proceeds to step S12. In step S5, the message 1 is output after the telephone line is put into a call state.
The voice synthesizer 49 outputs a voice such as “I am out now.”
And synthesize and output to the telephone line. After this, the user inputs the personal identification number by the DTMF signal via the telephone line. In step S7, it is determined whether or not the signal detected by the MF signal receiving unit 48 matches the number preset by the dip switches 52 and 53. If the personal identification numbers do not match, it is determined in step S8 whether or not the number of mismatches has reached three. (This disagreement number is not limited to 3 times and may be set arbitrarily.) When the disagreement number becomes 3, the telephone line is OF
After setting to F (end of call), the process returns to step S1. When the personal identification numbers match in step S7, steps S9 and S10 are repeated until the telephone line is turned off (determined in step S11). The synthesized voice output in step S9 is, for example, "Please input the control number", "The air conditioner is stopped.", "The air conditioner is operated." In step S10, control data based on the DTMF signal is output to the remote controller as an optical signal. For example, the DTMF signal (control number) that knows the ON / OFF status of the air conditioner is # 0, and the DT that switches the ON / OFF status of the air conditioner.
The MF signal is # 1 or the like. When the DTMF signal is # 0, the operating state of the air conditioner is input from the remote controller 2 via the light receiving element 29, and the operating state is displayed by the synthetic voice.
When the DTMF signal is # 1, the same operation as step S3 is performed.
It should be noted that the types of synthetic voices and the types of control codes are not limited to these, and DTMF signals used for temperature setting, air volume change, etc. may be set.

When it is determined in step S4 that the answering machine is connected, the process proceeds to step S12. In this step S12, the timer of time is started and the telephone line motor is started. This monitor only detects DTMF signals while keeping the telephone line off. After this monitor state, the process proceeds to steps S13 and S14, and it is determined whether or not the personal identification numbers match within a predetermined time. If it is determined that the personal identification numbers match, the telephone line is put into a call state, and the process proceeds to step S9. If the personal identification numbers do not match within the predetermined time, the process returns to step S1. That is, when a call is received from a third party to an answering machine connected to a branch, when the answering machine is controlled by a remote controller, or when a prank call is made. Therefore, the time counted in step S13 is set to about 30 seconds to 1 minute in consideration of the operation of the answering machine (voice response, message recording, etc.).

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are operation explanatory views when using the remote controller and the supporting device configured as described above.
FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory view when the answering machine is not set. In this explanatory diagram, first, the user holds the remote controller 2 on the supporting device 4 and then the switch 14
To operate. As a result, the ON / OFF signal is output as a wireless signal to the air conditioner via the supporting device 4 and the remote controller 2. At this time, if the air conditioner is in the operating state, the operation of the air conditioner is stopped, and if it is in the stopped state, the operation is started. In this way, the operating state of the air conditioner is switched. If the operating condition of the air conditioner does not switch, it is possible that the wireless signal from the remote controller has not arrived, so change the transmission direction of the remote controller.

After this, the user goes out. Then, when a call is made from the outside, the supporting device 4 receives the call and outputs the message "I am now out". The user inputs the personal identification number after hearing this message. After the personal identification numbers match, a wireless signal is output from the remote controller by inputting the control number. Thereby, the operation of the air conditioner can be controlled.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram when the answering machine is set. The difference from the operation explanatory view of FIG. 8 is that an answering machine answers when a call is made. At this time, the support device starts to monitor the telephone line when it detects the ringer signal. At the same time, the answering machine outputs the message "Please leave a message" and then goes into the recording mode. Enter the security code when you are in the absence recording mode. If the passwords match, the control number is entered as in the case of FIG.

In the present embodiment, the holding states of the remote controller and the supporting device are determined by the switches 23 and 24, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a magnet switch may be provided on both the remote controller and the supporting device, and the holding state of the remote controller may be determined from the opening and closing of the magnet switch.

(G) Effect of the Invention As described above, the present invention outputs a wireless signal corresponding to control data obtained by key operation to remotely control a specific electric device and a remote controller at a predetermined position. In a remote control device comprising a supporting device configured to hold the remote controller, when the remote controller is held by the supporting device, a light receiving element is provided at a position facing a light emitting body provided in the supporting device. , A control unit for converting control data corresponding to an optical signal output from the light emitter of the supporting device into a wireless signal and outputting the wireless signal is provided to the supporting device based on a DTMF signal obtained through a general telephone line. A light emitting element that outputs an optical signal to the light receiving element and an optical signal that corresponds to control data that switches the ON / OFF state of electrical equipment Since it is provided with a switch for outputting the light from the light emitting element, it is possible to check whether or not the optical coupling state between the supporting device, the remote controller, and the electric device is correctly performed only by operating the switch. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a top view of a supporting device holding a remote controller, and FIG. 3 is a side view showing a state where the remote controller is slightly lifted from the supporting device. 4 and 5 are sectional views of the supporting device, FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state of a contact portion between the remote controller and the supporting device, and FIG. 6 is an electronic circuit diagram of main parts of the remote controller and the supporting device. FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of the main part of the supporting device, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are explanatory views showing the operation when this embodiment is used. 2 ... Remote controller, 4 ... Supporting device, 14 ...
Switch, 27,28,32 …… Light emitting element, 29,30,31 …… Light receiving element.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A remote controller for remotely controlling a specific electric device by outputting a wireless signal corresponding to control data obtained by key operation, and a supporting device for maintaining the remote controller at a predetermined position. In this remote control device, when the remote controller is held by the supporting device, a light receiving element is provided at a position facing the light emitting element provided on the supporting device, and the light is emitted from the light emitting element of the supporting device. A control unit for the remote controller that converts the control data corresponding to the optical signal to the wireless signal and outputs the wireless signal is provided.
Emitting an optical signal corresponding to the control unit for the supporting device that outputs the optical signal obtained from the MF (dial tone signal) signal from the light emitting element to the light receiving element and the control data that switches the ON / OFF state of the electric device A remote control device comprising a switch for outputting from an element.