JPH08140167A - Multifunctional remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a user-friendly remote controller which can set the function of a key by transmitting the function display of the key or the transmission code of the key from equipment to the remote controller, can facilitate the addition, change and erasure of a new function and can flexibly deal with various applications. CONSTITUTION: A remote controller 100 is provided with two kinds of keys of a fixed function key 103 for which the function is fixed, and a variable function key 101 for which the function can be allocated from the equipment and changed. A function display window 102 displays that function with the variable function key 101. Function display data and the transmission code of the key are applied from the side of equipment 105 to the remote controller by communication. The communication between the remote controller 100 and the equipment 105 is performed through their respective light receiving/emitting parts 104 and 106 corresponding to an infrared signal 107.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-functional remote control device capable of controlling various operations of various devices such as a television, a video and an air conditioner by a common remote controller.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional multi-functional remote control device, there is, for example, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-154591.
Hereinafter, a conventional multi-functional remote controller will be described. FIG. 5 is an outline of a conventional multi-functional remote controller. Figure 5
Is a remote controller, 501 is a variable function key, 5
Reference numeral 02 is a mode selection key, 503 is a function display window, 504 is a fixed function key, and 505 is a light emitting unit.

A conventional multi-functional remote controller is a remote controller 5
00 is provided with a mode selection key 502, and the function of the variable function key 501 is changed by changing the mode. The function assigned to the key is displayed in the function display window 503 as a graphic or a character. These variable function keys 50
1 or an input from the fixed function key 504 that is always used, such as power-on, and does not change the function, sends the corresponding code to the device as an infrared signal via the light emitting unit 505.

[0004]

However, in the above structure, the function display of the keys and the codes sent in response to the input from the keys are limited to those prepared in advance on the remote controller side. However, there was a problem that the degree of freedom in assigning key functions was small, and it was not possible to support newly added functions and devices.

To solve the above problems, the present invention is a multi-functional remote controller capable of flexibly adapting to various applications by displaying a key function and transmitting a sending code from the device side to the remote controller to freely set and change the key function. The purpose is to provide a device.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is a multi-functional remote control device having a bidirectional communication means between a device and a remote controller, which has a key function from the device to the remote controller. The display data is transmitted to change the display of the key function of the remote controller.

In the present invention, the sending code to be given to the key is transmitted from the device to the remote controller, and the sending code of the key from the remote controller is changed.

[0008]

According to the present invention, with the above configuration, data indicating the function assigned to each key of the remote controller is transmitted from the device side,
Since the key functions of the remote controller are displayed, the key functions can be set freely, and new functions can be easily added or changed.

Further, since the code sent when each key is pressed is transmitted from the device side to the remote controller and given, the function can be easily added, changed or deleted, and a bidirectional communication means is provided. Other third party devices that do not exist can also be integrated and controlled, so systemization can be achieved. Further, a flexible and easy-to-use user interface can be provided together with the above-mentioned display change.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an outline of a multifunction remote controller according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block configuration of the multifunction remote controller according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a display example of a function display window. In FIG. 1, 100 is a remote controller, 101 is a variable function key, 102 is a function display window, 103 is a fixed function key, 104 is a light emitting and receiving unit, 105 is a device, 106 is a light receiving and emitting unit, and 107 is an infrared signal. In FIG. 2, 200 is a function key, 201 is a transmission code generation unit, 202 is a transmitter, 203 is a receiver, 204 is a received data interpretation unit, 20
Reference numeral 5 is a key function display portion, and 206 and 207 are infrared signals. In FIG. 3, 300 is a function display example a, and 301 is a function display example b.

The remote controller 100 is provided with two types of keys, a fixed function key 103 for fixing and using a function and a variable function key 101 for assigning and changing a function display from a device. Further, the variable function key 101 has a function display window 102 for displaying the function associated with the key, and a device 105
The display can be changed by setting from the side. Remote control 10
0 and the device 105 communicate with each other by the light emitting / receiving unit 10
Infrared signal 107 is carried out via 4 and 106.

Inside the remote controller, first, the function key 200
When a key is input from, the transmission code generation unit 201 generates a code corresponding to the key input, and the transmitter 202 converts it into an infrared signal 206 and transmits it. On the other hand, after the infrared signal 207 from the device is received by the receiver 203,
The received data interpretation unit 204 interprets the graphic, characters, etc. of the function display to be displayed on each key, and the key function display unit 205 displays the figure.

The function display to be displayed in the function display window 102 depends on the device to be controlled, the required function, and the display capability of the remote controller, such as a graphic such as the function display example a300 or a function display example b301. The characters can be changed in various ways.

As described above, in this embodiment, the data indicating the function to be assigned to each key of the remote controller is transmitted from the device side and the remote controller side displays the function in association with the key. Can be freely set, and new functions can be easily added, functions can be changed, or deleted.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a multifunction remote controller according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 400 is a transmission code generation / storage unit.

In this embodiment, first, the infrared signal 207 from the device is received by the receiver 203, and then the received data interpretation unit 204 interprets the received data. In the case of the key function display data, the function of each key is interpreted and the function is displayed on the key function display unit 205. Further, in the case of the transmission code of each key, the code is stored in the transmission code generation / storage unit 400 in association with the key.

Next, when there is a key input from the function key 200, the transmission code generation / storage section 400 generates a transmission code stored corresponding to the key, and the transmission code is transmitted from the transmitter.

As described above, in this embodiment, since the code sent in response to each key input of the remote controller is transmitted from the device side to the remote controller and can be set, the same as in the first embodiment. Key functions can be set freely, and new functions can be easily added, changed, or deleted. Further, if a code of a third-party device such as a television or a VTR that does not have a two-way communication means is also given from this device, a single remote controller can collectively control a plurality of devices.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and these modifications are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

[0020]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

Since the function display data of each key of the remote controller is transmitted from the device to the remote controller and the remote controller side displays the function associated with the key, the function of the key can be freely set and a new function can be set. You can flexibly respond to additions, changes, and deletions.

Since the code sent when each key is pressed is sent from the device side to the remote controller and given, the function can be easily added, changed or deleted, and a plurality of devices can be integrated. And it can be controlled with one remote controller. Also, through these effects, a flexible and easy-to-use user interface can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a multi-functional remote controller according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of a multi-function remote controller according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a display example of a function display window of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block configuration diagram of a multifunction remote controller according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an external view of a conventional multi-functional remote control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 remote control 101 variable function key 102 function display window 103 fixed function key 104 light emitting and receiving unit 105 device 106 light receiving and emitting unit 107 infrared signal 200 function key 201 sending code generation unit 202 transmitter 203 receiver 204 received data interpretation unit 205 key function Display unit 206 Infrared signal 207 Infrared signal 300 Function display example a 301 Function display example b 400 Transmission code generation / storage unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A multi-functional remote control device comprising bidirectional communication means between a device and a remote control, wherein display data of a key function is transmitted from the device to the remote control to display the function display of the key on the remote control side. A multifunctional remote control device characterized by being changed. 2. A multi-functional remote control device comprising bidirectional communication means between a device and a remote controller, wherein the device transmits a transmission code to be given to a key to the remote controller, and the transmission code of the key on the remote control side is transmitted. A multifunctional remote control device characterized by being changed.