JPH08265881A - Portable transmitter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve the convenience of user and to prevent misoperation by providing a tilt detector in a transmitter main body and using a microcomputer to process the output of the tilt detector. CONSTITUTION: When a power switch 4 is applied, a microcomputer reads an ON/OFF state of a key switch 3, an output of a tilt detector 5 via a timer, a setting value of an information setting device and generates a transmission data signal to send them to a primary modulator. When an output of the tilt detector 5 is in existence, that is, a tilt of the transmitter reaches a prescribed angle, the microcomputer generates transmission data based on a signal to be an OFF signal even when the ON/OFF state of the key switch 3 is in any state and sends the data to the primary modulator. Thus, when the tilt detector 5 of the transmitter side is in operation, the output of the receiver is lost with a time delay, but when the tilt of the transmitter is recovered, the receiver is operated according exactly to the operation of the key switch 3 of the transmitter without any delay.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hand-held portable transmitter in a wireless remote controller for transmitting an output command from a transmitter side to a receiver side, and a radio for transmitting a key switch command only for ON / OFF. It can be used not only for a remote control transmitter, but also for a wireless remote control transmitter of a type that A / D converts an analog amount and transmits it as a digital amount.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional portable transmitter of this type is constructed, for example, such that the power source disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-45069 is turned off when the transmitter is tilted by a predetermined angle or more. there were.

In such a conventional portable transmitter, when the transmitter is tilted by a predetermined angle or more and the power is turned off, the power is turned on again when the tilt of the transmitter is returned to the predetermined angle or less. In a conventional wireless device or a remote controller using a light medium, the command signal from the transmitter is transmitted to the receiver almost immediately when the power is turned on, and the receiver is quickly restored, so that the inconvenience of operation is not felt so much. It was the one that was used.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional portable transmitter, in the radio equipment such as specified low power radio equipment defined by the Radio Law, the radio waves are once cut off and re-launched according to the Radio Law. In this case, the data signal must be transmitted after carrier sense is performed and the calling name is issued.Therefore, especially in this type of wireless device, if the power is turned off and the radio wave emission is temporarily interrupted, it takes time to recover. However, it has a new drawback that it is difficult to use.

In addition to the radio equipment such as the specific low power radio equipment, when the transmitter is held by hand and the key switch is pressed and hung down to walk, the transmitter is tilted by a predetermined angle or more and the power is supplied. Is cut off,
Since the operation on the receiver side is temporarily stopped, it is necessary to operate it while being careful not to tilt the transmitter more than a predetermined angle, and there is also a problem that there is a risk of misoperation and poor usability. It was

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve such a conventional problem, and an object thereof is to provide a portable transmitter which is easy to use and excellent in reliability.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a portable transmitter according to the present invention transmits power by keeping the power source turned on even when the portable transmitter is tilted by a predetermined angle or more, and transmitting. Do not put the output ON command in the data,
Even if the output ON command is put, the output ON command existing in the data before the transmitter is tilted by the predetermined angle or more is transmitted, but the new output O input after the transmitter is tilted by the predetermined angle or more is transmitted.
The N command is configured to ignore the N command and continue data transmission.

[0008] For example, as a method of not outputting the power supply and continuing to emit radio waves but not putting an output ON command in the transmission data, the transmission radio waves are not modulated, or all outputs are turned on.
Some means such as transmitting a meaningless command such as FF or converting the signal as a transmission data signal to an OFF command and transmitting the signal is used.

Further, as means for invalidating a new output ON command inputted after tilting by a predetermined angle or more and continuing data transmission, a tilt detector and a timer for starting operation by an output signal from the tilt detector. Input to the microcomputer, and the key switch turns ON / OFF according to the output status of the timer input to the microcomputer.
This is realized by determining whether or not the state signal should be carried on the transmission data, creating the transmission data, and mounting it on the carrier wave. That is, this is realized by configuring the microcomputer so as to prohibit the conversion of the OFF signal of the transmission data into the ON signal when there is the timer output.

[0010]

According to the former configuration, when the transmitter tilts by a predetermined angle or more, the tilt detector outputs a tilt signal, which is delayed by the timer means, and for example, the modulation output level of the microcomputer is lowered to the GND level. The transmission data continues to send only a signal of "0", and the receiver determines that there is no data even if this signal is received, so the output of the receiver is "disconnected". Further, when the tilt detector stops outputting the tilt signal, it starts to send the signal of the ON / OFF state of the key switch again, and the receiver operates according to the data of the transmitter. In this case, since the transmission radio wave is not stopped even when the transmitter is tilted by a predetermined angle or more, it is not necessary to perform carrier sense or transmit the call name. Therefore,
After the state of the transmitter is restored, it is possible to smoothly return to the data transmission before inclination detection, which improves usability.

Further, according to the latter configuration, when the transmitter tilts by a predetermined angle or more, the tilt detector outputs a tilt signal,
When this signal is delayed by the timer circuit and input to the microcomputer, the microcomputer detects this signal, and if there is this signal, the change of the ON signal to the OFF signal of the ON / OFF state signal of the key switch is accepted. Is OF
Since the software of the microcomputer is designed not to accept the change of the F signal to the ON signal, the transmitter dropped and the key switch was pressed, or the transmitter tilted and hit the structure and the key switch was pressed. In such an abnormal usage, the ON command of the key switch is invalidated and is not transmitted to the receiver side, and the safety can be improved. On the other hand, if you walk with the transmitter holding a key switch and hanging the transmitter, the transmitter may tilt more than a predetermined angle, but the ON signal already pushed will be OFF unless you release the key switch once. Don't In actual use, even if you hang the transmitter while walking while holding down the key switch, you do not hang the transmitter and try to press another key switch while walking, so you do not have to be aware of the tilt detection function. The usability can be improved to some extent.

[0012]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the structure of a portable transmitter according to the same embodiment. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a housing, which is vertically and horizontally shaped so that it can be held by one hand. The length dimension is set. An operation panel 2 is formed on the upper surface of the housing 1, and one or a plurality of key switches 3-1 to 3-n (hereinafter referred to as the key switch 3) are arranged on the operation panel 2. Has been done.

A power switch 4 is provided on the front side of the side surface. When the power switch 4 is turned on, carrier sensing is performed at a frequency to be transmitted, and then a call name is transmitted after confirming that it is an empty channel. Then, the signal of the ON / OFF state of the key switch 3 is placed on the carrier wave and transmitted. In addition, when the key switches 3 are not pressed, it means that a signal indicating that all the key switches 3 are OFF is placed and transmitted.

An inclination detector 5 for detecting that the transmitter is inclined at a predetermined angle or more inside the casing 1.
Is provided on the printed circuit board 6 or the like and is incorporated therein.
As the tilt detector 5, a mercury switch or a non-mercury tilt detector having a metal tube 8 built in a cylindrical tube 7 as shown in FIG. 2 is used.

In FIG. 2, when the tilt detector 5 is in an upright position, the metal ball 8 electrically connects the inner wall of the surrounding cylindrical tube 7 to the electrode 9, but the tilt detector 5 has a predetermined angle. When tilted as above, it can be confirmed that the metal ball 8 leaves the electrode 9 to release the electrical connection between the inner wall of the cylindrical tube 7 and the electrode 9 and tilted. A GND terminal 10 is provided at the bottom of the cylindrical tube 7 and is electrically connected to the cylindrical tube 7.

Also in the case of a mercury switch, mercury plays the role of the metal ball 8 and there is no great difference in principle.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are signal system diagrams of the portable transmitter according to the present embodiment. In FIG.
The key matrix 11 including the individual key switches 3 is connected to the microcomputer 12. Further, the inclination detector 5 is connected to the microcomputer 12 via the timer circuit 13. Further, an information setting device 15 for setting information other than the key switch information to be transmitted to the receiver side such as a device address is connected to the microcomputer 12.

The transmission data signal from the microcomputer 12 is sent to the secondary modulator 17 via the primary modulator 16, and the carrier wave generated by the carrier wave generator 18 is modulated. The modulated carrier wave is a power amplifier. Is transmitted to the transmission antenna 20 via the transmission output circuit 19 including a bandpass filter and the like.

Here, when the power switch 4 shown in FIG. 1 is turned on, the operation of the main electronic circuits such as the storage device of the microcomputer 12 and the key switch 3 is checked, and then the microcomputer 12 turns on the key switch 3. / OFF state, the output of the inclination detector 5 via the timer, and the set value of the information setter are read, and a transmission data signal for sending this to the primary modulator 16 is created. First, when there is no output from the inclination detector 5, that is, when the inclination of the transmitter does not reach a predetermined angle, the microcomputer 12 directly sets the ON / OFF state of the key switch 3 and the set value of the information setting device 15 to the transmission data. Is sent to the primary modulator 16. O of the key switch 3 of the transmitter
When the N / OFF state changes, the transmission data signal is changed and sent following the change.

However, according to the method of claim 1 of the present invention,
When there is an output from the inclination detector 5, that is, when the inclination of the transmitter has reached a predetermined angle, the microcomputer 12 turns off regardless of the ON / OFF state of the key switch 3.
Since the transmission data is produced as a signal and sent to the primary modulator 16, the output on the receiver side becomes O after a slight time delay when the inclination detector 5 on the transmitter side operates.
Although the FF is performed, when the inclination of the transmitter is restored, the receiver operates immediately according to the operation of the key switch 3 of the transmitter.

That is, since the power is not turned off, the radio wave is not interrupted, and the data of the key switch 3 can be immediately transmitted without carrying out carrier sense and transmitting the calling name. is there. The system configuration in this case is not limited to that shown in FIG. 3 and is simple by providing a switch circuit 21 for turning on / off the modulation signal output from the microcomputer 12 by the output of the timer circuit 13 without inputting the timer output to the microcomputer 12, as shown in FIG. The modulated signal can be sent to the modulator side or stopped.

That is, when there is an output of the inclination detector 5 through the timer circuit 13, the switch circuit 21 shuts off the modulation signal from the microcomputer 12 and sends a "0" signal to the modulator side. Is.

According to the method of claim 2 of the present invention, when there is an output of the inclination detector 5 through the timer circuit 13,
That is, when the inclination of the transmitter reaches a predetermined angle,
The microcomputer 12 turns on the key switch 3 immediately before the tilt detector 5 operates among the ON / OFF states of the key switch 3.
Although the state is adopted, even if the state of the key switch 3 changes from OFF to ON after the tilt detector 5 operates, this change is not adopted and the transmission data is sent to the primary modulator 16 in the OFF state. To do so. Of course, the one in which the ON state changes to the OFF state is adopted regardless of the output state of the inclination detector 5.

That is, the software of the microcomputer 12 is designed so that the change of the state of the key switch 3 from OFF to ON is not recognized when the inclination detector 5 outputs. With such a configuration, even when the operator tilts the transmitter by a predetermined angle or more in a common use state such as holding the key switch 3 of the transmitter while holding it by hand and hanging it and walking. Key switch 3 being pressed
The receiver operates according to the operation of 1. and never stops, and the transmitter is dropped by dropping the transmitter and the transmitter is turned over and the transmitter may be stopped due to some reason such as its own weight. Even if the key switch 3 is pressed, the transmitter leaves the operator's hand and all the key switches 3 are once turned off, and the tilt detector 5 is activated. Therefore, in this case, the output is turned on. It's very safe because it doesn't happen.

Also, when the key switch 3 is pressed by hitting the transmitter against a structure or the like, the key switch 3 is pressed because the transmitter is already in a tilted state. Tilt detector 5 before it is pushed
Is working, and the ON state of the key switch 3 in this case is also invalid, which is very safe.

The output of the inclination detector 5 is configured to pass through the timer circuit 13 so that when the mercury or metal ball 8 inside the inclination detector 5 is momentarily separated from the contact point, it is sensitive. This is to limit the reaction to.
That is, it is for avoiding that the command of the key switch 3 becomes invalid just after the transmitter is slightly vibrated when the key switch 3 of the transmitter is operated.

A method according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 2 of the present invention.
In the method of claim 2, the timer time is different, and in the method of claim 2, the timer time should be set shorter than in the method of claim 1. This is because in the method of claim 1, the tilt detector 5 operates sensitively, so that the receiver often stops its operation, resulting in poor usability. In the method of claim 2, the tilt detector 5 is sensitive. Even if the key switch 3 is pressed, the key switch 3 that is originally pressed does not turn off, so it cannot be said that it is not very user-friendly, and the tilt detector 5 pushes the key switch 3 when the transmitter falls or collides with a structure. Because you need to work faster.

In FIG. 3, the modulation signal output from the microcomputer 12 is a sub-carrier corresponding to "0" or "1" produced by the primary modulator 16 which is an MSK modulator.
It is assumed that the carrier wave is sent to the secondary modulator 17, which is a modulator, and the carrier wave is subjected to subcarrier MSK modulation.
Although other modulation schemes such as the direct FSK modulation scheme have different modulation schemes, the scheme of the present invention can be similarly adopted, and a transmitter that is less likely to cause an erroneous operation and has high safety can be provided.

[0030]

As described above, in the portable transmitter according to the present invention, the tilt detector is provided in the main body of the transmitter, and the output of the tilt detector is processed by the microcomputer. If you hold the key switch while holding it with your hand and hang it while walking, even if the transmitter tilts at a certain angle or more, the receiver will not operate and stop according to the operation of the key switch you are pressing. Even if the transmitter is dropped or the transmitter is turned over and the key switch is pressed, the output will not turn on, not only improving usability but also preventing malfunction and extremely safe. It has a high practical value.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a configuration of a portable transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the internal structure of the tilt detector according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a signal system of the portable transmitter according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a signal system of the portable transmitter according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Case 2 Operation Panel 3 Key Switch 4 Power Switch 5 Inclination Detector 6 Printed Circuit Board 7 Cylindrical Tube 8 Metal Ball 9 Electrode 10 GND Terminal 11 Key Matrix 12 Microcomputer 13 Timer Circuit 15 Information Setter 16 Primary Modulator 17 Secondary Modulator 18 Carrier wave generator 19 Transmission output circuit 20 Antenna 21 Switch circuit

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takatoshi Ono 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Tsutomu Sakuma, 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. 72) Inventor Kaichi Yoshikawa 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A portable transmitter for a wireless remote control device, wherein a key switch provided on an upper surface of a transmitter main body is operated to obtain an output to a corresponding output means provided on the receiver side. An inclination detector that detects the inclination of the main body,
A timer that starts operation by an output signal from the inclination detector, and a conversion unit that receives the output of the timer and converts the data signal sent from the portable transmitter to the receiver into a data signal instructing no output. A portable transmitter that is provided inside the transmitter body and stops output of the receiver when the transmitter is tilted by a predetermined angle or more. 2. A switch circuit is provided for prohibiting an ON / OFF command in a transmission data signal sent from a transmitter to a receiver from changing from an OFF command to an ON command before and after the operation of a timer, and the transmitter has a predetermined value. The portable transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is prevented from sending a new output ON command to the receiver when tilted by an angle or more.