JPH0884379A - Remote controller for electrical appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To control the same kind or different kinds of plural instruments through a single remote controller. CONSTITUTION: This device is provided with; a selecting means 11 for outputting a selection signal to allow a user to select a desired electric instrument; a memory 13, which is electrically connected to this selecting means 11 and internally stores plural sets of internal codes, for outputting the internal code corresponding to the electric instrument to be controlled corresponding to the selection signal; and a signal emitter 14, which is electrically connected to the memory 13, for receiving the internal code outputted from the memory 13 and emitting an electromagnetic signal corresponding to the internal code toward the electric instrument to be controlled.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote controller, and more particularly to a remote controller for electric appliances.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional remote controller for a single electric appliance can control only a single electric appliance product. This type of remote controller has a key matrix 111 and a keying coder 1 as shown in FIG.
2, a memory 13, an output control unit 141, and an infrared light emitting diode 142, and when the electric appliance to be controlled is a television receiver, for example, the function code corresponding to the television receiver is stored in the memory 13. It is stored and when the user presses any key of the key matrix 111, the memory 13 is stored through the keying coder 12.
Knows what the pressed key is, and controls the infrared light emitting diode 142 by the function code corresponding to the key through the output control section 141 to emit the infrared ray corresponding to the function code. When the infrared signal is received, it decodes the infrared signal and executes a predetermined function such as channel switching and volume control.

As a matter of course, each time the output control section 141 fires one function code, the start code is added before the function code and the end code is added after the function code to separate the data between the continuous keys. .

[0004]

As can be seen from the above description, the conventional single remote controller can control only a single electric appliance and has the following defects.

(1) A single remote controller can control only a single electric appliance, and controls a plurality of different kinds of electric appliances such as a television receiver, a video recorder, and an audio device. , Easily cause confusion in use.

(2) When the user owns a plurality of electric appliances of the same type, the remote controller used for them must be of the same type. That way, when a user uses the remote controller to control an appliance within it, other appliances of the same type may also receive the remote controller's signal, so the user may It becomes impossible to control only the electric equipment of the stand, which causes trouble in use.

(3) Each remote controller has one
Since it applies only to different types of appliances, manufacturers of remote controllers must prepare different equipment for different types of remote controllers. For example, suppose that a manufacturer receives an order for 100,000 A-type and 200,000 B-type remote controllers. In this case, the manufacturer can afford to buy more equipment, for example 15
10,000 A-class remote controllers and 200,000 B
The equipment for the remote controller of the seed must be prepared. However, when the manufacturer completed 100,000 A-type and 150,000 B-type remote controllers as ordered,
When the orderer suddenly ordered an additional 100,000 A-class remote controllers, the remaining 50,000 B-class remote controllers were left despite the lack of 50,000 A-class remote controller equipment. The remote controller equipment cannot be diverted to the type A remote controller. This is because the function codes stored in the respective memories are different in different types of remote controllers, and for this reason, the manufacturer has to urgently replenish the equipment of 50,000 A type remote controllers from other sources. Equipment preparation costs will be high, and the operation of equipment will be inflexible.

(4) Since different types of remote controllers are made of different equipment, in order to store the equipment, it is necessary to divide the equipment into each type of remote controller, which makes the storage management of the equipment complicated. To do.

In order to solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a remote controller for an electric appliance, which can control a plurality of electric appliances of the same type or different types with a single remote controller.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a remote controller for electric equipment which reduces the preparation cost of the equipment of the remote controller and increases the flexibility of equipment operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a remote controller for electric equipment which can simplify the preparation process of the equipment without classifying the equipment of the different types of remote controllers for each type.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a remote controller for controlling at least one electric appliance, which outputs a selection signal to allow a user to select a desired electric appliance. Means, a memory electrically connected to the selecting means, a plurality of sets of internal codes stored therein, and an internal code corresponding to an electric appliance to be controlled according to the selection signal, and an electric memory for the memory. And a signal emitter for receiving an internal code output from the memory and emitting an electromagnetic signal corresponding to the internal code toward an electric appliance to be controlled.

The internal code includes a device code, an address code, and a function code, the device code represents at least one kind of electric appliance, the address code represents one of the same electric appliances, and the function. The code represents a code corresponding to the electric appliance.

The selection signals include a device code selection signal, an address code selection signal, and a function code selection signal.

The selecting means includes a plurality of row signal lines and a plurality of column signal lines, and a key matrix in which the intersection of the row signal line and the column signal line of each row displays one key, and a key matrix. A function code encoder that is electrically connected and outputs a function code selection signal according to the user's keying, and a device code pin and an address code pin, and a row signal line that is connected to the device code pin and the address code pin is located A device code / address code encoder that outputs a device code selection signal and an address code selection signal according to a position is provided.

The device code pin and address code pin of the device code / address code encoder modify the row signal line connected to pin 2 by the slide switch method.

As a matter of course, the device code pin and the address code pin determine the device code selection signal and the address code selection signal output by turning the key on / off.

The element coat pin and the address code pin also modify the row signal line connected to the pin 2 by either a slide switch or a key on / off method.

The device code pin and the address code pin output a device code selection signal and an address code selection signal under the control of an external circuit. A microprocessor is used as this external circuit.

The memory may be a read only memory (ROM). The electromagnetic signal emitted by the signal emitter can be infrared.

The signal emitter comprises an infrared light emitting diode for emitting an infrared signal and an output controller for receiving an internal code and outputting an infrared signal corresponding to the internal code, wherein at least one electric device and Refers to electrical equipment such as television receivers, audio equipment, and video recorders.

[0022]

When the user controls a plurality of different or similar electric appliances, the user should receive a selection signal including a device code selection signal, an address code selection signal and a function code selection signal, and control based on the selection signal. It is possible to control a plurality of electric appliances with a single remote controller by outputting an internal code of the electric appliance and emitting an electromagnetic signal corresponding to the internal code toward the electric appliance to be controlled.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a remote controller of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
1, a memory 13, and a signal emitter 14. The selection means 11 comprises a key matrix 111, a function code encoder 112, and a device code / address code encoder 113. The signal emitter 14 is composed of an output control section 141 and an infrared light emitting diode 142.

Inside the memory 13, a large number of sets of internal codes corresponding to different types of electric appliances are stored. These internal codes include device code, address code and function code. For example, if it is desired to control two television receivers and one audio device of the same type, the combinations of internal cords corresponding to these electric appliances are as follows.

First television receiver: device code 1 address code 1 function code a ₁ ... A _n Second television receiver: device code 1 address code 2 function code b ₁ ... b _n first sound equipment: in the device code 2 address code 1 function code c ₁ ...... c _n combinations thereof, the device code indicates the type of appliance, for example a television receiver and audio equipment is represented by a different device code. The address code represents a specific one of the same types of electric appliances, and is different from the address code of the first television receiver and the second television receiver, for example. The function codes are various function control codes corresponding to these electric appliances. Since the first and second television receivers are electric appliances of the same type, their device codes are the same, and both the first television receiver and the first audio device are "first". Therefore, the address code is the same.

If the memory 13 receives a selection signal for selectively outputting "device code 1, address code 1, function code 1", it means that the electric appliance to be controlled is the first television receiver. Represent Others are inferred based on this.

By the way, there are the following several situations regarding the selection signal generation method. As the first type, FIG.
If a device code selection signal and an address code selection signal are input to a device code pin and an address code pin of the device code / address encoder 113 by an external circuit 16, for example, a microprocessor or other circuit, they should be controlled here. Which one of the electric appliances is determined. When the user again presses the key in the key matrix 111 to select the function code,
The information transmitted by the key outputs a function code selection signal through the function code encoder 112 to output the memory 13
Send to Then, the memory 13 outputs a corresponding internal code to the output control section 141 based on the device code selection signal, the address code selection signal, and the function code selection signal, and the output control section 141 causes the infrared light emitting diode 142 to emit the infrared light of the internal code. Send a signal to achieve control of a given appliance.

Referring to FIG. 3 as the second type, the device code pins and the address code pins are connected to the row signal lines of the key matrix 111, and the key matrix 111 is connected to the row signal lines R _{1 to} R ₄ and the column signal line C. _{1 to} C ₄ , the column signal lines C _{1 to} C ₄ periodically output pulse signals according to the principle of the remote controller (see FIG. 4). Only one of these four pulse signals is "H" at the same time point, and the other three are "L", which can be set in advance by hardware. If the device code pin is connected to the column signal line C ₁ , it means to control the first type of electric equipment (in this example, a television receiver), and the device code output by the memory 13 is the television. This is a device code of the receiver, and represents that the second type of electric appliance (audio device in this example) is controlled if connected to the column signal line C ₂ . Further, if the device code output from the memory 13 is the device code of the audio device, it is inferred according to the above. Similarly, when the address code pin is connected to the column signal line C ₁ , it means controlling the first electric appliance, and the address code output by the memory 13 is the address code of the first electric appliance. Column signal line C
_When connected to ₂ , it represents a second appliance. Further, if the address code output by the memory 13 is the address code of the second electric appliance, it is inferred according to the above.
When the user connects the device code pin to the column signal line C ₁ with the slide switch 40 and the memory 13 receives the “H” signal transmitted by the device code / address code encoder, the device code selection signal is obtained. Similarly, if the row signal line connected to the address code pin is selected by the slide switch 41, the address selection signal is obtained. In addition to this device code selection signal and address code selection signal, you can also confirm the electric appliance to be controlled by inputting it with a key to obtain a function code selection signal. It is possible to achieve the purpose of controlling electric appliances of the same type or different types.

As a third type, as shown in FIG. 5, device code pins and address code pins are respectively connected to row signal lines to form an additional key matrix,
When the user presses the key at the intersection of the device code pin and the column signal line C _1, it indicates that the selected type of appliance is the first type of appliance, while the user has the device code pin and the column signal. When the key at the intersection with the line C ₂ is pressed, it indicates that the selected type of electric appliance is the second kind of electric appliance. As for the address code, when the user presses the key at the intersection of the address code pin and the column signal line C ₁ , it means that the user has selected the first electric appliance, while the user selects the address code pin. When the key at the intersection with the column signal line C ₂ is pressed, it means that the second electric appliance is selected. Others are performed according to the above.

As a fourth type, only one kind of electric equipment is fixedly selected and remotely controlled, and the device code pin, the address code pin, and any one of the column signal lines C _{1 to} C ₄ are fixedly connected, The device code selection signal and the address code selection signal are fixed preset signals, and the device code selection signal and the address code selection signal are obtained as soon as the key is pressed. If the user wants to control only a single electric appliance with the remote controller of the present invention, this fourth method is adopted.

As a matter of course, the device code selection signal and the address code selection signal are also determined by one of the slide switch and the key matrix system, respectively.

In addition, as another embodiment of the present invention, if the connection between the device code pin and the column signal lines C _{1 to} C ₄ is modified by the raid switch and the address code selection signal is obtained by the fixed connection method, While a single remote controller can achieve the functions of various different types of electric appliances, a single remote controller can control a large number of electric appliances of the same type, so there is no possibility of confusion.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (1) Since the internal code includes the device code and address code and is divided into a large number of the same type or different types, a single remote controller can control a large number of the same type or different types of electric appliances. , There is no risk of confusion in use.

(2) Since the equipment required for the production of various types of remote controllers is the same, there is a great deal of flexibility in the operation of the equipment, and the device code pin and the address code pin that are appropriate for the user's need are provided. If the connection method is selected, it can be applied to the remote control of various kinds of electric appliances, and the cost for preparing equipment can be reduced.

(3) Since the step of subdividing materials and types in the equipment preparation process is not required, the equipment preparation process can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a remote controller of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a remote controller of the present invention that determines a device code selection signal and an address code selection signal by an external circuit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a remote controller of the present invention which determines a device code selection signal and an address code selection signal by a slide switch.

FIG. 4 is a time chart of pulse signals periodically generated in the key matrix of the remote controller of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a remote controller of the present invention that determines a device code selection signal and an address code selection signal by a key matrix.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a conventional remote controller.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 selection means 111 key matrix 112 function code encoder 113 device code / address code encoder 13 memory 14 signal emitter 141 output controller 142 infrared light emitting diode

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A remote controller for controlling at least one electric appliance, comprising: selecting means for outputting a selection signal to allow a user to select a desired electric appliance; A plurality of sets of internal codes stored in the memory, which outputs an internal code corresponding to an electric appliance to be controlled according to the selection signal, and an internal code electrically connected to the memory to receive the internal code output from the memory. And a signal emitter for emitting an electromagnetic signal corresponding to the internal code toward an electric appliance to be controlled. 2. The internal code includes a device code, an address code, and a function code, the device code representing at least one kind of electric appliance, and the address code among electric appliances of the same kind. Represents one,
The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the function code represents a code corresponding to the electric appliance. 3. The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the selection signals include a device code selection signal, an address code selection signal, and a function code selection signal. 4. A key matrix comprising a plurality of row signal lines and a plurality of column signal lines, wherein a cross point of each row signal line and column signal line displays one key. ,
A row signal that is electrically connected to the key matrix and that includes a function code encoder that outputs a function code selection signal according to the user's keying, a device code pin and an address code pin, and that is connected to the device code pin and the address code pin. The remote controller according to claim 1, further comprising a device code / address code encoder that outputs the device code selection signal and the address code selection signal according to the position where the line is located. 5. A device code pin and an address code pin of the device code / address code encoder modify a row signal line connected to the two pins by a slide switch method, or turn on / off a slide switch and a key, respectively. 2 according to any of the above
The remote controller according to claim 4, wherein the row signal line connected to the pin is modified. 6. The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic signal emitted by the signal emitter is infrared light. 7. The signal emitter comprises an infrared light emitting diode that emits an infrared signal, and an output control unit that receives an internal code and outputs an infrared signal corresponding to the internal code from the infrared light emitting diode. 7. The remote controller according to claim 6, wherein