JPH09261776A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote controller which is easily manufactured and adjusted in which malfunction after shipping is prevented. SOLUTION: In the case of the adjustment mode, even when one of switch depressing states is changed, the mode is terminated immediately (S8-S10). Furthermore, the transition to each adjustment mode is attained only when an ID code is not registered (S6). Then the state oaf an operation key switch just after loading of a battery is monitored (S2) after it is confirmed that all key switches are not operated over a prescribed time and a key operation is not an operation to start each adjustment mode, data for usual use are sent (S11-S23).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control device for remotely controlling start / stop and operation control of an external device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a remote control device for realizing start / stop and operation control of an external device by remote control has been used in a wide variety of fields. A configuration example of this remote control device is shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a conventional remote control device.

In the figure, the remote control device is provided with a plurality of key switches 21 for operation. The input data from the key switches 21 is processed by a built-in microcomputer 22 to generate a digital signal. In general, the RF oscillation circuit 25 and the RF amplification circuit 26 modulate / amplify and transmit as a control signal for remote control from the antenna 28 to an external device to be controlled.

Generally, electronic circuits such as an RF oscillator circuit and an RF amplifier circuit need to be adjusted in a manufacturing process in order to obtain desired characteristics. Therefore, in the manufacturing process of the remote control device having the above-described configuration, in order to accurately adjust the circuit characteristics, for example, to apply a voltage to an RF oscillation circuit or the like from an external test fixture (jig) Check terminal 23 of microcomputer 2
The remote control device is provided in the terminal of 2 and a voltage is applied to the terminal from an external test device (jig) to shift the remote control device to the adjustment mode to adjust the circuit characteristics (actually, the actual flat 4- 86383)

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, it is necessary to provide the microcomputer 22 with the check terminal 23, which is not necessary in actual use, and further, the check terminal 23 and the detection end of the external test instrument are connected. Therefore, it is necessary to install a connection terminal 29 on the circuit board for connecting the circuit. Therefore, it becomes an obstacle to simplification of the assembly process and reduction of component cost, and it becomes a problem in downsizing the remote control device.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a remote control device which can be easily manufactured and adjusted and can prevent a malfunction after shipping.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the remote control device of the present invention is characterized by the following configuration.

That is, in a remote control device having a plurality of operation switches and remotely controlling the operation of the external device by transmitting a predetermined radio wave to the external device, the remote control device is the remote control device. And a normal mode when the user controls the external device, and the mode is shifted to the adjustment mode by operating the operation switch. As a result, the number of parts such as check terminals that are not used in the normal mode is reduced, and the size of the device is further reduced.

[0010] Preferably, the remote control device is of a battery driven type, and is provided with a monitoring means for starting monitoring of an operation state of the operation switch when the battery is set, and the monitoring means operates the operation switch for a predetermined time. When the operation is not detected, the mode is shifted to the normal mode. This prevents a shift to the adjustment mode due to an erroneous operation by the user. Further, when the switch is unintentionally operated when the battery is replaced, it is possible to prevent radio waves corresponding to the switch from being transmitted.

Further, the remote control device is
It is possible to transmit radio waves for adjustment in the adjustment mode,
At that time, when the operation state of the operation switch is changed, transmission of the radio wave is limited. This prevents continuous transmission of radio waves in the event that the user shifts to the adjustment mode.

More preferably, the transition to the adjustment mode is prohibited when the ID code for associating the external device with the remote control device has been written. This prevents the shift to the adjustment mode due to the switch operation by the user.

Further, the remote control device is
It is characterized in that a limiting means for limiting the continuous transmission of the predetermined radio wave is provided. This prevents the user from breaking the Radio Law.

Specifically, the remote control device is characterized in that the engine of a car is started / stopped and the door is locked / unlocked, and radio waves are transmitted by an FM modulation method.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A remote control device of the present invention is applied to an FM modulation type remote control engine starter capable of starting / stopping an engine of a vehicle and locking / unlocking a door of the vehicle, with reference to the drawings. explain.

First, a schematic structure of the remote control engine starter will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a remote control engine starter as an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, a remote control engine starter has a key switch panel 3 for operation, and a lock switch 3 for locking / unlocking a door of an automobile (not shown) to be controlled.
1 and an unlock switch 32, and a start switch 33 and a stop switch 34 for starting / stopping the engine. The input data from the key switch of the key switch panel 3 is converted into a built-in microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a microcomputer) 1 using a power source 4 which is a driving battery as a driving source.
A digital signal is generated by performing signal processing on the vehicle, and is further modulated / amplified by the RF oscillation circuit 6 and the RF amplification circuit 7, and is controlled from the antenna 8 as a control signal for remote control. Send to. In addition, rewritable read-only memory (EEPRO
M) 2 and stores an ID code and the like.
The microcomputer 1 has therein a CPU 11 for controlling the overall operation of the remote control engine starter, a read only memory (ROM) 12 for storing a program for realizing the above-mentioned and later-described operations of the remote control engine starter, a temporary storage and a working area. Random access memory (RAM) 13 used as Also, buzzer 5
Sounds as a depression confirmation sound when the above-mentioned key switch is operated, or when the ID writing operation mode described later ends.

Next, the operation procedure of the remote control engine starter having the above-mentioned structure will be described.

First, the adjustment procedure in the manufacturing process will be described below.

1. Operate the key switch on the key switch panel 3 to set the desired adjustment mode. This adjustment mode includes an ID writing mode, an FM modulation LOW side adjustment mode, and a HIGH side adjustment mode. In the present embodiment, when all four key switches on the key switch panel 3 are pressed, the ID write mode is entered. Here, the ID is a remote control engine starter that is a transmitter and a receiving circuit (not shown) of a control device installed in a vehicle that is a control target in order to realize a security function such as a so-called keyless entry system. A unique numerical value for each set of the remote control engine starter and the above-mentioned control device for associating with.
In addition, the lock switch 31 and the unlock switch 32
When is pressed, the mode shifts to the FM modulation LOW side adjustment mode. In addition, the start switch 33 and the stop switch 3
If 4 is pressed, the mode shifts to the FM modulation HIGH side adjustment mode.

2. Voltage application by the power source 4 (in the present embodiment, by setting a battery in a battery socket (not shown)),
Alternatively, the microcomputer 1 is reset and started by the reset terminal built in the microcomputer 1.

3. The microcomputer 1 shifts to each of the adjustment modes and operates by the setting of the key switch in the procedure 1.

Therefore, the above-mentioned configuration and operation procedure eliminates the need for a hardware configuration (connection pins, check terminals, etc. of the microcomputer) necessary only for adjustment, further reducing the size of the device and improving the efficiency of the manufacturing process. However, if the user can replace the battery of the remote control engine starter, when the user replaces the battery, it will accidentally go to each of the adjustment modes described above and emit radio waves. It is possible. For example, in Japan, the radio wave emission time is determined by the Radio Law according to the device that uses the radio wave (for example, in a specific low power telecontrol system, the transmission time is 3 seconds at maximum). Therefore,
In this embodiment, the following measures are taken.

1. When entering each of the above adjustment modes,
If even one of the pressed states of the switch changes, the mode is immediately terminated to limit the emission of radio waves.

2. Furthermore, the above-mentioned ID code is almost always written before shipment from the factory. Therefore, the transition to each of the adjustment modes used before factory shipment is
Configure a system that allows only if the code is unregistered. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from making a transition to each of the adjustment modes due to an erroneous operation and prevent the user from violating the Radio Law.

3. In addition, the user unknowingly 31-34
If the battery is continuously replaced while pressing any one of the key switches, the transmission output that realizes the function of the pressed key switch is continuously output, which may violate the Radio Law. There is a possibility that the operation actually occurs according to the pressed key switch, and in particular, the latter may cause a great deal of damage and danger to the user. Therefore, after monitoring the state of the operation key switches immediately after inserting the battery, after confirming that all the key switches have not been operated for a predetermined time or more and that it is not a key operation that activates each adjustment mode described above, Configure a system that enables transmission during use. This prevents continuous output of radio waves, and at the same time prevents the functional operation from being adversely affected by a malfunction during battery replacement.

Therefore, in the manufacturing process of the remote control engine starter of the present invention, the ID code is registered after the adjustment of the electronic circuit such as the RF oscillation circuit.

Next, the flow of processing during operation of the remote control engine starter will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the processing of the remote control engine starter as an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, first, a voltage is applied by the power source 4 (battery is inserted). As a result, a reset circuit (not shown) built in the microcomputer 1 is activated and the microcomputer 1 is reset. When the reset state is released after a predetermined time, the program stored in the ROM 13 in advance becomes C
It is loaded into PU11 and starts operation. First, microcomputer 1
And the internal settings of the internal timer and the initialization process of the RAM 13. When the initialization process is completed, the current operation state of the key switch is read (step S
1). Then, the pressed states of the four key switches are detected, and if it is the ID writing mode, the process goes to the ID writing mode of step S5.

In this ID writing mode, the microcomputer 1 and the EEPR are set so that the EEPROM 2 can be accessed (write the ID code etc.) by an external operation.
The communication line with the OM2 is released, the state of the key switch is changed, and a predetermined duration of the writing mode (30 seconds in this embodiment) is measured (step S5). This writing mode is continued until the state of the key switch changes or the above-mentioned predetermined time has passed (step S7).

At step S6, the microcomputer 1 is operated when the mode is changed to the ID writing mode by operating the key switch.
Immediately communicates with the EEPROM 2 to check whether the ID code has been written. If it has been written, the previously read switch state is ignored, and step S
Immediately shift to the reset buzzer output processing of 11.

On the other hand, if the ID has not been written, the switch state that has been read previously, that is, the pressed state of the switch that starts the LOW side adjustment mode or the HIGH side adjustment mode in the FM modulation described above from the ID write mode. Is checked (step S8).
Therefore, the determination in step S8 cannot be made after writing the ID. In the LOW and HIGH adjustment modes, the RF oscillation circuit 6 is operated until the pressed state of the switch changes.
Voltage is applied to the output and LOW / HIGH output is continued (step S9). At this time, the operator uses an external measuring device or the like to operate an adjustment mechanism (not shown) provided in the RF oscillation circuit 6 to adjust the oscillation frequency on the LOW side / HIGH side. The pressed state of the key switch changes and the above L
When the OW and HIGH adjustment modes are released (step S10), a 1.4 second timer process for controlling the output time of the radio wave is performed (step S12), and a switch press non-detection process is performed (step S13).

The buzzer output in step S11 is the state of the key switch when the switch operation is improper or not operated in step S8, when the ID code has been written (step S6), and in the ID writing mode. Is changed or when the predetermined time has passed (step S7). Further, for a user who uses the normal function of the remote control engine starter, this buzzer output confirms whether or not the battery is properly inserted.

In the detection process of no switch operation in step S13, it is determined that the switches are OFF when all the key switches are not continuously input for 0.1 second. Temporarily switch OF
If any switch is input before F is confirmed, 0.1 second is measured from the time when all the inputs are exhausted again.

When the switch OFF is confirmed, the microcomputer 1
Set the STOP mode to make the so-called sleep mode,
The next switch operation is awaited (step S14). This STOP mode suppresses the current consumption of the device until the next switch operation is performed, and when any switch is pressed, the microcomputer 1 restarts its operation. After the operation is restarted, the internal setting and the RAM 13 are initialized as in the case of inserting the battery (step S15), and the change of the state of the pressed key switch and the on time of the key switch are started to be measured (step S16). It is judged whether or not the switch is pushed multiple times and the switch operation is changed (step S17),
In the case of YES, a buzzer is output and the process returns to step S16 (step S18. On the other hand, in the case of NO, the presence or absence of the switch operation is confirmed (in the present embodiment, the confirmation time is set to 0.5 seconds)). (Step S19) If it is determined that there is no switch operation, the process returns to step S14 and S
Move to the TOP mode. On the other hand, when it is determined that the switch is operated, the microcomputer 1 communicates with the EEPROM 2, reads data such as an ID code, and converts the read data into a transmission format (pulse code). When the conversion of all the data is completed, the buzzer is output according to the operated switch, and after the buzzer output, the power of the RF oscillation circuit 6 is turned on to output all the converted data (steps S20 to S23). After that, the RF amplifier circuit 7 amplifies the obtained data and transmits it from the antenna 8. Then, when the output of all the data is completed, the power of the RF oscillation circuit 6 is turned off, and the process returns to the timer processing of 1.4 seconds in step S12.
The mode again shifts to the STOP mode waiting for switch input. After that, this process is repeated. Here, the reason for setting the 1.4-second timer in step S12 will be described. According to the Radio Law relating to the specific low power type, there is a restriction that one transmission time is continuously within 3 seconds and a transmission time interval is 2 seconds or more. Therefore, the remote control engine starter of the present embodiment is a specific low power type, and steps S14 to S2 are performed.
Since the time required to oscillate the radio wave from the antenna 8 in the process of 3 is about 0.6 seconds, the timer is set so that the transmission time interval becomes 2 seconds or more even when the key switch is continuously operated. Was measured at 1.4 seconds.

Although the present embodiment has been described by taking the remote controller / engine starter of an automobile as an example, the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to remote control devices of various fields and methods (for example, infrared method). It goes without saying that it can be applied.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a remote control device that can be easily manufactured and adjusted and can prevent malfunctions after shipping. That is, the device is downsized, the manufacturing process is made efficient, and the user's erroneous operation is prevented and the erroneous operation at the time of battery replacement is prevented.

[0040]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a remote control engine starter as an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing of a remote control engine starter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of a remote control device as a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 22 Microcomputer 2 EEPROM 3 Key switch panel 4, 24 Driving power supply 5 Buzzer 6, 25 RF oscillation circuit 7, 26 RF amplification circuit 8, 28 Antenna 11 CPU 12 ROM 13 RAM 21 Key switch 23 Check terminal 27 Resistance 29 Connection terminal 31 Lock switch 32 Unlock switch 33 Start switch 34 Stop switch

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI Technical display location E05B 65/12 E05B 65/12 Z H04B 1/04 H04B 1/04 M 17/00 17/00 H

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A remote control device, comprising a plurality of operation switches, for remotely controlling the operation of an external device by transmitting predetermined radio waves to the external device, wherein the remote control device is the remote control device. And a normal mode when a user controls the external device. The remote control device shifts to the adjustment mode by operating the operation switch. 2. The remote control device is of a battery driven type, and is provided with a monitoring means for starting monitoring of an operation state of the operation switch when the battery is set, and the monitoring means operates the operation switch for a predetermined time. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the remote control device shifts to the normal mode when no operation is detected. 3. The remote control device is capable of transmitting an adjustment radio wave in the adjustment mode, and limits the transmission of the radio wave when the operation state of the operation switch changes at that time. The remote control device according to claim 2. 4. The transition to the adjustment mode is prohibited when an ID code for associating the external device with the remote control device has been written. The remote control device described in. 5. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the remote control device includes a limiting unit that limits continuous transmission of the predetermined radio wave. 6. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the remote control device starts / stops an engine of an automobile and locks / unlocks a door. 7. The remote control device is an FM
7. The remote control device according to claim 6, wherein the remote control device is a modulation system.