JPH10210572A - Radio remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce malfunction and crosstalk between devices and to reduce the power consumption by sending a transmission radio wave whose output level is selected to be a minimum output level possible for communication to a device body from a remote controller that is provided with a means receiving a reply radio wave from the device body, a transmission control means and a remote control transmission means or the like. SOLUTION: In this radio remote controller, once the user has entered an operation instruction by an instruction entry means 5, the operation instruction is stored in a transmission control means 6, and the transmission control means 6 gives an instruction of transmission by a transmission radio wave at a minimum level at first to a remote control transmission means 7, which selects a minimum level of a transmission output according to the instruction and allows an antenna 8 to send a radio wave. When the device body cannot receive the radio wave of the operation instruction at this level, no reply radio wave with respect to the operation instruction is sent and then a remote control reception means 9 cannot receive the radio wave. In this case, the transmission radio wave is sent again by selecting a higher level sequentially.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless remote control device (wireless remote control device) for transmitting and receiving operation commands and driving information by radio wave signals, such as electric equipment and appliances.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various types of electric appliances have been used for remote control using radio waves for the purpose of reducing the wiring work between the appliance body and the remote operation unit, while improving the user's convenience by using a remote operation unit. Devices with devices are becoming popular.

[0003] This type of wireless remote control device has various radio wave propagation conditions depending on the installation environment, the distance between the device main bodies, the mutual positional relationship, the building interposed therebetween, and the like.
In order to ensure reliable transmission and reception of radio signals, the transmission means must generate the highest possible radio wave output by design within the range permitted by laws and regulations, taking into account the worst radio wave attenuation conditions, and always transmit the device. The transmission was performed with the maximum output of the.

[0004]

However, in the case where remote control devices for performing communication at the maximum output of the above-mentioned devices are concentratedly installed in each apartment house such as an apartment or a public house, individual devices are required. Since the transmission area of the transmission radio wave of the remote control device extends to the installation location of many other device main bodies, there is a high possibility of unintended operation of other device main bodies or interference when multiple devices are used at the same time. There is a problem.

Further, even among the electric components constituting the remote control device, since the components used for the remote control transmitting means consume relatively large power, those using a battery as the power source of the device do not transmit the electric power. Increasing the radio wave output causes an increase in the power consumption of the battery, and causes inconvenience to the user due to frequent replacement of the battery.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and the transmission radio wave output of the wireless remote control device is switched to the minimum output level at which communication with the appliance main body is possible, and is transmitted. While reducing malfunction and interference,
An object of the present invention is to save power of a device power supply.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a command input means for inputting an operation command for an instrument body to a remote control device, and stores the operation command input to the command input means. Transmission control means for instructing the output level of the transmission radio wave when transmitting the operation command to the appliance body, and changing the output level of the transmission radio wave based on the instruction from the transmission control means to transmit the operation instruction to the appliance body. Remote control transmitting means for transmitting, and remote control receiving means for receiving a response radio wave transmitted from the appliance main body, wherein the transmission control means minimizes the remote control transmitting means when instructing transmission of an operation command to the appliance main body. When the remote control receiving means does not receive the response radio wave from the appliance main body, an instruction is issued to switch to the transmission radio wave output of the level and transmit the signal. The same operation command is transmitted by the transmission radio wave of the output level, and when the communication is not established again, the transmission of the operation command is repeatedly performed while gradually increasing the output level of the transmission radio wave, thereby enabling communication with the appliance body. The operation is performed with as low power as possible.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates to a wireless remote control device for transmitting and receiving signals to and from an instrument body by radio waves. Transmission control means 6 for storing the operation command and transmitting power of the transmission command when transmitting the operation command to the appliance body; and a transmission radio signal output level based on the command from the transmission control means 6. Remote control transmitting means 7 for transmitting an operation command to the instrument body, and remote control receiving means 9 for receiving a response radio wave transmitted from the instrument body after the remote control transmitting means 7 transmits the operation command to the instrument body, When the transmission control means 6 instructs the transmission of the operation command to the appliance main body 2, if the first communication is not established, the next output of the transmission radio wave of the remote control transmission means 7 is performed next time. It is to set a high force.

When transmitting the operation command, the operation command is first transmitted at a low output level, and when communication with the apparatus main body 2 is not established, the output level is increased to communicate with the apparatus main body 2 at a lower radio wave output. It can be performed.

Further, when instructing the transmission of an operation command to the appliance body 2, the transmission control means 6 issues an instruction to switch the initial output of the transmission radio wave of the remote control transmission means 7 to the lowest level.

Since the transmission is started at the lowest output level, the appliance body 2 can communicate with the minimum required radio wave output.

When the remote control receiving means 9 does not receive the response radio wave from the appliance body 2, the transmission control means 6 gradually increases the output level of the transmission radio wave of the remote control transmitting means 7.

In a wireless remote control device for transmitting and receiving to and from the appliance body 2 by radio waves, an instruction input means 5 for inputting an operation instruction for the appliance body, and an operation instruction input to the instruction input means 5 are stored. A transmission control means for instructing an output level of a transmission radio wave when transmitting the operation command to the appliance main body; and an operation instruction for transmitting the operation instruction with the output level of the transmission radio wave based on the instruction from the transmission control means.
Remote control transmitting means 7 for transmitting to the appliance main body 2 after the remote control transmitting means 7 transmits an operation command to the appliance main body 2
Remote control receiving means 9 for receiving response radio waves transmitted from
When the transmission control unit 6 instructs the transmission of the operation command to the appliance body 2 and the remote control receiving unit 9 does not receive the response radio wave from the appliance body 2, the transmission control unit 6 is slightly more than the first time. The transmission of the operation command is repeated until the communication with the appliance main body 2 is established while gradually increasing the output level of the transmission radio wave of the strong output level.

When transmitting the operation command, the transmission is first started at the lowest output level. If the communication with the appliance body is not established, the output of the transmission radio wave is gradually increased until the communication is established. By doing so, communication with the appliance body can be performed with the minimum required radio wave output.

Further, the first communication with the appliance main body 2 is repeated a plurality of times by the lowest level transmission radio wave output of the remote control transmitting means 7, and when the communication with the appliance main body 2 is not established, the output level of the transmission radio wave is obtained. The transmission of the operation command is repeated a plurality of times for each output level while gradually increasing.

In transmission, transmission at each output level is repeatedly performed a plurality of times. Even if transmission is performed at the same output level due to a change in radio wave propagation conditions, two transmissions are performed.
In some cases, communication with the appliance main body 2 is established in the third and third trials. In this case, the communication with the appliance main body 2 can be performed with the minimum required radio wave output.

Further, the transmission control means 6 terminates the output when the output level of the transmission radio wave is increased a predetermined number of times when instructing the transmission of the operation command to the appliance body 2.

If the output of the transmission radio wave is increased by a predetermined number of times and communication is still not possible, it is determined that communication is not possible, and waste of radio wave output can be prevented.

The transmission output level storage means 10 has a transmission output level storage means 10 for storing the output level of the transmission radio wave of the remote control transmission means 7 when communication with the appliance body 2 is first established. When instructing subsequent transmission of the operation command, the transmission control means 6 instructs the remote control transmission means 7 to transmit the output level of the transmission radio wave stored in the transmission output level storage means 10 as the first output. Communication.

Then, the output level of the transmission radio wave of the remote control transmission means 7 when communication with the appliance main body 2 is first established is stored, and the transmission of the subsequent operation command uses the stored output level as the first output. Therefore, the output level of the subsequent transmission radio wave can be easily set and power can be saved.

The apparatus further includes a transmission output level storage means 10 for storing the output level of the transmission radio wave of the remote control transmission means 7 when communication with the appliance body 2 is first established in the transmission output level storage means 10 for transmission. When instructing transmission of the subsequent operation command, the control means 6 instructs the remote control transmission means 7 to transmit the output level of the transmission radio wave stored in the transmission output level storage means 10 as the first output. It performs communication.

At the time of transmission, the first transmission of the subsequent operation command is executed using an output slightly lower than the transmission output level stored in the transmission output level storage means 10, so that there is some change. Can also communicate.

Further, when the storage reset means 11 is operated, the output level of the transmission radio wave stored in the transmission output level storage means 10 is erased, and the transmission control means 6 transmits the next operation command. Is instructed to switch the output level of the transmission radio wave to the lowest level again and start transmission.

By operating the storage reset means 11, the transmission output level stored in the transmission output level storage means 10 is erased, and the transmission of the subsequent operation command is started again with the lowest transmission radio wave output. Thus, resetting can be easily performed.

Further, there is provided a notifying means 12 for informing the user of the communication state with the appliance body by voice or display, and even if the transmission level of the transmission radio wave of the remote control transmitting means 7 is switched to the maximum and transmitted, If the communication with is not established, the notifying unit 12 is operated.

When communication with the appliance body is still not established even when the remote control transmission means 7 executes transmission at the maximum transmittable output, the notification means operates and informs the user of the apparatus or the appliance body. Unnecessary troubles such as misunderstanding the trouble of No. 2 can be prevented.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a schematic external view of a wireless remote controller according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the concept of the basic configuration of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a wireless remote control device, 2 denotes a device main body operated by the wireless remote control device, 3 denotes a switch which is a command input means for inputting an operation command, and 4 denotes an operation command. Display means 8 for displaying the setting information of the apparatus and the operation information of the instrument body, and 8 are transmitting and receiving antennas. Built-in.

In FIG. 2, 5 is a command input means, 6 is a transmission control means, 7 is a remote control transmitting means, 8 is a transmitting / receiving antenna, and 9 is a remote control receiving means. The operation and operation of each block in FIG. 2 are as follows. That is, when the user inputs an operation command to the command input means 5 by the switch 3, this operation command is stored in the transmission control means 6, and the transmission control means first transmits a transmission instruction using the lowest level transmission radio wave to the remote controller. The remote control transmitting means switches the transmission output to the lowest level in accordance with the instruction and transmits a radio wave from the antenna 8. The radio wave of the operation command is received by the appliance body (not shown), and a response radio wave indicating that the operation command has been received or that the operation based on the operation instruction is to be executed must be transmitted from the appliance body. However, when the remote control receiving unit 9 does not receive the response radio wave from the appliance main body, the transmission control unit does not receive the signal of the response radio wave, so the transmission control unit determines that communication with the appliance main body has not been established, A transmission instruction is issued at the next output level, and the remote control transmission unit switches the transmission output to a higher level and transmits the same operation command again. In this way, the transmission control means transmits the same operation command repeatedly while gradually increasing the output level of the transmission radio wave until the communication with the appliance body is established and the output of the response radio wave is received from the remote control reception means. The instructions are repeated to the means. When the response radio wave is finally received from the appliance body, the establishment of the communication is recognized, and the operation is terminated.

Since the propagation environment of the transmission radio waves may change every moment depending on the presence or absence of external radio waves, weather conditions, and the like, the transmission of the operation command at the same output level is performed a plurality of times while executing the transmission. Until the condition is satisfied.

In this wireless remote control device, by providing a means for transmitting the operation information to the appliance body as a response radio wave from the appliance body, the transmission control means of the present apparatus transmits the operation information to the display device of 4 And output it to
It is also possible to provide a function for notifying the user.

Next, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the concept of the present invention, which is the same as the block diagram of FIG. 2 except that the transmission output level storage means 10, storage reset means 11, and notification means 1 are provided.
2 is added. Here, the function of the transmission output level storage means 10 is to store the output level of the transmission radio wave last instructed by the transmission control means 6 to the remote control transmission means 7, and the command input means 5 is used to newly store the transmission control means. When a simple operation command is input, the transmission control means gives an instruction to the remote control transmission means to transmit the new operation command at the output level stored in the transmission output level storage means, and thereafter, the transmission to the appliance body is performed. Since the transmission to be executed is started at the stored output level, there is no need to repeat the transmission from the lowest output level one after another to establish communication, and communication with the appliance body is possible. Efficient communication can be performed with the minimum transmission output.
This eliminates the need for the wireless remote control device to always use the maximum transmission output of the remote control transmission means regardless of the quality of the radio wave propagation environment for communication.

The storage reset means 11 has the function of erasing the storage of the transmission output level storage means 10, and the transmission control means 6 transmits an operation command immediately after operating the storage reset means. In the same manner as in the initial transmission, an operation of transmitting a transmission instruction using the lowest level transmission radio wave to the remote control transmission means 7 and thereafter gradually increasing the transmission output again until communication with the appliance body is established is performed. Repeatedly, when communication with the appliance body is established, the output level of the transmission radio wave is stored again in the transmission output level storage means. This memory reset means is operated when the user or the contractor moves the installation location of the wireless remote control device or the appliance body which is already in use, and the state of radio wave propagation in a new installation environment is , Efficient communication can be performed again with the required minimum transmission output.

On the other hand, in some special installation environments, for example, when the distance between the wireless remote control device and the apparatus main body is large, or when a building made of a conductive material is interposed in the middle, etc., the remote control transmission means is provided. Even with the maximum transmission output, communication with the appliance body may not be established.
In such a case, the twelve notification means notifies the user of the failure of the communication by voice or visually recognizable display.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, the wireless remote control device has the installation environment, the distance between the device main bodies and the mutual positional relationship, the radio wave propagation conditions due to the intermediate building, and the like. Regardless, communication can be performed at the lowest transmission power level at which communication is possible. This eliminates the need to always use the maximum transmission output provided by the remote control transmission means for communication, so that an unintended proximity device body may malfunction or a plurality of similar remote control devices may be used at the same time. Can reduce the likelihood of interference.

Further, since the wireless remote control device transmits the second and subsequent operation commands by using the output stored in the transmission output level storage means, it is possible to save the power of the device and use a battery. In the device, the frequency of replacement can be reduced.

Further, when the installation location of the existing wireless remote control device or the device main body is moved, the storage of the transmission output level storage means can be easily updated. Efficient communication can be resumed at the lowest transmission output level at which communication with the main unit is possible.

When the communication with the appliance body is not established, the notifying means informs the user or the contractor of the failure of the communication by voice or display to a user or a construction contractor. Trouble can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic external view of a wireless remote control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the concept of the basic configuration of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the concept of another basic configuration of the apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 wireless remote control device 5 command input means 6 transmission control means 7 remote control transmission means 9 remote control reception means 10 transmission output level storage means 11 storage reset means 12 notification means

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A wireless remote control device for transmitting and receiving data to and from an instrument body by radio waves, comprising: command input means for inputting an operation command for the instrument body; and storing an operation command input to said command input means. Transmission control means for instructing the output level of the transmission radio wave when transmitting the operation command to the appliance body, and remote control transmission means for transmitting the operation instruction to the appliance body at the output level of the transmission radio wave based on the instruction from the transmission control means And remote control receiving means for receiving a response radio wave transmitted from the instrument body after the remote control transmitting means transmits the operation command to the instrument body, and wherein the transmission control means transmits the operation command to the instrument body. When the first communication is not established at the time of the instruction, the next output is set higher than the first output of the transmission radio wave of the remote control transmission means. Remote control device. 2. The communication control means according to claim 1, wherein when instructing the transmission of the operation command to the appliance main body, the communication control means issues an instruction to switch the first output of the transmission radio wave of the remote control transmission means to the lowest level. Wireless remote control. 3. The transmission control means according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the remote control receiving means does not receive the response radio wave from the appliance body, the output level of the transmission radio wave of the remote control transmitting means is gradually increased. Wireless remote control device. 4. A wireless remote control device for transmitting and receiving data to and from an instrument body by radio waves, wherein the command input means for inputting an operation command for the instrument body, and an operation command input to the command input means are stored. Transmission control means for instructing the output level of the transmission radio wave when transmitting the operation command to the appliance body, and remote control transmission means for transmitting the operation instruction to the appliance body at the output level of the transmission radio wave based on the instruction from the transmission control means And remote control receiving means for receiving a response radio wave transmitted from the instrument body after the remote control transmitting means transmits the operation command to the instrument body, and wherein the transmission control means transmits the operation command to the instrument body. When instructing, an instruction to switch the initial output of the transmission radio wave of the remote control transmission means to the lowest level is issued, and the remote control reception means transmits the response radio wave from the appliance body. If not received, the same operation command is transmitted by a transmission radio wave having a slightly higher output level than the first time, and if communication is not established again, the appliance body is gradually increased while increasing the output level of the transmission radio wave. A wireless remote control device that repeatedly transmits an operation command until communication with the device is established. 5. The first communication with the appliance body is repeated a plurality of times by the lowest level transmission radio wave output of the remote control transmission means.
5. The wireless remote operation according to claim 4, wherein when communication with the appliance body is not established, the transmission of the operation command is repeated a plurality of times for each output level while gradually increasing the output level of the transmission radio wave. apparatus. 6. The wireless remote control device according to claim 4, wherein when the transmission control means instructs transmission of the operation command to the appliance body, the output is terminated when the output level of the transmission radio wave is increased a predetermined number of times. . 7. A transmission output level storage means, wherein the output level of a transmission radio wave of the remote control transmission means when communication with the appliance body is first established is stored in the transmission output level storage means. 5. A communication is performed by instructing the remote control transmission means to transmit the output level of the transmission radio wave stored in the transmission output level storage means as an initial output when instructing transmission of an operation command thereafter. Or the wireless remote control device according to claim 5. 8. A transmission output level storage means, wherein the transmission output level storage means stores the output level of the transmission radio wave of the remote control transmission means when communication with the appliance body is first established. When instructing transmission of the subsequent operation command, the remote control transmission unit is instructed to transmit an output slightly lower than the output level of the transmission radio wave stored in the transmission output level storage unit as the output of the first transmission radio wave. The wireless remote control device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the wireless remote control device performs communication by communication. 9. When the storage reset means is operated, the output level of the transmission radio wave stored in the transmission output level storage means is erased when the storage reset means is operated, and the transmission control means instructs transmission of the next operation command. The wireless remote control device according to claim 3 or 8, wherein when performing, the remote control transmitting means is instructed to switch the output level of the transmission radio wave to the lowest level again and start transmission. 10. A communication means for notifying a user of a communication state with the apparatus main body by voice or display even when the output level of the transmission radio wave of the remote control transmission means is switched to the maximum and transmitted. Is not established,
The wireless remote control device according to claim 4, wherein the notification unit is operated.