JPH11122168A - Remote control device, its control method and storage medium recording program allowing computer to execute the method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the remote control system that traces an operation object device automatically. SOLUTION: An acceleration of the remote control system is sampled by an acceleration detection unit (step 27), and stored in a memory. A change in the acceleration is calculated and corrected in an arithmetic unit, based on past acceleration data (step 28), and a 3-dimension displacement of the remote control system is obtained by executing integration twice (step 29). When any displacement is in existence (YES in step 30), the displacement is added to data of position relation to correct the data (step 31), and stored in the memory. An azimuth angle and an elevating angle of the remote control system are calculated, based on the corrected position relating data and fed to a controller (step 32). A moving unit corrects a direction of a transmission signal (step 33) and the processing is finished.

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, a method of controlling the same, and a recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the method is recorded. The present invention relates to a remote control device for controlling a direction, a control method therefor, and a recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Remote control (remote control) devices utilizing infrared rays are widely used in, for example, home television receivers (display devices) and VTR devices.

A conventional infrared remote controller is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7 (b), the infrared light emitting element 12 and the printed circuit board 13 are fixed, and the infrared transmission signal passes through a window 15 made of an infrared transparent resin. In the case of the remote control device 1 having a fixed transmission direction, each time an operation is performed, the remote control device 1 is moved to the direction of the signal receiving unit of the operation target device.
It is necessary to turn 5).

As shown in FIG. 8, for example, when the position of the display device 14 and the position of the operation target device 16 are different, not the operation target device 16 but the display device 14.
The remote control device 1 is pointed to the remote control device, and a signal may not be received depending on the positional relationship between the two. Of course, as a countermeasure, it is conceivable to use a wide-directional infrared light emitting element or to install the signal receiving unit of the operation target device 16 near the display device 14.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-134997 proposes a method in which a mechanism for changing the direction of infrared transmission (movable) is provided, and an infrared transmission signal is directed manually to a signal receiving section of the operation target device 16. Have been.

[0006]

When an infrared light emitting element having a wide directivity is used, there is a possibility that a device other than the device to be operated may malfunction if there is another device operating with the same type of transmission signal. There's a problem. An ID number can be assigned to thereby discriminate between an operation target device and a non-operation target device to prevent a malfunction. However, in this case, the number of ID numbers that can be assigned or more cannot be handled. Therefore, it is necessary to modify the target device.

[0007] When the signal receiving unit of the operation target device is provided near the display device, there is a problem that it is necessary to modify the reception unit of the operation target device.

In the case of the proposal described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-134997, since there is no means for grasping the current position of the operation target device and no function for automatically directing the infrared transmission signal to the operation target device, There is a problem that the setting needs to be redone each time the positional relationship between the device and the operation target device changes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote control device for automatically tracking an operation target device, a control method therefor, and a recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the method is recorded.

[0010]

A remote control device according to the present invention is a remote control device for converting a button operation from an operation unit into an infrared signal and transmitting the infrared signal to an operation target device. A movable infrared direction movable means, an acceleration detection means for detecting a movement acceleration, a displacement amount calculation means for calculating a displacement amount from the movement acceleration, and a positional relationship data storage means for storing positional relationship data with the operation target device And a positional relationship data update storing unit that adds the displacement to the positional relationship data stored in the positional relationship data storing unit and stores the displacement amount as new positional relationship data in the positional relationship data storing unit;
And a movable control means for controlling the infrared movable means based on the new positional relationship data.

Further, a control method according to the present invention is a control method for a remote control device for converting a button operation from an operation unit to an infrared signal and transmitting the infrared signal to an operation target device,
Calculating a displacement amount by integrating the moving acceleration twice to calculate a displacement amount; and calculating the new positional relationship data by adding the displacement amount to a preset positional relationship data with the operation target device. And calculating an azimuth / elevation angle based on the new positional relationship data; andcontrolling a transmission direction of the infrared signal based on the calculated azimuth / elevation angle. I do.

The operation of the present invention is as follows. Using an infrared light emitting element with high directivity, calculate the positional relationship with the operation target device based on the value obtained by the acceleration detection unit in the remote control device main body, and from the positional relationship, the azimuth angle of the transmission direction
The elevation angle is determined, and the transmission direction is automatically corrected according to the value.

[0013]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a remote control (remote control) device according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a remote control (remote control) device 1 according to the present invention includes a remote control unit 2 having a normal remote control function, and a control unit 3 for controlling a transmission direction of an infrared transmission signal. Remote control unit 2
Is an operation unit 4 that controls and operates the operation target device 16 by button operation or the like, an infrared signal light emitting unit 5 that radiates (radiates) an operation signal from the operation unit 4 in the form of an infrared signal, and a remote control unit 2
Is configured by a controller 6 which is a kind of computer for controlling.

The controller 3 is a controller 7 which is a kind of computer which forms the main part of the controller 3, an acceleration detecting unit 8 which detects the moving acceleration of the remote control device 1 itself, and calculates three-dimensional position data from the acceleration data. It comprises an arithmetic unit 9, a memory 10 for storing data such as arithmetic data of the arithmetic unit 9 and an operation program of the controller 7, and a movable unit 11 for mechanically (movably) controlling the infrared radiation direction of the infrared signal light emitting unit 5. You. FIG. 2 is an external view of the remote control device 1.

The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. When (button operation) is input from the operation unit 4, first, a check is made as to whether the mode is the normal mode (or the setting mode) (step 21). In the normal mode (YES in step 21), the controller 6 creates an electric signal according to the input contents, the model of the operation target device, and the maker (step 22).

The infrared signal emitting section 5 converts the electric signal into infrared light and transmits it (step 23), and the process ends. In the setting mode (NO in step 21), settings relating to the model and manufacturer of the operation target device 16 (step 2)
4), and initial setting of the positional relationship data between the remote control device 1 and the operation target device 16 (step 25). The set value of the positional relationship data is stored in the memory 10 and thereafter automatically updated by the operation of the control unit 3 when the remote control device 1 moves.

The model / maker settings are stored in the controller 6 or the memory 10. After the setting is completed, a test signal that allows easy determination such as power on / off is output from the controller 6 (step 2).
6), the infrared signal light emitting section 5 converts it into infrared light and transmits it (step 23), and the process ends.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the contents of processing related to updating the positional relationship and correcting the direction of the transmission signal.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of acceleration data. The acceleration of the remote controller 1 (see FIG. 5A) is sampled by the acceleration detecting unit 8 at intervals of, for example, t seconds (step 2).
7). The obtained acceleration data (see FIG. 5B) is sent to the controller 7 and stored in the memory 10.

The three-dimensional displacement of the remote controller 1 is calculated by the arithmetic unit 9 based on the acceleration data (see FIG. 5B), or is calculated based on the past acceleration data (see FIG. 5B). Is corrected by the arithmetic unit 9 (step 28), and the acceleration correction data (FIG. 5C)
(See step 29). That is, speed is obtained by integrating once, and displacement is obtained by integrating twice.

If there is a displacement (change) in the position of the remote control device 1 (YES in step 30), the calculated displacement amount is added to the positional relationship data stored in the memory 10, and the position of the remote control device 1 is changed. The relation data is corrected (step 31), and the result is sent to the controller 7 and stored in the memory 10.

The azimuth / elevation angle of the remote controller 1 is calculated from the corrected positional relationship data by the arithmetic unit 9 and sent to the controller 7 (step 3).
2). The movable unit 11 corrects the direction of the transmission signal according to the instruction from the controller 7 (step 33), and the process ends.

As described above, by always performing the processing of steps 27 to 33 within t seconds of the sampling interval, the transmission signal can be automatically directed to the light receiving portion of the operation target device 16 without manual correction by the user. In addition, by using an infrared light emitting element having high directivity for the infrared signal light emitting section 5, it becomes possible to operate only the operation target device 16 without causing peripheral devices to malfunction.

Further, by setting switches for device switching, providing setting areas for setting data of a large number of operation target devices and positional relationship data in the memory 10, and modifying some control methods, a large number of devices are provided. The devices can be operated individually.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the contents of processing relating to updating positional relationship data and correcting the direction of a transmission signal according to the present invention when n operation target devices are individually handled. The process from the sampling to the process of determining the presence / absence of the displacement (steps 27 to 30) is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 described above.

It is necessary to correct the positional relationship data for n units (steps 19 and 20). The azimuth / elevation angle is calculated only for the device to be operated based on the corrected positional relationship data (step 32), and the direction of the transmission signal is calculated based on the result as in the above-described embodiment. Is corrected (step 33), and the process ends.

When the operation target device is changed, the calculation of the azimuth / elevation angle and the correction of the direction of the transmission signal (steps 32 and 33) are performed again based on the positional relationship data for the device. Through the above processing, it is possible to individually operate many devices.

[0028]

As described above, the present invention does not require the remote control device to be accurately directed to the light receiving portion of the operation target device. Therefore, the remote control device is not mistakenly operated on the display device, for example, on the display device. There is an effect that the target device can be operated regardless of the positional relationship between them. That is, the transmission signal is automatically controlled so as to be directed to the receiving unit of the operation target device.

Also, there is an effect that a specific device can be operated without causing a peripheral device to malfunction. That is, a transmission signal having high directivity is used, and the signal can be always directed to the reception unit of the specific device.

Further, there is an effect that a large number of devices can be individually operated. That is, a transmission signal having high directivity can be directed to the reception unit of a specific device, and a large number of directions can be switched.

Further, there is an effect that the above effects can be obtained without changing the operation target device. That is, the above effects can be obtained by the operation of the control unit 3 in the main body of the remote control device 1.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an external view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart when inputting an operation unit.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart related to updating of positional relationship data and correcting the direction of a transmission signal.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of acceleration data.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart related to updating positional relationship data and correcting the direction of a transmission signal when n devices are individually handled.

FIG. 7 is an external view of a conventional remote control device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a layout of an operation target device and a display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Remote control device 2 Remote control part 3 Control part 4 Operation part 5 Infrared signal light emission part 6, 7 Controller 8 Acceleration detection unit 9 Operation part 10 Memory 11 Movable unit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A remote control device for converting a button operation from an operation unit into an infrared signal and transmitting the infrared signal to an operation target device, comprising: an infrared direction movable means for moving a transmission direction of the infrared signal; Acceleration detection means, displacement amount calculation means for calculating a displacement amount from the moving acceleration, positional relation data storage means for storing positional relation data with the operation target device in advance, and stored in the positional relation data storage means. A position relation data update storage unit that adds the displacement amount to the position relation data and stores it as new position relation data in the position relation data storage unit;
And a movable control means for controlling the infrared-direction movable means based on the new positional relationship data. 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the displacement amount calculating means is configured to calculate the displacement amount by integrating the moving acceleration twice. 3. A method for controlling a remote control device for converting a button operation from an operation unit to an infrared signal and transmitting the infrared signal to an operation target device, wherein the displacement amount is calculated by integrating a moving acceleration twice. Calculating the new positional relationship data by adding the displacement amount to a preset positional relationship data with the operation target device; and an azimuth / elevation angle based on the new positional relationship data. And a step of controlling a transmission direction of the infrared signal based on the calculated azimuth angle and elevation angle. 4. The control method according to claim 3, wherein in the displacement amount calculating step, the moving acceleration is corrected based on a change in a past moving acceleration. 5. A recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a control method of a remote control device that converts a button operation from the operation unit into the infrared signal and transmits the infrared signal to the operation target device, Calculating a displacement amount by integrating the moving acceleration twice to calculate a displacement amount; and calculating the new positional relationship data by adding the displacement amount to a preset positional relationship data with the operation target device. Recording a program including: calculating an azimuth angle / elevation angle based on the new positional relationship data; and controlling a transmission direction of the infrared signal based on the calculated azimuth angle / elevation angle. recoding media.