JPH11168779A - Controller and method for remote control and record medium with control program for remote control recorded therein - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent chattering in a remote controller, to relieve the load of a software on a reception side and to suppress the cost increase on a remote control side. SOLUTION: In this remote controller, a key code is processed by a programmed computer. As a program, whether an operated key switch is valid or invalid for continuous depressing is discriminated 2 and whether the operation is continuous pressing or single depressing is discriminated 4. When the operated key switch is a valid one of the continuous pressing and it is continuously depressed, a continuous code is transmitted 5. When the operated key switch is a invalid one of the continuous pressing or when the operated key switch is depressed singly even though it is a valid one of the continuous depressing, a single depressing code is transmitted 3. When the operated key switch is an invalid one of the continuous depressing, after the transmission of the single depressing code, the transmission of the same code as the code is further inhibited 7 for a prescribed time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control device and a control method for controlling a remote control device for remotely controlling various electric and electronic devices such as a television, a video, an audio device and an air conditioner, and a recording medium on which a control program is recorded. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In remote control devices installed in various electric and electronic devices such as televisions, videos, audio devices, and air conditioners, the types of key switches are increasing as their functions are improved. The switches include a power switch, various up / down switches, various direct selection switches, and the like. These key switches are roughly classified into single-press keys and continuous-press keys.

A single-press key is a key switch typified by a power switch, and switches a setting state by a single press each time. On the other hand, the continuous press key is a key switch capable of continuously changing a setting state by an operation of continuously pressing the key, and a typical one is an up / down switch for adjusting a volume. Normally, a single-press operation can be performed on the continuous-press key.

One of the problems in such a remote controller is chattering. This is a phenomenon in which a single push key such as a power switch is operated twice in succession to perform switching contrary to the user's will. That is, even if the user accidentally presses the single-press key twice in succession, or if the user intends to press once, the switch may be pressed twice depending on how the key is pressed.
The problem is that it will operate every time.

[0005] In order to solve this problem, the receiving side of the remote control device, that is, the side of the main body of the device usually determines whether or not continuous pressing is prohibited. Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 3-84695 proposes a technique for preventing chattering by setting a time constant unique to a key code on a remote control device side and controlling a transmission time. Specifically, a pulse control circuit that combines a Schmitt inverter and a CR differentiation circuit sets a time constant corresponding to the key code.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With these measures,
Chattering is temporarily prevented, but when the receiving side (device main body side) determines that continuous pressing is prohibited or the like, the software on the receiving side (device main body side) becomes complicated, and C
An increase in the load on the PU becomes a problem.

On the other hand, in the case of the technique proposed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-84695 for preventing chattering on the remote control device side, an increase in the load on the receiving side (device main body side) is avoided. However, in the conventionally proposed technology, a code transmission process including chattering prevention is executed by hardware. To prevent the chattering, as described above, the Schmitt inverter and the C
A pulse control circuit combining an R differentiation circuit is used. In such code transmission processing by hardware, an increase in the cost of the remote controller becomes a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is intended to surely prevent chattering and to avoid increasing the burden on the receiving side (apparatus main body side) and the cost on the remote controller side. Aim.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, when a code is transmitted in a remote control device for remotely controlling an electric / electronic device, the operated key switch is effective for continuous pressing. And if the operated key switch is invalid for continuous pressing based on the result of the determination, a single-press code is transmitted regardless of the operation, and After transmission of the single-press code, transmission of the same code as the code transmitted from the operated key switch is prohibited for a predetermined time.

More specifically, it is determined whether the operated key switch is valid or invalid for continuous pressing, and whether the switch operation is continuous pressing or single pressing is determined.
If the operated key switch is one that is valid for continuous pressing and the operation is continuous pressing, a continuous code is transmitted. If the operated key switch is one that is invalid for continuous pressing or one that is valid for continuous pressing. Even if the operation is a single press, a single press code is transmitted, and if the operated key switch is invalid for continuous press,
After transmission of the single-press code, transmission of the same code as the code transmitted from the operated key switch is prohibited for a predetermined time.

According to such a configuration, if the operated key switch is an invalid one for continuous pressing, for example, if it is a power switch, when the key switch is pressed for a single time, a single pressing code is transmitted and used. The switching operation desired by the user is executed. If the key switch is pressed twice contrary to the user's intention, the single operation code is transmitted by the first operation, but after the transmission, the same code is transmitted for a predetermined time (for example, one second). Since it is prohibited, the single push code is not transmitted for the second operation. For this reason, switching contrary to the user's will is prevented.

On the other hand, if the operated key switch is one that is effective for continuous pressing, for example, if it is an up-down switch, a single-press code is transmitted when the key switch is single-pressed and the key is continuously pressed. If it is, a continuous press code is transmitted.

Thus, according to the present invention, chattering is prevented by the signal processing on the remote control device side without adversely affecting the original code transmission processing. In addition, since the code transmission process on the remote control device side including the prevention of chattering can be executed by software, an increase in the cost of the remote control device can be avoided.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a remote control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart of software processed by a microcomputer built in the remote control device.

The remote control device described here by way of example is provided in a remote control device of a television, video, audio equipment or the like, and controls the entire remote control device as shown in FIG. A microcomputer 1 is provided. The microcomputer 1 has a well-known configuration in which a CPU performs processing while transmitting and receiving information to and from a RAM in accordance with procedures stored in a ROM.

A key switch unit 2 is connected to an input port of the microcomputer 1. The key switches constituting the key switch unit 2 include a power switch, various up / down switches for volume adjustment, channel switching, menu switching, and the like, and a direct channel selection switch.

Here, these key switches are classified into two types, one in which continuous pressing is valid and the other in which continuous pressing is invalid. The power switch and direct tuning switch are those in which continuous pressing is invalid. The various types of up / down switches are classified as those for which continuous pressing is effective.

On the other hand, an output port of the microcomputer 1 has a display section 3 for displaying a state selected by operating a key switch, and an infrared light emitting section 4 for setting the selected state on the main body of the apparatus. Is connected.

Next, the software of the microcomputer 1 and the code transmission processing program will be described with reference to FIG.

In the code transmission processing program, whether or not there is a key input is monitored by the CPU in the microcomputer 1 (S1). If there is a key input, it is determined based on the input signal whether the operated key switch is valid or invalid for continuous pressing (S2). If the operated key switch is invalid for continuous pressing, for example, if it is a power switch, a single pressing code is transmitted irrespective of the operation duration, that is, regardless of whether the operation is single pressing or continuous pressing. (S3).

On the other hand, if the operated key switch is one that is effective for continuous pressing, for example, if it is an up-down switch, it is determined whether the operation is continuous pressing or single pressing based on the operation continuation time of the switch. (S4). When the operation is continuous pressing, a continuous code is transmitted (S
5). If the operation is a single push, a single push code is transmitted (S3).

When the continuous code is transmitted, the program ends at this point. When the single push code is transmitted, it is determined whether or not the key switch operated for the transmission requires a quick single push operation (S6). Up-down switches for which continuous pressing is effective are sometimes classified as those requiring a quick single-pressing operation, because the state may be shifted by a small operation. A single-push switch (such as a power switch) for which continuous pressing is invalid is generally classified into a switch that does not require a quick single-push operation.

If it is determined that the key switch operated for transmitting the single-press code requires a quick single-press operation, the program ends at this point.
As a result, when the key switch is operated again (including a double press), a single-press code or a continuous code is transmitted according to the operation (S1 to S5). By repeating this, if the key switch is effective for continuous pressing, a code corresponding to the operation is transmitted. That is, both continuous pressing and single pressing are possible.

When it is determined that the key switch operated for transmitting the single-press code does not require a quick single-press operation, specifically, for example, when the key switch is a power switch, the key switch is not related to the subsequent switch operation. And the transmission of the same code as the transmitted code is stopped for a predetermined time (S
7). Here, the transmission stop time is set to be longer than the interval when the key switch in which the continuous press is invalid is inadvertently pressed twice and shorter than the interval when the key switch is intentionally pressed again.
Specifically, about 1 second is preferable.

Thus, when a key switch that does not require a quick single-press operation is inadvertently pressed twice, a single-press code is transmitted for the first operation, but is not transmitted for the subsequent operation. Does not send a single-press code. When intentional re-pressing is performed, a single-push code is transmitted according to the operation (S1 to S3).

Thus, when the operated key switch is a valid one for continuous pressing, a single-press code or a continuous code is transmitted in accordance with the operation. On the other hand, if the operated key switch is invalid for continuous pressing, that is, a key switch that does not require a quick single pressing operation, a single pressing code corresponding to the first operation even if pressed twice. Only sent.

As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, the chattering is reliably prevented by the signal processing on the remote control device side without adversely affecting the original code transmission processing.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, not only chattering, which is a problem in the remote control device, is reliably prevented, but also the prevention is executed by signal processing on the remote control device side. Thus, an increase in the load on the CPU is avoided. Further, since the code transmission process on the remote control device side including the prevention of chattering can be executed by software, it is possible to avoid an increase in cost which is a problem in the case of hardware.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a remote control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of software processed by a microcomputer incorporated in the remote control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 microcomputer 2 key switch unit 3 display unit 4 infrared light emitting unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A device for controlling a remote controller for remotely controlling an electric / electronic device, comprising: means for determining whether an operated key switch is valid or invalid for continuous pressing; If the operated key switch is invalid for continuous pressing, a single-push code is transmitted regardless of the operation, and after the single-push code is transmitted, transmitted from the operated key switch. Means for prohibiting transmission of the same code as the predetermined code for a predetermined time. 2. A device for controlling a remote control device for remotely controlling an electric / electronic device, comprising: determining whether an operated key switch is valid or invalid for continuous pressing; Means for determining whether the key is pressed or single-pressed, and if the operated key switch is a valid one for continuous pressing and the operation is continuous pressing, a continuous code is transmitted; In the case of an invalid one or if the continuous pressing is valid but the operation is a single pressing, the transmitting means for transmitting the single pressing code and the operated key switch are invalid for the continuous pressing. Means for prohibiting transmission of the same code as the code transmitted from the operated key switch for a predetermined time after transmission of the single-press code. . 3. A method for controlling a remote control device for remotely controlling an electric / electronic device, the method comprising: determining whether an operated key switch is valid or invalid for continuous pressing; If the operated key switch is invalid for continuous pressing, a single-push code is transmitted regardless of the operation, and after the single-push code is transmitted, transmitted from the operated key switch. A step of prohibiting transmission of the same code as the same code for a predetermined time. 4. A recording medium on which a control program for controlling a remote control device for remotely controlling an electric / electronic device by a computer is recorded. It is determined whether the key switch is valid or invalid, and based on the result of the determination, if the operated key switch is invalid for continuous pressing, a single-press code is transmitted regardless of the operation, and A recording medium on which a control program for a remote controller is recorded, wherein transmission of the same code as a code transmitted from an operated key switch is prohibited for a predetermined time after transmission of the single-press code.