JPH11284878A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the remote controller where the operation is easily conducted by one hand and which is easily operated even through groping without visual observation. SOLUTION: The remote controller 10 includes a gourd shape case 11 that is constricted around in the middle in the lengthwise direction of the entire shape, a sea-saw switch 12 and a roller switch 13 which are placed side by side around in the middle of swollen parts on a flat surface of the case, a power switch 14 placed close to the switches, and a control circuit placed in the case to produce a control signal based on the operation of each switch. When the sea-saw switch is operated, a channel is selected and the roller switch is turned to adjust a sound volume.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote controller for operating a television receiver, a video recording / reproducing apparatus, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, such a remote control device is configured, for example, as shown in FIG. That is, in FIG. 5, the remote control device 1 has a flat rectangular parallelepiped case 2.
And a plurality of operation buttons 3 arranged vertically and horizontally on the surface of the case 2 and an infrared transmitting unit 4.

[0003] A board on which a control circuit is formed is provided in the case 2, and a switch operated by operating each of the operation buttons 3 is mounted on the board. The operation button 3 is, for example, a power switch,
This switch is used to operate a mute switch for temporarily turning off the volume, a switch for adjusting the volume and selecting a channel, and a television / video switch.

According to the remote control device 1 configured as described above, the user holds the case 2 of the remote control device 1 by hand and operates a desired operation button 3 with, for example, a thumb. As a result, the operation of the operation button 3 activates a switch mounted on the corresponding board, and a control circuit on the board generates an appropriate control signal.
Is converted into an infrared light signal and transmitted to an infrared light receiving unit such as a television device or a video recording / reproducing device to be operated.

[0005]

However, in the remote control device 1 having such a configuration, the plurality of operation buttons 3 provided side by side on the surface of the case 2 have the same shape. For this reason, if the user tries to operate the operation buttons 3 of the remote control device 1 without looking at them, he or she will gropingly operate the operation buttons 3 to be operated from the plurality of operation buttons 3 having the same shape. There is a problem in that it is not easy to perform the operation, and there is a case where an erroneous operation is performed. Also, the operation button 3 of the remote control device 1
When the operation is performed while visually observing the operation button 3, depending on the arrangement of the operation buttons 3, the user cannot hold the case 2 with one hand and cannot operate the desired operation button 3 with the thumb of the other hand. There is a problem that the user has to operate with his / her finger, and the operability is poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a remote control device which can be easily operated with one hand and can be easily operated even by groping without looking.

[0007]

The object of the present invention is to provide a gourd-shaped case which is entirely constricted in the vicinity of the center in the longitudinal direction and a flat surface of the case which is arranged side by side in the vicinity of the center of the bulge on one side. Including a provided seesaw switch and a roller switch, a power switch provided in close proximity to these switches, and a control circuit disposed in the case and generating a control signal based on operation of each switch. The remote control device is characterized in that a channel selection operation is performed by operating the seesaw switch, and a volume adjustment operation is performed by rotating the roller switch. You.

[0008] In the remote controller according to the present invention, preferably, the power switch is arranged such that the top surface does not protrude from the surface of the case when not operated.

The remote controller according to the present invention preferably includes at least one other operation switch disposed adjacent to the seesaw switch, the roller switch, and the power switch.

[0010] The remote control device according to the present invention is preferably provided with a slide-type lid on the bulge portion on the other side of the case, and at least one operation for performing another operation is provided inside the lid. A switch is provided.

In the remote control device according to the present invention, preferably, the seesaw switch, the power switch and the roller switch are arranged such that the case is provided at the center of the bulging portion on the other side.
When the vicinity of the base of the thumb of the operator's hand comes into contact, the pair is disposed on the axis with reference to the vicinity of the base of the thumb and sandwiched therebetween.

[0012] In the remote control device according to the present invention, preferably, when the case comes into contact with the center of the bulging portion on the other side near the base of the thumb of the operator's hand, the tip of the thumb is placed on one side. So that it is located near the center of the bulge,
The size is selected.

According to the above configuration, the case is formed in a gourd shape, so that when the case is held with one hand, the case fits well in the palm and the thumb of the one hand can be used.
By operating the seesaw switch, the tuning operation can be easily performed, and by rotating the roller switch, the volume can be easily adjusted. In this case, since the channel selection operation is performed by the seesaw switch and the volume adjustment is performed by the roller switch, even if the operation is performed by groping without looking at the case surface, it can be easily determined by the tactile sensation of the fingertip. Thus, a desired operation can be performed accurately without erroneous operation.

If the power switch is arranged so that its top surface does not protrude from the surface of the case when it is not operated, even if it is operated by groping without looking at the surface of the case, the power switch may be erroneously turned on. There is no need to operate switches.

[0015] At least one other operation switch is provided adjacent to the seesaw switch, the roller switch and the power switch, or a slide-type lid is provided on a bulge portion on the other side of the case. When at least one operation switch for performing another operation is provided inside the lid, by operating these operation switches, power on / off, volume adjustment, and other than the channel selection operation are performed. An operation could be performed.

The seesaw switch, power switch and roller switch are based on the vicinity of the base of the thumb when the case abuts the center of the bulge on the other side near the base of the thumb of the operator's hand. In the case of being arranged on the axis and in a pair sandwiching the thumb, the operation is performed by natural thumb operation based on the vicinity of the base of the thumb, and the desired operation can be performed accurately without mistaken operation. It is possible.

When the case comes into contact with the base of the thumb of the operator's hand at the center of the bulge on the other side, the tip of the thumb is positioned near the center of the bulge on one side. When the size is selected, when holding the case with one hand, the vicinity of the base of the thumb of one hand is brought into contact with the center of the bulge on the other side, so that the case is held in a stable state At the same time, each switch can be easily operated with the tip of the thumb, so that operability is improved.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a remote controller according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a remote control device 10 is used to perform various operations such as a television receiver and a video recording / reproducing device, and is entirely a gourd type which is constricted in the vicinity of the center in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction in FIG. 1). Case 11 and this case 11
Seesaw switch 12 and roller switch 13 provided side by side on the upper part of the surface of the device, and power switch 14 and mute switch 15 provided side by side on the upper side
And is composed of

The seesaw switch 12, the power switch 14, the roller switch 13, and the mute switch 15 are arranged so that when the case 11 comes into contact with the center of the bulge on the other side near the base of the thumb of the operator's hand, Within an angle of about 20 ° with respect to the vicinity X of the base of the thumb, it is disposed on the axis with reference to the vicinity of the base of the thumb and across the axis toward the vicinity X of the base.

The case 11 is formed, for example, in a vertically divided state. After a board (not shown) in which a control circuit and the like are formed is incorporated, the case 11 is assembled integrally with each other. Further, the case 11 is provided with a slide-type lid 11a at the lower part of the surface, and a plurality (four in the illustrated case) is provided in the slide-type lid 11a as shown by a chain line in the drawing. Are provided. These switches 16 are exposed and can be operated by sliding the lid 11a downward in FIG.

The seesaw switch 12 is a switch having a known structure, and is neutral when not operated.
By depressing the upper or lower part, the switch contacts mounted on the substrate are turned on and off, respectively, and a control signal is generated and output by a control circuit formed on the substrate. As a result, a tuning operation is performed. Further, the roller switch 13 is formed of, for example, a disk rotatably supported on a substrate, and a portion of the roller switch 13 exposed on the surface of the case 11 is expanded at FIG. , Guide 13 composed of concave and convex grooves
The switch circuit mounted on the board is turned on or off by being guided by a and moving upward or downward to rotate, or the variable resistor mounted on the board is adjusted. A control signal is generated and output. As a result, the sound volume is adjusted.

Further, when the power switch 14, the mute switch 15 and the operation switches 16 in the lid 11a are pressed down, the switch contacts mounted on the substrate are turned on and off when the top surface exposed on the surface is pressed, and The control circuit is configured to generate and output a control signal.

In the illustrated remote control device 10,
The control signal is output from a control circuit on the board to an infrared transmitting section 17 provided at the upper end of the case 11, and is converted into an optical signal by infrared rays at the infrared transmitting section 17 and transmitted. A battery chamber covered with a lid 11b is provided on the back side of the case 11, and a battery 18 to be a power source is accommodated in the battery chamber.

The remote control device 10 according to the present invention is configured as described above, and the user holds the remote control device 10 with one hand, for example, the right hand palm as shown by a dashed line A in FIGS. Hold the lower bulge of the case 11,
The seesaw switch 12 is operated with the thumb of the hand. Thereby, the sound volume is adjusted. Further, as shown by a two-dot chain line B in FIGS. 3 and 4, the thumb is shifted to the right and the roller switch 13 is operated to perform a channel selection operation. Further, from this state, the power switch 14 and the mute switch 15 can be easily operated by extending the thumb. In this case, the seesaw switch, the power switch, and the roller switch are arranged such that when the case comes into contact with the center of the bulge on the other side near the base of the thumb of the operator's hand, the case is positioned on the axis relative to the base of the thumb , And are arranged in pairs, so that the operation is performed by a natural thumb operation with reference to the vicinity X of the base of the thumb, and the operation can be easily performed without erroneous operation.

When the seesaw switch 12, the roller switch 13, the power switch 14 and the mute switch 15 are operated in this manner, the switches 12, 13, 14, 1
5, the switch contact mounted on the board is turned on and off, and the control circuit formed on the board generates a control signal corresponding to the operation of each of the switches 12, 13, 14, 15 and transmits the infrared signal. The signal is output from the unit 17 as an optical signal using infrared rays. On the other hand, the television receiver or the video recording / reproducing apparatus (not shown) receives an optical signal of infrared rays from the infrared transmitting section 17 of the remote controller 10 at its infrared receiving section, and transmits a control signal. The operation is restored according to the control signal.

Thus, the operation of selecting a television receiver or a video recording / reproducing apparatus can be performed by the seesaw switch 12 of the remote control device 10, the volume can be adjusted by the roller switch 13, the power can be turned on / off by the power switch 13, and the sound can be muted. With the switch 14, temporary silencing can be performed.

Here, when the above-described control circuit is configured as a so-called preset remote controller, for example, by sliding the lid 11a and operating various operation switches 15, a microcomputer or the like built in advance is used. By calling the remote control code of the corresponding maker stored in the TV receiver, it is possible to correspond to the television receiver or the video recording / reproducing apparatus to be operated. Also,
When the above-described control circuit is configured as a so-called learning remote control device, for example, by sliding the lid 11a and operating the various operation switches 16, the TV receiver or the video recording / reproducing device to be operated can be operated. The remote control code of the attached remote control device can be stored in a microcomputer or the like provided on the board.

In the embodiment described above, the seesaw switch 12, the roller switch 13, the power switch 14 and the mute switch 15 are provided on the surface of the case 11, and various operation switches 16 are provided in the lid 11a. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
At least the seesaw switch 12 and the roller switch 13
And the power switch 14 may be provided, and the other mute switch 15 may be provided in the lid 11a. In order to prevent erroneous operation when groping without looking, it is better that the number of switches provided on the surface of the case 11 is small, but some or all of the various switches 16 are provided on the surface of the case 11. It may be. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the remote control device 10
Transmits a control signal to a television receiver or a video recording / reproducing device by transmitting an infrared light signal from the infrared transmitting unit 17, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is clear that the transmission may be a wired transmission via a connection cord.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the case is formed in a gourd shape, when the case is held with one hand, the case fits well in the palm, and
The tuning operation can be easily performed by operating the seesaw switch with the thumb of one hand, and the volume can be easily adjusted by rotating the roller switch. In this case, since the channel selection operation is performed by the seesaw switch and the volume adjustment is performed by the roller switch, even if the operation is performed by groping without looking at the case surface, it can be easily determined by the tactile sensation of the fingertip. Thus, a desired operation can be performed accurately without erroneous operation. Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a remote control device that can be easily operated with one hand and can be easily operated even by groping without looking.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a remote controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a right side view of the remote controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an operation state of the remote control device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a right side view showing an operation state of the remote control device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a conventional remote control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Remote control device 11 Case 11a, 11b Lid 12 Seesaw switch 13 Roller switch 14 Power switch 15 Mute switch 16 Operation switch 17 Infrared transmitting part 18 Battery

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A gourd-shaped case entirely constricted near the center in the longitudinal direction, and a seesaw switch and a roller switch provided side by side on the flat surface of the case near the center of a bulging portion on one side A power switch provided in close proximity to these switches; and a control circuit disposed in the case and generating a control signal based on the operation of each switch, wherein the seesaw switch is operated. A remote control device wherein a tuning operation is performed, and a volume control operation is performed by rotating the roller switch. 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the power switch is arranged such that a top surface thereof does not protrude from a surface of the case when not operated. 3. The remote control device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one other operation switch disposed adjacent to the seesaw switch, the roller switch, and the power switch. 4. A slidable lid is provided on a bulging portion on the other side of the case, and at least one operation switch for performing another operation is provided inside the lid. The remote control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: 5. The seesaw switch, the power switch and the roller switch, wherein when the case abuts the center of the bulge on the other side near the base of the thumb of the operator's hand, the base is based on the vicinity of the base of the thumb. 5 are arranged on a pair of axes that are sandwiched between them.
A remote control device according to any one of the above. 6. When the case comes into contact with the center of the bulge on the other side near the base of the thumb of the operator's hand, the tip of the thumb is located near the center of the bulge on one side. As described above, the size is selected.
The remote control device according to claim 1.