JPH1198581A - Remote control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To operate a plurality of electronic devices using a single remote control device by displaying operating function information for remote- controlling respective devices to be controlled, based on control information which has been stored in a storage means. SOLUTION: A memory part 5 s provided in an IC card 4 to be inserted to the remote control device. The memory part 5 is provided with a data area 5a where transmission data formats for the respective electronic devices are contained and a user area 5b where the data, when a user has partially changed the transmission data format, is contained. A video IC card data area, for example, stores remote control signal data of an operation mode such as reproduction, video recording, rewinding or fast-winding, etc. The remote control device is arranged to face the electronic equipments, a desired operation is executed through the use of an operation button which is displayed in the display part 2 of the remote control device 1 and, then, the control operation of the electronic devices by a remote control signal is executed.

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 (hereinafter, simply referred to as "remote control device") used for a controlled device such as a video device or a television receiver, and more particularly, to a remote control device. The present invention relates to a remote control device in which operation functions can be arbitrarily set and user convenience is improved.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, remote control devices have been used for air conditioners and lighting devices as well as AV devices such as video devices and television receivers, and user convenience has been improved. This remote control device is very convenient because it can turn on and off the power supply and the like away from an electronic device such as a video device.

On the other hand, electronic devices such as video devices are becoming multifunctional due to the development of telecommunications technology and increasing needs of users, and a wide variety of electronic devices are released. Generally, a remote control device is attached to each of these electronic devices, and the user has to select the remote control device according to the electronic device, which is troublesome.

[0004] In addition, the number of operation buttons has increased with the increase in the number of functions of electronic devices, and some users have arranged buttons that are rarely used, causing confusion among users. Further, there is a remote control device with a learning function that allows the remote control device to learn a remote control signal of another model so that the remote control device can be operated. However, since the learned operation function information (operation buttons and the like) is allocated to the arranged buttons, the operation is not performed. However, there was no change in the complexity of the method, and the convenience of the user was not improved.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a viewpoint, and the problem thereof is that the conventional remote control device has a fixed operation function and thus lacks versatility.
Provides a remote control device that solves the problem of having to select a remote control device for each electronic device and improves the operating functions so that one remote control device can operate multiple electronic devices efficiently. It is to be.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the present invention, a remote control device according to a first aspect of the present invention is provided with a remote control device provided with at least one of an external storage device and an external remote control device. Reading means for reading the control information, storage means for identifiably storing the respective control information corresponding to the plurality of controlled devices read from the reading means, and respective storage means based on the control information stored in the storage means. Display means for displaying operation function information (menus and operation buttons, etc.) for remotely controlling the control device in a hierarchical structure;
A contact instruction input means (including a touch panel and an instruction input means for reading a designated position in a non-contact manner) for inputting operation information for remote control according to the operation function information displayed on the display means and stacked on the display means; Transmission means for wirelessly transmitting a control signal for a corresponding controlled device based on operation information input from the contact instruction input means,
When the operation function information corresponding to the plurality of controlled devices is displayed in a hierarchical structure on the display means, and the change of the display position of the operation function information is performed by operating the contact instruction input means according to the display, Control means for rearranging the display positions of the operation function information in the same hierarchy according to the setting.

In the remote control device according to the first aspect of the invention, in addition to the functions of a normal remote control device, operation function information is displayed on a display means, and a touch panel or the like stacked on the display means is contacted with a finger or the like to obtain a desired function. Operation. In addition, the remote control device of the present invention rearranges the operation function information in the same layer even when the operation function information for operating a plurality of controlled devices is displayed over a plurality of layers. Equipped with control means. This allows the user of the remote control device of the present invention to freely rearrange the operation function information so that the operation function information can be easily operated, and to save the trouble of moving the operation function information between layers and operating it. Therefore, user convenience can be improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the remote control device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the control means of the remote control device performs basic operation of any operation function information (particularly, operation buttons) displayed on the display means. Operation function information (operation buttons) by adding new control information (new operation button functions) related to basic operation function information as function information
A function for compounding operation function information is provided. Then, when the operation function information (operation button) is operated, the transmission means of the remote control device transmits the respective control information corresponding to the functions of the plurality of operation buttons continuously. Thus, the user of the remote control device according to the present invention can operate the operation function information according to the user's needs, for example, by turning off the power button of the television receiver, turning off all the power of the AV equipment related thereto. Can be reconfigured (customized), and the convenience of the remote control device can be significantly improved.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention relates to operation function information (menus, operation buttons, etc.) in a remote control device.
The present invention relates to a remote control device that enables a single remote control device to efficiently operate a plurality of electronic devices without fixing the arrangement and size of the electronic devices. In addition,
The present invention is effective when applied to all single and combined electronic devices using a remote control device. However, a video device and a compact disk (C
D: Trade name) will be described. Less than,
A specific embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, an outline of a remote control device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an outline of a remote control device according to the present invention.

A remote controller 1 according to the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 includes a video device (not shown) and a compact disc (C
D) A display unit 2 composed of a liquid crystal display for displaying menus and operation buttons for selecting electronic devices such as D), a touch panel 3 integrally formed with the display unit 2, and an insertion slot 6 capable of inserting a plurality of IC cards 4. , A transmission unit 7 for transmitting a remote control signal, and a reception unit 8 for reading remote control signals of various remote control devices.

IC to be inserted into remote control device 1 of the present invention
The card 4 is provided with a memory unit 5 in which a data area 5a in which a transmission data format for each electronic device is stored and a user partially changes the transmission data format. And a user area 5b for storing data in the case where the data is stored. As an example, the data area of the video IC card stores remote control signal data in operation modes such as reproduction, recording, rewinding, and fast-forwarding.

The remote control device 1 of the present invention is installed so as to face an electronic device, and controls the electronic device by a remote control signal by performing a desired operation using operation buttons displayed on a display unit 2 of the remote control device 1. The operation is performed as conventionally known. That is, when the user operates the operation buttons displayed on the display unit 2, the touch panel 3 reads the operation mode. The control unit (not shown) of the remote control device 1 modulates a predetermined control code into a luminance signal in response to the pressing operation of the operation button, and outputs the luminance signal as a remote control signal from the transmission unit 7.

Next, the details of the data structure for controlling the remote controller of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a top view showing a touch panel structure of the remote control device of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a data structure allocated to each area of the touch panel, and FIG. 4 is an electronic apparatus relating to the remote control device of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block circuit diagram showing an example of the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the touch panel 3 of the present invention is configured such that predetermined regions divided vertically and horizontally are defined as one region, and each region has a unique address. And
An operation button, for example, a rewind icon (Icon) 9a is displayed on a predetermined area of the touch panel 3, and when the user touches the operation button, the address of the area is read by the touch panel 3.

Each area divided by the touch panel 3 is
It has a data structure as shown in FIG. If the outline of the data structure is explained with reference to FIG. 3, the card ID is data for specifying an IC card when a plurality of IC cards are inserted into the remote controller 1. The default page address is data for storing an initial state for each page, and is a page address at which an icon of a basic operation button is displayed. This default page address can be arbitrarily changed by the user. The user page address is copied from the default page address and used when the user changes the displayed page. If the display page is not changed, the data is naturally the same as the default page address. The default area address is data for storing the initial state of each area. For example, when the icon extends over a plurality of areas as in the rewind icon 9a described above, the data is shared. The user area address specifies an address on the touch panel 3 for displaying the icon of the operation button on the display unit 2.

The function data is data for selecting an operation in the electronic device such as reproduction in a video device, and can transmit a plurality of operation commands at a time. This function data has a link flag to other operation data, and is used when a plurality of functions are set to one operation button. For example, a user-specific functional operation such as shifting to the recording mode immediately after the cueing of the video apparatus or setting a pause mode after the cueing can be set to one operation button. That is, the operation data 1 in FIG. 3 is basic data of the operation button, and the operation data 2 is data added to the operation button.

When a plurality of function operations are assigned to one operation button, a desired operation is performed by continuously transmitting a plurality of remote control signals at predetermined intervals using the function data. Perform the operation of Or
In the electronic device 100 on the receiving side as shown in FIG. 4, a storage area 102 is formed so as to be connected to the receiving circuit 101, and control data that is transmitted in a composite form to the storage area 102 is temporarily stacked. Then, data in each operation order may be transmitted to the control circuit 103 to execute a desired operation. In the case of a bidirectional remote controller, the electronic device 10
This is not the case because the operation status of 0 is understood each time by the remote control device side.

The icon bitmap data is an icon to be displayed on the display unit 2, for example, a rewind icon 9a.
Etc. are bitmap data forming a display figure such as. The extended data area is an area used when the display on the display unit 2 is displayed in color, and is not used when the display on the display unit 2 is performed in monochrome. The control operation of the remote controller of the present invention as described below is executed using these various data.

Next, the circuit configuration of the remote control device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram showing an example of the remote control device according to the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those described in FIG.

The remote controller 1 according to the present invention comprises the above-described display unit 2, memory unit 5 (data area 5a and user area 5b).
In addition to the IC card 4 having the
A control unit 10 including a microprocessor, a storage unit 11 for storing various data and a control program described later, a reading unit 1 for reading remote controller signal data of the IC card 4 and the like.
2 and a writing unit 13.

The circuit operation of the remote control device according to the present invention will be briefly described.

Remote control signal data read from the IC card 4 via the reading unit 12 in the remote control device 1 is stored in the storage unit 11. The control unit 10 generates a display screen of menus and operation buttons based on the remote control signal data, and displays the display screen on the display unit 2.

The display screen displayed on the display unit 2 has a hierarchical structure. When a user operates a page turning button or the like, the display unit 2 controls an upper or lower hierarchy (hereinafter, “page”) under the control of the control unit 10. To display the specified page screen. The control unit 10 understands the contents of the operation buttons operated by the user, and responds to the remote control signal format (PPM (Pulse Position Modulation)).
And the like, and transmitted from the transmission unit 7. As described above, setting multiple functions to one operation button,
When the user changes the remote control signal data displayed on the display unit 2, the changed remote control signal data is transmitted to the user area 5 of the IC card 4 via the writing unit 13.
b.

Next, the circuit operation of the characteristic portion in the remote control device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the setting operation of the remote control device of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a setting procedure of the remote control device of the present invention. 6 indicate processing steps, a screen 1 in FIG. 7 is classified by function (menu), a screen 2 is an operation button of a video device, a screen 3 is an operation button of a compact disc (CD), and a screen 4 is a move. The display screens after each are shown.

In FIG. 6, the setting function of the remote controller 1 of the present invention is selected by the user, and the setting processing operation is started. The setting of the remote controller 1 of the present invention includes changing the display position of operation buttons and the like and adding an operation when setting a plurality of functions to one operation button (combination of operation buttons).

First, when the user selects to change the display position of the icon in step SP1, the user selects the icon of the operation button whose position is to be changed in step SP2.
As an example, when changing the display position of the operation buttons of the video device and the compact disc (CD) as shown in FIG. 7, first, a video is selected on the screen 1 and the operation buttons of the video device are displayed on the screen 2; For example, a rewind icon 9a, a play icon 9b, and a fast forward icon 9c are displayed. Next, a compact disc (CD) is selected on the screen 1 and a CD playback icon 14 is displayed on the screen 3.

At step SP3, it is determined whether or not the movement is within the page.
Go to 5. In step SP5, the user touches the touch panel on the rewind icon 9a displayed on the screen 2 with the finger A to select a place to move and move. The movement position is similarly selected for the reproduction icon 9b and the fast-forward icon 9c. If the decision result in the step SP3 is NO, the process proceeds to a step SP4, where the page to be moved in the step SP4, for example, the page is moved to the screen 3, and the process proceeds to a step SP5. At step SP5, similarly, the CD playback icon 14 is moved between pages under the operation button of the video device after the intra-page movement displayed on the screen 4.

In step SP6, these movements are detected by the control unit 10 of the remote control device 1, and the movement position of the operation button displayed on the display unit 2 is changed by changing the user area address assigned to the touch panel. Determine. In this way, the operation buttons for handling a plurality of electronic devices are freely rearranged so that the user can easily use them. This saves the trouble of moving the operation button between pages and operating the button, thereby improving the convenience of the user.

Next, when the user selects the combination of the operation buttons in step SP10,
At 11, an icon for a basic operation is selected. As an example, in the case of the operation of shifting to the recording mode after the above-described cueing of the video apparatus, the icon of the basic operation is a cueing operation button, and the icon of the operation to be added is an operation button of the recording mode.

At step SP12, it is determined whether the icon of the operation to be added is the same page as the basic icon, and if NO, the process moves to the page at which the icon of the operation to be added exists at step SP13. Step S
If the determination in P12 is YES, in step SP14,
Select the icon for the action you want to add on the same page.
Specifically, selection is made by touching the touch panel on the icon of the operation to be added with a finger.

In step SP15, the operations are combined.
That is, in the above-described example, the function of the recording operation button is added to the cueing operation button. This allows
The user can realize the operation of shifting to the recording mode after the cue of the video device only by operating the cue operation button. In this way, by setting the operations related to the basic operation buttons in conjunction with each other, the operation buttons can be combined. Thus, for example, when the power button of the television receiver is turned off, the related A
The operation buttons can be reconfigured (customized) according to the needs of the user, such as turning off all power supplies of the V device.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
Various embodiments can be employed. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a video device or a compact disc (CD) has been described as an example of a controlled device to which the remote control device is applied. However, a remote control device that operates operation function information such as an in-vehicle electronic device is described. It can be applied to any controlled device to be adopted. In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention can be developed in various forms without being limited to the embodiment described above.

[0034]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reading means for fetching control information corresponding to a plurality of controlled devices, and operation function information. (Display of menus and operation buttons, etc.), and a built-in touch panel and the like stacked on the display means, so that control information corresponding to a plurality of controlled devices is taken in from the reading means so that one remote A plurality of controlled devices can be operated by the control device. Further, the remote control device of the present invention can rearrange the operation function information in the same layer even when the operation function information for operating a plurality of controlled devices is displayed over a plurality of layers. Control means were provided. This allows the user of the remote control device of the present invention to freely rearrange the operation function information so that the operation function information can be easily operated, and to save the trouble of moving the operation function information between layers and operating it. Therefore, the convenience of the user using the remote control device can be improved.

Furthermore, in the remote control device according to a second aspect of the present invention, the control means of the remote control device uses any operation function information (operation buttons) displayed on the display means as basic operation buttons, The basic operation buttons have a function of compounding operation buttons to add a new operation button function. Thereby, the operation function information is reconstructed (customized) in accordance with the needs of the user, for example, by turning off the power button of the television receiver, thereby turning off all the power supplies of the controlled devices related thereto. This is effective in improving the convenience of the remote control device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an outline of a remote control device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view showing a touch panel structure of the remote control device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a data structure assigned to each area of the touch panel of the remote control device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block circuit diagram illustrating an example of an electronic apparatus according to the remote control device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram showing an example of a remote control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a setting operation of the remote control device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a setting procedure of the remote control device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Remote control device, 2 ... Display part, 3 ... Touch panel, 4
... IC card, 5 ... memory section, 6 ... insertion slot, 7 ... transmission section, 8 ... reception section, 10 ... control section, 11 ... storage section, 12 ...
Reading unit, 13 writing unit, 14 CD playback icon, 10
0: electronic device, 101: receiving circuit, 102: storage area,
103 ... Control circuit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A reading means for reading control information from at least one of an external storage device and an external remote control device, and each control information corresponding to a plurality of controlled devices read from the reading means being identifiably stored. Storage means for performing, a display means for displaying operation function information for remotely controlling each controlled device in a hierarchical structure based on the control information stored in the storage means, and a stacking arrangement on the display means A contact instruction input means for inputting operation information for remote operation in accordance with the operation function information displayed on the display means; and a corresponding controlled device based on the operation information input from the contact instruction input means. Transmitting means for transmitting the control signal wirelessly, and displaying the operation function information corresponding to the plurality of controlled devices in a hierarchical structure on the display means, When the display position of the change setting of the operation function information has been made I, the remote control apparatus characterized by comprising a control means for relocating a display position of the operation function information in the same hierarchy in accordance with this setting. 2. The remote control device includes a writing unit, wherein the writing unit writes display position information of the operation function information rearranged by the control unit into a storage area of the external storage device. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A reading means for reading control information from at least one of an external storage device and an external remote control device, and identifiably storing respective control information corresponding to a plurality of controlled devices read from the reading means. Storage means for performing, a display means for displaying operation function information for remotely controlling each controlled device in a hierarchical structure based on the control information stored in the storage means, and a stacking arrangement on the display means A contact instruction input means for inputting operation information for remote operation in accordance with the operation function information displayed on the display means; and a corresponding controlled device based on the operation information input from the contact instruction input means. Transmitting means for wirelessly transmitting the control signal of the above, and any operation function information displayed on the display means as basic operation function information, and a new control function is added to the basic operation function information. Information is added to combine the operation function information, and when the combined operation function information is selected, control information corresponding to the plurality of operation function information is continuously transmitted from the transmission unit. A remote control device comprising: 4. The remote control device includes a writing unit, and the writing unit writes the operation function information compounded by the control unit in a storage area of the external storage device. Item 4. The remote control device according to item 3.