JPWO2008087829A1 - Bidirectional remote control device - Google Patents

Abstract

A receiving unit that receives information from the controlled device, a display unit that displays the content based on the information received by the receiving unit, and an operator selects and instructs an operation by the controlled device based on the content displayed on the display unit In a bidirectional remote control device having an input unit and a transmission unit that transmits operation information for operating the controlled device to the controlled device based on input information of the input unit, and controlling the controlled device by bidirectional wireless communication The display unit has a display medium capable of holding display content without a power source, and consumes power only when the content is rewritten.

Description

  The present invention relates to a bidirectional remote control device, and more particularly to a bidirectional remote control device including a display unit that displays the content based on information received from a controlled device.

  In recent years, digital information home appliances represented by digital televisions are required to have better operability and convenience of a remote control device that controls the operation of the information home appliances as multi-function and higher performance progress. It has become.

  For example, in the field of digital broadcasting, conventionally, with the development of digital technology, digital broadcasting services that centrally handle broadcasting video, audio, and data signals as digital signals and broadcast using communication satellites have been put into practical use. ing.

  In addition, with the development of compression multiplexing technology such as MPEG, it is possible to provide broadcasting of a very large number of channels, and electronic programs are provided so that viewers can select a desired program from such multiple channels. Guide services are also in practical use.

  This electronic program guide service is a service that provides information such as program names, broadcast station names, simple program contents, and performers of broadcast programs and scheduled broadcast programs. It also has a function that allows easy recording reservation.

  The viewer can display the electronic program guide on the television screen and perform list display, search, recording reservation operation, setting, etc. by remote control while watching the television screen.

  Recently, various services other than the electronic program guide service have been proposed, and various services can be received by performing a remote control operation while watching a television screen.

  By the way, with such a remote control device, when trying to use various services such as an electronic program guide service, it is necessary to display various service settings on the TV screen and then perform various settings by operating the remote control. Even if it is possible to operate using only a part of the screen, it will inevitably cause discomfort to those who have watched the program until then. Met.

  Therefore, conventionally, when using various services such as an electronic program guide service, various services are received by performing various settings while displaying them on the remote control at hand without displaying the service contents on the TV screen. Various types of bidirectional remote control devices that can be used have been studied (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  Here, a display example of an electronic program guide or the like in the conventional bidirectional remote control device will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7A is a schematic external view illustrating a schematic configuration of a conventional bidirectional remote control device 5, and FIGS. 7B to 7E are schematic diagrams illustrating display examples of an electronic program guide and the like.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the bidirectional remote control device 5 includes, for example, an LCD display unit 501 that is a transparent liquid crystal display panel, an input unit 520 having various operation switches, and the like, and is transmitted from the digital broadcast receiving device. The received electronic program guide data is received, and an image based on the received electronic program guide data is displayed on the LCD display unit 501. As the display contents, for example, only the reception channel is displayed (see FIG. 7B), the summary of the program content is added to the reception channel display (see FIG. 7C), and the broadcast program is displayed. Some display thumbnail images (see FIG. 7D), and others display the broadcast program itself (see FIG. 7E).
JP 2004-266799 A

  As described above, various bidirectional remote control devices in consideration of operability and convenience have been proposed.

  However, in the bidirectional remote control device including the display unit disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that the battery is consumed relatively quickly due to the power consumption of the display unit, which greatly affects the usage time. is there. In addition, in order to reduce power consumption, it is necessary to turn on / off the power supply of the display unit at regular intervals to suppress battery consumption, which greatly hinders convenience.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a bidirectional remote control device that is excellent in operability and convenience while suppressing power consumption in a bidirectional remote control device including a display unit for displaying information. For the purpose.

  The above object is achieved by the invention described in any one of 1 to 5 below.

1. A receiver for receiving information from the controlled device;
A display unit for displaying the content based on the information received by the receiving unit;
An input unit for an operator to select and instruct an operation by the controlled device based on the content displayed on the display unit;
A bidirectional remote control device for controlling operation of the controlled device by bidirectional wireless communication, and a transmission unit that transmits operation information for operating the controlled device to the controlled device based on input information of the input unit ,
The bidirectional remote control device, wherein the display unit has a display medium capable of holding the content to be displayed without a power source and consumes power only when the content is rewritten.

  2. The display unit receives the information at predetermined intervals, and updates the content to be displayed based on the information. The bidirectional remote control device described in 1.

3. The controlled device is a digital broadcast receiving device that receives multiplexed information transmitted by multiplexing broadcast information and additional information from a broadcast station device,
The receiving unit receives the additional information included in the multiplexed information received by the digital broadcast receiving device via the digital broadcast receiving device. Or 2. The bidirectional remote control device described in 1.

4). A storage unit for storing the additional information received by the reception unit;
2. The display unit displays the contents based on the additional information stored in the storage unit. The bidirectional remote control device described in 1.

  5. The display medium capable of holding the content to be displayed without a power source is at least a ferroelectric liquid crystal display element, an antiferroelectric liquid crystal display element, a ferroelectric polymer liquid crystal display element, a cholesteric liquid crystal display element, and an electrochromic display element 1. A display element using an electrophoresis cell, a particle movement display element, a display element that displays by the precipitation and dissolution of silver, or a display element that uses a twist ball. To 4. The bidirectional remote control device according to any one of the above.

  6). As the bidirectional wireless communication means, at least one of Bluetooth, wireless USB, and infrared communication is used. To 5. The bidirectional remote control device according to any one of the above.

  According to the present invention, since the information received from the controlled device is displayed on the display medium that can hold the display content without a power source, the display of the information is temporarily or permanently held. In addition, the display medium consumes power only when the displayed content is rewritten, and can display the content without consuming power after the rewriting is completed. Therefore, power consumption can be suppressed and the information can be easily used by the user.

  In addition, since the information is received at predetermined intervals and the content is updated based on the information, the user can use new information while suppressing power consumption.

It is an external appearance schematic diagram which shows schematic structure by Embodiment 1 of the bidirectional | two-way remote control apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is an electric circuit block block diagram by Embodiment 1 of the bidirectional | two-way remote control apparatus which concerns on this invention. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of display operation according to the first embodiment of the bidirectional remote control device according to the present invention. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display example according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the display operation | movement by Embodiment 2 of the bidirectional | two-way remote control apparatus which concerns on this invention. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display example according to Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of a display in the conventional bidirectional | two-way remote control apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1,5 Bidirectional remote control device 101,501 LCD display unit 102 LCD control unit 103 VRAM
104 Touch Panel 105 Touch Panel Monitoring Unit 111 CPU
112 ROM
113 RAM
114 Transmitter 115 Receiver 116 External I / F
117 Flash memory 120,520 Input section

  Embodiments of a bidirectional remote control device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, although this invention is demonstrated based on embodiment of illustration, this invention is not limited to this embodiment.

Embodiment 1
First, the configuration of the bidirectional remote control device 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic external view showing a schematic configuration according to Embodiment 1 of a bidirectional remote control device 1 according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the bidirectional remote control device 1 includes an LCD display unit 101, an input unit 120, and the like.

  The bidirectional remote control device 1 displays the content on the LCD display unit 101 based on information received via a controlled device (not shown). Based on the contents displayed on the LCD display unit 101, the operator uses the input unit 120 to select and instruct a desired operation to be performed by the controlled device. The bidirectional remote control device 1 transmits operation information for operating the controlled device based on the input information input to the input unit 120.

  The bidirectional remote control device 1 is a digital information home appliance such as a digital broadcast receiving device (for example, a digital television) and a recording / playback device (for example, a hard disk recorder), a household appliance such as an air conditioner, a microwave oven, a washing machine, and a refrigerator. Although control can be performed in an integrated manner, a digital television is described below as an example of a controlled device.

  Next, the electric circuit configuration of the bidirectional remote control device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric circuit according to Embodiment 1 of the bidirectional remote control device according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the bidirectional remote controller 1 includes an LCD display unit 101, an LCD control unit 102, a VRAM 103, a touch panel 104, a touch panel monitoring unit 105, a CPU 111, a ROM 112, a RAM 113, a flash memory 117, a transmission unit 114, and a reception unit. 115, an external I / F 116, an input unit 120, and the like.

  The LCD display unit 101 has a function (memory property) for holding display contents without a power supply, like a display device composed of a ferroelectric liquid crystal described in JP-A-10-324155, for example. It is a display medium called so-called electronic paper.

  Electronic paper can rewrite the displayed content electrically, and consumes power only when the content is rewritten. On the other hand, after rewriting is completed, the content can be displayed without consuming power. Yes, power consumption can be suppressed.

  Examples of the display medium having such a memory property include, in addition to the above-described ferroelectric liquid crystal display element, an antiferroelectric liquid crystal element, a ferroelectric polymer liquid crystal display element, and a chiral nematic that exhibits a cholesteric liquid crystal phase at room temperature. Cholesteric liquid crystal display element using liquid crystal, etc., and even if it is not liquid crystal, electrochromic display element, display element using electrophoretic cell, particle movement type display element, display element that displays by precipitation and dissolution of silver, twist It is also possible to use a display element using a ball.

  The LCD control unit 102 controls display operations performed on the LCD display unit 101.

  A VRAM (Video RAM) 103 is a video signal buffer memory having a recording capacity of a video signal corresponding to the number of pixels of the LCD display unit 101 and constituting a video to be reproduced and displayed on the LCD display unit 101.

  The touch panel 104 is a touch panel sensor provided on the front surface of the LCD display unit 101.

  The touch panel monitoring unit 105 can monitor the presence / absence of input from the touch panel 104 even in a sleep state where the bidirectional remote control device 1 consumes little power.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111 receives signals from the touch panel 104 and the input unit 120 and comprehensively controls display operations, image signal processing, and information transmission / reception operations performed with a controlled device. .

  A ROM (Read Only Memory) 112 stores various control programs and the like. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 113 temporarily stores work data such as arithmetic processing and control processing.

  The transmission unit 114 transmits operation information for the controlled device. The receiving unit 115 receives electronic program guide data and broadcast program data from a controlled device such as a digital television. As the wireless communication means, Bluetooth, wireless USB, or a low power consumption type device is suitable.

  The external I / F 116 is an interface with an external memory such as an SD memory card, for example.

  The input unit 120 is a switch group including various operation switches (not shown).

  Here, the flow of the display operation performed by the bidirectional remote control device 1 having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the display operation, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a display example.

  First, when the power of the bidirectional remote control device 1 is turned on, as shown in FIG. 4A, the LCD display unit 101 controls, for example, a TV, an air conditioner, a microwave oven, a washing machine, etc. as controlled devices. A menu screen indicating that it is possible is displayed.

  Here, when a television is selected by the touch panel 104 (step S1), the television is activated and additional information such as program guide data included in the multiplexed information from the broadcasting station device is transmitted to the bidirectional remote control device 1 (step S2). ).

  The bidirectional remote control device 1 receives program guide data from the television (step S3), and displays an image based on the received program guide data on the LCD display unit 101 (step S4). For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, the program guide is a program table to which an outline description of the program contents of each channel is added.

  When the program guide is displayed on the LCD display unit 101, the CPU 111 stops the power supply to the LCD display unit 101 and causes the bidirectional remote control device 1 to transition to the power saving mode or the sleep state (step S5). The LCD display unit 101 holds the display of the program guide due to its memory characteristics even after the supply of power is stopped.

  Next, when the operator selects / inputs a desired program, for example, 6 channels as shown in FIG. 4B by the touch panel 104 (step S6), the touch panel monitoring unit 105 transmits the detected input information to the CPU 111. As a result, the CPU 111 starts supplying power to the LCD display unit 101, and returns the bidirectional remote controller 1 from the power saving mode or the sleep state to the resume state (step S7).

  When the bidirectional remote control device 1 returns to the resume state, it transmits input information, that is, program information to the television (step S8), and when the television receives the program information from the bidirectional remote control device 1, FIG. As shown, the broadcast program corresponding to the received program information is selected.

  On the other hand, when the transmission of the program information is completed, the CPU 111 stops the power supply to the LCD display unit 101, causes the bidirectional remote control device 1 to transition from the resume state to the power saving mode or the sleep state, and proceeds to the next input. And wait (step S9). The LCD display unit 101 holds the display of the program guide having the same content until the content is rewritten by the next input.

  As described above, in the bidirectional remote control device 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, for example, additional information such as a program guide included in the multiplexed information from the broadcast station device is received via the television, and the received information Since the additional information can be displayed on the LCD display unit 101, it becomes easy for the user to use the additional information. In addition, since the additional information is displayed on a display medium having a memory property that can hold the display content, the display of the additional information is temporarily or permanently held, so that the additional information is similarly displayed to the user. It becomes easy to use information. In addition, the medium consumes power only when the displayed content is rewritten, and after the rewriting is completed, the content can be displayed without consuming power, and power consumption can be suppressed. .

[Embodiment 2]
Next, the bidirectional remote control device 1 according to the second embodiment will be described. The configuration of the main part is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted, and a display operation with a different operation will be described.

  In addition to the display operation of the bidirectional remote control device 1 according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIG. 3 described above, the bidirectional remote control device 1 according to this embodiment adds program guide data from the television at predetermined time intervals (for example, 30 minutes). And the like, and the display content of the LCD display unit 101 is rewritten and updated based on the received program guide data.

  Specifically, this will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the display operation.

  After the two-way remote control device 1 transitions to the power saving mode or the sleep state in step S9 of FIG. 3 described above (step S1), the time counter provided in the CPU 111 starts measuring time (step S2). When a predetermined time has elapsed (step S3), the CPU 111 returns the bidirectional remote control device 1 to the resume state (step S4), performs transmission / reception with the television, and acquires program guide data from the television (step S5). Based on the acquired program guide data, the display content of the LCD display unit 101 is rewritten and updated (step S6). When the update of the display content of the LCD display unit 101 is completed, the CPU 111 stops the power supply to the LCD display unit 101, and causes the bidirectional remote control device 1 to transition from the resume state to the power saving mode or the sleep state (step S7). ). The LCD display unit 101 holds the display of the program guide due to its memory characteristics even after the supply of power is stopped.

  Next, if there is no input by the touch panel 104 (step S8; No), it will return to step S2 and will update a program guide display regularly. On the other hand, if there is an input from the touch panel 104 (step S8; Yes), the display is updated to a display corresponding to the input information (step S9).

  As described above, the additional information such as the program guide data is periodically updated, so that the user can more easily use the additional information.

  In addition, the bidirectional remote control device 1 according to the present embodiment does not consume power for holding information, and has, for example, a flash memory 117 corresponding to the storage unit in the present invention, and the frequency of a program being broadcast on a television. Detailed information, related information and the like of programs received by radio waves in different frequency bands can be recorded in the flash memory 117. As a result, the user can read out and use the detailed information of the program, related information, etc. from the flash memory 117 at any time, regardless of whether the program is being broadcast or after the program is finished. FIG. 6A shows a state in which an example of program related information read from the flash memory 117 is displayed on the LCD display unit 101.

  Also, for example, as shown in FIG. 6B, when a camera is introduced while receiving a mail-order program, the bidirectional remote control device 1 receives detailed information about the camera via a television and receives a flash memory. 117. The user can read out detailed information about the camera from the flash memory 117 and view it as shown in FIG. 6 (c) when he / she likes the program during the broadcast. Further, if the camera is a desired product, it is possible to perform an ordering process.

  Similarly, detailed travel information and the like can be browsed at any time in the program of the trip. To obtain more detailed information, it is possible to request information retrieval through a general-purpose network environment such as a television, a mobile phone, and a personal computer using a hyperlink function or the like.

  As described above, in the bidirectional remote control device 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, detailed information of a program received via the television, related information, and the like are recorded in the flash memory 117 that does not consume power for holding information. Therefore, the user can read out the detailed information from the flash memory 117 and use it when he / she likes it during the broadcast of the program. Thereby, operability and convenience can be further enhanced while suppressing power consumption.

Claims (6)

A receiver for receiving information from the controlled device;
A display unit for displaying the content based on the information received by the receiving unit;
An input unit for an operator to select and instruct an operation by the controlled device based on the content displayed on the display unit;
A bidirectional remote control device for controlling operation of the controlled device by bidirectional wireless communication, and a transmission unit that transmits operation information for operating the controlled device to the controlled device based on input information of the input unit ,
The bidirectional remote control device, wherein the display unit has a display medium capable of holding the content to be displayed without a power source and consumes power only when the content is rewritten. The bidirectional remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit receives the information at a predetermined interval and updates the content to be displayed based on the information. The controlled device is a digital broadcast receiving device that receives multiplexed information transmitted by multiplexing broadcast information and additional information from a broadcast station device,
The said receiving part receives the said additional information contained in the said multiplexing information received with this digital broadcast receiver via the said digital broadcast receiver, The Claim 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. The bidirectional remote control device according to item. A storage unit for storing the additional information received by the reception unit;
The bidirectional remote control device according to claim 3, wherein the display unit displays the content based on the additional information stored in the storage unit. The display medium capable of holding the content to be displayed without a power source is at least a ferroelectric liquid crystal display element, an antiferroelectric liquid crystal display element, a ferroelectric polymer liquid crystal display element, a cholesteric liquid crystal display element, and an electrochromic display element The display element using an electrophoretic cell, a particle movement display element, a display element that performs display by deposition and dissolution of silver, or a display element that uses a twist ball. Item 5. The bidirectional remote control device according to any one of items 4 to 4. 6. The bidirectional remote control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one of Bluetooth, wireless USB, and infrared communication is used as the bidirectional wireless communication means.