MXPA00000795A - Remote control device - Google Patents

Abstract

A remote control device (1) is disclosed for controlling a"Web-TV". The device has a first keypad (5) for controlling the conventional TV and VCR functions. The normal TV and VCR control commands are transmitted through a top-LED (7) in a first direction (7a). The keypad is accommodated on a cover (2). When the cover is open, a second keypad is accessible for entering alphanumeric data such as Web-addresses and e-mails. To use this QWERTY keypad in a convenient and familiar manner, the device is rotated through 90 degrees. In this operating mode (fig. 2), the key commands are transmitted through a side-LED (8) in a second direction (8a). A switch (9) detects whether the cover is open or closed and activates the relevant LED.

Description

REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a portable remote control device, comprising a first keyboard for general first control signals and a cover, which is rotatably connected to the device, and covers the first keyboard when closed , the cover carries a second keyboard for general second control signals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A remote control device known as defined in the opening paragraph is described in the German Offenlegungsschrift DE-A-37 13 428. The cover of this prior art device comprises a keyboard for controlling frequently used functions. of an apparatus, such as channel selection and volume adjustment of a TV, or channel selection and playback / record control of a VCR. Functions rarely used, such as VCR programming and track control, are controlled by an additional keyboard, which is only accessible if the cover is open. A remote control device is typically directed towards the apparatus to be controlled. This is certainly the case if the control signals are ^ ~ ms *. ^ ~ * ^ - ~ »? transmitted in the form of infrared light beams. The prior art device is directed in one direction, regardless of whether the cover is open or closed. 5 Usually, the arrangement of a keyboard (which is understood to mean, inter alia, the shape of the keys, the labels of the buttons, the printing on the keyboard), corresponds to the direction in which the device is held when the device is controlled. 10 This is not always desirable.

OBJECT AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a remote control device in which the arrangement of each keyboard is adapted for its purpose. To achieve this and other objects, the device according to the invention is characterized in that the device has an elongated shape, having an axis along and a widthwise axis, the first keyboard is arranged to use the device in a first direction corresponding to the length or the widthwise axis, and the other keyboard is arranged to use the device in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction. The invention is based on the recognition that devices are emerging, which are not only going to S »^, **, ^ ^ * ^^ - ^ control by a traditional slim remote control device, but require the input of data from a keyboard, which will rotate 90 degrees with respect to the traditional direction. An example of such an apparatus is a television receiver, with provisions for accessing the Internet. Such "TV-Network" requires an alphanumeric keyboard, preferably a QWERTY keyboard, to enter WWW addresses and emails. The invention allows such an alphanumeric keyboard, and a control keyboard conventional remote, combine a single remote control device. It should be noted that a device comprising an alphanumeric keyboard under a cover, which carries an additional keyboard, is known, per se, from the German Offenlegungsschrift DE-A-195 20 947. This device, however, is a portable computer, with telecommunication facilities included. The device may comprise onmidirectional emission means, for emitting control signals, for example, in the form of RF signals. The device may also comprise emission means for emitting the control signals in the form of directional beams, for example, in the form of infrared light signals. In the latter case, one modality of the device includes first means of emission to emit the first control signals in go? ? if ^ 1Lft 1? iri! Éii1ftffiBÍÉff substantially the first address, and second means of emission, to emit second control signals in substantially the second direction. Hereby, it is achieved that the remote operations of the remote control device to the device, is not adversely affected when the device is held in any of the two directions. In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises detection means for detecting whether the cover is open or closed, the detection means are arranged to disable the second emission means, if the cover is open, and disable the first emission means if the cover is closed. With such a modality, the energy of the battery is saved, since only the transmitter corresponding to the keyboard, which is actually used, is active. In a further embodiment of the device, the keys of the second keyboard produce under the cover, so that the corresponding keys of the first keyboard are activated mechanically when the cover is closed. This is known, per se, from the German Offenlegungsschrift DE-A-37 13 428, already cited above. In order to achieve that the keys of the first keyboard produce control signals, which are different (ie, different command codes), from those produced by the corresponding keys of the second keyboard, the device comprises detection means for detecting whether the cover is open or closed, the detection means are arranged to allow the first control signals to be generated if the cover is open and the second control signals are generated if the cover is closed. The detection means, (which control the codes of the commands), and the means of detection mentioned above (which disable one of the emitters), can be the same.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a top view of a remote control device according to the invention, with the cover closed. Figure 2 shows a top view of a remote control device, according to the invention, with the cover open. Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit of the remote control device according to the invention. Figure 4 shows a flow chart of the operations performed by a microprocessor, which is shown in Figure 3. jj | gga5 DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED MODE Figures 1 and 2 show a top view of a remote control device 1 according to the invention, with a cover 2 closed and open, respectively. The cover is attached to the body of the device by means of a joint 3. As shown in the Figures, a first keyboard 4 is fixedly attached to the body of the device and the cover carries a second keyboard 5. The first keyboard 4 is a full QWERTY alphanumeric keyboard, which has a conventional layout. That is, the keys are arranged, and the text on or next to the keys is printed, so that when the device is operated, its axis along is perpendicular to the imaginary line from the remote control device to the controlled device. . The second keyboard 5 comprises keys for controlling the apparatus in a conventional manner, for example, keys for entering the channel number, for increasing or decreasing the volume or channel number, for controlling the function of the tape in a VCR, etc. . The arrangement of this keyboard is such that when the device is operated, its axis is directed towards the controlled device. A tracing sphere or a base for a mouse 10 is provided to control an indicator or cursor. Figure 1 shows, in addition, two infrared light emitting diodes (LED), an infrared LED 7 is located on the upper side of the device and emits infrared light in a direction 7a corresponding to the axis along the device, and an LED Infrared 8 is located on the left side and emits infrared light in a direction 8a which corresponds to the axis across the width of the device. When the cover is open, it is locked in one position, so that the emission of light from the LED 8 is not prevented. A switch 9 is also shown in the Figures. The switch 9 comprises a first member 9a, which is fixedly attached to a body of the device, and a second member 9b, which is fixedly attached to the cover 2. With the closure of the cover, both members 9a and 9b are coupled to one another. The switch 9 is then closed when the cover is closed. 15 The second keyboard 5 on the cover 2 can be a stand-alone keyboard. This is understood to mean that each key includes an individual sensor, which, when the key is pressed, applies a signal corresponding to the electrical circuit of the device, through a flexible cable arrangement 0 (not shown). In a preferred embodiment, however, as shown in Figure 2, the cover 2 includes holes 2a, one for each key. Through the holes, a projection of each key extends below the cover, to mechanically activate the underlying key of the keyboard 4, if the cover is closed.

For example, the key labeled "5" on the keyboard 5 activates the key labeled "J" on the keyboard 4. A schematic diagram of the electrical circuit of the remote control device according to the invention is shown in Figure 3 The reference numbers already used previously, denote the same elements. The device comprises a microprocessor 30, which is connected to the keyboard 4 and the members 9a and 9b of the switch 9, through several terminals of input and output ports. The microprocessor is also connected to a drive stage 37, for actuating the upper LED 7 and a driving stage 38, for driving the side LED. The processor is also connected to a read-only memory (ROM) 31, which has a memory section 311, in which is stored a first set of remote control commands, a memory section 312, in which a stored memory is stored. second set of remote control commands, and a memory section 313, in which a program that defines the operation of the processor is stored. The ROM can be included in the microprocessor. A flow diagram of the operations performed by the microprocessor is shown in Figure 4. In a step 40, the processor scans the keypad 4, waits for the pressure of a key and identifies which key was pressed. In a step 41, the processor verifies whether the switch 9 is closed.

If the switch is not closed (ie the cover 2 is open), it is concluded that an alphanumeric key of the key 4 was pressed. In that case, the processor reads, in a step 42, the code of the order to be transmitted of the first memory section 311 of the ROM 31. Next, in a step 43, the code of the relevant command is applied to an actuation stage 38, which drives the LED 8 to emit the infrared command signal in the direction of the axis width 8a. If the switch 9 is closed (i.e., the cover 2 is closed), it is concluded that a key was pressed on the keyboard 5. In that case, the processor reads, in a step 44, the code of the order to be transmitted from the second memory section 312 of the ROM 31. Next, in a step 45, the code of the relevant command is applied to a driving stage 37, which drives the upper LED 7 to emit the command signal , infrared in the direction of the axis along 7a. Thus, if you press the alphanumeric key labeled "J", a code for the letter "J" will be transmitted through the side LED 8. If the key labeled "5" on the cover is pressed, the pressure of the same alphanumeric key "J" is detected, but since switch 9 is now closed, a code will be transmitted for digit "5" of channel selection, through upper LED 7.

In summary, a remote control device (1) is described for controlling an NTV-Network. "The device has a first keyboard (5) for controlling the conventional functions of the TV and the VCR. TV and the VCR are transmitted through an upper LED (7) in a first direction (7a) .The keyboard is accommodated in a cover (2) .When the cover is open, a second keyboard is accessible to enter alphanumeric data, such as Network addresses and emails To use this QWERTY keyboard in a convenient and familiar way, the device is rotated 90 degrees. In this mode of operation (Figure 2), the commands of the keys are transmitted through a side LED (8) in a second direction (8a). A switch (9) detects whether the cover is open or closed and activates the relevant LED. ? ^ aaiBÉSto ujM

Claims (5)

CHAPTER CLAIMING. Having described the invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content in the following is claimed CLAIMS:

1. A remote control device comprising a first keyboard for generating first control signals and a cover, which is rotatably connected to the device and covers the first keyboard when closed, the cover carries a second keyboard for generating second signals of control, characterized in that the device has an elongated shape having an axis along and a widthwise axis, the first keyboard is arranged to use the device in a first direction, corresponding to the axis along or the axis a width, and the other keyboard is arranged to use the device in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises emission means for emitting control signals in the form of directional beams, the emission means -including first emission means, for emitting the first signals of control in substantially the first direction, and seconds emission means for emitting the second control signals in substantially the second direction.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises detection means for detecting whether the cover is open or closed, the detection means are arranged to disable the second emission means if the cover is open and disable the first ones. means of emission if the cover is closed.

4. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the keys of the second keyboard project below the cover, so that they mechanically activate the corresponding keys of the first keyboard, when the cover is closed, and comprises, In addition, detection means for detecting whether the cover is open or closed, the detection means are arranged to allow the first control signals to be generated if the cover is open and that the second control signals are generated if the cover is closed.

5. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the keys of the second keyboard project below the cover, so that they mechanically activate the corresponding keys of the first keyboard, when the cover is closed, the means of 25 detection are arranged to allow the first Control signals are generated if the cover is open and that the second control signals are generated if the cover is closed. The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized the second keyboard comprises keys to control the respective functions of an electronic device, and the first keyboard is an alphanumeric keyboard or to apply alphanumeric data to the apparatus. , 'frt ift Tí - JÉtfÉTft- - - ^^ «^» * - ^