TWI587105B - A remote control with time correction - Google Patents

Description

Time-corrected remote control

The present invention relates to the field of timing of electrical appliances, and more particularly to a remote control for correcting deviation values of electrical calculation time.

In the current technological advancement, electrical appliances provide convenience for living, such as lighting to illuminate dark places, cold (warm) air machines to change indoor temperature, multimedia equipment to add entertainment atmosphere, electric fans to speed up air convection, etc.

Of course, the remote transmission function of infrared or radio waves urges the remote controller to evolve continuously. Under the premise of not being close to the appliance, the appliance can be controlled to generate a certain effect according to a user's intention, such as timing start or shutdown.

These appliances usually have certain electronic circuits that are electrically connected to a Timer/Event Counter, a central processing unit, a memory, and a number of input/output interfaces. Even these electronic components are integrated on an integrated circuit chip to control or process certain functions that are scheduled to be performed. The integrated circuit chip referred to herein is also called a Single-Chip Microcomputer, or a Micro Control Unit (MCU), which is used in a wider range of places.

However, after a period of use, the timer/counter deviates from the actual time due to certain factors, causing the appliance to perform an intended function early or delayed.

In order to solve such problems, some electrical appliances additionally include a receiver for receiving a time-aligned signal of a low-frequency long-wave wave transmitted by a radio base station, such as a Japanese calibration signal (JJY) and a US calibration signal (WWVB). The message After the number is decoded, it is converted into standard time data. After the current time of the logic calculation, the time of the execution timer/counter is adjusted to the correct value, so that the error value of the time is within one second.

However, the receiver of the appliance cannot receive the aforementioned time calibration signal for one of the following reasons: First, the radio wave base station performs maintenance work, interrupts for a period of time and no longer transmits the time calibration signal; secondly, climatic factors such as thunderstorm or lightning It also interrupts the electrical receiving time calibration signal; in addition, the radio wave is a common frequency band, and the industrial, scientific, and medical equipment will set the radio wave frequency in this frequency band, such as a walkie-talkie, microwave oven, and digital wireless telephone. The time calibration signal is susceptible to interference and cannot be received by the appliance.

Therefore, how to improve the drawbacks of the electrical appliance with respect to time correction has become an urgent problem to be solved by the present invention.

The main purpose of the present invention is to add a new unit to the existing remote controller for correcting the time of the appliance with respect to the timer/counter to facilitate the correction of the time offset (false) difference.

Due to the above object, the present invention comprises: at least one electric appliance and a remote controller. The electrical appliance includes a receiving unit and a time/counter. The remote controller includes a power source electrically connected to each other, a microcontroller, a transmitting unit and a correcting unit.

When the calibration unit is activated, a time calibration signal including fixed time information is transmitted to the receiving unit of the appliance through the microcontroller and the transmitting unit, and the time of the timer/counter is changed to the time of the time calibration signal.

Specifically, the correction unit includes a correction button for determining time information, and the correction button may be a push button, a slide button or a knob, which is mounted on the remote controller and can be activated multiple times. Each time the calibration button is activated, the time calibration signal is transmitted, and the time of the timer/counter is changed to the time of the time calibration signal.

In addition, the correction unit has a selection switch capable of switching between 12 hours of AM and PM time (Am/Pm); for many time options, each time option can be a numeric or English abbreviation and is provided on the surface of the remote controller.

As such, the remote controller of the present invention has a time correction function different from the prior art, and the difference between the two is: First, the remote control and the electrical appliance are located in the same place (such as the living room). Even if the outside is a bad weather such as wind and rain or lightning, the electrical receiving time calibration signal will not be interrupted; Second, the time calibration signal can be transmitted at any time. There is no problem of maintenance of the base station, and naturally there is no drawback of signal interruption; Third, the distance between the remote control and the appliance is closer than the distance from the radio base station to the appliance, so that the probability of the time calibration signal being disturbed is as small as negligible.

Fourth, the time calibration signal transmitted by the remote controller each time contains fixed time information, and does not change due to the increase in the number of transmissions. Assume that the time information of the time calibration signal is 12:00:00 in the morning, and the correction unit is activated at an appropriate time to achieve the effect of the timing/counter correction time of the appliance.

Fifth, the correction button determines the time information is 3:00:00 pm, the time calibration signal for each transmission, including the time information of 3:00 00 pm, without increasing the number of transmissions or other external factors. And change.

Next, based on the detailed description of the related embodiments, the techniques, means and functions employed are described. It is believed that the above objects, configurations and features of the present invention can be Have a deep and specific understanding.

10‧‧‧Remote control

11‧‧‧transmit signal

13‧‧‧Microcontroller stopped working

15‧‧‧Power supply

17‧‧‧Microcontrollers continue to operate

19‧‧‧Show current status

20‧‧‧Microcontroller

23‧‧‧Brightness setting

25‧‧‧ function keys

27‧‧‧Night light mode

29‧‧‧Memory final operation setting

30‧‧‧Transmission unit

33‧‧‧ Timing settings

35‧‧‧Display unit

37‧‧‧Other function settings

39‧‧‧Time Correction

40‧‧‧Correction unit

41‧‧‧ indicators

42‧‧‧correction button

44‧‧‧ long hole

46‧‧‧ time options

48‧‧‧Selection switch

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the remote controller of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial schematic view showing the first embodiment of the correcting unit.

Fig. 3 is a flow chart showing the operation of the remote controller of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a partial schematic view of a second embodiment of the correction unit.

Fig. 5 is a partial schematic view showing a third embodiment of the correcting unit.

Referring to Figures 1 through 3, the specific configuration of the remote control 10 for controlling one or more appliances in the wireless mode is illustrated.

In the present embodiment, each appliance refers to a ceiling lamp that includes a receiving unit and a time/counter (not shown).

The timer/counter referred to here includes TMRAH and TMRAL for counting, TMRBH and TMRBL for storing the initial value of the timer/counter, and the system clock (system clock) serving as the clock source of the timer/counter. Clock/4) or real time clock (RTC Out).

The remote controller 10 includes a power source 15 electrically connected to each other, a microcontroller 20, a plurality of function keys 25, a transmitting unit 30, a display unit 35, and a correcting unit 40.

The power source 15 may be a manganese zinc/carbon zinc battery, an alkaline battery, a lithium battery, a silver oxide battery or other power supply equipment.

The microcontroller 20, as used herein, generally refers to a central processing unit, a memory, a timer/counter, and a plurality of input/output interfaces integrated with an integrated circuit chip to control or process certain predetermined execution functions. For a wide range of venues.

In this embodiment, the function keys 25 are physical switches, and the remote controller 10 is caused to emit different signals through the microcontroller 20, and the operating device performs certain functions. In some embodiments, these function keys 25 are virtual switches that appear on display unit 35.

The transmitting unit 30 transmits a signal according to optical (such as infrared, laser) or radio wave (such as IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, WiMAX) transmission technology. The signal referred to herein refers to a time calibration signal containing fixed time information.

In this embodiment, the display unit 35 refers to a liquid crystal panel, such as a liquid crystal display module (abbreviated as LCM). In some embodiments, the display unit 35 is other displays that are sufficient to display the current state of the remote control 10. Of course, without prejudice to the function of the remote controller 10, even if there is no display unit, it is within the scope of the present invention.

In the figure, the correction unit 40 includes a correction button 42 that partially protrudes from the exterior of the remote controller 10. In this embodiment, the correction button 42 is a push button, and each time the button is pressed, the transmitting unit 30 of the remote controller 10 issues a time calibration signal containing a fixed time information. The time information is, for example, 12:00:00 noon, and does not change due to an increase in the number of presses.

Next, the operation flow of the remote controller 10 will be briefly described. First, the power supply 15 is turned off, and the power required for the remote controller 10 is not supplied, and is in the standby state of "microcontroller stop operation 13".

When the power-on 15 is turned ON, the power required by the remote controller 10 is supplied, so that the "microcontroller continues to operate 17" and "displays the current state 19", helping a user understand the set value of the remote controller 10.

Press the function key A to "transmit the signal 11" from the transmitting unit 30 of the remote controller 10 to the receiving unit of the ceiling lamp. The signal includes a light-off information, and the ceiling lamp turns off the light by itself under any brightness. Press function key A again, the remote control 10 sends a signal containing the light-on information, and the ceiling light turns on the light source to illuminate the underside of the ceiling light.

The function key B is related to "brightness setting 23". Simply put, the function keys B The length and time of the pressing time can adjust the brightness of the ceiling lamp. For example, if you press function button B shortly, the ceiling lamp will enter the second-order brightness from the first-order brightness...the rest is analogy. Or press and hold function key B, the ceiling light enters the fourth-order brightness from the fifth-order brightness...the rest is analogy.

The function key C is related to "night light mode 27". Once the function key C is pressed, regardless of the brightness of the ceiling lamp at any stage, the brightness is adjusted to the darkest level and directly into the dim field of view.

Function key D means "memory last operation setting 29". As long as the function button D is pressed down, it will send out the signal containing all the set values before the remote control 10 is turned off, and command the ceiling lamp to return to the use state before the remote controller 10 is turned off, thereby eliminating the trouble of adjusting one by one.

The function key E is related to "timing setting 33". Press the function key E to send the signal of the on/off light information to the remote controller 10, and turn on/off the light source when the timing/counter of the ceiling lamp comes to a certain time.

The input of the function key F with respect to "other function setting 37", for example, the time of the timer/counter of the remote controller 10, can be adjusted one by one, such as hour, minute or second.

Since the timing/counter of the remote controller 10 and the ceiling lamp are independent of each other, the clock sources of the respective timers/counters are different, and a time error is naturally generated, which causes the time point at which the ceiling lamp turns the light source on/off, which is deviated from the current time. As long as the "Time to Time Correction 39" step is performed at the appropriate time, the ceiling light can be synchronized with the current time.

To put it simply, in the real world at 12:00:00, press the correction button 42 of the remote controller 10, and send a time calibration signal containing the time information of 12:00:00:00 to the ceiling lamp, forcing the original ceiling lamp. The time preset value is changed to 12:00:00, noon, to avoid the clock source of the timer/counter of the ceiling lamp deviating from the current time.

In this way, the remote controller 10 performs time correction on the timing/counter of the ceiling lamp or other appliances, and the deviation value can be controlled to about 1 second, which is not only simple and easy to operate, but also has many disadvantages of the prior art.

Fig. 4 is a second embodiment of the correcting unit, which differs from the first embodiment in that, firstly, the correcting button 42 is a sliding button which partially exposes an elongated hole 44 formed in the outer surface of the remote controller 10.

Second, the remote control 10 has a number of digital time options 46 around the location of the elongated apertures 44, such as 3, 6, 9, and 12. When the correction button 42 is aligned with any of the time options 46, the remote controller 10 issues the time information of the time calibration signal with the time option 46. This time information is fixed and will not change due to the increase in the number of transmissions of the time calibration signal.

Thirdly, the correction unit further has a selection switch 48, which is also a slide button, and there are also two English abbreviated time options 46 disposed on the surface of the remote controller 10. The selection switch 48 is switched to determine the time calibration signal containing the 12-hour morning (Am) or afternoon (Pm) time information.

Fig. 5 is a third embodiment of the correcting unit, which differs from the second embodiment in that first, the correcting button 42 is a knob having an index 41 as an arrow on the top surface.

Second, the digital time option 46 of the remote control 10 is wrapped around the knob, and the correction knob 42 can be rotated to align the any of the time options 46 with the indicator 41. These time options 46 contain 24 hours and the selection switch can be discarded.

11‧‧‧transmit signal

13‧‧‧Microcontroller stopped working

15‧‧‧Power supply

17‧‧‧Microcontrollers continue to operate

19‧‧‧Show current status

23‧‧‧Brightness setting

27‧‧‧Night light mode

29‧‧‧Memory final operation setting

33‧‧‧ Timing settings

37‧‧‧Other function settings

39‧‧‧Time Correction

Claims (6)

A time-corrected remote controller comprising: at least one electric appliance comprising a receiving unit and a time/counter; and a remote controller (10) comprising a power source (15) electrically connected to each other, a microcontroller (20) a transmitting unit (30) and a correcting unit (40); when the correcting unit (40) is activated, a time calibration signal including fixed time information is transmitted through the microcontroller (20) The unit (30) transmits to the receiving unit of the appliance, and the time of the timer/counter is changed to the time of the time calibration signal. The time-corrected remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the correction unit (40) includes a correction button (42) for determining time information, and the correction button (42) is mounted on the remote controller (10) It can be started multiple times; each time the calibration button (42) is activated, the time calibration signal is transmitted, and the time of the timer/counter is changed to the time of the time calibration signal. The time-corrected remote controller according to claim 2, wherein the correction button (42) is a push button, a slide button or a knob. The time-corrected remote controller according to claim 2, wherein the correction unit (40) further has a selection switch (48) that switches the upper and lower hours of the 12-hour system. The time-corrected remote controller according to claim 2, wherein the correction unit (40) has a plurality of time options provided on the surface of the remote controller (10). The time-corrected remote controller according to claim 5, wherein the time option may be a numerical or English abbreviation.