CN102326408B - Programmable remote controller and setting method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A programmable remote controller is used for controlling an audio-visual device and comprises a main body, a key module, an action sensing module, a micro-processing unit and a memory, wherein the key module comprises a function key set relevant to controlling the audio-visual device and a setting key set relevant to setting the remote controller. The setting method comprises the following steps: pressing a first key in the set key group to start the setting method; pressing at least one function key in the function key group to send out an action signal; keeping pressing a third key in the set key group, controlling a main body of the remote controller to perform a first motion operation mode, and generating a sensing signal; receiving and processing the action signal and the sensing signal, and generating a first control instruction corresponding to one or more functional operations of the video and audio device; and releasing the third key, pressing a storage key in the set key group, and storing the first motion operation mode and the control instruction into the memory.

Description

Programmable remote controller and its setting method

technical field

The invention relates to a programmable remote controller and its related setting method, in particular to a method for operating and setting the remote controller by using a motion sensing module to detect the motion operation mode of the remote controller.

Background technique

The current digital TVs or high-definition LCD TVs are developing rapidly and occupy an important position in home multimedia centers containing various audio-visual devices. Such TVs can receive and process digital, analog, cable, wireless or satellite signals. In addition, it can also be connected with various electronic devices to expand functions.

Please refer to FIG. 1, which is a schematic block diagram of a general home entertainment center; this home entertainment center 100 includes: game equipment 101, audio amplifier or speaker 102, Internet equipment 103, signal receiving equipment 104, display device 105, radio equipment 106 ( Such as microphone), video camera 107, audio-visual playback and recording equipment 108 (such as CD, DVD player or video recorder), micro-processing unit 109, remote controller 110 etc., but not limited to this, these equipments all can pass through a data bus 111 and transmit each other.

Fig. 2 shows the example diagram of the family entertainment center of Fig. 1; Its main audio-visual equipment includes: game machine 21, computer 22, set-top box 23, TV set 24, high-fidelity (Hi-Fi) audio equipment 25, CD/DVD player And video recorder 26 etc. The computer 22 and the set-top box 23 can receive and process various audio-visual signals, such as satellite signals, cable signals, radio frequency signals or signals from the network, and display them on the television set 24; Various signals from the above equipment are transmitted externally.

The remote control can be used to operate the TV or other audio-visual devices from a short distance, and the corresponding functions can be executed by pressing the buttons on the remote control. Design the corresponding buttons. Usually, the remote control has on/off keys, number keys, direction keys, selection keys, function menu keys, etc. In order to solve the problem of insufficient keys, the keys can be used with electronic menus or on-screen display (OSD) applications. However, home entertainment centers introduce More and more entertainment devices will inevitably make the design of the remote control more complicated. Even if electronic menus or screen displays are used, it is still difficult and inconvenient to operate the complicated remote control.

With the progress of micro-electromechanical systems and semiconductor technology, a motion-sensing remote control has been developed. There are motion-sensing elements inside the motion-sensing remote control, which can sense the movement, position or motion status of the remote control. The measuring element can be completed by magnetometer, accelerometer, gyroscope and other elements or a combination thereof, and can at least sense the relative position or motion state of the remote controller in three-dimensional space. When the user holds the remote control to perform a specific action, he can operate the audio-visual device. The effect is similar to that of the user pressing the volume key, channel selection key or direction key on the traditional remote control. On the other hand, the user can also directly make the remote controller perform pitch, yaw, or roll actions to select various options of the electronic menu displayed on the screen of the audio-visual device.

However, the currently used motion sensing remote controllers have the following problems, that is, the actions that the remote controller can do are limited, usually only the up and down or left and right buttons can be replaced by the up and down or left and right movements of the motion sensing remote control, in other words, for audio-visual For other operations on the device, you still need to press the corresponding buttons on the remote control. Although different manufacturers will design some specific actions on the remote control to enhance the control effect of the remote control, such actions are complicated and unintuitive, and it is difficult for users to remember them. , so it doesn't work well.

Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide a remote controller that can solve the above-mentioned defects of the known technology.

Contents of the invention

The invention relates to a programmable remote controller, which is used to control audio-visual devices. Users can set the programmable remote controller by themselves, and control the functional operation of the audio-visual device according to the set remote controller motion operation mode.

The present invention relates to a setting method of a programmable remote controller. The user can design the movement operation mode to correspond to the functional operation of the audio-visual device. With the setting method of the present invention, the user uses the remote control to make the setting movement operation mode to control the audio-visual device.

According to the concept of the present invention, a remote controller for controlling an audio-visual device includes a main body, a button module, a motion sensing module, a micro-processing unit, and a memory, and the button module is arranged on the main body. The button will generate an action signal; the action sensing module is arranged in the main body, and generates a sensing signal according to the movement operation mode of the main body; the micro-processing unit is arranged in the main body, and the signal is connected to the key module and the action sensing module , used to receive and process the action signal and the sensing signal to generate control instructions corresponding to one or more functional operations of the audio-visual device, the control instructions are stored in the memory and can be accessed by the micro-processing unit. Wherein, the button module specifically includes a function button group and a setting button group, press the function button group to make the audio-visual device perform the one or more functional operations; press the setting button group to set the remote control, so that the The motion operation mode corresponds to the one or more functional operations of the audio-visual device. Wherein, the setting button group further includes: a first button, which starts a setting process of the remote controller after being pressed; a second button, when the user presses one or more function buttons in the function button group, Then press the second button, the one or more function buttons correspond to the one or more functional operations of the audio-visual device; a third button, keep pressing the third button to make the motion sensing module sense the main body the motion operation mode; and a fourth button, which is pressed to store the sensed motion operation mode and the control instruction.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a remote control setting method is provided, which is used to control an audio-visual device, which includes a main body, a motion sensing module, a micro-processing unit, a memory and a key module. First, press the first button in a set button group in the button module to start the setting method; then press at least one function button in a function button group in the button module; then, press the setting button in the button module The second button in the button group, to end the function button input step, can determine at least one functional operation of the audio-visual device, which corresponds to at least one function button; the user keeps pressing a third button in the set button group, Hold the main body and perform a first movement operation mode, and generate a sensing signal after being sensed by the motion sensing module; finally, the microprocessor receives and processes the motion signal and the sensing signal to generate a motion corresponding to the audio-visual device The first control instruction of one or more functional operations; and releasing the third button, and pressing a storage button in the setting button group, storing the first motion operation mode and the first control instruction to the memory , so that the first movement operation mode corresponds to the one or more functional operations of the audio-visual device, so as to complete the setting method.

Description of drawings

Through the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, those skilled in the relevant art can better understand the content of the present invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a general family entertainment center;

FIG. 2 is an example diagram of the home entertainment center in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of the appearance of a remote controller according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3B shows the use of the remote controller of Figure 3A;

FIG. 3C is a functional block diagram of the remote controller in FIG. 3A; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for setting the remote controller of FIG. 3A according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed ways

The present invention will be described more clearly through the following examples. Please note that the following descriptions of the preferred embodiments of the present invention are for illustration purposes only, and are not intended to limit the true form of the present invention.

The remote control proposed by the present invention uses a motion sensing module to sense the motion operation mode of the user holding the remote control, and the function of pressing the traditional remote control can be partially or completely replaced by controlling the motion operation mode of the new remote control The operation mode of keys (such as power key, volume key, channel selection key and direction key). The remote control of the present invention is equipped with a new button group for setting or programming the remote control, so that the user can control the corresponding audio-visual device in a more direct and convenient manner, that is, the user has linked a specific gesture with a specific audio-visual The desired function operation of the device.

In order to detect the motion operation mode of the remote control to confirm the user's hand movements or gestures, the motion sensing module set in the remote control can be an accelerometer, a gyroscope or a magnetometer or a combination thereof. The detection module can at least sense the relative position or movement of the remote controller in three-dimensional space. At present, the most common motion sensing module is an accelerometer made of micro-electromechanical technology. Possible motions include pitching motion, yaw motion, or rolling motion, etc. These simple motions are easier for the public to accept.

Please refer to FIG. 3A , which is a schematic diagram of the appearance of the remote controller according to the embodiment of the present invention. A button module is arranged on the surface of the remote controller 30 , and the button module includes a function button group 31 and a setting button group 32 . As shown in Figure 3A, the function button group 31 includes the common buttons of traditional remote controllers such as power switch key, number key, direction key, confirmation key, function menu key, volume key and channel selection key, therefore, the user presses any The function keys can correspondingly control or operate the audio-visual device.

Please refer to FIG. 3B at the same time, which shows that the remote controller 30 is applied to a small-scale home entertainment center. The referred home entertainment center is a system with multiple audio-visual devices controlled by a remote controller. In this example, the remote controller 30 It can be used to control a TV 40 and a game machine 42. The TV 40 and the game machine 42 are respectively equipped with wireless receiving units 401 and 421, which can receive control signals sent by the remote controller 30 to perform or start related functional operations. As mentioned above, after the user presses the function button group 31 , one or more functional operations of the TV 40 or the game machine 42 can be started.

The setting button group 32 includes a home button 321 , a setting button 322 , an action button 323 and a storage button 324 . Pressing the start key 321 can start the setting process; after pressing one or more function keys corresponding to the specific function operation of the audio-visual device in sequence, pressing the setting key 322 can inform the remote controller 30 that the setting process has ended; then, Keep pressing the action button 323 to continuously detect the motion operation mode of the remote controller 30 and temporarily record it; finally, the user presses the storage key 324 to store the sensed motion operation mode and the control corresponding to the pressed function key instruction.

In this embodiment, the remote control 30 has a main body 300, which can be held by the user to perform actions such as pitching, yaw, rolling, etc. or a combination thereof. An indication unit 35 ( FIG. 3A ) in the form of light or sound is provided. For example, the indication unit 35 can produce effects such as light emission, flickering or color change, to prompt whether any key in the set key group 32 is pressed, Or whether the remote control 30 is in the setting operation mode; or, the indicating unit 35 can also issue a sound prompt during the setting process. Secondly, the main body 300 of the remote control 30 is also provided with a motion sensing module 36 capable of sensing its own movement, which can recognize the gesture of the user holding the remote control 30. In one embodiment, the motion sensing module 36 is Accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, or combinations thereof, can correctly sense its three-dimensional movements.

To explain the so-called three-dimensional motion, we have marked three reference coordinate axes of X, Y, and Z in Fig. 3B. 30 rotates left and right around the Z axis; and the rolling action means to make the remote controller 30 rotate clockwise or counterclockwise around the X axis.

Please refer to FIG. 3C , which is a functional block diagram of the internal circuit of the remote controller 30 . A micro-processing unit 33, a wireless transmission unit 34 and a memory 37 are arranged in the main body 300 of the remote controller 30, wherein, the button module (including the function button group 31 and the setting button group 32), the indicating unit 35, the motion sensing The module 36 , the wireless transmission unit 34 and the memory 37 are all signal-connected to the micro-processing unit 33 , and the micro-processing unit 33 is the main signal processing element.

The motion sensing module 36 can generate a corresponding sensing signal for the motion operation mode of the remote controller 30. If the sensing signal is an analog signal, a signal converter 361 can be selectively installed in the remote controller 30, and the analog signal can be converted to an analog signal. The signal is converted into a digital signal, and then processed by the micro-processing unit 33 . Moreover, the button module sends action signals according to the pressing situation; and the micro-processing unit 33 can receive and process the sensing signals sent by the motion sensing module 36 and the action signals sent by the button module, and then generate control signals for the audio-visual device.

Please refer to FIG. 4 , which is a flow chart of setting or programming the remote controller of the present invention. According to this method, the user can set the remote controller so that the operation of the TV 40 or the game machine 42 by pressing the function button can be controlled by the remote controller 30. When superseded by the specific motion operation mode. Each step will be described in detail below.

First, the user presses the start key 321 to start the setting process of the remote controller 30 (step S1). In the process of setting. In one embodiment, when the start key 321 is pressed, before the setting process is completed, the control signal for controlling the TV 40 or the game machine 42 that should be generated by pressing the function key group 31 will not be sent out. In other words, during the setting process, the function key group 31 at this time can only be used to determine the functional operation to be controlled by the specific motion operation mode of the remote controller, but not to control the TV 40 or the game machine 42 .

Then, the user sequentially presses the desired function keys in the function key group 31 (step S2). In one embodiment, the user must select at least one function key, or press a series of function keys in order to determine the operation. combination. For example, in this step, the user can only press the power button; or the user can press the volume button several times in a row to adjust the volume to a fixed volume; or the combination of buttons includes two or three Numeric keys can switch to the channel that the user often watches; or use fewer or more key combinations. On the other hand, at this time the indicating unit 35 still continues to emit light.

When the input of the required function key is completed, press the setting key 322 to end the key input (step S3). In one embodiment, pressing the setting key 322 will inform the remote controller 30 that key input has been completed, and the functional operations corresponding to these key sequence will be linked to the special actions or gestures specified by the user subsequently. The micro-processing unit 33 will receive the motion signal generated by pressing the button module (comprising the function button group 31 and the setting button group 32) and the sensing signal generated by the motion sensing module 36 because of sensing its motion operation mode, to perform Set up the join process. At the same time, the indicator unit 35 will flicker or change color to prompt the user to start the motion sensing step.

In one embodiment, the user holds the main body 300 of the remote control 30 while keeping pressing the action button 323 , and cooperates with an action to make the remote control 30 perform a first movement operation mode (step S4 ). The first movement operation mode can be a pitching action, a yaw action, a rolling action or a combination thereof, which can be sensed and identified by the action sensing module 36; ) rotates 90 degrees clockwise, and then rotates 90 degrees counterclockwise. At this time, the action key 323 is still pressed, which means that the first motion operation mode includes 90 degrees clockwise flipping and 90 counterclockwise flipping. According to the present invention, regardless of the motion operation modes such as pitching action, yaw action, rolling action or their combined actions, a tolerance value or error value within a certain range is allowed, so that the subsequent motion operation mode does not need to be completely consistent with the first motion operation. It can also be matched in the same way.

Then, the user releases the action key 323, representing the completion of the motion sensing step, and then presses the storage key 324 to store the first control instruction corresponding to the input sequence of the function keys and the first motion operation mode (the sensing signal can be stored) mode) (step S5). When it is determined that the user operates the remote control 30 in a manner similar to the first movement operation mode, the remote control 30 sends a control signal of a first control command to control or operate the TV 40 or the game machine 42 .

In addition, a judging step is also provided to determine whether there is a conflict setting in the memory 37 (step S6), wherein, if there is no conflict setting, the microprocessing unit 33 will store the user setting into the memory 37 In (step 7), the so-called setting includes the first motion operation mode and the first control command, and the first control command corresponds to the function keys input in order in step S2; at the same time, the indicating unit 35 will be closed, To remind the user that the setting process has been completed.

However, if the microprocessor 33 detects that the memory 37 has stored the same motion operation mode, but represents a second control command different from the first control command, it means that the first motion operation mode has been assigned to other functions. At the same time, the indicating unit 35 continues to produce a blinking or discolored display to remind the user that there is a conflicting setting therein.

The user needs to further decide whether to overwrite the original setting in the memory 37 or to reprogram the remote controller 30 according to the prompt of its flickering or color change (step S8). If the user decides to store the newest setting, he can press the storage key 324 again, and the microprocessing unit 33 will store the user's new setting in the memory 37 (step S9). control command, the first control command corresponds to the function keys input in sequence in step S2, therefore, the second control command stored originally is replaced by the first control command, if the user holds the remote controller 30 and performs the same The motion operation sends out the control signal of the first control command to control or operate the TV 40 or the game machine 42 .

On the other hand, if the user decides to keep the first motion operation mode and the second control command originally stored, he presses the home key 321 again to reset the remote controller 30 (return to step S1); If a second motion operation mode different from the first motion operation mode is performed in the measurement step, the micro-processing unit 33 assigns the first control command to the second motion operation mode, for example, the second motion operation mode can be 90 degrees upward The pitching motion plus the 90-degree downward pitching motion, of course, other pitching motions, deflection motions, rolling motions or combinations thereof may also be used.

For the method of reprogramming or setting the remote control 30 by pressing the home key 321 again, the function button input steps (steps S2 and S3) can be skipped directly to the motion sensing step (step S4), which can simplify the resetting process.

As can be seen from the foregoing, the user's first motion operation mode and second motion operation mode may correspond to functional operations corresponding to one or more function keys. For example, functional operations may include turning on the power of the TV 40, switching to the selected channel, adjust to a fixed volume, etc., in order of operation. Therefore, when the user stores the motion operation mode in the memory 37 of the remote controller 30 first, and then holds the remote controller 30 to perform corresponding actions, the aforementioned operations can be performed sequentially.

In other words, the user can use two methods to control or operate the TV set 40: directly press the button of the function button group 31, or move the remote controller 30 in a specific way while pressing the action button 323, the microprocessing unit 33 can according to Press the function key to output the control signal, or find out the control signal corresponding to the motion operation mode of the remote controller 30 in the memory 37 and output it, and the wireless transmission module 34 transmits the control signal to the TV set 40 in a wireless manner, and the control signal of the TV set 40 The wireless receiving unit 401 can execute related functions after receiving the control signal.

In the above motion sensing step (step S4), it is necessary to keep pressing the action key 323 at the same time, and release the action key 322 after completing the function key input (step S5); the purpose of both can clearly define the sensing motion operation The start time point and end time point of the method. However, if the start time point and end time point of the motion sensing operation mode can be clearly defined, the action key 323 does not need to be set. For example, after pressing the setting key 322, the user can hold the remote control 30 and keep it still for a short period of time (may be a few seconds), then start sensing the motion operation mode, and keep it still after the completion for a short while. The motion sensing module 36 of the present invention can effectively determine the start time point and the end time point of the sensing motion operation mode according to the voltage value of the sensing signal therebetween, so that there is no need for the action key 323 and there will be no problem . Similarly, the user can also control or operate the TV set 40 only by gestures without pressing the function keys, and keep still for a short period of time before and after applying the gestures, and the microprocessor 33 will search the memory 37, according to the two periods of stillness. The motion operation mode sensed between time finds the corresponding control command and sends it out.

Although the above embodiment is described by controlling the TV set 40 , the remote controller 30 of the present invention can also be applied to other known audio-visual devices, such as the game machine 42 . In another embodiment, the remote controller 30 can also include a selection switch button (not shown), which can switch and control the TV 40 or the game machine 42; of course, the above-mentioned setting of the remote control 30 motion operation mode can also be used to complete the selection switch Function. In order to control the game machine 42, the remote controller 30 can also be provided with a game function button (not shown); the same can be used to set the motion operation mode and game function of the remote controller 30 to meet the needs of the user, so that the user does not need to press The game function buttons of the remote controller 30 can be used to play games by gesture control, depending on the complexity of the game and the compatibility of the micro-processing unit 33, the game function control can be partially or completely replaced.

To sum up, the present invention provides a programmable remote control, which can be set by the user, and the commonly used functional operations are replaced by comfortable gestures or actions, making the use of the remote control easier. At the same time, it can be set as a simple gesture to represent a series of functional operations, which needs to be completed by pressing multiple buttons on the ordinary remote control. This design undoubtedly greatly enhances the convenience of the remote control. This programmable Functionality makes operation more flexible, as it is no longer limited to the movement operation method specified by the manufacturer. Furthermore, users can also retain, delete, and overwrite settings during the setting process according to their wishes. All in all, the provided remote controller and its setting method can effectively improve the problems encountered in the prior art.

The present invention has been described in terms of its best mode, but it should be noted that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but covers all changes and configurations within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, all such being accomplished in accordance with their broadest interpretation. change and structure.

Claims (12)

1. A remote controller, which is applied to control an audio-visual device, is characterized in that the remote controller includes: a main body, used for providing the user with grip; A button module, arranged on the main body, after pressing a button in the button module, an action signal is generated; A motion sensing module is arranged in the main body and generates a sensing signal according to the movement operation mode of the main body; A micro-processing unit, arranged in the main body and connected to the button module and the motion sensing module, is used to receive and process the motion signal and the sensing signal, and generate one or more functions corresponding to the audio-visual device Operational control instructions; and a memory, signally connected to the micro-processing unit, for storing the control instruction, and providing the micro-processing unit for access; Among them, the button module includes: a function button group, press to make the audio-visual device perform the one or more functional operations; and A set button group, after pressing, set the remote controller so that the motion operation mode corresponds to the one or more functional operations of the audio-visual device; Among them, the setting button group further includes: A first button, which starts a setting process of the remote controller after being pressed; A second button, when the user presses one or more function buttons in the function button group, and then presses the second button, the one or more function buttons correspond to the one or more functional operations of the audio-visual device; a third button, press and hold the third button so that the motion sensing module senses the movement operation mode of the main body; and A fourth button, which is pressed to store the sensed motion operation mode and the control command. 2 . The remote controller according to claim 1 , wherein the micro-processing unit sends out a control signal corresponding to the control instruction according to the motion operation mode of the main body. 3. The remote controller according to claim 2, characterized in that the remote controller includes a wireless transmission unit connected to the micro-processing unit for receiving the control signal and sending it to the audio-visual device in a wireless transmission manner, making the audio-visual device perform the one or more functional operations. 4. The remote controller according to claim 1, characterized in that the remote controller includes an indicating unit, which is arranged on the main body and connected to the micro-processing unit, and displays the setting by lighting, flashing or changing colors process. 5 . The remote controller according to claim 1 , wherein the motion operation mode of the main body comprises a pitching motion, a yaw motion, a rolling motion or a combination thereof. 6 . 6. The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the motion sensing module is an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer or a combination thereof. 7. A remote control setting method, which is applied to control an audio-visual device, the remote control includes a main body, a motion sensing module, a micro-processing unit, a memory and a button module arranged on the main body, its features In that the method comprises the steps of: When a button in the button module is pressed to send an action signal, the step further includes: pressing a first button in a setting button group in the button module to start the setting method; pressing at least one function key in a function key group in the key module; and Press a second button in the set button group in the button module to determine one or more functional operations of the audio-visual device, and the one or more functional operations correspond to the at least one functional button; Keep pressing a third button in the setting button group, and control the main body of the remote controller to perform a first motion operation mode, and generate a sensing signal after being sensed by the motion sensing module; The micro-processing unit receives and processes the action signal and the sensing signal to generate a first control instruction corresponding to one or more functional operations of the audio-visual device; and Release the third button, and press a storage button in the setting button group, store the first motion operation mode and the first control instruction in the memory, so that the first motion operation mode corresponds to the audio-visual device The one or more functional operations. 8. The setting method according to claim 7, wherein pressing the at least one function button in the function button group will perform the one or more function operations. 9. The setting method according to claim 7, wherein when the user holds and controls the main body of the remote controller to perform the first movement operation mode, the remote controller controls the one or more function operation. 10 . The setting method according to claim 7 , wherein the first motion operation mode of the main body comprises a pitching motion, a yaw motion, a rolling motion or a combination thereof. 11 . 11. The setting method according to claim 7, characterized in that, the setting method further comprises the steps of: When a storage key is pressed, check whether the first motion operation mode in the memory corresponds to the first control command; When a second control command in the memory corresponds to the first motion operation mode, an indication unit of the remote controller produces a flashing or discolored display; and When the storage key is pressed again, the first control command and the first movement operation mode are stored in the memory together. 12. The setting method according to claim 7, characterized in that, the setting method further comprises the steps of: When a storage key is pressed, check whether the first motion operation mode in the memory corresponds to the first control command; When a second control instruction in the memory corresponds to the first motion operation mode, an indication unit of the remote controller produces a flickering or discolored display; pressing the first button of the setting button group to restart the setting method; controlling the main body of the remote controller to perform a second motion operation mode, which is sensed by the motion sensing module to generate another sensing signal; and The second motion operation mode and the first control instruction are stored in the memory, and the first control instruction corresponds to the one or more functional operations of the audio-visual device.