JPH01212095A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify an operation for realizing one function by sequentially reading the storing contents of a storing means based on the operation of an operating member and automatically successively transmitting to respective equipments as a prescribed remote control signal. CONSTITUTION:A storing means 50 for storing the plural designated operation contents of the plural equipments in time series, and a control means 40 for sequentially reading the stored contents of the storing means 50 based on the operation of the prescribed operating member 53 and automatically successively transmitting to the respective equipments as the prescribed remote control signal are provided. Namely, based on the operation of the prescribed operating member 53, the stored contents of the storing means 50 are sequentially read, automatically successively transmitted to the respective equipments as the prescribed remote control signal to realize a series of a composite operation. In a learning mode, every time when a piece of information is completely stored, the completion of a storage is displayed in the display part 52 of a learning remote controller to recognize the stored matter.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a remote control (hereinafter simply referred to as "remote control") device for audio equipment, video equipment, and various other electrical equipment. A series of compound actions (multi-command actions) that include actions over time
This is automatically realized by operating a predetermined operating member on a remote control device.

[Conventional technology]

In a system including a plurality of devices such as an audio system or a video system, in order to realize one function, it is usually necessary to cause the plurality of devices to perform a series of complex operations including operations over time.

For example, when playing back a VTR that is connected to a TV monitor via a selector, considering that each device is powered off, the monitor TV power is turned on ↓ The selector power is turned on ↓ The VTR power is turned on ↓ The input of the monitor TV It is necessary to switch the selector to the "video" side ↓ switch the selector to the VTRn side ↓ to put the VTR in "playback mode".

Conventionally, each operation was performed using an operating means provided on the device itself, an attached remote control provided for each device, or a common remote control provided commonly for each device such as a system component. The user performed operations sequentially for each step.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In this way, in conventional devices, when one function is realized by a series of complex operations including operations over time on multiple devices, the user must operate the operation means sequentially for each of these operations. , the operation was complicated when there were a large number of operations.

The present invention solves the problems in the conventional technology and simplifies operation by automatically causing a series of complex operations, including chronological operations, on a plurality of devices by operating a predetermined operating member. This is what we are trying to achieve.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention provides a remote control device in which remote control functions for a plurality of devices are configured on a single remote control device, including a storage means for storing a plurality of specified operation contents for the plurality of devices in chronological order, and a predetermined operating member. and control means for sequentially reading out the stored contents of the storage means and automatically and continuously transmitting the stored contents to each device as a predetermined remote control signal based on the operation.

[For production]

According to this invention, based on the operation of a predetermined (single or plural) operating member, the stored contents of the storage means are sequentially read out and automatically and continuously transmitted to each device as a predetermined remote control signal, A series of complex operations are realized.

In addition, if you use a so-called remote control device with a learning function that stores information sent from an attached remote control attached to the device and reads and sends out this information in response to key operations, it can be used by various manufacturers. The present invention can also be applied to a system that combines various devices.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of this invention will be described below. Here, this invention is applied to a remote control with a learning function (hereinafter simply referred to as a "learning remote control") to perform a series of complex operations including operations over time for an AV (audio video) system equipped with multiple devices. The case where this is done will be explained.

The learning remote control learns the information transmitted from the attached remote controllers of various devices and remotely controls these devices in common, thereby eliminating the complication of operating each device with individual attached remote controllers. A learning remote control generally learns and memorizes the transmission information of the attached remote control (Wi transmission frequency code pattern, etc.) in the learning mode, and reproduces the signal by reading out the transmission information corresponding to the key operation from this stored information in the reproduction mode. , and operate the corresponding device using the remote control.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an AV system to which the present invention is applied. This AV system is constructed by combining an integrated amplifier 11, a tuner 12, a cassette deck 13, a CD player 14, an LV player 15, a VTR 16, a television monitor 17, and monitor speakers 18 and 19.

Each device 11-17 is provided with an attached remote controller 20-26, respectively.

Each of the attached remote controllers 20 to 26 modulates a light beam with a code signal corresponding to a keyboard operation and transmits the modulated light beam. Each device 20-26 receives the transmitted signal through the light-receiving window 27-33, discriminates the signal from its attached remote controller,
By demodulating this into a code, the content of the command is determined and the corresponding operation is executed. Each attached remote control 20-26
The format of the signal (-carrier frequency, code pattern, etc.) transmitted from each device is determined independently.

FIG. 3 shows how information sent from the attached remote controllers 20 to 26 is stored in the learning remote controller. Switch the learning remote control 34 mode to learning mode and use the attached remote controllers 20 to 26.
The transmitter lens 35 of the learning remote controller 34 and the transmitter/receiver lens 36 of the learning remote controller 34 are made to face each other. Among the keys of the attached remote controllers 20 to 26, the key to transmit information and the key to store the transmitted information of the learning remote controller 34 are pressed at the same time.

Then, the signals transmitted from the attached remote controllers 20 to 26 are received by the learning remote controller 34, the information that specifies the signal (carrier frequency, code pattern, etc.) is analyzed, and the information corresponding to the operation keys in the memory in the learning remote controller 34 is analyzed. stored in the address.

In this way, the transmission information from each of the attached remote controllers 20 to 26 is sequentially stored in the learning remote controller 34. When the memorization is completed, by switching the learning remote control 34 from the learning mode to the reproduction mode and operating the keys, each of the devices 11 to 17 in FIG. 2 can be remotely operated in common with one learning remote controller 34.

A second example of the internal structure of the learning remote control 34 is shown in FIG.

The learning mode and the reproduction mode can be switched by a switch 41. In the learning mode, an infrared signal 42 transmitted from each of the attached remote controllers 20 to 26 by keyboard operation is received by a photodiode 43, and a carrier wave component and an envelope component corresponding to a code pattern are extracted via an amplifier 44 and a waveform shaping circuit 45. It is input to the microcomputer 4°. The microcomputer 40 analyzes information specifying the signal content of the received signal, ie, the carrier frequency, code pattern, length of the code pattern, repetition frequency, etc.

The keyboard 44 is used to designate a key position in which analysis information is to be stored in learning mode, and is used to read stored information corresponding to that key in reproduction mode. Further, the keyboard 44 is provided with a compound operation designation key 53, a compound operation setting start key 54, and a compound operation setting end key 55 for realizing the compound operation according to the present invention. When storing a plurality of composite operations, specify the program number using the 10 key or the like.

When the code RAM 46 is in the learning mode, the keyboard 4
The analysis information is stored in the address corresponding to the key specified in step 4. Furthermore, in the reproduction mode, analysis information is read from the address corresponding to the key specified on the keyboard 44.

The sequence RAM 50 stores the operation contents of the composite operation according to the present invention in chronological order.

For example, the code in the code RAM 46 can be stored separately in the form of a code number or the like.

The display unit 52 is composed of an LCD or the like, and displays the mode (learning mode/reproduction mode), the operated keys, the completion of memorization in the learning mode, the setting of the operation sequence of the compound operation, etc.

The microcomputer 40 outputs the code R in the reproduction mode.
The information is read from AM46 and the corresponding signal is reproduced. When a composite operation is specified, a code RAM 46 is generated based on the sequence of the composite operation stored in the sequence RAM 50.
The information is read out and the corresponding signals are sequentially reproduced. The reproduced signal is supplied to the infrared light emitting diode 49 via the LF and D driver 48, and is transmitted as infrared light.

Next, specific examples of operations in the learning mode, complex operation setting mode, and reproduction mode using the configuration described above will be explained.

(a) Learning mode In the learning mode, the switch 41 of the learning remote control 34 is switched to the learning mode, and learning is performed for each device 11 to 17 in sequence. For example, when learning about the tuner 12, the learning remote control 34 and the tuner 12 are first set. With the attached remote controller 21 facing the user, the keyboard 44 of the learning remote controller 34 is used to select a tuner. This determines the storage area of the code RAM 46.

Then, at the same time as operating the keyboard of the remote control 21 attached to the tuner 12, the keyboard 4 of the learning remote control 34 is operated.
4. Operate the desired key. As a result, the signal transmitted from the attached remote controller 21 is received by the photodiode 43 of the learning remote controller 34, analyzed by the microcomputer 40, and stored in the address corresponding to the operated key in the code RAM 46. By sequentially operating the attached remote controller 21 and then operating a desired key on the keyboard 44 of the learning remote controller 34, all information on the attached remote controller 21 is stored in the code RAM 46. For example, tuner 12
The keyboard of the attached remote control 21 has a power on/off key, a preset station selection key, etc., but the power on/off key information is stored in the address corresponding to the power on/off key of the learning remote control 34, and the preset station selection information is stored in the learning remote control 34. If stored in the corresponding address of the numeric keypad 34, the key display of the learning remote control 34 and the operation content will match, making it easier to use in the reproduction mode.

When the learning for the tuner 12 is completed in this way, the learning is sequentially performed for the other devices 11, 13 to 17 in the same way.The stored information is backed up by the battery and will not be erased.

In the learning mode, each time storage of one piece of information is completed, a display indicating completion of storage is displayed on the display section 52 of the learning remote control 34, so that it can be confirmed that the information has been stored.

(1)) Combined action setting mode In the combined action setting mode, the switch 41 is set to reproduction mode, and the keyboard 44 is used to store a series of action information that combines the actions memorized in the learning mode to realize a predetermined function. Let's do it. An example of a setting operation using the keyboard 44 is shown below.

■ Operation example of keyboard 44 for playing back VTR 16 Start composite operation setting - Ilr-54 on ↓ Program number specification (10 keys) ↓ Monitor TV 17 @ power on ↓ Power on amplifier 11 ↓ Power on VTR 16 ↓ Monitor TV 17 input switch to "video" ↓ Amplifier 11 function to "VTR" ↓ VTR 16 to "playback mode" ↓ Complex operation setting end key 55 on This series of operations is stored in the sequence RAM 50.

■ Operation for recording FM broadcasts on tape deck 13 Turn on composite operation setting start key 54 ↓ Specify program number 2 (10 key) Turn on power to amplifier 11 ↓ Turn on power to tuner 2 ↓ Turn on power to tape deck 13 ↓ Turn on the function of amplifier 11 “ Tuner" designation↓ Channel designation of tuner 2 (10 key)

Note that no transmission is performed in the composite operation setting mode.

(c) Reproduction mode In the reproduction mode, switch 41 is set to reproduction mode. Then, the user uses the keyboard 44 to specify the device type and its operation details. As a result, analysis information corresponding to each key operation is individually read out from the code RAM 46, the signal is reproduced by the microcomputer 40, and is transmitted from the light emitting diode 49 by infrared rays. This signal is received by each of the devices 11 to 17, and the designated device discriminates this signal and executes the designated operation. In this way, all the equipment operators 1 to 17 can be remotely controlled using the learning remote controller 34.

To perform a compound operation, turn on the compound operation designation key 53 and input the program number using the 10 key. As a result, among the composite operation information stored in the sequence RAM 50, the information specified by the program number is sequentially read out according to the sequence, and the corresponding codes are sequentially read out and transmitted from the code RAM 46, thereby realizing the composite operation. .

For example, in the example above, program number 1 is 10
When input using the keys, information on complex operations for reproducing the VTR 16 is sequentially transmitted as shown in FIG. That is, first, monitor TV 17, amplifier 11, VTR 1
6 is sequentially transmitted, and these power supplies are turned on, followed by information to change the input of the TV monitor 17 to the video side, information to change the function of the amplifier 11 to VTR, and information to set the VTR 16 to playback mode. The information is sequentially transmitted and the reproduced images of the VTR 16 are displayed on the television monitor 17.

Also, if you enter 10 grams number 2 with the 10 key, you can receive FM.
Information on the composite operation for recording the broadcast on the tape deck 13 is sequentially transmitted as shown in FIG. That is, first, information to turn on the power to the amplifier 11, tuner 2, and tape deck 13 is transmitted in order, and these power supplies are turned on, and then information to set the function of the amplifier 11 as a tuner, and information to specify the channel of the tuner 12 are transmitted. Information for setting the tape deck 13 in recording mode is sequentially transmitted, and the broadcast of the designated channel of the tuner 12 is recorded on the tape deck 13.

By the way, some devices do not accept information transmitted from the remote control during certain operations (for example, while searching for the beginning of a CD). For example, if information A, B, . D may be ignored and the desired operation may not be obtained.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, for example, a composite operation setting mode is set in which the subsequent information C, D, E, etc. is transmitted after waiting the time required for the corresponding operation of information B to be completed (a so-called pause). If you set a no-signal period using a Bose key or the like, the transmission interval can be adjusted using a timer built into the remote control during reproduction mode, thereby preventing such malfunctions.

Further, the remote control and the device are configured to be bidirectional, and after confirming the READY signal etc. from the device on the remote control side, the subsequent information C, D, E is sent from the remote control side.

... may be transmitted.

[Other Embodiments] The method of separately storing the code in the code RAM 46 in the form of a code number or the like in the sequence RAM 50 as in the previous embodiment is advantageous in terms of memory capacity and the like. However, during a compound operation, the code is always read from the code RAM 46 based on the memory in the sequence RAM 50, so if the contents of the code RAM 46 are changed (re-learning, etc.) after setting the sequence of the compound operation, the contents of the compound operation will end up changing.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 solves this problem. Here, the capacity of the code RAM 46 is increased and the sequence RAM 50 is removed.

As shown in FIG. 9, the code RAM 46 has, in addition to a single code area 60 for storing single codes, a composite operation code area 62 for storing codes for composite operations. When setting a sequence for a composite operation, a plurality of single codes are sequentially read out from the single code area 60 according to the operation of the keyboard 44, and are copied as they are to the composite operation code area 62 without being converted into a code number or the like.

Then, the series of codes for the finally completed composite operation in the composite operation code area 62 are collectively handled in the same way as other single codes. That is, when a compound operation is instructed using the keyboard 44, the code for the compound operation is read from the compound operation code area 62 and transmitted as is, thereby realizing the compound operation.

According to this method, even if the content of the single code area 60 that is the source of the sequence is changed (re-learning, etc.) after the sequence of the composite operation is set, the content of the composite operation does not change.

[Example of change]

In the above embodiment, the learning remote controller analyzes the signal within itself, but the present invention can also be applied to a learning remote controller that performs the analysis externally and only stores the results. .

Further, the present invention can also be applied to ordinary remote control devices (for example, remote control devices for system components, etc.) that are not learning remote control devices. That is, for example, only transmission information can be preset in the remote control, and the user can freely combine them to set a composite operation. Furthermore, all transmission information and composite operations that combine these can be preset in the remote control. In addition,
The latter can also be achieved by outputting one type of information from the remote control and having the device interpret it into different operations.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, when performing a compound operation, the program number is input using the 10 key after turning on the compound operation designation key. It is also possible to immediately realize a desired composite operation through conflicting operations.

Furthermore, although the above embodiments have shown the case in which the present invention is applied to an AV system, it can also be applied to other systems other than AV systems.

Furthermore, by incorporating a timer into the remote control, a series of complex operations such as timer recording and timer recording can be realized.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the stored contents of the storage means are sequentially read out based on the operation of a predetermined operating member and are automatically and continuously transmitted to each device as a predetermined remote control signal. The operation to realize one function can be simplified.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, and is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the learning remote control 34 shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an AV system to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a learning mode in which signals from the attached remote controller are stored in the learning remote controller. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing examples of signals transmitted from the circuit of FIG. 1 when commanding a composite operation. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the inconvenience caused by continuous transmission. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of transmission that solves the problem of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the storage area of the code RAM 46 shown in FIG. 8. 34...Learning remote control, 46...Code RAM, 5
0... Sequence RAM, 53... Complex operation designation key 1.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a remote control device in which remote control functions for multiple devices are configured on a single remote control device, a storage means for storing multiple specified operation contents for the multiple devices in chronological order; and a predetermined operating member. A remote control device comprising: control means for sequentially reading out the stored contents of the storage means and automatically and continuously transmitting the stored contents to each device as a predetermined remote control signal based on an operation. (2) The remote control device is a remote control device with a learning function that stores information sent from an attached remote control attached to the device and reads out and sends out this information in response to key operations. A remote control device according to claim 1.