JPH08168085A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide an electronic apparatus which controls all of CE(consumer electronics) devices connected to a CE controller. CONSTITUTION: When CE devices 11 and 12 are connected to a CE bus 14, processors 11a and 12a of CE devices 11 and 12 send command parameter data to a processor 13a through the CE bus 14 in response to the request command of parameter data sent from the processor 13a to the CE bus 14. The processor 13a stores command parameter data in a prescribed address of a memory 13b. When a CE device and a command are selected by key operation of a key commander 15, the processor 13a sends a command signal related to the selected command to the selected CE device based on parameter data stored in the memory 13b. Thus, a controller 13 can control all the connected CE devices.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to electronic equipment such as a plurality of audio equipments and video equipments (hereinafter referred to as "CE (Co
The present invention relates to an electronic device device in which the operation of an “nsumer Electronics device”) is controlled by a controller (hereinafter, referred to as “CE controller”).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 10 shows the operation of a plurality of CE devices.
An example of the conventional electronic device apparatus controlled by the controller is shown. In the figure, 1A to 1C are CE devices such as audio devices and video devices, respectively.
Is a CE controller for controlling the operations of the CE devices 1A to 1C. The CE devices 1A to 1C are each connected to the CE controller 2. A key input unit 3 and a display 4 are connected to the CE controller 2.

The CE controller 2 has information on commands (command formats, types of commands that can be used, etc.) for controlling CE devices to be connected in advance.
Data of each command, etc.). Therefore, when the CE device to be controlled by the key input unit 3 is selected, the types of commands that can be used by the selected CE device are displayed on the display unit 4. When a predetermined command is selected by the key input unit 3 with reference to the display on the display 4, the CE controller 2 supplies a command signal relating to the selected command to the selected CE device.

[0004]

According to the example of FIG. 10,
The CE controller 2 is provided beforehand with information related to commands for controlling CE devices to be connected. Therefore, there is a problem that only the CE device that is scheduled to be connected can be controlled.

Therefore, the present invention provides an electronic apparatus capable of controlling all CE devices connected to the CE controller.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device apparatus in which one or a plurality of electronic devices and a controller for controlling the operation of the electronic device are connected. The controller has a storage unit for storing information on a command that can be used for an electronic device connected to the controller, and a command for selecting a predetermined electronic device from the electronic device connected to the controller and sending it to the selected electronic device. And input means for selecting, and the storage means stores and sends information related to the command from each of the electronic devices connected to the controller, and when the input device selects the electronic device and the command,
The controller sends a command signal corresponding to the selected command to the selected electronic device based on the information related to the command stored in the storage means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the electronic equipment according to the first aspect, the controller has a display and includes command display information as information related to a command, and the controller is a controller based on the command display information. The display device selectively displays commands that can be used for each of the electronic devices connected to.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electronic equipment according to the second aspect, the input means selects the electronic equipment and the command by selecting a predetermined command display from the command display displayed on the display. It is a thing.

[0009]

According to the invention of claim 1, information relating to a command is sent to and stored in the storage means of the controller from each of the electronic devices connected to the controller. Only the information related to the command for controlling the electronic device (CE device) that is used is not stored in advance. Therefore, the controller can control all the electronic devices connected thereto.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the commands usable for each of the electronic devices connected to the controller are selectively displayed on the display. Therefore, the user can easily select the command to be sent to the electronic device by referring to the command display on the display.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the electronic device and the command are selected by selecting the command display displayed on the display by the input means, and the command corresponding to the command selected by the selected electronic device. Since the signal is sent, the control operation of the electronic device becomes easy.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

In the figure, 11 and 12 are CE devices, respectively, and 11a and 12a are microprocessors for controlling communication with a CE controller, which will be described later, and operation of each part of the CE devices 11 and 12, respectively. The microprocessors 11a and 12a are connected to the CE bus 14 via CE bus interfaces 11c and 12c, respectively. The microprocessors 11a and 12a are connected to memories 11b and 12b in which information related to commands that can be used in the CE devices 11 and 12 are stored in advance.
The information related to the command is command parameter data and command button data.

The command parameter data is, for example, the number of bits, the pulse width of "1" or "0", the pattern of "1" or "0" of each command, and the like. The command button data is mainly data for displaying commands in a button format on a display device described later. FIG. 2 shows a part of the command button data when the CE device is the VTR. The command button data is the name of each command,
The data includes the button shape of each command, the display position of the button of each command, the display color of the button of each command, and the execution condition of each command.

Further, 13 is a CE controller, which is
Reference numeral 3a is a CE device connected to the CE controller 13, for example, a microprocessor for controlling communication with the CE devices 11 and 12 and operation of each part of the CE controller 13. The microprocessor 13a is connected to the CE bus 14 via the CE bus interface 13d. A command parameter memory 13b and a command button data memory 13c are connected to the microprocessor 13a. The memory 13b stores command parameter data sent from each of the CE devices connected to the CE controller 13. The memory 13c also stores command button data sent from each of the CE devices connected to the CE controller 13.

Command parameters data and command button data are stored in the memories 13b and 13c by the following procedures.

That is, the microprocessor 13a of the CE controller 13 uses the interface 13d for C
A command signal of "command parameter data request" is sent to the E bus 14 at a predetermined time interval. In this state, when the microprocessor 11a of the CE device 11 is connected to the CE bus 14 via the interface 11c, the CE
The command signal “command parameter data request” is sent from the bus 14 via the interface 11c to the CE device 11.
Is supplied to the microprocessor 11a.

The microprocessor 11a of the CE device 11
Responds to the command signal of "command parameter data request", reads the command parameter data from the memory 11b, adds the device number data, and then sends it to the CE bus 14 via the interface 11c. This command parameter data is supplied to the microprocessor 13a of the CE controller 13 via the interface 13d. Then, it is supplied from the microprocessor 13a to the memory 13b and written in a predetermined address.

Next, after the writing of the command parameter data to the memory 13b is completed, the microprocessor 13a of the CE controller 13 causes the interface 13 to operate.
A command signal of "command button data request" is added to the CE bus 14 via d and is sent with the device number data added. This "command button data request" command signal is sent from the CE bus 14 to the CE via the interface 11c.
It is supplied to the microprocessor 11a of the device 11.

The microprocessor 11a of the CE device 11
Recognizes that the command signal is for itself from the device number data added to the command signal of "command button data request", then reads the command button data from the memory 11b and adds the device number data. CE bus 1 later via interface 11c
4 This command button data is supplied to the microprocessor 13a of the CE controller 13 via the interface 13d. Then, it is supplied from the microprocessor 13a to the memory 13c and written in a predetermined address.

Although the device number of the CE device 11 is set manually, for example, at the time of connection, the CE controller 1
3 may be automatically set through communication via the CE bus 14. Further, in the above description, when the CE device 11 is connected to the CE controller 13 via the CE bus 14, the CE device 11 immediately starts the operation of transmitting the command parameter data to the CE controller 13. When the CE device 11 or the CE controller 13 is in the power-off state at the time of connecting 11, the operation of sending command parameter data from the CE device 11 to the CE controller 13 is started after power-on.

The above is the case where the CE device 11 is connected to the CE bus 14, and the command parameter data and the command button data of the CE device 11 are C respectively.
Although the procedure of storing in the memories 13b and 13c of the E controller 13 has been described, the command parameter data and the command button data of the CE device 12 are also stored in the memories 13b and 13c of the CE controller 13 by substantially the same procedure.

However, unlike the CE device 11, the microprocessor 12a of the CE device 12 is different from the interface 1
It is connected to the microprocessor 13a of the CE controller 13 via 2d and the interface 13e. Therefore, the microprocessor 1 of the CE controller 13
Except for basic command signals such as "command parameter data request" and "command button data request" from 3a, other command signals are sent from the microprocessor 13a of the CE controller 13 to the interfaces 13e, 1e.
2d via the microprocessor 12a of the CE device 12
Is supplied to.

Therefore, in response to the "command parameter data request" from the microprocessor 13a of the CE controller 13, the microprocessor 12a of the CE device 12 designates the interface and the command parameter on the designated interface is CE. The device number data is attached to the bus 14 and transmitted. For example, when RS-232C is specified as the interface, data in the physical layer such as baud rate and parity, and data in the logical layer such as command header and byte number are sent as command parameter data.

In the above description, the microprocessor 13a of the CE controller 13 sends the command signal of "command parameter data request" to the CE bus 14 via the interface 13d at a predetermined time interval. Is individually connected to the dedicated line for confirming the connection of the CE bus 14, the "command parameter data request" is performed as follows, for example. In this case, the CE controller 13 is individually connected to the dedicated line for connection confirmation, and the CE controller 13 is connected to the connected CE.
Since the device number of the device can be determined, it is not necessary to manually set the device number.

The microprocessor 13a of the CE controller 13 can confirm the connection of the CE device with a dedicated line for confirming the connection.
A command signal of "command parameter data request" is sent from 3a to the CE bus 14 via the interface 13d with the device number data of the CE device whose connection is confirmed. On the other hand, the microprocessor of the CE device whose connection has been confirmed sends the command parameter data to the CE bus 14 after adding the device number data after confirming that it is for itself. The following is similar to the case where the microprocessor 13a of the CE controller 13 sends a command signal of "command parameter data request" to the CE bus 14 at a predetermined time interval.

The CE devices 11 and 12 are connected to the CE bus 14.
In the case where the line is commonly connected to the dedicated line for connection confirmation, the "command parameter data request" is performed as follows, for example.

That is, the microprocessor 13a of the CE controller 13 can confirm the connection of the CE device with the dedicated line for confirming the connection, and the microprocessor 13a sends the CE through the interface 13d.
A command signal “command parameter data request” is sent to the bus 14. This command signal is CE bus 14
Is supplied to the CE device connected to the CE device, the microprocessor of the CE device sends the command parameter data to the CE bus 14 after adding the device number data.
The following is the microprocessor 1 of the CE controller 13
This is the same as the case where the command signal of "command parameter data request" is transmitted from 3a to the CE bus 14 at a predetermined time interval.

Further, the microprocessor 13a of the CE controller 13 has a remote control signal receiving section 13f for receiving a remote control signal output from the remote control commander 15.
And the display control circuit 13g are connected. Note that 13h is an interface to which another CE device is connected.

In this example, a CE device connected to the CE controller 13 via the CE bus 14 by operating the keys of the remote control commander 15, in this example, the CE devices 11 and 12.
It is possible to selectively display the commands available for the display 16 in the form of buttons.

In this case, the CE device for command display is designated by the key operation of the remote control commander 15.
The microprocessor 13a reads the command display data (name of each command, button shape of each command, button display position of each command, display color of button of each command, etc.) of the specified CE device from the memory 13c. , This command display data is displayed on the display control circuit 13g.
Supply to.

The display control circuit 13g forms a command display signal based on the command display data. The command display signal output from the display device 13g is supplied to the display device 16 such as a CRT or LCD.
The command of the CE device specified in 6 is displayed in the button format. Here, the display area LCE assumed by the CE device
Is different from the display area LDS of the display 16, the display control circuit 13g performs conversion processing of enlargement or reduction, and the command display is performed on the display 16 with an appropriate size.

For example, while the display area LCE is 100 × 80 dots as shown in FIG. 3A, the display area LDS is
Is 640 × 480 dots, as shown in FIG.
The display data (display position, button shape, button name, etc.) of the E device is converted into aspect ratio and aspect ratio. For example, when the display data of the CE device is as shown in FIG. 4A, the aspect ratio is converted and displayed on the display 16 as shown in FIG. 4B.

Further, when the commands of two or more CE devices are simultaneously displayed by operating the keys of the remote control commander 15, the display area LCE and the display unit 16 assumed by the CE devices are displayed.
From the size relation of the display area LDS of the display control circuit 13g
Then, reduction conversion processing is performed as necessary, and the display 16
The command is displayed in the appropriate size for.

For example, when the commands of the CE devices 11 and 12 are simultaneously displayed, the display area L of the CE devices 11 and 12 is displayed.
When CE is 100 × 80 dots each as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the display area LDS is 64 as shown in FIG. 5C.
On the display device 16 having 0 × 480 dots, the commands of the CE devices 11 and 12 are displayed side by side in the horizontal direction without the conversion process of reduction. In the command display of FIG. 5C,
CE-A indicates the command display of the CE device 11, and CE-A
B shows the command display of the CE device 12.

On the other hand, for example, the CE devices 11 and 1
When simultaneously displaying the two commands, the CE device 11, 1
2 display areas LCE are 6 as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, respectively.
When it is 40 × 480 dots, the display device LDS whose display area LDS is 640 × 480 dots is subjected to the reduction conversion processing to ½ in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG.
Twelve commands are displayed side by side in the horizontal direction. In the command display of FIG. 6C, CE-A is the CE device 11
The command display of CE device 12 is shown, and CE-B shows the command display of CE device 12.

Although different from this example, in the case where a plurality of display devices are connected to the CE controller 13, the command display of one CE device is divided into categories and displayed on each display device. Can also be considered. For example, in the case where the CE device is a VTR and there are recording / playback systems and tuner systems as commands as shown in FIG. 7A, while having a display 16a in addition to the display 16 as shown by the broken line in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C, the recording / playback type command display is performed on the display unit 16 and the tuner type command display is performed on the display unit 16a.

In this case, when the command display is deviated on the respective screens of the display units 16 and 16a, the display control circuit 13g may perform a position conversion process for centering. For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the recording / playback display area LRP displayed on the display 16 is A × B dots, and the horizontal start coordinate of the display area LRP is x and the vertical start coordinate is y, and the display area LDS of the display 16 is C
When xD dots (A <C, B <D), a = (C−A) is obtained after subtracting x in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 8B.
/ 2 is added, and y is subtracted in the vertical direction, and then b =
Position conversion processing is performed in which (D−B) / 2 is added.
By performing such position conversion processing, the display area LRP is centered.

Thus, in this example, the remote control commander 1
By the key operation of 5, the commands that can be used for the CE device connected to the CE controller 13 through the CE bus 14, in this example, the CE devices 11 and 12, can be displayed on the display 16 in the button format. In this example, the CE device and the command can be selected by the remote control commander 15 with reference to such a command display. CE devices and commands can be selected directly by operating the keys on the remote control commander 15.
Although it is conceivable to input the device and the command, in this example, the command display (icon) displayed on the display 16 is simply selected by moving the cursor 20 as shown in FIG. be able to. In this case, the command button data (see Fig. 2) execution condition (ex
The selection of the CE device and the command is valid only when the "ecute condition" is satisfied.

The microprocessor 13a of the CE controller 13 knows which position of the display device 16 displays which command of which CE device, and also the display position of the cursor 20. Therefore, C
The microprocessor 13a of the E controller 13 can recognize by the cursor 20 which command of which CE device is selected.

In FIG. 2, "CLICK" and "D"
"OUPLE CLICK" means pressing the key of the remote control commander 15 corresponding to the click key of the mouse once and twice respectively. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the microprocessor 1 of the CE controller 13
When a mouse is connected to 3a, the mouse may be used to move the cursor 20 and give an execution instruction by a click key.

As described above, when the CE device and the command selected by the remote control commander 15 or the mouse are valid, the microprocessor 13a of the CE controller 13 is selected based on the command parameter data stored in the memory 13b. A command signal related to the command is formed in a predetermined format, and the command signal is sent to the selected CE device. In this case, in the case of a CE device such as the CE device 11 which is connected to the CE controller 13 only via the CE bus 14, the command signal is supplied via the CE bus 14. On the other hand, when it is connected to the CE controller 13 via the separate interfaces 13e and 12d like the CE device 12 in addition to the CE bus 14, the command signal is the interface 13
e, 12d. In the case of supplying the command signal via the interfaces 13e and 12d as described above, there is an advantage that the CE device can be immediately controlled when the transfer rate of the command signal via the CE bus 14 is faster. .

Even if not mentioned above, the display 16 can display the state of each CE device by changing the color of the command display. As mentioned above, the CE controller 1
The CE device to which the command signal is supplied from the microprocessor 13a of No. 3 sends a status signal indicating the changed status to the microprocessor 13a of the CE controller 13 via the CE bus 14 or the like when the status changes.
As a result, the microprocessor 13a can control the display control circuit 13g to change the color of the command display on the display 16 and display the change in the state of the selected CE device. Although the display control circuit 13g performs the conversion process of the display data in the above embodiment, the microprocessor 13a may perform the conversion process.

As described above, according to this example, the CE controller 1 is connected to the memory 13b connected to the microprocessor 13a of the CE controller 13 via the CE bus 14.
Command parameters data are sent and stored from each of the CE devices connected to No. 3, for example, CE devices 11 and 12, and command parameters for controlling the CE device scheduled to be connected as in the prior art. Not only data is stored in advance, but the CE controller 13 can favorably control all CE devices connected thereto.

Further, in the memory 13c connected to the microprocessor 13a of the CE controller 13, the CE connected to the CE controller 13 via the CE bus 14 is connected.
Command button data is sent and stored from each of the devices, for example, the CE devices 11 and 12, and the command that can be used in each CE device can be displayed on the display 16 based on the command button data. The CE device and the command can be easily selected by referring to the display. Moreover, the CE device and the command can be easily selected only by moving the cursor on the display 16 and selecting the command display.

In the above embodiment, the C command is issued in response to the "command parameter data request" command signal.
Microprocessors 11a and 12a of the E devices 11 and 12
From the microprocessor 13a of the CE controller 13
Although the command parameter data is sent to and the command parameter data is stored in the memory 13b, the command signal itself for each command may be sent and stored instead of the command parameter data. In this case, the microprocessor 13a of the CE controller 13 sets a predetermined port of the CE device at a low level "L" to instruct the timing of sending the command signal.

In the above embodiment, two CEs are used.
Although the example in which the devices 11 and 12 are connected has been shown, it is needless to say that the present invention can be similarly applied to the case where a larger number of CE devices are connected to the CE controller 13.

[0048]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the information relating to the command is sent to and stored in the storage means of the controller from each of the electronic devices connected to the controller. Since only the information related to the command for controlling the electronic device to be connected is not stored in advance, all electronic devices connected to the controller can be well controlled by the controller.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the commands that can be used for each of the electronic devices connected to the controller are selectively displayed on the display unit, the user can refer to the command display on the display unit to display electronic commands. The command to be sent to the device can be easily selected.

According to the invention of claim 3, the electronic device and the command are selected by selecting the command display displayed on the display unit by the input means, and the command relating to the command selected by the selected electronic device. Since the signal is sent in a predetermined format, the control operation of the electronic device can be easily performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an electronic device apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of command button data.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an assumed display area of a CE device and a display area of a display device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining display enlargement processing.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of simultaneous command display of two CE devices.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of simultaneous command display (reduction) of two CE devices.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of split display on a plurality of display devices.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining display position conversion processing.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of selecting a CE device and a command with a cursor.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of an example of a conventional electronic device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11, 12 CE device 11a, 12a, 13a Microprocessor 13 CE controller 13b Command parameter memory 13c Command button memory 13f Remote control signal receiver 13g Display control circuit 14 CE bus 15 Remote control commander 16, 16a Display 20 Cursor

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An electronic device apparatus in which one or a plurality of electronic devices and a controller for controlling the operation of the electronic device are connected, wherein the controller is a command that can be used for the electronic device connected to the controller. Storage means for storing the information of, and an input means for selecting a predetermined electronic device from the electronic devices connected to the controller and selecting a command to be sent to the selected electronic device. Is stored when information relating to the command is sent from each of the electronic devices connected to the controller, and when the electronic device and the command are selected by the input means,
The electronic device apparatus, wherein the controller sends a command signal corresponding to the selected command to the selected electronic device based on information about the command stored in the storage means. 2. The controller has a display and includes command display information as information related to the command, and the controller can use a command that can be used for each electronic device connected to the controller based on the command display information. Is selectively displayed on the display device, and the electronic apparatus device according to claim 1. 3. The electronic device apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the input means selects an electronic device and a command by selecting a predetermined command display from the command displays displayed on the display.