JPH09252494A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily operate plural electronic devices with an inexpensive configuration. SOLUTION: A light receiving element 51 generates a reception signal RC based on a signal from a remote control transmitter and gives the signal to a processing section 52. The signal RC is processed to supply a signal LC of a frequency component of a carrier signal to a demodulation section 53, the demodulation section 53 demodulates the signal LC and supplies the obtained remote control signal CC to a microcomputer 54 and a memory section 55 stores the remote control signal in the case of learning the remote control signal. In the case of not learning state, the remote control signal CC is discriminated to read a corresponding remote control signal from the memory section 55. When the read remote control signal is a remote control signal CZ by another equipment, the signal CZ is fed to a modulation section 56, which generates a modulation signal M. The signal MZ is fed to a light emitting section 61 via an amplifier section 57. The direction of the light emitting section 61 is varied and the light emitting section 61 is directed to the other equipment and outputs a coded infrared ray light based on the signal MZ.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control device. More specifically, the controlled device controlled by the remote control transmitter is provided with a learning means for learning the remote control signal and a signal output means for outputting the remote control signal learned by the learning means to correspond to the remote control signal from the remote control transmitter. Then, the learning means learns the remote control signal of the controlled device or the remote control signal of a device different from the controlled device, and outputs the remote control signal of the device different from the controlled device learned by the learning means from the signal output means. To do.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a remote control device,
BACKGROUND ART A controlled device, for example, an electronic device such as a video tape recorder, a television device, or a stereo device is operated by a remote control transmitter (hereinafter, referred to as "remote control transmitter") using infrared light. The infrared light output from the remote control transmitter is coded based on the remote control signal, and the remote control signal is generally different for each electronic device. Therefore, there is known a so-called learning remote control transmitter that can learn a remote control signal output from a remote control transmitter for another electronic device so that, for example, another electronic device can be operated by one remote control transmitter. Here, FIG. 7 shows a configuration of a conventional learning remote control transmitter.

In FIG. 7, when the operation section 11 of the learning remote control transmitter 10 is operated, the operation key operated by the microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as "microcomputer") 12 is discriminated and the memory control signal SA corresponding to the operation key is detected.
Is generated. The microcomputer 12 is connected to a memory unit 13 that stores remote control signals in advance and a memory unit 14 that can newly store remote control signals.
The remote control signal CA stored in the memory 14 or the remote control signal CB newly stored in the memory unit 14 is selected and read based on the memory control signal SA and supplied to the modulation unit 15.

The modulator 15 generates a carrier signal of a predetermined frequency and the carrier signal is a remote control signal C.
It is modulated by A and supplied to the light emitting unit 17 via the transmission amplifier unit 16 as a modulation signal MA.

The light emitting section 17 is constructed by using an infrared light emitting diode. By driving the infrared light emitting diode based on the modulation signal MA, the learning remote control transmitter 10 codes a code according to a remote control operation. The converted infrared light is output.

On the other hand, in the remote control light receiving section of the electronic device which is the controlled device, the infrared light coded from the learning remote control transmitter 10 is received to generate a reception signal, and this reception signal is demodulated. Is used as a remote control signal.
The remote control signal is discriminated by the microcomputer and the operation control signal is output corresponding to the remote control signal to control the operation of the electronic device according to the remote control operation.

When learning a remote control signal of a remote control transmitter of another electronic device, the coded infrared light output from the other remote control transmitter is transmitted by the remote control transmitter 20.
Is supplied to the remote control light receiving unit 21 of.

The remote control light receiving section 21 is composed of a phototransistor or the like, and the infrared light output from the remote control transmitter of another electronic device is photoelectrically converted to receive signal R.
B is generated. This received signal RB is received signal processing unit 2
2 is supplied.

In the reception signal processing unit 22, the reception signal RB is amplified and the band is limited, and the signal NB of the component of the carrier frequency is supplied to the demodulation unit 23.

The demodulation section 23 demodulates the signal NB to generate a remote control signal CB. This remote control signal CB
Are stored in the memory unit 14 in correspondence with the operation keys for the learning of the operation unit 11. That is, when the remote control signal CB is stored in the memory unit 14 based on the memory control signal SA generated by the microcomputer 12 when the operation key for learning is operated and the operation key for learning is operated, The remote control signal CB is read from the memory section 14 based on the memory control signal SA from the microcomputer 12, and infrared light coded based on the remote control signal CB is output.

In this way, since the remote control transmitter 10 can also store remote control signals of other electronic devices, one remote control transmitter can also control electronic devices of different manufacturers.

[0012]

By the way, when the remote control transmitter having the learning function is used, the remote control transmitter needs a microcomputer for controlling an operation for storing a remote control signal of another electronic device. At the same time, the electronic device requires a microcomputer for controlling the operation of the electronic device by discriminating the remote control signal, which increases the cost.

Further, for example, when operating a stereo device and a television device capable of reproducing a compact disc on which an image signal is recorded, with one remote control transmitter, it is necessary to sequentially operate the operation keys of the remote control transmitter and the stereo system. If the remote control light receiving parts of the device and the television device are close to each other and do not face the same direction, the remote control transmitter must be oriented in the direction of the stereo device or the television device each time. It was complicated.

Therefore, the present invention provides a remote control device which is inexpensive and can easily operate a plurality of electronic devices.

[0015]

A remote control device according to the present invention is a remote control device comprising a controlled device and a remote control transmitter for controlling the controlled device. It has a learning means for learning the remote control signal and a signal output means for outputting the remote control signal learned by the learning means.

Further, the learning means learns the remote control signal of the controlled device, the remote control signal of a device different from the controlled device, or both remote control signals in response to the remote control signal from the remote control transmitter. Is.

Further, the signal output means has a direction changing means for changing the output direction of the remote control signal.

Further, in the remote control device,
In response to the remote control signal from the remote control transmitter, the signal output means outputs the remote control signal of the equipment different from the controlled equipment learned by the learning means.

The controlled device has a timer, and outputs a remote control signal of a device different from the controlled device learned by the learning means in conjunction with the timer.

According to the present invention, the learning means provided in the controlled device corresponds to the remote control signal from the remote control transmitter, or the remote control signal of the controlled device or the remote control signal of a device different from the controlled device or those. Both remote control signals are learned. Further, a remote control signal of a device different from the controlled device learned by the learning means is output from the signal output means provided in the controlled device. Further, the remote control signal is output to a device different from the controlled device by the direction changing means provided in the signal output means.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a remote control device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a view showing the external appearance of a remote control transmitter.
For example, assume that a stereo device is controlled.

In FIG. 1, an operation unit 31 of the remote control transmitter 30 is an operation unit for operating the stereo device. An operation key 31a of the operation unit 31 is an operation key for controlling on / off of a power source of the stereo device, and an operation key 31b is a "compact disc" mode for reproducing a signal recorded on a compact disc, a cassette tape. Is an operation key for switching a function mode such as a "tape" mode for recording / reproducing a signal or a "radio" mode for receiving a broadcast signal. The operation key 31c is an operation key for switching the operation in the function mode selected by the operation key 31b and changing the volume.

The operation unit 32 is an operation unit for operating another electronic device such as a television set or a video tape recorder. An operation key 32a of the operation unit 32 is an operation key for controlling on / off of a power source of a television device, a video tape recorder, etc., and an operation key 33b is for controlling an operation of the television device, the video tape recorder, etc. , Operation keys for changing the volume.

The operation section 33 is an operation section operated when learning a remote control signal of a remote control transmitter such as a television device or a video tape recorder. Operation unit 33
Learning is started when the operation key 33a is operated, and learning is ended when the operation key 33b is operated. The operation key 33c is an operation key operated to continuously control the operations of the stereo device, the television device, the video tape recorder, and the like.

In this remote control transmitter 30, the operation unit 3
Infrared light coded according to the key operation of 1, 32, 33 is output from the light emitting unit 37.

Next, the configuration of the remote control transmitter 30 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, when the operation keys of the operation units 31, 32, 33 are operated, the remote control signal generation unit 34 outputs a prestored remote control signal CC according to the operation key and supplies the remote control signal CC to the modulation unit 35. .

In the modulator 35, a carrier signal having a predetermined frequency is generated, and this carrier signal is modulated by the remote control signal CC and supplied as a modulated signal MC to the light emitting unit 37 via the transmission amplifier 36. .

The light emitting section 37 is composed of an infrared light emitting diode, and the infrared light emitting diode is driven based on the modulation signal MC to be coded in accordance with a key operation from the remote control transmitter. Infrared light is output.

Next, FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the stereo device operated by the operation keys of the operation unit 31 of the remote control transmitter 30. In FIG. 3, the remote control light receiver 51 of the stereo device 50 is irradiated with the infrared light output from the remote control transmitter 30.

The remote control light receiving section 51 is composed of, for example, a phototransistor, and a reception signal RC is generated by photoelectric conversion based on the irradiated infrared light and is supplied to the reception signal processing section 52. The reception signal RC is amplified by the reception signal processing unit 52 and the band thereof is limited, and the frequency component of the carrier signal is supplied to the demodulation unit 53 as the signal LC.

In the demodulation section 53, the supplied signal LC is demodulated to generate a remote control signal CC equal to the remote control signal generated on the remote control transmitter 30 side. This remote control signal CC is supplied to the microcomputer 54.

A memory section 55 for storing remote control signals CZ of other electronic equipment is connected to the microcomputer 54. The microcomputer 54 discriminates the remote control signal CC to generate, for example, an operation control signal DR. Motion control signal D
The R controls the switching of the function mode and the operation of the stereo device 50. Also, the remote control signal C
The memory control signal DM is generated by discriminating C, and the remote control signal CZ of another electronic device is stored in the memory unit 55 by the memory control signal DM or the stored remote control signal CZ is read. This memory unit 55
The remote control signal CZ read from is supplied to the modulator 56. An operation unit 58 provided in the main body of the stereo device 50 is connected to the microcomputer 54, and it is also possible to control switching of the function mode and operation according to the operation of the operation unit 58.

In the modulator 56, a carrier signal having a predetermined frequency is generated and the carrier signal is supplied to the remote controller signal C.
The signal is modulated by Z and is supplied as a modulated signal MZ to the light emitting section 61 provided separately from the stereo device 50 via the transmission amplifier section 57.

The light emitting section 61 is composed of an infrared light emitting diode, and the infrared light coded from the light emitting section 61 is generated by driving the infrared light emitting diode based on the modulation signal MZ. Is output.

A timer 59 is connected to the microcomputer 54 as needed, and when the time set by the timer 59 is reached, the operation control signal DR is output and the remote control signal CZ is read out.

Next, the operation of the remote control device will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a first learning operation of a remote control signal of another electronic device.

Referring to FIG. 4, in step ST1, the power of the stereo device of the remote control transmitter 30 shown in FIG.
When the operation key 31a for controlling the off state is operated, infrared light is emitted from the light emitting unit 37 shown in FIG. 2 to the remote control light receiving unit 51 of the stereo device 50 shown in FIG. At this time,
The microcomputer 54 of the stereo device 50 determines the remote control signal CC, and the power of the stereo device 50 is turned on based on the operation control signal DR output from the microcomputer 54.

At step ST2, the remote control transmitter 30
Operation key 33a for starting learning of the remote control signal of
Is operated. At this time, the microcomputer 54 discriminates the remote control signal CC and learning of the remote control signal of another electronic device is started.

At step ST3, the operation key of the remote control transmitter 30 to be learned is selected, and step ST3 is selected.
In 4, the remote control signal of another electronic device is stored in the memory unit 55 in association with the selected operation key. For example,
When one of the operation keys 32a of the operation unit 32 is operated, the microcomputer 54 of the stereo device 50 determines that the remote control signal CC is not a remote control signal for controlling the operation of the stereo device 50, and this operation is performed. The address position of the memory unit 55 is set in association with the selected key. Next, for example, when the power control operation key of the remote control transmitter for the television device is operated and the coded infrared light is output toward the remote control light receiving unit 51 of the stereo device 50, the demodulation is performed at this time. The remote control signal CZ obtained by the section 53 is stored from the set address position of the memory section 55 by the memory control signal DM from the microcomputer 54.

Next, in step ST5, it is determined whether or not to learn another operation key of the remote control transmitter 30. Here, in the case of learning other operation keys, the process returns to step ST3, and the operation key for learning is selected again. Further, when the learning is ended, step ST
In step ST6, the microcomputer 54 discriminates the remote control signal CC and the learning of the remote control signal of another electronic device is completed.

In the first learning operation of this remote control signal,
Although one remote control signal of another electronic device is stored in one operation key of the remote control transmitter 30, a plurality of remote control signals can be stored in one operation key of the remote control transmitter 30. Therefore, a learning operation for storing a plurality of remote control signals for one operation key will be described as a second learning operation with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 and FIGS. 1 and 3.

In FIG. 5, in step ST11, the stereo device 50 is processed in the same manner as in step ST1 shown in FIG.
In step ST12, learning of remote control signals of other electronic devices is started in the same manner as step ST2.

At step ST13, the operation key for learning is selected. For example, the operation key 33c for continuously controlling the operations of the plurality of electronic devices of the remote control transmitter 30 shown in FIG. 1 is operated. At this time, the microcomputer 54 determines that the remote control signal CC is not the remote control signal for controlling the operation of the stereo device 50, and sets the address position of the memory section 55 in association with the operation key 33c.

In step ST14, a remote control signal for continuously controlling a stereo device, a television device or the like is set in the memory section 55 by using the remote control transmitter 30 or the remote control transmitter of another electronic device. It is stored sequentially from the address position.

For example, when reproducing a compact disc on which an image signal is recorded by a stereo device and displaying the reproduced image on the screen of the television device, first, toward the remote control light receiving section 51 of the stereo device 50 shown in FIG. ,
The operation key 31a for controlling the power supply of the stereo device of the remote control transmitter 30 is operated, and the remote control signal CC at this time is stored in the memory unit 55 shown in FIG. Next, the operation key 31b for setting the "compact disc" mode of the remote control transmitter 30 is operated, and the remote control signal CC
Is stored. Next, when the power source control operation key of the remote control transmitter of the television apparatus is operated and the coded infrared light is output toward the remote control light receiving section 51 of the stereo apparatus 50, the demodulation section 53 at this time. The obtained remote control signal CZ is stored in the memory unit 55. Thereafter, the input switching operation key of the remote control transmitter of the television device is operated, and the remote control signal CZ at this time is stored in the memory section 55.
Is stored. Further, when the operation key for starting the reproducing operation of the operation key 31b of the remote control transmitter 30 is operated and the coded infrared light is output toward the remote control light receiving section 51 of the stereo device 50, at this time, The remote control signal CC of is stored in the memory unit 55.

As described above, the operation keys 3 are stored in the memory section 55.
Remote control signals are sequentially stored from a predetermined address position in association with 3c. The remote control signal storage process is
It is controlled by a memory control signal DM from the microcomputer 54.

When the storage of a series of remote control signals is completed,
In step ST15, similarly to step ST6, the operation key 33b is operated to end the learning.

As described above, the operation key 32 of the remote control transmitter 30 is operated by the first learning operation and the second learning operation.
By storing the remote control signal in the memory unit 55 of the stereo device 50 corresponding to a, 32b, 33c, the operation keys 32a, 32b, 33c of the remote control transmitter 30 can be learned.

The stereo device 50 in which the remote control signal is stored is, for example, as shown in FIG.
If installed in a different orientation than 0, stereo device 5
The light emitting unit 61 provided separately from 0 is arranged such that the emission direction of infrared light is the direction of the remote control light receiving unit 71 of the television device 70. In FIG. 6, a display showing the operation of the stereo device 50 is displayed on the display unit 60 of the stereo device 50. Audio from the stereo device 50 and the television device 70 is output from the speakers 80L and 80R. The stereo device 50 and the television device 7
0 and the connection cables for the speakers 80L and 80R are omitted.

Here, when the remote control transmitter 30 is made to face the remote control light receiving section 51 of the stereo device 50 and the operation key is operated, infrared light coded according to the operation key is output. At the same time, the stereo device 50 receives the infrared light and the remote control signal CC is transmitted to the microcomputer 54.
Is determined. Here, when the operation keys 31a, 31b, 31c for controlling the stereo device 50 are operated, the operation of the stereo device 50 is controlled based on the remote control signal CC.

Further, the operation keys 32 of the remote control transmitter 30
When a and 32b are operated, the microcomputer 54 determines the remote control signal CC, and the operation keys 32a and 3b.
The remote control signal CZ corresponding to 2b is read from the memory unit 55 and supplied to the modulation unit 57. Therefore, the infrared light coded is output from the light emitting unit 61 to the remote control light receiving unit 71 of the television device 70, and the remote control transmitter 30 is used without using the remote control transmitter of the television device. The operation of the television device can be controlled without being directed to.

Further, the operation keys 3 of the remote control transmitter 30
When 3c is operated, the microcomputer 54 determines the remote control signal CC, and the remote control signals stored in the memory section 55 corresponding to the operation keys 33c are sequentially read. Therefore, the operations of the stereo device 50 and the television device 70 are sequentially controlled, and the stereo device 50 is turned on and set to the "compact disc" mode by only operating one operation key, for example. The television device 70 is turned on and set to the “video” mode, and the compact disc is started to be reproduced by the stereo device 50 so that the stereo device 50 reproduces the compact disc on the screen of the television device 70. The playback image of the disc can be displayed.

If the timer 59 is provided to set the operation time, the microcomputer 54 outputs the operation control signal DR and the remote control signal CZ at the desired time.
Is read from the memory unit 55 and supplied to the modulation unit 57, so that, for example, the stereo device 50 and the television device 70 are automatically turned on at a desired time and a predetermined operation is automatically started. In addition, the stereo device 50 and the television device 70 can be automatically turned off at a desired time.

In the above embodiment, the light emitting section 61 is used.
The stereo device 50 is provided separately from the stereo device 50, but the light emitting unit 61 is provided integrally with the stereo device 50.
The infrared light output from the remote control light receiving unit 71 of the television device 70 may be irradiated with the infrared light using an optical fiber or the like.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment,
Since the stereo device 50 has a remote control signal learning function, unlike the conventional learning remote control transmitter, a microcomputer is not required on both the remote control transmitter and the stereo device side, and the configuration is inexpensive. it can.

Further, by simply operating the remote control transmitter 30 toward the stereo device 50, the learned remote control signal of the television device 70 is transmitted to the light emitting section 6 of the stereo device 50.
Since the data is supplied from 1 to the remote control light receiving unit 71 of the television device 70, it is not necessary to change the direction of the remote control transmitter 30 each time.

Further, since a series of a plurality of remote control signals are learned corresponding to one operation key of the remote control transmitter 30, the operation of the stereo device 50 and the television device 70 can be performed only by operating this operation key. Can be easily controlled in synchronization with each other.

In the above embodiment, the remote control transmitter 30 for controlling the stereo device 50 is also used to control the television device 70, but the present invention is not limited to the stereo device and the television device. Of course, it can be easily applied to electronic devices.

[0059]

According to the present invention, the learning means provided in the controlled device corresponds to the remote control signal of the controlled device or the remote control of the device different from the controlled device in response to the remote control signal from the remote control transmitter. The signal is learned. Further, a remote control signal of a device different from the controlled device learned by the learning means is output from the signal output means provided in the controlled device. Further, the remote control signal is output to a device different from the controlled device by the direction changing means provided in the signal output means.

For this reason, since the controlled device has a learning means, a microcomputer or the like is required for both the remote control transmitter and the controlled device like the conventional learning remote control transmitter. In addition, the remote control transmitter does not require a light receiving unit and can be inexpensively constructed.

Further, only by operating the remote control transmitter toward the controlled device, the remote control signal of the device different from the learned controlled device is different from the controlled device from the signal output means of the controlled device. Therefore, it is not necessary to change the direction of the remote control transmitter to the controlled device or a device different from the controlled device each time.

Furthermore, the remote control transmitter 1
By learning a series of multiple remote control signals corresponding to one operation key, the operation of the controlled device and a device different from this controlled device can be controlled in synchronization by operating this operation key. Can be done easily.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an appearance of a remote control transmitter 30.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a remote control transmitter 30.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a stereo device 50.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a first learning operation of the remote control device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a second learning operation of the remote control device.

6 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a stereo device 50 and a television device 70. FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional learning remote control transmitter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 30 remote control transmitter (remote control transmitter) 31, 32, 33, 58 operation unit 34 remote control signal generation unit 35, 56 modulation unit 37, 61 light emitting unit 50 stereo device 51, 71 remote control light receiving unit 52 reception signal processing unit 53 demodulation 54 Microcomputer 55 Memory 59 Timer 60 Display 70 Television device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A remote control device comprising a controlled device and a remote control transmitter for controlling the controlled device, wherein the controlled device has learning means for learning a remote control signal and learning by the learning means. And a signal output means for outputting the generated remote control signal. 2. The learning means, according to a remote control signal from the remote control transmitter, a remote control signal of the controlled device, a remote control signal of a device different from the controlled device, or both remote control signals. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the remote control device learns. 3. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the signal output means includes direction changing means for changing the output direction of the remote control signal. 4. The remote control device outputs from the signal output means a remote control signal of a device different from the controlled device learned by the learning means in response to a remote control signal from the remote control transmitter. The remote control device according to claim 2, wherein: 5. The controlled device has a timer, and outputs a remote control signal of a device different from the controlled device learned by the learning means in cooperation with the timer. The described remote control device.