JPH11110106A - Menu operation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a menu operation device which can perform an intuitive menu operation and accordingly can significantly improve the menu operability by constituting the device so that a menu that is shown by a display means of an electronic equipment varies in the same direction as the operating direction of the menu operation means of a remote control device. SOLUTION: This menu operation device consists of a remote control device 1, which has a signal transmitter means 13 and a menu operation means 11 and an electronic equipment 2 which has a display means 24. The means 11 of the device 1 is made of a movable member that shows its directivity, and the menu shown by the means 24 of the equipment 2 varies in the same direction as the operating direction of the means 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a menu operation device which is applied to, for example, home appliances such as a television receiver having an Internet connection function and performs menu selection of an electronic device by remote control of a remote control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, home electric appliances utilizing functions of a personal computer or the like, such as a television having an Internet connection function, are becoming widespread.

[0003] In order to utilize such functions in home electric appliances, it is desired to improve operability by using a remote control device or the like. However, operating devices currently used include an up / down shift key, a jog dial, and a shuttle dial.

In general, menus are displayed on the electronic device to be operated to indicate available functions. Menus currently used include a list display, a pull-down menu, a hierarchical display, and a three-dimensional display system. There are menus.

Here, as an example of a three-dimensional display menu, a three-dimensional body is displayed on a two-dimensional screen and a menu item is displayed on each surface of the three-dimensional body in JP-A-4-214595. A menu display that enables a large number of menu items to be displayed by rotating the menu item is described.

The details of the menu display will be described with reference to a schematic perspective view of FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, this menu display uses a rectangular solid 102 which is a three-dimensional body as a pull-down submenu of the main menu 101 on the display device 100 and automatically rotates the rectangular solid 102 in the direction of A in the figure. It is to let. And
The user can select from a plurality of menus by operating the cursor 103. At this time, the viewpoint can be switched by the viewpoint switching mark 104.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 60-228825 discloses a cooking device provided with operating tools for operating a plurality of menus. This will be described with reference to a schematic perspective view of FIG. As shown in FIG.
1 is a dial-shaped operating tool 202, 203,
The user selects a category or a menu displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 15.

[0008]

However, in the menu display described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-214595, although the three-dimensional display type menu itself moves, for example, when the right arrow key of the keyboard is used for operation, The problem is that it is difficult to determine whether the entire menu is rotated right or whether the cursor on the screen moves from the current cursor and the right menu item can be selected immediately (ie, whether the menu is rotated left). there were.

Further, in the apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 60-228825, it is sufficient that the operating tool and the menu operating section are arranged adjacent to each other. When the two are separated from each other so that the menu display unit is displayed on another display, there is a problem that it is difficult to understand which menu is operated by which operation tool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and is a menu operation device for operating an electronic device having a display means for displaying a menu by a remote control device having the menu operation means. In the above, by configuring the menu displayed by the display means of the electronic device to change in the same direction as the operation direction by the menu operation means of the remote control device, intuitive menu operation becomes possible, and the operability of the menu is improved. It is an object of the present invention to provide a menu operation device that can be significantly improved.

[0011]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus including a remote controller having a signal transmitting unit and a menu operating unit, and a display unit for displaying a menu. In the menu operation device including the following, the menu operation means of the remote control device is composed of a movable member showing directionality, and the menu displayed by the display means of the electronic device changes in the same direction as the operation direction by the menu operation means. It is configured as follows.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the menu displayed by the display means of the electronic device is configured to change in the same direction as the operation direction by the menu operation means of the remote control device, intuition is provided. It is possible to realize a menu operation that is efficient and operable.

Further, in the invention according to the second aspect, in the menu operation apparatus according to the first aspect, the shape of the menu operation means of the remote control device is similar to the shape of the menu displayed by the display means of the electronic device. And

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the shape of the menu operation means of the remote control device and the shape of the menu displayed by the display means of the electronic device are similar to each other, more intuitive and operable. Excellent menu operation can be realized.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the menu operation device according to the first or second aspect, the menu displayed by the display means of the electronic device is a three-dimensional display menu.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the menu displayed by the display means of the electronic device is a three-dimensional display menu, so that many menu items can be displayed so as to be easily recognized. These menu operations can be realized intuitively and satisfactorily.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the menu operation device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the menu operation means of the remote control device has a dial shape.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the menu operation means of the remote control device is formed in a dial shape, it is possible to realize more intuitive menu operation with excellent operability.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the menu operation device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the menu operation means of the remote control device comprises a plurality of movable members indicating directionality. The menu displayed by the display unit of the electronic device is configured to display a plurality of menus corresponding to the movable members of the menu operation unit.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the plurality of menus displayed by the display means of the electronic device are configured to change in the same direction as the operation direction by the plurality of menu operation means of the remote controller. Therefore, it is possible to realize intuitive and operable menu operations for a plurality of menus.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the menu operation device according to the fifth aspect, the menu operation means of the remote control device comprises two movable members exhibiting directions orthogonal to each other, and displays the electronic device. The menu displayed by the means is configured to display two menus orthogonal to each other corresponding to the movable member of the menu operation means.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the menu operation means of the remote control device and the menu of the electronic equipment are plural at right angles to each other, the menu operation for a plurality of menus is more intuitive and excellent in operability. Can be realized.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a menu operation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a menu operation device according to the present embodiment includes a remote control 1 and an electronic device such as a TV with an Internet connection function.
2

The remote controller 1 has a dial operating section 11 composed of a dial-shaped movable member which rotates in a direction, a rotation detecting section 12 for detecting the rotation of the dial operating section 11, and an input by a button operation. A button operation unit 14, an input detection unit 15 for detecting an input to the button operation unit 14, and an infrared transmission unit 13 for transmitting an infrared signal based on the detection results of the rotation detection unit 12 and the input detection unit 15. You.

On the other hand, TV 2 with Internet connection function
Are an infrared receiving unit 21 that receives an infrared signal from the infrared transmitting unit 13 of the remote controller 1, and a CPU 22 that performs an operation based on the infrared signal received by the infrared receiving unit 21
A screen display control unit 23 that controls display of a screen such as a menu according to an instruction from the CPU 22;
And a CRT 24 for displaying a screen such as a menu.

FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the remote controller 1 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the remote control 1 includes a vertical dial 16, a horizontal dial 17, and an enter button 1 as operating devices.
8 are arranged. The vertical dial 16 and the horizontal dial 17 constitute the dial operation unit 11 shown in FIG. 1 and operate menu selection, and are arranged to be orthogonal to each other. Also, confirm button 18
1 constitutes the button operation unit 14 shown in FIG. 1, and is used to determine the result of menu selection by the vertical dial 16 and the horizontal dial 17.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show display examples of the menu screen of this embodiment on the CRT 24 of the TV 2 with the Internet connection function. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the menu display of the present embodiment, a vertical menu 25 and a horizontal menu 28, which are three-dimensional display type menus, are displayed. 2
6 and a horizontal selection frame 28 are provided. The vertical menu 25 also rotates in the vertical direction corresponding to the vertical rotation of the vertical dial 16 of the remote control 1, and the horizontal menu 27 corresponds to the horizontal rotation of the horizontal dial 17 of the remote control 1. Similarly, the display changes so as to rotate in the left-right direction.

In the case of this embodiment, the vertical menu 25 has W
Menu items such as WW, mail, and TV are displayed, and the menu items displayed on the horizontal menu 27 are changed according to the menu item selected by the vertical menu 25.
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when "mail" is selected in the vertical menu 25, menu items such as dad, mom, and taro are displayed in the horizontal menu 26, and can be selected from these menu items. "Mom" is selected. When “WWW” is selected in the horizontal menu 25 as shown in FIG.
In FIG. 6, menu items such as electronic newspaper, sports, mail order and the like are displayed and can be selected therefrom. FIG. 4 shows a case where "sports" is selected.

The selection of each menu item is determined by the enter button 18 of the remote controller 1. Although not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, menu items hidden behind the vertical menu 25 and the horizontal menu 27 can be displayed by rotating the vertical dial 16 and the horizontal dial 17 of the remote controller 1. It is.

Next, in the present embodiment, the processing of the operation of the TV 2 with the Internet connection function (hereinafter referred to as TV 2) by the remote controller 1 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, an infrared signal is emitted from the infrared transmitter 13 of the remote controller 1 in accordance with the operation of the dial operation unit 11 (vertical dial 16 and horizontal dial 17) and the button operation unit (confirmation button 18) of the remote controller 1 by the user. Then, on the TV 2 side, the infrared signal is received by the infrared receiver 21 (S101), and an electric signal based on the infrared signal is transmitted to the CPU 22.

The CPU 22 determines whether or not the content of the signal is a dial operation (S102). If the signal is a dial operation, it determines which dial operation is continued (S10).
3).

If the operation is the operation of the vertical dial 16, the rotation direction is determined (S104). If the operation is the upward rotation, the menu item below the vertical selection frame 26 is set as the vertical selection item (S105). Here, the vertical selection item is a vertical menu 2
5 means an item to be displayed in the vertical selection frame 26. Thereafter, an instruction for drawing a menu is issued from the CPU 22 to the screen display control unit 23, and the screen display control unit 2
In S3, based on the instruction, the control to rotate the vertical menu 25 upward is displayed on the CRT 24 (S10).
6).

In step S104, if the rotation direction is the downward rotation, the menu items below the vertical selection frame 26 are set as the vertical selection items (S107). afterwards,
The CPU 22 issues a menu drawing instruction to the screen display control unit 23, and the screen display control unit 23 performs an operation of rotating the vertical menu 25 downward based on the instruction on the CRT2.
4 (S108).

Next, the CPU 22 determines whether or not the newly specified vertical selection item has a submenu (S1).
09). If there is a sub-menu, a menu corresponding to a vertical selection item is prepared as a horizontal menu 27 to be displayed next (S110). Then, the menu items in the horizontal selection frame 28 are set to default values (S111), and the information is passed from the CPU 22 to the screen display control unit 23, and an instruction for menu drawing is issued. Then, the screen display control unit 23 displays the horizontal menu 27 on the CRT 24 based on the instruction from the CPU 22 (S112). Then, the process returns to the state of waiting for input reception of the remote controller 1.

If it is determined in step S109 that the newly specified vertical selection item has no submenu, the horizontal menu type is set to blank and (S11)
3) The menu item in the horizontal selection frame is set to blank (S1).
14) The CPU 22 instructs the image display controller 23 to delete the menu. Then, in the screen display control unit 23,
Based on the instruction from the CPU 22, the horizontal menu 27 is set to C
Erase from the RT 24 (S115). Then, the process returns to the state of waiting for input reception of the remote controller 1.

In step S103, if the operated dial is the horizontal dial 17, the rotation direction is determined in the same manner as the vertical dial 16 (S11).
6) If the rotation is to the left, the menu item on the right of the horizontal selection frame 28 is set as the horizontal selection item (S117). Thereafter, the CPU 22 issues a menu drawing instruction to the screen display control unit 23. Then, the screen display control unit 23 executes the horizontal menu 27 based on the instruction from the CPU 22.
Is displayed on the CRT 24 (S11).
8). Then, the process returns to the state of waiting for input reception of the remote controller 1.

In step S116, if the rotation direction is rightward rotation, the menu item on the left of the horizontal selection frame 28 is set as a horizontal selection item (S119). afterwards,
The CPU 22 issues a menu drawing instruction to the screen display control unit 23. Then, in the screen display control unit 23,
On the basis of an instruction from the CPU 22, an operation of rotating the horizontal menu 27 clockwise is displayed on the CRT 24 (S12).
0). Then, the process returns to the state of waiting for input reception of the remote controller 1.

Next, a process performed when an operation other than the dial operation by the remote controller 1 is detected in step S102 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG.
When the CPU 22 detects an operation other than the dial operation by the remote controller 1 in step S102, the type is determined (S201).

If the operation of the remote controller 1 is to press the enter button 18, it is determined whether or not a value has been set for the horizontal selection item (S202). The contents processing is executed by the CPU 22 (S
203). If the horizontal selection item has not been set, the CPU 22 executes a process corresponding to the value of the vertical selection item (S204). Then, in any case, the remote control 1
It returns to the state of waiting for input reception.

In step S201, if the operation of the remote controller 1 is any other operation, it is determined whether or not the operation is power OFF (OFF) (S205). The CPU 22 executes the processing corresponding to each of the contents (S206), and then returns to the state of waiting for input of the remote controller 1. If the power is turned off in step S205, the CPU 22 executes a process related to turning off the power, and then turns off the power of the TV 2 (S207).

In the above embodiment, the case where the horizontal menu is changed in conjunction with the operation of the vertical menu has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this case. It is good.

In the above-described embodiment, the vertically movable member (vertical dial) and the horizontally movable member (horizontal dial) and the menus corresponding to the respective members have similar shapes. However, the shape is not limited to this, and may be different.

Further, in the above embodiment, the two kinds of movable members (dial) and the two kinds of menus are arranged so as to be orthogonal to each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, they may be arranged in parallel with each other or used as a set.

The movable member for operation of the remote controller is
In what is limited to the dial as in the above embodiment,
What is necessary is just to be able to show directionality. For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, a remote control device uses a spherical trackball, and the electronic device side displays a spherical three-dimensional display menu 31 as shown in FIG. 7B. You may. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8A, a slide bar 40 which can be slid and moved to a remote controller is used to move the electronic device in the same direction as shown in FIG. 8B. The menu of the horizontal scale 41 may be displayed. Also, as shown in FIG. 9A, the joystick 50 is used in the remote control device, and the menu of the horizontal scale 51 that moves in the same direction is displayed on the electronic device side as shown in FIG. 9B. May be configured.

[0045]

As described above, since the menu displayed by the display means of the electronic device is configured to change in the same direction as the operation direction of the menu operation means of the remote control device, the operation is intuitive. It is possible to realize a menu operation with excellent operability.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the shape of the menu operation means of the remote control device and the shape of the menu displayed by the display means of the electronic device are similar to each other, more intuitive and operable. Excellent menu operation can be realized.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the menu displayed by the display means of the electronic device is a three-dimensional display type menu, so that many menu items can be displayed so as to be easily recognized. These menu operations can be realized intuitively and satisfactorily.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the menu operation means of the remote control device is formed in a dial shape, it is possible to realize more intuitive menu operation with excellent operability.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the plurality of menus displayed by the display means of the electronic device are configured to change in the same direction as the operation direction by the plurality of menu operation means of the remote controller. Therefore, it is possible to realize intuitive and operable menu operations for a plurality of menus.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the menu operation means of the remote control device and the menu of the electronic device are plural at right angles to each other, the menu operation for a plurality of menus is more intuitive and excellent in operability. Can be realized.

That is, according to the present invention, the remote control device is constituted by a movable member constituting a menu operation means,
Since the operation direction of the menu displayed on the electronic device is matched with the operation direction of the menu displayed on the electronic device, or the operation direction of the movable member constituting the menu operation unit is matched with the operation direction of the menu displayed on the electronic device. When comparing the remote control device with the menu, it is possible to easily recognize which menu of the electronic device can be operated by the menu operation means of which remote control device.

Further, according to the present invention, when operating a menu that moves itself, such as a three-dimensional display menu, it is easy to associate the menu operation means of the remote control device with the menu of the electronic device. The user can intuitively understand that moving the menu operation means does not move the menu item at the selected position, but moves the entire menu.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a menu operation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a remote controller according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a menu screen of the TV with an Internet connection function according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a display example of a menu screen of the TV with an Internet connection function of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of operating a TV with an Internet connection function by a dial operation of a remote controller in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a process of operating the TV with an Internet connection function by operating a confirm button on the remote controller in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a remote controller according to another embodiment and a display example of an electronic device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a remote control device according to another embodiment and a display example of an electronic device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a remote controller according to another embodiment and a display example of an electronic device.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a conventional three-dimensional display menu display.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an operation unit of a conventional heating cooker.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Remote control 2 TV with an Internet connection function 11 Dial operation part 12 Rotation detection part 13 Infrared transmission part 14 Button operation part 15 Input detection part 16, 17 dial 18 Confirmation button 21 Infrared reception part 22 CPU 23 Screen display control part 24 CRT 25, 27, 31, 41, 51 Menu 30 Trackball 31 Spherical three-dimensional display menu 40 Slide bar 50 Joystick

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI G09G 5/36 510 G09G 5/36 510V

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A menu operation device comprising: a remote control device having a signal transmission means and a menu operation means; and an electronic apparatus having a display means for displaying a menu, wherein the menu operation means of the remote control device has directionality. A menu operation device comprising a movable member shown in the figure, wherein a menu displayed by a display means of the electronic device changes in the same direction as an operation direction by the menu operation means. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the menu operation means of the remote control device is similar to the shape of the menu displayed by the display means of the electronic device.
2. The menu operation device according to 1. 3. The menu operation device according to claim 1, wherein the menu displayed by the display unit of the electronic device is a three-dimensional display type menu. 4. The menu operation device according to claim 1, wherein the menu operation means of the remote control device has a dial shape. 5. The menu operation means of the remote control device comprises a plurality of movable members indicating directionality, and the menu displayed by the display means of the electronic device is a plurality of menus corresponding to the movable members of the menu operation means. The menu operation device according to claim 1, wherein the menu is displayed. 6. The menu operation means of the remote control device comprises two movable members indicating directions orthogonal to each other,
6. The menu displayed by the display unit of the electronic device displays two menus orthogonal to each other corresponding to a movable member of the menu operation unit.
2. The menu operation device according to 1.