JP2004153409A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote controller which extends the lifetime of a battery longer without losing the operability. <P>SOLUTION: A wireless remote control transmission apparatus 1 is provided with: a transmission section 5 having a transmission power changeover circuit 5b for switching transmission power of an optical signal and providing an output; and a control section 4 having a timer section 13 for counting an operation time of an operation button 2 and a changeover control section 4a for switching the transmission power in response to the operation time of the operation button 2. The apparatus controls a transmission power to be low when the operation of the operation button 2 is started, that is, in an ordinary state, and controls the transmission power to be higher when the operation button 2 is continuously operated for a prescribed time or over. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a remote control device (hereinafter, referred to as a remote control device) for transmitting operation information of a user to a device main body by infrared or wireless communication.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Many electric appliances such as video equipment such as VCRs and televisions, audio equipment, and air conditioning equipment are provided with remote control devices, and can be operated from a distant place in a room. The mainstream remote control device uses infrared rays for transmitting control signals to electric appliances. Some information equipment such as a personal computer (PC) is provided with a TV reception function, a recording function, and the like, and a remote control device for using these functions like a home appliance is prepared.
[0003]
The keyboard and the pointing device have also been variously improved with respect to higher functionality. For example, cordless keyboards and cordless mice have been commercialized. In addition, many of the transmission means are equipped with an optical communication port using IR (Infrared Rays), but wireless using radio waves is also used.
[0004]
As a conventional wireless remote control transmitter, for example, in a remote control device described in Patent Document 1, as a method of extending battery life, there is a device provided with means for switching transmission power, but the method of switching is a dedicated setting button. Was done by adding.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-333472 A (FIG. 2)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, such a conventional wireless remote control device has a configuration in which a dedicated operation button for switching the transmission power is added, so that the number of buttons is increased and the operability is deteriorated. There were drawbacks.
[0007]
Further, since the user does not always operate the operated device at a constant distance, if the setting of the transmission power is set too low, the setting will be changed each time. Considering this, there is a problem that the transmission power cannot be set too low, so that the battery life cannot be extended so much.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a remote control device capable of extending the life of a battery without impairing operability.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The remote control device of the present invention includes an operation button for instructing various operations, and in a remote control device for transmitting an optical signal or a wireless signal to a device to be operated and remotely controlling the same, switches the transmission power of the optical signal or the wireless signal. Transmission power switching output means for outputting, timing means for timing the operation time of the operation button, and control means for switching transmission power by the transmission power switching output means in accordance with the operation time of the operation button. And
[0010]
More preferably, when the operation of the operation button is started, the control means controls the transmission power switching output means so that the transmission power is in a low state, and the operation button is continuously operated for a predetermined time or more. Sometimes, the transmission power switching output means is controlled so that the transmission power becomes higher.
[0011]
As a more preferable specific mode, at the time of starting operation of the operation button, the control means controls the transmission power switching output means so that transmission power is in a minimum state, and the operation button is kept for a predetermined time or more. When the operation is continued, the transmission power switching output means is controlled so that the transmission power becomes the highest state.
Further, the operation time of the operation button may include an accumulation time when the operation button is operated a plurality of times.
[0012]
The remote control device of the present invention includes an operation button for instructing various operations, and in a remote control device for transmitting an optical signal or a wireless signal to a device to be operated and remotely controlling the same, switches the transmission power of the optical signal or the wireless signal. Transmission power switching output means for outputting, pressing detection means for detecting the strength when the operation button is pressed, and control means for switching transmission power by the transmission power switching output means in response to pressing of the operation button. It is characterized by having.
[0013]
More preferably, the control means controls the transmission power switching output means so that when the operation button is pressed at a predetermined level or more, the transmission power becomes higher.
[0014]
Further, as a more preferable specific mode, the control means controls the transmission power switching output means so that the transmission power becomes the highest state when the operation button is pressed at a predetermined level or more. .
[0015]
The number of power switching stages of the transmission power switching output means may be two or more or stepless, and the control means may control the transmission power switching output means to switch two or more or steplessly.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a remote controller according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0017]
First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an appearance of a remote controller according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing functions of the remote controller. The remote controller according to the present embodiment is an example applied to a wireless remote controller using an infrared light emitting element.
[0018]
In FIG. 1, 1 is a wireless remote control transmitter (remote control device), 2 is an operation button provided on the wireless remote control transmitter 1, and 3 is a display unit composed of an LCD display.
The wireless remote control transmitter 1 has a function as a key input device, and controls a device to be operated by transmitting a command by wireless or wired communication.
[0019]
In FIG. 2, a wireless remote control transmitter 1 includes an operation unit 11 having operation buttons 2, an input circuit 12 for inputting a signal corresponding to the operation buttons 2 of the operation unit 11, and a signal from the input circuit 12 for a predetermined time. It has a timer section 13 (time measuring means) for measuring whether the button is continuously pressed, and a switching control section 4a (control means), and controls the entire apparatus and converts it into a predetermined code signal corresponding to a signal from the input circuit 12. A control unit 4; a transmission unit 5 having a light emitting element 5a and a transmission power switching circuit 5b (transmission power switching output means) for converting a code signal into an optical signal and outputting the signal by the light emitting element 5a; Sends an optical signal to the device for remote control.
The transmission power switching circuit 5b of the transmission unit 5 switches the amount of light output.
[0020]
The switching control section 4a receives the output of the timer section 13 and controls the transmission power switching circuit 5b. The transmission power switching circuit 5b switches the transmission power by changing the current flowing to the light emitting element, and can use a conventionally known technique. For example, there is a type using a variable resistor described in Patent Document 1, a type using a current amplifying circuit composed of a transistor, or a type switching a plurality of fixed resistors by a switch circuit, and is particularly limited. is not.
[0021]
The transmission unit 5 is, specifically, an I / O port for performing optical communication in accordance with a standard for transmitting data using infrared rays, IrDA (Infrared Data Association), ASK, or the like, or a radio wave. It is a wireless communication port.
[0022]
The control unit 4 is a control unit that includes a CPU or the like and controls the entire apparatus. According to a program on the ROM, various processes such as transmission power switching by a timer using a memory storing data used for calculation. Execute
[0023]
In particular, the control section 4 operates the transmission section 5 with the transmission power normally low by the switching control section 4a, and increases the transmission power to the maximum state when the operation button 2 is pressed for a certain time or longer. Control to raise and operate.
Hereinafter, the operation of the wireless remote control transmitter configured as described above will be described.
[0024]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a transmission power switching process by the timer execution of the wireless remote control transmitter, which is executed by the control unit 4. In the figure, S indicates each step of the flow.
[0025]
After a reset or power ON, the transmission power switching process starts. First, it is determined in step S1 whether or not a button operation has been performed. If no button operation has been performed, an operation standby state is set until a button operation is performed. When the operation button 2 is pressed, the timer 13 starts counting time in step S2.
[0026]
Next, in step S3, the switching control unit 4a controls the transmission power switching circuit 5b of the transmission unit 5 to transmit at the first transmission power (low transmission power). In response to this, the transmission power switching circuit 5b switches the light emission amount of the light output of the light emitting element 5a to low transmission power, and the light emitting element 5a emits light with low output.
[0027]
In step S4, the timer unit 13 measures whether or not the operation button 2 has been pressed for a certain time or more. If the operation button 2 has been pressed for a certain time or more, the process proceeds to step S5, where the operation button 2 is pressed for a certain time or more. If not, the process returns to step S3 to continue emitting light with the first transmission power.
[0028]
In step S5, the switching control section 4a controls the transmission power switching circuit 5b of the transmission section 5 so as to transmit at the second transmission power (high transmission power), and ends this flow. In response to this, the transmission power switching circuit 5b switches the light emission amount of the light output of the light emitting element 5a to high transmission power, and the light emitting element 5a emits light at high output.
[0029]
The above is the transmission power switching process for switching the transmission power of the transmission unit 5 between high and low levels. However, this is an example, and for example, a step of performing the same process as the above-described processes of step S4 and step S5 is further added. Alternatively, the transmission power may be increased in multiple stages in accordance with the duration of pressing the operation button 2. In this case, the transmission power switching circuit 5b needs to have more or a stepless transmission power switching function.
Here, optimal values are set in advance for the elapsed time of pressing the operation button 2 and the transmission power through experiments and the like.
[0030]
As described above, the wireless remote control transmitter 1 according to the present embodiment includes the transmission unit 5 having the transmission power switching circuit 5b for switching and outputting the transmission power of the optical signal, and the timer for measuring the operation time of the operation button 2. A control section 4 having a switching control section 4a for switching the transmission power in accordance with the operation time of the operation button 2 so that the transmission power is low when the operation of the operation button 2 is started, that is, in a normal state. When the user operates the operation button 2 for a certain period of time or more, the transmission power is controlled to be higher. Therefore, in a normal use state, the transmission power of the wireless remote control transmitter 1 is set to the lowest value. , The current consumption of the battery used is reduced, and the battery life can be prolonged.
[0031]
Further, in a situation where the operated device does not operate at the above-described minimum setting because the distance to the operated device is long, it is conceivable that the operation button is kept pressed for a long time as human psychology. In the present embodiment, the timer unit 13 detects whether the operation button 2 has been pressed for a certain period of time or more, and the transmission power is increased stepwise, so that the operability is not impaired.
[0032]
Further, unlike the device described in Patent Document 1, it is not necessary to add a dedicated operation button for switching the transmission power, so that operability is not deteriorated due to an increase in the number of buttons and erroneous operation does not occur. Further, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the user sets the transmission power too low, thereby improving both the operability and the battery life.
[0033]
Furthermore, since the apparent configuration of the remote control device itself is the same as before without increasing the size, weight, and cost of the remote control device itself, the user can intuitively improve operability without feeling uncomfortable. it can.
[0034]
Here, in the present embodiment, the control is performed such that the transmission power is normally started in a low state. However, when the transmission power is switched, this set value is stored in the memory of the control unit 4. When the next operation is performed, the transmission power may be operated at the set value. According to this configuration, since the operation is performed at a higher transmission power without waiting for the operation button 2 to be pressed for a certain amount or more, an operation that meets the user's intention can be performed.
[0035]
In addition, depending on the user, when the operation using the operation button 2 does not work, the operation button may be repeatedly pressed several times. In order to cope with this, the time when the operation button is operated may be accumulated, and this may be used as the measured time of the operation button. As a simple method, the timer unit 13 may measure the time continuously from when the operation button is first pressed.
[0036]
Second Embodiment FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing functions of a remote control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description of overlapping portions will be omitted.
[0037]
4, the wireless remote control transmitter 10 includes a pressure sensor 21 (press detection means) for detecting the strength of the operation button 2 when pressed, instead of the timer unit 13 in FIG. The output of the pressure sensor 21 is input to the switching control unit 4a of the control unit 4, and the switching control unit 4a controls the transmission power switching based on the output of the pressure sensor 21.
Hereinafter, the operation of the wireless remote control transmitter configured as described above will be described.
[0038]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a transmission power switching process performed by pressing the wireless remote control transmitter. Steps for performing the same processes as those in the flow shown in FIG. 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description of overlapping portions will be omitted.
[0039]
When the operation button 2 is depressed in step S1, the switching control section 4a controls the transmission power switching circuit 5b of the transmission section 5 to transmit at the first transmission power (low transmission power) in step S3. In response to this, the transmission power switching circuit 5b switches the light emission amount of the light output of the light emitting element 5a to low transmission power, and the light emitting element 5a emits light with low output.
[0040]
In step S11, it is determined whether or not a signal indicating that the operation button 2 has been pressed with a predetermined strength or more is input from the pressure sensor 21. If the operation button 2 has been pressed with a predetermined strength or more, the process proceeds to step S5, If the button 2 has not been pressed strongly beyond a predetermined value, the process returns to step S3 to continue emitting light at the first transmission power.
[0041]
In step S5, the switching control section 4a controls the transmission power switching circuit 5b of the transmission section 5 so as to transmit at the second transmission power (high transmission power), and ends this flow. In response to this, the transmission power switching circuit 5b switches the light emission amount of the light output of the light emitting element 5a to high transmission power, and the light emitting element 5a emits light at high output.
[0042]
That is, in a situation where the operated device does not operate, it is conceivable that the operation button 2 is strongly pressed as human psychology. Therefore, it is detected whether the operation button 2 is strongly pressed by the pressing sensor 21 and the transmission power is gradually increased.
[0043]
As described above, the wireless remote control transmitter 10 of the present embodiment detects that the operation button 2 is strongly pressed by the pressing sensor 21 and controls the transmission power to be in a higher state. As in the embodiment, the current consumption of the used battery is reduced and the battery life can be prolonged without impairing the user's operation feeling.
[0044]
Further, in the first embodiment, the transmission power is increased stepwise only after the operation button 2 is pressed for a certain period of time or longer, but in this embodiment, the transmission is performed immediately when the user presses the operation button 2 strongly. Since the power is increased, the operability can be further improved.
[0045]
As described above, any device may be used as long as it is a remote control device that remotely controls an electronic device, and is applicable to a remote control device such as a television receiver, a VTR, and a DVD. Further, the remote control device may be a home electric device.
[0046]
Further, in each of the above embodiments, the command is transmitted by infrared communication. However, any command that can be remotely controlled, for example, a command that is transmitted by wireless or wired communication may be used.
Further, the types of the functional units constituting the system, for example, the transmission unit, the control unit, and the like, the number and arrangement of the operation buttons, the number, the connection method, and the like are not limited to the above-described embodiments.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, in a normal use state, the transmission power can be used with the minimum setting, and the battery life can be extended. Further, in a situation in which the operation cannot be performed in the setting state where the transmission power is the lowest, such as a long distance to the operated device, the transmission power can be further increased depending on the use state of the user, so that the operability is greatly improved. Can be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a remote control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating functions of a remote control device according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a transmission power switching process performed by the timer of the remote control device according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing functions of a remote control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a transmission power switching process performed by pressing the remote control device according to the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
1,10 Wireless remote control transmitter (remote control device)
2 operation button 3 display unit 4 control unit 4a switching control unit (control means)
5 Transmitting unit 5a Light emitting element 5b Transmission power switching circuit (transmission power switching output means)
11 operation unit 12 input circuit 13 timer unit (timekeeping means)
21 Press sensor (Press detection means)

Claims (8)

In a remote control device including an operation button for instructing various operations and transmitting an optical signal or a wireless signal to the operated device to remotely operate the device,
Transmission power switching output means for switching and outputting the transmission power of an optical signal or a radio signal,
A timer for measuring the operation time of the operation button,
And a control unit for switching transmission power by the transmission power switching output unit according to an operation time of the operation button. The control means controls the transmission power switching output means so that the transmission power is low at the start of the operation of the operation button, and the transmission power is higher when the operation button is continuously operated for a predetermined time or more. 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein said transmission power switching output means is controlled so as to be in a state. The control means controls the transmission power switching output means so that the transmission power is in the lowest state at the start of the operation of the operation button, and the transmission power is in the highest state when the operation button is continuously operated for a predetermined time or more. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the transmission power switching output unit is controlled so as to satisfy the following. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the operation time of the operation button includes an accumulation time when the operation button is operated a plurality of times. In a remote control device including an operation button for instructing various operations and transmitting an optical signal or a wireless signal to the operated device to remotely operate the device,
Transmission power switching output means for switching and outputting the transmission power of an optical signal or a radio signal,
Press detection means for detecting the strength when the operation button is pressed,
And a control means for switching transmission power by the transmission power switching output means in response to pressing of the operation button. 6. The remote control device according to claim 5, wherein the control unit controls the transmission power switching output unit such that when the operation button is pressed at a predetermined level or more, the transmission power becomes higher. 6. The remote control device according to claim 5, wherein the control unit controls the transmission power switching output unit such that when the operation button is pressed at a predetermined level or more, the transmission power becomes the highest state. The number of power switching stages of the transmission power switching output means is 2 or more or stepless,
The remote control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the control unit performs switching control of the transmission power switching output unit by two or more or steplessly.

Images