JP3193176B2 - Two-way remote control system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control system, and more particularly to a method for mutually transmitting and receiving information signals between controlled equipment such as video equipment and audio equipment and a remote controller for operating these equipment. About two-way remote control system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a remote controller (hereinafter abbreviated as a remote controller) prepared for each controlled device has been used for remote control, or an operation signal to be transmitted to each controlled device is stored in advance. Or was remotely controlled by a single remote control.

In the former system, when a controlled device is added, a remote controller corresponding to the added device must be newly prepared, and when the number of controlled devices is large, a large number of remote controllers are required. Is inconvenient in actual operation. In this regard, systems such as the latter are more advantageous. However, in a system such as the latter, when a controlled device is added, the number of operation buttons on a remote controller corresponding to the added device is increased,
The operation of storing the operation signal to be transmitted to the additional device is involved, and a great burden is imposed on the user when handling such a remote controller.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to increase the number of operation buttons on a remote controller even when a controlled device is added. Another object of the present invention is to provide a two-way remote control system capable of performing remote control corresponding to a controlled device without the operation of storing a command signal to be transmitted to the additional device.

[0005]

A two-way remote control system according to the present invention is a two-way remote control system for mutually transmitting and receiving information signals between a controlled device and a remote controller for operating the controlled device. The controlled device has an identification signal generating unit that generates an identification signal indicating a type of the controlled device, and a transmitting unit that transmits the identification signal in response to an identification signal transfer command. The controller is the controlled device
For storing a plurality of operation command groups corresponding to each of
Storage means and a transfer command transmission for transmitting the identification signal transfer command.
Receiving means for receiving the identification signal transmitted by the transmitting means , and a group of operation commands corresponding to the identification signal.
Display means for displaying read from said storage means is selected by the selection input of the displayed operation command group
Operation signal transmitting means for transmitting an operation signal for operating the controlled device in response to the operation command .

[0006]

The bidirectional remote control system according to the present invention generates an identification signal indicating the type of the controlled device, transmits the identification signal generated in response to the identification signal transfer command, and the remote controller transmits the identification signal. It issues a transfer command, receives an identification signal, displays an operation command corresponding to the received identification signal, and transmits an operation signal for operating the controlled device in response to the displayed operation command.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a two-way remote control system according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a master amplifier 1 serves as a system controller that controls the operation of the entire system.
For example, a laser disk player (LDP) 2, a compact disk player (CDP) 3, a first video cassette recorder (VCR) 4 having a reproducing function, a second video cassette recorder (VCR) 5 having a reproducing function, and a tuner 6 , Are connected via an input source signal line, an input and output control signal line, and a power supply line, respectively. The master amplifier 1 is provided with a dedicated connection terminal group for each of these source devices. The LDP has a terminal group (LDP), the CDP has a terminal group (CDP),
The VCR has two terminal groups (VCR1) and (VCR2)
However, the tuner is provided with a terminal group (TUN), two terminal groups (CTR1) and (CTR2) as connection terminals for a cassette tape recorder, and a terminal group (ADP) as a connection terminal for an analog disk player. ) Is provided.

Various signal lines and power supply lines connected to these terminal groups in the master amplifier 1 are led to a signal control unit 10. The signal control unit 10 includes an input / output interface circuit, a selector for selecting any one of a plurality of input source signals, and an input control signal and an output control signal according to a command signal from a remote control transmission / reception control unit 11 described later. It comprises a CPU for controlling generation and switching of the selector, and an amplifier for amplifying a selected source signal. The output source signals obtained by the signal control unit 10 are supplied to dedicated connection terminals. The master amplifier 1 is also connected to, for example, a video monitor 7 and a speaker 8 via the connection terminal and the output source signal line, respectively.

Further, in the master amplifier 1, a predetermined signal line or a power supply line for each corresponding source device in the connection terminal group for the source device including terminals not connected to the source device is connected to the remote control transmission / reception control unit 11. It is guided to the connection state detection circuit 111. The connection state detection circuit 111 detects a connection state with a source device for each of the guided lines, that is, whether or not a source device corresponding to the line is connected, and outputs a detection signal corresponding to the detection result to the CPU 112, respectively. Supply. C
The PU 112 generates source identification data corresponding to each of the supplied detection signals, and stores this in the source identification data memory 11.
3 is stored. The source identification data here carries information indicating which of the connection terminal groups for the source device is connected to the master amplifier 1. The remote control transmission / reception control unit 11 also receives a system operation signal from the remote control 9 and supplies it to the CPU 112.
And a transmission unit 115 for transmitting a remote control signal from the PU 112 to the remote control 9. CPU1
12 supplies a command signal to the signal control unit 10 in response to a system operation signal supplied from the reception unit 114, and controls the remote controller based on the control signal from the signal control unit 10 and the data read from the source identification data memory 113. The signal is supplied to the transmitting unit 115.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of the remote controller 9. In FIG. 2, a remote controller 9 receives a remote control signal from the master amplifier 1 and supplies it to a control unit 91 composed of a microcomputer, and transmits a system operation signal from the control unit 91 to the master amplifier. Transmitter 93 for transmitting to 1
And The control unit 91 displays a program memory 94 for storing program data, a command memory 95A for storing command data corresponding to all source devices connectable to the master amplifier 1, and a source device connected to the master amplifier 1. And the like, and a command display memory 95C for displaying a command corresponding to the source device selected by the user as the operation device among the source devices connected to the master amplifier 1 and the memory 95B. Read and write, and also processes and controls signals based on the program data.

Further, the remote controller 9 has a display section 96, a touch sensor 97 provided on the display surface of the display section 96, and a key operation detecting circuit 98 for detecting the operated state from the sensor output signal. And Display 9
Reference numeral 6 denotes a display based on the display control signal supplied from the control unit 91, and the key operation detection circuit 98 supplies a key operation signal corresponding to the detected operation state to the control unit 91. The key operation detection circuit 98 is also provided independently of a key operation signal corresponding to an output signal of the touch sensor 97, a power control key switch 99 a provided independently on an operation panel of the remote controller 9, and similarly provided independently. A key operation signal corresponding to an output signal of the source device preset key 99b or the like is supplied to the control unit 91, respectively.

Next, the operation of this system will be described. FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing a procedure of processing executed by the control unit 91 in the remote controller 9 based on the program data. 3 and 4, when it is determined that the power supply control key 99a for turning on the power of the system is pressed based on the output key operation signal of the key operation detection circuit 98, the control unit 91 repeats step S1. The process goes out of the flow and moves to step S2. In step S2, when the control unit 91 supplies a system operation signal indicating a power-on command to the transmission unit 93, the control unit 91 proceeds to step S3 and waits for reception of the source identification data.

Thus, the transmitting section 93 transmits the supplied system operation signal to the master amplifier 1. When the master amplifier 1 receives the system operation signal at the receiving unit 114, the operation signal is transmitted from the receiving unit 114 to the CPU 112.
Is transmitted to In response, the CPU 112 turns on the main power supply of the master amplifier 1 and turns on the connected source devices 2 to 6 via the signal control unit 10. The CPU 112 controls the connection state detection circuit 11
In step 1, the type of the connected source device is detected, and the source identification data corresponding to the detection result is stored in the source identification data memory 113. As the source identification data, for example, code data corresponding to the source device as shown in FIG. 5 is assigned. In this case, the codes “1” to “5” are stored in the memory 113. At the same time, the source identification data and the predetermined data are transferred to the transmission section 115, and the transmission section 115 issues a remote control signal including the source identification data in a format as shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, one remote control signal is composed of a leader code LC indicating a transmission start, a control code CC, a data code DC, and a stop code SC indicating a transmission end. In this case, the control code CC means that the remote control signal is a signal for transmitting source identification data, and the data code DC indicates the source identification data of codes "1" to "5". . The remote control signal of such a form is transmitted to the receiving section 92 of the remote controller 9.
, The control signal is transmitted from the receiving unit 92 to the control unit 91. In response to this, the control unit 91
Extracts the source identification data of the codes "1" to "5" in the transmitted remote control signal, and proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, the control section 91 confirms that each of the extracted source identification data, that is, the codes "1" to "5" are stored in the command memory 95A, respectively. The command memory 95A has, for example, a memory map as shown in FIG. 7, and includes a plurality of touch sensors 97 arranged in a grid on the display unit 96 as shown in FIG.
The information data to be displayed on the surface (or below the surface) of each section A11 to A55 is stored for each address. Such display information data indicates an operation command name of the source device, a mark representing the command, and the like.

After the confirmation in the command memory 95A, the control section 91 proceeds to step S5 to determine whether or not there is a code that is not stored among the extracted source identification data codes. If it is determined in step S5 that there is a code that is not stored, the control unit 91 proceeds to step S6 and sends a display control signal to the display unit 96 to display an error for notifying the user. Supply, and the process proceeds to Step S7. When it is determined in step S5 that all the extracted codes are stored in the command memory 95A, the control unit 91 immediately proceeds to step S7. Step S
7, the control unit 91 stores only the source identification data of the code whose storage has been confirmed, in the source device display memory 9.
5B, and then proceeds to step S8. Step S8
In the control unit 91, the source device display memory 95
B, the code whose storage is confirmed is read out, and it is displayed that the source devices corresponding to the read out code are connected to the master amplifier 1 respectively. At this time, for example, a display as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the operation panel of the remote controller 9, and the user can see this to know the connected source device and confirm the source device to be operated. After step S8, the process moves to step S9.

In step S9, the control section 91 determines whether or not the key operation detection circuit 98 has issued such a key operation signal to detect that the user has issued an operation command for selecting a source device to be operated. It is determined whether or not. For example, in the operation panel as shown in FIG. 9, when the user wants to operate the CD player, by pressing the area A21 or A22 (see FIG. 8) in which the name is displayed, the user can operate the CD player as the source device. A key operation signal indicating that the selection has been made is issued. When determining that such a key operation signal has been issued in step S9, the control unit 91 proceeds to step S10, and stores the operation command of the selected source device in the command display memory 95C. According to the above example, when the CD player is selected, the display information data A 211, A 212,..., A 225 (see FIG. 7) stored together with the code “2” corresponding to the CD player are read from the command memory 95 A. Stored in the command display memory 95C. Then, the process shifts to step S11 to perform display based on the display information data A211, A212,..., A225. At this time, for example, a display as shown in FIG. 10 is displayed on the operation panel of the remote controller 9, and the user can see the display to know the operation commands of the CD player and can instruct these commands. After step S11, the process proceeds to step S12.

In step S12, the control unit 91
In order to detect that an operation command for selecting a command has been issued by the user, it is determined whether or not such a key operation signal has been issued from the key operation detection circuit 98. For example, in the operation panel as shown in FIG. 10 when the CD player is selected as the source device, when the user wants to put the CD player into the play mode, the user presses the area A33 (see FIG. 8) where the command name is displayed. As a result, a key operation signal indicating that the play mode should be started is issued to the CD player. If it is determined in step S12 that the key operation signal for command selection has been issued, the control unit 91 proceeds to step S13 and transmits the selected command to the master amplifier 1 through the transmission unit 93. Let me know. When this command is received by the receiving unit 114 in the master amplifier 1, the command is transferred to the CPU 112. And the CPU 112
Sends a control signal to start the play mode to the CDP 3 via the signal control unit 10 in response to the
P3 starts the play mode.

If no key operation signal for command selection is issued in step S12, the process proceeds to step S14, and it is determined whether a key operation signal for selecting another source device has been issued. On the operation panel as shown in FIG. 10, key operation indicating that another source device should be selected by the user pressing an area A55 (see FIG. 8) in which the selection of another source device is displayed. A signal is emitted. In step S14, when determining that the key operation signal for selecting the source device has been issued, the control unit 91 determines
In step S8, the source device corresponding to the code read from the source device display memory 95B is displayed again as shown in FIG. When determining that the key operation signal for selecting the source device is not issued in step S14, the control unit 91 shifts to step S12.

In this embodiment, when the power is turned on to the system, the master amplifier 1 sends source identification data indicating the information of the source device connected to the master amplifier to the remote controller 9 based on this information. Since the source device and the command are displayed on the remote control operation panel, even if the number of source devices connected to the master amplifier 1 is increased, the operation environment of the remote control can be automatically changed correspondingly. Therefore, there is no burden on the user every time the connected source device is changed.

In the above-described embodiment, the source identification data is transmitted immediately after the power is turned on. However, not only this, but also in response to the pressing of the source device preset key 99b as shown in FIG. By doing so, it is possible to cope with a case where the connected source device is changed after the power is turned on. In the above embodiment,
Although the display control on the remote controller is performed using the source device display memory 95B and the command display memory 95C, the display control may be performed by using only the command memory 95A.

Further, in the above embodiment, it is assumed that the source equipment and the master amplifier are of the same maker, and the source identification data is sufficient to merely distinguish the source equipment according to the connection state of the source equipment. In a system corresponding to source devices of different manufacturers, it is necessary to distinguish manufacturers. In this case, FIG.
It can be realized by further providing such a setting switch circuit for discriminating the maker in the master amplifier 1A. That is, in FIG. 11, the setting switch circuit 116 is constituted by a rotary type DIP switch prepared corresponding to the source device connection terminal group. Then, manufacturers A to I are assigned to the scales A to I of the dip switches, and the switch output signals are supplied to the CPU 112. CP
In U112, a correspondence relationship as shown in FIG. 12, for example, is obtained based on the switch output signal and information on the source device connected to the master amplifier 1A obtained by the connection state detection circuit 111. That is, FIG.
The information indicated by the circles indicated by に お い て also bears on the source device connected to the master amplifier 1A and its manufacturer type. When the CPU 112 obtains this information, the codes “1A”, “1A” and “ 2B ",
Generated as “3D” and stored in the source identification data memory 113. Thus, the operation environment of the remote controller 9 is controlled as described above based on the source identification data generated in this manner. As a result, control can be performed not only for the type of source device but also for the manufacturer. When the source identification data also distinguishes manufacturers, it is necessary that command data be stored for each manufacturer in the command memory 95A of the remote controller 9 as well.

The source identification data may be generated only by the setting switch circuit without using the connection state detection circuit 111. In this case, the setting switch circuit is responsible for determining the connection information of the source device. On the other hand, irrespective of the connection state detection circuit and the setting switch circuit, the source identification data may be generated by a configuration in which bidirectional communication is possible between the source device and the master amplifier connected as follows.

FIG. 13 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of this, and the source device connected to the master amplifier 1B is:
CPU 2A1 and memory 2 read and controlled by CPU 2A1
A2 and LDP2A. In such a configuration, data indicating the manufacturer name and the type of the source device is stored in the memory 2A2 in advance, and the exchange of the data is performed between the CPU 2A1 of the LDP 2A and the CPU 112 of the master amplifier 1B. That is, in response to a power-on command or a source device preset command from the remote controller 9, the CPU 112
A is instructed to transfer the data, and when the LDP 2A receives this command, the data is read from the memory 2A2 and transferred to the CPU 112 via the signal control unit 10. Other source devices 3 connected in the same manner
A, 4A, 5A, and 6A are also performed, and the source identification data is generated by all the data corresponding to each source device.

Next, an example of application of the above system to a so-called multi-room system will be described. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a multi-room remote control system, in which parts equivalent to those in FIG. In FIG. 14, a source device 2 is provided in a main room.
3, 4, 5, and 6 are installed, and these source devices are collectively signal-controlled by the master amplifier 1C. Source signals from the respective source devices distributed by the signal control unit 10 of the master amplifier 1C are supplied to the video monitor 7 and the speaker 8 installed in the main room, and are further supplied to the video monitors 7A and 7A installed in one sub room. It is also supplied to the speaker 8A. In other sub-rooms as well, they are supplied to the video monitor and the speaker. The master amplifier 1 </ b> C is connected to the remote control receiving unit 114 and the transmitting unit 115 and the CPU 112 from the master amplifier 1 in FIG.
And the signal lines are respectively led to external terminals. These external terminals are connected via signal lines to the receiving unit 114 'and the transmitting unit 115' of the remote control transmitting / receiving device 117 installed in the sub room. These transmission / reception units have functions equivalent to those of the transmission / reception units 114 and 115 described above. In other sub-rooms as well, the same remote control transmitting / receiving device 117 is connected to the same device via the same signal line.

In the system having such a configuration, the remote controller 9 is operated in the sub-room as shown in the drawing to operate as in the previous embodiment, so that any source equipment can be operated at a distance from the main room. It is preferable to be able to know what can be done. In the above embodiment, a system in which the controlled device is an audio and visual device has been described. However, the present invention is applicable to a variety of other types of controlled devices.

[0026]

As described above in detail, according to the bidirectional remote control system of the present invention, the identification signal indicating the type of the controlled device is generated, and the identification signal generated in response to the identification signal transfer command is generated. The remote controller issues an identification signal transfer command, receives the identification signal, displays an operation command corresponding to the received identification signal, and operates the controlled device in accordance with the displayed operation command. Since the operation signal is transmitted, even if the controlled device is added, the number of operation buttons on the remote controller is not increased, and the operation of storing the command signal to be transmitted to the added device is not performed, and the Corresponding remote control can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a two-way remote control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a specific configuration of a remote controller in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a first flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by a control unit of a remote controller in the system of FIG. 1 based on program data.

FIG. 4 is a second flowchart showing a procedure of a process executed by the control unit of the remote controller in the system of FIG. 1 based on the program data.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining a source identification data generation operation in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a format of a remote control signal in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a storage mode of a command memory of the remote controller in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a form of a touch sensor of a remote controller in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a source device display mode of a remote controller in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary view showing a display mode of a remote controller when a CD player is selected in the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a modification of the system in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a view for explaining the operation of the system in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another modification of the system in FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a schematic block diagram showing an application example of the system of the present invention to a multi-room system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1A, 1B, 1C Master amplifier 10 Signal control unit 11 Remote control transmission / reception control unit 111 Connection state detection circuit 112 CPU 113 Source identification data memory 114, 114 'Receiving unit 115, 115' Transmitting unit 116 Setting switch circuit 117 Remote control transmitting / receiving device 2,2A LDP 2A1 CPU 2A2 memory 3,3A CDP 4,4A, 5,5A VCR 6,6A Tuner 7,7A Video monitor 8,8A Speaker 9 Remote controller 91 Control unit 92 Receiver 93 Transmitter 94 Program memory 95A Command memory 95B Source device display memory 95C Command display memory 96 Display unit 97 Touch sensor 98 Key operation detection circuit 99a Power control key switch 99b Source device preset key switch

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Shimada 4-15-5 Omori Nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside the Omori Plant of Onia Corporation (72) Inventor Hideaki Nishikura 4- 15-5 Omori Nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo Onia Co., Ltd. Omori Plant (72) Inventor Andrew Gilhuley 4-15-5 Omori Nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo Pienia Co., Ltd. Omori Plant (72) Inventor Koji Osawa 4-15 Omori Nishi, Ota-ku, Tokyo No. 5 Pioneer Corporation Omori Plant (56) References JP-A-5-268678 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04Q 9/00-9/16

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A bidirectional remote control system for mutually transmitting and receiving information signals between a controlled device and a remote controller for operating the controlled device, wherein the controlled device is a type of the controlled device. Identification signal generation means for generating an identification signal indicating the following, and transmission means for transmitting the identification signal in response to an identification signal transfer command, wherein the remote controller is configured to control each of the controlled devices.
Storage means for storing a plurality of corresponding operation command groups;
Transfer command transmitting means for transmitting the identification signal transfer command ,
Receiving the identification signal transmitted by the transmitting means ,
And a group of operation commands corresponding to the group is stored in the memory.
A display means for reading out and displaying from the means, and an operation command selected from the displayed operation command group by selection input.
And an operation signal transmitting means for transmitting an operation signal for operating the controlled device in response to a command . 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting means transmits said identification signal in response to a power-on command, and said remote controller issues said power-on command and receives said identification signal. A two-way remote control system as described.