Remote control system including remote controller with image pickup function

• US 20070229671A1
• Filed: 03/27/2007
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Takeshita, Masahiro, Masaki, Yasuo, Ishimoto, Kouichi
• Application Number:
  US11/728,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20070229671A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4131 home appliance, e.g. lighting, air conditioning system, metering devices home automation data switching networks exchanging configuration information on appliance services H04L12/2807
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42222 Additional components integrated in the remote control device, e.g. timer, speaker, sensors for detecting position, direction or movement of the remote control, microphone or battery charging device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4227 Providing Remote input by a user located remotely from the client device, e.g. at work
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices

Abstract

A remote control system is made up by a remote controller for remotely operating equipment such as an air conditioner and a television, and a cradle connected to a commercial power supply and having a charging function for the remote controller. The remote controller is equipped with a camera and a communication unit capable of communicating through a network. The cradle is equipped with a light unit such as an LED.

Claims

1. A remote control system comprising:

a remote controller for remotely operating an equipment and

a cradle connected to a commercial power supply and having a charging function for said remote controller, wherein

said remote controller includes an image pick-up unit and a communication unit capable of connecting said remote controller to a network; and

said cradle includes a light unit for increasing illuminance of a field of view of said image pick-up unit.

2. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein

said remote controller includes:

a control unit for controlling operation by said image pick-up unit; and

a connector to be connected to said cradle, and

said control unit makes said image pick-up unit execute image picking up operation, provided that said connector is connected to said cradle.

3. The remote control system according to claim 2, wherein

said remote controller further includes an input unit to which information on a image pickup aspect in a state of said connector being connected to said cradle is inputted;

and

said control unit controls the image pickup operation by said image pick-up unit based on the information inputted to said input unit when said connector is connected to said cradle.

4. The remote control system according to claim 2, wherein

said control unit determines whether or not a field of view of said image pick-up unit is appropriately light for image pickup when said connector is connected to said cradle;

and

said cradle lights said light unit if said control unit determines that the field of view of said image pick-up unit is not appropriately light for image pickup.

5. The remote control system according to claim 4, wherein

said control unit transmits a signal for lighting said light unit to said cradle if said control unit determines that the field of view of said image pick-up unit is not appropriately light for image pickup.

6. The remote control system according to claim 4, wherein

said control unit determines whether or not the field of view of said image pick-up unit is appropriately light for image pickup based on contrast of an image picked up by said image pick-up unit.

7. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein

said remote controller includes a control unit for controlling operation by said image pick-up unit and

said control unit determines whether or not to transmit an image through said network based on the image picked up by said image pick-up unit, and only if said control unit determines to transmit, makes said communication unit transmit the image through said network.

8. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein

said remote controller further includes:

a control unit for controlling operation by said image pick-up unit; and

a receiver for receiving a signal for requesting transmission of an image picked up by said image pick-up unit, and

said control unit makes said communication unit transmit the image through said network, provided that said receiver receives the signal for requesting the transmission of said image.

9. The remote control system according to claim 8, wherein

said receiver further receives a signal for requesting lighting of said light unit;

and

said control unit transmits a signal for lighting said light unit to said cradle, provided that said receiver receives the signal for requesting the lighting of said light unit.

10. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein

said control unit determines whether or not an image picked up by said image pick-up unit satisfies a predetermined condition, and

said remote controller further includes:

a transmitter for transmitting a control signal to said equipment;

a storage for storing said predetermined condition and a type of the control signal to be transmitted to said equipment in association with each other, and

said control unit makes said transmitter transmit to said equipment the type of the control signal stored in said storage in association with said predetermined condition.

11. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein

said remote controller further includes a transmitter for transmitting a control signal to said equipment;

and

said transmitter transmits the control signal to said equipment based on a signal received by said communication unit through said network.

12. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein

said light unit includes a first light unit for emitting visible light and a second light unit for emitting near infrared light.

13. A remote control system comprising:

a remote controller for remotely operating an equipment and

a cradle connected to a commercial power supply and having a charging function for said remote controller, wherein

said remote controller including;

an image pick-up unit;

a communication unit capable of connecting said remote controller to a network;

a control unit for controlling operation by said image pick-up unit;

a connector to be connected to said cradle;

an input unit to which information on a image pickup aspect in a state of said connector being connected to said cradle is inputted;

a receiver for receiving a signal for requesting transmission of an image picked up by said image pick-up unit;

a transmitter for transmitting a control signal to said equipment; and

a storage for storing a predetermined condition and a type of the control signal to be transmitted to said equipment in association with each other, wherein

said control unit controls image pickup operation by said image pick-up unit based on the information inputted to said input unit when said connector is connected to said cradle,

determines whether or not a field of view of said image pick-up unit is appropriately light for image pickup based on contrast of the image picked up by said image pick-up unit, when said connector is connected to said cradle,

transmits a signal for lighting said light unit to said cradle if the control unit determines that the field of view of said image pick-up unit is not appropriately light for image pickup, and

makes said communication unit transmit the image through said network if the control unit determines to transmit the image through said network based on the image picked up by said image pick-up unit or if said receiver receives the signal for requesting the transmission of said image;

said receiver further receives the signal for requesting the lighting of said light unit;

said control unit transmits the signal for lighting said light unit to said cradle, provided that said receiver receives the signal for requesting the lighting of said light unit, and

determines whether or not the image picked up by said image pick-up unit satisfies the predetermined condition, and if the control unit determines that said predetermined condition is satisfied, makes said transmitter transmit to the equipment the type of the control signal stored in said storage in association with said predetermined condition;

said transmitter transmits the control signal to said equipment based on control by said control unit or based on the signal received by said communication unit through said network;

said cradle includes a first light unit and a second light unit for increasing illuminance of a field of view of said image pick-up unit;

said first light unit emits visible light; and

said second light unit emits near infrared light.