Remote control unit for video apparatus

• US 5,537,107 A
• Filed: 05/31/1995
• Issued: 07/16/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Funado, Shigeto
• Primary Examiner(s): Coleman, Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rinehart, Mark H.
• Application Number:
  US08/455,595
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 359/142, 359/143, 359/144, 359/145, 359/146, 359/152, 359/154, 359/169, 341/176, 348/734, 348/733
• US Class Current: 348/211.4
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0025 in a remote control unit remote control tuning in general H03J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/23 Remote control device with display showing data to be transmitted to the controlled apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42208 Display device provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus

Abstract

A remote control unit for an external video apparatus such as a video camera and a VTR includes an infrared signal receiving section for receiving a video signal as a infrared signal from the video apparatus. A video image depending upon the video signal is displayed on a LCD display together with display information necessary for a remote control in a LCD display. An operator can easily carry out the necessary remote control operation through a key matrix, confirming the result of the operation upon reviewing the video image in the LCD display. The operator'"'"'s key matrix operation is put into a microcomputer which, in turn, produces a control information for the video apparatus and transmits it to the video apparatus through an encoder and an infrared signal transmitting section. The above-mentioned display information is produced by the microcomputer and input through a character generator to the LCD display. Employing the LCD display increases the amount of information to be displayed, thereby making the remote control unit multi-functional.

Claims

1. A remote control unit for controlling an external video camera apparatus, comprising:

a support base;

a wireless video signal receiver mounted on said support base for receiving a video signal from the external video camera apparatus, said video signal being transmitted in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum;

a liquid crystal display mounted on said support base and connected to said video signal receiver for displaying a video image depending upon said video signal and for displaying character information corresponding to a remote control operation of the external video camera apparatus superimposed on said video image;

a keypad mounted on said support base through which a key input for the remote control operation is made by an operator of the remote control unit;

a wireless control signal transmitter mounted on said support base for transmitting a control signal to the external video camera apparatus representing control information for the remote control operation, said control signal being transmitted in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum;

a controller mounted on said support base and connected to said keypad and to said control signal transmitter for receiving said key input from said keypad and producing display information corresponding to said key input and for producing said control information fed to said signal transmitter; and

a character generator mounted on said support base and connected to said controller for converting said display information from said controller into said character information fed to said display, so that said display displays said character information superimposed on said video image.

2. A remote control unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an encoder adapter to encode said control information from said controller, in which said signal transmitter includes means for transmitting said encoded control information.