Remote control transmission apparatus

• US 6,198,481 B1
• Filed: 10/15/1998
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
• Original Assignee: SMK Corporation
• Inventors: Satou, Fumio, Urano, Sadao
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thomas T.
• Application Number:
  US09/172,656
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 345/348, 345/336, 345/337, 345/349, 345/158, 345/169, 345/87, 345/173, 345/179, 345/350, 463/37, 348/734
• US Class Current: 715/835
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control

Abstract

The present invention is to offer a remote control transmission apparatus which permits learning of control data for a plurality of devices without increasing the number of operating areas (kn) on the operating panel and provides a clear indication of the relationship between each operating area (kn) and the contents of control at the time when that operating area (kn) is pressed. In the learning mode, control data detected from a received remote control signal are stored in correspondence with a predetermined operating area (kn), and a predetermined one of plural icons is stored in correspondence with a predetermined operating area (kn). In the transmission mode, the contents of control at the time when the operating area (kn) is pressed can be displayed by the selected icon, providing a clear indication of their relationship and hence preventing a user from erroneous remote control operation.

Claims

1. A remote control transmission apparatus, comprising:

receiving means for receiving a remote control signal containing control data for controlling a device from another remote control transmission apparatus;

detecting means for detecting said control data from said received remote control signal;

keying means divided into a plurality of operating areas;

first control data storage means for storing said control data in correspondence with a predetermined one of said plurality of operating areas;

icon selecting means for selecting a predetermined icon from plural kinds of icons;

icon storage means for storing said selected icon in correspondence with said operating area indicated by said selected icon;

first display means for displaying said stored icon in said operating area corresponding thereto;

transmitting means for transmitting a remote control signal containing control data to a device to be controlled; and

mode selecting means for selecting either one of learning and transmitting modes of operation;

wherein, in said learning mode, said control data detected from said received remote control signal and said icon selected from said plural kinds of icons are stored in predetermined areas, respectively;

wherein, in said transmitting mode, if an icon is stored in correspondence with one of sad plurality of operating areas, the corresponding operating areas is indicated by said icon, and if control data is stored in correspondence with one of said operating areas, the corresponding operating area is pressed to transmit said remote control signal containing said stored control data to said device to be controlled; and

wherein said plurality of operating areas operate as changeable icon designating and displaying fields and key code input fields.

2. The remote control transmission apparatus of claim 1, wherein said keying means is a transparent touch panel which is laminated over said first display means formed by a liquid crystal panel and which is divided into said operating areas arranged in a matrix form.

3. The remote control transmission apparatus of claim 1, wherein said keying means keying means is a transparent tablet which is laminated over said first display means formed by a liquid crystal panel and which is divided into said plurality of operating areas divided according to the coordinates of positions on said tablet sheet where to press it.

4. The remote control transmission apparatus of claim 2 or 3, wherein, in the learning mode, said icon selecting means causes said first display means to display plural kinds of icons one after another so that, by pressing a predetermined operating area, the icon displayed in said pressed operating area is selected as a predetermined icon.

5. A remote control transmission apparatus, comprising:

receiving means for receiving a remote control signal containing control data for controlling a device from another remote control transmission apparatus;

detecting means for detecting said control data from said received remote control signal;

second display means for displaying an icon and a cursor in a display part;

icon selecting means for selecting a predetermined icon from plural kinds of icons;

icon displaying means for displaying said selected icon on said display part at an arbitrary position;

second control data storage means for storing control data in correspondence with the position where said predetermined icon is stored;

coordinate input means for controlling the movement of said cursor on said display part and for inputting coordinates of the position of said cursor at the time of an input witch actuation;

transmitting means for transmitting a remote control signal containing control data to a device to be controlled; and

mode selecting means for selecting either one of learning and transmitting modes of operation;

wherein, in said learning mode, said control data decoded from said received remote control signal and the icon selected from said plural kinds of icons are stored in correspondence with predetermined icon display positions, respectively;

wherein, in said transmitting mode, said selected icon is displayed at the icon display position associated therewith, and when said cursor coordinates input via said coordinate input means are at an icon display position, control data stored in correspondence with the said icon display position is incorporated in a remote control signal and transmitted to a device to be controlled; and

wherein said plurality of operating areas operate as changeable icon designating and displaying fields and key code input fields.