Remote control device

• US 6,285,357 B1
• Filed: 04/27/1999
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Hidetake, Hata, Nobuo, Fukano, Sayuri, Kushiro, Noriyuki, Nakata, Masanori, Komiya, Noriyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US09/297,201
• Time in Patent Office: 861 Days
• Field of Search: 345/169, 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 348/734
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/32 Remote control based on movements, attitude of remote control device
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/33 Remote control using macros, scripts
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/71 Directional beams
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0025 in a remote control unit remote control tuning in general H03J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/24 Remote control device with display showing program content
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 9/00 Remote-control of tuned circuits; Combined remote-control of tuning and other functions, e.g. brightness, amplification mechanical remote-control arrangements H03J1/00 ; using a microprocessor H03J1/0025; constructional details of remote control switching devices H01H9/0235

Abstract

A remote control unit according to the present invention includes a display unit for displaying a function item select picture where devices to be remotely controlled which are a plurality of function items such as “lighting”, “air conditioning”, “TV” and so on are arranged, a function item select switch for selecting any one of the devices to be remotely controlled, for example, “air conditioning” in said function item select picture, an affirmation button for deciding said selected device to be remotely controlled, for example, “air conditioning”, a denial button for canceling said selected function item, a control unit for allowing another function item select picture where a plurality of set functions which are a plurality of other function items such as “on/off”, “temp.”, “timer” and so on are arranged to be displayed on the display unit when, for example, “air conditioning” is decided and instructed by said affirmation button, to output an instruction code of, for example, “air conditioning” as decided and instructed, and communication section for converting said outputted instruction code into an infrared ray signal to transmit the infrared ray signal to a device to be remotely controlled, for example, “air conditioning”. As a result, the number of the operating switches and buttons can be reduced, the operation procedure of various devices to be remotely controlled can be unified, thereby being capable of obtaining high operability.

Claims

1. A remote control unit, comprising:

display means for displaying a function item select picture where a plurality of function items are arranged;

function item select means for selecting any function item in said function item select picture;

decision instruction input means for deciding said selected function item;

cancel instruction input means for canceling said selected function item;

control means for allowing another function item select picture, where a plurality of other function items are arranged, to be displayed on the display means when a specific function item is decided and instructed by said decision instruction input means, and for outputting an instruction code of said specific function item as decided and instructed; and

communication means for converting said output instruction code into a radio signal to transmit the radio signal to a device to be remotely controlled,

wherein said control means includes a control processing section and a memory section, and

wherein said control processing section reads the function item select picture where a plurality of devices to be remotely controlled are arranged as the plurality of function items from said memory section and allows the function item select picture to be displayed on said display means as an initial picture.

2. The remote control unit as claimed in claim 1,

wherein when a specific device to be remotely controlled is selected by said function item select means, said control processing section allows said specific device to be remotely controlled to be displayed on said display means in a specific manner so that said specific device is distinguishable from other devices to be remotely controlled;

when said specific device to be remotely controlled is decided and instructed by said decision instruction input means, said control processing section reads another function item select picture where a plurality of set functions for said decided and instructed device to be remotely controlled are arranged as the plurality of other functions items from said memory section and allows another function item select picture to be displayed on said display means; and

when a transmission instruction is provided, said control processing section outputs the instruction code of said decided and instructed device to be remotely controlled to said communication means.

3. The remote control unit as claimed in claim 1,

wherein when a specific set function is selected by said function item select means, said control processing section allows said specific set function to be displayed on said display means in a specific manner so that said specific set function is distinguishable from other set functions;

when said specific set function is decided and instructed by said decision instruction input means, said control processing section reads a set-value input picture of said decided and instructed set functions from said memory section when a set-value input is necessary, and allows the set-value input picture to be displayed on said displayed means; and

when a transmission instruction is provided, said control processing section outputs the instruction code of said decided and instructed set function to said communication means.

4. The remote control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said function item select means includes a first function item select switch for moving a cursor of said display means upward, and a second function item select switch for moving the cursor of said display means downward.

5. The remote control unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein said control means includes:

timer means for measuring a continuous operation period of said first function item select switch and measuring a continuous operation period of said second function item select switch; and

continuous-operation judging section for generating a signal equivalent to the operation of predetermined number of times so that the picture of said display means is scrolled when the continuous operation period measure by said timer means reaches a predetermined period.

6. The remote control unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said control means further includes continuous-operation acceptance advisability judging means for returning an acceptance enable signal or an acceptance disenable signal referring to a continuous-operation acceptance advisability data base in which continuous-operation acceptance advisability is described for each of the function items, when receiving an inquiry about the advisability of continuous operation acceptance from said continuous-operation judging section;

and

wherein said continuous-operation judging section generates no signal equivalent to the operation of the predetermined number of times even if the continuous operation period measured by said timer means reaches the predetermined period, when receiving the acceptance disenable signal from said continuous-operation acceptance advisability judging means.

7. The remote control unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein said control means includes item display order managing means for updating the select frequency of a select frequency management table in which a select frequency is described for each of the function items every time any function item is decided and instructed by said decision instruction input means, and for rearranging the function item display order of a function item display list for the function item select picture into the select frequency order of said select frequency management table.

8. The remote control unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising vibration generating means for generating vibrations;

wherein said control means allows said vibration generating means to generate the vibrations when said function item select means, said decision instruction input means, and said cancel instruction input means are operated.

9. The remote control unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein said vibration generating means is a touch-sense response device for generating vibration by beating the unit body.

10. The remote control unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising sounding means for outputting a sound;

wherein said control means allows said sounding means to output the sound every time the picture of said display means is updated and displayed.

11. The remote control unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein when any function item in the function item select picture displayed on said display means is selected, said sounding means reads out said selected function item.

12. The remote control unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

vibration generating means for generating vibrations; and

sounding means for outputting a sound,

wherein said control means generates vibrations by said vibration generating means when said function item select means, said decision instruction input means, and said cancel instruction input means are operated, and by said sounding means, allows to output the sound every time the picture of said display means is updated and displayed and also when any function item in the function item select picture displayed on said display means is selected allows to read out said selected function item.

13. The remote control unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising characteristic selecting means which can change the number of function items according to the design required from an operator,

wherein said control means increases/decreases the number of function items on the basis of the information set by said characteristic selecting means and varies the size of the function item displayed on said display means.

14. The remote control unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein said communication means includes a plurality of infrared ray emission elements different in light distribution characteristic;

and

wherein said control means includes light emission element control means for controlling a light distribution of the infrared ray signal transmitted from said communication means in correspondence with the selected device to be remotely controlled and the function item selected by said characteristic selecting means, referring to light distribution management data base where a light distribution characteristic is set for each of the devices to be remotely controlled in advance.

15. The remote control unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising pattern operation mode selecting means for selecting an operation mode in which the plurality of devices to be remotely controlled with a predetermined relation to be operated are operated at the same time;

wherein when said operation mode is selected by said pattern operation mode selecting means, said control means allows the function item select picture where the function items for operating the plurality of devices to be remotely controlled with the predetermined relation to be operated at the same time are arranged to be displayed on said display means.

16. The remote control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communication means includes a plurality of infrared ray emission elements;

wherein said control means includes light emission element control means for controlling a light emission intensity of the infrared ray signal transmitted from said communication means in correspondence with the selected device to be remotely controlled, referring to light emission intensity management data where a light emission intensity is set for each of the devices to be remotely controlled in advance.

17. The remote control unit as claimed in claim 16, wherein said control means further includes operation history memory means for storing the device to be remotely controlled which has been selected previously and its operation function;

and

wherein when a device to be remotely controlled which is selected presently and its operation function are identical with the device to be remotely controlled which has been selected previously and its operation function which are stored in said operation history memory means, said light emission element control means controls the light emission intensity of the infrared ray signal transmitted from said communication means to become larger than the light emission intensity of said light emission intensity management data and rewrites the light emission intensity of said light emission intensity management data.

18. The remote control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said communication means includes a plurality of infrared ray emission elements different in light distribution characteristic;

and

wherein said control means includes light emission element control means for controlling a light distribution of the infrared ray signal transmitted from said communication means in correspondence with the selected device to be remotely controlled, referring to light distribution management data base where a light distribution characteristic is set for each of the devices to be remotely controlled in advance.

19. The remote control unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an operation detecting sensor for detecting specific operation;

wherein when said specific operation is detected by said operating detecting sensor, said control means allows said communication means to convert the instruction code of the specific operation of the device to be remotely controlled in correspondence with said specific operation into an infrared ray signal and to transmit the infrared ray signal.

20. A remote control unit, comprising:

display means for displaying a function item select picture where a plurality of function items are arranged;

function item select means for selecting any function item in said function item select picture;

decision instruction input means for deciding said selected function item;

cancel instruction input means for canceling said selected function item;

control means for allowing another function item select picture, where a plurality of other function items are arranged, to be displayed on the display means when a specific function item is decided and instructed by said decision instruction input means, and for outputting an instruction code of said specific function item as decided and instructed;

communication means for converting said output instruction code into a radio signal to transmit the radio signal to a device to be remotely controlled; and

subject-device identifying means for identifying a device to be remotely controlled on the basis of a direction of a unit body which is directed to the device to be remotely controlled;

wherein said control means allows the function item select picture, in which a plurality of set functions are arranged for the device to be remotely controlled which is identified by said subject-device identifying means, to be displayed on said display means as an initial picture.

21. The remote control unit as claimed in claim 20, wherein said subject-device identifying means is an angle sensor for identifying the device to be remotely controlled on the basis of an elevation angle of the unit body when said subject device identifying means is directed to the device to be remotely controlled.

22. A remote control unit, comprising:

display means for displaying a function item select picture where a plurality of function items are arranged;

function item select means for selecting any function item in said function item select picture;

decision instruction input means for deciding said selected function item;

cancel instruction input means for canceling said selected function item;

control means for allowing another function item select picture, where a plurality of other function items are arranged, to be displayed on the display means when a specific function item is decided and instructed by said decision instruction input means, and for outputting an instruction code of said specific function item as decided and instructed; and

communication means for converting said output instruction code into a radio signal to transmit the radio signal to a device to be remotely controlled;

wherein said device to be remotely controlled includes a device identification code transmitting section;

wherein said communication means obtains directivity and includes a receiving means for receiving the device identification code transmitted from a plurality of the devices to be remotely controlled; and

wherein by facing said receiving means to a specific direction of the device to be remotely controlled, said control means identifies the device to be remotely controlled on the basis of device identification code received by said communication means, and allows the function item select picture, in which a plurality of set functions are arranged for said identified device to be remotely controlled, to be displayed on said display means as the initial picture.