Composite electronic apparatus

• US 7,884,700 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2007
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd. (Funai Electric Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd. (Funai Electric Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Ishiguchi, Fusao
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): POINT, RUFUS C
• Application Number:
  US11/652,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20070176733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,488 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.72, 340/825.69, 340/825.22, 340/825.24, 340/825.25, 340/815.6, 340/426.13, 340/3.71, 348/734
• US Class Current: 340/3.71
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4112 having fewer capabilities than the client, e.g. thin client having less processing power or no tuning capabilities
• 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 21/4221 Dedicated function buttons, e.g. for the control of an EPG, subtitles, aspect ratio, picture-in-picture or teletext
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42221 Transmission circuitry, e.g. infrared [IR] or radio frequency [RF]
• 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 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums

Abstract

A composite electronic apparatus that prevents misoperation of a remote control device and provides easy remote control operations for electronic devices is provided. When a DVD mode switching key is pressed, for example, in this composite electronic apparatus, a DVD recognition LED is turned on. When a VCR mode switching key is pressed, a VCR recognition LED is turned on. In addition, when one of action command keys is pressed, the DVD recognition LED or the VCR recognition LED indicating an operation target is turned on in accordance with information indicating a transmission mode stored until the action command key is operated.

Claims

1. A composite electronic apparatus comprising a remote control device for transmitting different key code signals for operation and a main body of the composite electronic apparatus made up of a plurality of electronic devices having different functions,

wherein the remote control device includes:

a plurality of light emitting elements for recognizing transmission modes, the plurality of light emitting elements corresponding to mode switching keys implemented with press switches or slide switches for designating an operation target among a plurality of electronic devices; and

a first light emitting element turning-on portion for turning on the light emitting element for recognizing a transmission mode corresponding to an operation of the mode switching key among the plurality of light emitting elements for recognizing transmission modes when the mode switching key is operated,

wherein the main body of the composite electronic apparatus includes;

a plurality of light emitting elements for recognizing operation modes and emitting light in the same color or different colors, plurality of light emitting elements corresponding to the plurality of electronic devices; and

a light emitting element turning-on portion for turning on the light emitting element for recognizing a operation mode corresponding to the operation target of electronic device indicated in the key code signal received from the remote control device,

wherein the remote control device further includes a second light emitting element turning-on portion for turning on the light emitting element for recognizing a transmission mode when an action command key which is an operation key different from the mode switching key is operated, the light emitting element for recognizing a transmission mode being turned on to indicate the operation target in accordance with transmission mode information held until the action command key is operated.

2. The composite electronic apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the remote control device further includes a light emitting element shutoff portion for turning off the light emitting element for recognizing a transmission mode which remains lit when a predetermined period has passed after the key code signal was transmitted.

3. The composite electronic apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the remote control device further includes a light emitting element shutoff portion for turning off the light emitting element for recognizing a transmission mode which remains lit when a predetermined period has passed after the key code signal was transmitted.

4. The composite electronic apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the main body of the composite electronic apparatus further includes a name display portion for making a display unit display a name of the operation target of an electronic device indicated by the key code signal received from the remote control device.

5. A composite electronic apparatus comprising a remote control device for transmitting different key code signals for operation and a main body of the composite electronic apparatus made up of a plurality of electronic devices having different functions,

wherein the remote control device includes:

a plurality of light emitting elements for recognizing transmission modes, the plurality of light emitting elements corresponding to mode switching keys implemented with press switches or slide switches for designating an operation target among a plurality of electronic devices;

a first light emitting element turning-on portion for turning on the light emitting element for recognizing a transmission mode corresponding to an operation of the mode switching key among the plurality of light emitting elements for recognizing transmission modes when the mode switching key is operated;

a second light emitting element turning-on portion for turning on the light emitting element for recognizing a transmission mode when an action command key which is an operation key different from the mode switching key is operated, the light emitting element for recognizing a transmission mode being turned on to indicate the operation target in accordance with transmission mode information held until the action command key is operated; and

a light emitting element shutoff portion for turning off the light emitting element for recognizing a transmission mode which remains lit when a predetermined period has passed after the key code signal was transmitted,

wherein the main body of the composite electronic apparatus includes;

a plurality of light emitting elements for recognizing operation modes and emitting light in the same color or different colors, plurality of light emitting elements corresponding to the plurality of electronic devices; and

a light emitting element turning-on portion for turning on the light emitting element for recognizing a operation mode corresponding to the operation target of electronic device indicated in the key code signal received from the remote control device and/or a name display portion for making a display unit display a name of the operation target of an electronic device indicated by the key code signal received from the remote control device.