Remote control system

• US 7,936,253 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2007
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Masaki, Yasuo, Ishimoto, Kouichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins; Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): GIRMA, FEKADESELASS
• Application Number:
  US11/805,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20070290884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,441 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/13.24
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

Source of input of an instruction to a remote controller is switched between manipulation on hand and external manipulation. A remote controller includes an instruction input portion accepting input of an instruction for controlling equipment, a supply accepting portion accepting supply of power from a cradle, a charging portion, a power storage portion, a control portion controlling an operation of the remote controller, a storage portion, an infrared light emission portion, and a display portion. The control portion includes a placement detection portion detecting whether or not the remote controller is mounted on the cradle, a selection portion switching between sources of input of the instruction from the instruction input portion based on a result of detection by the placement detection portion, and a control signal generation portion generating a control signal for controlling the equipment.

Claims

1. A remote control system comprising:

a remote control terminal configured to control equipment; and

a cradle apparatus configured to accept placement of the remote control terminal,

wherein the remote control terminal comprises;

a reception portion configured to receive a signal instructing control of the equipment through a communication line;

an input portion configured to accept input of an instruction for controlling the equipment;

a detection portion configured to detect whether the remote control terminal is placed in the cradle apparatus;

a selection portion configured to select a source of input of a signal for generating the control signal for controlling the equipment based on a result of detection by the detection portion, wherein the source is selected from either the reception portion or the input portion;

a generation portion configured to generate the control signal based on a signal from the source of input selected by the selection portion;

an emission portion configured to emit the control signal;

a storage portion configured to store control data defining selection of the source of input;

a prohibiting portion configured to prohibit selection by the selection portion based on external input of the control data when the remote control terminal is not placed in the cradle apparatus; and

a switching portion configured to select the reception portion as the source of input.

2. The remote control system according to claim 1,

wherein the remote control terminal further comprises a power storage portion,

wherein the cradle apparatus comprises a power supply portion configured to accept external supply of power and a charging portion configured to charge the power storage portion based on the power, and

wherein the detection portion detects placement of the remote control terminal in the cradle apparatus based on sensing of charging to the power storage portion.

3. The remote control system according to claim 1,

wherein the remote control terminal further comprises a housing comprising a recess portion,

wherein the cradle apparatus comprises a projection portion corresponding to the recess portion formed, and

wherein the detection portion detects placement of the remote control terminal in the cradle apparatus based on sensing of fitting of the recess portion and the projection portion to each other.

4. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the selection portion selects the reception portion as the source of input when it is detected that the remote control terminal is placed in the cradle apparatus, and selects the input portion as the source of input when it is detected that the remote control terminal is not placed in the cradle apparatus.

5. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the remote control terminal further comprises a display portion displaying a state of the remote control terminal.

6. The remote control system according to claim 1,

wherein the storage portion stores a password input in advance through the input portion, and

wherein the switching portion checks whether data newly input through the input portion matches with the password and selects the reception portion as the source of input when the data matches with the password.

7. The remote control system according to claim 6, wherein the remote control terminal further comprises:

a storage portion configured to store control data defining selection of the source of input;

a prohibiting portion configured to prohibit selection by the selection portion based on external input of the control data when the remote control terminal is placed in the cradle apparatus; and

a switching portion configured to select the input portion as the source of input.

8. The remote control system according to claim 1,

wherein the storage portion stores a password input in advance through the input portion, and

wherein the switching portion performs authentication by checking whether data newly input through the input portion matches with the password and selects the input portion as the source of input when the data matches with the password.

9. The remote control system according to claim 1,

wherein the remote control terminal further comprises:

a storage portion configured to store a state data representing a state of the remote control terminal; and

a transmission portion transmitting the state data to the cradle apparatus, and

wherein the cradle apparatus further comprises;

a reception portion configured to receive the state data; and

a display portion configured to display a state of the remote control terminal based on the state data.

10. The remote control system according to claim 1,

wherein the signal received by the reception portion comprises identification data that specifies a transmission source of the signal,

wherein the remote control terminal further comprises:

a storage portion configured to store the identification data and precedence data, the precedence data being associated in advance with the identification data and defining priority of a plurality of pieces of the identification data; and

an obtaining portion configured to obtain the identification data from the signal received by the reception portion, and

wherein when the reception portion selected as the source of input receives signals from a plurality of transmission sources, the generation portion selects a signal transmitted from any of the plurality of transmission sources based on the identification data obtained by the obtaining portion and the precedence data associated with the identification data, and generates the control signal based on the selected signal.

11. A remote control system comprising:

a remote control terminal configured to control equipment; and

a cradle apparatus configured to accept placement of the remote control terminal, wherein the remote control terminal comprises;

a reception portion configured to receive a signal instructing control of the equipment through a communication line;

an input portion configured to accept input of an instruction for controlling the equipment;

a detection portion configured to detect whether the remote control terminal is placed in the cradle apparatus;

a selection portion configured to select a source of input of a signal for generating the control signal for controlling the equipment based on a result of detection by the detection portion, wherein the source is selected from either the reception portion or the input portion;

a generation portion configured to generate the control signal based on a signal from the source of input selected by the selection portion;

an emission portion configured to emit the control signal;

a storage portion configured to store a state data representing a state of the remote control terminal; and

a transmission portion transmitting the state data to the cradle apparatus, wherein the cradle apparatus comprises;

a reception portion configured to receive the state data; and

a display portion configured to display a state of the remote control terminal based on the state data; and

a prohibiting portion configured to prohibit selection by the selection portion based on external input of the control data when the remote control terminal is not placed in the cradle apparatus.

12. A remote control system comprising:

a remote control terminal configured to control equipment; and

a cradle apparatus configured to accept placement of the remote control terminal, wherein the remote control terminal comprises;

a reception portion configured to receive a signal instructing control of the equipment through a communication line, wherein the signal received by the reception portion comprises identification data that specifies a transmission source of the signal;

an input portion configured to accept input of an instruction for controlling the equipment;

a detection portion configured to detect whether the remote control terminal is placed in the cradle apparatus;

a selection portion configured to select a source of input of a signal for generating the control signal for controlling the equipment based on a result of detection by the detection portion, wherein the source is selected from either the reception portion or the input portion;

a generation portion configured to generate the control signal based on a signal from the source of input selected by the selection portion;

an emission portion configured to emit the control signal;

a storage portion configured to store the identification data and precedence data, the precedence data being associated in advance with the identification data and defining priority of a plurality of pieces of the identification data; and

an obtaining portion configured to Obtain the identification data from the signal received by the reception portion, and

wherein when the reception portion selected as the source of input receives signals from a plurality of transmission sources, the generation portion selects a signal transmitted from any of the plurality of transmission sources based on the identification data obtained by the obtaining portion and the precedence data associated with the identification data, and generates the control signal based on the selected signal; and

a prohibiting portion configured to prohibit selection by the selection portion based on external input of the control data when the remote control terminal is not placed in the cradle apparatus.