JPH0472996A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a remote control device for remotely controlling electronic equipment such as a television device.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention irradiates one of a plurality of light receiving means incorporated in an electronic device with a laser beam irradiation means, and controls the electronic device in accordance with the irradiation position, thereby causing retroreflection around the light receiving means. By providing the plate, a remote control device with a simple configuration and good operability is provided.

[Traditional technique (hoi)]

Conventional remote control devices that remotely control electronic devices such as television (TV) devices include, for example, LED light emitting devices (so-called remote control devices in a narrow sense) that have built-in LEDs (light emitting diodes). Remote control is performed by receiving an LED light emission pattern corresponding to the remote control of the TV device from a photodetector built in the TV device. Here, the LED light emission pattern corresponding to the remote control is determined by selecting an operation button corresponding to an arbitrary remote control such as volume adjustment, channel selection, etc. from among the plurality of operation buttons arranged on the LED light emitting device. It is something that can be obtained by pressing or manipulating something.

The purpose of this proposed method is to provide a remote control device with a simple configuration and good operability.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

By the way, in response to the increasing functionality of TV devices in recent years, the number of operation buttons arranged on the ED light emitting device will increase as the number of adjustment functions that can be handled by the remote control device is increased. increases, and operability deteriorates. That is, for example, when the number of operation buttons increases, it becomes necessary to memorize the respective functions of each operation button, the arrangement position of each operation button, and the like. Also, for example, the LED
When operating the light emitting device, for example, it takes time to search for an arbitrary operation button, and furthermore, it becomes necessary to read fine letters accompanying each operation button.

In addition, as the number of operation buttons increases, the LED light emitting device itself becomes larger, resulting in an increase in the size of the remote control device.

Therefore, the present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned circumstances [means for solving the problems]. The remote control device of the present invention has been proposed to achieve the above-mentioned object. A plurality of light receiving means are built into the electronic device to be used, and one of the plurality of light receiving means is irradiated by a laser beam irradiation means for irradiating a laser beam, and the electronic device is controlled in accordance with the irradiation position. Further, a retroreflector plate is provided around the light receiving means for recognizing that the target is irradiated with the laser beam.

[Effect]

According to the present invention, each light receiving means of a plurality of light receiving means is made to correspond to various controls in the electronic equipment, and by irradiating any light receiving means with a laser beam, the light receiving means can be corresponded to this arbitrary light receiving means. control is now in place. In addition, by providing a retroreflective plate around the light receiving means, when the light receiving means is irradiated with a laser beam, the irradiated laser beam is reflected back by the retroreflective plate around the light receiving means (i.e. (looks shiny)

〔Example〕

Embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a remote control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a television (TV) device l as an electronic device to be remotely controlled, and a plurality of light receivers 2. A laser pistol 7 which is a laser beam irradiation means that incorporates 4 and irradiates a laser beam LB.
Accordingly, one of the plurality of light receivers 2 and 4 is irradiated, and the TV device 1 is controlled (remotely controlled) in accordance with this irradiation position (light receiver irradiated with the laser beam LB). Also, a retroreflector plate 12 (shown in FIG. 2) is installed around the photodetector 11 to recognize that the laser beam LB has been irradiated onto the target (one of the plurality of light receivers 2.4). It was established in

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the laser pistol 7 has a built-in semiconductor laser that emits visible red laser light. Laser light from the built-in semiconductor laser is emitted from the laser pistol 7 in accordance with the operation of the trigger 7a. Here, the trigger 7a of the laser pistol 7 operates in two distinct stages, for example. The operation of the trigger 7a at this time may include, for example, detecting that a finger touches the trigger 7a in the first stage, and actually pulling the trigger 7a in the second stage, or, for example, The first stage is when the trigger 7a is pulled shallowly and stopped halfway, and the second stage is when the trigger is pulled deeply, or, for example, the trigger 7a is toggled so that it operates alternately each time it is pulled. It is something like switching between the two. Of course,
The trigger 7a is not limited to the two-stage operation described above, but can also be operated in one stage or in multiple stages. For example, a continuous laser beam is emitted from the laser pistol 7 during the first operation of the trigger 7a that operates as described above, and a laser beam that blinks at a predetermined period is emitted during the second operation. It is set to be fired. Further, the blinking period of the laser beam may be changed between the first stage and the second stage. Furthermore, this laser pistol 7 has a beam diameter of an appropriate size (for example, not exceeding the size of one light receiver) of the laser beam LB on the light receiver of the TV device 1 located several meters away. It has a built-in optical system to make the beam diameter (beam diameter).

In addition to the original TV image, the video display screen (cathode ray tube) 3 of the TV device 1 also displays, for example, the channel, volume, etc.
Images that display multiple modes corresponding to multiple types of functions of the TV device 1, such as sound quality, brightness, contrast, etc., and images that allow you to visually recognize each adjustment (for example, adjustment of level, etc.) according to these modes ( For example, an image as shown in FIG. 7, which will be described later, is displayed. here,
When images in the plurality of modes are displayed on the cathode ray tube 3, each of these modes is displayed in association with characters such as letters, numbers, symbols, codes, and alphabetic characters. There is. That is, if each mode is associated with an alphabetic letter, for example, channel setting mode and A, volume setting mode and B, sound quality setting mode and C1, brightness setting mode and D, contrast setting mode and E. In this way, the number of responses will be given. In addition, when images for each adjustment corresponding to each mode are displayed on the cathode ray tube 3,
Images for each of these adjustments include, for example, each channel in the channel setting mode, for example, the volume level in the volume setting mode, for example, the contrast level in the contrast setting mode, and the like. Images of these modes or adjustments may be displayed on the TV device 1, for example.
It is inserted and displayed in the initial state where the video is displayed, or while the video is being displayed. Further, images of these modes and adjustments are generated by, for example, a character generator (built-in to the TV device 1).

The plurality of light receivers 2 are arranged, for example, in one row on the right side of the cathode ray tube 3 in the longitudinal direction (vertical scanning direction), and are provided as mode selectors used when selecting an arbitrary mode from among the plurality of modes described above. ing. Further, the plurality of light receivers 4 are arranged, for example, in a lower row in the lateral direction (horizontal scanning direction) at a position close to the cathode ray tube 3, and are used to set an arbitrary level during remote control adjustment. It is provided as a level selector (channel selector when setting a channel). Here, the above-mentioned levels include the contrast level, volume level, brightness level, etc. as described above. Of course, these receivers 2,
Although the position where 4 is arranged is not limited to the above-mentioned arrangement, it is arranged at a position where it is easy to visually recognize. Each of these light receivers 2.4 and the mode or adjustment image displayed on the cathode ray tube 3 for each mode are associated with each other. For example, each of the light receivers 2. For example, each light receiver 4 has a one-to-one correspondence with each mode.
Each photoreceiver is in one-to-one correspondence with the level value or channel in the adjustment. Therefore, if any one of the photo receivers 2 is selected, the corresponding mode will be selected, and if any one of the photo receivers 4 is selected, the corresponding adjustment will be selected. The level or channel is now set.

The mode selection, adjustment level, or channel setting in each of the light receivers 2.4 as described above is performed based on the selective irradiation of the light receivers with the laser beams (1) and (B) from the laser pistol 7. In other words, these light receivers 2 and 4
By irradiating an arbitrary light receiver with the laser beam LB, a mode selection or adjustment corresponding to the irradiated light receiver is performed. In order to realize this, these light receivers 2 and 4 transmit only the light of the wavelength of the laser beam LB from the laser pistol 7 (or transmit the light of wavelengths other than that wavelength), as shown in FIG. The photodetector 11 receives the light transmitted through the filter 14 and converts it into an electric current (or electric signal). Therefore, in these light receivers, when the laser beam LB from the laser pistol 7 is incident on the light receiver, only the light of the laser beam LB is filtered by the filter 14 and enters the photodetector 11. , a current (or electrical signal) can be obtained from this photodetector 11. By detecting the current (or electrical signal) from the light receiver irradiated with the laser beam LB, it becomes possible to adjust the mode setting corresponding to the light receiver. Furthermore, by disposing a condensing lens 13 in front of the filter 14, the amount of light incident on the photodetector 11 can be increased, thereby increasing the detection sensitivity of the laser beam LB. Become.

Here, the photodetector 11 of the light receiver 2.4 is
It is possible to selectively (distinguish) detect continuous laser light during the first stage operation of the trigger 78 of the laser pistol 7 and blinking laser light during the second stage operation. . In this embodiment, for example,
Each light receiver detects only the laser beam LB when the trigger 7a is in the second stage. In this way, by making each of the light receivers not operate with the laser beam LB corresponding to the first stage operation of the trigger 7a (the remote control operation is not started), the first stage operation is controlled. The corresponding laser beam LB can now be used to confirm the irradiation position of the laser beam LB.

In addition, in this embodiment, around the photodetector 11 of each photoreceptor 2.4, there is provided a structure for easily recognizing that the laser beam LB has been irradiated onto one photoreceiver as a target. A retroreflector 12 is arranged. For example, as shown in FIG.
A large number of small corner cubes 20 are arranged in such a manner that the respective equilateral sides of the cubes touch each other, that is, the equilateral sides touch the X, Y, and Z axes that are orthogonal to each other. A so-called triple mirror screen is used. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the laser beam LB incident on the corner cube 20 is reflected, for example, at an incident (reflection) position 21a on the reflective surface 21, and this reflected light is further incident on the reflective surface 23 ( The laser beam L
The light is reflected in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of incidence of B. As a result, the light receiver irradiated with the laser beam LB appears to shine due to the reflected light, and it becomes easy to recognize that the light receiver is irradiated with the laser beam LB. In addition to the above-mentioned corner cube 20, the retroreflector 12 also includes a plurality of transparent spheres (glass spheres) 1, as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to use a retroreflective plate such as a so-called glass beads screen, in which the spherical surface of each glass bulb 101 on the embedded side is coated with a reflective material such as aluminum. can. The front surface of the retroreflector 12 is made of, for example, acrylic resin, PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) resin, PC
It can also be covered with a transparent material 15 such as (polycarbonate) resin or glass.

Furthermore, in order to more reliably recognize that the laser beam LB has been irradiated onto each of the light receivers 2 and 4 (increase visibility), an LED (light emitting diode) is installed inside each light receiver 2.4. )10 can also be arranged. In this case, a window is opened in the retroreflector plate 12 on the front surface of the LEDIO, so that the light of the LEDIO can be emitted through this window. Further, the LEDIO emits light in response to the detection of the laser beam LB by the photodetector 11. As a result, the LEDIO
emits light, and this light passes through the window of the retroreflector 12 and is emitted from the front of the light receiver, causing the LEDI to emit light.
It becomes possible to recognize that the photoreceiver has been selected by the O light. Note that instead of opening a window in the retroreflective plate 12 in front of the LEDIO, the retroreflective plate 12
It is also possible to lower the reflectance of the retroreflector plate 12 so that part of the laser beam LB and the light of the LEDIO can pass through the retroreflector plate 12. In this case as well, the light receiver selected by the laser beam LB can be easily recognized.

Here, remote control of mode selection and adjustment in the apparatus of this embodiment will be explained using the flowchart of FIG.

First, the TV loading device displays a normal image (or is in its initial state after being turned on).
shall be. In step S1, from among the light receivers 2 serving as mode selectors of the T-device 1, a help mode light receiver whose arrangement position has been determined in advance, for example, at the top of the array of light receivers 2 ( The light receiver 2a) in FIG. 1 is irradiated with the laser beam LB of the laser pistol 7. This selects help mode. When the help mode is selected, in step S2, an image is displayed on the cathode ray tube 3-H of the TV packing device, in which all the modes corresponding to the plurality of functions of the TV device 1 described above are expressed in letters, etc. Ru. All modes displayed in this step S2 include, for example, the above-mentioned channel settings, volume,
Possible factors include sound quality, brightness contrast, etc. Step S3
Then, a light receiving portion of the light receiver 2 corresponding to, for example, a contrast setting mode (for example, a contrast control light receiver 2b shown in FIG. 7) is irradiated with the laser beam LB of the laser pistol 7. In step S4, the LED of the contrast control light receiver 2b of the mode selector light receiver 2 emits light, and the TV device 1
On the cathode ray tube 3, for example, the words "contrast adjustment" and arrows and + and - indicating the levels for the contrast adjustment are displayed. At this time, in the light receiver 4 as a level selector, for example, the light receiver 4 corresponding to the position of the current contrast level is selected.
The LED a lights up. In step S5, in order to adjust the contrast level to an arbitrary value, a light receiver corresponding to an arbitrary contrast level is selected from among the light receivers 4 serving as contrast selectors (a light receiver located at a position corresponding to a desired contrast level). is selected by the laser beam LB. In step S6, it is determined whether or not to readjust the contrast level. If readjustment is to be performed (Yes), the process returns to step S5; if readjustment is not to be performed (No), the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, the characters "contrast adjustment" on the cathode ray tube 3 disappear, and the LED lighting in the mode selector and level selector (light receiver 2.4) is stopped (extinguished). If it is desired to adjust other functions, this can be done by selecting any of the light receivers 2.4 of the mode selector and level selector with the laser beam LB in the same manner as described above.

As described above, in the device of this embodiment, a plurality of light receivers 2.
4 is irradiated with the laser beam LB from the laser pistol 7, and the TV is
By controlling the filling device, the trigger 7 is simply
With a simple operation of just pulling a, you can also use the laser beam LB.
The TV packing device can be remotely controlled by a simple laser pistol 7 that only fires a laser beam. Furthermore, by providing the retroreflective plates 12 on the light receivers 2 and 4, visibility is improved.

〔Effect of the invention〕

In the remote control device of the present invention, each of the plurality of light receiving means is made to correspond to various types of control in the electronic device, and one of the plurality of light receiving means incorporated in the electronic device is connected to a laser beam. By irradiating with the irradiation means and controlling the electronic equipment corresponding to the light receiving means at this irradiation position, it is possible to realize a remote control device that is easy to operate and has a simple configuration. By providing the plate, the light receiving means irradiated with the laser beam can be easily recognized, and therefore the operability of the remote control device can be improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a light receiver, Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining a corner cube, and Fig. 4 shows a laser beam reflected by a corner cube. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a bead screen as another example of a retroreflector, FIG. 6 is a flowchart, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a specific example of mode setting and level adjustment. 1・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・TV equipment 2.4...
......Receiver

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A plurality of light receiving means are built into an electronic device to be remotely controlled, and a laser beam irradiating means for irradiating a laser beam irradiates one of the plurality of light receiving means, and the electronic device A remote control device characterized by controlling. (2) The remote control device according to claim (1), further comprising a retroreflector plate provided around the light receiving means for recognizing that the target is irradiated with the laser beam.