JP2008167100A - Remote control unit and multi-screen display device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a remote control unit capable of simultaneously operating left and right individual screens with two remote control devices without switching operation target screens when a single display device is displayed on a multi-screen such as a left and right split screen.
Remote control devices 100 and 200 constituting a remote control unit include a front transmission unit that transmits a remote control code to a TV capable of multi-screen display, a left and right transmission unit, and a left and right reception unit for communicating between the remote control devices. Prepare. Remote control device 100 transmits a transmission permission request code from the left and right transmission units, and remote control device 200 receives the transmission permission request code from one of the left and right reception units and is transmitting an operation code from the front transmission unit to the TV. Otherwise, the remote control device 100 transmits a transmission permission code permitting transmission of the remote control code and the position information of the receiving unit that has received the transmission permission request code. Based on the transmission permission code and the position information, remote control device 100 transmits a remote control code corresponding to each screen of the TV from the front transmission unit.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control unit and a multi-screen display device, and more particularly to a remote control unit capable of simultaneously operating a plurality of screens displayed on one display device and a multi-screen display device operated by the remote control unit.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a display device such as a television device (TV), for example, a plurality of windows are displayed on a screen, and an operation is performed on each window while switching windows to be operated using one remote control device. Things are known.

  With the recent increase in TV screen size, the large screen is divided into multiple windows so that several people can watch different TV programs, watch TV programs on one screen, and browse web pages on the other screen. It is expected that usage forms such as will become common. However, when a large screen TV is to be viewed by a plurality of users, a single remote control device has to be used by a plurality of people for a display divided into multiple screens, which is inconvenient.

In order to solve the above problems, for example, a technique described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. According to this, a plurality of remote control devices and a plurality of screens are managed by ID, the screens and the remote control devices are made to correspond to each other by the color coding of the remote control device and the color of the divided screen display, and the window output corresponding to each of the plurality of remote control devices. It can be easily distinguished and operated.
JP 2000-270238 A

  However, in the case of the technique described in Patent Document 1, when attempting to operate a specific screen during screen division, a remote control device corresponding to the screen ID must be used, so the correspondence between the screen and the remote control device is fixed. Is done. In addition, since it is not configured to use a plurality of remote control devices at the same time, only a single person can operate the remote control device when viewing multiple screens with several people.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances. When a single display device is displayed on a multi-screen such as a left-right split screen, the left and right individual screens can be displayed without switching the operation target screen. An object of the present invention is to provide a remote control unit that can be operated simultaneously by two remote control devices and a multi-screen display device operated by the remote control unit.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a first technical means of the present invention is a remote control unit comprising a plurality of remote control devices having an operation code transmission unit on the front surface for transmitting an operation code to a display device capable of multi-screen display. Each remote control device constituting the remote control unit includes a transmission unit and a reception unit for communication between the remote control devices on both sides, and one remote control unit receives a transmission permission request code from the transmission unit on both sides. The other remote control device receives the transmission permission request code from one of the reception units on both sides and does not transmit the operation code from the operation code transmission unit to the display device. The transmission permission code for permitting transmission of the code and the position information of the receiving unit that has received the transmission permission request code are transmitted to one remote control device. Based on the code and the position information, from the operation code transmission unit, in which is characterized in that transmits an operation code corresponding to each screen of the display device.

  According to a second technical means, in the first technical means, when the other remote control device is transmitting an operation code from the operation code transmitting unit to the display device, the transmission permission code and the position information are transmitted after the operation code is transmitted. It transmits to the remote control device.

  According to a third technical means, in the first or second technical means, the display device can display left and right two screens, and one remote control device and the other remote control device can display the left screen of the display device when operating the display device. In correspondence with the right screen, they are arranged so as to have a relative left-right positional relationship toward the display device.

  According to a fourth technical means, in the third technical means, when one of the remote control devices is positioned on the right side of the other remote control device toward the display device, an operation for the right screen for operating the right screen of the display device. When a code is transmitted from the operation code transmission unit and is located on the left side of the other remote control device toward the display device, a left screen operation code for operating the left screen of the display device is transmitted from the operation code transmission unit. It is characterized by.

  According to a fifth technical means, in any one of the first to fourth technical means, each remote control device includes a plurality of operation keys for operating the display device, and one remote control device includes a plurality of operation keys. When any one of the buttons is pressed, a transmission permission request code is transmitted from the transmission units on both sides.

  A sixth technical means is a multi-screen display device operable by the remote control unit according to any one of the first to fifth technical means, wherein the display unit displays a multi-screen, and the operation code transmitted from the remote control unit. And a determination unit that determines whether the operation target screen is operated according to the operation code based on the determination result determined by the determination unit.

  According to a seventh technical means, in the sixth technical means, the multi-screen display device can display left and right two screens, and the determination unit determines whether the operation code transmitted from the remote control unit is a right screen operation code, It is characterized by determining whether it is a screen operation code.

According to the present invention, since the left and right side surfaces of the remote control device are each provided with a transmission unit and a reception unit, even if key operations of the two remote control devices are performed at the same time, the transmission timing is adjusted between the remote control devices and interference occurs. The TV itself can be operated without having to
When the TV screen is a two-screen display, the left and right screens can be operated simultaneously by the two remote control devices without switching the operation target screen.
Further, since the operation target screen is determined by the positional relationship of the remote control device, the TV can be operated without selecting an individual remote control device corresponding to each screen.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an external configuration example of a remote control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. The remote control unit is composed of two remote control devices, a remote control device 100 and a remote control device 200. The remote control device 100 includes a front transmitter 101 provided on the front surface, a right transmitter 102 and a left transmitter 104 provided on both sides, a right receiver 103 and a left receiver 105 provided on both sides, A plurality of remote control keys 106 are provided. Similarly, the remote control device 200 includes a front transmission unit 201 provided on the front surface, a right transmission unit 202 and a left transmission unit 204 provided on both sides, a right reception unit 203 and a left reception unit provided on both sides. 205 and a plurality of remote control keys 206.

  The remote control device 100 and the remote control device 200 have the same configuration. The left and right transmission units and the left and right reception units provided on both side surfaces can communicate code information with each other, and the front transmission unit provided on the front side allows multiple screens. An operation code (hereinafter referred to as a remote control code) for operating the display device is transmitted. This multi-screen display device is a television device (TV) having a multi-screen display function such as a left and right two-screen display, and each screen is not switched by the remote control unit shown in FIG. To be operated.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the remote control device constituting the remote control unit shown in FIG. The remote control device 100 includes a front transmission unit 101 corresponding to an operation code transmission unit of the present invention that transmits a remote control code to a multi-screen display device capable of multi-screen display, a right transmission unit 102 that transmits a transmission permission request code, and a left transmission. Unit 104, right receiving unit 103 and left receiving unit 105 that receive a transmission permission code and position information from remote control device 200 that has received the transmission permission request code, a plurality of remote control keys 106 associated with the remote control code, And a controller 107 that is connected to each unit (front transmission unit 101, right transmission unit 102, left transmission unit 104, right reception unit 103, left reception unit 105, and remote control key 106) and controls the operation of each unit. The remote controller 200 has the same configuration as that of the remote controller 100, and a description thereof is omitted here.

  Here, the transmission permission request code transmitted from the right transmission unit 102 and the left transmission unit 104 indicates whether or not the remote control device 100 may transmit a remote control code corresponding to the remote control key 106 pressed by the user. This is a code to confirm. The transmission permission code received by the right receiving unit 103 and the left receiving unit 105 is a code transmitted from the remote control device 200. When the remote control device 200 receives the transmission permission request code, the transmission permission code itself is transmitted to the TV. If the code is not being transmitted, it is a code for permitting the remote control device 100 to transmit the remote control code. Further, the position information received together with the transmission permission code by the right receiving unit 103 and the left receiving unit 105 is a code indicating the relative positional relationship between the remote control device 200 and the remote control device 100, and the remote control device 200 is similar to the transmission permission code. Sent from Thereby, remote control device 100 can recognize whether remote control device 100 is located on the right side or the left side of remote control device 200.

  1 and 2, a multi-screen display system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes two remote control devices 100 and 200 (remote control unit) and a TV main body capable of split display of left and right two screens (described later in FIG. 3). It consists of. When two users (users A and B) operate the TV at the same time, the remote control device 100 and the remote control device 200 have a relative left-right positional relationship corresponding to the left screen and the right screen of the TV. Arrange as follows. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the remote control device 100 is arranged on the left side and the remote control device 200 is on the right side as viewed from the TV. For example, the user A who views the video on the left screen of the TV has the remote control device 100 in his hand, the user B who views the video on the right screen of the TV has the remote control device 200 in his hand, and the right side of the remote control device 100 by the users A and B. The surface and the left side surface of the remote control device 200 are held at an appropriate posture and distance so that they substantially face each other.

  When one of the remote control keys 106 is pressed by the user, one remote control device 100 transmits a transmission permission request code from the right transmission unit 102 and the left transmission unit 104 on both sides according to the control of the controller 107. The remote control device 200 receives the transmission permission request code in one of the right receiving unit 203 and the left receiving unit 205 on both sides. Here, since remote control device 200 is located on the right side of remote control device 100, left reception unit 205 receives the transmission permission request code.

  The remote control device 200 that has received the transmission permission request code determines whether or not the remote control code is being transmitted from the front transmission unit 201 to the TV according to the control of the controller. The right transmission on both sides of the transmission permission code for permitting the transmission of the remote control code and the position information of the left receiving unit 205 that has received the transmission permission request code (that is, the left code indicating that it has been received by the left receiving unit 205). It transmits from the part 202 and the left transmission part 204. On the other hand, when remote control code is being transmitted from front transmission unit 201 to the TV, remote control device 200 transmits a transmission permission code and position information from right transmission unit 202 and left transmission unit 204 after transmission of the remote control code.

  The remote control device 100 receives the transmission permission code and the position information (left code) by the right receiving unit 103, and transmits a remote control code corresponding to each screen of the TV from the front transmitting unit 101 based on these codes. Here, since the remote control device 100 receives the left code from the remote control device 200, it is recognized that the remote control device 100 is on the left side and the remote control device 200 is on the right side toward the TV. From the front transmission unit 101, a remote control code for the left screen corresponding to the left screen of the TV is transmitted. The TV determines whether the received remote control code is for the right screen or the left screen, and performs an operation on the determined screen (here, the left screen). For example, if the operation content of the left screen remote control code is channel selection, the left screen is activated to be the operation target screen, and the channel selection operation is performed according to the remote control code.

  In the above, the same operation is executed even if the left and right of the remote control device 100 and the remote control device 200 are switched. That is, when the remote control device 100 receives the right code from the remote control device 200, it is recognized that the remote control device 100 is in the right positional relationship and the remote control device 200 is in the left positional relationship toward the TV. From the unit 101, a right screen remote control code corresponding to the right screen of the TV is transmitted.

  The two remote control devices do not switch between right and left, respectively, and the relative position relationship when operating the remote control device allows the remote control device located on the left to operate the left screen of the TV and to the right The remote control device that is located can operate the right screen of the TV. Therefore, even if the remote control device that operated the right screen and the remote control device that operated the left screen are interchanged, the remote control device operated on the left side operates the left screen of the TV and the remote control device operated on the right side is the TV. The right screen can be operated.

Further, even when the left and right remote control devices are operated simultaneously, the remote control code is not transmitted at the same time, so that the TV screen can be operated without causing the remote control code from the remote control device to interfere.
In addition, since the operation target screen can be identified by the relative positional relationship when operating the remote control device with respect to the left and right screens, it is possible to operate the two remote control devices simultaneously without switching the operation target screens. it can.

  With the above configuration, in a TV having a multi-screen display function, for example, one of the two divided screens is a TV screen, the other screen is a PC (Web) screen, and two remote control devices are installed. Each screen can be operated simultaneously by two or more users (family members, etc.).

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a multi-screen display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a multi-screen display device (hereinafter, represented by TV). The TV 10 includes a remote control light receiving unit 11, a remote control code determination unit 12, a user I / F operation unit 13, TV tuners 14 and 15, a tuner control unit 16, an A / V input selection unit 17, a video display control unit 18, and an audio output control. A unit 19, a display 20, and a speaker 21 are provided.

  Remote control light receiving unit 11 receives a remote control code transmitted from remote control device 100 or remote control device 200. This remote control code is transmitted by infrared light, for example. The remote control code determination unit 12 corresponds to the determination unit of the present invention, and performs the determination process of the remote control code received by the remote control light receiving unit 11. The user I / F operation unit 13 controls the tuner control unit 16 and / or the A / V input selection unit 17 based on the determination result of the remote control code determination unit 12, and responds to the operation target screen according to the remote control code. Perform the operation. The user I / F operation unit 13 includes a management table (not shown) in which a remote control code corresponding to each screen is associated with the operation content.

The TV tuners 14 and 15 may be analog tuners such as terrestrial analog broadcasts, BS analog broadcasts, and CS analog broadcasts as well as digital tuners that receive and demodulate terrestrial digital broadcasts, BS digital broadcasts, and CS digital broadcasts. Good. The tuner control unit 16 selects and inputs the video / audio signals from the TV tuners 14 and 15 according to the operation content from the user I / F operation unit 13. The A / V input selection unit 17 includes various interfaces such as IEEE 1394, HDMI, USB, and LAN for connecting external devices 22 ₁ , 22 ₂ ,..., 22 _n such as PCs and recorders. The video / audio signals from the external devices 22 ₁ , 22 ₂ ,..., 22 _n are selected and input according to the operation content from the F operation unit 13.

For example, two users and the TV10 to the two-screen display, to display the broadcast program from the TV tuner 14 on the right screen, description will be given of a case where you try to display the video from an external device 22 ₁ on the left side of the screen.
First, the user I / F operation unit 13 selects a video / audio signal of a broadcast program received by the TV tuner 14 by controlling the tuner control unit 16 based on an input operation of the remote control device 100 or 200. The video signal is sent to the video display control unit 18 and the audio signal is sent to the audio output control unit 19.
On the other hand, the user I / F operation unit 13 based on the input operation of the remote controller 100 or the remote controller 200 controls the A / V input selector 17, selects the video and audio signals from an external device 22 ₁ - The video signal is sent to the video display control unit 18 and the audio signal is sent to the audio output control unit 19.

  The video display control unit 18 assigns the video signal from the tuner control unit 16 to the right screen, assigns the video signal from the A / V input selection unit 17 to the left screen, and combines the right screen and the left screen into one screen. The composite screen is displayed and output from the display 20.

  The audio output control unit 19 causes the speaker 21 to output the audio signal from the tuner control unit 16 or the audio signal from the A / V input selection unit 17. At this time, the audio signal of the screen set as the main screen is preferentially output. For example, if the right screen to which the video signal from the tuner control unit 16 is assigned is the main screen, the audio signal from the tuner control unit 16 is output from the speaker 21.

  As described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, when performing two-screen display, a remote control code for the right screen is transmitted from the remote control device 100 constituting the remote control unit of the present invention, and a remote control code for the left screen is transmitted from the remote control device 200. Is done. The remote control code determination unit 12 of the TV 10 determines whether the remote control code received by the remote control light receiving unit 11 is the right screen remote control code or the left screen remote control code. The user I / F operation unit 13 controls the tuner control unit 16 or the A / V input selection unit 17 based on the determination result by the remote control code determination unit 12, and operates the corresponding screen according to the operation content of the remote control code. . For example, when the remote control code for the right screen is determined and the operation content is channel selection, the tuner control unit 16 is controlled to perform channel selection on the right screen.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing at the time of transmission permission request code transmission by the remote control unit of the present invention. This example will be described based on the remote control unit shown in FIG. First, when the remote control device 100 constituting the remote control unit detects that any one of the remote control buttons (remote control key 106) is pressed by the user (step S1), the left transmission unit 104 sends a transmission permission request code (left). Transmit (step S2), and transmit the transmission permission request code (right) from the right transmitter 102 (step S3). The order of step S2 and step S3 may be reversed, or may be transmitted simultaneously.

  Next, the remote control device 100 shifts to a reception waiting state for a transmission permission code from the remote control device 200 at the left receiving unit 105 and the right receiving unit 103 (steps S4 and S5). Remote control device 100 determines whether or not a code is detected by left receiving unit 105 (step S6). If a code is detected (YES), it is determined whether or not the code is a transmission permission code (step S6). S7).

  If the remote control device 100 is a transmission permission code (YES) in step S7, the remote control device 100 determines whether or not the position information transmitted together with the transmission permission code is a right code (step S8). On the other hand, if it is not a transmission permission code in step S7 (in the case of NO), the process proceeds to step S4 and the process is repeated.

  If the remote control device 100 is the right code in step S8 (in the case of YES), the remote control device 100 recognizes that the remote control device 100 is located on the right side of the remote control device 200, and for the right screen from the front transmission unit 101 to the TV. A remote control code is transmitted (step S9). On the other hand, if it is not the right code (in the case of NO) in step S8, the process proceeds to step S4 and the process is repeated.

  In step S6, if the left receiving unit 105 does not detect the code (in the case of NO), the remote control device 100 determines whether the right receiving unit 103 detects the code (step S10), and detects the code. If so (YES), it is determined whether or not the code is a transmission permission code (step S11).

  If the remote control device 100 is a transmission permission code (YES) in step S11, the remote control device 100 determines whether or not the position information transmitted together with the transmission permission code is a left code (step S12). On the other hand, if it is not a transmission permission code in step S11 (in the case of NO), the process proceeds to step S4 and the process is repeated.

  If the remote control device 100 is the left code (in the case of YES) in step S12, the remote control device 100 recognizes that the remote control device 100 is located on the left side of the remote control device 200, and for the left screen from the front transmission unit 101 to the TV. A remote control code is transmitted (step S13). On the other hand, if it is not a left code (in the case of NO) in step S12, the process proceeds to step S4 and the process is repeated.

  Further, if the code is not detected in step S10 (in the case of NO), remote control device 100 determines whether or not a transmission timeout code reception timeout has occurred (step S14), and if a reception timeout has occurred (YES). ), The main screen remote control code is transmitted from the front transmission unit 101 (step S15). On the other hand, in step S14, when it is not reception timeout (in the case of NO), it transfers to step S4 and repeats a process.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an example of processing upon reception of a transmission permission request code by the remote control unit of the present invention. This example will be described based on the remote control unit shown in FIG. First, when receiving a transmission permission request code from the remote control device 100, the remote control device 200 constituting the remote control unit determines whether or not the remote control code is being transmitted from the front transmission unit 201 to the TV (step S21). If the remote control code is being transmitted (in the case of YES), the process waits until the remote control code has been transmitted (in the case of YES), and the process proceeds to step S23. When the remote control code is not being transmitted (in the case of NO), a transmission permission code including the left code is transmitted from the left transmission unit 204 (step S23), and a transmission permission code including the right code is transmitted from the right transmission unit 202. (Step S24).

As described above, according to the present invention, since the transmission unit and the reception unit are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the remote control device, even if the key operations of the two remote control devices are performed simultaneously, transmission is performed between the remote control devices. It is possible to operate the TV main body without arbitrating the timing and causing interference.
When the TV screen is a two-screen display, the left and right screens can be operated simultaneously by the two remote control devices without switching the operation target screen.
Further, since the operation target screen is determined by the positional relationship of the remote control device, the TV can be operated without selecting an individual remote control device corresponding to each screen.

It is a figure which shows the example of an external appearance structure of the remote control unit which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the internal structural example of the remote control apparatus which comprises the remote control unit shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the multiscreen display apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the process at the time of the transmission permission request code transmission by the remote control unit of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the process at the time of the transmission permission request code reception by the remote control unit of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Multi-screen display apparatus (TV), 11 ... Remote control light-receiving part, 12 ... Remote control code determination part, 13 ... User I / F operation part, 14, 15 ... TV tuner, 16 ... Tuner control part, 17 ... A / V Input selection unit, 18 ... video display control unit, 19 ... audio output control unit, 20 ... display, 21 ... speaker, 22 _{1 to} 22 _n ... external device, 100, 200 ... remote control device, 101, 201 ... front transmission unit, 102, 202 ... right transmitter, 103, 203 ... right receiver, 104, 204 ... left transmitter, 105, 205 ... left receiver, 106, 206 ... remote control key, 107 ... controller.

Claims (7)

A remote control unit comprising a plurality of remote control devices having an operation code transmission unit on the front surface for transmitting an operation code to a display device capable of multi-screen display,
Each remote control device constituting the remote control unit includes a transmission unit and a reception unit for communicating between the remote control devices on both sides,
One remote control device transmits a transmission permission request code from the transmission units on both sides,
The other remote control device receives the transmission permission request code by any one of the receiving units on both side surfaces, and if the operation code is not being transmitted from the operation code transmission unit to the display device, the one remote control device Transmitting the transmission permission code permitting the transmission of the operation code from the position information of the receiving unit that has received the transmission permission request code to the one remote control device,
The one remote control device transmits an operation code corresponding to each screen of the display device from the operation code transmission unit based on the transmission permission code and the position information.   2. The remote control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the other remote control device is transmitting an operation code from the operation code transmission unit to the display device, the transmission permission code and the position information are transmitted after the operation code is transmitted. Is transmitted to the one remote control device. The remote control unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display device is capable of displaying left and right two screens,
The one remote control device and the other remote control device have a relative left-right positional relationship toward the display device corresponding to the left screen and the right screen of the display device when the display device is operated. Remote control unit characterized by being arranged in 4. The remote control unit according to claim 3, wherein when one of the remote control devices is positioned on the right side of the other remote control device toward the display device, the right screen operation for operating the right screen of the display device. Send the code from the operation code sending unit,
When located on the left side of the other remote control device toward the display device, the remote control unit transmits a left screen operation code for operating the left screen of the display device from the operation code transmission unit. . 5. The remote control unit according to claim 1, wherein each remote control device includes a plurality of operation keys for operating the display device,
The remote control unit according to claim 1, wherein when one of the plurality of operation keys is pressed, the one remote control device transmits a transmission permission request code from the transmission unit on both side surfaces. A multi-screen display device operable by the remote control unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A display unit for multi-screen display, and a determination unit for determining an operation code transmitted from the remote control unit,
A multi-screen display device that operates an operation target screen according to the operation code based on a determination result determined by the determination unit. The multi-screen display device according to claim 6, wherein the multi-screen display device can display two screens on the left and right sides.
The determination unit determines whether the operation code transmitted from the remote control unit is a right screen operation code or a left screen operation code.

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