JPH06311563A - Remote control system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Modified) [Purpose] To prevent interference between the transmission signal from the remote control transmitter to the first device and the transmission signal from the first device to the second device. [Structure] A remote control transmitter 11 that outputs a first key code corresponding to the controlled devices 12 and 13 and that generates a repeat code when a key is continuously pressed, and a first key code by a receiving device 12A for the first key code. VTR device 1 for determining whether the CATV terminal device 13 is the second key code and transmitting the second key code for the CATV terminal device 13 by the transmitting device 12B, and converting the second key code to the second key code when the first key code is for the CATV terminal device 13.
It consists of two. When the remote control transmitter 11 outputs at least the first key code for the CATV terminal device 13, a control means that does not transmit the repeat code after transmission is provided, and the VTR 12 receives the first key code of the CATV terminal device 13. At this time, a control means for converting the second key code after confirming that the code has been received is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a first device (for example, a VTR device) which receives a signal from a remote control transmitter, converts a signal format, and then a second device (for example, a VTR device).
Other different VTR device, TV device, CATV terminal device, C
The present invention relates to a remote control system capable of transmitting and controlling to an S tuner device, a BS tuner device, an AV selector device, etc.).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional technique will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a conventional remote control system. This remote control system is
Remote control transmitter 1 and VTR device 2 as the first device
And a CATV terminal device 3 as a second device. The VTR device 2 includes a receiving device 2A that receives a remote control signal from the remote control transmitter 1, and a C device.
A transmitter 2B for transmitting a remote control signal to the ATV terminal device 3 is built in.

A remote control signal is transmitted from the remote control transmitter 1 to a receiving device 2A built in the VTR device 2. This state is schematically represented by the optical communication path 4. Similarly, 5 and 6 indicate optical communication paths. The VTR device 2 receives the signal of the optical communication path 4,
The CATV terminal device 3 is converted into a key code of a remote control signal format capable of controlling the terminal device.
Send to. The transmission at this time is shown by the optical communication path 5. For the remote control transmitter 1, whether the VTR device 2 is a control target or the CATV terminal device 3 is a control target is distinguished by, for example, the key A being the “power” key of the VTR device 2 and the key B being CAT.
This is done by allocating the “power” key of the V terminal device 3.

It should be noted that this remote control transmitter 1 directly
The technology for controlling the TV terminal device 3 is such that the ROM of the remote control transmitter 1 is stored in advance with several types of remote control formats and key codes of the CATV terminal device 3 and the target manufacturer is set by the user operation. Remote control device "is already known.

On the other hand, in the prior art of FIG. 4, the remote control transmitter 1 has a format and key code that can be controlled only by the VTR device 2, and the signal of the remote control transmitter 1 is a function of the VTR device 2. Is received, the signal format is converted, and further transmitted to the CATV terminal device 3.

[0006] To explain the operation in detail, it is assumed that the CATV terminal device 3 is tuned to 1 channel (CH). When the user presses the lCH key of the remote control transmitter 1, the remote control transmitter 1 transmits to the VTR device 2 a key code of "Select lCH for CATV terminal device 3". This is transmission by the optical communication path 4. VT
The R device 2 receives this remote control signal, converts it into a key code of the format of the CATV terminal device 3 set by the user operation, and the CATV terminal device 3
Send this to. The optical communication path 5 is that.

However, the conventional techniques have the following problems. That is, the signal transmitted from the remote control transmitter 1 reaches the CATV terminal device 3. There can be an optical communication path 6. Even if the CATV terminal device 3 directly receives the signal from the remote control transmitter 1, there is no problem because the format and the key code do not match, but before the remote control transmitter 1 completes the transmission, the VTR device 2 sends the signal to the CATV terminal. When the remote control signal is transmitted to the device 3, since the communication medium of the transmission signal of the remote control transmitter 1 and the communication medium of the transmission signal of the VTR device 2 are the same (light), interference occurs and the VTR device 2 There is a problem that it becomes impossible to operate the CATV terminal device 3 with the transmitted signal.

[0008]

As described above, in the conventional technique, when the remote control signal is transmitted from the first device to the second device before the remote control transmitter finishes the transmission, the remote control transmission is performed. Since the transmission medium of the device and the transmission medium of the first device are the same, there is a problem that interference occurs and it becomes impossible to operate the second device with the signal transmitted by the first device. It was

In view of the above problems, the present invention can prevent interference between the transmission signal from the remote control transmitter to the first device and the transmission signal from the first device to the second device. It is intended to provide a remote control system.

[0010]

The remote control system of the present invention can output a first key code for remote control according to a device to be controlled, and repeats while a key is continuously pressed. A first transmitting device of a method of continuously transmitting a code, and provided in the first transmitting device, at least when the first transmitting device outputs a first key code for another controlled device, After the key code is transmitted, a means for controlling not to transmit the repeat code, and a receiving device for receiving the first key code for remote control sent from the first transmitting device are provided. First received at
Second key code for determining whether the key code of is a key code for itself or a key code for another controlled device, and for remotely controlling another controlled device A second transmitting device for sending out, and when the first key code is a key code of another control target device, it is converted into a second key code of a format for remotely controlling the control target device and transmitted. And a first device which is provided in the first device and receives the first key code of the other controlled device from the first transmitter, after confirming that the code reception is completed. , Means for controlling to convert to the second key code for other controlled devices.

[0011]

According to this structure, when the first key code transmitted from the remote control transmitter to the first device is for controlling another device to be controlled,
The remote control transmitter does not transmit the repeat code even if the key is continuously pressed, and after confirming that the first device has finished receiving the code from the remote control transmitter. Since the second key code dedicated to the device is transmitted to the other control target device, the transmission signal from the remote control transmitter to the first device and the transmission signal from the first device to the other control target device are transmitted. Interference can be reliably prevented.

[0012]

EXAMPLES Examples will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a remote control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, this remote control system comprises a remote control transmitter 11, a VTR device 12 as a first device, and a CATV terminal device 13 as a second device. The VTR device 12 includes a receiving device 12A that receives a remote control signal from the remote control transmitter 11 and a transmitting device 12B that sends a remote control signal to the CATV terminal device 13. In addition, the CATV terminal device 13 is
A receiver 13A for receiving a remote control signal from the R device 12 is built in.

A key code for remote control is transmitted from the remote control transmitter 11 to the receiving device 12A built in the VTR device 12. This state is schematically represented by the optical communication path 14. Similarly, 15 and 16 also indicate optical communication paths. Then, the signal of the optical communication path 14 is changed to V
The TR device 12 receives it, converts it into a key code in the format of a remote control signal capable of controlling the CATV terminal device, and transmits it to the CATV terminal device 13. The transmission at this time is shown by the optical communication path 15. The CATV terminal device 13 receives the transmitted key code by the internal receiving device 13A and performs a necessary operation.

The remote control transmitter 11 and the VT will be described below.
The R device 12 will be described in detail.

The remote control transmitter 11 is the VTR device 1
Although the first key code corresponding to only 2 is transmitted, the first key code is V which is the actual control target as the first key code.
It is possible to output a remote control code having contents corresponding to the TR device 12 and the CATV terminal device 13,
A format (called NEC format) in which a repeat code is continuously sent while the key is held down.
belongs to. Here, the remote control signal of the VTR device 12 uses the NEC format. The NEC format has a mechanism for transmitting information that the key is being pressed as long as the key is being pressed, as a repeat code. Whether the VTR device 12 is a control target for the remote control transmitter 11 or the CATV terminal device 13
Is distinguished from the control target, for example, the key A is the VTR device 12
The "power supply" key and the key B are assigned to the "power supply" key of the CATV terminal device 13, and the like.

When the remote control transmitter 11 outputs at least the first key code for the CATV terminal device 13, the remote control transmitter 11 is controlled not to transmit the repeat code after transmitting the key code. Means are provided.

The VTR device 12 includes the remote control transmitter 1
1 is provided with a receiving device 12A for receiving the remote control first key code, and the first key code received by the receiving device 12A is a key code for oneself or another CATV terminal The first key has a function of determining whether the key code is for the device 13 and further includes a second transmitter 12B for transmitting a second key code for remotely controlling the CATV terminal device 13. When the code is the key code of the CATV terminal device 13, it has a function of converting into a second key code of a format for remotely controlling the CATV terminal device 13 and transmitting it.

Further, when the VTR device 12 receives the first key code of the CATV terminal device 13 from the remote control transmitter 11, it is confirmed that the code transmission is completed (that is, the code reception is completed). Above, means for controlling the conversion to the second key code for the CATV terminal device 13 is provided.

In the above configuration, the remote control transmitter 11
The remote control signal transmitted from the device is sent to the VTR device 12 through the transmission path 14. The remote control signal transmitted from the remote control transmitter 11 is CA
It is also transmitted to the TV terminal device 13 through the transmission path 16, but since it is different from the key code of the remote control format in which the CATV terminal device 13 is controlled,
The CATV terminal device 13 does not operate.

At this time, the user operates the remote control transmitter 11, but the processing operation of the remote control transmitter 11 operates according to the processing flow chart of the remote control transmitter 11 of FIG.

When the user presses the key of the remote control transmitter 11 from the initialized state (step S11) (step S12), the remote control transmitter 11 outputs a key code (step S13) and the control target is the VTR device 12 as well. If it is the CATV terminal device 13 (step S14) and the CATV terminal device 13 is the control target (YES in S13), the key code for controlling the CATV terminal device 13 is transmitted to the VTR device 12. To do. At this time, the remote control transmitter 11 does not transmit the repeat code indicating that the key is kept pressed even if the key is kept pressed. When the key to be controlled of the VTR device 12 is pressed (NO in S13), the key code is transmitted, and the repeat code is transmitted while the key is being pressed (step S1).
5, S16).

Signals are transmitted from the remote control transmitter 11 to the VTR device 12 as described above.
A mechanism of remote control transmission from the R device 12 to the CATV terminal device 13 will be described.

The VTR device 12 receives the remote control signal and operates according to the processing flow chart of the VTR device of FIG.

After receiving the key code (step S22) from the initialization state (step S21), the VTR device 12 determines whether it is the key code for itself or the CAT.
It is determined whether the key code is the V terminal device 13 (step S23). If it is the key code of oneself in step S23, the process proceeds to the main process (step S2).
7). In S23, for example, the "power source" of the VTR device 12
If it is a key, the power of the VTR device 12 is turned on / off. Further, in step S23, the CATV terminal device 1
If the key code is 3, the VTR device 12 confirms the end of code transmission from the remote control transmitter 11 (that is, the end of code reception) (step S24), and then the remote control transmitter 1
The transmitter 22 provided inside the VTR device 13 by converting the key code from No. 1 into a key code in a remote control format for controlling the CATV terminal device 13.
Is used to transmit a remote control signal to the CATV terminal device 13 (step S25). In step S23, for example, if it is the "power" key of the CATV terminal device 13, the VTR device 12 receives in the NEC format for VTR transmitted by the remote control transmitter 11, C
The key code of "power" of the ATV terminal device 13 is CAT
The CATV terminal device 1 converts the key code of the remote control transmission format of the V terminal device 13 and transmits the key code.
3. Turn on / off the "power supply".

In this way, the remote control transmitter 11 is the CA
The TV terminal device 13 can be indirectly controlled. However, the feature of the present invention is that the remote control signal transmitted through the transmission path 14 is also transmitted through the transmission path 16, and when the VTR device 12 transmits the remote control signal, the remote control signal is transmitted through the transmission path 15. The fact that the paths 15 and 16 will be interfered is processed by the remote control transmitter 11 according to the flow chart shown in FIG.
When the TR device 12 is processed according to the flow chart shown in FIG. 3, there is a time difference between the transmission timings of the transmission paths 15 and 16, and interference can be prevented.

Further, in the above embodiment of the present invention, the CATV
The terminal device 13 is intended for an unspecified number of manufacturers and models, and the information of this control target is stored in the ROM of the VTR device 12 in advance and is set to a specific model of a specific manufacturer by a user operation. Is. It is advantageous to consider that the storage capacity of the VTR device 12 itself is larger than the method of storing it in the remote control transmitter 11 in advance. Further, if the remote controller transmitter 11 stores a specific manufacturer specific model, this information will be lost when the battery is replaced.
In the case of No. 2, since a non-volatile memory may be mounted for other purposes, information may not be lost semipermanently if the non-volatile memory is stored in an extra portion of the non-volatile memory. Even if the nonvolatile memory is not installed, the VTR device 12
As long as the power is on, the user setting information will not be lost.

Further, in the above embodiment, since the VTR device 12 controls another device (CATV terminal device 13), it can be used for timer reservation, for example. At this time, without a remote control signal from the remote control transmitter, the remote control signal is transmitted to another device when the time set in advance by the timer is reached (that is, when the VTR device 12 is needed). be able to.

As described above, according to the present invention, the second key code is generated by supplying the first key code from the remote control transmitter to the first device, and the second key code is generated. When transmitting to a device and remotely controlling the second device, the second device can be reliably remote-controlled without causing interference, and only one type of key code can be used not only for the first device but also for the second device. Can also be remote controlled.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent interference between the transmission signal from the remote control transmitter to the first device and the transmission signal from the first device to the second device. Therefore, there is an advantage that the second device can be surely remote-controlled, and that not only the first device but also the second device can be remotely controlled with only one kind of key code.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a remote control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a processing flowchart of the remote control transmitter of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a process flowchart of the VTR device of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a conventional remote control system.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Remote control transmitter (first transmitter) 12 ... VTR device (first device) 13 ... CATV terminal device (second device or other controlled device) 14, 15, 16 ... Optical communication path 12A ... Receiving device 12B ... Transmitting device (second transmitting device) 13B ... Receiving device

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 26, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Figure 1

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 1]

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Figure 4

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 4]

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first transmitting device of a system capable of outputting a first key code for remote control according to a device to be controlled and continuously transmitting a repeat code while a key is kept pressed. And provided in the first transmitting device, at least when the first transmitting device outputs a first key code for another controlled device, after transmitting the key code, the repeat code is transmitted. And a receiver for receiving the first key code for remote control sent from the first transmitter, and the first key code received by the receiver itself Key code for determining whether it is a key code for a control target device or a key code for another control target device, and a second key code for remotely controlling another control target device A second transmitting device for transmitting is provided, and when the first key code is a key code of another control target device, it is converted into a second key code of a format for remotely controlling the control target device and transmitted. A first device, and when the first key code of another controlled device provided in the first device is received from the first transmission device, after confirming that the code reception is completed, A remote control system comprising: means for controlling conversion to a second key code for another controlled device.