1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to remote controllers, and in particular to a remote controller capable of macro-controlling to carry out a plurality of remote control operations to one or more remotely controlled devices with a single key operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an audio-visual system that is constituted by an audio-visual receiver, a DVD player, a CD player, a display, and such, these remotely controlled devices that constitute the system can be remotely controlled by a remote controller. One such remote controller has a macro-control function. With the macro-control function, it is possible to carry out predetermined remote operations to the remotely controlled devices with a single (or a very few number of times, such as twice in some cases) key operation using the remote controller, and a user can register a desired remote control processing to the remote controller. The macro-control function can carry out macro-control operations such as (a) an all-on operation for turning on power of a plurality of remotely controlled devices at the same time, (b) an all-off operation for turning off power of a plurality of remotely controlled devices at the same time, and (c) a series of operations carried out in order to view and listen to a specific signal source, for example, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), of turning on power of an audio-visual receiver, a DVD player, and a display, of switching an input selector of the audio-visual receiver to the DVD player, and of causing the DVD player to carry out a playback operation.
However, many of the remotely controlled devices that are commonly used in these days are designed to use a single power on/off remote control code and carry out a toggle operation of toggling between on and off of power every time when the remote control code is received. The toggle operation refers herein to an operation of toggling through a plurality of control states in rotation every time when the single remote control code is received. In other words, the same remote control code for power-supply control is used for both power-on and power-off, and a remotely controlled device switches the power status alternately between on and off every time when the remote control code for power-supply control is received from the remote controller. When the remote controller carries out an all-off operation to such a remotely controlled device that carries out the toggle operation of power, a remotely controlled device in the power-off state can be adversely turned on.
The above problem can be solved if a remotely controlled device is provided with remote control codes that respectively correspond to all control states. In other words, if a remote control code for power-on and a remote control code for power-off are different, a remotely controlled device in the power-on state maintains the power-on state after receiving the remote control code for power-on, and this does not present any disadvantage. However, assigning an independent remote control code for each control state of a remotely controlled device is not a very down-to-earth idea due to insufficient resources for remote control codes whose code length is limited. In addition, increasing a number of the remote control codes poses a problem such as a possible increase in a number of buttons provided on a remote controller or in a load to a control unit of the remote controller.
Further, in order to macro-control a series of operations such as the operation (c) as described above, the user must previously register, as a macro-control operation, a series of remote operations that the user wishes the remote controller to learn to a macro-control key on the remote controller. At this time, the user must manually carry out a series of key operations that are the same as the macro-control operation that the user wants the remote controller to learn. This makes the registration of the macro-control operation extremely cumbersome for the user. In order to solve this problem, some remote controllers are registered with commonly used macro-control operations previously at the time of manufacturing. However, a use environment in which the user uses an audio-visual system can be different from user to user. Accordingly, in a case in which a previously registered macro-control operation is not suited for the user, a problem still remains that the user must after all manually carry out all of the key operations that are the same as the macro-control operation that the user wants the remote controller to learn, even if the modification is necessary only to apart of the remote operation.
A remote controller according to the present invention is provided with: at least one first input unit that macro-controls predetermined remotely controlled devices including signal source devices; a plurality of second input units that select the signal source devices; a memory unit that stores a plurality of remote control codes for remotely controlling the remotely controlled devices; a transmitting unit that externally transmits the remote control codes; and a control unit that, when the first input unit is operated, outputs the remote control codes for remotely controlling the plurality of remotely controlled devices to the transmitting unit, and causes the transmitting unit to externally transmit the codes, wherein when the first input unit and one of the second input units are operated in a predetermined manner, the signal source device to be remotely controlled by the first input unit is changed to the signal source device that has been selected by the operated one of the second input units.
When the first input unit for macro-controlling the plurality of remotely controlled devices including the signal source device and the one of the second input units for selecting the signal source devices are operated in the predetermined manner, the signal source device to be remotely controlled by the first input unit is changed to the signal source device that has been selected by the operated one of the second input units. With this, if a user wishes to change only a signal source device to be remotely controlled by a macro-control operation, it is possible to change the signal source device to be remotely controlled with a simple operation.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, said memory unit further stores a macro-control process sequence that is associated with said first input unit, the macro-control process sequence including key codes for operation keys for remotely controlling said remotely controlled devices in a predetermined order, and said control unit: when said first input unit is operated, carries out one of a remote control processing carried out in the same manner as in a case in which operation keys corresponding to the key codes included in the macro-control process sequence that is associated with the operated first input unit are operated, and a predetermined remote control processing, and when the first input unit and the one of said second input units are operated in the predetermined manner, changes a key code in the macro-control process sequence for remotely controlling said signal source device to a key code for remotely controlling the signal source device that has been selected by the operated one of the second input units.
When the first input unit is operated, either the remote control processing carried out in the same manner as in the case in which the operation keys corresponding to the key codes are operated according to the order of the key codes included in the macro-control process sequence, or the predetermined remote control processing is carried out. Then, when the first input unit and the one of the second input units are operated in the predetermined manner, the key code in the macro-control process sequence for remotely controlling the signal source device is changed to the key code for remotely controlling the signal source device that has been selected by the operated one of the second input units. With this, it is possible to change the signal source device to be remotely controlled by the macro-control operation, only by changing the key code for remotely controlling the signal source device in the macro-control process sequence.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the remote controller is further provided with: a third input unit that turns off power of said remotely controlled devices that have been turned on through a macro-control operation by said first input unit, wherein said control unit: when the third input unit is operated, outputs the remote control codes for turning off power of the remotely controlled devices that have been turned on through the macro-control operation by the first input unit to the transmitting unit, and causes the transmitting unit to externally transmit the codes, and when one of the first input unit and the third input unit is operated together with the second input unit in the predetermined manner, changes the signal source device to be turned off by the third input unit to the signal source device that has been selected by the operated one of the second input units.
When one of the first input unit and the third input unit is operated together with the second input unit in the predetermined manner, the signal source device to be turned off by the third input unit is changed to the signal source device that has been selected by the operated one of the second input units. With this, in the remote controller that is further provided with an all-off macro-control operation function, when one of the first input unit and the third input unit is operated together with the second input unit in the predetermined manner, it is possible to change the signal source device to be remotely controlled by the macro-control operation, as well as the signal source device to be turned off by the all-off operation.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the remote controller is used in an audio-visual system including an audio-visual amplifier as one of said remotely controlled devices, the audio-visual amplifier having an input selector for selecting one of the signal source devices to which one of an audio signal and a video signal is inputted, wherein said second input units are operation keys for switching the input selector of the audio-visual amplifier, and the signal source devices selected by the second input units are associated with the operation keys.
Utilizing the operation key for switching the input selector of the audio-visual amplifier to select the signal source device to be changed eliminates necessity of additionally providing single purpose operation keys, and the user can change the signal source device to be remotely controlled through the macro-control operation with the same feeling as the operation of switching the input selector of the audio-visual amplifier.
A remote controller according to the present invention is provided with: a plurality of first input units that turns on power of a plurality of remotely controlled devices; a second input unit that turns off power of the plurality of remotely controlled devices; a memory unit that stores a plurality of remote control codes for remotely controlling the remotely controlled devices; a transmitting unit that externally transmits the remote control codes; and a control unit that outputs the remote control codes to the transmitting unit and causes the transmitting unit to externally transmit the codes, wherein the control unit: when any of the plurality of first input units is operated, outputs remote control codes for turning on power of predetermined remotely controlled devices associated with the operated first input unit to the transmitting unit, and causes the transmitting unit to externally transmit the codes, and when the second input unit is operated, outputs remote control codes for turning off power of the remotely controlled devices that have been turned on by the first input unit that has been operated last time to the transmitting unit, and causes the transmitting unit to externally transmit the codes.
When the second input unit for turning off power of the plurality of remotely controlled devices at the same time is operated, the control unit outputs the remote control codes for turning off power of the remotely controlled devices that have been turned on by the last operated first input unit to the transmitting unit, and causes the transmitting unit to externally transmit the codes. Therefore, it is possible to turn off power of the remotely controlled devices at the same time without fail. Further, the remote control codes that are transmitted to turn off power of the remotely controlled devices at the same time are remote control codes for turning off power of the remotely controlled devices that have been turned on by the last operated first input unit, and therefore only a minimum command is required to be transmitted, and it is possible to reduce a time period from the operation of the second input unit until the remotely controlled devices are turned off.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, said memory unit further stores macro-control process sequences that are associated with said first input units, each macro-control process sequence including key codes for operation keys in a predetermined order, the operation keys being for remotely controlling said remotely controlled devices, and said control unit: when any of said first input unit is operated, carries out one of a remote control processing in the same manner as in a case in which the operation keys corresponding to the key codes included in the macro-control process sequence that is associated with the operated first input unit are operated, and a predetermined remote control processing, and when said second input unit is operated, turns off power of the remotely controlled devices whose key codes for turning on power of the remotely controlled devices are included in the macro-control process sequence that is associated with said last operated first input unit.
When the second input unit for turning off power of the plurality of remotely controlled devices at the same time is operated, the control unit turns off power of the remotely controlled devices whose key codes for turning on power are included in the macro-control process sequence that is associated with the last operated first input unit. With this, only by referring to the macro-control process sequence, the control unit can determine the remotely controlled devices to be turned on by the last operated first input unit and turns off power of these remotely controlled devices.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, when said macro-control process sequence associated with said last operated first input unit is modified after an operation of the sequence, said control unit, when said second input unit is operated, turns off power only of predetermined remotely controlled devices regardless of the macro-control process sequence associated with the last operated first input unit.
When the macro-control process sequence associated with the last operated first input unit is modified after its operation, and the remotely controlled devices to be turned on by the first input unit are changed, the control unit turns off power only of the predetermined remotely controlled devices regardless of the macro-control process sequence associated with the last operated first input unit. With this, for example, it is possible to turn off power only of the remotely controlled device that is mainly remotely controlled by the remote controller at least.
The following describes an audio-visual system of preferred embodiments according to the present invention with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. It is to be noted that like components are denoted by like reference numerals throughout the drawings, and that explanations for those components are incorporated throughout the description.
The operation inputting unit 11 includes, as the operation keys, a power-on key 111 for turning on power of the remotely controlled devices, a power-off key 112 for turning off power of the remotely controlled devices, mode switching keys 113 for switching between the remote control modes, and macro-control keys 114 for macro-controlling to carry out a plurality of remote control operations to one or more of the remotely controlled devices with a single key operation.
In this embodiment, the operation inputting unit 11 includes, as the mode switching keys 113, an audio-visual receiver mode key 113A for setting the remote controller 10 to the audio-visual receiver mode, a display mode key 113B for setting the remote controller 10 to the display mode, a DVD mode key 113C for setting the remote controller 10 to the DVD mode, a CD mode key 113D for setting the remote controller 10 to the CD mode, and a set-top box mode key 113E for setting the remote controller 10 to the set-top box mode. The remote control mode of the remote controller 10 that is set using one of these mode switching keys 113 determines a remotely controlled device that is to be remotely controlled by the power-on key 111 and the power-off key 112. That is, the remotely controlled device to which the remote control code is transmitted when the power-on key 111 or the power-off key 112 is operated is determined based on the remote control mode. For example, if the power-on key 111 is operated when the remote controller 10 is set to the audio-visual receiver mode, a remote control code for turning on power of the audio-visual receiver 20 is transmitted from the remote controller 10. Alternatively, if the power-on key 111 is operated when the remote controller 10 is set to the display mode, a remote control code for turning on power of the display 30 is transmitted from the remote controller 10.
Further, the operation inputting unit 11 includes, as the macro-control keys 114, a “My Movie” key 114A, a “My TV” key 114B, and a “My Music” key 114C.
In this embodiment, the “My Movie” key 114A is a button switch for macro-controlling the audio-visual receiver 20, the display device 30, and the DVD player 40 when watching movies. Specifically, the “My Movie” key 114A is a macro-control key for a macro-control operation of turning on power of the audio-visual receiver 20, the display device 30, and the DVD player 40.
The “My TV” key 114B is a button switch for macro-controlling the audio-visual receiver 20, the display device 30, and the set-top box 60 when watching television. Specifically, the “My TV” key 114B is a macro-control key for a macro-control operation of turning on power of the audio-visual receiver 20, the display device 30, and the set-top box 60.
The “My Music” key 114C is a button switch for macro-controlling the audio-visual receiver 20 and the CD player 50 when listening to music. Specifically, the “My Music” key 114C is a macro-control key for a macro-control operation of turning on power of the audio-visual receiver 20 and the CD player 50.
The operation inputting unit 11 also includes an “All Off” key 115. The “All Off” key 115 is an operation key for an all-off operation for turning off power of the remotely controlled devices that are turned on by a macro-control operation that has been carried out last time out of the macro-control operations carried out by the “My Movie” key 114A, the “My TV” key 114B, and the “My Music” key 114C. Specifically, if the last macro-control operation is carried out by the “My Movie” key 114A, the “All Off” key 115 is configured as an operation key for turning off power of the audio-visual receiver 20, the display device 30, and the DVD player 40 at the same time. If the last macro-control operation is carried out by the “My TV” key 114B, the “All Off” key 115 is configured as an operation key for turning off power of the audio-visual receiver 20, the display device 30, and the set-top box 60 at the same time. If the last macro-control operation is carried out by the “My Music” key 114C, the “All Off” key 115 is configured as an operation key for turning off power of the audio-visual receiver 20 and the CD player 50 at the same time.
The memory 12 stores macro-control process sequences that are respectively associated with the “My Movie” key 114A, the “My TV” key 114B, and the “My Music” key 114C.
The memory 12 also stores an operation history table.
The memory 12 also stores an all-off operation process sequence that is associated with the “All Off” key 115.
The control unit 13 carries out, when any of the “My Movie” key 114A, the “My TV” key 114B, and the “My Music” key 114C is operated, a macro-control process sequence that is associated with this operation key (macro-control process). The control unit 13 also carries out an operation history recording process for storing the macro-control key that has been last operated, out of the “My Movie” key 114A, the “My TV” key 114B, and the “My Music” key 114C, to the operation history table as the operation history information. Then, when the “All Off” key 115 is operated, the control unit 13 refers to the operation history information, configures the all-off operation process sequence so as to turn off power of remotely controlled devices that have been turned on through the macro-control operation by the last operated macro-control key 114, and carries out the all-off operation process sequence (all-off operation process).
The following describes the macro-control process carried out by the control unit 13 when one of the “My Movie” key 114A, the “My TV” key 114B, and the “My Music” key 114C is operated.
The following describes the operation history recording process.
Next, the all-off operation process carried out by the control unit 13 when the “All Off” key 115 is operated is specifically described.
If it is determined that the “My Movie” key 114A is the last operated macro-control key 114 in step S501, the control unit 13 refers to the macro-control process sequence A associated with the “My Movie” key 114A, and configures the all-off operation process sequence so as to turn off power of the remotely controlled devices that are turned on through the macro-control operation by the “My Movie” key 114A (S502).
Next, the control unit 13 carries out the all-off operation process sequence (S503). Specifically, the control unit 13 refers to the all-off operation process sequence, and carries out a remote control processing in the same manner as in a case in which the audio-visual receiver mode key 113A, the power-off key 112, the display mode key 113B, the power-off key 112, the DVD mode key 113C, and the power-off key 112 are operated in the stated order. As a result, remote control codes for turning off power of the audio-visual receiver 20, the display device 30, and the DVD player 40 are transmitted from the remote controller 10, thereby turning off the audio-visual receiver 20, the display device 30, and the DVD player 40 that have been turned on through the macro-control operation by the “My Movie” key 114A that has been last operated.
If it is determined that the “My TV” key 114B is the last operated macro-control key 114 in step S501, the control unit 13 refers to the macro-control process sequence B associated with the “My TV” key 114B, and configures the all-off operation process sequence so as to turn off power of the remotely controlled devices that are turned on through the macro-control operation by the “My TV” key 114B (S504).
Next, the control unit 13 carries out the all-off operation process sequence (S505). Specifically, the control unit 13 refers to the all-off operation process sequence, and carries out a remote control processing in the same manner as in a case in which the audio-visual receiver mode key 113A, the power-off key 112, the display mode key 113B, the power-off key 112, the set-top box mode key 113E, an the power-off key 112 are operated in the stated order. As a result, remote control codes for turning off power of the audio-visual receiver 20, the display device 30, and the set-top box 60 are transmitted from the remote controller 10, thereby turning off the audio-visual receiver 20, the display device 30, and the set-top box 60 that have been turned on through the macro-control operation by the “My TV” key 114B that has been last operated.
If it is determined that the “My Music” key 114C is the last operated macro-control key 114 in step S501, the control unit 13 refers to the macro-control process sequence C associated with the “My Music” key 114C, and configures the all-off operation process sequence so as to turn off power of the remotely controlled devices that are turned on through the macro-control operation by the “My Music” key 114C (S506).
Next, the control unit 13 carries out the all-off operation process sequence (S507). Specifically, the control unit 13 refers to the all-off operation process sequence, and carries out a remote control processing in the same manner as in a case in which the audio-visual receiver mode key 113A, the power-off key 112, the display mode key 113B, the CD mode key 113D, and the power-off key 112 are operated in the stated order. As a result, remote control codes for turning off power of the audio-visual receiver 20 and the CD player 50 are transmitted from the remote controller 10, thereby turning off the audio-visual receiver 20 and the CD player 50 that have been turned on through the macro-control operation by the “My Music” key 114C that has been last operated.
As described above, operating the “All Off” key 115 turns off power only of the remotely controlled devices that have been turned on through the macro-control operation by the macro-control key 114 that has been operated last time out of the “My Movie” key 114A, the “My TV” key 114B, and the “My Music” key 114C, it is possible to turn off power of the remotely controlled devices at the same time without fail. In addition, the remote control codes that are transmitted in order to turn off power of the remotely controlled devices only include the remote control codes for turning off power of the remotely controlled devices that have been turned on through the macro-control operation by the last operated macro-control key 114. Accordingly, only minimum required remote control codes are transmitted, and thus it is possible to reduce a time period from the operation of the “All Off” key 115 until the remotely controlled devices are turned off. Further, only by referring to the macro-control process sequence associated with the last operated macro-control key 114 when the “All Off” key 115 is operated, it is possible to determine the remotely controlled devices that are turned on by the macro-control key 114.
The following describes a different preferred embodiment according to the present invention. According to the remote controller 10 of the different preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to make modification to the operation macro-controlled by the “My Movie” key 114A, the “My TV” key 114B, or the “My Music” key 114C so as to configure a macro-control operation of the user's preference. For example, in order to listen to music using another external device (not shown) instead of the CD player 50, it is possible to make modification to configure the “My Music” key 114C as a macro-control key for turning on power of the audio-visual receiver 20 and the external device. In this case, the fifth key code in the macro-control process sequence C associated with the “My Music” key 114C is modified form the key code for the CD mode key 113D to a key code for a mode switching key (not shown) for remotely controlling the external device. In such a case, the control unit 13 often determines that the audio-visual receiver 20 and the external device are turned on through the macro-control process sequence C after the modification even when the audio-visual receiver 20 and the CD player 50 have been turned on through the macro-control operation by the “My Music” key 114C before the modification. Therefore, in order to turn off power of the remotely controlled device that is mainly remote-controlled at least by the remote controller 10, when the “All Off” key 115 is operated and if the macro-control process sequence associated with the last operated macro-control key 114 has been modified after this operation, the control unit 13 turns off power only of the remotely controlled device that is mainly remote-controlled by the remote controller 10, regardless of the macro-control process sequence associated with the last operated macro-control key 114.
Further, as described above, there is often a case in which only the audio-visual receiver 20 is turned off when the “All Off” key 115 is operated, the all-off operation process sequence is configured to be set with the key code for turning off power of the audio-visual receiver 20 as the first key code and the second key code. In this manner, when the control unit 13 carries out the all-off operation process sequence, the remote control processing for turning off power of the audio-visual receiver 20 is immediately carried out, and therefore it is possible to reduce a time period from the operation of the “All Off” key 115 until the audio-visual receiver 20 is turned off.
Although the macro-control key 114 is explained to be for the macro-control operation for turning on power of the remotely controlled devices, the macro-control operation can include such as switching an input selector of the audio-visual receiver 20 to the signal source device and causing the signal source device to start a playback operation. In this case, the key code for the operation key for this operation is added to the macro-control process sequence.
Further, the remote control code for turning off power of the remotely controlled devices that is transmitted when the “All Off” key 115 is operated is different from the remote control code that is transmitted according to power-on/power-off specification of the remotely controlled device. That is, in a case of a remotely controlled device for which a remote control code for power-on and a remote control code for power-off are used and in which the power is turned on when the remote control code for power-on is received and turned off when the remote control code for power-off is received, the control unit 13 reads the remote control code for power-off from the memory 12, outputs the code to the transmitting unit 14, and causes the code to be transmitted from the transmitting unit 14. On the other hand, the remote control code for power-off is not provided for a remotely controlled device that is designed to use a single power on/off remote control code and carry out a toggle operation of toggling between on and off of power every time when the remote control code is received, and the control unit 13 reads a power on/off remote control code from the memory 12 as the remote control code for power-off, outputs the code to the transmitting unit 14, and causes the code to be transmitted from the transmitting unit 14. In this manner, only the remotely controlled devices that are turned on through the macro-control operation by the last operated macro-control key 114 are turned off by the remote control code according to the power-on/power-off specification of this remotely controlled device, and therefore it is possible to avoid turning on power of the remotely controlled device that the user does not desire or turning on power of the remotely controlled device that the user desires.
Further, although the macro-control process of the control unit 13 based on the macro-control process sequence or the all-off operation process sequence is explained to be the same as the remote control processing carried out when the operation key corresponding to the key code registered to the macro-control process sequence or the all-off operation process sequence is operated, the present invention is not limited to this example. For example, in a case in which a single operation key is configured such that a plurality of processes are carried out, in the macro-control process of the control unit 13 based on the macro-control process sequence or the all-off operation process sequence, it is possible to carry out a predetermined remote control processing for which some of the processes are omitted out of the processes set for the operation key corresponding to the registered key code.
Next, a further different preferred embodiment according to the present invention is described.
The remote controller 10 recognizes the audio-visual receiver 20, the display device 30, the DVD player 40, and the VCR 80 as the remotely controlled devices, and is capable of remotely controlling these remotely controlled devices by carrying out a remote control processing for transmitting remote control codes to the remotely controlled devices. There are four remote control modes of the remote controller 10 including: the audio-visual receiver mode for remotely controlling the audio-visual receiver 20, the display mode for remotely controlling the display device 30, the DVD mode for remotely controlling the DVD player 40, and a VCR mode for remotely controlling the VCR 80. According to the remote controller 10 of this embodiment, with the user operating in a predetermined manner, it is possible to change a signal source device that is remotely controlled through the macro-control operation. In the following, the remote controller 10 is described in detail with reference to
The operation inputting unit 11 includes, as the mode switching keys 113, the audio-visual receiver mode key 113A for setting the remote controller 10 to the audio-visual receiver mode, the display mode key 113B for setting the remote controller 10 to the display mode, the DVD mode key 113C for setting the remote controller 10 to the DVD mode, and a VCR mode key 113F for setting the remote controller 10 to the VCR mode. The DVD mode key 113C also servers as an operation key for switching the input selector of the audio-visual receiver 20 so as to switch the signal source device to the DVD player 40 (hereinafter referred to as ‘switching the input selector to the “DVD”’). The VCR mode key 113F also servers as an operation key for switching the input selector of the audio-visual receiver 20 so as to switch the signal source device to the VCR 80 (hereinafter referred to as ‘switching the input selector to the “VCR”’).
In this embodiment, the macro-control key 114 is initially configured as a key for macro-controlling the audio-visual receiver 20, the display device 30, and the DVD player 40 when watching movies. Specifically, the macro-control key 114 is initially configured as a macro-control key for turning on power of the audio-visual receiver 20, the display device 30, and the DVD player 40, switching the input selector of the audio-visual receiver 20 to the “DVD”, and causing the DVD player 40 to start a playback operation. Further, when the macro-control key 114 is operated in a predetermined manner along with the DVD mode key 113C or the VCR mode key 113F, a signal source device that is macro-controlled by the macro-control key 114 is changed to a signal source device that corresponds to this mode switching key 113. For example, when the macro-control key 114 and the VCR mode key 113F are operated at the same time, a signal source device that is remotely controlled by the macro-control key 114, is changed to the VCR 80 form the DVD player 40 as initially configured. When the macro-control key 114 and the DVD mode key 113C are operated at the same time, a signal source device that is remotely controlled by the macro-control key 114 is changed to the DVD player 40.
The memory 12 stores the macro-control process sequence associated with the macro-control key 114.
When the macro-control key 114 is operated, the control unit 13 carries out either a remote control processing in the same manner as in a case in which operation keys that correspond to the key codes registered to the macro-control process sequence are operated in the registered order or a predetermined remote control processing (macro-control process). Further, when the macro-control key 114 and the mode switching key 113 are operated in a predetermined manner, the control unit 13 changes a signal source device to be remotely controlled by the macro-control key 114 to a signal source device that corresponds to the operated mode switching key 113 (macro-control modification process).
Next, the macro-control process carried out by the control unit 13 when the macro-control key 114 is operated is described.
Next, the macro-control modification process is specifically described.
As described above, the user can easily change the signal source device to be remotely controlled through the macro-control operation only by operating the macro-control key 114 and the mode switching key 113 that corresponds to the signal source device in the predetermined manner. Utilizing the mode switching key 113 to select the signal source device to change eliminates necessity of additionally providing operation keys for selecting a signal source device to change, and the user can change the signal source device to be remotely controlled through the macro-control operation with the same feeling as the operation of switching the input selector of the audio-visual receiver 20 by the mode switching key 113 (or the operation of switching the remote control mode of the remote controller 10). Further, even when the signal source device is connected to the input selector of the audio-visual receiver 20 and such, the user is able to macro-control the signal source device using a macro-control operation button 115 by operating the macro-control key 114 and the mode switching key 113 associated with the signal source device in the predetermined manner.
Next, a yet another different preferred embodiment according to the present invention is specifically described with reference to
The memory 12 stores the all-off operation process sequence associated with the “All Off” key 115. The all-off operation process sequence is as described with reference to
When the “All Off” key 115 is operated, the control unit 13 carries out the process for turning off power of the remotely controlled devices that have been turned on through the macro-control operation by the macro-control key 114 (all-off operation process). Further, when the signal source device that is to be remotely controlled is changed through the macro-control operation, the control unit 13 also changes the signal source device that is to be turned off through the all-off operation process. Specifically, in the macro-control modification process that is carried out when the macro-control key 114 and the mode switching key 113 are operated in the predetermined manner, the control unit 13 changes the signal source device that is to be turned off by the all-off key 115 to the signal source device that corresponds to the operated mode switching key 113.
Next, the all-off operation process carried out by the control unit 13 when the “All Off” key 115 is operated is described.
The following describes the macro-control modification process carried out by the control unit 13 when the macro-control key 114 and the mode switching key 113 are operated in the predetermined manner.
As described above, according to the remote controller 10 having the all-off macro-control operation function, when the signal source device that is macro-controlled by the macro-control key is changed, the signal source device that is to be turned off by the all-off operation is also changed. The signal source device to be changed is determined, as similarly to the macro-control modification process described previously, based on the mode switching key 113 that is operated together with the macro-control key 114.
While the macro-control modification process is explained to be carried out when the macro-control key 114 and the mode switching key 113 are pressed at the same time, the present invention is not limited to such an example. For example, the remote controller 10 can be shifted to a mode for modifying the macro-control operation by the macro-control key 114 by a long press operation of the macro-control key 114, and the signal source device to be remotely controlled by the macro-control key 114 can be changed by the mode switching key 113 that is operated subsequently.
Further, while the signal source devices connected to the audio-visual receiver 20 are explained only as the DVD player 40 and the VCR 80, the present invention is not limited to such an example, and can include a different signal source device that outputs video and audio, for example, the CD player, the set-top box for cable television, the radio tuner, and such.
Moreover, while the macro-control process sequence and the all-off operation process sequence are explained to include the key code for turning on and off power of the display device 30, it is not necessary to turn on and off power of the display device 30 when the signal source device is the CD player, the radio tuner, and such. In this case, the macro-control process sequence and the all-off operation process sequence may not include the key code for turning on and off power of the display device 30. Further, when the playback operation is not included as a function as in the case of the set-top box for cable television, the key code for starting the playback operation may not be included the macro-control process sequence.
Further, according to the remote controller having the all-off macro-control operation function, the control unit 13 carries out the macro-control modification process when the macro-control key 114 and the mode switching key 113 are operated in the predetermined manner. However, the control unit 13 can carry out the macro-control modification process when the “All Off” key 115 instead of the macro-control key 114 together with the mode switching key 113 is operated in the predetermined manner.
Moreover, while the DVD mode key 113C and the VCR mode key 113F also serve as the operation keys for switching the input selector of the audio-visual receiver 20, in addition to switching the remote control mode of the remote controller 10, an input selector key can be additionally provided as the operation key for switching the input selector of the audio-visual receiver 20 for the operation inputting unit 11 of the remote controller 10 (for example, a DVD key for switching the input selector to the DVD player 40 and a VCR key for switching the input selector to the VCR 80), and the control unit 13 can carry out the macro-control modification process when the input selector key and the macro-control key 114 are operated in the predetermined manner. In this case, the control unit 13 determines the signal source device to be changed based on the operated input selector.
Although the preferred embodiments according to the present invention are described in the above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2009-63702 | Mar 2009 | JP | national |
2009-63703 | Mar 2009 | JP | national |