JP3307566B2 - Remote control device, remote control device inspection method, and medium recording control program for remote control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a remote control device, a method for inspecting a remote control device, and a medium recording a control program for the remote control device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional remote control device, it is only necessary to confirm whether or not a corresponding operation can be performed by each key operation. Therefore, it is not necessary to inspect the inside of a completed remote control device.

[0003]

On the other hand, in a remote control device having a locator signal receiving circuit, the operation status of a timer circuit and the like incorporated therein must be inspected and adjusted after completion, so that the inside can be confirmed. And it takes time and trouble to lower the production efficiency.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a remote control device capable of improving manufacturing efficiency, a method of inspecting the remote control device, and a medium recording a control program for the remote control device. I do.

[0005]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation unit for instructing a remote control operation, an operation detection unit for detecting an operation state of the operation unit, A remote control device comprising: a transmitting unit configured to transmit a remote control signal representing the detected operation; and a test mode control unit configured to execute a test mode for testing the operation of the remote control device. The transmitting unit includes a locator that receives a locator signal and outputs a signal for notifying a position, and the test mode control unit transmits a predetermined remote control signal based on a reception state of the locator signal at the locator. The configuration is such that the test mode is executed by transmission from the transmission unit.

In the invention according to claim 1 configured as described above, the operation unit instructs the remote control operation by the transmission means, the operation detection unit detects the status of the remote control operation, and the transmission unit detects the state. Upon transmitting the remote control signal indicating the operation, the test mode control means executes a test mode for testing the operation of the transmission means. Here, the test mode control means receives a predetermined locator signal provided in the transmission means and outputs a signal for indicating a position. Is transmitted from the transmission unit to execute the test mode. That is, the test mode is executed from a remote place via radio waves or the like, and the test mode is executed by transmitting a predetermined remote control signal by the transmission unit.

[0007] As a specific example of the test mode, in the invention according to the second aspect, in the remote control device according to the first aspect, the locator has an internal timer started every predetermined time, and The test mode control means is configured to cause the transmission section to transmit a predetermined remote control signal in response to the activation timing by the internal timer. In the invention according to claim 2 configured as described above, the test mode control means transmits the predetermined remote control signal corresponding to a start timing based on an internal timer provided in the locator and started every predetermined time. Send from the department. Therefore, by receiving and analyzing the remote control signal, it is possible to know from the outside of the remote control device whether or not the internal timer is activated at a specified timing. Of course, the test mode control means only needs to be able to execute various tests for checking whether the transmission means operates normally, and the items to be tested include various items. In this case, a test that cannot be performed unless the remote control device is opened in the related art may be performed, or a test that can be performed without necessarily opening the remote control device may be performed. Therefore, a test for transmitting all types of transmittable remote control signals may be performed.

The operating section of the transmitting means only needs to be able to instruct a remote control operation, and may be composed of various switches such as a push-down key switch and a touch-type key switch. Of course, various operations other than the button operation may be realized. On the other hand, since the operation detection unit detects the operation status of the operation unit, various configurations are possible corresponding to the configuration of the operation unit. For example, when the operation unit is configured by a push-down key switch, the operation detection unit may detect the operation by performing key scan while connecting each key switch in a matrix. In the case of outputting a voltage value corresponding to the state of depression of the key switch, the operation may be detected by A / D conversion. Further, the transmission unit may be any unit that transmits a remote control signal indicating the detected operation. Here, the remote control signal can use various media such as infrared light, radio wave, and ultrasonic wave. Needless to say, these media can be LEDs, an oscillation circuit and an antenna, or can be transmitted by a speaker, etc., and a drive signal for them can be transmitted as various modulation signals in accordance with a remote control operation. Note that the operation unit, the operation detection unit, and the transmission unit cannot always be clearly separated from each other, and may have a configuration in which some of them are organically connected. Further, the transmission means may be configured to include various elements for realizing additional functions other than these.

When a plurality of products are handled simultaneously in a factory or the like, the test mode may be executed separately for each product. As an example of such a configuration, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the remote control device according to any one of the first and second aspects, the locator transmits a set locator signal and a transmitted locator signal. The test mode control means can be compared, and the test mode control means executes the test mode when the slave unit codes match.

In the invention according to claim 3 configured as described above, when the locator code set and the transmitted locator signal are compared, the test mode control means determines that the slave unit code matches. Execute test mode. As described above, the configuration in which the test mode is executed when the child device codes match is a suitable example in that the test mode can be executed for each of the child devices. It is not necessary to execute the test mode only for the device, and it is of course possible to execute the test mode simultaneously for a plurality of devices.

The method of testing the operation of the transmitting means is as follows.
The invention is not necessarily limited to a physical device. For example, the invention according to claim 4 has a locator function of receiving a locator signal and outputting a signal for notifying a position, and instructing a remote control operation. A method of detecting a status of the remote control operation and transmitting a remote control signal representing the detected operation, wherein a predetermined remote control signal is transmitted based on a reception status of the locator signal at the locator. Then, the test mode is executed. That is, the present invention is not necessarily limited to a physical device, and is effective as a method. Further, as an example of realizing the idea of the present invention, if it is software for the above-described remote control operation processing, it naturally exists on a recording medium on which such software is recorded,
Used.

As an example, the invention according to claim 5 has a function of receiving a locator signal and outputting a signal for informing a position, detecting a state of a remote control operation, and indicating the detected operation. A medium in which a control program of a remote control device for transmitting a remote control signal is recorded, wherein a test mode is executed by transmitting a predetermined remote control signal based on a reception state of the locator signal by the locator. This recording medium may be a magnetic recording medium or an optical recording medium. Also, in the case where a part is realized by software and a part is realized by hardware, there is no difference in the concept of the present invention, and a part is recorded on a recording medium and appropriately The form of reading is also included.

[0013]

As described above, the present invention can provide a remote control device, a remote control device inspection method, and a medium in which a control program of the remote control device is recorded, which can improve the manufacturing efficiency. Here, the test mode is executed by a locator signal, and the test mode is executed by transmitting a remote control signal. Therefore, the test mode can be executed by remote control. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the operation state of the internal timer can be known from outside the remote control device. Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, it is possible to cause only the corresponding slave unit to execute the test mode.

Further, according to the invention according to claim 4,
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a method of inspecting a remote control device capable of improving manufacturing efficiency, and to provide a medium recording a control program of a remote control device for executing the same processing by a computer. it can.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram corresponding to claims of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a remote controller according to the present embodiment. The remote control device 30 includes an operation key such as a channel key and a key switch 31 that outputs press information of each operation key.
Locator section 32 which receives and demodulates a locator signal transmitted from and outputs locator information; microcomputer 33 which outputs each modulated signal based on the information; and light emitting section 34a
And an output unit 14 for outputting infrared light and buzzer sound based on each of the modulation signals. The VCR main body 40 transmits and outputs infrared light based on each press information at the time of key operation. When a locator signal is received, a buzzer sounds to notify the position.

Therefore, the key switch 31 for operating the key constitutes the operation section 10a, and the microcomputer 33 for detecting and analyzing the press information of the key operation is operated by the operation detecting section 10b.
The light emitting unit 34a that transmits and outputs infrared light based on the press information constitutes the transmitting unit 10c. In this sense, the key switch 31, the microcomputer 33, and the light emitting unit 34a constitute the transmitting unit 20. On the other hand, VCR
The main unit 40 includes a locator signal transmitting unit (not shown) for transmitting and outputting a locator signal to the remote control device 30. When the main unit is turned on, the locator signal is transmitted to the remote control device 30 for the first 4.9 seconds. I do. During this time, the remote control device 30 receives the locator signal, and sounds a buzzer to notify the user of the position of the remote control device 30. Note that this locator signal includes a child device code unique to each remote control device 30, and each VCR
Only the remote control device 30 corresponding to the child device of the main body 40 emits a buzzer sound.

Here, the locator section 32 has an internal timer circuit 32a for generating a start signal every 4.7 seconds, and starts according to the output timing of the start signal, and receives and demodulates the locator signal at the start. And a locator signal receiving circuit 32b that outputs locator information. The locator signal transmitted and output from the VCR main body 40 during activation of the locator signal receiving circuit 32b is received and demodulated, and the locator information is output to the microcomputer 33. Then, the microcomputer 33 analyzes the locator information, confirms that the slave unit code is its own, modulates the locator signal, and modulates the buzzer 34.
b.

The internal timer circuit 32a has a CR time constant circuit, and generates a start signal every 4.7 seconds.
The locator signal receiving circuit 32b is activated. When this locator signal is generated, the locator signal receiving circuit 32b is activated for a time corresponding to three cycles of a pulse obtained when the locator signal is demodulated, as shown in FIG. Wait until it is done. Thus, it is repeatedly started at the timing based on the start signal. Therefore, the locator signal from the VCR body 40 is 4.9.
When transmitted for seconds, the locator signal receiving circuit 32b is activated at least once during this time, and receives the locator signal.

As described above, the internal timer circuit 32a activates the locator signal receiving circuit 32b during the period of 4.9 seconds when the locator signal is transmitted, and the interval is slightly shorter than 4.9 seconds. The start signal must be output every 7 seconds. Therefore, as a part of the process of manufacturing remote control device 30, it must be checked whether or not the generation timing of the start signal from internal timer circuit 32a is within a predetermined range. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
It is necessary to perform an operation test of the remote control device 30. Hereinafter, this operation test will be described with reference to FIG.

In the remote control device 30, while the locator signal receiving circuit 32b is activated every 4.7 seconds in the same manner as described above (step S100), a locator signal including a test code is output from the test device 50 described later. When transmitted, the locator signal receiving circuit 32b receives and demodulates the locator signal (step S110), and outputs locator information to the microcomputer 33. The microcomputer 33 analyzes the locator information (step S120), and the slave unit code included in the locator signal is stored in the remote controller 30.
(Step S130), it is then checked whether a test code is also included (step S130).
140). At this time, if the test code is included, the locator signal is determined to be a test signal, and the test mode is executed (step S150). If the test code is not included, a normal locator signal is used. It is determined that there is, and the buzzer 34b is operated (step S1
60).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure for executing the test mode. First, it is confirmed that the locator signal receiving circuit 32b has not received a test termination signal including a test termination code for terminating the test from the test device 50 (step S15).
1) Wait until a start signal is generated from the internal timer circuit. Here, if an activation signal is generated (step S1)
52) Then, a signal based on the activation signal is output (step S153), and transmitted and output from the light emitting unit 34a to the test device 50. Then, it is again confirmed whether or not the test end signal has been received, and waits until the next start signal is generated.
While repeating these procedures, when the locator signal receiving circuit 32b receives the test end signal, the test mode ends.

Accordingly, the internal timer circuit 32a generates a start signal at a predetermined timing, and starts the locator signal receiving circuit 32b based on the generation timing of the start signal, and the locator signal receiving circuit 32b outputs the locator signal. Is received and demodulated to output locator information. The microcomputer 33 analyzes the locator signal, confirms that the signal is a test signal including a test code, and executes the test mode. The light emitting unit 34a responds based on the start signal during the execution of the test mode. Output infrared light. In this sense, the internal timer circuit 32a, the locator signal receiving circuit 32b, the microcomputer 33, and the light emitting unit 34a constitute a test mode control unit.

On the other hand, the test device 50 sends a code input section 51 for inputting a slave unit code of the remote control device 30 to be tested, and a test signal including the test code to the remote control device 30. A sending unit 52 for sending a test end signal indicating that the test has ended.
And a light receiving unit 53 that receives infrared light transmitted from the remote control device 30 that is executing the test mode based on the start signal, controls the transmitting unit 52 and the light receiving unit 53, and controls the light receiving unit 53. The control unit 54 demodulates and analyzes the infrared light received by the controller and outputs the analysis result, and a display 55 for displaying the analysis result.

With this configuration, when a test signal is output to the remote controller 30 corresponding to the slave unit code, a test mode is executed in the remote controller 30, and infrared light based on the test signal is output from the light emitting section 34a. You. When the infrared light is received by the light receiving unit 53 and output to the control unit 54, the infrared light is demodulated by the control unit 54, and the internal timer circuit 32
It is analyzed whether or not the generation timing of the activation signal in a is within 4.7 seconds. Here, if this generation timing is an interval within 4.7 seconds, the display 55
Is displayed as "pass", and if the interval exceeds 4.7 seconds, "fail" is displayed. At this time, the control unit 54 causes the transmission unit 52 to output a test end signal for notifying that the test has ended.

Therefore, the internal timer circuit 32 provided in the specific remote control device 30 to which the slave unit code is assigned.
The operating condition of a can be checked by remote control.
In the present embodiment, each remote control device 30 is inspected separately for each slave unit code. However, it is needless to say that the inspection can be performed without distinguishing a plurality of remote control devices 30. Further, it is not always necessary to execute the test mode by the test signal as described above, and the test mode may be executed by inserting a terminal into the remote controller 30 as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the test apparatus 60 includes a pair of terminal holes 30a, 3a provided on the side wall of the remote controller 30.
A pair of terminal pins 60a, 60a that can be inserted into the terminal hole 30a, and a light receiving unit provided at a position facing the light emitting unit 34a disposed on the side wall when the terminal pins 60a, 60a are inserted into the terminal holes 30a, 30a. 53 and a display 60b for displaying a test result. When the terminal pins 60a, 60a are inserted into the terminal holes 30a, 30a, a test mode execution switch in the microcomputer 33 is turned on, and the test mode is executed. . At this time, the infrared light output from the light emitting unit 34a based on the start signal generated from the internal timer circuit 32a is received by the light receiving unit 53, demodulated and analyzed in the same manner as in the present embodiment, and the analysis result is set to " By turning on the lamp separately for "pass" and "fail", the display 60
b.

Next, the operation of the remote controller according to the present embodiment at the time of inspection will be described. The slave unit code of the remote control device 30 to be tested is input to the code input unit 51. Then, the sending unit 52 outputs a locator signal including the test code to the remote control device 30 corresponding to the slave device code. At this time, if the locator signal receiving circuit 32b activated every 4.7 seconds is being activated (step S100), the remote control device 30 receives and demodulates the locator signal (step S110). When the demodulated locator signal is output to the microcomputer 33 as locator information, the microcomputer 33 analyzes the locator information (step S120). It is checked whether the slave unit code included in the locator signal is that of the remote control device 30 (step S130), and then it is checked whether the test code is also included (step S140). When the locator signal is recognized as a test signal, a test mode is executed (step S150). Then, infrared light based on the start signal generated by the internal timer circuit 32a is output from the light emitting unit 34a.

When the infrared light is received by the light receiving unit 53 and output to the control unit 54, the infrared light is demodulated by the control unit 54, and the generation timing of the start signal in the internal timer circuit 32a is within 4.7 seconds. Is analyzed. Here, if this occurrence timing is within 4.7 seconds, "pass" is displayed on the display 55, and if it is an interval exceeding 4.7 seconds, "fail" is displayed, and the test is terminated. At this time, a test end signal is transmitted
, The remote control device 30 that has received the test end signal ends the test mode.

As described above, remote control device 30 receives the predetermined test signal transmitted from test device 50 and executes the test mode. At this time, the internal timer circuit 3
Infrared light based on the start signal generated in 2a
The start signal is transmitted to the 0 side to test whether the generation timing of the activation signal is within a predetermined range. Therefore, since the operation test of the internal timer circuit 32a can be performed without disassembling the remote control device 30, the manufacturing efficiency can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a correspondence relationship between claims of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a remote control device during normal use.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart showing reception timing of a locator signal.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a remote control device and a test device during an operation test.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a locator signal reception processing operation;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure when a test mode is executed.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a remote control device and a test device according to a modification.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 30 remote control device 31 key switch 32a internal timer circuit 32b locator signal receiving circuit 33 microcomputer 34a light emitting unit 34b buzzer 40 VCR body 50 test device

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A transmitting means comprising: an operation unit for instructing a remote control operation; an operation detection unit for detecting an operation state of the operation unit; and a transmission unit for transmitting a remote control signal indicating the detected operation. And a test mode control means for executing a test mode for testing the operation of the remote control apparatus, wherein the transmitting means receives a locator signal and outputs a signal for indicating a position. A remote control device, wherein the test mode control means causes a predetermined remote control signal to be transmitted from the transmission unit based on a reception state of the locator signal at the locator, and executes the test mode. . 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein said locator has an internal timer started at predetermined time intervals, and said test mode control means comprises:
A remote control device, wherein a predetermined remote control signal is transmitted from the transmission unit in response to a start timing by the internal timer. 3. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein said locator is capable of comparing a set slave unit code with a transmitted locator signal, and wherein said test mode control is performed. The means executes the test mode when the child device codes match. 4. It has a locator function of receiving a locator signal and outputting a signal for indicating a position,
When a remote control operation is instructed, a method of inspecting a remote control device that detects a status of the remote control operation and transmits a remote control signal indicating the detected operation, wherein a predetermined method is performed based on a reception status of the locator signal at the locator. A method for inspecting a remote control device in which a remote control signal is transmitted to execute a test mode. 5. A control program for a remote control device having a function of receiving a locator signal and outputting a signal for indicating a position, detecting a status of a remote control operation, and transmitting a remote control signal representing the detected operation. And recording a control program of a remote control device for executing a test mode by transmitting a predetermined remote control signal based on a state of reception of the locator signal by the locator.