JP5087183B2 - Remote control device and control method of remote control device - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a remote control device and a control method for the remote control device.

  Conventionally, devices such as a television receiver, a video device, a DVD device, and a set top box can be remotely operated using a remote control device provided in each device. Such a remote control device is provided with various keys for operating functions provided in the device. In addition, conventionally, in a device such as a remote control device or a mobile phone, a technology has been proposed that improves the operability in a dark place by providing a backlight (key backlight) that illuminates various keys from the back. Yes.

JP 2008-289081 A JP 2010-187236 A

  By the way, the operation keys arranged in the remote control device can be classified into main keys that are mainly used and sub keys that are used for specific purposes. In the case of such a key configuration, from the viewpoint of space saving and design, it is common to adopt a configuration in which the sub key side is arranged with a cover or the like covered and the cover is opened during use. is there. However, since the conventional remote control device is configured to illuminate only the main key or the main key and the sub key at the same time, it may illuminate the key portion that is not operated, and may consume unnecessary power. There was sex.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a remote control device and a control method of the remote control device that can suppress unnecessary power consumption.

  In the remote control device according to the embodiment, the first operation key group is arranged on the upper surface, and the first illumination unit that illuminates the first operation key group is provided at a position where the first operation key group can be illuminated. A second housing having a housing and a second operation key group disposed on the upper surface, and a second illumination section that illuminates the second operation key group at a position where the second operation key group can be illuminated; The first housing and the second housing are connected to each other so as to be relatively rotatable with the first housing overlaid on the upper surface of the two housings, and the upper surface of the second housing is connected to the bottom surface of the first housing. An open / close mechanism that realizes a closed state in which the second operation key group is exposed from a bottom surface of the first casing, and the first operation key group and the second operation key group. Non-operation state detection means for individually detecting the non-operation state and the detection result of the non-operation state detection means. Control means for controlling lighting / extinguishing of the first illumination part and the second illumination part, and the control means is in a state in which the first illumination part and the second illumination part are turned on, When the non-operation state of the first operation key group continues for a predetermined time and the non-operation state of the second operation key group is less than the predetermined time, the first illumination unit is turned off.

FIG. 1 is a top view of the remote control device according to the present embodiment in a closed state. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a cross section taken along line AA of the remote control device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a top view of the remote control device according to the present embodiment in an open state. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a cross section of the remote control device shown in FIG. 3 taken along line BB. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating a hardware configuration of the remote control device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of first backlight control processing executed by the remote control device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of second backlight control processing executed by the remote control device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another example of the remote control device according to the present embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a remote control device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The remote control device according to the present embodiment remotely operates devices such as a broadcast wave receiving device such as a television, a recording / playback device such as an HDD recorder, and a set top box.

  1 to 4 are diagrams illustrating an example of a remote control device according to the present embodiment. Here, FIG. 1 is a top view of the remote control device 10 according to the present embodiment in a closed state. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a cross section taken along line AA of remote control device 10 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a top view of the remote control device 10 according to the present embodiment in the open state. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a cross section taken along line BB of remote control device 10 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the remote control device 10 includes an upper surface side case 11 as a first case having a substantially rectangular shape and a bottom side case as a second case having a substantially rectangular shape. 12 and a rotation connecting portion 13 that connects (connects) the upper surface side housing 11 and the bottom surface side housing 12 so as to be relatively rotatable about a rotation axis AX. Here, the upper surface side housing 11 and the bottom surface side housing 12 have substantially the same outer edge when viewed from the rotation axis AX direction (Z axis direction) of the rotation connecting portion 13.

  An operation key group 111, a direction key 112, a center key 113, and a light key 114 are arranged on the operation surface which is the upper surface of the upper surface side housing 11. Here, the operation key group 111 activates main functions of a remote operation destination device (hereinafter referred to as an operation device), and includes various keys such as channel selection and volume control, for example.

  The direction key 112 is for moving the focus displayed on the display screen of the operating device. The center key 113 has a function as a pointing device for moving a pointer displayed on the screen of the display device 16 and also has a function for performing various determination operations. The light key 114 instructs to turn on a later-described backlight (see the upper surface side backlight 115 and the lower surface side backlight 124 in FIG. 5) included in the remote control device 10.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the upper surface side housing 11 holds an operation key group 111, a direction key 112, a center key 113, and a light key 114, and an upper surface that illuminates these keys from the back. A key holding portion 11a for holding the side backlight 115 (see FIG. 5) and a circuit board 11b having a reference potential pattern (not shown) and the like are accommodated. It should be noted that the operation content of the key operation performed on the upper surface side housing 11 is output to the microprocessor 123 (see FIG. 5) of the bottom surface side housing 12 through the rotation connecting portion 13.

  On the other hand, an input key group 121 for character input including the ENTER key is arranged on the operation surface which is the upper surface of the bottom surface side housing 12, that is, on the surface facing the bottom surface of the top surface side housing 11. . When the user presses an input key of the input key group 121, a signal (key code) representing a number or a character corresponding to the pressed input key is transmitted to the operating device.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a transmission unit 122 having an infrared LED, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication unit, and the like is provided on the front surface (upper side in FIG. 2) of the bottom side housing 12. The content of the operation performed by the user on the top surface case 11 or the bottom surface case 12 is configured to be transmitted from the transmission unit 122 to the operation device as an event code to be described later.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the bottom case 12 holds an input key group 121 arranged on the operation surface and illuminates each key from the back side with a bottom side backlight 124 ( 5 (see FIG. 5), a circuit board 12b including a reference potential pattern (not shown), a microprocessor 123 (see FIG. 5) described later, and the like, and a battery (not shown) as a power source. Is housed.

  The rotation connecting part 13 connects the upper surface side housing 11 and the bottom surface side housing 12 so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis AX. Here, the rotation axis AX of the rotation connecting portion 13 is located at the center in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction in the upper surface side housing 11 and the bottom surface side housing 12.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotation connecting portion 13 is located on the upper surface side housing 11 and the bottom surface side at a position where the outer edges of the upper surface side housing 11 and the bottom surface side housing 12 overlap in the closed state of the remote controller 10. The housing 12 is held. When the bottom housing 12 is rotated in the direction of the arrow R shown in FIG. 3 to be in the open state, the rotational connecting portion 13 is viewed from the rotational axis AX direction (Z-axis direction). 11 and the bottom case 12 are rotated to an arrangement where the angle formed by the bottom casing 12 is substantially a right angle to expose the input key group 121 (see FIG. 4). As described above, in the remote control device 10, the input key group 121 can be accommodated on the upper surface side housing 11 in a closed state where the input key group 121 is not operated. Therefore, the remote control device 10 as a whole is compact. Can be configured.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the remote control device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating a hardware configuration of the remote control device 10 according to the present embodiment. The remote control device 10 includes an upper surface side backlight 115 in the upper surface side casing 11 in addition to the operation key group 111, the direction key 112, the center key 113, and the light key 114 described above. In addition to the input key group 121 and the transmission unit 122 described above, the remote control device 10 includes a microprocessor 123 and a bottom side backlight 124 in the bottom case 12. Furthermore, the remote control device 10 includes an open / close detection unit 131 that detects an open / closed state of the top surface case 11 and the bottom surface case 12. These units are connected to the microprocessor 123 via a connector or the like (not shown).

  Here, the open / close detection unit 131 detects the rotation state of the rotation connecting unit 13, that is, whether the remote control device 10 is in the closed state or the open state, and outputs the detection result to the microprocessor 123. The position where the open / close detection unit 131 is provided and the detection method of the open / close state of the remote control device 10 are not particularly limited. For example, it is possible to directly detect the rotation operation of the rotation connecting portion 13 by providing it integrally with the rotation connecting portion 13 or to detect the opening and closing of the optical sensor provided in the part of the bottom side housing 12 exposed in the open state. It is possible to use a publicly known / public technique such as the part 131.

  The upper surface side backlight 115 is a key backlight which is provided at a position corresponding to each key provided on the upper surface side housing 11 and irradiates each key from the back surface. The bottom-side backlight 124 is a key backlight that is provided at a position corresponding to each key provided on the bottom-side casing 12 and irradiates these keys from the back. The upper surface side backlight 115 and the lower surface side backlight 124 are composed of a light emitting element such as an LCD (Light Emitting Diode) and a light guide member to each key, and are individually turned on / off under the control of the microprocessor 123.

  The microprocessor 123 is a control unit that comprehensively controls the operation of the remote control device 10 based on various programs and various setting information stored in a storage medium such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) (not shown). The microprocessor 123 receives details of key operations performed by the user on various keys (the operation key group 111, the direction key 112, the center key 113, and the input key group 121) of the remote control device 10, and signals according to the operation details. Is transmitted to the remote control device 10 via the transmission unit 122.

  In addition, when the microprocessor 123 accepts the pressing operation of the light key 114, the top surface backlight 115 and the bottom surface backlight 124 are turned on / off according to the open / close state of the remote control device 10 detected by the open / close detection unit 131. Are controlled individually.

  Specifically, the microprocessor 123 illuminates each key arranged on the operation surface of the upper surface side casing 11 from the rear side by turning on the upper surface side backlight 115 when the remote control device 10 is in the closed state. . Further, when the remote controller 10 is in the open state, the microprocessor 123 turns on the upper surface side backlight 115 and the lower surface side backlight 124 so that the operation surface of the upper surface side housing 11 and the bottom surface side housing 12 is turned on. Illuminate each arranged key from the back.

  In addition, the microprocessor 123 is arranged on each key arranged on the operation surface of the upper surface side housing 11 and on the operation surface of the bottom surface side housing 12 when the upper surface side backlight 115 and / or the lower surface side backlight 124 are turned on. When a no-operation state (hereinafter referred to as an “no-operation state”) is individually detected for each key, and the non-operation state continues for a predetermined time, the upper surface side backlight 115 and / or the lower surface side backlight 124 are turned off. . Note that the microprocessor 123 has a function of measuring elapsed time by cooperating with a time measuring unit such as an RTC (Real Time Clock). In addition, it is assumed that setting time and an arbitrary value such as several seconds can be set as the predetermined time serving as an indicator of turning off.

  Hereinafter, the backlight on / off operation of the remote control device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the first backlight control process executed by the remote controller 10 (microprocessor 123).

  First, the microprocessor 123 waits until the light key 114 is pressed (step S11; No). When the microprocessor 123 receives an operation of pressing the light key 114 (step S11; Yes), the microprocessor 123 determines whether or not the current state of the remote control device 10 is an open state based on the detection result of the open / close detection unit 131 (step S12). ).

  If it is determined in step S12 that the remote control device 10 is in the closed state (step S12; No), the microprocessor 123 turns on the upper surface side backlight 115 and turns off the lower surface side backlight 124 to thereby turn off the upper surface side housing. The keys arranged on the operation surface 11 are illuminated from the back (step S13), and the process returns to step S12 again.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the remote control device 10 is in the closed state, the operation surface of the bottom surface side housing 12 is in a state of being overlapped with the bottom surface of the top surface side housing 11, so the user operates the input key group 121. It is not possible. Therefore, it is possible to suppress unnecessary power consumption by turning off the bottom side backlight 124 of the bottom case 12 and turning on the top backlight 115 of the operable top case 11.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S12 that the remote control device 10 is in the open state (step S12; Yes), the microprocessor 123 turns on the upper surface side backlight 115 and the lower surface side backlight 124, thereby turning on the upper surface side housing 11. And each key arranged on the operation surface of the bottom side housing 12 is illuminated from the back (step S14), and the process returns to step S12 again.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the remote control device 10 is in the open state, the operation surface of the bottom surface side housing 12 is exposed from the top surface side housing 11, so that the user can use each key on the operation surface of the top surface side housing 11. At the same time, it is possible to operate the input key group 121 on the operation surface of the bottom case 12. Therefore, the operability in a dark place can be improved by turning on the upper surface side backlight 115 of the upper surface side housing 11 and the bottom surface side backlight 124 of the bottom surface side housing 12.

  When the open / close state of the remote control device 10 changes in the backlight lighting state, the bottom side backlight 124 is switched on / off in accordance with the determination in step S12.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the second backlight control process executed by the remote control device 10 (microprocessor 123). This process is executed together with the first backlight control process when the upper backlight 115 and the bottom backlight 124 are turned on in the first backlight control process.

  First, the microprocessor 123 turns on the upper surface side backlight 115 and the lower surface side backlight 124 (step S21), and the operation key group 111, the direction key 112, and the operation key group arranged on the operation surface of the upper surface side housing 11. It is determined whether any one of the center key 113 and the light key 114 (hereinafter referred to as the upper surface side key) has been operated (step S22). Here, when the operation of the upper surface side key is received (step S22; Yes), the microprocessor 123 returns to step S21 and continues the lighting state of the upper surface side backlight 115 and the lower surface side backlight 124.

  If it is determined in step S22 that the top surface side key is not operated (step S22; No), the microprocessor 123 sets the input key group 121 (hereinafter referred to as the bottom surface) disposed on the operation surface of the bottom surface side housing 12. It is determined whether or not a side key has been operated (step S23). Here, when the operation of the bottom-side key is received (step S23; Yes), the microprocessor 123 detects that the non-operation state of the top-side key is detected (hereinafter, referred to as “no-operation time”) for a predetermined time. If it is less than the predetermined time (step S24; No), the process returns to step S21 again.

  If it is determined in step S24 that the predetermined period of time has not elapsed (step S24; Yes), the microprocessor 123 turns off the upper surface side backlight 115 and continues to turn on the lower surface side backlight 124. Thus, only the input key group 121 arranged on the operation surface of the bottom side housing 12 is illuminated from the back surface (step S25), and the process returns to step S22 again.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S23 that the operation of the bottom side key is not performed (step S23; No), the microprocessor 123 determines whether the no-operation time of the top side key and the bottom side key has passed a predetermined time. Is determined (step S26). If it is less than the predetermined time (step S26; No), the process returns to step S21 again.

  If it is determined in step S26 that the predetermined time has not passed (step S26; Yes), the microprocessor 123 turns off the upper surface side backlight 115 and the lower surface side backlight 124 (step S27). This process ends.

  As described above, according to the present processing, when the light is turned off in a non-operation state for a predetermined time from the lighting state of the upper surface side backlight 115 and the lower surface side backlight 124, the operation state of the upper surface side key and the lower surface side key is determined. Then, it is controlled whether both the upper surface side backlight 115 and the lower surface side backlight 124 are turned off or only the upper surface side backlight 115 is turned off. Thereby, when the remote controller 10 is in the open state, the bottom backlight 124 of the bottom casing 12 is preferentially turned on, and the top backlight 115 is turned on when the top key is not operated for a predetermined time. Can be turned off, so that unnecessary power consumption can be suppressed and convenience related to the operation of the bottom-side keys can be improved.

  Even when only the upper surface side backlight 115 is turned on (state of step S13 in FIG. 6), when the upper surface side key has not been operated for a predetermined time, the upper surface side backlight 115 is turned off. To do.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, the said embodiment was shown as an example and is not intending limiting the range of invention. The above embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, changes, additions, and the like can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, the said embodiment and its deformation | transformation are included in the range of the invention, the summary, and the invention described in the claim, and its equal range.

  For example, the key configuration of the remote control device 10 is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment (see FIGS. 1 and 3), and any operation key can be arranged. In the above embodiment, the backlight is turned on when the light key 114 is pressed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the backlight is turned on when a key other than the light key 114 is pressed. Alternatively, the backlight may be turned on when the remote controller 10 is opened or closed. Further, when the light key 114 is pressed while the backlight is turned on, the backlight may be turned off.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although it was set as the form provided with the upper surface side backlight 115 and the bottom surface side backlight 124 as an illumination part (1st illumination part and 2nd illumination part) which illuminates an upper surface side key and a bottom surface side key, It is not limited to this. For example, a light that irradiates illumination light to each of the top surface side key and the bottom surface side key may be provided at a position where each of the top surface side key and the bottom surface side key can be illuminated. The position where the light is provided is not particularly limited, and the light may be provided near or near the top key and the bottom key. For example, in the case of the remote control device 10 shown in FIG. By providing a pair of lights in the vicinity of the center position on both side surfaces in the side direction, it is possible to illuminate the bottom side key in the open state.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the upper surface side housing 11 and the bottom surface side housing 12 are connected so as to be rotatable relative to each other about a rotation shaft positioned substantially at the center of the upper surface side housing 11 and the bottom surface side housing 12. Although it is set as the structure which carries out, it is good also as a form which makes the position of a rotating shaft another position.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, the remote control apparatus which implement | achieves an open / close state by rotating the upper surface side housing | casing 11 and the bottom surface side housing | casing 12 by the rotation connection part 13. As shown in FIG. However, the remote control device to which the present invention is applied is not limited to this. For example, instead of the rotation connecting portion 13, one of the upper surface side housing 11 and the bottom surface side housing 12 is in the longitudinal direction (Y-axis direction in FIG. 1) or the short direction with respect to the other. As a mode in which the present invention is applied to a remote control device provided with a slide mechanism that opens and closes the remote control device 10 (upper surface side housing 11 and bottom surface side housing 12) by sliding in the X-axis direction of FIG. Also good.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8, it is good also as a form applied to the remote control apparatus 20 comprised from a single housing | casing. Here, FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another example of the remote control device according to the present embodiment. In the figure, the remote controller 20 has an operation key group 211, a direction key 212, a center key 213, and a light key 214 arranged on the operation surface of the main body 21. The operation key group 211, the direction key 212, the center key 213, and the light key 214 correspond to the operation key group 111, the direction key 112, the center key 113, and the light key 114 described above.

  Further, the operation key group 22 is for inputting numbers and related thereto. The operation key group 22 is normally covered with a cover 23 that is slidable in the direction of the arrow SL, so as not to be visible on the operation surface of the main body 21. When an input is performed using the operation key group 22, the cover 23 is slid to expose the operation key group 22. Although not shown, a main backlight that illuminates the operation key group 211, the direction key 212, the center key 213, and the light key 214 from the back, a sub backlight that illuminates the operation key group 22 from the back, and opening and closing of the cover 23 It is assumed that an open / close detection unit for detecting the above is provided in the main body unit 21.

  When the present invention is applied to the remote control device 20, the main backlight and the sub-backlight are turned on / off in the first backlight control process and the second backlight control process described above according to the open / closed state of the cover 23. By performing based on this, the same effects as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Remote control apparatus 11 Upper surface side housing | casing 11a Key holding part 11b Circuit board 111 Operation key group 112 Direction key 113 Center key 114 Light key 115 Upper surface side backlight 12 Bottom surface side housing 12a Key holding part 12b Circuit board 121 Input key group 122 Transmission unit 123 Microprocessor 124 Bottom side backlight 13 Rotating connection unit 131 Open / close detection unit 20 Remote control device 21 Body unit 211 Operation key group 212 Direction key 213 Central key 214 Light key 22 Operation key group 23 Cover

Claims (8)

A first housing provided with a first illumination part that illuminates the first operation key group at a position where the first operation key group is arranged on the upper surface and can illuminate the first operation key group;
A second casing provided with a second illuminating unit for illuminating the second operation key group at a position where the second operation key group is arranged on the upper surface and capable of illuminating the second operation key group;
The first casing and the second casing are connected so as to be relatively rotatable in a state where the first casing is overlapped on the upper surface of the second casing, and the second casing is formed on the bottom surface of the first casing. An open / close mechanism that realizes a closed state in which the upper surface of the first casing is shielded and an open state in which the second operation key group is exposed from the bottom surface of the first casing,
No-operation state detecting means for individually detecting no-operation states of the first operation key group and the second operation key group;
Control means for controlling lighting / extinguishing of the first illumination part and the second illumination part according to the detection result of the no-operation state detection means;
With
In the state where the first illumination unit and the second illumination unit are turned on, the control unit continues the non-operation state of the first operation key group for a predetermined time, and the non-operation state of the second operation key group A remote control device that turns off the first illumination unit when is less than a predetermined time.   2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit turns off the first illumination unit and the second illumination unit when the non-operation state of the first operation key group and the second operation key group continues for a predetermined time. Remote control device. An opening / closing detection means for detecting an opening / closing state of the first casing and the second casing realized by the opening / closing mechanism;
The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls turning on / off of the first illumination unit and the second illumination unit according to a detection result of the open / close detection unit.   The control means turns on the first illumination unit when the first housing and the second housing are in a closed state, and the first illumination when the first housing and the second housing are in an open state. The remote control device according to claim 3, wherein the lighting unit and the second lighting unit are turned on. The first operation key group has at least a lighting instruction key for instructing lighting.
The remote controller according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the open / close detection means detects an open / closed state of the first casing and the second casing in response to an operation of the lighting instruction key.   The remote controller according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first casing and the second casing are formed in a substantially rectangular shape.   The opening / closing mechanism section is centered on a pivot shaft provided at a position substantially orthogonal to the operation surface of the first casing and the second casing at approximately the center of the first casing and the second casing. The remote control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first housing and the second housing are relatively rotated. A control method for a remote control device,
The remote control device has a first casing provided with a first illuminating unit that illuminates the first operation key group at a position where the first operation key group is disposed on the upper surface and the first operation key group can be illuminated.
A second casing provided with a second illuminating unit for illuminating the second operation key group at a position where the second operation key group is arranged on the upper surface and capable of illuminating the second operation key group;
The first casing and the second casing are connected so as to be relatively rotatable in a state where the first casing is overlapped on the upper surface of the second casing, and the second casing is formed on the bottom surface of the first casing. An open / close mechanism that realizes a closed state in which the upper surface of the first casing is shielded and an open state in which the second operation key group is exposed from the bottom surface of the first casing,
With
A no-operation state detection step, wherein the no-operation state detection means individually detects the no-operation state of the first operation key group and the second operation key group;
A control step for controlling the lighting / extinguishing of the first illumination unit and the second illumination unit according to the detection result of the no-operation state detection step;
Including
In the control step, in the control step, the first operation key group is kept in a non-operation state for a predetermined time while the first illumination unit and the second illumination unit are turned on, and the second operation key A control method for a remote control device that turns off the first illumination unit when a group has not been operated for less than a predetermined time.

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