JPH05308684A - Remote control transmitter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily display a function menu on the picture of a television receiver by transmitting the signal which displays the function menu immediately at the time of contact with a track ball. CONSTITUTION:A means 1 which senses user's contact with the track ball whose surface is covered with a conductive material, a means 2 which generates the signal indicating that it is sensed, a means 3 which detects the variation of rotation due to operation of the track ball, and a means 4 which generates the variation as a signal are provided. A means 6 which converts the signal, which indicates that it is sensed, to a cursor display signal and generates this signal and a means 7 which discriminates priority levels of generation of the display signal and a movement vector signal are realized by a microcomputer, and a light emitting part 11 is provided which converts the transmission signal from this microcomputer to infrared rays to transmit them. When the track ball is touched, the function menu is immediately displayed on the picture of the television receiver.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control transmitter for displaying a function menu on a television receiver screen to select and execute a specific function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, AV equipment has become increasingly compatible with infrared remote controls, and its operation has become complicated due to its high functionality.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram showing the operation of the remote control transmitter. Reference numeral 9 is an operation unit using a touch panel, 10 is a microcomputer unit that controls the whole, and 11 is a light emitting unit that converts a transmission signal from the microcomputer unit 10 into infrared rays and transmits the infrared rays. FIG. 8 shows a schematic front view of a remote control transmitter using a touch panel.

The operation of the remote control transmitter configured as described above will be described. When the user touches the panel surface with a finger in the operation unit 9, position information of the finger on the panel is input to the microcomputer unit 10 and converted into a coordinate signal. Then, the light emitting unit 11 converts the infrared light and transmits the infrared light. As soon as the signal is received by the television receiver, the function menu and cursor are displayed on the screen. Next, when the finger is traced on the panel, the cursor is moved by the coordinate signal corresponding to the trace. For example, when a menu is selected, the cursor is moved onto the menu to be selected, and the panel is pushed in at the position of the stopped finger to determine. An example of the transmission signal is shown in FIG. Manufacturer code, device code (TV, VTR
Etc.), command data, and trailer are transmitted in that order. The command data indicates a code for instructing an actual operation, and the trailer indicates a buffer period for distinguishing from the next data when continuously transmitted.

However, the remote control transmitter using the touch panel has individual differences in the size of the finger tracing the panel.
There was a problem in operability such as pressing the panel twice when selecting a menu because the feeling of pressing the panel varies depending on the individual. To improve this operability, a remote controller has been proposed in which the panel of the operation unit 9 is replaced with a trackball. When the user moves the trackball on the operation unit 9, the amount of change is converted into a coordinate signal in the microcomputer unit 10, infrared rays corresponding to the converted amount are transmitted, and a function menu is displayed on the screen. Although the operation accuracy is improved by using the track ball as described above, the microcomputer unit 10 is required unless the amount of change is given by rotating the ball.
Since it cannot be converted into a coordinate signal in, the menu cannot be displayed on the screen.

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional remote control transmitter, not only the trackball is contacted but also the trackball is moved to give a variation, and the microcomputer 10 must convert the variation into a coordinate signal and transmit it. For example, there is a problem that the menu is not displayed on the screen of the television receiver.

In view of the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a remote control device for transmitting a signal for displaying a function menu as soon as it comes into contact with a trackball.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the remote control transmitter of the present invention has a means for sensing that a user has touched by covering the surface of the trackball with a conductive material, and sensing means. And a means for generating a signal indicating that the change has occurred, a means for detecting the amount of change in rotation by operating the trackball, and a means for generating the amount of change as a signal, and converting the sensed signal into a cursor display signal. And a means for generating a signal of a change amount by converting it into a movement vector of a cursor, and a means for determining a generation priority of a display signal and a signal of a movement vector by a microcomputer. It is characterized by comprising a light emitting unit for converting a transmission signal into infrared rays and transmitting the infrared rays.

[0009]

The remote control transmitter of the present invention displays the function menu on the screen of the television receiver immediately when it comes into contact with the trackball.

[0010]

EXAMPLES Example 1 An example of the present invention will be described below. The operation unit 1 will be described with reference to FIG. A schematic front view of the remote control transmitter is shown in FIG. 4, and a block diagram thereof is shown in FIG.
Shown in. A trackball 1 whose surface is covered with a conductive material and which has a touch sensor function for detecting contact
2 and a rotation detection unit 13 for inputting a pulse to the microcomputer unit 14 when the trackball 12 rotates. The operation of the operation unit will be described below.

A user contacts the trackball 12. It is sensed that the trackball 12 having the touch sensor function has made a contact, and a signal thereof is generated and input to the microcomputer unit 14 through the protrusion that is in contact with the trackball 12. Enter the agreement to display the cursor and the function menu in the data command. Next, when the user operates the trackball 12 to apply rotation, the rotation detecting unit 13 detects the amount of change and inputs a pulse corresponding to the amount of change to the microcomputer unit 14. The pulse is converted into a movement vector of the cursor in the microcomputer unit 14. Then, the priority of the display signal and the information of the movement vector is determined, and the display signal is transmitted first. Then, when the user just touches the trackball 12, the coordinate signal is transmitted from the remote control transmitter to the television receiver side, and the menu and the cursor are displayed on the screen. Then, the cursor is moved by the movement vector according to the rotation of the trackball 12.

(Second Embodiment) The operation unit 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The surface of the trackball 12 is covered with a conductive material, and the information in the touch sensor is transmitted through the protrusion. However, since the shape is spherical, the contact between the trackball 12 and the protrusion is apt to be deteriorated to the microcomputer unit. I am worried about the information transmission. In order to improve the information transmission ability, a region 15 having a touch sensor function is provided around the trackball 12. The operation of the operation unit will be described. When the user touches the trackball 12, it also touches the periphery of the trackball 12. A touch is detected by the touch sensor function area 15, and a signal is sent to the microcomputer unit 1.
Input to 4. Other operations are the same as in (Example 1).

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 3 shows a touch sensor functional region 1 in which a peripheral portion of a trackball 12 has a bulge.
6 is provided to further improve the contactability to the peripheral portion when the user operates the trackball 12 as compared with the second embodiment. The rotation detector 13 is provided in the peripheral portion of the trackball 12. The touch sensor function area 16 detects the contact, and a signal is generated to generate a signal.
The operation after being input to No. 4 is the same as (Example 1).

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, the function menu can be displayed on the screen of the television receiver simply by contacting the trackball.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an operation unit of a remote control transmitter according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an operation unit of a remote control transmitter according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an operation unit of a remote control transmitter according to a third embodiment.

[Fig. 4] Schematic diagram of remote control transmitter

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a trackball remote control transmitter.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a remote control transmitter

[Figure 7] Remote control transmission format diagram

FIG. 8 is a schematic front view of a remote control transmitter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 9 Operation part 10 Microcomputer part 11 Light emitting part 12 Trackball 13 Rotation detecting part 14 Microcomputer part 15, 16 Area having touch sensor function

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for displaying an operation or function menu on a screen of a television receiver by a signal from a transmitting side and selecting and executing a specific function with a cursor,
A means for detecting that the user has touched the trackball and a means for generating a signal indicating that the user has realized it are realized by one trackball, and a means for detecting the amount of change when the trackball is operated and rotated. A means for generating a change amount as a signal, and a means for converting the sensed signal into a cursor display signal to generate, and a means for converting the change amount signal into a cursor movement vector and generating A remote control transmitter, characterized in that a microcomputer realizes a display signal and a means for determining the priority of generation of a movement vector signal, and a light emitting unit that converts a transmission signal from the microcomputer into infrared rays and transmits the infrared rays. 2. A device for displaying an operation or function menu on a screen of a television receiver by a signal from a transmission side and selecting a specific function with a cursor to execute the function, and sensing that a user touches the screen. And a means for generating a signal of being sensed, a means for detecting the amount of change when the trackball is operated and rotated, and a means for generating the amount of change as a signal. The microcomputer includes a means for converting a signal into a display signal of a cursor to generate it, a means for converting a signal of a change amount into a movement vector of a cursor to generate it, and a means for determining a generation priority of a position coordinate signal and a movement vector signal. And a remote control transmitter that includes a light emitting unit that converts a transmission signal from a microcomputer into infrared rays and transmits the infrared rays. 3. A device for displaying an operation or a function menu on the screen of a television receiver by a signal from a transmitting side and selecting and executing a specific function with a cursor so that a bulge is provided around a trackball. The remote control transmitter according to claim 2, wherein the remote control transmitter is provided.