KR20020019607A - Modular remote control device - Google Patents

Abstract

Control of the consumer electronic device is accomplished using the first and second remotes. The first remote can directly control the device, and the second remote can control the device via the first remote. The second remote is in the form of a module detachable from the first remote.

Description

Modular Remote Control Device {MODULAR REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE}

The following application documents are hereby incorporated by reference.

No. 09 / 434,155, filed November 4, 1999 (Agent Control Number-PHA 23,783);

No. 09 / 128,839 filed on August 4, 1998 (Agent Control Number-PHA 23,469);

No. 09 / 129,300, filed August 5, 1998, Representative Control Number-PHA 23,470;

No. 09 / 271,200, filed March 17, 1999 (Agent Control Number-PHA 23,607);

No. 09 / 311,128, filed May 13, 1999 (Agent Control Number-PHA 23,501);

No. 09 / 210,416, filed December 11, 1998 (Agent Control Number-PHA23,522).

The term "remote" or "remote control device" as used herein refers to a device that allows a user to control another device via wireless communication. A known universal programmable remote with a touch screen is PRONTO ^™, which was introduced on the market in September 1998 by Philips Electronics. More information about PRONTO ^™ is available on the website at http://www.pronto.philips.com.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of remote control devices, also known as "remotes," and more particularly to remotes that include a graphical user interface (GUI) with a touch screen.

1-4 are schematic diagrams illustrating an embodiment of a combined remote according to the present invention.

Throughout all the drawings, the same reference numbers indicate similar or identical features.

Touch screens and battery packs make such a full-fledged remote larger and heavier. Channel surfing through such a remote may not be as convenient as using a more general and thinner remote. It is an object of the present invention to provide an ergonomic solution while retaining the advantages of a universal programmable remote such as Pronto ^™ . Therefore, the present invention provides a first remote control device for enabling a user to directly control a device, and a second remote control device for enabling a user to control the device via the first remote control device. It provides a conjugate comprising. Advantageously, the second remote may be in the form of a detachable module or detachable key or button for the first remote. Advantageously, the first remote is also user programmable. Other objects and advantages will be apparent in the description that follows.

The invention is explained in greater detail hereinafter through non-limiting examples in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

1 is a schematic diagram of a combination 101 in the present invention. The assembly 101 includes a first remote 102 and a second remote 106, which are shown here as separate entities for clarity. The combiner 101 preferably functions as a universal programmable remote such as Pronto ^™ for control of the CE device 112 when the user interacts with the combiner 101. Device 112 includes, in this example, a consumer electronic device such as a television set, audio system, VCR, home entertainment system, hard-disk drive (HDD) digital recorder, and the like. Other types of devices, such as, for example, PCs, may also be adapted to be controlled remotely by remotes 102 and 106.

The first remote 102 communicates directly with the CE device 112 via the wireless connection 104. The wireless connection 104 is any suitable type of connection such as RF (radio frequency) or IR (infrared). Since the CE device typically requires an IR input for remote control, the connection 104 is preferably IR with optional features for additional RF connection. Optionally, if the connection 104 is only RF and the device 112 is IR controllable, an RF-IR conversion unit (not shown) is used. Such a unit would preferably include a wired IR shooter near any IR receiver of the device to be controlled. Alternatively, the conversion unit may use a powerful IF blaster disposed somewhere near the device 112. The second remote 106 allows the user to indirectly control the device 112 via the first remote 102 as described in more detail below.

The first remote 102 includes a display 103 with a touch sensitive LCD screen. The display 103 is suitable for graphically displaying a menu containing control options or other user interface elements, for example, depending on what is required for control of the device 112. The first remote 102 is preferably user-programmable and includes massive editing capabilities and dedicated data processing components. The connection 104 may be used to receive information in addition to supplying commands to control the device 112. For example, the remote 102 may receive programming information from a processing device (eg, a PC or modem not shown) rather than being manually programmed by the user. The program capability of the first remote 102 may in particular be such that a) the assembly 101 can handle one or more types of devices, including functions or devices that are not currently known, or b) combinations such as user interface functions. 101) It is possible to change some functions of itself.

The second remote 106 includes a number of hard buttons or hard keys, such as the button 107. The second remote 106 is preferably of a relatively simple class. The remote 106 has a hard key 107 to provide a predetermined control signal to be interpreted through localized processing capabilities for the first remote 102. The second remote 106 can communicate with the first remote 102 wirelessly by a connection 105, such as an RF or IR connection. To avoid interference between connections 104 and 105, connection 104 is, for example, IR while connection 105 is RF, or both connections 104 and 105 are IR, but functionally different frequency bands. use. In addition, the second remote 106 is preferably detachably mounted to the first remote 102. The communication between the remotes 106 and 105 when physically connected may use a wireless connection 105 or a galvanic connection that bypasses the wireless portion of the signal path of the connection 105. The latter is achieved through suitable mounting slots and plugs.

Remotes 102 and 106 may each be considered as separate separate remotes. The functional options for the combination 101 are separated into those displayed on the screen 103 and those specified by the button 107. Preferably, the most frequently used function choices are assigned to hard buttons 107. For example, for control of a television receiver, the button 107 preferably includes volume up, volume down, mute, channel up, and channel down. Since the first remote 102 is programmable, the key 107 is a programmable interface between the device 112 and the second remote 106, which is optional by changing the mapping within the unit 102 according to the latter function. The function of can be assigned. This function assignment can be dynamic in the sense that a change at the remote 102 can change the mapping. For example, changing the remote 102 from "TV mode" to "CD mode" changes the mapping of the volume up and volume down buttons 107 of the remote 106 to the TV volume up / down or the volume of the CD / player. You can change it with either up or down code.

2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an assembly 101 in which a second remote 106 is physically mounted such that it is detachably mounted on top of the first remote 102. The functional connection between the remotes 102 and 106 uses a wireless connection 105, or. Alternatively, complementary electrically conductive portions 202 and 204 located at remotes 102 and 106, for example, result in a galvanic connection between remotes 102 and 106. Optionally, when a mechanical connection is established between the remotes 102 and 106, the mechanical connection is such that, for example, the control selection of the hard button 107 of the remote 106 is graphed on the touch screen 103. In order to avoid overlapping with the options that are displayed as an option, the remote 102 is triggered to change the display of the graphical user interface on the screen 103, for example. In this embodiment, the remotes 102 and 106 can work together in a similar fashion to known PRONTO's. However, the user can change the TV channel by separating the part 106 and adjusting only the remote 106 while leaving the remote 102 on the table.

3 and 4 illustrate a particular way of mechanically connecting remotes 102 and 106. Mechanical connections between remotes 102 and 106 can be made in a variety of ways. For example, the remote 106 slides into a place guide by rails or channels properly profiled to the top surface of the remote 102 or fits into a groove in the surface of the remote 102. It is locked in place via one or more spring-loaded metal balls and an elastic snap fit. For example, portions 202 and 204 may include metal balls to establish an electrical connection between remotes 102 and 106 when the remote 106 remains fixed in place, and thus the remote Provides a wired signal path from remote 106 to remote 102 for control of the device via 102. More specifically, FIGS. 3 and 4 show an embodiment of the combination 101, where the top surface 302 of the remote 102 receives the touch screen 103 and defines the profiled groove 304. Equipped. The shape of the groove 304 matches the shape of the sliding shoe 306 at the bottom of the remote 106. When the sliding shoe 306 is fitted into the groove 306, the position of the remote 106 is laterally fixed by the wall of the groove 304. The sliding shoe 306 is fixed in the longitudinal direction when the spring-loaded metal ball 308 is snapped into the hole 310 in the groove 304. The spring-loaded ball cooperates with the hole 310 to be easily detached, such as the configuration 101, by pulling the remotes 102 and 106 apart from each other.

In another configuration (not shown), the shoe 306 is received on the top surface 302 of the remote 102, and the groove 304 is formed on the back of the remote 106. Shoe 306 and groove 304 preferably have a suitable ergonomic shape, for example with rounded corners, to facilitate handling of remotes 102 and 106 for operational use.

Advantageously, in the present invention, the remote 102 of the assembly 101 can be equipped with a larger screen than the known remote, since the second remote 106 is still small and can be easily used in handheld form. For example, a remote 102 with a larger screen for channel surfing can be left on the table.

By reading this disclosure, other changes will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Such modifications may include other features that are already known in the design, manufacture, and use of the remote, and that may be used in place of or in addition to the features already described herein. Although the claims are formulated for a particular combination of features in the present application, the scope of the present application is defined as any novel feature or any novel combination of features, or any combination thereof, which is clearly or implicitly disclosed herein. It should be understood that any generalization also includes the generalization regardless of whether it alleviates some or all of the same technical problems as made in the present invention. As such, Applicant provides a notice that new claims may be formulated for such features during the progress of this application or any other application derived therefrom.

As mentioned above, the present invention is applicable to the field of remote control devices, also known as "remotes", in particular to remotes comprising a graphical user interface with a touch screen.

Claims (11)

As a binder, A first remote control device 102 for enabling a user to directly control the electronic device 112 remotely, and for enabling the user to remotely control the device via the first remote control device. An assembly comprising a second remote control device (106). The combination of claim 1, wherein the second device is physically detachable connectable with the first device. 3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the second device can serve as a component of a user-interface of the first device when connected to the first device. The device of claim 1, wherein the first device uses a first protocol 104 for communicating with the apparatus and the second device uses a second protocol 105 for communicating with the first device. Wherein the first and second protocols are different. 5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the first protocol uses IR (104) and the second protocol uses RF (105). The combination of claim 1, wherein at least the first device or the second device is user-programmable. The combination of claim 1, wherein the first device comprises a universal programmable remote control device. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device is configurable to provide a first plurality of control functions, the second device provides a second plurality of control functions, and the number of the second plurality of control functions Is smaller than the number of the first plurality of control functions. As a remote control device 106 for a user to indirectly control the electronic device 112 via another remote control device 102, The other device is capable of providing direct user-control of the apparatus. 10. The remote control device of claim 9, removably connectable to the other device. The remote control device of claim 10, wherein when connected to the other device, the remote control device serves as a component of a user-interface of the other device.