Coded data generation or conversion – Code generator or transmitter – Transmitter for remote control signal
Reexamination Certificate
2001-01-26
2004-02-10
Edwards, Timothy (Department: 2635)
Coded data generation or conversion
Code generator or transmitter
Transmitter for remote control signal
C340S870030, C348S734000, C359S199200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06690314
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a remote controller key continuous press detecting apparatus, a remote controller key continuous press detecting method and a medium with a remote controller key continuous press detecting program recorded thereon, and more particularly to a remote controller key continuous press detecting apparatus, a remote controller key continuous press detecting method and a medium with a remote controller key continuous press detecting program recorded thereon for detecting, where a remote controller key is kept pressed continuously, the continuously pressed state of the remote controller key of a remote controller which repeatedly supplies a key code at prescribed output intervals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Known remote controller key continuous press detecting apparatuses according to the prior art include an apparatus which distinguishes at the electrical appliance under its remote control a key code signal supplied from a remote controller and judges whether or not its remote controller key is in a continuously pressed state. This apparatus, when judging whether or not its remote controller key is in a continuously pressed state, determines the presence of such a state if the same key code as the key code previously distinguished is distinguished within a prescribed judgment period. However, if the key code to be distinguished is deformed by noise from another electrical appliance or some other interference, the state may be judged as one of the remote controller key being pressed continuously. As a consequence, even if the user keeps the remote controller key pressed continuously to switch on or off a child lock mode or the like, the continuously pressed state of the remote controller key may not be detected, making the desired switching impossible.
In order to eliminate this inconvenience, it is conceivable to extend the judgment period during which the remote controller key continuous press detecting apparatus judges whether or not the remote controller key is in a continuously pressed state. For instance, where the data length of a key code “A” supplied from the remote controller is 70 ms and the output interval of the key code when the remote controller key is kept pressed continuously is 100 ms, suppose that the judgment period is 280 ms, 2.8 times as long. Then, when the remote controller key is kept pressed continuously, as shown in
FIG. 6
, even if a key code deformed by noise or the like (“B” in
FIG. 6
) is once distinguished, if another trial of key code distinguishment is done, the authentic key code (“A” in
FIG. 6
) can be distinguished. Therefore, the continuously pressed state of the remote controller key will keep on being detected.
The conventional remote controller key continuous press detecting apparatus involves the following problem.
That is, on account of the long judgment period, if the remote controller key is repeatedly pressed at short intervals, it may be mistaken for a state of continuous pressing of this remote controller key. Then, no processing in response to reiterative pressing of this remote controller key cannot take place.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, attempted in view of the above-noted problem, is intended to provide a remote controller key continuous press detecting apparatus which eliminates the impact of noise or the like when the remote controller key is kept pressed continuously to detect the continuously pressed state of the remote controller key and, when the same remote controller key is repeatedly pressed at short intervals, detects the non-continuously pressed state of the remote controller key.
A remote controller key continuous press detecting apparatus according to the invention detects the continuously suppressed state of a remote controller which supplies key code repeatedly at prescribed output intervals when the remote controller key is kept pressed continuously, and is provided with: a key code distinguishing unit for distinguishing a key code supplied from the remote controller; a continuous press judging unit for judging a remote controller key continuous press state when it distinguishes the key code distinguished by the key code distinguishing unit at a timing of its predicted arrival when the remote controller key is kept pressed continuously but not immediately judging the end of the remote controller key continuous press state if the key code is not so distinguished; and a detection signal output unit for supplying a continuous press detection signal when the continuous press judging unit has judged the presence of a remote controller key continuous press state.
More specifically, the apparatus is provided with a remote controller light receiving section for receiving infrared ray signals in a pulse waveform generated by a remote controller and converting them into electrical signals; a key code distinguishing circuit, into which the electrical signals supplied from the remote controller light receiving section are entered, for distinguishing a key code according to the combination of the states of the electrical signals; a continuous press judging circuit, into which this distinguished key code is entered, for distinguishing a remote controller key continuous press state when a key code is distinguished at a timing of its predicted arrival when the remote controller key is kept pressed continuously, but not immediately judging the end of the remote controller key continuous press state if the key code is not so distinguished if, after the distinguishment of the key code for detecting the continuously pressed state, the same key code is not distinguished at the timing of its next predicted arrival; and a detection signal output circuit for supplying a continuous press detection signal when the continuous press judging circuit has detected a continuously pressed state.
In this configuration according to the invention, the key code distinguishing unit distinguishes the key code supplied from the remote controller. Then the continuous press judging unit judges whether or not a remote controller key continuous press state is present according to the key code distinguished by the key code distinguishing unit, and the detection signal output unit supplies a continuous press detection signal if the continuous press judging unit judges the presence of a remote controller key continuous press state.
As the key code is repeatedly supplied from the remote controller at prescribed output intervals when the remote controller key is kept pressed continuously, the arrival timing of the key code for continuous pressing of the remote controller key can be foreseen. Therefore, the continuous press judging unit, if the key code is distinguished ata timing when continuous pressing of the remote controller key is expected, judges the presence of a remote controller key continuous press state. On the other hand, if no key code is distinguished at its predicted timing of arrival, it does not immediately judge that the remote controller key continuous press state has ended. Thus, even if the key code is temporarily deformed by noise or the like when the remote controller key is kept pressed continuously, the judgment of the presence of a remote controller key continuous press state is maintained at the time, with the result that the remote controller key continuous press state continues to be detected.
Incidentally, if the remote controller key continuous press state is judged to have ended only when no key code is entered at the timing of its predicted arrival, a remote controller key continuous press state is more likely than not to be judged present if the remote controller key is repeatedly pressed at short intervals. On the other hand, if it is so arranged that distinguishment of a different key code from what is used for detecting a continuously pressed state at the timing of the anticipated arrival of the detection key code would forbid judgment of the end of the key code remote controller key continuous press state until th
Crowell & Moring LLP
Edwards Timothy
Funai Electric Co. Ltd.
LandOfFree
REMOTE CONTROLLER KEY CONTINUOUS PRESS DETECTING APPARATUS,... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with REMOTE CONTROLLER KEY CONTINUOUS PRESS DETECTING APPARATUS,..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and REMOTE CONTROLLER KEY CONTINUOUS PRESS DETECTING APPARATUS,... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3333585