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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a remote control device such as a telecontrol
system or a telecontroller by means of which various command signals can
be transmitted from outside through a telephone line to control the
operation of electrical devices in the house where the signals are
received. In particular, the present invention relates to such a remote
control device which automatically answers the caller if there is no
person to take the call and controls the operation of electrical apparatus
such as a video tape recorder or an air conditioner according to the
caller's command.
Conventional remote control devices making use of a telephone line to
transmit a caller's command signals are generally comprised of an
automatic answering device which automatically responds to an incoming
call and a controlling device which controls, according to the command
signals which have been received, the operation of various apparatus in
the house where the call is received. More in detail, the automatic
answering device responds to an incoming call and transmits a prepared
response message to the caller and the caller, upon receiving this
response message, transmits a control signal defined for a particular mode
of operation. The control signal is interpreted by the controlling device
which controls the apparatus according to the signal thus interpreted.
With a conventional remote control device of this type, the user must
transmit a command exactly at the time when it is desired to control an
apparatus in the house. In other words, the desired operation cannot be
performed unless a telephone is accessible to the user at the crucial
moment, or if the user forgets to make the call.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a basic object of the present invention in view of the
aforementioned disadvantage to provide a remote control device making use
of a telephone line with which the user is not required to send a command
every time it is desired to operate an apparatus.
The above object of the present invention is achieved by providing an
improved remote control device which comprises memory means for storing
time data for the operation of various apparatus including the times at
which these apparatus are to be switched on and off and control means for
executing the operation of these apparatus according to the time schedule
stored in the memory means. Such a remote control device, however, can be
realized with various additional features.
It is therefore another object of the present invention to provide a remote
control device with the aforementioned capabilities which controls the
apparatus by cordless means, for example by transmitting infrared light or
supersonic wave control signals.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a
remote control device that controls an apparatus having its own cordless
remote controller.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a remote
control device having a primary transmitter assembly for transmitting
signals to control apparatus and a connector for additionally connecting
an auxiliary transmitter assembly which is equivalent to the primary
transmitter assembly and can be placed nearer to a selected apparatus to
be controlled.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a remote
control device which can perform its intended remote control functions
even if a telephone or an automatic responding device such as an answering
machine on the same telephone line receives the user's call from outside.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a remote
control device with which it can be tested easily whether its intended
functions are properly being performed.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a remote
control device which functions efficiently with a relatively small number
of infrared light emitting diodes.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a remote
control device with transmitter assemblies which are removable from the
housing of the device.
It is still another object of the present invention to provid a remote
control device with transmitter assemblies which are adjustably rotatable
so that infrared light emitted therefrom can be aimed accurately to
apparatus to be controlled.
These additional and other objects are achieved by providing one of the
remote control devices to be described below or a device easily obtainable
by combining features of some of them.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompany drawings, whichare incorporated in and form a part of the
specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and,
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the
invention. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a conceptual drawing showing the structure of a remote control
device embodying the present invention,
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control system of the remote control
device of FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 (consisting of FIGS. 3A and 3B is a flow chart of the operation of
the control system of FIG. 2,
FIG. 4 is a conceptual drawing showing the structure of another remote
control device embodying the present invention,
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the control system of the remote control
device of FIG. 4,
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the circuit structure of the adapter
shown in FIG. 4,
FIG. 7 is a front view of the display section of the control device of FIG.
4,
FIGS. 8A-8J are a flow chart of the operation of the control system of FIG.
5,
FIG. 9 is a conceptual drawing showing the structure of another remote
control device embodying the present invention,
FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the control system of the remote control
device of FIG. 9,
FIG. 11 (consisting of FIGS. 11A and 11B) is a flow chart of the operation
of the control system of FIG. 10 for the remote control device of FIG. 9,
FIG. 12 is a time chart of the operation depicted in FIG. 11,
FIG. 13 is a conceptual drawing showing the structure of another remote
control device embodying the present invention,
FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the control system of the remote control
device of FIG. 13,
FIG. 15 is a portion of a flow chart of the operation of the control system
of FIG. 13 when an air conditioner is controlled,
FIG. 16 is a time chart of the operation depicted in
FIG. 15 when the user elects to operate the air conditioner,
FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the connections of still another remote
control device embodying the present invention,
FIG. 18 is a plan view of the control panel of the control device of FIG.
17,
FIG. 19 is a block diagram of the control system of the remote control
device of FIG. 17,
FIG. 20 (consisting of FIGS. 20A and 20B) is a flow chart of the operation
of the control system of FIG. 19,
FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing the connection of still another remote
control device embodying the present invention,
FIG. 22 is a conceptual drawing showing the connection of another remote
control device embodying the present invention,
FIG. 23 is a schematic front view of a part of the control device shown in
FIG. 22,
FIG. 24 is a schematic circuit diagram of the infrared transmitter shown in
FIGS. 22 and 23,
FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a control device embodying the present
invention,
FIG. 26 is a drawing schematically showing the directions in which various
control signals will have to be transmitted from a control device attached
on a wall,
FIG. 27 is a drawing schematically showing the directions in which various
control signals will have to be transmitted from a control device placed
on a horizontal surface,
FIG. 28 is a front view of a control device of the present invention,
FIG. 29 is a sectional plan view of a part of the control device of FIG. 28
taken along the line X--X',
FIG. 30 is a schematic sectional view of the first transmitter assembly of
the control device of FIGS. 28 and 29,
FIG. 31 is a schematic sectional view of the second transmitter assembly of
the control device of FIGS. 28 and 29,
FIG. 32 is a schematic drawing showing the vertical angular ranges in which
light is emitted from the four light emitting diodes shown in FIGS. 30 and
31,
FIG. 33 is a schematic drawing showing the horizontal angular range in
which light is emitted from the four light emitting diodes shown in FIGS.
30 and 31,
FIG. 34 is a schematic horizontal view of a transmitter assembly shown in
FIGS. 28 and 30 when it is removed from the housing and attached to a
wall,
FIG. 35 is a front view of another control device of the present invention,
FIG. 36 is a schematic sectional view of a part of the interior of the
control device of FIG. 35,
FIG. 37 is a plan view of the printed circuit board shown in FIG. 36,
FIG. 38 is a rear view of a knob shown in FIG. 35, and
FIG. 39 is a circuit diagram showing the connection of the light emitting
diodes in the control device of FIG. 35.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A remote control device embodying the present invention is described below
by way of FIG. 1 which shows its structure conceptually, FIG. 2 which is a
block diagram of its control system and FIG. 3 which is a flow chart of
its operation. With reference first to FIG. 1, numeral 1 indicates a
control device of the present invention equipped with an IN button 2 for
selecting a mode of operation intended when there is somebody at home
(hereinafter referred to as the IN mode), an OUT button 3 for selecting
another mode of operation intended when there is nobody at home to receive
a call (hereinafter referred to as the OUT mode), apparatus controlling
switches. 4, 5 and 6 respectively for switching terminal apparatus 12, 13
and 14 on and off, display lamps 7, 8 and 9 for showing respectively
whether the terminal apparatus 12, 13 and 14 are switched on or off, a dip
switch 10 for setting a code number and a clock 11 for showing the time.
The control device 1 is connected not only to the terminal apparatus 12,
13 and 14 through its relay junction points but also to a telephone 15
through a terminal 16 which is connected to a telephone line 17.
With reference next to FIG. 2, the control system of the aforementioned
control device 1 includes a microcomputer 18 which controls signals as a
whole, an oscillator (OSC) 19 which generates standard clock signals for
the microcomputer 18, a signal converter (SIG. CONV.) 20 for transmitting
incoming call signals to the microcomputer 18 (by converting them, if
necessary, into a form compatible to the specification of the
microcomputer 18), a tone decoder 21 which decodes multifrequency signals
sent from a caller's telephone through the line 17 and transmits them to
the microcomputer 18, a voice synthesizer (VOICE SYNTH.) 22 for producing
vocal sound, an amplifier (AMP) 23 for amplifying sound from the voice
synthesizer 22, an interface 24 for connecting the multifrequency signals
and voice signals to the telephone line 17, a relay 25 for closing a DC
circuit by switching from the signal converter 20 to an internal circuit,
a driver 27 which transmits signals for controlling a lamp 26 and terminal
apparatus 12, 13 and 14, a mode selecting switch (MODE SW.) 28 for
selecting between the IN and OUT modes of operation referred to above, a
clock circuit (CLOCK CKT) 29 for displaying and setting the time, ROM 30
for storing programs such as procedures for controlling different
operations and responses to a call, RAM 31 for storing the caller's
command signals, a code setting section (CODE SET) 32 for setting a code
number, and a power source (POWER) 33 such as batteries.
Operation of the control device 1 described above is explained next by way
of an example wherein the user controls the operation of the terminal
apparatus indicated by the numeral 12. Prior to leaving the house, the
user first switches on the desired apparatus 12. If the display lamp 7
corresponding to this apparatus 12 has been on, power is supplied to it
and the apparatus 12 starts to operate immediately. If this happens, the
user presses the apparatus controlling switch 4 related to this apparatus
and turns off the display lamp 7 for this apparatus, thereby stopping the
supply of power thereto. The user then presses the OUT button 3 to select
the OUT mode of operation (nl of FIG. 3) and leaves the house.
When somebody calls in thereafter from outside (YES in n2) and the
telephone 15 rings, call signals are taken in by the microcomputer 18
through the signal converter 20. After a predetermined number of call
signals are counted, the control device 1 interprets it as a call and
closes the aforementioned DC circuit by activating the relay 25. This
causes a message to be transmitted to the caller through the voice
synthesizer 22, the amplifier 23 and the interface 24, and the caller is
informed that there is nobody at home to take the call (n3). The system is
now ready for remote control operation. If the call was from somebody not
intending to operate any apparatus in the house, such a caller will hang
up upon learning that there is nobody in the house to speak to. If it is
the user who made the call, the user proceeds to form an assigned code
number on the numeric buttons and the "#" button is pressed at the end (in
the case of a push-button phone as shown in FIG. 1). The number thus
entered is decoded by the tone decoder 21 and transmitted to the
microcomputer 18 which determines whether a correct code number has been
received. If it is identified as the correct number (YES in n4), a message
is transmitted to the user, requesting an input (n5). All messages given
to the caller are preferably preceded by a tone signal (such as
"ding-dong") to alert the listening caller that a verbal message is about
to follow, but neither this nor the sound of the tone signaliis intended
to limit the scope of this invention.
Thereafter, the user enters a command by way of an operation code according
to a code table, an example of which is shown in Table 1 wherein the three
terminal apparatus 12, 13 and 14 of FIG. 1 are identified by Apparatus
Nos. 1, 2 and 3, respectively.
TABLE 1
______________________________________
Operation Code
Apparatus Control
No. Code Operation
______________________________________
0 Switch off Apparatus No. 1
1 1 Switch on Apparatus No. 1
2 Set Apparatus No. 1 in
MONITOR MODE
0 Switch off Apparatus No. 2
2 1 Switch on Apparatus No. 2
2 Set Apparatus No. 2 in
MONITOR MODE
0 Switch off Apparatus No. 3
3 1 Switch on Apparatus No. 3
2 Set Apparatus No. 3 in
MONITOR MODE
______________________________________
The user, wishing to operate Apparatus No. 1, enters the operation code
"11#" according to Table 1 (n6). The system thereupon returns a message,
requesting the input of the starting time (n7). If the user enters
"1915#", for example, to indicate that Apparatus No. 1 should be set to go
on at 7:15 p.m. (n8), the system responds by verbally reciting the set
time for confirmation (n9). If an error is found (NO in n10), the user can
cause the system to go back to Step n7. Otherwise, the system requests to
know how long the selected apparatus should be kept in the switched-on
condition (n11). If the user enters "0300#", for example, to indicate "3
hours" (n12), the system again recites the input for confirmation (n13) as
done in Step n9. If there is no error (YES in n14), the user is still
allowed to cancel the setting (NO in n15) and go back to Step n5 but if
the user is satisfied with the setting as confirmed, a code (such as
"00#") to this effect is entered likewise through the use of the numeric
buttons (YES in n15). Thereafter, the control device 1 is disconnected
from the telephone line 17 (n16) and when the time set in Step n8 is
reached (YES in n17), the designated apparatus is switched on (n18), and
so forth.
The present invention has been described above by way of a particular
embodiment but the scope of the present invention is not intended to be
limited thereby. The number of terminal apparatus to be controlled is not
limited to be three and the operation codes may be designed in any manner
desired. The control system may be further so designed that the telephone
line is automatically opened if an incorrect code number is received or a
predetermined length of time passes without any input of a code number by
the caller.
The basic objects of the present invention are achieved by a device of the
type described above by way of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, but it goes without
saying that this device can be improved in many aspects. One of the
drawbacks of the device described above is that the terminal apparatus to
be controlled are connected to the control device 1 by cables. The cost of
installation is therefore not negligible and cables connected to the
individual apparatus can be quite unsightly. If the so-called power line
transmission method is used, apparatus for such transmission are equally
costly and there will additionally be required block filters for
preventing signal leaks, bypass capacitors for preventing signal
transmission failures caused by phase differences in the connection of a
single-phase three-wire system, noise filters for eliminating noise from
other electrical appliances in the house, etc. A remote control device
according to another embodiment of the present invention, which can be
installed inexpensively without crowding the house with unsightly cables
and the like and does not require block filters, bypass capacitors, noise
filters or the like, is disclosed next with reference to FIGS. 4 through
8. It is characterized as controlling target appliances by a cordless
means such as supersonic waves, infrared light and the like.
As shown in FIG. 4, which is a conceptual drawing showing the structure of
a remote control device of the present invention characterized above, a
control device 101 is intended to control the operation of a video tape
recorder 103, an adapter 105 for a lamp 104 and an air conditioner 106 and
includes a mode selecting button 102 for selecting whether the device is
operated in the IN or OUT mode defined above, a preset button 107 for
selecting one or more of the aforementioned apparatus in the house to be
operated or setting times of their operations, a clock button 108 for
setting a clock, a cancel button 109 for cancelling a preset time, a code
setting button 110 for setting a code number, a up-down button 111 (or
.+-.button) for increasing and decreasing displayed number when setting
the time, etc., a set button 112 for making an input as will be explained
by way of an example below, a display section 113 for displaying
information, and a transmitter 115 for transmitting control signals in the
form of radiation such as infrared light 114. The adapter 105 serves to
receive infrared light 114 transmitted by the control device 101 and to
controllably switch on and off an apparatus connected thereto such as the
lamp 104, and includes a light-receiving section 116, a power plug 117 and
a power outlet 118 for connecting an apparatus to be controlled. The video
tape recorder 103 and the air conditioner 106 are adapted to be controlled
by infrared light signals. If conventional apparatus adapted for such
control are used, there is no special trouble of installing
light-receiving elements on them. Like the device shown in FIG. 1, this
control device 101 is also connected in parallel with a telephone 121 to a
telephone line 119 via a terminal 120.
The control system of the control device 1 is explained next by way of FIG.
5 wherein numerals 125 through 132 indicate respectively a microcomputer,
an oscillator, a signal converter, a tone decoder, a voice synthesizer, an
amplifier, an interface and a relay as explained in connection with FIG.
2. Likewise, numerals 134 and 135 indicate ROM storing programs and RAM
for storing the caller's commands, respectively. FIG. 5 also shows a
display circuit 133 which connects the aforementioned display section 113
with the microcomputer 125, a key matrix 136 with the reset button 107,
the clock button 108, etc. and the infrared transmitter 115 which
transmits infrared control signals in response to a command from the
microcomputer 125.
The circuit structure of the adapter 105 is shown in FIG. 6 by way of a
block diagram. As explained in connection with FIG. 4, this adapter 105 is
for controlling an electrical apparatus such as the lamp 104 according to
an infrared signal received from the control device 101. The adapter 105
is therefore provided with a signal receiving circuit 138 for receiving
infrared light from the control device 101, a control circuit 140 for
switching on and off a power relay 139 according to a control signal
received through the signal receiving circuit 138, a power source 141, a
connector 118 for connecting to an electrical appliance to be controlled
such as the lamp 104, and a plug 117 for connecting to an external power
source.
FIG. 7 is a front view of the display section 113 of the control device 101
shown in FIG. 4. The display section 113 is provided with an IN display
143 for indicating the IN mode of operation, an OUT display 144 for
indicating the OUT mode of operation, a preset display 145 for indicating
if an apparatus to be controlled has been selected, apparatus number
displays 146, 147 and 148 for indicating which of the apparatus has been
preset, rewind displays 149 and 150 for indicating the rewinding of video
tape as will be explained below, a channel and numeric displays 151 and
152 for indicating a channel number, an ON time display 153 for indicating
the time to start recording, to switch on the adapter 105, etc., an OFF
time display 154 for indicating the time to switch off the adapter 105,
etc., am and pm displays 155 and 156 for distinguishing am and pm of
indicated times, a code number display 157 for lighting when a code number
is entered, a numeric display section 158 for displaying time, and
recording length displays 159 and 160 for indicating the recording length
of the video tape recorder 103 or the duration of time in which the
adapter 105 is switched on.
In the IN mode of operation, the user enters the current time by means of
the clock button 108 and then the code number by the code setting button
110. The displayed apparatus number changes from 1 to 2 to 3 as the preset
button 107 is operated. If the set button 112 is pressed when the number
corresponding to the desired apparatus is displayed, the designated
apparatus is selected and lights begin to blink sequentially, indicating
what data should be entered by the user. Entry of required data is
effected by means of the up-down button 111 and the set button 112. Table
2 shows by way of several examples how data are entered. In Table 2, the
video tape recorder 103 and the air conditioner 106 are respectively
referred to by Apparatus Nos. 1 and 2.
TABLE 2
______________________________________
Example Button operations and "displays"
______________________________________
Set time CLOCK, .+-., "am 9", SET, .+-., "05", SET
to 9:05 am
Set code CODE NUMBER, .+-., "12", SET, .+-., "34", SET
number 1234
Select PRESET, SET, "1"
Apparatus
No. 1
Rewind tape
.+-., "REWIND"150, SET
Select .+-., "10", SET
Channel 10
Set to start
.+-., "pm 3", SET, .+-., "15", SET
recording at
3:15 pm
Set to .+-., "2", SET, .+-., "10", SET
record for
2 h 10 m
Select PRESET, PRESET, SET, "2"
Apparatus
No. 2
Start .+-., "pm 6", SET, .+-., "30", SET
Apparatus
No. 2 at
6:30 pm
Cancel PRESET, "1", CANCEL
preset of
Apparatus
No. 1
Cancel PRESET, PRESET, "2", CANCEL
preset of
Apparatus
No. 2
______________________________________
Note: ". . ." indicates a display, not a button to be operated.
With reference to Table 2 and FIG. 7, if the set button 112 is pressed when
the apparatus number display 146 (rather than 147 or 148) is lit,
Apparatus No. 1, that is, the video tape recorder 103 is selected and the
displays 149, 151, 153 and 159 are lit, indicating the data which are
required for presetting the video tape recorder 103. If this is an initial
preset, "-" is shown in the numeric display sections 152, 158 and 160. If
the video tape recorder 103 was already preset, the previously set numbers
are shown in these display sections 152, 158 and 160.
Since the rewind display 150 is blinking at this moment, the set button 112
is pressed after the up-down button 111 is operated to switch on this
display and to rewind the tape. If it is not desired to rewind the tape,
the rewind display 150 is turned off. Next, since "1" is blinking at the
numeric display 152, the user likewise operates the up-down button 111 to
select a desired channel number (such as "10") and then presses the set
button 112. Thereafter, hour and minute sections 158a, 158b, 160a and 160b
of the displays 158 and 160 blink sequentially and each time the user
operates the up-down button 111 and the set button 112 to complete
presetting. As soon as the presetting is completed, the display section
113 displays the current time, and the preset display 145 and the
apparatus number display 146 are lit. It goes without saying that the
other apparatus can be set by following similar routines.
Basic routines for the OUT mode of operation are explained next by way of a
flow chart shown in FIG. 8A-8J. Let us assume that the user has set a tape
in the video tape recorder 103 (Apparatus No. 1) and switched on the lamp
104 (Apparatus No. 3) connected to the adapter 105. The user then presses
the mode selecting button 102 to select the OUT mode (n101) and leaves the
house. When the user, wishing to control the apparatus at home by using
the telephone line 119, calls the home telephone number from outside, the
telephone 121 at home rings and what takes place thereafter until the
microcomputer 125 causes a verbal message to be transmitted to the caller
through the voice synthesizer 129, the amplifier 130 and the interface
131, requesting an input from the caller (Steps n102 through n105) is the
same as explained in connection with Steps n2 through n5 of FIG. 3.
In response to the request for an input in Step n105, the user enters the
code "11#" (n106) according to the code table shown in Table 3 if the
purpose of the call was to set the video tape recorder 103.
TABLE 3
______________________________________
Apparatus Control
No. Code Operation
______________________________________
0 0 Cut off the telephone line
0 Cancel preset
1 Preset
2 Check the setting
1 3 Set to rewind tape
4 Set channel number
5 Set starting time
6 Set recording length
0 Cancel preset
1 Preset
2 2 Check the setting
3 Switch on
4 Switch off
0 Cancel preset
1 Preset
3 2 Check the setting
3 Switch on
4 Switch off
______________________________________
Thereafter, the video tape recorder 103 is preset interactively between the
user and the microcomputer 125. The user is sequentially asked by way of a
vocal message whether the tape should be rewound (n107), which TV channel
should be recorded (nlll), when the recording should start (n114) and how
long the recording should last (n117). When the user responds (n108, n112,
n115 and n118) to each of these questions, the user's response is
displayed (n109 or n110, n113, n116 and n119) for confirmation. When all
data are set, a beep is heard (n120) to indicate the end. Each input is
stored in the RAM 135 and the corresponding apparatus number display 146
is lit.
If the user responds with "10#" (n121) to the request in Step n105, the
microcomputer 125 recognizes from Table 3 that the user's intention is to
cancel the setting then in effect. If the video tape recorder 103 is
already preset (YES in n122), the microcomputer 125 operates to cancel the
preset data and to transmit a message to the effect to the caller (n123).
If the video tape recorder 103 was not preset (NO in n122), the
microcomputer 125 simply tells the user that the video tape recorder 103
was not preset (n124).
If the user's wish is simply to check how the video tape recorder is
currently preset, "12#" is entered (n131). If the video tape recorder 103
is not preset (NO in n132), the user is told so (n137) and the system goes
to the end of the routine (n138). If the video tape recorder 103 is preset
(YES in n132), the user is told that the system is going to check the
video tape recorder 103 (n133), and the system proceeds to examine if the
user has requested rewinding. If there has been such a request (YES in
n134), the tape is rewound and the user is told that the rewinding is
taking place (n135). Thereafter, the user is told how the video tape
recorder is set (n136). A beep is heard (n138) to indicate the end of the
routine.
The air conditioner 103 (Apparatus No. 2) and the lamp 104 (Apparatus No.
3) can be operated similarly according to the code table (Table 3). If
"21#" is entered (n141) in response to Step n105, for example, the s | | |
