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Claims  |
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What we claim is:
1. A remote control apparatus for controlling electronic equipment using a
local telephone set and a remote telephone set, said electronic equipment
having a housing and having a timer reservation unit which includes a
wireless communication input unit in said housing, said timer reservation
unit causing the electronic equipment to start and stop a predetermined
operation at respective predetermined times in accordance with reservation
information received via said input unit, said remote control apparatus
comprising: a remote controller to perform wireless communication with
said input unit of said timer reservation unit, said remote controller
additionally being coupled to a main controller of said local telephone
set, and said remote controller further including means for transmitting
said reservation information to said input unit of said timer reservation
unit in response to predetermined push button or dial operations of said
remote telephone set, received via said main controller of said local
telephone set, said means for transmitting including a remote control
signal transmitter unit; and
holding means for holding said remote controller so as to maintain a
predetermined mutual positional relationship between said remote
controller and said electronic equipment, said holding means including
a first member capable of detachably holding said remote controller, and
a second member detachably mounted on said housing of said electronic
equipment for supporting said first member such that said remote control
signal transmitter unit of said remote controller faces said input unit of
said electronic equipment with a predetermined clearance therebetween.
2. A remote control apparatus for controlling electronic equipment using a
local telephone set and a remote telephone set, said electronic equipment
having a housing and having a timer reservation unit which includes a
wireless communication input unit in said housing, said timer reservation
unit causing the electronic equipment to start and stop a predetermined
operation at respective times in accordance with reservation information
received via the input unit, said remote control apparatus comprising:
a remote controller means, which is coupled to a main controller of said
local telephone set, said remote controller means being additionally
coupled wirelessly to said input unit of said timer reservation unit, for
transmitting said reservation information to said input unit of said timer
reservation unit in response to predetermined push button or dial
operations of said remote telephone set received via said main controller
of said local telephone set,
wherein said remote controller means is provided at a first end portion
thereof with an information input section means for receiving said
reservation information from said local telephone set and at a second end
portion thereof with a transmitter unit means for wirelessly transmitting
said reservation information to said input unit of said timer reservation
unit; and
wherein said local telephone set is formed with an inlet opening for
detachably receiving therein said first end portion of said remote
controller means to hold said remote controller means at a predetermined
position, and wherein said local telephone set includes signal coupling
means mounted inside of said inlet opening for coupling to said
information input section means when said remote controller means is
inserted into said inlet opening at said predetermined position to
communicate therewith and transfer said reservation information from said
local telephone set to said remote controller means.
3. A remote control apparatus for electronic equipment having a timer
reservation unit which causes the electronic equipment to effect a given
operation at a given schedule in accordance with remotely-inputted
reservation information, said apparatus comprising:
a bar code reader of the hand-held type, said bar code reader including
reader means for optically reading bar-coded data representing information
relating to timer reservation for operation of said electronic equipment
and converting said data into an electrical signal, storing means for
storing said converted electrical signal, and transmitting means for
transmitting said stored electrical signal towards said timer reservation
unit via wireless communication so that said electrical signal is inputted
into said timer reservation unit as the reservation information;
holding means for detachably mounting said bar code reader to said
electrical equipment so as to hold said bar code reader at a position
where said transmitting means faces said timer reservation unit with a
predetermined space therebetween; and
telephone means for supplying to said bar code reader a remote control
signal to be wirelessly transmitted toward said timer reservation unit as
said reservation information, said telephone means including a local
telephone unit to receive telephone communication transmitted from a
remote telephone set, said telephone means additionally including a main
controller connected to said local telephone unit and said bar code
reader, said main controller being responsive to a specifically coded
signal included in the telephone communication received by said local
telephone unit and converting said specifically coded signal into said
remote control signal which is supplied to said bar code reader.
4. A remote control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said electronic
equipment includes a remote control signal receiver unit, and wherein said
holding means comprising:
a first member to detachably hold said bar code reader; and
a second member to be detachably mounted on said electronic equipment, said
second member supporting said first member so that said transmitting means
of bar code reader detachably held by said first member faces said remote
control signal receiver unit of said electronic equipment with a
predetemined clearance therebetween.
5. A remote control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said electronic
equipment has a frame with an upper portion, wherein said first member is
pivotally supported by said second member and can be pivoted with respect
to said second member, and wherein said second member is configured to be
mounted on the upper portion of said frame of said electronic equipment.
6. A remote control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the upper
portion of said frame of said electronic equipment has left and right side
edges, and wherein said second member comprises:
a first support member to engage said right side edge of said upper portion
of said frame of said electronic equipment;
a second support member to engage said left side edge of said upper portion
of said frame of said electronic equipment; and
coupling means for changing the effective length of said second member by
slidably superposing parts of said first and second support members.
7. A remote control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said second
member is formed with an elongated slot, and wherein said holding means
further comprises a bolt member to be inserted in said elongated slot and
movable therealong, and a nut member which is attached to said bolt member
to couple said first member and said second member.
8. A remote control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said bar code
reader optically reads and temporarily stores bar coded program
information including at least a predetermined television broadcasting
channel, recording date, recording start time and recording end time, and
transmits said stored data as a remote control signal to said timer
reservation unit in the form of infrared rays; and
wherein said electronic equipment is a video tape recorder with a timer
reservation unit which causes said video tape recorder to start a
recording operation at a given date and time in response to said remote
control signal from said bar code reader and to stop said recording
operation after a given time.
9. A remote control apparatus for electronic equipment having a timer
reservation unit which causes the electronic equipment to effect a given
operation at a given schedule in accordance with remotely inputted
reservation information, said apparatus comprising:
a bar code reader of the hand-held type, said bar code reader including
reader means for optically reading bar-coded data representing information
relating to timer reservation for operation of said electronic equipment
and converting said data into an electrical signal, storing means for
storing said converted electrical signal, and transmitting means for
transmitting said stored electrical signal towards said timer reservation
unit via wireless communication so that said electrical signal is inputted
into said timer reservation unit as the reservation information; and
a local telephone unit having a housing with an inlet opening for
detachably receiving one end portion of said bar code reader therein to
hold said bar code reader at a predetermined position, said local
telephone unit including a main controller having signal coupling means
which is mounted adjacent to said inlet opening for optically coupling to
said reader means when said bar code reader is inserted into said inlet
opening at said predetermined position, said main controller responding to
push button operations or dial operations of a remote telephone set
thereby to operate said bar code reader so as to produce the reservation
information for said timer reservation unit.
10. A remote control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said local
telephone unit further comprises open/close means for opening and closing
said inlet opening of said housing, said open/close means being mounted
adjacent said inlet opening and including a cover member pivotal between a
closed position and an open position, and a resilient member for urging
said cover member toward said closed position, said cover member being
rotated against the resilient force of said resilient member from said
closed position to said open position as said bar code reader is inserted
into said inlet opening and said one end portion of said bar code reader
pushes said cover member.
11. A remote control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said bar code
reader further comprises a power supply circuit, and a power switch which
is pushed by a part of said housing and turns on said power supply circuit
only when said bar code reader is inserted into said inlet opening at said
predetermined position.
12. A remote control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said main
controller has a power supply circuit, and wherein said local telephone
unit comprises a power switch which turns on said power supply circuit of
said main controller only when said bar code reader is inserted into said
inlet opening at said predetermined position.
13. A remote control apparatus for an electronic equipment according to
claim 10,
wherein said bar code reader further comprises means for generating a first
audible confirmation sound each time a push button operation or dial
operation of said remote telephone set is performed while said bar code
reader is inserted in said inlet opening of said housing, and for
generating a second audible confirmation sound upon completion of a
predetermined plurality of operations by said remote telephone set;
wherein said electronic equipment generates a third audible confirmation
sound upon completion of a remote control input by said bar code reader;
and
wherein said local telephone unit further comprises confirmation means for
detecting said first and second audible confirmation sounds generated by
said bar code reader and said third audible confirmation sound generated
by said electronic equipment and for transmitting said confirmation sounds
to the user of said remote telephone set as a confirmation signal.
14. A remote control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said bar code
reader and said housing are configured so that said bar code reader must
have a predetermined orientation while being inserted into said inlet
opening in order for said bar code reader to be held in said inlet opening
at said predetermined position and in order for said signal coupling means
of said main controller to be optically coupled to said bar code reader.
15. A remote control according to claim 14, wherein said bar code reader
comprises a power supply circuit, and a power switch which is pushed by a
part of said housing and turns on said power supply circuit only if said
bar code reader has said predetermined orientation while being inserted
into said inlet opening.
16. A remote control apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said main
controller has a power supply circuit, and wherein said local telephone
unit comprises a power switch which turns on said power supply circuit of
said main controller only if said bar code reader has said predetermined
orientation while being inserted into said inlet opening.
17. A remote control apparatus according to claim 14,
wherein said bar code reader further comprises means for generating a first
audible confirmation sound each time a push button operation or dial
operation of said remote telephone set is performed after said bar code
reader has been inserted in said inlet opening while having said
predetermined orientation, and a second audible confirmation sound upon
completion of a predetermined plurality of operations by said remote
telephone set;
wherein said electronic equipment generates a third audible confirmation
sound upon completion of a remote control input by said bar code reader;
and
wherein said local telephone unit further comprises confirmation means for
detecting said first and second audible confirmation sounds generated by
said bar code reader and said third audible confirmation sound generated
by said electronic equipment and for transmitting said confirmation sounds
to the user of said remote telephone set as a confirmation signal.
18. A remote control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said bar code
reader further comprises a power supply circuit, and a power switch which
is pushed by a part of said housing and turns on a power supply circuit
only when said bar code reader has been inserted into said inlet opening
at said predetermined position.
19. A remote control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said main
controller has a power supply circuit, and wherein said local telephone
unit comprises a power switch which turns on said power supply circuit of
said main controller only when said bar code reader has been inserted into
said inlet opening at said predetermined position.
20. A remote control apparatus for an electronic equipment according to
claim 9,
wherein said bar code reader further comprises means for generating a first
audible confirmation sound each time a push button operation or dial
operation of said remote telephone set is performed while said bar code
reader is inserted in said inlet opening of said housing, and a second
audible confirmation sound upon completion of a predetermined plurality of
operations by said remote telephone set;
wherein said electronic equipment generates a third audible confirmation
sound upon completion of a remote control input by said bar code reader;
and
wherein said local telephone unit further comprises confirmation means for
detecting said first and second audible confirmation sounds generated by
said bar code reader and said third audible confirmation sound generated
by said electronic equipment and for transmitting said confirmation sounds
to the user of said remote telephone set as a confirmation signal.
21. A remote control apparatus according to claim 9,
wherein said bar code reader optically reads and temporarily stores bar
coded program information including at least a predetermined television
broadcasting channel, recording date, recording start time and recording
end time, and transmits said stored data as a remote control signal to
said timer reservation unit in a wireless fashion; and
wherein said electronic equipment is a video tape recorder with a timer
reservation unit which causes said video tape recorder to start a
recording operation at a given date and time in response to said remote
control signal from said bar code reader and to stop said recording
operation after a given time. |
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Claims |
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Description |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a remote control apparatus for electronic
equipment such as a video tape recorder having a timer reservation
function of recording video images and/or audio sounds of a program, which
remote control apparatus causes the electronic equipment to reserve a
program by using a telephone line. Obviously the present invention is not
limited only to a video tape recorder, but it is also applicable to an
audio tape recorder, disk type recording/reproducing apparatus and the
like.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following three systems for externally and remotely controlling a video
tape recorder (hereinafter abbreviated as VTR) by using a telephone line
are known in the art:
(1) A self-contained controller type wherein a VTR includes therein a
controller which recognizes a command signal from an external telephone
set to actuate the VTR to perform a desired timer recording reservation
operation.
(2) A separate controller type wherein a controller of the type described
above is provided separately from a VTR, and the controller and the VTR
are connected by a cable or the like to communicate with each other.
(3) A remote controller type wherein a controller is provided separately
from a VTR, and the controller is provided with a wireless remote control
transmitter for activating the VTR to perform channel selection, recording
and the like.
Since the above self-contained type (1) system uses a dedicated controller
mounted within a VTR, it poses some problems. The VTR becomes bulky and is
expensive for the user who does not want a remote reservation function
using a telephone. Other problems also exist.
The above separate controller type (2) system and the remote controller
type (3) system require that a dedicated timer be installed on the
controller in order to preset the recording start time, recording end time
and the like, so that they also pose some problems. The controllers are
expensive and their structure becomes complicated, and other problems
exist.
In addition, it is necessary to mount the remote controller of the type (3)
system in front of the VTR such that the remote control signal transmitter
unit (a wireless type using infrared light is widely used) can be directed
toward a remote controller signal receiver unit mounted on the front panel
of the VTR within a predetermined incident angle range (e.g., about 60
degrees). Conventionally, a remote controller has been installed in the
following manner. According to a wall hanging type as shown in FIG. 1A,
remote controller 50 is hung on a wall 52 in front of a VTR 51. The remote
controller 50 is connected to a telephone set 55. Alternatively, according
to an independent installation type as shown in FIG. 1B, a remote
controller 54 is installed on a frame 53, a table, or the like disposed in
front of a VTR 51. The remote controller 54 is connected to a telephone
set 56.
However, use of the remote controller 50 of a wall hanging type shown in
FIG. 1A is considerably limited if there is a cabinet or the like at the
wall 52 in front of the VTR 51 or if a mounting jig such as a nail cannot
be fixed on the wall 52. Further, there is the problem that if someone
crosses the path between the remote controller 50 and the VTR 51 during a
remote control operation by the telephone set 55, a remote control signal
from the remote controller 50 to the VTR 51 is temporarily intercepted and
a correct remote control operation is impossible.
Also, in the independent installation type shown in FIG. 1B, it is
necessary to place an additional table, frame 53 or the like in front of
the VTR 51 for supporting the remote controller 54 thereon. This
additional table, frame 53, or the like may become an obstacle for someone
walking nearby. Furthermore, the remote controller 54 may be moved, while
one's pet such a dog or cat plays with it, to such an extent that the VTR
51 cannot be operated by the remote controller 54.
A common problem associated with both the types shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is
that since the placement of the VTR 51, especially the height from the
floor or a rug, may vary for each user or household, the remote controller
50 or 54 must be adjusted so as to match each user's particular placement,
thus leaving a cumbersome burden on the user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a remote control
apparatus for electronic equipment which is capable of performing a remote
timer reservation operation by positively using a timer reservation unit
of the electronic equipment having the timer reservation function, and
without specially modifying the electronic equipment itself and without
adding a dedicated timer unit to a remote controller side.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a remote control
apparatus for electronic equipment wherein a remote controller can be
readily directed toward the electronic equipment to be controlled, with a
desired and reliable mutual positional relationship.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a remote control
apparatus for equipment wherein a remote controller need not necessarily
to be connected by a cable to a telephone set installed in a house.
The above and other objects and features of the invention will appear in
the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the
accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like
reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams used for explaining the prior art
technique;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the main part of an embodiment of the
present invention;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of using the bar code
reader shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the bar code reader and its connector;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the main part of still another
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 8 is a side view, broken away in part, of the telephone set and a
remote controller in the embodiment of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the embodiment of FIG. 7; and
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the remote controller used in the
embodiment shown in FIG. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will further be described in connection with the
embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments use a VTR
by way of example as electronic equipment that is to be controlled. FIG. 2
is a perspective view showing the major features of an embodiment and
illustrating an example of how the present invention is practiced, and
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the major circuit elements of the
example. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a VTR 1 has a function of performing
a timer reservation recording of a television broadcasting program by
means of the wireless remote control method using infrared rays. Reference
numeral 2 denotes a remote control receiver unit. In response to the data
inputted from the remote control receiver unit 2 or a program timer
reservation operation unit 4 mounted on the VTR 1, a timer unit 3 outputs
a command such as a recording start command, a recording end or the like
to a VTR circuit unit 5 when it becomes a set (reserved) time. The desired
television broadcasting channel, recording start day and time, recording
end day and time, and the like for reservation purposes are displayed on a
display unit 6 made of a fluorescent lamp or a liquid crystal panel in
accordance with the data inputted from the remote control receiver unit 2
or the program timer reservation operation unit 4. The timer reservation
apparatus, including the remote control receiver unit 2, timer unit 3 and
display unit 6, is always powered on even if the main power switch 19 of
the VTR 1 is not turned on, so that it is activated immediately when
predetermined input information is supplied to the remote control receiver
unit 2. A bar code reader 7A functioning as a remote controller
selectively reads program information for a desired program from a program
sheet 8 (refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4), on which are printed various bar
coded program information data such as a television broadcasting channel,
date, recording start time, recording end time and the like. The bar code
reader 7A wireless-transmits the read-out information to the remote
control receiver unit 2 of the VTR 1 to thereby perform a timer recording
reservation for the VTR 1. The bar code reader 7A, as shown by the block
diagram of FIG. 3 and by the perspective view of FIGS. 4 and 5, is of a
pen-type which can be gripped by hand, and is provided at its tip with an
optical bar code reading sensor unit 9C constituting an optical
information input unit 9, the sensor unit 9C including various optical
elements such as a light emitting element, light receiving element,
optical fiber 9A and lens 9B for guiding light, and the like. The
information input unit 9 operates to read the program reservation
information in response to a control command from a control unit 10, and
the read-out information is sequentially stored in a program content
memory unit 11 which is controlled also by the control unit 10. The stored
program recording reservation information, such as "channel", "date",
"start time" and "end time," is transferred to a remote control
transmitter unit 14 via a data transfer control unit 13 when a transfer
switch 12, is turned on and is transmitted outside from a remote control
transmission element 14A such as an infrared light emitting diode of the
remote control transmitter unit 14. Consequently, if a user wants to input
the program reservation content read out using the bar code reader 7A and
the program sheet 8 to the VTR 1, the user merely pushes the transfer
switch 12 while directing the back end of the bar code reader 7A (where
the remote control transmission element 14A of the remote control
transmitter unit 14 is mounted) toward the remote control receiver unit 2
of the VTR 1. The program reservation information inputted to the remote
control receiver unit 2 of the VTR 1 can be confirmed by observing the
display 6 on which the information is being displayed for a predetermined
time (e.g., 12 seconds).
The bar code reader 7A is powered by a dry battery (not shown). The switch
of the dry battery is shown in FIG. 5 by reference numeral 15. As the bar
code reader 7A is sequentially scanned in the direction shown by the
arrows in FIG. 4 to read the program reservation information, a sound
generator 16 shown in FIG. 3 generates a single audible confirmation sound
"Pih" each time a correct and proper reading is performed, and generates a
consecutive audible confirmation sound "Pi, Pi, Pi, Pi, Piii" when the
final reading is completed. A light emitting element such as a light
emitting diode may be used in combination with the sound generator to
provide confirmation of a bar code reading operation visually as well as
audibly.
A sound generator 17 on the side of the VTR 1 also generates an audible
confirmation sound when the input of the reservation information to the
timer unit 3 is completed. It is preferable to make the sound of the sound
generator 16 of the bar code reader 7A distinguishable from the sound of
the sound generator 17, by using at least one of a different pronunciation
and a sound tone, e.g., "Pih, Pih, Pih, Pih, Piii".
A microphone 18 is provided in the bar code reader 7A to serve as a
transmission means for picking up an audible sound from the sound
generator 16 or 17 and transmitting the picked-up sound as a confirmation
signal to a user (a calling party) of a remote telephone set. The
operation of the transmission means will be described later.
The reservation operation has been described in the foregoing description,
wherein a desired television broadcasting program can be timer-recorded on
a desired day and time by using the bar code reader 7A and the program
sheet 8. According to the embodiments of this invention, the timer
recording reservation operation can be made by the remote telephone set
using the bar code reader as a part of the remote controller. The detailed
description for this will now be presented. A care-taking telephone set
20A shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a known type having a function of recording
audio messages from a calling party. The care-taking telephone set 20A has
a main controller 22A as well as a care-taking telephone unit 21A as shown
in FIG. 3. When the remote telephone set 23 has established a connection
to the care-taking telephone set 20A and supplied a specific user code
thereto, the main controller 22A is connected to the remote telephone set
23 via the care-taking telephone unit 21, and thereafter it outputs code
signals corresponding to push buttons "1", "2", . . . , "9", "0", "*" and
"#" in response to pushing the buttons (or dialing) of the remote
telephone set 23. For instance, by pushing the buttons of the remote
telephone set 23 in the order of "#", "4", "#", "3", "#", "7", "*", "3",
"*" , "0". "#", "8", "*", "3", "*" and "0", the main controller 22A
outputs code signals that are the same as the bar code information
corresponding to "channel 4", "3rd day", "7:30", and "8:30" which can be
obtained by sequentially scanning the bar code reader 7A from the left to
the right in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 4. Accordingly,
by connecting the main controller 22A via a cord 24 and a connector 25 to
the control unit 10, program content memory unit 11 and data transfer
control unit 13 respectively of the bar code reader 7A, it becomes
possible to transmit the timer recording reservation information from the
remote control transmitter unit 14 in response to the remote control at
the remote telephone set 23. In this case, each time a push button of the
remote telephone set 23 is activated, an audible confirmation sound "Pih"
is generated by the sound generator 16 of the bar code reader 7A, which
audible confirmation sound is picked up by the microphone 18 and sent back
as a confirmation signal to the user (calling party) of the remote
telephone set 23 via the connector 25, cord 24, main controller 22A and
care-taking telephone unit 21A.
After completion of the reservation operation by the remote telephone set
23, a data transfer pulse is sent from the main controller 22A to the data
transfer control unit 13. This data transfer pulse is equivalent to
turning on the transfer switch 12, so that the program reservation
information stored in the program content memory unit 11 is transmitted
from the remote control transmission element 14A of the remote control
transmitter unit 14 and applied to the remote control receiver unit 2 of
the VTR 1, to thereby perform the timer reservation of the VTR in a manner
similar to that described above. In this case, the consecutive audible
confirmation sound "Pi, Pi, Pi, Pi, Piii" to be emitted from the sound
generator 16 at the end of the reservation operation by the remote
telephone set 23, and the consecutive audible confirmation sound "Pih,
Pih, Pih, Pih, Piii" to be emitted from the sound generator 17 at the end
of the timer reservation by the VTR 1, are both picked up by the
microphone 18 installed at the bar code reader 7A. These signals are sent
back as confirmation signals to the user (calling party) of the remote
telephone set 23 via the connector 25, cord 24, main controller 22A and
care-taking telephone unit 21A.
An example of holding means for holding the remote controller (bar code
reader) is shown in FIG. 2 at reference number 26A. The holding means is
useful when the bar code reader 7A is used for the remote timer
reservation by the remote telephone set. Particularly, the holding means
26A is constructed such that the bar code reader 7A can be detachably
mounted on the VTR 1, with the remote control transmitter unit 14 being
directed toward the remote control receiver unit 2 of the VTR 1. A
predetermined clearance is maintained between 14 and VTR 1.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another example of the holding means
for the remote controller, together with a VTR. In FIG. 6, identical
reference numerals have been used to designate similar components and
units as of FIG. 2. A holding means 26B for the remote controller shown in
FIG. 6 comprises a first member 28 and a second member 29. The first
member 28 has a cantilever structure is constructed such that the bar code
reade 7A can be detachably held in position by a support piece 27 while
maintaining the remote control transmitter unit 14 directed toward the
remote control receiver unit 2 of the VTR 1. The second member 29 holds
the first member 28 in position so that the bar code reader 7A supported
by the first member 28 faces the remote control receiver unit 2 of the VTR
with a predetermined clearance therebetween.
The second member 29 comprises a first support member 29a, second support
member 29b, and coupling means 30. The first support member 29a has a
strip shape and is constructed to be capable of being hung on the right
side edge of the upper frame of the VTR 1. The second support member 29b
is also of a strip type, and is constructed t be capable of being hung on
the left side edge of the upper frame of the VTR 1. The coupling means 30
couples the first and second support members 29a and 29b by slidably
superposing parts of them to change the effective length of the second
member 29. With this arrangement, the second member 29 can be mounted on
various types of VTRs of the same or different makers even if the VTRs
have widths that differ from the width of VTR 1.
An elongated slot 31 is formed in the second support member 29a for guiding
a pin member 32 such as a screw therealong, the pin member being mounted
on the base portion of the first member 28. A squeeze member 33 such as a
nut is provided for engagement with the pin member. When the squeeze
member 33 is loosened, the first member 28 can be moved freely along the
elongated slot 31 in the lateral direction of the second member 29.
Alternatively, when the squeeze member 23 is tightened, the first member
28 can be fixedly connected to the second member 29. The reason for using
such an arrangement is to permit the first member 28 to correctly face the
remote control receiver unit 2 even if the location thereof varies with
the type and make of the VTR. Further, since the first member 28 is
rotatable with respect to the second member 29, they can be pivoted so
that the space for the first and second members 28 and 29 when not in use
(during storage) becomes small. In addition, the incident angle of the
remote control signal emitted from the bar code reader 7A can be changed
in the horizontal plane with respect to the remote control receiver unit 2
so that the bar code reader 7A can be set at an optimum location where
radiated energy for remote control can be most efficiently received. The
bar code reader 7A (remote controller) may be so arranged as to be movable
in the vertical direction if necessary.
As will be appreciated from the foregoing description, the bar code reader
7A or the remote controller can be held in position to correctly face the
electronic equipment to be controlled, or the VTR 1 in the above
embodiment, by detachably mounting the holding means 26A or 26B for
holding the remote controller. Therefore, even if the placement of the
electronic equipment, especially the installation height from the floor or
rug, changes for each user, no problem arises. There is no restriction
against the installation location of the remote controller. Also,
erroneous operation does not occur due to the careless presence of someone
or one's pet between the remote controller and the electronic equipment to
be controlled. Also, an additional table or frame for mounting the remote
controller thereon is not needed, so that no obstacle is presented to
someone walking nearby. The direction of the remote controller toward the
electronic equipment to be controlled is not susceptible to careless
changes, so that a stable remote control procedure can always be
maintained once the installation is finished.
As shown in the above embodiment, the space for storing the holidng means
can be minimized if the first member 28 and the second member 29 are
pivoted together by rotating one about the other. Also, the angle of the
remote controller relative to the electronic equipment to be controlled
can be changed in the horizontal plane so that the remote controller can
advantageously be set at the position where the radiated energy for remote
control can be received most efficiently.
Further, since the first member 28 is movable relative to the second member
29 along the elongated guide slot 31, the holding means can be applied to
different types and makes of electronic control equipment, regardless of
the position of the remote control receiver unit 2. Furthermore, the
second member 29 is constructed such that the first support member 29a is
capable of being hung on the left side edge of the upper frame of the
electronic equipment to be controlled and the second support member 29b is
capable of being hung on the right side edge of the frame, with the
support members 29a and 29b being slidably superposed at portions thereof
to permit the effective length of the second member 29 to be changed.
Therefore, even if the width of the electronic equipment to be controlled
varies with the type of make thereof, the second member 29 can be mounted
on any electronic equipment.
Next, a further embodiment of this invention will be described with
reference to FIGS. 7 to 10. This embodiment is the same as the embodiments
shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 in that electronic equipment to be controlled or a
VTR is remotely controlled by a wireless type bar code reader (remote
controller) for the timer recording reservation. However, quite a
different feature from the above embodiments is that a bar code reader is
detachably mounted on a private telephone set itself. With the bar code
reader mounted on the private telephone set (refer to FIGS. 7 to 9),
control command information can be supplied to the bar code reader from a
remote telephone set and the private telephone set to thus perform a timer
recording reservation. To this end, in the present embodiment, a
care-taking telephone set 20B has, besides a care-taking telephone unit
21B, a main controller 22B with signal coupling means 40 which will be
described in detail later.
Referring to FIG. 9, a bar code reader 7B is powered by a built-in battery
41 whose power supply circuit is caused to be turned on or off by a
slide-type power switch 15 mounted on the side of the main frame of the
bar code reader. Another power switch 42 of the push-button type is also
mounted on the rear side | | |
