JP2002108603A - Remote controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance operability by making an input operation of character data, etc., possible to be inputted by voice without using a keyboard device. SOLUTION: This remote controller is provided with a key input means such as many input keys 5, functional keys 6 or track balls 7, a voice input means 9 and a radio signal transmitting part 11 to transmit an input signal and control signal generated by an operation of the key input means or a voice signal inputted in the voice input means 9 to main body equipment 2 by a radio carrying means. The voice signal transmitted by radio is converted into the character data and processed in the main body equipment 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a remote control device attached to a television receiver or a personal computer for transmitting various control signals and the like by radio, and more particularly, to an audio signal input with audio input means. The present invention relates to a remote controller device capable of inputting character data based on a computer to a main device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A remote controller device is provided in, for example, a television receiver or an audio device, and outputs a control signal wirelessly by an operation at a distance from a main device. It has a function of performing a switching operation, a mode switching operation, a volume adjustment operation, and the like. The remote controller device functions as a device for remote control of the main body device, and is provided with a large number of push buttons corresponding to each control unit, and a control signal wireless transmission means using an infrared connection method with a relatively simple configuration. , And is compact and lightweight.

[0003] In personal computers and the like, a keyboard device is generally used as input means for inputting character information, control signal information, and the like. Also,
In a personal computer, for example, voice input is also performed by a microphone built in a personal computer body or a monitor, a stationary microphone, or a headset microphone. Furthermore, in a mobile phone or the like, a character string is created by selecting a character from a character palette using a dial key and a jog dial, etc.
An e-mail, telephone directory, etc. have been created.

[0004] In a personal computer, various peripheral devices such as a keyboard device, a monitor, an external storage device, and a printer are connected to a computer main body to achieve a system configuration. In a personal computer, a transmission / reception method of infrared data signals and the like based on the IrDA (Infra-redData Association) standard is employed, so that a large number of connection cables can be unnecessary between the computer main body and peripheral devices. Is being done.

[0005]

By the way, the development of a large-capacity digital communication network greatly changes a conventional existing communication form, and provides various contents to general households in various forms. Examination of what is called a broadband network concept is being pursued. The broadband network concept is such that various devices installed in the home, such as television receivers and audio devices, also constitute communication terminal devices connected to the network in the same manner as telephones, personal computers, home servers, and the like. become. The components of the broadband network include, for example, a television receiver having a one-way communication function for receiving a program broadcast transmitted from a broadcast station and displaying the broadcast on a screen, and a personal computer having a two-way communication function connected to the Internet. It has the same function as a computer.

In a device having such a bidirectional communication function, input processing of character information, control signal information, and the like is required as in the case of a personal computer, and therefore, a keyboard device is used as described above. However, the keyboard device is provided with a large number of input keys, and requires a considerable amount of skill to smoothly perform key selection operations and conversion operations, so that anyone in the home can freely use the keys. Many of them have so-called keyboard allergies. For example, when responding to a questionnaire or applying for a purchase in accordance with a screen displayed on a monitor, the keyboard device takes a long time to input necessary information because the operator is unfamiliar, so that the chance is lost and access time is reduced. There was a problem of making it longer.

The keyboard device has a large number of input keys, function keys, ten keys, and the like, and is required to maintain operability. The keyboard device comes to be attached to, for example, a television receiver or other devices, and it is very difficult to keep it at hand like a remote controller because it is in the way and is stored in an appropriate place Will be. Therefore, the above-mentioned broadband network system is also a major cause of delay in its spread due to problems caused by the keyboard device as the input means.

[0008] Each of the above-mentioned microphones is also built in the personal computer main body or the monitor or installed close to the personal computer, so that it is difficult to use the microphone easily in an emergency.
Each microphone has been rarely used conventionally because of troublesome operation, and has not been provided in, for example, a television receiver or audio equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a remote controller device in which operability is improved by enabling input of character data and the like by voice without using a keyboard device. It is.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a remote controller apparatus comprising: a plurality of input keys such as input keys, function keys, and a trackball; voice input means; A wireless signal transmitting unit configured to transmit an input signal or a control signal generated by the operation or an audio signal input to the audio input unit to the main unit by a wireless carrier unit.

Further, the remote controller according to the present invention analyzes key input means such as a large number of input keys, function keys or trackballs, voice input means, and voice signals input to the voice input means. A voice / character conversion unit for converting to character data, and character data generated by a voice recognition unit based on an input signal or a control signal generated by operating the key input means or an input voice signal to a main unit. And a wireless signal transmitting unit for wirelessly transmitting.

According to the remote controller device of the present invention configured as described above, it is possible to input character data and the like by voice at a distance from the main device without operating a keyboard or the like. Therefore, according to the remote controller device, even if the user is not accustomed to keyboard operation, quick input processing of necessary character information and the like can be performed in accordance with the screen display, thereby improving usability.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. A remote controller device 1 shown in the drawings as an embodiment forms a personal computer system with a personal computer main body 2, a keyboard device 3, or an external storage device, a printer, etc. (not shown) as shown in FIG. In the personal computer system, for example, a digital video recorder, a DVD player, or an audio device can also be connected to the personal computer 2 as a peripheral device, and outputs a control signal or the like for controlling these operations.

The personal computer system has a communication function of performing data communication by being connected to, for example, a telephone line, the Internet, or an appropriate data communication network. The personal computer system receives data from an access destination and displays the data on the monitor 17. Or output to a printer or other peripheral device. The personal computer system has a two-way communication function, and transmits appropriate data to an access destination.

In the personal computer system, other peripheral devices other than the remote controller device 1 are connected to the personal computer main body 2 by a connection cable.
The connection may be made according to a connection specification such as a B bus system. The personal computer system is a personal computer 2
The peripheral device and the peripheral device may be connected by a short-range wireless communication system such as an IrDA infrared connection system or a Bluetooth communication system.

The remote controller 1 transmits a remote signal to the personal computer 2 by an infrared connection method. In the infrared connection method, an infrared light emitting element is used as a light emitting module and, for example, a PIN photodiode is used as a light receiving element. Each component device is provided with an infrared signal transmitting / receiving section in which a light emitting element and a light receiving element are incorporated, and the respective infrared signal transmitting / receiving sections are installed facing each other. The mutual infrared signal transmission / reception section drives the modulation section and the light emitting element which convert the electric signal into an infrared signal by the light receiving element and output the same, and convert the data signal transmitted from the transmission section (communication controller UART) into the electric signal. Transmission / reception circuit or the like. The infrared signal transmitting and receiving unit includes a receiving circuit for amplifying and shaping the infrared signal received by the light receiving element.

In the radio connection method, each component is provided with an antenna, a transmission / reception circuit for receiving and processing a reception signal and the like received by the antenna and transmitting a transmission signal and the like from the antenna, and a communication for modulating and demodulating the transmission / reception signal. A control circuit and the like are provided. The radio wave connection method is not limited to a weak radio wave, and it is a matter of course that a radio wave of an appropriate band may be used.

In the personal computer system, the keyboard device 3 controls the personal computer main body 2 and performs appropriate input, and the remote controller device 1 also performs power on / off switching, function mode switching, and the like. The remote controller 1 also has a function of inputting character data, similar to the keyboard 3, as will be described in detail later. The remote controller 1 is small and light, similar to a remote controller used for a television receiver or the like. The remote controller 1 is easily carried by an operator, and a control signal or an audio signal for character data is sent to the personal computer 2 from the user's hand. Send

As shown in FIG. 1, the remote controller 1 has a plurality of numeric keys
And a function key 6 and a trackball 7. The remote controller device 1 is provided with a voice input unit 8 in the housing 4, and a microphone 9 is built in corresponding to the voice input unit 8. Remote controller device 1
, A signal input unit is configured by the key input units 5 to 7 and the microphone 9. It is needless to say that the remote controller device 1 does not need to include all of the numeric keys 5, the function keys 6, and the trackballs 7.

The numeric key 5 is a key for transmitting an appropriate numeric signal depending on the use mode of the personal computer system. For example, the numeric key 5 transmits a reception channel switching signal in a digital television broadcast reception mode, or transmits a reception channel switching signal in a connection mode with a telephone line. Send out the phone number. The function key 6 is, for example, the personal computer body 2
And outputs control signals for power on / off, mode switching, volume adjustment, and the like. The trackball 7 outputs, for example, a movement signal of a cursor displayed on the screen of the monitor 17.

The remote controller 1 outputs a control signal having a predetermined function assigned to each of the key input units 5 to 7 by operating the key input units 5 to 7 and transmits the control signal to the personal computer 2. In the remote controller device 1, the operator inputs a voice signal by speaking a predetermined word to the microphone 9 in a state where the function key 6 is operated to switch to the voice input mode, and the voice signal is transmitted to the personal computer body 2. Send to.

As shown in FIG. 2, the remote controller 1 includes a remote signal generator 10 and an infrared transmitter 11 having the above-described configuration for transmitting an infrared signal. The remote controller 1 generates a remote signal by inputting a control signal output from each of the key input units 5 to 7 and an audio signal output from the microphone 9 to the remote signal generation unit 10. The remote controller device 1
The remote signal output from the remote signal generator 10 is superimposed on the infrared light and transmitted to the personal computer 2 via the infrared transmitter 11.

When the remote controller device 1 employs a radio wave connection system instead of the infrared connection system for the personal computer 2, the antenna and the transmission / reception circuit are provided as described above.

As shown in FIG. 3, the personal computer 2 includes a remote signal receiving section 12 having the above-described configuration for receiving a remote signal transmitted from the remote controller 1,
A reception signal processing unit 13 is provided for separating the received remote signal into an audio signal and a control signal. The personal computer 2 includes a voice / character conversion unit 14, which recognizes the voice signal supplied from the reception signal processing unit 13, converts the voice signal into character data, and outputs the character data.

The personal computer 2 has a control signal output unit 15, which processes the control signal supplied from the reception signal processing unit 13, converts the control signal into control data, and outputs the control data. The personal computer body 2 supplies these character data and control data to the control unit 16 and the like for controlling the entire apparatus so that predetermined processing is performed. The personal computer main body 2 controls, for example, the monitor 1 based on the control operation of the control unit 16.
7, a predetermined display is performed, or predetermined transmission data is transmitted to the communication network 19 via the transmission unit 18.

The personal computer body 2 obtains appropriate guide information, questionnaire information, and the like for bidirectional communication via a communication network such as the Internet, and receives the information by the receiving unit 20. The personal computer 2 displays the received information on, for example, the monitor 17 based on the control operation of the control unit 16. When the viewer operates the key input units 5 to 7 of the remote controller device 1 at hand according to the display screen of the monitor 17, a control signal is input to the personal computer 2, and a predetermined operation is performed. In the PC body 2,
The words spoken by the viewer toward the remote controller 1 are recorded in the microphone 9 and input as audio signals. The personal computer 2 transmits a control signal and a voice signal transmitted from the remote controller device 1 to a remote signal receiving unit 12-a received signal processing unit 13-a voice / character conversion unit 14 and / or a control signal output unit 15-a control unit 16. The information is supplied to the monitor 17 or the transmission unit 18 via the route.

In the personal computer system, for example, an application screen is displayed on the monitor 17 based on the product application information received by the receiving unit 20 of the personal computer 2, and the application product name, quantity, and amount written in predetermined fields of the application screen. Is input from the remote controller 1. The remote controller device 1 specifies the input position by operating the trackball 7 as described above with the PC mode 2 switched to the input mode by operating the input mode function key 6. The remote controller device 1
While the numeric key 5 is operated to input numbers, and the voice mode function key 6 is operated to switch the PC main body 2 to the voice input mode, voice input from the microphone 9 is performed as described above.

Since the remote controller device 1 is portable and used at hand, it is not necessary to set the keyboard device 3 even in the case of an emergency, and the predetermined information based on the image information displayed on the monitor 17 can be stored. Enables quick input. The remote controller device 1 eliminates the need for the input operation using the keyboard device 3, so that even a person who is not used to the keyboard device 3 can easily input predetermined information. The remote controller device 1 forms a simple input device instead of the keyboard device 3 for a device having a two-way communication function, for example.

In the personal computer system described above, the personal computer body 2 is provided with the reception signal processing unit 13 and the voice / character conversion unit 14 so as to process the remote signal transmitted from the remote controller 1 side. Of course, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration. The remote controller device 21 shown in FIG. 4 is characterized in that the voice / character conversion unit 22 is built in. The other configuration of the remote controller device 21 is the same as that of the remote controller device 1 described above, and the corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

The remote controller 21 converts the voice input from the microphone 9 into a voice / character
And converts it into a character data signal. In the remote controller device 21, the converted character data signal is supplied from the voice / character conversion unit 22 to the remote signal generation unit 10, and is generated as a remote signal together with the control signals output from the key input units 5 to 7. . The remote controller 21 superimposes the remote signal output from the remote signal generator 10 on the infrared light,
1 to the personal computer 2.

In the above-described embodiment, the remote controller 1 transmits a control signal and an audio signal to the personal computer 2, but may be used for a television receiver or other devices. Of course it is good. Further, although the remote controller 1 has the microphone 9 for inputting character data, it goes without saying that the remote controller 1 may constitute control data input means for controlling the main unit by voice signals.

[0032]

As described in detail above, according to the remote controller of the present invention, the main unit is provided with the key input means, the voice input means, and the radio signal transmission unit without the need for keyboard operation or the like. And input of character data and the like based on the input of voice at a distance from the user. Therefore, according to the remote controller device, even if the user is not accustomed to keyboard operation, quick input processing of necessary character information and the like can be performed in accordance with screen display, and usability is greatly improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an application example of a remote controller device shown as an embodiment of the present invention to a personal computer system.

FIG. 2 is a main part configuration diagram for explaining a configuration of the remote controller device.

FIG. 3 is a main part configuration diagram illustrating a configuration of a personal computer main body that receives a signal transmitted from the remote controller device.

FIG. 4 is a main part configuration diagram for explaining a configuration of another remote controller device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Remote controller device 2 Personal computer body 3 Keyboard device 4 Case 5 Numeric keys 6 Function keys 7 Trackball 8 Audio input unit 9 Microphone 10 Remote signal generation unit 11 Infrared transmission unit 12 Remote signal reception unit 13 Received signal processing unit 14 Voice / Character conversion unit 15 Control signal output unit 16 Control unit 17 Monitor 18 Transmission unit 19 Communication network 20 Receiving unit 21 Remote controller device 22 Voice / character conversion unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04Q 9/00 331 H04Q 9/00 331A

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A key input unit such as a large number of input keys, function keys or trackballs, a voice input unit, and an input signal or a control signal generated by operating the key input unit or input to the voice input unit. A wireless signal transmitting unit that transmits the audio signal to the main device by a wireless carrier means, wherein the audio signal wirelessly transmitted in the main device is converted into character data and processed. Remote controller device. 2. A key input unit such as a large number of input keys, function keys or trackballs, a voice input unit, and a voice recognition unit for recognizing a voice signal input to the voice input unit and converting it into character data. Wireless signal transmission for wirelessly transmitting character data generated by the voice recognition unit based on an input signal or control signal generated by operation of the key input means or an input voice signal to a main device. And a remote controller.