DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0062] The present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 . FIG. is an external view showing an electronic equipment body and a remote control terminal forming an electronic equipment control system of the invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electronic equipment body in a first state and FIG. 3 is a partially sectional side view of its movable part. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electronic equipment body in a second state and FIG. 5 is a partially sectional side view of its movable part. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the electronic equipment body in a third state and FIG. 7 is a partially sectional side view of its movable part. FIG. 8 is a block configuration diagram of the electronic equipment control system of the invention, FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a flow of its operation and FIG. 10 is a sequence chart showing a relation of its component.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 1 , the electronic equipment system of the invention is a system having an electronic equipment body 1 and a remote control terminal 2 . The electronic equipment body 1 has various components for performing functions of electronic equipment, for example, a CD reproducing mechanism, an MD reproducing mechanism and CD, MD holding parts for an audio reproducing apparatus, a tuner for receiving an AM/FM broadcast radio wave and demodulating means for making conversion from a received radio wave to an audio signal for a radio receiving apparatus, a channel tuner for receiving a video radio wave and demodulating means for demodulating a video signal or an audio signal from a received radio wave for a television. Those are provided in side an electronic equipment cabinet 5 . A display device of an operation unit may be used as a video display of television.

[0064] Operation keys for operating electronic equipment are provided on two operation units being superposed in the front of a front panel 15 of the electronic equipment body 1 . The front one of the two operation units is a first operation unit (hereinafter referred to as “a movable operation unit 3 ”), and the operation unit hidden and placed in the back of the first operation unit is a second operation unit (hereinafter referred to as “a fixed operation unit 4 ”).

[0065] On the front face of the movable operation unit 3 , there is provided a display device 9 , various operation keys 10 , a light receiving part 12 and an open/close key 16 . On the fixed operation unit 4 , there is provided operation keys 17 and a display device 19 as shown in FIG. 6 . The open/close key 16 enables the movable operation unit 3 to be moved to a predetermined position manually by operating this key, so that the fixed operation unit 4 can be identified visually.

[0066] A liquid crystal display device may be used as the display device 9 . An organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display device may be used as the display device 19 .

[0067] By providing the two operation units of the movable operation unit 3 and the fixed operation unit 4 , many operation keys can be placed in narrow front space of the electronic equipment body and also the large display device 19 can be provided. When using the fixed operation unit 4 , the movable operation unit 3 is moved to a predetermined position so that the fixed operation unit 4 is well visible to a user as described in detail below.

[0068] The remote control terminal 2 comprises various operation keys 11 and a light emitting part (sending part) 13 of infrared rays 14 . When the operation key 11 is operated, a key command according to the operation is generated and the key command is modulated by a format suitable for sending by the infrared rays 14 in a modulating part (not shown) and a light emitting element in the light emitting part 13 is illuminated and controlled by its modulated signal and radiation is performed to the electronic equipment body 1 . The radiated infrared rays 14 are received by the light receiving part 12 provided in the movable operation unit 3 of the electronic equipment body 1 . An infrared light emitting diode is preferably used as the light emitting element.

[0069] The operation keys 11 of the remote control terminal 2 provides instructions on operation of the movable operation unit 3 and operation of the fixed operation unit 4 . A key for selecting the movable operation unit 3 and the fixed operation unit 4 is not provided.

[0070] This structure is the feature of the invention. Even in case of providing an instruction on the fixed operation unit 4 hiding in the back of the movable operation unit 3 and being invisible, the instruction is received by the light receiving part 12 of the movable operation unit 3 . When it is determined that the instruction is provided for the fixed operation unit 4 or for using the display device 19 of the fixed operation unit 4 , the movable operation unit 3 is automatically moved to a predetermined position and the fixed operation unit 4 becomes a state capable of visual identification and the operation is continued.

[0071] Therefore, a user can perform an operation of the electronic equipment body 1 without being aware whether its operation is the operation about the movable operation unit 3 or about the fixed operation unit 4 .

[0072] Next, a configuration and functions of the electronic equipment body 1 constituting the electronic equipment control system will be described. FIG. 2 is a view in which the movable operation unit 3 of the electronic equipment body 1 is held in a predetermined portion of the front panel 15 of the electronic equipment body 1 , and the fixed operation unit 4 is held in the back of the movable operation unit 3 . FIG. 3 is a partial sectional side view of the electronic equipment body 1 taken along a line A-A of FIG. 2 . In the movable operation unit 3 , the display device 9 , many operation keys 10 , the light receiving part 12 , the open/close key 16 , etc. are disposed. Due to a narrow space, a large display device cannot be disposed. Therefore, a small display device for displaying only a predetermined function is placed. In this state, the fixed operation unit 4 is in the back of the movable operation unit 3 , and functions that the fixed operation unit 4 has cannot be viewed directly and cannot be identified.

[0073] FIG. 4 shows a state in which the remote control terminal 2 provides an instruction for the fixed operation unit 4 and the movable operation unit 3 and the fixed operation unit 4 are being moved. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the fixed operation unit 4 is slightly moved downwardly so as to utilize a disk insertion opening 7 . FIG. 5 is a partial sectional side view of the electronic equipment body 1 taken along a line B-B of FIG. 4 .

[0074] There is an apparatus such as radio in which a record medium is not mounted. In such a case, it is unnecessary to move the fixed operation unit 4 . If an apparatus has a portion to be operated in the back of the fixed operation unit 4 , the fixed operation unit 4 may be moved by the necessary amount. Also, the fixed operation unit 4 may be inclined so that a display surface is easily watched.

[0075] Movement of the movable operation unit 3 is performed by an arm 20 and a cam (not shown). Also, when movement of the fixed operation unit 4 is required, the movement can be performed by a similar mechanism.

[0076] FIG. 6 shows a state in which the movable operation unit 3 is moved and set to the end position. FIG. 7 is a partial sectional side view of the electronic equipment body 1 taken along a line C-C of FIG. 6 .

[0077] In this state, the movable operation unit 3 is set by the arm 20 in, for example, a direction in which the operation surface is well visible to a driver so that it is easy for a user to identify visually. Also, the fixed operation unit 4 is set in a direction in which the operation surface turns slightly upward so that the operation surface is well visible to the user. In this state, an operation from the remote control terminal 2 is performed. Also in this state, the electronic equipment body 1 can be operated by operating the operation keys 10 of the movable operation unit 3 or the operation keys 11 of the fixed operation unit 4 .

[0078] By providing the operation keys about operations of electronic equipment on a panel surface of the movable operation unit 3 mainly, the display device 19 of the fixed operation unit 4 can be made large with high accuracy. Details of remote control can be displayed on this display device 19 . The display device 19 of the fixed operation unit 4 may be used to show the details about a function of the movable operation unit 3 . Therefore, even when the fixed operation unit 4 is not operated, the movable operation unit 3 may be automatically moved so that the display device 19 of the fixed operation unit 4 is visible depending upon a decision of the electronic equipment.

[0079] Next, a block configuration of a system will be described. As shown in FIG. 8 , an operation and control system of the electronic equipment body 1 includes the movable operation unit 3 , the fixed operation unit 4 , a system controller 24 of the whole apparatus, and a driving part 25 for moving the movable operation unit 3 . In case in which the electronic equipment body 1 is an audio reproducing apparatus or the like, an audio reproducing part 26 is provided as well. The movable operation unit 3 is provided with the light receiving part 12 , a controller 20 , the display device 9 and the operation keys 10 . The fixed operation unit 4 is provided with a controller 23 , the display device 19 and the operation keys 17 .

[0080] The remote control terminal 2 serving as a device for performing remote control is provided with a controller 21 , the operation keys 11 and the light emitting part (sending part) 13 .

[0081] When a user inputs by operating the operation keys 11 from the remote control terminal 2 to perform operation and control of the electronic equipment body 1 , a selected operation signal is converted into a code corresponding to the operation by deciding the operation contents in the controller 21 . The signal converted into the code is sent to the light emitting part 13 under control of the controller 21 and a control signal is emitted from the light emitting part 13 toward the electronic equipment body 1 .

[0082] The infrared rays 14 are used as transmission means of a signal. An infrared light emitting diode is preferable as a light source. The light emitting diode enables low voltage driving and modulation is easy and also power consumption is small and it is suitable for a cordless remote control terminal 2 . Also, a sufficiently high modulation frequency is obtained.

[0083] The modulated infrared rays 14 sent from the remote control terminal 2 are received by the light receiving part 12 of the movable operation unit 3 of the electronic equipment body 1 . The received signal is processed and is input to the system controller 24 through the controller 22 and meaning of its signal is deciphered. The signal having an extent capable of displaying by the small display device 9 is displayed on the display device 9 after doing input to the controller 22 and making conversion to display data.

[0084] Also, a user can input operation information directly from the operation keys 10 . It is possible to use a general-purpose photodiode or phototransistor as a light receiving element of the light receiving part 12 . These elements achieve low voltage driving and low power consumption and also a sufficiently high frequency band.

[0085] In case in which the received signal is determined by the system controller 24 to be relating to instructions to the fixed operation unit 4 , or to be relating to instructions to the movable operation unit 3 , and detailed information display is required, information is displayed on the display device 19 of the fixed operation unit 4 . Since it is necessary to place many operation keys 10 in the movable operation unit 3 , a large display device can not be provided. Therefore, detailed information about control is displayed on the display device 19 of the fixed operation unit 4 .

[0086] At this time, it is necessary to move the movable operation unit 3 so that the display device 19 comes within sight of a user. For that purpose, information is transmitted from the system controller 24 to the controller 23 and the information is input to the display device 19 by the controller 23 . Also, the driving part 25 is actuated and controlled by the system controller 24 and the movable operation unit 3 is moved to a predetermined position and the display device 19 of the fixed operation unit 4 is placed so as to be visually identified by the user. Also, the audio reproducing part 26 acts according to operation instruction input.

[0087] The system described above is not limited to electronic equipment for handling audio, and may be used in electronic equipment for handling video. Also, it is not limited to vehicle-mounted equipment, and may be applied to electronic equipment used in home.

[0088] Next, a flow of operation of the electronic equipment control system of the invention will be described with reference to FIG. 9 .

[0089] First, it waits until an operation key input from a remote control terminal occurs (step S 101 ). When the operation key input occurs, a key command is determined (step S 102 ). It is determined whether or not this key command is a command necessary to display the operation contents (step S 103 ). When it is not necessary to display the operation contents, it is determined whether or not the input is about the fixed operation unit 4 (step S 104 ). When the input is not about the fixed operation unit 4 , an operation according to the key command is executed as it is (step S 108 ).

[0090] On the other hand, in the case of Yes in step S 103 and step S 104 , it is determined whether or not the fixed operation unit 4 can be visually identified (step S 105 ). When it cannot be visually identified, it means that the movable operation unit 3 is in a position of covering the front of the fixed operation unit 4 , and the movable operation unit 3 is moved so that the fixed operation unit 4 can be visually identified (step S 106 ). In this movement, the driving part 25 is actuated and the movement is performed by this driving part 25 , the movable operation unit 3 and a joint mechanism (not shown).

[0091] Thereafter, a power source of the display device 19 of the fixed operation unit 4 is turned on (step S 107 ). After turning on the power source of the display device 19 , an operation according to the key command is executed (step S 108 ).

[0092] Also, when it is determined that the fixed operation unit 4 can be visually identified in step S 105 , an operation according to the key command is immediately executed (step S 108 ) Even when there is the input about the fixed operation unit 4 in step S 104 , it may be constructed so as to perform an operation of step S 108 without moving the movable operation unit 3 if the operation content is unnecessary to display on the display device 19 .

[0093] One example of the flow of operation of the electronic equipment control system has been described above, but a flow of other operation for implementing a technical idea of the invention may be constructed.

[0094] Next, interaction between components of the electronic equipment control system will be described with a flow of time with reference to a sequence chart of FIG. 10 . In the chart, arrows show directions of operation, and a longitudinal direction indicates a lapse of time. The components include a user, the remote control terminal 2 , the system controller 24 , the movable operation unit 3 and the fixed operation unit 4 .

[0095] First, a user operates a predetermined operation key 11 of the remote control terminal 2 to perform a desired operation of the electronic equipment body 1 (step S 201 ) The contents of the operation key 11 operated from the remote control terminal 2 to the movable operation unit 3 are emitted from the light emitting part 13 by modulating the infrared rays 14 (step S 202 ) and are received by the light receiving part 12 of the movable operation unit 3 (step S 203 ).

[0096] The received contents are transmitted from the controller 22 to the system controller 24 (step S 204 ) and it is determined whether or not it is necessary to display the operation contents (step S 205 ). When it is not necessary to display, the system controller 24 informs the movable operation unit 3 and the fixed operation unit 4 that it is an operation without displaying on the display device 19 (step S 206 ), and the movable operation unit 3 and the fixed operation unit 4 perform the operation input from the operation key 11 without display (step S 207 , step S 208 ).

[0097] Next, when it is determined that it is necessary to display the operation contents on the fixed operation unit 4 in step S 205 and it is determined that the fixed operation unit 4 is in a position incapable of visual identification (step S 205 a : NO), a movement of the movable operation unit 3 is started (step S 209 ). The driving part 25 is actuated and the movement is performed by this driving part 25 , the movable operation unit 3 and a joint mechanism (not shown) (step S 210 ).

[0098] After the movable operation unit 3 is moved and the fixed operation unit 4 becomes a visible state (step S 211 ), the system controller 24 informs the movable operation unit 3 and the fixed operation unit 4 that it is in a state of an operation with display to the display device 19 (step S 212 ), and the movable operation unit 3 and the fixed operation unit 4 perform the operation input from the operation key 11 in a state with display (step S 213 , step S 214 ).

[0099] As described in detail above, in the electronic equipment control system of the invention and the method thereof, when an operation for requiring a function of the fixed operation unit is input from the remote control terminal even in a state in which the movable operation unit is closed and the fixed operation unit is hidden and invisible, the movable operation unit is moved automatically and the fixed operation unit is set in a visible state and the operation, control of electronic equipment can be performed. That is, a user can perform an operation in an operation feeling similar to the operation unit provided in the front of the normal electronic equipment body without the need to be aware whether there is an operation for using a function of the movable operation unit or an operation for using a function of the fixed operation unit.

[0100] In the embodiment described above, it may be constructed so that a main power source of the movable operation unit and a main power source of the fixed operation unit can be divided and controlled and the power source of the fixed operation unit is turned off in a state in which the fixed operation unit is invisible as shown in FIG. 2 and the power source of the fixed operation unit is turned on in a state in which the fixed operation unit is visible as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 . In the case of being constructed thus, power consumption in the fixed operation unit can be reduced and further, useless display is not performed in a display device of the fixed operation unit and thereby a life of the display device can also be extended. Further, at the time when it is moved from the state in which the fixed operation unit is visible as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 to the state in which the fixed operation unit is invisible as shown in FIG. 2 , the power source of the fixed operation unit or the power source of at least the display device can be turned off again.

[0101] Moreover, in the embodiment described above, the electronic equipment body may be constructed so that a slot for record medium insertion of CD, DVD, MD, cassette tape, etc. is exposed at the time of moving the operation unit of the back side. Or, the electronic equipment body may be constructed so that a third operation unit is exposed at the time of moving the operation unit of the back side. In this case, when the remote control signal relates to use of a function which the third operation unit has, it may be placed and changed to a state in which the third operation unit can be visually identified from the outside. As a result of this, a remote control operation through the third operation unit can also be performed preferably.

[0102] The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and can be changed properly without departing from the claims and the subject matter or the idea of the invention capable of being read from the whole specification, and an electronic equipment control system with such a change and a control method thereof are also included in the technical idea of the invention.

[0103] As described above, according to an electronic equipment control system of the invention and a method thereof, when an operation input about a function of a fixed operation unit is inputted from a remote control terminal even in a state in which a movable operation unit is closed and the fixed operation unit is hidden and invisible, the movable operation unit moves automatically and the fixed operation unit is set in a visible state, so that the operation and control of electronic equipment can be performed while visually identifying information displayed on a display device of the fixed operation unit.

[0104] Also, when the operation contents are displayed on the display device of the fixed operation unit even in the case that the movable operation unit is in a closed state and an operation about the movable operation unit is performed, the movable operation unit moves automatically and the operation and control of the electronic equipment can be performed while identifying the operation contents displayed on the display device of the fixed operation unit.

[0105] Therefore, when a user performs remote control, particularly, the user can perform the operation and control of the electronic equipment without being aware whether there is an operation for using a function of the movable operation unit or an operation for using a function of the fixed operation unit. That is, an operation can be performed in an operation feeling similar to the operation unit provided in the normal front without being aware of the operation unit of the hidden side.