DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Particularly, in the following embodiments, specific configurations in which a display apparatus is controlled by operating a remote control apparatus will be illustrated. Particularly, cases in which a plurality of picture frames are displayed on a display unit of a display apparatus will be illustrated. In the embodiments, a plurality of picture frames can be easily controlled, and a voice output is individually obtained in accordance with a picture frame.

[0043] (First Embodiment)

[0044] A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a television system including a television broadcast receiver according to the first embodiment.

[0045] In FIG. 1, a television apparatus 1 . 1 performs television reception, data transmission/reception with an apparatus connected to a network s 1 . 1 , and data transmission/reception with remote control devices 1 . 2 and 1 . 3 , displays an image including voice, operation data and the like, and outputs voice. The remote control devices 1 . 2 and 1 . 3 can be separated or combined, and are used when a single television viewer or a plurality of television viewers control or operate the television apparatus 1 . 1 , a VCR (video cassette recorder) 1 . 4 , and the like. The VCR 1 . 4 , which records and reproduces television or other images and voice data, is controlled via the network s 1 . 1 , and can output an image and voice to the television apparatus 1 . 1 . The network s 1 . 1 interconnects the television apparatus 1 . 1 , the VCR 1 . 4 and the like, and performs data transmission/reception.

[0046] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the details of the television apparatus 1 . 1 .

[0047] In FIG. 2 , an antenna unit 1 . 101 receives a television signal from the outside of the apparatus, converts the received television signal into a high-frequency electric signal, and transmits the electric signal to a tuner unit 1 . 102 .

[0048] Each of tuner units 1 . 102 a and 1 . 102 b amplifies a high-frequency television signal from the antenna unit 1 . 101 , selects a desired station or channel, demodulates the amplified signal, separates the resultant signal into an image/voice signal and other data signal, decodes the image/voice signal, and outputs the resultant signal to an image control unit 1 . 121 and a voice control unit 1 . 123 . The image/voice signal is output to an external I/F (interface) unit 1 . 130 whenever necessary. The other data signal is output to a bus s 1 . 101 whenever necessary.

[0049] The image control unit 1 . 121 switches or synthesizes image data from the tuner units 1 . 102 a and 1 . 102 b and image data obtained via the bus s 1 . 101 according to control from a control unit 1 . 190 (to be described below), and outputs resultant data to a display unit 1 . 122 .

[0050] The display unit 1 . 122 displays image data from the image control unit 1 . 121 . The display unit 1 . 122 in the first embodiment can perform display at least with a vertical resolution of at least 1,080 lines and a horizontal resolution of at least 1,920 lines, and is a high-resolution dot-matrix display. The display unit 1 . 122 may have various configurations. For example, a flat display panel using liquid-crystal elements, plasma elements, electroluminescent elements, or cold-cathode electron emission elements as display elements, or a CRT (cathode-ray tube) may be used.

[0051] The voice control unit 1 . 123 switches or synthesizes voice data from the tuner units 1 . 102 a and 1 . 102 b , and the internal bus s 1 . 101 , controls volume, voice quality, the feeling of being at a live spot, and the like, and outputs the resultant data to a voice output unit 1 . 124 and a voice transmission unit 1 . 125 .

[0052] The voice output unit 1 . 124 amplifies the voice signal input from the voice control unit 1 . 123 , and outputs a voice from a speaker.

[0053] The voice transmission unit 1 . 125 retransmits the voice data from the voice control unit 1 . 123 to the remote control device 1 . 3 by performing FM (frequency modulation).

[0054] The external I/F unit 1 . 130 operates as an interface for data transmission/reception between the television apparatus 1 . 1 and the VCR 1 . 4 via the bus s 1 . 1 .

[0055] A remote-control control unit 1 . 140 is a remote-control transmission/reception control unit utilizing infrared rays, that performs data transmission/reception with the remote control devices 1 . 2 and 1 . 3 operated by television viewers (to be described below), and transfers the data to a system control unit 1 . 150 .

[0056] A remote-control-state receiving unit 1 . 142 receives separation/combination information of the remote control devices from the parent remote control device 1 . 2 . When the remote control devices 1 . 2 and 1 . 3 are separated or combined, the remote-control-state receiving unit 1 . 142 receives a radio signal transmitted from a remote control apparatus and indicating the change, and transfers the received signal to the system control unit 1 . 150 .

[0057] In the first embodiment, in order to allow reception of separation/combination information of a remote control device irrespective of the direction of the remote control device, an FM wave is used.

[0058] A control unit 1 . 190 integrally controls the inside of the television apparatus 1 . 1 connected to the bus s 1 . 101 (to be described below).

[0059] In television reception, the control unit 1 . 190 controls the antenna unit 1 . 101 and the tuner unit 1 . 102 that have been described above, to perform channel switching, accounting control, control of EPG (electronic programming guide) data, and the like. The control unit 1 . 190 also controls the image control unit 1 . 121 , to perform control of synthesis and display of image/voice signals from the two tuner units 1 . 102 a and 1 . 102 b , and the VCR 1 . 4 , icons, various sets of information, and the like.

[0060] The control unit 1 . 190 also controls the voice control unit 1 . 123 , to perform control of synthesis and output of voices, and control of output to the voice output unit 1 . 124 and the voice transmission unit 1 . 125 . The control unit 1 . 190 also controls the external I/F unit 1 . 130 , to perform data transmission/reception by controlling the VCR 1 . 4 connected to the network s 1 . 1 , via the network s 1 . 1 . Each of the above-described controls by the control unit 1 . 190 is appropriately performed by recognition of a proper signal from the remote-control control unit 1 . 140 or from the remote-control-state receiving unit 1 . 142 , or based on the state of the inside of the television apparatus 1 . 1 or information from the external I/F unit 1 . 130 .

[0061] The internal bus s 1 . 101 is a data and control bus provided within the television apparatus 1 . 1 , and is used for transfer of image and voice data and transfer of respective sets of information, as described above.

[0062] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the external appearances of the parent remote control device (first remote control device) 1 . 2 and the child remote control device (second remote control device) 1 . 3 that can be combined/separated, and that are used in the first embodiment.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 3 , the parent remote control device 1 . 2 includes television viewing basic buttons 1 . 201 kb , television expansion operation buttons 1 . 201 ex and a display device 1 . 201 d , and can operate the entire television apparatus 1 . 1 . The child remote control device 1 . 3 includes television viewing basic buttons 1 . 301 kb and a voice output speaker 1 . 305 , in order to allow operations relating to viewing of the television apparatus 1 . 1 .

[0064] Each of the remote control devices 1 . 2 and 1 . 3 has a picture-frame on/off button, in order to allow addition/deletion of a picture frame.

[0065] The child remote control device 1 . 3 can be combined with/be separated from the back of the parent remote control device 1 . 2 . During connection or combination of the two remote control devices, a separation/combination detection/communication unit 1 . 203 of the parent remote control device 1 . 2 is connected to a separation/combination detection/communication unit 1 . 303 of the child remote control device 1 . 3 , so that the two remote control devices can exchange data via these communication units.

[0066] As shown in FIG. 5 , one signal line sdet in the communication units is pulled up (by a voltage source, for example) via a resistance at the parent remote control device 1 . 2 , and is grounded at the child remote control device 1 . 3 . When the two remote control devices are separated, an electric level changes to permit detection of the change in separation/combination status of the remote control devices. Herein, the terms “combined” state and “separated” state are used generically to encompass a large number of ways in which the two or more remote control devices may be, in some sense, coupled together. For example, the manner of attachment may be mechanical, such as a snap-together arrangement, sliding engagement, hooks-and-loops, or the like, with provision being made in each case for communication of information between the remote control devices as needed. Alternative arrangements are also within the broad scope of the invention, for example, even if not at present preferred, such as connection by means of a detachable electrical or optical connector.

[0067] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the details of the parent remote control device 1 . 2 and the child remote control device 1 . 3 . As described above, the parent remote control device 1 . 2 can be separated from/combined with the child remote control device 1 . 3 .

[0068] In FIG. 5, a remote-control-device control unit 1 . 201 controls the buttons 1 . 201 kb and 1 . 201 ex and the display device 1 . 201 d that have been described above.

[0069] A data transmission/reception unit 1 . 202 transmits remote control data generated in the remote-control-device control unit 1 . 201 to the remote-control control unit 1 . 140 within the television apparatus 1 . 1 , or receives and displays data from the inside of the television apparatus 1 . 1 .

[0070] A separation/coalesce detection/communication unit 1 . 203 detects separation/combination of the child remote control device 1 . 3 , and exchanges data with the child remote control device 1 . 3 during coalesce of the child remote control device 1 . 3 .

[0071] When the remote-control-device control unit 1 . 201 has detected a change in separation/combination status based on information from the separation/combination detection/communication unit 1 . 203 , a separation/combination-signal transmission unit 1 . 204 transmits information relating to the change of state to the television apparatus 1 . 1 using an FM signal.

[0072] A remote-control-device control unit 1 . 301 controls the above-described buttons 1 . 301 kb.

[0073] A data transmission unit 1 . 302 transmits remote control data generated in the remote-control-device control unit 1 . 301 to the remote-control control unit 1 . 140 within the television apparatus 1 . 1 .

[0074] A separation/combination detection/communication unit 1 . 303 detects separation/combination status of the parent remote control device 1 . 2 , and exchanges data with the parent remote control device 1 . 2 during combination with the parent remote control device 1 . 2 .

[0075] A voice receiving unit 1 . 304 receives and reproduces FM voice data from the voice transmission unit 1 . 125 , and outputs the reproduced data to a voice output unit 1 . 305 .

[0076] The voice output unit 1 . 305 amplifies the voice signal from the voice receiving unit 1 . 304 , and outputs a voice represented by the signal from a speaker. In order for a user to be able to hear the voice also by means of an earphone, as shown in FIG. 3 , an earphone jack 1 . 305 a is provided in the child remote control device 1 . 3 .

[0077] Next, a description will be provided of operations involved in viewing television by two viewers using the remote control devices of the first embodiment, with reference to FIGS. 6 - 9 , 11 and 18 .

[0078] First, as shown in FIG. 6, a viewer A views the television apparatus 1 . 1 by operating a combined remote control device in which the parent remote control device 1 . 2 and the child remote control device 1 . 3 are combined. In this case, only a picture frame A is displayed.

[0079] When a viewer B intends to view television on a different picture frame, the viewer B separates the child remote control device 1 . 3 from the combined remote control device. The parent remote control device 1 . 2 detects this change in state, and transmits a remote-control separation signal.

[0080] On the other hand, the system control unit 1 . 190 of the television apparatus 1 . 1 monitors presence/absence of a signal using the remote-control-state receiving unit 1 . 142 (step 6101 in FIG. 18 ).

[0081] When a signal has been received, if the received signal is a signal indicating separation of the remote control devices (step 6103 in FIG. 18 ), then, as shown in FIG. 7, a new picture frame B is added to the picture surface of the television apparatus 1 . 1 . At the same time, child-picture-frame adding processing is performed in which, by controlling the voice control unit 1 . 123 and the voice transmission unit 1 . 125 , transmission of the voice of the added picture frame from the voice transmission unit 1 . 125 to the child remote control device 1 . 3 is started (step 6111 in FIG. 18 ).

[0082] The viewer B can hear the voice of the added picture frame B from the speaker of the child remote control device 1 . 3 . By operating the child remote control device 1 . 3 , the viewer B inputs or switches a channel, and views contents different from the contents viewed by the viewer A.

[0083] When the viewer A and the viewer B individually view television on the picture frame A and the picture frame B, respectively, and when the viewer B intends to stop viewing, the child remote control device 1 . 3 is combined with the parent remote control device 1 . 2 . The parent remote control device 1 . 2 detects this state, and transmits a “combined” signal from the transmission unit 1 . 204 . The system control unit 1 . 190 of the television apparatus 1 . 1 that has received the “combined” signal by the remote-control-state receiving unit 1 . 142 determines that there is a change in the combination state (step 6104 in FIG. 18 ), and then determines whether or not only one picture frame is displayed (step 6105 in FIG. 18 ). Since currently the viewer A and the viewer B are individually viewing the screen and two picture frames are displayed, picture-frame deleting processing, in which the picture frame B operated by the child remote control device 1 . 3 is deleted, and the picture frame A viewed by the viewer A is again displayed on the entire picture surface of the television apparatus 1 . 1 , and voice stopping processing, in which by controlling the voice control unit 1 . 123 and the voice output unit 1 . 125 , transmission of voice is stopped, are performed (step 6106 ).

[0084] When the viewer B intends to stop viewing and depresses the picture-frame on/off button of the child remote control device 1 . 3 , a processing similar to the above-described processing is performed according to the procedure shown in FIG. 11 . When a picture-frame-on/off signal is transmitted from the remote control device 1 . 3 , the remote control unit 1 . 140 receives this signal (step 3202 in FIG. 11 ).

[0085] Then, it is determined whether the received signal is from the parent remote control device 1 . 2 (step 3203 ) or from the child remote control device 1 . 3 (step 3204 ). If the received signal is from the child remote control device, then, it is determined whether or not the picture-frame-on/off button of the child remote control device 1 . 3 has been depressed (step 3251 ). If the result of the determination in step 3251 is affirmative, then, it is determined whether or not two picture frames are currently displayed (step 3252 ). Since two picture frames are currently displayed, picture-frame deleting processing and voice stopping processing are performed (step 3253 ), in the same manner as described above.

[0086] When the viewer B stops viewing, the picture frame returns to the picture frame shown in FIG. 6 .

[0087] When the viewer A and the viewer B view television on two different picture frames, and when the viewer A intends to stop viewing, the viewer A depresses the picture-frame on/off button of the parent remote control device 1 . 2 . When the picture-frame on/off button of the parent remote control device 1 . 2 has been depressed and a picture-frame on/off signal has been transmitted, the remote-control-device control unit 1 . 140 receives the signal (step 3202 ).

[0088] Then, it is determined whether the received signal is from the parent remote control device 1 . 2 (step 3203 ) or from the child remote control device 1 . 3 (step 3204 ). If the received signal is from the parent remote control device, then, it is determined whether or not the picture-frame-on/off button of the parent remote control device 1 . 2 has been depressed (step 3211 ). If the result of the determination in step 3211 is affirmative, then, it is determined two picture frames are currently displayed (step 3212 ). Since two picture frames are currently displayed, picture-frame deleting processing of deleting the picture frame A viewed by the viewer A and displaying the picture frame B viewed by the viewer B on the entire picture surface of the television apparatus 1 . 1 , and processing of stopping voice on the picture frame A are performed (step 3213 ).

[0089] At the same time, the picture frame shown in FIG. 8 is displayed.

[0090] When after individual viewing by the viewer A and the viewer B, the viewer A stops viewing and only the viewer B views television on the one picture frame B, and the parent remote control device 1 . 2 and the child remote control device 1 . 3 coalesce, then, in step 6105 shown in FIG. 18 , it is determined whether or not two picture frames are displayed. Since only one picture frame is displayed, it is determined that the viewer A has stopped viewing. Hence, the picture frame is not deleted, and operations for the picture frame are shifted to the parent remote control device 1 . 2 . At the same time, by controlling the voice control unit 1 . 123 , the voice output unit 1 . 125 and the voice output unit 1 . 124 , voice transmission from the voice transmission unit 1 . 125 is stopped, and voice is output from the voice output unit 1 . 124 (step 6141 ).

[0091] When, after individual viewing by the viewer A and the viewer B, the viewer A stops viewing and only the viewer B views television on the one picture frame B, and the picture-frame on/off button of the child remote control device 1 . 3 is depressed (steps 3202 , 3203 , 3204 and 3251 in FIG. 11 ), then, in step 3252 , it is determined that only one picture frame is displayed, and deletion of the picture frame is not performed by displaying a message indicating incapability of deletion of a picture frame (step 3271 ).

[0092] At that time, the picture frame shown in FIG. 9 is displayed.

[0093] (Second Embodiment)

[0094] In a second embodiment of the present invention, single radio transmission/reception means (for example, Bluetooth or the like) operates as remote-control-device-separation/combination-information transmission means and means for transmitting/receiving a remote-control signal for a normal operation. In a child remote control device, the radio transmission/reception means also performs transmission/reception of voice between the child remote control device and a television apparatus. In the second embodiment, an example of operating three picture frames by means of a parent remote control device and two child remote control devices will be described.

[0095] FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a television apparatus according to the second embodiment.

[0096] In FIG. 12, a voice control unit 12 . 123 has a voice compression encoding function in addition to the function of the voice control unit 1 . 123 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 . The voice control unit 12 . 123 performs compression encoding of voice corresponding to the picture frames of the television apparatus for child remote control devices 41 . 3 a and 41 . 3 b (to be described below).

[0097] An integrated transmission/reception unit 41 . 140 receives a remote-control-device separation/combination signal and a remote-control-device operation signal from a parent remote control device 41 . 2 , and the child remote control devices 41 . 3 a and 41 . 3 b , and transmits a television-voice encoding signal input from the voice control unit 12123 to the child remote control devices 41 . 3 a and 41 . 3 b.

[0098] Other components are the same as those shown in FIG. 2 .

[0099] FIG. 13 is a block diagram of the parent remote control device 41 . 2 and the child remote control devices 41 . 3 a and 41 . 3 b used in the second embodiment. Since the child remote control devices 41 . 3 a and 41 . 3 b have the same configuration in this embodiment, only one of the child remote control devices is illustrated.

[0100] An integrated transmission/reception unit 41 . 202 is identical to the above-described one 41 . 140 , and transmits a remote-control-device separation/combination signal and a remote-control-device operation signal to the integrated transmission/reception unit 41 . 140 of the television apparatus.

[0101] An integrated transmission/reception unit 41 . 302 is identical to the above-described one 41 . 140 , and transmits a remote-control-device operation signal and receives a voice signal from the integrated transmission/reception unit 41 . 140 of the television apparatus. Other components are the same as those of the child remote control device 1 . 3 shown in FIG. 4 .

[0102] FIG. 13 illustrates a combined remote control device in which the two remote control devices 41 . 3 a and 41 . 3 b are combined with the parent remote control device 41 . 2 .

[0103] Next, operations in the second embodiment will be described.

[0104] In the second embodiment, first, as in the case shown in FIG. 6, a viewer A views television by operating the combined remote control device. In this case, the parent remote control devices 41 . 2 and the two remote control devices 41 . 3 a and 41 . 3 b are combined, and only one picture frame A is displayed.

[0105] When a viewer B intends to view television on a different picture frame, the viewer B separates the child remote control device 41 . 3 a from the combined remote control device. The parent remote control device 41 . 2 detects this change in state (or may simply detect the new state per se; this may be done in the first embodiment, as well), and transmits a remote-control-device separation signal.

[0106] On the other hand, the system control unit 1 . 190 of the television apparatus monitors presence/absence of a signal, using the integrated transmission/reception unit 41 . 140 (step 6101 in FIG. 18 ). When a signal has been received, if the received signal is a signal indicating separation of the remote control device (step 6103 in FIG. 18 ), then, as shown in FIG. 7, a new picture frame B is added to the picture surface of the television apparatus. At the same time, child-picture-frame adding processing is performed in which by controlling a voice encoding unit of the voice control unit 12123 , transmission of the voice of the added picture frame from the integrated transmission/reception unit 41 . 140 to the child remote control device 41 . 3 a is started (step 6111 in FIG. 18 ).

[0107] The viewer B can hear the voice of the added picture frame B from the speaker of the child remote control device 41 . 3 a . By operating the child remote control device 41 . 3 a , the viewer B inputs or switches a channel, and views contents different from the contents of the viewer A.

[0108] When a viewer C intends to view television on a still different picture frame, the viewer C separates the child remote control device 41 . 3 a from the combined remote control device. Then, according to the above-described operations shown in FIG. 18, a new picture frame C is further added, and voice is output from the child remote control device 41 . 3 a , as shown in FIG. 15 .

[0109] At that time, the viewers A, B and C individually view the picture frames A, B and C, respectively, using the parent remote control device 41 . 2 and the two child remote control device 41 . 3 a and 41 . 3 b . When the viewer B or C stops viewing from this state using a picture-frame on/off button, the state shown in FIG. 7 is provided.

[0110] When the viewer A stops viewing using a picture-frame on/off button, a state shown in FIG. 16 is provided. When the viewer B further combines the parent remote control device 41 . 2 with viewer B's child remote control device 41 . 3 a , a state shown in FIG. 17 is provided, in which voice B is output from the television apparatus.

[0111] Although in the above-described embodiments, separation/combination of the parent remote control device and the child remote control device(s) is detected by a change in the level of an electric signal, any other means, such as detection of capability/incapability of the parent remote control device and the child control device to communicate with each other, via the communication units 1 . 203 and 1 . 303 , may also be used.

[0112] As described above, a remote control device capable of operating the entire television apparatus, and a simple remote control device capable of performing only certain operations (for example, operations relating to one picture frame) are prepared, so as to be separated and to be combined. When a second or another viewer intends to view a different program, upon separation of a child remote control device for picture-frame operation from a combined remote control device, another picture frame appears on the picture surface of the television, and by selecting a station, television can be viewed. Accordingly, an operation for viewing an independent picture frame becomes very convenient.

[0113] There is also the effect that, by usually combined remote control devices, management of the remote control devices becomes easy.

[0114] In addition, there is also the effect that an inexpensive environment can be provided compared with a case of preparing a plurality of high-function remote control devices capable of operating the entire television apparatus.

[0115] Although in the foregoing description, a display apparatus has been illustrated as an object to be subjected to remote control, a remote control apparatus of the invention in which a first remote control device and a second remote control device can be separated or combined may also be suitably used as a remote control apparatus for remote control operation of a radio receiver, an audio reproducing apparatus or the like. In such a case, it is only necessary that different controls are performed by operating respective remote control devices when a plurality of remote control devices are separated. For that purpose, the remote control apparatus may be able to output a signal for allowing an apparatus to be operated to discriminate between a state in which the remote control devices are combined and a state in which the remote control devices are separated, as the above-described remote control apparatus for controlling the display apparatus.

[0116] At least part of a plurality of remote control devices (a parent remote control device and a child remote control device) constituting a remote control apparatus may be connected to an object to be controlled (for example, a display apparatus) by wires. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which remote control devices are connected to a television apparatus by a wire 10 . 01 . It is unnecessary to connect all the remote control devices to the controlled apparatus by wires. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which a parent remote control device 1 . 2 is connected by a wire, and a child remote control device 1 . 3 performs radio communication with the parent remote control device 1 . 2 , and operations of the child remote control device 1 . 3 may be transmitted to a television apparatus, serving as an object to be operated, via the parent remote control device 1 . 2 .

[0117] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a flexible remote control operation.

[0118] The individual components shown in outline or designated by blocks in the drawings are all well known in the display apparatus and remote control apparatus arts, and their specific construction and operation are not critical to the operation or the best mode for carrying out the invention.

[0119] While the present invention has been described with respect to what are presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, the present invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.