Remote control device

Abstract

To provide a remote control device.SOLUTION: A remote control device includes: a main body; and an operation button group for remotely operating a display device, the operation button group including a plurality of operation buttons arranged side by side on one surface of the main body, each of the operation buttons being made easier to press as distance from a center position in a longitudinal direction of the main body in a region where the plurality of operation buttons are arranged to each of the operation buttons included in the plurality of operation buttons increases.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a remote control device. [Background technology]

[0002] Remote controls are commonly used as input devices for remotely controlling televisions, video recorders, etc. Remote controls are provided with physical buttons necessary for operations such as channel selection and volume adjustment, and each button is assigned a unique remote control code. When a user presses a button, the remote control detects the code assigned to that button and transmits it to the device to be controlled via, for example, infrared communication, and the device then executes the device control indicated by the code.

[0003] As the variety of services available on television increases and televisions become more sophisticated, it is becoming more common for televisions to display a graphical user interface (GUI) screen, allowing users to operate the TV using a remote control. Televisions are also now available with a variety of functions beyond just watching television programs, such as recording functionality, the ability to link with external recording devices, and internet connectivity. To accommodate these functions, remote controls are now equipped with numerous buttons, including arrow buttons, a confirm button, a record / playback button, and a record / fast forward button.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a remote control transmitter in which a number of buttons such as a power key, volume keys, numeric keys, a cross key, a menu button, and a mode switching button are arranged on a remote control operation section. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-199466 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] When a user operates a remote control, the user typically holds the remote control in the palm of one hand and operates the buttons on the remote control with the thumb. Therefore, buttons that are easy for the user to operate are within the reach of the thumb, while buttons that are difficult for the user to reach are difficult to press. In some cases, the user must change the location of the remote control to hold it differently or operate it with both hands. In particular, remote controls that operate devices with multiple functions require many buttons, making the size of the remote control larger than conventional remote controls. This results in an increase in the number of buttons that are difficult for the user to reach and operate with the thumb, resulting in a poor user experience.

[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a remote control device that improves the user's operational feel even when the remote control device has a large number of buttons. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A remote control device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a main body and a group of operation buttons for remotely operating a display device, the group including a plurality of operation buttons arranged in a row on one surface of the main body, wherein the greater the distance from the center position in the longitudinal direction of the main body of the area in which the plurality of operation buttons are arranged to each operation button included in the plurality of operation buttons, the easier each operation button is to press. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view of a remote control device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1 is a side view of a remote control device according to Example 1 of Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1 according to Example 2 of Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1 according to Example 2 of Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. [Figure 5]FIG. 10 is a side view of a remote control device according to Example 3 of Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a remote control device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a remote control device according to Example 1 of Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a remote control device according to Example 2 of Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a remote control device according to Example 3 of Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, identical or equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted. Furthermore, the present disclosure and the embodiments of the present disclosure described below do not unduly limit the content of the present disclosure described in the claims, and not all of the configurations described in the embodiments are necessarily essential as means for solving the problems of the present disclosure.

[0011] <Embodiment 1> 1 is a plan view of a remote control device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The remote control device 100 has a main body 101 that is a rod-shaped housing, and a plurality of operation buttons 200 arranged side by side on one surface 102 that is one surface of the main body 101. For example, in FIG. 1, the one surface 102 is a rectangular surface in a plan view, and the vertical direction of FIG. 1 is the longitudinal direction of the one surface 102.

[0012] The plurality of operation buttons 200 are buttons for remotely operating the display device. In Fig. 1, numeric buttons 301, cursor buttons 302, enter button 303, etc. are shown as examples of the plurality of operation buttons 200. Note that, although a power button 300 is arranged on one side 102, the power button 300 is a button for turning on or off the power of the display device, and is not a button for operating the functions of the display device while it is running, and therefore is not included in the operation buttons 200 in the present disclosure.

[0013] In one surface 102, an area in which a plurality of operation buttons 200 are arranged is a first area 211, and the operation buttons 200 in the first area 211 are collectively referred to as a first operation button group 210. In FIG. 1, the first area 211 is an area that is rectangular in plan view and occupies most of the surface 102. Note that the power button 300 is not included in the operation buttons 200, and therefore the area in which the power button 300 is arranged is not included in the first area 211.

[0014] First center position 212 is a position on a line that is the center in the longitudinal direction of one surface 102 of first region 211. In Fig. 1, first center position 212 is the center in the longitudinal direction of remote control device 100, so a user often holds first center position 212 in one hand, and the user's thumb operating operation button 200 also moves with first center position 212 as the fulcrum position.

[0015] 1, a decision button 303 is arranged at first central position 212. When performing an operation input on a GUI screen displayed on a display device, decision button 303 is used to decide the operation input, and therefore tends to be used more frequently than other operation buttons 200. Therefore, by arranging decision button 303 at first central position 212, which is the position of the fulcrum of the user's thumb, the user's operational feel is improved.

[0016] In first operation button group 210, operation buttons 200 that are farther away from first central position 212 are more difficult to press because the user needs to move their thumb more to press them. Therefore, in the present disclosure, the multiple operation buttons 200 are configured so that the greater the distance from first central position 212 to each operation button 200 included in the multiple operation buttons 200, the easier each operation button 200 is to press. This alleviates the deterioration in the operability of operation buttons 200 even when they are farther away from first central position 212, thereby improving the operability of remote control device 100.

[0017] To make each operation button 200 easier to press, in the first operation button group 210, for example, the greater the distance from the first center position 212 to each operation button 200, the shorter the waiting time between when each operation button 200 is pressed and when input is actually accepted is set, so that the user can confirm that each operation button 200 has been pressed simply by pressing each operation button 200 in a short amount of time. Specifically, for example, mechanical switches are generally used for the operation buttons 200, but in mechanical switches, minute mechanical vibrations occur the moment separated contacts are brought together to switch on, which can cause a phenomenon called chattering, in which the switch is turned on and off repeatedly at high speed in a very short period of time, potentially resulting in malfunction. Therefore, to prevent chattering, a certain waiting time is set between when the operation button 200 is pressed and when input is actually accepted. In first operation button group 210, by setting the waiting time set for each operation button 200 to be shorter as the distance from first central position 212 to each operation button 200 increases, the reaction time from when an operation button 200 that is farther away from first central position 212 is pressed to when the operation is actually reflected on the screen of the display device is shorter, improving the operability of operation button 200. Therefore, the deterioration in the operability of operation button 200 due to distance from first central position 212 is mitigated, and the operability of remote control device 100 is improved.

[0018] Furthermore, to make each operation button 200 easier to press, in the first operation button group 210, for example, the greater the distance from the first center position 212 to each operation button 200, the smaller the operation load of each operation button 200 is set, so that a user can confirm that each operation button 200 has been pressed simply by pressing the operation button 200 with a lighter force. Specifically, for example, the operation button 200 is normally in a switch-off state in which the contacts are separated by an elastic member such as rubber, a spring, or a leaf spring. To switch the operation button 200 on, the user must press the operation button 200 to deform the male member and bring the contacts into contact. The pressing force required to bring the contacts into contact is the operation load, which can be adjusted, for example, by changing the elastic force of the elastic member. Therefore, by setting the operation load for each operation button to be smaller the greater the distance from the first center position 212 to each operation button 200, operation buttons 200 farther from the first center position 212 can be switched on with a lighter force, improving the feel of the operation button 200. Therefore, the deterioration in the operational feel of operation button 200 caused by moving away from first center position 212 is alleviated, and the operability of remote control device 100 is improved.

[0019] <Example 1 of Embodiment 1> 2 is a side view of a remote control device 100 according to Example 1 of Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2 , in the first operation button group 210, the greater the distance from the first central position 212 to each operation button 200, the higher the height of the top surface 201 of each operation button 200. The higher the top surface 201 of each operation button 200, the easier it is for a user to place their thumb on the operation button 200. Therefore, in the first operation button group 210, the operation button 200 that is farther from the first central position 212 is easier to place the thumb on, improving the operability of the operation button 200. Therefore, the deterioration in the operability of the operation button 200 due to the distance from the first central position 212 is alleviated, and the operability of the remote control device 100 is improved.

[0020] At first central position 212, main body 101 may be provided with recess 103 on the surface opposite to surface 102. This allows the user to easily hold remote control device 100 by catching their fingers in recess 103, thereby guiding the user to hold it at first central position 212.

[0021] Furthermore, as a configuration for making each operation button 200 easier to press, in the first operation button group 210, for example, the greater the distance from the first center position 212 to each operation button 200, the smaller the stroke of each operation button 200 is set so that the user can confirm that each operation button 200 has been pressed by simply pressing the operation button 200 with a small amount of pressure. Specifically, for example, the stroke of the operation button 200 is the distance that the user's thumb presses the operation button 200 to switch the operation button 200 from its switched-off state to its switched-on state. Therefore, by making the stroke of each operation button 200 smaller as the distance from the first center position 212 to each operation button 200 increases, operation buttons 200 that are farther from the first center position 212 can be switched on with a smaller thumb pressing distance, improving the operability of the operation buttons 200. Therefore, the deterioration in the operability of the operation buttons 200 due to the distance from the first center position 212 is alleviated, and the operability of the remote control device 100 is improved. Hereinafter, as Example 2 of Embodiment 1, an example of a configuration for adjusting the stroke of each operation button 200 will be described.

[0022] Example 2 of Embodiment 1 Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a remote control device 100 according to a second example of the first embodiment of the present disclosure, taken along the line III-III in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a remote control device 100 according to a second example of the first embodiment of the present disclosure, taken along the line IV-IV in Fig. 1. In other words, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a cross section along the longitudinal direction of one surface 102, and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cross section along the lateral direction of one surface 102.

[0023] Remote control device 100 has operation button 200 provided on one surface 102 of main body 101. 3 and 4 show an example in which operation button 200 is made of elastic rubber, and the outer edge of the lower end is fixed to an opening formed in one surface 102. A back surface 202 of operation button 200, which is the surface opposite to top surface 201 of operation button 200, faces the inside of main body 101.

[0024] A switch board 401 is mounted inside the main body 101. The switch board 401 is a circuit board on which a plurality of button switches 400 are mounted. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each button switch 400 corresponds to a corresponding operation button 200, and is arranged at intervals on the rear surface 202 of each operation button 200. Each of FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrates three operation buttons 200 and three corresponding button switches 400, with the rear surface 202 of each operation button 200 facing each button switch 400 and there being an interval between them.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the longitudinal direction of one surface 102, illustrating up to three of the multiple operation buttons 200 arranged from a first center position 212 illustrated on the left side of the drawing to the right. In the first operation button group 210, the greater the distance from the first center position 212 to each operation button 200, the smaller the interval between the back surface 202 of each operation button 200 and each button switch 400. As shown in FIG. 3, for example, if the intervals between the back surface 202 of each operation button 200 and each button switch 400 are interval D1, interval D2, and interval D3 in order of proximity to the first center position 212, the magnitude relationship among these intervals is interval D1 > interval D2 > interval D3. As a result, in the first operation button group 210, the greater the distance from the first center position 212 to each operation button 200, the smaller the stroke of each operation button 200 required to switch on the switch. Therefore, the deterioration in the operational feel of operation button 200 caused by moving away from first center position 212 is alleviated, and the operability of remote control device 100 is improved.

[0026] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a cross section along the short direction of one surface 102. As can be seen from Figs. 1 and 4, the three operation buttons 200 shown in Fig. 4 are equidistant from the first central position 212 in the longitudinal direction of one surface 102. It is preferable that the operation feel of each operation button 200 is the same if the distances from the first central position 212 are equal, so as shown in Fig. 4, the gaps between the back surface 202 of each operation button 200 and each button switch 400 are the same.

[0027] Example 3 FIG. 5 is a side view of a remote control device 100 according to Example 3 of Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5 , in the first operation button group 210, the greater the distance from the first center position 212 to each operation button 200, the greater the angle at which the top surface 201 of each operation button 200 slopes downward toward the first center position 212. In other words, in the first operation button group 210, the greater the distance from the first center position 212 to each operation button 200, the greater the inclination of the top surface 201 of the operation button 200 toward the first center position 212. As a result, when the first center position 212 is used as the fulcrum for operation, the user's thumb can more easily rest on the top surface 201 of the operation button 200 that is farther from the first center position 212. Therefore, it is easier to rest the thumb on the operation button 200 that is farther from the first center position 212, resulting in a better operability of the operation button 200. Therefore, the deterioration in the operational feel of operation button 200 caused by moving away from first center position 212 is alleviated, and the operability of remote control device 100 is improved.

[0028] <Embodiment 2> 6 is a plan view of a remote control device 100 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it has two operation button groups: a first operation button group 210 and a second operation button group 220.

[0029] The remote control device 100 of the second embodiment is for operating a display device having a plurality of different functions. Two groups of operation buttons, a first group of operation buttons 210 arranged in a first area 211 and a second group of operation buttons 220 arranged in a second area 221, are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the surface 102.

[0030] Each of the first operation button group 210 and the second operation button group 220 accepts an instruction to remotely operate one of a plurality of different functions of the display device. In FIG. 6 , for example, the first operation button group 210 mainly includes numeric buttons 301 as operation buttons 200 and mainly accepts an instruction to operate a television function. The second operation button group 220 mainly includes operation buttons 200 such as cursor buttons 302 and a confirm button 303 and mainly accepts an instruction to operate an online streaming video viewing function and a web browsing function. Note that each operation button group does not need to be completely separated according to the function of the display device, as long as each operation button group includes an operation button 200 that is frequently used for the function it operates. Furthermore, operation buttons 200 that are used across multiple functions may be included in any operation button group depending on their frequency of use.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 6 , first center position 212 is a position on the center line of first region 211 in the longitudinal direction of one surface 102, and second center position 222 is a position on the center line of second region 221 in the longitudinal direction of one surface 102. A user appropriately selects a location to hold main body 101 depending on the function of the display device to be operated. Therefore, for example, when operating the television function, first center position 212 is held in one hand, and the user's thumb operating operation button 200 also moves with first center position 212 as the fulcrum position. Furthermore, when operating the online streaming video viewing function and web browsing function, second center position 222 is held in one hand, and the user's thumb operating operation button 200 also moves with second center position 222 as the fulcrum position.

[0032] In the second embodiment, in first operation button group 210, the greater the distance from first center position 212 to each operation button 200 included in multiple operation buttons 200 included in first area 211, the easier it is to press each operation button 200. Also, in second operation button group 220, the greater the distance from second center position 222 to each operation button 200 included in multiple operation buttons 200 included in second area 221, the easier it is to press each operation button 200. With the above configuration, even if there are multiple areas divided according to multiple functions of the display device and the user changes the location where he or she holds remote control device 100 depending on the function, deterioration in the operability of operation button 200 when operating each function is mitigated, and the operability of remote control device 100 is improved.

[0033] Furthermore, operation button 200 arranged in the areas divided according to the functions and close to each other is made particularly easy to press. For example, when using the normal television function, the online streaming video viewing function, and the web browsing function, operation button 200 that may be used for any of the functions is arranged as close as possible to the center of remote control device 100 where first area 211 and second area 221 are adjacent to each other, making it easy to press, thereby mitigating the deterioration of the operability even when the button is far from each center position.

[0034] In the second embodiment, the configuration for adjusting the ease of pressing the operation button 200 can be appropriately adopted from the configurations of the respective embodiments and examples described in the first embodiment.

[0035] 6, a decision button 303 is arranged at the second center position 222. When operating the online streaming video viewing function and the web browsing function on the GUI screen displayed on the display device, the decision button 303 is used to decide operation inputs, and therefore tends to be used more frequently than the other operation buttons 200. Therefore, by arranging the decision button 303 at the second center position 222, which is the position of the fulcrum of the user's thumb when operating the online streaming video viewing function and the web browsing function, the user's operability is improved.

[0036] In the second embodiment, the remote control device 100 is configured to operate a display device having two different functions, and two operation button groups are arranged on the surface 102 along the longitudinal direction of the surface 102. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this configuration. For example, the remote control device 100 may be configured to operate a display device having three or more different functions, and three or more operation button groups are arranged on the surface 102 along the longitudinal direction of the surface 102. In this case, it is sufficient that the greater the distance to each operation button 200 included in the plurality of operation buttons 200 included in each of the three or more regions corresponding to the three or more operation button groups, the easier each operation button 200 is to be pressed. Furthermore, various functions can be applied as the plurality of different functions of the display device for which the three or more operation button groups each accept operations, such as the television function, online streaming video viewing function, and web browsing function described above, as well as a video recording and playback function.

[0037] <Embodiment 3> Fig. 7 is a plan view of a remote control device 100 according to Example 1 of Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a remote control device 100 according to Example 2 of Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure. Fig. 9 is a plan view of a remote control device 100 according to Example 3 of Embodiment 3 of the present disclosure. Each example of Embodiment 3 differs from Embodiments 1 and 2 in that a solar panel 500 is provided on one surface 102. Providing the solar panel 500 in the remote control device 100 can eliminate the need for a battery or reduce the frequency of battery replacement.

[0038] <Example 1 of Embodiment 3> 7, remote control device 100 of example 1 of embodiment 3 has solar panel 500 disposed at the upper end in the longitudinal direction of one surface 102. Therefore, solar panel 500 is separated from first region 211 across power button 300. Therefore, when a user holds remote control device 100, the vicinity of solar panel 500 is difficult to hold, and adhesion of dirt to the surface of solar panel 500 can be suppressed.

[0039] Example 2 of Embodiment 3 8, remote control device 100 of example 2 of embodiment 3 has solar panels 500 arranged in two locations, at the upper and lower ends in the longitudinal direction of one surface 102. Therefore, solar panel 500 is spaced apart from first region 211, and first central position 212 of first region 211 is located close to the center in the longitudinal direction of one surface 102. Therefore, when a user holds remote control device 100, it becomes difficult for the user to hold the area near solar panel 500, and the weight balance when the user holds remote control device 100 is improved.

[0040] Example 3 of Embodiment 3 9, the solar panel 500 can be provided near the center position in the longitudinal direction of one surface 102 of the main body. In that case, with the solar panel 500 as the boundary, the first operation button group 210 can be arranged on the upper end side of one surface 102 as a first region 211, and the second operation button group 220 can be arranged on the lower end side as a second region 221. In this way, when the user operates each function, the vicinity of the solar panel 500 is less likely to be held, and the adhesion of dirt to the surface of the solar panel 500 can be suppressed.

[0041] The present disclosure is not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiments and modified examples, and may be replaced with a configuration that is substantially the same as the configurations shown in the above-described embodiments and modified examples, a configuration that has the same effect, or a configuration that can achieve the same purpose. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 100: Remote control device 101: Main body 102: One side 103: Recess 200: Operation button 201: Top of the operation button 202: Back of the operation button 210: First operation button group 211:First area 212: 1st center position 220: Second operation button group 221:Second area 222: 2nd center position 300: Power button 301: Number buttons 302: Cursor button 303: Decision button 400: Button switch 401: Switch board 500: Solar panel D1, D2, D3: Interval θ1, θ2, θ3: Inclination angle of the top surface of the operation button

Claims

1. a main body; a group of operation buttons for remotely operating a display device, the group including a plurality of operation buttons arranged in a row on one surface of the main body, the greater the distance from the center position of the area in which the plurality of operation buttons are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the main body to each operation button included in the plurality of operation buttons, the easier each operation button is to press.

2. 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the stroke of each of the operation buttons is made smaller as the distance from the center position to each of the operation buttons increases.

3. button switches arranged at intervals on the rear side of each of the operation buttons and corresponding to each of the operation buttons; 3. The remote control device according to claim 2, wherein the stroke is reduced by reducing the interval.

4. The remote control device according to claim 1 , wherein the greater the distance from the center position to each of the operation buttons, the higher the upper surface of each of the operation buttons.

5. 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the waiting time from when each of the operation buttons is pressed until the input is actually accepted is made shorter as the distance from the central position to each of the operation buttons increases.

6. 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the operating load of each of the operation buttons decreases as the distance from the center position to the operation buttons increases.

7. 2. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein the angle at which the upper surface of each of the operation buttons slopes downward toward the central position increases as the distance from the central position to each of the operation buttons increases.

8. The remote control device according to claim 1 , wherein a decision button is disposed at the center position.

9. the remote control device operates a display device having a plurality of different functions; The operation button group is arranged on the one surface along the longitudinal direction, The remote control device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of operation buttons accepts an operation for remotely controlling at least one of the plurality of different functions.

10. The remote control device according to claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of functions is one of a television function, a video recording / playback function, an online video viewing function, and a web browsing function.

Images