United States Patent
`
`119]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`4,866,542
`
`Shimada et al.
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Sep. 12, 1989
`
`[54] REMOTE-CONTROLLING COMMANDER
`WITH MULTI-FUNCI'ION ROTARY DIAL
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: Keiichiro Shimada, Kanagawa;
`Tatsuya Wakahara, Tokyo; Noboru
`Shibuya, Kanagawa, all of Japan
`
`Sony Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
`[73] Assignee:
`[21] Appl. No.: 942,978
`
`[22] Filedz‘
`
`Dec. 17, 1986
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`Dec. 27, 1985 [JP]
`Japan ................................ 60295292
`
`H04N 5/783
`Int. c1.4
`[51]
`[52] U.S. C1. .................................. 360/103; 360/33.1;
`360/71; 360/73.08; 358/335
`[58] Field of Search ............ 369/7, 6; 358/335, 191.1,
`358/194.1; 360/33.1, 10.1, 14.1, 61, 10.3, 71, 73,
`73.01, 73.04, 73.05, 73.08; 455/181, 186, 185,
`179, 603; 361/340; 200/33 R, 61, 58 R;
`340/696, 688, 870.08
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,987,414 10/1976 Tuma ............................. .. 358/194.1
`4,045,777
`8/1977 Mierzwinski et al.
`.
`340/168
`4,081,754 3/1978 Jackson ............. .
`..... 325/396
`4,206,483
`6/1980 Nakamura ......
`4,270,117
`5/1981 Ziegelbein et al.
`4,325,081
`4/1981
`4,352,010 9/1982
`4,404,531
`9/1983
`4,428,005
`1/1984
`4,527,204 7/1985
`4,538,188
`8/1985
`4,539,603
`9/1985
`
`360/33.1
`.. 360/14.3
`
`.'.. 235/92
`3 331/64
`
`4,539,711 9/ 1985 Harger .......
`4,712,105 12/1987 Kohler
`4,718,112
`1/1988 Shinoda ........ ..
`4,786,982 11/1988 Wakahara et al.
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`0002434 9/1978 European Pat. Off.
`0188162 7/1986 European Pat. Off.
`2491707
`9/1982 France .
`.
`W081/03713 12/1981 PCT Int’lAppl.
`2006559
`5/1979 United Kingdom .
`
`.
`.
`
`Primary Exam1'ner—A]an Faber
`Assistant Examiner—W. R. Young
`Attorney. Agent, or Firm—Rona1d P. Kananen
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A remote-controlling commander includes a rotary dial
`rotatably mounted on a commander housing for manual
`operation of the user. The commander also includes a
`position detector for monitoring angular position of the
`rotary dial, in which the angular position and/or angu-
`lar displacement of the rotary dial represents which
`operation of the apparatus is to be controlled and an
`encoder for producing an encoded signal variable de-
`pending upon the angular position and/or angular dis-
`placement of the rotary dial. The encoded signal
`is
`transmitted through a transmitter to a receiver provided
`in the apparatus to be controlled. The received signal is
`decoded in the apparatus to trigger the function repre-
`sented by the received signal. The received signal from
`the remote-controlling commander may be used to per-
`form functions associated with a VTR, such as timing of
`video recording, picture searching, channel timing, and
`the like.
`
`22 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
`
`25%!‘
`
`vmlfimnuuf
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1009, p. 1
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`9oo91Z,1WS
`
`Sheet 1 of 13
`
`4,866,542
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1009, p. 2
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Sep.12, 1989
`
`Sheet 2 of 13
`
`4,866,542
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1009, p. 3
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`9oo912.,1m.S
`
`Sheet 3 of 13 '
`
`4,866,542
`
`IIEEI
`
`E2:
`
`Em
`
`
`
`._.um._um:32.
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1009, p. 4
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 12,1939
`
`Sheet 4 of 13
`
`4,866,542
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1009, p. 5
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 12,1989
`
`Sheet 5 of 13
`
`4,866,542
`
`‘II////Ilogf.‘'71’/IIJ7/In
`-1—jn-an/1n§-gs.
`~—...., ;§\\\\\\\V
`‘p y\\\\\V
`‘Q _,\:—4 (/nj
`5;
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1009, p. 6
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`9oo91291WS
`
`Sheet 6 of 13
`
`4,866,542
`
`
`I_|.|LIL|fllI_|:_1l_l:LI
`S._5oww:.S._5o«N
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`Nm.U~...~
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`2..ZT.1};M.4+2+1.
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`
`
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`
`
`||_||_|._.|+.l..'_||*I|_|n.I|.Sfiao85._.SoPm
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1009, p. 7
`
`

`
` US. Patent
`
`Sep. 12,1989
`
`Sheet 7 of 13
`
`4,866,542
`
`FIG. 12
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1009, p. 8
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 12, 1989
`
`Sheet 8 of 13
`
`4,866,542
`
`._oEzoo
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`><.:m_a
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`m_>En_
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`uamwswvux
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`memomt.’-..jmmoz<_>._2ow
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1009, p. 9
`
`

`
`US. Patent»
`
`Sep.12,1989
`
`Sheet 9 of 13
`
`4,866,542
`
`FIC-7.14
`
`3
`POWER ON
`?
`
`CLOCK
`SET MODE
`?
`
`WMER
`SET MODE
`
`RESET
`
`cLocK
`SET
`MODE
`
`SHUTTLE
`
`CHANNEL N0
`
`SET l;llODE I
`
`CHANNEL
`SET
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1009, p. 10
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 12,1939
`
`Sheet 10 of 13
`
`4,866,542
`
`FIG/.18
`
`/I2
`
`/l2d
`
`//2
`
`I /2b
`
`FIG. 20
`
`JOG
`
`2‘ °‘""“* —‘|_|’L_I'L_J’1__{__H._JTl_l"l_l'
`22 °““"” UJm_
`
`_ 0
`9
`
`e
`NEUTRAL +93 +92 +0‘ + °
`ANGLE
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1009, p. 11
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 12,1989
`
`Sheet 11 of 13
`
`4,866,542
`
`FIGC21
`
`72 ii
`di
`jw\“_1M~L__1M1J111_m1L_
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1009, p. 12
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.12,1989
`
`Sheet 12 of 13
`
`4,866,542
`
`FIC-7.23
`
`IS
`SHUTTLE RING
`OPER§TED
`
`#06
`
`IS
`JOG DIAL
`OPERATED
`.7
`
`//08
`
`SHUTTLE
`MODE
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1009, p. 13
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Sep.12,1989
`
`Sheet 13 of 13
`
`4,866,542
`
`FIC-124
`
`STILL MODE
`
`J°G M095
`OPERATION
`
`IS
`JOG KEY
`DEPRESSED
`?
`
`INHIBIT
`'
`INTERRUPTION
`
`JOG KEY
`DEPRESSED
`?
`
`TIMER
`CHANNEL MO/DE KEY
`DEPR7ESSED
`
`JOG KEY
`DEPRESSED
`?
`
`IS
`TIMEFI/
`CHANNEL MODE KEY
`
`DEPRESSED
`
`ENABLE
`INTERRUPTION
`
`RETURN
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1009, p. 14
`
`

`
`1
`
`4,866,542
`
`REMOTE-CONTROLLING COMMANDER WITH
`MULTI-FUNCITON ROTARY DIAL
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates generally to a remote
`controlling commander which can transmit various
`commands to an apparatus to be controlled, such as a
`video tape recording and reproducing apparatus (VTR)
`and so forth. More specifically, the invention relates to
`a remote-controlling commander which can perform
`various control functions for the apparatus with a sim-
`plified control key arrangement.
`2. Description of the Background Art
`In recent years, various electrical or electronic appa-
`ratus, such as a VTR and so forth, need to facilitate and
`increasing number of functions to be performed. For
`example, a modem VTR may facilitate not only video
`recording and reproducing fimctions, but also timer
`recording functions, a variable speed video reproducing
`function and so forth. In order to perform such a great
`number of operations, the apparatus requires relatively
`complicated key operations for the user.
`On the other hand, in the recent years, remote-con-
`trolling commanders for remote controlling the appara-
`tus, such as a VTR, have become a popular convenience
`for the users. The remote-controlling commander has
`been required to facilitate the capability of controlling
`most of the fimctions that can be performed by the
`apparatus. Therefore, the arrangement of an operation-
`key on the remote-controlling commander becomes
`more and more complicated and is difficult for the users
`to accurately operate to obtain the desired function.
`In order to simplify the key arrangement, there has
`been proposed in the European Patent First Publication
`01 88 162 a VTR with a multi-function rotary dial de-
`vice. The multi-function rotary dial device performs a
`timer setting operation, a channel selecting operation, a
`reproduction speed control operation, and so forth.
`This significantly simplifies the key arrangement of the
`operation key array on the VTR. Furthermore, such a
`multi-function rotary dial allows reproduction of a
`video image at various speeds such as in a still mode, at
`5 speed, at double speed, and so forth.
`The purpose of the invention is to simplify the opera-
`tion key array on the remote-controlling commander by
`employing the multi-function rotary dial device and to
`increase the number of remotely controllable functions
`that can be performed by the commander.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to
`provide a remote-controlling commander which has a
`simplified key array and can be easily operated to per-
`form remote-control operations.
`Another object of the invention is to provide a re-
`mote controlling commander that is capable of re-
`motely controlling an apparatus to be controlled, such
`as a VTR, by means of a multi-fimction rotary dial.
`In order to accomplish the aforementioned and other
`objects, a remote-controlling commander, according to
`the present invention, includes a rotary dial rotatably
`mounted on a commander housing for manual operation
`of by the user. The commander also includes a position
`detector for monitoring angular position of the rotary
`dial, in which the angular position and/or angular dis-
`placement of the rotary dial represents which operation
`of the apparatus is to be controlled and an encoder for
`
`2
`producing an encoded signal which is variable depend-
`ing upon the angular position and/or angular displace-
`ment of the rotary dial. The encoded signal is transmit-
`ted through a transmitter to a receiver provided in the
`apparatus to be controlled. The received signal is de-
`coded in the apparatus to trigger the function repre-
`sented by the received signal.
`In practice, the commander further includes a signal
`processing circuit associated with a detector monitoring
`the angular position of the rotary dial. The signal pro-
`cessing circuit processes the detector signal from the
`detector to produce a direction indicative signal indica-
`tive of the direction toward which angular displace-
`ment of the rotary dial occurs, and a velocity indicative
`signal indicative of the velocity of angular displacement
`of the rotary dial.
`According to one aspect of the invention, a system
`for remote-controlling an apparatus which performs
`different functions including a first function and second
`function, comprises a controller provided in the appara-
`tus for controlling operation of the apparatus and select-
`ing operation modes for accomplishing different func-
`tions to according to a control command; first means,
`incorporated in the apparatus and associated with the
`controller for performing the first function; second
`means, incorporated in the apapratus and associated
`with the controller for performing the second function;
`a remote control command including a push button for
`selecting operation modes of the apparatus and produc-
`ing a remote control signal’ carrying the control com-
`mand, the remote control commander including a ro-
`tary dial assembly operable for generating the control
`command for operating the first and second means se-
`lectively for performing the first and second functions.
`The remote’ control commander includes a mode
`selector switch for selecting an operation mode of the
`remote control commander at least among a first posi-
`tion, at which the control command generated by the
`remote control commander operates the first means for
`performing the first function, and a second position, at
`which the control command generated by the remote
`control commander operates said second means for
`performing the second function. The remote control
`commander includes third means for monitoring angu-
`lar displacement of a rotary dial in the rotary dial assem-
`bly anmd producing a command signal representative of
`angular position of the rotary dial, and fourth means
`responsive to the command signal from the third means,
`for encoding a remote control signal to be transmitted
`therefrom for transmitting the remote control signal
`carrying the control command. '
`The rotary dial assembly comprises a dial manually
`rotatable at a desired speed in opposing first and second
`directions, a first sensing means for monitoring magni-
`tude of angular displacement of the dial and producing
`a rotation angle indicative signal, a timer set mode
`switch manually operable to produce a timer set mode
`selector signal ordering the video tape recorder system
`to operate in a timer set mode, a display for displaying
`at least symbols representing a tiiner-activated record-
`ing start timing and end timing, and a controller respon-
`sive to the timer set mode selector signal for changing
`the value represented by each of the symbols at a given
`rate on the display, the given rate being selected on the
`basis of the values of the direction indicative signal and
`the rotating angle indicative signal.
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1009, p. 15
`
`

`
`3
`The system further comprises a second sensing means
`for monitoring the rotation speed of the dial and pro-
`ducing a rotation speed indicative signal, and the con-
`troller is responsive to the rotation speed indicative
`signal to adjust the given rate based thereon.
`The video tape recorder further operates in a picture
`search mode as the second function, and the remote
`control commander further comprises means for trig-
`gering a picture search mode and producing a com-
`mand for entry into the picture search mode, and the
`controller is responsive to the command to perform
`forward and reverse playback selectively and at a given
`speed according to rotation of the rotary dial.
`In the alternative, the remote control commander
`includes a pause switch for operating the video tape
`recorder at a pause mode for temporarily stopping play-
`back so as to freeze an image on a television monitor,
`the pause switch serving as the picture search triggering
`means.
`
`‘
`
`In the preferred embodiment, the rotary dial assem- 20
`bly further comprises a ring rotatable independently of
`the dial and a fourth sensing means monitoring the an-
`gular position of the ring and producing a shuttle mode
`selector signal when angular displacement of thering is
`detected, and the controller is responsive to the shuttle
`mode selector signal in the presence of a command for
`selectively performing forward and reverse playback at
`a variable playback speed varying in accordance with
`the direction and magnitude of angular displacement of
`the ring. The first and second sensing means also coop- 30
`erate with the ring for monitoring angular displacement
`of the latter and producing the rotating direction indica-
`tive signal and the rotation angle indicative signal. The
`controller is also responsive to rotation of the dial in the
`presence of the command for performing forward and
`reverse playback selectively at a given speed according
`to rotation of the dial.
`On the other hand, the video tape recorder system
`also has a television tuner for selecting a television
`channel and in which the selected television channel is
`indicated on the display, further comprising means for
`triggering a channel set mode for the video tape re-
`corder system for selecting a television channel, and the
`controller is responsive to rotation of the dial in the
`channel set mode to adjust the channel selection ac-
`cording to angular displacement of the dial. The system
`further comprises a second sensing means for monitor-
`ing the rotation speed of the dial and producing a rota-
`tion speed indicative signal, and the controller is respon-
`sive to the rotation speed indicative signal to adjust the
`given rate in accordance therewith.
`In the alternative embodiment, the controller adjusts
`the rate of change of the television channel in the chan-
`nel set mode depending upon the rotation speed indica-
`tive signal value.
`The dial and the ring are asosciated with a common
`rotary plate with which the first and second sensing
`means are associated for monitoring the direction, mag-
`nitude and speed of angular displacement thereof. The
`dial is further associated with a click mechanism provid-
`ing a detent action at every given angle of angular dis-
`placement, which given angle corresponds to one frame
`of a video signal.
`According to another aspect of the invention, a
`remote-controlling commander for a video tape re-
`corder system capable of recording and reproducing
`video signals, performing picture search, and including
`a television tuner for varying a television channel, com-
`
`4, 866, 542
`
`4
`prises a rotary dial assembly which includes a rotary
`dial manually rotatable at a desired speed in opposing
`first and second directions, a first sensing means for
`monitoring magnitude of angular displacement of the
`dial and producing a rotation angle indicative signal, a
`channel set mode switch manually operable to produce
`a first mode selector signal ordering the video tape
`recorder system to operate in a television channel set
`mode; and an encoder responsive to the first mode se-
`lector signal and the rotation angle indicative signal for
`generating a remote control signal to be transmitted to
`the video tape recorder for changing a television chan-
`nel set according to the angular position of the rotary
`dial.
`The video tape recorder system includes a controller
`responsive to the remote control signal encoded by the
`first mode selector signal and the rotation angle indica-
`tive signal for changing the value represented by each
`television charmel at a given rate on a display of the
`video tape recorder system, the given rate being se-
`lected on the basis of the values of the direction indica-
`tive signal and the rotating angle indicative signal.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The present invention will be understood more fully
`from the detailed description given herebelow and from
`the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodi-
`ment of the invention, which, however, should not be
`taken to limit the invention to the specific embodiment
`but are for explanation and understanding only.
`In the drawings:
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a VTR deck and the
`preferred
`embodiment
`of
`a
`remote-controlling
`commander with a rotary dial according to the present
`invention;
`FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the VTR deck of FIG.
`
`1;
`
`FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a
`major part of the VTR deck of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial perspective view of
`another major part of the VTR deck of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 5 is an enlarged front elevation of a display on
`the front panel of the VTR deck of FIG. 1;
`FIG. 6 is an enlarged and exploded perspective view
`of the preferred embodiment of a rotary dial assembly
`according to the present invention;
`FIG. 7 is a cross-section through the assembled ro-
`tary dial assembly;
`FIG. 8 is a diagram of the interaction between a shut-
`tle ring in the rotary dial assembly and a rotary disc;
`FIG. 9 is a diagram of a click mechanism of the rotary
`dial assembly of FIG. 6;
`FIG. 10 is a plan view of a reflector plate which is
`composed of a plurality of reflecting segments and a
`plurality of non-reflecting segments arranged alternat-
`insly;
`FIG. 11 is a plan view of another reflector plate
`which is composed of a pluralityof reflecting segments
`and a plurality of non-reflecting segments arranged
`altematingly;
`FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing connection of
`photosensors employed in the rotary dial assembly;
`FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a VTR circuit and a
`commander circuit employed for implementing various
`remote control functions by means of the preferred
`embodiment of the remote-controlling commander of
`FIG. 1;
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1009, p. 16
`
`

`
`5
`FIG. 14 is a flowchart of an input control program to
`be executed by the preferred embodiment of the rotary
`dial assembly;
`FIGS. 15 and 16 show the relationships between
`outputs of optical sensors for indicating the direction of 5
`rotation of a rotary dial in the preferred embodiment of
`the rotary dial assembly;
`.
`FIG. 17 is a diagram of the variation of the pulse
`duration according to rotation speed of the rotary dial;
`FIG. 18 shows the display when serving as a tape 10
`indicator, a TV-channel indicator and a clock indicator;
`FIG. 19 shows the display in TIMER SET MODE;
`FIG. 20 shows the relationships among outputs of
`three optical sensors for distinguishing JOG MODE
`operation from SHUTTLE mode operation;
`FIG. 21 shows the waveform of an encoded signal to
`transmitted
`from the
`remote—control1ing
`be
`commander;
`FIG. 22 is a chart showing the relationship between
`the angular position of the rotary dial and the encoded
`signal to be transmitted from the remote-controlling
`commander;
`FIG. 23 is a flowchart for an editing program to be
`executed in the remote-controlling commander for con-
`trolling edit operations of a VTR; and
`FIG. 24 is a flowchart of a control program to be
`executed by the remote-controlling commander for
`timer set, charmel selection and variable speed repro-
`duction.
`
`15
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`Referring now to the drawings, particularly to FIGS.
`1 to 5, the preferred embodiment of a remote-controll-
`ing commander 20 is provided with a rotary dial 200 for
`remote controlling a VTR deck 10 which facilitates a.
`rotary dial 200 of identical construction to that in the
`remote—controlling commander.
`It should be appreciated that although the preferred
`embodiment of the remote-controlling commander 20
`according to the present invention, will be described
`hereinbelow in terms of remote controlling of a VTR
`the commander can control various electrical or elec-
`tronic equipment, such as a television set, a character
`information system accessible through telephone line,
`such as so-called ’videotex’ or ’CAPTAIN system’, an
`audio set and so forth. Furthermore, though the shown
`embodiment of the remote-controlling commander co-
`operates with a VTR deck which has a rotary dial of
`identical construction to that
`facilitated in the 50
`commander, it would be applicable for any type of
`VTR deck having a compatible control command for-
`mat.
`The VTR 10 has a front panel 110 with an opening
`111 through which a VTR tape cassette may be in-
`serted, this opening will be hereafter referred to as ‘cas-
`sette insert‘. The cassette insert 111 establishes commu-
`nication between the exterior of the deck and a cassette
`compartment within the deck and is normally covered
`by a lid 111a. Near the cassette insert 111, an eject but-
`ton 10¢; is provided. The eject button 105 is associated
`with a cassette eject mechanism (not shown) in a per se
`well-known manner.
`On the front panel 110, a power switch button 10,4,
`7 mode selector buttons, e.g. a rewinding button 103, a 65
`playback button 10¢, a fast-forward button 103, a stop
`button 105 and a pause button 10;: are provided. Such
`mode selector buttons are associated with a VTR sys-
`
`4,866,542’
`
`6
`tem housed in the deck 110 in a per se well-known
`manner. A display 112 on the front panel 110 lies side-
`by-side with the cassette insert 111. The display 112
`serves as a clock for displaying the time, and as a real-
`time counter for displaying recording time and/or play-
`back time. The display 112 may also serve as a mode
`indicator for indicating the current operation mode of
`the VTR system, or as a channel indicator for a TV
`tuner which is incorporated within the VTR system in
`a per se well-known manner. The display 112 may also
`serve as a timer-activated recording indicator which
`may be set to turn on when timer-activated recording is
`ordered.
`~
`Although it is not clearly shown in the drawings, the
`front panel 110 also has a record button for selecting a
`recording mode. An input selector 105 (shown in FIG.
`4) is also provided on the front panel 110 below the
`cassette insert 111. The input selector 105 is normally
`hidden by means of a lid 114. The input selector 105
`switches the video signal source between a TV tuner
`and other input sources, such as other VTR systems, a
`PCM signal reproducing apparatus and so forth.
`A rotary dial assembly 200 is mounted on a sub-panel
`120 installed on the front panel 110 to the side of the
`display 112 opposite the cassette insert 111. The rotary
`dial assembly 20 is designed to allow timer setting, man-
`ual scanning and playback speed selection in the shown
`embodiment. Also, the rotary dial assembly may serve
`as a TV-channel selector while the TV tuner in the
`VTR system is active. The sub-panel 120 is pivotably
`connected to the front panel 110 at its lower edge and is
`movable between a vertical position at which the front
`surface of the sub-panel 120 lies flush with the front
`surface of the front panel as shown in FIG. 2, and a
`horizontal position at which the sub-panel 120 extends
`horizontally from the front panel 110 as shown in FIG.
`1 and 3. The sub-panel 120 is normally in the vertical
`position and locked by means of an appropriate locking
`mechanism. In order to unlock the locking mechanism
`and allow the sub-panel to move to the horizontal posi-
`tion, a release button 113 is provided on the front panel
`110, this release push button is located adjacent the
`sub-panel 120 and will be referred to hereafter as a
`‘subpanel open button‘. Timer set operation buttons are
`disposed on the portion of the front panel 110 normally
`concealed by the sub-panel 120. The timer set operation
`buttons consist of a clock set button 10a, a timer set
`mode selector button 10b, a timer recording ON/OFF
`button 10c, a next item selector button 10d, a clear
`button 10c and a item-back button 10f. The functions of
`these timer set operation buttons will be described in
`detail below.
`As will be apparent from FIGS. 1 to 5, a rotary dial
`assembly 200 is accessible in both the vertical and hori-
`zontal positions of the sub-panel 120. The rotary dial
`assembly 20 also has a shuttle ring 220. At the vertical
`position, in a pause mode, rotation of the rotary dial
`allows the user to scan forward and backward through
`the tape at a speed proportional to the rotation speed of
`the rotary dial; this action will be hereafter referred to
`as a ‘manual scan‘. While in the horizontal position, the
`rotary dial 200 can be rotated to adjust the timer setting
`for timer-activated recording; and the shuttle ring can
`be rotated to select playback speed of the tape. In the
`preferred embodiment, the playback speed may be ad-
`justed by means of the shuttle ring 220, and is variable
`in 5 graduating increments of one-fifth, one half, nor-
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1009, p. 17
`
`

`
`4,866,542
`
`7
`mal, et cetera. Detailed construction of the rotary dial
`assembly and operation thereof will be described later.
`The VTR deck as set forth above is also coupled with
`the remote-controlling commander 20. the remote-con-
`trolling commander 20 is generally of a compact size 5
`suitable for hand carrying. The commander 20 gener-
`ally transmits a control command toward a control
`command receiver 16 provided on the front panel 110.
`In practice, the control command is in the form of an
`infrared light beam encoded with control command
`data. As shown in FIG. 1, the commander 20 is pro-
`vided with a push button array 25 including a plurality
`of push buttons 25A, 25B... for manually selecting the
`operation mode of the VTR. As set
`forth,
`the
`commander 20 is also provided with a rotary dial assem-
`bly 200 of identical construction to that facilitated in the
`VTR deck 10. Similar to that facilitated in the VTR
`deck 10, the rotary dial assembly 200 on the commander
`20 allows manual scanning, variable speed tape play-
`back channel selection, and timer setting as will be
`discussed later in greater detail. Utilizing the push but-
`ton array 25 and the rotary dial assembly 200, the VTR
`may be operated in various operational modes.
`The remote-controlling commander 20 also has indi-
`cators which are generally represented by the reference
`numeral 28. In practice the indicators 28 comprise a
`plurality of luminous elements 28A, 28B..., such as lumi-
`nous diodes, for indicating commander operation.
`As set forth above, the rotary dial assembly 200 of the
`remote-controlling commander 20 serves for timer set-
`ting, TV charmel selection, and variable mode repro-
`duction, similar to the functions that can be performed
`by the rotary dial assembly 200 in the VTR deck 10. In
`order to select the operation mode of the rotary dial
`assembly 200, the remote-controlling commander 20
`has mode selector switches. In the shown embodiment,
`the push button 25A serves as the selector switch for the
`Variable speed reproduction mode which will be re-
`ferred to hereafter as a ’JOG/SHUTTLE mode’. On
`the other hand, the push button 25B serves as a TI-
`MER/CHANNEL mode selector switch. In practical
`mode selection, the JOG/SHUTTLE selector switch
`25A is operable between an ON position and an OFF
`position by manual depression. At the ON position, the
`remote-controlling commander operation mode is set at
`the JOG/SHUTTLE MODE for reproducing the VTR
`signal at a variable speed. On the other hand, the TI-
`MER/CHANGE mode switch 25B is also operable
`between a TIMER position and a CHANNEL position.
`While the JOG/SHUTTLE mode switch 25A is in the
`OFF position, the remote—controlling commander 20
`operates in a TIMER/CHANNEL mode. The TI-
`MER/CHANNEL selector switch 25B is normally set
`at the CHANNEL mode position for allowing TV
`charmel selection. The TIMER set mode is selected by
`manual operation of the TIMER/CHANNEL selector
`switch 25B. When the JOG/SHUTTLE mode selector
`switch 25A is depressed to be turned to the ON position
`the TIMER/CHANNEL mode operation is disabled
`and JOG/SHUTTLE mode operation is enabled allow-
`ing adjustment of the reproduction speed by operation
`of the rotary dial assembly 200.
`As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the rotary dial assembly
`200 is rotatably mounted on a base 201 which is formed
`integrally on the sub-panel 120. The base 201 defines a 65
`rest 121 for receiving a dial disc 210 and other equip-
`ment forrning part of the rotary dial 200 and the shuttle
`ring 220. The base 201 is circular in plan view and has
`
`8
`a central bearing boss 202 which rotatably receives a
`rotary shaft 211 formed on the dial disc 210. The rotary
`shaft 211 is fixed to the dial disc 210 for rotation there-
`with and extends through a central opening 221a
`formed through a rotary disc 221. The rotary disc 22] is
`rotatable about the rotary shaft 211 and has a generally
`heart—shaped cam hole 222. The cam hole 222 cooper-
`ates with an actuation pin 23] extending from a slide
`lever 230. The slide lever 230 has an elongated hole
`230a thorugh which the rotary shaft 211 passes. The
`elongated hole 230a extends along the longitudinal axis
`of the slide lever 230 and has a transverse width greater
`than the diameter of the bearing boss 202 so as to allow
`sliding movement across the base 201.
`The base 201 has three holes 204, 205 and 206 for
`receiving optical sensors 21, 22 and 23 respectively. The
`optical sensors 21, 22 and 23 monitor angular displace-
`ment of the rotary dial 200 and the shuttle ring, the
`operation of which will be described later.
`The slide lever 230 has a section 230b that slidably
`engages with a pair of guides 203 formed on the base
`201. The guide 203 on the base 201 serves as a retainer
`for the slide lever 230 and guides movement of the slide
`lever along its longitudinal axis. The slide lever 230 is
`biased in a direction F,, by means of a bias spring 232.
`The biasing force Fa exerted by the slide lever 230 urges
`the pin 231 into the section 2220 of the cam hole 222.
`The rotary disc 221 has a pair of vertical tabs 22lb
`extending vertically from its periphery. The shuttle ring
`220 has spaced pairs of extensions 220a engaging the
`strips 221b for rotation with the rotary disc 221.
`The slide lever 230 cooperates with the shuttle ring
`220 in such a manner that when the shuttle ring 220 is
`rotated through the angle +01 as shown in FIG. 8, the
`pin 231 is positioned in the cam hole 222. At this posi-
`tion, component F’ of the rotational torque applied to
`the shuttle ring 220 balances the spring force F0 of the
`bias spring 232. Upon releasing rotational torque ap-
`plied to the shuttle ring, the pin 231 is returned to sec-
`tion 222a of the cam hole 222 by the spring force of the
`bias spring 232. Accordingly, the rotary disc 221 is
`rotated through the corresponding angle +01 and re-
`turned to the predetermined initial angular position in
`response to release of the rotational torque on the shut-
`tle ring.
`_
`The rotary disc 221 is formed with through openings
`' 224 and 225 which are located so as to be aligned with
`the holes 204 and 205 of the base 201 when the rotary
`disc is in the initial angular position.
`The dial disc 210 has an atmular extension 212 extend-
`ing from its periphery toward the base. The inner pe-
`riphery 212a of the annular extension 212 is polygonal,
`e.g. a dodecagon. The inner periphery 212a acts as a
`cam surface along which a cam roller 233 mounted on
`the pin 231 tracks. The cam roller 233 is resiliently
`biased toward the cam surface 212a by the spring force
`of the bias spring 232. This resilient contact between the
`cam roller 233 and the cam surface 212:: serves to pro-
`vide a detentive action for rotation of the dial disc 210.
`The dial disc 210 also has a surface opposing the
`optical sensors 21, 22 and 23, to which an annular reflec-
`tor sheet or plate 213 adheres. The surface of the reflec-
`tor plate 213 opposing the optical sensors 21, 22 and 23
`consists of a plurality of reflecting segments, 213a and a
`plurality of non-reflecting segments 213b, as shown in
`FIG. 10. The reflecting segments 213a and the non-
`reflecting segments 213b alternate along the periphery
`of the reflector plate 213. In the preferred embodiment,
`
`Unified Patents Exhibit 1009, p. 18
`
`

`
`4,866,542
`
`9
`the