United States Patent [191
`Shimada et al.
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`4,866,542
`Sep. 12, 1989
`
`[75]
`
`[54] REMOTE-CONTROLLING COMMANDER
`WITH MULTI-FUNCfiON ROTARY DIAL
`Inventors: Keiichiro Shimada, Kanagawa;
`Tatsuya Wakahara, Tokyo; Noboru
`Slu"buya, Kanagawa, all of Japan
`[73] Assignee: Sony Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
`[21] Appl. No.: 942,978
`Dec. 17, 1986
`[22] Filed:'
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`Dec. 27, 1985 [JP]
`Japan ................................ 60-295292
`Int. Cl.4 ............................................. H04N 5/783
`[51]
`[52] u.s. Cl ................................... 360/10.3; 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 ............................. 360/33
`4,270,117 5/1981 Ziege1bein et al .................. 340/168
`4,325,081 4/1981 Abe et al ............................. 358/127
`4,352,010 9/1982 Koogler ................................ 235/92
`4,404,531 9/1983 Genrich ................................ 331/64
`4,428,005 1/1984 Kubo .................................. 360/10.3
`4,527,204 7/1985 Kozakai et al. .................... 360/33.1
`4,538,188 8/1985 Barker et al ....................... 360/14.3
`4,539,603 9/1985 Tak!uchi et al ....... , ........... 360/10.1
`
`[56]
`
`4,539,711 9/1985 Harger ................................ 455/166
`4,712,105 12/1987 Kohler ............................. 358/194.1
`4,718,112 1/1988 Shinoda ............................ 358/194.1
`4,786,982 11/1988 Wakahara et al .................. 360/10.3
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`0002434 9/1978 European Pat. Off ..
`0188162 7/1986 European Pat. Off ..
`2491707 9/1982 France .
`W081/0371~ 12/1981 PCT lnt'l Appl. .
`2006559 5/1979 United Kingdom .
`Primary Examiner-Alan Faber
`Assistant Examiner-W. R. Young
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ronald 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(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`pending upon the angular position and/or angular dis(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`sented by the received signal. The received signal from
`the remote-controlling commander may be used to per(cid:173)
`form functions associated with a VTR, such as timing of
`video recording, picture searching, channel timing, and
`the like.
`
`22 Claims, 13 Drawing Sheets
`
`/0
`
`Dish, Exh. 1016, p. 1
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 12, 1989
`
`Sheet 1 of13
`
`4,866,542
`
`Dish, Exh. 1016, p. 2
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.12,1989
`
`Sheet 2 of13
`
`4,866,542
`
`FIG.2
`
`/00
`
`120
`
`112g
`
`112h
`
`FIG.S
`112a
`
`112e
`
`112t
`Li!Eill
`
`NEXT WEEK AFTER NEXT
`THIS WEEK
`SU MO TU WE TH FR ST
`
`nn CJ CJ
`/It/ uu u u
`C@!O
`su MO TU WE TH FR ST
`OCt CJCJ
`uu uu 0 0
`112b
`
`0
`
`fJ
`
`il ,-;
`
`ll2d
`
`112i
`
`112
`
`112k
`
`Dish, Exh. 1016, p. 3
`
`

`
`FIG.4
`
`FIG.3
`
`lOa
`
`1/0
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`
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`~
`0\
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`
`Dish, Exh. 1016, p. 4
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 12, 1989
`
`Sheet 4 of13
`
`4,866,542
`
`FIG.6
`
`200
`
`~
`
`225
`
`204
`
`I
`
`23_A
`
`I
`(j----21
`:
`(j--22
`
`Dish, Exh. 1016, p. 5
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 12, 1989
`
`Sheet 5 of13
`
`4,866,542
`
`FIG.7
`
`22l
`
`211 2/0 233
`
`201 22 202 222 231 230
`
`FIG.B
`
`FIG.9
`
`2/2a
`
`2/0
`
`\
`230
`
`Dish, Exh. 1016, p. 6
`
`

`
`FIG.lO
`
`FIG.ll
`
`213"
`
`2/3a
`
`26a
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`~ .......
`~ foo+.
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`CF.J
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`~ .
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`~
`N
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`~
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`~
`
`FIG.lS
`
`21 OUTPUT ____fL__jL_
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`22 OUTPUT __fHl__fHL_
`
`FIG.l6
`21 OUTPUT~
`22 OUTPUT ~
`0'\
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`
`FIG.17
`
`21 OUTPUT
`
`.a;..
`Oo
`~ ....
`~
`
`Dish, Exh. 1016, p. 7
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 12, 1989
`
`Sheet 7 of13
`
`4,866,542
`
`FIG.12
`
`2/A
`
`21..-
`
`22_..
`
`23--
`
`'24A
`
`I
`I
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`!
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`HI
`240
`L_ ____ _
`
`Dish, Exh. 1016, p. 8
`
`

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`8
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`Cia: zw
`-1-
`0::::l oa..
`o:E zo wo
`_jO
`-<(a:
`-0 o(cid:173):=
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`o 0 o
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`w ~
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`5
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`DRIVE
`CONTROL
`CKT.
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`VTR DECK
`
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`1 9
`........
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`210
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`FIG.l3
`
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`
`RECEIVER
`
`-
`
`1'
`
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`
`Dish, Exh. 1016, p. 9
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent · Sep. 12, 1989
`
`Sheet 9 of13
`
`4,866,542
`
`FIG.14
`
`/002
`
`/004
`
`1008
`
`/012
`
`YES
`
`RESET
`
`CLOCK
`SET
`MODE
`
`TIMER
`SET
`MODE
`
`SHUTTLE
`MODE
`
`JOG
`MODE
`
`1026 r-C-HA....JN'--N-E-,L
`SET
`MODE
`
`Dish, Exh. 1016, p. 10
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.12,1989
`
`Sheet 10 of 13
`
`4,866,542
`
`FIG.lB
`
`/12a
`
`n
`u
`
`112i
`
`n
`u
`
`su
`
`:J =I u
`L -'
`
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`
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`I
`
`,-,,-,
`uu
`
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`112
`FIG.l9
`112c
`
`112e
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`:3THIS WEEK~
`su
`I EVERY WEEKI
`I
`I
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`C@O!D
`
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`
`/12a
`
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`I I_ I
`
`/12g
`
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`I I 112g
`
`112b
`112
`FIG.20
`23 OUTPUT--+-~ ----~-_.:------
`I
`
`21 OUTPUT
`
`22 OUTPUT
`
`I -fJO
`
`I +0• +e' +0• +eo
`
`NEUTRAL
`ANGLE
`
`Dish, Exh. 1016, p. 11
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 12, 1989
`
`Sheet 11 of 13
`
`4,866,542
`
`FIG.21
`
`FIG.22
`
`--~n~----~n~----~n~----~n~----
`
`Dish, Exh. 1016, p. 12
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Sep.12,1989
`
`Sheet 12 of 13
`
`4,866,542
`
`FIG.23
`
`1102
`
`NO
`
`YES
`
`//04
`
`/108
`
`SHUTTLE
`MODE
`
`JOG
`MODE
`
`Dish, Exh. 1016, p. 13
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.12,1989
`
`Sheet 13 of 13
`
`4,866,542
`
`FIG.24
`
`YES
`
`NO
`
`Dish, Exh. 1016, p. 14
`
`

`
`1
`
`4,866,542
`
`REMOTE-CONTROLLING COMMANDER WITH
`MULTI-FUNCTION 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) 10
`and so forth. More specifically, the invention relates to
`a remote-controllmg commander which can perform
`various control functions for the apparatus with a sim(cid:173)
`plified control key arrangement.
`2. Description of the Background Art
`In recent years, various electrical or electronic appa(cid:173)
`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 functions, but also timer 20
`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- 25
`trolling commanders for remote controlling the appara(cid:173)
`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 functions that can be performed by the 30
`apparatus. Therefore, the arrangement of an operation(cid:173)
`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 35
`been proposed in the European Patent First Publication
`01 88 162 a VTR with a multi-function rotary dial de(cid:173)
`vice. The multi-function rotary dial device performs a
`timer setting operation, a channel selecting operation, a
`reproduction speed control operation, and so forth. 40
`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
`! speed, at double speed, and so forth.
`The purpose of the invention is to simplify the opera(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`form remote-control operations.
`Another object of the invention is to provide a re(cid:173)
`mote controlling commander that is capable of re(cid:173)
`motely controlling an apparatus to be controlled, such
`as a VTR, by means of a multi-function rotary dial.
`In order to accomplish the aforementioned and other 60
`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 65
`dial, in which the angular position and/or angular dis(cid:173)
`placement of the rotary dial represents which operation
`of the apparatus is to be controlled and an encoder for
`
`50
`
`2
`producing an encoded signal which is variable depend(cid:173)
`ing upon the angular position and/or angular displace(cid:173)
`ment of the rotary dial. The encoded signal is transmit(cid:173)
`ted through a transmitter to a receiver provided in the
`5 apparatus to be controlled. The received signal is de(cid:173)
`coded in the apparatus to trigger the function repre(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`cessing circuit processes the detector signal from the
`detector to produce a direction indicative signal indica(cid:173)
`tive of the direction toward which angular displace(cid:173)
`IS 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(cid:173)
`tus for controlling operation of the apparatus and select(cid:173)
`ing operation modes for accomplishing different func(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`ing a remote control signal carrying the control com-
`mand, the remote control commander including a ro(cid:173)
`tary dial assembly operable for generating the control
`command for operating the first and second means se(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`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
`55 rotatable at a desired speed in opposing first and second
`directions, a first sensing means for monitoring magni(cid:173)
`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 timer-activated record(cid:173)
`ing start timing and end timing, and a controller respon(cid:173)
`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.
`
`45
`
`Dish, Exh. 1016, p. 15
`
`

`
`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
`5 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-
`10 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(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`tive signal for changing the value represented by each
`television channel at a given rate on a display of the
`video tape recorder system, the given rate being se(cid:173)
`lected on the basis of the values of the direction indica-
`tive signal and the rotating angle indicative signal.
`
`3
`The system further comprises a second sensing means
`for monitoring the rotation speed of the dial and pro(cid:173)
`ducing a rotation speed indicative signal, and the con(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`gering a picture search mode and producing a com(cid:173)
`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 15
`recorder at a pause mode for temporarily stopping play(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`gular position of the ring and producing a shuttle mode
`selector signal when angular displacement of the.ring is
`detected, and the controller is responsive to the shuttle 25
`mode selector signal in the presence of a command for
`selectively performing forward and reverse playback at
`a variable play)>ack 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(cid:173)
`tive signal and the rotation angle indicative signal. The
`controller is also responsive to rotation of the dial in the
`presence of the comniand for performing forward and 35
`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 40
`indicated on the display, further comprising means for
`triggering a channel set mode for the video tape re(cid:173)
`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- 45
`cording to angular displacement of the dial. The system
`further comprises a second sensing means for monitor(cid:173)
`ing the rotation speed of the dial and producing a rota(cid:173)
`tion speed indicative signal, and the controller is respon(cid:173)
`sive to the rotation speed indicative signal to adjust the 50
`given rate in accordance therewith.
`In the alternative embodiment, the controller adjusts
`the rate of change of the television channel in the chan(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`nitude and speed of angular displacement thereof. The
`dial is further associated with a click mechanism provid- 60
`ing a detent action at every given angle of angular dis(cid:173)
`placement, which given angle corresponds to one frame
`of a video sigrial.
`According to another aspect of the invention, a
`. remote-controlling commander for a video tape re- 65
`corder system capable of recording and reproducing
`video signals, performing picture search, and including
`a television tuner for varying a television channel, com-
`
`55
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The present invention will be understood more fully
`from the detailed description given herebelow and from
`the accompanying c!.rawings of the preferred embodi(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`tary dial assembly;
`FIG. 8 is a diagram of the interaction between a shut(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`ingly;
`FIG. 11 is a plan view of another reflector plate
`which is composed of a plurality of reflecting segments
`and a plurality of non-reflecting segments arranged
`alternatingly;
`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;
`
`Dish, Exh. 1016, 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
`be
`transmitted
`from
`the
`remote-controlling
`commander;
`FIG. 22 is a chart showing the relationship between
`the angular position of the rotary dial and the encoded 20
`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-
`trollirig 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, channel selection and variable speed repro(cid:173)
`duction.
`
`25
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`Referring now to the drawings, particularly to FIGS.
`1 to 5, the preferred embodiment of a remote-controll(cid:173)
`ing commander 20 is provided with a rotary dial200 for 35
`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 40
`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(cid:173)
`tronic equipment, such as a television set, a character
`information system accessible through telephone line, 45
`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(cid:173)
`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(cid:173)
`mat.
`The VTR 10 has a front panel 110 with an opening
`111 through which a VTR tape cassette may be in- 55
`serted, this opening will be hereafter referred to as 'cas(cid:173)
`sette insert'. The cassette insert 111 establishes commu(cid:173)
`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- 60
`ton lOG is provided. The eject button lOG 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 lOA,
`mode selector buttons, e.g. a rewinding button lOs, a 65
`playback button tOe, a fast-forward button 10n, a stop
`button 10E and a pause button 10F are provided. Such
`mode selector buttons are associated with a VTR sys-
`
`4,866,542
`
`6
`tern housed in the deck 110 in a per se well-known
`manner. A display lU on the front panel110 lies side(cid:173)
`by-side with the cassette insert 111. The display 112
`serves as a clock for displaying the time, and as a real(cid:173)
`time counter for displaying recording time and/or play(cid:173)
`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
`15 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
`UO 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(cid:173)
`ual scanning and playback speed selection in the shown
`embodiment. Also, the rotary dial assembly may serve
`30 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 panel110 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 panel110 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-panel120. The timer set operation
`buttons consist of a clock set button lOa, a timer set
`mode selector button lOb, a timer recording ON/OFF
`button tOe, a next item selector button lOd, a clear
`button tOe and a item-back button lOf. 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(cid:173)
`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-
`
`Dish, Exh. 1016, p. 17
`
`

`
`4,866,542
`
`8
`7
`a central bearing boss 202 which rotatably receives a
`mal, et cetera. Detailed construction of the rotary dial
`rotary shaft 211 formed on the dial disc 210. The rotary
`assembly and operation thereof will be described later.
`shaft 211 is fixed to the dial disc 210 for rotation there-
`The VTR deck as set forth above is also coupled with
`the remote-controlling commander 20. the remote-con-
`with and extends through a central opening 221a
`trolling commander 20 is generally of a compact size S formed through a rotary disc 221. The rotary disc 221 is
`suitable for hand carrying. The commander 20 gener-
`rotatable about the rotary shaft 211 and has a generally
`ally transmits a control command toward a control
`heart-shaped cam hole 222. The cam hole 222 cooper-
`command receiver 16 provided on the front panel 110.
`ates with an actuation pin 231 extending from a slide
`In practice, the control command is in the form of an
`lever 230. The slide lever 230 has an elongated hole
`infrared light beam encoded with control command 10 230a thorugh which the rotary shaft 211 passes. The
`data. As shown in FIG. 1, the commander 20 is pro-
`elongated hole 230a extends along the longitudinal axis
`vided with a push button array 25 including a plurality
`of the slide lever 230 and has a transverse width greater
`of push buttons 25A, 25B ... for manually selecting the
`than the diameter of the bearing boss 202 so as to allow
`operation mode of the VTR. As set forth,
`the
`sliding movement across the base 201.
`commander 20 is also provided with a rotary dial assem- 15
`The base 201 has three holes 204, 205 and 206 for
`bly 200 of identical construction to that facilitated in the
`receiving optical sensors 21,22 and 23 respectively. The
`VTR deck 10. Similar to that facilitated in the VTR
`optical sensors 21, 22 and 23 monitor angular displace-
`deck 10, the rotary dial assembly 200 on the commander
`ment of the rotary dial 200 and the shuttle ring, the
`20 allows manual scanning, variable speed tape play-
`operation of which will be described later.
`back channel selection, and timer setting as will be 20
`The slide lever 230 has a section 230b that slidably
`engages with a pair of guides 203 formed on the base
`discussed later in greater detail. Utilizing the push but-
`ton array 25 and the rotary dial assembly 200, the VTR
`201. The guide 203 on the base 201 serves as a retainer
`for the slide lever 230 and guides movement of the slide
`may be operated in various operational modes.
`The remote-controlling commander 20 also has indi-
`lever along its longitudinal axis. The slide lever 230 is
`cators which are generally represented by the reference 25 biased in a direction Fa by means of a bias spring 232.
`The biasing force Fa exerted by the slide lever 230 urges
`numeral 28. In practice the indicators 28 comprise a
`plurality ofluminous elements 28A, 28B ... , such as lumi-
`the pin 231 into the section 222a of the cam hole 222.
`nous diodes, for indicating commander operation.
`The rotary disc 221 has a pair of vertical tabs 221b
`As set forth above, the rotary dial assembly 200 of the
`extending vertically from its periphery. The shuttle ring
`remote-controlling commander 20 serves for timer set- 30 220 has spaced pairs of extensions 220a engaging the
`ting, TV channel selection, and variable mode repro-
`strips 221b for rotation with the rotary disc 221.
`duction, similar to the functions that can be performed
`The slide lever 230 cooperates with the shuttle ring
`by the rotary dial assembly 200 in the VTR deck 10. In
`220 in such a manner that when the shuttle ring 220 is
`rotated through the angle +lh as shown in FIG. 8, the
`order to select the operation mode of the rotary dial
`assembly 200, the remote-controlling commander 20 35 pin 231 is positioned in the cam hole 222. At this posi-
`has mode selector switches. In the shown embodiment,
`tion, component F' of the rotational torque applied to
`the shuttle ring 220 balances the spring force Fo of the
`the push button 25A serves as the selector switch for the
`variable speed reproduction mode which will be re-
`bias spring 232. Upon releasing rotational torque ap-
`ferred to hereafter as a 'JOG/SHUTTLE mode'. On
`plied to the shuttle ring, the pin 231 is returned to sec-
`the other hand, the push button 25B serves as a TI- 40 tion 222a of the cam hole 222 by the spring force of the
`MER/CHANNEL mode selector switch. In practical
`bias spring 232. Accordingly, the rotary disc 221 is
`mode selection, the JOG/SHUTTLE selector switch
`rotated through the corresponding angle +Ot and re-
`25A is operable between an ON position and an OFF
`turned to the predetermined initial angular position in
`position by manual depression. At the ON position, the
`response to release of the rotational torque on the shut-
`remote-controlling commander operation mode is set at 45 tie ring.
`the JOG/SHUTTLE MODE for reproducing the VTR
`The rotary disc 221 is formed with through openings
`signal at a variable speed. On the other hand, the TI-
`