U.S. patent number RE35,343 [Application Number 08/377,663] was granted by the patent office on 1996-10-01 for remote-controlling commander with multi-function rotary dial.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sony Corporation. Invention is credited to Noboru Shibuya, Keiichiro Shimada, Tatsuya Wakahara.
United States Patent |
RE35,343 |
Shimada , et al. |
October 1, 1996 |
Remote-controlling commander with multi-function rotary dial
Abstract
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 angular displacement of the rotary dial represents which
operation of the apparatus is to be controlled and an encoder for
producing an encoded signal variable depending upon the angular
position and/or angular displacement 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 represented by the
received signal. The received signal from the remote-controlling
commander may be used to perform functions associated with a VTR,
such as timing of video recording, picture searching, channel
timing, and the like.
Inventors: |
Shimada; Keiichiro
(Kanagawa-ken, JP), Wakahara; Tatsuya (Kanagawa-ken,
JP), Shibuya; Noboru (Kanagawa-ken, JP) |
Assignee: |
Sony Corporation (Tokyo,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
27337970 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/377,663 |
Filed: |
January 23, 1995 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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754640 |
Sep 4, 1991 |
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Reissue of: |
942978 |
Dec 17, 1986 |
04866542 |
Sep 12, 1989 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Dec 27, 1985 [JP] |
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60-295292 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
386/234; 360/71;
360/73.08; 386/299 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B
15/023 (20130101); G11B 27/107 (20130101); G11B
27/34 (20130101); H04B 1/202 (20130101); H04N
5/782 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G11B
27/10 (20060101); G11B 27/34 (20060101); G11B
15/02 (20060101); H04B 1/20 (20060101); H04N
5/782 (20060101); H04N 005/783 () |
Field of
Search: |
;369/6,7
;358/335,191.1,194.1
;360/33.1,10.1,14.1,61,10.3,71,73.01,73.04,73.05,73.08
;455/181,186,185,179,603,181.1,179.1,185.1,186.1,186.2 ;361/340
;200/33R ;340/688,870.08 ;359/142 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0002434 |
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Sep 1978 |
|
EP |
|
0188162 |
|
Jul 1986 |
|
EP |
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2491707 |
|
Sep 1982 |
|
FR |
|
2822672 |
|
Nov 1979 |
|
DE |
|
2006559 |
|
May 1979 |
|
GB |
|
WO8103713 |
|
Dec 1981 |
|
WO |
|
Primary Examiner: Young; W. R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Limbach & Limbach L.L.P. Shaw,
Jr.; Philip M.
Parent Case Text
.Iadd.CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
07/754,640, filed Sep. 4, 1991, now abandoned, which is a reissue
of application Ser. No. 06/942,978, filed Dec. 17, 1986, and issued
as U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,542, on Sep. 12, 1989. .Iaddend.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for remotely controlling a video tape recorder which
performs different functions including a timer activated recording
function as a first function, and second function, comprising:
a controller provided in said video tape recorder for controlling
operation of said video tape recorder and selecting operation modes
for accomplishing different functions .[.to.]. according to a
control command;
first means, incorporated in said apparatus and associated with
said controller for performing said first function;
second means, incorporated in said apparatus and associated with
said controller for performing said second function;
a remote control commander including a push button for selecting
operation modes of said apparatus and producing a remote control
signal carrying said control command, a rotary dial assembly
operable for generating said control command for operating said
first and second means selectively for performing said first and
second functions;
a mode selector switch for selecting an operation mode of said
remote control commander at least among a first position, at which
said control command generated by said remote control commander
operates said first means for performing said first function, and a
second position, at which said control command generated by said
remote control .[.command.]. .Iadd.commander .Iaddend.operates said
second means for performing said second function; said rotary dial
assembly comprising:
a dial manually rotatable at a desired speed in opposing first and
second directions;
a first sensing means for monitoring a magnitude .Iadd.and a
direction .Iaddend.of angular displacement of said dial and
producing a rotation angle indicative signal .Iadd.and a direction
indicative signal.Iaddend.;
a timer set mode switch manually operable to produce a timer set
mode selector signal ordering said video tape recorder system to
operate in a timer set mode;
a display for displaying at least symbols representing a
timer-activated recording start timing and end timing; and
a controller responsive to said timer set mode selector signal for
changing the value represented by each of said symbols at a given
rate on said display, said given rate being selected on the basis
of the values of said direction indicative signal and said
.[.rotating.]. .Iadd.rotation .Iaddend.angle indicative signal.
2. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said remote control
commander includes third means for monitoring angular displacement
of a rotary dial in said rotary dial assembly .[.anmd.]. .Iadd.and
.Iaddend.producing a command signal representative of .Iadd.the
.Iaddend.angular position of said rotary dial, and fourth means
.[.for.]. responsive to said command signal from said third means,
for encoding a remote control signal to be transmitted therefrom
for transmitting said remote control signal carrying said control
command.
3. The system as set forth in claim 1, which further comprises a
second sensing means for monitoring the rotation speed of said dial
and producing a rotation speed indicative signal, and said
controller is responsive to said rotation speed indicative signal
to adjust said given rate based thereon.
4. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said video tape
recorder further operates in a picture search mode as said second
function, and said remote control commander further comprises means
for triggering a picture search mode and producing a command for
entry into the picture search mode, and said controller is
responsive to said command to perform forward and reverse playback
selectively and at a given speed according to rotation of said
rotary dial.
5. The system as set forth in claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.4.Iaddend., in
which said remote control commander includes a pause switch for
operating said video tape recorder at a pause mode for temporarily
stopping playback so as to freeze an image on a television monitor,
said pause switch serving as said picture search triggering
means.
6. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rotary dial
assembly further comprises a ring rotatable independently of said
dial and a .[.fourth.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.sensing means
.Iadd.for .Iaddend.monitoring the angular position of said ring and
producing a shuttle mode selector signal when angular displacement
of said ring is detected, and said controller is responsive to said
shuttle mode selector signal in the presence of said 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 said ring.
7. The system as set forth in claim 6, wherein said first and
second sensing means also cooperate with said ring for monitoring
angular displacement of the latter and producing said
.[.rotating.]. direction indicative signal and said rotation angle
indicative signal.
8. The system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said controller is
also responsive to rotation of said dial in the presence of said
command for performing forward and reverse playback selectively at
a given speed according to rotation of said dial.
9. The system as set forth in claim 1, in which said video tape
recorder system also has a television tuner for selecting a
television channel and in which the selected television channel is
indicated on said display, further comprising means for triggering
a channel set mode for the video tape recorder system for selecting
a television channel, and said controller is responsive to rotation
of said dial in said channel set mode to adjust the channel
selection according to angular displacement of said dial.
10. The system as set forth in claim 9, which further comprises a
second sensing means for monitoring the rotation speed of said dial
and producing a rotation speed indicative signal, and said
controller is responsive to said rotation speed indicative signal
to adjust said given rate in accordance therewith.
11. The system as set forth in claim 9, wherein said controller
adjusts .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.rate of change of said
television channel in said channel set mode depending upon said
rotation speed indicative signal value.
12. The .[.rotary dial assembly.]. .Iadd.system .Iaddend.as set
forth in claim .[.11.]. .Iadd.6.Iaddend., wherein said dial and
said ring are associated with a common rotary plate with which said
first .[., second.]. and second sensing means are associated for
monitoring the direction, magnitude and speed of angular
displacement thereof.
13. The system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said dial is
further associated with a click mechanism providing a detent action
at every given angle of angular displacement, which given angle
corresponds to one frame of a video signal.
14. A remote-controlling commander for a video tape recorder system
capable of recording and reproducing video signals, performing
picture search, and including a television tuner for varying a
television channel, comprising:
a rotary dial assembly including
a rotary dial manually rotatable at a desired speed in opposing
first and second directions;
a first sensing means for monitoring a magnitude .Iadd.and a
direction .Iaddend.of angular displacement of said dial and
producing a rotation angle indicative signal .Iadd.and a direction
indicative signal.Iaddend.;
a channel set mode switch manually operable to produce a first mode
selector signal ordering said video tape recorder system to operate
in a television channel set mode; and
an encoder responsive to said first mode selector signal and said
rotation angle indicative signal for generating a remote control
signal to be transmitted to said video tape recorder for changing a
television channel set according to an angular position of said
rotary dial.
15. The remote-controlling .[.command.]. .Iadd.commander
.Iaddend.as set forth in claim 14, wherein said video tape recorder
system includes a controller responsive to said remote control
signal encoded by said first mode selector signal and said rotation
angle indicative signal for changing the value represented by each
of said television channel at a given rate on a display of said
video tape recorder system, said given rate being selected on the
basis of the values of said direction indicative signal and said
.[.rotating.]. .Iadd.rotation .Iaddend.angle indicative signal.
16. The remote-controlling commander as set forth in claim 15,
which further comprises a second sensing means for monitoring the
rotation speed of said dial and producing a rotation speed
indicative signal, and said controller is responsive to said
rotation speed indicative signal to adjust said given rate based
thereon.
17. The remote-controlling commander as set forth in claim 16,
which further comprises means for triggering a picture search mode
and producing a command for entry into the picture search mode, and
said controller is responsive to said command to perform forward
and reverse playback selectively and at a given speed according to
rotation of said dial.
18. The remote-controlling commander as set forth in claim 17,
which said video tape recorder system includes a pause switch for
temporarily stopping playback so as to freeze an image on a
television monitor, said pause switch serving as said picture
search triggering means.
19. The remote-controlling commander as set forth in claim 18,
wherein .Iadd.said rotary dial assembly further comprises a ring
rotatable independently of said dial and .Iaddend.said first and
.[.first.]. .Iadd.second .Iaddend.sensing means also cooperate with
said ring for monitoring angular displacement of the latter and
producing said .[.rotating.]. direction indicative signal and said
rotation angle indicative signal.
20. The remote-controlling commander as set forth in claim 19,
wherein said controller is also responsive to rotation of said dial
in the presence of said command for performing forward and reverse
playback selectively at a given speed according to rotation of said
dial.
21. The remote-controlling commander as set forth in claim 19,
wherein said dial and said ring are associated with a common rotary
plate with which said first .[., second.]. and second sensing means
are associated for monitoring the direction, magnitude and speed of
angular displacement thereof.
22. The remote-controlling commander as set forth in claim 21,
wherein said dial is further associated with a click mechanism
providing a detent action at every given angle of angular
displacement, which given angle corresponds to one frame of a video
signal.
Description
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 simplified control key
arrangement.
2. Description of the Background Art
In recent years, various electrical or electronic apparatus, such
as a VTR and so forth, need to facilitate .[.and.]. .Iadd.an
.Iaddend.increasing number of functions to be performed. For
example, a modern VTR may facilitate not only video recording and
reproducing functions, 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-controlling
commanders for remote controlling the apparatus, such as 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
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 device. 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 1/2 speed, at double speed, and so forth.
The purpose of the invention is to simplify the operation 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 perform remote-control operations.
Another object of the invention is to provide a remote controlling
commander that is capable of remotely 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 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 .Iadd.the .Iaddend.angular
position of the rotary dial, in which the angular position and/or
angular displacement of the rotary dial represents which operation
of the apparatus is to be controlled and an encoder for producing
an encoded signal which is variable depending upon the angular
position and/or angular displacement 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 represented 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 processing circuit processes the
detector signal from the detector to produce a direction indicative
signal indicative of the direction toward which angular
displacement 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 apparatus for controlling operation of
the apparatus and selecting operation modes for accomplishing
different functions .[.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.]. .Iadd.apparatus .Iaddend.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 producing a remote control
signal carrying the control command, the remote control commander
including a rotary dial assembly operable for generating the
control command for operating the first and second means
selectively 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 position, 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
angular displacement of a rotary dial in the rotary dial assembly
.[.anmd.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.producing a command signal
representative of .Iadd.the .Iaddend.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 .Iadd.the .Iaddend.magnitude 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
recording start timing and end timing, and a controller responsive
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.
The system further comprises a second sensing means for monitoring
the rotation speed of the dial and producing a rotation speed
indicative signal, and the controller 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 triggering a picture search mode and producing
a command 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 playback 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 assembly further
comprises a ring rotatable independently of the dial and a fourth
sensing means monitoring the angular 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 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 cooperate with the ring for monitoring angular
displacement of the latter and producing the rotating direction
indicative 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 recorder 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 according to angular
displacement of the dial. The system further comprises a second
sensing means for monitoring the rotation speed of the dial and
producing a rotation speed indicative signal, and the controller is
responsive 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 channel set mode depending
upon the rotation speed indicative signal value.
The dial and the ring are associated with a common rotary plate
with which the first and second sensing means are associated for
monitoring the direction, magnitude and speed of angular
displacement thereof. The dial is further associated with a click
mechanism providing a detent action at every given angle of angular
displacement, 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 recorder system capable of recording and
reproducing video signals, performing picture search, and including
a television tuner for varying a television channel, comprises 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 selector 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 channel 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 indicative 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 selected on
the basis of the values of the direction indicative 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 embodiment 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 rotary dial
assembly;
FIG. 8 is a diagram of the interaction between a shuttle 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 alternatively;
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 alternatively;
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;
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 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 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 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 controlling 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 reproduction.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, particularly to FIGS. 1 to 5, the
preferred embodiment of a remote-controlling 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.Iadd., .Iaddend.the commander can control
various electrical or electronic 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 cooperates with a VTR deck which has a
rotary dial of identical construction to that facilitated in the
commander, it would be applicable for any type of VTR deck having a
compatible control command format.
The VTR 10 has a front panel 110 with an opening 111 through which
a VTR tape cassette may be inserted, this opening will be hereafter
referred to as `cassette insert`. The cassette insert 111
establishes communication 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 button 10.sub.G is
provided. The eject button 10.sub.G 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.sub.A, mode
selector buttons, e.g. a rewinding button 10.sub.B, a playback
button 10.sub.C, a fast-forward button 10.sub.D, a stop button
10.sub.E and a pause button 10.sub.F are provided. Such mode
selector buttons are associated with a VTR system 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 time-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.]. .Iadd.200
.Iaddend.is designed to allow timer setting, manual 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 position, 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 10e 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 horizontal positions of the
sub-panel 120. The rotary dial assembly .[.20.]. .Iadd.200
.Iaddend.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 adjusted by means of the
shuttle ring 220, and is variable in 5 graduating increments of
one-fifth, one half, normal, 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-controlling commander
20 is generally of a compact size suitable for hand carrying. The
commander 20 generally 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 provided 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 assembly 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 playback channel
selection, and timer setting as will be discussed later in greater
detail. Utilizing the push button array 25 and the rotary dial
assembly 200, the VTR may be operated in various operational
modes.
The remote-controlling commander 20 also has indicators which are
generally represented by the reference numeral 28. In practice the
indicators 28 comprise a plurality of luminous elements 28A, 28B .
. . , such as luminous diodes, for indicating commander
operation.
As set forth above, the rotary dial assembly 200 of the
remote-controlling commander 20 serves for timer setting, TV
channel selection, and variable mode reproduction, 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 referred to hereafter as a
`JOG/SHUTTLE mode`. On the other hand, the push button 28B serves
as a TIMER/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. A 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 TIMER/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 TIMER/CHANNEL selector switch 25B is normally set at the
CHANNEL mode position for allowing TV channel 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
allowing 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 rest 121 for receiving a dial
disc 210 and other equipment forming part of the rotary dial 200
and the shuttle ring 220. The base 201 is circular in plan view and
has 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 therewith and extends
through a central opening 221a formed through a rotary disc 221.
The rotary disc 221 is rotatable about the rotary shaft 211 and has
a generally heart-shaped cam hole 222. The cam hole 222 cooperates
with an actuation pin 231 extending from a slide lever 230. The
slide lever 230 has an elongated hole 230a through 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 in 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 displacement 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.sub.o by means of a bias
spring 232. The biasing force F.sub.o exerted by the slide lever
230 urges the pin 231 into the section 222a of the cam hole
222.
The rotary disc 221 has a pair of vertical tabs 221b 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
+.theta..sub.1 as shown in FIG. 8, the pin 231 is positioned in the
cam hole 222. At this position, component F' of the rotational
torque applied to the shuttle ring 220 balances the spring force
F.sub.o of the bias spring 232. Upon releasing rotational torque
applied to the shuttle ring, the pin 231 is returned to section
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 +.theta..sub.1 and returned to the
predetermined initial angular position in response to release of
the rotational torque on the shuttle 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 annular extension 212 extending from its
periphery toward the base. The inner periphery 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 212a serves to provide 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 reflector sheet or plate 213
adheres. The surface of the reflector 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, the reflecting
and non-reflecting segments 213a and 213b are of identical shape
and each covers 1/24of the circumference of the reflector plate
213.
Similarly, the rotary disc 221 has a surface opposing the optical
sensors 21, 22 and 23 to which an annular reflector sheet or plate
226 adheres. The surface of the reflector plate 226 opposing the
optical sensors 21, 22 and 23 consists of a plurality of reflecting
segments 226a and a plurality of non-reflecting segments 226b, as
shown in FIG. 11. The reflecting segments 226a and the
non-reflecting segments 226b alternate along the periphery of the
reflector plate 226.
Each of the optical sensors 21, 22 and 23 comprises a
photo-interrupt having a light-emitting diode and a
photo-transistor. The optical sensors 21 and 22 monitor angular
variation of the dial disc 210 and produce first and second sensors
signals which have signal phases offset from one another by
90.degree.. The optical sensor 23 monitors angular variation of the
rotary disc 231 and thus monitors angular variation of the shuttle
ring 220.
As shown in FIG. 12, the photosensors 21, 22 and 23 comprise
luminous diodes 21A, 22A, 23A and photo-transistors 21B, 22B and
23B. The luminous diode 21A and the photo-transistor 21B forming
the photosensor 21 are respectively grounded through transistors
21a and 21b. The emitter electrode of the photo-transistor 21B is
connected to one input terminal of an input comparator 24A of the
dial encoder 24. Similarly, the luminous diode 22A and the
photo-transistor 22B forming the photosensor 22 are respectively
connected to ground through transistors 22a and 22b. The emitter
electrode of the photo-transistor 22B is connected to one input
terminal of an input comparator 24B of the dial encoder 24. Further
similarly, the luminous diode 23A and the photo-transistor 23B
forming the photosensor 23 are respectively connected to ground
through transistors 23a and 23b. The emitter electrode of the
photo-transistor 23B is connected to one input terminal of an input
comparator 24C of the dial encoder 24.
On the other hand, base electrodes of the transistors 21a, 21b,
22a, 22b, 23a and 23b are connected to the open-drain output port
24D of the dial-encoding microcomputer 24 and, in turn, connected
to a power source terminal (not shown). Preferably, dividing
resistors should be inserted between the power source terminal and
the base electrode of the transistors 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b, 23a and
23b.
As shown in FIG. 13, the optical sensors 21, 22 and 23 of the
rotary dial assembly 200 in the VTR deck 10 are connected to a
dial-encoding microprocessor 8. The dial-encoding microprocessor 8
is associated with a controlling microprocessor 7. The controlling
microprocessor 7 is connected to a display drive circuit 5, a tuner
circuit 6, a signal processing circuit 4 and a motor servo circuit
3 which is, in turn, connected to a reel motor 1 and a capstan
motor 2. The controlling microprocessor 7 is also connected to the
manual operation switches 10, including the power switch 10.sub.A,
the mode selector 10.sub.B, the playback button switch 10.sub.C,
the fast-forward button switch 10.sub.D, the stop button switch
10.sub.E, the pause button switch 10.sub.F, the clock set button
switch 10.sub.a, the timer set mode selector 10.sub.b, the timer
recording ON/OFF button switch 10.sub.c, the next item selector
10.sub.d, the clear button switch 10.sub.e and the item-back button
switch 10.sub.f.
It should be appreciated that, although the shown embodiment
employs a dial-encoding to apply the outputs from the optical
sensors 21, 22 and 23 to the controlling controller, it would be
possible to employ a waveform-shaping circuit or circuits for
producing rectangular wave pulses based on the optical sensor
outputs as a replacement for the dial-encoding microprocessor.
The controlling microprocessor 7 controls the signal processing
circuit 4 which processes video signals and audio signals in a per
se well-known manner in accordance with the desired recording and
reproducing mode selected by means of the manual operation switches
10'. The controlling microprocessor 7 also controls the tuner
circuit 6 which selects a TV channel in a per se well-known manner
for recording of the desired TV program or for sending video and
audio signals to a TV monitor for direct reproduction. The motor
servo circuit 3 is controlled by the controlling microprocessor 7
to drive the reel motor 1, the capstan motor 2 and so forth.
Although it is not clearly illustrated in the drawings, the motor
servo control circuit 3 may also control a servo system for a VTR
cassette loading system, an ejection system, and a rotary head
drive.
The display drive control circuit 5 is also connected to the
controlling microprocessor 7 for controlling the display 112. As
shown in detail in FIG. 5, the display 112 includes a column 112a
serving as the real-time counter, a column 112b serving as the
clock counter, columns 112c and 112d for calendar displays, a
column 112e for designation of the week or weeks in which to
perform timer-activated recording, which may display `THIS WEEK`,
`NEXT WEEK`, `AFTER NEXT` in the case of a VTR recorder which
allows timer-activated recording over a three-week period, a column
112f for indicating designation of timer-activated recording `EVERY
WEEK` at a set time and day of the week and at a designated TV
channel, a column 112g for indication of the selected TV channel, a
column 112h for indication of stereo reproduction, and a column
112i for indication of an index scan. The columns 112b and 112d are
associated with each other to display day of the week and clock
time during all normal operations of the VTR system except for
TIMER SET MODE. The display 112 may also include a column 112j for
indication of the recording tape type, e.g. I, II, III as indicated
by phantom lines in FIG. 5. Also, the display 112 may have a column
112k for indicating presence or absence of a VTR tape cassette as
illustrated by phantom lines in FIG. 5. In a TIMER SET MODE, the
column 112a accompanies the column 112c and serves as an indicator
for the start time of the timer-activated recording. Similarly, the
column 112b cooperates with the column 112d and serves as an
indicator for the recording end time when setting the timer.
On the other hand, the optical sensors 21, 22 and 23 of the rotary
dial assembly 200 in the remote-controlling commander 20, are
connected to a dial encoder 24 in the commander (FIG. 13). The dial
encoder 24 is also connected to push button 25A, 25B . . . in the
push .[.putton.]. .Iadd.button .Iaddend.array 25 on the commander
20. The dial encoder 24 is further connected to the indicators 28
for controlling illumination thereof for indicating an operating
condition of the commander 20. The dial encoder 24 produces an
encoded signal for commanding operation of the VTR according to
manual operation of the push button array 25 and the rotary dial
assembly 200. The encoded signal of the dial encoder 24 is fed to a
transmitter encoder 26 which is, in turn, connected to an infrared
light beam transmitter 27. The transmitter encoder 26 thus
processes the encoded signal from the dial encoder 24 to form the
control command, by which an infrared light beam emitted from the
transmitter 27 is modulated. The infrared light beam modulated with
the control command will be hereafter referred to as `command
beam`. The command beam emitted through the transmitter 27 is
received by the receiver 16 of the VTR deck. The receiver 16 feeds
the received commander beam to a remote-control encoding
microcomputer 17. The remote-control encoding microcomputer 17
demodulates the command beam to extract a control command therefrom
and feeds the control command to the system controlling
microcomputer 7. The system controlling microcomputer then becomes
active for operating the VTR deck in the operation mode commanded
by the control command received from the remote-controlling
commander 20.
As set out above, the rotary dial assembly performs three
functions, i.e. timer setting, manual scanning and adjustment of
playback speed. In addition, the rotary dial assembly allows TV
channel selection while the TV tuner in the VTR system is active.
In order to selectively perform the desired mode of operation
through the jog dial assembly 200 of the VTR deck 10, the program
shown in FIG. 14 is executed by the system controlling
microcomputer 7. As will be appreciated from FIG. 14, the shown
control program is executed cyclically at a given preselected
timing even if the main power switch of the VTR unit is OFF.
First, at step 1002, the main power switch is checked to see
whether or not it is in the ON position. If the main power switch
is OFF, the system controlling microcomputer 7 is reset at a step
1004 and then control returns to the step 1002.
On the other hand, if the main switch is ON when checked at the
step 1002, then the clock set switch 10.sub.a is checked at a step
1006. If the clock set switch 10.sub.a has been set to the ON
position, the microcomputer allows setting of the clock according
to rotational manipulation of the rotary dial assembly 200. In
other words, at a step 1008, CLOCK SET MODE is performed. On the
other hand, if the clock set switch 10.sub.a is OFF, then the timer
set switch 10.sub.b is checked at a step 1010. If the timer set
switch 10.sub.b has been set to the ON position, the microcomputer
allows the timer to be set according to rotational manipulation of
the rotary dial assembly 200. In other words, at step 1012, TIMER
SET MODE is performed. On the other hand, if the timer set switch
10.sub.b is OFF, then the playback button switch 10.sub.A and the
pause button switch 10.sub.C are checked at a step 1014. If both
the playback button switch 10.sub.A and the pause button switch
10.sub.C are ON, which means that the VTR unit is in playback-pause
position, then the output of the optical sensor 23 is checked at a
step 1016 is see whether or not the shuttle ring 220 is being
rotated. If so, the process goes to a step 1018 to perform SHUTTLE
MODE. Otherwise, the process goes to a step 1020 to perform JOG
MODE.
On the other hand, if the playback-pause position is not detected
when checked at the step 1014, then the record button switch (not
shown) is checked at step 1022. If the record button switch is ON
and thus the RECORD MODE operation of the VTR unit is detected, the
microcomputer is reset at step 1004 and control returns to the step
1002. Otherwise, the input selector switch 105 is checked at a step
1024. If the TV tuner has been selected by means of the input
selector switch 105, then CHANNEL SET MODE is performed at a step
1026. If the input selector switch 105 is in its LINE/PCM MODE
position, then control passes to the step 1004.
Hereafter, the operation of the rotary dial assembly 200 in CLOCK
SET MODE, TIMER SET MODE, SHUTTLE MODE, JOG MODE and CHANNEL SET
MODE will be described.
CLOCK SET MODE OPERATION
(Step 1008)
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 18, the clock time is displayed in the
columns 112b and 112d. When it becomes necessary to set the clock,
the power cord is first plugged into a wall outlet, whereupon a
predetermined clock time, e.g. `SU` and `AM 12:00` which means
12:00 AM Sunday, is displayed on the display 112. In order to set
the clock to the current clock time, the push button 113 is
depressed to move the rotary dial assembly 200 to its horizontal
position then the clock set switch 10.sub.a is depressed to enter
CLOCK SET MODE.
After depressing the clock set switch 10.sub.a, first, the week
indicator in the column 112d starts blinking. The dial disc
.[.20.]. .Iadd.210 .Iaddend.can then be manually rotated to select
the day of the week. In this case, when the dial disc 210 is
rotated clockwise, a weekday indicator is advanced; for example,
the SU symbol may stop blinking while the MO (Monday) symbol starts
blinking. On the other hand, when the dial disc 210 is rotated
counterclockwise, the direction of advance is reversed. After the
correct day of the week is selected, the next item selector button
10.sub.d is depressed. Then, the day indicator stops blinking and
the hour indicator in the column 112b starts to blink. The dial
disc 210 can again be rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise
to adjust the currently selected hour symbol together with an
indication of AM/PM. After the correct hour and correct AM/PM has
been selected, the next item button 10.sub.d is again depressed. As
a result, the hour indicator stops blinking and the minutes
indicator in the column 112b start blinking. The dial disc 210 can
then be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise to select the minutes
symbol which correctly indicates the current time. By depressing
the next item selector button 10.sub.d again, the CLOCK SET MODE
ends and then the set clock time is indicated on the column 112b
and 112d of the display 112.
Also as set out above, since the output phases of the optical
sensors 21 and 22 differ by 90.degree., the direction of rotation
of the dial disc 210 can be sensed by checking the signal phase of
the optical sensor 22 at the leading edge of each HIGH-level output
from the optical sensor 21. In the preferred embodiment, the
optical sensors 21 and 22 are arranged in such a manner that, when
the dial disc 210 is rotated clockwise, the signal phase of the
output of the optical sensor 22 will be HIGH at the leading edge of
a HIGH-level pulse from the optical sensor 21, as shown in FIG. 15,
and when the dial disc 210 is rotated counterclockwise, the signal
level of the output of the optical sensor 22 will be LOW at the
leading edge of HIGH-level pulses from the optical sensor 21, as
shown in FIG. 16. Therefore, the system controlling microcomputer 7
distinguishes between directions of rotation of the dial disc 210
by detecting the signal phase of the optical sensor 22 at the time
that the output of the optical sensor 21 rises. The system
controlling microcomputer 7 also derives rotation speed of the dial
disc according to the pulsewidths, e.g. t.sub.1, t.sub.2, t.sub.3,
t.sub.4, t.sub.5, t.sub.6 and t.sub.7 in FIG. 17. The system
controlling microcomputer 7 compares the derived rotation speed of
the dial disc 210 with a predetermined threshold and appropriately
adjusts the rate of change of the numbers on the display 112. For
example, in order to adjust the minutes value of the clock time,
when the dial disc 210 is rotated at a relatively low speed, the
minutes value will change by `1` with every given angle of dial
rotation, and, on the other hand, when the dial disc 210 is rotated
at a relatively high speed, the minutes value will change by more
than `1`, e.g. by `2` with every given angle of dial rotation. This
reduces the required angular change needed to reach the desired
number. This is convenient when a relatively large adjustment is
required. In addition, since the rate of change can be adjusted
automatically according to the rotation speed of the dial disc 210,
it allows fine adjustment of the number by slowing down the
rotation speed after coarse adjustment by way of high-speed
rotation of the dial disc.
TIMER SET MODE
(Step 1012)
As is well known, the TIMER SET MODE is employed to set up
timer-activated recording, i.e. to set the record start time,
record end time, day of the week, TV channel to be recorded and so
forth. To set the timer, first, the push button 113 is depressed as
in the clock setting operation, to move the rotary dial assembly
200 to its horizontal position. Thereafter, the timer set button
10.sub.b is depressed to enter the TIMER SET MODE.
It should be appreciated that, in the TIMER SET MODE operation, the
columns 112a and 112c of the display serve as a record start time
indicator, and the columns 112b and 112d serve as a record end time
indicator.
After depressing the timer set button, the system controlling
.[.microcomuter.]. .Iadd.microcomputer .Iaddend.7 enters the TIMER
SET MODE. In response to this, the column 112e indicative of the
desired week at which the timer-activated recording is ordered
starts blinking as shown in FIG. 19. Specifically, one of the
symbols `THIS WEEK`, `NEXT WEEK`, `AFTER NEXT` and `EVERY WEEK`
which will be indicating the day of the week starts blinking as in
the CLOCK SET MODE. The day of the week and the record start time
can be selected in basically the same manner as when setting the
clock as explained above.
After setting the record start time, in response to depression of
the next item selector button 10.sub.d, the hour symbol in the
column 112b starts blinking. As in the CLOCK SET MODE, the hour
symbol and minutes symbol in the column 112b may be selected to set
the record end time. Upon depressing the next item selector button
10.sub.d after setting the minute value in column 112b, a TV
channel symbol in column 112g starts blinking. By rotating the dial
disc 210, the number displayed in the column 112g is advanced or
retarded according to the direction and magnitude of rotation of
the dial disc 210. As described previously, the rate of change of
the number is adjusted depending upon the rotation speed of the
dial disc. When the number of the desired TV channel is obtained on
the column 112g, the next item selector button 10.sub.d is
depressed. Then, TIMER SET MODE ends.
In order to perform timer-activated recording, the timer recording
ON/OFF button switch 10.sub.c is depressed subsequent to selection
of the record start time, record end time and TV channel to be
recorded in TIMER SET MODE. The system controlling microcomputer 7
then enters a timer-activated recording mode. In VTR systems now on
the market, upon entry into the timer-activated recording mode, the
main power switch is automatically turned OFF and the VTR system
will not accept entry of inputs through manual switches except for
the timer recording ON/OFF switch 10.sub.c and another switch (not
shown) used to confirm the timer setting. The timer record ON/OFF
switch 10.sub.c then serves as a timer-activated recording.
SHUTTLE MODE
(Step 1018)
SHUTTLE MODE can be performed in the playback-pause position to
cause the VTR tape to be played back at one of 5 preset tape speeds
ranging from one fifth of normal speed to four times normal speed.
In the playback-pause position, the picture on the TV monitor is
frozen. By grasping and rotating the shuttle ring 220 under these
conditions, picture search or scanning can be performed at a speed
which is variable depending upon the angular offset of the shuttle
ring. Also according to the direction of rotation of the shuttle
ring 220, forward scan or reverse scan can be performed
selectively. According to the preferred embodiment, by rotating or
turning the shuttle ring 220 clockwise, forward scan can be
performed. On the other hand, by turning the shuttle ring 220
counterclockwise, reverse scan can be performed.
The shuttle ring 220 can be turned or rotated clockwise and
counterclockwise through respective given angles. According to the
angular position of the rotary disc 221 rotated according to
rotation of the shuttle ring 220, forward and reverse
variable-speed picture search can be performed as set forth above.
Also, relatively high-speed scanning (which is referred to as CUE
REV) can be performed by rotating the shuttle ring 220 to its
limit.
The dial-encoding microcomputer 8 distinguishes between JOG MODE
and SHUTTLE MODE according to the angular position of the rotary
disc 221. Outputs of the optical sensors 21, 22 and 23 are related
as shown in FIG. 20. As will be appreciated herefrom, JOG MODE is
performed within a given angular range of the neutral position of
the rotary disc 221. That is to say, while the rotary disc 221 is
within an angular range in which the output of the optical sensor
23 remains low, SHUTTLE MODE is disabled. When the shuttle ring 220
is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise out of the given angular
range, the output of the optical sensor 23 becomes HIGH. At the
same time, according to rotation of the rotary disc 221, the
optical sensors 21 and 22 output pulses having a 90.degree.
phase-shifted relation to each other. As shown in FIG. 20, the
relationships between the pulses of the optical sensors 21 and 22
determining playback speed in the presence of a HIGH-level output
from the optical sensor 23 are represented by the angular positions
.theta..sub.3, .theta..sub.2, .theta..sub.1 and .theta..sub.0 of
FIG. 20. In the shown embodiment, the relationship between playback
speed, the rotary disc's angular position, and phases of the
outputs of the optical sensors 21 and 22 are so arranged as to
conform with the following table 1:
TABLE 1 ______________________________________ Angle .theta.3
.theta.2 .theta.1 .theta.0 ______________________________________
21 Output LOW HIGH LOW HIGH 22 Output LOW LOW HIGH HIGH Playback
Sp. 1/5 1/1 2/1 CUE REV ______________________________________
JOG MODE
(Step 1020)
As set forth above, when the shuttle ring 220 is not manipulated
and thus the rotary disc .[.21.]. .Iadd.221 .Iaddend.is in the
neutral angle range as shown in FIG. 11, the JOG MODE is performed.
In JOG MODE, the playback speed of the tape is adjusted depending
upon the rotation speed of the dial disc 210. As set forth with
respect to CLOCK SET MODE, the controlling microcomputer 7
distinguishes between clockwise rotation and counterclockwise
rotation of the dial disc 210 depending on the phases of the
outputs of the optical sensors 21 and 22. Also, the system
controlling microcomputer 7 controls playback speed according to
rotation of the dial disc 210 according to the following table 2,
in which T represents the pulse period of the sensor output such as
is shown in FIG. 17:
TABLE 2 ______________________________________ T T > t1 t1 <
T < t2 t2 < T < t3 t3 < T
______________________________________ 21 Output HIGH LOW HIGH LOW
22 Output HIGH HIGH LOW LOW Playback Sp. X2 X1 SLOW FIELD
______________________________________
The reference value t.sub.1 is shorter than t.sub.2 which is
shorter than t.sub.3. When the dial disc is rotated at a speed
higher than a high-speed threshold represented by the reference
time t.sub.1, causing the pulse duration of the output of the
optical sensor 21 to be shorter than reference time t.sub.1,
playback speed will be set to twice the normal playback speed. On
the other hand, when frame advance is desired, the dial disc 210 is
rotated at a relatively low speed. As a result, the pulse duration
T of the optical sensor 21 becomes longer than the reference time
t.sub.3. Therefore, the system controlling microcomputer 7 advances
the image on the TV monitor frame-by-frame with each given angle of
dial disc rotation.
CHANNEL SET MODE
(Step 1026)
The system controlling microcomputer 7 is normally ready for
CHANNEL SET MODE unless one or more of the other operation modes
described above are ordered and is always ready when the input
selector switch 105 is set to the TV tuner position.
In CHANNEL SET MODE, the channel is selected in substantially the
same manner as discussed with respect to TIMER SET MODE. Therefore,
it is not necessary to explain the CHANNEL SET MODE operation in
detail.
FIG. 23 shows a flowchart of an editing program to be executed by
the dial-encoding microcomputer 24 in the remote-controlling
commander 20, for allowing adjustment of picture-feed speed in
reproduction for performing editing operation. In order to trigger
the editing program, the JOG/SHUTTLE mode selector switch 25A is
manually operated into an ON position. While the JOG/SHUTTLE mode
selector switch 25A is in an ON position, the editing program is
executed continuously. In the editing operation, the editing point
should be found. Therefore, in practical editing operation, the VTR
signal reproduction is performed at a higher speed or a lower speed
than a normal reproduction speed by manual operation of the
.[.shttle.]. .Iadd.shuttle .Iaddend.ring 220 to the angular
position corresponding to the desired reproduction speed. The
SHUTTLE mode reproduction is terminated when the editing point is
found. By termination of the SHUTTLE mode operation, the picture is
frozen at the field at which the SHUTTLE mode operation is
terminated. After this, the JOG mode operation is performed by
means of the dial disc 210 for feeding the picture in forward and
reverse directions for precisely setting the tape at the editing
point. In the JOG mode operation, the tape feed speed corresponds
to rotation speed of the dial disc 210 as set forth above.
Therefore, in the execution of the editing program, a check is
performed at a step 1102, .Iadd.to determine .Iaddend.whether the
shuttle ring 220 is operated. This is performed by checking outputs
of the optical sensors 21, 22 and 23 as set forth with respect to
the SHUTTLE MODE operation to be performed in response to manual
operation of the shuttle ring 220 of the rotary dial assembly 200
in the VTR deck 10. When angular displacement of the shuttle ring
220 is detected at the step 1102, then SHUTTLE mode operation is
commanded by the remote-controlling commander 20, at a step 1104.
Then the dial-encoding microprocessor 24 produces the control
command containing mode selection data component m and reproduction
speed indicative data component s. Therefore, in this case, the
output of the dial-encoding microcomputer 24 contains SHUTTLE mode
indicative data component m and designated reproduction speed which
is determined by magnitude and direction of angular displacement
caused in the shuttle ring 220, indicative data component s is also
contained in the control command. The transmitter encoder 26
receives the control command from the dial-encoding microcomputer
24 and generates the infrared control command indicative signal
modulated by the control command. Therefore, the encoded infrared
signal contains the mode selection data component m and the
reproduction speed indicative component s as shown in FIG. 21. As
will be appreciated from FIG. 21, the mode selection data component
m and the reproduction speed indicative components are separated by
a .[.chanel-time.]. .Iadd.channel-time .Iaddend.Tc. The infrared
signal thus formed is transmitted through the transmitter 27. The
receiver 16 of the VTR deck 10 receives the transmitted infrared
signal modulated by the control command and feeds the output
thereof to the remote-control encoding microcomputer 17. The remote
control encoding microcomputer 17 thus outputs a control command
containing the mode selection data component m and the reproduction
speed data indicative component s as that produced by the dial
encoding microcomputer 24, to feed the same to the system
controlling microcomputer 7. The system controlling microcomputer 7
is responsive to the control command from the remote-control
encoding microcomputer to perform SHUTTLE mode operation as that
commanded through shuttle ring 220 of the rotary dial assembly 200
facilitated in the VTR deck 10.
On the other hand, when angular displacement of the shuttle ring
220 is not detected as checked at the step 1102, then a check is
performed whether the rotary dial disc 210 is rotatingly operated,
at a step 1106. When the rotary dial disc 210 is not operated, the
process returns at the step 1102 to form a loop of the steps 1102
and 1106 for .[.maintain.]. .Iadd.maintaining .Iaddend.a stand-by
state, as long as the remote-controlling commander 20 is maintained
in JOG/SHUTTLE mode.
Through the shown embodiment of the remote-controlling commander 20
maintains the JOG/SHUTTLE mode and holds the system in a stand-by
state for allowing JOG mode or SHUTTLE mode operation until the
JOG/SHUTTLE mode selector switch 25A is manually turned OFF, it
would be possible to switch the operation mode of the
remote-controlling commander 20 automatically of the TIMER/CHANNEL
mode from the JOG/SHUTTLE mode after a predetermined period of
time, when the rotary dial disc 210 and shuttle ring 220 are not
operated during that period. This would be convenient for avoiding
a mis-operation which possibly happens due to erroneously
maintaining the JOG/SHUTTLE mode selector switch 25A at an ON
position.
When angular displacement of the rotary dial disc 210 is detected
at the step 1106, the JOG mode operation is commanded at a step
1108. Therefore, the dial encoding microcomputer 24 outputs the
control command indicative of the JOG mode indicative data
component m and the rotary dial disc position indicative component
s. The rotary dial disc position indicative contains direction data
toward which the rotary dial disc 210 is rotated and angle data
indicative of the angular position of the rotary dial disc. The
angle data may be in a form of pulse signals produced at every
given angle of angular displacement caused in the rotary dial disc
210. The transmitter encoder 26 is responsive to this control
command from the dial encoding microcomputer 24 to generate the
infrared signal modulated by the control command to transmit to the
VTR deck 10. As set forth with respect to the SHUTTLE mode
operation, the infrared signal from the transmitter 27 is received
by the receiver 16 in the VTR deck 10 and demodulated by the
remote-control encoding microcomputer 17 to be input as the control
command to the system controlling microcomputer 7. Therefore, the
system controlling microcomputer 7 performs JOG mode operation
according to rotation of the rotary dial disc 210 of the rotary
dial assembly 200 in the remote-controlling commander 20.
FIG. 24 shows a flowchart of a control program to be triggered in
response to a rotating operation of one of the rotary dial disc 210
and the shuttle ring 220 of the rotary dial assembly 200.
Immediately after entry into execution, interrupt of execution is
inhibited. Therefore in the dial-encoding microcomputer, an
interrupt mask flag may be set for preventing the program from
interruption a step 1202. Thereafter, at a step 1204, the operation
mode of the remote-controlling commander 20 is checked with respect
to the JOG/SHUTTLE mode selector switch 25A. Namely, as set forth
above, the JOG/SHUTTLE mode is selected while the JOG/SHUTTLE mode
selector switch 25A is ON position. Therefore, at the step 1204,
the JOG/SHUTTLE mode selector switch position is checked. When the
JOG/SHUTTLE mode selector switch 25A is in an OFF position, then
the TIME/CHANNEL mode selector switch 25B is checked whether it is
operated to the TIMER position or not, at a step 1206.
When the TIMER/CHANNEL mode selector switch 25B is set at the TIMER
mode position, as checked at the step 1206, then the TIMER-SET mode
operation as set forth above is performed in order to accept a
timer-set for starting recording of a TV program at a designated
date, time and on a designated TV channel. Thereafter, time-up is
checked at 1208. In the step 1208, a period of time while neither
the JOG dial 210 nor the SHUTTLE ring 220 is operated is compared
with a predetermined time-up threshold to detect the time-up. A
check is performed at a step 1210 whether the JOG/SHUTTLE mode
selector switch 25A is operated to the ON position at a step 1212.
If the JOG/SHUTTLE mode selector switch 25A is held in an OFF
position, then the TIMER/CHANNEL mode selector switch 25B is again
checked at a step 1214. When the TIMER/CHANNEL mode selector switch
25B is held at a TIMER position, the process returns to the step
1208 to accept another timer-set for another TV program.
When the TIMER/CHANNEL mode selector switch 25B is returned to the
CHANNEL mode position as checked at the step 1206 or 1214,
interrupt is enabled at a step 1216 and program execution goes to
END.
On the other hand, when an ON position of the JOG/SHUTTLE mode
selector switch 25A is detected at the step 1204 or 1212, a control
command for setting the VTR deck at the STILL mode is output at a
step 1218. Therefore, the picture reproduced on the TV monitor is
frozen. Then, JOG/SHUTTLE mode operation which has been discussed
with respect to the editing program will be performed at a step
1220. After JOG/SHUTTLE mode operation is terminated and thus both
of the rotary dial disc 210 and the shuttle ring 220 cease
rotation, elapsed time is measured and compared with a time-up
threshold, at a step 1222. After detecting time-up at the step
1222, the JOG/SHUTTLE mode switch position is again checked at a
step 1224 .Iadd.to determine .Iaddend.whether it is operated at an
OFF position. When the JOG/SHUTTLE mode selector switch 25A is held
ON, the process returns to the step 1220 to wait another
JOG/SHUTTLE operation. On the other hand, when turning OFF of the
JOG SHUTTLE mode selector switch 25A is detected at the step 1224,
then the TIMER/CHANNEL mode selector switch 25B is checked whether
it is set at the TIMER position or not, at a step 1226. If not,
.Iadd.the .Iaddend.process goes to the step 1216 to enable
interrupt and thereafter program execution goes END. On the other
hand, when setting at the TIMER position of the TIMER/CHANNEL mode
selector switch 25B is detected at the step 1226, the process goes
to the step 1208 for performing TIMER-SET operation.
As will be appreciated herefrom, according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention, the remote-controlling
commander which can perform channel selection, timer-set, and
variable speed of VTR reproduction can be provided with a
simplified push-button arrangement. Furthermore, though the
foregoing embodiment performs the specific functions as set forth,
it would be possible to additionally perform a clock set operation
as that can be performed by the rotary dial assembly in the VTR
deck.
It should be noted that the remote-controlling commander of the
present invention is applicable not only for remote-control of the
VTR deck but also any other apparatus or systems, such as videotexs
systems, audio systems, television set and so forth.
While the present invention has been disclosed in detail in terms
of the preferred embodiment of the invention in order to facilitate
better understanding of the invention, the invention may be
embodied in various ways without departing from the principles of
the invention as set out in the appended claims. Therefore, the
invention should be understood to include all possible embodiments
and modifications of the invention which do not depart from the
principles set forth in the appended claims.
* * * * *