Patent ID: 8497766
Filing Date: 2013-07-30
Classification: G08C

Abstract:
1. A key input device for a remote control apparatus, the key input device comprising: a plurality of predetermined keys that operate an operation object device; a plurality of light-emitting units which are provided on or in the vicinity of the respective keys and which are to be lighted; a lighting control unit that controls lighting of the plurality of light-emitting units based on an inputted lighting signal; a receiving unit which receives a signal indicating a state of the operation object device from the operation object device; a first control unit that outputs, to the lighting control unit, a lighting signal that causes, according to the received signal indicating the state of the operation object device, the plurality of light-emitting units to be sequentially lighted for each predetermined period of time for each group determined in advance or a lighting signal that causes, according to the received signal indicating the state of the operation object device, the plurality of light-emitting units to be sequentially lighted for each predetermined period of time for each group determined in advance, in a color or brightness that differs from other groups; a first selecting unit that outputs a signal for selecting one of the groups; a first comparison/judgment unit that inputs output signals of the first control unit and the first selecting unit and outputs, as a finalized group, a group selected when the light-emitting unit had been lighted or when the light-emitting unit had been lighted in the different color or the different brightness; a second control unit that outputs, to the lighting control unit, a lighting signal that causes the respective light-emitting units included in the finalized group to be sequentially lighted for each predetermined period of time or a lighting signal that causes the respective light-emitting units included in the finalized group to be sequentially lighted for each predetermined period of time in a color or brightness that differs from other light-emitting units; a second selecting unit that outputs a signal for selecting one of the keys; and a second comparison/judgment unit that inputs output signals of the second control unit and the second selecting unit and outputs, as a finalized key, a key corresponding to the light-emitting unit that had been lighted upon selection or a key corresponding to the light-emitting unit that had been lighted in the different color or the different brightness upon selection, wherein when only one light-emitting unit is included in the finalized group, the first comparison/judgment unit outputs a key corresponding to the light-emitting unit as a finalized key.