REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE

Abstract: A remote control device (1) is disclosed for controlling a "Web-TV". The device has a first keypad (5) for controlling the conventional TV and VCR functions. The normal TV and VCR control commands are transmitted through a top-LED (7) in a first direction (7a). The keypad is accommodated on a cover (2). When the cover is open, a second keypad is accessible for entering alphanumeric data such as Web-addresses and e-mails. To use this QWERTY keypad in a convenient and familiar manner, the device is rotated through 90 degrees. In this operating mode (fig. 2), the key commands are transmitted through a side-LED (8) in a second direction (8a). A switch (9) detects whether the cover is open or closed and activates the relevant LED.

Description: Remote control device. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a handheld remote control device, comprising a first keypad for generating first control signals and a cover which is slewably attached to the device and covers the first keypad when it is closed, said cover carrying a second keypad for generating second control signals. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A known remote control device as defined in the opening paragraph is disclosed in German Offenlegungsschrift DE-A-37 13 428. The cover of this prior art device comprises a keypad for controlling often used functions of an appliance such as channel selection and volume setting of a TV, or channel selection and play/record control of a VCR. Seldomly used functions such as VCR programming and track control are controlled by a further keypad which is only accessible if the cover is open. A remote control device is typically aimed towards the appliance which is to be controlled. This is certainly the case if the control signals are transmitted in the form of infrared light beams. The prior art device is to be aimed in one direction, irrespective of whether the cover is closed or open. Usually, the layout of a keypad (which is understood to mean, inter alia, the shape of the keys, button labels, printing of the keypad) corresponds to the direction in which the device is held when the appliance is being controlled. This is not always desirable. OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a remote control device in which the layout of each keypad is adapted to its purpose. To achieve this and other objects, the device in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the device has an elongated shape having a length axis and a width axis, the first keypad being laid out for using the device in a first direction corresponding to said length axis or width axis, and the other keypad being laid out for using the device in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction. The invention is based on the recognition that appliances are emerging which are not only to be controlled by a traditional slim remote control device, but also require data input from a keyboard which is to be rotated through 90 degrees with respect to the conventional direction. An example of such an appliance is a television receiver with provisions for accessing the Internet. Such a "Web-TV" requires an alphanumeric keypad, preferably a QWERTY keyboard, for entering WWW addresses and e-mails. The invention allows such an alphanumeric keypad and a conventional remote control keypad to be combined in a single remote control device. It should be noted that a device comprising an alphanumeric keyboard under a cover which carries a further keypad is known per se from German Offenlegungsschrift DE-A-195 20 947. This device, however, is a portable computer with embedded telecommunication facilities. The device may comprise omnidirectional emitting means for emitting the control signals, for example, in the form of RF signals. The device may also comprise emitting means for emitting the control signals in the form of directional beams, for example, in the form of infrared light signals. In the latter case, an embodiment of the device includes first emitting means for emitting the first control signals in substantially the first direction and second emitting means for emitting the second control signals in substantially the second direction. Herewith it is achieved that the operational distance from the remote control device to the appliance is not adversely affected when the device is held in either one of the two directions. In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises detection means for detecting whether the cover is open or closed, the detection means being arranged to disable the second emitting means if the cover is open and disable the first emitting means if the cover is closed. With such an embodiment, battery energy is saved because only the emitter corresponding to the keypad which is actually used is active. In a further embodiment of the device, the keys of the second keypad produce underneath the cover so as to mechanically activate corresponding keys of the first keypad when the cover is closed. This is known per se from the German Offenlegungsschrift DE-A-37 13 428, already cited before. In order to achieve that keys of the first keypad produce control signals which are different (i.e. different command codes) from those produced by the corresponding keys of the second keypad, the device comprises detection means for detecting whether the cover is open or closed, the detection means being arranged to enable the first control signals to be generated if the cover is open and the second control signals to be generated if the cover is closed. These detection means (which control the command codes) and the aforementioned detection means (which disable one of the emitters) may be the same. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 shows a top view of a remote control device in accordance with the invention with the cover closed. Fig. 2 shows a top view of a remote control device in accordance with the invention with the cover open. Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the electric circuitry of the remote control device in accordance with the invention. Fig. 4 shows a flow chart of operations performed by a microprocessor which is shown in Fig. 3. DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figs. 1 and 2 show a top view of a remote control device 1 in accordance with the invention with a cover 2 closed and open, respectively. The cover is attached to the device body by means of a hinge 3. As shown in the Figs., a first keypad 4 is fixedly attached to the device body and the cover carries a second keypad 5. The first keypad 4 is a full alphanumeric QWERTY keypad having a conven- tional layout. That is, the keys are arranged, and text on and next to the keys is printed, such that when the device is operated, its length axis is perpendicular to the imaginary line from the remote control device to the controlled appliance. The second keypad 5 comprises keys for controlling the appliance in a conventional manner, for example, keys for entering a channel number, for incrementing or decrementing the volume or channel number, for controlling the tape function of a NCR, etc. The layout of this keypad is such that when the device is operated, its length axis is aimed towards the controlled appliance. A trackball or mousepad 10 for controlling a cursor is also provided. Fig. 1 further shows two infrared Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), one infrared LED 7 being located at the top side of the device and emitting infrared light in a direction 7a corresponding to the device's length axis, and one infrared LED 8 being located at the left side and emitting infrared light in a direction 8a corresponding to the device's width axis. When the cover is open, it is blocked in a position so as not to impede the emission of light from LED 8. A switch 9 is also shown in the Figs. The switch 9 comprises a first member 9a which is fixedly attached to the device body and a second member 9b which is fixedly attached to the cover 2. Upon closing the cover, both members 9a and 9b engage each other. The switch 9 is thus closed when the cover is closed. The second keypad 5 on the cover 2 may be an autonomous keypad. This is understood to mean that each key includes an individual sensor which, when the key is depressed, applies a corresponding signal to the device's electric circuitry through a flexible wiring arrangement (not shown). In a preferred embodiment, however, as shown in Fig. 2, the cover 2 includes holes 2a, one for each key. Through said holes, a protrusion of each key extends underneath the cover so as to mechanically activate the underlying key of keypad 4 if the cover is closed. For example, the key labeled "5" of keypad 5 activates the key labeled "J" of keypad 4. A schematic diagram of the electric circuitry of the remote control device in accordance with the invention is shown in Fig. 3. Reference numerals already used before denote the same elements. The device comprises a microprocessor 30 which is connected to the keypad 4 and the members 9a and 9b of the switch 9 through various input and output port terminals. The microprocessor is further connected to a driver stage 37 for driving the top-LED 7 and to a driver stage 38 for driving the side-LED 8. The processor is also connected to a read-only-memory (ROM) 31 having a memory section 311 in which a first set of remote control command codes is stored, a memory section 312 in which a second set of remote control command codes is stored, and a memory section 313 in which a control program defining the operation of the processor is stored. The ROM may also be embedded in the microprocessor. A flow chart of operations performed by the microprocessor is shown in Fig. 4. In a step 40, the processor scans the keypad 4, awaits the depression of a key and identifies which key has been depressed. In a step 41, the processor checks whether the switch 9 is closed. If the switch is not closed (i.e., the cover 2 is open), it is concluded that an alphanumeric key of keypad 4 is depressed. In that case the processor reads, in a step 42, the command code to be transmitted from the first memory section 311 of ROM 31. Then, in a step 43, the relevant command code is applied to driver stage 38 which drives the side-LED 8 so as to emit the infrared command signal in the direction of the width-axis 8a. If the switch 9 is closed (i.e., the cover 2 is closed), it is concluded that a control key of keypad 5 is depressed. In that case the processor reads, in a step 44, the command code to be transmitted from the second memory section 312 of ROM 31. Then, in a step 45, the relevant command code is applied to driver stage 37 which drives the top-LED 7 so as to emit the infrared command signal in the direction of the length-axis 7a. Thus, if the alphanumeric key labeled "J" is depressed, a code for the letter "J" will be transmitted through side-LED 8. If the key labeled "5" on the cover is depressed, depression of the same alphanumeric key "J" is detected but, since the switch 9 is now closed, a code for the channel select digit "5" will be transmitted through top-LED 7. In summary, a remote control device (1) is disclosed for controlling a "WebTV". The device has a first keypad (5) for controlling the conventional TV and VCR functions. The normal TV and VCR control commands are transmitted through a top-LED (7) in a first direction (7a). The keypad is accommodated on a cover (2). When the cover is open, a second keypad is accessible for entering alphanumeric data such as Web-addresses and e-mails. To use this QWERTY keypad in a convenient and familiar manner, the device is rotated through 90 degrees. In this operating mode (Fig. 2), the key commands are transmitted through a side-LED (8) in a second direction (8a). A switch (9) detects whether the cover is open or closed and activates the relevant LED.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A handheld remote control device comprising a first keypad for generating first control signals and a cover which is slewably attached to the device and covers the first keypad when it is closed, said cover carrying a second keypad for generating second control signals, characterized in that the device has an elongated shape having a length axis and a width axis, the first keypad being laid out for using the device in a first direction corresponding to said length axis or width axis, and the other keypad being laid out for using the device in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction. 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising emitting means for emitting the control signals in the form of directional beams, said emitting means including first emitting means for emitting the first control signals in substantially the first direction and second emitting means for emitting the second control signals in substantially the second direction. 3. A device as claimed in claim 2, comprising detection means for detecting whether the cover is open or closed, the detection means being arranged to disable the second emitting means if the cover is open and disable the first emitting means if the cover is closed. 4. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein keys of the second keypad protrude underneath the cover so as to mechanically activate corresponding keys of the first keypad when the cover is closed, and further comprising detection means for detecting whether the cover is open or closed, the detection means being arranged to enable the first control signals to be generated if the cover is open and the second control signals to be generated if the cover is closed. 5. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein keys of the second keypad protrude underneath the cover so as to mechanically activate corresponding keys of the first keypad when the cover is closed, the detection means being arranged to enable the first control signals to be generated if the cover is open and the second control signals to be generated if the cover is closed. 6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second keypad comprises keys for controlling respective functions of an electronic appliance, and the first keypad is an alphanumeric keypad for applying alphanumeric data to said appliance.

Inventors: LAMBRECHTS MARC E C, NOTE STEFAAN M M, SCHMITZ HERMAN J R, LAMBRECHTS, MARC, E., C., NOTE, STEFAAN, M., M., SCHMITZ, HERMAN, J., R.
Applicants: KONINKL PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NV, PHILIPS SVENSKA AB, KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V., PHILIPS AB
Application year: 1999
Main classification: H04Q9
IPC codes: H01H9