Patent ID: 8867918

Claim:
A remote controller comprising: an operation unit including plural operation keys; a radio communication unit that performs bidirectional radio frequency (RF) communication with a controlled apparatus; an infrared communication unit that performs unidirectional infrared (IR) communication with the controlled apparatus; and a control unit that is input with an operation signal from the operation unit and controls the radio communication unit and the infrared communication unit, wherein the control unit includes a measuring unit that measures power supply voltage, the control unit controls the radio communication unit to transmit a control signal to the controlled apparatus by way of RF communication when the power supply voltage is equal to or higher than a predetermined value and controls the infrared communication unit to transmit the control signal to the controlled apparatus by way of IR communication when the power supply voltage is lower than the predetermined value such that the control unit automatically switches control of the radio communication unit to the infrared communication unit so as to cause the infrared communication unit to transmit the control signal to the controlled apparatus when the measured power supply voltage changes from a first value which is equal to or higher than the predetermined value to a second value which is lower than the predetermined value, and the control unit controls the radio communication unit and the infrared communication unit to transmit the control signal to the controlled apparatus by way of the other of RF communication or IR communication which is currently being used when a same operation key of the operation unit is operated a first predetermined number of times within a first predetermined time period and the same operation key thereafter is operated a second predetermined number of times within a second predetermined time period, wherein the first predetermined number is two or more, wherein the second predetermined number is one or more, and wherein the second predetermined time period immediately follows the first predetermined time period.