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.

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.