초록 ▼

A remote controller apparatus has a controller body, which is provided with annularly disposed display devices displaying as images operating buttons for the purpose of executing functions of a remotely controlled apparatus, and which is further provided with a display device at the center of the an

A remote controller apparatus has a controller body, which is provided with annularly disposed display devices displaying as images operating buttons for the purpose of executing functions of a remotely controlled apparatus, and which is further provided with a display device at the center of the annularly disposed display devices. Operating switches are provided below each of the display devices, a transparent shuttle ring is disposed over the annularly disposed display devices, and a transparent center button is provided over the display device at the center. The shuttle ring is caused to rotate, and if necessary operating buttons displayed by each of the display devices are switched to other operating buttons. By doing this, it is possible to assign images of various operating buttons for executing functions of a remotely controlled apparatus to the display devices of the remote controller apparatus, which display this operating buttons, and also possible for a user to operate operating buttons without being aware of which operating buttons correspond to which operations. Additionally, the need to assign more than one operation to one button is eliminated, and it is possible to avoid an excessive increase in the number of operating buttons.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A controller apparatus for controlling an electronic apparatus comprising: a first manipulatable unit comprising one or more display means, each of which displays an image relating to a function executable on at least one of the controller apparatus or the electronic apparatu

What is claimed is: 1. A controller apparatus for controlling an electronic apparatus comprising: a first manipulatable unit comprising one or more display means, each of which displays an image relating to a function executable on at least one of the controller apparatus or the electronic apparatus which is controllable by the controller apparatus, a first manipulatable means capable of being manipulated in a first direction, a first detect means for detecting operation on the first manipulatable means by user and a first outputting means for outputting a signal for executing a function corresponding to the image selected by the detected operation; a second manipulatable unit arranged on the first manipulatable unit, that comprises a second manipulatable means capable of being manipulated in a second direction which is different from the first direction, a second detect means for detecting operation on a second manipulatable means by a user and a second outputting means which outputs a signal for executing a function corresponding to the image selected by the detected operation; and a communication unit that transmits to the electronic apparatus the signal output from at least one of the first manipulatable unit and the second manipulatable unit. 2. The controller apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the communication unit receives from the electronic apparatus which is controllable by the controller apparatus a function setting data for enabling execution of a function of at least one of the controller apparatus or the electronic apparatus. 3. The controller apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data is downloaded via a network. 4. The controller apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second manipulatable means is disposed below the display means. 5. The controller apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the display means are separate units. 6. The controller apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the display means are connected to each other. 7. The controller apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function setting data is image data to be displayed on the display means. 8. The controller apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the function setting data further includes position specifying data for specifying a position of the image data to be displayed on display means. 9. The controller apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: a memory that stores the image data. 10. The controller apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: a controller that controls, the manipulatable unit, and the communication unit, wherein the controller reads the image data based on the position specifying data, and causes the display of the read out image data at specified position of specified display means. 11. The controller apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second detect means detects an amount of manipulation of the second manipulatable unit; and wherein the controller changes the specified position to other position based on the detected amount of manipulation. 12. The controller apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the controller controls the display means so that the display unit displays at the other position the image displayed at the specified position with maintaining the display style of the image displayed on the display means. 13. The controller apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising: a second manipulatable unit; a detector that detects an amount of manipulation of the second manipulatable unit; and wherein the controller controls the display means so that the display unit displays at other position an image different from the image displayed at the specified position with switching the content of the display based on the detected amount of manipulation. 14. The controller apparatus for controlling an electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second manipulatable unit is formed of a transparent component. 15. The controller apparatus for controlling an electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detect means detects an amount of movement of the second manipulatable means. 16. The controller apparatus for controlling an electronic apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising: a display style changing unit that changes the image displayed on the display means, based on the detected amount of manipulation. 17. The controller apparatus for controlling an electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second detect means detects the operation by a different detection method from the detection method in the first detect means. 18. The controller apparatus for controlling an electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first direction is at right angles to the second direction. 19. An electronic apparatus that is controllable by a remote controller apparatus, comprising: a transmitting/receiving unit that performs transmitting and receiving of signals to and from a remote controller apparatus having a first manipulatable unit comprising one or more display means, each of which displays an image relating to a function executable on at least one of the controller apparatus or the electronic apparatus which is controllable by the controller apparatus, a first manipulatable means capable of being manipulated in a first direction, a first detect means for detecting operation on the first manipulatable means by user and a first outputting means for outputting a signal for executing a function corresponding to the image selected by the detected operation; a second manipulatable unit arranged on the first manipulatable unit, that comprises a second manipulatable means capable of being manipulated in a second direction which is different from the first direction, a second detect means for detecting operation on a second manipulatable means by a user and a second outputting means which outputs a signal for executing a function corresponding to the image selected by the detected operation; and a communication unit that transmits to the electronic apparatus the signal output from at least one of the first manipulatable unit and the second manipulatable unit; a memory, into which is stored display information for the purpose of displaying the image; and a controller, which in response to a request from the remote controller apparatus to transmit, transmits display information read out from the memory to the remote apparatus, wherein said display information is function setting data which includes image data to be displayed on the display means or information for specifying the image data to be displayed on the display means, and wherein the function setting data further includes position specifying data for specifying a position of the image data or information to be displayed on the display means. 20. A remote control system comprising: a remote controller apparatus comprising a first manipulatable unit comprising one or more display means, each of which displays an image relating to a function executable on at least one of the controller apparatus or the electronic apparatus which is controllable by the controller apparatus, a first manipulatable means capable of being manipulated in a first direction, a first detect means for detecting operation on the first manipulatable means by user and a first outputting means for outputting a signal for executing a function corresponding to the image selected by the detected operation; a second manipulatable unit arranged on the first manipulatable unit, that comprises a second manipulatable means capable of being manipulated in a second direction which is different from the first direction, a second detect means for detecting operation on a second manipulatable means by a user and a second outputting means which outputs a signal for executing a function corresponding to the image selected by the detected operation; and a communication unit that transmits to the electronic apparatus the signal output from at least one of the first manipulatable unit and the second manipulatable unit; and an electronic apparatus which is controllable by the controller apparatus comprising a second memory that stores display information for display of the image, and a transmitting/receiving unit, which in response to a request from the remote controller apparatus to transmit, transmits to the remote controller apparatus display information read out of the second memory, wherein said display information is function setting data which includes image data to be displayed on the display means or information for specifying the image data to be displayed on the display means, and wherein the function setting data further includes position specifying data for specifying a position of the image data or information to be displayed on the display means. 21. A method for image display comprising the steps of: selecting and establishing, from various apparatuses, an apparatus to be controlled by a remote controller apparatus having a first manipulatable unit comprising one or more display means, each of which displays an image relating to a function executable on at least one of the controller apparatus or the electronic apparatus which is controllable by the controller apparatus, a first manipulatable means capable of being manipulated in a first direction, a first detect means for detecting operation on the first manipulatable means by user and a first outputting means for outputting a signal for executing a function corresponding to the image selected by the detected operation; providing a second manipulatable unit arranged on the first manipulatable unit, that comprises a second manipulatable means capable of being manipulated in a second direction which is different from the first direction, a second detect means for detecting operation on a second manipulatable means by a user and a second outputting means which outputs a signal for executing a function corresponding to the image selected by the detected operation; and providing a communication unit that transmits to the electronic apparatus the signal output from at least one of the first manipulatable unit and the second manipulatable unit; requesting that the apparatus send display information for display of the image on the display means; and reading out image data stored in a memory of the remote controller apparatus, based on the display information received from the apparatus, and displaying the image of the read out image data on the display means, wherein said display information is function setting data which includes information for specifying the image data to be displayed on the display means, and wherein the function setting data further includes position specifying data for specifying a position of the information to be displayed on the display means. 22. A computer-readable recording medium into which has been recorded an image display program for execution by a computer, the image display program comprising: a step of selecting and establishing from various apparatuses an electronic apparatus to be controlled by a remote controller apparatus having a first manipulatable unit comprising one or more display means, each of which displays an image relating to a function executable on at least one of the controller apparatus or the electronic apparatus which is controllable by the controller apparatus, a first manipulatable means capable of being manipulated in a first direction, a first detect means for detecting operation on the first manipulatable means by user and a first outputting means for outputting a signal for executing a function corresponding to the image selected by the detected operation; a step of operating a second manipulatable unit arranged on the first manipulatable unit, that comprises a second manipulatable means capable of being manipulated in a second direction which is different from the first direction, a second detect means for detecting operation on a second manipulatable means by a user and a second outputting means which outputs a signal for executing a function corresponding to the image selected by the detected operation; and a step of operating a communication unit that transmits to the electronic apparatus the signal output fiom at least one of the first manipulatable unit and the second manipulatable unit; a step of requesting that the electronic apparatus send display information to the remote controller apparatus for display of the image; and a step of reading out image data stored in a memory of the remote controller apparatus, based on the image display information received from the electronic apparatus, and displaying the images of the read out image data on the display means, wherein said display information is function setting data which includes image data to be displayed on the display means or information for specifying the image data to be displayed on the display means, and wherein the function setting data further includes position specifying data for specifying a position of the image data or information to be displayed on the display means. 23. A system comprising: a plurality of electronic apparatuses which are capable of being controlled by a control unit, the control unit comprising a manipulatable unit comprising one or more display means, each of which displays an image relating to a function executable on at least one of the controller apparatus or the electronic apparatus which is controllable by the controller apparatus, a first manipulatable unit comprising one or more display means, each of which displays an image relating to a function executable on at least one of the controller apparatus or the electronic apparatus which is controllable by the controller apparatus, a first manipulatable means capable of being manipulated in a first direction, a first detect means for detecting operation on the first manipulatable means by user and a first outputting means for outputting a signal for executing a function corresponding to the image selected by the detected operation; a second manipulatable unit arranged on the first manipulatable unit, that comprises a second manipulatable means capable of being manipulated in a second direction which is different from the first direction, a second detect means for detecting operation on a second manipulatable means by a user and a second outputting means which outputs a signal for executing a function corresponding to the image selected by the detected operation; and a communication unit that transmits to the electronic apparatus the signal output from at least one of the first manipulatable unit and the second manipulatable unit, wherein the control unit outputs command signals for controlling the plurality of electric apparatuses based on a manipulation from a user; and a display unit that displays a plurality of images of the plurality of electric apparatuses and selectively displays at least one image for indicating predetermined function from a plurality of images functions, each of which indicates a function which is capable of being executed by at least one of the plurality of electric apparatuses, wherein the control unit outputs a command signal to the at least one of the plurality of electronic apparatuses for controlling the execution of the function being displayed on the display unit. 24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the display unit displays images on a line. 25. The system according to claim 23, further comprising: a second manipulatable unit; and a detector that detects an amount of manipulation of the second manipulatable unit; wherein the displayed image is selected based on the detected amount of manipulation. 26. The system according to claim 23, further comprising: a communication unit that receives an image corresponding to at least one of the other electronic apparatuses and an image corresponding to the other function from the other apparatus; wherein the display unit is operable to display the received image and the manipulatable unit is operable to output a signal for executing a function corresponding to the selected image among the received images. 27. A controller apparatus for controlling an electronic apparatus comprising: a first manipulatable unit comprising one or more display means, each of which displays an image relating to a function executable on at least one of the controller apparatus or the electronic apparatus which is controllable by the controller apparatus, a first manipulatable means capable of being manipulated in a first direction, a first detect means for detecting operation on the first manipulatable means by the user, and a first outputting means for outputting a signal for executing a function corresponding to the image selected by the detected operation; a second manipulatable unit arranged on the first manipulatable unit, that comprises a second manipulatable means capable of being manipulated in a second direction which is different from the first direction, a second detect means for detecting an amount of movement of the second manipulatable means, a specifying means for specifying a function from a plurality of functions, each of which is capable of being executed by at least one of the controller apparatus or the electronic apparatus, and a second outputting means which outputs a signal for executing the specified function; and a communication unit that transmits to the electronic apparatus the signal output from at least one of the first manipulatable unit and the second manipulatable unit. 28. The controller apparatus for controlling an electronic apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the second detect means detects the operation by a different detection method from the detection method in the first detect means. 29. The controller apparatus for controlling an electronic apparatus according to claim 27, wherein at least one of the display means displays the image related to the specified function. 30. The controller apparatus for controlling an electronic apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the first direction is at right angles to the second direction. 31. A method for controlling an electronic apparatus comprising the steps of: displaying, on a first manipulatable unit, an image relating to a function executable on at least one of a controller apparatus or the electronic apparatus which is controlled by the controller apparatus; detecting an operation of a first manipulatable means by a user; outputting a signal for executing a function corresponding to the image selected by the detected operation; detecting an operation on a second manipulatable means by a user, wherein the second manipulatable means is located on a second manipulatable unit arranged on the first manipulatable unit and the second manipulatable means is capable of being manipulated in a second direction which is different from a first direction that the first manipulatable means is capable of being manipulated in; outputting a signal for executing a function corresponding to the image selected by the second detected operation; and transmitting to the electronic apparatus the signal output from at least one of the first or second outputting steps. 32. A method for controlling an electronic apparatus comprising the steps of: displaying, on a first manipulatable unit, an image relating to a function executable on at least one of a controller apparatus or the electronic apparatus which is controlled by the controller apparatus; detecting an operation of a first manipulatable means by a user; outputting a signal for executing a function corresponding to the image selected by the detected operation; detecting an amount of movement on a second manipulatable means by a user, wherein the second manipulatable means is located on a second manipulatable unit arranged on the first manipulatable unit and the second manipulatable means is capable of being manipulated in a second direction which is different from a first direction that the first manipulatable means is capable of being manipulated in; specifying a function from a plurality of functions, each of which is capable of being executed by at least one of the controller apparatus or the electronic apparatus; outputting a signal for executing a function corresponding to the image selected by the specified function; and transmitting to the electronic apparatus the signal output from at least one of the first or second outputting steps.