Abstract: A pulse modulation method divides code comprising 4N-bit data into 2-bit units of data. For each pulse signal having a fixed pulse width tw, a code modulated signal is generated by pausing between pulse pause intervals Tr. An adjusted time width of between ½ and 1 times the fixed pulse width tw is taken to be ?t. One of time widths 0, ?t, 2?t, and 3?t is added to a fixed pause period tm of time intervals according to a corresponding value of the 2-bit data. If the sum total time TD of the code modulated signal is an interval of at least [(2tw+2tm+3?t)N+?t], each pulse pause interval Tr is substituted by a pulse pause interval Tr corresponding to the inverted 2-bit data. An inversion flag signal expresses that inversion information is added to the code modulated signal.

Abstract: A pulse modulation method divides code comprising 4N-bit data into 2-bit units of data. For each pulse signal having a fixed pulse width tw, a code modulated signal is generated by pausing between pulse pause intervals Tr. An adjusted time width of between ½ and 1 times the fixed pulse width tw is taken to be ?t. One of time widths 0, ?t, 2?t, and 3?t is added to a fixed pause period tm of time intervals according to a corresponding value of the 2-bit data. If the sum total time TD of the code modulated signal is an interval of at least [(2tw+2tm+3?t)N+?t], each pulse pause interval Tr is substituted by a pulse pause interval Tr corresponding to the inverted 2-bit data. An inversion flag signal expresses that inversion information is added to the code modulated signal.

Abstract: In an infrared remote control device, communication between a host CPU and an infrared controller is compressed by encoding the signal into pulse data (“PD”) number or sequence data that corresponds to each pulse data type. Encoding and decoding is performed by table look ups that associate the pulse data types with the PD numbers. Because conventional infrared control devices represent each infrared pulse as a four byte digital number, when the PD number is represented by 4 bits, a maximum of 16 types of pulse data can be stored in the data, making it possible to compress the communication data volume to ? as compared to the uncompressed data volume.

Abstract: A method for using a rotating input device assigns multiple functions to the rotating input device without requiring special switching operations. When a rotating input operation of the rotating input device is first performed, the device detects a rotary position of the rotating input device at which the initial operation was performed. A plurality of regions are set up along 360 degrees of input orientation for the rotating input device, and a different operation is assigned to each region. When the first rotating input operation is performed, the region of the position at which the initial operation is performed is identified, and subsequent rotating input operations are used to control the operation assigned to the selected region.

Abstract: A jog switch by which a desired position can be confirmed without releasing the finger rotating a jog dial after the desired direction and angle are selected. The jog switch includes the jog dial, which is capable of rotating in a plane and also rocking in the orthogonal direction, a plurality of confirmation switches disposed on a surface behind the jog dial and a jog action detecting part, which is disposed behind the jog dial and can detect the direction and angle of rotation, wherein the operation of the jog dial is confirmed by pressing the confirmation switch by rocking the jog dial.

Abstract: A transmission and reception method permits simultaneous use of multiple remote controllers at the same frequency to a single receiver without mutual interference. A transmission period consists of a transmission enabled period for transmitting a transmission signal from a remote controller, and a transmission disabled period for disabling the signal transmission. Individual remote controllers can repeat the transmission. For the individual remote controllers, one period of the transmission period is 2i (“I” is a natural number equal to or more than 3, and is set to a proper number different from one channel to another) times a unit transmission period.

Abstract: A transmission and reception method permits simultaneous use of multiple remote controllers at the same frequency to a single receiver without mutual interference. A transmission period consists of a transmission enabled period for transmitting a transmission signal from a remote controller, and a transmission disabled period for disabling the signal transmission. Individual remote controllers can repeat the transmission. For the individual remote controllers, one period of the transmission period is 2i (“I” is a natural number equal to or more than 3, and is set to a proper number different from one channel to another) times a unit transmission period.

Abstract: A transmitting and receiving system includes two or more remote controls and a single receiver, which a machine or apparatus to be controlled is equipped with. Each remote control has a proper number "i" allotted thereto, and is capable of sending a control signal to the machine or apparatus. The repetitive period ST of transmission is composed of a transmission permitting data frame STa and a transmission preventing data frame STb, provided that the transmission permitting data frame Sta is equal to or shorter than the transmission preventing data frame STb (STa.ltoreq.STb). The transmission permitting data frame STa is determined by multiplying a given transmission unit of time TT by 2.sup.i-1. The transmission unit of time TT is composed of a data present sub-section DTa and a data absent sub-section DTb, provided that data-present sub-section DTa is equal to or shorter than data-absent sub-section DTb (DTa.ltoreq.DTb).

Abstract: A binary code is divided into 2-bit data units. Pulse position modulation is performed on each unit rather than on each bit. Since a pulse is not formed for each bit, the transmission interval and transmission frame interval for the modulated signal is shortened, thus enabling high speed transmission. Since the pulse interval of the signal contains the information of the 2-bit data unit, only the leading edge of the pulse needs to be detected. This feature allows reliable demodulation even under adverse conditions such as a long-distance transmission route or a noisy transmission route. Since there is no need to demodulate by comparing each bit with an immediately preceding bit, complex demodulation schemes and decoding registers are not needed on the receiving side. Since the width of the pulse does not contain any transmission information, the pulse width is made as short as possible, thereby reducing battery consumption within the transmitter.