Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Attributes
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-21
2004-12-14
Bella, Matthew C. (Department: 2672)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Attributes
C345S690000, C345S619000, C345S022000, C381S104000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06831657
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved display control apparatus for use with an audio amplifier or other type of amplifier to visually display a gain setting value, such as a sound volume setting level, in one of predetermined color hues.
In recent years, more and more sound amplifiers, such as audio amplifiers, adjust a sound volume setting level through voltage control using an electronic volume control unit. Having no mechanical sliding element, the electronic volume control unit does not substantially deteriorate in performance due to aging and wear and is easy to control remotely.
For example, the electronic volume control unit employs, as a setting operator, a rotary encoder outputting a rotating amount and rotating direction. Thus, a current sound volume setting level can be known from a rotating angle alone. Similarly, in a case where up and down buttons are employed as setting operators, the current sound volume setting level can not be known from the number of button depressions alone. Therefore, it has heretofore been impossible to know or ascertain the current sound volume setting level, except by viewing a display showing a numeral value indicative of the current sound volume setting level or actually listening to a sound generated in accordance with the current sound volume setting level.
For example, the electronic volume control unit retains a sound volume setting level when the power to the audio amplifier was turned off last, so as to retrieve the thus-retained sound volume setting level once the power to the audio amplifier is turned on afterwards. However, while some users may turn off the power after reducing the sound volume setting level to a minimum, other users turn off the power leaving the sound volume setting level as has been used so far to produce a sound with a relatively great volume; such a difference between the users perhaps depends on users' habits. Therefore, unless the current sound volume setting level is known prior to audible reproduction of tone signals following turning-on of the power, the reproduction of the tone signals is likely to start with an undesirable great volume.
In some cases, an attenuation amount is displayed in a numerical value via LEDs (light emitting diodes), fluorescent display tube, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, to show the current sound volume setting level. In such cases, the displayed attenuation amount tends to be difficult to recognize if the display is a little away from the user, due to a small displaying area of the display.
The mechanical volume control unit, in contrast, can indicate the current sound volume setting level by a rotating angle of a small marker provided on a volume setting knob; however, the small marker is difficult to recognize at a distance, and a numerical value indication on the operation panel is also difficult to accurately read.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved display control apparatus for displaying a gain setting value in a predetermined hue which allows a user to accurately identify, at a glance, a gain setting value, such as a sound volume setting level, by a displaying hue of a hue-variable display device and which allows the user to set a desired range of gain setting values for changing the displaying hue of the hue-variable display device.
To accomplish the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an improved display control apparatus for displaying a gain setting value in a color hue, which comprises: an input-upper-limit setting section that sets a predetermined upper limit value of gain setting values to be input to the display control apparatus; and a displaying-hue control section that receives a gain setting value from a variable gain control device. When the received gain setting value is not greater than the predetermined upper limit value, the displaying-hue control section outputs a hue control signal to vary a displaying hue of a hue-variable display device between a predetermined first hue and a predetermined second hue in accordance with magnitude or intensity of the received gain setting value. But, when the received gain setting value is greater than the predetermined upper limit value, the displaying-hue control section outputs a hue control signal to set the displaying hue of the hue-variable display device to the predetermined second hue.
With such arrangements of the present invention, the user can set a desired upper limit of the input gain-setting values that are to be used to change the displaying hue of the hue-variable display device between the predetermined first hue and the predetermined second hue.
In actual use, the variable-gain control device is often operated within a range of gain setting values smaller than its predetermined maximum gain setting value; such gain setting values smaller than the predetermined maximum gain setting value will hereinafter be referred to as “normally-used gain setting values”. Even in such cases, by using the input-upper-limit setting section to set, as the above-mentioned predetermined upper limit value, an upper limit of the normally-used gain setting values (hereinafter called a “practical upper limit”), the user is allowed to readily know, at a glance, a varying range of the current gain setting value up to the thus-set practical upper limit by just viewing the displaying hue of the hue-variable display device changing between the first and second hues.
Further, as the current gain setting value is increased, the user can readily recognize arrival at the practical upper limit by the displaying hue of the hue-variable display device changing to the predetermined second hue.
For example, the above-mentioned input-upper-limit setting section may be arranged to, upon detecting activation of an input-upper-limit setting operator, take in a current gain setting value of the variable-gain control device and retain the taken-in value as the predetermined upper limit. This way, the input-upper-limit setting section can be implemented in a simple manner.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display control apparatus for displaying a gain setting value in a color hue, which comprises: an input-range setting section that sets a predetermined lower limit value and predetermined upper limit value of gain setting values that are input to the display control apparatus; and a displaying-hue control section that receives a gain setting value from a variable gain control device. When the received gain setting value is equivalent to or greater than the predetermined lower limit value but equivalent to or smaller than the predetermined upper limit value, the displaying-hue control section outputs a hue control signal to vary a displaying hue of a hue-variable display device between a predetermined first hue and a predetermined second hue in accordance with intensity of the received gain setting value. Further, when the received gain setting value is smaller than the predetermined lower limit value, the displaying-hue control section outputs a hue control signal to set the displaying hue of the hue-variable display device to the predetermined first hue. Furthermore, when the received gain setting value is greater than the predetermined upper limit value, the displaying-hue control section outputs a hue control signal to set the displaying hue of the hue-variable display device to the predetermined second hue.
With such arrangements of the present invention, the user can set desired upper and lower limits of the input gain setting values that are to be used to change the displaying hue of the hue-variable display device between the predetermined first hue and the predetermined second hue.
By using the input-upper-limit setting section to set, as the above-mentioned predetermined upper and lower limits, practical upper and lower limits of normally-used gain setting values, the user is allowed to readily know a varying range of the current gain setti
Asahira Hajime
Fujita Hiroyuki
Makino Tomoaki
Tsutsumi Kazumasu
Bella Matthew C.
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
Sajous Wesner
Yamaha Corporation
LandOfFree
Display control apparatus for displaying gain setting value... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Display control apparatus for displaying gain setting value..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Display control apparatus for displaying gain setting value... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3318550