Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Touch panel
Patent
1996-11-18
1999-11-02
Lefkowitz, Edward
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Touch panel
345156, 345173, 84733, 341 11, 364480, G09G 500
Patent
active
059779560
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to variable voltage controllers. It concerns in particular controllers known as studio faders.
A studio fader is a manually operated control used to change the level of a signal going through it. The fader works in the same way as a volume control on a hi-fi system, except that the control knob moves linearly, rather than rotating. There are numbers along the length of the fader which facilitate accurate positioning of the control knob, but even without such a scale the position of the control knob gives a good visual guide to the effect the fader is having on the signal. For example, with the control knob at the bottom of the fader there would be no output signal. Moving the control up the fader increases the signal until the control is at the very top, where there is maximum signal output.
The main application of faders is in the professional audio and video consoles used in recording studios and in T.V. and radio stations. A fader has two main advantages over a rotary control; the signal level can be precisely controlled with a single finger (leaving other fingers free to control more faders) and the position of the control knob can be more easily seen. This latter point becomes increasingly important in the larger consoles, where the number of faders can be very high (sixty plus). With a complex piece of music, for example, it is a great help to be able to see at a glance the levels of the individual instruments on the fader controls whilst listening to the overall sound.
The standard fader consists of a resistive track, along which is moved a slider having a control knob for manipulation and metal contacts pressing against the resistive track. The moving parts are subject to wear and friction, and binding may occur with use. This results in an ill-defined force being needed to operate each controller leading to unpredictable movement of the control knobs and, therefore, to unpredictable changes in the signal levels. As most controller applications require precise control of the signal level, this is far from optimum.
Fader automation can be provided to assist the operator. During a first mixing operation (where signals from many faders are mixed together) the automation system remembers any change in position of any fader. Each slider is motorised and the motor is driven by the automation system so that, in following mixing operations, the faders repeat their original movements, just as though they were being manually operated. The control knob positions are effective indications . This leaves the operator's hands free to select just those faders which need re-adjustment during the mixing process. This is a good system, but can be expensive.
Alternatively, the fader positions are shown on a display screen, but it is difficult to relate quickly and exactly which image on the screen corresponds to which fader on the console.
It is the aim of this invention to avoid the difficulties and expense of a mechanical controller and the problems of a display screen.
According to the present invention there is provided signal control apparatus comprising an electrically resistive strip capable of being touched by or of being in close proximity to a finger, means for coupling a signal into the strip, and means for detecting the signal outputs at each end of the strip, these outputs being dependent, in use, on the position along the strip of a finger in contact therewith, or in close proximity thereto, and providing a leakage path for some of the signal.
It will be understood that, in this specification, the term `finger` is used to indicate not just a human digit but anything that an operator can use to slide up and down a resistive strip. A finger is the most readily available instrument and hence is taken as an example throughout.
Preferably, there will be means for indicating the last position of a finger along the strip when that finger has been removed. This facilitates the return of the finger to that position and thus a smooth transition to further control movement.
The signal coupled
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Lefkowitz Edward
Woods Davetta
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