Patent Grant
7060916
Control surfaces for a variety of audio processing systems, such as audio mixers, consoles and digital audio workstations, typically include numerous control devices and associated status displays. Example control devices include linear faders, rotary encoders, joysticks, touch pads and push buttons. Example status displays include LED arrays, alphanumeric displays and graphical displays. Sometimes the control device is motorized. In such a case, motion of the control device under control of a motor also functions as a status display.
Some control devices include embedded status displays, such as LED arrays in the tops of knobs or pushbuttons. By embedding a status display within the control device, the control device does not obstruct the view of the status display. However, the complexity of the control device is increased. Also, an operator normally does not have a full top view of a console surface which would enable the operator to see all of the status displays associated with all of the control devices. In actuality, many of the control devices on the control surface are viewed at an angle. Thus, the structure of the control device can obscure the view of embedded status displays.
A rotary encoder of a control surface has a display. The display includes a ring of light emitting elements, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), in the control surface around the shaft and knob of the rotary encoder. The rotary encoder has a shaft that rotates about an axis under control of an operator. The rotary encode has an output providing a signal indicative of the rotational movement of the shaft. A knob engages the shaft and is used by the operator to rotate the shaft. The knob, in general, has a narrow stem that engages the shaft of the rotary encoder and extends away from the control surface, and a top portion which the operator manipulates to turn the knob. The stem has a substantially circular cross-section, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft of the rotary encoder, with a narrow diameter. Similarly, the top portion has a substantially circular cross-section, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft of the rotary encoder, with a diameter larger than the diameter of the shaft cross-section. The narrow stem may have a cylindrical shape. The top portion may have a spherical shape and may be substantially rotationally symmetrical in a plane perpendicular to its axis, i.e., when viewed from the top. The knob and the shaft may be metalized to provide touch sensitivity. The top portion may include a rubber insert that protrudes around its circumference. The narrow diameter of the stem minimizes the obstruction of the view of the ring of light emitting elements. The size and texture of the top portion of the knob provides a good grip, feel and tactile response for the operator.
Referring now to
The printed circuit board also includes, for each rotary encoder, a ring of light emitting elements 110. A display assembly 134, for which an example construction is described in more detail below in connection with
One or more of such printed circuit boards may be present in the control surface. Each printed circuit board is connected to and in communication with a controller (not shown). The controller transmits information, such as settings from pushbuttons and rotary encoders, to another device such as a host computer. The controller also receives status information from other devices, such as the host computer. Such status information may be used, for example, to set the state of the ring of light emitting elements and the alphanumeric display.
The electromechanical components on the printed circuit board in
The knob, in general, has a narrow stem that engages the shaft of the rotary encoder and extends away from the control surface, and a top portion which the operator manipulates to turn the knob. The stem has a substantially circular cross-section, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft of the rotary encoder, with a narrow diameter. Similarly, the top portion has a substantially circular cross-section, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft of the rotary encoder, with a diameter larger than the diameter of the shaft cross-section. The narrow stem may have a cylindrical shape. The top portion may have a spherical shape and may be substantially rotationally symmetrical. The narrow diameter of the stem minimizes the obstruction of the view of the ring of light emitting elements. The size and texture of the top portion of the knob provides a good grip, feel and tactile response for the operator.
Referring now to
An appropriate fastener, such as a screw, may be used to connect the knob top to the knob base. The knob cap 208 with an interference fit with the knob top 204 may be used to hide such a fastener. The knob top 204 and knob base 200 can be connected using any of a variety of fastening mechanisms and the invention is not limited thereby. The knob base 200 and knob top 204 can be made of injection-molded, metalized plastic. In combination with a conductive shaft for the rotary encoder, the rotary encoder may be made touch-sensitive.
A knob insert 202 made of, for example, neoprene, may be provided between the knob top 204 and knob base 200. This knob insert has protrusions 216 that extend out of the knob assembly through apertures 218 in the knob top and knob base. The knob insert provides a good grip, feel and tactile response to the operator.
Except for the knob insert 202, the top portion of the knob assembly is substantially rotationally symmetrical in a plane perpendicular to its axis 214, i.e., when viewed from the top. The narrow diameter of the stem minimizes the obstruction of the view of the ring of light emitting elements. The size and texture of the top portion of the knob provides a good grip, feel and tactile response for the operator.
Such a knob may be used for rotary encoders of a variety of types, and is particularly useful for control surfaces of audio processing systems. In such systems, a large number of such rotary encoders and associated displays are used.
Having now described an example embodiment, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the foregoing is merely illustrative and not limiting, having been presented by way of example only. Numerous modifications and other embodiments are within the scope of one of ordinary skill in the art and are contemplated as falling within the scope of the invention.
This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/105,948, filed on Apr. 14, 2005, pending.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6674026 | McGrath et al. | Jan 2004 | B1 |
| 20050173232 | Horton et al. | Aug 2005 | A1 |
| 20050284737 | Shitanaka et al. | Dec 2005 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11105948 | Apr 2005 | US |
| Child | 11301802 | US |
