RF-based dynamic remote control for audio effects devices or the like

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing wireless remote control of devices, where the sensing/transmitting device is worn by, or affixed to, the operator, and responds in real-time to position or movements. The technology enables the operator to control remote devices, even while the operator is engaged in other activities. For an exemplary musical performance application, the remote control apparatus may take the form of a normal sized ring worn on a finger of a hand that the musician uses to play a musical instrument. The ring senses position or movement, e.g. of one or more fingers of the hand. In the examples, the remote control apparatus uses a capacitive measurement technique to measure an electrical field generated in the vicinity of the hand indicative of position. The musician or operator can finely control a device with the system, e.g. to provide nuanced control of audio effects during the performance.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawing figures depict one or more implementations in accord with the present teachings, by way of example only, not by way of limitation. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.

FIG. 1 shows an exterior view of wearable ring, as an example, of the remote control device.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section showing the relative positions of the internal components of the remote control device.

FIG. 3 illustrates an end-to-end system for controlling one or more connected audio effects devices, where such system involves the remote control device, an intermediate receiving (base) unit, and audio effects devices.

FIG. 4 a and FIG. 4b show examples of how the remote control apparatus may be worn and used with an exemplary performing accessory, such as a guitar. FIG. 4a shows an open (extended) finger position, while FIG. 4b shows a closed (flexed) finger position.

FIG. 5 provides a high-level functional architecture of the remote control apparatus.

FIG. 6 a provides a high-level circuit diagram of all the electronic systems in the remote control apparatus.

FIG. 6 b provides a diagram of state control of a loop structure assembly of the remote control apparatus via a microcontroller.

FIG. 6 c provides another example of a circuit embodiment.

FIG. 6 d provides a diagram of states of operation of the circuit of FIG. 6c.

FIG. 7 a illustrates the field lines of an exemplary capacitive sensing field, generated and sensed by the remote control apparatus. The field lines between the center conductor and outer (shield) conductor are not shown.

FIG. 7 b illustrates the field lines of the exemplary capacitive sensing field, in an embodiment that employs a capacitive shield to eliminate stray capacitance between the sensor plate and the other parts of the remote control apparatus.

FIG. 8 a shows a front view of the loop structure assembly within the remote control apparatus, which is used for both the capacitive sensing system and the antenna for transmitting control signals.

FIG. 8 b shows a crosscut section of the loop structure.

FIG. 9 a illustrates the active components on the underside of the ring's band, where the finger passes through.

FIG. 9 b and FIG. 9c illustrate the position of the sensor plate, in an example.

FIG. 10 a illustrates the digital messaging scheme used to transmit information from the remote control apparatus to the base unit.

FIG. 10 b illustrates the messaging scheme used to communicate semantic bit patterns to the base unit.

FIG. 10 c illustrates the pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme used to encode data bits.

FIG. 11 a illustrates the sampling of a waveform by the base (receive) unit, using a power correlation technique.

FIG. 11 b illustrates the sampling of multiple simultaneously transmitted control signals by the base (receive) unit, and the resulting derivation of multiple messages from a combined waveform.

FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary apparatus that may be used to recharge the remote control apparatus.

FIG. 13 illustrates a charge-based method for establishing a communications link with the internal microprocessor logic.

FIG. 14 a illustrates details of the inner band assembly.

FIG. 14 b is a schematic diagram of the grounding scheme, including aspects of the battery, circuit boards, and inner band.

FIG. 14 c is a diagram of an inner band configuration example.

FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary base unit.

FIG. 16 is a high-level diagram of the components and functional subsystems of an exemplary receive (base) unit.

FIG. 17 is a high-level block diagram of an exemplary reception process for the Base (Receive) Unit.

Claims

1. A method, comprising steps of: generating an electrical field at a location on a body of an operator;sensing the electrical field at the location, as an indication of relative position of a part of the body of the operator;wirelessly transmitting a signal representing a result of the sensing of the electrical field;receiving the wirelessly transmitted signal; andgenerating a control signal for output to a controlled device, based on the result of the sensing of the electrical field represented by the received signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sensing the electrical field comprises repeatedly measuring capacitance at a sensor plate at the location on the body of the operator.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each measuring of capacitance comprises: transferring charge from the sensor plate; andmeasuring the transferred charge as a representation of the capacitance at the sensor plate.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the signal representing the result of the sensing of the electrical field indicates time required to complete each measurement of the transferred charge.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the signal representing the result of the sensing of the electrical field indicates each measurement of the capacitance at the sensor plate.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of generating the electrical field comprises applying a voltage to the sensor plate.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating the control signal comprises generating a signal of a standard type to control an audio effects device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein: the operator is a musician involved in a musical performance;the location on the body of the operator is a location on a finger of a hand of the musician; andthe sensed electrical field provides an indication of relative position of a portion of the hand.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of generating the control signal comprises generating a signal of a standard type to control an audio effects device processing an audio signal from a musical instrument being played by the musician.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the method steps are performed while the musician is using the hand to play the musical instrument.

11. A wireless remote control system, comprising: a remote control apparatus configured for wearing on or attachment to a location on a body of an operator, the remote control apparatus comprising: (a) a sensor plate;(b) circuitry for applying a signal to the sensor plate to generate an electrical field at the location on the body of the operator, and for sensing the electrical field at the location as an indication of relative position of a part of the body of the operator; and(c) a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting a signal representing a result of the sensing of the electrical field; anda base unit, comprising: (1) a receiver for receiving the wirelessly transmitted signal; and(2) a processor coupled to the receiver, for generating a control signal, based on the result of the sensing of the electrical field indicated in the received signal.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the circuitry comprises: a capacitance-to-digital converter for repeatedly sensing charge transferred from the sensor plate, for producing a digital value representing a measurement of capacitance at the sensor plate in response to each transferred charge; anda controller, for controlling the transmitter in response to the measurements of capacitance.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein: the signal from the transmitter comprises a signal pulse modulated with a plurality of messages containing data;the data in one or more of the messages includes at least a tag identifying the remote control apparatus; andthe controller controls durations of intervals between successive message transmissions from the transmitter responsive to the sensing of the electrical field.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller controls the message transmissions from the transmitter in such a manner that the durations between successive message transmissions represent times required to complete respective measurements of capacitance at the sensor plate.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller controls the message transmissions from the transmitter in such a manner that the durations between successive message transmissions represent respective measurements of capacitance at the sensor plate.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein: the controller is programmable; andthe remote control apparatus includes a coupling for receiving an update of programming for the controller.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein: the processor is a programmable processor, andthe base unit further comprises: (a) memory for storing programming for the processor; and(b) an input interface coupled to the processor, for receiving programming for the processor for loading into the memory.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote control apparatus further comprises: a rechargeable battery providing operating power to the circuitry and the transmitter; anda coupling, for providing a connection of the battery to a charger.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein: the remote control apparatus further comprises a housing configured as a ring for wearing on a finger of a hand of the operator; andthe housing contains sensor plate, circuitry and transmitter.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the housing further contains a transmit antenna coupled to the transmitter.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein: the housing further contains a rechargeable battery providing operating power to the circuitry and the transmitter; andthe housing has a coupling, for providing a connection of the battery to a charger.

22. The system of claim 11, wherein the remote control apparatus further comprises a sensor for detecting a condition and supplying a condition responsive signal to the circuitry.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor for detecting temperature in relation to a battery of the remote control apparatus or a voltage detector for detecting voltage of the battery.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the sensor comprises a sensor of a type selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a photo sensor, a Hall Effect detector, a piezo sensor, and a pressure sensor.

25. The system of claim 11, wherein the base unit further comprises an output interface responsive to the processor, for supplying the control signal to a compatible controlled device.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the output interface is configured for compatibility with and control of an audio effects device.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the output interface comprises at least one interface selected from the group consisting of: a Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) type output interface;an expression pedal output interface; andan emulated footswitch relay.

28. A method of providing wireless remote control, comprising steps of: during physical manipulation of an object by an operator, but not directly related to the object manipulation, sensing in real-time position or motion of a part of the operator's body engaged in the manipulation of the object over a substantially continuous range of possible positions of the part of the operator's body;transmitting a wireless signal from a location on the operator's body, the wireless signal carrying information responsive to the real-time sensing of the position or motion of the part of the operator's body;receiving the wireless signal at a location remote from the operator; andgenerating a control signal for a controlled device, based on the information carried in the received wireless signal.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the operator is a musician, the object is a musical instrument, and the manipulation involves the musician playing the musical instrument.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein: the part of the operator's body comprises one or more fingers on a hand of the musician;andthe steps are performed while the musician is using the hand in the playing of the musical instrument.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein: the step of sensing position or motion comprises: (a) generating an electrical field at the location on the operator; and(b) sensing the electrical field at the location as an indication of relative position of the part of the body of the operator, andthe wirelessly transmitted signal carries information representing a result of the sensing of the electrical field.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of sensing the electrical field comprises repeatedly measuring capacitance at a sensor plate at the location on the body of the operator.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein each measuring of capacitance comprises: transferring charge from the sensor plate; andmeasuring the transferred charge as a representation of the capacitance at the sensor plate.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the information representing the result of the sensing of the electrical field indicates time required to complete each measurement of the transferred charge.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the information representing the result of the sensing of the electrical field indicates each measurement of the capacitance at the sensor plate.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of generating the electrical field comprises applying a voltage to the sensor plate.

37. A wireless remote control system comprising respective means for implementing each of the steps of the method of claim 28.