Method and apparatus for dynamic remapping of video switcher control inputs
First Claim
1. A manually variable control apparatus for setting a magnitude of a controlled parameter between a maximum and a minimum during a period of transition of the parameter defining an effect, the manually variable control apparatus having a control device with a movable part and producing an electrical output which varies in response to position of the movable part, and the controlled parameter being responsive to a magnitude regulator operable to set the level of the controlled parameter in response to an input to the magnitude regulator, the apparatus comprising:
- a remapping means operable to digitize the electrical output of the control device and storage means operable to register the level of the controlled parameter, the remapping means providing the input to the magnitude regulator, the remapping means varying the input to the magnitude regulator as a function of changes in the electrical output of the control device during the transition, and the remapping means also mathematically scaling and shifting changes in the input to the magnitude regulator relative to changes in the digitized electrical output of the control device, so that full displacement of the manually variable control device between a minimum and maximum physical position thereof corresponds linearly to a predetermined span of the controlled parameter which predetermined span is less than or equal to a full possible span of the controlled parameter.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A remapping apparatus and method dynamically map the endpoints of a manual control to scaled and shifted values of a controlled parameter magnitude, such that the full span of the control corresponds to transition of a controlled parameter between desired endpoints, normally over less than the full possible span of transition. The mapping is recalculated repetitively and accounts for constraints on the controlled parameter resulting from variations in related parameters. The apparatus and method are especially applicable to controlling transition effects produced by a video switcher. A digital computer senses the position of the control and registers the level of a controlled parameter (and preferably also the level of constraining related parameters). The computer provides a control input to a magnitude control device, varying in response to changes in the control, but recalculating the relationship of incremental changes in the control to incremental changes in the controlled parameter, maintaining a scaled and shifted relationship in which the remaining span of the control to the end of its full span corresponds linearly to the remaining span of the controlled parameter to reach its endpoints.
12 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A manually variable control apparatus for setting a magnitude of a controlled parameter between a maximum and a minimum during a period of transition of the parameter defining an effect, the manually variable control apparatus having a control device with a movable part and producing an electrical output which varies in response to position of the movable part, and the controlled parameter being responsive to a magnitude regulator operable to set the level of the controlled parameter in response to an input to the magnitude regulator, the apparatus comprising:
a remapping means operable to digitize the electrical output of the control device and storage means operable to register the level of the controlled parameter, the remapping means providing the input to the magnitude regulator, the remapping means varying the input to the magnitude regulator as a function of changes in the electrical output of the control device during the transition, and the remapping means also mathematically scaling and shifting changes in the input to the magnitude regulator relative to changes in the digitized electrical output of the control device, so that full displacement of the manually variable control device between a minimum and maximum physical position thereof corresponds linearly to a predetermined span of the controlled parameter which predetermined span is less than or equal to a full possible span of the controlled parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for setting a magnitude of a controlled parameter during a user-controlled transition of the controlled parameter defining an effect, comprising the steps of:
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defining endpoints for the controlled parameter during a transition of the controlled parameter between the endpoints under control of a manual control device which produces an electrical level as a function of displacement of the control device, the control device having fixed maximum and minimum displacements, the endpoints defining a desired span of transition of the controlled parameter less than or equal to a maximum span of the controlled parameter between maximum and minimum endpoint values; producing an electrical level by varying a position of the control device over a full span of said displacement of the control device between the maximum and minimum displacements of the control device; digitizing the electrical level and storing the digitized electrical level in a register; storing a controlled level of the controlled parameter in a register; and
,remapping the electrical level and controlling the controlled parameter to a parameter level passing between said endpoints by regulating displacement of the controlled parameter as a function of the electrical level, the electrical level being first scaled and shifted to make the full span of the control device correspond linearly to the desired span of the controlled parameter within said endpoints. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification