Rotary control

• US 5,450,075 A
• Filed: 03/28/1994
• Issued: 09/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AMS Industries PLC
• Original Assignee: AMS Industries PLC
• Inventors: Waddington, George M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/218,848
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.26, 340/825.31, 340/825.03, 340/825.04, 340/825, 340/870.28, 345/35, 341/35, 341/192, 200/308, 200/316, 116/245, 116/256, 116/257, 116/309, 116/310, 381/119, 362/32, 362/23, 362/26, 362/37
• US Class Current: 340/870.28
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/10 Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles G05G1/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/025 Light-emitting indicators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/0621 Optical fiber light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/181 using a programmable display, e.g. LED or LCD

Abstract

A rotary control for a music mixing desk consists of a cylindrical knob which includes an information display. The knob is fashioned from an electrically conductive plastic material and is in electrical contact with the spindle of the knob which is connected to a touch sensitive circuit. The rotary control is thereby able to sense the touch of a mixing desk operator without the operator having to turn the knob. The mixing desk can be programmed to undertake various actions upon touching the knob. The display consists of a plurality of light transmitting channels composed of an optic fiber or a wave guide comprising a bundle of optic fibers. Light transmitting elements are disposed at one end of respective channels and circuitry connected to the elements enable certain selected elements to be activated to denote certain conditions. In this way display of signal conditions can be made within a restricted space. The display may also consists of a matrix of light emitting diodes or liquid crystal displays which are provided on top of the knob.

Claims

1. A rotary control comprising:

a base having a rotatable spindle mounted thereon;

a body of rotationally symmetrical configuration including an axially extending bore for receiving said spindle, said body being coaxially rotatable with said spindle, said body including an end face and a lower face and further including a plurality of individual channels which extend through said body from said lower face to said end face;

a sensor for sensing an angular position of said body;

a plurality of light emitting elements mounted in said base around the axis of said spindle beneath said lower face wherein light emitted from said light emitting elements is visible through said channels; and

a control for controlling the operation of said light emitting elements in response to said angular position of said body.

2. The rotary control of claim 1 further comprising a sensor for detecting the touch of an operator of said rotary control.

3. The rotary control of claim 2 wherein said body and said spindle are fabricated from an electrically conductive material, said body being in electrical contact with said spindle, said spindle being electrically connected to a touch sensitive circuit, said body and said spindle forming an electrical pathway between an operator of said rotary control and said touch sensitive circuit, said circuit being operable for detecting the touch of an operator to said body.

4. The rotary control of claim 3 further comprising a plurality of light transmitting elements received in said channels.

5. In the rotary control of claim 4, said light transmitting elements comprising optical fibers.

6. A rotary control comprising:

a base having a rotatable spindle mounted thereon;

a body of rotationally symmetrical configuration including an axially extending bore for receiving said spindle, said body being coaxially rotatable with said spindle, said body including an end face and a lower face and further including a plurality of individual channels disposed around the axis of rotation of said spindle at a predetermined radius to said axis of rotation, said channels extending through said body from said lower face to said end face;

a sensor for sensing an angular position of said body;

a plurality of light emitting elements mounted in said base around the axis of said spindle at said predetermined radius so that light emitted from said light emitting elements is transmitted through said channels; and

a control for controlling the operation of said light emitting elements in response to said angular position of said body.

7. The rotary control of claim 6 further comprising a sensor for detecting the touch of an operator of said rotary control.

8. The rotary control of claim 7 wherein said body and said spindle are fabricated from an electrically conductive material, said body being in electrical contact with said spindle, said spindle being electrically connected to a touch sensitive circuit, said body and said spindle forming an electrical pathway between an operator of said rotary control and said touch sensitive circuit, said circuit being operable for detecting the touch of an operator to said body.