Multichannel controller

• US 8,791,911 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2011
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robotzone, LLC
• Original Assignee: Robotzone, LLC
• Inventors: Pettey, Brian T., Holt, Christopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Snyder, Adam J
• Application Number:
  US13/083,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20120200510A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 715/786, 349/211.8, 348/211.8
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Multichannel device controllers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a multichannel device controller includes a plurality of user selectable control modes for controlling a multichannel device and a plurality of user configurable settings for adjusting parameters associated with the plurality of user selectable control modes. A touchscreen displays a user interface corresponding to a selected one of plurality of user selectable control modes and receives user input indicative of a command to send to the multichannel device. A processor generates the command to send to the multichannel device based at least in part on the user input and the plurality of user configurable settings.

Claims

1. A multichannel pan/tilt controller comprising:

a plurality of user selectable control modes for controlling pan/tilt movement of a camera motion device, wherein each user selectable control mode corresponds to a different stored image of a camera motion control mechanism;

a plurality of user configurable settings for adjusting parameters associated with the plurality of user selectable control modes;

a touchscreen that displays a user interface corresponding to a selected one of the plurality of user selectable control modes and that receives user input indicative of a command to send a camera movement instruction to the camera motion device, and wherein the user interface incorporates the one of said different stored images that corresponds to the selected control mode; and

a processor that generates the command to send the camera movement instruction to the camera motion device based at least in part on the user input and the plurality of user configurable settings.

2. The multichannel pan/tilt controller of claim 1, wherein the selected one of the plurality of user selectable control modes is a slider mode such that the user interface displayed on the touchscreen shows an image of an adjustable slider and the user input is a touch input mode when a user touches the touch screen on the user interface on or proximate to the image of the adjustable slider, and wherein the command generated by the processor reflects the characteristics of how said user touched said touch screen on said user interface.

3. The multichannel pan/tilt controller of claim 1, wherein the user interface simultaneously displays on the touchscreen an image of a pan or tilt motion control mechanism with video received from a camera, wherein the user input is a touch on the touch screen directed to the image of the pan or tilt motion control mechanism, and wherein the video output is video output received from a camera attached to the camera motion device.

4. The multichannel pan/tilt controller of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user configurable settings include both of a speed setting and a sensitivity setting, and wherein both the speed setting and the sensitivity setting are received as user inputs through the touch screen.

5. The multichannel pan/tilt controller of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user configurable settings include both of a device orientation setting and an inverted axis setting, and wherein both the device orientation setting and the inverted axis settings are received as user inputs through the touch screen.

6. The multichannel pan/tilt controller of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user configurable settings include both of a position lock setting and a rotation lock setting, and wherein both the position lock setting and the rotation lock setting are received as user inputs through the touch screen.

7. The multichannel pan/tilt controller of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user selectable control modes include an autonomy level that falls along a selectable scale between fully autonomous and manual control.

8. The multichannel pan/tilt controller of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of user selectable control modes includes a mode to control multiple camera motion devices, wherein controlling multiple camera motion devices comprises sending each of the camera movement instructions to each of the camera motion devices simultaneously.

9. The multichannel pan/tilt controller of claim 1, wherein each of the user selectable control modes comprises a set of user adjustable parameters that, when selected, generate the camera movement instruction.

10. The multichannel pan/tilt controller of claim 1, wherein sending the camera movement instruction comprises sending the camera movement instruction wirelessly from the user interface to the camera motion device.

11. The multichannel pan/tilt controller of claim 1, wherein the camera movement instruction consists of a direction of rotation and a speed of rotation of the camera motion device.

12. A pan/tilt controller comprising:

a scrollable taskbar having user selectable icons; and

a processor that generates user interfaces corresponding to the user selectable icons, one of the user interfaces being associated with selecting an pan/tilt autonomy level for a camera motion controller, wherein the pan/tilt autonomy level falls along a selectable scale between autonomous and manual control.

13. The pan/tilt controller of claim 12, wherein the autonomy of the camera motion controller is semi, but not completely manual.

14. The pan/controller of claim 12, wherein the autonomy level of the camera motion controller is semi, but not completely autonomous.

15. The pan/tilt controller of claim 12, wherein the parameter of the camera motion controller includes a maximum motor speed setting, wherein the maximum motor speed comprises the maximum rate or pan or tilt movement of a motor controlling the movement of a camera.

16. The pan/tilt controller of claim 12, wherein the parameter of the camera motion control includes a sensitivity setting, wherein a sensitivity setting comprises the measure of response of the motor to a camera movement instruction.

17. A pan/tilt comprising:

a touchscreen having a single screen comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion includes a plurality of icons, wherein each of the icons corresponds to a pan/tilt control mode, and wherein the second portion displays user interfaces associated with the plurality of icons, a first one of the user interfaces corresponding to a control mode that enables separated user control of each of a pan motion channel and a tilt motion channel, and a second one of the user interfaces corresponds to a control mode that enables simultaneous control of the pan and tilt motion channels; and

a processor that generates and sends pan/tilt command signals based at least in part upon input into the touchscreen, relative to the first or second user interface.

18. The pan/tilt controller of claim 17, wherein a third one of the user interfaces is associated with device camera movement device performing a programmed maneuver.

19. The pan tilt controller of claim 17, wherein controlling each pan and tilt channel of a camera movement device comprises adjusting a plurality of parameters related to a position and pan and tilt movement sequence of the camera movement device.

20. The pan/tilt controller of claim 17, wherein a third one of the user interfaces is associated with utilizing accelerometer input of a motor associated with a camera movement device.