Multichannel controller

• US 9,823,825 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2014
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robotzone, LLC
• Original Assignee: Robotzone, LLC
• Inventors: Pettey, Brian T., Holt, Christopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Parker, Jeanette J
• Application Number:
  US14/303,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20140298233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• 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 non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions that, when executed, cause a computing device to execute operations comprising displaying a user interface on a display of the computing device for controlling a pan/tilt device, the user interface comprising:

a control mode selector that

displays a plurality of control mode selector icons, each of the plurality of control mode selector icons corresponding to a control mode of a plurality of control modes,

receives a user input selection of one of the plurality of control mode selector icons, and

displays a control mode corresponding to the selected control mode selector icon, wherein displaying the control mode comprises displaying, in the main portion of the user interface, a user controllable icon corresponding to the control mode,

a functionality limitation setting mechanism that

receives a user input selection of a functionality limitation applied to the selected direction of movement on the user controllable icon to limit the functionally in which the pan/tilt device is moved in the selected direction of movement on the user controllable icon,

wherein a user indicates a speed of movement of the pan/tilt device, the speed of movement of pan/tilt device corresponding to the distance the icon is moved from the center position or a rotational speed of the icon; and

wherein the user interface is accessed on a touch screen interface of the computing device.

2. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of control mode comprises a touchpad mode,

wherein the touchpad mode displays, in the main portion of the user interface, a solid color or a video from the pan/tilt device and enables a user to control the pan/tilt device by making touch gestures in the main portion of the user interface.

3. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of control modes comprises a trackball mode,

wherein the trackball mode, displays, in the main portion of the user interface, a user controllable trackball icon and enables a user to control the pan/tilt device by rotating the trackball icon.

4. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the plurality of control modes comprises a joystick mode,

wherein the trackball mode displays, in the main portion of the user interface, a user controllable joystick icon and enables a user to control the pan/tilt device by moving a position of the joystick icon.

5. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the functionality limitation setting mechanism further comprises a speed sensitivity setting mechanism.

6. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the functionality limitation setting mechanism further comprises a position lock setting mechanism.

7. The user interface of claim 6, wherein the position lock setting mechanism further comprises a user selection of an axis of movement of the pan/tilt device.

8. The user interface of claim 1, wherein the functionality limitation setting mechanism further comprises a maximum speed setting mechanism.

9. The user interface of claim 1, and further comprising:

a zoom setting mechanism, wherein a user indicates a zoom setting for the pan/tilt device.

10. A device comprising a controller coupled to one or more processors, a display, and a touchscreen interface on the display for a pan/tilt device, the controller comprising:

a display configured to display a plurality of control mode selector icons, each of the plurality of control mode selector icons corresponding to a control mode of a plurality of control modes;

a user input mechanism configured to receive a user selection of one of the plurality of control mode icons on a touchscreen;

wherein in response to the user selection, the displays a control mode corresponding to the selected control mode selector icon, wherein displaying the control mode comprises displaying, in the main portion of the user interface, a user controllable icon corresponding to the control mode;

a signal generator configured to

receive a user input selection of a functionality limitation applied to the selected direction of movement on the user controllable icon to limit the functionally in which the pan/tilt device is moved in the selected direction of movement on the user controllable icon;

wherein a user indicates a speed of movement of the pan/tilt device, the speed of movement of pan/tilt device corresponding to the distance the icon is moved from the center position or a rotational speed of the icon;

a processor that is configured to transmit the control signal to a motor of the pan/tilt device.

11. The controller of claim 10, wherein the controller is a phone.

12. The controller of claim 10, wherein the controller further comprises a zoom setting, wherein the zoom setting indicates a zoom level for a feed receiver of the pan/tilt device.

13. The controller of claim 10, wherein the controller further comprises a position lock setting.

14. The controller of claim 10, wherein the position lock setting locks a position of the pan/tilt device such that the pan/tilt device is unable to move along a locked axis.

15. The controller of claim 10, and further comprising:

a mode selector, wherein the user selects to operate the controller in an open-loop mode or a closed loop-mode.

16. A method for controlling a pan/tilt device, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of control mode selector icons on a touchscreen display of a computing device, each of the plurality of control mode selector icons corresponding to a control mode of a plurality of control modes;

receiving a user input selection of one of the plurality of control mode selector icons;

displaying a control mode corresponding to the selected control mode selector icon, wherein displaying the control mode comprises displaying, in the main portion of the user interface, a user controllable icon corresponding to the control mode;

receiving a user input indicative of a direction and a speed of movement for a pan/tilt device on the user controllable icon;

wherein the speed of movement of pan/tilt device corresponding to the distance the icon is moved from the center position or a rotational speed of the icon;

translating the received user input into a control signal comprising the indicated direction and speed; and

transmitting the control signal to the pan/tilt device.

17. The method of claim 16, and further comprising:

saving the indicated direction and speed of movement for the pan/tilt device.

18. The method of claim 16, and further comprising:

repeating the method for a plurality of pan/tilt devices.