Method, apparatus and computer-readable storage means for adjusting at least one parameter

• US 9,857,948 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2014
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Native Instruments GmbH (Soundwide GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Native Instruments GmbH (Soundwide GmbH)
• Inventors: Hlatky, Michael, Vallianatos, Dinos, Wachsmuth, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): MARINELLI, PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US14/339,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20150029115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,258 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0091 Means for obtaining special acoustic effects combined with modulation G10H1/043
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0551 using variable capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/46 Volume control
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/096 using a touch screen touch screen note input, e.g. using a displayed keyboard G10H2220/241; personal digital assistant [PDA] G10H2230/015
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/015 PDA [personal digital assistant] or palmtop computing devices used for musical purposes, e.g. portable music players, tablet computers, e-readers or smart phones in which mobile telephony functions need not be used touch-screen interfaces G10H2220/096
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/04 Studio equipment; Interconnection of studios

Abstract

The present invention concerns a method, an apparatus and a computer-readable storage means for adjusting at least one parameter, which can be used for enhancing the user experience of adjusting parameters, especially of adjusting parameters in common audio software through a system of assignable rotary encoders with capacitive-sensing knob caps and a parameter type aware software. In particular, the present invention ensures that parameters of (audio) software can be adjusted quickly, without diverting a user'"'"'s attention from actual tasks.

For this purpose, a method is proposed, where at least one touch sensitive input element is provided, for at least one of the input elements at least one of a time between subsequent sensed contacts and a time of the presence of the contact is determined, based on the determined time it is decided, whether the contact is a tap gesture, and a parameter is adjusted depending from the tap gesture.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting at least one parameter, the method comprising:

providing at least one touch sensitive mechanical input element that is part of a control device,

wherein the touch sensitive mechanical input element is configured to be operated in a conventional manner in order to adjust a parameter assigned to the touch sensitive mechanical input element, and

wherein the touch sensitive mechanical input element additionally includes a touch sensitive portion in order to receive a tap gesture;

contacting the touch sensitive portion of the touch sensitive mechanical input element;

determining for the touch sensitive mechanical input element a time of a presence of the contact;

determining, based on the determined time of the presence of the contact in relation to a pre-defined threshold, whether the contact is a tap gesture;

when it is determined that the contact is a tap gesture, adjusting the parameter assigned to the touch sensitive mechanical input element in accordance with a parameter manipulation for adjusting the parameter or a command for adjusting the parameter that is assigned to the tap gesture; and

when it is determined that the contact is not a tap gesture, adjusting the parameter in accordance with the conventional manner in which to operate the touch sensitive mechanical input element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a part of the tap gestures comprises multiple-tap gestures.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a part of the tap gestures comprises subsequent contacts of different duration with the at least one input element.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein different tap gestures are assigned to different parameter manipulations for adjusting the parameter or to different commands for adjusting the parameter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one parameter other than the parameter, which is assigned to the contacted touch sensitive mechanical input element, is adjusted.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting the parameter in accordance with a parameter manipulation for adjusting the parameter or a command for adjusting the parameter that is assigned to the tap gesture comprises at least one of setting the parameter to a pre-defined value and executing an undo command.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the pre-defined value is defined by the current value of the parameter.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the value defines a state of a device.

9. An apparatus, comprising at least one touch sensitive mechanical input element that is part of a control device,

wherein the touch sensitive mechanical input element is configured to be operated in a conventional manner in order to adjust a parameter assigned to the touch sensitive mechanical input element, and

where the touch sensitive mechanical input element additionally includes a touch sensitive portion in order to receive a tap gesture, and

a data processing unit,

the apparatus being configured for executing a method according to claims 1.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least a part of the at least one touch sensitive mechanical input element is realized as a capacity sensing input element.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is a mixing console.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, on which a program is stored, which enables a data processing system, after the program is loaded into memory means of the data processing system, to execute a method according to claim 1.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive mechanical input element is rotatable, and wherein the conventional operation is performed by rotating the touch sensitive mechanical input element.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensitive mechanical input element is shiftable, and wherein the conventional operation is performed by shifting the touch sensitive mechanical input element.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining for the touch sensitive mechanical input element a time between subsequent sensed contacts;

and, if the contact is a tap gesture, determining, based on the time between subsequent sensed contacts, a type of tap gesture.