Touchless knob and method of use

• US 10,395,630 B1
• Filed: 02/26/2018
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jonathan Greenlee
• Original Assignee: Jonathan Greenlee
• Inventors: Greenlee, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US15/905,814
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 84672
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04108 Touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface without distance measurement in the Z direction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• 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 1/0553 using optical or light-responsive means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0555 using magnetic or electromagnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/18 Selecting circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/348 Switches actuated by parts of the body other than fingers
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/401 3D sensing, i.e. three-dimensional (x, y, z) position or movement sensing. movement pattern or gesture sensing G10H2220/201; geolocation sensing G10H2220/355, 3D sensing with accelerometer G10H2220/395
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/405 Beam sensing or control, i.e. input interfaces involving substantially immaterial beams, radiation, or fields of any nature, used, e.g. as a switch as in a light barrier, or as a control device, e.g. using the theremin electric field sensing principle theremins G10H2230/051
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/411 Light beams key actuation detection using light G10H2220/305
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/425 Radio control, i.e. input or control device involving a radio frequency signal
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/435 Ultrasound, i.e. input or control device involving inaudible pressure waves, e.g. focused as a beam
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/051 Spint theremin, i.e. mimicking electrophonic musical instruments in which tones are controlled or triggered in a touch-free manner by interaction with beams, jets or fields, e.g. theremin, air guitar, water jet controlled musical instrument, i.e. hydrolauphone
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/186 Means for processing the signal picked up from the strings filtering G10H1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 5/002 Instruments using voltage controlled oscillators and amplifiers or voltage controlled oscillators and filters, e.g. Synthesisers

Abstract

A signal processing system, machine and method of use to dynamically change the parameters of an audio-visual signal processing circuit without making physical contact.

Claims

1. An audio effects signal processing system, comprising:

a) an audio effects signal processing circuit for receiving an unprocessed input signal and modifying the unprocessed input signal into a processed output signal as a function of at least one parameter of the audio effects signal processing circuit; and

b) at least one touchless sensor emitting at least one touchless sensor output signal in response to the proximity of an object to the at least one touchless sensor; and

c) a processor for controlling the at least one parameter of the audio effects signal processing circuit as a function of the at least one touchless sensor output signal and one or more control algorithms comprising one or more function transformations.

2. The audio effects signal processing system of claim 1, wherein the system includes an input for selecting or modifying the one or more function transformations.

3. The audio effects signal processing system of claim 1 wherein the processor includes one or more preset parameters and wherein the system includes an input for selecting or modifying the one or more preset parameters.

4. The audio effects signal processing system of claim 1 wherein the system includes one or more information outputs and wherein the system includes an input for selecting or modifying the one or more information outputs.

5. The audio effects signal processing system of claim 1 wherein the at least one touchless sensor includes a Theremin.

6. The audio effects signal processing system of claim 1 wherein the at least one touchless sensor includes a distance sensor.

7. The audio effects signal processing system of claim 1 wherein the at least one touchless sensor includes a capacitive sensor.

8. A machine for controlling at least one parameter of an audio effects signal processing circuit, the machine comprising:

a) at least one touchless sensor emitting at least one touchless sensor output signal in response to the proximity of an object to the at least one touchless sensor; and

b) a processor for controlling the at least one parameter of the audio effects signal processing circuit as a function of the at least one touchless sensor output signal and one or more control algorithms comprising one or more function transformations.

9. The machine of claim 8 wherein the machine includes an input for selecting or modifying the one or more function transformations.

10. The machine of claim 8 wherein the processor includes one or more preset parameters and wherein the machine includes an input for selecting or modifying the one or more preset parameters.

11. The machine of claim 8 wherein the machine includes one or more information outputs and wherein the machine includes an input for selecting or modifying the one or more information outputs.

12. The machine of claim 8 wherein the at least one touchless sensor includes a Theremin.

13. The machine of claim 8 wherein the at least one touchless sensor includes a distance sensor.

14. The machine of claim 8 wherein the at least one touchless sensor includes a capacitive sensor.

15. A method for controlling an audio effects signal processing circuit, the method comprising:

a) receiving at least one touchless sensor output signal from at least one touchless sensor; and

b) selecting or modifying one or more function transformations; and

c) computing at least one modified parameter value for at least one audio effects signal processing circuit parameter as a function of the at least one touchless sensor output signal and one or more control algorithms comprising the one or more function transformations; and

d) modifying the at least one audio effects signal processing circuit parameter to the at least one modified parameter value.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one touchless sensor includes a Theremin.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one touchless sensor includes a distance sensor.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one touchless sensor includes a capacitive sensor.