Touch Pad Disc Jockey Controller

• US 20110063230A1
• Filed: 09/11/2009
• Published: 03/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inmusic Brands Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gibson Brands, Inc.
• Inventors: Langlois, Damon, Mazur, James, Gibson, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,362,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0091 Means for obtaining special acoustic effects combined with modulation G10H1/043
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/241 Scratch effects, i.e. emulating playback velocity or pitch manipulation effects normally obtained by a disc-jockey manually rotating a LP record forward and backward
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/161 with 2D or x/y surface coordinates sensing graphical user interface or touchscreen input G10H2220/091; microtonal keyboard G10H2210/401
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/285 USB, i.e. either using a USB plug as power supply or using the USB protocol to exchange data
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/315 Firewire, i.e. transmission according to IEEE1394
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/321 Bluetooth

Abstract

The present invention pertains to the field of control and manipulation of a digital audio signal by a user manipulable touch sensitive control surface. The present invention is specifically applicable to user manipulation of digital audio signals by disc jockeys (DJs).

A touch sensitive surface substantially circumferential in shape is divided into two regions: an inner or central portion and an outer or circumferential portion. The inner portion responds to linear motion imparted by the user while the outer portion responds to circumferential motion. The linear motion imparted by the user in the central portion is used manipulate a digital audio data stream in order to impart a scratch effect.

Claims

1. A disc jockey controller, comprising:

a substantially circumferential shaped touch sensitive surface;

said touch sensitive surface has a central portion and a circumferential portion;

said central portion is disposed to respond to linear motion imparted by the user;

said circumferential portion is disposed to respond to circumferential motion imparted by the user;

a processing device disposed to process data imparted from said touch sensitive surface and create a control signal;

said control signal is disposed to communicate with means for processing an audio signal in order to manipulate a digital audio stream;

wherein user manipulation of said central portion is used to modulate the audio data stream in order to impart a “

scratch effect”

.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein data imparted from said circumferential portion is used to manipulate the audio data stream in order to impart a “

scratch effect”

.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one said circumferential portion is disposed to respond only to circumferential motion imparted by the user;

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said central portion is disposed to respond to only to linear motion imparted by the user;

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first plurality of visual indicators, linearly arranged and disposed to indicate linear motion imparted by the user.

a second plurality of visual indicators circumferentially arranged and substantially concentric with said circumferential portion said touch surface, disposed to indicate circumferential motion imparted by the user.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said control signal is disposed to communicate within a personal computer.

7. A disc jockey control device, comprising:

a substantially circumferential shaped touch sensitive surface;

said touch sensitive surface has a central portion and a circumferential portion, said circumferential portion comprising one or more circumferential sub-portions;

said central portion is disposed to respond to linear motion imparted by the user;

at least one said circumferential sub-portion is disposed to respond only to circumferential motion imparted by the user;

a means to select mode of operation;

a processing device disposed to process data imparted from said touch sensitive surface and create a control signal;

said control signal is disposed to communicate with means for processing a digital audio signal in order to manipulate a digital audio stream;

said means to select mode of operation configures said processing device to accept or ignore user input from said central portion and at least one said circumferential sub-portion.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein data imparted from said central portion is used to manipulate the audio data stream in order to impart a “

scratch effect”

.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said central portion is disposed to respond only to linear motion imparted by the user.

10. A device according to claims 7 further comprising:

a first plurality of visual indicators, linearly arranged and disposed to indicate linear motion imparted by the user.

a second plurality of visual indicators circumferentially arranged and substantially concentric with said circumferential portion said touch surface, disposed to indicate circumferential motion imparted by the user.