CN101395451A - Information displays - Google Patents

Abstract

An information display for visually presenting one or more dynamically-changing quantities in a circular or curvilinear format has one or more metering units, each having one or more displays, wherein the display of each metering unit includes at least one selectively activatable annular display having one or more portions, each portion relating to a respective information source and being variably activatable in response to quantitative information associated with that source. The display of each metering unit may further include a central display portion within the at least one annular display, the central display portion being adapted for displaying alphanumeric text, or a ring of buttons around the at least one annular display, or both a central display portion and a ring of buttons. Each annular display portion may exhibit a bidirectional or unidirectional spreading as a measure of the quantative information associated with a source increases.

Description

Information display

Technical field

The present invention relates to information display.More specifically, the present invention relates to the dynamically display of the information of change,, wherein present the amount of one or more dynamic changes with circle or curve form such as gauging table and metering display.Though the present invention is described in the demonstration in conjunction with the information relevant with the characteristic of one or more passages of audio-frequency information, but be to be understood that, the present invention is applicable to the demonstration of the information relevant with the characteristic of the signal of the dynamic change of any type basically, for example comprise the signal relevant with the electric signal of other types, such as vision signal, with other physical phenomenons of expression (such as flowing of electric wave, sound wave or fluid wave, the signal of signal correction or the flowing of particle or material), and with the signal of the signal correction of the amount of the non-physical phenomenon of expression.

Background technology

The needs that the passage to variable number measures in many voice applications, have been produced.For example, people may wish to equipment or processing input, measure from the output of equipment or processing or certain combination of these two.

Consider an example.According to user's needs, audio signal processor can be customized to has more or less physics input and output.Can pass through to insert the firm and hard existing this customization of I/O (I/O) of cabinet, thereby the passage of variable number is provided.For example, basic model can provide 4 inputs and 8 outputs.Extended model can have 4 inputs and 12 outputs, or 8 inputs and 8 outputs.The configuration of possible difference is common is metering display on the case front panel.Wish to have the metering display of the physical channel that can adapt to number of variations.

The needs of the metering display of the passage that can adapt to number of variations are not existed only in the hardware that physical I/O can change.Fixed physical configuration for input and output still has some possible metering options.People may wish only to show input, only show output or the two certain combination.This has increased the needs to the gauging table of the passage that can adapt to number of variations or metering demonstration.

Kuo Zhan audio process can present the passage of a great deal of to the user fully, and this needs a kind of metered scheme that can measure a large amount of passages simultaneously.The metering of sufficiently clear should allow the inswept gauging table of user, and promptly determines signal message; Yet, provide the difficulty of clear metering to increase along with the number of active lanes that is measured.

Along with this measurement problem generally occurs, had address this problem multiple and formerly attempted.

A kind of commonsense method of audio frequency metering is to adopt the gauging table that vertically reads (each is linear histogram) of a horizontal line, and each vertimeter scale is represented single passage.Though the vertimeter scale allows to check apace the signal level with respect to other signals that are measured, they clearly do not provide the absolute signal level.Unless can be clear that the place of vertimeter scale " end ", otherwise be difficult to see that how near the signal maximal value possible with it have.

At the existing method of problem of the passage of metering number of variations based on traditional " vertimeter scale ".For the passage that shows that number increases, reduce the width of each vertimeter scale, thereby allow more vertimeter scales side by side to be placed in the delegation.Yet along with the width of vertimeter scale reduces, it becomes and is difficult to read.The width of row is by the physical size of display, for example its width of representing with pixel fixes.

Circular gauging table has the advantage that allows the user to notice signal level apace by the angle of " reading " gauging table arm.Can know to know how many arms turned on circle at once, and therefore can know immediately that how near signal and maximal value have.Yet traditional circular gauging table makes and to be difficult to solve the problem that the passage to number of variations measures.For readable, circular gauging table must have certain size, thereby and people can not as treating the vertimeter scale, shorten circular gauging table simply.

Description of drawings

Fig. 1 is the upper left front perspective view of the front panel that has information display according to aspects of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the front view of the front panel that has information display according to aspects of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is the front view of the part of the front panel that has metering units according to aspects of the present invention.Show first example of metering display;

Fig. 4 is the front view of the part of the front panel that has metering units according to aspects of the present invention.Show second example of metering display;

Fig. 5 is the front view of the part of the front panel that has metering units according to aspects of the present invention.Show the 3rd example of metering display;

Fig. 6 is the front view of the part of the front panel that has metering units according to aspects of the present invention.Show the 4th example of metering display;

Fig. 7 a, 7b and 8-13 are the examples corresponding to the display of the software realization of the example of Fig. 3-6;

Figure 14 is used to realize the simplification functional-block diagram that may install of the present invention.

Summary of the invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, a kind of information display that is used for visually presenting with circle or curve form the amount of one or more dynamic changes comprises one or more metering units, each metering units has one or more demonstrations, wherein the demonstration of each metering units comprises that at least one annular with one or more parts that optionally activates shows, each part is relevant with information source separately, and can activate changeably in response to the quantitative information that is associated with this source.In this information display, (1) demonstration of each metering units can also comprise that this at least one annular shows interior central display part, the central authorities display part is suitable for the display text digital text, (2) demonstration of each metering units can also comprise a circle button that shows around this at least one annular, or the demonstration of (3) each metering units can also comprise that (a) this at least one annular shows interior central display part, the central authorities display part can show an alphanumeric text and a circle button that (b) shows around this at least one annular.The variable activation of each annular display part can be measuring increase and being presented at the increase two-way extension in ground gradually on the both direction along annular along with the quantitative information that is associated with the source.Replacedly, the variable activation of each annular display part can be measuring increase and showing the increase unidirectional extension in ground gradually in one direction along annular along with the quantitative information that is associated with the source.When adopting button, one or more outward appearances can be suitable for being changed in these buttons.The change of button outward appearance can comprise (1) outward appearance that light or that do not light and (2) its color or not have color.In these buttons in one or more each can be associated with the part that annular shows.Each can be associated with the different aspect of same treatment in the each several part that annular shows.Processing can be relevant with voice-grade channel.Can have a plurality of metering units, each unit can be associated with different processing.For example, each processing can be relevant with different voice-grade channels.Can realize this display with hardware basically, or can realize this display with the display of software control basically.

Embodiment

Fig. 1 and 2 shows the front panel 2 of the audio signal processor with a plurality of metering units according to aspects of the present invention.Though adopted 4 metering units (4,6,8 and 10) in this example,, the metering units of arbitrary number (one or more) can be used in combination with the set of process or equipment or process and equipment.Fig. 3-6 shows the enlarged drawing of the metering units 6 of example.Each metering units (4,6,8 and 10) can comprise the central alphanumeric display part 12 that can show arbitrary text, around the annular metering of central alphanumeric display part or indication section part 14 and around a circle button 16 of metering or indication section part 14.As described below, each metering units can also comprise the some additional buttons that are associated with it.For example, can be by realizing central alphanumeric display part 12 and annular metering section part 14 by the LCD display of conventional lcd controller/driver control or by general bit mapped display (such as computer monitor).Can realize a kind of implementation with hardware (shown in the example of Fig. 1-6) or software (shown in the example of Fig. 7-12), comprise luminous (illuminated) button.

In this example, central alphanumeric display part 12 has 3 horizontal line to use, wherein middle row than on it and its row down big, each is capable to have 10 character capacity that can show arbitrary text, such as the passage that is measured with mark.More or less row can be provided.Can provide every row more or less character capacity.What the size of character needn't be than in other row in the middle row is big.The character capacity of every row needn't be identical.If desired, can ignore central alphanumeric display part 12 fully.

In this example, metering or indication section part 14 have two groups of annular can the section of activation, outside group 14a and inboard group 14b, and wherein each section group has 104 sections (segment).Though this example has two groups of sections of annular, also can provide one or more groups section of annular.By whether adopt central alphanumeric part (and if adopt, then by its size) and the maximum number of the readability decision circular groups section of the most inboard one group of section of annular, wherein the whole size of the readable metered unit of Huan Xing the most inboard one group of section influences.In a practical embodiments of the configuration shown in Fig. 1-6, the diameter of the ring of button 16 is approximately 80mm (about 3 and 1/8 inches), and the diameter of LCD display part is approximately 60mm (about 2 and 3/8 inches).If though keep the section of similar number in each circular groups, the size of each section is inevitable littler in the then progressively inboard ring segment group, can change not the relative size of inner segment on the same group, so that increase readable.Therefore, in the example of Fig. 1-6, the axial length of the section in the interior annular group is bigger than exterior annular group.

Though adopt the section of similar number has provides identical metering resolution (metering resolution) in each group advantage in different circular groups, it is not essential doing like this.Therefore, for example, if desired, inner loop can comprise section still less.The number of grouping inner segment can change, and this allows to be used for the configuration of different metering tasks.Can trade off to metering resolution with respect to compactedness.

In this example, 16 buttons of individual pen 16 are around metering section part 14.An additional circle or a multi-turn button can be provided.One circle can have in the button more than 16 or be less than 16 buttons.Though this example shows identical size and around the equally distributed button of circle, button needs not to be identical size, button also needn't distribute equably around circle.Replacedly, can ignore around the button of metering section part.As described below, button can have a plurality of functions.Function is can be selectively luminous as in indicator-these buttons some or all, and so luminous can Show Color.The function of button can depend on the pattern of metering units realization function.Each passage that is measured can be associated with single button, and wherein this single button is luminous to show that it in use.

Consider following Example.If metering units has been configured to show the output metrical information, then keep pressing the button can so that on aplhanumeric visual display the display channel title.If metering units has been configured to show the input metrical information, then the function of button can be configured to depend on Mute Enable (quiet enabling) button.If pressed Mute Enable, then encircle button (ring button) relevant input channel is muted.If also do not press Mute Enable, then pressing the ring button can be so that the input channel title be displayed on the aplhanumeric visual display.The luminous color of button can be variable, and this provides the indication of the shown information state of the concrete metering section that is associated to push button function or with button.

In the example of Fig. 1-4, each metering units 4,6,8,10 is in such operator scheme, promptly this operator scheme allows to show about each three groups of information (that is, each metering units can show that three groups of information of a certain passage-it has three meterings or indicating section) among 4 voice-grade channel A, B, C and the D.For example can be used for select operating mode, wherein, for example come choice menus to select by in some and/or other buttons in the button 16 shown in the example of Fig. 1-6 some by making of selecting of menu.Other operator schemes for example can allow one group of information of each passage, two groups of information of each passage (seeing the example of Fig. 5), four groups of information of each passage (seeing the example of Fig. 6) etc.In fact, from the angle of user's readability, may not wish that each metering units is more than 4 or 5 groups of information.

Each metering units can show that first group of information is not assigned with in the example about Fig. 1-4 of 3 groups of information of a certain passage therein, and second group of information is the input signal amplitude, and the 3rd group of information is the output signal amplitude.In these three road examples, first row of alphanumeric information is " N:CL3WAY ", and wherein " N " is one of passage A, B, C or D, thus the indication special modality relevant with this metering units, and operator scheme is three the tunnel.In this example second row is indicated " CL3WAY " with bigger character, and does not use the third line, and the third line is indicated by 4 dashes.

In three dataway operation patterns of the example of Fig. 1-4, a section in the ring is activated, and shows in three groups of information that just are being shown the measurement centre of each.Therefore, the section 18 among the outer portion part ring 14a and 20 and inner section ring 14b in section 22 be activated.In principle, these sections can be in identical Duan Huan (that is, all in outer ring or all in interior side ring).Yet shown configuration has for each metering section provides wider advantage, because these three measurement centre positions are not be equal to each other isolated (because hop count and button number can not be divided exactly by 3).

As mentioned above, a message block of unallocated section 18 marks that activate by the left side.Therefore, as shown in the figure, can activate the metering section center 20 that is positioned at adjacent interior annular section place, but, just not activate other sections as long as do not distribute this metering section.In addition, the adjacent buttons 24 in the button ring 16 is not activated.Therefore, the user can observe easily that in three available information indicators in this three dataway operations pattern one is not assigned with and be non-activation.

In this example, near the indication of the segmentum laterale the medial segment 22 that activates input signal amplitude.The input signal amplitude of given time is by the number indication of the section that activates in the outer ring, and wherein in the segmentum laterale adjacent with medial segment 22, these sections are extended (a kind of interchangeable extension method is described below) in each direction symmetrically from central segment 26.In order to indicate this group information to activate, the button 28 adjacent with metering section center 26 is activated.This can finish by this button is lighted, such as by lighting the green LCD in the button.

In this example, near the indication of the medial segment the segmentum laterale 20 that activates output signal amplitude.The output signal amplitude of given time is by the number indication of the section that activates in the inner loop, and wherein in the inner loop adjacent with outer portion part 20, these sections are extended in each direction symmetrically from central segment 30.In the example of Fig. 3, input signal is not high to making it that audio-signal-driven is arrived amplitude limit (clipping).Therefore, as shown in Figure 3, activate the button 26 adjacent with metering section center 26.This can finish by making button have green color, such as by lighting the green LCD in the button.In Fig. 1,2 and 4 example, the channel B metering units has the input of enough amplitudes so that audio processing equipment is driven into amplitude limit.Therefore, the extendability of the metering section of the activation of indication input and output signal is bigger.In addition, in order to indicate amplitude limit, as shown in the figure, big reading can be indicated " CLIP ", and can be preferably lights adjacent with button 32 two additional buttons 34 and 36 with the color different with non-amplitude limit state.When the audio frequency apparatus amplitude limit, button 32,34 and 36 can be red, for example by lighting the red LCD in each button.Though preferably light at least three buttons to attract user's notice, replacedly, can only light one or two.

Therefore, by sweeping one or more metering units, the user can understand the state of each message context of one or more voice-grade channels apace.

Can control the speed of change that metering section is followed the electric signal of the information that expression just is being shown by electric signal is averaged, thereby show and present suitable gauging table track.

Fig. 5 and 6 is additional examples of possible display.

In the example of Fig. 5, metering units is in the two-way operator scheme, and wherein each is relevant with different passages in these two metering sections.Alphanumeric is read and (for example can be indicated like that as shown in the figure, " Ch1 ", " Ch2 " and " CL2Way "), one of them metering section, being centered close to of passage 1 part is considered to north or 0 position of spending on the compass, being centered close to of passage 2 parts is considered to south or 180 positions of spending on the compass.In this example, these two metering sections are all in the medial segment ring, and in the adjacent segmentum laterale ring of the button that center indication Duan Zaiyu lights, this button can be lit up as green.The metering indication for example can be the passage output amplitude.

In the example of Fig. 1-4, metering section stretches out on both direction symmetrically from central segment.Metering section can also stretch out in one direction from the beginning section.This replaceable scheme has been shown in the example of Fig. 6.When adopting plurality purpose metering section, during 4 metering sections shown in Fig. 6 example, the replaceable scheme of unidirectional extension may be favourable.In this case, 4 metering sections are relevant with 4 passages.Therefore, alphanumeric read can be in 4 metering sections separately each near indication " Ch1 ", " Ch2 ", " Ch3 " and " Ch4 ", and core can be indicated " CL4Way ".As in another example, for example activate and the adjacent button of each metering starting point with green light.

Center alphanumeric display part can be used in every way, and the example that is not limited to herein describe.In other examples, the amplitude level that can use the inside grouping (interior side ring) of metering section to come the indicative audio signal.The limiter that can use the external packet (outer ring) of metering section to indicate to be associated or the operation (seeing the example of Figure 11 and 12) of compressor reducer with this particular audio signal.

In the embodiment of the example of Fig. 1 and 2,4 metering units are arranged on the front panel of hard-wired loudspeaker frequency division (crossover) and equalizer unit.Front panel comprises the additional opertaing device that can be used in combination with metering units.Adjacent with each metering units (seeing Fig. 3-6) can have the navigation button 34,36 and " ME " button 38 up and down. Button 34,36 and 28 can be considered to the part of specific metering units, and can be only effective to this metering units.The ME button can be the multifunctional vegetable button not directly related with the function of measuring of front panel.The ME button can come together to allow the user to move through menu with button up and down, and from front panel audio unit is programmed.

Can finish the embodiment of the front panel of Fig. 1 and 2 example by a plurality of first button (meta-button) of the function that can influence all 4 metering units 4,6,8 and 10.These yuan button can be " MUTE ENABLE " 40, " METER (metering) " 42 and " MENU (menu) " 44, and can be positioned at the ultra-Left place of front panel, though ad-hoc location is optional." MUTE ENABLE " stirs button (toggling button), and it makes the button in each metering units can be used as mute button when activating." METER " can switch between different available metering options, and " MENU " can be general the navigation button.In the original state after powering up, 4 metering units 4,6,8 and 10 texts (reading to right-hand unit) that can show respectively shown in following Fig. 7 a from left-hand unit:

Tap?ME?for

Edit

Menu

Tap?ME?for

Presets

Menu

Tap?ME?for

Utility

Menu

Tap?ME?for

FrontPanel

Config

As the mode of another attracts attention, shown in Fig. 7 a, powering state can make the button groups 16 in each metering units be lighted.

Under some mode of operation, each can show the part that can be used as whole text message of reading in all 4 metering units.For example, they can show the text (reading to right-hand unit from left-hand unit) shown in following Fig. 7 b respectively:

THIS

IS

A

TEST

Fig. 1 and 2 also shows suitable computer network connector 46, such as RJ45 connector, infrared (" IR ") sensor 48 and ON/OFF power switch 50.Power switch can be lighted (for example green) in its " connection " state.Information lamp 52 and 54 can be to indicate respectively to exist network to be connected and there is the LED of network activity in (by flicker) indication.Optical sensor 56 can also be provided, display brightness be adjusted to the degree that is suitable for amount of ambient light with permission equipment.

As mentioned above, can realize metering units with hardware (shown in the example of Fig. 1-6) or software (shown in the example of Fig. 8-13).Fig. 8-11 shows the example of the display of realizing corresponding to the software of above-mentioned Fig. 3-6 example.Figure 12 and 13 is additional examples of the display of software realization, the amplitude level of the inside of metering section grouping (interior side ring) indicative audio signal wherein, the limiter that the external packet of metering section (outer ring) indication is associated with this particular audio signal or the operation of compressor reducer.Push to alternative physical the button in Fig. 1-6 example for example, can or touch touch-screen by click and come analog buttons to push.The bigger dirigibility that the display that software is realized can allow metering units core Chinese version to show.Therefore, as an example, Figure 13 show 4 styles of writing this, and be designated as information that each passage shows at input.

Realize

Can be with hardware or software or both combinations (for example, programmable logic array) realization the present invention.Can use various general-purpose machinerys in conjunction with basis training centre written program herein, or may be to construct more special-purpose device (for example, integrated circuit) to carry out these program steps more easily.Therefore, the present invention can realize with one or more computer programs of carrying out on one or more programmable computer system, wherein each programmable computer system comprises at least one processor, at least one data-storage system (comprising volatibility and nonvolatile memory and/or memory element), at least one input equipment or port and at least one output device or port, and wherein output device comprises display driver and display.Program code is applied to importing data, carrying out function described herein, and produces output information.Output information is applied to one or more output devices in known manner.

Can realize the program that each is such with any desired computerese (comprising machine language, assembly language or high level procedural, logical language or Object-Oriented Programming Language), to communicate by letter with computer system.Under any circumstance, language can be compiling or interpretative code.

Each such computer program (for example preferably is stored in or is downloaded to the storage medium that can be read by universal or special programmable calculator or equipment, solid-state memory or medium, or magnetic or optical medium), configuration and operational computations machine during with convenient computer system reads storage medium or equipment are to carry out process described herein.Can also think that the system of this invention is implemented as the computer-readable recording medium that disposes with computer program, wherein the storage medium of configuration makes computer system with specific and predetermined way operation, to carry out function described herein like this.

Some embodiment of the present invention have been described.Yet, should be appreciated that and can make various modifications and do not break away from the spirit and scope of the present invention.For example, some step described herein can be a sequence independence, and therefore can the order different with described order be performed.

Figure 14 shows the simplification functional-block diagram that may be provided with that expression is used to realize the present invention's one practical embodiments.Microprocessor 58 with wherein resident relational storage 60 that program arranged and digital signal processor (DSP) 62, to the interface 64 of infrared sensor 66, to the interface 68 of button 70, communicate by letter with the display screen interface 76 that is used for display screen 78 to the network interface 72 of physical network cable connector (such as the RJ45 socket) 74.The simulating signal that is monitored can be applied to analog to digital converter (A/D) 80, to be applied to DSP 62.

Claims (15)

1. information display that is used for visually presenting with circle or curve form the amount of one or more dynamic changes comprises:

One or more metering units, wherein each metering units has one or more demonstrations, wherein the demonstration of each metering units comprises that at least one annular with one or more parts that can optionally activate shows, each part is relevant with separately information source, and can activate changeably in response to the quantitative information that is associated with this information source.

2. information display as claimed in claim 1, wherein the demonstration of each metering units comprises that also described at least one annular shows interior central display part, described central display part is suitable for the display text digital text.

3. information display as claimed in claim 1, wherein the demonstration of each metering units also comprises a circle button that shows around described at least one annular.

4. information display as claimed in claim 1, wherein the demonstration of each metering units comprises that also described at least one annular shows interior central display part and circle button that shows around described at least one annular, and described central display part can show alphanumeric text.

5. as each information display among the claim 1-4, wherein the variable activation of each annular display part is to increase the two-way extension in ground on the both direction gradually along with measuring of the quantitative information that is associated with the source increases and be presented at along described annular.

6. as each information display among the claim 1-4, wherein the variable activation of each annular display part is to increase the unidirectional extension in ground in one direction gradually along with measuring of the quantitative information that is associated with the source increases and show along described annular.

7. as each information display among the claim 3-6, one or more outward appearances is suitable for being changed in the wherein said button.

8. information display as claimed in claim 7, wherein the change of button outward appearance comprises:

(1) that light or the outward appearance do not lighted and

(2) its color or do not have color.

9. as each information display among the claim 3-8, each in the wherein said button in one or more is associated with the part that annular shows.

10. as each information display among the claim 1-9, wherein each is associated with the different aspect of same treatment in the each several part that annular shows.

11. as the information display of claim 10, wherein said processing is relevant with voice-grade channel.

12. as each information display among the claim 1-11, wherein have a plurality of metering units, and each unit is associated with different processing.

13. as the information display of claim 12, wherein each handles relevant with different voice-grade channels.

14., wherein realize described display with hardware basically as each information display among the claim 1-13.

15., wherein realize described display with the display of software control basically as each information display among the claim 1-13.

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