BRPI0706687A2 - information monitors - Google Patents

Abstract

INFORMATION MONITOR. An information monitor to visually display one or more quantities that dynamically alternate in a circular or curvilinear format has one or more measurement units, each having one or more monitors, where the monitor of each measurement unit includes at least a selectively activable ring monitor having one or more portions, each portion relating to a respective information source and being actively variable in response to the quantitative information associated with that source. The monitor for each measurement unit may further include a central monitor portion within at least one annular monitor, the central monitor portion being adapted to show alphanumeric text, or a ring of buttons around at least one annular monitor, or a central monitor portion and a ring of buttons. Each portion of the annular monitor may exhibit a bidirectional or unidirectional spread as a measure of quantitative information associated with a source increase.

Description

Patent Descriptive Report for "INFORMATION MONITORS".

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to information monitors. More particularly, the invention relates to dynamically changing information monitor such as meters and measurement monitors in which one or more dynamically alternating amounts are presented in a curvilinear shape. Although the invention is described in conjunction with the information monitor relating to the characteristics of one or more audio information channels, it will be understood that the invention is applicable to the information monitor relating to the characteristics of essentially any kind of dynamically alternating signals, including, for example, signals relating to other types of electrical signals, such as video signals, signals representing other physical phenomena such as electric, sonic or particle or object fluxes, and signals representing quantities other than any other physical phenomenon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The need to measure a variable number of channels arises in many audio applications. For example, it may be desired to measure inputs to a device or process, outputs from a device or process, or some combination of both.

It was considered an example. An audio signal processor can be customized to have more or less physical inputs and outputs, depending on the user's need. This customization can be done with input / output (I / O) boards that open inside a box, providing a variable number of channels. For example, a basic model can provide 4 inputs and 8 outputs. An expanded model could have 4 inputs and 12 outputs, or 8 inputs and 8 outputs. It is common to the possible different configurations the measurement monitor, found in the front panel of the box. It is desirable to have a measurement monitor that is capable of accommodating a variable number of physical channels.

The need for a meter monitor that can accommodate a varying number of channels is not only formed with hardware that physical I / O varies. For a fixed physical configuration of inputs and outputs, there are still a number of possible measurement options. You may want to display only inputs, only outputs, or some combination of both. This reinforces the need for a meter or measurement monitor that can accommodate a variable number of channels.

A fully expanded processor can present the user with a considerable number of channel numbers, requiring a measurement solution that can simultaneously measure a large number of channels. Properly clear measurements should allow the user to look at the meter, and quickly ascertain the signal information; however, the difficulty of providing clear measurement increases the number of channels being channelized.

PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE

Because measurement issues often arise, there have been previous attempts to solve the problem.

A common approach to audio measurement is to employ horizontal rows of vertically reading meters (each line bar in the graph), with each vertical meter representing a single channel. Although vertical measurements allow the signal level to be seen quickly with reference to the other signals being measured, they do not clearly represent the absolute signal level. Unless it can be seen where the vertical meter "ends" then it is difficult to see how close the signal is to its maximum possible.

Earlier approaches to the problem of measuring channel variable numbers were based on the traditional "vertical meter". To display an increased number of channels, each vertical gauge width is decreased, allowing more vertical gauges to fit side by side in a row. However, as the vertical width of the meter decreases the harder to read. The width of the queue is fixed by the physical dimensions of the monitor, for example, of its pixels.

The circular meters have the advantage of allowing the user to quickly observe the signal level by "reading" the measuring arm angle. It is immediately clear how far around the arm circle is and hence how close the signal is to the maximum. However, a traditional circular meter makes it difficult to address the issue of measuring a variable number of channels. To be readable, the circular meter must be of a certain size and so you cannot simply shrink the circular meter, as with the vertical meter.

Figure 1 is a left front perspective view of a front panel with an information monitor in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a common front panel information monitor in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of a portion of the front panel with a measuring unit in accordance with aspects of the present invention. The first example of a measurement monitor is shown.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of a portion of the front panel with a measuring unit in accordance with aspects of the present invention. A second example of a measurement monitor is shown.

Figure 5 is a front elevational view of a portion of a front panel showing a unit of measurement in accordance with aspects of the present invention. A third example of a measurement monitor is shown.

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of a portion of a front panel showing a unit of measurement in accordance with aspects of the present invention. A fourth example of a measurement monitor is shown.

Figures 7a, 7b and 8-13 are monitor examples of a software implementation corresponding to the examples of Figures 3-6. Figure 14 is a simplified functional block diagram of a possible arrangement for implementing the invention.

According to aspects of the invention, an information monitor for visually displaying one or more quantities changing dynamically in a circular or curvilinear shape comprises one or more units of measurement, each having one or more monitors, wherein the monitor of each unit of measurement includes at least one selectively nullable monitor having one or more portions, each portion relating to a respective source of information and being activably variably responsive to the quantitative information associated with that source. In this type of information monitor, (1) the monitor of each measurement unit may further include a central monitor portion within at least one annular monitor, the central monitor portion being adapted to display alphanumeric text, (2) the monitor each measuring unit may further include a button ring around at least one annular monitor, or (3) the monitor of each measuring unit may further include (a) a portion of the monitor within at least one ring monitor, a central monitor portion being capable of displaying alphanumeric text, and (b) a button ring around at least one ring monitor. The variable activation of each ring monitor portion can be bidirectional, increasing the scattering in two directions along the ring monitor as a measure of quantitative information associated with a source increase. Alternatively, the varying activation of each annular monitor portion may be unidirectional, increasing scatter in one direction along the annular monitor as a measure of quantitative information associated with the forward magnification. When buttons are employed, the appearance of one or more buttons can be adapted to change. Changing the appearance of a button may include (1) a lit or un lit appearance, and (2) a color or color mismatch. One or more of the buttons may each be associated with a portion of an annular monitor. Portions of an annular monitor may each be associated with different aspects of the same process. The process can be related to an audio channel. It can be a variety of measurement units and each unit can be associated with a different process. For example, each process may be related to a different audio channel. The monitor may be implemented substantially with the hardware or may be implemented substantially with the software controlled monitor.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Front panel 2 of an audio signal processor having a variety of measurement units in accordance with aspects of the present invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2. Although the four measurement units (4, 6, 8 and 10) are employed in this number, any number (one or more) of units of measurement may be employed with a process or device or a collection of processes or devices. An enlarged view of an example of metering unit 6 is shown in Figures 3-6. Each of the measurement units (4, 6, 8 and 10) may comprise an alphanumeric central monitor portion 12 capable of displaying arbitrary text, an annular meter or indicative segment portion 14 around the alphanumeric central monitor portion, and a pushbutton ring 16 around the meter or indicator segment portion 14. Each measuring unit may also include several additional pushbuttons associated with it as described below. The alphanumeric central monitor portion 12 and annular metering segment portion 14 may be implemented, for example, by an LCD monitor controlled by LCD controllers / drivers or by a generic bit-mapped monitor, such as a computer monitor. An implementation, including i-illuminated buttons, can be made in hardware (as shown in the examples in Figures 1-6) or software (as shown in the examples in Figures 7-12).

In this example, the alphanumeric center monitor portion 12 has three available horizontal lines, the middle line being larger than those above and below it, each line having a capacity of ten characters capable of displaying arbitrary text, such as marking the sendmed channel. . More or less lines may be provided. A larger or smaller character capacity per line can be provided. The size of the characters in the middle line need not be larger than the others. The character capacity per line need not be the same. If desired, the central alphanumeric portion 12 may be omitted entirely.

In this example, the measurement or indicator segment portion 14 has two annular sets of activatable segments, an outer set 14a and an inner set 14b, each segment set having 104 segments. Although this example has two annular segment sets, one or more annular segment sets may be provided. The maximum number of segment sets is determined by whether an alphanumeric center brace is employed (and, if so, its size) and readability of the innermost annular segment sets, which may be affected by the total size of the unit of measurement. In a practical embodiment of the configuration shown in Figures 1-6, the diameter of the push-button rings 16 is about 80 mm (about 0.9526 cm (31/8 inches)) and the diameter of the LCD monitor portion is about 60mm (about 1.905 cm (2 3/8 inches)). Although the registration size in successive internal annular sets is necessarily smaller if the same number of segments is maintained in each annular set, the relative dimensions of the segments in different sets may vary to increase readability. Thus, in the examples of Figs. 1-6, the axial length of these segments in the inner annular assembly is greater than the outer annular assembly.

Although employing the same number of segments in different annular sets, it has the advantage of providing the same measurement resolution in each set, but is not of critical importance. Thus, for example, inner rings may contain fewer segments if desired. The number of segments in a group can be varied, allowing a configuration for different measurement tasks. Measurement resolution can be changed for compactness.

In this example, there is a single ring of sixteen pushbuttons 16 around the portion of metering segment 14. One or more pushbutton measuring rings may be provided. There may be more or less than sixteen pushbuttons in a depression button ring. Although the examples show snap rings of the same size and evenly populated around a circle, the snap buttons need not be the same size or evenly populated around the circle. Alternatively, depression buttons around the portion of the metering segment may be omitted. Pushbuttons may have multiple functions as described below. One function is as an indicator - one or all of the buttons may be selected illuminated and this illumination can be colored. The function of the buttons may depend on the mode in which the unit of measurement is operating. Each measured sendó channel can be associated with a single button, which is illuminated to demonstrate that it is in use.

The following examples were considered. If the unit of measurement has been configured to display the output measurement information, pressing the button can make the channel name appear on the alphanumeric monitor. If the unit of measurement has been configured to display input measurement information, then the function button can be configured to depend on a Mute Enable button. If Mute Enable has been pressed, the ring button can make the associated input channel muted. If Mute Enable has not been pressed, pressing the push button may cause the input channel name to be shown on the alphanumeric monitor. The color of the pushbutton light may be variable, providing an indication of the pushbutton function or condition of the information being displayed by the particular measuring segment with which the pushbutton is associated.

In the examples of Figures 1-4, each unit of measurement 4, 6, 8, 10 is in an operating mode that allows the monitor to display three sets of information related to each of the four audio channels A, B, CeD, (ie each unit of measurement can display three sets of information for a particular channel - has three meters or indicator portions). The mode of operation may be selected, for example, by using menu selections that are chosen, for example by one of the push buttons and / or one of the push buttons shown in the examples of Figures 1-6. Other modes of operation may allow, for example, one set of information per channel, two sets per channel (see example of Figure 5), four sets per channel (see example of Figure 6), etc. In practice, more than four or five sets of information per measurement unit may not be desirable from a readability standpoint.

In the examples of Figures 1-4, where the unit of measurement is capable of showing three sets of information with respect to a particular channel, the first set is not assigned, the second set of information is the amplitude of the input signal. and the third set of information is the amplitude of the output signal. In these three examples of ways, the first line of alphanumeric information reads "N: CL3WAY", where "N" is one of the channels, A, B, C, or D, indicating the particular channel for which the measurement unit is for. is related and that the mode of operation is three ways. The second line in this example indicates in larger characters "CL3Way" and the third line is not used, indicated by four dashes.

In the three-way operating mode of the examples in Figs. 1-4, a segment in a ring is activated showing the center of measurement for each of the three sets of information being displayed. Thus, segments 18 and 20 in the outer ring of segments 14a and segment 22 in the inner ring of segments 14b are activated. In principle, these segments may be in the same ring as the segments (for example, all in the outer ring or all in the inner ring). However, the configuration shown has the advantage of providing a larger range for each of the measurement segments because the three central measurement locations are not equally spaced from each other (because the number of segments and the number of depression buttons are not are evenly divisible by three).

As mentioned above, a set of information, marked by the activated left segment 18, is not determined. Thus, the measuring segment center 20, located on the adjacent inner annular segment can be activated as shown, but no further segment is activated as long as this measuring segment is not determined. In addition, the button Adjacent 24 on button ring 16 is not activated. Thus, a user may readily observe that one of the three information indicators available in this three-way operating mode is not assigned and inactive.

The outer segment near the activated inner segment 22, in this example, indicates the amplitude of the input signal. The amplitude of the input signal at a given time is indicated by the number of segments activated on the outer ring, the segments symmetrically spreading in a direction from a central segment 26 on an outer ring adjacent to the inner segment 22 (an alternative mode for spread is described below). To indicate that this information set is active, the push-button 28 adjacent to the center of the measuring segment 26 is activated. This can be achieved by turning the button on, such as by the green LCD light inside the button.

The inner segment near the activated outer segment 20, in this example, indicates the amplitude of the output signal. The amplitude of the output signal at any given time is indicated by the number of segments activated on the inner ring, the segments spreading symmetrically in each direction of a central segment 30 on the inner ring adjacent to the outer segment20. In the example in Figure 3, the input signal is not so high that it cuts out the audio signal. Thus, as shown in Figure 3, pushbutton 26 adjacent to the measuring segment center 26 is activated. This can be achieved by making the button have the green light, like the green LED light inside the button. In the example of Figures 1, 2 and 4, channel B of the measuring unit has an input of sufficient amplitude to cut out. Thus, the expansion of the activated measurement segments indicating the input and output signals is greater. In addition, to indicate clipping, the large reading may indicate "CLIP" as shown and two additional pushbuttons 34 and 36 adjacent to pushbutton 32 may be lit, preferably in a color different from the no-lock condition. clipping. When the audio device is trimmed, the pushbuttons 32, 34 and 36 may be red, as with a red LED light inside each button. Although it is preferable to light on at least three pushbuttons to attract users' attention, alternatively only one or more can be extended.

Thus a user can quickly achieve the condition of various aspects of the information of one or more audio channels by viewing one or more units of measurement.

The rate at which the measurement segments follow the electrical signal changes representing the information being displayed can be controlled by averaging the electrical signals so that they exhibit appropriate measurement measurements.

Figures 5 and 6 are additional examples of possible monitors.

In the example of Figure 5, the unit of measurement is the two-way operation mode in which each of the two measurement portions refers to a different channel. The alphanumeric reading may indicate as shown in the figure (for example, "Ch1," 'Ch2, "and" ÇL2Way ") in which the measuring portion, channel portion 1, is centered on what may be considered north or zero. compass, and the portion of channel 2 is centered on what can be considered as south or 180 degrees on the compass. In this example, both measurement segments are within the ring segments, the indicator segment of center being in the ring outside of the segments adjacent to the access pushbutton, which may serve as access.Measurement indications may be channel output amplitudes, for example.

In the examples in Figures 1-4, the measuring segments appear symmetrically outward in two directions of a central segment. It is also possible for measurement segments to spread out in one direction of the start segment. This alternative is shown in Figure 6. The unidirectional spreading alternative may be advantageous when the larger number of measurement portions are employed, such as portions of four measurements in Figure 6, for example. In this case, the four measurement segments refer to the four channels. Thus, alphanumeric readings may indicate "Ch1", "Ch2", "Ch3" and "Ch4" next to each of the four respective measurement segments and the center portion may indicate "CL4Way." As in the other example, a pushbutton adjacent to the respective measurement start point is activated, such as the green lamp, for example.

The central portion of the alphanumeric monitor may be used in a variety of ways and is not limited to the examples described herein. In other examples, the internal group of measurement segments (the inner ring) may be used to indicate the amplitude level of an audio signal. The outer group of the measuring segments (outer ring) may be used to indicate the operation of a limiter or compressor associated with the particular audio signal (see examples of Figures 11 and 12).

In one embodiment of the example of Figures 1 and 2, four metering units are on the front panel of a hardware-implemented speaker crossover and the equalizer unit. The front panel contains additional controls which can be used in conjunction with the measurement units. Adjacent to each unit of measurement (see Figures 3-6) can be up or down navigation buttons 34, 36 and an "ME" button 38. Pushbuttons 34, 36 and 28 can be considered as part of a unit and may affect only that unit of measurement. The ME button can be a multi function button not directly involved in the front panel measurement function. Along with the up and down button, the ME button can allow the user to move through the menu and program the front panel audio unit.

A front panel embodiment of the example of Figures 1 and 2 is completed by a number of meta buttons which may affect the operation of all four measurement units 4, 6, 8 and 10. These meta buttons may be "MUTE ENABLE" 40 , or "METER" 42 and "MENU" 44 and may be located on the left side of the front panel, although the particular location is not critical.

The MUTE ENABLE can be a toggle button which, when active, enables pushbuttons on each unit of measurement as mute buttons. "METER" can be toggled between the different measurement options available and "MENU" can be a general purpose navigation button. In an initial condition, when energized, the measurement quantities 4, 6, 8, and 10 may respectively display the text as follows (reading from left to right unit) as shown in Figure 7a:

Tap ME for

Edit

Menu

Tap ME for

Presets

Menu

Tap ME for

Utility

Menu

Tap ME for

FrontPanel

Config

Still for attention, the power-on condition may cause the button assembly 16 on each unit of measurement to light up as shown in Figure 7a.

Under some operating conditions, all four measurement units can each display a portion of a text message that is read as a whole. For example, they may show texts respectively as follows (read from left to right) as shown in Figure 7b:

THIS

IT'S

ONE

TEST

Also as shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a suitable computer network connector 46, such as an RJ45 connector, an infrared ("IR") sensor 48, and an on / off switch 50. The power switch can be turned on (a green light, for example) in your "on" condition. The information lights 52 and 54 may be LEDs indicating, respectively, that there is a network connection and (flashing) that there is network activity. A light sensor 56 may also be provided to enable the device to adjust the brightness of the monitor to an appropriate level for the amount of ambient light.

As mentioned above, a unit of measurement may be made in hardware (as shown in the examples in Figs. 1-6) or in software (as shown in the examples in Figures 8-13). Figures 8-11 show monitor examples of a software implementation corresponding to the examples of Figures 3-6, described above. Figures 12 and 13 are additional examples of the software monitor implementation in which the inner group of meter segments (the inner ring ) indicates the amplitude level of an audio signal and the external meter segment group (outer ring) indicates the operation of a limiter or compressor associated with that particular audio signal. Instead of physically depressing the button as in the examples in Figures 1-6, button oppression can be simulated by a mouse click or by tapping the screen. The monitor of a software implementation may allow greater flexibility in the text monitor in the central portion of a measurement unit. Thus, as an example, Figure 13 displays four lines of text and indicates that the information being displayed for each channel is with respect to the inputs.

IMPLEMENTATION

The invention may be implemented in hardware or software, or a combination of both (for example, programmable logic lanes). Various general purpose machines may be used with programs written in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may be more convenient to construct more apparatus. (eg integrated circuits) to perform program steps. Thus, the invention may be implemented in one or more computer programs running one or more programmable computer systems each comprising at least one processor, at least one data storage system (including volatile and non-memory). and / or storage elements), at least one input device or port, and at least one output device or port, the output device including a monitor drive and a monitor. The program code is applied to the input data to perform the functions described herein and to generate the output information. The output information is applied to one or more output devices, in known manner.

Each program can be implemented in any desired computer language (including machine, assembly, or high-level procedural, logic, or object-oriented programming language) to communicate with a computer system. In any case, language can be a compiled or interpreted language.

Each computer program is preferably stored or downloaded to a storage medium or device (for example, solid state memory or media, or magnetic or optical media) that can be handled by a special-purpose programmable computer to configure and operate the computer when The storage medium or device is handled by a computer system to perform the procedures described herein. The inventive system may be considered as implemented as a storage medium that can be read by a computer, configured as a computer program, where the storage medium is thus configured. makes a computer system operate in a specific and predefined manner to perform the functions described herein.

The number of embodiments of the invention have been described herein.

Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, some of the steps described herein may be independent of order, and thus may be performed in a different order from that described herein.

A functional block diagram showing a possible arrangement for implementing a practical embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 14. A microprocessor 58 having an associated memory 60 in which the program is resident is in communication with the digital signal processor (DSP) 62, a 64 interface for an infrared sensor 66, an interface 68 for pushbuttons 70, a network interface 72 for a physical network connector cable (such as an RJ45 jack) 74, and a monitor screen interface 76 for a monitor screen 78. Analog signals to be monitored may be applied to a paradigal analog (A / D) converter 80 for DSP application 62.

Claims (15)

1. Information display to visually display one or more dynamically changing quantities in a circular or curved format, comprising one or more units of measurement, each having one or more monitors, wherein the monitor of each unit of measurement includes at least one annular monitor selectively activatable having one or more portions, each related to a respective information source and being variably activatable in response to the quantitative information associated with the source. An information monitor according to claim 1, wherein the monitor of each measuring unit further includes a central monitor portion within said at least one annular monitor, said central monitor portion being adapted to display the display. Alphanumeric text. The information monitor of claim 1, wherein the monitor of each measuring unit further includes a button ring around said at least one annular monitor. An information monitor according to claim 1, wherein the monitor of each measuring unit further includes a central portion within said at least one annular monitor, said central monitor portion being capable of displaying alphanumeric text, and a button ring around at least one annular monitor. An information monitor according to claims 1-4, wherein the variable activation of each annular monitor portion is bidirectional, spreading more and more in two directions along the annular monitor as a measure of quantitative information associated with an increase in source. The information monitor according to claims 1-4, wherein the variable activation of each annular monitor portion is unidirectional, spreading increasingly in one direction along the annular monitor as an information measure associated with an increase of source. Information display according to claim 3-6, wherein the appearance of one or more said buttons is adapted to be changed. Information display according to claim 7 wherein the change in appearance of a button includes (1) a lit or off appearance, and (2) its color or lack of color. Information display according to claims 3-8, wherein one or more of said buttons is each associated with a portion of an annular monitor. An information monitor according to claims 1-9, wherein the portions of an annular monitor are each associated with different aspects of the same process. Information monitor according to claim 10, wherein the process is related to an audio channel. Information display according to any one of claims 1-11, wherein there is a variety of unit of measurement and each unit is associated with a different process. Information monitor according to claim 12, wherein each process is related to a different audio channel. Information monitor according to claims 1-13, wherein the monitor is implemented substantially with the hardware. Information monitor according to any of claims 1-13, wherein the monitor is implemented substantially as a common software controlled monitor.