DD135252B1 - ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTROLLING DIGITAL LEVELS - Google Patents

Description

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* Title

Arrangement for controlling digital level controls Field of application of the invention

The invention is used in audio engineering, especially when it is automated. It concerns the part of the digital level control used there, which serves to control the actual actuator.

Characteristic of the known technical solutions

In all known digital level controls the instantaneous position of the actuator is stored in a memory in coded form. Depending on the content of this memory then the actual actuator is affected. In order to provide the memory with information that brings the actuator in the desired position, two principal ways are known so far.

In a known method code disks or code bands are used, which are adjusted by means of a setting element and provide the coded information for the memory directly. With such a method, the memory contents can only be changed depending on the position of a setting element. However, it is cheaper for the program if the same actuator is controllable by a plurality of setting elements. When using this method, switching of the control of the memory is on

another signal generator, e.g. A machine, although possible, but the memory and thus the actuator suddenly passes from one attenuation or Yerstärkungswert to another, without going through the states lying between the two values. Such behavior is less like a fader from one state to another than a switch, and therefore can only be tolerated in exceptional cases. The method of direct control of the memory with the code for the actuator is therefore applicable only if for a long time only one setting element controls the actuator. An alternating access of several setting elements and / or "of a machine or even a quasi-simultaneous access is not possible.

An advantage of this method is the analogue control principle, i. a certain adjustment of the adjustment corresponds to a certain level change. Such analogous methods best correspond to the previously practiced art; the direct manual level control by means of rotary or sliding plates.

A method which does not work with an absolutely coded control element but with an incremental is described in DE-AS 20 58 965. Again, however, an encoded signal is formed behind the control element, with which then the actuator is controlled. A quasigleiehzeitiger multiple access is not possible.

The other principal way, on the other hand, is to use an integrally operating mode of operation, e.g. in television and cinema technology 25 (1971) 9, DD-WP 100 599, DE-OS 20 44 634 or DE-AS 12 76 736 described. The memory is designed as a counter. To effect an adjustment, a clock and a Riehtungssignal is supplied to the counter. In some cases, instead of the clock and direction signals, two clock signals are used, one for each direction, which does not change the basic operation. For this purpose, adjusting elements are known which have a zero position

and depending on the size of the deflection of the adjusting element from the zero position generate a clock frequency of increasing frequency and depending on the direction of a direction signal. Accordingly, the level adjustment in the desired direction with more or less high speed. Although this method is technically simple and allows in the embodiment according to DD-V / P 100 599 and the quasi-simultaneous multiple access to the actuator; However, a precise level change is not possible, especially not at high speeds. For this purpose, it is necessary to interrupt the integral running adjusting exactly at the desired end position. For this, the reaction time of humans is often not sufficient. Setting aids such that the final value to be reached is entered, so to speak, as a "stop" complicate the operation and are not always applicable, e.g. if the correct end value for the constantly changing sound signals only results from the current situation.

The quasi-simultaneous access of the human and a machine, e.g. A process computer requires special technical means even after this procedure, since the pulse sequences triggered by both input media must not coincide in time with any pulse. Otherwise, a pulse would not be counted and there would be adjustment errors, which are particularly disturbing, especially when synchronous adjustment of several assigned audio channels is made on the same side, e.g. in stereophonic or quadraphonic signals, and when such errors occur only in one of the associated channels.

Due to practical limits of digital actuators, the * Steligeschwindigkeit should not exceed a predetermined maximum value. If this maximum speed is permitted in the case of a single adjustment, twice the maximum speed would result if two adjustment elements were simultaneously accessed by the same actuator.

given maltgeschwindigkeit. According to DD-V / P 100-599 this problem is solved in that only the larger of the two actuating speeds is effective. But it bothers that then the second control command is lost in whole or in part.

Object of the invention

The aim of the invention is to combine in an arrangement for controlling digital actuators, the advantages of the analog and the integral control principle. In particular, the level control should be such that it meets the aesthetic and practical conditions set »

Presentation of the invention

It is the object of the invention to provide an arrangement with which both an analog and an integral control of the actuator is possible. In order to make extensive use of the basic possibilities of digital level controls, the quasi-simultaneous multiple access to the actuator should be possible both by a plurality of manually operated adjustment elements and by a machine. In particular, a hierarchy of setting elements is to be provided, such that an actuator is controlled by a single-stage, a group and a master. Whereby the individual actuator affects only one actuator, the group divider multiple and the main actuator all the actuators of a system and the actuators acting on an actuator not act on the sound channel, as long as one of the actuator is in its "off" position, with any combination of all controllers is permissible. This is in line with the needs of audio engineering and currently non-automated practice. It is essential that even with multiple access every single control command is executed by the actuator and not me who specifies the highest StellgeschwinSigkeit. This abandonment is based on the

integral control principle in an arrangement for controlling digital level control inventively achieved in that the adjusting elements are followed by control devices, each containing a memory for a clock and a direction signal whose outputs are common to a clock signal line and a directional signal line, with a central circuit part connected, which contains a buffer for the clock and direction signals, a clock generator irna an Aäressgenerator and the иЪег two lines with all clock and direction signal inputs of the level control and via a line is also connected to the control units and that the address generator in the central circuit part via a line system is connected to all controllers and level controls.

In order to prevent the output of the prepared drive signal in the central circuit part at high Stellfreq.uenz after a successful activation before the cycle time in the central circuit part, the level control can contain a blocking circuit in an advantageous development of the invention, which via a common lock signal line with a lock input of the central Circuit part is connected.

The counting range of the counter in the level control is advantageous: set to the η-fold working range, where η is the number of control units that can currently control the level control concerned.

With the arrangement according to the invention it is achieved that a multiple access is made possible, without exceeding the maximum actuating speed and to be lost without setting commands.

embodiment

An expedient form of realization of the invention will be described below with reference to the figure.

The controllers S ^; S ₂ ; S obtained from the setting or control E ^; E ₂ ; E _n at any time by suitable electrical signals, the request, or the associated level adjuster P ^; P ₂ ? P to adjust one step in a certain direction. It does not matter whether these electrical signals from a clock pulse sequence (integral digits) or from the movement of a setting element by a certain path (analog points) were derived. The request for adjustment by one step is temporarily stored in a trigger, as is the direction information.

The address generator A in the central circuit part Z cyclically generates all occurring addresses of the control units S ..; S _2> S, so that each control unit S-; S ₂ ; S is addressed once in each cycle. The cycle frequency of the address generator A determines in this way the maximum actuating speed, which is determined by a control unit S ^; S ₂ ; S can be effected. As a result, an essential task of the system is already fulfilled.

If a controller S ^; S ₂ ; S addressed, its memory RG for clock T and direction R is queried and the corresponding signals via lines 1; 2 led to the central circuit part Z, where they are cached in the latch RGZ. This caching is used. the regeneration of the control signals, because it is of course also the case possible that a control command from the control E ^; E ₂ ; E only arrives when the relevant control unit S .; S ₂ ; S is already addressed. The output signal on lines 1; 2 is then mutilated. Time after the query of the control unit S ^; S ₂ ; S, but still in the same address clock, the latched clock T and direction signal R on the lines 4j 5 the level controls P ^; P ₂ JP provided and at least

the clock signal T on the line 4 also the control devices ^S 1 » ^S 2 ' ^S n ·

The clock T and direction signals R on the lines 4> 5 now cause an adjustment of the level control P ^; P ₂ ; P, which are currently being addressed at this moment in time, by one step in the required direction. This can be a level control, several or in the limit, it can all be, for example, if the currently addressed control unit acts as the main controller. The assignment of the individual level adjuster P ^; P ₀ ; P to the controllers S ₄ ; S ₀ ; S can be connected either by wiring the system or by using programmable address decoders in the level controllers P ^; P ₂ JP, which is irrelevant in this context.

Instead of the two signals T and R for clock and direction of the adjustment, of course, two clock signals can be used, one for each direction. It is only essential that on the lines 1; 2 the clock and direction information is transmitted.

The multiple access to a level adjuster P ^; P ₂ ; P is realized by the fact that the individual control units S ^; S ₂ j S are addressed one after the other. For example, one after the other (quasi-simultaneously) the same level controller P ₂ receive adjustment commands from the control unit S. For example, it acts as a single actuator, from the control unit S ₂ , which is effective for him as a group divider and affects even more level control and the control unit S. which, for example, as the main controller, also applies to all other level adjusters P ^; P _P ; P _m acts.

The clock signal T on the line 4 in the just addressed controller S, the memory RG for the clock signal T back. Since this reset occurs only when the clock signal T is really from the central circuit part Z to the level control P ^; P ₂ ; P _{m was} output, ea is not possible to omit a command due to mutilation. Sr remains until the next query is stored in such a case, the control unit triggering S.

If the cycle frequency of the arrangement is equal to the maximum permissible setting frequency of the level adjuster P, then it could happen due to the multiple access that the thus determined maximum actuating speed is exceeded when the same level adjuster P is repeatedly called within a cycle. Therefore, advantageously in such a case in the individual level controls P ^ JP ₂ ; P _m locking circuits S so that, .the level controller P after a

completed control for at least one cycle time for further access lock by that they provide a blocking signal via the line 6 to the central circuit part Z at a renewed addressing before the expiration of this time, which prevents the output of the clock signal T on the line 4- »Thus Also, the reset of the memory RG in the control unit does not occur, so that the non-executed control command is not lost, but is processed in the next cycle. In this way, it is ensured that a certain maximum permissible actuating speed is not exceeded, even with multiple access.

In the case of multiple access to a level controller P, in principle each controller S associated with the level controller in question has the same possibilities. * However, when setting up a hierarchy (individual, group, main controller), this must not lead to the situation if, for example, the main controller (more precisely: the master controller) Rather, a level control P may only enter the working area, ie let the sound signal pass, if all control elements E influencing it are in the working area. In order to ensure this, the counter serving as a memory for the state of the level controller P in the level adjuster P _-1 ; P ₂ ; P _{ffl advantageously has} a toggle area in which the actual work area is moved downwards, ie in the area in which the audio signal is already completely switched off, a second counting area with the same capacity as the Workspace connects when

the level controller P is influenced by two controllers S and a third equal counting range when it is controlled by three controllers S, etc.

The size of the counting range is thus determined by the number of addresses, by means of which the level adjuster P is switched on, while the working range is unchanged. For example, if the highest gain in the sound channel _# of the count OO allocated and the working area extends up to the position 99, so the sound signal is at all positions ^ 99 turned off, but the counting range extends up

- 99 when influenced by a control unit,

- 199 influenced by two control units,

- 299 influenced by three controllers, i. to

- η · 100-1 when influenced by η control units.

Claims (2)

Invention claim: An arrangement for controlling digital level adjusters which, for storing their state, comprise a counter which influences the level in one or more sound channels and which is adjusted by a clock signal and a direction signal, or by two clock signals, each in one direction adjusted, which are issued by one or more manual and / or automatic adjusting elements, characterized in that the Sinstellelementen (E ^ ... E _Q ) control devices (S ₁ ... S _n ) are arranged downstream, each of which has a memory ( RG-) for a clock (T) and a direction signal (R) whose outputs are common to a clock signal line (2) and a direction signal line (1), which are connected to a central circuit part (Z), the intermediate memory ( RGZ) for the clock (T) and direction signals (R), a clock generator (TG-) and an address generator (A) and the two lines (4, 5) with all clock and Ri and the line (4) is also connected to the control devices (S., .. S) and that the address generator (A) in the central circuit part (Z) via a line system (3). with all control devices (S ^ ... S) and level controls (P ^ ... P _m ) is connected. 2 _# Arrangement for controlling digital level controls according to item 1, characterized in that the level control (P ^ ··· P _m ) contain blocking circuits (Sg) whose outputs are connected via a line (6) to the central circuit part (Z). See drawings!