Field of the Invention

The invention pertains to sound recording control consoles and more particularly to accessories and improvements for control consoles and the environment in which they operate.

Background of the Invention

Modern professional sound recording consoles and controllers for consoles allow a human operator to control sound recording, mixing and dubbing operations on ioo or more individual channels (the super-set). Physical channel controls using knobs, faders and indicators are arranged in parallel, vertical rows (the workspace). Accordingly, some consoles or controllers have so many rows of channel controls that they are physically longer than the arm span of the operator. A console or controller with a workspace which is about as long as, or longer than a human arm span has ergonomic liabilities, occupies more space than smaller counterparts and is expensive to build and operate. Some prior art technologies have addressed the above referenced disadvantages by presenting the operator with a console or controller in which the number of physical controls is reduced. Consoles of this variety might incorporate, for example, physical controls for 10-20 channels (the sub-set). A separate range selector allows the operator to nominate a consecutive sequence of channels from within the super-set. The selected range is thus assigned to the rows of physical controls in the workspace. This provides the operator with effective control over the selected range however, control over channels that are not in the selected and consecutive range require the user to perform additional reconfiguration and reassignment. This is inevitably true where the operator seeks to control two channels having channel numbers that are separated more than the number of physical control rows on the console. The present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a console or controller with controls that allow an operator to assign any channel to the console's physical controls without regard to the selected channel number. In order for this to be accomplished efficiently and ergonomically, various modification and improvements to the prior art are required. An example of a sound recording console with an abbreviated control surface and with user selectable and assignable channels is depicted in United States Patent No. 5,257,317, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. That patent depicts a sound recording console having, for example, 100 channels of recording capability. Any of the 100 sound channels maybe assigned to any one of 10 sets of physical controls. It will be appreciated that the present teachings are made with reference to a stand alone controller but that these same teachings are applicable to a console that incorporate a controller made in accordance with these teachings.

Objections and Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide improvements and accessories for use in a sound recording console or controller and in the environment in which it operates. Accordingly, there is provided a linear touch sensor. The sensor comprises a transparent rod along which are positioned pairs of emitters and detectors. Each emitter transmits a selected wavelength of radiation into the rod with the light focused just above the surface of the rod. An object such as a finger causes the emitter's light to be reflected back into the rod where it can be registered by the detector. In preferred embodiments, the light transmitted by the emitter is modulated and the detector is sensitive only to the modulated radiation. In some embodiments, the rod is curved. In other embodiments of the invention, a shield is positioned between the emitter and the detector to further prevent light from the emitter entering the field of the detector. In other embodiments of the invention, a recording console is provided with an elongated white board area and a scanner that records information from the white board area together with data about the location of the information. Control circuitry transmits captured information from a given whiteboard location to a corresponding display adjacent to a channel control. In some embodiments, the display is adapted to depict the whiteboard information from a given location together with a corresponding channel number. Other aspects of the invention pertain to an electronic module having a user activated mechanical interlock. The module is not removable from its dock unless the interlock is disabled. When the interlock is disabled, power to the module is denied so that the module cannot be removed from its dock when power is being supplied to it. In other aspects of the invention, a method is provided for assigning unique IP addresses to a plurality of electronic modules that communicate over a network. A unique IP address is assigned to each module by a formula. The formula includes both the type and location of the module in the system. The invention also provides a method for synchronizing flashing lights across multiple independent processors. To achieve synchronization, each local processor has a local timer that is phase locked to a broadcast network event. Thus, phase coherency across multiple independent processor outputs is maintained over extended periods of time.

Brief Description of the Drawing Figures

Figure i is a schematic cross section through a linear touch sensor made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross section of the device depicted in Figure 1 showing how an object is used to reflect light back to the sensor's detector; Figure 3 is an alternative embodiments of the device depicted in Figures 1 and 2, showing a light shield; Figure 4 is a cross section of a linear touch sensor incorporating light shield and LED indicator; Figure 5 is a schematic isometric view of a linear touch sensor made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; Figure 6 is a schematic of an elongated white board area; Figure 7 is a schematic cross section of a mobile scanner for use with the white board area depicted in Figure 6; Figure 8 (a) is a cross section of an electronic module incorporating an interlock and power switch; Figures 8 (b) & (c) are front plan views of the device depicted in Figure 8 (a); Figure 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating multiple electronics modules communicating over a network, each module having a type and a location; Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the phase locking of 3 local timers; Figure 11 is a schematic cross-section of a touch sensor; and Figure 12 is a cross section through line A of Figure 11.

Best Mode and Other Embodiments of the Invention

As shown in Figures 1-5, a linear touch sensor 10 comprises a length of rod 11 that is essentially transparent in the optical or infrared wavelength(s) of a cooperating emitter/ detector pair 12. An array of such pairs 12 along the length of rod 11 forms the basis for an elongated bank of switches or "stations" that can be swiped or touched individually to control an apparatus. The emitter 13 is preferably located below the rod 11 and emits light with e.g. an infrared wavelength into the underside of the rod 11. Its emissions are focussed to a point 14 that is just outside of the surface 15 of the rod and generally on the opposite side of the rod with respect to the pair 12. In this example, the detector 16 is positioned on the same circuit board 17 as the emitter 13. Accordingly, it is located below the lower surface of the rod 11. As illustrated in Figure l, the emitter's light is not ordinarily reflected back to the detector because it is focused outside of the body of the rod 11, specifically in this example, about imm above the upper surface of the rod 15. As shown in Figure 2, an object 20 such as a finger may be positioned in the beam of the emitter 13 so that the emitter's light is reflected back down and into the rod 11 where it can be registered by the detector 16. The registration by the detector of the emitter's light is interpreted as a "touch" or switching signal. This causes the detector to generate and transmit an appropriate electrical or logic signal that is used by a controller or other device or circuit. The detector may ignore reflected light below a set threshold. As shown in Figure 3, a light shield 30 may be physically positioned between the emitter 13 and the detector 16. In this example, the light shield 30 extends from the circuit board 70 to the lower surface 31 of the rod 11. The shield forms a physical light barrier between the emitter and the detector. The barrier prevents light from the emitter inadvertently entering the registration field of the detector, particularly with reference to reflections from the rod's underside 31. As shown in Figure 4, a visible or indicating LED 40 may be positioned within the rod where it can be activated in response to a "touch" signal. In this example, and because it is positioned between the emitter and the detector, it also acts to provide improved shielding between the emitter and the detector. The indicator 40 may be part of the structure of the shield 30. As shown in Figure 5, a linear touch sensor 10 may be fabricated from an 8mm diameter, round, polished acrylic rod that is transparent in the infrared. In some embodiments, the rod 10 may be curved or bent in a single plane or in multiple planes. As shown in this example, the emitter/ detector pairs 12 are spaced regularly along the length of the rod 11. The spacing between pairs 12 determines the practical touch resolution of the device 10. It will be appreciated that the invention 10 is not limited to any particular spacing or wavelength of the emitter/detector pair. In some embodiments, light from the emitter is modulated and the detector is configured to register only the modulated light. This greatly reduces the detector's sensitivity to stray or background light. In some embodiments, the modulation of adjacent pairs can be different, this providing enhanced resolution owing to closer spacing between adjacent emitter/detector pairs 12. As shown in Figure 11, a transparent rod 110 that forms a portion of a touch sensor is held within a gap or slot ill that is formed in the upper surface 112 of a device. To help better retain the rod 110, an elongated saddle 113 may be formed into or applied to the underside 114 of the surface 112. Thus, the rod 10 is securely retained in the upper surface 112, having an upper and unobscured portion 115 protruding above the upper most edge 116 of the upper surface 12. As shown in Figure 12, the saddle 113 comprises a thin web of material, in close proximity or in actual contact with the underside of the rod 15. In preferred embodiments, the saddle 113 is opaque but for regularly spaced openings 117. The regularly spaced openings 117 are located between the stations or emitter/detector pairs 12 and the rod 110. As best shown in Figure 11, the emitter/detector pair 12 comprises a modulated infrared emitter 118 that is mounted onto a printed circuit board or PCB 119. A light shield is provided in the form of a "chair" 120. In preferred embodiments, each station has an individual chair 120. As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the chair comprises an upright that extends almost to the underside of the rod 110. The upright 121 has a lower portion or leg 122 that preferably extends into a small recess formed into the upper surface of the PCB 119. Another leg 123 extends from a small recess in the upper surface of the PCB 19 to a seat portion 124. The actual number of legs is immaterial. The seat portion serves to support and elevate a cooperating, modulated detector 125 both above the surface of the PCB 119 and also closer to the underside of the rod 110. Elevating the detector 125 using the chair 120 improves the performance of the detector. Note that the optical or infra-red portions of at least one (and preferably each) emitter and detector pair 12 are located generally within the area of the opening 117 formed in the saddle. It is preferred that the underside of the saddle be non-reflective. In some embodiments, the saddle 113 may not be required. In particularly preferred embodiments, the underside 130 of the surface 112 that retains the rod 110 is painted with an infrared absorptive (anti-reflective) paint, such as a black paint. The terms "absorptive" and "anti-reflective" should be interpreted functionally and in the light of reason and not as absolute descriptions it being understood that there are relative degrees of each characteristic. The combination of light shield, saddle with station openings 117 and anti- reflective paint 130 contribute to the reduction of stray reflections and thus increase the performance of the sensor. A linear touch sensor as described above may be used in conjunction with a controller or a console of the type generally disclosed in the above referenced United States Patent No. 5,257,317. The touch sensor allows for rapid selection of sub-set channels from the super-set for assignment to the workspace. A consecutive sequence of channels can be assigned by swiping a finger or other object across a length of the rod 11 corresponding to the selected channels. Individual (non-consecutive) channels can also be selected. In the type of recording device disclosed in United States Patent No. 5*257,317 an arc shaped area above the workspace comprises a map of the super-set of channels. The super-set channels are arranged in a numerical sequence from one to N where N is the number of channels. It is common practice to have a small label such as an adhesive tape adjacent to and below each of the selectable channels in the map. The tape allows the operator to write a useful identifier in a way that can be easily changed. For example, the operator might write the identifier "sax" or "flute" under a channel onto which sounds of this type are recorded. To make devices of the kind depicted in US Patent No. 5,257,317 more useful, it would be desirable to have the information the operator would normally write on the adhesive tape conveniently and immediately transferred to the workspace simultaneously with the assignment of the channel to the physical controls in the workspace. One way of accomplishing is with the notation device and methods illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. As shown in Figure 6, a channel map is divided into rows of controls, indicators etc, each row corresponding to a channel. Each row is also permanently labelled with a channel number 60. An erasable white board area 61 is provided adjacent to and, in this example, below the channel numbers 60. In this example, the white board area 61 is continuous but it may be discontinuous. Small permanent indicator lines 62 define boundaries between each channel area. The small vertical lines 62 reside outside of the white board area 61. As shown in Figure 6, symbols or words or other indicia 63 can be manually inscribed by the operator on the white board area 61 in a zone 64 corresponding to a particular channel. Running parallel to one or both longitudinal edges of the white board area 61 are one or more rails 65 that are adapted to carry a mobile scanner. Figure 7 illustrates a mobile scanner 70 that can ride on the rail or rails 65 depicted in Figure 6. A housing contains an imaging device 71 such as a video camera, digital video camera or other image capture device and one or more illuminators 72. This moving carriage 70 also houses a small electric motor and drive wheel 73 that propels it along the rail 65. In response to a user command signal, the carriage 70 traverses all or part of the whiteboard and scans all or a portion of the white board area 61, recording the result. Image processing software detects the vertical boundary lines 62 and stores the information contained in individual zones 64 along with information relating to the channel number 60. The channel identification can be determined either by incrementing a counter (e.g. from channel 1 as each area is sequentially captured) or by recognizing the printed channel number 60, or by recognising some form of code or binary channel ID which can be provided adjacent to the white board area 61. Images produced from the information 63 in individual zones 64 can be displayed at will. In preferred embodiments, each channel control area in the physical workspace is provided by a high brightness, high contrast vacuum fluorescent display. The display is used to depict the stored information from the zone 64 associated with a particular channel. This display may be accompanied by a separate two-digit seven segment display that tells the operator the number of the selected super-set channel that has been assigned. This apparatus and process makes channel identification and channel recognition faster and less prone to errors. It will be appreciated that the display of information originating from the channel map area on a display associated with a channel control in a workspace may be accomplished in other ways. For example, the information from the whiteboard area can be captured by a static imaging device, so long as it is positioned correctly. The indication or information pertaining to the channels in the channel map area can also be captured by a variety of "smart" or "digital" paper and pen products that are known in the art and that are adapted to convert a user's handwriting into a digital format that can be easily stored, processed and transmitted to an electronic display in the channel control area of the workspace. The important aspect of the invention is that a user can inscribe channel specific notes in an area, in their own handwriting, and have that information displayed, at will, in a second location that corresponds to the notation area of a working channel control. Many components of a modern recording studio are modularised. Replaceable modules are used for a variety of components such as effects, power supplies, digital signal processors and the like. For the electronics contained in some modules, it is important that the module be fully powered down prior to the module being removed from its dock or frame. This ensures that no power spikes or other spurious electronic signals are generated as the module is removed. As shown in Figure 8, a replaceable module 8o is retained in a dock 8i. The modules electronic connector 82 plugs into a co¬ operating connector 83 that is built into the dock. Illustrated is a generalised module 80 that contains electronics 84 that are powered from the connector 82. In order to prevent inadvertent power spikes or spurious signals from affecting the electronics 84 a power switch 85 is provided. The power switch 85 governs the supply of power to the electronics 84. Preferably, the switch 85 is located internally of the module 80. A mechanical interlock 86 reciprocates between a locked and unlocked position. In the locked position depicted in Figures 8 (a) & (b), the interlock 86 extends into the dock 81 thereby preventing withdrawal 87 of the module 80 from the dock 81. In this locked position, the power switch 85 is enabled and therefore power is supplied to the electronics 84. When the interlock 86 is in the "unlocked" position as shown in Figure 8 (c), the module 80 is mechanically disengagable from the dock or frame 81. The motion of the interlock 86 into the "unlocked" position has the effect of turning of the power switch 85 thereby denying power to the electronics 84. Because the power to the electronics 84 is entirely cut off prior to removal, it is not possible for electronic interference to have any effect on the operation of the module. As shown in Figure 9 multiple electronics modules 90 communicate over a network or LAN such as an Ethernet network 91. Each module must have a unique IP address in some applications to avoid conflicts. For ease of use and to avoid manual configuration, each module is automatically assigned a unique IP address. In one embodiment of the invention, the IP address is automatically assigned to a module by a formula that combines the type of module with its physical position in the system. For example, a class B IP address may be assigned as I92.i68.<type>.<location>, where <type> is a number from 1 through 254 (inclusive) representing the type of module. The module type may be based on, for example, its function. The <location> parameter is a number from 1 through 254 (inclusive) representing the physical location in the system. The <type> parameter is preferably encoded into individual modules. This can be done via the software on the module, firmware on the module or hard wiring on the module itself. The <location> parameter is encoded into the system so that the module is given its location. This can be achieved by hard wiring the backplane connection with a location number so that when connected, the module automatically detects its location. As illustrated in Figure 9, a type 1 module 92 occupying location one 93 may have an IP address of x.y.1.1. A type 1 module 94 at location two 95 may have an IP address of x.y.1.2. A type 2 module 96 at location six 97 may have an IP address of x.y.2.6. Indicator lights are used on a wide variety of modules, controllers and other components that may be present in an integrated system operating over a LAN within a recording studio environment. Where it is desirable to synchronize indicator lights such as flashing lights, particularly at flashing rates of less then about 5 seconds, in a system where multiple independent processors are connected only by an Ethernet communications network, a supplemental synchronization system is provided. To achieve this type of flashing synchronization, each local processor keeps its own time for a flashing cycle of an indicator light that it is controlling. However, it is possible to phase lock each local timer to a network event that is broadcast over the entire network. As shown in Figure 10, three independent local timers 101, 102 and 103 are represented as having digital states represented by the illustrated digital waveforms. As shown, each local timer has a periodicity that is only approximately equal to that of the other timers. Over a given interval 104 it can be seen that the phase relationships between the three timers drift over the defined interval. This is remedied by broadcasting a phase lock event 105 over the network to which the three local timers 101, 102 and 103 are connected. As shown in Figure 10, each of the local timers responds to the phase lock event 105 by, in this example, resetting itself to the "on" or "1" position. This ensures a useful phase coherency between the three timers over a time period. The utility of the coherent period can be altered by changing the frequency of the phase lock event 105. Thus, the phase lock message 105 can be adjusted according to the accuracy and consistency of the local timers. While the present invention has been described with reference to particular details of construction, these should be understood as having been provided by way of example and not as limitations to the scope of spirit or the invention.