Audio Mixer Parameter Display with Shared Group Tabs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional digital audio mixers face difficulties in visually recognizing the correspondence between parameter groups and their frequency band ranges on the graphic EQ parameter screen, leading to poor visibility and user convenience issues.

Innovation Solution

The improved parameter setting apparatus displays an array of parameter setting images with tab images that indicate groups, where shared parameters are visually differentiated, allowing users to easily recognize group correspondences and allocate parameters to operators, enhancing visibility and usability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If all frequency bands are displayed together in parallel on a single screen, then the user can access all parameters, but the visibility and recognizability of group correspondences deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to all parametersVSAvoidvisibility of group correspondences

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The display screen is segmented into multiple regions, with each region showing a specific group of frequency bands. Tab images divide the parameter setting images into distinct groups, allowing users to selectively view different frequency band ranges without displaying all parameters simultaneously. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by organizing the comprehensive parameter set into manageable visual segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the display by allowing switching between different group views. Instead of trying to display all information simultaneously in one spatial dimension, the system enables users to navigate through different groups over time, enhancing visibility of correspondences while maintaining access to all parameters through sequential display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If frequency bands are divided into multiple groups, then the visibility of specific groups is improved, but the complexity of the display structure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of frequency band rangesVSAvoiddisplay structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tab images serve multiple functions: they act as visual dividers between groups, provide selectable indicators for different frequency band ranges, and serve as navigation elements. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate control elements, thereby managing display structure complexity while improving visibility of group correspondences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having complex navigation structures to access groups, the patent inverts the approach by making the group indicators (tab images) themselves the primary navigation interface. The tabs are positioned and styled to be directly manipulable, simplifying the interaction model while maintaining clear group visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If tab images are displayed to indicate groups, then the recognizability of group correspondences is improved, but the available display area for parameter images is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecognizability of group correspondencesVSAvoiddisplay area for parameter images

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The tab images are merged with the parameter setting images by positioning them adjacent to or overlapping with the frequency band representations. This integration allows the group indicators to serve dual purposes: indicating group boundaries while occupying minimal additional display space, thus maintaining recognizability of group correspondences without significantly reducing the area available for parameter images.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The tab images are positioned strategically at specific locations where group boundaries occur, rather than uniformly distributed across the display. This localized placement ensures that group correspondences are indicated only where necessary, preserving maximum display area for parameter images while maintaining recognizability at critical transition points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8300852B2Parameter setting apparatus and method for audio mixer

Publication Date: 2012.10.30 YAMAHA CORP

AI summary

An array of parameter setting images corresponding to a plurality of parameters, and a plurality of tab images for selecting any one of a plurality of groups formed by grouping the plurality of parameters. The tab images are displayed on a screen in an arrangement associated with the array of the parameter setting images corresponding to the parameters belonging to corresponding ones of the groups. The grouping of the parameters is made such that a portion of the parameters included in a given one of the groups is shared with another of the groups, and a portion of the tab image corresponding to the portion of the parameters shared with the other group is displayed in a display style to indicate the sharing. Upon selecting a tab image, the parameters corresponding to the selected tab image are allocated to individual ones of the plurality of operators.