Center-Returning Volume Slider for Fine and Fast A/V Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional volume controls for audio/video devices in home automation systems are inadequate, as they either fail to provide fine adjustments with discrete controls or require excessive button presses for large adjustments with relative controls, leading to user frustration, especially when used as master volume controls across multiple rooms without clear feedback.
Innovation Solution
A volume control implemented as a slider with a center-returning element, where movement from the center is interpreted as a relative adjustment, providing proportional rate feedback, allowing for seamless transitions between discrete and relative volume adjustments, and applicable for both room-specific and master volume control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a discrete volume control slider is used, then volume can be adjusted across multiple discrete levels, but fine adjustments become difficult and users easily overshoot the target volume
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the volume control mechanism based on the current volume level. When the slider is in the middle range, discrete level jumps are smaller, enabling fine adjustments. When near the extremes, the control allows for larger effective adjustments. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by making the control characteristics adapt to the user's needs at different volume ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system changes the parameter of volume step size based on the current slider position. The step size between discrete volume levels is not fixed but varies depending on where the slider is positioned, allowing for finer control in the middle range and coarser control near extremes, thus resolving the contradiction between adjustment range and fine control capability.
2Ease of operation
If a relative volume control with + or - buttons is used, then small volume adjustments are easy, but large volume adjustments require many button presses
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the advantages of discrete and relative controls into a unified slider interface. The slider provides continuous visual feedback like relative controls while also enabling direct positioning for large adjustments like discrete controls. This combination resolves the contradiction by integrating both control paradigms into a single interactive element.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback through the slider position and numerical indicators showing current volume level. This feedback mechanism allows users to see the effect of their adjustments in real-time, enabling both precise small adjustments and efficient large adjustments without requiring multiple incremental presses, thus resolving the time loss issue.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a master volume control slider represents an average of multiple rooms, then simultaneous volume adjustment across all rooms is enabled, but accurate averaging cannot be calculated when devices only support relative volume adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a universal master volume control that works with both discrete and relative volume adjustment devices. By implementing a standardized control interface that translates to device-specific commands, the system achieves multi-functionality and resolves the contradiction between versatility and measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary between the user and diverse A/V devices. It receives user input through a unified slider interface and translates this into appropriate commands for each device type, whether discrete or relative. This intermediary layer resolves the contradiction by providing accurate average calculation and control regardless of the underlying device capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
Example techniques are provided for controlling volume of A/V devices using an improved volume control. The volume control may be implemented as a slider, where the sliding element is temporarily slid in response to user input (e.g., touched and dragged by the user), but then automatically “snaps” back to the center of the slider's range when the user input ends (e.g., is released by the user). Movement of the element from the center is interpreted as a relative volume adjustment, with the rate of volume change being proportional to the distance between the center of the range and the temporary position of the element. An indicator is provided indicating the rate, to provide user feedback. The volume control may be utilized as a master volume control in a home automation system.