Rotary Playback Controls With Fixed Virtual Touch Areas

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical disc playback devices face challenges in operability due to the difficulty in recognizing the position of the operation unit when it rotates with the turntable, making it difficult for DJs to perform operations effectively.

Innovation Solution

The operation device and playback system utilize a stationary operation unit with a rotary body featuring virtual operation areas that remain fixed in position despite the rotary body's rotation, utilizing a touch sensor and Hall elements to detect and transmit operation information, and a controller to manage and convert coordinates for accurate operation recognition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the operation unit rotates with the turntable, then the rotary operation can be performed, but the position of the operation unit becomes difficult to recognize

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotary operationVSAvoidposition recognition
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the operation unit's positional information through coordinate conversion. The physical operation unit rotates with the turntable, but a virtual operation unit is maintained in a fixed position on the display screen through coordinate transformation calculations, allowing the user to see the operation position remains constant even as the physical component rotates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces coordinate conversion calculation as an intermediary process between the physical operation unit and the display representation. This intermediary transformation layer converts the rotating coordinate system of the physical operation unit into a fixed coordinate system on the display, resolving the contradiction between physical rotation and visual position stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a rotating disc is placed on the turntable, then additional processing can be performed, but the operation unit position becomes difficult to recognize during rotation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing capabilityVSAvoidoperation recognition
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual representation of the operation unit that remains stationary on the display screen while the physical operation unit rotates. This virtual copy maintains consistent positional information through coordinate conversion, allowing users to perform operations with enhanced processing capabilities without experiencing the disorientation of a moving target

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent separates the physical rotation dimension from the display representation dimension. The physical operation unit rotates in the mechanical dimension, while its virtual representation remains fixed in the display dimension through coordinate transformation, effectively adding a computational dimension that resolves the position recognition issue

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration enhances operability by allowing DJs to perform operations without needing to visually track the rotating unit, improving ease of use and accuracy in detecting touch inputs, thereby enhancing the overall usability of the system.

Implementation Method 1

a rotation detector RD that detects a rotation angle of the rotary body 51 with respect to a reference direction SD

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHall effect: Hall Effect

Implementation Method 2

a touch sensor 53 that detects a position of a touch operation, which is an input operation, performed on the rotary body 51

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitance detection: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentEP3979246B1Operating device and playback system
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 ALPHATHETA CORP
  • EP3979246B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3979246B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3979246B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An operation device 3 includes: a rotary body (51) placed on a turntable (RP1) and rotatable along with the turntable; a virtual operation area (VA) set in the rotary body and that is a virtual area a position of which in the rotary body is the same irrespective of whether the rotary body is caused to rotate or not caused to rotate; an operation detector (53) configured to detect a touched position that is a position where a touch operation is performed on the rotary body; and a controller (57) configured to transmit predetermined operation information when the touched position detected by the operation detector is a position corresponding to the virtual operation area in the rotary body.