Rotating Jog Display for Precise Turntable Cue Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

DJ's using record players face challenges in aligning the positional relationship between the playing position and marked cues on the record disk, leading to inefficiencies in operations like scratch performances due to lag between jog dial rotation and cue point movement.

Innovation Solution

A display device and operation device that includes a rotating body with a concentrically arranged light-emitting display and sensors to accurately show markers corresponding to set points in music data, synchronized with the rotation of the turntable, allowing for precise cue point identification without manual stickers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the cue point is displayed to move clockwise on the circumference of the jog display unit at the same speed as the rotation speed of the analog record, then the positional relationship between the playing position and the cue point can be maintained, but a lag occurs between the rotation of the jog dial and the moving of the cue point

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositional relationship accuracyVSAvoidlag time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical detection and display system with an optical system. The jog display unit uses a light source and light-receiving elements arranged in a matrix to optically detect the rotation of the jog dial and directly control the display position of the cue point, eliminating the lag caused by mechanical signal processing while maintaining accurate positional correspondence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If a DJ uses a record player with manual rotation, then the operational feel and control are improved, but the alignment between the marked position on the record disk and the playing position becomes difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual control feelVSAvoidposition alignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the light-receiving elements continuously detect the rotation position of the jog dial and provide real-time feedback to control the display position of the cue point. This closed-loop feedback system ensures that the displayed cue point position always corresponds accurately to the actual playing position, even during manual rotation operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a visual copy of the physical record rotation on the jog display unit. The light-emitting and light-receiving element arrangements create an optical mapping that replicates the rotational position, allowing the DJ to see the cue point position as a visual copy of the actual playback position, thereby maintaining alignment accuracy during manual operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If the jog display unit detects rotation direction and rotation amount after rotation occurs, then the system can respond to user input, but the response time increases causing lag during scratch operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation detection capabilityVSAvoidresponse speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent arranges light sources and light-receiving elements in advance in specific patterns (such as radial or matrix arrangements) before rotation occurs. This preliminary configuration allows the system to immediately detect rotation direction and amount as soon as movement begins, without requiring post-rotation detection processing, thereby significantly reducing response lag during scratch operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3979243B1Display device and operating device
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 ALPHATHETA CORP
  • EP3979243B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3979243B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3979243B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An operation unit (5) includes: a rotating body (51) disposed on a turntable (RP1) of a record player (RP) to rotate with the turntable (RP1); and a display (52) provided to the rotating body along a circumferential direction around a rotation center of the rotating body and configured to display a marker (MK) corresponding to a point set in advance in a music piece being played.