Touch Pad Disc Jockey Controller With Circumferential Motion Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing DJ control devices are bulky, heavy, complex, and limited in functionality, making them unsuitable for portable applications and lacking in accuracy and flexibility for creating scratch effects, with previous attempts failing to address portability, durability, and precision.
Innovation Solution
A multi-function touch pad control device with a circumferentially shaped surface that responds to both circumferential and linear motion, providing direct visual feedback and mode switches for versatile control, allowing simultaneous scratch and jog/shuttle effects, and enabling precise control of audio parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mechanical rotating platter or jog wheel is used to simulate turntable functionality, then the scratch effect and jog/shuttle control are improved, but the device becomes bulky, heavy, and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical rotating platters and jog wheels with an electronic touch-sensitive surface that detects finger movements to simulate turntable functionality. The touch-sensitive surface uses capacitive sensing to detect radial and tangential movements, converting them into control signals for scratch effects and jog/shuttle operations without any moving mechanical parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified electronic copy of the turntable platter's functionality through a touch-sensitive surface. Instead of physically replicating the rotating platter, the system captures the essential control movements (radial for jog/shuttle, tangential for scratch effects) and replicates their functional outcome through digital signal processing.
2Device complexity
If a single user rotatable disc is used for control, then the device remains compact, but it can only perform one function at a time (scratch effect or jog/shuttle)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the touch-sensitive surface into different functional zones with distinct characteristics. The outer annular region responds to radial movements for jog/shuttle control, while the inner circular region responds to tangential movements for scratch effects. Each zone is optimized for specific control types, allowing multiple functions to coexist on a single compact surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic functionality where the same touch-sensitive surface adapts its response based on the type of movement detected. The system dynamically switches between jog/shuttle mode (when radial movement is detected) and scratch effect mode (when tangential movement is detected), allowing a single static surface to provide multiple dynamic functions.
3Device complexity
If a standard computer mouse is used for scratch effect control, then portability is improved, but the control accuracy and performance are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical mouse pointing device with a capacitive touch-sensitive surface that directly senses finger movements. This eliminates the need for a physical mouse, improving portability while providing superior control accuracy through direct contact sensing that captures subtle finger movements with high precision.
4Measurement precision
If a computer touch pad is used instead of a mouse, then control accuracy is improved, but visual feedback is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates visual feedback mechanisms that work in conjunction with the touch-sensitive surface. Visual indicators (such as LED lights or display elements) provide real-time feedback about the current playback position, scratch effect intensity, and jog/shuttle speed, compensating for the lack of tactile feedback from a physical platter while maintaining control accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention pertains to the field of control and manipulation of a digital audio signal by a user manipulable touch sensitive control surface. The present invention is specifically applicable to user manipulation of digital audio signals by disc jockeys (DJs).A touch sensitive surface substantially circumferential in shape is divided into two regions: an inner or central portion and an outer or circumferential portion. The inner portion responds to linear motion imparted by the user while the outer portion responds to circumferential motion. The linear motion imparted by the user in the central portion is used manipulate a digital audio data stream in order to impart a scratch effect.