DUALLY ADJUSTABLE ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS FOR HANDLING AND SYSTEM OF THESE, AND DUALLY ADJUSTABLE DIGITAL POTENTIOMETER

Abstract: The dually adjustable electromechanical handling means according to the invention has controlled circuit (30), a microcomputer (15) controlling the controlled circuit (30) and a displacement/digital signal transducer (12) with movable element making manual control possible, the output of the displacement/digital signal transducer (12) is connected to the first control input of the microcomputer (15), the microcomputer (15) has a second input suitable for receiving digital control signals, and the first output of the microcomputer (15) and the control input of the controlled circuit (30) are connected by a control line (31). A further object of the invention is a handling means system comprising such handling means, and a dually adjustable digital potentiometer fashioned as an integrated unit having a displacement transducer with an own port, an electronically switchable network of resistors and an interface receiving control signals.

Description: DUALLY ADJUSTABLE ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS FOR HANDLING AND SYSTEM OF THESE, AND DUALLY ADJUSTABLE DIGITAL POTENTIOMETER The object of the invention is a dually adjustable electromechanical handling means and a handling means system,, and dually adjustable digital potentiometer, to be used as a control or potentiometer for electrical equipment, especially audio equipment. By "dual adjustment" and "dual control" we mean the possibility of controlling and adjusting both manually and in an electronic way. The electromechanical handling means according to the invention has a controlled circuit. In the present description phrase "handling means" refers to a control device having a movable element, which movable element has an initial status before its displacement and a final status after its displacement, and the value of a certain electric parameter corresponding to the initial status and the value of the electric parameter corresponding to the final status are different. The best known electromechanical handling means making it possible to adjust an electric parameter is the potentiometer. The slider of the potentiometer, depending on its design, can be manually set into the desired position via shifting or turning it, resulting in variable resistance or variable division ratio. The disadvantage of it is that as the adjustment of the potentiometer is done manually, it is not possible to set several potentiometers simultaneously due to the time required, or it can only be solved with time delay. Further, if the potentiometer must be adjusted while e.g. playing an instrument., it can only be done with difficulties as either there will be unwanted break in the play, or the potentiometer will be set not in the desired instant. Further, we know the integrated circuits DS 1668 and 1669 (manufactured by Dallas Semiconductor)., which are controllable digital potentiometer circuits. The circuit has a control circuit and a network of resistors forming a potentiometer with the three potentiometer poles, where the resistance between the two outer poles is fix, the middle pole forms a slider output, and the position of the slider at any time is determined by the slider control circuit connected to the output of the control circuit. The division of the potentiometer or, if it is used as a variable resistor, the resistance can be adjusted in quanta. Using it as a potentiometer the division, or using it as a variable resistor, the resistance can be adjusted or set by a digital series of signals applied on the appropriate control input of the circuit, or by applying voltage signals by a push button on the other, upward or downward stepping input of the circuit. Its disadvantage is that as setting is only possible in quanta, in case of manual adjustment the push button is either to be pushed several times or it is to be pushed once for a strictly specified time so as to adjust the required value. It can either be unacceptably time-consuming, or difficult to find the required length of time. Further, we know the apparatus suitable for remote adjustment of a potentiometer presented in patent specification no. US 5,856,792, where the rotation is sensed by a rotation transducer and coding circuit, the output signal of this circuit corresponds to the direction of rotation and it is proportional to the angle of rotation, this signal is transformed by a digital circuit into signals controlling a microprocessor, the output signal of the microprocessor controls a control circuit, the output signal of which operates a motor adjusting the slider of a potentiometer. A disadvantage of this solution is that it can not be controlled by digital command signals. Further, we know several integrated circuits of Xicor company, e.g. X 9312 and X 9315W etc., which has a control circuit having a clock signal input, a data signal input and an address signal input, a network of resistors forming a potentiometer, and the division is determined by the status of the control inputs at any time. The disadvantage of these solutions is that they can only be controlled by digital signals, there is no possibility for manual adjustment. Most of the above mentioned solutions relate to devices controlled either manually or by digital signals. At the only solution having both possibilities, the manual adjustment is too time-consuming and its accuracy is restricted. Their further disadvantage is that they can all be used only as a potentiometer or as a variable resistor, but not as a controllable set of switches. The disadvantages of the above described solutions made it necessary to search for a solution making it possible to adjust handling means quickly and accurately both manually and using electric signals. It is a further demand to find a solution for adjusting not only potentiometer-like handling means but handling means consisting of a switch or a set of switches., controlled both manually and by digital signals. The fundamental idea of the invention is that setting a large number of handling means or potentiometers of an equipment to another status which is significantly different from the original status can only be realised quickly and reliably if the individual handling means are fashioned in a way that besides being suitable for being adjusted both manually and by digital signals, manual adjustment can be realised with a single movement of given direction and the required magnitude, and the time taken by this movement plays no role in the result of the manual adjustment. Therefore the solution for the problem according to the invention is a dually adjustable electromechanical handling means having a controlled circuit. The essence of the invention is that it has a microcomputer controlling the controlled circuit and a displacement/digital signal transducer with a movable element making manual control possible, the output of the transducer is connected to the first control input of the microcomputer, the microcomputer has a second input suitable for receiving digital control signals, and the first output of the microcomputer is connected with the control input of the controlled circuit through a control line. At a preferred embodiment of the handling means the controlled circuit, the microcomputer, the displacement/digital signal transducer with the movable element making manual control possible form an integrated electromechanical device having electric contacts and connections for receiving control signals. A preferred embodiment of the handling means according to the invention has an output indicating the control-status of the microcomputer. A further favourable embodiment has a display, preferably graphic or alphanumerical display, controlled through the output indicating the control-status of the microcomputer or through another output of the microcomputer. The embodiment of the handling means according to the invention has clock signal input, data signal input and address signal input controlling the microcomputer. A favourable embodiment of the handling means has a control input controlling the microcomputer so as to adjust the characteristics . A further favourable embodiment of the handling means has a value adjusting input controlling the microcomputer. The controlled circuit of the handling means is a network of resistors controlled by electronic switches and/or a set of switches. At the embodiment containing a network of resistors the movable element of the displacement/digital signal transducer is a turnable shaft or a slider guided along a line. Further, it is a very favourable embodiment of the handling means where the controlled circuit includes a MIDI signal generator controlable by the output signal of the microcomputer and an output connected to the output of the MIDI signal .generator suitable for emitting signals of MIDI standard, acting as a further output of the handling means. A preferable realisation of this embodiment has an input suitable for receiving MIDI signals, and the output suitable for emitting signals of MIDI standard is connected either to the output of the MIDI signal generator or to the input suitable for receiving MIDI signals, depending on the controlled status of the microcomputer. A further solution for the.problem according to the invention is a dually adjustable digital potentiometer, having electronically switchable resistor network and displacement transducer of which form an integrated electromechanical device, having an interface setting the division ratio at the resistor network corresponding to the digital code received at its input - from a controller -, having a display indicating the division ratio, and the displacement transducer has a port sending signal . proportional with displacement - to be forwarded to a controller -. A further object of the invention is dually adjustable electromechanical handling means system the basic idea of which is that it comprises N pieces of controlled units each consisting of a controlled circuit, a displacement/digital signal transducer and a display forming an integrated unit, further, it has K pieces of microcomputers, it has a digital system input line, each microcomputer is connected with its one input either to the digital system input line or to the output of the displacement/digital signal transducer of one or more controlled units, the control input of the controlled circuit of each controlled unit is connected to the first output of a microcomputer connected with its one input to the system input line, the control input of the controlled circuit...of: .-each .control 1 ed .uni -is -connected .to ..the -first output of a microcomputer having an input connected to the output of the displacement/digital signal transducer of the same controlled unit, and each microcomputer has an output connected to the control input of a controlled circuit of a controlled unit. A preferred embodiment of the system has a digital system output line with the status-indicating output of one or more microcomputers and/or the status-indicating output of the controlled circuit of one or more controlled units connected to this digital system output line. The digital system input line and the digital system output line of the embodiment of the system is preferably a two-way line forming a bus. In the present specification phrases input and output include the input groups and output groups as well. The phrase displacement/digital signal transducer includes rotation/digital signal transducers as well. The microcomputer of the dually adjustable electromechanical handling means according to the invention comprises a processor, port(s), and status-storing memory(ies). The invention is now described in detail by presenting favourable embodiments of it, with reference to the schematic drawings attached, where: Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the dually adjustable electromechanical handling means according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a circuit diagram of the first possible controlled resistor network of an embodiment of the handling means according to the invention realised as a potentiometer, Figure 3 shows a circuit diagram of the second possible controlled resistor network of an embodiment of the handling means according to the invention realised as a potentiometer, Figure 4 shows a schematic circuit diagram of a possible set of switches of the embodiment of the handling means according to the invention realised with a set of switches, Figure 5 shows a schematic top view of a possible embodiment part of the display of the handling means according to the invention, Figure 6 shows a block diagram part of the embodiment of the handling means according to the invention containing the controlled circuit fashioned to be suitable for transmitting and generating MIDI signals, Figure 7 shows a lateral view of the embodiment of the handling means according to the invention realised as a potentiometer, mounted on a carrying sheet supplied with a connecting control cable, Figure 8 shows a top view of the display of the handling means shown on figure 7, Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the handling means according to the invention to be installed in the place of a conventional potentiometer. Figure 10 shows the embodiment of the handling means according to the invention realised as a potentiometer mounted on a carrying sheet, with electric connections at its neck, partly in lateral view and partly in section, and Figure 11 shows is a magnified lateral view of the neck of the handling means mounted on a carrying sheet shown in figure 10. Figure 1 shows the block diagram of the dually adjustable electromechanical handling means 10 according to the invention. Main components of the handling means 10 are the controlled circuit 30, the controlling microcomputer 15 and the displacement/digital signal transducer 12. The displacement/digital signal transducer 12 has a movable element, e.g. a turnable shaft 13 which is the manual operating element of the handling means 10. The output of the displacement/digital signal transducer 12 is connected to the first control input of the microcomputer 15. The microcomputer 15 has a second input suitable for receiving digital control signals arriving from the system controller of from some other controller. The microcomputer 15 controls the controlled circuit 30 through the control line 31 connected to the first output of the microcomputer 15, the control line 31 is connected to the control input of the controlled circuit 30. The handling means 10 is controlled in an electronic way by controlling the microcomputer 15 the second input of which receiving the arriving digital control signals is suitably a clock signal, address signal and data signal receiving input. Controlled circuit 30 can be a network of resistors controlled by electronic switches, embodying a variable resistor or a potentiometer, and/or it can be a set of switches. If it is a network of resistors or a potentiometer, the handling means provides variable resistance or variable voltage division (supplemented with a commoned potential) between input 35 and output 37 of the controlled circuit 30. If it is a set of switches, input 35 and output 37 is short circuited or opened by the handling means, as it will be described in detail in connection with figure 2, 3 and 4. In order to satisfy special demands, to realise division of special characteristics, the handling means 10 has a separate characteristics adjusting input 18 controlling the microcomputer 15. In order to satisfy further demands, to set individual resistance values, the handling means 10 has a separate value adjusting input 19 controlling the microcomputer 15. Both the characteristics adjusting input 18 and the value adjusting input 19 are programming inputs. Further, the handling means 10 has an output indicating the control-status of the microcomputer 15 and a display 40 is connected to this output. Display 40 is suitably a graphic or alphanumerical display, a possible embodiment of it is described in connection with figure 5. At the embodiment shown in the figure the microcomputer 15 has a further output with the positioning mechanics 50 connected to it so as to harmonise manual control with control using digital signals. The mechanics 50 turns the shaft 13 of the transducer 12 according to the control realised by digital signals ensuring that if the next adjustment will be a manual one, the next setting of it will be in accord with its scale. Figure 2 shows the schematic circuit diagram of a first so called "ladder circuit" embodying the controlled circuit 30 as an example, consisting of resistors Rl, R2, ... Rn; R12, R22, ... Rn2 and switches Kl, K2 ... Kn. The resistance between input 35 and output 37 or the division at any time depends on the controlled status of switches Kl, K2 ... Kn, corresponding to the control signal received through control line 31. Figure 3 shows the schematic circuit diagram of another so called "ladder circuit" embodying the controlled circuit (30) as an example, consisting of resistors R13, R23, ... Rn3 and switches SI, S2 ... Sn. The resistance between input 35 and output 37 or the division at any time depends on the status of switches SI, S2 ... Sn, corresponding to the control signal received through control line 31. Figure 4 shows the schematic circuit diagram of a set of switches embodying the controlled circuit 30 as an example . , consisting of switches Bl, B2, B3, B4, ... Bn. The status of switches Bl, B2, B3, B4, ... Bn are open or closed depending on the control signal received through control line 31, and inputs 35a, 35b., . - . 35c and output 37a, 37b, ... 37n, respectively, are short circuited or opened accordingly. Figure 5 shows a schematic top view of the display of a possible embodiment showing the controlled status of the handling means. At the embodiment as the .potentiometer of the controlled circuit 30, the actual division adjusted using knob 42 of the display 40 is represented by the part of the arc length of different colour or shade 44 as compared to the total arc length 43. Figure 6 shows a part of the embodiment of the handling means fashioned to be suitable for being used as a art of a MIDI system usually used in audio technology. The controlled circuit 30 of the handling means 10 includes a MIDI signal generator 32 controlled by the output signal of the microcoinputer 15 through the control line 31 and an output 33 connected to the output of the MIDI signal generator 32 suitable for emitting signals of MIDI standard, acting as a further output of the handling means 10, and it has an input 34, preferably a socket, suitable for receiving MIDI signals. During its operation, the output 33 suitable for emitting signals of MIDI standard is connected either to the output of the MIDI signal generator 32 or to the input 34 suitable for receiving MIDI signals, depending on the control signal received from the microcomputer. Accordingly, output 33 supplies either the MIDI signals arriving to input 34 or the MIDI signals generated by the signal generator 32. Figure 7 shows the lateral view of a possible embodiment of the handling means mounted on a carrying sheet 76 by screw joint. The handling means has a house 70, a shaft 13 projecting from it, acting as a movable element for manual adjustment, a knob 72 on the shaft 13 facilitating its comfortable use, and a display 73 indicating the position of the shaft 13 at any time. The electric components of the handling means can be found in the house 70. There are terminals 75 acting as poles of potentiometer protruding from the house 70, the electric connection to the electric components is established by the connection socket 74 mounted on the sidewall of the house 70. The handling means can be controlled by digital signals through the electric cable 78 and the connector plug 77 mounted on it. Figure 8 is a top view of the display of the handling means shown in figure 7. The figure shows the shaft 13, the knob 72 and the display 73 which is similar to the one shown in figure 5. Dashed lines indicate the house 70, the terminals 75 protruding from it and the connection socket 74 suitable for establishing electric connection. Further, the figure shows the cable 78 carrying the digital control signals and the connector plug 77 mounted on it. Figure 9 is a perspective wiew of the handling means 10 according to the invention to be installed in the place of a conventional potentiometer. Dashed lines indicate the space demand of the conventional potentiometer, the handling means 10 is placed in this space on the figure. It is clearly seen on the figure that terminals 75 of the handling means 10 acting as potentiometer poles are practically positioned in the place of the terminals of the conventional potentiometer, and the house 70 also practically takes the place of the house of the conventional potentiometer, and the turnable shaft 13 with its bushing 22 also takes the same place as the shaft and the bushing of the potentiometer. The connection making it possible to control the handling means 10 by digital signals is established via the connection socket 74 situated on the bottom of the handling means 10, the connector plug 77 with the cable 78 is shown in the figure opposite to the connection socket 74, indicating the direction of..plugging. Figure 10 shows the embodiment of the handling means according to the invention realised as a potentiometer mounted on a carrying sheet 76, figure 11 shows the contacting . parts magnified. In the position shown in the figure, the connections making it possible to control the handling means 10 by digital signals are established outside in the mounted position of the handling means. At this solution shown as an example, the carrying card 80 carrying the wiring 81 acting as electric connections for the handling means 10 lays on the carrying sheet 76. The handling means 10 is fixed to the carrying sheet 76 by a female screw 68 in a way that it clamps a collared bushing 69 to the carrying sheet 76 as well. The collared bushing 69 shoulders flexible contact pieces 85 with its surface facing the carrying sheet 76 pressing this way the contact pieces 85 to the wiring 81, providing stable contact. The contact .pieces 85 are bent and they reach through the wall of the socket of the collared bushing 69 and, due to their flexibility, the contact pieces 85 press against the contact elements 90 mounted on the surface of the socket .positioning the shaft 13 positioned to be parallel with the axis, which contact elements 90 are terminals of the circuits positioned in the house 70 of the handling means 10. This solution provides the handling means with covered connections securing it from mechanical damage. The part of the wiring 81 not covered by the collared bushing 69 is protected against mechanical effects by cover plate 88. The major advantage of the dually adjustable handling means, handling means system, and dually adjustable digital potentiometer according to the invention is that they can be controlled and adjusted manually and by digital signals as well. Applying them especially in audioelectronic equipment and appliances, but in other areas of electronics as well, they significantly increase the services provided by the equipment, including control by computers and remote control as well. It is a further advantage of them that due to their construction similar to the construction of conventional potentiometers, replacing the conventional potentiometer with a handling means, the given function can be controlled by digital signals, while maintaining the possibility of manual control as well.

Claims: Claims: 1. Dually adjustable electromechanical handling means having a controlled circuit ch a r a c t e r i s e d i n that it has a microcomputer (15) controlling the controlled circuit (30) and a displacement/digital signal transducer (12) with a movable element making manual control possible, the output of the displacement/digital signal transducer (12) is connected to the first control input of the microcomputer (15), the microcomputer (15) has a second input suitable for receiving digital control signals ^ , and the first output of the microcomputer (15) and the control input of the controlled circuit (30) are connected by a control line (31) . 2. Handling means according to claim 1 ch a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the controlled circuit (30), the microcomputer (15), and the displacement/digital signal transducer (12) with the movable element making manual control possible form an integrated electromechanical device having electric contacts and connections for receiving control signals. 3. Handling means according to claim 1 or claim 2 ch a r a c t e r i s e d i n that it has an output indicating the control-status of the microcomputer (15) . 4. Handling means according to any of claims 1 - 3 c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that it has a display (40) , preferably a graphic or alphanumerical display, controlled by the output indicating the control-status of the microcomputer (15) or by another output of the microcomputer (15) . 5. Handling means according to any of claims 1 - 4 ch a r a ct e r i s e d i n that it has a characteristics adjusting input (18) controlling the microcomputer (15) . 6. Handling means according to any of claims 1 - 5 char act er i s e d in that it has a value adjusting input (19) controlling the microcomputer (15) . 7. Handling means according to any of claims 1 - 6 ch a r a ct e r i s e d i n that it has clock signal input, address signal input and data signal input controlling the microcomputer (15) . 8. Handling means according to any of claims 1 - 7 character i s ed i n that its controlled circuit (30) is a network of resistors controlled by electronic switches (Rl, R2, ... Rn; R12, R22, ... Rn2; Kl, K2 ... Kn; SI, S2 ... Sn) and/or a set of switches (Bl, B2, B3, .. : Bn) . 9. Handling means according to any of claims 1 - 8 cha r a c t e r i s e d i n that the movable element of the displacement/digital signal transducer (12) is a turnable shaft (13) or a slider guided along a line. 10. Handling means according to any of claims 1 - 9 cha r a ct e r i s e d i n that its controlled circuit (30) includes a MIDI signal generator (32) controlable by the output signal of the microcomputer (15) and an output (33) suitable for emitting signals of MIDI standard connected to the output of the MIDI signal generator (32)., acting as a further output of the handling means (10) . 11. Handling means according to claim 10 cha r a c t e r i s e d i n that it has an input (34) , preferably a socket, suitable for receiving signals of MIDI standard, and the output (33) suitable for emitting signals of MIDI standard is connected either to the output of the MIDI signal generator (32) or to the input (34) suitable for receiving MIDI signals., depending on the controlled status of the microcomputer (15) . 12. Dually adjustable digital potentiometer ch a r a c t e r i s e d i n that its electronically switchable resistor network and its displacement transducer form an integrated electromechanical device, it has an interface setting the division ratio at the resistor network corresponding to the digital code received at its input, it has a display indicating the division ratio, and it has a port sending signal proportional with the displacement of the displacement transducer. 13. Dually adjustable electromechanical handling means system ch a r a c t e r i s e d i n that it comprises N pieces of controlled units each consisting of a controlled circuit, a displacement/digital signal transducer and a display, forming an integrated unit, further, it has K pieces of microcomputers, it has a digital system input line, each microcomputer is connected with its one input either to the digital system input line or to the output of the displacement/digital signal transducer of one or more controlled units, the control input of the controlled circuit of each controlled unit is connected to the first output of a microcomputer connected with its one input to the system input line, the control input of the controlled circuit of each controlled unit is connected to the first output of a microcomputer having an input connected to the output of the displacement/digital signal transducer of the same controlled unit, and each microcomputer has an output connected to the control input of a controlled circuit of a cox.tro.lled .unit. 14. Handling means system according to claim 13 cha r a c t e r i s e d i n that it has a digital system output line with the status-indicating output of one or more microcomputers and/or the status-indicating output of the controlled circuit of one or more controlled units connected to this digital system output line.

Inventors: LENKEHEGYI ATTILA, LENKEHEGYI, ATTILA
Applicants: LENKEHEGYI ATTILA, LENKEHEGYI, ATTILA
Application year: 2000
Main classification: H03H17
IPC codes: H03G1, H03G3, H03H17