Patent ID: 8566719

Claim:
A control apparatus for controlling at least one parameter of audio reproduction of a sound reproduction apparatus, the at least one parameter being associable with a current level which is variable, the control apparatus including: a touch sensitive panel operable to communicate data based on contact thereon; a controller coupled to the touch sensitive panel for processing communicated data from the touch sensitive panel, data communicated from the touch sensitive panel being processable by the controller in a manner such that variance of the current level is determinable based on contact on the touch sensitive panel; and a visual indicator coupled to the controller, the visual indicator configured such that a visual indication is providable by visually denoting the current level and the variance determinable in association thereto, the visual indicator and the touch sensitive panel being arranged in a manner such that contact on the touch sensitive panel one of substantially coincides and fails to substantially coincide with the visual indication denoting the current level, wherein when contact on the touch sensitive panel substantially coincides with the visual indication which denotes the current level, the controller processes data communicated from the touch sensitive panel in a manner such that variance of the current level of the at least one parameter is determined; wherein when contact on the touch sensitive panel fails to substantially coincide with the visual indication which denotes the current level, the controller ignores data communicated from the touch sensitive panel; wherein the control apparatus is operable in one of a first parameter control mode and a fine-tuning first parameter mode; wherein when the controller recognizes contact to the touch sensitive panel by one of a first appendage and a second appendage, the control apparatus operates in the first parameter control mode, and variance of the current level of the at least one parameter is determined in a manner such that the level is increased by primary increments when the first appendage is moved in the first direction and the level is decreased by primary decrements when the first appendage is moved in the second direction; wherein when the controller recognizes contact to the touch sensitive screen by the first appendage and the second appendage in a manner such that they are substantially side-by-side together, the control apparatus operates in the fine-tuning first parameter mode; and variance of the current level of the at least one parameter is determined in a manner such that the level is increased in secondary increments when the first appendage and the second appendage are moved in the first direction, and the level is decreased in secondary decrements when the first appendage and the second appendage are moved in the second direction; and wherein the secondary increment is less than the primary increment and the secondary decrement is less than the primary decrement.