US 12,117,863 B2Granted

Four-axis positional input device

AssigneeAvid Technology, Inc.

InventorsDavid K. Magleby, William J. Lurie, Steven H. Milne, Edward Jones

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Abstract

A four-axis joystick provides the ability to control four parameters in a single input device. In one embodiment, the Z-direction of control is implemented by a telescoping joystick handle, with the X- and Y-directions of control being implemented by pivoting motions of the handle in directions radial to an axis of the joystick handle, and the theta-direction of control implemented by rotation of a portion of the handle about the handle axis. The four-axis joystick may be used as an input device for audio mixing applications with the X-, Y-, and Z-dimensions of control mapped to panning of an audio source in the left-right, forward-backward, and up-down directions respectively, and the theta-dimension mapped to volume control of low frequency effects.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A joystick comprising:

an elongate handle pivotably supported in an assembly for movement from a rest position in directions radial to an axis of the handle, wherein the handle is rotatable about the axis and extendable and contractable along the axis, wherein extension and contraction of the handle along the axis is accomplished at least in part by motion of a first portion of the handle with respect to a second portion of the handle and, wherein:
pivoting motion of the handle along a first direction radial to the axis of the handle is encoded by a first encoder in the assembly;
pivoting motion of the handle along a second direction radial to the axis of the handle and orthogonal to the first direction is encoded by a second encoder in the assembly;
rotation about the axis of the handle is encoded by a third encoder in the assembly;
and
extension and contraction along the axis of the handle is encoded by a fourth encoder in the assembly.

3 more elements

A method of mixing audio, the method comprising:

providing a computer-based audio mixing application;
providing a joystick having four dimensions of control, each dimension of control being effected by motion along a corresponding direction of one of angular and linear motion of the joystick, wherein one of the four dimensions of control is effected by extension and contraction of a handle of the joystick, the extension and contraction being accomplished at least in part by motion of a first portion of the handle with respect to a second portion of the handle, and wherein the joystick is in data communication with the computer-based audio mixing application;
and
enabling a user of the computer-based audio mixing application to use the four-axis joystick to control an apparent physical location an audio source, wherein:
a first coordinate of the apparent physical location of the audio source is controlled by a first control dimension of the joystick;
a second coordinate of the apparent physical location of the audio source is controlled by a second control dimension of the joystick;
and
a third coordinate of the apparent physical location of the audio source is controlled by a third control dimension of the joystick.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/148,181Filed 29 Dec 2022
Published: US 2024/0219950 A14 Jul 2024
Granted: 15 Oct 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G05G 9/047
In which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously: the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks
G06F 3/165
Sound input; Sound output: management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
G05G 2009/04748
Characterised by means converting mechanical movement into electric signals: position sensor for rotary movement, e.g. potentiometer
G05G 2009/04751
Characterised by means converting mechanical movement into electric signals: position sensor for linear movement