Non-contact rotary fader
A rotary fader apparatus includes a fader control knob that is directly attached to the rotor of a non-contact electrical motor. The apparatus may produce a fade effect based on the rotational position of the fader control knob and may be automated through signals to the motor. Such a rotary fader apparatus may be used, for example, in audio mixing applications to provide automated or manual rotary control of track fading. The motor may also be used to alter the feel of the movement of the fader control knob and/or provide tactile feedback in response to mixing parameters or signal properties.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a control knob moveable to a plurality of positions, each of the plurality of positions associated with a control function; and
a control circuitry configured to modify an input signal based upon the control function associated with a detected position from the plurality of control positions,
wherein the control knob is coupled to a rotor and a stator, wherein the stator is moveable to allow the control knob to move between the plurality of positions.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control knob is coupled to the rotor via a shaft, wherein motion of the control knob is translated into motion of the rotor, and wherein the motion of the rotor is translated into the motion of the control knob.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a top plate between the control knob and the rotor for concealing the rotor, wherein a clearance exists between the control knob and the top plate.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control knob is configured for rotational movement, and wherein the plurality of positions comprises a plurality of rotational positions of the control knob.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the input signal is an audio signal, and wherein each of the plurality of rotational positions corresponds to a decibel sound level.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control knob is configured for translational movement in an upwards and a downwards direction, wherein each of the upwards and the downwards direction is associated with at least one of the plurality of positions.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the input signal is at least one of an audio signal, a video signal, or an electrical signal.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the input signal is an audio signal, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to modify at least one of an amplitude, frequency, phase, timbre, echo, sampling characteristic, speed, equalization, reverb, reverse echo, noise property, carrier wave dynamic, or beating of the audio signal.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to modify a property of the input signal, and wherein the property is either discrete or continuous.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the input signal comprises a first audio signal and a second audio signal;
the control knob is configured to rotate in a clockwise direction and an anticlockwise direction;
the first audio signal is assigned the clockwise direction and the second audio signal is assigned the anticlockwise direction; and
the control circuitry is configured to make the first audio signal more prominent than the second audio signal upon receiving indication of rotation of the control knob in the clockwise direction and make the second audio signal more prominent than the first audio signal upon receiving indication of rotation of the control knob in the anticlockwise direction.
11. An apparatus comprising:
a control knob configured to rotate in a clockwise direction and an anticlockwise direction, each of the clockwise direction and the anticlockwise direction being assigned at least one rotational position, wherein each of the at least one rotational position is associated with a control function; and
a control circuitry configured to:
receive an input signal;
assign one of the clockwise direction or the anticlockwise direction to the input signal;
detect movement of the control knob to a detected position in the assigned one of the clockwise direction or the anticlockwise direction; and
modify a property of the input signal based on the control function associated with the detected position; and
wherein the control knob is coupled to a rotor and a stator, wherein the stator is moveable to allow the control knob to move between the at least one rotational position.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a sensor system configured to detect the movement of the control knob in the clockwise direction and the anticlockwise direction, and further configured to detect the detected position.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to generate an output signal with the property of the input signal modified.
14. A method comprising:
receiving, by a rotary fader apparatus, at least one input signal, the rotary fader apparatus comprising a control knob moveable to a plurality of positions, wherein each of the plurality of positions is associated with a control function;
detecting, by the rotary fader apparatus, a detected position from the plurality of positions; and
modifying, by the rotary fader apparatus, the at least one input signal based upon the control function associated with the detected position for generating an output signal,
wherein the control knob is coupled to a rotor and a stator, and wherein the stator is moveable to allow the control knob to move between the plurality of positions.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein modifying the at least one input signal comprises causing a fade effect in the at least one input signal based on the detected position.
16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving, by the rotary fader apparatus, indication for a first fade effect;
rotating, by the rotary fader apparatus, the control knob to one of the plurality of positions associated with the first fade effect; and
fading, by the rotary fader apparatus, the at least one input signal based on the one of the plurality of positions associated with the first fade effect.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
receiving, by the rotary fader apparatus, indication of a second fade effect;
detecting, by the rotary fader apparatus, another one of the plurality of positions associated with the second fade effect; and
fading, by the rotary fader apparatus, the at least one input signal based on the another one of the plurality of positions associated with the second fade effect.
18. The method of claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of positions is associated with a decibel sound level, and wherein modifying the at least one input signal comprises adjusting a property of the at least one input signal in accordance with the decibel sound level associated with the detected position.