JP5834652B2 - Remote controller with touch detection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote controller including a touch detection device that performs touch detection in response to a pressing operation on a push button type operator, and more particularly to a remote controller suitable for music production using a computer.

  Conventionally, it is known that an application program (digital audio workstation program, hereinafter referred to as “DAW software”) for realizing a music production function is installed in a general-purpose personal computer, and music production is performed using the DAW software. In music production using DAW software, a user can control the operation of the DAW software by inputting various commands and parameter values using a display, mouse, and keyboard that are standard equipment on the PC. It has been conventionally known that a physical controller dedicated to DAW software is used to control the operation of the DAW software. Various types of operation modes of the physical controller are known, such as those equipped with fader operators and rotary knob operators as main operators, and keyboard instrument types equipped with keyboards as main operators. In general, such a physical controller is often provided with a push button type operation element in addition to the main operation element as described above. In that case, the push button type controller is used exclusively as an on / off switch or as an increment / decrement switch.

  Some conventional physical controllers have a pad-like operation element. The pad-like controller is suitable for inputting a rhythm part using a percussion instrument-type timbre because a MIDI velocity value or the like can be input with a value corresponding to the strength with which the pad is hit. As an example of a touch detection device for performing touch detection (pressing force detection) in various operators including the pad-shaped operator, there is a touch detection device described in Patent Document 1. The touch detection device described in Patent Document 1 includes two flexible support members arranged to face each other at a predetermined interval via a spacer member, and a conductor pattern is formed on the surfaces of the two support members facing each other. Formed. And it is comprised so that a conductive pattern may contact and a touch detection signal may be output when a supporting member bends with the pressure (load) concerning the surface of a supporting member.

  Moreover, there is a touch response sensor described in Patent Document 2 as an example of a sensor capable of touch detection relating to keyboard operation of an electronic keyboard instrument. The touch response sensor described in Patent Literature 2 includes two substantially rectangular fixed contact portions arranged in parallel with each other and a resistive elastic body that comes into contact with the fixed contact portion in response to a key pressing operation. The contact area between the resistive elastic body and the fixed contact portion is changed according to an increase in pressure, and a change in resistance between the fixed contact portions is detected according to the change in the contact area.

Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 02-49029 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 52-101432

  In the structure of the touch detection device described in Patent Document 1, the two support members arranged at a predetermined interval have their opposing surfaces parallel to each other, and the conductor pattern formed on the surfaces is formed linearly. It is what has been. In this configuration, when the conductor pattern formed on the two support members comes into contact with each other due to the pressure (load) applied to the surface of the support member, the amount of change in the area of the contact region according to the magnitude of the pressure is made too large. I can't. Therefore, there is a problem that the dynamic range of the touch detection signal output in response to the operation of the operation element is small, and it is not possible to sufficiently detect the strength of the operation with high accuracy and detail.

  Moreover, the said patent document 2 is a structure where the contact area of a fixed contact part and a resistive elastic body increases in one direction along the longitudinal direction of a substantially rectangular fixed contact part according to a key pressing operation. . With this structure, it is possible to obtain a constant detection value for the pressing force with respect to an operation from one direction, such as a key operation of a keyboard instrument. However, when this structure is applied to a push button type operator, However, there is a problem that even if the pressing operation has the same strength, the detection value is not constant depending on the operation position and the operation direction, and the strength of the pressing operation cannot be detected correctly.

  Furthermore, there has been a demand for parameter control using touch detection of a push button type controller in a conventional DAW software physical controller. However, in the conventional touch detection device, in addition to the above-described problems, there is a problem that a structure for performing touch detection becomes relatively complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a remote controller that has a simple structure and can remotely control the parameters of the DAW software based on the push amount of the push button type operator.

  The present invention relates to a remote controller for remotely controlling an operation related to a music production function executed by a computer, and a push button type operator that is pressed by a user, and according to a press operation on the push button type operator A touch detection device for performing touch detection, wherein the touch detection device is a movable contact pattern provided on a lower surface of the movable portion of the push button type operation element, from an outer peripheral edge of the lower surface toward a center; The movable contact pattern formed in an inclined concave shape, and a fixed contact pattern that is disposed on the upper surface of the substrate so as to face the movable contact pattern and functions as a variable resistor, and extends from the center side to the outside in the radial direction. It is composed of two contact patterns extending in a spiral shape, and the two contact patterns are arranged alternately along the radial direction. The movable contact pattern is separated from the fixed contact pattern by a predetermined distance when the push button type operator is not operated, and the push button type operator is pressed. When the movable contact pattern is sequentially brought into contact with the fixed contact pattern from the outer side toward the inner side according to the pushing amount of the movable part, the contact area of the movable contact pattern with respect to the fixed contact pattern Are sequentially changed, and based on the change in the resistance value of the fixed contact pattern in accordance with the change in the contact area, a detection value that changes in accordance with the pushing amount of the push button type operation element is output. It is a remote controller provided with a touch detection device.

  According to the remote controller of the present invention, a touch detection device comprising a spiral fixed contact pattern and a movable contact pattern formed on the lower surface of the movable portion of the push button type operator is provided, and the fixed contact pattern is arranged at the center thereof. By forming the two contact patterns extending in a spiral shape from the outer diameter side to the outer diameter side, and forming the movable contact pattern in a concave shape that is inclined from the outer peripheral edge of the lower surface toward the center, the pressing operation of the movable portion Depending on the strength (= pushing amount), the movable contact pattern can be sequentially contacted from the outer diameter side to the inner diameter side of the fixed contact pattern, and the contact area of the movable contact pattern with respect to the fixed contact pattern can be sequentially changed. . And the detection value which changes according to the pushing amount of a movable part can be obtained because the resistance value of a fixed contact pattern changes according to the change of the contact area. Therefore, it is possible to configure a remote controller capable of remotely controlling the operation related to the music production function executed by the computer based on the detection value that changes in accordance with the push amount of the push button type operation element.

  In addition, since the fixed contact pattern is a spiral contact pattern, the extension dimension in the longitudinal direction can be set to a sufficiently long dimension. Since the movable contact pattern sequentially contacts the spiral contact from the outer diameter side to the inner diameter side with respect to the fixed contact pattern having such a shape, the contact area according to the strength of contact between the fixed contact pattern and the movable contact pattern. The amount of change in the area can be increased, and the dynamic range of the detection value of the pressing operation can be increased. Therefore, the strength of the pressing operation can be detected with high accuracy. In addition, since the fixed contact pattern is a spiral contact pattern, it is possible to always obtain a substantially constant detection value regardless of the operation position and the operation direction with respect to the movable part if the pressing operation has the same strength. Become. Therefore, it is suitable for touch detection of a push button type operator.

Further, the remote controller according to the present invention, as one embodiment, an assigning unit that assigns a desired parameter among a plurality of parameters for controlling an operation related to the music production function to the push button-type operator, a conversion table for converting the value of the parameter corresponding to the detected value to the parameter type, and a conversion table unit for storing a plurality of conversion tables corresponding to a plurality of parameter types, the pressing operation of the push button type operator is The parameter type assigned to the push button type controller by the assigning unit, and according to the type of the identified parameter among the plurality of conversion tables stored in the conversion table unit. Based on the conversion table, the detection value output from the touch detection device is converted into a parameter value and output. A parameter value output unit can be further provided.

  According to the present invention, there is an excellent effect that it is possible to remotely control the operation related to the music production function executed by the computer based on the push amount of the push button type controller with a simple structure. In addition, the dynamic range of the detection value is increased, and an excellent effect that the push amount of the push button type operation element can be detected with high accuracy is achieved. In addition, since the fixed contact pattern is a spiral contact pattern, it is possible to always obtain a substantially constant detection value regardless of the operation position and the operation direction with respect to the movable part if the pressing operation has the same strength. It has an excellent effect of becoming.

The figure explaining the music production environment using the remote controller of this invention. The perspective view explaining the structure of a touch detection apparatus (the perspective view seen from the arrow A of FIG. 1). The side sectional view of a button part (sectional view corresponding to the BB arrow of Drawing 2). The top view which shows a fixed contact pattern. (A)-(c) is a figure explaining the change of the contact area of the fixed contact pattern of a movable contact pattern according to the change of the pushing amount of a button part. The circuit diagram which shows the structural example of a touch detection circuit. The block diagram which shows the electrical hardware structural example of PC. The block diagram which shows the electrical hardware structural example of a remote controller. The top view which shows another structural example of a fixed contact pattern.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a music production environment using a remote controller 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the remote controller 1 is depicted in a plan view as viewed from the upper surface side. In FIG. 1, a remote controller 1 is connected to a personal computer (PC) 2 via a communication cable 3 so that data communication is possible. As an interface for connecting the controller 1 and the PC 2, for example, a well-known technique such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard interface may be applied. The connection may be either wired or wireless.

  The PC 2 is a general-purpose personal computer on which a general-purpose OS (operating system) is mounted, and a digital audio workstation program (DAW software) that causes the PC 2 to execute a music production function is mounted as one of application programs. The DAW software has, as main functions, for example, a function of recording audio waveforms and MIDI performance data for each track, an audio mixing function, or an effector function for performing various effect processing.

  The PC 2 displays an operation screen 4 for each function of the DAW software on the display. FIG. 1 shows an example of the operation screen 4 in an enlarged manner. The PC 2 displays various parameter values for controlling the operation of the music production function in the operation screen 4 displayed on the display, for example, by GUI (Graphical User Interface) parts such as button images and fader operator images. An operation for adjusting the value of the parameter is received from the user.

  The remote controller 1 is used to remotely control the operation of the music production function by the DAW software running on the PC 2. The remote controller 1 includes a plurality (20 in the figure) of push button type operators 20 arranged on the upper surface of the outer case 10. The user can remotely control the operation of the DAW software by adjusting the value of a desired parameter displayed on the operation screen 4 by pressing the push button type operator 20. The present embodiment can be implemented as long as one remote controller 1 is connected to one PC 2. As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of (two in FIG. 1) remote controllers 1 may be connected to one PC 2 to remotely control DAW software on one PC 2 from a plurality of controllers 1. Is possible.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the 20 push button type operators 20 are arranged in a matrix on the upper surface of the outer case 10 in a matrix form of 5 in the vertical direction and 4 in the horizontal direction. The exterior case 10 is a substantially rectangular flat case member made of a synthetic resin material or the like, and houses a touch detection device described later therein. The size of the outer case 10 is designed to be a relatively small size in consideration of, for example, portable operability.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view for explaining the configuration of the touch detection device 40 housed in the exterior case 10 of the remote controller 1 (a perspective view seen from the arrow A side in FIG. 1). A part is extracted and shown, and the push button type operator 20 is indicated by an imaginary line (dashed line). The touch detection device 40 includes a push button type operator 20 installed above the printed wiring board 30, a fixed contact pattern PT1 disposed on the upper surface of the printed wiring board 30 so as to face the push button type operator 20, It is comprised including.

  The printed wiring board 30 is a flat hard board having a substantially rectangular outer shape that can be accommodated in the outer case 10, and a plurality of (this) In the embodiment, 20 fixed contact patterns PT1 are formed. These 20 fixed contact patterns PT1 are arranged in a matrix arrangement of 5 pieces in the vertical direction and 4 pieces in the horizontal direction corresponding to the arrangement of the push button type operation elements 20 (see FIG. 1). ing.

  Each push button type operator 20 has a button part (movable part) 21 arranged above the corresponding fixed contact pattern PT1. Each button portion 21 is made of a flexible member (elastic member) made of synthetic resin such as synthetic resin rubber or silicon resin, and its upper surface portion is an operation surface (key top) 21a operated by a finger or the like. ing. Each button unit 21 is attached to the printed wiring board 30 so as to be relatively movable in a substantially vertical direction within a predetermined stroke range in response to a user's pressing operation, and the pressing operation of the push button type operator 20 is performed. The relative position of the button portion 21 with respect to the printed wiring board 30 changes in accordance with the strength (pressing force or depth of pressing). The attachment structure of the button part 21 may be any configuration as long as the stroke movement according to the pressing operation by the user is possible.

  FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of one button portion 21 (cross-sectional view corresponding to the arrow BB in FIG. 2). A substantially truncated cone-shaped recess 21 c is formed on the lower surface 21 b of the button portion 21. That is, the lower surface 21b as a whole is formed in a concave shape that is inclined so that the height position D with respect to the fixed contact pattern PT1 on the printed wiring board 30 gradually increases from the outer peripheral edge of the lower surface of the button portion 21 toward the center. Has been. And the surface of the lower surface 21b of this button part 21 forms movable contact pattern PT2 as a whole. As an example, it is desirable that the inclined surface 20 d of the lower surface 21 b be gently curved in a direction that protrudes toward the center of the button portion 21.

  The movable contact pattern PT2 is a contact pattern having conductivity, and may be formed, for example, by applying a conductive paint, or may be integrally formed with the button portion 21 using conductive rubber. The movable contact pattern PT2 is preferably formed on a circular surface having a shape similar to that of the corresponding fixed contact pattern PT1 when the lower surface 21b of the button portion 21 is viewed on a plane, and having substantially the same diameter. Since the lower surface 21b of the button portion 21 is formed in the concave shape having the inclination as described above, the separation dimension (height position) D between the movable contact pattern PT2 and the fixed contact pattern PT1 is the lower surface 21b of the button portion 21. It is not constant along the radial direction, and gradually increases from the outer diameter side toward the inner diameter side.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view of one fixed contact pattern PT1 as viewed from the upper surface side of the printed wiring board 30. FIG. The fixed contact pattern PT1 is composed of two contact patterns (first contact pattern PT1-1 and second contact pattern PT1-2) that spirally extend from the center side toward the outside in the radial direction. Around the fixed contact pattern PT1, although not shown, a lead pattern (lead wiring) for connecting the fixed contact pattern PT1 to an electric circuit (not shown) is disposed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, each of the first contact pattern PT1-1 and the second contact pattern PT1-2 is an end portion located on the outer diameter side from the end portions A and B located at the center portion of the entire fixed contact pattern PT1. It is constituted by spiral contact patterns in the same direction extending substantially parallel to each other in the radial direction toward X and Y. With this configuration, the first contact pattern PT1-1 and the second contact pattern PT1-2 are alternately arranged at predetermined intervals along the radial direction of the fixed contact pattern PT1. In the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 described above, the first contact pattern PT1-1 is shown in black, and the second contact pattern PT1-2 is shown in white, and these contact patterns are along the radial direction (left-right direction in the figure). It is clear that they line up alternately. In FIG. 4, the first contact pattern PT1-1 and the second contact pattern PT1-2 are drawn by “lines” for convenience of illustration and explanation, but are formed by strip-like contact patterns having a certain width. May be.

  The first contact pattern PT1-1 and the second contact pattern PT1-2 constituting the fixed contact pattern PT1 are each composed of a resistive carbon pattern or a low resistance conductive pattern having a predetermined resistance, and can be obtained by simple processing such as printing. Can be formed. Specifically, a state in which a coating made of a conductive paste is applied to the upper surface of the printed wiring board 30, or masking is applied to a portion other than the portion where the fixed contact pattern PT1 is formed on the upper surface of the printed wiring board 30 Thus, the fixed contact pattern PT1 can be formed by immersing the printed wiring board 30 in a liquid of a conductive paint and attaching the conductive paint to the upper surface of the printed wiring board 30. A portion where the fixed contact pattern PT1 is not formed, that is, between the first contact pattern PT1-1 and the second contact pattern PT1-2 is an insulating member, and the first contact pattern PT1-1 The second contact pattern PT1-2 is electrically insulated.

  FIGS. 5A to 5C are diagrams for explaining a change in the contact area of the movable contact pattern PT2 with respect to the fixed contact pattern PT1 in accordance with the pressing operation strength (= pushing amount) of the push button operation element 20. FIG. is there. In each of (a) to (c), a cross-sectional view of the button portion 21 corresponding to FIG. 3 is shown on the right side, and a plan view of the fixed contact pattern PT1 corresponding to FIG. 4 is shown on the left side.

  When the push button type operator 20 is not depressed, the button portion 21 is in the non-operating position (initial position), and the movable contact pattern PT2 provided on the lower surface 21b and the fixed contact pattern PT1 on the upper surface of the printed wiring board 30 are provided. The fixed contact pattern PT1 is spaced from and opposed to the fixed contact pattern PT1 (see FIG. 3).

  In response to the pressing operation of the push button type operator 20, the button portion 21 is lowered relative to the printed wiring board 30, and accordingly, the movable contact pattern PT 2 provided on the lower surface 21 b of the button portion 21 is a fixed contact. Contact pattern PT1. The “push amount” of the button unit 21 is a relative change amount (a descending amount) with respect to the printed wiring board 30 from the non-operating position of the button unit 21. When the push amount of the button portion 21 is small, contact between the movable contact pattern PT2 and the fixed contact pattern PT1 starts as shown in FIG. In this state, the movable contact pattern PT2 contacts the fixed contact pattern PT1 only on the outer peripheral edge side of the lower surface 21b. Therefore, the contact surface 31 (indicated by hatching in FIG. 5) of the movable contact pattern PT2 with respect to the fixed contact pattern PT1 has a substantially linear thin ring shape that contacts only the outer peripheral portion of the fixed contact pattern PT1. The lengths of the first contact pattern PT1-1 and the second contact pattern PT1-2 from A and B to the contact surface 31 are long. As described above, since the movable contact pattern PT2 is a conductive contact pattern, the first contact pattern PT1-1 and the second contact pattern PT1-2 of the fixed contact pattern PT1 are electrically connected via the contact surface 31. When the contact surface 31 is small as shown in FIG. 5A, the resistance value of the fixed contact pattern PT1 is extremely high.

  As described above, the separation dimension D between the fixed contact pattern PT1 and the movable contact pattern PT2 provided on the lower surface 21b of the button portion 21 is a dimension that gradually increases from the outer diameter side to the inner diameter side of the fixed contact pattern PT1. Therefore, as the push amount of the button portion 21 increases, the movable contact pattern PT2 sequentially contacts the fixed contact pattern PT1 from the outside toward the inside. Since the button portion 21 is made of an elastic member, a portion of the upper surface of the printed wiring board 30 that is in contact with the fixed contact pattern PT1 is crushed to expand the contact surface 31. For example, (b) shows a state in which the button portion 21 is pushed to an approximately middle position in the stroke range. Compared with the state (a), the ring-shaped contact surface 31 has a fixed contact pattern PT1 with a narrowed inner diameter. It spreads from the outer diameter side toward the inner diameter side. In the state (c) in which the button portion 21 is pushed down to the lower limit of the stroke range, the contact surface 31 of the movable contact pattern PT2 spreads over substantially the entire fixed contact pattern PT1.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, the contact surface 31 of the movable contact pattern PT2 with respect to the fixed contact pattern PT1 sequentially increases from the outside toward the inside as the push amount of the button portion 21 increases. As a result, the contact area of the movable contact pattern PT2 with respect to the fixed contact pattern PT1 gradually increases. Accordingly, the length from the end portions A and B of the first contact pattern PT1-1 and the second contact pattern PT1-2 of the fixed contact pattern PT1 to the contact surface 31 is sequentially shortened. As the area of the contact surface 31 increases in this way, the resistance value of the fixed contact pattern PT1 decreases sequentially. That is, the size of the region where the movable contact pattern PT2 contacts the fixed contact pattern PT1 changes according to the strength (push-in amount) of the pressing operation of the button portion 21, and the fixed contact pattern PT1 changes along with the contact area change. The resistance value of changes. In other words, the fixed contact pattern PT1 as a whole functions as a variable resistor whose resistance value changes according to the contact surface of the movable contact pattern PT2.

  FIG. 6 shows a touch detection circuit that performs touch detection (depression amount detection) in response to the pressing operation of the button unit 21 based on the resistance value change of the fixed contact pattern PT1 in the touch detection device 40 having the above-described configuration. It is a circuit diagram. Note that the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 6 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. The touch detection circuit 200 illustrated in FIG. 6 includes a sensor equivalent circuit 201 that is equivalent to the circuit configuration of the touch detection unit configured by the fixed contact pattern PT1 and the movable contact pattern PT2.

  The sensor equivalent circuit 201 includes a resistor R21 corresponding to the first contact pattern PT1-1 that is one of the fixed contact patterns PT1, and a resistor R22 corresponding to the second contact pattern PT1-2 that is the other, and the resistor R21. The resistor R22 is connected by the movable contact 202. In FIG. 6, the length of the spiral first contact pattern PT1-1 is represented by a line segment AX extending from one end of the resistor R21, and the length of the second contact pattern PT1-2 is represented by a line segment BY. The relative position of the movable contact 202 with respect to the line segment AX and the line segment BY corresponds to the contact area of the movable contact pattern PT2 with respect to the fixed contact pattern PT1, and the position on the end X, Y side according to the increase in the contact area. To the end A, B side position. Then, as the relative position of the movable contact 202 with respect to the line segment AX and the line segment BY moves from the end X, Y side to the end A, B side, the resistance R2 (= R21 + R22) of the entire fixed contact pattern PT1. The resistance value decreases sequentially.

  The touch detection circuit 200 has an output voltage V1 corresponding to the resistance value R = R1 / (R1 + R2) of the resistor R1 inserted in the ground line and the resistor R2 (= R21 + R22) of the fixed contact pattern PT1 with respect to the power supply voltage Vcc. Is configured to get The resistance value R2 is changed by changing the position of the movable contact 202 in accordance with the change in the contact area of the movable contact pattern PT2 with respect to the fixed contact pattern PT1 according to the pressing amount of the button portion 21, and the resistance value R2 The output voltage V1 changes based on the change of.

  The touch detection circuit 200 configured as described above continuously outputs an output voltage V1 (detection value) that changes according to the amount of pressing of the button portion 21 that is displaced within a predetermined stroke range based on a change in the resistance value R2 of the fixed contact pattern PT1. It can be detected by value (analog amount). The touch detection circuit 200 is configured to input the output voltage V1 to the AD converter 203. The AD converter 203 digitally converts the input output voltage V1 with, for example, a 128-step resolution from a minimum value “0” to a maximum value “127”, and outputs the converted digital detection value. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a digital detection value corresponding to the output voltage V <b> 1 that changes according to the pressing amount of the button unit 21. That is, it is possible to perform touch detection according to the pressing operation on the push button type operator 20.

  For example, in the state of FIG. 5A where the push amount of the button unit 21 is small, the AD converter 203 outputs the minimum value “0”. Then, the digital detection value of the AD converter 203 sequentially increases in accordance with the increase of the push amount of the button unit 21. In the state shown in FIG. 5B in which the button unit 21 is pushed to the middle position in the stroke range, the AD converter 203 outputs a value “63” that is between the maximum value and the minimum value. Then, the AD converter 203 outputs the minimum value “127” in the state shown in FIG. 5C in which the button portion 21 is pushed down to the lower limit of the stroke range.

  Next, in the music production environment having the configuration shown in FIG. 1, an operation for remotely controlling the DAW software using the remote controller 1 including the touch detection device 40 having the above-described configuration, and the configuration for that purpose will be described. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an electrical hardware configuration of the PC 2. The PC 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 50, a memory 51 including a ROM (read only memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory), an interface (IF) 52, a user interface (UI) 53, and a hard disk device (HDD) 54. Each unit is connected via the bus 55. The memory 51 is provided with an area for storing current values of a plurality of parameters related to the music production function executed by the DAW software. The PC 2 is connected to the remote controller 1 via the IF 52. The UI 53 includes a display, a mouse, and a keyboard that are standard on the PC 2. The HDD 54 is an example of an external storage device. The HDD 54 stores DAW software. When executing the DAW software, the CPU 50 reads the DAW software from the HDD 54 to the memory 51 and starts it.

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical hardware configuration of the remote controller 1. The remote controller 1 includes a CPU 60, a memory 61, an IF 62, and a detection circuit 63, and each unit is connected via a bus 64. The remote controller 1 is connected to the PC 2 via the IF 63. The detection circuit 63 corresponds to the touch detection circuit 200 of FIG. 6, is connected to a plurality of push button type operators 20 (see FIG. 1), and is digitally detected according to the push amount for each push button type operator 20. Output the value.

  The user can assign a desired parameter among the plurality of parameters related to the music production function executed by the DAW software to each push button type operator 20 of the remote controller 1 as an operation target. This parameter assignment can be performed, for example, from the setting screen of the DAW software displayed on the display (UI 52) of the PC 2.

  As an example of a parameter assignment mode for the push button type operator 20, two push button type operators 20 are treated as one set, one parameter is assigned to one set of push button type operators 20, and one of the parameters is assigned as a parameter. It can be configured to increase the value and use the other to decrease the value of the parameter. For example, two push button type operators arranged on the left and right as shown by reference numerals 20a and 20b in FIG. 1 are treated as one set.

  When the user depresses the push button type controller 20, the CPU 60 of the remote controller 1 supplies the PC 2 with a digital detection value corresponding to the push amount of the button unit 21 detected by the detection circuit 63 as an operation signal for each button. To do. This operation signal includes information for specifying the push button type operator 20 and a digital detection value detected by the detection circuit 63. When the CPU 50 of the PC 2 receives the operation signal supplied from the remote controller 1, the CPU 50 identifies the parameter assigned to the operator 20 corresponding to the operation signal based on the received operation signal, and stores the parameter in the memory 51. The value of the specified parameter is updated according to the digital detection value included in the operation signal. Then, the CPU 50 changes the display content of the display or controls the operation of the audio signal processing based on the parameter update result of the memory 51.

  The parameters to be operated include, for example, a parameter group for adjusting sound characteristics such as volume level, stereo pan, and gain, various parameters related to MIDI performance data (pitch designation, key-on, key-off, velocity, etc.), MIDI sound source There are timbre setting parameters. These various parameters have different parameter value types (for example, integer numbers with a plus / minus sign, integer numbers without a plus / minus sign, numbers with a decimal point, or character strings) and parameter value setting ranges. . Therefore, it is necessary to convert the digital detection value according to the type of parameter to be operated. As an example, a plurality of conversion tables for converting digital detection values into parameter values corresponding to parameter types are stored in the memory 51 of the PC 2 and used according to the type of parameter to be operated. Configure the table to be switched. In this case, the CPU 50 of the PC 2 identifies the parameter assigned to the operation element 20 corresponding to the operation signal, and converts the digital detection value of the operation signal into the parameter value based on the conversion table corresponding to the identified parameter type. And the value of the corresponding parameter in the memory 51 is updated.

  As another example, a plurality of conversion tables for each parameter type are stored in the memory 61 of the remote controller 1 for converting the digital detection value output from the detection circuit 63 into a parameter value corresponding to the parameter type. You may comprise so that the table used may be switched according to the kind of parameter used as operation object. In that case, the CPU 60 of the remote controller 1 acquires information specifying the parameter assigned to the push button type controller 20 from the PC 2 and stores the information in the memory 61. Then, when the push button type operator 20 is pressed, the CPU 60 identifies the type of parameter assigned to the operated operator 20 and creates a conversion table corresponding to the identified parameter type. Based on this, the digital detection value output in response to the operation is converted into a parameter value, and the converted parameter value is supplied to the PC 2 via the IF 63 as an operation signal. The PC 2 can update the value of the corresponding parameter in the memory 51 using the parameter value included in the operation signal as it is.

  As described above, the remote controller 1 of the present embodiment has a simple touch detection device 40 configured by the spiral fixed contact pattern PT1 and the movable contact pattern PT2 formed on the lower surface 21b of the button portion 21. The output voltage V1 that changes according to the amount of pressing of the button unit 21 can be acquired. Therefore, a parameter value corresponding to the push amount of the push button type operator 20 can be obtained.

  Therefore, the user of the remote controller 1 can remotely control the values of various parameters that control the operation of the DAW software by an intuitive and simple operation that only adjusts the push amount of the push button type operator 20. For example, when it is desired to finely adjust a certain volume level, the corresponding push button type operator 20 may be pressed down a little. When the volume level is to be greatly adjusted, the corresponding push button type operator 20 is strongly pressed. Just operate. Since the remote controller 1 according to the present embodiment can acquire a parameter value corresponding to the push amount of the push button type operator 20, the parameter value is set by a numerical value within a predetermined numerical range such as a volume level. It is suitable for controlling the value of the parameter of the remote control. In addition, the parameter assigned as the operation target of the push button type operator 20 can be freely selected and set without being restricted by the numerical value setting range and the parameter value type. Therefore, the remote controller 1 of this embodiment is suitable as a remote controller for DAW software.

  In addition, the fixed contact pattern PT1 on the printed wiring board 30 is a contact pattern extending in a spiral shape from the center to the outer diameter side, so that the longitudinal extension dimension of the fixed contact pattern PT1 is sufficiently long. Can be set. In addition, the lower surface 21b of the button portion 21 on which the movable contact pattern PT2 is formed is inclined along the radial direction of the spiral fixed contact pattern PT1, so that the pressing operation of the button portion 21 is performed. The movable contact pattern PT2 can be sequentially brought into contact with the spiral fixed contact pattern PT1 from the outer diameter side to the inner diameter side. As a result, it is possible to increase the dynamic range of the detection value according to the contact area change between the fixed contact pattern PT1 and the movable contact pattern PT2. Therefore, the touch detection device 40 can detect the pressing amount (strength of the pressing operation) of the button unit 21 with high accuracy.

  Further, in the touch detection device 40 of the present embodiment, the fixed contact pattern PT1 is a spiral contact pattern, so that if the pressing operation has the same strength, regardless of the operation position and the operation direction with respect to the button unit 21, It becomes possible to always obtain a substantially constant detection value. Therefore, it is possible to configure a touch detection device 40 suitable for detecting a pressing operation on the push button type operator 20.

  Note that the fixed setting pattern PT1 is not limited to the form shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing another configuration example of the fixed contact pattern PT1. In FIG. 9, the fixed contact pattern PT1 includes a first contact pattern PT1-1 that spirally connects between an end A located at the center and an end X located on the outer diameter side, and an end located at the center. The end portion Y located on the outer diameter side from the portion B is configured by a second contact pattern PT1-2 that is connected in a spiral shape that is connected in the winding direction in the opposite direction to the first contact pattern PT1-1. The first contact pattern PT1-1 and the second contact pattern PT1-2 are spirally wound in opposite directions, and are arranged at predetermined intervals so as to be alternately positioned along the radial direction from the center. Has been. Also in this configuration, the size of the area where the movable contact pattern PT2 contacts the fixed contact pattern PT1 changes according to the strength of the pressing operation of the button portion 21, and the fixed contact pattern PT1 changes as the contact area increases. The resistance value R2 becomes small. Accordingly, in this case as well, the touch detection circuit 200 shown in FIG. 6 can perform touch detection based on the change in the resistance value R2 of the fixed contact pattern PT1 in accordance with the pressing amount of the button portion 21.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims and the specification and drawings. Is possible.

  Moreover, in the touch detection apparatus 40 shown in the said embodiment, the lower surface 21b of the button part 21 is inclined so that the height position may become high gradually toward the center from the outer periphery. On the other hand, as an aspect in which the lower surface of the button portion is inclined, it is also conceivable that the lower surface of the button portion is inclined so as to gradually increase in the radial direction from the center toward the outer peripheral edge. In that case, the movable contact pattern PT2 comes into contact in order from the center side of the fixed contact pattern toward the outer diameter side as the button portion is lowered. However, in such a configuration, the contact of the movable contact pattern PT2 with respect to the fixed contact pattern becomes a point contact state when the touch is weak (when the descending amount of the button portion is small), and the contact state is unstable and the detection signal There is a problem that the output of the output is likely to vary. On the other hand, if the lower surface of the button portion is inclined so as to gradually increase from the outer peripheral edge toward the center as in the present invention and the above embodiment, the movable contact pattern with respect to the fixed contact pattern at the time of weak touch The contact of PT2 can be brought into a surface contact state on the entire outer periphery of the movable contact pattern PT2. Thereby, the contact state of movable contact pattern PT2 with respect to a fixed contact pattern can be stabilized, and it can suppress effectively that a variation arises in the output of a detection signal.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Remote controller, 10 ... Exterior case, 20 ... Push button type operation element, 21 ... Button part (movable part), 21a ... Operation surface, 21b ... Lower surface, 30. ..Printed circuit board, 40 ... touch detection device, PT1 ... fixed contact pattern, PT2 ... movable contact pattern, 200 ... touch detection circuit, 201 ... sensor equivalent circuit, 50, 60 ..CPU, 51, 61 ... Memory, 52, 62 ... Interface, 54 ... HDD, 63 ... Detection circuit

Claims (2)

A remote controller for remotely controlling an operation related to a music production function executed by a computer, and performs a push button type operator pressed by a user and touch detection corresponding to the press operation on the push button type operator A touch detection device,
The touch detection device is
A movable contact pattern provided on the lower surface of the movable portion of the push button-type operator, the movable contact pattern formed in a concave shape inclined from the outer peripheral edge of the lower surface toward the center; and
A fixed contact pattern that is arranged on the upper surface of the substrate so as to face the movable contact pattern and functions as a variable resistor, and is constituted by two contact patterns extending in a spiral shape from the center side toward the outer side in the radial direction, The fixed setting pattern arranged so that two contact patterns are alternately arranged along the radial direction,
When the push button type operator is not operated, the movable contact pattern is separated from the fixed contact pattern by a predetermined distance,
When there is a pressing operation of the push button-type operator, according to the amount of pressing of the movable part, the movable contact pattern is sequentially contacted with respect to the fixed contact pattern from the outside to the inside, The contact area of the movable contact pattern with respect to the fixed contact pattern is sequentially changed. Based on the change in the resistance value of the fixed contact pattern according to the change in the contact area, the push button type operator is pressed. A remote controller including a touch detection device that outputs a detection value that changes. An assigning unit that assigns a desired parameter among a plurality of parameters for controlling an operation related to the music production function to the push button type operator;
A conversion table for converting the detected value into a parameter value according to a parameter type, and storing a plurality of conversion tables according to a plurality of parameter types;
When the push button type operator is pressed, the parameter type assigned to the push button type operator is specified by the assigning unit, and the plurality of conversion tables stored in the conversion table unit are specified. And a parameter value output unit configured to convert the detection value output from the touch detection device into a parameter value based on a conversion table corresponding to the specified parameter type. Item 2. The remote controller according to Item 1.

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