US5029508A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Musical-tone-control apparatus
Assignee: Yamaha Corp
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Filing: 1990-08-02
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Granted: 1991-07-09
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Expires: 2010-08-02
Abstract
Abstract A musical-tone-control apparatus having finger sensors that detect the bending of each finger and produce on/off signals in response to the bending. One group of outputs of the finger sensors is converted into keycodes that control tone pitches by the use of converting rules, and the other group of the outputs thereof is also used for changing the ranges of the tone pitches. Hence, musical tones controlled by finger motions of a performer are generated. Moreover, the converting rules can be altered by a modification-control means so that keycode-conversion rules can be varied. Thus, conversion rules appropriate for generating tones which occur frequently and are easy to produce for an individual, can be set for each musical piece. Furthermore, grouping the outputs of finger sensors makes it possible for a performer to achieve a variety of control of musical tones.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideo Suzuki
- 👤 Masao Sakama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 03:36
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/32; G10H1/34; G10H2220/00; G10H2220/155; G10H2220/321; G10H2220/326
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus comprising: a plurality of finger sensors which detect the movement of each finger independently; converting means for converting an output signal of each of said finger sensors into a keycode belonging to a first group by use of preset converting rules; modification-control means for changing said converting rules so that the output signal of each of said finger sensors is converted into a keycode belonging to a second group; and selecting means for selecting either said converting means or modification-control means, said selecting means supplying said outputs of said finger sensors to the selected one.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus comprising: a plurality of finger sensors which detect the movement of each finger independently; converting means for converting an output signal of each of said finger sensors into a keycode belonging to a first group by use of preset converting rules; modification-control means for changing said converting rules so that the output signal of each of said finger sensors is converted into a keycode belonging to a second group; and selecting means for selecting either said converting means or modification-control means, said selecting means supplying said outputs of said finger sensors to the selected one.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said converting means comprising: storing means for storing numbers representing notes; gating means for gating said numbers stored in said storing means in response to outputs of said finger sensors; adding means for adding predetermined numbers to outputs of said gating means in response to said outputs of said finger sensors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said storing means includes a plurality of groups of said numbers, each of said groups able to be selected in response to a certain output of said finger sensors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said gating means gates said numbers stored in said storing means in response to right finger sensors worn on the fingers of the right hand of a performer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said adding means adds said predetermined numbers in response to left finger sensors worn on the fingers of the left hand of a performer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said adding means adds a predetermined number to said outputs of said gating means so that said keycode shifts by one semitone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said adding means adds a predetermined number to said outputs of said gating means so that said keycode shifts by one octave.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said modification-control means rewrites the contents of said storing means in response to said outputs of said finger sensors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said modification-control means changes said numbers in said storing means so that said keycode associated with each finger is shifted by a semitone in response to each of said outputs of said finger sensors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said modification-control means rewrites said predetermined numbers applied to said adding means in response to said outputs of said finger sensors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said converting means comprises a plurality of conversion tables contained in a memory, each of said conversion table having address input terminals to which said outputs of said finger sensors are applied, and each of said conversion table having data output terminals from which said keycodes are produced.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said modification-control means selects one of said conversion tables to which said outputs of said finger sensors are applied.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
105 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus comprising: a plurality of finger sensors each of which is worn on a finger and is turned on when the finger is bent more than a predetermined angle; an angle sensor which is worn on a performer's joint and which produces a detecting signal based on a bending angle of the joint; tone-pitch-generating means for generating tone-pitch data according to an output of each finger sensor; and tone-parameter-generating means for generating tone parameters which control a peak of waveforms, an envelope of waveforms, or a tone color of musical tones to be generated according to said detecting signal of said angle sensor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
105 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus comprising: a plurality of finger sensors each of which is worn on a finger and is turned on when the finger is bent more than a predetermined angle; an angle sensor which is worn on a performer's joint and which produces a detecting signal based on a bending angle of the joint; tone-pitch-generating means for generating tone-pitch data according to an output of each finger sensor; and tone-parameter-generating means for generating tone parameters which control a peak of waveforms, an envelope of waveforms, or a tone color of musical tones to be generated according to said detecting signal of said angle sensor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said tone-pitch-generating means includes converting means that produces keycodes and key-on signals in response to outputs of said finger sensors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said tone-parameter-generating means maintains said detecting signal of said angle sensor when at least one of said finger sensors turns on, and said tone-parameter-generating means produces said detecting signal held as an initial-touch parameter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said tone-parameter-generating means produces said detecting signal of said angle sensor as an after-touch parameter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said tone-parameter-generating means produces the difference between said detecting signal held in said tone-parameter-generating means and the current detecting signal of said angle sensor, and outputs said difference as an after-touch parameter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said tone-parameter-generating means has switching means that can independently turn on or off each of said parameters.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said tone-parameter-generating means includes a plurality of conversion tables each of which converts said detecting signals of said angle sensor into touch parameters according to instruments to be controlled.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
110 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus comprising: a plurality of finger sensors each of which independently detects the movement of a finger; grouping means for grouping said finger sensors into at least two groups; tone-range-setting means for setting a tone range in response to finger sensors belonging to one of said groups; keycode generating means for generating a keycode in response to each finger sensor belonging to another of said groups, wherein said each finger sensor corresponds to a keycode in said tone range; and tone-pitch-control means for controlling tone pitches of musical tones based on said tone range set by said tone-range-setting means and said keycode generated by said keycode generating means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
110 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus comprising: a plurality of finger sensors each of which independently detects the movement of a finger; grouping means for grouping said finger sensors into at least two groups; tone-range-setting means for setting a tone range in response to finger sensors belonging to one of said groups; keycode generating means for generating a keycode in response to each finger sensor belonging to another of said groups, wherein said each finger sensor corresponds to a keycode in said tone range; and tone-pitch-control means for controlling tone pitches of musical tones based on said tone range set by said tone-range-setting means and said keycode generated by said keycode generating means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said grouping means divides said finger sensors into two groups, one of which consists of finger sensors of the right hand, and the other of which consists of finger sensors of the left hand.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said grouping means divides said finger sensors into three or more groups, one of which is used for controlling tone characters other than tone pitches and tone ranges, such as tone colors or vibrato.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said tone-range setting means sets types of chords according to the outputs of finger sensors.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
56 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 20, wherein each of said finger sensors includes a strain sensor whose resistance changes according to stress exerted thereto fastening means for fastening said strain sensor on a finger, and circuit means for producing an "on" signal or an "off" signal in response to the output of said strain sensor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said tone-range-setting means and tone-pitch-control means are made of logic circuits.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said tone-range-setting means and tone-pitch-control means are contained in read only memory.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
108 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus comprising: a plurality of finger sensors each of which independently detects the movement of a finger; grouping means for grouping said finger sensors into at least two groups; tone-range-setting means for setting a tone range in response to outputs of finger sensors belonging to one of said groups; producing means for producing a keycode in said tone range and a key-on signal in response to an output of a finger sensor belonging to another of said groups; and tone-pitch-control means for controlling tone pitches of musical tones based on said tone range set by said tone-range-setting means and said keycode produced by said producing means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
108 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus comprising: a plurality of finger sensors each of which independently detects the movement of a finger; grouping means for grouping said finger sensors into at least two groups; tone-range-setting means for setting a tone range in response to outputs of finger sensors belonging to one of said groups; producing means for producing a keycode in said tone range and a key-on signal in response to an output of a finger sensor belonging to another of said groups; and tone-pitch-control means for controlling tone pitches of musical tones based on said tone range set by said tone-range-setting means and said keycode produced by said producing means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
101 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus comprising: a plurality of finger sensors each of which is worn on a finger and is turned on when the finger is bent more than a predetermined angle; an angle sensor which is worn on a performer's joint and which produces a detecting signal based on a bending angle of the joint; tone-pitch-generating means for generating tone-pitch data according to outputs of said finger sensors; and tone-parameter-generating means for generating tone parameters which control a peak of waveforms or an envelope of waveforms of musical tones to be generated according to said detecting signal of said angle sensor.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
101 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus comprising: a plurality of finger sensors each of which is worn on a finger and is turned on when the finger is bent more than a predetermined angle; an angle sensor which is worn on a performer's joint and which produces a detecting signal based on a bending angle of the joint; tone-pitch-generating means for generating tone-pitch data according to outputs of said finger sensors; and tone-parameter-generating means for generating tone parameters which control a peak of waveforms or an envelope of waveforms of musical tones to be generated according to said detecting signal of said angle sensor.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
96 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus comprising: a plurality of finger sensors each of which is worn on a finger and is turned on when the finger is bent more than a predetermined angle; an angle sensor which is worn on a performer's joint and which produces a detecting signal based on a bending angle of the joint; tone-pitch-generating means for generating tone-pitch data according to outputs of said finger sensors; and tone-parameter-generating means for generating tone parameters which control an initial-touch and/or after-tone of musical tones to be generated according to said detecting signal of said angle sensor.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
96 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus comprising: a plurality of finger sensors each of which is worn on a finger and is turned on when the finger is bent more than a predetermined angle; an angle sensor which is worn on a performer's joint and which produces a detecting signal based on a bending angle of the joint; tone-pitch-generating means for generating tone-pitch data according to outputs of said finger sensors; and tone-parameter-generating means for generating tone parameters which control an initial-touch and/or after-tone of musical tones to be generated according to said detecting signal of said angle sensor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-07-08 | 1995-01-07 | 1995-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-07-08 | 1999-01-07 | 1999-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-07-08 | 2003-01-07 | 2003-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |