US5151553A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Musical tone control apparatus employing palmar member
Assignee: Yamaha Corp
•
Filing: 1989-11-15
•
Granted: 1992-09-29
•
Expires: 2009-11-15
Abstract
Abstract A musical-tone-control apparatus having digit members worn along the fingers and contracting and expanding in the longitudinal directions of the digit members in response to the bending and straightening of the fingers. The bending of the digit members is detected by detectors coupled to the digit members and the generation of musical tones is controlled on the basis of the detected signal, i.e. the bending of the fingers. The contraction and expansion of the digit members facilitates the bending and straightening of the fingers. The digit members can also rotate in a plane of the hand to further facilitate the movement of the fingers. The digit members are made to bend about the axes positioned on the third joint of the fingers or the second joint of the thumb (the joint just below the root of the fingers or the thumb), which makes the bending of the digit much easier. A palmar member that supports the digit members are curved to conform the shape of the palm, which makes the bending of the fingers easier as well as preventing the displacement of the palm member.
Inventors
- 👤 Hideo Suzuki
- 👤 Shunichi Matsushima
- 👤 Takamichi Masubuchi
- 👤 Masahiko Obata
- 👤 Masao Sakama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:15
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/02; G10H1/04; G10H1/053; G10H1/055; G10H1/0558; G10H1/32; G10H1/34; G10H2220/00; G10H2220/155; G10H2220/321; G10H2220/326; G10H2240/00; G10H2240/171; G10H2240/201; G10H2240/211; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus comprising: a palmar member worn on the palm of a performer; one or more digit members, each of which is rotatably connected to the upper edge of said palmar member, an worn along the finger of th performer; and one or more measuring means for measuring the angle of flexion of corresponding digit members relative to said palmar member and producing a musical-tone-control signal based on the measurement, wherein each of said digit members is separated into two segments which are interconnected so as to contract or expand the digit member in the longitudinal direction of said digit member in response to the bending or straightening of the finger.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus comprising: a palmar member worn on the palm of a performer; one or more digit members, each of which is rotatably connected to the upper edge of said palmar member, an worn along the finger of th performer; and one or more measuring means for measuring the angle of flexion of corresponding digit members relative to said palmar member and producing a musical-tone-control signal based on the measurement, wherein each of said digit members is separated into two segments which are interconnected so as to contract or expand the digit member in the longitudinal direction of said digit member in response to the bending or straightening of the finger.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said digit members are five or less.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a second palmar member, second digit members, and second detecting means incorporated into a second glove and wherein said gloves are worn on a performer's hands.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said digit members are five or less.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising musical-tone-generating means having musical-tone-control-signal-generating means for generating tone-control signals in response to the measurement of said measuring means, a musical-tone-signal-generating circuit for generating musical-tone signals in response to the tone-control signals, and a sound system for producing musical sound in response to the musical-tone signals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said musical-tone-generating means is worn on a performer's body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said measuring means is connected to a wireless transmitting means for transmitting the outputs of said detecting means, and said musical-tone-control apparatus is further provided with wireless receiving means for receiving the output of said wireless transmitting means, said musical-tone-generating means is placed near the performer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outputs of said measuring means are used to control tone pitches, tone colors and tone volumes of the generated tones.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outputs of said measuring means are used to control the octave of the generated tones, and to produce sound effects and to control the magnitude of the effects.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said measuring means detects the movement of said digit members in a plane in which the digit members lie as well as the rotation of said digit members in a plane perpendicular to the palm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
143 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus comprising: a palmar member worn on the palm of a performer; one or more rotary members, each of which is rotatably connected to the upper edge of said palmar member, wherein said each rotary member is provided so as to rotate in a first plane substantially perpendicular to the palm of the hand; one or more digit members each of which is rotatably connected to the upper portion of a corresponding one of said rotary members, and worn along the finger of the performer, wherein each said digit member is provided as to rotate in a second plane substantially perpendicular to said first plane; and one or more measuring means for measuring the angle of flexion of a corresponding one of said rotary members relative to said palmar member and producing a musical-tone-control signal varying in relation tot he angle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
143 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus comprising: a palmar member worn on the palm of a performer; one or more rotary members, each of which is rotatably connected to the upper edge of said palmar member, wherein said each rotary member is provided so as to rotate in a first plane substantially perpendicular to the palm of the hand; one or more digit members each of which is rotatably connected to the upper portion of a corresponding one of said rotary members, and worn along the finger of the performer, wherein each said digit member is provided as to rotate in a second plane substantially perpendicular to said first plane; and one or more measuring means for measuring the angle of flexion of a corresponding one of said rotary members relative to said palmar member and producing a musical-tone-control signal varying in relation tot he angle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each of said measuring means is incorporated into the connecting portion of said palmar member and each of said rotary members.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outputs of said measuring means are used to control the octave of the generated tones.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outputs of said measuring means are used to produce sound effects and to control the magnitude of the effects.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein each of said rotary members is provided on the joint at the root of each finger.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A musical-tone-control apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said palmar member is curved so as to conform to the shape of the palm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3704339A
Cited
US3700836A
Cited
US4414537A
Cited
US4635516A
Cited
US4860364A
Cited
US4768413A
Cited
US4920848A
Cited
US4905560A
Cited
US5005460A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-09-29 | 1996-03-30 | 1996-09-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-09-29 | 2000-03-30 | 2000-09-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-09-29 | 2004-03-30 | 2004-09-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |