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US5908997A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electronic music instrument system with musical keyboard

Assignee: INTERACTIVE MUSIC TECHNOLOGY LLC
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Filing: 1997-06-23
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Granted: 1999-06-01
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Expires: 2017-06-23
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Abstract

Abstract An electronic music instrument system, comprising: an electronic music instrument, having selectable groups of reproducible sounds and individually selectable reproducible sounds; a signal generator for energizing an audio amplifier responsive to different digital audio sources, including the groups of sounds and the individual sounds a graphical user interface for displaying at least one control graphic representing controllable parameters of the audio signals generated by the generator; and, a controller responsive to operation of the control graphic for adjusting the controllable parameters of the generator and for selectively coupling different ones of the sources to the generator. The graphical user interface can comprise: a video display; and, a touch-responsive overlay. The controllable parameters can include multiple instrument sound selection and sound layer assignment, controlled responsive to operation of the at least one control graphic. The at least one control graphic can be displayed on a single screen.

Inventors

  • 👤 Rob C. Arnold
  • 👤 II Warren W. Westlund
  • 👤 David Van Koevering
  • 👤 Robert D. Lawson
  • 👤 Lance E. Lyda
  • 👤 Kenneth R. Noyce
  • 👤 Robert Phillips
  • 👤 John M. Pursey
  • 👤 Gary L. Snethen

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 11:56
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B15/00; G09B15/02; G09B15/04; G10; G10C; G10C3/00; G10C3/12; G10G; G10G7/00; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/0008; G10H1/0033; G10H1/0041; G10H1/0058; G10H1/0066; G10H7/00; G10H7/002; G10H7/004; G10H2220/00; G10H2220/091; G10H2220/096; G10H2220/101; G10H2220/106; G10H2220/155; G10H2220/221; G10H2220/241; G10H2230/00; G10H2230/045; G10H2230/075; G10H2230/125; G10H2230/155; G10H2230/195; G10H2230/205; G10H2230/221; G10H2230/225; G10H2230/231; G10H2230/235; G10H2230/241; G10H2240/00; G10H2240/011; G10H2240/046; G10H2240/066; G10H2240/171; G10H2240/201; G10H2240/271; G10H2240/281; G10H2240/311

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim 134 words
An electronic music instrument system, comprising: an electronic music instrument having a musical keyboard for playing selectable groups of reproducible sounds and individually selectable reproducible sounds within said groups of sounds; an audio signal generator for energizing an audio amplifier responsive to different ones of a plurality of digital audio sources, including said groups of sounds and said individual sounds of said electronic music instrument; a graphical user interface for displaying at least one control graphic representing controllable parameters of said audio signals generated by said generator, one of said controllable parameters including real time allocation of keys on said keyboard to different sounds; and, control means responsive to operation of said control graphic for adjusting said controllable parameters of said generator and for selectively coupling different ones of said sources to said generator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 134 words
An electronic music instrument system, comprising: an electronic music instrument having a musical keyboard for playing selectable groups of reproducible sounds and individually selectable reproducible sounds within said groups of sounds; an audio signal generator for energizing an audio amplifier responsive to different ones of a plurality of digital audio sources, including said groups of sounds and said individual sounds of said electronic music instrument; a graphical user interface for displaying at least one control graphic representing controllable parameters of said audio signals generated by said generator, one of said controllable parameters including real time allocation of keys on said keyboard to different sounds; and, control means responsive to operation of said control graphic for adjusting said controllable parameters of said generator and for selectively coupling different ones of said sources to said generator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said graphical user interface comprises: a video display; and, a touch-responsive overlay.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 10 words
The system of claim 1, wherein different sounds include voices.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 13 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said different sounds include single instrument sounds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 12 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said different sounds include sound effects.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said different sounds include multiple instrument sounds and sound layers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 12 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said different sounds include sound layers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said musical keyboard plays only preprogrammed musical notes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 47 words
The system of claim 6, wherein: said graphical user interface displays a further control graphic; and, other ones of said controllable parameters include recording multiple channel and allocation of different sound layers to different ones of said multiple channels responsive to operation of said further control graphic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 25 words
The system of claim 9, wherein still other ones of said controllable parameters include allocation of drum syncopation to different ones of said multiple channels.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 35 words
The system of claim 10, wherein yet other ones of said controllable parameters include same-channel recording and different-channel recording of said sound layers and said drum syncopation responsive of operation of said further control graphic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said controlled different sounds include drum voice selection.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 23 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of sources further comprises a modem for communicating with an on-line source of digital information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 18 words
The system of claim 1, further comprising a piano housing, said system being mounted within said piano housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 19 words
The system of claim 2, further comprising a piano housing, said video display being mounted in said piano housing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 26 words
The system of claim 2, further comprising a piano housing having a music stand formed integrally therewith, said video display being mounted in said music stand.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 28 words
The system of claim 2, further comprising a piano housing having a music stand formed integrally therewith, said video display forming an integral part of said music stand.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 22 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said control means is exclusively responsive to said graphical user interface and to said musical keyboard.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 14 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said sources include at least one prerecorded source.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 134 words
An electronic music instrument system, comprising: an electronic music instrument having a musical keyboard for playing preprogrammed musical notes from selectable groups of reproducible sounds and individually selectable reproducible sounds within said groups of sounds; an audio signal generator for energizing an audio amplifier responsive to different ones of a plurality of digital audio sources, including said groups of sounds and said individual sounds of said electronic music instrument; a graphical user interface for dislaying at least one control graphic representing controllable parameters of said audio signals generated by said generator, one of said controllable parameters including key allocation responsive to said musical keyboard; and, control means responsive to operation of said control graphic for adjusting said controllable parameters of said generator and for selectively coupling different ones of said sources to said generator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 134 words
An electronic music instrument system, comprising: an electronic music instrument having a musical keyboard for playing preprogrammed musical notes from selectable groups of reproducible sounds and individually selectable reproducible sounds within said groups of sounds; an audio signal generator for energizing an audio amplifier responsive to different ones of a plurality of digital audio sources, including said groups of sounds and said individual sounds of said electronic music instrument; a graphical user interface for dislaying at least one control graphic representing controllable parameters of said audio signals generated by said generator, one of said controllable parameters including key allocation responsive to said musical keyboard; and, control means responsive to operation of said control graphic for adjusting said controllable parameters of said generator and for selectively coupling different ones of said sources to said generator.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 39 words
The system of claim 20, wherein: said graphical user interface generates a further control graphic; and, a further one of said controllable parameters is a volume control for each sound layer responsive to operation of said further control graphic.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 39 words
The system of claim 20, wherein: said graphical user interface generates a further control graphic; and, a further one of said controllable parameters is key transposition adjustment for each sound layer responsive to operation of said further control graphic.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 38 words
The system of claim 20, wherein: said graphical user interface generates a further control graphic; and, a further one of said controllable parameters is pan adjustment for each sound layer responsive to operation of said further control graphic.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 22 words
The system of claim 20, wherein another one of said controllable parameters is assignment of sound layers to ranges of said keys.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 20 words
The system of claim 20, wherein other ones of said controllable parameters include drum syncopation, triggers, key change and volume.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 20 words
The system of claim 20, wherein other ones of said controllable parameters include drum syncopation, triggers, key change and volume.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 139 words
An electronic music instrument system, comprising: an electronic music instrument having a musical keyboard for plain preprogrammed musical notes from selectable groups of reproducible sounds and individually selectable reproducible sounds within said groups of sounds; an audio signal generator for energizing an audio amplifier responsive to different ones of a plurality of digital audio sources, including said groups of sound and said individual sounds of said electronic music instrument; a graphical user interface for displaying at least one control graphic representing controllable parameters including audio characteristics of further sources other than said source energized by said audio signal generator responsive to operation of said musical keyboard; and, control means responsive to operation of said control graphic for adjusting said controllable parameters of said generator and for selectively coupling different ones of said sources and further sources to said generator.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 139 words
An electronic music instrument system, comprising: an electronic music instrument having a musical keyboard for plain preprogrammed musical notes from selectable groups of reproducible sounds and individually selectable reproducible sounds within said groups of sounds; an audio signal generator for energizing an audio amplifier responsive to different ones of a plurality of digital audio sources, including said groups of sound and said individual sounds of said electronic music instrument; a graphical user interface for displaying at least one control graphic representing controllable parameters including audio characteristics of further sources other than said source energized by said audio signal generator responsive to operation of said musical keyboard; and, control means responsive to operation of said control graphic for adjusting said controllable parameters of said generator and for selectively coupling different ones of said sources and further sources to said generator.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 23 words
The system of claim 27, wherein said further sources comprise: a hard disk drive; a floppy disk drive; and, a compact disc drive.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 15 words
The system of claim 27, wherein said further sources include at least one prerecorded source.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 22 words
The system of claim 27, wherein said control means is exclusively responsive to said graphical user interface and to said musical keyboard.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-05-31 2002-11-30 2003-06-01 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-05-31 2006-11-30 2007-06-01 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-05-31 2010-11-30 2011-06-01 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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