Strumpad and string array processing for musical instruments
First Claim
1. A strumpad system comprising:
- at least one strumpad, wherein each strumpad of said at least one strumpad comprises a plurality of touch switches, wherein each touch switch of said plurality of touch switches generates a distinct touch switch signal in response to user contact;
a memory unit for storing preset mapping data, wherein said preset mapping data comprises a range of possible touch switch signals and signal output data, wherein said signal output data comprises note events, wherein a plurality of touch switch signals of said range of possible touch switch signals are mapped to particular note events identified in said signal output data;
a plurality of interpretation switches, wherein each interpretation switch of said plurality of interpretation switches comprises user selectable positions, wherein a position of said user selectable positions selects an active mapping from a plurality of possible mappings stored in said preset mapping data;
a processor for generating an output control signal, said processor responsive to each of said plurality of touch switch signals of said range of possible touch switch signals, said output control signal generated according to said signal output data of an active mapping, said active mapping selected by at least one of said plurality of interpretation switches; and
an output interface providing an outgoing control signal responsive to said output control signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for expanding and generalizing aspects of an autoharp and making these functionalities beneficially available on other instruments. Strumpads (abstracting string arrays) comprising arrays of isolated touch switches are used to generate MIDI note events according to interpretations of an active mapping. The active mapping may be determined by stored program control selected from chord buttons or foot switches, or may be determined by keys on a music keyboard. The volume of individual strings within actual string arrays may be mechanically or electronically controlled by chord buttons or a music keyboard, and the electronic control can also be made with foot switches or incoming MIDI control signals. Keyboard keys may be provided with key-travel sensors and key-surface sensors for continuously controlling volumes and octave mixings of associated strings.
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Citations
123 Claims
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1. A strumpad system comprising:
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at least one strumpad, wherein each strumpad of said at least one strumpad comprises a plurality of touch switches, wherein each touch switch of said plurality of touch switches generates a distinct touch switch signal in response to user contact;
a memory unit for storing preset mapping data, wherein said preset mapping data comprises a range of possible touch switch signals and signal output data, wherein said signal output data comprises note events, wherein a plurality of touch switch signals of said range of possible touch switch signals are mapped to particular note events identified in said signal output data;
a plurality of interpretation switches, wherein each interpretation switch of said plurality of interpretation switches comprises user selectable positions, wherein a position of said user selectable positions selects an active mapping from a plurality of possible mappings stored in said preset mapping data;
a processor for generating an output control signal, said processor responsive to each of said plurality of touch switch signals of said range of possible touch switch signals, said output control signal generated according to said signal output data of an active mapping, said active mapping selected by at least one of said plurality of interpretation switches; and
an output interface providing an outgoing control signal responsive to said output control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 118)
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41. A method for control signal generation for a strumpad, said method comprising:
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generating distinct touch switch signals in response to user contact using at least one strumpad, wherein each strumpad of said at least one strumpad comprises a plurality of touch switches, wherein each touch switch of said plurality of touch switches generates said distinct touch switch signal;
storing preset mapping data in a memory unit, wherein said preset mapping data comprises a range of possible touch switch signals and signal output data, wherein said signal output data comprises note events, wherein a plurality of touch switch signals of said range of possible touch switch signals are mapped to particular note events identified in said signal output data;
selecting an active mapping from a plurality of possible mappings stored in preset mapping data using a plurality of interpretation switches, wherein each interpretation switch of said plurality of interpretation switches comprises user selectable positions, wherein a position of said user selectable positions selects said active mapping from said plurality of possible mappings;
generating an output control signal using a processor, said processor responsive to each of said plurality of touch switch signals of said range of possible touch switch signals, said output control signal generated according to said signal output data of an active mapping, said active mapping selected by at least one of said plurality of interpretation switches; and
providing an outgoing control signal responsive to said output control signal. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71)
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72. A pressure sensor strumpad system comprising:
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at least one strumpad, wherein each strumpad of said at least one strumpad comprises a plurality of pressure sensors, wherein each pressure sensor of said plurality of pressure sensors generates a pressure sensor signal in response to user contact;
a memory unit for storing preset mapping data, wherein said preset mapping data comprises a range of possible pressure sensor signals and signal output data, wherein said signal output data comprises control events, wherein a plurality of pressure sensor signals of said range of possible pressure sensor signals are mapped to particular control events identified in said signal output data;
a plurality of interpretation switches, wherein each interpretation switch of said plurality of interpretation switch comprises user selectable positions, wherein a position of said user selectable positions selects an active mapping from a plurality of possible mappings stored in said preset mapping data;
a processor for generating an output control signal, said processor responsive to each of said plurality of pressure sensor signals of said range of possible pressure sensor signals, said output control signal generated according to said signal output data of an active mapping, said active mapping selected by at least one of said plurality of interpretation switches; and
an output interface providing an outgoing control signal responsive to said output control signal. - View Dependent Claims (73)
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74. A method for control signal generation for a pressure sensor strumpad, said method comprising:
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generating distinct touch pressure sensor signals in response to user contact using at least one strumpad, wherein each strumpad of said at least one strumpad comprises a plurality of pressure sensors, wherein each pressure sensor of said plurality of pressure sensors generates said pressure sensor signals;
storing preset mapping data in a memory unit, wherein said preset mapping data comprises a range of possible pressure sensor signals and signal output data, wherein said signal output data comprises control events, wherein a plurality of pressure sensor signals of said range of possible pressure sensor signals are mapped to particular control events identified in said signal output data;
selecting an active mapping from a plurality of possible mappings stored in said preset mapping data using a plurality of interpretation switches, wherein each interpretation switch of said plurality of interpretation switch comprises user selectable positions, wherein a position of said user selectable positions selects an active mapping from a plurality of possible mappings;
generating an output control signal using a processor, said processor responsive to each of said plurality of pressure sensor signals of said range of possible pressure sensor signals, said output control signal generated according to said signal output data of an active mapping, said active mapping selected by at least one of said plurality of interpretation switches; and
providing an outgoing control signal responsive to said output control signal. - View Dependent Claims (75)
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76. A system for controlling the volume of individual strings of a string instrument, said system comprising:
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a melodic keyboard comprising a plurality of keys;
a tuned array of strings, wherein each string of said array of strings is adapted to be vibrated by an external stimulus; and
a volume control element associated with each string of said array of strings, wherein a selected key or combination of keys of said plurality of keys providing volume control of one or more strings of said array of strings. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95)
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96. A method for controlling volume of individual strings of a string instrument, said method comprising:
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providing a melodic keyboard comprising a plurality of keys;
vibrating one or more strings of a tuned array of strings, wherein said vibrating is accomplished by external stimulus; and
providing volume control for one or more strings of said array of strings using a volume control element associated with each string of said array of strings, wherein a selected key or combination of keys of said plurality of keys provide said volume control. - View Dependent Claims (97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115)
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116. A system for controlling the volume of individual strings of a string instrument, said system comprising:
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a tuned array of strings, wherein each string of said array of strings is adapted to be vibrated by an external stimulus;
a dedicated vibration-sensing transducer coupled with each string of said array of strings, wherein each transducer of said plurality of vibration-sensing transducers generates an electrical signal responsive to vibrations of an associated string of said array of strings;
a plurality of volume control elements associated with at least one string of said array of strings, wherein each volume control element of said plurality of volume control elements provides volume control of an associated one or more strings of said array of strings, wherein each volume control element of said plurality of volume control elements is controlled by an associated incoming volume control signal; and
an audio interface providing an output audio signal responsive to each volume control element of said plurality of volume control elements. - View Dependent Claims (117, 119)
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120. A method for controlling the volume of individual strings of a string instrument, said method comprising:
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vibrating one or more strings of a tuned array of strings, wherein said vibrating is accomplished by external stimulus;
coupling a dedicated vibration-sensing transducer with each string of said array of strings, wherein each transducer of said plurality of vibration-sensing transducers generates an electrical signal responsive to vibrations of an associated string of said array of strings;
providing volume control using a plurality of volume control elements associated with at least one string of said array of strings, wherein each volume control element of said plurality of volume control elements provides volume control of an associated one or more strings of said array of strings, wherein each volume control element of said plurality of volume control elements is controlled by an associated incoming volume control signal; and
providing an output audio signal responsive to each volume control element of said plurality of volume control elements. - View Dependent Claims (121, 122, 123)
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Specification