Functional performance of keyboard musical instruments

• US 20040231501A1
• Filed: 05/20/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
• Inventors: Sim, Wong Hoo, Lim, Kok Liang, Seow, Phoei Min Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,105,738 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/719
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/34 Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/221 Keyboards, i.e. configuration of several keys or key-like input devices relative to one another details of individual keys or key-like devices G10H2220/265; continuous keyboards or keyboards implementing specific musical scales, e.g. quartertone G10H2210/395; switch matrix keyboards, e.g. on guitar necks G10H2220/295
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/231 Alphanumeric, used for musical purposes or with additional musical features, e.g. typewriter or pc-type keyboard reconfigured such that letters or symbols are assigned to musical notes
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/265 Key design details; Special characteristics of individual keys of a keyboard; Key-like musical input devices, e.g. finger sensors, pedals, potentiometers, selectors keyboards G10H2220/221, special musical scales G10H2210/395

Abstract

A musical keyboard having associated therewith a alphanumeric keyboard having a plurality of alphanumeric keys, the musical keyboard having a musical keys each being for producing a musical sound, and music function keys for producing musical effects, At least one of the alphanumeric keys is able to be used to modify a result of one or more of the music function keys and musical keys. The music function keys have functionality to produce the musical effect. The modification is only affective while the alphanumeric key is pressed after the musical function key has been pressed. The modification is to change the musical sound produced by the musical keys, and a further modification can be effected by relatively rapid hits of the one key of the plurality of alphanumeric keys. A method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A musical keyboard having associated therewith a alphanumeric keyboard having a plurality of alphanumeric keys, the musical keyboard having a plurality of musical keys each being for producing a musical sound, and at least one music function key for producing a musical effect, and wherein at least one of the alphanumeric keys is able to be used to modify a result of one or more of the at least one music function key and the plurality of musical keys.

2. A musical keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modification is of the at least one music function key the at least one music function key having functionality to produce the musical effect.

3. A musical keyboard as claimed in claim 2, wherein the musical effect is selected from the group consisting of:

trill, tremolo, and vibrato.

4. A musical keyboard as claimed in claim 3, wherein the modification is to selected from the group consisting of:

pitch and speed.

5. A musical keyboard as claimed in claim 3, wherein the modification is only effective while the at least one alphanumeric key is pressed after the at least one music function key has been pressed.

6. A musical keyboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the modification is of at least one of the plurality of musical keys.

7. A musical keyboard as claimed in claim 6, wherein the modification is to change the musical sound produced by at least one of the musical keys, the change being to that of a first musical instrument.

8. A musical keyboard as claimed in claim 6, wherein a further modification can be effected by a plurality of relatively rapid hits of the one key of the plurality of alphanumeric keys.

9. A musical keyboard as claimed in claim 8, where the plurality of relatively rapid hits are two in number.

10. A musical keyboard as claimed in claim 8, wherein the further modification is to change the musical sound produced by the at least one of the musical keys to that of a second musical instrument.

11. A method for use of a alphanumeric keyboard to modify the sound produced by an operation of a musical keyboard, the alphanumeric keyboard being associated with the musical keyboard, the musical keyboard having at least one music function key for producing a musical effect, the method including:

upon the pressing of at least one of the plurality of musical keys of the musical keyboard or at least one music function key, pressing at least once a desired one of the alphanumeric keys to modify the musical sound produced.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the modification is of the at least one music function key the at least one music function key having functionality to produce the musical effect.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the musical effect is selected from the group consisting of:

trill, tremolo, and vibrato.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the modification is selected from the group consisting of:

pitch and speed.

15. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the modification is only affective while the at least one alphanumeric key is pressed after the at least one music function key has been pressed.

16. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the modification is of at least one of the plurality of musical keys to change the musical sound produced by at least one of the musical keys.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the change is to that of a first musical instrument.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein a further modification can be effected by a plurality of relatively rapid hits of the one key of the plurality of alphanumeric keys.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, where the plurality of relatively rapid hits are two in number.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the further modification is to change the musical sound produced by the at least one of the musical keys to that of a second musical instrument.

21. A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the modification is of both of the at least one music function key and at least one of the plurality of musical keys, the at lest one music function key having functionality to produce the musical effect.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the musical effect is selected from the group consisting of:

trill, tremolo, and vibrato.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the modification is selected from the group consisting of:

pitch and speed.

24. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the modification is only affective while the at least one alphanumeric key is pressed after the at least one music function key has been pressed.

25. A method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the modification is of the musical sound produced upon activation of at least one of the plurality of musical keys.

26. A method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the change is to that of a first musical instrument.

27. A method as claimed in claim 25, wherein a further modification can be effected by a plurality of relatively rapid hits of the one key of the plurality of alphanumeric keys.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27, where the plurality of relatively rapid hits are two in number.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the further modification is to change the musical sound produced by the at least one of the musical keys to that of a second musical instrument.

30. A computer useable medium comprising a computer program code that is configured to cause a processor to execute a method for use of a alphanumeric keyboard to modify the sound produced by an operation of a musical keyboard, the alphanumeric keyboard being associated with the musical keyboard, the musical keyboard having at least one music function key for producing a musical effect, the method including:

upon the pressing of at least one of the plurality of musical keys of the musical keyboard or at least one music function key, pressing at least once a desired one of the alphanumeric keys to modify the musical sound produced.