Sound Generating Device For Use by People with Disabilities

• US 20070241918A1
• Filed: 12/02/2005
• Published: 10/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Farah Jubran
• Original Assignee: Farah Jubran
• Inventors: Jubran, Farah
• Granted Patent: US 7,839,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/665
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein describes a device allowing even people with severe disabilities (physical and/or mental) to control the generation of sound and music, using controls adapted to their capabilities. The device is to be used primarily in therapeutic, educational and training contexts. The device comprises of pressure-sensitive controls, a programmable control device and a sound/music output mechanism.

Claims

1. A controlled sound device comprising

(a) at least one force sensor, acting as a user controller, normally surrounded in a resilient membrane or material.

(b) a controller adapted to be electrically connected to said pressure sensor wherein said controller is adapted to translate sensed force to change in sound or music character.

(c) a speaker adapted to deliver sound in accordance with said music character.

2. A controlled sound device as in claim 1, wherein the force sensor is a pressure sensor.

3. The sound device as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one resilient member is a resilient material having changeable electric resistance.

4. The resilient material as claimed in claim 2, wherein at lease one resilient member is made of one of:

(a) foam

(b) sponge

(c) silicone

(d) highly porous nickel composite

(e) flexible material coated with conductive polymers

(f) flexible material coated with the conductive polymer Pyrole.

5. The controlled sound device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said force sensor is a force sensitive resistor padded with electrical insulating resilient matter.

6. The controlled sound device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said force sensor is a pressure sensor.

7. The controlled sound device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at least one resilient member is an air bag that is aerodynamically connected to said controller and wherein said sensed pressure is air pressure in said air bag.

8. The controlled sound device as claimed in claim 6, which communicates said pressure reading from the pressure sensor to the control device wirelessly.

9. The controlled sound device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said music character modified as result of force applied to the sensor is the pitch.

10. The controlled sound device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said music character modified as result of force applied to the sensor is music dynamics (volume and/or timing and/or tempo).

11. The controlled sound device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said music character modified as result of force applied to the sensor is music instrument (envelope) or musical score.

12. The controlled sound device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said music character modified as result of force applied to the sensor or as a condition of certain forces applied to multiple sensors.

13. The controlled sound device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said controller is a personal computer.

14. The controlled sound device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is capable of outputting several different sounds, and allow different measures and different types of force sensors.

15. The controlled sound device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the choice between the options specified in claims 14, is indicated by use of one or more control dials.

16. The sound controlled device as claimed in claim 15, wherein a program screen is provided so as to visually illustrate parameters set in the controllers, as per claim 15.

17. The controlled device as claimed in claim 5, wherein visual parameters can be program number and name of program.

18. The sound device is claimed in claim 1, wherein a volume knob is provided.

19. The sound device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controllers and said speakers are embedded in one of said at least one resilient members surrounding the pressure sensor.

20. The sound device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more dials allow for adapting the range and sensitivity of one, some or all of the force sensors as to fit users with varying degrees of motor skills/disabilities.

21. The sound device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more dials allows for adapting the timing response of the system by changing the sampling rate of the force applied to one, some or all of the sensors as to allow use by people with different degrees of motor control, hearing skills and motor/hearing coordination.

22. The sound device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sound device does not contain speakers, but instead contains a connector allowing the connection of external sneakers or headphones.

23. The sound device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the force sensors are tailored for use any other body part of which the user has some measure of control (such as the mouth or leg).

24. A controlled sound device as in claim 1, wherein the force sensor is a air pressure sensor, where the pressure (positive or negative) is provided by the breath of the user.

25. A controlled sound device as in claim 1, wherein the force sensor is an acoustic wave pressure sensor (microphone).

26. A controlled musical device substantially as described in the above specification, attached Figures and appending claims.