SOUND-CREATION INTERFACE

• US 20110273700A1
• Filed: 07/21/2009
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eigenlabs Limited
• Original Assignee: Eigenlabs Limited
• Inventors: Lambert, John Henry, Chapman, James Stephen, Rigamonti, Mark Justin
• Granted Patent: US 8,934,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/28
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04759 Light-sensitive detector, e.g. photoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/04796 for rectilinear control along the axis of the controlling member
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/34 Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/342 for guitar-like instruments with or without strings and with a neck on which switches or string-fret contacts are used to detect the notes being played electric guitars in which the tones are generated by the vibration of strings G10H3/18
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/344 Structural association with individual keys electrically operated wind-actuated organs G10B3/22
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/305 using a light beam to detect key, pedal or note actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/361 Mouth control in general, i.e. breath, mouth, teeth, tongue or lip-controlled input devices or sensors detecting, e.g. lip position, lip vibration, air pressure, air velocity, air flow or air jet angle

Abstract

A sound-creation interface is used to create a sound-creation instrument such as a musical instrument. The musical instrument includes a mechanical-human interface such as a set of keys, strings or breathing pipe for user actuation and control of the system, a mechanical-electrical interface receiving inputs from the mechanical-human interface and for converting those inputs to a machine comprehensible signal and an electrical/processor interface receiving signals from the mechanical electrical interface and converting those signals into a processor comprehensible form. A processor receives processor comprehensible signals from the electrical-processor interface and includes a processor component and a memory component. The system allows simplified interaction between the user using the mechanical interface and the processor providing an improved sound-creation interface.

Claims

1. A method of detecting movement of a user element having a shutter component moveable therewith into a light path between an emitter and a detector comprising receiving, at the detector, light from the emitter, and monitoring for variation in an amount of received light.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the user element is moveable upon user actuation.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising monitoring for a level of variation in the amount of received light.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 further comprising assessing a degree of movement of the user element as a function of a measure of the level of variation in the amount of received light.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the detector receives light from a plurality of emitters, the method comprising monitoring for variation in the amount of received light from each emitter.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 comprising cycling light emission from each emitter and synchronizing detection at the detector with a measure of cycling frequency.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising calibrating a user movement detector by measuring variation in the amount of received light against corresponding user element movement through a plurality of movement values and storing the movement values and corresponding light variation values to form calibrated values.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 further comprising interpolating additional light variation values and corresponding movement values from the calibrated values to form interpolated values, and storing the interpolated values.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising applying a low pass filter to a light detection signal.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1 in which the detector sets a reference value defining a rest position of the user element at which zero force is applied.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 in which, upon detection of a non-rest position corresponding to an increasing force, the user element is detected as being activated if a detected value is greater than a measure of a rest value.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11 in which the measure of the rest value comprises the rest value together with at least one of a noise compensation value and a desensitization value derived from a control user element.

13. A method as claimed in claim 10 in which an activation threshold value is recomputed while a key is activated based on a most recently detected detector value.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 in which upon detection of the non-rest position corresponding to a decreasing force, if a detected value decreases more rapidly than an activation value then a key is detected as deactivated.

45. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which a plurality of light detectors detect light from a respective plurality of the emitters, further comprising cycling detection at the detectors.

46. A method as claimed in claim 45 in which detection is performed at a detector during a “

detection-on”

phase.

47. A method as claimed in claim 46 in which the “

detection-on”

phase is synchronized to overlap between at least two detectors.

48. A method claimed in claim 46 further comprising detecting a magnitude of a light signal by sampling the light signal at the detector during the “

detection-on”

phase to form a detection signal.

49. A method as claimed in claim 48 further comprising causing the detection signal to drop to a null value after detection.

50. A method as claimed in claim 49 in which the detection signal is obtained by an amplifier.

15. An apparatus for detecting movement of a user element having a shutter component moveable therewith, the apparatus further comprising an emitter and a detector defining a light path therebetween, in which the shutter component is moveable therewith, the apparatus further comprising an emitter and a detector defining a light path therebetween, in which the shutter component is moveable into the light path to vary an amount of light receivable at the detector.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a processor arranged to monitor variation in the amount of received light and assess a degree of movement of the user element as a function thereof.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 comprising a plurality of emitters each defining a respective light path with the detector and respective shutters associated with the user element moveable into the light path.

51. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, further comprising an activation cycling component for cycling activation of the emitters and synchronizing detection at the detector with a measure of cycling frequency.

52. An apparatus as claimed in claim 51 comprising a plurality of light detectors each with a plurality of respective light emitters in which detection is cycled at the respective detectors.

53. An apparatus as claimed in claim 51 further comprising an amplifier arranged to sample a detection signal at the detector and an amplifier controller element arranged to cause a detection signal at the amplifier to drop to null after each sampling.

18. A sensor for detecting movement of a user input element, the sensor comprising a light emitter, a light detector and a shutter component arranged to be in operable connection with the user input element and to be moveable therewith in response to user actuation of the user input element to at least partially occlude a light path between the light emitter and light detector, whereby a level of light detected at the light detector corresponds to a user actuation of the user input element.

19. A sensor as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a prismatic element arranged to receive light emitted from the light emitter and to focus the light on the light detector.

20. A sensor as claimed in claim 19 in which the prismatic element comprises a first prism element arranged to receive light from the light emitter and to direct the light towards a second prism element, the second prism element being arranged between the first prism element and the light detector for receiving light passing through the first prism element and directing the light onto the light detector.

21. A sensor as claimed in claim 20 in which the first prism element and second prism element each comprise a side wall, the side wall of the first prism element and side wall of the second prism element being disposed substantially opposite each other with an air gap formed therebetween through which the shutter component is moveable to at least partially occlude the light path.

22. A sensor as claimed in claim 20, in which there is provided a plurality of light emitters arranged around the light detector, and a plurality of first prism elements corresponding to the plurality of light emitters, each of the plurality of first prism elements being arranged to receive light emitted from a corresponding one of the plurality of light emitters and to direct the light towards the second prism element.

23. A sensor as claimed in claim 22, in which the second prism element is contoured to direct light travelling from each of the plurality of first prisms and to focus the light onto the light detector.

24. A sensor as claimed in claim 23 in which the shutter component is arranged to at least partially occlude the light path between each of the plurality of first prism elements and the second prism elements according to a level of user actuation of the user input element in a direction of each of the plurality of first prism elements.

25. A sensor as claimed in claim 24 in which the shutter component comprises a shutter blade arranged to move into the light path between the first prism element and the second prism element upon user actuation of the user input element.

26. A user input element comprising a sensor in accordance with claim 18 in operable connection therewith, and further comprising a resilient biasing element upon which the shutter component is supported for movement thereof in response to user actuation of the user input element.

27. A user input element as claimed in claim 26 in which the resilient biasing element comprises a frame and a plurality of support members extending inwardly from the frame towards a center thereof for supporting the shutter component inside the frame.

28. A user input element as claimed in claim 27 in which each of the plurality of support members comprises a generally U-shaped portion that protrudes in a direction away from the user input element.

29. A user input element as claimed in claim 28 in which the U-shaped portion comprises a necked portion.

30. A user input element as claimed claim 26 in which the shutter component is molded over the resilient biasing element for movement therewith.

31. A user input element as claimed in claim 26 comprising a key actuatable to provide distinguishable user inputs given by at least one of key pressure, key roll, and key yaw.

32. A user input element as claimed in claim 26 further comprising a prismatic element arranged to receive light emitted from the light emitter and to focus the light on the light detector;

in which the prismatic element comprises a first prism element arranged to receive light from the light emitter and to direct the light towards a second prism element, the second prism element being arranged between the first prism element and the light detector for receiving light passing through the first prism element and directing the light onto the light detector; and

in which the shutter component is arranged to move towards each of the plurality of first prism elements in response to any user actuation of the user input element.

33. A user input element as claimed in claim 26, further comprising a housing in which the sensor is housed, and a sealing element disposed in the housing between the user input element and the sensor for prevention of ingress of any of light, liquid or solid matter therein.

34. A user input element as claimed in claim 33 in which the sealing element comprises a rubber gasket.

35. A user input element as claimed in claim 34 in which the rubber gasket is manufactured from carbon loaded silicone rubber.

36. A user input element as claimed in claim 26 further comprising a prismatic element arranged to receive light emitted from the light emitter and to focus the light on the light detector;

in which the prismatic element comprises a first prism element arranged to receive light from the light emitter and to direct the light towards a second prism element, the second prism element being arranged between the first prism element and the light detector for receiving light passing through the first prism element and directing the light onto the light detector;

in which there is provided a plurality of light emitters arranged around the light detector, and a plurality of first prism elements corresponding to the plurality of light emitters, each of the plurality of first prism elements being arranged to receive light emitted from a corresponding one of the plurality of light emitters and to direct the light towards the second prism element; and

in which the plurality of light emitters and the light detector are disposed on a printed circuit board for electronic communication with a processor.

37. A user input element as claimed in claim 36 in which there is provided four light emitters arranged around a central light detector and in which the prismatic element comprises four first prisms, each of the first prism elements corresponding to a respective one of the four light emitters and being arranged around a central one of the second prim elements.

38. A sensor as claimed in claim 18 in which the light emitter is a light emitting diode.

39. A sensor as claimed in claim 18 in which the light detector is a photodiode.

40. A user input element as claimed in claim 36 in which the resilient biasing element is a spring.

41. A sound-creation interface, including a plurality of user input elements as claimed in claim 40, arranged in an array on the printed circuit board.

42. A sound-creation interface as claimed in claim 41, comprising a base housing upon which the printed circuit board is disposed, and a rigid curved frontage comprising a laminate structure disposed over the plurality of user input elements so as to allow user actuation of the plurality of user input elements.

43. A sound creation interface as claimed in claim 42 in which the laminate structure includes an aperture through which each user input element is arranged to protrude for user actuation thereof.

44. A sound-creation interface as claimed in claim 41 further comprising at least one of user input elements being in electrical communication with the processor for detection of unintentional external actuation thereof.

138. A user input element as claimed in claim 26 in which the light emitter is a light emitting diode.

139. A user input element as claimed in claim 26 in which the light detector is a photodiode.

54. A method of detecting movement of a user element comprising assessing a degree of movement of the user element as a function of a detection value at a detector in which an activation threshold value is recomputed while a key is activated based on a most recently detected detector value and in which, upon detection of a non-rest position corresponding to a decreasing force, if the most recently detected detector value decreases more rapidly than the activation threshold value then the key is detected as deactivated.

55-137. -137. (canceled)