Multi-Touch Piano Keyboard

• US 20140083281A1
• Filed: 07/06/2012
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Drexel University
• Original Assignee: Drexel University
• Inventors: McPherson, Andrew, Kim, Youngmoo
• Granted Patent: US 9,324,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/02 Means for controlling the tone frequencies, e.g. attack or decay; Means for producing special musical effects, e.g. vibratos or glissandos
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/344 Structural association with individual keys electrically operated wind-actuated organs G10B3/22
• 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 2220/275 Switching mechanism or sensor details of individual keys, e.g. details of key contacts, hall effect or piezoelectric sensors used for key position or movement sensing purposes; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 7/06 in which amplitudes are read at a fixed rate, the read-out address varying stepwise by a given value, e.g. according to pitch

Abstract

A musical keyboard touch sensor pad having a plurality of integrated sensors disposed in an array is disclosed. The plurality of integrated sensors represents a keyboard key. A processor is electronically coupled to the plurality of integrated sensors. The processor is programmed to receive signals from several of the plurality of integrated sensors and to generate a sound signal based on input from the several of the plurality of integrated sensors. The output is variable based on the number in the plurality and the location of the plurality in the array. An audio output device is electronically coupled to the processor to generate a sound based on the sound signal. A keyboard using a plurality of the sensor pads as well as a method of generating sounds from the keyboard are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A musical keyboard touch sensor pad comprising:

(a) a plurality of integrated touch sensors disposed in an array, the plurality of integrated touch sensors representing a keyboard key, wherein each of a first group of the plurality of sensors are generally saw-tooth shaped and are longitudinally arranged adjacent to each other; and

;

(b) a processor electronically coupled to the plurality of integrated touch sensors, the processor being programmed to receive input from several of the plurality of integrated touch sensors and to generate a sound signal based on the input from the several of the plurality of integrated touch sensors, the sound signal being variable based on the number in the plurality and the location of the plurality in the array.

5. The musical keyboard touch sensor pad according to claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to process a plurality of touches on the array and to generate a sound based on the number and configuration of touches on the array.

6. The musical keyboard touch sensor pad according to claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to process a touch moving longitudinally along the array and to generate a vibrato signal based on the length and speed of the longitudinal movement.

7. The musical keyboard touch sensor pad according to claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to process a touch moving longitudinally along the array to generate a pitch change signal based on the length and speed of the longitudinal movement.

8. The musical keyboard touch sensor pad according to claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to calculate a size and a position of a centroid based on a plurality of touches on the array and to generate a logical signal based on the size and the position of the centroid.

9. The musical keyboard touch sensor pad according to claim 8, wherein the processor is adapted to generate a sound based on the size and the position of the centroid.

10. The musical keyboard touch sensor pad according to claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to process a first touch moving longitudinally in a first direction along the array, process a second touch moving longitudinally in a second direction, opposite the first direction, and to change an amplitude of the sound signal based on the movement of the first touch and the second touch.

35. The musical keyboard touch sensor pad according to claim 1, wherein each of a second group of the plurality of sensors are generally diamond-shaped and form an interlocking array.

36. The musical keyboard touch sensor pad according to claim 35, wherein four of the plurality of sensors meet at a point.

2-4. -4. (canceled)

11-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A method of generating a sound from a plano-style key comprising the steps of:

(a) placing a sensor array on the key, the sensor array being comprised of a plurality of integrated sensors, the sensor array being electronically coupled to a processor;

(b) receiving a first impact and a second impact on the key such that at least one of the plurality of integrated sensors are struck by each of the first and second impacts;

(c) transmitting an electronic input signal to the processor based on the location and type of the strike on each of the at least one of the plurality of the integrated sensors;

(d) generating an electronic sound signal from the controller based on the electronic input signal;

(e) sensing a change of the linear distance between the first impact and the second impact; and

(f) generating a change in the electronic sound signal in response to the change of the linear distance.

22. The method according to claim 17, wherein the electronic sound signal generated in step (d) comprises a non-plano-type sound.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the electronic sound signal generated in step (d) varies upon a variation of the plurality of simultaneous strikes.

18-21. -21. (canceled)

24-26. -26. (canceled)

27. A method of displaying information relating to the location of a finger on a plano keyboard, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) placing a sensor array on the key, the sensor array being comprised of a plurality of integrated sensors, the sensor array being electronically coupled to a processor;

(b) receiving an impact on the key such that at least one of the plurality of integrated sensors are struck;

(c) transmitting a sensor signal from each of the at least one of the plurality of integrated sensors to the processor; and

(d) transmitting a processor signal to a display, wherein the display displays the location and the size of the impact based on the electronic signal.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the size of the impact varies according to pressure applied to the sensor array.

29. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of translating the impact along the key, wherein the display of the impact moves accordingly.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein each of a first group of the plurality of sensors are generally saw-tooth shaped and are longitudinally arranged adjacent to each other.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein each of a second group of the plurality of sensors are generally diamond-shaped and form an interlocking array.

32. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of receiving a single strike on the key and generating a plano-type sound.

33. The method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of receiving a plurality of strikes on the key and changing the sound from a plano-type sound to a non-plano-type sound.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein different numbers in the plurality generate different non-plano-type sounds.