Method and instrument for generating acoustic and/or visual effects by human body actions

• US 4,627,324 A
• Filed: 06/17/1985
• Issued: 12/09/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Helge Zwosta
• Original Assignee: Helge Zwosta
• Inventors: Zwosta, Helge
• Primary Examiner(s): WITKOWSKI, STANLEY J
• Application Number:
  US06/745,163
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 84/1.01, 84/1.24, 84/464 R, 84/464 A, 84/477 R, 84/477 B, 84/478, 84/479 R, 84/479 A
• US Class Current: 84/694
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 17/00 Apparatus for performing colour-music
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/371 Vital parameter control, i.e. musical instrument control based on body signals, e.g. brainwaves, pulsation, temperature, perspiration; biometric information signals from body positions or movements G10H2220/321
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/00 Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating acoustic or visual effects by human body actions, including transducer for generating electrical signals upon influence of human body actions attached to various portions of the human body and, upon a dancing movement and/or rhythmic touching of at least one of the transducers, signal generating means are selectively activated via a logic means for driving predetermined means for creating acoustic and/or visual effects.

Claims

1. An instrument for generating at least one of acoustic and visual effects by human body actions comprising:

(a) a plurality of transducer means each adapted to be attached to desired parts of the human body and responsive to accelerations/decelerations caused by a movement thereof to generate electrical signals;

(b) means for producing at least one of said acoustic and visual effects;

(c) a plurality of drive signal generator means for driving said producing means;

(d) logic means connected between said plurality of transducer means and said plurality of drive signal generator means for selectively routing said electrical signals generated by predetermined of transducer means to predetermined of said drive signal generator means.

2. The instrument of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of selecting means attachable to desired parts of the human body for controlling said logic means in order to change said routing of said electrical signals from said plurality of transducer means to said plurality of signal generating generator means.

3. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said transducer means are movement sensitive mechanical transducer means.

4. The instrument of claim 3 wherein said movement sensitive mechanical transducer means is a seismic spring/mass combination in connection with an inductance means.

5. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said transducer means comprises a combination of a pressure sensitive foil and an inertia mass being pressed against said foil under the influence of human body actions.

6. The instrument of claim 1 wherein said signal generator means are provided with at least one of an frequency modulation input and an amplitude modulation input selectable by said logic means.

7. The instrument of claim 6 wherein one of said transducer means is directly connected to said frequency modulation inputs of at least some of said signal generator means the actuation of said one of said transducer means causing a frequency variation of characteristic signals provided by said signal generator means.

8. The instrument of claim 1 wherein there is provided a further one of said tranducer means directly connected to an amplitude modulation input of at least one of said signal generator means.

9. The instrument of claim 1 wherein one of said plurality of transducer means is connected to a hold circuit means having a further input connected to said logic means and an output connected to an input of said signal generator means and holding said electrical signal routed from one said transducer means through said logic means to said signal generator means during the presence of a signal of said one transducer means such that the amplitudes of said electrical signals are maintained constant during this period.

10. The instrument of claim 3 wherein at least part of said plurality of transducer means are potentiometer means.

11. The instrument of claim 2 wherein said selecting means as well as said plurality of said transducer means and said logic means are adapted to be attached to the human skin.

12. The instrument of claim 2 wherein said selecting means as well as said plurality of tranducer means and said logic means are adapted to be provided in at a cloth.

13. The instrument of claim 2 wherein said selecting means as well as said plurality of transducer means and said logic means adapted to be mounted in a lining of a cloth.

14. The instrument of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of pressure sensitive transducer means each adapted to be attached to desired parts of the human body and responsive to pressure exerted thereupon by other parts of the human body said pressure sensitive transducer means being connected to said logic means.

15. An instrument for generating at least one of acoustic and visual effects by human body actions comprising:

(a) a plurality of pressure sensitive transducer means each adapted to be attached to desired parts of the human body and responsive to pressures caused by human body actions;

(b) means for producing at least one of said acoustic and visual effects;

(c) a plurality of drive signal generator means for driving said producing means;

(d) logic means attachable to the human body and connected between said plurality of transducer means and said plurality of the drive signal generator means for selectively routing said electrical signal generated by predetermined of said transducer means to predetermined of said drive signal generator means; and

(e) a plurality of selecting means attachable to desired parts of the human body and responsive to human body actions to control said logic means in order to change said routing of said electrical signals from said plurality of transducer means to said plurality of signal generator means.

16. The instrument of claim 15 wherein said pressure sensitive transducer means comprises a pressure sensitive foil.

17. The instrument of claim 15 wherein two of said pressure sensitive transducer means are piezo-electric transducer means and are combined to a unit generating two different electric signals one being proportional to a first force exerted on to it and the other being proportional to a second force exerted perpendicular to the first force onto it.

18. The instrument of claim 17 wherein one of said two electrical signals is applied to an amplitude modulation input of at least one of said signal generator means while the other signal is applied to a frequency modulation input thereof.

19. An instrument for generating at least one of acoustic and visual effects by human body actions comprising:

(a) a plurality of approximation sensitive transducer means each adapted to be attached to desired parts of the human body and responsive to an approximation of parts of the human body;

(b) means for producing at least one of said acoustic and visual effects;

(c) a plurality of drive signal generator means for driving said producing means;

(d) logic means attachable to the human body and connected between said plurality of transducer means and said plurality of the drive signal generator means for selectively routing said electrical signal generated by predetermined of said transducer means to predetermined of said drive signal generator means; and

(e) a plurality of selecting means attachable to desired parts of the human body and responsive to human body actions to control said logic means in order to change said routing of said electrical signals from said plurality of transducer means to said plurality of signal generator means.