Musical tone control apparatus mounted on a performer's body

• US 4,905,560 A
• Filed: 12/08/1988
• Issued: 03/06/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hideo, Sakama, Masao, Obata, Masahiko, Matsushima, Shunichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Witkowski, Stanley J.
• Application Number:
  US07/281,553
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 84/1.01, 84/1.19-1.27, 128/734, 128/741, 128/782, 128/420 A, 446/175, 446/297, 200/5 R, 200/5 A, 200/61.1, 200/DIG. 2, 338/162, 338/174, 338/176
• US Class Current: 84/600
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/00 Details of electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0558 using variable resistors
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/321 Garment sensors, i.e. musical control means with trigger surfaces or joint angle sensors, worn as a garment by the player, e.g. bracelet, intelligent clothing vital parameter sensing G10H2220/371; wearable interfaces in general G06F3/00

Abstract

A musical tone control apparatus having first and second detectors mounted on a player'"'"'s arm for detecting bending angles of the player'"'"'s joints, and a musical tone control data generating circuit worn on the player'"'"'s waist for generating musical tone control data based on output signals of the first and second detectors. The musical tone control data generating circuit is connected to the first detector via the second detector through a single common cable. Hence, the number of common cables can be reduced to a minimum, allowing free movement of the player. Further, the first detector having a potentiometer comprises first and second links rotatably connected at their ends so that the links rotate in a bending direction of the player'"'"'s joint, a resistance element provided at the first link, and a sliding contact provided at the second link. The sliding contact, keeping contact with the resistance element, slides thereon with the rotation of the first or second link. The potentiometer produces a signal between the sliding contact and the terminal of the resistance element in response to a bending angle of the player'"'"'s joint. Hence, the detector can be made thin, allowing free motion of the player'"'"'s arm.

Claims

1. A musical tone control apparatus comprising:

first detecting means for detecting movement of a player'"'"'s elbow and/or shoulder joint;

second detecting means for detecting movement of the player'"'"'s wrist and/or each finger joint;

musical tone control data generating means to be worn round the player'"'"'s waist for generating musical tone control data based on output signals of said first and second detecting means; and

transmitting means for transmitting the output signal of the first detecting means to the musical tone control data generating means by way of the second detecting means.

2. A musical tone control apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising covering means for covering the first detecting means.

3. A musical tone control apparatus comprising;

fastening means to be worn on the player'"'"'s joint;

first and second links removably mounted on the fastening means, said links being rotatably connected to each other at their ends so that said links rotate in a bending direction of the player'"'"'s joint;

a resistance element provided on said first link;

a sliding contact provided on said second link, said sliding contact keeping contact with said resistance element and sliding thereon in accordance with the rotation of said first or second link; and

control data generating means for generating control data controlling a musical tone signal to be produced based on a signal produced between said sliding contact and a terminal of said resistance element in response to a bending angle of the player'"'"'s joint.

4. A musical tone control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first and second links are removably mounted on said fastening means at two points of said first link excluding the connecting point and at one point of said second link excluding said connecting point so that the connecting part of said first and second links is to be positioned at the player'"'"'s joint.

5. A musical tone control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first link is placed on the player'"'"'s forearm and said second link is placed on the player'"'"'s upper arm.

6. A musical tone control apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising guiding means removably attached to said fastening means, said second link being provided with a lengthwise slot in which said guiding means is slidably inserted.

7. A musical tone control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said fastening means is a supporter made of film like rubber.