Handheld musical tone controller

• US 4,998,457 A
• Filed: 12/22/1988
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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:
  US07/289,330
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 84/1.01, 84/1.04-1.28, 84/DIG. 7, 84/DIG. 30, 84/626, 84/600, 84/658, 84/633, 84/644, 84/665, 84/687-690, 84/719, 84/720, 84/744 , 84/745, 128/774, 128/782, 273/183 R, 273/183 B, 273/186 R, 273/186 A, 273/186 B, 273/189 R, 341/34, 341/27
• US Class Current: 84/600
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0556 using piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/182 Key multiplexing G10H1/185 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/32 Constructional details
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 84/07 Electric key switch structure

Abstract

A musical tone control apparatus includes at least one grip device having the shape which can be held by player'"'"'s hand. This grip device further includes plural push switches each having a piezoelectric element whose resistance is varied in response to depressing pressure applied thereto. Based on a combination of depressed push switches and its depressing pressures, an externally provided musical tone generating apparatus is controlled such that tone pitch, tone color, tone volume, touch response or the like of musical tone will be controlled. In addition, an angle detector for detecting a swing movement of a player'"'"'s arm can be further provided. Thus, the detected swing movement of the player'"'"'s arm can be additionally used for controlling the musical tone.

Claims

1. A musical tone control apparatus for providing control data to a musical tone generating apparatus comprising:

(a) detecting means having a shape adapted to be held by one hand of a player, said detecting means outputting a detection signal representing the amount of depressing pressure applied thereto by a finger of the player when said detecting means is held by hand; and

(b) musical tone control means for outputting musical tone control data based on said detection signal outputted from said detecting means, said musical tone control data controlling a musical tone generating apparatus, said musical tone generating apparatus being provided externally from the tone control apparatus in order to generate a musical tone which is controlled in response to said depressing pressure.

2. A musical tone control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said detecting means provides plural pressure sensors each having a piezoelectric element whose resistance is varied in response to said depressing pressure of corresponding finger applied thereto.

3. A musical tone control apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said musical tone control means comprises:

(a) plural detecting circuits each outputting first data based on said depressing pressure of corresponding finger;

(b) selecting means for selecting one of said plural detecting circuits; and

(c) means for generating musical tone control data based on said first data of selected detecting circuit.

4. A musical tone control apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said first data include a key-on signal, initial-touch data representing a degree of key depression at the instant when the key is depressed and after-touch data representing a degree of key depression strength when key is continuously depressed, said musical tone control data including at least one of said key-on signal, key code data for designating a tone pitch, tone volume data and tone color designating data.

5. A musical tone control apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said detecting circuit comprises:

(a) converting means for converting detected variation of said depressing pressure of corresponding finger into detection data, said detection data being outputted as after-touch data;

(b) comparator means for comparing value of said detection data with a predetermined value, said comparator means outputting an output signal when the value of said detection data becomes larger than said predetermined value; and

(c) means for generating a key-on signal based on the output signal of said comparator means, said means also outputting said detection data corresponding to timing of said key-on signal as initial-touch data.

6. A musical tone control apparatus according to claim 2 wherein one of predetermined musical effects is designated by depressing at least one of said pressure sensors.

7. A musical tone control apparatus comprising:

(a) pressure detecting means for outputting a detection signal having a value corresponding to depressing pressure applied to each key in a keyboard or depressing pressure of each operation button in an apparatus including operation buttons;

(b) timing generating means for generating a timing signal when a predetermined time is passed after the value of said detection signal exceeds a reference value; and

(c) storing means for inputting and storing said detection signal at every time when said timing signal is supplied thereto,

said storing means outputting its stored data as a first signal corresponding to an initial-touch of each key or operation button, said detection signal being outputted as a second signal corresponding to an after-touch of each key or operation button.

8. A musical tone control apparatus for providing control data to a musical tone generating apparatus comprising:

(a) pressure detecting means having a shape which can be held by one hand of a player, said detecting means outputting a detection signal representing the amount of depressing pressure applied thereto by a finger of the player when said detecting means is held by hand;

(b) angle detecting means for detecting a swing angle of the player'"'"'s arm to thereby generate an angle signal corresponding to detected swing angle; and

(c) musical tone control means for outputting musical tone control data based on said detection signal and said angle signal, said musical tone control data controlling a musical tone generating apparatus, said musical tone generating apparatus being provided externally from the tone control apparatus in order to generate a musical tone which is controlled in response to said depressing pressure of a finger and said swing angle of the player'"'"'s arm.

9. A musical tone control apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said angle detecting means is attached to a supporter by use of plane fasteners, said supporter being mounted to the player'"'"'s arm, whereby said angle detecting means is easily mounted to and removed from the player'"'"'s arm.

10. A musical tone control apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said angle detecting means includes a mercury switch which is turned on or off in response to inclination applied thereto when player mounts said angle detecting means at his arm and then swings his arm up or down.