Initial touch responsive musical tone control device

• US 5,119,709 A
• Filed: 04/13/1990
• Issued: 06/09/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hideo, Sakama, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): Witkowski, Stanley J.
• Application Number:
  US07/509,290
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 84/600, 84/615, 84/626, 84/658, 84/687-690, 84/DIG. 7, 341/22, 341/27, 341/31-34
• US Class Current: 84/600
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/053 during execution only voice controlled instruments G10H5/005
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0558 using variable resistors
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/34 Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/326 Control glove or other hand or palm-attached control device

Abstract

A musical control device comprising a position detection device whereby the position of a portion of a performer'"'"'s body is detected and output as a position signal, a velocity detection circuit whereby the velocity of the portion of the performer'"'"'s body is detected and output as velocity data based on the change in the above mentioned position signal, and a musical control signal output circuit whereby a musical control signal is generated and output based on said position signal and velocity data.

Claims

1. A musical control device comprising:

position detection means for detecting position whereby an amount of flexion of a portion of a performer'"'"'s body is detected and is output as a position signal;

velocity detection means for detecting velocity whereby a velocity of the portion of the performer'"'"'s body is detected and output as velocity data based on the change in said position signal; and

musical control signal output means for generating and outputting a musical control signal based on said position signal and velocity data.

2. A musical control device in accordance with claim 1 above in which said position detection means detects the position of a performers digit.

3. A musical control device in accordance with claim 1 above wherein said velocity detection means in such that the velocity value determined therein is based on a measurement of the time interval over which the position expressed by the signal output from said position detection means varies from a first predetermined value to a second predetermined value which is different from said first predetermined value.

4. A musical control device in accordance with claim 3 above wherein said velocity detection means further comprises:

reference signal generation means for generating reference signals wherein said first predetermined value and said second predetermined value are generated;

first comparison means for detecting the point at which said first predetermined value and the output of said position detection means become equal whereupon a first judgement signal is output;

second comparison means for detecting the point at which said second predetermined value and the output of said position detection means become equal whereupon a second judgement signal is output; and

time measuring means for measuring time, wherein the time interval between when said first judgement signal is output and when said second judgement signal is output is measured.

5. A musical control device as set out in claim 1, wherein said position detection means is adapted to be attached to said portion of a performer'"'"'s body.

6. A musical control device comprising:

position detection means for detecting position, whereby the amount of flexion of a portion of a performer'"'"'s body is detected as the position and output as a position signal;

velocity detection means for detecting velocity, having;

(a) reference time detection means for detecting a reference time, wherein the point in time at which said portion of said performer'"'"'s body flexes past a predetermined position is detected based on the output of said position detection means, and

(b) displacement detection means for detecting displacement whereby said position signal output from said position detection means is determined after a predetermined time interval after said point of time detected by said reference time detection means; and

musical control signal output means for generating and outputting a musical control signal based on said position signal and velocity data.

7. A musical control device in accordance with claim 6 above wherein said reference time detection means further comprises:

first reference signal generation means for outputting a first reference signal of a predetermined value; and

first comparison means for detecting the point at which the output of said first reference signal generation means and the output of said position detection means become equal.

8. A musical control device in accordance with claim 6 above wherein said displacement detection means further comprises:

timer means for timing, whereby a predetermined time interval is measured after said reference time is detected by said reference time detection means; and

latch means for latching a signal,

whereby the output of said position detection means is read at the moment when said end of said predetermined time interval has been measured.

9. A musical control device as set out in claim 6, wherein said position detection means is adapted to be attached to said portion of a performer'"'"'s body.