Electroglottograph-driven controller for a MIDI-compatible electronic music synthesizer device
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- an electroglottograph which produces a signal containing a pitch information in response to a movement cycle of a user'"'"'s vocal cords;
means for converting the electroglottograph signal into a digital electronic musical signal; and
means for transmitting the digital electronic music signal to a compatible music generating real time serial digital interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A voice-controlled musical device is driven by an electroglottograph as an input to a controller. The electroglottograph (EGG) has a transducer in the form of a band that is located about the user'"'"'s neck. The EGG converts the cycle of opening and closing of the vocal folds of the user'"'"'s vocal chords into a clean electrical signal that is particularly accurate with respect to pitch. An output from a microphone integral to the band picks up acoustic dilations of the throat wall concurrent with the glottal cycle and this output is also applied to the controller to indicated vocal source volume. The EGG and microphone signals are combined and converted into a MIDI digital code which can be used to drive a musical synthesizer or a computer. An external switch may be used to alter the attack of a continuous voice performance.
67 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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an electroglottograph which produces a signal containing a pitch information in response to a movement cycle of a user'"'"'s vocal cords; means for converting the electroglottograph signal into a digital electronic musical signal; and means for transmitting the digital electronic music signal to a compatible music generating real time serial digital interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 30, 31, 33)
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19. An apparatus comprising:
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an electroglottograph EGG means for producing an electroglottograph signal containing pitch information generated in response to a movement cycle of a user'"'"'s vocal cords to produce sound; a microphone for generating a microphone signal indicative of the volume of the sound; means for combining the EGG and microphone signals and converting the combined signal into a Music Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) signal, the converting means including an analog signal processor for normalizing the electroglottograph signal, an analog-to-digital processor for converting the normalized electroglottograph signal into a digital signal, a MIDI interpreter for translating the digital signal into a MIDI format signal; and a voice synchronous serial transmitter for transmitting the MIDI signal to a MIDI device. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for controlling a digital musical instrument with an electroglottograph signal, said signal being generated at the end of a user'"'"'s glottal cycle, comprising the steps of:
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generating an electroglottograph signal; amplitude normalizing the electroglottograph signal; digitizing the normalized signal; formatting the digitized signal into a computer music code; and transmitting the formatted signal to a compatible digital music generating real time serial digital interface. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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32. In an electroglottograph, a neckband composed of a pliable substance which, when in place, contacts a user'"'"'s neck, characterized in that:
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the neck band includes four electrodes for contacting the user'"'"'s neck; two of said electrodes are located at either side of the user'"'"'s thyroid cartilage; the third of said electrodes is located on one side of the user'"'"'s neck; and the fourth of said electrodes is inactive and is located on the opposite side of the neck as the third electrode; wherein said first, second and third electrodes detect electrical changes in the impedance of the user'"'"'s neck and transmit information on such changes to the electroglottograph.
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34. An electroglottograph-to-Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) converter, comprising:
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input means for receiving an analog electroglottograph signal; means for converting the electroglottograph signal into a MIDI signal; means for transmitting the MIDI signal to a compatible MIDI device.
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Specification