Electronic musical instrument with help key for displaying the function of designated keys

• US 5,361,672 A
• Filed: 07/17/1992
• Issued: 11/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Koyama, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DONELS, JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US07/916,185
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 84/478, 84/477 R, 84/600, 395/155, 395/157
• US Class Current: 84/478
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0008 Associated control or indicating means

Abstract

When a switch is activated while a help switch for designating a help operation is activated, the explanation of a function assigned to the activated switch during a current operation mode is displayed on a display, without executing the function assigned to the activated switch. In an electronic musical instrument of the type having switches whose functions change with the operation mode, it is possible to readily know the function of each switch without relying upon a voluminous manual, and easily know how to manipulate switches in order to realize a desired function.

Claims

1. An electronic musical instrument comprising:

operation mode designating means for designating an operation mode among a plurality of operation modes, each defining how said electronic musical instrument operates;

a plurality of operation means, each being assigned different functions with respect to said plural operation modes;

display means for displaying information;

help designating means for designating a help operation; and

control means response to activation of said operation means while said help operation is designated, for controlling said display means to display an explanation of a function assigned to said activated operation means in said operation mode, without executing said function.

2. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of operation means include a plurality of operation members, one of which is said activated operation means, and said function is executed when another operation member other than said activated operation member is activated at the same time as said activated operation means.

3. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of operation means include ordinary operation members and special operation members, one of said special operation members being said activated operation means and said function being executed only when one of said ordinary operation members is activated at the same time as said activated operation member.

4. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, further including a memory for storing explanation data for said explanation.

5. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 4, wherein said memory includes tables classified in accordance with the usage conditions of said special operation members.

6. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 5, wherein each of said tables stores data in accordance with said operation mode and said ordinary operation members.

7. An electronic musical instrument comprising:

operation mode designating means for designating an operation mode among a plurality of operation modes, each defining how said electronic musical instrument operates;

a plurality of operation means, each being assigned different functions with respect to said plural operation modes, said plurality of operation means including ordinary operation members and special operation members;

display means for displaying information;

help designating means for designating a help operation;

control means responsive to activation of said operation means while said help operation is designated, for controlling said display means to display an explanation of a function assigned to said activated operation means in said operation mode, without executing said function, one of said special operation members being said activated operation means and said function being executed only when one of said ordinary operation members is activated at the same time as said activated operation means; and

a memory for storing explanation data for said explanation, said memory including tables classified in accordance with the usage conditions of said special operation members, each of said tables storing data in accordance with said operation mode and said ordinary operation members; and

wherein

said ordinary switches include keyboard keys, tone color operation members and rhythm operation members.

8. An electronic musical instrument comprising:

operation mode designating means for designating an operation mode among a plurality of operation modes, each defining how said electronic musical instrument operates;

a plurality of operation means, each being assigned different functions With respect to said plural operation modes, said plurality of operation means including ordinary operation members and special operation members;

display means for displaying information;

help designating means for designating a help operation;

control means responsive to activation of said operation means while said help operation is designated, for controlling said display means to display an explanation of a function assigned to said activated operation means in said operation mode, without executing said function, one of said special operation members being said activated operation means and said function being executed only when one of said ordinary operation members is activated at the same time as said activated operation means; and

a memory for storing explanation data for said explanation, said memory including tables classified in accordance with the usage conditions of said special operation members, each of said tables storing data in accordance with said operation mode and said ordinary operation members; and

wherein

said special operation members include tuning operation members and shift operation members.

9. An electronic musical instrument comprising:

operation mode designating means for designating an operation mode among a plurality of operation modes, each defining how said electronic musical instrument operates;

a plurality of operation means, each being assigned different functions with respect to said plural operation modes, one of said different functions being to designate a tone pitch, a tone color, a tone sounding start, a music piece or a performance pattern;

display means for displaying information;

help designating means for designating a help operation; and

control means responsive to activation of said operation means while said help operation is designated, for controlling said display means to display an explanation of a function assigned to said activated operation means in said operation mode, without executing said function.