Electronic keyboard instrument

• US 5,557,057 A
• Filed: 01/14/1994
• Issued: 09/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harvey W Starr
• Original Assignee: Harvey W Starr
• Inventors: Starr, Harvey W.
• Primary Examiner(s): SPYROU, CASSANDRA
• Application Number:
  US08/182,767
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 84/646, 84/653, 84/655, 84/615, 84/617, 84/658, 84/626, 84/669, 84/670, 84/644, 84/637, 84/DIG. 30
• US Class Current: 84/617
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/342 for guitar-like instruments with or without strings and with a neck on which switches or string-fret contacts are used to detect the notes being played electric guitars in which the tones are generated by the vibration of strings G10H3/18
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/301 Fret-like switch array arrangements for guitar necks
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/141 Spint guitar drum, i.e. mimicking a guitar used at least partly as a percussion instrument
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 84/30 Fret control

Abstract

An electronic musical instrument is designed in a generally guitar-shaped configuration with a fingerboard containing rows of keys replacing each string, one key for each string/fret position. Pressing on a key causes a signal to be provided to a central processing unit which continually scans the fingerboard at a high rate and converts the signals to a plurality of outputs to a synthesizer. Unlike a guitar, a plurality of keys, including a plurality along a single row, may be operated simultaneously to produce a plurality of notes simultaneously. A number of pressure switches and other switches located on the body enable a player to modify the output with vibrato, pitchbend, stereo pan, percussion effects, etc. Additional pressure responsive circuits provide inputs to the central processing unit varying with pressure on the keys. A second embodiment includes a fingerboard with many more rows or columns of keys and more keys per column. In either embodiment the keys may be colored similarly to a piano keyboard or otherwise either embodiment may have a specified or programmable musical interval between adjoining keys on adjacent rows.

Claims

1. For use with a music synthesizer:

an electronic keyboard instrument comprising;

a fingerboard elongated in a first direction;

a plurality of keys arranged in rows and columns along said fingerboard, wherein the rows extend along the fingerboard in said first direction;

a circuit board within said fingerboard;

means for mounting each said key movable independently of every other one of said keys and movable into contact with said circuit board;

a central processing unit;

said circuit board including means for forming key input signals in response to said keys contacting said circuit board;

multiplexing means connected to receive said key input signals from said circuit board, a voltage comparator circuit connected to receive said key input signals from said multiplexing means, an analog to digital converter connected to said multiplexing means;

said central processing unit including means for sampling said voltage comparator circuit and responding to the presence of said key input signals to cause said key input signals to be converted to digital signals in said analog to digital converter, said digital key input signals representing musical notes, and for outputting said digital signals to said synthesizer.

2. An electronic keyboard instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein memory means is connected to said central processing unit, each said digital key input signal is represented in said memory by a signal representing a specific musical note, and said central processing unit includes programmable means for modifying said signal.

3. An electronic keyboard instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein a generally guitar-shaped body is attached to said fingerboard, said body includes an array of rubber pads, force sensitive resistance material and switch means are located under said rubber pads, and said switch means is operatively connected to said multiplexing means such that pressing said rubber pads forces said force sensitive material against said switch means to close said switch means thereby providing signals to said multiplexer varying with the pressure on said rubber pads.

4. An electronic keyboard instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein a body is attached to said fingerboard, a plurality of elongated trigger bars are carried on said body, said trigger bars being connected to said central processing unit.

5. An electronic keyboard instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said circuit board includes a normally open switching circuit adjacent each said key, and a cover on said fingerboard with openings for each said key and each said key includes a switch member of elastomeric material including conducting contacts overlying each said switching circuit means and a key cover covering the top of each said switch member such that depressing any said key cover causes said contacts to close one of said switching circuit means.

6. For use with a synthesizer having MIDI input means;

an electronic keyboard instrument comprising a housing, a fingerboard elongated in a first direction carried on said housing;

a plurality of keys arranged in rows and columns along said fingerboard wherein the rows extend along said fingerboard in said first direction;

a circuit board within said fingerboard;

means for mounting each said key movable independently of every other one of said keys and movable into contact with said circuit board;

a central processing unit;

said circuit board including means for forming key input signals in response to said keys contacting said circuit board;

multiplexing means connected to receive said key input signals from said circuit board, a voltage comparator circuit connected to receive said key input signals from said multiplexing means,

an analog to digital converter connected to said multiplexing means;

said central processing unit including a memory, means for sampling said voltage comparator circuit and responding to the presence of said key input signals to cause said key input signals to be converted to digital key input signals in said analog to digital converter, said digital key input signals being connected to said memory, each said digital key input signal being represented in said memory by a signal representing a musical note, and means outputting said digital key input signals to said synthesizer.

7. An electronic keyboard instrument comprising a keyboard,

a plurality of keys arranged in rows and columns on said keyboard;

a circuit board within said keyboard;

means for mounting each said key movable independently of every one of said keys and movable into contact with said circuit board;

a central processing unit;

said circuit board including means for forming key input signals in response to said keys contacting said circuit board;

multiplexing means connected to receive said key input signals from said circuit board;

a voltage comparator circuit connected to said multiplexing means to receive key input signals from said multiplexing means;

an analog to digital converter connected to said multiplexing means;

said central processing unit including means for sampling said voltage comparator circuit and responding to the presence of said key input signals to cause said key input signals to be converted to digital signals in said analog to digital converter, and means outputting said digital key input signals.

8. For use with a music synthesizer:

an electronic keyboard instrument comprising;

a fingerboard elongated in a first direction;

a plurality of keys arranged in rows and columns along said fingerboard, wherein the rows extend along the fingerboard in said first direction;

a circuit board within said fingerboard;

means for mounting each said key movable independently of every other one of said keys and movable into contact with said circuit board;

a central processing unit including means programming signals representing a plurality of musical instrumental formats;

a body attached to said fingerboard, a plurality of sensors carried on said body and connected to said central processing unit; and

means for selecting said key input signals from an arbitrary rectangular zone of said fingerboard and connecting said key input signals to a musical instrument format in said central processing unit such that actuation of any of said keys in said zone will cause said central processing unit to output MIDI signals relating said key input signals to said musical instrument format.

9. An electronic keyboard instrument as claim in claim 8 wherein a selected plurality of said keys are actuatable to produce a group of said key input signals representing a musical chord, one of said sensors is connectable to said group of key input signals such that a single actuation of said one of said sensors causes said central processing unit to provide a MIDI output signal representing said musical chord.

10. An electronic keyboard instrument as claimed in claim 8 wherein said selecting means further provides for selecting an additional arbitrary zone of said fingerboard and connecting said key input signals to a separate musical instrument format in said central processing unit such that actuation of any of said keys in the first said zone will cause said central processing unit to output MIDI signals in one musical instrument format and actuation of any of said keys in said other zone will cause said central processing unit to output MIDI signals in another musical instrument format.

11. An electronic keyboard instrument as claimed in claim 8 wherein switch means are provided for expanding said zone to the entire said fingerboard.

12. An electronic keyboard instrument as claimed in claim 10 wherein switch means are provided for expanding both said first named zone and said additional zone to the entire said fingerboard.

13. For use with a music synthesizer:

an electronic keyboard instrument comprising;

a fingerboard elongated in a first direction;

a plurality of keys arranged in rows and columns along said fingerboard, wherein the rows extend along the fingerboard in said first direction;

a circuit board within said fingerboard including means for forming key input signals in response to said keys contacting said circuit board, and means mounting each said key movable independently of every other one of said keys into contact with said circuit board;

a central processing unit including means programming signals representing a plurality of musical instrumental formats;

multiplexing means connected to receive said key input signals from said circuit board;

a voltage comparator circuit connected to said multiplexing means for receiving said key input signals and connected to said central processing unit;

an analog to digital converter connected to said multiplexing means and to said central processing unit;

said central processing unit including means for sampling said voltage comparator circuit and responding to the presence of said key input signals to cause said key input signals to be converted to digital signals in said analog to digital converter; and

means for selecting said key input signals from an arbitrary rectangular zone of said keyboard and connecting said key input signals to a musical instrument format in said central processing unit such that actuation of any of said keys in said zone will cause said central processing unit to output MIDI signals relating said key input signals to said musical instrument format.