Karaoke monitor excluding unnecessary information from display during play time

• US 5,631,433 A
• Filed: 11/06/1995
• Issued: 05/20/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Iida, Toshiya, Kato, Hirokazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLETCHER, MARLON T
• Application Number:
  US08/553,887
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 84/609, 84/610, 84/611, 84/612, 84/613, 84/614, 84/634, 84/635, 84/636, 84/477 R, 84/DIG. 6, 348/705, 348/706, 434/307 A
• US Class Current: 84/610
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/361 Recording/reproducing of accompaniment for use with an external source, e.g. karaoke systems
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/011 Lyrics displays, e.g. for karaoke applications
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/245 ISDN [Integrated Services Digital Network]

Abstract

A karaoke apparatus sounds a karaoke accompaniment and displays visual information to perform karaoke play. An audio generator responds to a request for generating an audio signal. A sound component is switchable from an inactive state to an active state for receiving the audio signal to sound a karaoke accompaniment corresponding to the request. A video generator having a plurality of channels generates a plurality of video signals which represent visual information containing various items assigned differently to the representative channels. A channel selector switches the channels to select an adequate video signal so as to control the visual information. A monitor receives the selected video signal for displaying the visual information such that the displayed visual information includes a necessary item and excludes an unnecessary item for the karaoke play at least under the active state of the sound component.

Claims

1. A karaoke apparatus for sounding a karaoke accompaniment and displaying visual images of a karaoke performance, the karaoke apparatus comprising:

an audio generating device responsive to a request for generating an audio signal;

a sound device switchable from an inactive state to an active state for receiving the audio signal to provide a karaoke accompaniment corresponding to the request;

a video gathering device having a plurality of channels for generating a plurality of video signals, each of the video signals representing visual information to be transmitted through a corresponding channel, the visual information including at least a plurality of service items and a plurality of lyric items for the karaoke performance;

a channel selector device for selecting one of the plurality of channels; and

a monitor receptive of the selected channel for displaying images based upon the visual information corresponding to the selected channel such that, while the sound device is in the active state, the displayed image is based upon at least one of the lyric items exclusive of at least one of the service items, wherein

the channel selector device includes a first section operative when the sound device is in the inactive state for selecting a first video signal representative of visual information including the at least one service item and a second section operative when the sound device is in the active state for selecting a second video signal representative of visual information including the at least one lyric item exclusive of the at least one service item, whereby

the monitor displays the visual information including a necessary lyric item and excludes an unnecessary service item under the active state of the sound device.

2. A karaoke apparatus for sounding a karaoke accompaniment and displaying visual images in a karaoke performance, the karaoke apparatus comprising:

an audio generating device responsive to a request for generating an audio signal;

a sound device switchable from an inactive state to an active state for receiving the audio signal to provide a karaoke accompaniment corresponding to the request;

a video generating device having a plurality of channels for generating a plurality of video signals, each of the video signals representing visual information to be transmitted through a corresponding channel, the visual information including at least a plurality of service items and a plurality of lyric items for the karaoke performance;

a channel selector device for selecting one of the plurality of channels; and

a monitor receptive of the selected channel for displaying images based upon the visual information corresponding to the selected channel such that, while the sound device is in the active state, the displayed image is based upon at least one of the lyric items exclusive of at least one of the service items, wherein

the channel selector device includes a first section operative when the sound device is in the inactive state for selecting a first video signal representative of visual information including the at least one service item and a second section operative when the sound device is in the active state for selecting a second video signal representative of visual information including the at least one lyric item exclusive of the at least one service item, and wherein

the first section comprises logic for selecting the first video signal representative of visual information including the at least one service item, the at least one service item prescribing an entry order of requested karaoke accompaniments, whereby

the monitor displays the visual information including a necessary lyric item and excludes an unnecessary service item under the active state of the sound device.

3. A karaoke apparatus for sounding a karaoke accompaniment and displaying visual images in a karaoke performance, the karaoke apparatus comprising:

an audio generating device responsive to a request for generating an audio signal;

a sound device switchable from an inactive state to an active state for receiving the audio signal to provide a karaoke accompaniment corresponding to the request;

a video generating device having a plurality of channels for generating a plurality of video signals, each of the video signals representing visual information to be transmitted through a corresponding channel, the visual information corresponding to each channel having a plurality of items;

a channel selector device for selecting one of the plurality of channels;

a first monitor having a first purpose and being receptive of the selected channel for displaying images based upon the visual information corresponding to the selected channel such that, while the sound device is in an active state, the displayed image is based upon at least one necessary item exclusive of at least one unnecessary item; and

a second monitor having a second purpose different from the first purpose of the first monitor, wherein

the channel selector device further includes logic for independently selecting different audio signals for the first monitor and the second monitor according to the respective first and second purposes of the first and second monitors.

4. A karaoke apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first monitor is viewable by a performance member and the second monitor is viewable by audience members, and the channel selector device further comprises:

logic for selecting a first video signal representative of visual information including a service item such that the first video signal is fed to the second monitor; and

logic for selecting a second video signal representative of visual information including a lyric item such that the second video signal is fed to the first monitor.

5. A karaoke apparatus for sounding a karaoke accompaniment and displaying visual images in a karaoke performance, the karaoke apparatus comprising:

an audio generating device responsive to a request for generating an audio signal;

a sound device switchable from an inactive state to an active state for receiving the audio signal to provide a karaoke accompaniment corresponding to the request;

a video generating device having a plurality of channels for generating a plurality of video signals, each of the video signals representing visual information to be transmitted through a corresponding channel, the visual information corresponding to each channel having a plurality of items;

a channel selector device for selecting one of the plurality of channels; and

a first monitor having a first purpose and being receptive of the selected channel for displaying images based upon the visual information corresponding to the selected channel such that, while the sound device in the active state, the displayed image is based upon at least a necessary item exclusive of at least one unnecessary item, wherein

the channel selector device is connectable to a second monitor having a second purpose different from the first purpose of the first monitor, and wherein the channel selector device further includes logic for independently selecting different audio signals for the first monitor and the second monitor according to the respective first and second purposes of the first and second monitors.