Multimedia PC keyboard extended with music control keys

• US 6,351,225 B1
• Filed: 08/05/1999
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Enrique I. Moreno
• Original Assignee: Enrique I. Moreno
• Inventors: Moreno, Enrique I.
• Primary Examiner(s): EDWARDS JR, TIMOTHY
• Application Number:
  US09/369,228
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 341/22, 847/44, 847/45, 846/00, 345/168
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0066 using a MIDI interface
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/34 Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/231 Alphanumeric, used for musical purposes or with additional musical features, e.g. typewriter or pc-type keyboard reconfigured such that letters or symbols are assigned to musical notes

Abstract

A dual mode keyboard system with a modified keyboard arrangement allows PC users to have real-time control of MDI data. By toggling the keyboard system between a MIDI data input mode and an alphanumeric data input mode. The key board used in the current invention may either be a separate unit connected to a PC through a keyboard port or may be integrated as a single unit with PC hardware. The keyboard preferably has keys that are capable of operating in MIDI input mode and that are positioned at the top portion of the keyboard. The MIDI input keys are arranged to represent a keyboard instrument, such as a piano. The keyboard also has a MIDI control section for toggling between the MIDI input mode and the alphanumeric input mode, wherein the control section also has keys for choosing operating transposition octave levels of MIDI input keys. The keyboard is typically interfaced with the keyboard driver program and operating system or CPU of the PC. MIDI data inputted from the keyboard can directed through a sound card or music application software, before being played by and audio system or being sent to an external MIDI instrument. The dual mode keyboard system of the current invention provides for a simple and low cost alternative to current MIDI data manipulation systems.

Claims

1. A dual mode keyboard system for inputting MIDI data to a MIDI data processor and inputting alphanumeric data to an alphanumeric data processor, said keyboard system comprising:

a) an extended keyboard unit with data input keys for inputting key stroke data, wherein the extended keyboard comprises a lower section and an upper section, the lower section comprising an alpha typing section, a numeric typing section and a control section, the upper section comprising a row of function keys and an added row of keys, wherein the row of function keys act as white piano keys when in MIDI data input mode and act as function keys when in alphanumeric data input mode, and the added row of keys act as black piano keys when in MIDI data input mode;

b) a means for toggling said keyboard system between the alphanumeric data input mode and the MIDI data input mode; and

c) a keyboard interface driver program for translating keystroke data into alphanumeric data with said keyboard system in said alphanumeric data input mode and translating said keystroke data into MIDI data with said keyboard system in said MIDI data input mode.

2. The dual mode keyboard system of claim 1 wherein said data input keys are interfaced with a extended interruption matrix housed within said keyboard unit and wherein depressing said data input keys generate said key stroke data.

3. The dual mode keyboard system of claim 1 wherein said row of function keys comprises twenty-two keys and said added row of keys comprises fifteen keys.

4. The dual mode keyboard system of claim 3 wherein said row of function keys comprises light colored keys and said added row of keys comprises dark colored keys, wherein said dark colored keys partially overlap said light colored keys to give the appearance of a piano keyboard.

5. The dual mode keyboard system of claim 1 wherein said MIDI data processor further comprises:

a) a microprocessor in communication with said keyboard driver program; and

b) an audio nprocessing unit capable of producing audio sound from MIDI data.

6. The dual mode keyboard system of claim 5 wherein said audio processing unit is selected from the group consisting of a sound card and a sound chip.

7. The dual mode keyboard system of claim 5 wherein said MIDI data processor comprises

a) a MIDI software program for editing MIDI data;

and

b) a means for displaying MIDI data.

8. The dual mode keyboard system of claim 1 wherein said means for toggling between said alphanumeric data input mode and said MIDI data input mode is a MIDI lock key that toggles between said alphanumeric data input mode and said MIDI data input mode with each depression of said MIDI lock key.

9. The dual mode keyboard system of claim 8 wherein said MIDI lock key is positioned within said control section.

10. The dual mode keyboard system of claim 9 wherein said control section further comprises a light display that illuminates when said dual mode keyboard system is in said MIDI data input mode.

11. The dual mode keyboard system of claim 10, further comprises a means for changing an indicated operating transposition octave level within a range of octave levels while said dual mode keyboard system is in said MIDI data input mode.

12. The dual mode keyboard system of claim 11 wherein said means for changing said indicated operating transposition octave level within said range of octave levels comprises at least two scroll keys positioned within said control section, wherein one of said at least two scroll keys increases said indicated operating transposition octave level and a second of said at least two scroll keys reduces said indicted operating transposition octave level.

13. The dual mode keyboard system of claim 12 wherein said range of octave levels is indicted in a section of said light display with labels −

4 to +4.