String-plucking type electronic musical instrument with photo sensor for generating signal for sound

• US 6,444,887 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Namco Limited (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Hiraoka, Tadashi, Kubota, Isamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Witkowski, Stanley J.
• Application Number:
  US09/831,728
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 847/24, 846/00, 846/46, 847/22, 844/64.R, 844/64.A, 844/77.R, 844/78, 84D/IG.30
• US Class Current: 84/600
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/04 with sound emitters

Abstract

An electronic musical instrument of the string-plucking type which does not create a large time lag from when the musical instrument is operated until when the sound is produced, and does not cause a detection mechanism to become complex. A photo sensor (11) for being operated by a player is provided in a main body (10) that is formed in a shape resembling a string-plucking musical instrument. The photo sensor (11) generates a signal for producing sound when the light emitted from a light-emitting unit (11a) to a light-receiving unit (11b) is not detected by the light-receiving unit (11b). A detection signal from the photo sensor (11) needs not be put to the conversion processing, and the time can be shortened from when the musical instrument is operated until when the sound is produced. Since light is used, the constitution of the detection mechanism does not become complex.

Claims

1. An electronic musical instrument comprising:

a main body formed in a shape resembling a string-plucking musical instrument,

a photo sensor provided at the main body to be operated by a player and having a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit for receiving light emitted from the light-emitting unit, said photo sensor generating a signal for producing a sound when the light emitted from the light-emitting unit toward the light-receiving unit is not detected by the light-receiving unit,

an indication device provided at the main body and being located along a path of the light of the photo sensor to allow the player to notice a position of operation, and

a light-emitting device provided at the main body and electrically connected to the light-receiving unit to indicate whether or not the light-receiving unit detects the light from the light-emitting unit by emitting or not emitting light.

2. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein said indicating device is formed of a light-transmitting material to pass through the light from the light-emitting device.

3. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein said indication device is formed of a touch-sensing protuberance or dent to provide an operation feeling to the player.

4. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of sets of the photo sensors and indication devices, each set being formed of one photo sensor and one indication device, is formed on the main body, said light-emitting device indicating whether or not the light-receiving unit in each set detects the light from the light-emitting unit.

5. An electronic musical instrument comprising:

a main body formed in a shape resembling a string-plucking musical instrument,

a photo sensor provided at the main body to be operated by a player and having a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit for receiving light emitted from the light-emitting unit, said photo sensor generating a signal for producing a sound when the light emitted from the light-emitting unit toward the light receiving unit is not detected by the light-receiving unit,

an indication device provided at the main body and being located along a path of the light of the photo sensor to allow the player to notice a position of operation, and

a light-emitting device provided at the main body and electrically connected to the light-receiving unit to provide at least two colors, said light-emitting device indicating whether or not the light-receiving unit detects the light from the light-emitting unit by changing the color of emitting light.

6. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 5, wherein said indicating device is formed of a light-transmitting material to pass through the light from the light-emitting device.

7. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 5, wherein said indication device is formed of a touch-sensing protuberance or dent to provide an operation feeling to the player.

8. An electronic musical instrument comprising:

a main body formed in a shape resembling a string-plucking musical instrument,

a photo sensor provided in the main body to be operated by a player and having a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit for receiving light emitted from the light-emitting unit, said photo sensor generating a signal for producing a sound when the light emitted from the light-emitting unit toward the light receiving unit is not detected by the light-receiving unit,

an indication device provided at the main body and formed along a path of the light of the photo sensor to indicate a position of operation to the player, and

a vibration-generation device provided on the main body at a position where the player touches, said vibration-generation device being electrically connected to the light-receiving unit to indicate whether or not the light-receiving unit detects light.

9. An electronic musical instrument according to claim 8, wherein said indication device is formed of a touch-sensing protuberance or dent to provide an operation feeling to the player.