Device for composing and arranging music

• US 6,525,252 B1
• Filed: 02/26/2002
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Innoplay APS
• Original Assignee: Innoplay APS
• Inventors: Klausen, Ulrich, Brodersen, Bertel Kragelund, Harding, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Witkowski, Stanley J.
• Application Number:
  US09/980,683
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 846/00, 846/44, 846/70, 847/18--21, 847/43--46, 84D/IG.7, 844/77.R, 844/78, 844/79.R, 844/79.A, 84D/IG.6
• US Class Current: 84/600
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0025 Automatic or semi-automatic music composition, e.g. producing random music, applying rules from music theory or modifying a musical piece automatically producing a series of tones G10H1/26
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0083 using wireless transmission, e.g. radio, light, infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/32 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/245 ISDN [Integrated Services Digital Network]
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/305 Internet or TCP/IP protocol use for any electrophonic musical instrument data or musical parameter transmission purposes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 84/06 Cathode-ray tube

Abstract

A device for composing and arranging music comprising a sensor part and a plurality of blocks which may be releasably connected to the sensor part. A distribution of blocks, each belonging to one of a number of sub-populations of blocks on the sensor part, represents a composition or arrangement comprising musical features being dependant upon the sub-population(s) and the position of the block(s). Further, a device for building an instrument using blocks having activating means for activating the musical features of the block(s). The device may be used as an educational toy being easy to use for e.g. children. The device may be connected to a computer and to a global computer network so as to enable the device to communicate with other similar devices.

Claims

1. A device for composing and arranging music comprising

a sensor device having a plurality of receiving positions arranged in a two-dimensional array of which one dimension represents a temporal domain of the music,

a plurality of blocks each being suitable for being releasably arranged at each of the receiving positions, each of the blocks belonging to one of a plurality of sub populations of blocks and having features being detectable by detecting means for detecting to which of the plurality of sub-populations of blocks a block arranged at a receiving position belongs as well as the position of said receiving position and for producing an output accordingly, wherein each block represents a predetermined musical feature, said representation being dependant upon the sub-population to which the block belongs as well as the position of the block on the sensor device along the second dimension of the two-dimensional array, the device further comprising

play-back means for playing music according to the detected positions and features of the block(s) arranged at the sensor device as well as according to the predetermined musical features.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means are arranged on the sensor device at each receiving station.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the play-back means form a part of the sensor device.

4. A device according to claim 1, further comprising recording means for recording and storing music according to the detected positions and features of the block(s) arranged at the sensor device as well as according to the predetermined musical features.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein different positions along the second dimension of the two-dimensional array represent different musical instruments.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined features represented by each block is defined for each composition or arrangement of music.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined features of at least some of the blocks are globally determined, and wherein the removal of a certain block results in the removal of the corresponding musical feature from the composition or arrangement.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means comprises means for detecting the resistance of a resistor, the resistance of which being significant of the sub-population to which the block belongs.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device is suitable for being releasably connected to another substantially identical sensor device, so as to allow for an extension of the sensor device in at least one of the two dimensions.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein each block is suitable for being releasably connected to at least one other block, so that two or more blocks may be positioned at the same receiving position.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the presence of two or more blocks at the same receiving position represents an increase in the volume of the predetermined musical feature.

12. A device according to claim 1, further comprising data communication means for establishing a temporary or permanent connection to an external computer device.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the external computer device is adapted for converting the musical features represented by the blocks on the sensor device into a graphical presentation of the musical features, the graphical presentation being presented by presenting means connected to the external computer device.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the presenting means comprises a monitor.

15. A device according to claim 13, wherein the presenting means comprises a printing device.

16. A device according to claim 12, wherein the external computer device is adapted for being at least temporarily connected to a global computer network.

17. A device according to claim 16, wherein the sensor device is adapted for communicating with another substantially identical sensor device via the global computer network.

18. A device according to claim 1, wherein the produced output is an electrical signal.

19. A device according to claim 1, wherein the produced output is an electromagnetic signal.

20. A device for composing and arranging music comprising

a sensor device,

a plurality of blocks each belonging to one of a plurality of sub-populations of blocks and having features being detectable by detecting means arranged at the sensor device for detecting to which of the plurality of sub-populations of blocks a block being connected to said sensor device belongs and for producing an output accordingly, each block being suitable for being releasably connected to at least one other block,

at least one connecting part for connecting one or more blocks to the sensor device, so as to transfer information relating to the block(s) from the block(s) to the sensor device, wherein each block represents a predetermined musical feature, said representation being dependant upon the sub-population to which the block belongs and each block comprises activating means, the device further comprising

play-back means for playing music according to the detected features of the block(s) connected to the sensor device as well as according to the predetermined musical features.

21. A device according to claim 20, wherein two or more blocks being connected to each other and to the sensor device constitutes a musical instrument, each block representing a key of the instrument, the key being activated when the activating means of the corresponding block is activated.

22. A device according to claim 20, further comprising data communication means for establishing a temporary or permanent connection to an external computer device.

23. A device according to claim 22, wherein the external computer device is adapted for converting the musical features represented by the blocks connected to the sensor device into a graphical presentation of the musical features, the graphical presentation being presented by presenting means connected to the external computer device.

24. A device according to claim 23, wherein the presenting means comprises a monitor.

25. A device according to claim 23, wherein the presenting means comprises a printing device.

26. A device according to claim 22, wherein the external computer device is adapted for being at least temporarily connected to a global computer network.

27. A device according to claim 26, wherein the sensor device is adapted for communicating with another substantially identical sensor device via the global computer network.

28. A device according to claim 20, wherein the produced output is an electrical signal.

29. A device according to claim 20, wherein the produced output is an electromagnetic signal.