Tone generation controlling system

• US 6,897,779 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2002
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Usa, Satoshi, Miki, Akira, Kobayashi, Eiko, Nishitani, Yoshiki
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US10/082,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20020126014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/384.7, 340/540, 340/384.3, 846/00, 846/58, 847/18
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0083 using wireless transmission, e.g. radio, light, infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/401 3D sensing, i.e. three-dimensional (x, y, z) position or movement sensing. movement pattern or gesture sensing G10H2220/201; geolocation sensing G10H2220/355, 3D sensing with accelerometer G10H2220/395
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/056 MIDI or other note-oriented file format

Abstract

A tone generating system 100 has a motion detection terminal 11 and a tone producing device. The Motion detection terminal 11 has a motion sensor MS which is attached to the back of a hand, and transmitting unit 11a. The Motion sensor MS detects a torsional motion of the hand to which it is attached. The Transmitting unit 11a transmits motion information on the torsional motion. A Tone producing device 10 receives the motion information, generates control information based on the motion information, and produces a tone on the basis of the control information.

Claims

1. A tone generation controlling system comprising:

a detector that detects an arrangement state of a musical instrument;

an information generator that generates, on the basis of the detected arrangement state of the musical instrument, control information for controlling a tone; and

a tone generator that picks up a tone generated by the musical instrument, converts the tone into a tone signal, and controls the tone signal on the basis of the generated control information, to thereby generate a tone on the basis of the controlled tone signal.

2. A tone signal generator adapted for a tone generation controlling system, said system including said tone signal generator and a terminal, said tone signal generator comprising:

a receiver that receives a plurality of motion parameters which are detected by said terminal, each of the plurality of motion parameters corresponding to an axial component of torsional hand motion of a user of said terminal;

a determining unit that determines a tone parameter on the basis of a combination of the plurality of motion parameters; and

a tone generator that generates a tone signal on the basis of the determined tone parameter.

3. The tone signal generator of claim 2, wherein the tone parameter represents any of pitch, timbre, timing, effect, tempo, and volume.

4. The tone signal generator of claim 2, wherein said terminal is used by being attached to a user'"'"'s back of hand or being held by the user.

5. The tone signal generator of claim 2, wherein:

the plurality of motion parameters are obtained by an inclination sensor provided at said terminal; and

each the plurality of motion parameters corresponds to an axial component of inclination of the user'"'"'s hand.

6. The tone signal generator of claim 2, wherein:

the plurality of motion parameters are obtained by a distortion gauge provided at said terminal; and

each of the plurality of motion parameters corresponds to an axial component of distortion of said terminal.

7. The tone signal generator of claim 2, wherein the tone parameter is determined referring to a table, in which the plurality of motion parameters and the tone parameter are stored, correspondingly.

8. The tone signal generator of claim 2, wherein the tone parameter and the plurality of motion parameters stored in a table can be changed by the user.

9. A terminal adapted for a tone generation controlling system, said system including a tone generator and a terminal, said terminal comprising:

a detector that obtains a plurality of motion parameters, said detector attached to the back of a user'"'"'s hand, and each of the plurality of motion parameters corresponding to an axial component of torsional hand motion of a user of said terminal;

a transmitter that transmits the plurality of motion parameters to said tone generator, to thereby generate a tone signal on the basis of a combination of the plurality of motion parameters.

10. A terminal adapted for a tone generation controlling system, said system including said terminal and a tone generator, said terminal comprising:

a displacement unit to be held by a user of said terminal, said displacement unit being capable of being torsionally displaced;

an obtaining unit that obtains displacement information on a plurality of strain parameters, each of which corresponds to an axial component of displacement of said terminal; and

a transmitter that transmits the displacement information to said tone generator, to thereby generate a tone signal on the basis of the information.

11. A terminal adapted for a tone generation controlling system, said system including said terminal and a tone generator, said terminal comprising:

an internal fixed unit;

an external handlebar to be gripped by a user of said terminal, said external handlebar being provided outside said internal fixed unit, and said handlebar being capable of rotating about said internal fixed unit;

a detector that obtains rotational motion information showing an amount of rotational motion of said handlebar; and

a transmitter that transmits the rotational motion information to said tone generator, to thereby generate a tone signal on the basis of the information.

12. A detecting device comprising:

an inclination sensor that obtains information on inclination of a musical instrument, the sensor being attached to the musical instrument, the information including a plurality of inclination parameters, each of which corresponds to an axial component of the inclination of the musical instrument; and

a transmitter that transmits the inclination information to a tone generator that generates a tone according to a user'"'"'s performance of the musical instrument, to thereby control the tone generated by the tone generator on the basis of the inclination information.

13. A tone generator comprising:

a generator that generates a tone of a musical instrument played by a user;

a receiver that receives inclination information on the musical instrument, the inclination information including a plurality of inclination parameters, each of which corresponds to an axial component of the inclination of the musical instrument, the inclination information transmitted by a detecting device attached to the musical instrument; and

a controller that controls a tone on the basis of the received inclination information.

14. The tone generator of claim 13, wherein said controller controls an amplification factor or tempo, which are used in said generator, on the basis of the inclination information.

15. A method for generating a tone in a tone generation controlling system, said system including a tone generator and a terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, in said tone generator, a plurality of motion parameters which are detected by said terminal, each of the plurality of motion parameters corresponding to an axial component of torsional hand motion of a user of said terminal;

determining, in said tone generator, a tone parameter on the basis of a combination of the plurality of motion parameters; and

generating, in said tone generator, a tone signal on the basis of the determined tone parameter.

16. A method for obtaining information for generating a tone in a tone generation controlling system, said system including a tone generator and a terminal, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining, in said terminal, a plurality of motion parameters from a detecting device, the device attached to the back of the users hand, and each of the plurality of motion parameters corresponding an axial component of the torsional hand motion of a user of said terminal; and

transmitting the plurality of motion parameters from said terminal to said tone generator, to thereby generate a tone on the basis of a combination of the plurality of the motion parameters.

17. A method for obtaining information for generating a tone in a generation controlling system, said system including a terminal and a tone generator, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining, in said terminal, displacement information on a plurality of strain parameters, each of which corresponds to an axial component of displacement of a displacement unit provided at said terminal, the displacement unit being capable of being torsionally displaced, and the displacement unit held by a user of the terminal; and

transmitting the displacement information from said terminal to said tone generator, to thereby generate a tone signal on the basis of the information.

18. A method for obtaining information for generating a tone in a tone generation controlling system, said system including a terminal and a tone generator, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining, in said terminal, rotational motion information showing an amount of rotational motion of a handlebar, the handlebar being provided outside an internal fixed unit, and the handlebar being capable of rotating about said internal fixed unit; and

transmitting the rotational motion information from said terminal to said tone generator, to thereby generate a tone signal on the basis of the information.

19. A method for obtaining information for controlling a tone of a musical instrument, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining, by a sensor provided at a terminal, information on inclination of the musical instrument, the sensor being attached to the musical instrument, the information including a plurality of inclination parameters, each of which corresponds to an axial component of the inclination; and

transmitting the information from said terminal to a tone generator that generates a tone according to a user'"'"'s performance of the musical instrument, to thereby control a tone on the basis of the information.

20. A method for controlling a tone by a tone generator, according to a user'"'"'s performance of a musical instrument, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a tone according to a user'"'"'s performance of the musical instrument;

receiving, from a detecting device attached to the musical instrument, information on inclination of the musical instrument, the information including a plurality of inclination parameters, each of which corresponds to an axial component of the inclination; and

controlling a tone on the basis of the received information.