Electronic tone generation system and batons therefor
First Claim
1. A baton for cooperation with an electronic tone generation system to produce different audible sounds in response to different movements of the baton, comprising:
- a housing having an end portion grippable by a user'"'"'s hand for movement in a plane between at least a first free position and a second position;
a motion sensor carried in said housing a spaced distance from said end portion for producing an electromagnetic signal in response to said movements; and
a signal processor carried in said housing for cooperating with said motion sensor to produce a transmittable play signal corresponding to movement of the baton to said first position and a transmittable mute signal corresponding to movement to said second position;
said transmittable play signal corresponding to a sound made by a musical instrument, and said transmittable mute signal corresponding to a sound made by a musical instrument when muted;
whereby the user is able to produce either full or muted sounds by moving the baton between said first and second positions.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic tone generation system including a plurality of separate, portable, handheld transmitters, or batons, that are provided as “instruments” to numerous players to form a choir. Each baton is activated by one of the players to send a signal, preferably a wireless signal, to a single receiver which produces an output signal fed to a tone generator, preferably a MIDI tone generator, which produces audible sounds via an amplifier and speakers. For example, the batons can correspond to different musical notes as played by a selected musical instrument and the batons can be played in concert by the choir to produce a musical or other audible presentation. Alternatively, selected batons can be designated to play in one voice, while others batons are set to play other voices.
29 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A baton for cooperation with an electronic tone generation system to produce different audible sounds in response to different movements of the baton, comprising:
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a housing having an end portion grippable by a user'"'"'s hand for movement in a plane between at least a first free position and a second position; a motion sensor carried in said housing a spaced distance from said end portion for producing an electromagnetic signal in response to said movements; and a signal processor carried in said housing for cooperating with said motion sensor to produce a transmittable play signal corresponding to movement of the baton to said first position and a transmittable mute signal corresponding to movement to said second position; said transmittable play signal corresponding to a sound made by a musical instrument, and said transmittable mute signal corresponding to a sound made by a musical instrument when muted; whereby the user is able to produce either full or muted sounds by moving the baton between said first and second positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A baton for cooperation with an electronic tone generation system to produce different audible sounds in response to different movements of the baton, comprising:
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a housing having an end portion grippable by a user'"'"'s hand for movement in a plane between at least a first free position and a second surface engaging position; a motion sensor carried in said housing a spaced distance from said end portion for producing an electromagnetic signal in response to said movements, said motion sensor being a piezoelectric reed mounted in said housing to flex about an axis transverse to said plane of movement; a signal processor carried in said housing for cooperating with said motion sensor to produce a transmittable play signal corresponding to movement of the baton to said first position and a transmittable mute signal corresponding to movement to said second position, said motion sensor and signal processor cooperating to permit the baton to produce said transmittable play signal only when said baton is moved substantially in said plane of movement; and visible indicia carried on said housing for providing the user with information on proper orientation of the baton with its desired plane of movement; said transmittable play signal corresponds to a sound made by a musical instrument, and said transmittable mute signal corresponds to a sound made by a musical instrument when muted; whereby the user is able to produce either full or muted sounds by moving the baton between said first and second positions.
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9. A wireless handheld baton for communicating with a receiver of an electronic tone generation system that produces audible sounds in response to movements of the baton, comprising:
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a housing having a grippable end portion; a motion sensor carried in said housing a spaced distance from said end portion for generating an electromagnetic waveform signal in response to movements of the baton, said motion sensor generating waveforms of different shapes that are produced as a function of baton orientation and direction of movement; and a signal processor and transmitter carried in said housing for receiving said electromagnetic waveform signal from said motion sensor and for selectively transmitting a wireless electromagnetic signal from the baton to the receiver of the electronic tone generation system to produce an audible sound only when said electromagnetic waveform signal is within a predetermined range of waveform shapes, said produced audible sound corresponding to a sound made by a musical instrument; said transmitter also being adapted to transmit a mute signal to the receiver to alter said audible sound to that corresponding to a sound made by a musical instrument when muted. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An electronic tone generation system, comprising:
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a plurality of separate handheld batons each capable of wireless communication with a receiver that generates an output signal; said batons each having a housing with a grippable end portion and a motion sensor carried in said housing a spaced distance from said end portion, said motion sensor generating an electromagnetic waveform signal having alternating polarity in response to movements of the baton, said motion sensor generating different waveforms depending upon baton orientation and direction of movement; and said batons each having a signal processor and transmitter carried in said housing for receiving said electromagnetic waveform signal from said motion sensor and for selectively effecting said wireless transmission to said receiver to produce an audible sound only when a section of said electromagnetic waveform signal has a predetermined polarity and extends above a first threshold value for at least a predetermined period of time, said produced audible sound corresponding to a sound made by a musical instrument; each of said transmitters also being adapted to transmit a mute signal to the receiver to alter said audible sound to that corresponding to a sound made by a musical instrument when muted. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification