Electronic musical instrument connected to computer keyboard

• US 6,979,768 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2000
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Ito, Shinichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Fletcher, Marlon T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Warren, David S.
• Application Number:
  US09/514,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20030177891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,129 Days
• Field of Search: 84600-607, 84615-620, 846/45, 844/77.R, 844/78
• US Class Current: 84/615
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0066 using a MIDI interface

Abstract

An electronic musical instrument is provided which enables various settings to be carried out quickly and easily. The electronic musical instrument is provided with at least one connection terminal for connection with a keyboard for use in a computer, and a connection interface for connecting the keyboard to the electronic musical instrument. Operation information input from the operation panel of the musical instrument is replaced by operation information input from the keyboard connected to the electronic musical instrument via the connection terminal and the connection interface.

Claims

1. An electronic musical instrument comprising:

an operation panel that is operated by a user;

at least one connection terminal connectable with a keyboard originally designed for use in a computer, said keyboard having a plurality of key regions each including a plurality of keys;

a first connection interface for use as a MIDI interface;

a second connection interface for connecting said keyboard directly to said electronic musical instrument;

a first assigning device that assigns function modules respectively to the key regions of said keyboard connected via said connection terminal and said second connection interface;

a second assignment device that assigns characters, symbols, or numerical values respectively to the keys of said keyboard connected to said electronic musical instrument; and

an execution device that is responsive to operation of any of the key regions of said keyboard, for executing a function corresponding to one of the function modules assigned to the operated key region;

wherein said execution device causes an operated key to input a character, a symbol, or a numerical value assigned to the operated key, and

wherein when one of the function modules is assigned to the operated key region, said execution device causes the input character, the input symbol or the input numerical value to be delivered to the function module assigned to the operated key region.

2. An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a third assignment device that specifies key arrangements of said keyboard connected to said electronic musical instrument by selecting a template, and wherein the key arrangements of said keyboard are specified by using at least one of said second assignment device and said third assignment device.

3. An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connection terminal is provided on a front face of said electronic musical instrument.