Performance apparatus and tone generation method using the performance apparatus

• US 7,342,164 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Nishibori, Yu, Iwai, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan; Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLIKIN, ANDREW R
• Application Number:
  US11/495,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20070022865A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 846/01, 846/02, 846/03, 846/04, 844/64.A, 844/64.R, 847/44, 847/45
• US Class Current: 84/464.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0016 Means for indicating which keys, frets or strings are to be actuated, e.g. using lights or leds
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/34 Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/026 associated with a key or other user input device, e.g. key indicator lights
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/161 with 2D or x/y surface coordinates sensing graphical user interface or touchscreen input G10H2220/091; microtonal keyboard G10H2210/401
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/221 Keyboards, i.e. configuration of several keys or key-like input devices relative to one another details of individual keys or key-like devices G10H2220/265; continuous keyboards or keyboards implementing specific musical scales, e.g. quartertone G10H2210/395; switch matrix keyboards, e.g. on guitar necks G10H2220/295
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/236 representing an active musical staff or tablature, i.e. with key-like position sensing at the expected note positions on the staff active keyboard representation on a touchscreen G10H2220/241
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/295 Switch matrix, e.g. contact array common to several keys, the actuated keys being identified by the rows and columns in contact

Abstract

Key switches are arranged to form plural rows, and light emitting elements are provided in corresponding relation to the key switches. For each of the rows, any operated key switch is detected, and, on the basis of such detection, the light emitting elements are sequentially illuminated so that an illuminated position reciprocates between the operated key switch and the key switch located at a predetermined position of the row the operated key switch belongs to. In synchronism with illumination of the key switch located at a predetermined position of the row, at least one of tones allocated to the row is generated. When duration of operation of the operated key switch is greater than a predetermined time, the light emitting elements located in a predetermined range may be illuminated in accordance with a predetermined pattern, and an effect may be imparted to a tone corresponding to the operated key switch.

Claims

1. A performance apparatus comprising:

a plurality of key switches arranged in a plurality of key switch rows;

a plurality of light emitting elements provided in corresponding relation to the key switches;

a detection section that detects an operated key switch for each of the key switch rows;

a light emission control section that sequentially illuminates the light emitting elements, on the basis of detection by said detection section, in such a manner that an illuminated position reciprocates between the operated key switch and the key switch located at a first predetermined position in the same key switch row of the operated key switch; and

a tone generation section that generates at least one of tones allocated to the key switch row when the key switch located at a second predetermined position in the same key switch row of the operated key switch is illuminated.

2. The performance apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the key switch located at the first predetermined position is the key switch located at one end of the same key switch row of the operated key switch, and the key switch located at the second predetermined position is at least one of the key switch located at the one end of the same key switch row of the operated key switch or the operated key switch.

3. The performance apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein tones are allocated to individual ones of the key switches, and said tone generation section generates the tone allocated to the operated key switch.

4. The performance apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a stoppage control section that, in response to operation of the key switch located at a third predetermined position in the same key switch row of the operated key switch, stops sequential illumination, by said light emission control section, of the same key switch row of the operated key switch and also stops tone generation, by said tone generation section, associated with the same key switch row of the operated key switch.

5. The performance apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the key switch located at the third predetermined position is the key switch at one end of the same key switch row of the operated key switch.

6. The performance apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light emission control section sequentially switches the light emitting element to be illuminated from one light emitting element to another so that an illuminated position reciprocates between the operated key switch and the key switch located at one end of the same key switch row of the operated key switch.

7. The performance apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a moving velocity at which said light emission control section sequentially illuminates the light emitting elements is settable and changeable.

8. The performance apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the moving velocity at which said light emission control section sequentially illuminates the light emitting elements is settable and changeable for each of the key switch rows.

9. The performance apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, for each of the key switch rows, said light emission control section starts sequentially illuminating the light emitting elements of the key switch row at a time point when operation of any one of the key switches of the key switch row has been detected by said detection section.

10. A method of generating a tone with a performance apparatus that includes a plurality of key switches arranged in a plurality of key switch rows, and a plurality of light emitting elements provided in corresponding relation to the key switches, said method comprising:

a step of detecting an operated key switch for each of the key switch rows;

an illumination step of, on the basis of detection in the detecting step, sequentially illuminating the light emitting elements in such a manner that an illuminated position reciprocates between the operated key switch and the key switch located at a first predetermined position in the same key switch row of the operated key switch; and

a tone generation step of generating at least one of tones allocated to the same key switch row of the operated key switch when the key switch located at a second predetermined position in the same key switch row of the operated key switch is illuminated.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the key switch located at the first predetermined position is the key switch located at one end of the same key switch row of the operated key switch, and the key switch located at the second predetermined position is at least one of the key switch located at the one end of the same key switch row of the operated key switch or the operated key switch.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein tones are allocated to individual ones of the key switches, and said tone generation step generates the tone allocated to the operated key switch.

13. A computer-readable medium storing a computer program for controlling a performance apparatus that includes a plurality of key switches arranged in a plurality of key switch rows, and a plurality of light emitting elements provided in corresponding relation to the key switches, the program including:

a detecting instruction for detecting an operated key switch for each of the key switch rows;

an illumination instruction for, on the basis of the detection made in the detecting instruction, sequentially illuminating the light emitting elements in such a manner that an illuminated position reciprocates between the operated key switch and the key switch located at a first predetermined position in the same key switch row of the operated key switch; and

a tone generation instruction for generating at least one of tones allocated to the same key switch row of the operated key switch when the key switch located at a second predetermined position in the same key switch row of the operated key switch row is illuminated.

14. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 13, wherein the key switch located at the first predetermined position is the key switch located at one end of the same key switch row of the operated key switch, and the key switch located at the second predetermined position is at least one of the key switch located at the one end of the same key switch row of the operated key switch or the operated key.

15. The computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 13, wherein tones are allocated to individual ones of the key switches, and the tone generation instruction instructs to generate the tone allocated to the operated key switch.

16. A performance apparatus comprising:

a plurality of key switches provided at a plurality of predetermined positions;

a plurality of light emitting elements provided in corresponding relation to the positions where said plurality of key switches are provided;

a detection section that detects duration of operation of a key switch having being operated among said plurality of key switches;

a light emission control section that, in accordance with the duration of operation detected by said detection section, controls light emission of the light emitting elements located in a predetermined key-switch-arranged range including the operated key switch; and

a tone generation section that generates a tone, corresponding to the operated key switch, after imparting the tone with an effect corresponding to the detected duration of operation,

wherein when the duration of operation detected by said detection section is greater than a predetermined time, said light emission control section controls light emission of two or more of said light emitting elements, located in the predetermined key-switch-arranged range including the operated key switch, in accordance with a predetermined pattern, and

wherein said pattern includes switching of the light emitting element to be illuminated from one light emitting element to another in accordance with passage of time.

17. A method of controlling a performance apparatus that includes a plurality of key switches provided at a plurality of predetermined positions, a plurality of light emitting elements provided in corresponding relation to the positions where the plurality of key switches are provided, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting duration of operation of a key switch having being operated among the plurality of key switches;

controlling light emission of the light emitting elements, located in a predetermined key-switch-arranged range including the operated key switch, in accordance with the detected duration of operation; and

generating a tone, corresponding to the operated key switch, after imparting the tone with an effect corresponding to the detected duration of operation,

wherein when the detected duration of operation is greater than a predetermined time, the light emission controlling step controls light emission of two or more of the light emitting elements, located in the predetermined key-switch-arranged range including the operated key switch, in accordance with a predetermined pattern, and

wherein the pattern includes switching of the light emitting element to be illuminated from one light emitting element to another in accordance with passage of time.

18. A computer-readable medium storing a computer program for controlling a performance apparatus that includes a plurality of key switches provided at a plurality of predetermined positions, a plurality of light emitting elements provided in corresponding relation to the positions where the plurality of key switches are provided, the computer program containing instructions for:

detecting duration of operation of a key switch having being operated among the plurality of key switches;

controlling light emission of the light emitting elements, located in a predetermined key-switch-arranged range including the operated key switch, in accordance with the detected duration of operation; and

generating a tone, corresponding to the operated key switch, after imparting the tone with an effect corresponding to the detected duration of operation,

wherein when the detected duration of operation is greater than a predetermined time, the light emission controlling instruction controls light emission of two or more of the light emitting elements, located in the predetermined key-switch-arranged range including the operated key switch, in accordance with a predetermined pattern, and

wherein the pattern includes switching of the light emitting element to be illuminated from one light emitting element to another in accordance with passage of time.