Modular structures facilitating field-customized floor controllers
First Claim
1. A customizable aggregated floor controller comprising:
- a plurality of individual foot controller modules, wherein each controller module of said plurality of individual foot controller modules is configured to generate a non-audio control signal in response to user operation of said individual foot controller module;
a mounting frame comprising a plurality of predetermined mounting locations structured to simultaneously secure said plurality of individual foot controller modules in a reconfigurable mounting arrangement, wherein each foot controller module of said plurality of individual foot controller modules is positionable within various mounting locations of said plurality of predetermined mounting locations, and wherein each of said plurality of mounting locations is structured to define a separate aperture sized to receive an associated one of said plurality of individual foot controller modules;
a control signal distribution infrastructure associated with said mounting frame, said control signal distribution infrastructure receives outgoing control signals from at least one foot controller module of said plurality of individual foot controller modules via a control signal interface associated with each of said at least one foot controller modules;
an electrical power distribution infrastructure associated with said mounting frame, said electrical rower distribution infrastructure provides needed electrical power to at least one foot controller module of said plurality of individual foot controller modules via a separate electrical power interface associated with each of said at least one foot controller modules requiring electrical power; and
a control signal interface adapted to transmit outgoing MIDI control signals to an external system, wherein said outgoing MIDI control signals are generated in response to one or more of said non-audio control signals generated by said plurality of individual foot controller modules.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention allows for easy field-customization of floor controllers using techniques that are similar to those applicable to the easy creation of aggregated instruments. The invention further facilitates entirely new manufacturing, marketing, and sales paradigms permitting a broad range of open industry development and commerce, thus making an individual musician'"'"'s creation of new floor controller arrangements an economically viable sector for both mass manufacturing and the niche cottage industry. New opportunities are provided for the creation of multiple-vendor standardizations, multiple-vendor manufacturing, multiple-vendor competitive features, etc. while offering the music equipment user and music industry as a whole, access to an extensive range of customization and diversification. The principles of the invention thus create a rich environment for floor controllers, their users, their features, their application, and the floor controller market.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A customizable aggregated floor controller comprising:
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a plurality of individual foot controller modules, wherein each controller module of said plurality of individual foot controller modules is configured to generate a non-audio control signal in response to user operation of said individual foot controller module; a mounting frame comprising a plurality of predetermined mounting locations structured to simultaneously secure said plurality of individual foot controller modules in a reconfigurable mounting arrangement, wherein each foot controller module of said plurality of individual foot controller modules is positionable within various mounting locations of said plurality of predetermined mounting locations, and wherein each of said plurality of mounting locations is structured to define a separate aperture sized to receive an associated one of said plurality of individual foot controller modules; a control signal distribution infrastructure associated with said mounting frame, said control signal distribution infrastructure receives outgoing control signals from at least one foot controller module of said plurality of individual foot controller modules via a control signal interface associated with each of said at least one foot controller modules; an electrical power distribution infrastructure associated with said mounting frame, said electrical rower distribution infrastructure provides needed electrical power to at least one foot controller module of said plurality of individual foot controller modules via a separate electrical power interface associated with each of said at least one foot controller modules requiring electrical power; and a control signal interface adapted to transmit outgoing MIDI control signals to an external system, wherein said outgoing MIDI control signals are generated in response to one or more of said non-audio control signals generated by said plurality of individual foot controller modules. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A customizable aggregated floor controller comprising:
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a plurality of individual foot controller modules, wherein each controller module of said plurality of individual foot controller modules is configured to generate a non-audio control signal in response to user operation of said individual foot controller module; means for simultaneously securing said plurality of individual foot controller modules in a reconfigurable mounting arrangement; means for permitting said plurality of individual foot controller modules to be positionable within various mounting locations of said plurality of predetermined mounting locations; means for defining a separate aperture for each of said plurality of predetermined mounting locations, wherein each of said separate apertures is sized to receive an associated one of said plurality of individual foot controller modules; means for electrical rower distribution associated with said mounting frame, said electrical power distribution provides needed electrical power to at least one foot controller module of said plurality of individual foot controller modules via a separate electrical power interface means associated with each of said at least one foot controller modules requiring electrical power; means for control signal distribution associated with said mounting frame, wherein said control signal distribution receives outgoing control signals from at least one foot controller module of said plurality of individual foot controller modules via a control signal interface means associated with each of said at least one foot controller modules; means for generating outgoing MIDI control signals response to one or more of said non-audio control signals generated by said plurality of individual foot controller modules; and means for transmitting said outgoing MIDI control signals to an external system. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification