Music game with strike sounds changing in quality in the progress of music and entertainment music system

• US 7,682,237 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2004
• Issued: 03/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SSD Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: SSD Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Ohashi, Masaki, Ueshima, Hiromu
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCULLOCH JR, WILLIAM H
• Application Number:
  US10/947,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20050096132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,008 Days
• Field of Search: 463/7, 463/35, 463/36, 841/04, 841/06, 844/11.R
• US Class Current: 463/7
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/46 Computing the game score
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/203 Image generating hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/305 for providing a graphical or textual hint to the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/61 Score computation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games

Abstract

Indication objects are displayed on a television monitor at the intervals in agreement with the rhythm of music, such that the player can generate musical tones in synchronization with music by striking the strike surface of a music game console in the appropriate timing as indicated by indication objects. In this case, the tone quality of the strike sound changes in the progress of music on the basis of strike sound indicating information.

Claims

1. A music game console comprising;

a plurality of strike surfaces to be struck by a player;

a plurality of detection circuits that correspond respectively to said strike surfaces;

a plurality of vibration transmission plates that correspond respectively to said detection circuits;

a plurality of resilient members that correspond respectively to said vibration transmission plates; and

a support structure that supports said vibration transmission plates,

wherein each of said vibration transmission plates is supported by said support structure through the corresponding resilient members,

wherein said support structure is fixed inside of a housing such that each of said vibration transmission plates is located to face a rear surface of said corresponding strike surface,

wherein said detection circuits are located to face said support structure, each of said detection circuits being attached to a corresponding one of said vibration transmission plates,

wherein said vibration transmission plates are supported by said support structure so as not to contact with each other, wherein

each of said detection circuits detects a striking strength and outputs strike information indicative of the striking strength, and

wherein each of the resilient members comprises a rubber or a spring, wherein said support structure is provided with a plurality of holes that correspond respectively to said vibration transmission plates,

wherein each of said vibration transmission plates is provided at a lower surface thereof with a guide,

wherein each of said guides is inserted into a corresponding hole of said support structure though said corresponding resilient member, and

wherein each of the guides does not contract an inner surface of the corresponding hole.

2. The music game console as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of buffer members that correspond respectively to said detection circuits,

wherein the buffer members are distinct from the resilient members, and

wherein each of the detection circuits is fixed to the corresponding one of the vibration transmission plates such that a corresponding one of the buffer members is disposed between the detection circuit and the vibration transmission plate.

3. The music game console as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a processor which is operative to judge whether the striking strength detected by each of the detection circuits falls within one of a first strike range and a second strike range which overlap with each other,

wherein a lower bound of the first strike range is lower than a lower bound of the second strike range, and

wherein an upper bound of the first strike range is higher than the lower bound of the second strike range.

4. The music game console as claimed in claim 3

wherein the processor is further operative to:

acquire sequential musical note information items from first data containing said musical note information items arranged in a time series, and perform music automatically;

acquire sequential codes assigned to indication object images, each of which indicates a timing of striking to said player, from second data containing said codes which are arranged in a time series, and display on a display device said indication object images corresponding to said acquired codes;

acquire sequential codes, each of which designates a tone quality of a sound to be output in response to a trigger corresponding to said strike information, from third data containing said codes which are arranged in a time series, and generate the sound of said tone quality designated by each of said codes in response to said trigger if the striking strength exceeds the lower bound of the first strike range;

indicate a reaction responsive to said strike information with a response object image if the striking strength exceeds the lower bound of the first strike range; and

indicate a reaction of said indication object image when the reaction of said response object image is indicated during the time that said indication object image is located within a predetermined range in relation to a predetermined reference position.

5. The music game console as claimed in claim 4 wherein the display of the indication object image is determined corresponding to a desired striking criterion.

6. The music game console as claimed in claim 5 wherein the striking criterion is related to at least one of the striking strength and a number of repeating strikes.

7. The music game console as claimed in claim 4 wherein said code of said third data is indicative of both the tone quality and a sound volume.

8. The music game console as claimed in claim 4 wherein said display device is a television monitor.

9. The music game console as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second data and said third data are prepared as data in conformity with a MIDI standard or prepared by processing data which is in conformity with a MIDI standard.

10. The music game console as claimed in claim 4, said processor comprises a graphics processor operable to generate said indication object image and said response object image,

wherein said graphics processor receives storage location information of image data for generating said indication object image and storage location information of image data for generating said response object image every time a video system synchronous interrupt occurs, and reads said image data stored in storage locations designated by said storage location information to generate said indication object image and said response object image.

11. A music game system comprising:

a processor operable to generate a video game signal and an audio signal; and

a music game console which comprises;

a plurality of strike surfaces to be struck by a player;

a plurality of detection circuits that correspond respectively to said strike surface;

a plurality of vibration transmission plates that correspond respectively to said detection circuits;

a plurality of resilient members that correspond respectively to said vibration transmission plates; and

a support structure that supports said vibration transmission plates,

wherein each of said vibration transmission plates is supported by said support structure through the corresponding resilient members,

wherein said support structure is fixed inside of a housing such that each of said vibration transmission plates is located to face a rear surface of said corresponding strike surface,

wherein said detection circuits are located to face said support structure, each of said detection circuits being attached to a corresponding one of said vibration transmission plates,

wherein said vibration transmission plates are supported by said support structure so as not to contact with each other,

wherein each of said detection circuits detects a striking strength and outputs strike information indicative of the striking strength,

wherein said processor generates the audio signal which includes sound corresponding to the strike information, and outputs the video game signal to a television monitor,

wherein said television monitor and said music game console are separate from each other,

wherein each of the resilient members comprises a rubber or a spring,

wherein said support structure is provide with a plurality of holes that correspond respectively to said vibration transmission plates,

wherein each of said vibration transmission plates is provided at a lower surface thereof with a guide,

wherein each of said guides is inserted into a corresponding hole of said support structure through said corresponding resilient member, and

wherein each of the guides does not contact an inner surface of the corresponding hole.

12. The music game system as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the music game console further comprises a plurality of buffer members that correspond respectively to said detection circuits,

wherein the buffer members are distinct from the resilient members, and

wherein each of the detection circuits is fixed to the corresponding one of the vibration transmission plates such that a corresponding one of the buffer members is disposed between the detection circuit and the vibration transmission plate.

13. The music game system as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the processor is further operable to judge whether the striking strength detected by each of the detection circuits falls within one of a first strike range and a second strike range which overlap with each other,

wherein a lower bound of the first strike range is lower than a lower bound of the second strike range,

wherein an upper bound of the first strike range is higher than the lower bound of the second strike range, and

wherein the processor generates the audio signal if the striking strength exceeds the lower bound of the first strike range.

14. A music game system comprising:

a processor operable to generate a video game signal and an audio signal;

a display device; and

a music game console which comprises;

a plurality of strike surfaces to be struck by a player;

a plurality of detection circuits that correspond respectively to said strike surfaces;

a plurality of vibration transmission plates that correspond respectively to said detection circuits;

a plurality of resilient members that correspond respectively to said vibration transmission plates; and

a support structure that supports said vibration transmission plates,

wherein each of said vibration transmission plates is supported by said support structure through the corresponding resilient members,

wherein said support structure is fixed inside of a housing such that each of said vibration transmission plates is located to face a rear surface of said corresponding strike surface,

wherein said detection circuits are located to face said support structure, each of said detection circuits being attached to a corresponding one of said vibration transmission plates,

wherein said vibration transmission plates are supported by said support structure so as not to contact with each other,

wherein each of said detection circuits detects a striking strengthen and outputs strike information indicative of the striking strength,

wherein said processor generates the audio signal which includes sound corresponding to the strike information, and outputs the video game signal to said display device,

wherein said display device and said music game console are provided integrally with each other,

wherein each of the resilient members comprises a rubber or a spring,

wherein said support structure is provided with a plurality of holes that correspond respectively to said vibration transmission plates,

wherein each of said vibration transmission plates is provided at a lower surface thereof with a guide,

wherein each of said guides is inserted into a corresponding hole of said support structure through said corresponding resilient member, and

wherein each of the guides does not contact an inner surface of the corresponding hole.

15. The music game system as claimed in claim 14,

wherein the music game console further comprises a plurality of buffer members that correspond respectively to said detection circuits,

wherein the buffer members are distinct from the resilient members, and

wherein each of the detection circuits is fixed to the corresponding one of the vibration transmission plates such that a corresponding one of the buffer members is disposed between the detection circuit and the vibration transmission plate.

16. The music game system as claimed in claim 14,

wherein the processor is further operable to judge whether the striking strength detected by each of the detection circuits falls within one of a first strike range and a second strike range which overlap with each other,

wherein a lower bound of the first strike range is lower than a lower bound of the second strike range,

wherein an upper bound of the first strike range is higher than the lower bound of the second strike range, and

wherein the processor generates the audio signal if the striking strength exceeds the lower bound of the first strike range.

17. A percussion game system for playing a game with music comprising:

a plurality of strike surfaces each of which receives strikes by a player;

a plurality of sensors each of which is placed to receive vibration of a corresponding one of said plurality of strike surfaces, and detects a striking strength of each of said strikes exerted on said corresponding strike surface by the player and outputs strike signals indicative of the striking strength of each of said strikes; and

a signal processing unit connected to a memory unit operable to store audio data and image data, and operable to display an image on a display based on said image data and output music through a speaker based on said audio data,

wherein said signal processing unit coupled to said sensor and operable to output sounds of tone qualities as a musical part accompanying the music through said speaker in response to said strike signals from said sensor,

wherein said percussion game system further comprises;

a plurality of vibration transmission plates that correspond respectively to said sensors;

a plurality of resilient members that correspond respectively to said vibration transmission plates; and

a support structure that supports said vibration transmission plates,

wherein each of said vibration transmission plates is supported by said support structure through the corresponding resilient members,

wherein said support structure is fixed inside of a housing such that each of said vibration transmission plates is located to face a rear surface of said corresponding strike surface,

wherein said sensors are located to face said support structure, each of said sensors being attached to a corresponding one of said vibration transmission plates,

wherein said vibration transmission plates are supported by said support structure so as not to contact with each other,

wherein each of the resilient members comprises a rubber or a spring,

wherein said support structure is provided with a plurality of holes that correspond respectively to said vibration transmission plates,

wherein each of said vibration transmission plates is provided at a lower surface thereof with a guide,

wherein each of said guides is inserted into a corresponding hole of said support structure through said corresponding resilient member, and

wherein each of the guides does not contact an inner surface of the corresponding hole.

18. The music game system as claimed in claim 17,

wherein the music game console further comprises a plurality of buffer members that correspond respectively to said sensors,

wherein the buffer members are distinct from the resilient members, and

wherein each of the sensors is fixed to the corresponding one of the vibration transmission plates such that a corresponding one of the buffer members is disposed between the sensor and the vibration transmission plate.

19. The percussion game system as claimed in claim 17,

wherein the signal processing unit is further operable to judge whether the striking strength detected by each of the sensors falls within one of a first strike range and a second strike range which overlap with each other,

wherein a lower bound of the first strike range is lower than a lower bound of the second strike range,

wherein an upper bound of the first strike range is higher than the lower bound of the second strike range, and

wherein the signal processing unit outputs the sound if the striking strength exceeds the lower bound of the first strike range.

20. An entertainment music system for enjoying music comprising:

a signal processing unit connected to a memory unit operable to store music data and image data, and operable to output music through a speaker with reference to said music data and display an image on a display device; and

an input device which an user of the entertainment music system can strike to input strike signals to said signal processing unit,

wherein said signal processing unit is operable to read data corresponding to a user'"'"'s part from said music data and output sounds in response to said strike signals with reference to said data corresponding to the user'"'"'s part,

wherein said image displayed on said display device is an interactive image providing an indication of a timing of the strike to the user,

wherein said input device includes;

a plurality of strike surfaces to be struck by the player;

a plurality of detection circuits that correspond respectively to said strike surfaces;

a plurality of vibration transmission plates that correspond respectively to said detection circuits;

a plurality of resilient members that correspond respectively to said vibration transmission plates; and

a support structure that supports said vibration transmission plates,

wherein each of said vibration transmission plates is supported by said support structure through the corresponding resilient members,

wherein said support structure is fixed inside of a housing such that each of said vibration transmission plates is located to face a rear surface of said corresponding strike surface,

wherein said detection circuits are located to face said support structure, each of said detection circuits being attached to a corresponding one of said vibration transmission plates,

wherein said vibration transmission plates are supported by said support structure so as not to contact with each other,

wherein each of said detection circuits detects a striking strength and outputs the strike signal indicative of the striking strength,

wherein each of the resilient members comprises a rubber or a spring,

wherein said support structure is provided with a plurality of holes that correspond respectively to said vibration transmission plates,

wherein each of said vibration transmission plates is provided at a lower surface thereof with a guide,

wherein each of said guides is inserted into a corresponding hole of said support structure through said corresponding resilient member, and

wherein each of the guides does not contact an inner surface of the corresponding hole.

21. The entertainment music system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said music data is prepared as data in conformity with a MIDI standard or prepared by processing data which is in conformity with a MIDI standard.

22. The entertainment music system as claimed in claim 20,

wherein the input device further comprises a plurality of buffer members that correspond respectively to said detection circuits,

wherein the buffer members are distinct from the resilient members, and

wherein each of the detection circuits is fixed to the corresponding one of the vibration transmission plates such that a corresponding one of the buffer members is disposed between the detection circuit and the vibration transmission plate.

23. The entertainment music system as claimed in claim 20,

wherein the signal processing unit is further operable to judge whether the striking strength detected by each of the detection circuits falls within one of a first strike range and a second strike range which overlap with each other,

wherein a lower bound of the first strike range is lower than a lower bound of the second strike range,

wherein an upper bound of the first strike range is higher than the lower bound of the second strike range, and

wherein the signal processing unit outputs the sound if the striking strength exceeds the lower bound of the first strike range.