Electric instrument music control device with multi-axis position sensors

• US 7,923,623 B1
• Filed: 10/17/2008
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David Beaty
• Original Assignee: David Beaty
• Inventors: Beaty, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Qin; Jianchun
• Application Number:
  US12/253,852
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 847/01, 847/35
• US Class Current: 84/701
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0091 Means for obtaining special acoustic effects combined with modulation G10H1/043
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/201 for movement interpretation, i.e. capturing and recognizing a gesture or a specific kind of movement, e.g. to control a musical instrument
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/321 Garment sensors, i.e. musical control means with trigger surfaces or joint angle sensors, worn as a garment by the player, e.g. bracelet, intelligent clothing
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/401 3D sensing, i.e. three-dimensional (x, y, z) position or movement sensing

Abstract

An electric instrument music control device is provided having at least two multi-axis position sensors. One sensor is a reference multi-axis position sensor retained in a fixed position the reference multi-axis position sensor having at least one axis held in a fixed position. Another sensor is a moveable multi-axis position sensor rotatable about at least one axis corresponding to the at least one axis of the reference multi-axis position sensor, wherein the moveable multi-axis position sensor is in communication with the reference multi-axis position sensor. The device may include a processor that processes the differentiation between the angular position of the at least one axis of the reference multi-axis position sensor and the at least one axis of the moveable multi-axis position sensor, wherein the angular differentiation correlates to a music effect of an electric instrument.

Claims

1. An electric instrument music control device comprising:

a reference multi-axis position sensor retained in a fixed position, wherein the reference multi-axis position sensor has at least one axis held in a fixed position;

a moveable multi-axis position sensor rotatable about at least one axis corresponding to the at least one axis of the reference multi-axis position sensor, wherein the moveable multi-axis position sensor is in communication with the reference multi-axis position sensor;

a processor that processes the differentiation between the angular position of the at least one axis of the reference multi-axis position sensor and the at least one axis of the moveable multi-axis position sensor, wherein the angular differentiation correlates to a music effect of an electric instrument; and

a wireless connection between the reference multi-axis position sensor and the moveable multi-axis position sensor, the communication between the sensors occurring through the wireless connection.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the moveable multi-axis position sensor is rotatable about at least two axes, wherein rotation about each axis correlates to a different music effect.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the moveable multi-axis position sensor is rotatable about at least three axes, wherein rotation about each axis correlates to a different music effect.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the moveable multi-axis position sensor is removably coupled to a moveable appendage of a musician.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising a dynamic distance between the reference multi-axis position sensor and the moveable multi-axis position sensor, wherein the dynamic distance changes in response to movement of the musician toward and away from the reference multi-axis position sensor.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a database, wherein the database stores various curves correlating to a desired music effect in a look-up table.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the processor is adapted to compare the angular differentiation with the various curves stored in the database and applies the music effect corresponding to the angular differentiation.

8. An electric instrument music control device comprising:

a reference multi-axis position sensor retained in a fixed position, wherein the reference multi-axis position sensor has at least one axis held in a fixed position;

a moveable multi-axis position sensor rotatable about at least one axis corresponding to the at least one axis of the reference multi-axis position sensor, wherein the moveable multi-axis position sensor is in communication with the reference multi-axis position sensor and is removably coupled to a moveable appendage of a musician;

a processor that processes the differentiation between the angular position of the at least one axis of the reference multi-axis position sensor and the at least one axis of the moveable multi-axis position sensor, wherein the angular differentiation correlates to a music effect of an electric instrument; and

a dynamic distance between the reference multi-axis position sensor and the moveable multi-axis position sensor, wherein the dynamic distance changes in response to movement of the musician toward and away from the reference multi-axis position sensor.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the moveable multi-axis position sensor is rotatable about at least two axes, wherein rotation about each axis correlates to a different music effect.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the moveable multi-axis position sensor is rotatable about at least three axes, wherein rotation about each axis correlates to a different music effect.

11. The device of claim 8, further comprising a wired connection coupled between the reference multi-axis position sensor and the moveable multi-axis position sensor, the communication between the sensors occurring through the wired connection.

12. The device of claim 8, further comprising a wireless connection between the reference multi-axis position sensor and the moveable multi-axis position sensor, the communication between the sensors occurring through the wireless connection.

13. The device of claim 8, further comprising a database, wherein the database stores various curves correlating to a desired music effect in a look-up table.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the processor is adapted to compare the angular differentiation with the various curves stored in the database and applies the music effect corresponding to the angular differentiation.