Piano keyboard with key touch point detection
First Claim
1. A piano-type keyboard apparatus, including a plurality of piano-type keys, where:
- each of said piano-type keys has a length;
each of said piano-type keys can be pressed from a point along said length;
each of said piano-type keys can sound a corresponding note when so pressed;
said corresponding notes can be configured during play; and
such configuring includes;
one of said piano-type keys having been outfitted for touch detection;
said touch detection identifying said press point of said outfitted key so pressed;
said identified press point being associated with a specific note;
said specific note being utilized in the setup of said corresponding notes;
said setup being applied upon the designating of said pressed outfitted key; and
said pressed outfitted key being so designated during such play.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides touch sensor means for detecting the touch location along the length of an outfitted piano key as it is pressed, so as to then offset the notes of an associated piano keyboard accordingly during play. When such an outfitted key is pressed in combination with other piano keys, the touch location along the length of the outfitted key, and the separation intervals and timing of the key presses, are analyzed to determine the intended chord, such that before any notes are sounded, the notes of the pressed keys are configured for the sounding of that chord. This arrangement enables playing a wide range of notes using just a few keys, so as to provide a substantially reduced-size keyboard with full-sized keys sufficient for real-time playing. This arrangement also enables configuring the note offsets of those pressed keys to conform to a selected musical key, so as to simplify the layout of the keyboard by eliminating its black keys, while still supporting the playing of non-conforming notes. This arrangement further enables applying pitch variation to those note offsets in order to emulate the “string stretching,” “whammy bar,” and “fretless neck” playing techniques for guitars and basses. This arrangement even further enables playing advanced chords in a simplified manner. Finally, this arrangement enables providing a wide assortment of keyboards that can differ in the type, number, size, and functionality of their outfitted keys.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A piano-type keyboard apparatus, including a plurality of piano-type keys, where:
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each of said piano-type keys has a length; each of said piano-type keys can be pressed from a point along said length; each of said piano-type keys can sound a corresponding note when so pressed; said corresponding notes can be configured during play; and such configuring includes; one of said piano-type keys having been outfitted for touch detection; said touch detection identifying said press point of said outfitted key so pressed; said identified press point being associated with a specific note; said specific note being utilized in the setup of said corresponding notes; said setup being applied upon the designating of said pressed outfitted key; and said pressed outfitted key being so designated during such play. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification