Apparatus for displaying sheet music

• US 9,922,629 B1
• Filed: 12/11/2016
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenneth Whiteside
• Original Assignee: Kenneth Whiteside
• Inventors: Whiteside, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Fletcher, Marlon
• Application Number:
  US15/375,111
• Time in Patent Office: 464 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 19/002 Free-standing music stands leaf turners or devices for holding books open B42D9/00; with movable strip reading apparatus B42D19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10G 1/00 Means for the representation of music
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/105 Composing aid, e.g. for supporting creation, edition or modification of a piece of music
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/015 Musical staff, tablature or score displays, e.g. for score reading during a performance. graphical musical score editing G10H2220/121; musical score displays resulting from a transcription G10H2210/086
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/211 Wireless transmission, e.g. of music parameters or control data by radio, infrared or ultrasound beam G10H2220/405
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/285 USB, i.e. either using a USB plug as power supply or using the USB protocol to exchange data

Abstract

An improved apparatus for displaying sheet music is an electronic tablet having the ability to upload and download sheet music to the device as well as having the ability to provide a music composer with the tools to put the music easily and conveniently in printed form. Sound recognition allows the tablet to recognize audio sequences of music and locate the place in the electronic music sheets on the tablet to keep the proper location displayed for the user-performer, including automatically turning electronic pages during the playing of a piece of music.

Claims

1. An improved apparatus for displaying sheet music, comprising:

a computer module including;

a housing having an interior volume;

a display screen;

wherein said display screen is located upon an exterior surface of said housing and is adapted to electronically display sheet music;

computer circuitry;

wherein said computer circuitry is located within said interior volume of said housing, is electronically connected to said display screen, and includes software coding thereon adapted to store and display said sheet music upon said display screen; and

a music stand including;

a base portion;

wherein said base portion is adapted to support said music stand on a supporting surface;

a post portion;

wherein said post portion is attached to and extends upwardly from said base portion; and

a sheet music holding portion;

wherein said sheet music holding portion is adapted to retain said computer module thereon, such that a user can view sheet music on said display screen while playing an instrument;

wherein said computer module further includes a microphone member attached to said housing and is adapted to send electronic signals to said computer circuitry; and

wherein said computer circuitry of said computer module is adapted to interpret said electronic signals from said microphone member to determine which instrument said user is playing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said software coding is adapted to electronically display sheet music on said display screen in a timed sequence.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said computer circuitry is adapted to provide appropriate sheet music to said display screen for said instrument detected.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said computer circuitry is pre-programmed with works of music.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said computer module further includes a USB connector member adapted to allow uploading music to said computer circuitry.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said computer module further includes a wireless internet connection member adapted to allow wireless internet connection to and from said computer module.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said display screen is formed as an LCD screen.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said display screen is formed as a plasma panel.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said display screen includes touch screen technology.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said computer module further includes a power source located within said interior volume of said housing and is electronically connected to said display screen and said computer circuitry.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said computer circuitry is re-programmable.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said post portion is formed as two elongated members telescopingly releasably connected to one another to allow height adjustment of said sheet music holding portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said computer circuitry is adapted to highlight notes as they are played by the user, and automatically advancing the pages of said sheet music as said user comes to the end of a specific segment or measure of said sheet music.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said computer circuitry is adapted to allow a user to write and create their own music.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said base portion includes three elongated leg members forming a tripod.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said computer module further includes a light source attached thereto for use by said user.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein sheet music holding portion includes at least one attachment member adapted to securely and releasably hold said computer module thereon.