Electronic musical performance controller based on vector length and orientation

• US 10,152,958 B1
• Filed: 04/05/2018
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martin J. Sheely
• Original Assignee: Martin J. Sheely
• Inventors: Sheely, Martin J
• Primary Examiner(s): Warren, David
• Application Number:
  US15/945,751
• Time in Patent Office: 250 Days
• Field of Search: 84615, 84602
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0008 Associated control or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0041 in coded form
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0066 using a MIDI interface
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0553 using optical or light-responsive means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/391 Angle sensing for musical purposes, using data from a gyroscope, gyrometer or other angular velocity or angular movement sensing device angles measured by an accelerometer or gravimeter G10H2220/395; angles calculated from 3D position sensing G10H2220/401; player body joint angle sensing G10H2220/321
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/395 Acceleration sensing or accelerometer use, e.g. 3D movement computation by integration of accelerometer data, angle sensing with respect to the vertical, i.e. gravity sensing. conductor baton movement sensing G10H2220/206, angle sensing without reference to gravity G10H2220/391; player body joint angle sensing G10H2220/321
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/401 3D sensing, i.e. three-dimensional (x, y, z) position or movement sensing. movement pattern or gesture sensing G10H2220/201; geolocation sensing G10H2220/355, 3D sensing with accelerometer G10H2220/395
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/411 Light beams key actuation detection using light G10H2220/305
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/165 Memory card, i.e. removable module or card for storing music data for an electrophonic musical instrument
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/171 Transmission of musical instrument data, control or status information; Transmission, remote access or control of music data for electrophonic musical instruments details about the transmitted data contents G10H2240/011

Abstract

An electronic musical performance controller comprising a microprocessor, proximity sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer, narrow beam guide light, and one or more finger monitoring sensors. The proximity sensor is mounted on the front of the controller and represents the origin of a Cartesian coordinate system. Preprogrammed events are mapped into the surrounding space at fixed distances and pitch and yaw angles from the proximity sensor. The guide light beam illuminates the proximity sensor'"'"'s field of view. The controller is held in one hand and the guide light beam is aimed at the other hand. When the player'"'"'s finger triggers a finger monitoring sensor, the length of the guide light beam and the pitch and yaw of the proximity sensor are measured. This information is used to determine which mapped event the player is selecting. The preprogrammed event is then output via a MIDI bus or built in sound module and speaker.

Claims

1. An electronic musical performance controller, comprising:

a guide light beam projecting onto a selectively positionable member; and

a sensor responsive to change in length of the guide light beam; and

an angle sensor responsive to change in angle of the guide light beam around an axis; and

a finger monitoring sensor responsive to movement of an operator'"'"'s finger; and

a controller configured to output a data packet when triggered by the finger monitoring sensor, wherein the output data packet varies in response to at least one of

change in length of the guide light beam and

change in angle of the guide light beam around an axis.

2. The electronic musical performance controller as specified in claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of finger monitoring sensors, wherein each additional finger monitoring sensor corresponds to a different set of data packets.

3. The electronic musical performance controller as specified in claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of angle sensors responsive to angle changes around multiple axes.

4. The electronic musical performance controller as specified in claim 1 further comprising:

a hand held component mounting structure.

5. A method of selecting a musical performance data packet, comprising:

providing a guide light beam projecting onto a selectively positionable member; and

providing a sensor responsive to change in length of the guide light beam; and

providing an angle sensor responsive to change in angle of the guide light beam around an axis; and

providing a finger monitoring sensor responsive to movement of an operator'"'"'s finger; and

providing a controller configured to output a data packet when triggered by the finger monitoring sensor, wherein the output data packet varies in response to at least one of

change in length of the guide light beam and

change in angle of the guide light beam around an axis.

6. The method of selecting a musical performance data packet specified in claim 5 further comprising:

providing a plurality of finger monitoring sensors, wherein each additional finger monitoring sensor corresponds to a different set of data packets.

7. The method of selecting a musical performance data packet specified in claim 5 further comprising:

providing a plurality of angle sensors responsive to angle changes around multiple axes.

8. The method of selecting a musical performance data packet specified in claim 5 further comprising:

providing a hand held component mounting structure.