ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING FINGER MOVEMENT BASED MUSICAL TONE GENERATION AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20130278380A1
• Filed: 06/19/2013
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AuthenTec Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: STEWART, ARTHUR LESLIE
• Application Number:
  US13/921,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20130278380A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.52
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 1/00 Comparing elements, i.e. elements for effecting comparison directly or indirectly between a desired value and existing or anticipated values
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/34 Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/161 with 2D or x/y surface coordinates sensing graphical user interface or touchscreen input G10H2220/091; microtonal keyboard G10H2210/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection

Abstract

An electronic device may include a finger biometric sensor and an audio output transducer. The electronic device may further include a controller cooperating with the finger biometric sensor for determining at least one biometric characteristic of a user'"'"'s finger. The controller may also cooperate with the finger biometric sensor for causing the audio output transducer to generate at least one musical tone changing based upon movement of a user'"'"'s finger relative to the finger biometric sensor.

Claims

1-22. -22. (canceled)

23. An electronic device comprising:

a finger biometric sensor;

an audio output transducer; and

a controller coupled to said finger biometric sensor and said audio output transducer, said controller capable of

determining at least one biometric characteristic of a user'"'"'s finger,

authenticating the user by determining a match between the at least one biometric characteristic and at least one stored biometric characteristic,

generating a finger motion signal based upon a motion of the user'"'"'s finger relative to said finger biometric sensor, and

causing said audio output transducer to generate at least one musical tone changing based upon the finger motion signal and motion of the user'"'"'s finger across said finger biometric sensor.

24. The electronic device according to claim 23 wherein said controller is capable of causing said audio output transducer to generate the at least one musical tone having a pitch that changes based upon the motion of the user'"'"'s finger relative to said finger biometric sensor.

25. The electronic device according to claim 23 wherein said controller is capable of performing at least one navigation function based upon motion of the user'"'"'s finger relative to said finger biometric sensor.

26. The electronic device according to claim 23 wherein said finger biometric sensor comprises a slide biometric finger sensor.

27. The electronic device according to claim 23 wherein said controller is capable of permitting selection of a musical instrument for the at least one musical tone.

28. The electronic device according to claim 23 further comprising a wireless link coupling said audio output transducer and said controller.

29. The electronic device according to claim 23 further comprising at least one of a display and a keypad coupled to said controller.

30. The electronic device according to claim 23 further comprising a housing carrying said finger biometric sensor and said controller, and a wireless transceiver carried by said housing and coupled to said controller.

31. An electronic device comprising:

a finger biometric sensor;

an audio output transducer; and

a controller coupled to said finger biometric sensor and said audio output transducer, said controller capable of

determining at least one biometric characteristic of a user'"'"'s finger,

performing at least one navigation function based upon motion of the user'"'"'s finger relative to said finger biometric sensor,

generating a finger motion signal based upon a motion of the user'"'"'s finger relative to said finger biometric sensor, and

causing said audio output transducer to generate at least one musical tone changing based upon the finger motion signal and motion of the user'"'"'s finger across said finger biometric sensor.

32. The electronic device according to claim 31 wherein said controller is capable of causing said audio output transducer to generate the at least one musical tone having a pitch that changes based upon the motion of the user'"'"'s finger relative to said finger biometric sensor.

33. The electronic device according to claim 31 wherein said finger biometric sensor comprises a slide biometric finger sensor.

34. The electronic device according to claim 31 wherein said controller is capable of permitting selection of a musical instrument for the at least one musical tone.

35. The electronic device according to claim 31 further comprising a wireless link coupling said audio output transducer and said controller.

36. The electronic device according to claim 31 further comprising at least one of a display and a keypad coupled to said controller.

37. The electronic device according to claim 31 further comprising a housing carrying said finger biometric sensor and said controller, and a wireless transceiver carried by said housing and coupled to said controller.

38. A method of operating an electronic device comprising a finger biometric sensor, an audio output transducer, and a controller coupled to the finger biometric sensor and the audio output transducer, the method comprising:

using the controller for

determining at least one biometric characteristic of a user'"'"'s finger,

authenticating the user by determining a match between the at least one biometric characteristic and at least one stored biometric characteristic,

generating a finger motion signal based upon a motion of the user'"'"'s finger relative to the finger biometric sensor, and

causing the audio output transducer to generate at least one musical tone changing based upon the finger motion signal and motion of the user'"'"'s finger across the finger biometric sensor.

39. The method according to claim 38 wherein using the controller comprises using the controller to generate the at least one musical tone having a pitch that changes based upon the motion of the user'"'"'s finger relative to the finger biometric sensor.

40. The method according to claim 38 further comprising using the controller to permit selecting a musical instrument for the at least one musical tone.