Integrated adaptor module

• US 6,218,602 B1
• Filed: 04/08/1999
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interactive Music Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Van Koevering Company
• Inventors: Davis, Lanny, Lyda, Lance E., Lawson, Robert D., Siekmann, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ip, Paul
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fletcher, Marlon T.
• Application Number:
  US09/288,740
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 846/10, 846/34, 846/45, 846/50, 846/66, 844/77.R, 844/78, 846/00--02, 847/18--19
• US Class Current: 84/477.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/023 Electrically operated
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/04 with sound emitters

Abstract

An adaptor module includes a graphical user interface having a video display and a touch responsive overlay. The graphical user interface displays graphical images representing parameters of an electronic musical instrument and generating control signals. A computer system is also included in the adaptor module for driving the graphical user interface. A music stand for supporting sheet material, wherein the graphical user interface forms part of the music stand. The graphical user interface can be mounted in an opening in the music stand and can provide a touch screen that is flush with the music support surface or recessed. The computer system is adapted for receiving signals from the electronic musical instrument.

Claims

1. An adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system comprising:

a computer base control system for converting music information into audio signals;

a display screen for displaying a graphical user interface through which a user can control said computer-based control system; and

at least one bulk storage device for storing said music information, each of said control-system, display screen and bulk storage device housed separately from one another;

said control-system communicatively connected to said display screen and said bulk storage device;

said computer-based control system having connectivity means for communicatively connecting said computer-based control system to a digital piano having a musical keyboard and music synthesis means responsive to keystrokes applied to said musical keyboard;

said computer-based control system adaptable to receive digital keystroke information from said digital piano.

2. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 1, wherein said display comprises a touch-screen display responsive to the touch of a user.

3. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 2, wherein said touch-screen display comprises a flat touch-screen display.

4. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 2, wherein said touch-screen display comprises an LCD display responsive to the touch of a user.

5. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 2, wherein said touch-screen display comprises an CRT display responsive to the touch of a user.

6. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 2, wherein said touch-screen display is housed in a picture frame.

7. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 6, wherein said picture frame has pivotal back support.

8. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 1, wherein said bulk storage device comprises a fixed disk drive.

9. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 1, wherein said bulk storage device comprises a removable disk drive.

10. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 1, wherein said bulk storage device is an electronic memory.

11. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 8, wherein said fixed disk drive is a hard disk drive.

12. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 9, wherein said removable disk drive is an optical disk drive.

13. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 9, wherein said removable disk drive is a floppy disk drive.

14. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 9, wherein said retrofit system comprises at least two bulk storage devices housed together in a single housing.

15. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 14, wherein at least one of said bulk storage devices is a removable disk drive.

16. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 15, wherein said bulk storage device comprises a removable disk drive.

17. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 16, wherein said removable disk drive is an optical disk drive.

18. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 16, wherein said removable disk drive is a floppy disk drive.

19. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 16, wherein at least one of said bulk storage devices is an optical disk drive and at least one of said bulk storage devices is a floppy disk drive.

20. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 1, wherein said computer based control system comprises communications circuitry.

21. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 20, wherein said communications circuitry is a modem.

22. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 20, wherein said communications circuitry is an input/output device.

23. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 1, wherein said bulk storage device is positioned below said musical keyboard.

24. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 1, wherein said bulk storage device is positioned above said musical keyboard.

25. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 1, wherein said display screen is positioned on a piano above said musical keyboard.

26. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 1, wherein said display screen is positioned on a music stand above said musical keyboard.

27. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 25, wherein said display screen is manually selectably positionable at a plurality of locations on a top surface of said piano.

28. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 26, wherein said display screen is manually selectably positionable at a plurality of locations on said music stand.

29. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 25, wherein said control system is removeably mounted to a bottom surface of said piano housing.

30. The adaptable modular musical keyboard retrofit system of claim 25, wherein said bulk storage device is removeably mounted to a bottom surface of said piano housing.