Mobile communication device with musical instrument functions

• US 8,993,867 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audiobrax Industria E Comercio De Produtos Electronicos Ltda.
• Original Assignee: Audiobrax Industria E Comercio De Produtos Electronicos Ltda.
• Inventors: Moraes, Aurlio Rotolo
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US11/815,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20080254824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,345 Days
• Field of Search: 847/23, 847/30, 847/37, 847/43, 846/15, 846/25
• US Class Current: 84/625
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2005/008 Hand articles fastened to the wrist or to the arm or to the leg
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/00 Holders or carriers for hand articles; Holders or carriers for use while travelling or camping
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0008 Associated control or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/32 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/365 the accompaniment information being stored on a host computer and transmitted to a reproducing terminal by means of a network, e.g. public telephone lines
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/091 for performance evaluation, i.e. judging, grading or scoring the musical qualities or faithfulness of a performance, e.g. with respect to pitch, tempo or other timings of a reference performance
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/091 Graphical user interface [GUI] specifically adapted for electrophonic musical instruments, e.g. interactive musical displays, musical instrument icons or menus; Details of user interactions therewith GUI in general G06F3/048
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/321 Garment sensors, i.e. musical control means with trigger surfaces or joint angle sensors, worn as a garment by the player, e.g. bracelet, intelligent clothing vital parameter sensing G10H2220/371; wearable interfaces in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/015 PDA [personal digital assistant] or palmtop computing devices used for musical purposes, e.g. portable music players, tablet computers, e-readers or smart phones in which mobile telephony functions need not be used touch-screen interfaces G10H2220/096
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/021 Mobile ringtone, i.e. generation, transmission, conversion or downloading of ringing tones or other sounds for mobile telephony; Special musical data formats or protocols herefor mobile telephone transmission specifically adapted for electrophonic musical tools or instruments G10H2240/251
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/251 Mobile telephone transmission, i.e. transmitting, accessing or controlling music data wirelessly via a wireless or mobile telephone receiver, analog or digital, e.g. DECT GSM, UMTS smartphone, PDA or palmtop used for musical purposes G10H2230/015; mobile ringtone G10H2230/021
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2250/435 Gensound percussion, i.e. generating or synthesising the sound of a percussion instrument; Control of specific aspects of percussion sounds, e.g. harmonics, under the influence of hitting force, hitting position, settings or striking instruments such as mallet, drumstick, brush, hand spint percussion G10H2230/231
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2250/441 Gensound string, i.e. generating the sound of a string instrument, controlling specific features of said sound spint piano G10H2230/065; spint stringed instruments G10H2230/075
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 7/00 Instruments in which the tones are synthesised from a data store, e.g. computer organs
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724095 Worn on the wrist, hand or arm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

Describes a mobile communication device (1, 20, 55, 111, 150, 200, 220, 335) having musical instrument (percussion, keyboards, string and blow) function, which “can be scrapped onto the user'"'"'s body through an adjustable elastic belt (151). It is also able to receive commands from a remote sensor (4, 70, 75, 160, 210, 257, 392,412), which has a musical instrument interface (percussion, keyboards, string and blow), preferably scrapped onto the user'"'"'s body by means of an adjustable elastic belt (151). A sound system (6) or an audio/video equipment might receive audio and/or video from the mobile communication device (1, 20, 55, 111, 150, 200, 220, 335) through an adapter (5, 56, 63, 68). The use of this device is intended to be an occupational therapy, satisfying, entertaining and relaxing for the user, which will provide user'"'"'s mental and physical health benefits. Its technical classification is under “electronics”.

Claims

1. An electronic device that comprises means of transferring data by cell phone network communication and further comprises musical instrument functionalities, wherein the electronic device comprises:

a mobile communication device that comprises

at least one radio frequency module compatible with cellular network communication systems;

a storage means storing parameters, the parameters including synchronism, rhythm, intensity, selected document and musical note; and

a digital signal processor configured to receive responses of impulses generated from a plurality of touch sensors while a song is being played in the electronic device, and transform said responses of impulses into musical instruments sounds,

wherein the digital signal processor is further configured to mix the musical instruments sounds with the sound of the song that is being played in the electronic device,

wherein the electronic device is further operable to evaluate a user'"'"'s performance related to instrumental accompaniment of the musical instruments sound with the sound of the song by reference to the parameters stored by the storage means, and

wherein the electronic device further comprises at least one remote sensor associated to the mobile communication device, the remote sensor comprising the plurality of touch sensors distributed on a surface of the remote sensor, providing regions that are touch sensitive, for generating said responses of impulses.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device further comprises at least one adaptor to deliver the sounds created by the digital signal processor to a sound system.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the digital signal processor carries out voice signals, sounds, communication indicators, and songs, controls communication functions, and mixes two or more of such sounds.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein sound signals carried out by the digital signal processor are stored in Flash memory devices or in memory cards.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein LEDs are distributed under a surface of the remote sensor, the surface being a pad or a Jog disc, to provide luminous indication to a user'"'"'s touch.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensors comprise transducers of piezoelectric, capacitive, resistive, inductive, field effect, pressure, stretch, vibration, displacement, vibration or acceleration type.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the remote sensor comprises an adjustable elastic belt which contains adhesive portions.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a communication system providing communication with at least one remote sensor, said communication being made by radio frequency, ultrasound or infrared light.

9. The electronic device according to claim 8, wherein the communication system establishes communication with a computer, with the distinct sound system, and with the adaptor, changing data and information with a plurality of audio and video electronic devices.

10. The electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the communication system is controlled by the digital signal processor of the mobile communication device.

11. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a computer communication interface.

12. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises at least a graphic display, a microphone, a phone and a keyboard.

13. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the microphone is configured to receive a user'"'"'s sounds by means different from the touches in the regions that are touch sensitive,

wherein the microphone is configured to receive the user'"'"'s sounds while a song is being played in the electronic device;

and

wherein the digital signal processor is further configured to interpret the user'"'"'s sounds received by the microphone and transform the user'"'"'s sounds into musical instruments sounds.