CN1196099C - A device for displaying the keys of an instrument to be pressed - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus for a keyboard musical instrument includes a part for inputting sounds, a processing unit, and a display part to display corresponding keys of those input sounds. When not in operation, the device is substantially in the color of a key. The closest scale and degree of deviation are calculated from the input sound by pitch detection. The degree of deviation is shown in the color, brightness and rate of flicker of the display element corresponding to the closest scale and the adjacent display elements, all perceived as keys that will glow. More display elements than keys can be used to distinguish between more subtle deviations and the composition of different overtones. The device can be disassembled into short sections and can also be connected together to work as a whole device.

Description

A device for displaying the keys of an instrument to be pressed

technical field

In general, the present invention relates to a device that can be placed on a keyboard musical instrument to display performance conditions. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for instantly displaying the keys to be pressed by a player.

Background technique

US Patents US3722352 and US4457203 disclose different methods of illuminating the keys of a musical instrument being played. US Patent No. 5,907,115 discloses an add-on device for a traditional keyboard instrument, on which some light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are arranged. In the above three patents, between the keys and the display elements, there is one LED corresponding to one key. They are all based on pre-stored tunes in memory, and both use only light-emitting display elements.

Contents of the invention

The invention is based on the input sound signal, and is a device for displaying the keys to be pressed when a keyboard musical instrument is playing music. The overtone components (overtones) of the different sound inputs are also displayed.

Any deviation of the sound input from a scale to the reference music scale is displayed. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device which enables one to follow the sounds or songs from instruments played by other performers and see the keys to be pressed by the performers. The invention can also be used to process sound from another sound producing device, thus seeing which key to press.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device placed on a keyboard instrument which allows one to visualize the deviation of the musical reference scale in the scale of the sound input.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device placed on a keyboard musical instrument which makes it possible to see a plurality of sounds present in a sound signal, as well as the scale and harmonic components of each sound.

A different object of the present invention is to provide a tool to aid in the learning of the keyboard instrument.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device that enables a composer to see the interplay of different instruments and scales.

The present invention is a device for a keyboard musical instrument. It can be part of the instrument, or it can be an additional device placed separately on the key surface. When used as an additional device, the positioning member is adaptable to the shape of the key on the device. Positioning means allow the additional device to be placed in place on the key. This add-on can be combined into a single bar, the length of which covers all the keys, or it can be broken down into short sections. When split into short sections and placed side by side, they can be virtually joined. They can communicate with each other to work as a unit. They can also work without communicating with each other, but each is responsible for displaying a different scale range, and essentially executes the same algorithm, so it still works like a single device.

A kind of equipment for keyboard musical instrument of the present invention comprises:

a) a sound input section for inputting sound signals;

b) a processing section for calculating the frequency components, which processes the sound signal, the closest scale of the frequency components, its deviation and its overtones; groups the frequency components, and outputs the displayed on the display element graphics;

c) A display section which, when not in operation, acts like a part of the key and which changes color to show the scale of the input sound and the degree of deviation from the standard scale.

The device also contains a memory.

The sound input part of the invention can be a sound pickup device for receiving external sound. It can also accept input from various electronic devices, such as MP3 players, compact disc [CD] players, musical instrument digital interface [MIDI] keyboards or electronic computers. Basically, any musical instrument or musical device that can produce sound in analog or digital form can be used. It can also read out sound data that has been stored in memory.

The input sound is passed to the processing element, which is used to calculate those frequency components present in the sound signal. There are many different conversion methods to convert time domain data to frequency domain data, which are not described in depth here. For example, Fast Fourier Transform (Fast FourierTransform) belongs to digital processing, and filter bank (filter band) can be implemented with digital or analog components.

After converting from time to frequency, we can find that the frequency components in the frequency domain all have major peaks. The composite components are simple multiples of a frequency (overtones), all integrated one by one, and represented by a lowest frequency composite component, which is the fundamental frequency of the group. The different fundamental frequencies of the Group are processed separately, enabling the device to display multiple sounds, which are received from the part of the sound input. The amplitudes of the components that together form a group represent the sound properties relative to the fundamental frequency. Thus, the display of the scale will reflect the sounds produced by those different instruments and other sound producing conditions that can affect the harmonic composition.

As for each group obtained from the fundamental frequency, it is compared with the tonal scale in use. For example, in the twelve-tone average, middle C (middle C) is 261.3 Hz, and each semi-note is two to the twelfth power, which is approximately 1.06. There are other tones such as natural [Natural] and Pythagoras [Pythagoras] tones.

The key to be pressed is exactly one scale with the frequency closest to the fundamental frequency. One or more display elements of the corresponding keys are used to display the characteristics of the scale. On a pitch basis, those display elements adjacent to the displayed relative key element are used to indicate the degree of deviation from the reference frequency.

For example, a sound with a fundamental frequency of 262 Hz will cause those display elements in middle C to glow. A component emits light according to its overtone combination. One method is to use a single display element at that key, or to use multiple display elements of different colors to reflect the overtone combination of the fundamental frequency. Display elements use different colors or brightness to reflect the intensity of each overtone. In addition, like color mixing, each overtone of the fundamental frequency is assigned a different color to represent, and the color ratio is based on the amplitude of the respective overtone composite components. In addition, those different overtones can be subdivided into sub-groups, so that when a certain sub-group has no component, the display element corresponding to this sub-group will be completely dark. For example, assuming those overtones are split into single and double overtones and only a separate display element is used for the fundamental frequency, then for a pure sine wave with no overtones only the display element for the fundamental frequency will light up . The display elements for both single and double harmonics are dark. For some musical instruments, if there are only singular multiples or even multiples of overtones, only the fundamental frequency display element and one of the other two display elements will light up, and the light and its color reflect the overtone combination. The pitch display element adjacent to the higher scale is used to indicate a deviation of 0.7 Hz. Assuming that there is only one display element for each key, the display element corresponding to C# (C Sharp) is the display element of the adjacent higher pitch scale. It can use different colors or brightness to indicate the degree of deviation. It can also be of a fixed color, with dimming and brightening flashing speeds reflecting the degree of deviation.

Those display elements described above are considered capable of displaying different colors under the control of the processing part. It is selected from a reflective display device, or a light emitting device, or a light valve with light source. They can have sharp demarcations, such as LCDs [liquid crystal displays], or use a diffuser for blurred demarcations covering display elements.

Description of drawings

The above and other objects, structures and features of the present invention will become more apparent when this application is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. in:

Fig. 1 represents the block diagram of the apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of two devices of the present invention lined up on a keyboard instrument;

Figure 3 represents an image of the frequency components of overtones;

Fig. 4 shows the top view of the device of the present invention with one key and one display element; and

Figure 5 shows a top view of a device according to the invention with multiple display elements per key.

Detailed ways

The apparatus of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of the apparatus of the present invention, numeral 1 designating a voice input section. 2 denotes a processing section, 3 denotes a display element, and 4 denotes a memory. The sound input section 1 is connected to a memory 4 and to a processing section 2 . The input end of the processing part 2 receives the sound signal from the sound input part 1, and then performs frequency component calculation, group processing and display calculation in sequence, the output end of the processing part 2 is connected with the display element 3, and the other terminal of the processing part 2 is connected with the memory 4 connected.

Figure 2 shows the device placed on the keys of a keyboard instrument. As shown, the two devices 20 and 30 are placed in a row and have a longer range than a single device.

Figure 3 shows the main methods used by this processing element. Frequency components are detected (Detected), and each frequency component (overtone) that is close to a multiple of the fundamental frequency is grouped. 11 represents the first scale and its overtones, 12 represents the second scale and its overtones, and 13 represents the interaction of the first scale and the overtones of the second scale.

Figure 4 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention, here showing only one display element associated with one key 101. The frequency combination components are displayed in color on the display element 302, or are displayed without color at all. The deviation of the sound input from the standard musical scale is represented visually by the nearby display element 303 .

Fig. 5 shows another preferred embodiment of the present invention, each key 101 has a corresponding display element 302. When the input sound matches the scale of this key, the display element of this key will light up. Between the display elements corresponding to those keys is an additional display element 305; it is used to display the frequency deviation represented by those keys. Another group of display elements 304 associated with each key is used to indicate frequency composition components that are multiples of the fundamental frequency.

Claims (28)

1. equipment that is used for keyboard instrument comprises:

A) the sound importation of an input audio signal;

B) processing section that is used for the calculated rate composition, it is to voice signal, the most close scale of combination of frequency composition, its deviation and its overtone are handled; The combination of frequency composition is divided into groups and export the figure that shows on display element;

C) display part, it and can change color with the scale that shows sound import with the extent of deviation of standard scale just as the part of key idle the time.

2. according to the equipment of claim 1, it is characterized in that described equipment is as the part of keyboard instrument.

3. according to the equipment of claim 1, it is characterized in that,, be placed on the keyboards for musical instruments as an annex, and have with keyboards for musical instruments on the positioning element that matches of shape.

4. according to the equipment of claim 1, it is characterized in that the row that several equipment are lined up are to cover the key part of broad.

5. according to the equipment of claim 4, it is characterized in that the described equipment that this forms a line can not connect and work alone, use mutually the same algorithm, as a working unit.

6. according to the equipment of claim 4, it is characterized in that in fact the described equipment that forms a line connected together.

7. according to the equipment of claim 4, it is characterized in that a described row equipment can mutual communication be used as an integral device job.

8. according to the equipment of claim 1, it is characterized in that described sound input element is collected sound from environment.

9. according to the equipment of claim 1, it is characterized in that described sound input element receives the voice signal from another one equipment.

10. according to the equipment of claim 1, it is characterized in that described sound input element is read the voice data that stores in advance in storer.

11. the equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that, the data of described processing section stored voice are in storer.

12. the equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that, the input of sound in a pattern of computing, is handled in described processing section, sets its configuration then, behavior and according to the operation result of the computing sound import operating parameter as this equipment.

13. the equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that, the sound of input is handled an operator scheme in described processing section, calculates the combination of frequency composition of voice signal, the brightness of calculating its individual display elements then according to the intensity of combination of frequency composition.

14. the equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described processing section is calculated it and is being comprised the voice signal combination of frequency composition that is used to show calculating in a kind of operator scheme.

15. the equipment according to claim 13 is characterized in that, described combination of frequency composition is meant those to being that close simple multiple all is converged into single low-limit frequency composition each other, and the demonstration of its overtone composition then is pressed.

16. the equipment according to claim 13 is characterized in that, the frequency content frequency content near the simple multiple of fundamental frequency wherein all is the overtone of this fundamental frequency, and their intensity is used as calculates the display element color corresponding with the key of fundamental frequency.

17. the equipment according to claim 16 is characterized in that, the fundamental frequency multiple that is found is to be transformed into different colors, luminosity, and be incorporated in the display element of smallest number.

18. the equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that, processing section and other devices communicatings and work form an integral body.

19. the equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that, each key comprises a corresponding display element.

20. the equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that, also has other display element between the display element of key.

21. the equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that, obvious boundary is arranged between the display element.

22. the equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that, the display part has display element to be covered by diffuser; Be used for the contiguous light that display element sent is mixed.

23. the equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that, display element is reflective device.

24. the equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that, display element is a light-emitting device.

25. the equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that, display element is light valve and light source light source.

26. the equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that, as showing that those become the standard scale display element of its color along with the loudness of scale.

27. the equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that, the standard scale degree of deviation of equipment by from display element to flash rate shown.

28. the equipment according to claim 1 is characterized in that, the standard scale degree of deviation of equipment is shown by the color from display element.

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