Music – Instruments – Electrical musical tone generation
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-26
2003-02-25
Witkowski, Stanley J. (Department: 2837)
Music
Instruments
Electrical musical tone generation
C084S644000, C084S670000, C084S47700R, C084SDIG006
Reexamination Certificate
active
06525252
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to the field of composing and arranging music. More particularly it relates to composing and arranging music using a computer device, and to playing the composed and/or arranged music in accordance with a specific physical representation of the music.
It is known to create music while using a computer, e.g. by connecting a piano like keyboard to the computer. When the keys of the keyboard are activated the computer may note which key or keys has/have been struck. It may then play and/or record the corresponding tone and/or it may produce a graphical representation, typically musical notes/sheet music, and the graphical representation may be stored and/or printed.
It is also known to use various detection means for detecting the presence of a certain game piece in a certain position. This has mainly been used in computer games, typically in board games, such as chess or checkers, being played on a computer. Such arrangements have been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,327 to Gilboa, U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,047 to Schwab and U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,447 to Dudley. U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,327 discloses a computerised game board, wherein it is possible to keep track of a number of toy figures on the game board by means of transponders being positioned in the toy figures. The information is transferred to a computer, so that the movement of a toy figure corresponds to the movement of a virtual figure of a computer game. U.S. Pat. No. 5,013,047 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,447 both disclose computerised board games, where it is possible to keep track of a number of game pieces being positioned on the board. The inventions of these references are particularly suited for positional games, such as chess or checkers.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,185 to Yamaguchi et al. discloses an electronic musical instrument comprising a plural number of component blocks being capable of being coupled mechanically and electrically in succession. When the blocks are connected either the time range of a tone or a tone range of the tones generated from the instrument is changed.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for composing and arranging music which is easy to use, so that e.g. children may use it, and so that it may be used as an educational toy. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an instrument building device which is flexible, so as to allow the user to build an unconventional instrument, and so as to support and enhance the creativity of the user.
Thus, according to the present invention is provided a device for composing and arranging music comprising
a sensor device having a plurality of receiving positions arranged in a two-dimensional array of which one dimension represents a temporal domain of the music,
a plurality of blocks each being suitable for being releasably arranged at each of the receiving positions, each of the blocks belonging to one of a plurality of sub-populations of blocks and having features being detectable by detecting means for detecting to which of the plurality of sub-populations of blocks a block arranged at a receiving position belongs as well as the position of said receiving position and for producing an output accordingly, wherein each block represents a predetermined musical feature, said representation being dependent upon the sub-population to which the block belongs as well as the position of the block on the sensor device along the second dimension of the two-dimensional array, the device further comprising
play-back means for playing music according to the detected positions and features of the block(s) arranged at the sensor device as well as according to the predetermined musical features.
The two dimensions of the two-dimensional array preferably arranged at least substantially perpendicularly to each other, but they may alternatively be arranged with any other suitable angle in respect to each other.
The temporal domain of the music is represented by the one dimension in such a way that when moving in a specific direction along this dimension (e.g. from left to right, from right to left or in an up/down direction), the musical representation corresponds to the music being played in the correct order, in a correct tempo etc. That is, a certain position along this dimension represents a certain point in time of the music. One unit of the temporal dimension may represent a single note/beat or it may represent a measure or part of a song or even a complete song. Alternatively or additionally one unit may represent “piece A” of a song while another unit represents “piece B”, the two pieces not necessarily being of the same length.
The blocks may be releasably arranged at the receiving positions by means of gripping means placed on each of the.blocks, where each receiving position comprises receiving means adapted for engaging with the gripping means of the blocks. Such gripping means may comprise mechanical gripping means, e.g. similar to the ones known from the building bricks manufactured by LEGO®, or similar to snap fasteners. Alternatively or additionally it may comprise any other suitable kind of gripping means, such as self adhesive tape, velcro® or similar gripping means.
Blocks belonging to the different sub-populations.are most preferably distinguishable from each other by visible characteristics, such as different colour, different shape or different patterns being drawn and/or stamped onto the blocks. Alternatively or additionally the blocks may be distinguishable from each other by characteristics which may be felt, such as different shapes or different patterns being stamped onto the blocks. In this case the differences may also be sensed by persons being visually handicapped or even by blind persons. Preferably the number of sub-populations is finite, most preferably less than 10, but there may be a larger number of sub-populations, and the number may even be infinite.
The features being detectable by detecting means may be the resistance of a resistor being positioned on the block, or it may be a pattern (e.g. a picture and/or a bar code or any other suitable pattern) which may be recognised by the detecting means, or it may be a transponder being positioned on the block or it may be any other suitable detectable feature.
The produced output may be an electrical or electronical output, such as a current signal or a voltage signal. It may alternatively be an electromagnetic signal, such as a visible, an infra-red and/or an ultra-violet signal, or even an X-ray signal. Alternatively or additionally the output may comprise an acoustic signal, such as a sound signal. The output should be significant of the block which has been detected and of the position of this block on the sensor device.
The predetermined musical feature may be a single note, a beat, or a certain musical phrase being played by a certain instrument or any other suitable musical feature.
The play-back means most preferably comprises one or more loudspeaker(s) and control means for controlling the output of the loudspeakers. The play-back means may comprise a tape recorder, a compact disc (CD) recorder and/or any other suitable kind of play-back means. The control means preferably comprises an amplifier.
The detecting means may be arranged on the sensor device at each receiving station. In this case the detectable features are directly detected when a block is arranged at a certain receiving position. Alternatively the detecting means may be arranged in a central position of the sensor device.
The play-back means may form a part of the sensor device. It may be a separate part of the sensor device or it may be an integrated part. Alternatively, it may be an external device, e.g. forming part of an external computer device or an external audio and/or video system.
The device may further comprise recording means for recording and storing music according to the detected positions and features of the block(s) arranged at the sensor device as well as according to the predetermined musical features. Such recording means ma
Brodersen Bertel Kragelund
Harding Hans
Klausen Ulrich
Harness Dickey & Pierce PLC
Innoplay APS
Witkowski Stanley J.
LandOfFree
Device for composing and arranging music does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device for composing and arranging music, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device for composing and arranging music will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3120955