Music – Instruments – Electrical musical tone generation
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-06
2001-12-25
Witkowski, Stanley J. (Department: 2837)
Music
Instruments
Electrical musical tone generation
C084S47000P
Reexamination Certificate
active
06333455
ABSTRACT:
PRIORITY
This application relates to Japanese Patent Application Number Hei 11-253157 filed on Sep. 7, 1999, which is incorporated by reference and from which priority is claimed.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument and, in further detail, it relates to an electronic musical instrument that is furnished with an automatic performance means in which performance data is performed automatically.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Electronic musical instruments have been furnished with an automatic performance means in which performance data for musical compositions that have been stored in advance are performed automatically. These kinds of electronic musical instruments are typically set up so that a performer can carry out a performance with said electronic musical instrument to match the automatic performance of the performance data by the automatic performance means and, by this means, it is possible for the performer to practice to attempt to improve his or her performance technique.
However, in such prior electronic musical instruments as that described above, even if the performer makes a mistake in the performance or the performer does not know the music that should be performed and stops the performance, the automatic performance by the automatic performance means keeps on playing by itself. Because of this, the performer has not been able to carry out an automatic performance.
With the phenomenon described above in which, irrespective of whether the performer makes a mistake or stops the performance, the automatic performance does not stop and steadily continues ahead by itself, the performer may not be able to carry out an automatic performance. Accordingly, there has been a problem with regard to providing psychological pleasure to those, such as beginners, who are not familiar with the musical instrument performance.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
Accordingly, to overcome limitations in the prior art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading of the present specifications, the present invention is one that was made taking into consideration the above mentioned problems of the prior art. In order to achieve that objective, an electronic musical instrument is presented that compares the performance data of the parts that the performer performs from, among the automatic performance, a multiple number of parts and the performance condition of the performer and, in the case where it is determined that the performer is not carrying out the performance normally, automatically stops the automatic performance.
In order to achieve the above mentioned objective according to embodiments of present invention, a comparison is made of the performance of the performer with the automatic performance by the automatic performance means and, in the case where a specified period of time has passed after the two are not in agreement, automatically stops the automatic performance by the automatic performance means.
In other words, one embodiment of the present invention has a storage means in which the performance data from a multiple number of parts are stored and an automatic performance means in which the performance data that have been stored in the above mentioned storage means are performed automatically and an input means in which optional performance data are input and a comparison means in which the performance data that have been input by the above mentioned input means and the performance data from a specified part that have been stored in the above mentioned storage means are compared and an automatic performance termination control means in which, in those cases where, as a result of the comparison by the above mentioned comparison means, a comparison result that the performance data that have been input by the above mentioned input means and the performance data from a specified part that have been stored in the above mentioned storage means are not in agreement has continued for a specified period of time or longer, the automatic performance by the above mentioned automatic performance means is terminated.
Accordingly, in accordance with the above embodiment of the present invention, in the case where the state in which the performance data that have been input by the performance means and the performance data from a specified part that has been stored in the storage means are not in agreement continues for a specified period of time or more, the automatic performance by the automatic performance means is stopped automatically.
Here, the meaning of “not in agreement” includes a case in which, without regard to whether or not performance data for the part that carries out the performance by the performer exists, no performance has been carried out or, in the case where a performance is carried out but, due to the fact that a different key has been pushed, the pitch is different or, the case where, even though the pitches are in agreement, the timing of the key pressing and releasing differs and these cases are detected as the areas that are not in agreement. For the timing of key pressing and the timing of key releasing, the allowable range at the time of non-agreement is established.
Incidentally, the above mentioned “storage means” corresponds to the “performance data memory 18” in the preferred embodiment for which an explanation will be given below (as will be discussed later, the performance data memory
18
is composed of random access memory (RAM)), however, it is, of course, not limited to this. Various kinds of storage systems such as, but not limited to, read only memory (ROM), hard disks or floppy disks may be employed as the “storage means.”
In addition, the performance data that are stored in the “storage means” may be performance data for a single musical composition or may be performance data for a multiple number of musical compositions.
In addition, in the case where the performance data for a multiple number of musical compositions are stored in the “storage means,” the multiple number of musical compositions that have been stored in the “storage means” may be performed automatically in order, or operators may be established with which the performance data for desired musical compositions are selected from among the multiple number of musical compositions that have been stored in the “storage means” (these correspond to the “musical composition selection operators” in the preferred embodiment for which an explanation will be given below) and the desired musical compositions that have been selected by said operators may be performed automatically.
In addition, the above mentioned “input means” corresponds to the “keyboard system 20” in the preferred embodiment, for which an explanation is given below.
Incidentally, the “input means” is, of course, not limited to the “keyboard system 20” in the preferred embodiment. It may be a musical instrument type of input system such as a device that simulates a percussion instrument, a device that simulates a stringed instrument or an input system like a computer keyboard or a mouse.
In addition, the above mentioned “automatic performance means,” “comparison means” and “automatic performance termination means” correspond to the control contents that are accomplished by the “central processing unit (CPU) 10” of a preferred embodiment, for which an explanation is given below.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, the comparison means is configured so that the pitch and timing that denote the performance data that have been input by the above mentioned input means and the pitch and timing that denote the performance data from a specified part that have been stored by the above mentioned storage means can be compared.
In addition, the above mentioned comparison means may be configured so that the Note On of the performance data that have been input by the above mentioned input means and the Note On of the performance data for a specified part that have been stored in the above mentioned storage means can be compared an
Matsuoka Kazuhiko
Yamada Nobuhiro
Yanase Kazuya
Foley & Lardner
Roland Corporation
Witkowski Stanley J.
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