Education and demonstration – Cathode ray screen display and audio means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-11
2003-02-18
Cheng, Joe H. (Department: 3713)
Education and demonstration
Cathode ray screen display and audio means
C434S30700R, C084S610000, C341S176000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06520776
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a portable karaoke microphone device and a karaoke apparatus which are used for so-called “karaoke”, in which accompanying melodies are automatically played.
BACKGROUND ART
In the prior art, a recording medium such as a laser disk, video disk, etc. is played back in a karaoke apparatus main body which is fixed in a room. A portable microphone is connected to this karaoke apparatus main body via a flexible cord, and the voice signal from the microphone and accompanying melody played back by the karaoke apparatus main body are transmitted to speakers so that the sound is output. At the same time, characters indicative of the title of the tune and lyrics of the accompanying melody, etc. are displayed along with background images on a display device such as a cathode ray tube, a liquid crystal display device, etc.
In this prior art, the karaoke apparatus main body which is positionally fixed must be operated in order to accomplish the operations such as selection of the accompanying melody, etc.; accordingly, the operating characteristics are poor. Furthermore, the size of the apparatus normally tends to be large. In addition, it is not possible to store a plurality of accompanying melodies on a single recording medium; and it is necessary to prepare a plurality of recording media which are stored with not only the favorite accompanying melodies but also unfavored accompanying melodies. Accordingly, the operating characteristics are poor in this regard as well.
The object of the present invention is to provide a portable karaoke microphone device and karaoke apparatus in which the operating characteristics are improved.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention provides a portable karaoke microphone device which is characterized in that the microphone device comprises:
(a) a nonvolatile first memory which stores accompanying melody data,
(b) a nonvolatile second memory which stores image data,
(c) a first memory connector to which the first memory is detachably and replaceably connected,
(d) a microphone element which converts a voice signal into an electrical signal, and
(e) a processing means which creates an acoustic signal by synthesizing the accompanying melody data from the first memory and the voice signal from the microphone element, and which creates a composite video signal using the image data from the second memory.
According to the present invention, an acoustic signal and a composite video signal are respectively led out from the portable karaoke microphone device, and these signals are transmitted to the acoustic signal input terminal and to the composite video signal input terminal of a television set via, for example, a flexible cord. As a result, karaoke playing and singing can be enjoyed.
Furthermore, the present invention provides a portable karaoke microphone device which is characterized in that the microphone device comprises:
(a) a nonvolatile first memory which stores accompanying melody data,
(b) a nonvolatile second memory which stores image data,
(c) a first memory connector to which the first memory is detachably and replaceably connected,
(d) a microphone element which converts a voice signal into an electrical signal,
(e) a processing means which creates an acoustic signal by synthesizing the accompanying melody data from the first memory and the voice signal from the microphone element, and which creates a composite video signal using the image data from the second memory, and
(f) a transmission means which transmits a carrier wave that has a television broadcast channel frequency modulated by the acoustic signal and composite video signal from the processing means.
According to the present invention, a television set is provided along with the portable karaoke microphone device, and a carrier wave which has a television broadcast channel frequency is transmitted from this portable microphone device by a transmission means via an electrical signal line or by wireless transmission. This carrier wave is received by the television set, so that an image is displayed, and so that an acoustic output is performed. The accompanying melody data is read out from the nonvolatile first memory installed in the portable microphone device and is synthesized with an electrical signal of the voice of a singer, who is enjoying singing, from the microphone element so that an acoustic signal is created. Furthermore, a composite video signal in which respective horizontal and vertical synchronizing signals are synthesized is created by the processing means using the image data which constitutes the background images and stored in the nonvolatile second memory. The carrier wave which has a television broadcast channel frequency is modulated using the acoustic signal and composite video signal thus obtained from the processing means, and this carrier wave is transmitted. An acoustic carrier wave is frequency-modulated by the acoustic signal, and a video carrier wave is amplitude-modulated by the composite video signal. These carrier waves are transmitted by wireless transmission; and in this case, either electromagnetic waves or infrared radiation may be used.
The first and second memories may be flash memories or memories that are driven by a battery.
With such a portable karaoke microphone device, karaoke playing and singing can easily be enjoyed using, for example, a television set used in an ordinary household, etc.
The character data stored in the first memory may also be, for example a discrimination code assigned to respective characters. The processing device is constructed so that data to be displayed on the display device such as a cathode ray tube, a liquid crystal display device, etc. is created by means of font data or output data from a character selector used to display images in response to the discrimination code assigned to respective characters. As a result, the first memory can be of a smaller storage capacity.
The control data that outputs over time the character data and other image data, etc., of the accompanying melody data stored in the first memory is also stored in the first memory. Such accompanying melody data, etc. stored in the first memory may be created and stored in accordance with MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) standards.
The present invention is also characterized in that not only the accompanying melody data, but also the character data corresponding to this accompanying melody data, is stored in the first memory, and the processing means reads out the character data stored in the first memory and synthesizes the character images that express characters with the composite video signal.
According to the present invention, the character data that correspond to the accompanying melodies, such as the titles of the tunes, lyrics, etc. is also stored in the first memory, in which the accompanying melody data is stored. Furthermore, image data other than character data that correspond to the accompanying melody data may also be stored in this first memory. Such characters may include symbols, etc., in addition to characters such as hiragana, katakana, kanji (Japanese), numerals, etc.
The transmission means reads out the character data stored in the first memory and synthesizes the character images into a composite video signal together with the image data such as background images, etc. stored in the second memory. Image information and display timing data used to facilitate singing by causing the color of characters comprising the lyrics to change over time in accordance with accompanying melody data as the playing of such accompanying melody data progresses may also be contained in the first memory.
The present invention is also characterized in that at least the second memory, connector, processing means and transmission means are housed inside a long, slender housing; and a microphone element is installed in one end of this elongated housing with respect to the direction of length of the housing.
According to the present invention, the portable karaoke microphone device ha
Cheng Joe H.
Koda & Androlia
U's BMB Entertainment Corp.
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