GB2269263A

GB2269263A - Electronic wind instrument

Info

Publication number: GB2269263A
Application number: GB9216130A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leslie Vallance
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-07-29
Filing date: 1992-07-29
Publication date: 1994-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 2012-07-29
Also published as: GB2269263B; GB9216130D0

Abstract

An electronic wind instrument comprises a musical sound synthesiser controlled remotely by signals transmitted from an input instrument, Fig. 1, itself comprising a keyboard and a mouthpiece 6. Commands from the keyboard are transmitted through a window 2 as coded infrared signals. Commands derived from the player blowing into the mouthpiece are transmitted as analogue ultrasonic signals, the ultrasonic carrier pressure waves for these signals being generated by channelling the players breath over a resonant cavity 7 in the mouthpiece, the signal amplitude being used to control the amplitude of the output tone, and the signal frequency, which is dependent on the volume of the cavity 7, being used to control the pitch of the output tone. The volume of the cavity is reduced by application of lower lip pressure to a lever (13, Fig. 2) connected to a plunger in the cavity. The mouthpiece may be slidable on the instrument to select the notes, or fixed with keyboard switches selecting the notes (Fig. 5), or may be detached from a piano-type keyboard (Fig. 6). <IMAGE>

Description

3TX3CXRONIC lq2sTD ISTRuSwE This invention relates to the remote control of musical sounds by means of an instrument which provides the player with finger, breath and lip operated inputs. More particularly, this invention relates to an instrument for the remote control of musical sounds which provides the player with a keyboard input for selecting the pitch of a note, the type of sound and any required sound effect to be performed with the selected sound. A mouthpiece which may be separate from or detachably mounted on the said instrument provides inputs derived from the breath pressure and the lip pressure of the player.

It is customary to operate video and audio systems by the transmission of coded signals from a hand-held keyboard. The operations of switching on and off, selection of stations and the adjustment of the sound volume are the main uses for this form of control. The transmitted code contains an address as well as an operational command so that the command is only acted upon when received by the intended part of the system. Different systems are known to use infrared or ultrasound as the transmission medium for the signals. The carrier frequencies and the transmitted codes for both mediums are similar.

The simplicity, low cost and convenience of these methods of remote control makes their use in transmitting musical commands to a generator of musical sounds desirable. Moreover, there is the added advantage of enabling the user to control other parts of the audio system from the same transmitter.

A problem arises however, by the requirement to transmit a signal that will define the loudness of a sound in real time.

In accordance with the present invention, this problem is solved by providing a coded signal transmitted by infrared radiation to define constant states of output such as note pitch, and analogue signals transmitted by ultrasonic waves to define varying states of output such as loudness. In order to produce the analogue signals in the simplest possible manner, the player is provided with a mouthpiece that directs the players breath over a resonant cavity in the manner of a whistle.

The frequency of resonance of the cavity produces ultrasonic waves which can be modulated by the players breath pressure as in playing a traditional wind instrument. The energy of these ultrasonic waves provides an analogue signal that can be received by an ultrasonic transducer, converted to a voltage and applied to the gain control of an amplifier. The said amplifier has an input, provided by a tone generator, and the output is connected to an audio system. Since the presence of an input tone to the said amplifier is required at all times during play, it is necessary to bias the gain control to inhibit sound production when no control signal is present.

Further in accordance with the invention, there is provided a means of changing the frequency produced by the said resonant cavity. A plunger fitting closely to the side walls of the cavity is spring-loaded to limit against a lever, said lever being pivotted close to said plunger and extending past the plunger to limit on the portion of the mouthpiece sealed by the players lips when blowing. The plunger is caused to reduce the volume of the cavity when the lever is moved against the action of said spring by the player's lip pressure. The reduced volume of air in the cavity has a higher resonant frequency.This change in frequency of the ultrasound provides a further analogue signal that after conversion is used to provide digital input to the tone generator to lower or raise the pitch of a note, or raise or lower the amplitude of the harmonics of the note being played, as previously defined by a coded signal.

In order to provide input for the transmission of coded signals, the invention presents the player with key operated switches and switches operated by means of sliding contacts. The key operated switches are in several groups. In one group they are arranged for the easy selection of notes by the fingers. Other groups of keys provide for the selection of sound types, scale or key notes, sound effects and commands for audio system operation. The mouthpiece is attached to a slide, by means of which, movement of the mouth relative to the body of the instrument operates the sliding switch contacts to select each note as required or to play notes glissando. Since the selection of notes may be facilitated by the combined operation of some switches, a logic circuit that interprets the input to these switches is provided prior to encoding.To avoid continuous transmission of notceselecting codes resulting in excessive power consumption, the input to the encoder is monitored and only when a change of state is detected is the transmission of the code initiated.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective, the electronic wind instrument in the preferred embodiment.

Figure 2 shows a partly sectioned side elevation of the electronic wind instrument in the preferred embodiment.

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing each stage in the remote control electronics.

Figure 4 is a block diagram showing each stage in a remotely controlled music generator.

Figure 5 shows in perspective, the electronic wind instrument in an alternative embodiment.

Figure 6 shows in perspective, the electronic wind instrument in a further alternative embodiment.

Referring to figures 1 and 2, the Electronic-Wind Instrument comprises upper moulding 10 and lower moulding 16. Printed circuit board 19 is secured to the upper moulding 10 trapping in place rubber mat 8 containing conductive elastomer switch inserts (not shown), and the key pads in groups 1, 3 & 4.

Slide 5 lies in a slot formed by a gap between the side walls of the upper and lower mouldings. To permit maximum movement, the slide is allowed to protrude outside the mouldings at each end of travel. The outside portion of the slide provides a wedge-type shoe for the attachment of the mouthpiece 6.

The inside portion of the slide provides a platform for the attachment of spring contacts 9. A lid 2 is moulded from a material transparent to infrared radiation. It is hinged on lower moulding 16 and is openable to reload batteries 17. These are forced between conductive spring clips (not shovm) on the printed circuit board as the lid is closed. A spring catch integral with the lid moulding, keeps the lid closed. An infrared emitter 18 is mounted on the printed circuit board at a point where it can radiate through the lid.

The top surface of the printed circuit board contains an array of switch points which are selectively closed when a key pad compresses the rubber mat 8 bringing a conductive elastomer insert in the mat against the switch points. The bottom surface of the printed circuit board has a row of switch points along the edge traversed by the spring contacts 9. These switch points are successively closed as the spring contacts are moved by the player's action on the mouthpiece.

The key pads in group 1 are arranged to facilitate the selection of notes by the players left hand. The key pads in group 3 are arranged to facilitate the selection of notes by the players right hand. The key pads in group 4 are for inputs not required during the performance, such as class of sound or sound effect required. Integrated circuit chips 15 are mounted on the underside of the printed circuit board.

The mouthpiece 6 has an orifice 20 through which the players breath is directed against a sharp edge 11 over a resonant cavity 7. The volume of air in the cavity is determined by the plunger 14 which forms the bottom wall of the cavity. The plunger is urged against the lever 13 by a compression spring 12. A rim around the end of the mouthpiece comes against the inner surface of the player's lips allowing sealing of the lips. The bottom lip will then rest on the outer end of lever 13 and pressure on this lever may be exerted by the lip similar to the manner in which the player of a reed instrument exerts pressure on the reed. By exerting lip pressure on lever 13, the player can alter the frequency of the ultrasonic waves being transmitted.

Figure 3 shows a block diagram of the path from input to transmission.

The slide has a nil input position, which allows input of notes from keys.

To allow selection of notes by combined key depressions, such as occur in traditional woodwind practice, a combinatOry logic circuit determines the output to the encoder and to prevent continuous signalling when a note is selected, a change of state of the input is used to initiate the transmission of two identical signals. This is in order to reduce power consumption and increase battery life. The notes are encoded with fewer bits than that of the sound class and sound effects code. This is to improve the transmission speed.

The two codes require different addresses.

Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the path from reception of signals to sound output.

The infrared signals are decoded at separate addresses according to whether the signal is for a note, a sound class or a sound effect. These decoded signals are then input to a tone generator.

The ultrasonic signals are input, 1) to a rectifier, providing a voltage to control the gain of the voltage controlled amplifier and, 2) a frequency/ voltage converter providing a voltage input to the tone generator to modify the pitch or the timbre according to prior commands. The tone generator output is input to the voltage controlled amplifier and the output of this amplifier is input to the power output amplifier and speaker system.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the electronic wind instrument. The instrument is now held in a similar fashion to a woodwind instrument. Xey pads 1 are operated by the left hand and key pads 3 are operated by the right hand during play. Slide 5 is moved in and out of the instrument attached to mouthpiece 6.

Key pads in group 4 are forseLecting sound class and sound effect. The infrared emitter is located behind window 2.

Figure 6 shows in perspective, a further alternative embodiment of the electronic wind instrument. The mouthpiece 6 is held in the players mouth for playing. The notes are input through a piano type keyboard. Eey pads 4 provide for selection of sound class and sound effect. The infrared emitter is located behind window 2.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An electronic wind instrument comprising an input instrument in the form of a keyboard and a mouthpiece; said input instrument being provided with a means of converting the players breath pressure and key operation into transmissible remote control signals; and a musical sound synthesiser provided with a means of receiving and interpreting said remote control signals in order to create a musical output from said synthesiser.

2. An electronic wind instrument, as claimed in Claim 1, wherein there is provided an ultrasonic remote control signal produced by the player blowing through said mouthpiece, and an infrared remote control signal produced by the players key operation; said infrared remote control signals and said ultrasonic remote control signals being combined by said synthesiser together to control the musical output from the said synthesiser.

3. An electronic wind instrument, as claimed in Claim 2 , wherein the said ultrasonic remote control signal controls the start, stop, and amplltude of a preselected output tone.

4. An electronic wind instrument, as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the said infrared remote control signal selects the pitch of an output tone.

5. An electronic wind instrument, as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the said ultrasonic remote control signals are pressure waves generated by the passage of the players breath through a channel in the said mouthpiece and over a resonant cavity.

6. An electronic wind instrument, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a change of pressure of the players lips on the mouthpiece causes a change in the shape of the said resonant cavity, producing a change in the frequency of the transmitted ultrasonic remote control signals; said change in frequency being selectively used to control either the pitch or the timbre of the output tone of the said synthesiser.

7. An electronic wind instrument substantially as described with reference to the appended drawings.

7. An electronic wind instrument, as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the said input instrument is provided with groups of keys enabling the input of both musical commands and equipment-operational commands.

8. An electronic wind instrument, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the said mouthpiece is attached to a slider mounted on said keyboard, said slider being moveable, relative to said keyboard, to select the pitch of a note to be transmitted to said synthesiser, by the said input instrument.

9. An electronic wind istrument, as claimed in Claims 1 to 7 wherein the mouthpiece and the keyboard are separate input instuments.

10. An electronic wind instrument substantially as described with reference to the appended drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. An electronic wind instrument comprising a sound synthesizer, a keyboard operated controller for the transmission of remote control signals to said synthesizer, and an ultrasonic whistle for transmitting ultrasonic control signals to said synthesizer; said remote control signals being decisive for selecting continuous states of output of said synthesizer and said ultrasonic control signals being decisive for the amplitude and instrumental characteristics of the output from the said synthesizer.

2. An electronic wind instrument, according to claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic whistle and said controller are combined in a common housing adapted for manual selection of keys in said keyboard operated controller.

3. An electronic wind instrument, according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said ultrasonic whistle is attached to a slider in said housing, said slider being moveable, relative to said controller, to select the pitch of a note to be transmitted to said synthesizer by said keyboard controller.

4. An electronic wind instrument according to any of the preceding claims wherein said keyboard also transmits normal commands to the user's sound equipment.

5. An electronic wind instrument, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pitch of the said ultrasonic whistle can be changed by lip pressure; said change in pitch being reproduced in the output tone of the said synthesizer.