JPS6239432Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an input device for an electronic musical instrument that uses breathing as an input means.

[Background of the idea]

In recent years, electronic keyboard instruments have been actively developed, but since these types of instruments use hands and feet as input means, they often require operating techniques, making them difficult for beginners to play. It was hot.

[Purpose of invention]

This invention was made in view of the above circumstances,
The purpose is to provide an input device for an electronic musical instrument that uses breathing as an input means and allows even beginners to easily input information in the same way as whistling.

[Key points of the idea]

In order to achieve the above object, this invention provides a playing opening that communicates with at least a pair of exhalation holes and intake holes through which air flows through exhalation or inspiration;
A first switch means is provided in the exhalation hole for outputting a signal in accordance with the air flow due to exhalation, and a second switch means is provided in the intake hole for outputting a signal in accordance with the air flow due to inspiration. .

In addition, this invention has a plurality of pairs of exhalation holes and intake holes that are commonly connected to one playing port and each has a switch means inside.
It is designed to output scale information of musical tones.

Furthermore, this invention outputs different electrical signals depending on the strength of the air flowing through each hole by means of each switch provided in the exhalation hole and the intake hole which are commonly connected to one of the pair of playing holes, It is designed to control the volume of musical tones.

[First Embodiment] Configuration A first embodiment of this invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the external appearance of the portable electronic musical instrument according to the present invention. A performance key group 2 of 31 keys is arranged at the front of the upper surface of the main body case 1, and a chord designation is placed next to the performance key group 2. A key group 3 is provided. Arranged above the performance key group 2 are a control key group 4 for storing musical pieces in memory for automatic performance, and a timbre selection key group 5 for selecting the timbre of musical tones. One-key play buttons 6a and 6b are provided at the front of both ends of the main body case 1, sandwiching the scale performance key group 2, for adding an arbitrary note length to the scale and chord written in the memory. There is. Program information including musical tone information such as scales and chords obtained by operating these keys is displayed on a display section 7 having a liquid crystal panel. 8 is a mode changeover switch for specifying various modes such as power off (OFF), performance mode (PLAY), and recording mode (REC), and the musical tones obtained by each of the above operations are controlled by the volume control switch group. 9 controls the volume appropriately, and the sound is emitted from the sound emitting section 10. The main body case 1 houses electronic circuit means, a speaker (described later and illustrated), a power source battery, and the like, which will be described later. In addition, performance key group 2
By operating the control key group 4, functions such as memory designation, rhythm pattern designation, and accompaniment arpeggio pattern designation can be partially performed. That is, among the performance keys 2 arranged in a keyboard shape, some of the keys corresponding to the black keys control the memory editing function of automatic performance. That is, in the automatic performance of this embodiment, the memory can be divided into eight parts, and the performance order of each memory can be programmed so that the same memory can be used for repeated parts.

The keys corresponding to the white keys of performance key group 2 are used to select each rhythm pattern or arpeggio pattern, such as waltz, ballad, swing, enka, 16 beat, rock 1 to 3, and disco 1.
~2. Any one of 12 rhythms such as bossa nova, samba, etc. that are made by simultaneously pronouncing three-note chords, or 6 arpeggios that produce dispersed chords in the pattern shown in the illustration of notes in performance key group 2. It is now possible to select.

The volume control switch group 9 is adapted to separately adjust the overall volume and each volume of the melody, chord, and rhythm.

Next, the names and functions of the individual keys in the control key group 4 will be briefly explained.

4a: Memory key... 8 memory numbers can be selected using some of the black keys of performance key group 2.

4b: Synchro start key...Set to start the chord sound and rhythm sound in synchronization.

4c: Rhythm key... Rhythm pattern can be specified using some of the white keys of performance key group 2.

4d: Code key...Instructs to add an accompaniment code to the music input into the memory.

4e: Change key...Changes the code obtained by automatic code addition.

4f: Tempo key... Adjusts the rhythm tempo up or down.

4g: Tuning key...Raises or lowers the range of the entire key in semitone units.

4h: Delete key...Deletes part of the musical tone information written in memory.

4i: Auto play key...Automatically plays songs written in memory.

4j: Back key...Moves back the musical tone information written in memory one step at a time.

4k: Next key... Advances the musical tone information written in memory one step at a time.

4l: Reset key: Stops automatic performance and returns to the beginning of stored music.

4m: Clear key... Clears the contents of memory.

The chord designation key group 3 is composed of a root designation key group 3a arranged like a keyboard, and a chord type selection key group 3b, and major (M) and minor (m) keys are assigned to each of the 12 types of root tones. , Seventh
(7), minor seven (m7), major seven (maj7), sixths (6), minor sixes (m6), susfour (sus4), and diminutive chords (dim), for a total of 108 chords.
It is now possible to output types of codes.

The timbre selection key group 5 is made up of eight keys, and eight types of timbres can be selected: piano, organ, violin, flute, guitar, horn, fannie, and mellow.

On the other hand, a press sensor 11 is electrically connected to the portable electronic musical instrument as an input device via a connection line 12. This press sensor 11 is
It converts the flow of air caused by breathing into an electrical signal and outputs it, and is configured as shown in FIG. 2. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2A to D, the sensor body (breath body) 13 of the press sensor 11 has holes horizontally formed in upper and lower stages, and the upper hole is for exclusive use for intake. This is an intake hole 13a, and the lower hole is an exhalation hole 13b dedicated to exhalation. The exhalation hole 13a and the intake hole 13b are each provided with a switch means for outputting an electric signal in accordance with the flow of air due to breathing. This switching means consists of a movable means and a converting means. The movable means includes an exhalation hole 13a and an inhalation hole 13.
cylindrical magnets 14, 14 are arranged in the interior of the cylinder b.
b, 16a, and 16b according to the flow of air caused by breathing. This protrusion 15a,
Among the protrusions 15b, 16a, and 16b, the protrusions 15a and 15b on the intake hole 13a side are formed at a position slightly closer to the air inflow side (left side in FIG. 2A) from the center of the intake hole 13a, and side protrusion 16
a and 16b are formed at positions slightly closer to the air inflow side (the right side in FIG. 2A) from the center of the exhalation hole 13b, so that the air inflow into the inhalation hole 13a and the exhalation hole 13b. Since the sides are opposite, the protrusions 15a, 15b and the protrusions 16a, 16b are formed at positions shifted from each other. Also, the intake hole 13
An upper storage recess 17a and a lower storage recess 17b are formed on the outsides of the air intake holes 13a and 13b, respectively.
The lower storage recess 17b corresponds between the protrusions 17a and 17b of the exhalation hole 13b. Iron pieces 18, 18 are provided in both storage recesses 17a, 17b, and these iron pieces 18, 1
8 is arranged on the air inflow side of each of the storage recesses 17a, 17b, and the magnets 14, 14 are placed in a predetermined position.
That is, it is a protrusion on the side into which air flows, and is held on the protrusion 15a side in the intake hole 13a, and on the protrusion 16b side in the exhalation hole 13b. Therefore, the magnet 14 in the intake hole 13a, in the airflow due to exhalation,
The magnet 14 in the exhalation hole 13b does not roll because it is caught on the protrusion 15a, but can roll only by the airflow caused by inhalation.
It does not roll because it is caught on the protrusion 16b, but can roll only by the airflow caused by exhalation.

On the other hand, a housing part 19 is formed between the intake hole 13a and the exhalation hole 13b, and magnets 14, 1
Conversion means for outputting an electric signal by the rolling of 4 is built-in. The conversion means is the iron pieces 18, 18
The fixed contact 21 consists of magnetically absorbing rollers 20, 20 that move with the magnets 14, 14 that roll against the holding force of It's summery. This fixed contact 21 is arranged almost at the center of the breath sensor 11, and in order to prevent the rollers 20, 20 from climbing over this fixed contact 21, the center of the fixed contact 21 protrudes. It is designed to output a signal (called a signal). Therefore, in the breath sensor 11, normally the magnets 14, 14 are held by the iron pieces 18, 18 as shown in FIG. Air flows into the hole 13a or the exhalation hole 13b, and the magnet 14 resists the holding force of the iron piece 18 and closes the intake hole 13a or the exhalation hole 1.
3b, the roller 20 moves onto the fixed contact 21 as shown in FIG. 2B or C, makes the fixed contact 21 conductive, and outputs a contact signal. The outer surface of the breath sensor 11 is covered with a lid 22, and a substrate 23 is disposed between the lid 22 and the breath sensor body. Further, a cap 24 is detachably attached to the end of the breath sensor 11, and the intake hole 13a and the exhalation hole 13b meet within the cap 24,
All you have to do is put your mouth on this mouthpiece 24 and breathe.

Next, the circuit configuration of the portable electronic musical instrument as described above will be explained with reference to FIG. 3, but only the parts directly related to this invention will be discussed. FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a portable electronic musical instrument, and in this figure, 25 is a CPU (central processing unit). This CPU 25 controls all operations such as sound production, recording, reading, and automatic performance in the portable electronic musical instrument. The CPU 25 receives the melody information D ₁ output from the performance key group 2 and the contact signal output from the breath sensor 11.
D ₂ , a mode signal D ₃ output from the mode changeover switch 8, and the like are input.
Further, 26 is a RAM (random access memory), and reading and writing of this RAM 26 is controlled by a read/write signal R/W output from the CPU 25.
Data _D4 is exchanged between the data D4 and the D5. That is, the RAM 25 stores the melody information output from the performance key group 2 when the mode selector switch 8 is set to the recording mode (REC).
_D1 is stored as data _D4 via the CPU 25. Furthermore, when the mode selector switch 8 is in the performance mode (PLAY) and the auto play key 4i is turned on, the RAM 25 stores the stored data.
Send D ₄ to the CPU 25 in sequence. If the contact signal D ₂ is not output from the breath sensor 11 at this time, reading from the RAM 26 will not be performed, and only after the contact signal D ₂ is given to the CPU 25 will the RAM 2
6 is read out. In this way CPU2
In step 5, data D4 is read from the RAM ₂₆ only when there is a contact signal _D2 from the breath sensor 11, and is sent to the musical tone creation section ₂₇ as musical tone data D5. The musical tone signal 27a created as a musical tone by the musical tone generating section 27 is then sent to the amplifier section 28.
After being amplified, the signal is output from the speaker 29 and emitted from the sound emitting section 10.

Operation Next, a case will be described in which a performance is performed using the electronic musical instrument configured as described above. First, when performing with the performance key group 2, set the mode selector switch 8 to the performance mode (PLAY) in advance,
The performance key group 2 is pressed. Then, melody information D ₁ is input from the performance key group 2 to the CPU 25 . Melody information D ₁ input to this CPU 25
At this time, the contact signal D ₂ from the breath sensor 11
If the contact signal D 2 is not output, it is sent to the tone generator 27 as musical tone data D ₅ , but if the contact signal D ₂ is not output, it is not sent to the tone generator 27 . The contact signal _D5 in this case is output as follows. First, put your mouth on the breath sensor 11 and breathe, and the air flows into the intake hole 13a or the exhalation hole 13b of the breath sensor 11 due to the inhalation or exhalation, and this air flow causes the magnets 14, 1
4 rolls in the intake hole 13a or the exhalation hole 13b against the holding force of the iron piece 18, as shown in FIG. Make conductive. Thus the contact signal
D ₂ output is done. In this way, only when the contact signal D ₂ is output, the melody information D ₁ from the performance key group 2 is sent as musical tone data D ₅ to the musical tone creation section 27, and this musical tone creation section 27 creates a musical tone. After that, the musical tone signal 27a is sent to the amplifier section 28, where it is amplified and output from the speaker 29, and the sound is emitted from the sound emitting section 10.

In addition, when performing automatic performance with the above-mentioned electronic musical instrument, after setting the mode changeover switch 8 to the recording mode (REC) in advance, operate the performance key group 2 to sequentially input the desired melody information D ₁ via the CPU 25. Store it in RAM26. After this, set the mode selector switch 8 to the performance mode (PLAY), turn on the auto play key 4i,
Breathe by placing your mouth on the breath sensor 11. Then, the contact signal _D2 is output from the breath sensor 11 as in the case described above, and the CPU 25 is thereby
The above melody information D ₁ written in RAM26
is read as data D ₄ , and then musical tone data D ₅
It is sent to the musical sound creation section 27 as a musical tone, and is emitted from the sound emitting section 10 in the same way as in the case described above. In this case, even if the mode changeover switch 8 is set to the performance mode (PLAY) and the autoplay key 4i is turned on, automatic performance will not be performed unless the player puts his mouth on the breath sensor 11 and breathes. In this way, by placing the mouth on the breath sensor 11, musical tones can be read and played either when inhaling or exhaling.

Effects As described above, this embodiment is equipped with a breath sensor 11 that uses breathing as an input means, and this breath sensor 11 converts breathing into an electrical signal and inputs it to the CPU 25, so even beginners can use their hands and feet. You can easily input and play by breathing. Also,
The conversion means, which is composed of rollers 20 and fixed contacts 21 and converts the rolling of the magnet 14 into an electric signal, is connected to each intake hole 1.
Instead of providing one for each of the exhalation holes 3a and 13b, one common one is provided, so the number of conversion means can be reduced accordingly.

In the above embodiment, the movable means of the switch means is the magnet 14, and the converting means are the rollers 20 and the fixed contacts 21, but they may be constructed as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7.

That is, the movable means of the switch means shown in FIG.
It is composed of a thin film-like flexible member 30 made of polyester or metal, and a rivet-shaped pressing member 31 provided on the flexible member 30. The flexible member 30 has one end fixed to the air outflow side (right side in the figure) in the intake hole 13a, and the other end extends in parallel on the bottom surface of the intake hole 13a and then extends diagonally upward. It is bent toward the upper surface of the air intake hole 13a and comes into contact with the upper surface of the air intake hole 13a. Also, the conversion means is
A substrate 32 fixed to the upper surface of the intake hole 13a, electrodes 33 and 34 formed below this substrate 32, a spacer 35 having an opening provided below these electrodes 33 and 34, and a spacer 35 attached to the lower surface of this spacer 35. It also has a flexible protective layer 37 with a conductive film 36 on the back surface. Then, when the flexible member 30 is deformed by the air flow caused by the intake air so that the end portion which is not fixed is elastically expanded as shown in FIG. 4B, and the pressing member 31 is pushed up, the pressing member 31 The conductive film 36 is brought into contact with the electrode 33 through the opening of the spacer 35 to output the contact signal _D2 . The exhalation hole 13b has the same structure as the inhalation hole 13a, just turned upside down, but the flexible member 30 of the exhalation hole 13b deforms only in response to the airflow caused by exhalation. It does not deform due to the airflow caused by intake. Even in such a case, the same effects as in the above-mentioned embodiment can be obtained.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the movable means is composed of the flexible member 30 and a magnet 38 provided at the center of the flexible member 30, and the converting means is composed of a fixed contact 39 and a movable contact 40. It may also be composed of.
The fixed contact 39 and the movable contact 40 are connected to the intake hole 13a.
and are stored in storage recesses 17a and 17b formed on the outside of the exhalation hole 13b, respectively. Then, the flexible member 30 is caused by the airflow caused by inhalation or exhalation.
As described above, it deforms elastically, pushes up the magnet 38, and its magnetic force moves the movable contact 40 towards the fixed contact 3.
9 and conducts it to output a contact signal. In this way, the same effect as above can be achieved.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,
A thin plate-shaped piezoelectric element 41 may be used as a switch means that integrates the movable means and the converting means. In this case, constricted portions 42, 42 are formed in the center of the intake hole 13a and the exhalation hole 13b, respectively, and the piezoelectric elements 41, 41 are disposed diagonally on the air outflow side of the constricted portions 42, 42, respectively. . The piezoelectric elements 41, 41 are deflected and deformed by airflow caused by inhalation or exhalation, and output different electrical signals in accordance with this deformation. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the circuit configuration is almost the same as the circuit configuration of the first embodiment (FIG. 3), but an A-D converter 43 is provided between the breath sensor 11 and the CPU 25. The different electrical signals output from the piezoelectric elements are converted into digital signals, and the volume of musical tones is also controlled. In this way, in addition to being able to perform the input performance as described above, it is also possible to control the volume of the music. Moreover, since each piezoelectric element 41 acts like a valve for air flow, each intake hole 1
3a and exhalation hole 13b to prevent backflow of airflow,
Air flow can be concentrated to the other side.

In addition to the above, in the conversion means comprising the rollers 20 and fixed contacts 21 in the first embodiment, a plurality of fixed contacts 21 are provided, and the rollers contact each of the fixed contacts 21 to output different contact signals. The above-mentioned volume control may also be performed, and in the case of the fixed contact 39 and the movable contact 40, the volume can be similarly controlled by providing a plurality of stages of these.

In addition, a fourth device using a flexible member 30 as a movable means is also available.
In the case shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 5, the conversion means is provided between the intake hole 13a and the exhalation hole 13b as in the first embodiment, so that it can be turned on from either side of the intake hole 13a or the exhalation hole 13b. The number of conversion means may be reduced.

Furthermore, a small differential transformer, differential capacitance, etc. may be used as the movable means and the converting means, and in this case, if an A-D converter is provided as described above, volume control can be performed.

Further, in each of the embodiments described above, a breath sensor was used as an example of an input device for an electronic musical instrument, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, if a plurality of playing holes are arranged in succession with a common exhalation hole and intake hole, it can be used as an electronic harmonica. In this case, if you blow one hole, you will get a “do,” if you blow the next hole, you will get a “re,” and if you blow the next hole, you will get a “mi,” and if you blow the next hole, you will get a “hua.” Even with the number of holes, it is possible to specify twice as many scales, making it a very effective electronic harmonica.

[Effect of idea]

As described above, this invention provides a playing port that is commonly connected to at least one pair of exhalation holes and an intake hole through which air flows due to exhalation or inhalation. Since the configuration includes a first switch means that outputs a signal and a second switch means that outputs an electric signal according to the flow of air due to intake air in the intake hole, even beginners can easily operate the switch as easily as blowing a whistle. This has the effect that input from an electronic musical instrument can be performed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of an electronic musical instrument and its input device according to this invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view thereof, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a breath sensor, and FIG. 2A is a sectional view of a breath sensor. Fig. 2B and C are longitudinal sectional views showing the operating state of Fig. 2A; Fig. 2D is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of Fig. 2A; The figure is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of an electronic musical instrument, Figure 4A.
-C, FIGS. 5 and 6 are longitudinal sectional views showing modified examples of the breath sensor, respectively, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the embodiment of FIG. 6. 11...Breath sensor, 13a...Intake hole (hole), 13b...Exhalation hole (hole), 14...Magnet,
20... Roller, 21... Fixed contact, 30... Flexible member, 31... Pressing member, 38... Magnet, 39
... Fixed contact, 40 ... Movable contact, 41 ... Piezoelectric element.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) At least a pair of exhalation holes and intake holes that generate airflow by exhalation or inspiration, respectively, an air inflow end of the exhalation hole, and an air outflow end of the intake hole. a playing port, which is connected in common to the exhalation hole, through which exhaled air to the exhalation hole and intake air from the inhalation hole commonly flow; 1st
and a switch means provided in the upper air intake hole,
An input device for an electronic musical instrument, comprising a second switch means for outputting a signal based on an air flow generated by intake air. (2) The input device for an electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the exhalation holes and the air holes are successively arranged in large numbers in correspondence with musical scales. (3) The first or second switch means outputs different signals depending on the strength of the upper air flow flowing through the exhalation hole or the intake hole. The input device for an electronic musical instrument according to item 1. (4) The input of the electronic musical instrument according to claim 3, wherein the different signal outputted by the first or second switch means is a signal for controlling the volume of the electronic musical instrument. Device. (5) The input device for an electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the first switch means and the second switch means are formed by an integrated single switch means. .