GB2374973A

GB2374973A - Multipurpose keyboard with strap

Info

Publication number: GB2374973A
Application number: GB0201749A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Kevin O'conner
Original assignee: Opcon Ltd
Current assignee: Opcon Ltd
Priority date: 2001-01-27
Filing date: 2002-01-25
Publication date: 2002-10-30
Also published as: GB0201749D0

Abstract

This invention is a portable multipurpose musical keyboard assembly with a shoulder strap. Extra equipment such as sound producing modules, sampler, sequencer, hand held computer, CD player, MP3 player, lighting control unit and/or radio transmitter, battery supply may be attached to the case. The portable multipurpose keyboard consists of a previously constructed box mounted keyboard with straps attached to allow wearing of the keyboard in the same way as a guitar with strap over the shoulder of the performer. Attached to the same side as the playing keys on upper most surface of the boxed keyboard there may be two parallel threaded holed strips of material -2- to allow further fixing to the keyboard of additional hardware consisting base plate and backing support member. The additional hardware allows the fixing of sound module/equipment by use of base plate which supports the sound module/equipment. Eight screws located in pairs at each corner of the sound module equipment can be located at many different positions on the base plate thereby allowing a large variety of different dimension of sound modules/equipment to be fixed to the portable keyboard. The base plate is fixed to the two parallel holed strips of material -2- by a hinge which allows folding down of the base plate when the keyboard and equipment is not in use. In addition to mechanical fixing of music equipment there may be a facility to allow supply of various DC voltage sources all originating from a common rechargeable battery on board the keyboard.

Description

PORTABLE MULTIPURPOSE MUSICAL KEYBOARD The present invention relates to a portable multipurpose musical keyboard which allows a keyboard to be held over the shoulder of a performer in the same way as a guitar, while at the same time allowing extra sound generation modules, hand held computer, radio transmitter, CD player/players, lighting control and extra battery supply to be fixed to the keyboard.

The problem with many musical keyboards is that the performers have to stand in one fixed position on stage behind the keyboard obscured from view by the audience. There are many portable keyboards available on the market which are held in the same way as a guitar over the shoulder, however they are cumbersome requiring a wire connection to ancillary music equipment required to produce the played sounds. Also, the sound generating modules/sequencers, by virtue of their power requirement, have to be located away from the keyboard and cannot be viewed directly whilst being used during a performance when connected to the keyboard.

The present invention allows both the music keyboard and sound module, sequencer, sampler, hand held computer and/or radio transmitter, extra battery supply to be held by the performer while the keyboard is played in the same orientation as a guitar. The extra sound equipment is attached to the keyboard by use of a removable frame in an orientation which allows the equipment displays to be read easily by the performer while the keyboard is being played during a performance. This allows easy adjustment of the choice of sound produced and other effects during the course of the performance. In addition to the advantages described above, the modular nature by which the sound ancillary equipment is connected to the keyboard allows further expansion or modification to the system as new sound modules, samplers, sequencers, hand held computers, music player

technology and radio transmitters become available. The multipurpose musical keyboard has on board facilities to supply a range of voltages from a common rechargeable battery source to power the various extra equipment added to the musical keyboard. The rechargeable battery source has facility to give various DC voltages from the same series stack of battery cells and ensuring optimum discharging of the battery during use to power the various music equipment sound modules. A facility is made available to allow the equipment mounted on the portable musical keyboard to by powered by an external single DC source from the mains when necessary.

The multipurpose musical keyboard has the facility to carry communication equipment. Having a multipurpose musical keyboard with communication facilities added can greatly improve operation during performance such as making the connection from the performer to the mixing desk and amplifiers a wireless connection. Also, a communication facility can enable remote control of a Sound card located within a computer giving access to a large range of ambient sonic and phase effects. If the communications equipment is made such that the transmission frequency can be adjusted to match wireless headphone receivers, then the music can be transmitted to individual members of the audience each wearing their own receiver. Being able to transmit the performance to each member of the audience could have advantages in reducing the overall sound levels from the performance stage. Methods to reduce performance sound levels are considered preferable if performances are held in a venue situated in a high density urban environment or in the family home.

The portable multipurpose keyboard can also contain a small mixing facility to allow addition of voice audio signal or MP3 player backing track to be added to the sound produced by the keyboard/sound module/sequencer.

The above instrument described has great use for single performers who

wish to produce a finished and mixed sound at source rather than leave final sound quality to the remote mixing desk operator. Also the capability to accept all types of configuration of sound module/computer equipment of variable mechanical dimensions means this instrument will have long usage life.

In order that the present invention be more readily understood, an embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. I shows a view of the instrument laying on a table with two top fixing strips attached to boxed keyboard assembly; FIG. 2 shows a view of the frame which enables the sound module/equipment base plate to be attached to the boxed keyboard and strips assembly; FIG. 3 shows the base plate which supports the sound equipment; FIG. 4 shows a side view of the equipment fixing base plate; FIG. 5 shows a schematic of the DC supply from a battery supply attached to the keyboard; FIG. 6 shows a view of the instrument MIDI connections between keyboard, sound module/equipment and hand held computer to either a remote receiver then amplifier sounds system or individual headphone receiver per audience member; FIG. 7 shows the instrument connections for the generation of DVD audio by use of three separate sound cards mounted with a keyboard; FIG. 8 shows the merging of keyboard MIDI data with data derived from a movement transducer mounted with the portable keyboard; FIG. 9 shows the merging of keyboard MIDI data with data derived from a movement transducer mounted with the portable keyboard added to DVD audio MIDI set up;

FIG. 10 shows the merging of keyboard MIDI data with data derived from a movement transducer mounted with the portable keyboard added to DVD audio MIDI set up for a single DVD audio sound card in conjunction with a hand held computer; FIG. 11 shows the use of MIDI data to control the lighting using the portable keyboard as a performance tool; and FIG. 12 shows a view of an attachment of the equipment assembly which allows rapid replacement of the keyboard.

This invention is a portable multipurpose musical keyboard assembly with the facility to be fixed to extra equipment such as sound producing modules, sampler, sequencer, hand held computer, lighting control, music player and! or radio transmitter, battery supply and to be held and played like a guitar at the same time.

As shown in Figure 1 the portable multipurpose keyboard consists of a previously constructed box mounted keyboard -1- with straps attached to allow wearing of the keyboard in the same way as a guitar. Attached to the same side as the playing keys on upper most surface of the boxed keyboard, there are two parallel threaded holed strips of material-2-to allow further fixing to the keyboard of additional hardware made up of backing plate-6-and support member-3-. As shown in Figure 2 this additional hardware made up of base plate-6-and support member-3-is attached to the strip of material-2-by screws going into the threaded holes on strip-2-. The base plate-6-enables the fixing of sound module/equipment-4-. Two hinges-22-and-23 at either end of a support member - 3-add support to the equipment base plate-6-. Hinges are use to allow folding down of the base plate-6-when the keyboard is being transported. As shown in Figure 3 the base plate-6-holds the sound module/equipment-4-shown on a dotted line by use of four strips-7-,-8,-9-and-10-placed at each comer of the

sound module/equipment each strip being held in tension to the base plate by eight screws-12-,-13-,-14-,-15-,-16-,-17-,-18 and-19-two screws per comer strip. The eight screws situated in pairs at each comer of the sound module/equipment can be located at many different positions on the base plate-6-thereby allowing a large variety of size of sound modules/equipment to be fixed to the portable keyboard. The base plate-4-is fixed to the two parallel holed strips of material-2by a hinge-20-which allows folding down of the base plate when the keyboard and equipment is not in use. In some applications, where many different equipment are required to be fixed the keyboard, more than one base plate-6-and support member-3-can be used. Possible assembly in this situation is to place one base plate on the left and one base plate on the right of the top of the keyboard ensuring optimum centre of gravity of the whole assembly. To help in quick fixing and adjustment of the base plate assembly on to the two strips attached to the keyboard, wing nuts can be used until the right positions for a satisfactory centre of gravity of the assembly is achieved.

In Figure 4 there is a plan view of the base plate with various pairs of holes

- 24-,-25-,-26-,-27-,-28-, and-29-located on the base plate to allow different size of sound equipment/module. Each pair of hole is used with a screw and nut to attach a short strip so that any equipment located to the base plate will be held rigidly to the base plate.

The portable multipurpose keyboard allows incorporation of a battery supply which is used to power the additional music equipment and to counteract the weight of the extra sound modules equipment fixed to the keyboard assembly. Figure 5 shows how the music equipment components can be supplied from a single rechargeable battery-26-supply by use of voltage regulators-25-,-26-and- 27-. In addition to the use of a self contained rechargeable battery, the multipurpose portable keyboard equipment can be powered by a single external

DC source derived from the mains through connection-26-. Use of the mains may be preferable during use of the portable keyboard for long periods during rehearsal.

Use of a board multi-voltage DC source in the portable keyboard incurs a slight extra weight to the keyboard. A possible mechanical configuration would be the extra sound equipment positioned to the left of the keyboard while the counteracting weight of the battery being situated on the right of the keyboard.

Having the sound modules/equipment on the left is considered preferable so that the sound module/equipment display is readily viewable by the performer being closer to the head on the left as opposed to the right position on the keyboard. This rechargeable battery system can be either fixed to frame and keyboard or built into the body of the keyboard.

There are various possible music system configurations using MIDI leads and signal leads connecting the various music module hardware. Figure 6 shows the connection of music data between the keyboard -1-, sound module/equipment- 4-, hand held computer-28-and radio transmitter-29-. In the most simple configuration considered there is a MIDI lead connection from the keyboard to the sound module/equipment and an analogue signal line from the sound module to the radio transmitter. In Figure 6 the signal from the sound module to the radio is shown by a dotted line. The signal can be received and then either amplified by a sound system-38-or received by a wireless headphone-39-worn by each member of the audience. A MIDI lead connection can also be used between the hand held computer and the Sound module/equipment.

The portable multipurpose musical keyboard can be configured with various music equipment and used as a source of DVD audio music. Figure 7 shows the connection of music data using MIDI connections for the generation of DVD audio multichannel signals using a MIDI splitter-34-. DVD audio music at

present consists of six separate channels of analogue signal. A possible system configuration for the generation of DVD audio would be to use three stereo sound module equipment shown as-4-,-30 and-31-. In this music system one sound module-4-can act as master while a further two sound modules-30-and-31-are connected with a MIDI lead through MIDI splitter-34-and act as slaves. The six channel audio signal-36-is then derived from all three sound modules-4-,-30- and-31-, with each sound module producing a pair of stereo signal outputs.

Various strategies using the six channel audio output can be developed such as each channel is split into use with specific sound types. This can be achieved by assigning specific instruments to specific MIDI channels in the common MIDI connection. For instance, bass notes of low frequency come from two specific audio channels, while the other four channels are used for higher frequency signals. Additionally, small time duration delays, programmed within the master sound module, can be introduced into the two slave sound modules-3Q-and-31- with respect to the master sound module-4-to produce phase effects between one pair of channels and the other four channels causing spatial effects to the sound source. Alternatively, spatial effects giving the music generation a feeling of depth could be generated by putting for instance the drum accompaniment over four separate channels with each drum assigned to each analogue output.

A further enhancement to the generation of music generated by the multipurpose portable keyboard is to make the music generated to be effected by the movement of the keyboard during the course of a performance. This can be achieved by using an acceleration transducer fixed to the keyboard and combining the signal from the transducer with the audio signal in some way. Figure 8 shows the merging at point-35-of a signal attained from a simple acceleration transducer - 32-, converting it to MIDI signal and merging it with the MIDI signal coming from the keyboard -1- to the sound module/equipment-4-. The acceleration

transducer output-32-is converted to a digital signal and converted to a MIDI signal using a suitably programmed PIC IC-33-. The resultant MIDI is merged with the MIDI signal coming from the keyboard -1- to the sound module-4-. The result is the capability to add musical attributes to the sound output of the sound module by virtue of the motion of the performer and keyboard during the course of a performance. Aesthetically this could make the performer interact with the keyboard seem more like the playing of a guitar. An example would be where a small frequency shift would occur due to a sudden raising of the keyboard.

The acceleration transducer can introduce sound modulation effects to six or more channels of music as found in DVD audio. Figure 9 shows a suitable MIDI arrangement. In this configuration merging of the MIDI signal from the acceleration transducer-32-is fed into each sound module-4-, master and two slaves-30-and-31 from the PIC IC-33-. In the performance situation with three or more MIDI connected sound modules it would be considered preferable to limit the transducer effects on each sound module. This is because the total interaction of all six channels resulting from transducer control might be totally unpredictable causing distortion of the DVD audio output. It must be stated here that of course some musicians might want to make use of the unpredictable sound production quality anticipated from unlimited use of control from the acceleration transducer merged MIDI data.

The production of DVD audio-36-by a single dedicated six channel sound module-37-connected to the keyboard -1- would simplifY the music system design. In the simplest arrangement the DVD audio sound module-37-would be an add on sound card to a hand held computer-28-as shown in Figure 10. In this arrangement the acceleration transducer derived signal could be fed into a suitable port on the hand held computer-28-as a direct DC signal and cause audio effects to the DVD audio under the control of suitable software.

Use of a hand held computer fitted to the keyboard can enable both downloading and uploading of music quickly from the Internet. Such examples of music data are either MP3 encoded data or MIDI encoded data or song lyric data.

Having instant communication equipment attached to the keyboard allows the possibility of downloading of a huge range of music titles while the keyboard instrument is being played by a performer. The facility to download a large external source of music data is useful where a large choice of different titles of music may be requested by the audience such as that found in Karaoke. Having a connection to the Internet can also enable uploading of music such that a live performance could be accessed by a remote audience permanently logged on to the Internet or stored on to a web site for access at a later date.

The hand held computer fixed to the multipurpose musical keyboard can also be used to display lyrics to the songs being played by the performer using the portable keyboard. This is useful when a large amount of different song titles are being used by the performer.

Other communication equipment can be added to the portable multipurpose musical keyboard so that musical data can be transmitted by a wireless signal from the keyboard to a remote sound card located in a remote computer. In this situation the communication is two-way enabling real time monitoring of the remote sound card by the performer using the display of the hand held computer. This two way process of communication between performer and sound card could will rely on communication techniques similar to standard wireless local area network readily available for short distance communication as found at present in office computer networks. Suitable communication equipment exists for wireless USB connection between keyboard and computer sound card. Use of a remote computer to generate the final sound would be preferable in cases where a large number of audio tracks were being generated by the performer as is the case for DVD audio which uses

six separate audio tracks. Another advantage of using a remote computer to generate the final audio signal would be in cases when there is short interruption of the radio contact between multipurpose portable keyboard and receiver during the course of a performance. This interruption might occur when a particular orientation of the multipurpose keyboard causes poor alignment of transmitter and receiver antennae.

In some situations it would be possible to add modulation of the sound output as function of the orientation of the keyboard with respect to the horizontal.

This would involve the use of a position transducer incorporated in the keyboard which would affect the data transmission from the keyboard to the sound module/sequencer/computer. Having the orientation of the keyboard inputting sound attributes to the overall sound output would enhance the appearance of the musical performance.

In addition to music sound transmission from the portable multipurpose keyboard, data can be transmitted from the keyboard to the remote radio receiver which determines the lighting of the performer while positioned on the stage. The lighting data could be transmitted on a separate dedicated channel either under control by the performing artist using the portable keyboard or by preprogrammed data associated with a particular song. In many situations the artist would be very busy with the generation of the music by playing of the keys and may not have time to adjust the lighting during the performance.

Alternatively the artist may use pre-recorded music and involve themselves in total control of the lighting arrangement. Figure 11 shows an arrangement whereby MIDI controls the lighting through MIDI/event converter-42-and dedicated radio transmitter-43-. The audio signal goes from two music media players-40-and-41-goes through a separate transmitter-44-. In this situation WAV or MP3 music data could be played from conventional compact disk or

minidisk hardware players-40-and-41-. The two music media players-40-and- 41-would be used and the performance conducted in traditional'disk jockey' style. This would involve playing the music from the pre-recorded media such as CD on two CD players one after another.

To improve the aesthetic appearance of the portable keyboard appearance an extra cover is provided to conceal the fixing frames and base plate of various music equipment from the audience during performances. The cover makes the multipurpose portable musical keyboard appear as an integral unit. In addition, the cover protects the wiring between the various musical equipment from accidental disconnection during a very active performance by the artist involving the rapid movement of the keyboard.

A common problem with many portable keyboards is an electronic failure of the PCB within the boxed keyboard or mechanical failure of a key due to extreme forces encountered by the keyboard during a very active performance. To enable ease of replacement of the keyboard when a failure occurs, the mechanical assembly of the multipurpose keyboard can be designed so that all the music equipment and mounting fixtures can be quickly removed from the keyboard. This can be achieved by making the two strips-2-as shown in Fig 1 part of two further supports-45-and-46-attached to the keyboard as shown in Fig 12. In this arrangement there are two further supports-45-and-46-grip the keyboard with circular forms at either end of the keyboard, each form being flexible enough to be wrapped around the body of the keyboard. Both forms-45-and-46 are permanently attached to the attachment strips-2-at the same time held in tension to the keyboard by two tightening screw and nut arrangement as shown in-47-and - 48-. If necessary wing nuts can be used with screws-47-and-48-to assist in the rapid removal of a faulty keyboard form the equipment assembly. The strap-50which holds the keyboard in this arrangement can be attached to the further

supports-45-and-46-and is therefore also removed from the keyboard with the equipment assembly when rapid replacement is required. in this arrangement the multivoltage rechargeable battery supply can only be attached to the keyboard in an external fashion by attachment to a base plate fixed on to the two mounting strips-2-.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard to be work over the shoulder by a performer with a strap attached to the case of the keyboard adjacent the side where the keys are located so that the keyboard hangs with the keys in the vertical plane and the playing keys are uppermost.

2. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the case of the keyboard is provided with means for mounting further electrical equipment on the case.

3. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to claim 2 wherein the mounting means comprises two strips of material with holes spaced along length of material attached to the top of the case.

4. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to claim 3, and comprising a further frame which is attached to the two strips of material attached to the keyboard and supports a base plate whereby additional sound equipment, music player, computer, battery supply and/or communication equipment to be fixed to the base plate and keyboard.

5. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to claim 4 wherein the base plate is angled to the plane of the keyboard.

6. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the further frame is provided with clamps for holding module/equipment by the action of four short strips of material at each comer of the base plate.

7. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to claim 6 wherein the clamping means is adjustable to accommodate different sizes of electrical equipment.

8. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the mounting means is arranged to be fixed to the case at different positions to allow adjustment of overall centre of gravity of musical keyboard.

9. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the mounting means is easily removed from the keyboard.

10. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the mounting means includes a frame which may be folded down when the musical keyboard is packed away.

11. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to any one of the preceding claims which has a cover over the mounting means making the keyboard appear as an integral while the keyboard is being played.

12. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to claim 3 wherein the two strips which are attached to the boxed keyboard to be removed from the boxed keyboard with the supporting strap which is used to support the whole keyboard on the shoulder of the performer.

13. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the further electrical equipment includes a mixer unit allowing a further audio signal from the performers voice and additional sound player/players to be added to the overall sound output.

14. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to any one of the preceding claims, and comprising a multivoltage rechargeable battery source as a permanent feature of the keyboard.

15. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to claim 14, and comprising a radio transmission facility as a permanent feature of the keyboard.

16. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to any one of the preceding claims with the facility to allow the signal from the keyboard and ancillary musical equipment to be transmitted between the performer and remote receiver connected via a wireless link.

17. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to claim 16 wherein the wireless link is of adjustable frequency.

18. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to claim 16 or 17 wherein the remote receiver is an audio amplifier or headphone.

19. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to claim 16,17 or 18 and comprising a wireless link to a remote computer sound card.

20. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to any one of the preceding claims with the facility to allow the signal from the keyboard and ancillary musical equipment to be transmitted or received between the performer and the Internet via a wireless link.

21. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to any one of the preceding claims with the facility to allow the signal from the keyboard and or further electrical equipment to be affected by the orientation and/or motion of the musical keyboard during a performance.

22. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to any one of the preceding claims with the facility to allow a signal from the keyboard and ancillary keyboard mounted equipment to control lighting during a performance.

23. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to any one of the preceding claims with the facility to allow production of music from pre-recorded media such as MP3, CD or minidisk player/players mounted on keyboard.

24. A portable multipurpose musical keyboard according to any one of the preceding claims with the facility to allow production of a DVD audio signal.