GB2406429A

GB2406429A - Musical device using electromagnetic radiation beams to produce tones

Info

Publication number: GB2406429A
Application number: GB0421091A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karl Grossfield; Brian Pells
Original assignee: Hartana Developments Ltd
Current assignee: Hartana Developments Ltd
Priority date: 2003-09-23
Filing date: 2004-09-22
Publication date: 2005-03-30
Also published as: GB0322276D0; GB0421091D0

Abstract

A music apparatus (1) is disclosed, which is particularly suitable as a teaching aid for disabled children, comprising a housing (2) defining an opening (3), and means for producing a series of beams (11) of electromagnetic radiation directed across the opening. When the user interrupts a beam (11), e.g. by placing his hand through the opening, a signal is produced which can generate a musical note having a pitch corresponding to the beam interrupted. A guide rail (8) is provided to guide the user's hand relative to the beams (11). Further, means for memorising a sequence of musical notes and assisting a user to repeat the sequence of notes are provided. Such means can include a series of indicater lights (15) which light up to show the user which beam he should interrupt. Also, the apparatus can mute all the other notes except the one which should be played.

Description

Music Apparatus The present invention relates to apparatuses for producing

music, particularly for use by disabled people and/or those with limited mobility.

Previous apparatuses have not addressed the need for physical guidance of the user's hand. Furthermore, devices are known which can produce signals to indicate which notes should be played, but these systems are subject to the problem of wrong notes being played if the user is not fully proficient at using the device.

The present invention provides a music apparatus comprising a housing defining an opening, means for producing a series of beams of electromagnetic radiation directed across the opening, means for producing signals to generate musical notes in response to interruption of the radiation beams, and a guide rail extending across the opening transversely to the radiation beams for guiding the hand of a user relative to the radiation beams.

Advantageously, the user's hand may thereby be guided along a path parallel with the arrangement of the series of radiation beams, for reliable interaction therewith. Thereby, the hand movement can be transverse to the radiation beams, to ensure interruption of the desired beam or beams. Further, there is a reduced risk of the user's hand contacting and causing damage to the means for producing the series of radiation beams. Equally, the risk of injury to the user is reduced. Preferably, the guide is mounted removably and/or adjustably on the housing. By virtue of the adjustability of the guide rail, its position can be altered to suit each user. This can help to ensure the necessary interruption of the radiation beams when SUCH is intended. The rail itself would not normally interfere with the radiation beams, either by being transparent to the radiation used or simply being situated out of the way of the beams. The radiation used is preferably In the infia-rcd region but other frequency ranges could be used.

The present invention further provides a music apparatus comprising a housing deeming an opening, means for producing a series of beams of electromagnetic radiation directed across the opening, means for producing signals to generate musical notes in response to tnternption of the radiation beams, and means for mcmorising a sequence of musical notes and assisting a user to repeat the sequence of notes.

The ability of a user to play wrong notes for the sequence can thereby be reduced or eliminated. The apparatus may thus have broad application in the teaching of music by allowing the user to concentrate on aspects of a tune other than which radiation beams must be broken, e.g. the rhythm. The apparatus may also be used to teach children the association between the beams of radiation and their respective musical notes.

The feature of the guide rail may be combined with the means for memorising a sequence of musical notes and indicating the radiation beams that must be interrupted in order to repeat the sequence of notes.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings which are not to scale and in which Fig. I shows the front of an apparatus embodying the invention; Fig. 2 shows the rear of the apparatus; Fig. 3a is a rear perspective view of the apparatus; and Fig. 3b is a rear perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus.

In Fig. 1, there is shown an apparatus 1 having a housing 2 comprising vertical support members 4 and 5 and longttdinal upper and lower bars 6 and 7. An opening 3 into which a user can insert a hand is defined between the vertical support members 4, S and longitudinal bars 6, 7. A guide rail 8 extends between the two support members 4, 5 and is parallel with the longitudinal bars 6, 7. The guide rail 8 provides support for the user's hand. The player rests his hands or fingers or other objects on the rail and by sliding them along the bar is able to interrupt any beam.

Arranged in a series along an upper face of the lower bar 7 is a plurality of radiation transmitters 9 and arranged along a lower face of the upper bar 6 is a corresponding series of receivers 10. In an alternative embodiment, the transmitters 9 are located on the upper bar 6 and the receivers on the lower bar 7. Each transmitter 9 is located substantially opposite to a corresponding receiver 10. In a standard play mode of the apparatus, a beam l l of infra-red radiation is emitted continuously by each transmitter 9 and is received by the corresponding receiver 10. When the hand or fingers (or any sufficiently broad, opaque object) of a user arc inserted into the opening 3 so as to come directly between a receiver 10 and a transmitter 9, or a plurality of receivers 10 and transmitters 9, the beam or beams 11 are interrupted. In the embodiment shown, the beams 11 are substantially vertical so that the user's hand motion would be horizontal. It is also possible to have the beams l l arranged horizontally, with the hand motion being vertical, or to have the beams at an inclination. In one embodiment, there are 18 transmitters and 18 rcceivcrs, but any suitable number may be provided. The receivers and transmitters are connected to an electronic control (not shown) which is housed in the lower bar 7. In response to the interruption of the beam, the electronic control produces a signal to generate a musical note corresponding to that beam. the signal may be relayed to an integral electronic speaker, or to a keyboard which is attached via MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) in and out ports 21 and 22 (shown in Fig. 2). On a front face of the lower bar 7 there are provided mode buttons 12 and 13, including a record button 12 and a play button 13. A series of instrument buttons 14 are provided for selecting different instrument sounds.

In one embodiment, nine instrument buttons are provided.

On a front face of the upper bar 6, a series of lights 15 is provided, such as I,EDs, aligned with the beams 11 for indicating which beams 11 the user should interrupt. A series of letters (not shown) designating the corresponding musical notes is also provided on the front face of the upper bar 6, in alignment with the beams 11.

In the play mode, the user has freedom to activate any of the musical notes which he chooses. In the record node, the electronic control stores in its memory a sequence of notes which may be input by using the beams 11 or an external keyboard connected via the MIDI ports. In one embodiment of the invention, up to three different melodies can be recorded in three memories by a teacher/supervisor at any one time. The player can choose the preferred melody and can play according to a number of different modes. In a first mode, mode 1, the indicator lights 15 assist in finding the relevant beam, by lighting up next to the beam which should next be interrupted hi the sequence.

The lights 15 are controlled by the electronic control. Mode I can teach the pupil to learn the position of different notes, to associate the sound of the notes with the position of the relevant beain, and to learn to appreciate the sequence of notes in rising or fal I ing scales.

In a second mode, mode 2, the melody is played back from one of the memories at the same speed as originally recorded. Initially, this might be used with encloses where the time interval between the notes is similar e.g. marches etc. and thus mode 2 encourages practice of playing the melody in the correct tempo.

In a third mode, mode 3, the indicator lights no longer light up, but the player is assisted by all other notes except the correct note being muted. Thus, mode 3 can test whether the pupil has remembered the location of the notes. In this mode, if the pupil interrupts an incorrect beam 11 the electronic control produces no musical note generating signal. The electronic control is thus responsive only to Interruption of a correct radiation beam in the sequence.

Another possible mode utilises modes I and 3, whereby an indicator light 15 lights up next to the beam which should next be interrupted and at the same time, all other beams are insensitive to interruption.

The apparatus can replicate the sound of a number of musical instruments and the player can choose the Instrument which he prcLers to play by virtue of the instrument buttons 14. To test his skill in recognising different instruments, 'a random' key is provided which when depressed will cause the apparatus to play a pre-recordcd melody in a randomly selected instrument. If the user presses the correct instrument key 14, to identify the random instrument the correct choice is confirmed by a display, e.g. one of the indicator lights 15.

The apparatus allows the progress of the pupil to be easily measured by asking him to play a different recordings mode 1, 2 and 3, to listen to recordings of different instruments, and to select the correct instruments.

In Fig. 2, the rear of the apparatus is shown, where the M IDI ports 21, 22 and a power Input 23 can be seen, all of which are arranged on the lower bar 7. The inclusion of most of the electrical components in the lower bar 7 gives the apparatus a low centre of gravity and thus a good stability.

The perspective views of F igs. 3a and 3b show how the guide rail is mounted on the housing 2. In the embodiment of Fig. 3a the guide rail is mounted at each of its ends by opposed C-shaped brackets 31, fierily attached to the vertical support members 4, S or integral therewith. The guide rail 8 can be placed into and lifted out of the brackets 31 and can be located at various levels provided for by the different sets of brackets 31.

In an alternative embodiment shown in Fig. 3b, the guide rail may be continuously adjustable, by means of a guide channel 32 provided in each of the vertical support members 4, 5, the ends of the guide rail being firmly holdable in the channel e.g. by using a spring-loaded, telescopic guide rail or by making the walls of the channels 32 adjustable to grip the cuds of the guide rail 8.

The operational modes of the music apparatus are now described in more detail NORMAL OPERATION: when the apparatus is first switched on' the piano is selected as the default sound. The piano may be replaced by pressing any one of the other musical instrument keys 14. Further musical instruments may be selected by pressing any two of the nine instrument keys in sequence. In this case a 'Further Instrument' light comes on.

RECORD: In order to store (record) the notes/melody played on the keyboard, a 'Record' key is pressed followed by a 'Memory' key. The 'Record' light will flash until a 'Memory' key has been pressed. If no note has been recorded for more than 6 seconds the apparatus will stop recording.

PLAY BACK: In order to play the stored notes/melody, a 'Play' key is pressed followed by the 'Memory' key required. Then, an appropriate key is pressed to activate the desired mode, mode 1, 2 or 3. The 'play' light will flash until a Memory' and 'Mode' has been selected. The tune selected is then played through once at the correct tempo. After the tune has played through once, the chosen mode is started. Mode I will activate the guide light for the correct note to be played. The light will remain on until that note has been played.

Mode 2 will activate the guide lights in the tempo they were recorded in order to assist the player to play in the correct tempo.

Mode 3 will not activate the guide lights. The player is expected to remember the location of the note to be played. Only the correct notes can by played. All other notes are muted.

Random Instrument: A key is provided for selecting one of the 9 instruments at random. The pupil has to guess the correct instrument by pressing the appropriate Instrument key.

An adaptation of the musical apparatus on a much larger scale is envisaged whereby a person may pass their entire body through the beams e. g. by walking or In a wheelchair.

Claims

Claims 1. A music apparatus composing a housing defining an opening, means

for producing a series of beams of electromagnetic radiation directed across the opemng, means for producing signals to generate musical notes in response to interruption of the radiation beams, and a guide rail extending across the opening transversely to the radiation beams for guiding the hand of a user relative to the radiation beams.
2. A music apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide rail is mounted removably and/or adlustably on the housing.
3. A music apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the housing comprises at least two vertical support members and a longitudinal upper bar and a longitudinal lower bar, the guide rail extending between the support members and in a direction parallel with the longitudinal bars.
4. A Susie apparatus according to any one of claims I to 3, wherein the means for producing a series of beams of electromagnetic radiation comprise a series of radiation transmitters arranged longitudinally along the apparatus and a eorrespondmg series of revolvers.
5. A music apparatus eornpnsng a housmg defining an opening, means for producing a series of beams of electromagnets radiation directed across the opening, means for producing signals to generate musical notes in response to interruption of the radiation beams, and means lor rnemorisng a sequence of musical notes and assisting a user to repeat the sequence of notes.
(I. A music apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the means for memorising a sequence of musical notes and assisting a user to repeat the sequence are operable to Indicate the radiation beams that must be interrupted in turn in order to repeat the sequence of notes.
7. A music apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each beam of electromagnetic radiation has a corresponding indicator for indicating that the beam should be interrupted.
8. A music apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the means for memorsng a sequence of musical notes and assisting a user to repeat the sequence are operable to make the signal producing means responsive to interruption of a respective radiation beam only if the respective radiation beam corresponds to a respective note along the sequence of notes.
9. A music apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the apparatus is operable to play back the sequence of notes substantially as memorised.
10. A muscle apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is operable to replicate the respective sounds of a plurality ot musical instruments, and further comprises means for identifying the type of Instrument replicated.
11. A music apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 1(), wherein the means for memorizing a sequence of musical notes comprises one or more memories for storing one or more sequences.
12. A music apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.