IL111343A - Metronome - Google Patents

Description

IMPROVED METRONOME Rhythmar Ltd. specs003\95026rhy.thm 17decl995 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to electronic metronomes generally, and to programmable metronomes, in particular.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Metronomes, in one form or another, have been known for many years. The traditional, mechamcal metronome, employing a pendulum, produces acoustic signals and an invariable amplitude, which may be tiresome to a user. The tempo scale on this type of metronome has coarse control only, such that it does not facilitate complex study of rhythm.

Electronic metronomes are more flexible than their mechamcal predecessors, and offer a wider tempo scale and a finer tempo control. Some electronic metronomes also enable division of a user-defined tempo unit (expressed as number of beats per minute) into two or three subdivisions. They may also offer pitch control and a tap function. One such type of metronome is the digital metronome "Merina Multi 353," produced by the Zen-Or Company, Japan. Another commercially available metronome, produced by the Seiko Company, Japan, model number SQ 88, differs from the Merina Multi 353 metronome in as far as it has no screen, it is larger, and it does not provide a tap function.

The following patent publications describe various prior art electronic metronomes: Israel Patent No. 84374; European Patent Application No. 0315267; International Patent Application No. WO 9106940; and US Patents Nos. 4193257, 4354412, 4733593, 4974483, 4982642, 5027686 and 5214228.

The above patent publications relate to devices which are programmable to varying degrees, but which generate rhythmical sequences by use of counters and dividers. These devices are, therefore, relatively inflexible, and do not provide for gradual acceleration or deceleration; they do not provide simultaneous (vertical) or serial (horizontal) combinations of different subdivisions of the tempo unit; they do not facilitate checking by a user of his sense of rhythm while accelerating or decelerating his tempo; and they do not facilitate tempo jumps or step wise tempo alterations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide an improved programmable metronome which overcomes problems of the known art and which, further, also provides audio-, visual- and tactile-rhythm output indications, thereby enhancing and increasing the sense of rhythm development and perception by a user.

There is thus provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a programmable electronic metronome having two or more two output channels; two or more sensible indication output devices associated with respective ones of the two or more two channels; a tone generator for providing rhythm output indications via the two or more two sensible indication output devices via the two or more two output channels; apparatus for mputting a selected rhythm having an accelerando portion and either or both horizontal and vertical subdivisions; an interval generator for operating the two or more two output channels at calculated intervals; processing apparatus for performing real-time calculation of the intervals at which the two or more two sensible indication output devices provide sensible output indications in accordance with input data, and for operating the sensible indication output devices at the calculated intervals; and a power supply connected to the controller.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the two or more two sensible indication output devices includes audio output devices for providing audio output indications.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there are also provided, in association with respective ones of the two or more two channels, two or more two visual output devices and/or two or more two tactile output devices.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, each visual output device and each tactile output device is operative to provide sensible output indications corresponding to the audio output indications.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there are provided three channels and three sensible indication output devices, each associated with a predetennined channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a general block diagram of a programmable metronome constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2A is a more detailed block diagram of the metronome of Fig. 1; Fig. 2B is a schematic block diagram illustration of tactile rhythm output means fonning part of the metronome of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a flow chart representation of a series of steps by which serial (horizontal) combinations of different subdivisions of a tempo unit are provided by use of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a flow chart representation of a series of steps by which acceleration and deceleration combinations of rhythm are provided by use of the present invention; and Figs. 5A-5E are graphical representations of varying rhythms including different types of acceleration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to Fig. 1, the programmable metronome of the present invention includes a user terminal, a data processing and control unit 10, and a power supply 12. The user terminal includes a keypad 14, a visual display 16, a visual tempo output 17, audio tempo output means 18, and a connection 20 to a tactile tempo output device 220, shown in Fig. 2B.

The keypad 14 includes a plurality of keys for selecting operational modes, mode parameters, and run-rime controls, such as "start", "stop", and the like. The visual display 16 is typically an LCD display having a two-line alphanumeric display mdicating the state of operation of the metronome at all times. This is distinct from the visual rhythm output 17 which, as described below, is preferably made up of a plurality of differently colored light emitting diodes which are operated so as to indicate rhythm.

The data processing and control unit 10 is operative to receive, as input signals, a rhythm sequence keyed-in, via keypad 14, by a user; to process and regenerate the rhythm sequence by means of preprogrammed algorithms, portions of which are described below in conjunction with Figs. 3, 4 and 5, and in accordance with user-selected options; and to provide the generated rhythm sequence as visual, audio and tactile outputs, via the visual rhythm output 17, the audio output means 18, and tactile output device 220. Unit 10 is also operative to provide and regulate power to the various components of the metronome, from power supply 12.

Referring now also to Fig. 2A, data processing and control unit 10 is constituted by a monocrystal 1-8051 computer which includes an 80C32 microprocessor 22 (Fig. 2A), an address bus 24, data buffers 26, address latch 28, address buffers 30 and address decoder 32 for addressing external devices and memories. Unit 10 also has a read-only memory (ROM) 34 (Fig. 2A) for storing the algorithm of the present invention (described below in conjunction with Figs. 3-6E), a random-access memory (RAM) 36 (Fig. 2A) for storing user input data, and a non- volatile random access memory (NO VRAM) 38 (Fig. 2 A) for storing user input data even when the metronome is switched off. Typical capacities of the ROM 34, RAM 36 and NO VRAM 38 are 64k, 64k and 2k.

Microprocessor 22 has incorporated therein an internal timer which, in accordance with the preprogrammed software and user input, is operative to regulate the tempo so as to provide a selected rhythm. There are also provided, in order to control the event properties (i.e. the 'sharpness' of a tone), an interval timer or generator, referenced 122, such as an 80C54 program-controlled generator. A second timer or generator, which may also be an 80C54 generator, referenced 124, controls the tone output via the audio output means, described below.

The interval generator 122 and the tone generator 124 are common to and control three different channels, shown as "channel 0," "channel 1," and "channel 2" in Fig. 2A. Each channel is connected to audio rhythm output means seen in Fig. 2A, visual rhythm output means 17, comprising typically three differently colored light emitting diodes, and tactile rhythm output device 220, seen in Fig. 2B.

Referring briefly to Fig. 2B, it is seen that tactile tempo output device 220 comprises a plurality of electromagnetically controlled solenoid type switches MO, Ml and M2, which cause displacement of tactile elements K0, Kl and K2, such as vibratable membranes, in response to displacement of a switch member 226. Switches 222 are associated with respective channels via suitable buffers, the buffers being labeled BFO, BF1 and BF2.

The above-mentioned interval and tone generators provide signal outputs via the three channels, with the following characteristics: a. an acoustic label frequency in the range 131 to 523 Hz; b. an acoustic label length in the range 1 to 100 msec; c. a visual label length (or "switch-on time") in the range 1 to 100 msec; and d. tactile key solenoid rod stroke time in the range 100 to 1000 msec.

Each channel is driven independently of the other two channels, so as to provide visual, audio and tactile rhythm indications, in accordance with a selected rhythm sequence. In particular, and as seen in Fig. 1, the visual rhythm output means 17 includes three lamps 40 (or three pairs of lamps), typically differently colored light emitting diodes (LED's); the audio display 18, which is constituted by a speaker 42, is driven by the three channels so as to selectively emit any of three predetermined tones; and the tactile rhythm output means 220 (Fig. 2B) is constituted by three displaceable or vibratable tactile elements KO, Kl and K2, each associated with a predetermined channel.

It will thus be appreciated that a selected rhythm sequence is reproduced via three types of sensible output means, thereby being of use to deaf persons and blind persons, as well as to unimpaired persons.

As will be appreciated from the following description, it will further be appreciated that a feature of major importance in the present invention is its relative flexibility. This is due to the provision of software whose main features are described below in conjunction with Figs. 3 and 4, which facilitates real-time calculation and generation of each beat in a tempo unit or rhythm sequence, in accordance with user input data.

Referring now to Fig. 3, there is shown, in the form of a flow chart, a series of steps by which horizontal or serial combinations of different subdivisions of a rhythm sequence or tempo unit are provided in the present invention.

Initially, a user inputs, by use of the keypad 14 (Figs. 1 and 2) a tempo having a value in the range 10 to 480, and a number of tempo subdivisions, no greater than five.

Subsequently, the interval between interruptions is calculated, this interval being the time between the start of adjacent tempo subdivisions, and being defined as I = 60000/T, in which T is the selected tempo. Each channel is assigned, in real time, one or more tempo subdivisions, via which a tone or tones generated at a frequency in accordance with the tempo and the number of subdivisions and the number of beats in each subdivision are provided as output. Accordingly, the metronome of the present invention provides an algorithm which is operative in real time to generate the interval between interruptions and to assign different subdivisions to different channels. In order to obtain the highest possible accuracy in reproduction of the input rhythm sequence, the timing and generation of each beat is recalculated in real time via a software loop, regardless of the type of rhythm sequence.

The loop depicted in Fig. 3 is a real-time sequence which calculates and controls the commencement of each horizontal subdivision in a tone sequence. Similar loops are provided for vertical subdivisions, and for gradual transitions or accelerandos between different tempos.

In the present example, if the selected tempo is 90, then I = 666 ms and, if the subdivisions are 3:4:5:2: 1, then the length of each beat in the first subdivision is 666/3 = 222 ms, in the second subdivision is 666/4 = 167 ms, and so on.

Prior to activation, both an "interrupt counter" and an array representing the subdivisions index (IS) are reset.

It will be appreciated that the loop depicted in Fig. 3 is a red-time loop which continuously controls and assigns the provision of all three tempo output types to the three different channels employed, in accordance with the horizontal subdivisions.

The operation of the metronome of the invention using vertical subdivisions is now described. Briefly, as opposed to horizontal subdivisions, described above, operation of the metronome using vertical subdivisions entails the simultaneous provision of two or more different tempo subdivisions. This is done by assigning each subdivision a different channel and by operating the channels in parallel.

Initially, a user inputs a tempo in the range 10 to 480, and the number of vertical subdivisions which cannot exceed the number of channels. In the present example, therefore, the maximum number of vertical subdivisions is three.

The lowest common denominator of the input subdivisions, is calculated, thereby providing the minimum interval "I" between operation of any channel being interrupted. For example, for tempo subdivisions 3:6:9, the lowest common denominator is 18. Accordingly, if the tempo is 90, such that I = 666 ms, then the minimum interval I = 666/18 = 37 ms.

Subsequently, the number of interruptions Yn for each subdivision or channel is calculated, and the respective channels are operated accordingly. In the present example, Yl = 18/3 = 6; Y2 = 18/6 = 3; and Y3 = 18/9 = 2.

Referring now to Fig. 4, operation of metronome in an accelerando mode is described. This entails a gradual adjustment of tempo from one to another, via a transition section. As seen in Figs. 5A-5E, this may be a positive transition or accelerando, that is, from a first, relatively low tempo (tempo 1) to a second, higher tempo (tempo 2). A negative transition is known generally as ritardando, and is calculated in the same way as an accelerando.

Referring now specifically to Figs. 4 and 5A, an initial tempo value (tempo 1) and duration (number of beats) are input into the metronome of the invention by use of the keypad. Tempo 1 is required to be between 10 and 480, and for a duration of no more than 32 beats. In the example of Fig. 5 A, tempo 1 is seen to be Tl = 60, and for a duration Nl = 4. Similarly, in response to user prompts on visual display 16 (Figs. 1 and 2A), the following data is also input: the duration of accelerando (Na), the value (T2) of tempo 2, and the duration (N2) of tempo 2. In the example of Fig. 6 A, Na = (16-4) = 12; T2 = 120; and N2 = (24-20) = 4. The intervals between interruptions is calculated, thereby providing both a the beats at tempo 1 and tempo 2, but also during the accelerando. The algorithm is provided as step 300 in Fig. 4.

It will be appreciated that, while, in Fig. 6A, a relatively simple, linear accelerando is shown, various other geometrical and other types of complex accelerando or ritardando may also be performed by the metronome of the present invention.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the scope of the present invention is not limited to what has been specifically shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present invention is limited, solely by the claims, which follow. 111,343/2

Claims (7)

1. A programmable electronic metronome comprising: at least two output channels; at least two sensible indication output means associated with respective ones of said at least two channels; a tone generator for providing rhythm output indications via said at least two sensible indication output means via said at least two output channels; means for inputting a selected rhythm having an accelerando portion and at least one of the group consisting of horizontal and vertical subdivisions; an interval generator for operating said at least two output channels at calculated intervals; processing means for performing real-time calculation of the intervals at which said at least two sensible indication output means provide sensible output indications in accordance with input data, and for operating said sensible indication output means at said calculated intervals; and a power supply connected to said processing means.

2. A metronome according to claim 1, wherein said at least two sensible indication output means comprises audio output means for providing audio output indications.

3. A metronome according to claim 2, and further including, in association with respective ones of said at least two channels, at least one of the group which consists of: at least two visual output means; and 111,343/2 at least two tactile output means.

4. A metronome according to claim 3, and wherein each said visual output means and each said tactile output means is operative to provide sensible output indications corresponding to said audio output indications.

5. A metronome according to claim 1, wherein said at least two channels comprises three channels, and said at least two sensible indication output means comprises three sensible indication output means, each associated with a predetermined channel.

6. A metronome according to any of claims 1-5 and substantially as shown and described in conjunction with any of Figs. 1-5E.

7. A metronome according to any of claims 1-5, and substantially as shown of Figs. 1-4. For the Applicant, Yiixniyahu M. Ben-David Patent Attorney specs003\95026rhy.thm