JP2004133135A - Electronic musical instrument with terminal for connection to external instrument terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it easy to connect external equipment to an electronic musical instrument and to make a jack substrate small-sized. <P>SOLUTION: A one-chip microcomputer 21 detects the external equipment being connected to a USB terminal 5 and outputs a USE signal. A host microcomputer 13 once receiving the USE signal makes a port SIO1 effective and breaks a port SIO2. Consequently, the USB terminal 5 is given priority to MIDI terminals 3 and 4. In priority processing of the USB terminal 5, a signal being transmitted at present is not held active, but lowered in level substantially to zero. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument, and more particularly to an electronic musical instrument that includes a plurality of connection terminals for connecting external devices, and is suitable for giving priority to these connection terminals.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 8 is a side view of a conventional electronic musical instrument having a plurality of external connection terminals. In FIG. 1, an electronic musical instrument 100 is provided with a MIDI-IN terminal 101 and a MIDI-OUT terminal 102, and a serial signal input / output terminal 103 of a personal computer. Communication performed between the electronic musical instrument 100 and an external device (not shown) through these terminals has different formats. Further, a selector switch 104 for selecting one of the terminals 101 and 102 and the terminal 103 was provided. The user needs to operate the selector switch 104 to clearly indicate which external device the user wants to connect to the electronic musical instrument 100.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Switching the selector switch appropriately may not always be performed by the user. This is because the user may be unfamiliar with the handling of such a device or may perform an erroneous operation.
[0004]
On the other hand, there is also a demand for miniaturizing a jack board for connecting an external device. This is for the purpose of reducing the layout flexibility and cost. For that purpose, it is convenient if the selector switch can be omitted.
[0005]
Further, even with the electronic musical instrument having the plurality of external connection terminals, they cannot be used at the same time. This is because there has been no request to connect and use a plurality of external devices at the same time. However, in recent years, the types of electronic musical instruments have been abundant and the usage forms have been diversified. Therefore, electronic musical instruments that can simultaneously process a plurality of external connections are desired.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to provide an electronic musical instrument with an external device connection terminal that can achieve ease of use and cost reduction, and that can be used in an expanded manner.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention for solving the above problems and achieving the object has a plurality of connection terminals capable of bidirectional transfer of information in mutually different formats, and an external device is connected to a predetermined connection terminal among the connection terminals. Means for detecting that an external device has been connected to the predetermined connection terminal, and enabling communication with the external device connected to the connection terminal, and connecting to the other connection terminals. The first feature is that the communication device has a priority connection unit that disables communication with the external device.
[0008]
Further, the present invention has a second feature in that when disabling communication with the external device, data for resetting information already transmitted at that time is output.
[0009]
According to the first and second features, when an external device is connected to a plurality of connection terminals, a predetermined connection terminal is preferentially selected, and only between the external device connected to the connection terminal and the electronic musical instrument. Bidirectional transfer of information becomes possible. Therefore, it is possible to omit the operation of the selector switch by the user and use the external device with the higher priority.
[0010]
The present invention also provides a storage unit for storing information transferred through the plurality of connection terminals, and a storage capacity detection unit for determining whether a capacity of the storage unit is sufficient to store the information at the same time. Means, when it is determined that the storage capacity of the storage means is sufficient to simultaneously store the information transferred through the plurality of connection terminals, disabling the priority connection means, A third feature is that information transferred via a plurality of connection terminals is simultaneously received and processed by the storage means.
[0011]
According to the third feature, by securing a sufficient storage capacity, it is possible to select information transfer by simultaneously using a plurality of external devices connected to the connection terminal, and the function is expanded.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of an electronic musical instrument according to one embodiment of the present invention. This electronic musical instrument is specifically an electronic piano. A jack substrate 2 provided on a side surface of the electronic piano 1 has a MIDI-IN terminal 3 and a MIDI-OUT terminal 4 (hereinafter collectively referred to as a “MIDI terminal”) and a USB that can be connected to an external device such as a personal computer. A terminal 5 is provided. The electronic piano 1 and an external device (not shown) communicate with each other through these terminals. It can be automatically played on the piano 1.
[0013]
When external devices are simultaneously connected to the MIDI terminals 3 and 4 and the USB terminal 5, the USB terminal 5 can be used with priority. In recent years, the number of users who connect and use a personal computer and an electronic musical instrument has increased, and it is desired to prioritize the USB terminal 5 in advance. This function can be determined internally without the user's operation, instead of selecting the selector switch every time the user connects. Details will be described later.
[0014]
Below the terminals, a connection terminal 6 for a pedal switch, an on / off switch 7 for an internal speaker, an audio input terminal 8, audio output terminals 9 and 10, and headphone connection terminals 11 and 12 are provided.
[0015]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a main part of the electronic piano. The electronic piano 1 has a host microcomputer 13 for controlling the entire electronic piano 1. The host microcomputer 13 performs a predetermined process based on detection signals input from the keyboard 14 and the operation panel 15. The keyboard 14 includes a sensor for detecting a key press / key release operation, and outputs key-on data, key-off data, velocity data, and the like (keyboard information). The operation panel 15 includes various switches, such as a main switch and an effect switch, and an LED display for performing a display according to the processing result of the host microcomputer 13 (none of them is shown).
[0016]
The host microcomputer 13 creates performance data based on the keyboard information and the switch operation detection signal, and outputs the performance data to the tone generator (sound source LSI) 16. The tone generator 16 is provided with a plurality of tone generation channels so that a plurality of tone can be generated simultaneously, and synthesizes tone by a sine wave addition method, for example. The waveform data formed in accordance with the input performance data is added with an effect by a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) 17 and further converted into an analog signal by a D / A converter 18. This analog signal is input to the sound system 20 via the amplifier 19.
[0017]
The host microcomputer 13 processes not only data input from the keyboard 14 and the operation panel 15 but also data input from an external device through the MIDI terminals 3 and 4 and the USB terminal 5. This external device and the host microcomputer 13 can transfer information bidirectionally. A one-chip microcomputer 21 is provided for processing of prioritizing data via the USB terminal 5 among data transmitted and received between the external device and the host microcomputer 13.
[0018]
The USB terminal 5 is connected to the serial port SIO1 of the host microcomputer 13 via the one-chip microcomputer 21, and the MIDI terminals 3 and 4 are connected to the serial port SIO2 of the host microcomputer 13. One terminal on the output side of the one-chip microcomputer 21 is connected to the IN terminal of the host microcomputer 13.
[0019]
When, for example, a personal computer is connected via the USB terminal 5, the one-chip microcomputer 21 communicates with an external personal computer or the like through the USB terminal 5, determines that it is active, and detects that it is active. For example, a USE signal is input to the host microcomputer 13. When the USE signal is input, the host microcomputer 13 enables the serial port SIO1 and disables the serial port SIO2. Thus, the USB terminal 5 has priority over the MIDI terminals 3 and 4. The connection of the USB terminal 5 can be determined by activating a specific pin. However, a command for identifying each other between the externally connected personal computer and the one-chip microcomputer 21 is transmitted and received. Can be determined by:
[0020]
When only the serial port SIO1 is enabled and the serial port SIO2 is disabled in response to the USE signal, it is preferable to perform a process of not keeping the information being transmitted at that time active. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing of a MIDI signal interrupted when a USE signal is input. As shown in FIG. 3, the key data through the MIDI-IN terminal and the key data through the MIDI-OUT terminal are lowered to a low level in response to the USE signal.
[0021]
FIG. 4 is a main block diagram showing a modification of FIG. In FIG. 2, the MIDI terminals 3 and 4 and the USB terminal 5 are connected to the host microcomputer 13 (the USB terminal 5 is connected via the one-chip microcomputer 21). Priority processing was performed. On the other hand, in this modification, the output side of the one-chip microcomputer 21 and the MIDI terminals 3 and 4 are once received by the selector 22, and the selected side is connected to the host microcomputer 13. That is, the USE signal output by the one-chip microcomputer 21 detecting the USB terminal 5 is input to the selector 22. The selector performs switching so as to connect the USB terminal 5 to the host microcomputer 13 in response to the USE signal. In this modification, the selector 22 must be added, but there is an effect that the load on the host microcomputer 13 is reduced.
[0022]
Further, data input via the USB terminal 5 is not necessarily limited to data processed through the host microcomputer 13. For example, audio information may be input as digital data through the USB terminal 5. In this case, the audio information can be directly input to the DSP 17 without passing through the host microcomputer 13.
[0023]
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example for performing processing of audio information. In the figure, audio information is input to the DSP 17 from the one-chip microcomputer 21 without passing through the host microcomputer 13. In this case, the one-chip microcomputer 21 has a function of determining whether the input data is audio information, and outputs data to the DSP 17 only when the input data is audio information.
[0024]
In the above-described embodiment, the USB terminal 5 is prioritized. However, communication may be made with both the MIDI terminals 3 and 4 and the externally connected device connected via the USB terminal 5. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the main processing of the host microcomputer 13 when both the MIDI terminals 3 and 4 and the USB terminal 5 are used simultaneously.
[0025]
In FIG. 6, in step S1, test data for determining the remaining capacity of the memory is written to the memory. The size of the test data is specified, and the writing area is also specified. In step S2, the test data is read. In step S3, it is determined whether the test data has been read. If step S3 is positive, "1" is set to the flag F1 in step S4. If the test data cannot be read, "0" is set to the flag F1 in step S5.
[0026]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the terminal selection process. First, in step S10, it is determined whether the USB terminal 5 is connected. If the USB terminal 5 is connected, the process proceeds to step S11, and it is determined whether or not "1" is set in the flag F1. If "1" is set in the flag F1, both serial ports SIO1 and SIO2 are enabled in step S12. On the other hand, if "0" is set in the flag F1, the process proceeds to step S13 to enable only the serial port SIO1 and disable the serial port SIO2.
[0027]
For example, the performance information input from the MIDI terminals 3 and 4 and the audio information input from the USB terminal 5 can be received by the memory of the host microcomputer 13, mixed by the DSP 17, and output.
[0028]
As described above, when the memory capacity is equal to or more than the predetermined amount, it is determined that simultaneous processing is possible, and the processing mode in which the USB terminal 5 is prioritized is prohibited. It is preferable to provide an external memory larger than the internal memory in addition to the memory.
[0029]
Automatically perform simultaneous processing when it is determined that the memory capacity is sufficient, so that one connection terminal has priority over settings with no external memory and settings with external memory Or simultaneous processing. However, not limited to this example, the simultaneous processing may be selected only when the simultaneous processing mode is selected in advance. In this case, when the simultaneous processing mode is not selected, priority processing for giving priority to one connection terminal is executed. The simultaneous processing mode may be incorporated as system data in advance, or the simultaneous processing mode and the priority processing mode may be selected by input means such as a switch.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, a preset external device connection terminal is automatically selected without a user using a plurality of external device connection terminals with a switch. . Therefore, it is possible to omit the trouble of specifying the external device to be used, and to remove the switch from the substrate on which the external device connection terminals are provided, thereby increasing the degree of freedom in layout on the substrate and reducing the cost by reducing the size of the substrate. Is also fulfilled.
[0031]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, by ensuring a sufficient storage capacity, information can be transmitted and received simultaneously through a plurality of external device connection terminals and processed. Therefore, when the external memory is provided and a sufficient storage capacity is secured, by setting the external memory to be removed, the processing by the priority connection means can be automatically performed. On the other hand, when an external memory is added, the priority connection means is invalidated and simultaneous processing becomes possible.
[0032]
As described above, according to the present invention, when a plurality of external device connection terminals are provided, it is possible to reduce the number of switch operations by the user and eliminate complexity.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view of an electronic piano according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of the electronic piano according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a processing example of MIDI information when priority connection is established;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of an electronic piano according to a modification.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a back blade configuration of an electronic piano according to another modification.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a memory check.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a terminal selection process.
FIG. 8 is a side view of an electronic piano according to the related art.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic piano, 2 ... Jack board, 3 ... MIDI terminal, 5 ... USB terminal, 13 ... Host microcomputer, 14 ... Keyboard, 15 ... Operation panel, 16 ... Sound source device, 17 ... DSP, 18 ... D / A Converter, 21 ... one-chip microcomputer, 22 ... selector

Claims (3)

A plurality of connection terminals capable of bidirectional transfer of information in mutually different formats,
Means for detecting that an external device is connected to a predetermined connection terminal among the connection terminals,
When detecting that an external device is connected to the scheduled connection terminal, communication with the external device connected to the connection terminal is enabled, and communication with the external device connected to other connection terminals is disabled. An electronic musical instrument with an external device connection terminal, characterized by comprising priority connection means. 2. The electronic musical instrument with an external device connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein when disabling communication with the external device, data for resetting information already transmitted at that time is output. Storage means for storing information transferred through the plurality of connection terminals,
Storage capacity detection means for determining whether the capacity of the storage means is sufficient to simultaneously store the information,
If it is determined that the storage capacity of the storage means is sufficient to simultaneously store the information transferred through the plurality of connection terminals, the priority connection means is disabled, and the connection via the plurality of connection terminals is disabled. 3. The electronic musical instrument with an external device connection terminal according to claim 1, wherein the information transferred by the storage unit is simultaneously received and processed by the storage unit.

Images