JP2005078046A - Guitar toy - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a guitar toy with which a person who does not play a guitar can enjoy playing the guitar and which can select automatic mode playing or manually operating mode playing. <P>SOLUTION: In a neck section 2 of a toy body 1 formed to simulate a guitar, a fret plate 4 is arranged to display guitar chords and chord switches 12 are arranged to detect pressing down of the fret plate 4. In a body section 3, a playing key 15, a mode selection key 17 and a specifying key 19, which is used to specify the selection of a rhythm pattern, are provided. When the specifying key 19 is pressed, chord sound is outputted with the selected rhythm pattern in the automatic mode. In the manual mode, the guitar chord specified by the chord switch 12 is outputted as chord sound in synchronism with the playing operations of the playing key 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a guitar toy, and more particularly to a guitar toy that allows a person who cannot play an actual guitar to play the guitar.

Conventionally, an electronic guitar has a string stretched between the body and neck, and when playing the string while pressing the string against the neck fret, the vibration of the string is detected by the microphone, and the detection signal However, in recent years, this electronic guitar had to be replaced with strings and tuned before performance, just like a normal guitar. There has been proposed an electronic guitar that can be played without stretching strings (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this electronic guitar, a linear member is arranged at the neck instead of the string, and when the linear member is pressed, the chord switch underneath is turned on, and string replacement and tuning are required. The guitar can be played without anyway.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-45090

  However, instead of a string, a linear member is arranged at the neck, and the chord switch detects whether or not the linear member is pressed, and the detection signal can be output as a guitar sound. You can play the guitar without performing the chord, but you have to press the linear member (chord switch) that composes the chord with the fingers of the hand that grips the neck, just like a normal guitar. It is unfamiliar to those who do not know, and there was a problem in applying to toys.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and even a person who cannot play a normal guitar can enjoy playing the guitar and can also perform in the automatic mode or perform the manual mode that reflects the user's preference. An object is to provide a guitar toy that can be selected.

The guitar toy according to the present invention has the following requirements.
(A) The toy main body is formed to imitate a guitar, and a fret plate displaying a guitar chord is arranged on the neck portion so that it can be pushed down, and a chord switch for detecting depression is arranged below the fret plate, The body is provided with a performance key, a mode selection key for selecting an automatic mode / manual mode, and an instruction key for instructing selection of a rhythm pattern of an output guitar chord (b) the instruction key is pressed (C) When the mode selection key is set to automatic mode, the chord sound is output with the selected rhythm pattern when the fret plate is pressed, and the mode selection key is selected. When the manual mode is set, the guitar chord specified by the chord switch is output as the chord sound in synchronization with the performance key operation. And (d) the chord sound be output from the speaker is decorated in the toy body

  Preferably, the toy body is provided with condition setting means for setting performance conditions such as volume, key, tempo, etc., so that it can respond to user preferences and ensembles with other musical instruments.

  The performance key may detect a down stroke and an up stroke, and may output an up code and a down code.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the neck portion is provided so as to be foldable on the body portion, and can be folded to be compact when being carried.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the mode selection key is set to the automatic mode, when the chord switch is turned on by pressing the fret plate, the chord sound is output with the selected rhythm pattern, and the mode selection key is set to the manual mode. The chord specified by the chord switch is output as a chord sound in synchronization with the operation of the performance key, so you can select the playing method according to your wishes, and even users who cannot play the guitar can play the guitar. Can enjoy.

  According to the invention of claim 2, by setting various conditions by the condition setting means, it is possible to perform user's preference and ensemble with other musical instruments, and enjoy the guitar performance more.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the up chord sound and the down chord sound can be output, the originality of the user can be exhibited.

  According to the invention of claim 4, since the neck portion can be folded, the shape of the toy body can be made compact when not in use, and a guitar toy that is easy to carry can be realized.

  The guitar toy according to the present invention has a toy body imitating a guitar, a chord switch for selecting a guitar chord on the neck, and a mode selection for setting a performance key and an automatic mode / manual mode on the trunk. A key and an instruction key for instructing the selection of the rhythm pattern of the guitar chord to be output are provided, and when the mode selection key is set to the automatic mode, the chord sound is output with the selected rhythm pattern each time the chord switch is pressed. When the mode selection key is set to manual mode, the chord specified by the chord switch is output as a chord sound from the speaker built in the toy body in response to the operation of the performance key. And even those who cannot play the actual guitar can enjoy playing the guitar. Which make it possible.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of a guitar toy according to the present invention. This guitar toy is formed by imitating a guitar in which a toy body 1 is composed of a neck portion 2 and a trunk portion 3, and the upper surface of the neck portion 2 is partitioned by frets. 12 fret plates 4 (4a to 4l) formed by imitating the fingerboards are arranged, and each fret plate 4 has two types of guitar chords (A, Am), (A #, A # m). ), (B, Bm)... (G #, G # m) are displayed, and a total of 24 types of guitar chords are displayed (see FIG. 2).

  As shown in FIG. 3, all the fret plates 4 are supported by a through-hole 5 formed in the center so as to be swingable downward by a support shaft 7 supported by a support portion 6 of the upper neck portion 2a. It consists of

  As shown in FIG. 4, the cord switches 12 (12 a to 12 x) are arranged at positions corresponding to the pressing projections 9 formed on the back surface of the fret plate 4 on the substrate 8 arranged below each fret plate 4. Therefore, when the fret plate 4 is pressed, the cord switch 12 corresponding to the pressing protrusion 9 of the fret plate 4 is turned on.

  The ON state of the code switch 12 is recognized by the control unit 40 described later, code data corresponding to the code switch 12 is read from the memory built in the control unit 40, and the read code data is converted into an audio signal. After being amplified by the amplifier 41, it is output from the speaker 42 as a guitar chord sound.

  A 7th key 13 is arranged on the left side surface of the neck portion 2 so that it can be pushed by the thumb of the hand holding the neck portion 2. The 7th key 13 is a long and protruding protrusion 13a projecting at both ends, and is rotatably supported by a support portion 14 formed on the lower neck portion 2b. When pressed, the 7th key 13 is turned to turn on the 7th switch 38. It is like that. When the 7th key 13 is pressed together with the pressing of the fret plate 4 during performance, a guitar chord (for example, C + 7th key = C7) combined with the 7th can be played.

  The body 3 includes a performance key 15 for manually outputting chord sounds, a mode selection key 17 for selecting an automatic mode / manual mode, an instruction key 19 for enabling selection of a rhythm pattern, and a dial for adjusting a volume. 18. A condition setting comprising a key setting button 20 for setting up and down keys (pitch), a tempo setting button 21 for setting the tempo of a chord sound output during automatic performance, and an end button 22 for effectively ending the end of the performance. Means and a speaker 42 are arranged, and a power switch 43 is arranged on the back.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the performance key 15 is composed of a mountain-shaped operation plate with a raised center, and one end of the performance key 15 is pivotally supported by the trunk 3 so that the operation plate 15 is played so as to play a string. In some cases, a sensor (piezo sensor) 16 attached to the back side surface of the operation plate 15 detects vibration of the operation plate 15.

  This operation board (performance key) 15 functions in the manual mode, and the sensor 16 plays the operation board 15 when it is played from the top to the bottom or from the bottom to the top so as to play a normal guitar string. Since the operation is sensed, the control unit 40 outputs a chord sound.

  FIG. 6 is a front view for explaining the internal structure of the neck portion 2 with the fret plate 4 removed and the body portion 3. The substrate 8 is provided with 24 cord switches 12a to 12x. An LED 30 that is lit when ON is disposed, and the body 3 has a rubber switch 31 that is turned ON when the instruction key 19 is pressed, a slide switch 32 that slides in conjunction with the mode selection key 17, and is ON in conjunction with the key setting button 20. A rubber switch 33 that is turned on in conjunction with the tempo setting button 21, a volume 35 that is linked to the dial 18, a jack 36 that connects headphones, a jack 37 that connects an AC adapter, and a power switch 43 are arranged.

  The power switch 43 is composed of a three-contact, two-circuit slide switch. The power is turned on regardless of the direction of sliding, and the play mode can be selected when it is slid to one side, and the demo is when slid to the other side. The mode is set.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the guitar toy. Reference numeral 40 is a control unit composed of a programmable speech synthesis IC, and this control unit 40 is a control program for controlling the entire guitar toy in a built-in memory. Data, code data, and other various data are stored, and demo data stored corresponding to various button operations are read out and converted into melody signals for output, or code data is read out into code signals It is converted and output.

  The melody signal and chord signal are amplified by the amplifier 41 and output from the speaker 42 as demo music and chord sound.

  The volume of the demo tune and chord sound output from the speaker 42 can be adjusted by the volume 35, and if a headphone (not shown) is connected to the jack 36, the guitar performance can be enjoyed alone.

  Reference numeral 12 denotes a code switch. The code switch 12 is composed of 24 rubber switches 12a to 12x connected in a matrix. The horizontal axis is directly connected to the control unit 40, and the vertical axis is connected via the decoder 44. The control unit 40 can recognize which code switch 12 is turned on from the horizontal axis input and the vertical axis input.

  When the control unit 40 recognizes the code switch 12, the code data corresponding to the recognized code switch 12 is read from the memory, and the read code data is converted into a code signal and output from the speaker 42 as a chord sound.

  When the demo mode is set by the power switch 43, the chord switch 12 can select a demo song and can freely select from 24 demo songs stored in the memory in advance. You can select a demo song.

  Then, a rubber switch 34 that changes the tempo in the same matrix as the code switch 12 and a rubber switch 33 that can select the key up / down are connected, and the operating state is recognized by the control unit 40 as in the case of the code switch 12. It is like that.

  The tempo setting button 21 can be changed in 10 steps from +5 to -5 by default [104] at the start, and the key setting button 20 indicates the position where the sound of each guitar chord can be heard correctly at the start. The default value can be changed in 10 steps from +5 to -5.

  Reference numeral 38 is a leaf switch corresponding to the 7th key 13, and when the 7th key 13 is pushed together with the press of the fret plate 4 as described above, the guitar chord (for example, C + 7th key = C7) combined with the 7th is obtained. You can play.

  Reference numeral 39 is a rubber switch that is turned on when the end button 22 is pressed. The end button 22 is a button that outputs a chord sound so that the end of the performance has a reverberation. When this end button 22 is pressed, the LONGDELAY The sound is switched to a sound source, and the FINISH sound is played for one measure with the last input guitar chord, tempo and key sound.

  Reference numeral 16 is a sensor (piezo sensor) that detects that the performance key (operation board) 15 is played with a finger so as to play a string. When the vibration of the operation board 15 is detected by the sensor 16, the control unit 40 The chord sound is output.

  Reference numeral 31 is a rubber switch that is turned on when the instruction key 19 used to select a rhythm pattern is pressed. The chord switch 12 that is pressed while the rubber switch 31 is on is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the rhythm pattern is designated, and the chord switch 12 arranged corresponding to each fret plate 4 has 24 types as shown in the rhythm pattern list of FIG. The user can specify an arbitrary rhythm pattern.

  Next, a usage mode of the guitar toy having the above configuration will be described.

  When the main switch 43 is turned on, an end sound is emitted once and the LED 30 is lit.

  Next, the mode selection key 17 may be used to select whether to perform automatic performance or manual performance.

  Next, the tempo and key (pitch) are set. Since [104] is set as a default value for the tempo, if the tempo is to be changed, the setting is changed between the + tempo key and the −tempo key. The tempo can be set in 10 steps from -5 to +5. After setting the tempo, set the key (pitch). Since this key is set as a default value at a position where the sound of each guitar chord can be heard correctly, if the key is to be changed, the setting is changed between the + FREQ key and the -FREQ key. This setting can be set in 10 steps from -5 to +5.

  If automatic mode is selected, set the rhythm pattern. As shown in FIG. 8B, 24 types of rhythm patterns are set. If the fret plate 4 (see FIG. 8A) is pressed while the instruction key 19 is pressed, the fret plate 4 The chord sound can be output with the specified rhythm pattern.

  At this stage, since automatic performance is possible, the chord written on the score is referred to and the fret plate 4 on which the corresponding chord name is written is pressed. At this time, in the case of the 7th code, the 7th key 13 may be pressed simultaneously.

  When the fret plate 4 is pressed, the code switch 12 corresponding to the fret plate 4 is turned on, so that the ON state recognizes which code is selected by the control unit 40, and the control unit 40 recognizes the code corresponding to the recognized code. Data is read from the memory, converted into a code signal, and output. At this time, since the chord signal is output in a preset rhythm pattern, the output chord signal is amplified by the amplifier 41 and output from the speaker 42 as a chord sound.

  On the other hand, when the manual mode is selected, the chord sound is not output simply by pressing the fret plate 4. Therefore, the player reads the chord written on the score and designates the chord by pressing the fret plate 4. You can play with your finger to play a string. Since a chord sound is output every time the operation panel 15 is played, unlike the automatic performance, the performance can be performed with the rhythm configuration of his / her preference.

  Further, when the demo mode is selected when the power is turned on with the power switch 43, the demo music can be selected with the chord switch 12, so that the chord switch can be selected from the 24 demo music previously stored in the memory. The demo music can be freely selected by selecting 12, the demo data corresponding to the chord switch 12 is read from the memory, converted into a melody signal, output from the control unit 40, amplified by the amplifier 41, Since it is output from the speaker 42 as a demo song, it is possible to enjoy the performance of the guitar, and even those who do not understand the meaning of the chord or how to play it can sing along with the guitar.

  FIG. 9 shows a performance key 15 applied to another example of a guitar toy, and this performance key 15 is provided with two operation panels so that a down stroke and an up stroke can be detected. 15a and 15b. The two operation plates 15a and 15b are formed in a mountain shape with the opposing surfaces raised, and one end is pivotally supported by the body 3, and when the performance key 15 is played so as to play a string, the operation plate 15a Sensors (piezo sensors) 16a and 16b attached to the back side surface of 15b detect vibrations of the operation plates 15a and 15b.

  In the circuit diagram of FIG. 10, reference numerals 16a and 16b are sensors for detecting a down stroke and an up stroke. When the operation plate 15 is played with a finger so as to play a string, vibrations of the operation plates 15a and 15b are detected by the sensor 16a. , 16b, and the control unit 40 determines whether the stroke is a down stroke or an up stroke from the order of sensing vibrations of the two sensors 16a, 16b, and from the sixth string side to the first string as in a normal guitar. In this mode, the up stroke of the control panel 15 can be reproduced after the DOWN sensor 16a in the manual mode. When detecting the playing operation, the control unit 40 determines that the stroke is a down stroke, outputs a DOWN code, and outputs a DOWN code after the UP sensor 16b. N Susensa 16a is operating plate control unit 40 to sense the manipulation play 15 determines that the up stroke, and adapted to output the UP code, can appreciate an atmosphere of playing the actual guitar.

  FIG. 11A shows another example of a guitar toy, in which the neck part 2 is foldably attached to the body part. The neck part 2 is raised when playing, and the neck part 2 is carried when carrying. By defeating, as shown in FIG. 11B, the overall length is reduced to about half, and it becomes compact, so that a portable toy guitar toy can be realized.

  In addition, unlike a guitar with a normal string, if the neck portion 2 is raised, it is possible to enter the guitar performance without having to re-stretch the string or to tune it.

Front view showing an example of a guitar toy according to the present invention (Example 1) Explanatory drawing of the display of the fretboard of the guitar toy (Example 1) (A) and (b) are the plane side perspective views and bottom side perspective views explaining the said fret board (Example 1). (A) (b) is principal part sectional drawing explaining the fret board of a neck part (Example 1). (A) (b) is a perspective view of a performance key and a cross-sectional view of the main part of the trunk (Example 1) Front view for explaining the internal structure of the neck part and the body part with the fret plate removed (Example 1) Block diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of the guitar toy according to the present invention (Example 1) (A) and (b) are the fret board functions when selecting a rhythm pattern, and a table for explaining the rhythm pattern (Example 1). (A) (b) is the perspective view which shows the perspective view of the performance key in the guitar toy of another example, and the principal part sectional drawing of a trunk | drum (Example 2). Block diagram for explaining the electrical configuration of a guitar toy according to another example (Example 2) (A) and (b) are perspective views showing still another example of the guitar toy according to the present invention (Example 3).

Explanation of symbols

1 Toy body 2 Neck part 3 Body part 4 Fret board 15 Performance key (operation board)
17 Mode selection key 19 Instruction key 20 Key setting button 21 Tempo setting button 22 End button 42 Speaker

Claims (4)

A guitar toy characterized by having the following requirements:
(A) The toy main body is formed to imitate a guitar, and a fret plate displaying a guitar chord is arranged on the neck portion so that it can be pushed down, and a chord switch for detecting depression is arranged below the fret plate, The body is provided with a performance key, a mode selection key for selecting an automatic mode / manual mode, and an instruction key for instructing selection of a rhythm pattern of an output guitar chord (b) the instruction key is pressed (C) When the mode selection key is set to automatic mode, the chord sound is output with the selected rhythm pattern when the fret plate is pressed, and the mode selection key is selected. When the manual mode is set, the guitar chord specified by the chord switch is output as the chord sound in synchronization with the performance key operation. And (d) the chord sound be output from the speaker is decorated in the toy body   2. The guitar toy according to claim 1, further comprising condition setting means for setting performance conditions such as volume, key, and tempo in the toy body.   The guitar toy according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the performance key can detect a down stroke and an up stroke.   The guitar toy according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the neck portion is provided on the trunk portion so as to be foldable.

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