JP3164758U - Electronic musical instrument with multiple keys - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lightweight and portable electronic musical instrument for children for generating sounds, composing music, playing simple melody and playing in various electronic games. The electronic musical instrument includes a main body and a circuit board having an integrated circuit (IC). The main body includes operation keys divided into at least two rows and function keys. The IC stores at least seven electronic sounds corresponding to notes of de, les, mi, fa, so, la, and shi of all scales. Each operation key corresponds to at least one note. When one of the operation keys is depressed, the IC generates a sound corresponding to the note. When the function key is pressed, the IC executes a corresponding function of the function program, for example, raising or lowering the pitch of the note. When playing the electronic game, the operation keys and the function keys are used as control keys for playing the game. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus that can be played as a musical instrument and can be played as an electronic portable game machine.

  Although there are many toys available on the market, it is difficult to find a lightweight and portable electronic musical instrument for children who play melodies with electronic musical instruments. In general, a conventional keyboard instrument such as a piano or an electronic organ includes a plurality of keys, each key corresponding to a specific note. Thus, the keyboard instrument requires many keys that respond to several notes. For example, almost all modern pianos have 36 black keys and 52 white keys. Inevitably, the keyboard instrument is large and therefore inferior in portability.

  The object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight and portable electronic musical instrument for children to produce, compose, play simple melodies and play in various electronic games.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a small electronic musical instrument that can be easily held by a child. This electronic musical instrument has a plurality of keys including operation keys and function keys divided into a plurality of rows. The key columns can be arranged in a matrix layout or a non-matrix layout. Numbers, letters, words or patterns can be provided on the surface of the operation keys and function keys. Each operation key corresponds to at least one note such as de, les, mi, fa, seo, la, and shi. The function keys are suitable for adjusting the pitch up or down. When one of the operation keys is depressed, a sound corresponding to a specific note is generated. The user can raise or lower the pitch of the sound by pressing the function key. The function keys can perform other functions such as replay, input and setting, for example. Therefore, the electronic musical instrument according to the present invention enables a child to compose and play a melody.

  According to the present invention, the electronic musical instrument includes a circuit board having an integrated circuit (IC). The IC stores at least seven electronic sounds corresponding to all musical notes and has a predetermined function program for raising or lowering the pitch. When one of the operation keys is pressed, the IC generates a sound corresponding to a specific note. The user can save the melody composed on the IC and replay it later. Furthermore, the IC of the electronic musical instrument according to the present invention is suitable for storing a plurality of software games. The user can select a game, and uses the operation key and the function key to play the selected game.

  The electronic musical instrument may include a volume switch that turns on or off the audio output of the IC and adjusts the volume of the audio output. The electronic musical instrument includes a power supply and a game selection switch electrically connected to the circuit board. The power supply and game selection switch allows the user to turn on, turn off, and select the software game. Furthermore, the electronic musical instrument can include a setting and saving switch.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, numbers, letters, words or patterns are provided on the surface of the operation keys and function keys for children to remember or identify the notes.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the operation keys and the function keys are arranged in a 3 × 3 matrix. The electronic musical instrument can include nine or more keys arranged in a larger matrix. Alternatively, the operation keys and function keys can be arbitrarily arranged in a non-matrix layout.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the circuit board includes a plurality of light emitting units. The light emitting unit generates various lights of several colors at specific time intervals corresponding to various electronic sounds.

  Compared with a conventional keyboard instrument, the electronic musical instrument according to the present invention can play music over a wide range with fewer keys. Furthermore, the electronic musical instrument also provides a plurality of games that cannot be used with a conventional keyboard musical instrument.

  Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

  The present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings.

1 is a perspective view of an electronic musical instrument provided with a plurality of keys according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The top view of the electronic musical instrument provided with the some key which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. The side view of the electronic musical instrument which concerns on this invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the internal structure of an electronic musical instrument according to the present invention. The figure which illustrated the electrical connection formed by pressing the operation key which concerns on this invention. The top view of the electronic musical instrument provided with the several key which concerns on the 2nd Example of this invention containing a triangular main body and nine triangular keys. 1 is a plan view of an electronic musical instrument having a plurality of keys according to a first embodiment of the present invention including operation keys marked with notes of “do”, “re”, “mi”, “fa”, “so”, “la”, and “si”.

  The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, an electronic musical instrument having a plurality of keys according to the present invention is configured in a compact size suitable for children to hold and play. The electronic musical instrument includes a main body 1 and a circuit board 2 having an integrated circuit (IC) 3 disposed inside the main body. The main body 1 includes a plurality of keys including seven operation keys 11 and two function keys 11a arranged on the main body and assigned to a matrix layout. Each operation key 11 has a first conductive portion 111 disposed under the operation key, and each function key 11a has a second conductive portion 111a disposed under the function key. The operation keys 11 and the function keys 11a can be separate members, or can be a single layer made of silicon or rubber material. The surface of the single layer is divided into a plurality of pressing areas including operation keys 11 and function keys 11a by printed lattices, protrusions, or grooves.

  The main body 1 has an internal space so as to receive the circuit board 2, the battery chamber 16, and the speaker 17. The circuit board 2 is electrically connected to a battery disposed in the battery chamber 16. A plurality of switches, for example, a power supply and game selection switch 12, a setting and saving switch 13, and a volume adjustment switch 14 are arranged on the side surface of the main body 1. The circuit board 2 includes a plurality of first electrical connection points 21 corresponding to the first conductive portion 111 of the operation key 11 and a plurality of second electrical connection points corresponding to the second conductive portion 111a of the function key 11a. 22. The IC 3 stores at least seven sounds corresponding to seven notes of all scales including de, les, mi, fa, so, la, and shi. IC3 also includes a plurality of function programs. Each first electrical connection point 21 corresponds to at least one note. Referring to FIG. 5, when one of the operation keys 11 is pressed such that the first conductive portion 111 of the operation key 11 contacts the corresponding first electrical connection point 21, the IC 3 An electronic sound corresponding to the key 11 is generated through the speaker 17. When one of the function keys 11a is pressed, the IC 3 executes the corresponding function program. The volume switch 14 can control the IC 3 to turn on and off the sound output, and can adjust the volume of the sound output. The function program has functions including raising the pitch of the note, lowering the pitch of the note, replaying a melody, inputting a melody, setting a function, and the like.

  Referring to FIG. 1, when an operation key 11 marked with a number from 1 to 7 is pressed, electronic sounds corresponding to de, les, mi, fa, so, la, and shi notes are generated. Is done. When the function key 11a marked with “#” or “♭” is pressed once, twice and three times, the IC 3 raises or lowers the notes by a semitone, one octave and two octaves, respectively. For example, when the function key 11 a marked with “#” or “♭” is pressed once and immediately after one of the operation keys 11 is pressed, the electronic sound corresponding to the pressed operation key 11 is selected. Is generated semitones up or semitones down. When the function key 11a marked with “#” or “♭” is pressed twice in succession, and immediately after one of the operation keys 11 is pressed, the electronic key corresponding to the pressed operation key 11 The sound is generated one octave up or one octave down. When the function key 11a marked with “#” or “♭” is continuously pressed three times, and immediately after one of the operation keys 11 is pressed, the electronic key corresponding to the pressed operation key 11 is selected. The sound is generated up two octaves or down two octaves.

  The function key 11a can also perform other functions such as playback, input and setting, for example. For example, when the function key 11a corresponding to the playback function is pressed, the music played last is played back. When the function key 11a corresponding to the input function is pressed after playing a melody, the played melody is stored in the IC3. Furthermore, the function key 11a can set various functions such as setting of a music rhythm. For example, the music can be played with rhythms such as jazz, heavy metal, pop, rap and rock. The function key 11a can also set other functions for the electronic musical instrument.

  Numbers (ie, FIGS. 1 and 2), characters, words, or patterns can be provided on the surfaces of the operation keys 11 and the function keys 11a. Therefore, the user can easily memorize or identify the note. Referring to FIG. 7, “do, les, mi, fa, so, la, shi” representing notes are provided on the surface of the operation key 11, and “#” representing sharp and “♭” representing flat are functions. It is provided on the surface of the key 11a.

  The operation keys 11 and the function keys 11a are arranged in a 3 × 3 matrix. The operation keys 11 are divided into at least two rows. Based on a 3 × 3 matrix layout, the electronic musical instrument can increase or decrease the number of keys as required. The operation keys 11 and the function keys 11a are not limited to nine keys. The electronic musical instrument may have eight keys arranged in a 3 × 3 matrix with one element missing. The electronic musical instrument may have ten keys including nine keys of a 3 × 3 matrix and one key arranged adjacent to the matrix.

  The operation keys 11 corresponding to de, les, mi, fa, so, la, and shi notes can be arranged in various orders. The operation keys 11 corresponding to do, le and mi notes can be arranged in the top row of the 3 × 3 matrix from left to right or from right to left. The operation keys 11 corresponding to the notes of fa, so, and la can be arranged from left to right or from right to left in the middle column of the matrix. The operation key 11 corresponding to the note of the letter can be arranged in the bottom row of the matrix.

  Furthermore, for aesthetic recognition, the circuit board 2 includes a plurality of light emitting units 15 (for example, light emitting diodes LED) arranged to correspond to the operation keys 11 and the function keys 11a. The light emitting unit 15 emits various lights of several colors at specific time intervals corresponding to the music. The emitted light is emitted through operation keys 11 and function keys 11a made of a light transmission material in order to obtain a great visual effect.

  Easy with the set and save switch 13, the user can compose a simple melody and practice to learn music when playing the game. For example, there is a function program stored in IC3. After the user presses the setting and saving switch 13, the IC 3 is in an editing state. The user plays a melody by pressing the operation key 11 and the function key 11a, and then presses the setting and saving switch 13 again to save the melody. The predetermined function program stores a melody played on the IC 3. Thus, the user can practice to compose music. The user can replay the stored melody by simultaneously pressing two specific operation keys 11 and one of two specific function keys 11a or one of the operation keys 11 and one of the function keys 11a. Then, the predetermined function program stored in the IC 3 replays the stored melody.

  For better entertainment, the IC 3 can include at least one electronic game such as, for example, slap, memory game, tic-tac-toe. When playing the electronic game, the operation keys 11 and the function keys 11a function as control keys. Referring to FIG. 3, the power supply and game selection switch 12 is disposed on the side surface of the main body 1. A power supply and game selection switch 12 is applied to select one of the games to turn on, turn off and play.

  For example, after the mottle game is selected, the operation keys 11 and the function keys 11a emit light irregularly and an electronic sound is also generated. When the user successfully presses the lighted key before the light goes out, the user's muffled hit is obtained and a different sound is generated as a hit confirmation.

  For example, after selecting the memory game, the operation keys 11 emit light one by one in an arbitrarily generated order, and the corresponding note sound is generated. The light emission stops after a time interval. The user is required to press the operation keys 11 in the same order as the previously emitted operation keys 11 and the generated sound. If the user presses the operation keys 11 in the correct order, the user can play the next round of the high-level memory game where the operation keys 11 emit more light. If the user presses the operation keys 11 in the wrong order, the user can play the next round of the low level memory game where the operation keys 11 emit less light.

  For example, after selecting the tic-tac-toe game, the first user selects to press one of the operation key 11 or the function key 11a, and the pressed operation key 11 or the function key 11a has the first color. Emits light. Next, the second user selects to press one of the other operation keys 11 or function keys 11a, and the pressed operation key 11 or function key 11a emits light of the second color. The two users alternate the other operation keys 11 and function keys 11a according to the above sequence until one of the two users successfully connects the operation keys 11 or function keys 11a of the main body 1 on a straight line. Push.

  Referring to FIG. 6, the electronic musical instrument according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a triangular main body 1. The main body 1 has nine operation keys 11 marked with numerals 1 to 7 and two function keys 11a marked with # and ♭, and nine triangles arranged on the surface of the main body. Including the key. When the operation key 11 marked with a number from 1 to 7 is pressed, electronic sounds corresponding to the notes of all the scales of de, les, mi, fa, so, la, and shi are generated. . When the function key 11 a marked with “#” or “♭” is pressed once and immediately after one of the operation keys 11 is pressed, the electronic sound corresponding to the pressed operation key 11 is Generated with a semitone up or down. When the function key 11a marked with “#” or “♭” is pressed twice in succession, and immediately after one of the operation keys 11 is pressed, the electronic key corresponding to the pressed operation key 11 The sound is generated one octave up or one octave down. When the function key 11a marked with “#” or “♭” is continuously pressed three times, and immediately after one of the operation keys 11 is pressed, the electronic key corresponding to the pressed operation key 11 is selected. The sound is generated up two octaves or down two octaves. The operation keys 11 corresponding to the notes of “do”, “re”, “mi”, “fa”, “so”, “la”, and “si” are arranged from the top row to the bottom row and from the left to the right. The operation keys 11 corresponding to de, les, mi, fa, so, la, and shi notes can be arranged from the top row to the bottom row and from right to left.

  While the invention will be described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body 11 Operation key 11a Function key 12 Power supply and game selection switch 13 Setting and storage switch 14 Volume adjustment switch 15 Light emitting unit 21 1st electrical connection point 22 2nd electrical connection point 111 1st conduction part 111a 2nd Conductive part of

Claims (15)

An electronic musical instrument with a plurality of keys,
A main body including at least seven operation keys and at least one function key, wherein operation keys and function keys are arranged on a surface;
An integrated circuit (IC), including a circuit board disposed in the body,
Each operation key has a first conductive portion,
The function key has a second conductive portion;
Each of the seven operation keys corresponds to the notes of all scales of de, les, mi, fa, so, la and sh, and the seven operation keys are divided into at least two rows,
The circuit board includes at least seven first electrical connection points respectively corresponding to the first conductive portion of the operation key and at least one second electrical connection point corresponding to the second conductive portion of the function key. Including
The integrated circuit stores at least seven electronic sounds and a plurality of function programs corresponding to the notes of all scales such as de, les, mi, fa, so, la, and sh,
Each first electrical connection point corresponds to at least one of said notes;
The second electrical connection point corresponds to the functional program;
When the first conductive portion of one of the operation keys is in electrical contact with the corresponding first electrical connection point, the integrated circuit generates the electronic sound of the corresponding note;
An electronic musical instrument in which the integrated circuit executes at least one of the function programs when the second conductive portion of the function key is in electrical contact with the corresponding second electrical connection point.   The electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the functional program stored in the integrated circuit includes a program that raises or lowers the pitch of the note.   The electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the functional program stored in the integrated circuit includes a program for reproducing music stored in the integrated circuit.   The electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the functional program stored in the integrated circuit includes a program for selecting a function of the electronic musical instrument.   The electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein numbers, letters, words, or patterns are provided on the surfaces of the operation keys and function keys.   The electronic musical instrument according to claim 5, wherein the words provided on the operation keys are de, les, mi, fa, seo, la, and shi. The integrated circuit stores software of at least one electronic game;
The operation keys and the function keys function as control keys for playing the electronic game,
The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the body includes a power supply and game selection switch electrically connected to the circuit board to turn on and off the power and select the electronic game for playing. Musical instrument.   The body of claim 1, comprising a volume switch electrically connected to the circuit board to turn on and off the audio output and adjust the volume of the audio output in the integrated circuit. Electronic musical instrument.   The main body includes a setting and saving switch electrically connected to the circuit board, and when the setting and saving switch is pressed for the first time, the operation key and the function key play music or the electronic The electronic musical instrument according to claim 7, wherein the music or the electronic game is stored when an input state for playing a game is entered and the setting and storage switch is pressed a second time.   The electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board includes a plurality of light emitting units that generate light of a predetermined color at predetermined time intervals corresponding to the electronic sound.   The electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the main body includes seven operation keys and two function keys arranged in a 3 × 3 matrix.   The electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the main body has a rectangular outer shape, and the operation keys and the function keys are formed in a rectangular shape.   The electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, wherein the main body has a triangular outer shape, and the operation keys and the function keys are formed in a triangular shape.   The operation keys corresponding to the notes of de, les, mi, fa, so, la and sh are arranged from the top row to the bottom row and from left to right, or from the top row The electronic musical instrument according to claim 13, wherein the electronic musical instrument is arranged from the bottom to the bottom row and from right to left.   The operation keys corresponding to the notes of Do, Les and Mi are arranged from left to right in the top row of the matrix, and the operation keys corresponding to the notes of Fa, Seo and La are in the middle of the matrix. The electronic musical instrument according to claim 11, wherein the operation keys corresponding to the notes of the symbol are arranged in a bottom row of the matrix.

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