JPH04246693A - Electronic musical instrument with light emission display - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain visual effect which can not be obtained with a display of a range or interval based upon a simple array of light emitting elements by using a small number of light emission display means made to correspond to key codes for the electronic musical instrument. CONSTITUTION:Display signals are generated, range by range, according to given key codes. A light emission means having light emission display parts 14, 16, and 18 corresponding to the ranges is provided to make light emission displays, range by range. The display parts 14, 16, and 18 for the respective ranges have light emission patterns in different shapes corresponding to intervals. For example, a display pattern which is different in length or thickness like a string of a musical instrument and a display corresponding to the range are combined to obtain unique visual effect.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic musical instrument with a light-emitting display, and is particularly suitable for use in keyboard-type toys and accessories such as a tabletop piano.

0002

[Prior Art] In electronic musical instruments such as electronic pianos and electronic organs, LEDs (light emitting diodes) are provided corresponding to each key, and the LEDs are illuminated in accordance with the melody when an automatic performance device performs. In order to instruct the next key to be pressed during practice, a device is known in which an LED corresponding to a predetermined key is made to emit light prior to the sound source of the automatic performance (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-24
No. 5294).

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The light-emitting display corresponding to the key in the above-mentioned electronic musical instrument with a light-emitting display is primarily for practical use, and lacks aesthetic and playful elements. In particular, a simple arrangement of light emitting elements has a mere function of displaying data, and is far from a musically enjoyable display.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of this problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic musical instrument with a luminescent display that is capable of producing a highly visually effective luminescent display with a relatively simple configuration and is particularly suitable as a toy or decorative display device. With the goal.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] An electronic musical instrument with a luminescent display according to the present invention includes a musical tone generating means (44) for forming a sound generation signal corresponding to a given key code, and a musical tone generating means (44) for forming a sound generation signal corresponding to a given key code, and a musical tone generating means (44) for forming a sound generation signal corresponding to a given key code, and a light-emitting display means (48) corresponding to a sound range that performs a light-emitting display for each sound range based on the display signal, the light-emitting display means forming a display signal for each sound range. It is characterized by displaying light emitting patterns of different shapes corresponding to pitches for each musical range.

[0006]

[Function] Since the pitch indicated by the key code is divided into a plurality of ranges and a light emission display is performed for each range, the number of light emitting elements and light emitting drive means may be small. The light emitting element means emits light in a striped light emitting pattern having a length and thickness corresponding to the pitch of a piano string, for example. Therefore, a unique range display with two-dimensional expansion can be obtained. It gives the impression that the strings of the piano are shining in accordance with the range of the pitch, and it is not only fun to play, but also attracts people's attention as a decorative display.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a display section of an electronic musical instrument to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of the electronic musical instrument. This electronic musical instrument has an appearance similar to a tabletop piano, and includes an outer casing 10, a keyboard 30,
A top lid 32 is provided. The piano string storage section covered by the top lid 32 has display sections 14, 16, 1 instead of strings.
8 is placed. The upper surface of the string accommodating portion is covered with a sheet 12 corresponding to the outer shape of the outer casing 10. This sheet 12 is made of plastic, paper, or the like, and has a metal frame pattern 20, which is seen on an acoustic piano, printed on its upper surface. In addition, the display section 1 of the sheet 12
4, 16, and 18 have striped patterns corresponding to the bass strings, middle strings, and treble strings, respectively. These striped patterns, as shown in the cross-sectional view of the main part in FIG.
It consists of a plurality of slits 14a, 16a, and 18a formed in the sheet 12 to allow the passage of the slits. The portions of the sheet 12 other than the slits 14a, 16a, and 18a function as a light-shielding mask.

[0008] Bass, middle, and treble display sections 14;
The slits 14a, 16a, and 18a of 16 and 18 have widths and lengths corresponding to the bass strings, middle strings, and treble strings, respectively. Behind the sheet 12 in which the slits 14a, 16a, 18a are formed, there are planar light emitters 24, 2 having approximately trapezoidal outer shapes corresponding to the display sections 14, 16, 18.
6 and 28 are provided on the substrate 25. These planar light emitters 24, 26, and 28 are composed of, for example, electroluminescence (EL) light emitters, and are assigned different emission colors. For example, the light emitter 24 of the bass display section 14
emits yellow light, the light emitter 26 of the middle tone display section 16 emits green light, and the high tone display section 18 emits red light. In the case of EL light emitters, each light emitter 24, 26, 28 has a light emitting layer and a front electrode and a back electrode (not shown, respectively), with the front electrode being constructed of a transparent electrode material. Note that the light emitters 24, 26, 2
As 8, an electrochromic light emitter or the like can also be used. Alternatively, white light emitters may be used as each of the light emitters 24, 26, and 28, and color filters may be arranged on their light emitting surfaces to assign different emission colors to the bass, middle, and treble parts. .

[0009] The sheet 12 can also be made of a transparent member. In this case, the slits 14a, 16a, 18a
The other part is an opaque printing part, and the slit 14a,
Either leave the parts corresponding to 16a and 16b as transparent windows, or
Or use a semi-transparent colored printed part.

A plurality of slits 22 for speakers are formed in a part of the sheet 12, and a speaker 54 is arranged behind the slits 22.

FIG. 4 shows a circuit configuration of an electronic musical instrument according to an embodiment. A keyboard switch 40 is provided corresponding to each key of the keyboard 30 in FIG. 2, and performance data such as a key code, key pressing pressure, key pressing time width, etc. corresponding to a key operation is provided to a musical tone generating circuit 44. The musical tone generation circuit 44 is composed of a CPU, and according to the data processing program stored in the memory 42,
The sound generation waveform data corresponding to the key code is read from the memory 42, its amplitude and envelope are processed using the performance data, and the processed data is output to the D/A converter 50 as sound generation data. The analog musical tone signal from the D/A converter 50 is applied to the speaker 54 via the amplifier 52, so that a sound corresponding to the performance can be obtained.

[0012] Performance data is also stored in the memory 42 for automatic accompaniment or automatic performance, and sound generation data for rhythm accompaniment, chord accompaniment, and melody performance are stored in the preprogrammed performance data and waveforms in the memory 42. The tone generation circuit 44 generates the tone based on the data. Note that the musical tone generation circuit 44 includes a plurality of musical tone generation channels for responding to simultaneous operation of a plurality of keys and generation of accompaniment tones accompanying key operations.

Performance data is also supplied from an external MIDI device 58 via an interface 56. This performance data is also converted into sound generation data by the musical sound generation circuit 44,
The sound is produced by the speaker 54 in the same way as when played on a keyboard. Note that an expansion port 57 is connected to the CPU constituting the musical tone generation circuit 44, to which a keyboard or the like for expanding the musical range can be optionally connected.

The musical tone generating circuit 44 also generates a display signal corresponding to the performance data. This display signal is supplied via a display drive circuit 46 to a light emitting display 48 consisting of displays 24, 26, and 28 of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing the display function of the musical sound generation circuit 44, which includes a key code source 60 and a range dividing section that divides the output key code into a low range, a middle range, and a high range. It consists of 62. The key code source 60 supplies key codes supplied from the keyboard switch 40 , memory 42 , MIDI interface 56 , or expansion port 57 to the range dividing section 62 . Range division section 6
2 decomposes the key code into low, middle, and high frequencies, and sends the corresponding display signals to the light emitters 24 and 2 constituting the light emitting display 48.
6, 28. The light emitters 24, 26, and 28 emit yellow, green, and red light when a sound corresponding to a low tone, medium tone, or high tone key code is generated, respectively.

The light emitting time may be the duration of each key code, and for example, the lighting time of each light emitter 24, 26, 28 is controlled in accordance with the key depression time of the keyboard 30. Alternatively, a delay circuit may be provided in the range dividing section 62 or the display drive circuit 46 so that the light emission continues for a certain period of time after the key is pressed. In addition, the light emitter 24
, 26, and 28 may be controlled.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the light emitting indicator 48. In this example, the light emitting sections 70, 71, and 72 are configured using light emitting diodes (LEDs) and rod-shaped light diffusers. Each light emitting section 70, 71, 72 corresponds to a bass section, a middle section, and a treble section, and the light diffusers 74, 76, 79 that constitute each section are
It has an elongated shape that resembles the strings of a piano. Although the lengths of these light diffusers 74, 76, and 79 are made different to represent musical intervals, they may also be made different in width (thickness) like the strings.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the light diffuser 74. The light diffuser 74 is made of transparent synthetic resin such as acrylic, and includes an inclined surface 74a (reflective surface), an upper surface 74b (light emitting surface),
It has a lower surface 74c. An insertion hole 74d into which the LED 78 is inserted is formed at the lower part of the slope 74a formed on the tip side of the light diffuser 74. Slope 74a, top surface 74b
, and the lower surfaces 74c are set such that the light from the LED 78 repeats total reflection as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 7 and is diffused over the entire length of the diffuser 74.
Designed. A portion of the reflected light within the diffuser 74 is refracted and diverged to the outside in the direction of the arrow. Therefore, piano keyboard 30
When viewed from the side, the entire upper surface of the light diffuser 74 corresponding to the string appears to be emitting light.

The colors emitted by the LEDs 78 of the light emitting sections 70, 71, and 72 are assigned, for example, yellow, green, and red in correspondence with the musical range. Note that the colors of the LEDs 78 may be arranged in the order of red, green, red, green, etc., regardless of the sound range.

[0020]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention performs a light emission display for each musical range based on the key code, so a relatively small number of light emitters and light emission driving means are used to make the display correspond to performance data. can be displayed effectively. In addition, a different shape of light-emitting pattern corresponding to the pitch is displayed for each musical range, so for example, by using shapes with different lengths or thicknesses like the strings of a musical instrument as display patterns, it is possible to create a sound range by simply arranging light-emitting elements. Alternatively, a display with a visual effect that cannot be obtained by displaying pitches can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a display section of an electronic musical instrument with a light-emitting display showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an electronic musical instrument (tabletop piano) according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the display section.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a circuit system of an electronic musical instrument according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a display system.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of main parts showing another embodiment of the display unit.

7 is a side view of a light diffuser that constitutes the display section of FIG. 6. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

14, 16, 18 Display parts 14a, 16a, 18a Translucent slits 24, 2
6, 28 Planar light emitter 40 Keyboard switch 42 Program memory, waveform data memory 44
Musical sound generation circuit 46 Display drive circuit 48 Light emitting display 60 Key code source 62 Range division sections 70, 71, 72 Display sections 74, 76, 79 Light diffuser 78 LED

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A musical tone generation means for forming a sound generation signal corresponding to a given key code; a range dividing means for forming a display signal for each of a plurality of ranges based on the key code; The light emitting display means is equipped with a light emitting display means corresponding to the musical range that performs a light emitting display for each musical range, and the light emitting display means is characterized in that the light emitting display means displays a light emitting pattern of a different shape corresponding to the pitch for each musical range. electronic musical instrument. 2. The electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a keyboard and a keyboard switch corresponding to each key as a generation source of the key code. 3. The electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a memory storing a series of key code data as a generation source of the key code. Claim 4: As a generation source of the key code, MI
The electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising an interface for receiving a DI signal from the outside. 5. The electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising an expansion port to which a key code generating means can be externally connected as the key code generating source. 6. The light emitting display means according to claim 1, wherein a different light emitting color is assigned to each sound range.
Electronic musical instruments described in . 7. The light emitting display means comprises planar light emitting elements provided for each musical range, and on the light emitting surface of each planar light emitting device, a plurality of striped transparent parts corresponding to the strings of a piano are provided. 2. The electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a light-shielding mask having a light-shielding mask. 8. The electronic musical instrument according to claim 7, wherein the striped transparent portions have different lengths and widths so as to correspond to the arrangement of strings of a piano. 9. The electronic musical instrument according to claim 7, wherein the striped transparent portions extend in different directions so as to correspond to the arrangement of strings of a piano. 10. A claim characterized in that the light emitting display means comprises a point-like light emitting element and a plurality of bar-shaped light diffusing means for diffusing and emitting the light emitted from the light emitting element onto a striped light emitting surface. The electronic musical instrument according to item 1. 11. The light diffusing means is formed of a transparent or semi-transparent member, and has a lower surface facing the striped light emitting surface at an angle other than parallel, and the light emitting element attached to one end of the lower surface. 11. The electronic musical instrument according to claim 10, further comprising a reflecting surface that reflects the light toward the lower surface. 12. The striped light emitting surface of each of the light diffusing means has different lengths so as to correspond to the arrangement of strings of a piano.
The electronic musical instrument described in 0. 13. The electronic musical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the striped light emitting surface of the light diffusing means extends in different directions so as to correspond to the arrangement of strings of a piano. 14. The electronic musical instrument according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements constituting the light emitting display means have different emitting colors in the order in which the rod-shaped light diffusing means is arranged.