Miniature fully functional portable electronic musical instrument

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of miniature full-function portable electronic musical instrument and its performance control method, it is related to electronic musical instrument technical field, it aims at solving the pain point that the number of existing musical instrument key and functional integrity, entry threshold and professional expansibility cannot be considered, and transposition operation is complex.The application adopts split type double-end design, and 3 core note keys are arranged at both ends, 7 natural tone levels and chord level numbers under the first key system are mapped by 3-bit binary coding, the first key mapping module of built-in musical name, singing name and chord level number is independent, transposition without changing fingering under full tonality is realized;Through 360° rocker assembly separation semitone accurate control and diapason emotion expression, complete performance function is realized in the volume of not more than 90mm×55mm×22mm.The application considers zero threshold entry and professional creation demand, can form full-dimension complement with traditional musical instrument, and is suitable for full-scene music performance and creation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electronic musical instrument technology, and in particular to a portable electronic musical instrument and its playing control method. Background Technology

[0002] Music performance and composition are widespread cultural needs. From music enthusiasts with no prior experience to professional music practitioners, there are multi-level demands for the ease of use, complete range, rich harmonics, and portability of portable electronic musical instruments.

[0003] Traditional acoustic instruments (such as piano, guitar, violin, and wind instruments) have developed over a long period into mature performance systems, rich acoustic expressiveness, and professional artistic expression capabilities, serving as the core carriers for professional music performance and composition. However, they face objective limitations in terms of scenarios and user coverage: First, they have a high learning threshold, requiring long-term practice of fixed hand positions, complex fingerings, and music theory knowledge, making it difficult for users with no prior experience to achieve effective performance in a short period. Second, they lack portability, being bulky and heavy, and have specific requirements for the performance environment, making it impossible to perform on the go or record inspiration in fragmented scenarios. Third, transposition and mode switching are difficult, as different key signatures require completely different fingering systems, placing extremely high demands on the user's music theory foundation and practice time, making it impossible to quickly adapt to all keys.

[0004] With the development of electronic and audio processing technologies, various electronic musical instruments have made continuous progress in terms of functional integration, timbre reproduction, and portable design, providing more possibilities for musical expression. However, existing electronic musical instruments with few buttons mostly adopt a mapping logic of one button corresponding to one pitch. To cover the seven natural pitches, at least seven independent buttons are required, making it impossible to further reduce the number of buttons to adapt to miniaturization. Some solutions achieve pitch expansion through button combinations, but they do not use standardized binary encoding logic, resulting in high memorization costs for users. At the same time, existing solutions do not achieve fixed transposition fingering under the movable-do system. Changing the key signature requires relearning the corresponding fingering, which cannot simultaneously meet the requirements of low entry barrier and full-tonality playing ability. They cannot solve the above-mentioned limitations of traditional instruments, nor can they form an effective complementary scenario, user, and function with traditional instruments. Specifically, the following technical problems remain to be solved: ① The contradiction between the number of buttons and the range and functions: fewer buttons sacrifice the range and harmonic functions, while full functions require more buttons and a larger size, making miniaturization impossible; ② The contradiction between entry barriers and professional scalability: Simplified instruments are only suitable for beginners and cannot meet the needs of professional performance, while professional equipment has a high music theory threshold, and users with zero experience cannot get started quickly; ③ The transposition operation is complicated: existing instruments require changing fingerings when switching key signatures, which has a high learning cost and makes it impossible to play with a fixed hand shape in all keys. Summary of the Invention

[0005] (a) Purpose of the invention To address the aforementioned technical problems in existing technologies, the present invention aims to provide a miniature, fully functional portable electronic musical instrument and its performance control method. It achieves whole-tone mapping through the binary encoding logic of three buttons and realizes fixed fingering for transposition by combining the movable-tone scale system. It balances low entry barrier and professional performance capabilities in all styles within a miniaturized size, while solving the core pain point of existing technologies that cannot balance portability and expressiveness.

[0006] Another core objective of this invention is to provide an electronic musical instrument that can complement traditional musical instruments in all dimensions, filling the application gap of traditional musical instruments in terms of low-threshold entry, portability in all scenarios, integrated creation, and full user coverage. At the same time, it is fully compatible with the traditional music theory system and can be used as an introductory auxiliary tool and creative extension device for traditional musical instruments, achieving synergistic empowerment with traditional musical instruments.

[0007] (II) Technical Solution To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: In this document, the terminology is consistently used as follows: "touch" refers to a momentary trigger action that involves briefly touching a button / knob / joystick and then immediately releasing it; "press down" refers to a sustained pressing state.

[0008] 1. The miniature full-function portable electronic musical instrument provided by the present invention includes a processor, at least three core note buttons, a human-computer interaction unit, an audio processing unit, a power supply unit, and an audio output unit; the three core note buttons, the human-computer interaction unit, the audio processing unit, and the power supply unit are all electrically connected to the processor, and the audio output unit is electrically connected to the audio processing unit.

[0009] 2. The processor integrates a binary encoding mapping unit, a tone mapping unit, an audio synthesis unit, and a pitch rule verification unit; 3. The binary encoding mapping unit is used to convert the pressed / released state of the three core note keys into a 3-bit binary code, and map the code into the corresponding solfège level signal; 4. The aforementioned key mapping unit is used to establish an independent mapping system for note names, solfège syllables, and chord degrees. When switching key signatures, the correspondence between solfège syllables, chord degrees, and core note keys remains unchanged, and only the corresponding absolute pitch is adjusted to achieve transposition without changing fingering. 5. The audio synthesis unit is used to generate a corresponding audio signal based on the pitch signal and output it to the audio processing unit; 6. The scale rule verification unit is used to verify the rationality of user-defined scales / chords, so as to avoid pitch and chord combinations that do not conform to music theory rules.

[0010] The core underlying performance logic of this invention is as follows: using only 3 core note keys, through binary logic combination, it maps all 7 natural notes and corresponding chord degrees (Do Re Mi Fa Sol La Si) / (I IImIIIm IV V VIm VIIdim) in the solfège system, and combined with the side joystick component of the human-computer interaction unit, it achieves complete range coverage of twelve equal temperament and three octaves.

[0011] This invention does not rely on the large number of keys on a traditional keyboard. From its underlying architecture, it achieves a minimal number of keys, complete range coverage, seamless transposition without changing hand position, and zero-barrier-to-entry performance. Regardless of which of the 12 key signatures is switched to, the user's hand position and key combination remain unchanged, completely eliminating the fingering learning cost associated with transposition. The overall instrument size is no larger than 90mm × 55mm × 20mm (about the size of a thick cigarette box). Its ergonomic structure allows for comfortable one-handed grip and natural operation, enabling portable, lightweight, and miniaturized performance.

[0012] The invention employs a three-part independent representation system for pitch names, solfège syllables, and scale degrees: Pitch names C, D, E, F, G, A, and B are used only for key signature identification; solfège syllables Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, and Si are used to display melodic pitch degrees, representing relative pitches in the movable-do system; scale degrees I, IIm, IIIm, IV, V, VIm, and VIIdim are used to display chord degrees, representing the function and position of harmony in the mode. These three symbols each perform their specific functions without confusion, allowing users to operate entirely within the movable-do system without needing to understand the complex pitch name relationships in fixed-do systems, significantly lowering the learning curve.

[0013] (III) Overall Structure This invention adopts a split dual-end design, consisting of a left-hand chord control end (mirror layout) and a right-hand melody control end (standard layout). Both ends have built-in independent processors, core note buttons, human-computer interaction units, audio processing units, power supply units, and audio output units. The two ends can achieve data synchronization and collaborative performance via Bluetooth or wired connection, with a synchronization timing error of no more than 10ms, ensuring the synchronization of melody and chord performance.

[0014] 1. Three core note buttons are horizontally positioned on the top of both ends of the device for inputting button status signals and switching between pitch and chord; ① Left-hand chord control end (mirror): Responsible for chord control and chord texture expression; key mapping is represented by chord degrees. ② Right-hand melody control terminal (standard): Responsible for playing single-note melodies and scales, with key mapping represented by solfège syllables.

[0015] 2. A 360° joystick assembly with touch-triggered functionality is installed on the outer side of the device. Its specific functions are as follows: ① Left-hand chord control: Moving the joystick up and down temporarily raises or lowers the overall chord by a semitone, moving the joystick left and right temporarily switches the chord suspension attribute, and pressing the joystick switches to the second chord extension page; ② Right-hand melody control: Moving the joystick up and down is used to temporarily raise or lower the whole tone of a single note, moving the joystick left and right is used to temporarily raise or lower the semitone of a single note, and pressing the joystick switches to the octave raising function.

[0016] 3. A circular function button is located on the inside of the device. Its specific functions are as follows: ① Left-hand chord control: Pressing the pinky key interchanges the major and minor chord properties (major triad ↔ minor triad); ② Right-hand melody control: Press the little finger key to achieve the function of lowering the octave.

[0017] 4. Both ends of the front are equipped with displays to show key parameters such as current chord degree, pitch information, scale mode, drum machine rhythm, battery capacity, key signature, and timbre.

[0018] 5. Three rotary encoders (control knobs) with touch functions are located below the dual-end display screen. Their specific functions are as follows: ① First knob (volume / key signature knob): The default mode is the volume adjustment knob. Pressing it will switch to the key signature selection mode. Rotating it will adjust the corresponding parameters. After entering the drum machine and other sub-menu interfaces, it will automatically switch to the parameter adjustment function of the corresponding sub-menu. You can rotate it to adjust parameters such as beat, tempo, and drum machine volume. ② Second knob (interface option knob): On the main display screen, press to switch to tone selection mode, rotate to switch to tone; on the menu screen, rotate to select up and down options, press to enter submenus / confirm operation; tone mode is a simple and quick mode for quick switching during performance, menu mode is a full-function setting mode, including mode submenu, tone submenu, custom scale and chord settings, etc. ③ Third knob (drum machine control knob): Rotate to switch drum machine rhythms on the main interface. On the dedicated drum machine interface, it can be used with the second knob to select and confirm parameters. Pressing the knob can turn preset drum machine styles, tempos, time signatures and loop points on / off with one click.

[0019] 6. Two status indicator lights are set on the side of the dual-end display screen, specifically defined as follows: ① Left-hand chord control: A blue indicator light indicates that the second chord extension page is enabled, and a green indicator light indicates that the chord major / minor interchange function is enabled; ② Right-hand melody control: A blue indicator light indicates that the octave shift function is enabled, and a green indicator light indicates that the octave drop function is enabled.

[0020] 7. Both ends have power buttons; a long press turns the device on or off, and a short press returns to the previous menu. Both ends have USB Type-C ports for power supply, charging, and data transfer. Both ends have 3.5mm headphone jacks for audio output and real-time monitoring.

[0021] 8. Both ends of the device have an embedded elastic wristband on the back, which can fix the fingers after wearing, improve grip stability and operating comfort, and prevent the device from falling off accidentally; the invention is equipped with an integrated charging and storage box, which has a built-in magnetic charging slot and energy storage battery. After aligning both ends with the charging slot and placing them in, they will automatically charge, which is the same working principle as wireless earphone storage boxes.

[0022] (iv) Three-key encoding rules (core innovation) The three-key encoding rules for this instrument are implemented through hardware key capture and the processor's built-in algorithm. The specific rules are as follows: (1) Encoding definition: The three core note buttons are recorded as binary number "1" when pressed and binary number "0" when released, forming a 3-bit binary code. The processor's binary code mapping unit maps the code into the corresponding pitch signal, driving the audio synthesis unit and the sound generation module to output the corresponding sound. ① Left hand end (mirror layout): The fingers of the left hand, from right to left, correspond to the index finger, middle finger, and ring finger, respectively, which correspond to the least significant bit, middle bit, and most significant bit of the binary code; ② Right hand end (standard layout): The fingers of the right hand, from right to left, correspond to the ring finger, middle finger, and index finger, respectively, which correspond to the least significant bit, middle bit, and most significant bit of the binary code.

[0023] (2) Mapping relationship between encoding and pitch / solfège / degree: ① 000 = Rest signal (silence, no sustain) ② 001 = Level I / Do (Left hand: Press with index finger; Right hand: Press with ring finger) ③ 010 = Level IIm / Re (Left hand: Middle finger presses down; Right hand: Middle finger presses down) ④ 011 = Level IIIm / Mi (Left hand: Press down with index and middle fingers; Right hand: Press down with ring and middle fingers) ⑤ 100 = Level IV / Fa (Left hand: Press with ring finger; Right hand: Press with index finger) ⑥ 101 = Level V / Sol (Left hand: Press with index finger + ring finger; Right hand: Press with ring finger + index finger) ⑦ 110 = Level VIm / La (Left hand: Press down with middle and ring fingers; Right hand: Press down with middle and index fingers) ⑧ 111 = VIIdim level / Si (Left hand: Press down with index finger + middle finger + ring finger; Right hand: Press down with ring finger + middle finger + index finger) Through the above-mentioned standardized binary encoding rules, this invention can cover all 7 pitch levels and 7 natural tones with only 3 keys, realizing the core function of mapping all basic pitch levels with a very small number of keys. The combination rules are clear and the memory cost is extremely low.

[0024] (v) Logic for implementing extended functions (1) Extended functions of the left-hand chord control end: ① Move the left thumb lever upwards: temporarily raise the overall chord being played by a semitone; ② Move the left thumb lever downwards: the currently played chord is temporarily lowered by a semitone; ③ Move the left thumb lever to the left: temporarily switch the currently played chord to a Sus2 suspended chord; ④ Move the left thumb lever to the right: temporarily switch the currently played chord to a Sus4 suspended chord; ⑤ Release the left thumb lever: automatically reset to the original chord under the current key signature; ⑥ Press the left thumb joystick: Switch to the chord extension page to play seventh chords and custom chords; ⑦ Right pinky function key: Switches the major and minor properties of the current chord, enabling one-click switching between Maj series major chords and min series minor chords, including the full series of chords with extended tones such as triads, seventh chords, and ninth chords.

[0025] (2) Extended functions of the right-hand melody control terminal: ① Move the right thumb lever upwards: temporarily raise the currently played single note to a whole tone; ② Move the right thumb lever downwards: temporarily lower the current single note by a whole tone; ③ Move the right thumb lever to the left: temporarily lower the currently played single note by a semitone; ④ Move the right thumb lever to the right: temporarily raise the currently played single note by a semitone; ⑤ Release the right thumb lever: automatically reset to the original key pitch under the current key signature; ⑥ Press the right thumb joystick: Activate the octave raising function, raising the current playing pitch by one octave; ⑦ Press the function key on the left pinky: Activate the octave drop function, lowering the current playing pitch by one octave; ⑧ Octave switching with loop logic: When the highest octave range is reached, pressing the octave switch function again will automatically switch to the lowest octave range, and vice versa.

[0026] (vi) Built-in core functions The built-in functions of this invention all display corresponding parameters on the screen and are operated via knobs and buttons, specifically including: (1) Key signature selection function: Supports the selection of 12 key signatures from C to B, covering all keys and meeting the needs of transposition performance; (2) Mode switching function: It supports 7 core modes, including natural major, Doria, Phrygia, Lydia, Mysticia, natural minor and Lochlear, and also supports various modal scales derived from harmonic minor and melodic minor, providing a rich color foundation for jazz, folk and modern music creation; the mode and key signature are independent of each other, and users can freely switch modes under any key signature, greatly expanding the space for music creation; (3) Timbre selection function: It has no less than 20 preset timbres, and adopts the "head tone-less" timbre design, that is, the timbre has no obvious attacking head at the beginning, the timbre transition is smooth, and it is suitable for sustained chord and melody playing, especially suitable for pop, jazz and ambient music styles. (4) Custom Chord / Scale Function: Provides users with basic music theory knowledge with custom chord and scale functions. Based on the movable-do system, it realizes intelligent constraints through the scale rule verification unit. For example, when customizing a scale, it is not possible to set sharp Do and flat Do at the same time, or sharp Re and flat Mi at the same time. It automatically adjusts the solfège names that do not conform to the rules to reasonable pitches. If the user's custom scale matches the preset scale library when saving, it is not necessary to jump to the custom scale naming page, but directly matches the scale name corresponding to the preset scale. When customizing a chord, after selecting the chord property, only the reasonable extended notes of the corresponding chord property are displayed to avoid the appearance of pitches and chords that do not conform to music theory rules. The operation is intuitive and easy to understand. (5) Drum machine accompaniment function: It has multiple drum machine rhythm patterns covering pop, rock, jazz, electronic and other styles. After entering the drum machine settings interface, the first knob can be used to adjust the beat, speed and volume of the drum machine to achieve fine control of the rhythm; the second knob can be used to select the drum machine rhythm pattern and confirm the parameters; the third knob can be used to start and stop the preset drum machine accompaniment with one click, realizing the "one-click accompaniment" function.

[0027] (vii) Beneficial effects Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following significant advantages: 1. Resolved the core contradiction between the number of buttons and the completeness of functions: By using 3-bit standardized binary encoding of 3 note buttons, the complete mapping of 7 natural pitches / chord degrees is achieved. Under the premise of the minimum number of buttons, combined with the semitone, whole tone and octave adjustment functions of the joystick, the complete range of 12 equal temperament and 3 octaves is achieved. Within a miniaturized volume of no more than 90mm×55mm×20mm, the complete playing function of traditional keyboard instruments is realized, which balances extreme portability and full-function performance.

[0028] 2. Resolves the contradiction between entry barrier and professional expandability: In basic mode, when the joystick semitone adjustment function is not activated, all button combinations output harmonic tones within the key, allowing users with no music theory background to quickly get started and play without producing dissonant notes; at the same time, it supports professional functions such as full key switching, custom scales and chords, multiple timbres selection, and drum machine accompaniment, covering a full range of usage scenarios from beginners to professional musicians, and is compatible with all styles of music such as pop, jazz, folk, and electronic.

[0029] 3. It solves the industry pain points of complex transposition operations and high learning costs: Through the independent tonal mapping system of note names, solfège syllables, and chord degrees, it achieves fixed fingering under the whole key. When switching to any key signature, the correspondence between the keys and solfège syllables and chord degrees remains unchanged. Users do not need to relearn the fingering, which fundamentally eliminates the learning cost caused by transposition and greatly reduces the threshold for using the instrument.

[0030] 4. Ultimate Ergonomic and Portable Design: The split dual-end structure fits the natural grip habits of both left and right hands. The layout of buttons, joysticks, and knobs is adapted to the natural operation gestures of three fingers and thumb with one hand, making it less tiring to play for a long time. The elastic wristband on the back improves grip stability, allowing you to play anytime, anywhere without a fixed posture. The included integrated charging and storage case takes into account both storage and battery replenishment, truly breaking the spatial limitations of music creation and performance.

[0031] 5. It complements traditional musical instruments in all dimensions, filling the application gaps of traditional musical instruments and achieving synergistic empowerment: ① Complementary Learning Thresholds: This invention utilizes a 3-key binary encoding and a fixed fingering system for movable-do, allowing even beginners to achieve effective performance in a short time with the binary notation and basic instructional explanations within the online app. This complements the high professional threshold of traditional instruments. Furthermore, this invention is fully compatible with traditional music theory, serving as an introductory tool for traditional instruments. It helps users quickly establish movable-do thinking, become familiar with chord progressions and modal logic, reducing the learning cost of traditional instruments and achieving a seamless transition from beginner to professional performance.

[0032] ② Complementary usage scenarios: This invention adopts a miniaturized split design, which can be held in one hand. When paired with headphones, it can achieve silent performance without environmental interference. It can cover the performance needs of all scenarios that traditional instruments cannot adapt to, such as commuting, outdoors, business trips, and fragmented rest. It complements the fixed-scene professional performance of traditional instruments, and realizes the full-scene music coverage of "fixed scene professional artistic expression + portable scene improvisational creation and recording".

[0033] ③ Functional and Creative Complementarity: This invention can independently realize integrated real-time performance of melody playing, chord accompaniment, and drum machine rhythm. It has built-in multiple timbres and full-key switching functions. A single device can complete multi-part music creation and demo production, which complements the original acoustic expression of traditional instruments with single instruments and single timbres. This invention can be used as an independent performance and creation tool, or as a supporting creative auxiliary device for traditional instruments. It can quickly record creative inspiration, complete the arrangement framework, and then complete the final professional recording and artistic expression through traditional instruments, forming a complete creative loop.

[0034] ④ Complementary user groups: This invention covers a wide range of users, including music lovers with no prior experience, students, professional musicians, and improvisational creators. It complements the professional users of traditional musical instruments, satisfying both beginners' introductory performance needs and professional users' on-the-go creative needs. This greatly expands the user boundaries of music performance and creation, and promotes the popularization of music creation. Attached Figure Description

[0035] This specification includes the following figures, which are all schematic diagrams of the structure and principle, and do not limit the actual size and scale of the invention: 1. Figure 1 : A front structural diagram of the right-hand melody control terminal of the present invention; 2. Figure 2 : A schematic diagram of the front structure of the left-hand chord control end of the present invention; 3. Figure 3 : Circuit block diagram of the present invention; 4. Figure 4 This invention provides a mapping table between 3-bit binary codes and pitch levels. 5. Figure 5 : A flowchart illustrating the performance control method of the present invention; 6. Figure 6 : A schematic diagram of the integrated charging and storage box that is part of this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0036] This embodiment is implemented based on the technical solution of the present invention, and provides detailed implementation methods and specific operation procedures, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

[0037] The miniature full-function portable electronic musical instrument described in this embodiment adopts a split dual-end design, consisting of a left-hand chord control end and a right-hand melody control end. The dimensions of both ends are no larger than 90mm×55mm×22mm, which meets the miniaturization design requirements of a cigarette pack. It is comfortable to hold with one hand and can be carried in a pocket.

[0038] Both ends of the device feature three horizontally arranged core note buttons at the top, designed for natural three-finger pressing with one hand; a 360° operable joystick on the outer side of the device, designed for natural thumb flicking; and a circular performance function button on the inner side of the device, designed for little finger touch operation; a 0.96-inch OLED display on the front shows key performance parameters; both ends of the device incorporate an ESP32-C3 main control chip, an audio processing module, and a 900mAh lithium battery.

[0039] (I) The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to specific performance scenarios and accompanying drawings.

[0040] 1. For example Figure 1 , Figure 2 The schematic diagram of the control terminal front structure shows that the miniature full-function portable electronic musical instrument of the present invention includes... 1-Core note button, 2-Headphone jack, 3-Status indicator light, 4-Display screen, 5-360° joystick with buttons, 6-Control knob, 7-Power button, 8-Note function buttons, 9-USB Type-C port, 10-Sound output hole 2. For example Figure 3 The circuit block diagram is shown below. 11-Processor, 12-Audio processing unit, 13-Power supply unit 3. For example Figure 4 The mapping table between 3-bit binary codes and pitch levels is shown below. 3-bit binary code / corresponding solfège syllable / corresponding chord degree / right-hand key operation / left-hand key operation 4. For example Figure 5 The flowchart illustrating the performance control method is shown below. Start / S1 Receive user input key signature setting command and lock the absolute pitch mapping relationship corresponding to the current key signature / S2 Real-time acquisition of the pressed / released state of the 3 core note keys, generating the corresponding 3-bit binary code / S3 Map the binary code to the corresponding solfège syllable / chord degree signal, and convert it to the corresponding absolute pitch signal according to the current key signature / S4 Generate the corresponding audio signal based on the absolute pitch signal and output it / S5 Receive user joystick operation command to adjust the corresponding pitch / End 5. For example Figure 6 The schematic diagram of the integrated charging and storage box is shown below. 14-Lid, 15-Main body of storage box, 16-Type-C charging port, 17-Storage battery, 18-Type-C charging head (II) The specific performance operation method of this embodiment is as follows:

[0041] 1. Power-on initialization: Press and hold the power button (7-Power button) on both ends to power on. The device will default to the initial state of C major, basic 8-bit tone, and 3 octave range. The display screen will show the current key signature, tone and mode information.

[0042] 2. Melody Playing: Hold the melody control terminal with your right hand. Your ring, middle, and index fingers correspond to the three core note keys (1-core note keys). Pressing down on your index finger generates binary code 001, corresponding to the Do note; pressing down on your middle finger generates code 010, corresponding to the Re note; pressing down on your index and middle fingers simultaneously generates code 011, corresponding to the Mi note; pressing down on your ring finger generates code 100, corresponding to the Fa note, and so on. By combining these three keys, you can play the seven natural notes.

[0043] 3. Joystick Control: The right thumb moves the joystick left and right (5-360° with button joystick) on the melody control end to temporarily raise or lower the current note by a semitone, satisfying the precise pitch control of the 12-tone equal temperament and adapting to the performance needs of ornaments and transitions; the right thumb moves the joystick up and down (5-360° with button joystick) to temporarily raise or lower the current note by a whole tone, matching the natural rise and fall of human emotions, similar to the emotional expression of bending a guitar string, achieving the tension expression of the performance without complicated skills; after the joystick is released, it automatically returns to the original key pitch, making the operation simple and intuitive.

[0044] 4. Octave Switching: Press the joystick (5-360° joystick with buttons) with your right thumb to activate the octave raising function, raising the current pitch by one octave; press the inner function button (8-note function button) with your right pinky to activate the octave lowering function, lowering the current pitch by one octave; the octave raising and lowering functions have a loop logic. When the highest octave range is reached, pressing the octave raising function (5-360° joystick with buttons) again will automatically switch to the lowest octave range, achieving full 3-octave range coverage in combination with the basic buttons.

[0045] 5. Chord playing: Hold the chord control end with your left hand. Your index, middle, and ring fingers correspond to the three core note keys (1-core note keys). Pressing down the ring finger with one finger generates code 001, corresponding to the I major triad; pressing down the middle finger with one finger generates code 010, corresponding to the II minor triad; pressing down the ring and middle fingers simultaneously generates code 011, corresponding to the III minor triad, and so on, to play the chords in all seven keys.

[0046] 6. Chord Expansion: The left-hand chord control uses the thumb to move the rocker up and down (5-360° with button rocker) to temporarily raise or lower the overall chord by a semitone; moving the rocker left and right (5-360° with button rocker) changes the chord nature to Sus2 / Sus4; pressing the rocker (5-360° with button rocker) switches to the chord expansion page, enabling the playing of advanced chords such as seventh and ninth chords; the left-hand pinky presses the inner function button (8-note function button) to switch between major and minor chord natures with a single click.

[0047] 7. Transposition Operation: Switch to key signature selection mode by using the first knob (6-control knob), and rotate the knob to switch to any key signature such as D major or G major. At this time, the correspondence between the keys, solfège, and chord degrees remains completely unchanged. Only the absolute pitch is adjusted. Users can play any key signature without changing their fingering, completely eliminating the learning cost of transposition.

[0048] 8. Accompaniment and Composition: Select the drum machine rhythm pattern via the third knob (6-control knob), set the corresponding tempo and beat, and press the third knob (6-control knob) to start the drum machine accompaniment with one click. This allows for integrated real-time performance of melody, chords, and rhythm. Music inspiration can be recorded and demos can be created with a single device.

[0049] 9. Accompanying APP for teaching and performance: This invention is accompanied by an online teaching APP. The APP has a built-in visual binary score that is completely corresponding to the three-key binary encoding rules of this instrument. The score uses a 3-bit binary code, corresponding key operation, solfège / chord degree to be displayed synchronously, replacing the complicated music reading logic of traditional staff notation and numbered notation. Users can achieve step-by-step systematic learning and synchronous music playing through the APP.

[0050] In this embodiment, the present invention can form a complete synergistic and complementary process with traditional acoustic instruments: as an introductory tool, users can quickly become familiar with the solfège system, chord progression logic and mode switching rules, establish a systematic music theory foundation and pitch perception ability, and then seamlessly connect to the advanced learning of traditional instruments such as piano and guitar, greatly reducing the entry threshold of traditional instruments; as a creative tool, users can quickly record melodic inspiration, build chord frameworks and drum machine rhythms in portable scenarios, complete the production of arrangement demos, and then complete the final professional recording and artistic performance with traditional instruments, realizing a complete creative loop from inspiration capture to professional works.

[0051] The extended functions of this embodiment are implemented as follows: Users can switch to menu mode by pressing the second knob (6-control knob), and then enter the menu interface by pressing the second knob (6-control knob) to switch between different modes such as natural minor and jazz modes, select different preset timbres, and customize their own scales and chords; select the drum machine rhythm pattern by pressing the third knob (6-control knob), set the tempo and time signature, and press the knob to start the drum machine accompaniment with one click, realizing the integrated real-time performance of melody, chords, and drum machine; at the same time, the device can be connected to music production software on computers and mobile phones via Bluetooth and used as a MIDI input device to meet the needs of professional music creation.

Claims

1. A miniature, fully functional, portable electronic musical instrument, characterized in that: It includes a separate left-hand control unit, a right-hand control unit, and a built-in control system and sound unit; Both the left-hand control terminal and the right-hand control terminal are equipped with three core note triggering units. The core note triggering units include any one of physical buttons, touch buttons, and pressure-sensitive buttons. The control system has a built-in binary encoding mapping module, which is used to convert the pressed / released state of the three core note buttons into a 3-bit binary code, and map the code to the seven natural pitches and chord degrees of the corresponding solfège system. The pressed and released states of the buttons correspond to two different values ​​of the binary number. By default, pressing is recorded as binary number 1 and releasing is recorded as binary number 0. The control system has a built-in key mapping module, which is used to establish an independent mapping relationship between note names, solfège syllables, and chord degrees. When switching key signatures, the correspondence between solfège syllables, chord degrees, and core note keys remains unchanged, and only the corresponding absolute pitch is adjusted. Both the left-hand control terminal and the right-hand control terminal are equipped with a 360° operable rocker assembly. The left and right movement of the rocker assembly corresponds to temporary pitch increase or decrease, and the up and down movement corresponds to temporary pitch increase or decrease of a whole tone, thus achieving the separation of precise pitch control and emotional expression in performance.

2. The miniature, full-function portable electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mapping relationship between the numbers corresponding to the three note key mapping modules from right to left is as follows: 000 corresponds to a rest signal; 001 corresponds to Level I / Do; 010 corresponds to Level II / Re; 011 corresponds to Level III / Mi; 100 corresponds to Level IV / Fa; 101 corresponds to Class V / Sol; 110 corresponds to level VI / La; 111 corresponds to level VII / Si.

3. The miniature, fully functional portable electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that, The left-hand control terminal is a chord control terminal, with key mappings represented by chord degrees, used for chord control and texture expression; the right-hand control terminal is a melody control terminal, with key mappings represented by solfège syllables, used for single-note melodies and scale playing.

4. The miniature, fully functional portable electronic musical instrument according to claim 3, characterized in that, The joystick assembly on the left-hand control end can be moved left and right to switch the chords of the currently played Sus function, and moved up and down to temporarily raise or lower the overall semitone of the currently played chord. Pressing the joystick triggers a switch to the chord extension page, and the correspondence between the chord degree and the core note key remains unchanged after the switch.

5. The miniature, fully functional portable electronic musical instrument according to claim 3, characterized in that, The joystick assembly on the right control end can be moved left and right to temporarily raise or lower the pitch of the currently played single note by a semitone, and moved up and down to temporarily raise or lower the pitch of the currently played single note by a whole tone. Pressing the joystick triggers the octave raising function, and the correspondence between the solfège syllable and the core note key remains unchanged during the switching process.

6. The miniature, fully functional portable electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the left-hand and right-hand control terminals have function buttons on their inner sides. The function buttons on the left-hand control terminal trigger a one-click swap of chord major and minor properties, maintaining the correspondence between chord degrees and core note buttons after the swap. The function buttons on the right-hand control terminal trigger an octave reduction function, maintaining the correspondence between solfège syllables and core note buttons after the switch.

7. The miniature, full-function portable electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the left-hand and right-hand control terminals have a display screen on the front, and below the display screen are three control knobs with touch trigger function; the three control knobs are a first knob for volume and key adjustment, a second knob for menu and timbre selection, and a third knob for drum machine control.

8. The miniature, full-function portable electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control system has a built-in mode switching module, a custom scale and chord module, and a drum machine accompaniment module. The mode switching module supports switching between at least 7 core modes, and the modes and key signatures are independent of each other. The custom scale and chord module has a built-in music theory rule verification unit to avoid pitch and chord settings that do not conform to music theory rules. The drum machine accompaniment module has built-in multi-style drum machine rhythm patterns and supports parameter adjustment and one-button start / stop.

9. The miniature, fully functional portable electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, characterized in that, The dimensions of both the left-hand control unit and the right-hand control unit are no greater than 90mm×60mm×30mm, and both are equipped with elastic wristbands on the back. The electronic musical instrument is equipped with an integrated charging and storage box, which contains a USB Type-C charging port and a storage battery for storing and charging the left-hand control unit and the right-hand control unit.

10. A method for controlling the performance of a miniature, fully functional portable electronic musical instrument, characterized in that, The application of the electronic musical instrument according to any one of claims 1-9 includes the following steps: S1 receives the key signature setting command input by the user and locks the absolute pitch mapping relationship corresponding to the current key signature; S2 collects the press / release status of the three core note keys in real time and generates the corresponding 3-bit binary code; S3 maps the binary code to the corresponding solfège / chord progression signal, and converts it to the corresponding absolute pitch signal according to the current key signature; S4 generates and outputs the corresponding audio signal based on the absolute pitch signal; The S5 receives user joystick operation commands, allowing users to temporarily raise or lower the pitch of a chord (sus) by moving the joystick left or right. The pitch can be temporarily raised or lowered by moving the joystick up and down.

11. The performance control method according to claim 10, characterized in that, In step S3, when switching key signatures, only the absolute pitch mapping offset is adjusted, while keeping the correspondence between solfège syllables, chord degrees, and core note keys unchanged.

12. The performance control method according to claim 10, characterized in that, In step S5, the joystick operation on the left-hand chord control end is used to adjust the temporary pitch of the currently played chord and switch chord extensions / qualities; the joystick operation on the right-hand melody control end is used to adjust the temporary pitch of the currently played single note.

Images