Electric wind instruments and tone-keys thereof

Abstract

A device and a method for adjustable key remote control and calibration of an electric wind instrument, based on an electromagnetic proximity sensor mounted within the tone keyholes of the instrument, allowing to correlate sound production with key opening and to operate the keys to mimic operation feeling of a natural wind instrument.

Description

[0001] ELECTRIC WIND INSTRUMENTS AND TONE-KEYS THEREOF

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention pertains to electric wind instruments and tone keys thereof; and to methods and means for adjustable key remote control and for calibration of an electric wind instrument. The invention also relates to controlled sound production in electric wind instruments and a method of remotely controlling and calibrating key distance in an electric wind instrument using a reflective optical sensor.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Wind instruments are typically those in which sound is produced by a player setting a column of air into vibration by blowing into or over a mouthpiece. Wind instruments include both brass and woodwind instruments. Wind instruments may include a hole and covering valve keys, (e.g., tone hole key (THK) design as a piston, clap, rotor etc.) along the tubing of the instrument. The terms THK and "clap" interchangeably refer here in their general sense, namely to a key which is a finger operated lever used to open or close (ttps: / / en.wiktionary.org / wiki / tone_hole) Tones produced by the instrument may be varied by adjusting the length of the column of vibrating air, opening and / or closing those keys. Electric wind instruments (EWIs) are often electric versions of corresponding acoustic instruments, where the pitch produced is defined primarily by fingering patterns.

[0006] US17 / 782,715 discloses the basic configuration and use of a specified EWI by the same applicants, but with magnetic key distance calibration. GB2422474A discloses the replacement of a magnetic sensor by a reflective optic sensor, determining the rotational speed of a turntable . Siwiak, Diana Jean "MetaFlute: Developing Tools to Observe Micro-Timing and Physical Movements in Flute Playing." (2018) discloses an optical sensor for MIDI flute for pitch tracking m real time through audio signal processing, using a microphone, and not for key distance measurement.

[0007] The advantages are accurate direct or remote user defined calibration key opening distance; shortened reaction time of keys to analog signal; improvement over existing magnetic technologies; avoiding hysteresis of the signal obtained from magnetic systems - only some jitter remains that may be fixed; higher accuracy in determining key position; avoiding mounting of sensors on key , as the natural reflectivity of instrument’s resonator is used for the calibration method; conserving the natural operation feel of keys in electronic instruments by enabling precise user defined distance determination.

[0008] Hence, it is still a long felt need to detect key distance by reflective optical sensor to facilitate user-defined control of key distance calibration.

[0009] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It is hence an object of the present invention to disclose an electric wind instrument for generating an electric signal corresponding to a played sound. The aforesaid electric wind instrument comprises: (a) a wind instrument body having at least one tone hole and at least one tone-hole key mechanism coupled to the at least one tone hole; the tone-hole key mechanism having a pad configured for releasably closing the at least one tone hole; the tone-hole key mechanism configured for manually switching between an open and closed position statuses of the at least one tone hole; (b) an electro-optical proximity sensor further comprising a light source generating a light beam reflectable from the pad and a light sensor configured for detecting reflected light from the pad and generating a first electric signal corresponding to intensity of the reflected light; (c) a comparator unit configured for comparison the first electric signal with pre-calibrated values corresponding to the open and closed statuses and generating a second electric signal corresponding to a current status of the at least one tone hole.

[0011] It is another object of the present invention to disclose the electric wind instrument comprising a musical instrument digital interface unit connected to the comparator unit. The musical instrument digital interface unit is configured for generating at least one tone corresponding to the current status of the at least one tone hole.

[0012] It is another object of the present invention to disclose the electric wind instrument comprises a pressure gauge configured for measuring air pressure created by a player and generating a third electric signal corresponding to a current air pressure value.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to disclose the electric wind instrument comprising an output unit connected to the musical instrument digital interface unit. The output unit is configured for playing the at least one tone with a timbre corresponding to the air pressure measured by the pressure gauge. It is another object of the present invention to disclose the electric wind instrument comprising a diagnostic unit connected to the musical instrument digital interface unit, the diagnostic unit is configured for an action selected from the group consisting of diagnosing of the at least one tone-hole key mechanism, calibrating the comparator unit with values of the first electric signal corresponding to the open and closed statuses of the tone hole, assessing user’s playing the electric wind instrument, and any combination thereof.

[0014] It is another object of the present invention to disclose the electric wind instrument comprising a communication unit configured for establishing communication with a remote diagnostic unit.

[0015] It is another object of the present invention to disclose a method of playing an electric wind instrument. The aforesaid method comprising steps of: (a) providing an electric wind instrument; (b) blowing air into the wind instrument body by a player; (c) concurrently: (i) switching the status of the at least one tone hole by manually manipulating the at least one tone hole key; and (ii) illuminating the at least one pad by the light beam and detecting light reflected from the at least one pad; (d) generating the first electric signal corresponding to the intensity of the reflected light; (e) comparing the first electric signal with the pre-calibrated value in the comparator unit; and (f) generating the second electric signal corresponding to the current status of the at least one tone hole.

[0016] It is another object of the present invention to disclose tone-hole key mechanism configurable to a tone hole in a body of an electric wind instrument with a pad configured for releasably closing the at least one tone hole; the tone-hole key mechanism further configured for manually switching between an open and closed position statuses of the at least one tone hole; wherein the tone-hole key mechanism comprises an electro-optical proximity sensor comprising a light source generating a light beam reflectable from the pad and a light sensor configured for detecting reflected light from the pad and generating a first electric signal corresponding to intensity of the reflected light; and a comparator unit configured for comparison the first electric signal with pre-calibrated values corresponding to the open and closed statuses and generating a second electric signal corresponding to a current status of the at least one tone hole.

[0017] It is another object of the present invention to disclose remote-controlled tone-hole key mechanism configurable to a tone hole in a body of an electric wind instrument with a pad configured for releasably closing the at least one tone hole; the tone-hole key mechanism further configured for manually switching between an open and closed position statuses of the at least one tone hole; the tone-hole key mechanism comprises an electro-optical proximity sensor comprising a light source generating a light beam reflectable from the pad and a light sensor configured for detecting reflected light from the pad and generating a first electric signal corresponding to intensity of the reflected light; and a comparator unit configured for comparison the first electric signal with pre-calibrated values corresponding to the open and closed statuses and generating a second electric signal corresponding to a current status of the at least one tone hole; wherein the remote-controlled tone-hole key mechanism further comprising a communication unit configured for establishing communication with a remote diagnostic unit further configured for configured for an action selected from the group consisting of diagnosing of the at least one tone-hole key mechanism, calibrating the comparator unit with values of the first electric signal corresponding to the open and closed statuses of the tone hole, assessing user’s playing the electric wind instrument, and any combination thereof.

[0018] It is another object of the present invention to disclose a method of utilizing a tone-hole key mechanism configurable to a tone hole in a body of an electric wind instrument with a pad configured for releasably closing the at least one tone hole; comprising steps of manually switching the tone-hole key mechanism for switching between an open and closed position statuses of the at least one tone hole; providing an electro-optical proximity sensor comprising a light source generating a light beam reflectable from the pad and configuring a light sensor for detecting reflected light from the pad and generating a first electric signal corresponding to intensity of the reflected light; and configuring a comparator unit for comparing the first electric signal with pre-calibrated values corresponding to the open and closed statuses and generating a second electric signal corresponding to a current status of the at least one tone hole; wherein the method further comprising step of configuring a communication unit for establishing communication with a remote diagnostic unit, and configuring the same for an action selected from the group consisting of diagnosing of the at least one tone-hole key mechanism, calibrating the comparator unit with values of the first electric signal corresponding to the open and closed statuses of the tone hole, assessing user’s playing the

[0019] It is another object of the present invention to disclose method of utilizing an electric wind instrument, including adjusting the tone and remote controlling the same, the method comprising steps of: (a) providing an electric wind instrument of claim 1 or any of its dependent claims; (b) blowing air into the wind instrument body by a player; (c) concurrently: (i) switching the status of the at least one tone hole by manually manipulating the at least one tone hole key; and (ii) illuminating the at least one pad by the light beam and detecting light reflected from the at least one pad; (d) generating the first electric signal corresponding to the intensity of the reflected light; (e) comparing the first electric signal with the pre-calibrated value in the comparator unit; and (f) generating the second electric signal corresponding to the current status of the at least one tone hole.

[0020] In some embodiments, the method further comprises a step of generating at least one tone corresponding to the current status of the at least one tone hole performed by a musical instrument digital interface unit connected to the comparator unit.

[0021] In some embodiments, the method further comprises a step of generating a third electric signal corresponding to a current air pressure value by a pressure gauge configured for measuring air pressure created by a player.

[0022] In some embodiments, the method a step of playing the at least one tone with a timbre corresponding to the air pressure measured by the pressure gauge by an output unit connected to the musical instrument digital interface unit.

[0023] In some embodiments, the method an action selected from the group consisting of diagnosing of the at least one tone-hole key mechanism, calibrating the comparator unit with values of the first electric signal corresponding to the open and closed statuses of the tone hole, assessing user’s playing the electric wind instrument, and any combination thereof.

[0024] In some embodiments, diagnosing of the at least one tone-hole key mechanism, calibrating the comparator unit with values of the first electric signal corresponding to the open and closed statuses of the tone hole, assessing user’s playing the electric wind instrument are performed remotely.

[0025] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] For better understanding of the objects and other features of the present invention, its preferred embodiments will be described hereinbelow in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] Fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating an operational principle of the present invention;

[0028] Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of a valve - proximity sensor arrangement; Fig. 3 is a graph of dependence of an electric signal on a distance between the proximity sensor and the valve; and

[0029] Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of electric circuitry of the electric wind instrument.

[0030] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] The disclosure will provide details in the following description of one or more embodiments with reference to the following figures. The figures are not necessarily to scale. The figures are merely schematic representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the one or more embodiments of the invention. In the figures, like numberings represent like elements. The novel features believed characteristic of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The one or more embodiments of the invention itself however, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description if an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein figures 1-4 illustrate various components, configurations and methods for use of the hereto disclosed Electrical Wind Instrument (herein after EWI) according to several embodiments of the invention.

[0032] It is one object of the invention to disclose an electrical wind instrument (EWI) having keys, which may be calibrated and controlled locally or remotely, and which may deliver and reflect the operation feeling of an original natural wind instrument (NWI). An example of the device and its operating system is disclosed herein in a non-limiting manner. Reference is now made to figures 1-4.

[0033] Fig. 1 schematically shows EWI comprising body 100 and key structure 102 provided with resonator 104having a surface reflecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by a light source 105 of the proximity sensor 200. shown in Fig. 2. The radiation reflected from resonator 104 is detected by sensor 106, correlates with the position of the key. Comparator (202 in Fig. 4) is configured for comparison of an electric signal generated by sensor 106 with preset values corresponding to switching from closed and open statuses of key structure 104 . The graph of of dependence of an electric signal generated by sensor 106 on a distance between the proximity sensor and resonator 104 is shown in Fig. 3 where in the closed position (status), the reflection of light towards the sensor is the strongest and drops with distance. The electic signal generated in the sensor correlates with the key position: first, as an on / off switch for sound production, as the sound is produced when the key is opened and the current falls below the threshold current; and, second, as the key position may be user-defined by adjusting the current that is measured from the light beam proximity sensor. This enables the calibration by the user of the operation feeling distance, to mimic the operation feeling of different NWI and optimize playing effectivity.

[0034] Reference is now made to Fig. 4 presents schematic diagram of electric circuitry of the EWI .Numeral 202 refers to a digital-to-analog unit which: i. produces a preset calibrated electric signal, and ii. . The calibrated electric signal produced in 202 is compared with electric signal correlating with detected light intensity from 200 in comparator 201 to identify the open or closed status of resonator 104 closing the tone hole. The electric signal greater than the threshold (Fig. 3) corresponds to the closed tone hole while the electric signal lower than the threshold correspond the open tone hole. Main computing unit 203 receives data characterizing the statuses (open / closed) of the tone holes of the EWU and instruct musical instrument digital interface unit (MIDI) 204 to generate an electric signal corresponding to an open tone hole. MCU 203 is configured for integrating signals arriving simultaneously from all keys into one tone and defines timbre of the generated tones according to the air pressure created by the player measured by pressure sensor 205

[0035] The foregoing description of the embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise embodiments disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in this art. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An electric wind instrument for generating an electric signal corresponding to a played sound; said electric wind instrument comprising: a. a wind instrument body having at least one tone hole and at least one tone-hole key mechanism coupled to said at least one tone hole; said tone-hole key mechanism having a pad configured for releasably closing said at least one tone hole; said tonehole key mechanism configured for manually switching between an open and closed position statuses of said at least one tone hole; b. an electro-optical proximity sensor further comprising a light source generating a light beam reflectable from said pad and a light sensor configured for detecting reflected light from said pad and generating a first electric signal corresponding to intensity of said reflected light; c. a comparator unit configured for comparison said first electric signal with precalibrated values corresponding to said open and closed statuses and generating a second electric signal corresponding to a current status of said at least one tone hole.

2. The electric wind instrument according to claim 1 comprising a musical instrument digital interface unit connected to said comparator unit, said musical instrument digital interface unit configured for generating at least one tone corresponding to said current status of said at least one tone hole.

3. The electric wind instrument according to claim 1 comprising a pressure gauge configured for measuring air pressure created by a player and generating a third electric signal corresponding to a current air pressure value.

4. The electric wind instrument according to claim 2 or 3 comprises an output unit connected to said musical instrument digital interface unit; said output unit is configured for playing said at least one tone with a timbre corresponding to said air pressure measured by said pressure gauge.

5. The electric wind instrument according to claim 2 comprises a diagnostic unit connected to said musical instrument digital interface unit; said diagnostic unit is configured for an action selected from the group consisting of diagnosing of said at least one tone-hole key mechanism, calibrating said comparator unit with values of said first electric signal corresponding to said open and closed statuses of said tone hole, assessing user’s playing said electric wind instrument, and any combination thereof.

6. The electric wind instrument according to claim 5 comprising a communication unit configured for establishing communication with a remote diagnostic unit further configured for configured for an action selected from the group consisting of diagnosing of said at least one tone-hole key mechanism, calibrating said comparator unit with values of said first electric signal corresponding to said open and closed statuses of said tone hole, assessing user’s playing said electric wind instrument, and any combination thereof.

7. A tone-hole key mechanism configurable to a tone hole in a body of an electric wind instrument with a pad configured for releasably closing said at least one tone hole; said tone-hole key mechanism further configured for manually switching between an open and closed position statuses of said at least one tone hole; wherein said tone-hole key mechanism comprises an electro-optical proximity sensor comprising a light source generating a light beam reflectable from said pad and a light sensor configured for detecting reflected light from said pad and generating a first electric signal corresponding to intensity of said reflected light; and a comparator unit configured for comparison said first electric signal with pre-calibrated values corresponding to said open and closed statuses and generating a second electric signal corresponding to a current status of said at least one tone hole.

8. A remote-controlled tone-hole key mechanism configurable to a tone hole in a body of an electric wind instrument with a pad configured for releasably closing said at least one tone hole; said tone-hole key mechanism further configured for manually switching between an open and closed position statuses of said at least one tone hole; said tonehole key mechanism comprises an electro-optical proximity sensor comprising a light source generating a light beam reflectable from said pad and a light sensor configured for detecting reflected light from said pad and generating a first electric signal corresponding to intensity of said reflected light; and a comparator unit configured for comparison said first electric signal with pre-calibrated values corresponding to said open and closed statuses and generating a second electric signal corresponding to a current status of said at least one tone hole; wherein said remote-controlled tone-hole key mechanism further comprising a communication unit configured for establishing communication with a remote diagnostic unit further configured for configured for an action selected from the group consisting of diagnosing of said at least one tone-hole key mechanism, calibrating said comparator unit with values of said first electric signal corresponding to said open and closed statuses of said tone hole, assessing user’s playing said electric wind instrument, and any combination thereof.

9. A method of utilizing an electric wind instrument, including adjusting the tone and remote controlling the same, said method comprising steps of: a. providing an electric wind instrument of claim 1 or any of its dependent claims; b. blowing air into said wind instrument body by a player; c. concurrently: i. switching said status of said at least one tone hole by manually manipulating said at least one tone hole key; and ii. illuminating said at least one pad by said light beam and detecting light reflected from said at least one pad; d. generating said first electric signal corresponding to said intensity of said reflected light; e. comparing said first electric signal with said pre-calibrated value in said comparator unit; and f. generating said second electric signal corresponding to said current status of said at least one tone hole.

10. The method according to claim 9 comprising a step of generating at least one tone corresponding to said current status of said at least one tone hole performed by a musical instrument digital interface unit connected to said comparator unit.

11. The method according to claim 9 comprising a step of generating a third electric signal corresponding to a current air pressure value by a pressure gauge configured for measuring air pressure created by a player.

12. The method according to claim 9 comprising a step of playing said at least one tone with a timbre corresponding to said air pressure measured by said pressure gauge by an output unit connected to said musical instrument digital interface unit.

13. The method according to claim 9 comprising an action selected from the group consisting of diagnosing of said at least one tone-hole key mechanism, calibrating said comparator unit with values of said first electric signal corresponding to said open and closed statuses of said tone hole, assessing user’s playing said electric wind instrument, and any combination thereof.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein diagnosing of said at least one tone-hole key mechanism, calibrating said comparator unit with values of said first electric signal corresponding to said open and closed statuses of said tone hole, assessing user’s playing said electric wind instrument are performed remotely.

5. A method of utilizing a tone-hole key mechanism configurable to a tone hole in a body of an electric wind instrument with a pad configured for releasably closing said at least one tone hole; comprising steps of manually switching said tone-hole key mechanism for switching between an open and closed position statuses of said at least one tone hole; providing an electro-optical proximity sensor comprising a light source generating a light beam reflectable from said pad and configuring a light sensor for detecting reflected light from said pad and generating a first electric signal corresponding to intensity of said reflected light; and configuring a comparator unit for comparing said first electric signal with pre-calibrated values corresponding to said open and closed statuses and generating a second electric signal corresponding to a current status of said at least one tone hole; wherein said method further comprising step of configuring a communication unit for establishing communication with a remote diagnostic unit, and configuring the same for an action selected from the group consisting of diagnosing of said at least one tone-hole key mechanism, calibrating said comparator unit with values of said first electric signal corresponding to said open and closed statuses of said tone hole, assessing user’s playing said electric wind instrument, and any combination thereof.

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