Modular Electronic Musical Keyboard Instrument With Segmented Octave Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current musical keyboard instruments have a fixed octave range that does not accommodate individual user needs, including musical preferences and portability considerations, limiting their adaptability and usability.
Innovation Solution
A modular electronic musical keyboard instrument composed of separate keyboard segments, each covering one octave, with a control system and communication means allowing segments to be connected and reconfigured to adjust the octave range, using buttons to set octave order and allowing for wireless or wired communication, and incorporating a percussion segment and touch screen for input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the octave range is extended to meet professional user needs, then the adaptability is improved, but the device dimensions and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The synthesizer is divided into separate keyboard segments (e.g., 30, 32) each covering one octave, allowing users to connect only the segments needed for their specific requirements. This segmentation enables professional users to assemble a six-octave instrument while amateur users can use just three octaves, directly resolving the contradiction between adaptability and weight.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the octave range is extended to meet professional user needs, then the adaptability is improved, but the device dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The keyboard is segmented into modular units that can be connected in series. Connection means (12, 14) enable users to extend the total length by adding segments horizontally, allowing the instrument to grow from three to six octaves while maintaining a manageable form factor for each individual segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular architecture allows expansion not only in linear length but also in vertical arrangement possibilities. Users can configure segments in different spatial arrangements, transforming the instrument's dimensional footprint to suit different performance and portability needs while maintaining the required octave range.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed octave range is used for commercial considerations, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to individual needs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By manufacturing standardized keyboard segments with uniform interfaces (connection means 12, 14 and communication means), the system achieves economies of scale in production while providing unlimited configurability to users. Each segment is manufactured independently with the same specifications, simplifying the manufacturing process while the modular assembly provides adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Each keyboard segment is designed as a universal module that can function in multiple positions and configurations within the array. The standardized control system interface and communication protocols allow any segment to serve any functional role, enabling a single manufacturing design to serve multiple user needs across different octave ranges.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a modular electronic musical keyboard instrument, comprising: an array of separate keyboard segments (30, 32), each comprising a piano keyboard (20) in a range of one octave; a control system, for converting a keystroke of each key in the array of keyboard segments to a note sound in a level corresponding to the order of the key in the array of keyboard segments; octave order setting means (22), for determining to the control system the order of each keyboard segment in the array of keyboard segments; communication means of each of the keyboard segments with the control system; and connection means (12, 14) with another keyboard segment.