Motion Sensor Array for Dance Movement to MIDI Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems inadequately capture the overall dance movement of a person, failing to provide comprehensive detection and conversion into acoustic and/or optical signals.

Innovation Solution

A method and device utilizing multiple motion sensors arranged in fixed positions on the body's extremities, processing motion data through stages to generate detailed MIDI data, which is then converted into sound and light signals, incorporating limb and gesture data for precise movement capture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If motion sensors are arranged on the person's extremities in fixed positions with multi-stage processing, then measurement precision of body movement is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the motion sensor system into multiple stages: first stage captures basic motion data from individual sensors, second stage processes limb-level data from grouped sensors, and third stage generates gesture data from combined limb information. This segmentation enables comprehensive movement detection while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular processing stages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from single-point motion detection to multi-dimensional body movement analysis by arranging sensors across different body extremities and processing levels. The system captures not only individual sensor data but also integrates spatial relationships between sensors on different limbs to reconstruct comprehensive dance movements in three-dimensional space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If multiple motion sensors are used to capture comprehensive body movement, then measurement precision is improved, but the number of sensors and processing stages increases complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomprehensive detection of body movementVSAvoidnumber of sensors and processing stages
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges data from multiple motion sensors through systematic combination across three processing stages. Individual sensor measurements are aggregated into limb data, which is then combined into comprehensive gesture data representing overall body movement. This merging approach captures comprehensive dance movements while organizing complexity through structured data integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The motion sensor system serves multiple functions simultaneously: capturing individual limb movements, detecting overall body gestures, generating MIDI data for music control, and creating light show patterns. This multi-functionality justifies the use of multiple sensors and processing stages by delivering versatile output from a unified system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables comprehensive detection and conversion of body movements into differentiated sound and light choreography, accurately reflecting the dancer's intended movements.

Implementation Method 1

The person's movement is measured by motion sensors, which convert the measured values into electrical signals and then into digital motion sensor data

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMotion sensor detection: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentEP4704073A1Method and device for converting dance movement into music and light
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 MSK GESELLSCHAFT FÜR AUTOMATISIERUNG MBH
  • EP4704073A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4704073A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4704073A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for converting the body movements of a person (6) into acoustic and/or optical signals, in which a plurality of motion sensors s1a, s1b, (s1c, s2a, s2b, s2c, s3a, s3b, s3c, s4a, s4b, s4c) are arranged in a relatively fixed position on the extremities (1, 2, 3, 4) of the person (6), the movements of the person (6) are measured by the motion sensors (s1a, s1b, s1c, s2a, s2b, s2c, s3a, s3b, s3c, s4a, s4b, s4c) and converted into motion sensor data (1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b, 4c). and the motion sensor data (1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b, 4c) are converted into first-level MIDI data (11a, 11b, 11c, 12a, 12b, 12c, 13a, 13b, 13c, 14a, 14b, 14c), the individual extremities (1, 2, 3, 4) of the person (6) are assigned to motion sensors (s1a, s1b, s1c, s2a, s2b, s2c, s3a, s3b, s3c, s4a, s4b, s4c) each as an extremity sensor group ((s1a, s1b, s1c), (s2a, s2b, s2c), (s3a, s3b, s3c), (s4a, s4b,s4c)) are summarized and from the motion sensor data (1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b, 4c) of the motion sensors (s1a, s1b, s1c, s2a, s2b, s2c, s3a, s3b, s3c, s4a, s4b, s4c) of the limb sensor group ((s1a, s1b, s1c), (s2a, s2b, s2c), (s3a, s3b, s3c), (s4a, s4b, s4c)) movements of the limb (1, 2, 3, 4) are calculated and limb sensor group data (1', 2', 3', 4') of the limb (1, 2, 3, 4) are determined and the limb sensor group data (1' ,2' ,3` ,4`) are converted into second-stage MIDI data (211, 212, 213, 214), and the first-stage (11a, 11b, 11c, 12a, 12b, 12c, 13a, 13b, 13c, 14a, 14b, 14c) and second-stage (211, 212, 213, 214) MIDI data are forwarded to a sound and/or light generation unit (9).