Electronic Wind Instrument Breath Practice Mode

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic wind instruments lack effective practice modes that allow beginners to focus specifically on breathing techniques, limiting their ability to improve performance efficiently.

Innovation Solution

An electronic wind instrument with a processor that defines user-selectable modes, including a practice mode where sound waveform data is generated based on breath input operations even without performance key operations, allowing focused practice of breathing techniques.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the electronic wind instrument requires operation of both performance keys and breath input to generate sound, then the instrument maintains realistic performance control, but beginners cannot focus specifically on practicing breathing techniques

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to focus on breathing practiceVSAvoidperformance control requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between normal mode (requiring both key operation and breath input) and practice mode (requiring only breath input). This dynamic adaptability allows the instrument to adjust its control requirements based on the user's practice needs, enabling beginners to focus on breathing while maintaining the option for realistic performance control when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters by disabling the performance key requirement in practice mode while maintaining it in normal mode. This parameter change allows the same instrument to serve dual purposes: comprehensive performance control for advanced users and isolated breathing practice for beginners, effectively resolving the contradiction between ease of focused practice and performance control requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the electronic wind instrument generates sound only when both performance keys and breath are operated, then performance accuracy is maintained, but practice efficiency for breathing techniques is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepractice efficiencyVSAvoidperformance accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The practice functionality is segmented into distinct modes: normal mode for comprehensive performance practice and practice mode for isolated breathing technique practice. This segmentation allows beginners to efficiently practice breathing techniques without the complexity of coordinating performance keys, while maintaining the option for accurate performance practice when needed, thus improving practice efficiency without permanently sacrificing performance accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the instrument provides comprehensive performance control requiring key operations, then performance quality is maintained, but beginner accessibility and motivation are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility for beginnersVSAvoidperformance quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic wind instrument is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a comprehensive performance instrument requiring key operations and as a simplified breathing practice tool. This universality allows the same device to be accessible to beginners through practice mode while maintaining performance quality through normal mode, effectively resolving the contradiction between beginner accessibility and performance quality.

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 beginners to practice breathing techniques independently of performance key operations, enhancing their performance ability and expressive breathing skills.

Implementation Method 1

a breath sensor that detects a breath input operation by a user

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBreath detection:

Data Source

PatentUS10360884B2Electronic wind instrument, method of controlling electronic wind instrument, and storage medium storing program for electronic wind instrument

Publication Date: 2019.07.23 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic wind instrument according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of performance keys for specifying pitches, a breath sensor which detects at least a breath input operation, and a controller (CPU), wherein the controller (CPU) selectively switches between a first mode of outputting first sound waveform data generated on the basis of the breath input operation and operation of at least one performance key from among the plurality of performance keys, and a second mode of, when the breath input operation is detected, outputting second sound waveform data based on musical piece data regardless of whether operation of the at least one performance key is detected or is not detected.