Electronic Wind Instrument Adaptive Delay Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

It is challenging for beginners to adjust fingering on wind instruments like the saxophone to generate the correct pitch, leading to either excessive waiting time or premature sound generation with incorrect pitches, due to difficulty in determining a suitable waiting time for sound confirmation.

Innovation Solution

An electronic wind instrument with a processor that determines a delay set time based on previously acquired fingering time information, allowing for proper performance by waiting for a predetermined time after detecting a fingering operation before confirming the pitch designation state and generating sound.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fixed waiting time is set for fingering adjustment, then sound generation can be controlled, but the waiting time cannot adapt to different performer skill levels causing either excessive delay or premature sound generation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of pitch generationVSAvoidadaptability to different performer skill levels

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary measurement of fingering time by detecting the time between key press and sound generation during a learning phase, then uses this measured data to automatically set the appropriate delay time for normal operation, eliminating the need for manual adjustment while adapting to each performer's skill level

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The electronic instrument automatically measures and determines the suitable delay time based on the performer's actual fingering speed without requiring user input or manual configuration, allowing the system to self-adapt to different skill levels and set the optimal waiting time autonomously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the waiting time is set to be longer to allow fingering adjustment, then correct pitch can be ensured, but performance efficiency is reduced due to excessive delay

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrectness of pitchVSAvoidperformance speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The delay time is not fixed but dynamically adjusted based on the measured fingering time of the specific performer, allowing the system to optimize the balance between ensuring correct pitch and maintaining performance speed for each individual user

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the waiting time is set to be shorter to maintain performance speed, then productivity is improved, but incorrect pitch may be generated due to premature sound generation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance speedVSAvoidcorrectness of pitch

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system measures the actual fingering time during a learning phase and uses this feedback to automatically determine and set the optimal delay time, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to each performer's speed and ensures both correct pitch and maintained performance efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20230033464A1Electronic instrument, method for controlling electronic instrument, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2023.02.02 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic instrument includes at least one processor, and the at least one processor is configured to determine, based on previously acquired fingering time information relating to a time required for a fingering operation performed by a performer, a delay set time for confirming a new fingering operation in response to the new fingering operation.