Patents by Inventor Harumichi Hotta

Harumichi Hotta has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11657790
    Abstract: An operation detection device for a key operation of a keyboard device includes a conductive unit configured to be disposed on each of keys, a substrate configured to be disposed facing each of the keys in a pressing direction of the keys. The substrate is provided with a sensor including at least first and second coils, the sensor being configured to be disposed spaced from one key so that at least one of the first or second coil outputs a signal corresponding to a distance between the one key and the respective sensor. The operation detection device includes a detection unit configured to detect a displacement of the one key in at least one of a yaw direction or a roll direction based on signals output from the first and second coils during a key pressing stroke of the one key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Nishida, Harumichi Hotta, Jun Ishii
  • Publication number: 20220270579
    Abstract: An operation detection device for a key operation of a keyboard device includes a conductive unit configured to be disposed on each of keys, a substrate configured to be disposed facing each of the keys in a pressing direction of the keys. The substrate is provided with a sensor including at least first and second coils, the sensor being configured to be disposed spaced from one key so that at least one of the first or second coil outputs a signal corresponding to a distance between the one key and the respective sensor. The operation detection device includes a detection unit configured to detect a displacement of the one key in at least one of a yaw direction or a roll direction based on signals output from the first and second coils during a key pressing stroke of the one key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Kenichi NISHIDA, Harumichi HOTTA, Jun ISHII
  • Patent number: 7979609
    Abstract: In a control system of a digital mixer, first class devices are connected via a first class bus, and second class devices are connected to each first class device via a second class bus. The number of first class devices, which require a specific function for adding source and destination addresses to data, can be reduced by the number of the second class devices. Moreover, the second class device which does not require the specific function for adding source and destination addresses to data input/output operations is cheaper than the first class device, resulting in the implementation of simplified configuration and reduced production costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Harumichi Hotta, Masaki Kudo, Masaru Aiso
  • Patent number: 7964780
    Abstract: Each of a plurality of pad devices that can be moved independent of each other includes: a sensor section for detecting a strike; and a transmitting section for transmitting operation information according to an output of the sensor section with wireless communication. A receiving section is provided in connection with a sound generating device to receive the operation information transmitted from each of the pad devices with wireless communication. The sound generating device generates a musical tone signal in accordance with the received operation information. A pad location detecting section detects a location of each of the pad devices. The sound generating device carries out tone generation control, for example, sound image localization control, for the musical tone signal generated in correspondence with each of the pad devices in accordance with the location of each of the pad devices detected by the pad location detecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Harumichi Hotta, Takahiro Hara, Atsushi Fukada, Shinya Sakurada
  • Patent number: 7825323
    Abstract: An electric music apparatus comprises an interface for connecting an external device, a memory that stores device drivers for external devices connected to the interface and a list recording relationships between external devices and corresponding device drivers, an obtaining device that obtains an external device information from an connected external device, a searching device that searches a device driver corresponding to the connected external device with reference to the list in accordance with the obtained external device information; a first determining device that determines the device driver corresponding to the connected external device when the searching device detects the corresponding device driver from the list, and a second determining device that executes a specific command to the connected external device by using a device driver stored in the memory when the searching device cannot detect the corresponding device driver and determines a driver without an error as a corresponding driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Yanase, Harumichi Hotta, Atsushi Fukada
  • Publication number: 20090259779
    Abstract: In a control system of a digital mixer, first class devices are connected via a first class bus, and second class devices are connected to each first class device via a second class bus. The number of first class devices, which require a specific function for adding source and destination addresses to data, can be reduced by the number of the second class devices. Moreover, the second class device which does not require the specific function for adding source and destination addresses to data input/output operations is cheaper than the first class device, resulting in the implementation of simplified configuration and reduced production costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Harumichi Hotta, Masaki Kudo, Masaru Also
  • Publication number: 20090241761
    Abstract: Each of a plurality of pad devices that can be moved independent of each other includes: a sensor section for detecting a strike; and a transmitting section for transmitting operation information according to an output of the sensor section with wireless communication. A receiving section is provided in connection with a sound generating device to receive the operation information transmitted from each of the pad devices with wireless communication. The sound generating device generates a musical tone signal in accordance with the received operation information. A pad location detecting section detects a location of each of the pad devices. The sound generating device carries out tone generation control, for example, sound image localization control, for the musical tone signal generated in correspondence with each of the pad devices in accordance with the location of each of the pad devices detected by the pad location detecting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harumichi HOTTA, Takahiro HARA, Atsushi FUKADA, Shinya SAKURADA
  • Patent number: 7501569
    Abstract: This system serves as one musical instrument by interconnecting a plurality of musical apparatuses EMa through EMf via an expandable communication connecting portion such as USB networks CB and UH. The respective musical apparatuses EMa through EMf have their own apparatus information. For the host musical apparatus EMa, a plurality of path rule information sets which are associated with a plurality of possible statuses where apparatuses are interconnected on a USB network and each of which specifies a path along which music data is transferred among the musical apparatuses are provided. Once the musical apparatuses EMb through EMf are connected to the USB network, the host musical apparatus EMa creates an actual connection pattern Pa1 representative of an actual apparatus connection status in accordance with the apparatus information of the apparatuses EMa through EMf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Harumichi Hotta
  • Publication number: 20070272073
    Abstract: This system serves as one musical instrument by interconnecting a plurality of musical apparatuses EMa through EMf via an expandable communication connecting portion such as USB networks CB and UH. The respective musical apparatuses EMa through EMf have their own apparatus information. For the host musical apparatus EMa, a plurality of path rule information sets which are associated with a plurality of possible statuses where apparatuses are interconnected on a USB network and each of which specifies a path along which music data is transferred among the musical apparatuses are provided. Once the musical apparatuses EMb through EMf are connected to the USB network, the host musical apparatus EMa creates an actual connection pattern Pa1 representative of an actual apparatus connection status in accordance with the apparatus information of the apparatuses EMa through EMf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Harumichi Hotta
  • Publication number: 20060218321
    Abstract: In a control system of a digital mixer, first class devices are connected via a first class bus, and second class devices are connected to each first class device via a second class bus. The number of first class devices, which require a specific function for adding source and destination addresses to data, can be reduced by the number of the second class devices. Moreover, the second class device which does not require the specific function for adding source and destination addresses to data input/output operations is cheaper than the first class device, resulting in the implementation of simplified configuration and reduced production costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Harumichi Hotta, Masaki Kudo, Masaru Aiso
  • Publication number: 20060037457
    Abstract: An electric music apparatus comprises an interface for connecting an external device, a memory that stores device drivers for external devices connected to the interface and a list recording relationships between external devices and corresponding device drivers, an obtaining device that obtains an external device information from an connected external device, a searching device that searches a device driver corresponding to the connected external device with reference to the list in accordance with the obtained external device information; a first determining device that determines the device driver corresponding to the connected external device when the searching device detects the corresponding device driver from the list, and a second determining device that executes a specific command to the connected external device by using a device driver stored in the memory when the searching device cannot detect the corresponding device driver and determines a driver without an error as a corresponding driver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Yanase, Harumichi Hotta, Atsushi Fukada
  • Patent number: 6700050
    Abstract: A bus system interconnects a plurality of devices of various categories constituting an electronic music instrument apparatus for exchanging signals among the devices having unique addresses. The bus system has a serial clock line for transmission of a clock signal, and a serial data line for transfer of a data signal from a source device to a destination device in synchronization with the clock signal. The source device operates as a master to commence a communicating session such as to send the clock signal to the serial clock line and to send the data signal to the serial data line in synchronization with the clock signal. The destination device operates as a slave so as to receive the data signal based on the clock signal. The source device formulates the data signal containing a unique address specifying the destination device such that the destination device can receive the data signal exclusively from the source device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Sakurada, Akira Iizuka, Harumichi Hotta, Shizuhiko Kawai, Kozo Tokuda, Masaki Kudo
  • Publication number: 20020117044
    Abstract: A bus system interconnects a plurality of devices of various categories constituting an electronic music instrument apparatus for exchanging signals among the devices having unique addresses. The bus system has a serial clock line for transmission of a clock signal, and a serial data line for transfer of a data signal from a source device to a destination device in synchronization with the clock signal. The source device operates as a master to commence a communicating session such as to send the clock signal to the serial clock line and to send the data signal to the serial data line in synchronization with the clock signal. The destination device operates as a slave so as to receive the data signal based on the clock signal. The source device formulates the data signal containing a unique address specifying the destination device such that the destination device can receive the data signal exclusively from the source device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Shinya Sakurada, Akira Iizuka, Harumichi Hotta, Shizuhiko Kawai, Kozo Tokuda, Masaki Kudo
  • Patent number: 5777251
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument apparatus includes a pad and fret switches. When the pad is stricken while any one of the fret switches is depressed, at least a musical tone is generated. The apparatus has different modes of performance operation including a first melody mode, a second melody mode, a base mode, a first chord mode, a second chord mode, an ad-lib mode and the like. In the first melody mode, each time the pad is operated, a note event is read out from a memory, a previous tone that has been generated is muted and, at the same time, a next tone for the note event read out is immediately generated so that a legato-like performance can be performed. If desired, a mute switch is operated to mute a previous tone that is being generated so that a staccato like performance is performed. In the second melody mode, the base mode, the first chord mode and the second chord mode, performance data for note events is successively and continuously read out from a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Harumichi Hotta, Kazuhide Iwamoto, Hiroyuki Torimura, Masanobu Chihana
  • Patent number: 5420374
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument has a data compatibility with respect to different models of the electronic musical instruments such as the beginner's model and pro model. In order to match the musical tone control data used in one model with the other musical tone control data used in another model, there is provided a conversion table which memorizes a relationship between them. By referring to this conversion table, certain musical tone control data made by one model is converted into the musical tone control data which can be used in another model. Thus, every model can generate musical tones by use of the musical tone control data which are converted suitably for itself. For example, the musical tone control data represents the tone color of the musical tone to be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Harumichi Hotta
  • Patent number: 5410941
    Abstract: An external memory medium storing data corresponding to a desired automatically playing or tone color selecting function can be removably set, so as to expand various functions of an electronic musical instrument. An identification code is recorded in the medium, and thus the function of the medium can be automatically determined from the code. The instrument is automatically set to an operation mode corresponding to the function in accordance with the determined function so that the data stored in the medium can be utilized. The determined function may be displayed to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Harumichi Hotta, Akira Suzuki, Akira Tozuka
  • Patent number: 5225617
    Abstract: When a switch for selecting tone control information has been operated once, presence of a first mode for selecting the tone control information is judged and when the switch has been continuously operated for predetermined plural times, presence of a second mode for adjusting contents of the tone control information is judged. When presence of the first mode has been judged, processing of the first mode for selecting the tone control information corresponding to the switch is executed. In this case, the switch functions as a switch for selecting desired tone control information in accordance with the proper purpose of the switch. When presence of the second mode has been judged, processing of the second mode for adjusting contents of the selected tone control information is executed. In this case, the switch functions as a switch for changing the mode from the first mode to the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Harumichi Hotta
  • Patent number: 5179238
    Abstract: An apparatus adapted for use in combination with an electronic musical instrument for setting a musical tone control parameter for control of a musical tone to be generated. The setting apparatus includes a display device arranged to selectively provide a plurality of screens thereon and to indicate a plurality of musical tone control parameters on each of the screens, a plurality of parameter setting keys arranged adjacent the display device and positioned to correspond with each position of the control parameters indicated on the respective screens, and an operation key arranged to be operated for selecting one of the screens, wherein the screen of the display device is switched over in response to operation of the operation key, and the musical tone control parameters are set in response to each operation of the parameter setting keys for controlling a musical tone to be generated by performance of the musical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Harumichi Hotta