Abstract: An external inserting meatus of user is closed with an insert earphone device in use so that it is hard that external sound penetrates into the external inserting meatus; not only an internal sound propagation path but also an external sound propagation path are formed in an inserting body of the earphone device, and an active diaphragm is provided in the inserting body so as to make the external sound propagation path closed therewith and block the external auditory meatus from the external sound; the active diaphragm is formed from electroactive polymer layer sandwiched between electrodes, and the active diaphragm is deformed in the presence of voltage so as permit the user easily to control it.

Abstract: An inserting type earphone device is broken down into a signal-to-sound converter, an ear pad to be inserted into an acoustic meatus of user, a sound tube provided between the signal-to-sound converter and the ear pad and a switching mechanism provided in association with the sound tube and ear pad, and a sound hole, which is formed in the sound tube for connecting a sound propagation hole to the outside, is open to and closed with the switching mechanism; the switching mechanism makes the sound hole open and closed through rotation thereof around the sound tube so that the ear pad is not inclined in the acoustic meatus during the rotation, whereby the ear pad is not dropped off from the acoustic meatus.

Abstract: An insert earphone device includes an electro-acoustic device, an inserting body, a sound tube connected between the electro-acoustic device and the inserting body and an active valve unit provided on the sound tube, the sound tube is formed with a sound propagation path open at both ends thereof to the electro-acoustic device and the inserting body and an external sound entrance open at both end thereof to environment and the sound propagation path, and the active valve unit is formed of electroactive polymer and responsive to voltage supplied through a cable so as to close and open the external sound entrance; when a user wishes to hear external sound, the user changes the polarity of voltage so that the active valve unit is deformed for conducting the environment to the sound propagation path, whereby the user hears the external sound without removing the earphone device from the ear.

Abstract: In normal mode or expansion mode, a normal load table 53 or an expansion load table 54 is selected, respectively, to store half area start position HS and half area end position HE as effect-switchable positions. The selected load table is referenced to generate and output drive signals so as to obtain depression reaction force F according to position ST. In accordance with player's depression/release of keys, musical tone signals are generated on the basis of waveform data 51 and envelope data 52 corresponding to the manipulated keys, designated basic tone color and depression area to carry out tone emission/tone-vanishing processes. Both the characteristics of musical tones and the rate of change in the reaction force switch at the effect-switchable positions.

Abstract: Three valve assemblies are linked with finger buttons and inserted into a pipe structure of a trumpet for changing the length of air column, and a supporting system assists a player in fingering on the finger buttons; sensors are adhered to the finger buttons so as to supply a detecting signal representative of force exerted on the finger buttons by the player to a controlling unit; when the force exceeds over a threshold, the controlling unit energizes actuators connected to the valve assemblies so as to make the player feel the valve assemblies lightly changed.

Abstract: An inserting type earphone device is broken down into a signal-to-sound converter, an ear pad to be inserted into an acoustic meatus of user, a sound tube provided between the signal-to-sound converter and the ear pad and a switching mechanism provided in association with the sound tube and ear pad, and a sound hole, which is formed in the sound tube for connecting a sound propagation hole to the outside, is open to and closed with the switching mechanism; the switching mechanism makes the sound hole open and closed through rotation thereof around the sound tube so that the ear pad is not inclined in the acoustic meatus during the rotation, whereby the ear pad is not dropped off from the acoustic meatus.

Abstract: An insert earphone device includes an electro-acoustic device, an inserting body, a sound tube connected between the electro-acoustic device and the inserting body and an active valve unit provided on the sound tube, the sound tube is formed with a sound propagation path open at both ends thereof to the electro-acoustic device and the inserting body and an external sound entrance open at both end thereof to environment and the sound propagation path, and the active valve unit is formed of electroactive polymer and responsive to voltage supplied through a cable so as to close and open the external sound entrance; when a user wishes to hear external sound, the user changes the polarity of voltage so that the active valve unit is deformed for conducting the environment to the sound propagation path, whereby the user hears the external sound without removing the earphone device from the ear.

Abstract: In normal mode or expansion mode, a normal load table 53 or an expansion load table 54 is selected, respectively, to store half area start position HS and half area end position HE as effect-switchable positions. The selected load table is referenced to generate and output drive signals so as to obtain depression reaction force F according to position ST. In accordance with player's depression/release of keys, musical tone signals are generated on the basis of waveform data 51 and envelope data 52 corresponding to the manipulated keys, designated basic tone color and depression area to carry out tone emission/tone-vanishing processes. Both the characteristics of musical tones and the rate of change in the reaction force switch at the effect-switchable positions.

Abstract: An external inserting meatus of user is closed with an insert earphone device in use so that it is hard that external sound penetrates into the external inserting meatus; not only an internal sound propagation path but also an external sound propagation path are formed in an inserting body of the earphone device, and an active diaphragm is provided in the inserting body so as to make the external sound propagation path closed therewith and block the external auditory meatus from the external sound; the active diaphragm is formed from electroactive polymer layer sandwiched between electrodes, and the active diaphragm is deformed in the presence of voltage so as permit the user easily to control it.

Abstract: A player changes the pitch of tones produced through a trombone by controlling the breath and a slide, and the control of slide is not easy for children, handicapped persons and old players; a supporting system is combined with the trombone, and includes a manipulating board fitted to an appropriate portion of the trombone close to the slide, a driving mechanism connected to the slide and a controlling unit connected to the manipulating board and driving mechanism; when the player wishes to change the pitch of tones through the sliding motion of the slide, he moves a lever on the manipulating board by a distance shorter than a target stroke of the slide, and the controlling unit calculates the target stroke so as to supply a driving signal to the driving mechanism; and the driving mechanism exerts force on the slide so as to assist the player in varying the length of the column of air.

Abstract: A saxophone has a complicated key mechanism for selectively closing and opening tone holes, and fingering on touch buttons and keys is not easy for children, handicapped persons and old players; a supporting system is combined with the saxophone so as to assist a human player in fingering, and includes sensors, actuators and a controlling unit; while the human player is fingering on the touch buttons and keys, the sensors inform the controlling unit of changes of the depressed touch buttons and depressed keys, and the controlling unit supplies driving signals to the actuators associated with the tone holes to be closed so as to permit the human player easily and quickly to play music tunes.

Abstract: Three valve assemblies are linked with finger buttons and inserted into a pipe structure of a trumpet for changing the length of air column, and a supporting system assists a player in fingering on the finger buttons; sensors are adhered to the finger buttons so as to supply a detecting signal representative of force exerted on the finger buttons by the player to a controlling unit; when the force exceeds over a threshold, the controlling unit energizes actuators connected to the valve assemblies so as to make the player feel the valve assemblies lightly changed.

Abstract: A saxophone has a complicated key mechanism for selectively closing and opening tone holes, and fingering on touch buttons and keys is not easy for children, handicapped persons and old players; a supporting system is combined with the saxophone so as to assist a human player in fingering, and includes sensors, actuators and a controlling unit; while the human player is fingering on the touch buttons and keys, the sensors inform the controlling unit of changes of the depressed touch buttons and depressed keys, and the controlling unit supplies driving signals to the actuators associated with the tone holes to be closed so as to permit the human player easily and quickly to play music tunes.

Abstract: A player changes the pitch of tones produced through a trombone by controlling the breath and a slide, and the control of slide is not easy for children, handicapped persons and old players; a supporting system is combined with the trombone, and includes a manipulating board fitted to an appropriate portion of the trombone close to the slide, a driving mechanism connected to the slide and a controlling unit connected to the manipulating board and driving mechanism; when the player wishes to change the pitch of tones through the sliding motion of the slide, he moves a lever on the manipulating board by a distance shorter than a target stroke of the slide, and the controlling unit calculates the target stroke so as to supply a driving signal to the driving mechanism; and the driving mechanism exerts force on the slide so as to assist the player in varying the length of the column of air.

Abstract: A microchip is formed on a chip base (composed of a silicone resin) so as to include a temperature controlled portion, which is controlled in temperature by way of a channel and which is brought into contact with Peltier elements. At least one recess is formed in the outer periphery of the temperature controlled portion so as to surround the temperature controlled portion except for a prescribed area allowing the channel to pass therethrough. The recess is formed deep or runs through the chip base in its thickness direction, thus reducing the amount of heat transmitted from the temperature controlled portion to the external area of the chip base. Hence, it is possible to perform precise temperature control with respect to the temperature controlled portion of the microchip.