Combined Patents (Class 84/2)
  • Patent number: 10878789
    Abstract: Sequence predictors may be used to predict one or more entries in a musical sequence. The predicted entries in the musical sequence enable a virtual musician to continue playing a musical score based on the predicted entries when the occurrence of latency causes a first computing system hosting a first virtual musician to not receive entries or timing information for entries being performed in the musical sequence by a second computing system hosting a second virtual musician. The sequence predictors may be generated using a machine learning model generation system that uses historical performances of musical scores to generate the sequence predictor. Alternatively, or in addition, earlier portions of a musical score may be used to train the model generation system to obtain a prediction model that can predict later portions of the musical score.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
    Inventors: John Kolen, Harold Henry Chaput, Navid Aghdaie, Kazi Atif-Uz Zaman, Kenneth Alan Moss
  • Patent number: 10748515
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhanced real-time audio generation via a virtualized orchestra. An example method includes receiving, from a user device, a request to generate output associated with a musical score. Actions associated with virtual musicians with respect to respective instruments are simulated based on one or more machine learning models, with the simulated actions being associated with a virtual musician and indicative of an expected playing style during performance of the musical score. Output audio to be provided to the user device is generated, with the output audio being generated based on the simulated actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
    Inventors: John Kolen, Harold Henry Chaput, Navid Aghdaie, Kazi Atif-Uz Zaman, Kenneth Alan Moss
  • Patent number: 10418012
    Abstract: According to some aspects, an apparatus is provided for controlling the production of music, the apparatus comprising at least one processor, and at least one processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to receive data indicative of acceleration of a user device, detect that the acceleration of the user device has exceeded a predetermined threshold based at least in part on the received data, determine that no beat point has been triggered by the apparatus for at least a first period of time, and trigger a beat point in response to detecting that the acceleration of the user device has exceeded the predetermined threshold and determining that no beat point has been triggered for at least the first period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Symphonova, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shelley Katz
  • Patent number: 8664497
    Abstract: A double keyboard piano system is provided. The double keyboard piano system may include a first automatic player piano, a second automatic player piano, and a double keyboard console including a first keyboard and a second keyboard mounted above the first keyboard. The first automatic player piano is in communication with the double keyboard console to receive a first signal including first information describing a first key for the first automatic player piano to automatically play based on a first key of the first keyboard being played, and the second automatic player piano is in communication with the double keyboard console to receive a second signal including second information describing a second key for the second automatic player piano to automatically play based on a second key of the second keyboard being played.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventor: Christopher Taylor
  • Patent number: 7897856
    Abstract: When a middle plate is to be mounted to an accommodating section surrounded by left and right and rear side plates provided on a body section in a casing structure of a grand-piano type electronic piano, the middle plate positioned in front of the accommodating section is slid rearward, so that a rear end edge portion of the middle plate is fitted into a fitting section provided on the inner surface of the rear side plate and then fixing pieces provided on the underside of the middle plate are fixed to fixation pieces provided on the accommodating section by means of bolts. Such an arrangement can reduce the number of portions to be fixed by bolts and thereby mount the middle plate with an enhanced mounting efficiency. Because the bolts do not appear on the exterior of the electronic piano, the electronic piano can have an enhanced outer appearance design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Akiko Shinjo
  • Patent number: 7465864
    Abstract: A musical instrument training device, system, and method are provided for teaching a plurality of wind instrument embouchures. The instrument includes an elongate body having first end and a second end opposite the first end and defining an internal bore extending longitudinally between the first and second ends. A single-reed instrument mouthpiece is coupled to the first end and a brass instrument mouthpiece is coupled to the second end. In a preferred, more limited aspect, a lateral flute embouchure tone hole is formed in the wall of the elongate body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Clarflupet, LLC
    Inventor: David G. Heintz
  • Publication number: 20080053286
    Abstract: Music players, for example musical toys, have loudspeakers. Each player stores a part of an orchestrated composition. A conductor unit, that can be a standalone unit or form part of one of the players, activates the players to synchronously play their parts thus playing the composition harmoniously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventor: Mordechai Teicher
  • Patent number: 7116328
    Abstract: The present invention is intended to provide a information processing apparatus that includes information accumulating means for accumulating image motion information, display means for displaying images, and control means for detecting, from music information, a division at which tune change occurs and/or a climax section of music, selecting said image motion information on the basis of a result of the detection, and displaying on said display means a moving image in accordance with the reproduction of said music information by use of the selected image motion information in accordance with the reproduction of said music information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Kawai, Naoto Ishida, Masaaki Miyazawa, Masafumi Hatanaka, Makoto Okazaki, Nao Tazaki
  • Patent number: 6479741
    Abstract: A musical device includes a body and at least one actuator mechanism. In one embodiment, the musical device can generate an audio output in response to activation by a user of the actuator mechanism. In one embodiment, the musical device body includes multiple parts that can be moved relative to each other. The parts enable the musical device to resemble one or more musical instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Mattel, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Morton, Kenneth G. Parker, Peter F. Reile, Maarten Van Huystee
  • Patent number: 6362405
    Abstract: A hybrid keyboard musical instrument includes two electric tone generators, music strings selectively struck with hammers driven for rotation by action mechanisms and a silent system for changing a hammer stopper between a free position and a blocking position, and a controlling system supplies instructions for changing the hammer stopper to the silent system and parameters for electronic tones to the tone generators, wherein a user registers pieces of status information in a hard disk unit, and selectively calls the pieces of status information from the hard disk unit during a performance by manipulating buttons so that the user quickly changes the status of the hybrid keyboard musical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Yahama Corporation
    Inventors: Shinya Koseki, Haruki Uehara
  • Patent number: 5925844
    Abstract: The invention was developed in order to play an electronic piano in the same manner as when playing an acoustic piano without feeling any sense of incompatibility. At S100, the key velocity (key stroke strength) is detected by key sensors 33 and 35. At S110, the detected key stroke strength is converted referring to the conversion table stored in ROM 43 and showing a touch curve. At S120, based on said converted key stroke strength data, an electronic sound source 9 and an amplifier 11 are controlled to generate sounds from speakers. The converted key stroke strength represents the sound volume. Since the conversion table of the present embodiment is set so that when the electronic piano is played with the same touch as in playing the acoustic piano, the same sound volume as the acoustic piano can be obtained. Therefore, the player do not feel any sense of incompatibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Tatsuya Inaba
  • Patent number: 5864519
    Abstract: A music box timepiece A having a clock body 10 with a disc music box instrument 20 to which a music box disc 1 is fitted, characterized in that a space 11 in which a spare music box disc 1' can be housed is formed within the clock body, and when the spare music box disc 1' is stored, at least a part of the spare music box disc can be seen from the front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Rhythm Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Norihiko Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5616880
    Abstract: An acoustic upright piano, an electronic sound system and a hammer stopper form in combination a keyboard musical instrument for generating acoustic sounds in an acoustic sound mode and electronic sounds in an electronic sound mode, and the hammer stopper has a rotatable shaft extending in a lower space under damper blocks of damper assemblies, cushion members projecting into an upper space over the damper blocks and connecting brackets provided between the rotatable shaft and the cushion members, thereby perfectly interrupting hammer motions before an impact on strings in the electronic sound mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime Hayashida, Takashi Aoyagi, Satoshi Inoue, Ringi Nozue, Kiyoshi Kawamura, Shigeaki Sato
  • Patent number: 5583310
    Abstract: A hammer sensor of a keyboard musical instrument monitors a hammer action from a home position to a rebounding point on a stopper or strings, and a controller determines a hammer velocity and a time at an intermediate point on a trajectory of the hammer in a recording mode; the controller delays the time so as to determine a key-on timing, and an electronic system reproduce the acoustic or electronic sound at the key-on timing in a playback mode so as to reproduce the acoustic or electronic sound at the same timing as the original sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuo Sugiyama, Tomoyuki Ura
  • Patent number: 5545839
    Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument lowers a key bed together with a keyboard, key action mechanisms and hammer mechanisms in a silent mode, and a stopper mechanism and a make-up mechanism cause the depressed keys to actuate the key action mechanisms and damper mechanisms as similar to an acoustic sound mode, thereby allowing a player to feel the key touch usual in a performance without an acoustic sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kawamura, Toshio Tajima, Shinya Koseki
  • Patent number: 5444181
    Abstract: A keyboard instrument selectively enters into an acoustic sound mode for performing a music with acoustic piano sounds and an electronic sound mode for performing a music with synthetic sounds, and a rotary stopper is provided between hammer shanks and strings for interrupting a rotation of the hammer toward the strings in the electronic sound mode; wherein a cushion is provided on the rotary stopper for damping an impact of a damper leaving from the strings in both acoustic and electronic sound modes so that a player can perform a music without a noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Wada, Tatsuya Makino
  • Patent number: 5434349
    Abstract: A keyboard instrument selectively enters into an acoustic sound mode for producing piano tones and into an electronic sound mode for producing synthetic tones, and comprises an acoustic piano, an electronic sound generating system and a mode controlling system, wherein the mode controlling system has a stopper slidable along strings of the acoustic piano so that the strings are struck by or blocked from hammers of the acoustic depending upon the position of the stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Kawamura
  • Patent number: 5428186
    Abstract: An acoustic piano is equipped with an electronic sound generating system, and a key bed structure is angularly movable between an acoustic sound mode and an electronic sound mode for changing gaps between hammer heads and sets of strings, thereby allowing a player to perform a music with acoustic sounds or synthesized sounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yasutoshi Kaneko, Kiyoshi Kawamura, Shinya Koseki
  • Patent number: 5174440
    Abstract: A lipstick case includes a stationary tube formed with an axially extending guide slot, a rotatable tube formed with an internal spiral groove and rotatably sleeved on the stationary tube, and a lipstick base provided inside the stationary tube and receiving a lipstick therein. The lipstick base has an outward radial projection which extends into the guide slot and the spiral groove. A sound generating unit is provided on a lower end of the stationary tube and is operable so as to generate sound when the rotatable tube is rotated relative to the stationary tube in order to move the projection of the lipstick base upwardly along the guide slot and the spiral groove and thereby protrude the lipstick out of the stationary tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Inventor: Chung-Kuang Chiu
  • Patent number: 5142961
    Abstract: Method for storage, transcription, manipulation and reproduction of music on system-controlled musical instruments which faithfully reproduces the characteristics of acoustic musical instruments. The system comprises a music source, a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and a CPU-controlled plurality of instrument transducers in the form of any number of acoustic or acoustic hybrid instruments. In one embodiment, performance information is sent from a music source MIDI controller to the CPU, edited in the CPU, converted into an electrical signal, and sent to instrument transducers via transducer drivers. In another embodiment, individual performances stored in a digital or sound tape medium are reproduced at will through the instrument transducers, or converted into MIDI data by pitch/frequency detection/analyzation device for storage/editing/performance in the CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Inventor: Fred Paroutaud
  • Patent number: 5056660
    Abstract: A music gift box includes a pair of shells pivotally connected together. A cover board is mounted within one of the shells and carries a circuit board, a DC power supply, a speaker and a frame for holding a picture. When the gift box is closed, the circuit board is disconnected from the power supply. When the gift box is opened, the working voltage actuates the circuit board to produce music through the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Inventor: Andy Huang
  • Patent number: 5057005
    Abstract: A candle device comprises a wax body which is urged upwardly by a spring against a thermally-insulating cover. A wick projects through an aperture in the cover, and wires conduct heat from the candle flame to melt wax beneath the cover. A music generator in the form of an integrated circuit and a speaker is triggerable by a sensor to play music while the candle is burning. The sensor may take the form of a temperature-sensitive resistor, a photocell or a bimetallic switch. Other forms utilize a thermally-conducting wire to conduct heat from the candle flame to expand air in a container to operate a mechanical switch. Also disclosed is a time delay switch in the form of a tube of porous material. Water is absorbed along the tube and changes the capacitance between pairs of plates, each pair activating the integrated circuit to play a respective tune.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Inventor: Wai-Shi Kwok
  • Patent number: 4704931
    Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument includes: a keyboard; an acoustic musical tone production mechanism for generating an acoustic musical tone; a tone generator for generating an electronic musical tone; a solenoid driver for inhibiting generation of the acoustic musical tone from the acoustic musical tone production mechanism; and an operation panel for designating a musical tone to be inhibited. When a player designates a musical tone to be inhibited via the operation panel in advance and then depresses a key on the keyboard, the generation of the acoustic musical tone is inhibited by means of the solenoid driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Nagai, Yoshimasa Isozaki
  • Patent number: 4568269
    Abstract: A musical candle, having a candle provided with a pair of electric conductors along the candle, and a musical device to which the pair of electric conductors is connected. When the candle is lit, the pair of electric conductors is burned to melt and fuse together to form a closed electric connection thus activating the musical device to produce a musical sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1986
    Inventor: Tung Lin