Patents Examined by Jeffrey Donels
  • Patent number: 10748514
    Abstract: A musical instrument includes: a vibrating member configured to be vibrated by a playing operation; an adjusting mechanism configured to perform physical adjustment to change a vibration manner of the vibrating member in playing; a detector configured to detect an adjustment state of the adjusting mechanism; a musical-sound generator configured to generate musical sound based on the playing operation; and a controller configured to control a manner of generation of the musical sound by the musical-sound generator, based on the adjustment state detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideaki Takehisa
  • Patent number: 10741049
    Abstract: An elevator motion alert system for alerting a mechanic working inside a hoistway comprises a self-power-generating car beacon mounted on an elevator car, a self-power-generating counterweight beacon mounted on a counterweight, and a mobile device carried by the mechanic for receiving signals transmitted from the car beacon and the counterweight beacon and for providing an alert to the mechanic whenever the elevator car or the counterweight is approaching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Mitsuru Kato, Hideki Miyazawa, Jiro Murata
  • Patent number: 10733969
    Abstract: A protective enclosure for an effect device includes a substantially rectangular shaped base portion and a substantially cuboid shaped upper portion. The base portion and upper portion communicate with one another and form a common receiving space to enclose an effect device. The base portion includes two opposite side walls, and each side wall has a respective opening to each provide access to the receiving space. An upper wall extends laterally across the base portion side walls, and a foot switch opening is disposed along the upper wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Inventor: Hans-Peter Wilfer
  • Patent number: 10723590
    Abstract: Disclosed are a device and a method for detecting compression and reposition performance of a hydraulic buffer for an elevator. The device includes a laser displacement sensor, a battery charge and power supply circuit and a controller, where the laser displacement sensor is connected to the controller through a signal conditioning and acquisition circuit and a laser emission control circuit; and where the controller is also connected to a memory and a configuration screen, respectively. It can realize the automation of multi-parameter measurement functions of a buffer, such as compression stroke measurement, reposition time measurement and reposition process monitoring (which can reflect whether the reposition process is jammed), and has a high measurement accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignees: Zhuhai Branch, Guangdong Institute of Special Equipment Inspection and Research, Shunde Branch, Guangdong Institute of Special Equipment Inspection and Research, Zhuhai ANYES Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhengwu Qi, Minjian Liang, Yuesheng Li, Yinghong Chen, Jiansheng Zeng
  • Patent number: 10720132
    Abstract: A performance control method includes estimating a performance position in a musical piece by analyzing a performance of the musical piece by a performer, causing a performance device to execute an automatic performance in accordance with performance data designating the performance content of the musical piece so as to be synchronized with the progress of the performance position, and controlling the relationship between the progress of the performance position and the automatic performance in accordance with control data that is independent of the performance data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Maezawa
  • Patent number: 10714066
    Abstract: A content control device includes: a plurality of controls to which a plurality of parameters for controlling properties of a content containing at least one of sound and video are respectively assigned, each of the plurality of controls outputting a first indicated value in accordance with an operation amount of the control; and a processor configured to previously create setting information used to determine respective values of the plurality of parameters in accordance with the second indicated value; determine the values of the plurality of parameters corresponding to the second indicated value respectively in accordance with the second indicated value and the setting information; and revise each of the values of the parameters to be determined in accordance with the first indicated value outputted for the control assigned to the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichi Ohta, Taku Ohno
  • Patent number: 10714067
    Abstract: A controller, method, system, and computer-readable medium, for producing control signals. The controller comprises a pressure sensor, a hinged input mechanism configured to receive input forces and direct them towards the sensor, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive a signal from the pressure sensor indicating that the hinged input mechanism is being depressed or released and, based on the received signal, to determine, during a time interval, a rate of change of pressure detected at the sensor. The processor also generates a control signal associated with the hinged input mechanism, wherein the control signal comprises a velocity characteristic representing a speed at which the hinged input mechanism is depressed or released, and the velocity characteristic is based at least partly on the determined rate of change of pressure. In one example embodiment, the control signal is an audio control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: ROLI Ltd.
    Inventors: Ning Xu, Hong Yeul Eom, Christopher Slater, David A Rumball, Thomas J Waldron
  • Patent number: 10706829
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for a magnetically and releasably attachable trigger for an instrument is provided. Additionally, the trigger provides for an increased sensitivity of sound by being in direct physical contact with the surface on which it is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Rare Earth Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Riley Suitor
  • Patent number: 10699684
    Abstract: Methods of creating one or more audio objects to accompany a sequence of multimedia objects are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the method includes using a processor to analyze the multimedia objects and corresponding recorded metadata to generate derived metadata. The method further receives a selection of one or more analysis tools that are configured to analyze the recorded and derived metadata. Next, a selected subset of multimedia objects are identified and sequenced, which will ultimately be coupled to and accompanied by one or more audio objects. Lastly, an embodiment of the present invention generates an audio track to accompany the selected subset of multimedia objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: KODAK ALARIS INC.
    Inventors: Mark D. Wood, Peter D. Wood
  • Patent number: 10692479
    Abstract: A musical instrument pickup includes a vibrating body that is disposed facing a plurality of sound sources and excited in response to sounds from the sound sources, and a sensor that detects vibration of the vibrating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Banri Abe, Tetsuya Yamakoshi
  • Patent number: 10672290
    Abstract: A method of stringing and tuning and learning to play a guitar. The strings are first reversed from a traditionally strung guitar. The guitar is strung such that a first string (lightest) is at a top of the fret board and a remainder of the strings are disposed consecutively from top to bottom until a sixth string, which is at the bottom of the fret board. The method further includes tuning the guitar so that the first string plays an E note, the second string plays a B note, the third string plays a G note, the fourth string plays a D note, the fifth string plays an A note, and the sixth string plays a D note.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Inventor: Willard Brian Chason
  • Patent number: 10665216
    Abstract: A control method includes: detecting a first sound signal from a musical instrument through a sensor arranged by the musical instrument; receiving a result of detection related to a first event in music performance; determining a tracking coefficient that indicates how closely a second event follows the first event in the music performance; determining an operation mode of the second event based on the tracking coefficient; and outputting the music from the automated musical instrument based on the operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Maezawa
  • Patent number: 10657934
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enhancements for musical composition applications. An example method includes receiving information identifying initiation of a music composition application, the music composition application being executed via a user device of a user, with the received information indicating a genre associated with a musical score being created via the music composition application. One or more constraints associated with the genre are determined, with the constraints indicating one or more features learned based on analyzing music associated with the genre. Musical elements specified by the user are received via the music composition application. Musical score updates are determined based on the musical elements and genre. The determined musical score updates are provided to the user device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
    Inventors: John Kolen, Harold Henry Chaput, Navid Aghdaie, Kazi Atif-Uz Zaman, Kenneth Alan Moss
  • Patent number: 10657941
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes a memory storing a musical piece data that includes a first note or chord to be played by the performer at a first timing, a second note or chord to be played by the performer at a second timing, and a third note or chord to be played by the performer at a third timing and a processor that determines a target melodic interval direction from the first note or chord to the second note or chord, and that causes an automatic accompaniment to output from the second timing to a point in time immediately prior to the third timing even if the performer performs a wrong note as the second note as long as a melodic interval direction actually performed by the performer matches the target melodic interval direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yukina Ishioka
  • Patent number: 10657936
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes a display, a memory, and at least one processor. The memory is configured to store a plurality of song data items. Each of the plurality of song data items includes a plurality of event data items and the plurality of song data items does not include size information of each of the plurality of event data items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tomomi Konishi
  • Patent number: 10657943
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and system for calibrating a musical device. In some embodiments, a method for calibrating a musical device includes: energizing an actuator to actuate a key using a force corresponding to a first intensity level; obtaining, from a sensor, a first sensor signal representing motion information of the key corresponding to application of the force; and calibrating the musical device based on the first sensor signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: SUNLAND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Bin Yan
  • Patent number: 10657942
    Abstract: A method for transferring data between a storage and playback device and a server containing at least one audio file having information for producing a tempo that is sensible to at least one user as the at least one user performs a repetitive motion activity, the storage and playback device being capable of storing and playing the information in the audio file, the method comprising, at the data storage and playback device, or at a combination of the server and the data storage and playback device: receiving a request to substantially match at least one audio file based on its beats per minute for outputting on the storage and payback device; identifying a metadata tempo tag for each designated audio file, each tempo tag indicating the tempo of the audio file; and causing to be delivered to, or providing to, the storage and playback device the audio file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Pacing Technologies LLC
    Inventor: William D. Turner
  • Patent number: 10657938
    Abstract: A method for customizing appliance alert tunes includes downloading a user selected alert tune from a server to an appliance over a network. The user selected alert tune is a plurality of synthesized notes. The method also includes saving the user selected alert tune in a memory of the appliance and playing the user selected alert tune on a sound emitter of the appliance in response to an activation condition for the user selected alert tune.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Dean Suel, II, Ryan Michael Hartlage
  • Patent number: 10650794
    Abstract: A timing control method includes generating a timing designation signal according to one of a first generation mode for generating the timing designation signal which designates, based on a detection result of a first event in a performance of a music piece, a timing of a second event in the performance, and a second generation mode for generating the timing designation signal without using the detection result, and outputting a command signal for commanding an execution of the second event according to one of a first output mode for outputting the command signal in accordance with the timing designated by the timing designation signal, and a second output mode for outputting the command signal in accordance with a timing determined based on the music piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Maezawa
  • Patent number: 10643593
    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: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Electronic Arts Inc.
    Inventors: John Kolen, Harold Henry Chaput, Navid Aghdaie, Kazi Atif-Uz Zaman, Kenneth Alan Moss