Patents by Inventor Eiji Akazawa

Eiji Akazawa 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: 10204617
    Abstract: An information processing device determines whether a predetermined condition with regard to information processing has been met, changes a character for vocalization when the predetermined condition has been met, and generates a sound signal of a synthesized voice obtained by vocalizing the character for vocalization that has been changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Ishikawa, Osamu Ohshima, Eiji Akazawa, Naoki Yamamoto, Yuki Murakami
  • Patent number: 10096306
    Abstract: An input support method is provided for use in an input support apparatus that supports input of a music note. The method includes: controlling a display unit to display a pitch-time plane that includes a pitch-axis and a time-axis, a chord sequence that is associated with the time-axis of the pitch-time plane, and a pointer that indicates a position on the time-axis along the chord sequence; identifying constituent music notes that form a chord corresponding to a display position of the pointer along the chord sequence; and controlling the display unit to display areas on the pitch-time plane, each displayed area indicating a corresponding one of the identified constituent music notes, differently from other areas on the pitch-time plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Akazawa, Kozue Sakaguchi
  • Publication number: 20170278495
    Abstract: An input support method is provided for use in an input support apparatus that supports input of a music note. The method includes: controlling a display unit to display a pitch-time plane that includes a pitch-axis and a time-axis, a chord sequence that is associated with the time-axis of the pitch-time plane, and a pointer that indicates a position on the time-axis along the chord sequence; identifying constituent music notes that form a chord corresponding to a display position of the pointer along the chord sequence; and controlling the display unit to display areas on the pitch-time plane, each displayed area indicating a corresponding one of the identified constituent music notes, differently from other areas on the pitch-time plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Eiji AKAZAWA, Kozue SAKAGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20170178622
    Abstract: An information processing device determines whether a predetermined condition with regard to information processing has been met, changes a character for vocalization when the predetermined condition has been met, and generates a sound signal of a synthesized voice obtained by vocalizing the character for vocalization that has been changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Katsumi ISHIKAWA, Osamu OHSHIMA, Eiji AKAZAWA, Naoki YAMAMOTO, Yuki MURAKAMI
  • Patent number: 9105259
    Abstract: A music information display control apparatus includes one or more processors configured to display, on a display device, a musical note sequence image in which a musical note iconic image of each musical note is disposed in a musical score area where a time axis is set. The display controller disposes an operation iconic image which accepts an instruction from a user in a vicinity of the musical note iconic image, and changes a display length or a display position of the musical note iconic image in a direction of the time axis according to an instruction to move the operation iconic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Akazawa, Kenichi Takasaki
  • Publication number: 20140047971
    Abstract: A music information display control apparatus includes one or more processors configured to display, on a display device, a musical note sequence image in which a musical note iconic image of each musical note is disposed in a musical score area where a time axis is set. The display controller disposes an operation iconic image which accepts an instruction from a user in a vicinity of the musical note iconic image, and changes a display length or a display position of the musical note iconic image in a direction of the time axis according to an instruction to move the operation iconic image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji AKAZAWA, Kenichi TAKASAKI
  • Patent number: 7816599
    Abstract: Either a tone generation priority mode or a quality priority mode can be set. If the currently-set mode is the tone generation priority mode when a connecting tone is to be generated for connecting between two successive notes, the joint-portion waveform data is selected for synthesis of the tone, stored head-portion waveform data and tail-portion waveform data are selected, and at least one of a pitch and amplitude of at least one of the head-portion waveform data and tail-portion waveform data is processed so as to provide a smoothly-varying connecting tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Akazawa
  • Patent number: 7750230
    Abstract: Once performance event information is supplied in real time in accordance with a progression of a performance, a time indicative of temporal relationship between at least two notes to be generated in succession is measured on the basis of the performance event information supplied in real time. Comparison is made between a preset rendition style determination condition including time information and the measured time, and a rendition style that is to be applied to a current tone to be performed in real time is determined on the basis of the comparison result. With the arrangement that a rendition style to be applied to the current tone is determined on the basis of the comparison result, it is possible to execute a real-time performance while automatically expressing a tonguing rendition style.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Akazawa
  • Patent number: 7692088
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a waveform synthesizer apparatus that synthesizes a waveform of a musical sound based on musical performance event information. In particular, a music synthesizer includes an overlap detector that detects whether a first and second musical sound overlap, and a sound length meter that determines a sound length of the first musical sound. If the first and second musical sounds overlap, the synthesizer instantly terminates synthesizing of the first sound and starts synthesizing the second sound, provided the length of the first sound does not exceed a predetermined length. If the first and second sounds do not overlap, synthesis of the first sound is terminated, and the synthesis of the second sound is initiated, if it is determined that the length of rest between the two sounds does not exceed a predetermined length, and that the first sound does not exceed a predetermined length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Umeyama, Eiji Akazawa
  • Patent number: 7640501
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for editing music on a computer. A preferred embodiment according to the present invention provides a score window display containing various types of execution graphical icon layers onto which graphical execution ions (representing musical symbols such as bend-up/down, grace-up/down, dynamics, glissando, tremolo) can be attached and arranged in conformity with a progression of a musical tune on a screen of the display. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, may select desired execution icons from an icon select palette that provides lists of execution icons and attach or detach them to the displayed layers via graphical drag-and-drop operations to edit the underlying musical score. In addition, a user may modify parameters of a specific icon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama, Eiji Akazawa
  • Patent number: 7557288
    Abstract: In a storage section, there are stored special connecting waveform data for connecting between at least two notes to be generated in succession. The special connecting waveform data contain only a waveform of a succeeding-note region of a waveform connecting portion which is provided for a continuous transition between the at least two notes and which is divided into a preceding-note region and the succeeding-note region. When a connecting tone is to be generated for connecting between two notes in accordance with acquired performance information, a tone waveform connecting between waveforms of the two notes is generated using the special connecting waveform data. With such arrangements, the waveform data of the succeeding-note region are read out without waveform data of the preceding-note region being read out, so that it is possible to reduce a time required for transition from a preceding note to a succeeding note.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Akazawa, Yasuyuki Umeyama
  • Publication number: 20090158919
    Abstract: Either a tone generation priority mode or a quality priority mode can be set. If the currently-set mode is the tone generation priority mode when a connecting tone is to be generated for connecting between two successive notes, the joint-portion waveform data is selected for synthesis of the tone, stored head-portion waveform data and tail-portion waveform data are selected, and at least one of a pitch and amplitude of at least one of the head-portion waveform data and tail-portion waveform data is processed so as to provide a smoothly-varying connecting tone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Akazawa
  • Patent number: 7539941
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a performance data editing system embodied within a computer system (or electronic musical instrument) equipped with a display and a mouse. The present invention provides a score window containing various types of execution icon layers onto which execution ions representing exection-related data for adding articulation to a music tone are attached and arranged in conformity with a progression of a musical tune on a screen of the display. Each layer can be controlled in response to various commands. The present invention further allows a user (or music editor) to select desired execution icons from an icon select palette that provides lists of execution icons which are registered in advance. In addition, the present invention allows a user to modify parameters of a specific icon, as well as add icons to or delete icons from a prescribed display area (e.g., layer window) using drag-and-drop operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama, Eiji Akazawa
  • Patent number: 7495165
    Abstract: A performance data editing system is actualized by a computer system (or electronic musical instrument) which is equipped with a display and a mouse. The system initially provides a score window containing various types of execution icon layers onto which execution icons (representing musical symbols such as bend-up/down, grace-up/down, dynamics, glissando, tremolo) are attached and arranged in conformity with a progression of a musical tune on a screen of the display. Each of the layers is independently controlled in response to various commands such as display-on, small-scale display, display-off and vertical rearrangement. The system allows a user (or music editor) to select desired execution icons from an icon select palette that provides lists of execution icons which are registered in advance. In addition, the system also allows the user to modify parameters of a specific icon which is selected from among the execution icons attached onto the score window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama, Eiji Akazawa
  • Patent number: 7271330
    Abstract: There is provided a rendition style selector operable by a user to select a desired rendition style from among a plurality of rendition styles associated with a plurality of portions of tones. In response to selecting operation via the selector, a rendition style is determined which is to be applied to each desired portion of a tone. Then, performance information is output which designates a rendition style module corresponding to the determined rendition style. The module defines a waveform characteristic to provide the corresponding rendition style. According to another type of the rendition style selector, a user can collectively select a combination of a plurality of rendition styles associated with different portions of a tone. Thus, a plurality of rendition styles can be designated collectively by one selecting operation. Rendition style suitable for each portion of a tone to be generated may be determined on the basis of a performance event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Akazawa, Yasuyuki Umeyama
  • Patent number: 7259315
    Abstract: Performance event data designating rendition style modules are supplied in order of time. When a given performance event data at a given time is to be processed in accordance with the supplied performance event data, another performance event data related to one or more events, following the given performance event data, is obtained in advance of a predetermined original time position of the other performance event daata. Control data corresponding to a rendition style module designated by at least one of the given performance event data and the other performance event data obtained in advance is generated on the basis of the given and the other performance event data, and a waveform corresponding to the designated rendition style module is synthesized on the basis of the control data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Motoichi Tamura, Yasuyuki Umeyama, Hideyuki Masuda, Eiji Akazawa
  • Publication number: 20070157796
    Abstract: In a storage section, there are stored special connecting waveform data for connecting between at least two notes to be generated in succession. The special connecting waveform data contain only a waveform of a succeeding-note region of a waveform connecting portion which is provided for a continuous transition between the at least two notes and which is divided into a preceding-note region and the succeeding-note region. When a connecting tone is to be generated for connecting between two notes in accordance with acquired performance information, a tone waveform connecting between waveforms of the two notes is generated using the special connecting waveform data. With such arrangements, the waveform data of the succeeding-note region are read out without waveform data of the preceding-note region being read out, so that it is possible to reduce a time required for transition from a preceding note to a succeeding note.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Akazawa, Yasuyuki Umeyama
  • Patent number: 7194686
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for providing a score window containing various types of execution icon layers onto which execution icons are attached and arranged in conformity with a progression of a musical tune on a screen of the display. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, each layer is controlled in response to various display commands. The system allows a user to select desired execution icons from an icon select palette that provides lists of execution icons which are registered in advance. Specifically, the user may select and “drag” an execution icon from the palette and place it at a position in correspondence with a particular point of progression of the music to be edited, causing the editing function corresponding to the execution icon to be effected at the point of progression of the musical piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Suzuki, Masao Sakama, Eiji Akazawa
  • Publication number: 20070000371
    Abstract: Dynamics values are acquired intermittently at predetermined time intervals, and waveform data corresponding to the acquired dynamics values are acquired. The thus-acquired waveform data are synthesized to generate a tone waveform of a range corresponding to a sustain portion of a tone. Because waveform data to be used are acquired, from among a plurality of prestored waveform data for sustain tones, intermittently at predetermined time intervals in accordance with dynamics values and a tone is synthesized using the acquired waveform data, not only tone synthesis processing can be performed on a sustain portion of a tone, in accordance with the input dynamics values, with a reduced burden on a control section, but also the tone characteristic can be variably controlled in accordance with the input dynamics values. Thus, it is possible to synthesize a high-quality tone faithfully representing tone color variation such as that by a vibrato rendition style.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Akazawa
  • Publication number: 20060283309
    Abstract: In a musical sound waveform synthesizer apparatus, a performance event information receiver receives performance event information representing musical performance events which successively occur as a musical performance progresses. A musical sound synthesizer synthesizes a waveform of a musical sound corresponding to each musical performance event based on the performance event information. An overlap detector detects whether or not a first musical sound and a second musical sound overlap with each other based on the performance information. A sound length meter obtains a sound length of the first musical sound based on the received performance event information. When the first musical sound and the second musical sound overlap with each other, the musical sound synthesizer instantly terminates synthesizing of a waveform of the first musical sound and starts synthesizing of a waveform of the second musical sound if the sound length of the first musical sound does not exceed a predetermined sound length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Umeyama, Eiji Akazawa