Patents by Inventor Shigehiko Mizuno

Shigehiko Mizuno 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: 9697812
    Abstract: When a processor accepts an input of plural notes to be assigned for tone generation, according to a predetermined note determining rule called “assignment type”, the processor selects one or more notes to be sounded in each of plural parts from the accepted notes. The processor controls a display unit to display, for each of the plural parts, the accepted plural notes to be assigned for tone generation. At this time, non-selected one or more notes in respective parts are displayed in one style, and the selected one or more notes in the respective parts are displayed in another style different from the one style. Alternatively, the plural notes to be assigned for tone generation are displayed in one style, and, for each of the plural parts, the selected one or more notes are displayed in another style different from the one style.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Yasuraoka, Shigehiko Mizuno, Tomoko Okumura
  • Publication number: 20150101474
    Abstract: When a processor accepts an input of plural notes to be assigned for tone generation, according to a predetermined note determining rule called “assignment type”, the processor selects one or more notes to be sounded in each of plural parts from the accepted notes. The processor controls a display unit to display, for each of the plural parts, the accepted plural notes to be assigned for tone generation. At this time, non-selected one or more notes in respective parts are displayed in one style, and the selected one or more notes in the respective parts are displayed in another style different from the one style. Alternatively, the plural notes to be assigned for tone generation are displayed in one style, and, for each of the plural parts, the selected one or more notes are displayed in another style different from the one style.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Naoki YASURAOKA, Shigehiko MIZUNO, Tomoko OKUMURA
  • Patent number: 7899830
    Abstract: A music reproducing apparatus stores, in a storage device, playlist data that defines an order in which a plurality of music data sets are reproduced, displays the playlist data on a display unit, and reproduces music items in the order defined by the playlist data. The playlist data is formed of a plurality of item data sets each corresponding to a music data set. If a user defines an item data set corresponding to a music data set as one to be reproduced, the defined item is provided with a reproduction mark of “check” and displayed with the reproduction mark on the display unit. On the display unit there is also displayed a total reproduction time D13 in which the reproduction time of music data sets defined as those to be reproduced is summed. Furthermore, item data sets for music data sets that are defined as those to be reproduced but are not stored in the storage device are provided with an irreproducibility mark of “???” and displayed with the irreproducibility mark on the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Komano, Hiroki Nakazono, Shigehiko Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20100174743
    Abstract: Storage stores therein groups of words in association with individual ones objects of search, each of the groups indicating a character of a corresponding one of the objects, the objects of search being classified redundantly into plural items, the storage storing therein, for each of the items, at least one group of words. Controller mixedly displays, on a display and with reference to the storage, tags indicative of groups of words for the individual items, the controller displaying the tags in different display styles unique to the individual items, an image of each of the tags being variable stepwise in accordance with a predetermined condition. User can select a desired tag from among the displayed tags. Search section searches for an object of search meeting a search condition identified on the basis of the one or more words indicated by the tag selected by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Komano, Shigehiko Mizuno, Yasushi Tamazawa
  • Patent number: 7628334
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument has a protected storage unit in which a plurality of music content data are preset and stored in an unusable state where a user cannot freely use. A content selection unit is operated by the user to select a desired one of the music content data from the plurality of the music content data. A content use control unit causes an external settlement apparatus to make settlement for purchasing the desired music content data to thereby enable use of the desired music content data selected by the content selection unit, and brings the desired music content data into a usable state when a completion notification indicating that the settlement is completed is received from the external settlement apparatus. A play unit is operable to use the desired music content data for generating or reproducing music sounds according to the desired music content data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Shigehiko Mizuno, Shigeki Akahori
  • Patent number: 7547839
    Abstract: An automatic performance data processing apparatus which makes it possible to simply convert a plurality of automatic performance data into digital audio data in a batch. Each of a plurality of automatic performance data in an order designated by a playlist data stored in a storage device is sequentially reproduced. Audio signals generated by a tone generator that is supplied with tone generator driving events that occur in response to reproduction of each automatic performance data and that generates audio signals based on the supplied tone generator driving events are digitally recorded. The digitally recorded audio signals are stored in a storage medium as digital audio data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Nakazono, Shigehiko Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7514624
    Abstract: A sound control apparatus is provided in a portable terminal for sounding a music tone in association with operation of the portable terminal, which is controlled by a main CPU. In the sound control apparatus, a memory memorizes music information representing a music tone and configuration information associated to a timbre of the music tone. An information acquiring section acquires the music information and the configuration information from the memory. A tone generating section is configured by the acquired configuration information to create a timbre specified by the configuration information. The tone generating section operates according to the acquired music information to generate the music tone being represented by the music information and having the specified timbre. A dedicated CPU is provided separately from the main CPU for controlling the memory, the information acquiring section and the tone generating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Futamase, Yasushi Kurakake, Kensuke Ide, Shigehiko Mizuno, Shuzo Karakawa, Kosei Terada, Yutaka Hasegawa, Takashi Kunii
  • Patent number: 7390954
    Abstract: A plurality of client-side electronic musical apparatuses 10 are connected to a server-side electronic musical apparatus 30 through a communications network 50. Each of the client-side electronic musical apparatuses 10, which is provided with an ID, attaches the ID to a signal representative of operation of performance operators 11 and setting operators 12, and transmits the ID-added signal to the server-side electronic musical apparatus 30. The server-side electronic musical apparatus 30 independently and concurrently executes, through the use of the ID, processes corresponding to the operational signals for the respective client-side electronic musical apparatuses 10 to generate musical tone data and display data, and transmits the generated data with the ID to the respective client-side electronic musical apparatuses 10. The thus-transmitted data is appropriately received by the client-side electronic musical apparatus 10 identified on the basis of the ID.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Shigehiko Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7386479
    Abstract: A searching section V3 of a content sales site 1 searches a content database V2 in accordance with search conditions inputted in a search condition inputting section M5 and generates an offerable content list. A checking section V4 refers to an owned content list UL stored in an owned content list storage section V1 in order to detect content items owned by a user from the offerable content list. A display information generating section V5 adds to the detected content items in the offerable content list the information indicating that the detected items have been already owned, generates display data of the offerable content list, and transmit it to electronic musical apparatuses 2 to 4. A charging processing section V6 refers to the owned content list UL, so that distribution of owned content items may be discounted or offered without charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Shigehiko Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20070113723
    Abstract: A music content using apparatus which is capable of offering a low-power, easy-to-see, and easy-on-the-eyes display while protecting music contents by copyright. Music content data provided by a music content providing apparatus is received and temporarily stored in a buffer and supplied to electronic paper. The electronic paper is caused to display the music content data thereon. Immediately after the music content data is displayed on the electronic paper, the music content data is erased from the buffer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Shigehiko Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7161081
    Abstract: A sound control apparatus is provided in a portable terminal for sounding a music tone in association with operation of the portable terminal, which is controlled by a main CPU. In the sound control apparatus, a memory memorizes music information representing a music tone and configuration information associated to a timbre of the music tone. An information acquiring section acquires the music information and the configuration information from the memory. A tone generating section is configured by the acquired configuration information to create a timbre specified by the configuration information. The tone generating section operates according to the acquired music information to generate the music tone being represented by the music information and having the specified timbre. A dedicated CPU is provided separately from the main CPU for controlling the memory, the information acquiring section and the tone generating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Futamase, Yasushi Kurakake, Kensuke Ide, Shigehiko Mizuno, Shuzo Karakawa, Kosei Terada, Yutaka Hasegawa, Takashi Kunii
  • Patent number: 7145068
    Abstract: Music information display apparatus includes an electronic paper, and a control section that controls the electronic paper to switch to a display of music information, corresponding to a music piece being reproduced, in synchronism with reproduction of the music piece. When music information is to be displayed on the electronic paper, an instruction is given, in consideration of a response time necessary for display switching of the electronic paper, for starting a display switching operation a predetermined time earlier than display-switching timing so that switching to a display of the music information corresponding to a currently-reproduced music piece section can be completed by the display-switching timing. In this way, the music information automatically updated in synchronism with the reproduction of the music piece can be displayed on the electronic paper, so that an easy-to-view and easy-on-the-eye display can be provided with minimized power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Shigehiko Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7119268
    Abstract: A sound control apparatus is provided in a portable terminal for sounding a music tone in association with operation of the portable terminal, which is controlled by a main CPU. In the sound control apparatus, a memory memorizes music information representing a music tone and configuration information associated to a timbre of the music tone. An information acquiring section acquires the music information and the configuration information from the memory. A tone generating section is configured by the acquired configuration information to create a timbre specified by the configuration information. The tone generating section operates according to the acquired music information to generate the music tone being represented by the music information and having the specified timbre. A dedicated CPU is provided separately from the main CPU for controlling the memory, the information acquiring section and the tone generating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Futamase, Yasushi Kurakake, Kensuke Ide, Shigehiko Mizuno, Shuzo Karakawa, Kosei Terada, Yutaka Hasegawa, Takashi Kunii
  • Publication number: 20060213356
    Abstract: An automatic performance data processing apparatus which makes it possible to simply convert a plurality of automatic performance data into digital audio data in a batch. Each of a plurality of automatic performance data in an order designated by a playlist data stored in a storage device is sequentially reproduced. Audio signals generated by a tone generator that is supplied with tone generator driving events that occur in response to reproduction of each automatic performance data and that generates audio signals based on the supplied tone generator driving events are digitally recorded. The digitally recorded audio signals are stored in a storage medium as digital audio data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Nakazono, Shigehiko Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20060171682
    Abstract: A music reproducing apparatus stores, in a storage device, playlist data that defines an order in which a plurality of music data sets are reproduced, displays the playlist data on a display unit, and reproduces music items in the order defined by the playlist data. The playlist data is formed of a plurality of item data sets each corresponding to a music data set. If a user defines an item data set corresponding to a music data set as one to be reproduced, the defined item is provided with a reproduction mark of “check” and displayed with the reproduction mark on the display unit. On the display unit there is also displayed a total reproduction time D13 in which the reproduction time of music data sets defined as those to be reproduced is summed. Furthermore, item data sets for music data sets that are defined as those to be reproduced but are not stored in the storage device are provided with an irreproducibility mark of “???” and displayed with the irreproducibility mark on the display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Publication date: August 3, 2006
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Komano, Hiroki Nakazono, Shigehiko Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20060124735
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument has a protected storage unit in which a plurality of music content data are preset and stored in an unusable state where a user cannot freely use. A content selection unit is operated by the user to select a desired one of the music content data from the plurality of the music content data. A content use control unit causes an external settlement apparatus to make settlement for purchasing the desired music content data to thereby enable use of the desired music content data selected by the content selection unit, and brings the desired music content data into a usable state when a completion notification indicating that the settlement is completed is received from the external settlement apparatus. A play unit is operable to use the desired music content data for generating or reproducing music sounds according to the desired music content data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Shigehiko Mizuno, Shigeki Akahori
  • Publication number: 20060086235
    Abstract: A plurality of client-side electronic musical apparatuses 10 are connected to a server-side electronic musical apparatus 30 through a communications network 50. Each of the client-side electronic musical apparatuses 10, which is provided with an ID, attaches the ID to a signal representative of operation of performance operators 11 and setting operators 12, and transmits the ID-added signal to the server-side electronic musical apparatus 30. The server-side electronic musical apparatus 30 independently and concurrently executes, through the use of the ID, processes corresponding to the operational signals for the respective client-side electronic musical apparatuses 10 to generate musical tone data and display data, and transmits the generated data with the ID to the respective client-side electronic musical apparatuses 10. The thus-transmitted data is appropriately received by the client-side electronic musical apparatus 10 identified on the basis of the ID.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Shigehiko Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20060032360
    Abstract: Music information display apparatus includes an electronic paper, and a control section that controls the electronic paper to switch to a display of music information, corresponding to a music piece being reproduced, in synchronism with reproduction of the music piece. When music information is to be displayed on the electronic paper, an instruction is given, in consideration of a response time necessary for display switching of the electronic paper, for starting a display switching operation a predetermined time earlier than display-switching timing so that switching to a display of the music information corresponding to a currently-reproduced music piece section can be completed by the display-switching timing. In this way, the music information automatically updated in synchronism with the reproduction of the music piece can be displayed on the electronic paper, so that an easy-to-view and easy-on-the-eye display can be provided with minimized power consumption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Shigehiko Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20060014128
    Abstract: A musical training apparatus comprises a schedule managing device and a schedule notifying device. The schedule managing device manages a schedule database which includes lesson matter information representing lesson matters of musical lesson course and lesson time information representing times to take lessons of the respective lesson matters. Each lesson time is assigned to each corresponding lesson matter for a user. At a predetermined time point in advance of the scheduled lesson time for a user to take the scheduled lesson matter, the lesson schedule notifying device notifies a reminder of the lesson to a user terminal device. The user can request a change in the schedule from the user terminal device or by the setting controls on the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Shigehiko Mizuno
  • Patent number: 6967276
    Abstract: A sound control apparatus is provided in a portable terminal for sounding a music tone in association with operation of the portable terminal, which is controlled by a main CPU. In the sound control apparatus, a memory memorizes music information representing a music tone and configuration information associated to a timbre of the music tone. An information acquiring section acquires the music information and the configuration information from the memory. A tone generating section is configured by the acquired configuration information to create a timbre specified by the configuration information. The tone generating section operates according to the acquired music information to generate the music tone being represented by the music information and having the specified timbre. A dedicated CPU is provided separately from the main CPU for controlling the memory, the information acquiring section and the tone generating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Futamase, Yasushi Kurakake, Kensuke Ide, Shigehiko Mizuno, Shuzo Karakawa, Kosei Terada, Yutaka Hasegawa, Takashi Kunii