Abstract: A decoder assigns key values according to a system of mathematical weight values in terms of whole and semi-tone intervals of the musical scale, each key contributing its assigned value to the sum when depressed. Any interval along the scale can be reached by any combination of depressed keys that sum to that interval amount from the open "zero reference" position. The result is a woodwind-style keyboard that is perfectly regular and which has no default or unusable fingering combinations.

Abstract: The system unit of an IBM compatible personal computer generates a distinctive audible "Beep" signal from the system unit's own sound transducer in response to the successful decode of a barcode label in a keyboard emulation data collection device such as a barcode reader. To initiate the generation of such a Beep by the system unit, the keyboard emulation system simulates a benign error condition which does not affect the operation of any application programs resident in the system unit and which does not require any modifications to the operating system or any special device drivers for its proper operation.

Abstract: A musical tone control apparatus includes at least one grip device having the shape which can be held by player's hand. This grip device further includes plural push switches each having a piezoelectric element whose resistance is varied in response to depressing pressure applied thereto. Based on a combination of depressed push switches and its depressing pressures, an externally provided musical tone generating apparatus is controlled such that tone pitch, tone color, tone volume, touch response or the like of musical tone will be controlled. In addition, an angle detector for detecting a swing movement of a player's arm can be further provided. Thus, the detected swing movement of the player's arm can be additionally used for controlling the musical tone.

Abstract: A touch response device for an electronic musical instrument includes pressure detector for detecting initial-touch and after-touch of a key. The pressure detector means has two or more response stages that have different response characteristics to key pressure variation. An initial-touch-detector signal is produced when the pressure detecting means is in a first response stage among the response stages, and after-touch-detector signal is produced when the pressure detecting means is in a second response stage among the response stages. According to the invention, initial-touch signal and after-touch signal are generated by the use of one common operation-detector signal produced from the pressure detector means. As a result, the construction of the pressure detecting means is much simplified compared with a conventional touch-response device provided with two separate detectors, one of which detects initial-touch and another of which detects after-touch.

Abstract: A method for operating a digital synthesizer type of electronic musical instrument to rapidly make available digital oscillators to produce newly keyed notes even when all digital oscillators are currently active with previous assignments. The method contains a way of maintaining a record of the digital oscillator with the lowest amplitude, and reassigning this lowest amplitude digital oscillator to produce the new note on the rationale that the output of the lowest digital oscillator will be the least missed if an output has to be prematurely curtailed. Beside just a straight amplitude critereon, the method also allows for prioritizing some low amplitude outputs over others to make a more pleasing performance. The invention also includes an apparatus for performing the method.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having a number of keys, having tone generators capable of simultaneous tone production, the tone generators being smaller in number than the number of keys. The instrument forms an operation for synthesizing a desired waveform, the operation for synthesizing a desired waveform being performed in a repeating cyclic order with an operation cycle and in which the waveform is transferred to the tone generators and read out therefrom at a rate in accordance with the note of a key being depressed to obtain a desired musical waveform. The device includes a number-of-depressed keys detecting device which counts the number of keys which are actuating the tone generator upon depression. A cycle altering device is provided for changing the operation cycle, as a whole, on the basis of the number of depressed keys, counted by the number-of-depressed keys detecting device. The construction allows for a waveform of a smooth temporal variation to be produced.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an input means having a plurality of switches arranged thereon, the direction of the sequential actuation of the switches is detected to determine a scrolling direction of movement of information. Marks are provided on a display to indicate the direction of scrolling. The display of information is controlled in accordance with the direction of movement of the information. Scrolling the information is inhibited when the direction of actuation of the switches conflicts with a predetermined scroll direction. Scrolling velocity may be controlled by the speed with which switches at the position of each mark are actuated.

Abstract: A finger switch is mounted at a player's finger so as to detect bending and stretching actions of a player's finger. Such finger switch at least consists of a thin plate made of plastic materials which is mounted on the back of the player's finger, a push button mounted on the thin plate near a center portion of the player's finger and a movable member which can be moved along the thin plate in response to the bending and stretching actions of the player's finger. When the player bends his finger, the movable member is moved toward the push button so that the push button will be pushed by the movable member. By mounting a plurality of such finger switches on the fingers of the player, a musical scale or a tone pitch of a musical tone to be generated can be controlled based on a combination of on/off states of the push buttons.

Abstract: A multi-function key input device having a touch panel serving as a key input means, which is operated separately according to different operational modes to display different symbols or matters with the aid of a central processing section, a memory section, a digital shift register and LCD drivers operating a liquid crystal device.

Abstract: A keyboard having a series of parallel bars capable of mechanical displacement by downward thrust under the pressure of the user's fingers, and a luminous display system in which a tactile electric control screen forms the top of the bars. Circuits are used for producing control orders from at least bar data and key data, with the bar data being selected according to the bars depressed. Specific key functions are assigned electronically to screen zones disposed at intervals along each bar, and a controller provides the display system with a visual representation related to each key function in the corresponding screen zone.