US 10,380,982 B1Granted

Smart music device and process that allows only key correct notes and scales to be played

OwnerDean Martin Hoveyinventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A smart music device and process provide users with an interface to play a selected song in the correct song key. The device includes a graphical user interface with areas demarcated by translucent conductive ink printed on the layer's underside. A layer of force sensor resistors (FSRs) are under the areas. Touching one of the areas closes a circuit between then conductive ink and FSR triggering a note to be played. The demarcated areas are illuminated to guide the user on scale and root node position. Metadata in memory storage includes the song key which is used during song playback to trigger assignment of the key correct scale across the FSRs and illuminate its root position of musical notes. Touching an area triggers a signal sent to a connected musical instrument to play the note.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A smart music device, comprising:

a graphical layer interface;
conductive translucent ink on an underside of the graphical layer interface, the conductive translucent ink demarcating areas representing musical notes on the graphical layer interface;
a layer of conductive sensors positioned below the conductive translucent ink demarcating areas representing musical notes, the layer of conductive sensors connected to a processing unit, wherein touching one of the areas demarcated to represent musical notes generates a conductive circuit between the translucent conductive ink, and an underlying conductive sensor, and the processing unit;
a LED source connected to the graphical layer interface and configured to illuminate the areas demarcated to represent musical notes;
input/output ports configured to communicate data to an electronic musical instrument;
data memory storage configured to electronically store song file metadata;
and
the processing unit configured to:
analyze the song file metadata for a song key,
determine musical notes to be played in the song key,
assign to the areas demarcated to represent musical notes, only musical notes in the song key;
illuminate the areas demarcated to represent only musical notes to be played in the song key,
register a touch by the user of one of the demarcated areas in response to conductive ink under the touched demarcated area making contact with one of the conductive sensors,
identify a musical note, in the song key, associated with the touched demarcated area, and
send the identified musical note, in the song key, through the output port to the electronic musical instrument to be played.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/989,027Filed 24 May 2018 · continuation in part
Priority: 26 Aug 2016
Granted: 13 Aug 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

G10H 1/0016
Associated control or indicating means: means for indicating which keys, frets or strings are to be actuated, e.g. using lights or leds
G10H 1/344
Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments: structural association with…
G10H 1/0066
Transmission between separate instruments or between individual components of a musical system: using a MIDI interface
G10H 1/0558
By switches with variable impedance elements: using variable resistors

Family

Application62/380,256Us provisional application · filed 26 Aug 2016
Application15/687,988Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 28 Aug 2017
US 10,026,385 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2018/0061383 A1Published application
US 10,380,982 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.