Voice controlled electronic musical instrument
US6737572B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 20, 2001 |
| Grant date | May 18, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 20, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG10H2240/305
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The invention is an electronic, voice-controlled musical instrument. It is in essence an electronic kazoo. The player hums into the mouthpiece, and the device imitates the sound of a musical instrument whose pitch and volume change in response to the player's voice. The player is given the impression of playing the actual instrument and controlling it intimately with the fine nuances of his voice. The instrument can in principle be any music-producing sound source: a trumpet, trombone, clarinet, flute, piano, electric guitar, voice, whistle, even a chorus of voices, i.e. virtually any source of sound. In its simplest configuration, the instrument resembles a kind of horn. However, the shape and appearance of the instrument can be fashioned by the manufacture to match the sound of any traditional instrument, if desired; or its shape can be completely novel. The functional requirements of the invention's physical design are only: that it be hand-held; that it have a mouthpiece (5) where the player's voice enters; that it have one or more speakers (3) where the sound is produced; that it have a body (11) where the electronics and batteries are stored and where finger-actuated controls…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.