U.S. patent application number 09/825735 was filed with the patent office on 2001-10-04 for function guide in electronic musical instrument.
Invention is credited to Ishida, Tadayuki.
Application Number | 20010025558 09/825735 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26589443 |
Filed Date | 2001-10-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010025558 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ishida, Tadayuki |
October 4, 2001 |
Function guide in electronic musical instrument
Abstract
An explanation for a function selected for a help display is
displayed in text on a display screen, and a light-emitting element
disposed to correspond to a switch for performing the selected
function is operated to blink or light, so that the trouble of
finding an operation element when a desired function is performed
can be reduced.
Inventors: |
Ishida, Tadayuki;
(Hamamatsu-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHRISTIE, PARKER & HALE, LLP
350 WEST COLORADO BOULEVARD
SUITE 500
PASADENA
CA
91105
US
|
Family ID: |
26589443 |
Appl. No.: |
09/825735 |
Filed: |
April 3, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
84/478 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09B 15/023 20130101;
G09B 15/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
84/478 |
International
Class: |
G09B 015/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 4, 2000 |
JP |
2000-102335 |
Apr 11, 2000 |
JP |
2000-109777 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument,
wherein an explanation for a function selected for a help display
is displayed in text on a display screen, and a light-emitting
element disposed to correspond to an operation element for
performing the selected function is operated to blink or light.
2. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument
having a help function, comprising: a plurality of light-emitting
elements disposed to correspond to respective operation elements
provided for performing a plurality of functions provided in said
electronic musical instrument; help function display means for
displaying help data on a screen of a display device to explain the
plural functions provided in said electronic musical instrument;
help data storage means for storing help display data to be
displayed on the screen of the display device; function selection
means for selecting a desired function from the plural help
functions displayed on said help function display means; and a
light-emission controller for blinking or lighting said
light-emitting elements disposed to correspond to said operation
elements for performing the functions selected by said function
selection means.
3. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument
according to claim 1, wherein said light-emitting element is an
LED.
4. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument
according to claim 2, wherein said light-emitting elements are
LEDs.
5. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument
according to claim 1, wherein said operation element is a
switch.
6. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument
according to claim 2, wherein said operation elements are
switches.
7. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument
according to claim 1, wherein as for a function performed by
operating the plural operation elements simultaneously, said
light-emitting elements disposed to correspond to the plural
operation elements are operated to blink or light.
8. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument
according to claim 2, wherein as for a function performed by
operating the plural operation elements simultaneously, said
light-emitting elements disposed to correspond to the plural
operation elements are operated to blink or light.
9. A function guide method of an electronic musical instrument,
wherein an explanation for a function selected for a help display
is displayed in text on a display screen, and a light-emitting
element disposed to correspond to an operation element for
performing the selected function is operated to blink or light.
10. A function guide method of an electronic musical instrument
having a help function, comprising: a help function display process
for displaying help data on a screen of a display device to explain
a plurality of functions provided in said electronic musical
instrument; a help data storage process for storing help display
data, which is to be displayed on the screen of the display device,
in a storage medium; a function selection process for selecting a
desired function from the plural help functions displayed on said
help function display process; and a light-emission control process
for blinking or lighting a light-emitting element disposed to
correspond to an operation element for performing the function
selected by said function selection process.
11. A function guide method of an electronic musical instrument
according to claim 9, wherein said light-emitting element is an
LED.
12. A function guide method of an electronic musical instrument
according to claim 10, wherein said light-emitting element is an
LED.
13. A storage medium, wherein a program for performing each of the
processes according to claim 9 is stored readably from a
computer.
14. A storage medium, wherein a program for performing each of the
processes according to claim 10 is stored readably from a
computer.
15. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument,
wherein at the time an explanation for a function selected for a
help display is performed, a panel view screen showing a text and
the arrangement of operation elements of a panel is displayed on a
display screen, and the display state of said operation element for
performing the selected function is differentiated from the display
state of other operation elements.
16. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument,
comprising: help display means for displaying on a display device a
panel view screen showing a text and the arrangement of operation
elements of a panel when an explanation for a function selected for
a help display is performed; a display controller for
differentiating the display state of said operation element for
performing the selected function from the display state of other
operation elements; and panel view display means for displaying
said panel view screen in a magnified state.
17. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument,
wherein an explanation for a function selected for a help display
is displayed in text, and when a predetermined operation is
performed while said help display is performed, a panel view screen
for showing the arrangement of operation elements of a panel is
displayed and the display state of said operation element for
performing the selected function is differentiated from the display
state of other operation elements.
18. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument
having a help function, comprising: help function display means for
displaying a plurality of help functions provided in said
electronic musical instrument on a screen of a display device;
function selection means for selecting a desired help function from
the plural help functions displayed on the screen of the display
device by said help function display means; help display means for
displaying an explanation for the help function selected by said
function selection means in text and by means of a panel view
screen showing the arrangement of operation elements of a panel,
and displaying said operation element corresponding to a function
displayed on a help display in a different display state from the
display state of other operation elements; and help data storage
means for storing data for displaying the help content in text or
in image, in a storage medium.
19. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument
having a help function, comprising: help function display means for
displaying a plurality of help functions provided in said
electronic musical instrument on a screen of a display device;
function selection means for selecting a desired help function from
the plural help functions displayed on the screen of the display
device by said help function display means; help content display
means for performing the explanation for the help function selected
by said function selection means in text on the display device;
panel view display means for displaying a panel view screen showing
the arrangement of operation elements of a panel, and displaying
said operation element for the function displayed on a help display
in a different display state from the display state of other
operation elements, when a panel view switch is operated while said
help display is performed by said help content display means; and
help data storage means for storing text data and image data for
explaining the help content in a storage medium.
20. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument
according to claim 15, wherein the display state of said operation
element is differentiated from the display state of other operation
elements by differentiating the display color of said operation
element for performing the function selected for said help display
from the display color of others.
21. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument
according to claim 16, wherein the display state of said operation
element is differentiated from the display state of other operation
elements by differentiating the display color of said operation
element for performing the function selected for said help display
from the display color of others.
22. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument
according to claim 17, wherein the display state of said operation
element is differentiated from the display state of other operation
elements by differentiating the display color of said operation
element for performing the function selected for said help display
from the display color of others.
23. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument
according to claim 18, wherein the display state of said operation
element is differentiated from the display state of other elements
by differentiating the display color of said operation element for
performing the function selected for said help display from the
display color of others.
24. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument
according to claim 19, wherein the display state of said operation
element is differentiated from the display state of other operation
elements by differentiating the display color of said operation
element for performing the function selected for said help display
from the display color of others.
25. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument
according to claim 15, wherein the display state of said operation
element is differentiated from the display state of other operation
elements by blinking the display of said operation element for
performing the function selected for said help display.
26. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument
according to claim 16, wherein the display state of said operation
element is differentiated from the display state of other operation
elements by blinking the display of said operation element for
performing the function selected for said help display.
27. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument
according to claim 17, wherein said display state of said operation
element is differentiated from the display state of other operation
elements by blinking the display of said operation element for
performing the function selected for said help display.
28. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument
according to claim 18, wherein the display state of said operation
element is differentiated from the display state of other operation
elements by blinking the display of said operation element for
performing the function selected for said help display.
29. A function guide system in an electronic musical instrument
according to claim 19, wherein the display state of said operation
element is differentiated from the display state of other operation
elements by blinking the display of said operation element for
performing the function selected for said help display.
30. A function guide method of an electronic musical instrument,
wherein at the time an explanation for a function selected for a
help display is performed, a panel view screen showing a text and
the arrangement of operation elements of a panel is displayed on a
display device, and the display state of said operation element for
performing the selected function is differentiated from the display
state of other operation elements.
31. A function guide method of an electronic musical instrument,
comprising: a help display process for displaying on a display
device a panel view screen showing a text and the arrangement of
operation elements of a panel when an explanation for a function
selected for a help display is performed; a display control process
for differentiating the display state of said operation element for
performing the selected function from the display state of other
operation elements; and a panel view display process for displaying
said panel view screen in a magnified state.
32. A function guide method of an electronic musical instrument,
wherein an explanation for a function selected for a help display
is displayed in text, and when a predetermined operation is
performed while said help display is performed, a panel view screen
for showing the arrangement of operation elements of a panel is
displayed, and the display state of said operation element for
performing the selected function is differentiated from the display
state of other operation elements.
33. A function guide method of an electronic musical instrument
having a help function, comprising: a help function display process
for displaying a plurality of help functions provided in said
electronic musical instrument on a screen of a display device; a
function selection process for selecting a desired help function
from the plural help functions displayed on the screen of the
display device by said help function display process; a help
display process for displaying an explanation for the help function
selected by said function selection process in text and by means of
a panel view screen showing the arrangement of operation elements
of a panel, and displaying said operation element for the function
displayed on a help display in a different display state from the
display state of other operation elements, and a help data storage
process for storing data for displaying the help content in text
and in image, in a storage medium.
34. A function guide method of an electronic musical instrument
having a plurality of help functions, comprising: a help function
display process for displaying a plurality of help functions
provided in said electronic musical instrument on a screen of a
display device; a function selection process for selecting a
desired help function from the plural help functions displayed on
the screen of the display device by said help function display
process; a help content display process for performing an
explanation for the help function selected by said function
selection process in text on the display device; a panel view
display process for displaying a panel view screen showing the
arrangement of operation elements of a panel, and displaying said
operation element for the function displayed on a help display in a
different display state from the display state of other operation
elements, when a panel view switch is operated while said help
display is performed by said help content display process; and a
help data storage process for storing text data and image data to
explain the help content in a storage medium.
35. A storage medium, wherein a program for performing each of the
processes according to claim 30 is stored readably from a
computer.
36. A storage medium, wherein a program for performing each of the
processes according to claim 31 is stored readably from a
computer.
37. A storage medium, wherein a program for performing each of the
processes according to claim 32 is stored readably from a
computer.
38. A storage medium, wherein a program for performing each of the
processes according to claim 33 is stored readably from a
computer.
39. A storage medium, wherein a program for performing each of the
processes in claim 34 is stored readably from a computer.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon and claims priority of
Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2000-102335, filed on Apr. 4, 2000
and 2000-109777, filed on Apr. 11, 2000, the contents being
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. [Field of the Invention]
[0003] The present invention relates to a function guide system in
an electronic musical instrument, a function guide method in an
electronic musical instrument, and a storage medium, in particular,
suitable for easily showing a user the location of an operation
element for performing a function selected through a help
function.
[0004] 2. [Description of the Related Art]
[0005] Generally, in an electronic musical instrument, a detailed
explanation for a function assigned for each of the panel switches
(or buttons) is given in a manual for a user to look into it.
However, in a personal computer or a word processor, that with a
help function has generally come into use.
[0006] Herein, in an electronic musical instrument, where various
functions provided are explained using a help function, has also
come into use. The help function is a function where an operation
mode is changed to a help mode by a predetermined operation such as
pressing a help key and so on to display on a screen of a display
device all or a part of the function names provided in the
electronic musical instrument, and when one of the function names
is selected, an explanation for the function is displayed.
[0007] Since functions of an electronic musical instrument in
recent years have been diversified, the number of switches having
various functions and the number of operation modes have been
increasing. In addition, each of these switches usually has a
different function in each operation mode.
[0008] Furthermore, among many switches provided, some realize a
single function in a single use, and some realize a different
function when pressed together with a different switch. For
example, an electronic musical instrument has appeared where by
pressing certain switch (a keyboard key is sometimes used) while
pressing a shift key, a different function is performed from that
performed when the switch is pressed by itself.
[0009] In such an electronic musical instrument, only by providing
the help function as described above and displaying a list of the
switches and the functions, a switch for performing a corresponding
function can not often be located in the electronic musical
instrument, and therefore a great deal of effort is required to
perform a desired function.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In consideration of the above, the object of the present
invention is to make it easy to show a user the location of an
operation element for performing a desired function in an
electronic musical instrument having a plurality of operation
elements with different functions.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to make it easy
to show a user the location of an operation element for performing
a function selected for a help display on a screen in an electronic
musical instrument having a plurality of operation elements with
different functions.
[0012] From a viewpoint of the present invention, a function guide
system in an electronic musical instrument is provided wherein an
explanation for a function selected for a help display is displayed
on a display screen in text while a light-emitting element disposed
corresponding to a switch for performing the selected function is
blinked or lighted.
[0013] From another viewpoint of the present invention, a function
guide system in an electronic musical instrument is provided
wherein, when a function selected for a help display is explained,
a panel view screen showing a text and the arrangement of operation
elements on a panel is displayed on a display device while a
display state of an operation element for performing the function
selected above is differentiated from that of other operation
elements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic piano showing
an example of an electronic musical instrument according to the
first embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a view showing an example of an operation panel
provided in the electronic piano according to this embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a view showing a display example of a display
device;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a schematic structure of the
electronic piano;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the main routine in the
electronic piano;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing an example of a panel switch
event process performed in this embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a procedure of displaying a
help function;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a flow chart explaining a process of blinking a
light-emitting diode (LED);
[0022] FIG. 9 is a table showing how respective identification
codes, functions, and blinked LEDs correspond to each other;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a view showing a display example of a display
device;
[0024] FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing an example of a panel switch
event process performed in this embodiment;
[0025] FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing a procedure of displaying a
help function;
[0026] FIG. 13 is a flow chart explaining a content of a panel view
display process; and
[0027] FIG. 14 is a table showing how respective identification
codes, functions, and blinked LEDs correspond to each other.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Next, a function guide system in an electronic musical
instrument, and a function guide method and a storage medium of an
electronic musical instrument are described referring to the
attached drawings.
[0029] First Embodiment
[0030] FIG. 1 is a view showing an appearance of an electronic
piano showing an example of an electronic musical instrument
according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, an operation panel 200 is provided in an
upper front section of the electronic piano 100 in this embodiment.
On the operation panel 200 a display device 21 composed of a liquid
crystal display (LCD) and many operation elements are arranged to
provide many functions as shown in a detailed explanatory view in
FIG. 2. Therefore, in order to make efficient use of these
functions, a help function is provided in the electronic piano 100
in this embodiment.
[0032] The help function can transfer a mode to a help operation
mode when a help switch 37 is pressed. In other words, when the
help switch 37 is pressed, a function list is displayed on a screen
of the display device 21. When the function list is displayed on
the screen, a select button 22 or dial 23 is operated to select a
desired function.
[0033] When a function is selected from a plurality of functions
displayed on the display device 21 by the operation of the select
button 22 or dial 23, the screen of the display device 21 changes
to a screen shown in FIG. 3, which is a screen for displaying an
explanation for the selected function in text.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 3, on a display area 201 of the display
device 21 an explanation for a (transpose) function is displayed in
text. The process so far is a help function display conventionally
performed in general, but in this embodiment, light-emitting diodes
(LED) are disposed corresponding to the respective operation
switches for performing the respective functions displayed on the
display area 201, and the corresponding LED is operated to
blink.
[0035] In this way, a user can know the location of the
corresponding function switch visually so that the trouble of
finding a desired operation element in the electronic musical
instrument with many operation switches disposed therein is
eliminated.
[0036] FIG. 4 shows a structure example of the electronic musical
instrument to realize the functions as described above. In FIG. 4,
1 denotes a CPU, 2 a ROM, 3 a RAM, 4 an LCD, 5 an internal bus, 6 a
key scan circuit, 7 a keyboard, 8 a panel scan circuit, 9 a panel
SW and LED, 10 a musical sound generator (tone generator), 11 a D/A
converter, 12 an analog signal processor, 13 an amplifier, and 14 a
speaker respectively.
[0037] A controller of the electronic piano 100 in this embodiment
consists of the CPU 1, the ROM 2, and the RAM 3, and in the ROM 2
display data 2a for the help function is stored. In the ROM 2,
various data such as a program for operating the CPU 1, automatic
performance data, parameter data on timbre, demo music data,
character code sequence data, audio (voice) code sequence data,
identification code ->function ->blinked LED corresponding
data described later, and so on are also stored. The RAM 3 is used
as a work area for the CPU 1 to operate, and is used, for example,
as a register for storing the present panel state.
[0038] The key scan circuit 6 detects a key depression (key on)
event and a key release (key off) event of the keyboard 7, and the
panel scan circuit 8 detects the on/off states of the switches and
the operation states of the LEDs by scanning the panel SW and LED
9.
[0039] FIG. 5 shows a main routine of the process performed in the
electronic piano 100 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG.
5, when a power source is turned on, initialization is performed in
a first step S41 to delete a storage content existing on a disc or
a memory, and return it to the original state.
[0040] Then, a step S42 is carried out, where an event detection of
a panel switch is performed. When an event is not detected as a
result of this detection process, the procedure jumps to a step
S44, where other processes are carried out, and after that the
procedure returns to the step S42, where the event detection
process of the panel switch is carried out again.
[0041] Meanwhile, when an event is detected as a result of the
event detection process of the panel switch in the step S42, the
procedure advances to a step S43, where a panel switch event
process is carried out.
[0042] As for the process performed in the step S43, as shown in a
flow chart in FIG. 6, a judgment if the help switch 37 is turned on
or not is first performed in the first step S51. When the help
switch 37 is turned on as a result of this judgment, the procedure
advances to a step S52, where a help function display process is
performed, and then proceeds to a step S53, where other processes
are carried out. When the help switch 37 is not turned on, the
procedure advances directly to the step S53, where other processes
are carried out.
[0043] FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a procedure for the help
function display process in the electronic piano 100 according to
this embodiment.
[0044] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, when the help
function display process starts, a plurality of help functions are
displayed on the display device 21 in the first step S61. A user
selects a desired help function from the plural help functions
displayed. The selection of the help function is, as described
above, is performed by operating the select button 22 and the dial
23.
[0045] When a switch operation by a user is detected, the procedure
then advances to a step S62, where a judgment is performed whether
a switch other than a select switch is operated or not. When the
result of this judgment shows that a switch other than the select
switch is operated, a help display is not performed and the
procedure returns to the main routine.
[0046] When the result of the judgment in the step S62 shows that a
switch other than the select switch is not operated, that is, the
select switch is operated, the procedure goes to a step S63, where
data for performing the help display is read from the ROM 2 to
perform the help display of the selected function.
[0047] Next, the procedure goes to a step S64, where an
identification code (detailed in FIG. 9) assigned for the selected
function is read, and then in the step S65 a process for blinking
an LED corresponding to the identification code read is carried
out.
[0048] FIG. 8 is a flow chart describing the LED blinking process
performed in the step S65 in FIG. 7.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 8, when the process starts, the
identification code stored is read referring to a help buffer in a
first step S71.
[0050] Next, the procedure advances to a step S72, where the
process of blinking the LED corresponding to the identification
code read in the step S71 is performed.
[0051] In this case, since one function is not always performed by
only one operation element, only one LED is not always blinked. A
tempo function, for example, is performed either by an up switch or
a down switch, and therefore, when an explanation for a tempo is
demanded in the help function, an LED corresponding to the up
switch and an LED corresponding to the down switch are both
blinked.
[0052] FIG. 9 shows how identification codes, functions, and
blinked LEDs are corresponding to each other. In this embodiment,
as shown in FIG. 9, an example using 128 kinds of the
identification codes, from "000" to "127", is shown.
[0053] As they correspond to each other as shown in FIG. 9, when "a
demo help function" is selected, for example, an LED 1 is blinked
while an explanation text for it is displayed on the display area
201. In this way, a demo switch 24 corresponding to the LED 1 can
be recognized visually at once as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, in
the electronic piano 100 according to this embodiment, a user is
free from the trouble of finding an operation element to shorten
the time required for the operation of having a function
performed.
[0054] In the same way, when a metronome function is selected, an
LED 2 is blinked while an explanation text for it is displayed on
the display area 201, so that the location of a metronome switch 25
can easily be known. Similarly, when a transpose function is
selected, an LED 3 and an LED 4 are blinked while an explanation
text for it is displayed on the display area 201, so that the
location of a transpose switch 26 can easily be known.
[0055] In case of a transposition, since transposition directions
to both the plus side and the minus side are possible, two switches
are provided as the transpose switch 26 while an explanation text
for it is displayed on the display area 201.
[0056] Similarly, in case of an octave shift, shift directions to
both the plus side and the minus side are possible, and therefore
when an octave shift function is selected, an LED 5 and an LED 6
are blinked while an explanation text for it is displayed on the
display area 201, so that the locations of two switches composing
an octave shift switch 27 can easily be known.
[0057] When a tempo function is selected, an LED 7 and an LED 8 are
blinked while an explanation text for it is displayed on the
display area 201, so that the locations of two switches for a tempo
switch 28 can easily be known. When an effect function is selected,
an LED 9 is blinked while an explanation text for it is displayed
on the display area 201, so that the location of an effect switch
29 can easily be known.
[0058] When a tuning function is selected, the LED 9 and an LED 20
are blinked while an explanation text for it is displayed on the
display area 201. The LED 20 is an LED disposed corresponding to a
function key 30, and therefore, by pressing both of the effect
switch 29 and the function key 30 simultaneously, the tuning
function can be performed in this case.
[0059] When a chorus function is selected, an LED 10 is blinked
while an explanation text for it is displayed on the display area
210, so that the location of a chorus switch 31 can easily be
known. When a local control function is selected, the LED 10 and
the LED 20 are blinked while an explanation text for it is
displayed on the display area 201, so that it is easily recognized
that a local control function is performed by pressing two
switches, the chorus switch 31 and the function key 30, at the same
time.
[0060] In the same way, when a harmony function is selected, an LED
11 is blinked while an explanation text for harmony is displayed on
the display area 201, so that the corresponding switch 32 can be
immediately recognized.
[0061] Since fill-ins of four different patterns can be inserted in
this embodiment, when a fill-in function is selected, four LEDs, an
LED 12 to an LED 15, corresponding to four switches denoted by a
numeral 33 are blinked, while an explanation text is displayed on
the display area 201.
[0062] Furthermore, when a system function is selected, an LED 16
blinks to have a system switch 34 located, while an explanation
text for it is displayed on the display area 201, and when a help
function of a disc is selected, an LED 17 blinks so that the
location of a disc switch 35 can easily be known.
[0063] In the same way, when a function of switching function
(shift key) is selected, the LED 20 blinks while an explanation
text for it is displayed on the display area 201. When a song
select function is selected, an LED 160 blinks while an explanation
text for it is displayed on the display area 201, so that the
location of a song select switch 36 can easily be known. Note that
an example where LEDs 1 to 160 are operated to blink is shown in
the above embodiment, they may be operated to light.
[0064] According to this embodiment, as described above, when a
function is selected, an explanation for the selected function is
displayed in text, and at the same time, an LED disposed
corresponding to a switch for performing the selected function is
operated to blink or light, so that a user can recognize the
position of a desired operation element visually, which eliminates
the trouble of finding the operation element to greatly enhance
operation efficiency at the time various functions provided in the
electronic musical instrument are performed.
[0065] Second Embodiment
[0066] FIG. 1 is an appearance view of an electronic piano showing
an example of an electronic musical instrument according to the
second embodiment of the present invention, as well as to the first
embodiment.
[0067] As shown in FIG. 1, the operation panel 200 is provided in
an upper front section of the electronic piano 100 in this
embodiment. On the operation panel 200 the display device 21
composed of the LCD and many operation elements are arranged to
provide many functions as shown in a detailed explanatory view in
FIG. 2. Therefore, in order to make efficient use of these
functions, the help function is provided in the electronic piano
100 in this embodiment.
[0068] The help function can transfer a mode to the help operation
mode when the help switch 37 is pressed. In other words, when the
help switch 37 is pressed, the function list is displayed on the
screen of the display device 21. When the function list is
displayed on the screen, the select button 22 or dial 23 is
operated to select a desired function.
[0069] When a function is selected from the plural functions
displayed on the display device 21 by the operation of the select
button 22 or dial 23, an explanation for a (transpose) function is
displayed in text in an upper part of the screen 201 of the display
device 21 as shown in FIG. 10.
[0070] The process so far is a help function display conventionally
performed in general, but in this embodiment, when a panel view
switch 39 is operated while the help function display is performed
in the upper part of the screen 201 of the display device 21, an
operation panel view image is displayed on a lower part of the
screen 202.
[0071] In an example shown in FIG. 10, the transpose switch 26 is
displayed on the panel view image in a different color from that of
other switches. In this way, a user can know the location of the
corresponding function switch visually, so that the trouble of
finding a desired operation element is eliminated in the electronic
musical instrument with many operation switches disposed
therein.
[0072] FIG. 4 shows a structure example of the electronic musical
instrument to realize the functions as described above. In FIG. 4,
1 denotes the CPU, 2 the ROM, 3 the RAM, 4 the LCD, 5 the internal
bus, 6 the key scan circuit, 7 the keyboard, 8 the panel scan
circuit, 9 the panel SW and LED, 10 the musical sound generator
(tone generator), 11 the D/A converter, 12 the analog signal
processor, 13 the amplifier, and 14 the speaker respectively.
[0073] The controller of the electronic piano 100 in this
embodiment consists of the CPU 1, the ROM 2, and the RAM 3, and in
the ROM 2 the display data 2a for the help function and panel view
display data 2b are stored. In the ROM 2, various data such as the
program for operating the CPU 1, the automatic performance data,
the parameter data on timbre, the demo music data, the character
code sequence data, the audio code sequence data, and so on are
also stored. The RAM 3 is used as a work area for the CPU 1 to
operate, and is used, for example, as a register for storing the
present panel state.
[0074] The key scan circuit 6 detects a key depression event and a
key release event of the keyboard 7, and the panel scan circuit 8
detects the on/off states of the switches by scanning the panel SW
9.
[0075] FIG. 5 shows the main routine of the process performed in
the electronic piano 100 according to this embodiment as well as to
the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, when the power source is
turned on, initialization is performed in the first step S41 to
delete a storage content existing on a disc or a memory and return
it to the original state.
[0076] Then, the step S42 is carried out, where the event detection
of the panel switch is performed. When an event is not detected as
a result of this detection process, the procedure jumps to the step
S44, where other processes are carried out, and after that the
procedure returns to the step S42, where the event detection
process of the panel switch is carried out again.
[0077] Meanwhile, when an event is detected as a result of the
event detection process of the panel switch in the step S42, the
procedure advances to the step 43, where the panel switch event
process is carried out.
[0078] As for the panel switch event process performed in the step
S43, as shown in a flow chart in FIG. 11, a judgment whether the
help switch 37 is turned on or not is first performed in a first
step S161. When the help switch 37 is turned on as a result of this
judgment, the procedure advances to a step S162, where the help
function display process is performed.
[0079] When the help switch 37 is not turned on as a result of the
judgment in the step S161, and after the help function display
process in the step S162 is performed, the procedure advances to a
step S163, where a judgment is performed whether the panel view
switch is turned on or not. When the result of the judgment shows
that the panel view switch is turned on, the procedure advances to
a step S164, where a panel view display process is carried out, and
then advances to a step S165, where other processes are carried
out. When the result of the judgment in the step S163 shows that
the help switch 37 is not turned on, the procedure advances
directly to the step S165 to carry out other processes.
[0080] FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing a procedure for a help
function display process in the electronic piano 100 according to
this embodiment.
[0081] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, when the help
function display process starts, the plural help functions are
displayed on the display device 21 in a first step S171. A user
selects a desired help function from a plurality of help functions
displayed. The selection of the help function is, as described
above, is performed by operating the select button 22 and the dial
23.
[0082] When a switch operation by a user is detected, the procedure
then advances to a step S172, where a judgment whether a switch
other than the select switch is operated or not is performed. When
the result of this judgment shows that a switch other than the
select switch is operated, the help display is not performed and
the procedure returns to the main routine.
[0083] When the result of the judgment in the step S172 shows that
a switch other than the select switch is not operated, that is, the
select switch is operated, the procedure goes to a step S173, where
data for performing the help display is read from the ROM 2 to
perform the help display of the selected function. Next, the
procedure goes to a step S174, where the process of reading an
identification code (detailed in FIG. 14) assigned for the selected
function and storing it in the help buffer is carried out.
[0084] FIG. 13 is a flow chart describing the panel view display
process carried out in the step S164 in FIG. 11.
[0085] As shown in FIG. 13, when the process starts, the
identification code stored is read in a first step S181 referring
to the help buffer.
[0086] Next, the procedure advances to a step S182, where a panel
view screen corresponding to the identification code read in the
step S181 is displayed. On this screen display, a switch for
performing the function selected for the help display is displayed
in a different color from that of other switches.
[0087] In this case, since one function is not always performed by
only one operation element, only one switch is not always displayed
in a different color. The tempo function, for example, is operated
either by the up switch or the down switch, and therefore, when an
explanation for a tempo is demanded in the help function, the up
switch and the down switch are both displayed in a different
color.
[0088] FIG. 14 shows how identification codes and functions
correspond to each other. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14,
an example using 128 kinds of the identification codes, from "000"
to "127", is shown.
[0089] As they correspond to each other as shown in FIG. 14, when
"the demo help function" is selected, for example, the explanation
text for it is displayed on the upper part of the screen 201. When
the panel view switch 39 is operated while the selected function is
explained, the panel view screen is displayed on the lower part of
the screen 202. In this way, the location of the demo switch 24 can
be known visually at once as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, in the
electronic piano 100 according to this embodiment, a user is free
from the trouble of finding an operation element to shorten the
time required for the operation of having a function performed.
Note that when the panel view switch 39 is operated, only the panel
view screen may be displayed all over the screen, the upper part of
the screen 201 not displayed.
[0090] Alternatively, the explanation text and the panel view
screen may be displayed simultaneously at the time "the demo help
function" is selected, or in case the explanation text and the
panel display screen are simultaneously displayed, only the panel
view screen may be displayed when the panel view switch is
operated.
[0091] Furthermore, when the panel view screen is too small for a
desired function switch to be recognized if the explanation text
and the panel view screen are simultaneously displayed on the
screen, a function switch section required may be displayed in a
magnified state.
[0092] In the same way, when the metronome function is selected,
the explanation text for it is displayed on the upper part of the
screen 201. When the panel view switch 39 is operated while the
selected function is explained, the panel view screen is displayed
on the lower part of the screen 202, and the switch 25 for
performing the metronome function is displayed in a different
color, so that the location of the metronome switch 25 can easily
be known.
[0093] When the transpose function is selected, the explanation
text for it is displayed on the upper part of the screen 201. When
the panel view switch 39 is operated at this time, the switch 26
for performing the transpose function is displayed in a different
color, so that the location of the transpose switch 26 can easily
be known. Note that since transposition directions to both the plus
side and the minus side are possible in case of the transpose
function, two switches are disposed as the transpose switch 26.
[0094] Similarly, in case of an octave shift, when the help
function is selected, the explanation text for it is displayed on
the upper part of the screen 201. When the panel view switch 39 is
operated while the function selected is explained, the panel view
screen is displayed on the lower part of the screen 202. Since
shift directions to both the plus side and the minus side are
possible in case of an octave shift, the positions of two switches
composing the octave shift switch 27 can easily be known when the
octave shift function is selected.
[0095] When the tempo function is selected, the explanation text
for it is displayed on the upper part of the screen 201. When the
panel view switch 39 is operated while the selected function is
explained, the panel view screen is displayed on the lower part of
the screen 202, so that the locations of the two switches for the
tempo switch 28 can easily be known.
[0096] When the effect function is selected, the explanation text
for it is displayed on the upper part of the screen 201. When the
panel view switch 39 is operated while the selected function is
explained, the panel view screen is displayed on the lower part of
the screen 202, and a switch for performing the function is
displayed in a different color, so that the location of the effect
switch 29 can easily be known.
[0097] In the same way, when the tuning function, the chorus
function, the local control function, the harmony function, the
fill-in function, the system function, the function of switching
function (shift key), or the song select function is selected, the
explanation text for each of the functions is displayed on the
upper part of the screen 201.
[0098] When the panel view switch 39 is operated while the help
display for each of the functions is performed, the panel view
screen is displayed on the lower part of the screen 202, and a
switch for performing the function is displayed in a different
color, so that location of the switch for performing the function
can easily be known. Note that in this embodiment, an example where
a corresponding switch is displayed in a different color, but it
may inversely be displayed or displayed in a blinking way.
[0099] In this embodiment, as described above, when a function is
selected, an operation element image is displayed and a switch for
performing the function is displayed in a different color while an
explanation for the selected function is displayed in text, so that
the position of a desired operation element can be recognized
visually by a user, and thereby the trouble of finding an operation
element is eliminated to enhance the operation efficiency greatly
when various functions provided in the electronic musical
instrument are performed.
[0100] In addition, according to other characteristics of this
embodiment, a function for displaying the panel view screen in a
magnified state on user's demand is provided so that the
corresponding operation element can easily be found on the
screen.
[0101] By supplying software program codes for realizing the
functions in the embodiments to the computer inside the apparatus
or the system, which is connected with various devices, in order to
operate various devices described above to realize the
above-described functions in the embodiments, the devices of
various kinds may be operated according to the programs stored in
the computer (a CPU or an MPU) in the system or the apparatus.
[0102] In this case, since the software program codes themselves
realize the functions described above in the embodiments, the
program codes themselves and means for supplying the program codes
to the computer, such as a storage medium for storing such program
codes, constitute the embodiments. As the storage medium for
storing such program codes, a floppy disc, a hard disc, an optical
disc, a magneto-optical disc, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a
non-volatile memory card, a ROM, and so on can be used.
[0103] The functions in the embodiments described above can be
realized not only by a computer's performance of the supplied
program codes, but when the program codes realize the functions
described in the above embodiments in cooperation with an OS
(operating system), or other application software, or the like,
operating in the computer, it is understood that such program codes
are included in the embodiments of the present invention.
[0104] Furthermore, after the supplied program codes are stored in
an memory included in a function expansion board of the computer or
a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the CPU and so
on included in the function expansion board or the function
expansion unit may perform a part or all of the practical processes
based on the instruction of the program codes to realize the
functions in the embodiments described above.
[0105] Note that the above embodiments are to be considered only as
illustrative of materializing the present invention, and not as
restrictive of the technical scope of the present invention. In
other words, the present invention may be embodied in other
specific forms without departing from the technical sprit or the
essential characteristics thereof.
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