IP Library Granted Patent US 8,426,719
Granted Patent B2
US 8,426,719 · App. 13/463,462 · Granted Apr 23, 2013

Keytar controller with percussion pads and accelerometer

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,426,719
App. No.
13/463,462
Granted
Apr 23, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A keytar is disclosed. The keytar has a keyboard body having a front face, left side, right side and rear face. A piano-style keyboard with a number of keys is on the front face of the keyboard body. A neck extends from either the left or the right side and the left side of the keyboard body. A number of drum pads are on the front face of the keyboard body. A microprocessor is electrically connected to the drum pads. The microprocessor is configured and arranged to scan the state of each of the drum pads and generate a MIDI note signal corresponding to the state each drum pad. The keytar may further include an accelerometer to provide music effects and an internal sound engine to generate analog audio.

Claims (46)

1. A keytar, comprising:

a keyboard body having a front face, left side, right side and rear face;

a piano-style keyboard on the front face of the keyboard body having a plurality of keys;

a neck extending from one of the right side and the left side of the keyboard body;

a plurality of drum pads on the front face of the keyboard body;

a microprocessor electrically connected to the plurality of drum pads, the microprocessor configured and arranged to scan the state of each of the plurality of drum pads and generate a MIDI note signal corresponding to the state each of the plurality of drum pads; and

an accelerometer electrically connected to the microprocessor, the accelerometer configured and arranged to detect movement of the keyboard body and generate a signal corresponding thereto, the microprocessor configured and arranged to generate a MIDI continuous control signal corresponding to the signal generated by the accelerometer.

2. The keytar of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is electrically connected to the piano-style keyboard and further configured and arranged to generate a MIDI note signal corresponding to the state of each of the plurality of keys.

3. The keytar of claim 1 , further comprising an internal sound engine electrically connected to the piano-style keyboard and configured and arranged to generate audio output corresponding to presses of the plurality of keys.

4. The keytar of claim 3 , wherein the internal sound engine is electrically connected to the plurality of drum pads and configured and arranged to generate audio output corresponding to presses of the plurality of drum pads.

5. The keytar of claim 1 , wherein the neck extends from the left side of the keyboard body.

6. The keytar of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of drum pads are adjacent to the right side of the keyboard body.

7. A keytar, comprising:

a keyboard body having a front face, left side right side and rear face;

a piano-style keyboard on the front face of the keyboard body having a plurality of keys;

a neck extending from one of the right side and the left side of the keyboard body;

a plurality of drum pads on the front face of the keyboard body;

an accelerometer configured and arranged to detect movement of the keyboard body and generate a signal corresponding thereto;

a microprocessor electrically connected to the plurality of drum pads and the accelerometer, the microprocessor configured and arranged to scan the state of each of the plurality of drum pads and generate a MIDI note signal corresponding to the state each of the plurality of drum pads, the microprocessor configured and arranged to generate a MIDI continuous control signal corresponding to the signal generated by the accelerometer.

8. The keytar of claim 7 , wherein the microprocessor is electrically connected to the piano-style keyboard and further configured and arranged to generate a MIDI note signal corresponding to the state of each of the plurality of keys.

9. The keytar of claim 7 , further comprising an internal sound engine electrically connected to the piano-style keyboard and configured and arranged to generate audio output corresponding to presses of the plurality of keys.

10. The keytar of claim 9 , wherein the internal sound engine is electrically connected to the plurality of drum pads and configured and arranged to generate audio output corresponding to presses of the plurality of drum pads.

11. The keytar of claim 7 , wherein the neck extends from the left side of the keyboard body.

12. The keytar of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of drum pads are adjacent to the right side of the keyboard body.

13. A keytar, comprising:

a keyboard body having a front face, left side right side and rear face;

a piano-style keyboard on the front face of the keyboard body having a plurality of keys;

a neck extending from one of the right side and the left side of the keyboard body;

a plurality of drum pads on the front face of the keyboard body;

an accelerometer configured and arranged to detect movement of the keyboard body and generate a signal corresponding thereto;

a microprocessor electrically connected to the plurality of drum pads and the accelerometer, the microprocessor configured and arranged to scan the state of each of the plurality of drum pads and generate a MIDI note signal corresponding to the state each of the plurality of drum pads, the microprocessor further configured and arranged to generate a MIDI continuous control signal corresponding to the signal generated by the accelerometer, the microprocessor further configured and arranged to generate a MIDI note signal corresponding to the state of each of the plurality of keys.

14. The keytar of claim 13 , further comprising an internal sound engine electrically connected to the piano-style keyboard and configured and arranged to generate audio output corresponding to presses of the plurality of keys.

15. The keytar of claim 14 , wherein the internal sound engine is electrically connected to the plurality of drum pads and configured and arranged to generate audio output corresponding to presses of the plurality of drum pads.

16. The keytar of claim 14 , wherein the internal sound engine is electrically connected to the accelerometer and configured and arranged to generate apply a music effect to the audio output.

17. The keytar of claim 15 , wherein the internal sound engine is electrically connected to the accelerometer and configured and arranged to generate apply a music effect to the audio output.

18. The keytar of claim 13 , wherein the neck extends from the left side of the keyboard body.

19. The keytar of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of drum pads are adjacent to the right side of the keyboard body.

20. A keytar, comprising:

a keyboard body having a front face, left side right side and rear face;

a piano-style keyboard on the front face of the keyboard body having a plurality of keys;

a neck extending from one of the right side and the left side of the keyboard body;

an accelerometer configured and arranged to detect movement of the keyboard body and generate a signal corresponding thereto;

a microprocessor electrically connected to the accelerometer, the microprocessor configured and arranged to generate a MIDI continuous control signal corresponding to the signal generated by the accelerometer.

21. The keytar of claim 20 , further comprising a plurality of drum pads on the front face of the keyboard body; the microprocessor electrically connected to the plurality of drum pads, the microprocessor configured and arranged to scan the state of each of the plurality of drum pads and generate a MIDI note signal corresponding to the state each of the plurality of drum pads.

22. The keytar of claim 20 , wherein the microprocessor is electrically connected to the piano-style keyboard and further configured and arranged to generate a MIDI note signal corresponding to the state of each of the plurality of keys.

23. The keytar of claim 20 , further comprising an internal sound engine electrically connected to the piano-style keyboard and configured and arranged to generate audio output corresponding to presses of the plurality of keys.

Assignments (5)
FOURTH AMENDMENT TO INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 14, 2021
From: INMUSIC BRANDS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 055311/0393 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2014
From: INMUSIC BRANDS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 033464/0661 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 22, 2012
From: INMUSIC BRANDS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 029164/0024 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 5, 2012
From: ALESIS, L.P., A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
To: INMUSIC BRANDS, INC., A FLORIDA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029083/0895 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 3, 2012
From: SHIM, BRIAN R.
To: ALESIS, L.P.
Reel/Frame 028152/0004 →