Abstract
The Thumb Bar Controller is a bar that runs the width of the electronic musical keyboard playing area, (plus whatever is needed for the lever attachment), connected by two armsrests just below the top, and approximately one inch away from the keys. It gives the performer control over two (or more) functions with the thumb of the playing hand, that would otherwise require the other hand or foot pedals, allowing a person with the disability of one arm/hand, to be as proficient as a person with two. It can be used for controlling pitch bend, modulation, MIDI specification controllers, various electronic controls, and product specific controls. The bar can be attached in numerous ways, could use a variety of spring type mechanisms to control it. It can be mounted externally or made as an integral part of the keyboard, with openings for the bar connections and movement required.
Claims
1. A Thumb Bar Controller for variable of a music synthesizer having a horizontally disposed keyboard, wherein said thumb bar controller is positioned horizontally in front of the keyboard and capable of movement on two axes, to control electronic parameters of the music synthesizer, comprising: a horizontal bar that is non-specific size, dimensions or shape, and the length is approximately the width of the horizontally disposed keyboard including its enclosure; said horizontal bar being positioned approximately one inch in front of keyboard and one half inch below a plane parallel to the top of the playing surface of the keyboard, whereby the player may move the bar up, down, and/or in and out, with the thumb of the playing hand; a two-part telescoping lever at each end of said horizontal bar for holding said horizontal bar in the playing position, whereby part one is attached perpendicularly at each end to said horizontal bar, and part two is mounted on each side of the keyboard enclosure, holding said horizontal bar in the neutral position used for playing; said part one of said telescoping lever is capable of sliding into or telescoping into said part two at least one inch on the x-axis, when the thumb of the playing hand applies pressure to the said horizontal bar in an inward direction (x-axis) towards the keyboard, while any of the other fingers are playing or holding a note or notes on the keyboard; one spring or elastic mechanism, connected between said part one and part two of the said telescoping lever, which returns said part one and said horizontal bar to its neutral position, when no pressure is applied; said part two, of said telescoping levers, is mounted on an axle within an attachment mount to each side of the keyboard enclosure, whereby the said horizontal bar can move up or down at least thirty degrees on the y axis when pressure is applied; an additional spring or elastic mechanism, connected within the attachment mount of said part two of the said telescoping lever, which returns said part two and said horizontal bar to its neutral resting position, when no pressure is applied; a first wiper control of a sliding potentiometer or digital encoder connected by physical or mechanical means to said part one of the said telescoping lever for changing a control voltage when pressure is applied to move said horizontal bar inward (x axis), up to one inch, towards the keyboard; a second wiper control of a rotary potentiometer or digital encoder connected by physical or mechanical means to said part two of the said telescoping lever for changing another control voltage when pressure is applied to move said horizontal bar up or down (y axis) up to at least thirty degrees; and said sliding potentiometer, said rotary potentiometer, or said digital encoder electronic component is connected by cable or an integrated wireless transmission system to the controller circuitry in the music synthesizer, either by replacing the existing controller knobs, wheels, levers, or making a switchable option.
2. The Thumb Bar Controller in claim 1, wherein said thumb bar controller is mounted internal to the synthesizer enclosure, protruding through openings in the front of the enclosure on either side of the keyboard for movement needed of the telescoping levers, wherein said thumb bar controller becomes a permanent system, manufactured specifically for said synthesizer.
Description
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(1) The Thumb Bar Controller (FIG. 3) is non-specific in size, dimensions or shape, so that it may be developed for most any manufacturer's synthesizer keyboard. The Thumb Bar Controller runs the width of the keyboard playing area, rests horizontally just below the top of the keys, and approximately one inch away from the keys. It is most suitable for forty-nine key or less synthesizers, that are mainly used for solo performance and generally played with only one hand, but is not exclusive to these types. Because of the amazing strength and control of the human thumb, this makes for remarkably precise adjustments. It is also more natural, as musical sound articulation is often applied when sustaining a note.
(2) The Thumb Bar Controller rests in a neutral position (center/out) (FIG. 7) below the top of the keys, by movable telescoping levers attached to each side of the keyboard, where it does not interfere with normal performance, is convenient for the performer's thumb to move it up or down (Y axis), and push it in (X axis), simultaneously (if desired). The Thumb Bar Controller rests in the neutral position, when no pressure is applied, through the use of spring or elastic mechanisms on each of the telescoping levers attached on each end (FIG. 7), where it produces no change in the control signals, unless specifically programmed to do otherwise in the operating system of the keyboard.
(3) Each of the telescoping levers (FIG. 3, 4), on each end of the Thumb Bar Controller, are comprised of at least two parts, where part one is able to telescope into part two. Part one is connected to the Thumb Bar Controller perpendicularly at each end, while each of the other ends are connected to, but capable of a sliding movement of one inch on the x axis into, part two of the levers. On one side, the part one is connected to the wiper control of a sliding potentiometer or digital encoder (FIGS. 4, 6 & 6a) for changing a control voltage when pressure is applied to move the Thumbar Controller in, up to one inch towards the keyboard on the X axis. The Thumb Bar Controller is returned to its neutral position, when no pressure is applied, by a spring or elastic mechanism (FIG. 7, 12) connected between part one and two of the telescoping lever, returning the wiper control of a sliding potentiometer or digital encoder to its neutral position. Part two, of each of the two telescoping levers, (FIG. 3, 7) is mounted on an axle within the attachment mount to each side of the keyboard enclosure. When pressure is applied, the Thumbar Controller can move up or down (FIG. 3, 7) at least thirty degrees on the y axis. One part two is connected to the wiper control of a rotary potentiometer or digital encoder (FIGS. 5 & 5a) for changing a control voltage when pressure is applied to move the Thumbar Controller up or down. Each part two is returned to its neutral resting position, when no pressure is applied, (FIG. 3) by a spring or elastic mechanism, returning the Thumbar Controller and the wiper control of a rotary potentiometer or digital encoder to its neutral position. This allows the performer to simultaneously or independently change two different control voltages (or any type of electronic control signal), while performing, thereby adding subtle, natural, exciting or exotic articulations to an electronic sound, with his or her thumb of the playing hand.
(4) The Thumb Bar Controller (FIG. 7) can be easily manufactured to work for a variety of keyboards, since it attaches externally to the keyboard enclosure, and can be connected into the existing pitch bend/mod wheel circuit, replacing the existing controls, or through connection by the MIDI specification.
(5) This still allows for detailed editing of the parameters through the keyboard's control system, as it did for the original controls. Each of the control signals are variable, as determined by the settings under the parameters for these controls.
(6) The Thumb Bar Controller (FIGS. 8 & 9) gives the performer control over two programmable functions with the thumb of the playing hand, that would otherwise require the other hand or foot pedals. A personal with the disability of having only one arm/hand, would still be able to be as proficient a person with two. It can be used for controlling pitch bend, modulation, MIDI specification controllers, various electronic controls, and product specific controls.
(7) If desired, the Thumb Bar Controller (FIG. 7) can be manufactured as an integral part of the keyboard, with openings for the telescoping levers and their required movement.
(8) NEUTRAL POSITION (center/out)—(FIG. 7) No change is produced in either of the two programmed effects controlled by the control voltages, controlled by the Thumbar Controller, unless specifically programmed at this position.
(9) UP POSTION (variable)—Pitch of note or notes played raised as desired. A rotary potentiometer (FIG. 10) on one telescoping lever is held in its neutral position by torsion springs (FIG. 10a, 10b, 10c) on each side of part two of each of the telescoping levers, until lifting pressure (FIG. 10d) is applied to the Thumb Bar Controller to move it up. This rotates the wiper of the potentiometer and causes a change in the control voltage for a programmed effect, most commonly being Pitch Bend, allowing the performer to raise the pitch as desired. When pressure is released, the Thumb Bar Controller and rotary potentiometer each return to their neutral position, where pitch returns to normal.
(10) DOWN POSTION (variable)—Pitch of note or notes played lowered as desired. The same rotary potentiometer (FIG. 11) is held in its neutral position by torsion springs (FIG. 11a, 11b, 11c) on part two of each of the telescoping levers until downward pressure (FIG. 11d) is applied to the Thumb Bar Controller to move it down. This rotates the wiper of the potentiometer and causes a change in the control voltage for a programmed effect, most commonly being Pitch Bend, allowing the performer to lower the pitch as desired. When pressure is released, the spring mechanism returns the Thumb Bar Controller and rotary potentiometer to their neutral position, where pitch returns to normal.
(11) In (FIG. 12), the telescoping levers are in their neutral position, and part one of the two telescoping levers rests in the out position, applying no change. Applying pressure to push the Thumb Bar Controller in, towards the keyboard, moves the wiper of a slide potentiometer (FIG. 12a, 12b), and changes another control voltage controlling another MIDI effect. When pressure is released, a spring returns the Thumb Bar Controller back out to its neutral position, returning the wiper and other MIDI effect to its neutral position. This can be done independently or simultaneously to any movement made on the Y axis (up or down movement).
(12) CENTER/IN POSTION (variable)—Pitch of note or notes played not changed, but other MIDI effect applied. (FIG. 13, 13a).
(13) UP/IN POSTION (variable)—Pitch of note or notes played raised as desired, and other MIDI effect applied as desired. (FIG. 14, 14a)
(14) DOWN/IN POSTION (variable)—Pitch of note or notes played lowered as desired, and other MIDI effect applied as desired. (FIG. 15, 15a)
