- Rockin’ Patent: US Patent No. 9,805,705
- Filed: 25 April 2016
- In the name of: Drexel University
- Title: Multi-Touch Piano Keyboard
- What’s claimed: “A plurality of keys on a musical keyboard comprising: (a) each key of the plurality of keyboard keys arranged adjacent at least one other key of the plurality, each of the plurality of keyboard keys having a plurality of integrated touch sensors adjacent to each other and disposed in an array; and (b) a processor electronically coupled to the plurality of integrated touch sensors, the processor being programmed to receive input from several of the plurality of integrated touch sensors and to generate a sound signal based on the input from the several of the plurality of integrated touch sensors, such that a touch on the keyboard keys can be tracked across more than one of the plurality of keyboard keys, wherein the processor is adapted to calculate a size and a position of a centroid based on a plurality of touches on the array and to generate a logical signal based on the size and the position of the centroid.”
- Why this patent rocks: This patent appears to relate to TouchKeys, an instrument that transforms a piano-style keyboard into an expressive multi-touch control surface. It consists of touch sensors, added to the surface of the keyboard, measuring where the fingers are and contact area using capacitive touch sensing. The data can be used to add vibrato, pitch bends, timbre changes and other expressive effects to playing by moving the fingers. If you’re interested to know more, see here. For a more detailed take on the mechanics of TouchKeys, see here.
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The information above is for general interest and information only and does not constitute legal advice.
