Abstract:
The present invention comprises a self-contained, compact and portable device capable of being programmed to operate as either a metronome or a tempo monitor. The compact device further comprises a micro-controller that receives operator commands via dual programming buttons. These commands include; switching between metronome and tempo monitor mode, setting metronome output between 10 to 254 bpm (beats per minute), storing musical keys, and toggling between audible and silent mode. A three digit display provides a numerical representation of the cycle in beats per minute. Furthermore, the device is equipped with an output jack for remote monitoring, and an input jack for attaching an external transducer.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application, Ser. No. 60/447,557, filed on Feb. 14, 2003. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The apparatus of the present invention relates to a device for teaching and monitoring tempo. More particularly the present invention relates to an electronic device for teaching and monitoring tempo that is programmable and provides a display.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Metronomes, used to indicate the exact tempo in which a work is to be performed, are well known. Attempts to apply a pendulum to a metronome date back to about 1696, however, Johann Nepenuk Maelzel is credited with building upon the work of his predecessors, and manufacturing the first modern metronome in 1816. In 1938, the Franz electronic metronome utilized AC electricity and a synchronous motor to drive an adjustable tempo beating hammer. In the subsequent years, smaller and more versatile electronic metronomes have been developed.  
           [0004]    An example of an electronic metronome is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,048 to Ruf entitled “Digital Read-Out Electronic Metronome.” Ruf discloses an electronic metronome that utilizes a keyboard for entry of a data. Other features of the device include a memory means for storing information, a timing means, and a means for converting the signal generated by the timing means into a visual representation of a musical signature suitable for viewing on the display.  
           [0005]    Additionally, tempo measurement devices for monitoring the tempo of music played with an instrument generating tempo beats are also known. These devices provide a visual indication of the measured beats per time unit, between two successive beats. Such a device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,742 to the present inventor entitled “Tempo Monitoring Device and Associated Method.” The device includes a transducer for sensing the beats, an electronic timer for measuring the time interval between two successive beats, and a display associated with the timer for visually displaying the measured time interval in beats per minute.  
           [0006]    Musicians often utilize a metronome to indicate a desired tempo, and then refer to a tempo monitor to demonstrate how closely they are to performing to the desired tempo. Because of the complexities of performing with an instrument, it is vital that accompanying tools be simple and few. Simplicity in operation assures less effort expended on peripheral equipment, thereby allowing the musician to place greater emphasis on his performance.  
           [0007]    Therefore, what is needed in the art is a single apparatus that can operate as either a metronome or a tempo monitor.  
           [0008]    Furthermore, what is needed in the art is such a combination metronome/tempo monitor that allows the musician to quickly, and effortlessly switch between modes.  
           [0009]    Still furthermore, what is needed in the art is a single device that can be used by musicians to measure the tempo of music while it is being played, provide a kick off tempo, and provide a data bank of sequentially preprogrammed tempi.  
           [0010]    Moreover, what is needed in the art is a combination metronome and tempo monitor will give an indication of upbeat and down beat.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    The present invention provides a compact device capable of being programmed to operate as either a metronome or a tempo monitor.  
           [0012]    Furthermore, the present invention provides a “tempometer” wherein a single device can be used by musicians to measure the tempo of music while it is being played, provide a kick off tempo, and provide a data bank of sequentially preprogrammed tempi.  
           [0013]    The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a micro-controller that receives operator commands via dual programming buttons. These commands include switching between metronome and tempo monitor mode, setting metronome output between 10 to 254 bpm (beats per minute), and toggling between audible and silent mode. When the device is programmed to be in metronome mode, the selected bpm cycle can be represented by either visual display only, or visual display and an audible tone. When the device is in tempo monitor mode, an internal or remote transducer monitors tapping and transmits a signal to the micro-controller. The micro-controller then converts the input from the transducer and drives the display to illustrate the time between consecutive beats in bpm.  
           [0014]    The internal transducer of the present invention provides for a completely self-contained device with no external wires or hardware. The device is portable, and can be used in one&#39;s hand, a music stand, on a drum, as well as other locations as needed.  
           [0015]    Additionally, the present invention provides instantaneous beat-to-beat, real-time feedback wherein musicians are immediately shown how their actions affect the meter and tempo. This particular feature is extremely useful for monitoring tempo transitions while segueing between songs. The present invention forces correct metering with negative feedback of inconsistent numbers, thereby reinforces a musician&#39;s “internal clock” with positive feedback of consistent numbers, and building confidence in one&#39;s ability to meter correctly. Also, the present invention allows for monitoring of foot taps while playing a string, wind, or electronic instrument with one&#39;s hands, and additionally allows subtle artistic tempo changes without being in conflict with a click. Jazz drummers may also monitor their tempi by occasionally reverting to a consistent pattern or backbeat.  
           [0016]    Furthermore, in addition to being a useful device for DJs, conductors and composers, the present invention is immensely helpful in introducing the somewhat vague concept of meter to new students.  
           [0017]    An advantage of the present invention is that it is programmable and compact in design.  
           [0018]    A further advantage of the present invention is that the single device can be programmed to operate as either a metronome or a tempo monitor.  
           [0019]    A still further advantage of the present invention is the half-cycle digit blink rate, effectively doubling the frequency and thereby rendering what is known in the art as marking the upbeat and the downbeat. This special feature provides a visual tempo doubler, and is very helpful for kickoffs at extreme largo to grave tempi below 40 bpm  
           [0020]    An even further advantage of the present invention is that the single apparatus eliminates the need for purchasing the metronome and tempo monitor separately, thereby reducing the associated expense.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]    The invention as well as its features and advantages will become more apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like parts.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is a plan view of the combination metronome/tempo monitor of the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the combination metronome/tempo monitor of the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the combination metronome/tempo monitor of the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the combination metronome/tempo monitor of the present invention mounted to a drum.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 a  is a partial isometric view of the combination metronome/tempo monitor of the present invention mounted to a drum.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the control circuit of the present invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 6 is a detailed schematic diagram of the control circuit of the present invention.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the programming process and corresponding sequence of events for the present invention. 
     
    
       [0030]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0031]    Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown one embodiment of the combination metronome and tempo monitor  101  of the present invention. The combination metronome and tempo monitor  101  includes a housing means in form of a substantially closed box. The housing means is constructed of a suitable material and is defined by two opposite side surfaces and opposite top and bottom surfaces  106  and  405  respectfully. The top surface  106  of the apparatus  101  as illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a three digit LED display  105 , and programming buttons  102  and  103 . Generally, the apparatus can be programmed via the program buttons  102  and  103  to operate as either a metronome or a tempo monitor. While in metronome mode, the programming buttons may be used to select a desired tempo, page between sixty-six programmable presets, or switch between audible and mute mode. Additionally, the programming keys are used to program the sixty-six programmable presets. Additionally, the present invention allows for all 12 musical keys, A through G#, to be stored in each preset. In the event the operator does not wish to utilize this feature, a blank value can be stored in any particular preset, thereby bypassing this step and saving time between musical performances.  
         [0032]    Referring again to FIG. 1, the top surface  106  of the apparatus  101  has a small opening  104 , to allow the operator to hear an audible tone emanating from within the housing of the device  101 . This audible tone is only produced while the device is operating in audible mode.  
         [0033]    The left side surface  304  of the housing as illustrated in FIG. 3 shows the upper portion  201  and the lower portion  202  of the housing of the device  101 . The upper portion  201  of the left side of the housing  304  contains two jacks  302  and  303  and a sensitivity dial  301 . The external input/transducer jack  303  may be utilized when the device is in tempo monitor mode. Furthermore, the external input/transducer jack  303  is used for connecting an additional external transducer (not shown) to the device. Each time a beat is detected by the transducer, the three decimals  105 ( f ) will flash. Also, the sensitivity dial  301  can be adjusted to filter out ghost notes picked up by the transducer.  
         [0034]    The output/monitoring jack  302  may be used to connect headphones, or any suitable monitoring device to deliver an audible indication of the selected beats per minute cycle to the operator. The output/monitoring jack  302  is active while the device is in metronome mode.  
         [0035]    Referring to FIG. 1 and the flow chart of FIG. 7, the device  101  is activated by tapping the casing of the unit. When the device  101  is activated (also referred to as wake mode) a “1” will appear in the three digit LED display  105 . In the event that no further action is taken the device will turn off in 30 seconds. The purpose of this feature is to conserve battery power should the device  101  be erroneously turned on. It should be further noted that the device can be turned off manually. This is accomplished by depressing buttons  102  and  103  simultaneously for 3 seconds.  
         [0036]    After the device is turned on (wake mode), it immediately enters monitor mode. Tapping on the bottom of the device, or an external transducer, will render a beat to beat real time evaluation of the tempo in beats per minute. As stated above this rate will be displayed on the three digit LED display  105 , and the three decimals  105 ( f ) will flash. The detectable range in tempo monitor mode is 10 to 255 beats per minute.  
         [0037]    As discussed above, the present invention allows for all 12 musical keys, A through G#, to be stored in each preset. As illustrated in FIG. 7, if the operator does not wish to utilize this feature, a blank value will be stored in the preset, thereby bypassing that particular step for that preset.  
         [0038]    Metronome mode is selected by pressing either button while in monitor mode. The first step of metronome mode shall be referred to as program mode. Upon entering metronome mode, a “P” will be illustrated in the first digit  105   c  of the three digit LED display, followed by a colon  105   e , and a numeral between one and sixty-six. The “P” indicates to the operator that the device is now in program mode, with the following numeral identifying the individual programmed preset. While the “P” is displayed, the operator can page through the sixty-six programmable presets using the two programming buttons  102  and  103 . The left programming button  103  is used to page down, and the right programming button  102  is used to page up. While holding either button, the number steps slowly five times and then increments/decrements faster to arrive more quickly at a distant program. Once the operator has selected the desired program, removing his finger from either button will enable the display to indicate a number between 10 and 254 with an apostrophe  105   d  appearing between the middle digit  105   b  and the right digit  105   a  of the display  105 . While the apostrophe  105   d  is illuminated, the operator can use the left programming button  103  to reduce the number of beats per minute, or the right programming button  102  to increase the number of beats per minute. As in program mode, while holding the button, the number steps slowly five times and then increments/decrements faster to arrive more quickly at a distant tempo. Once the desired tempo is selected, releasing the buttons  102  or  103  will enter, or assign the selected tempo (between 10 and 254 bpm) to the corresponding preset number (between one and sixty-six), and the display  105  will begin to flash at the selected tempo. Switching between audible and mute mode is accomplished by pressing and releasing the left programming button  103  and the right programming button  102  simultaneously. A lower case “b” in the left digit  105   c  indicates that the device is in audible mode, and a “-” in the left digit  105   c  indicated that the device is in mute mode. The device will go from metronome mode to tempo monitor mode upon the detection of a beat by the transducer, or after one minute has elapsed. Furthermore, one or more of the sixty-six programmable presets can be preprogrammed to operate as a metronome for a period greater than 1 minute. For example, P:66 can be programmed to operate as a metronome for twenty minutes, thereby enhancing the devices capabilities as a practice tool.  
         [0039]    A particular method of mounting the combination metronome/tempo monitor  101  of the present invention to a drum  400  is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 4 a . FIG. 4 illustrates the combination metronome/tempo monitor  101  mounted on the face top/batter head  401  of drum  400 . FIG. 4 a  further illustrates a fastening means, such as the hook and pile pieces of a fastener  404 ,  406 . One part of the fastener  406  is attached to the head  401  of the drum  400 , and the other part  404  is attached to the bottom surface  405  of the combination metronome/tempo monitor  101 . The fastener removably interlocks the combination metronome/tempo monitor  101  with the face  401  of drum  400  when pressed together. While the illustrated embodiment utilizes Velcro fasteners, any suitable means for fastening the combination metronome/tempo monitor  101  to the face top/batter head  401  of drum  400  is within the scope of the invention.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 5 is a block diagram and FIG. 6 is a detailed schematic diagram of the control circuit of the device of the present invention. In FIG. 6, there is shown a quartz crystal  608  for use for controlling the timing of the device, and a battery  609  for providing power to the device and components. The quartz crystal  608  of a particular embodiment of the invention can be a 4.0 MHz Oscillator. The quartz crystal  608  is also represented in FIG. 5 as the Osc/Clock  508 . The microcontroller  501  performs the signal conditioning and timing functions before driving the three digit display  510 . The display  510  then provides the operator a numerical real time indication between beats in beats per minute (bpm). The range displayed in this mode is 10 bpm to 255 bpm. When the device is programmed to be in monitor mode, the device is advantageous in that it provides the operator real time visual feedback of the actual tempo being played.  
         [0041]    The microcontroller  501  of the present invention performs all of the arithmetic and logic functions. In addition to the internal timers (start up timer, watchdog timer, etc.), essential to the devices operation, an external 4.0 MHZ crystal oscillator, as stated above, along with associated pair of 20 pf capacitors is connected to the clock input to define the instruction cycle. The software governing the microcontroller was written with timing based on the 4.0 MHz crystal.  
         [0042]    The microcontroller also contains internal memory, namely program memory and data memory. As mentioned above, sixty-six programmable presets are available. This is a function of the EPROM or program memory. The data memory is generally partitioned into the general purpose registers and the special function registers. The general purpose register as accessed through the file select register (FSR), receives instructions from the programming buttons  102  and  103 .  
         [0043]    When the device is programmed to be in tempo monitor mode, a monitoring means  511  such as a piezoelectric transducer is used to sense relatively strong tempo beat vibrations. Furthermore, the microcontroller is responsible for sinking, or enabling the monitoring means  511  or transducer.  
         [0044]    In addition to the internally mounted monitoring means  511 , the device further includes a receptacle or external input/transducer jack  303  and additional input connection circuitry  602 . The input connection circuitry allows for the addition of a second monitoring means also known as a remote trigger (not shown.)  
         [0045]    Referring once again to FIG. 4, the device  101  is shown mounted to a drum skin  401 , wherein the internally mounted monitoring means or transducer  511  (FIGS. 5 and 6), generates an electrical impulse in response to the tempo beat. It should be further noted that the impulse or signal can be filtered to eliminate false signals. Referring again to FIGS. 5 and 6, a sensitivity control or filtering means  502 , such as potentiometer  603 , is included to filter out unwanted or ghost notes.  
         [0046]    Alternatively, the circuit can be programmed to operate as a metronome. The various modes, such as monitor mode or metronome mode, are selected by programming the microcontroller via program buttons  509 . When the device is operating in metronome mode the operator will have access to 66 programmable presets. Alternatively, as previously discussed, a specific bpm can be selected via programming buttons  509 . The selectable bpms range from 10 bpm to 254 bpm, and the rate selected appears on the three digit LED display  510 . In addition to the three digit LED display  510  showing the selected bpm rate, the digits will cycle on and off at the rate selected.  
         [0047]    Additionally an audible signal device is connected to the micro controller to emit an audible signal at the start of a cycle. The audible signal may be in the form of a beep or tone. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the audible signal is produced by a low impedance direct drive piezo buzzer, driven by the microcontroller. This feature may be disabled or rendered mute via program the buttons  509 . Also, additional circuitry  611  is provided to allow for the use of headphones via the output jack.  
         [0048]    A further feature of the device of the present invention is the half-cycle digit blink rate. At the start of the cycle the digits of the LED  510  are illuminated, and an accompanying audible signal (if selected). Halfway through the period, the digits of the LED  510  extinguish, effectively doubling the frequency and thereby rendering what is known in the art as marking the upbeat and the downbeat. This feature is important to the operator, particularly at slower tempos.  
         [0049]    The three digit LED display  510  is also driven by the microcontroller. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a multiplexing scheme is used to drive the display, thereby reducing the number of input/output lines needed. The microcontroller&#39;s capability of driving the LEDs eliminates the need for external devices, such as transistors, to perform this function, thereby reducing the overall size as well as the cost of the device.  
         [0050]    While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the present invention using the general principles disclosed herein. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.