Abstract:
A foot-operated programmable transport controller for use in conjunction with a sound and music-editing software application while connecting a musical instrument. The controller comprises a keyboard comprising a plurality of keys; each key for performing at least one function pertaining to the software application. The controller further comprises a user interface for creating, editing, storing, and retrieving different profiles; the profile being a complete set of all functions assigned to all the keys and their combinations. The user interface is provided through a host computer system.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    None 
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL 
       [0004]    Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0005]    The present invention relates in general to foot operated device for digital audio workstation, and more particularly to foot operated transport controller used in interface with the music editing software applications for sound and music editing. 
         [0006]    A variety of foot operated device for digital workstations have been developed in art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,049 to Luce discloses an electronic synthesizer instrument incorporating bass pedals for the notes of the musical scale, together with foot control apparatus adapted to select and modify the tone quality of sounds produced by operation of the bass pedals. The foot control apparatus comprises push button switches which are operated by the toe of an operator&#39;s foot, and slide controls which are positioned by the operator&#39;s foot. At least some of the switches are preset switches for selecting and controlling multiple combinations of the functional units of the synthesizer. The control state of the instrument is at all times indicated by readily observable indicating lights. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,401 to Tavel discloses a music synthesizer which responds to a music note played by a music instrument. The synthesizer has an envelope generator which generates a control signal in relation to the input signal to control the loudness of the synthesized note. The programmed note is that note following the operation of a control switch. The synthesizer further includes a series of footpads which control various functions of the synthesizer, such as programming the programmed note, and to allow the user to control the synthesized sound while playing an instrument. The synthesizer also comprises a timbral image modulator which can be selected to provide one of eight different waveshapes to control the cutoff frequency of a voltage controlled filter. The synthesized sound is obtained by amplifying the filter output signal by a gain determined by the envelope generator signal. However, both the above disclosed devices control the sound output from a synthesizer and also do not have a computerized means of control. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,689,947 to Ludwig discloses a floor controller for real-time control of signal processors, synthesizers, musical instruments, MIDI processors, lighting, and video, special effects in performance, recording, and composition environments. Various combinations of physical controllers may be utilized, as well as visual displays and internal control processing. Each physical controller may include a separate visual display of assigned name, status, and/or value. Rocking foot pedals may be used to simultaneously control multiple parameters by inclusion of additional sensors. Each physical controller may be assigned specific control message functions, values, names, temporal event sequences, and invocation rules dictated by assignable state-machines. Physical controllers and assignments may be organized in hierarchical or other relationships rich in geometric metaphors useful for human operation. The control system accommodates MIDI and non-MIDI control signal implementations. However, the above device cannot be interfaced with a computer system. 
         [0009]    Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a transport controller device compatible with all the sound and music editing software available in market. These and other objects of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the appended Summary, Description, and Claims. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    The present invention is a battery-powered, foot-operated programmable keyboard connected to a computer system via a wireless USB connection. The keyboard assists a user in performing sound and music editing work when using sound and music-editing software applications. The keyboard interfaces with various sound and music-editing software applications such as Digital Performer, Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, and Wave Lab. The controller of the present invention combines firmware and software in an electrical and mechanical design. The invention enables the user to operate controls by foot thus freeing the hands to play an instrument, direct others by hand or operate other controls. 
         [0011]    The keyboard comprises a plurality of momentary-contact keys or footpads numbered ‘1’ through ‘8’. The key numbered ‘8’ acts as a function key. The function key is operated in conjunction with any of the other seven keys. Each key numbered ‘1’ through ‘7’ can perform functions by three key press events, namely, single press, double press, and function press. The single press event involves pressing the key once and double press event involves pressing the key twice in succession. A function press involves pressing the function key followed by any one of the remaining seven keys. 
         [0012]    The keyboard further comprises a user interface on the host computer, which changes the settings and functions of the keys. A single set of all functions represented by every type of key press event, involving all of the keys, is called a profile. Users can create new profiles or modify existing profiles and save them on the host computer system. Default profiles complying with popular sound and music editing software applications are provided on a secondary storage device, such as a CD. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of the perspective view of the foot-operated keyboard in accordance with present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a table showing the default functions of the keys of the keyboard. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of the main utility window displaying the default functions of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of the key function/definition editor window displaying the default functions of a first key cap link. 
       
    
    
     FIGURES—REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0000]    
       
           10  . . . Keyboard 
           12  . . . Key or Footpad 
           14  . . . Main Utility Window 
           16  . . . Key Function/Definition Editor Window 
           18  . . . Key Cap Link 
           20  . . . Functional Name Field 
           22  . . . ‘Double Press’ Button 
           24  . . . ‘Function Press’ Button 
           26  . . . ‘Read’ Button 
           28  . . . ‘Write’ Button 
           30  . . . Current Profile Path Display 
           32  . . . ‘Open’ Button 
           34  . . . ‘Save’ Button 
           36  . . . Double Press Adjustment Feature 
           38  . . . Minimize Button 
           40  . . . Help Button 
           42  . . . Close Button 
           44  . . . Key Definition String Field 
           46  . . . Key Number Field 
           48  . . . ‘Capture’ Button 
           50  . . . ‘Cancel &amp; Close’ Button 
           52  . . . ‘Save &amp; Close’ Button 
           54  . . . Display 
           56  . . . LED Monitor 
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0041]    The novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4 . The present invention is a battery-powered, foot-operated programmable keyboard  10  connected to a computer system. The keyboard  10  is designed to assist musicians, sound engineers, or other audio-editing operators in editing digital sound and music works in sound and music-editing software applications by freeing their hands and controlling essential keyboard functions by foot. The keyboard  10  complies with various sound and music-editing software applications such as Digital Performer, Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, Wave Lab, among others. The keyboard  10  provides a user interface on the host computer system for configuring settings such as assigning a function to each key  12 , enabling and disabling key functions  12 , storing and retrieving the configurations to and from disk storage, and performing other types of configurations. 
         [0042]    The keyboard  10  is similar to a stepped structure with two steps. Each step comprises four momentary-contact footpads or keys  12  spaced apart from each other. The keys  12  are ergonomically designed to provide convenient foot-placement in order to press them. The keyboard  10  is connected to the computer through a wireless Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection. The keyboard  10  also comprises a printed circuit board, batteries, and a wireless USB adapter that can be plugged into an available USB port on the host computer system. The printed circuit board comprises a processor, a non-volatile memory, and a programmable firmware memory. The keyboard  10  further comprises features such as an automatic low-power standby mode, a low battery Light Emitting Diode (LED) indicator, a low wireless signal strength LED indicator, and an activity LED monitor  56  that activates when any key  12  is pressed. 
         [0043]    The keys  12  on the keyboard  10  are numbered ‘1’ through ‘8’. The key  12  numbered ‘8’ may optionally be designated as a function key  12 . The keys  12  numbered ‘1’ through ‘7’ respond to three types of events, each of which represents a unique function. The three types of events are: a single press, a double press, and a function press. The single press event relates to pressing a key  12  once, double press events relate to pressing a key  12  twice in succession, and function press events relate to pressing the function key  12  first followed by any other key  12  numbered ‘1’ through ‘7’. The function key  12  per se does not represent any function, and must always be coupled with one of the other seven keys  12  to make it functional. However, an option is provided so that the function key  12  can respond to single and double press actions. All the functions that are represented by each type of event can be programmed or modified through the user interface provided by the keyboard  10  on the host computer system. The default functions of the keys  12  are discussed in detail in  FIG. 2 . Each event programmed by the user transmits a keystroke or macro string of keystrokes to the host computer system. 
         [0044]    The keyboard  10  further comprises a collection of profiles on a secondary storage device, such as a CD or a DVD, as a supplement. Each profile is programmed to meet the needs of users operating a variety of popular sound and music editing software applications. A profile comprises of the entire collection of all the functions represented by all the events of all the keys  12  and all the corresponding settings of the keyboard  10 . Profiles can also be modified and stored in the host computer system. Thereafter, any of the modified and stored profiles can be retrieved from the host computer system and can be loaded into the keyboard  10 . When a new profile is loaded into the keyboard  10 , the existing profile in the keyboard  10  will be over written by the new profile changing all the functions and settings of the keyboard  10  in accordance with the settings and the functions defined by the new profile. 
         [0045]    The user interface is used for creating new profiles, modifying existing profiles, and profile storage and retrieval. The user interface comprises of a series of controls operated on a computer through a main utility window  14 . The keyboard  10  can be operated while the main utility window  14  is inactive or closed. Typically, a user will only need to launch the main utility window  14  in order to view it, make changes to a profile, or to create new profiles. 
         [0046]      FIG. 3  illustrates the features of the main utility window  14  of the present invention. Initially when the main utility window  14  is launched, a program runs a checkup in order to identify the presence of the keyboard  10 . If the checkup fails to identify the keyboard  10 , a message is displayed indicating that the keyboard  10  cannot be identified and prompts the user to click ‘OK’ thus ending the main utility window program. When the keyboard  10  is identified, the program allows the user to operate the main utility window  14 . 
         [0047]    The main utility window  14  comprises eight key cap links  18  numbered ‘1’ through ‘8’ analogous to the footpads or keys  12  numbered ‘1’ through ‘8’ on the keyboard  10 . Each key cap link  18  numbered ‘1’ through  7  comprises three functional name fields  20 . The three functional name fields  20  of a particular key cap link  18  displays the three functions performed by its corresponding key  12  on the keyboard  10 , each function resulting from each type of event. The first, second, and third functional fields represent the single press, double press, and function press events, respectively. Each function displayed in the functional name field  20  of any key  12  relates to an underlying character string. The functional name field  20  of anyone of the eight key cap links  18  when clicked upon takes the user to a key function editor window  16  of the corresponding key cap link  18 . The user can edit the names of the functions and their underlying character strings in the key function editor window  16 . 
         [0048]    The main utility window comprises a plurality of function modifier buttons, namely, an ‘enable double-press’ button  22  and an ‘enable function-press’ button  24 . The activation of the ‘enable double-press’ button  22  causes all the functions represented by the double press events of all the keys  12  become active. When the ‘enable double-press’ button  22  is deactivated, all the functions represented by the double press events of all the keys  12  become inactive. In other words, when the ‘enable double-press’ button  22  is inactive, double press of a key  12  on the keyboard  10  does not produce any functional effect. Similarly, when the ‘enable function-press’ button  24  is activated, all the functions represented by the function press events of all the keys  12  become active and vice versa. 
         [0049]    The key  12  ‘8’ or the function key  12  can be made to respond to the single or double press event when the ‘enable function-press’ button  24  is activated. The function key cap link  18  comprises two functional name fields  20  instead of three. The two functional name fields display functions performed by the single and double press event. Each function displayed in the functional name field  20  of the function key cap link  18  has to be assigned by the user. 
         [0050]    The main utility window  14  comprises a plurality of memory operation buttons, namely a ‘read’ button  26  and a ‘write’ button  28 . The clicking of ‘read’ button  26  causes the profile stored in the keyboard  10  is loaded into the currently displayed profile, being used by the user. If the currently displayed profile has been modified and not saved, and when the user clicks on the ‘read’ button  26 , the program prompts the user to save the changes or the modifications before loading the profile, which is stored in the keyboard  10 . When the user clicks the ‘write’ button  28 , the currently displayed profile overwrites the profile stored in the keyboard  10 . 
         [0051]    The main utility window  14  comprises a current profile path display means  30  for displaying the current profile path and file name stored in the host computer system. The main utility window  14  further comprises a plurality of file operation buttons, namely, an ‘open’ button  32  and a ‘save’ button  34 . The profiles already saved in the host computer system may be retrieved and loaded into the keyboard  10  by clicking on the ‘open’ button  32 . A new or modified profile can be saved in the host computer system by clicking on the ‘save’ button  34 . 
         [0052]    The main utility window  14  further comprises a ‘legend’ display  54 , and a double press adjustment feature  36 . The display  54  describes the key functions related to the single press, double press, and the function press events. The double press adjustment feature  36  enables the user to adjust timing of the double press event. The main utility window  14  also comprises a plurality of window control operations comprising a ‘minimize’ button  38 , a ‘help’ button  40 , and a ‘close’ button  42  located on top of the window  14 . The ‘minimize’ button  38  minimizes or hides the main utility window  14  without closing the application. To restore the minimized window  14 , the user has to click on its corresponding icon on a task bar. The ‘help’ button  40  launches the help window when clicked. The ‘close’ button  42  is used to close the main utility window  14 , thereby closing the application. If the user made changes to the currently displayed profile and clicks on the ‘close’ button  42  without saving the changes, the program prompts the user to choose whether to save the profile or not. 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the editor window  16  is opened when functional name fields  20  of any one of the eight key cap links  18  is clicked. The key function editor window  16  comprises the corresponding key cap link with the three functional name fields  20  and three key definition string fields  44 . The number of the key cap link  18  can be edited in the key number field  46 . Users can assign and edit the names of the functions in the functional name fields. 
         [0054]    Users can also view or edit underlying character strings assigned for each function in the key definition string fields  44 . New character strings can be edited or added by typing a character string into the key definition string field  44 . The key function editor window  16  further comprises a ‘capture’ button  48 , which provides an alternative to typing the character string. When the ‘capture’ button  48  is activated, the program records the keystrokes typed by the user. 
         [0055]    The key function editor window  16  further comprises a ‘cancel and close’ button  50  and a ‘save and close’ button  52 . The clicking of ‘cancel and close’ button  50  causes the application to be closed without saving any changes made to the key function editor window  16 . The application is closed after saving the changes made to the key function editor window  16  as a consequence of clicking of the ‘save and close’ button  52 . 
         [0056]    All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. 
         [0057]    Any element in a claim that does not explicitly state “means for” performing a specified function, or “step for” performing a specific function, is not to be interpreted as a “means” or “step” clause as specified in 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6. In particular, the use of “step of” in the claims herein is not intended to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6. 
         [0058]    Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation.