Patent Abstract:
A karaoke system which can be conveniently used by children and youths and help to enhance their creative power and thinking power. The karaoke system includes a main unit connectable to a display unit through a wire or by wireless. The main unit feeds the display unit with image data for displaying words of a music piece on the display unit and music data for playing accompaniment music of the music piece, thereby a karaoke performance being carried out according to the words displayed on the display unit and the accompaniment music outputted from the display unit. In the karaoke system thus constructed, the main unit is constructed so as to permit the display unit to display images constituting at least one story in order and so as to output words and accompaniment music of a music piece associated with the story to the display unit during the course of the story.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a karaoke system, and more particularly to a karaoke system wherein music for a karaoke performance is incorporated in a story. 
     The term “karaoke” is generally defined to be “a form of entertainment, offered typically at bars or clubs, in which people take turns to sing popular songs into a microphone over pre-recorded backing tracks” (The New Oxford Dictionary of English published by Oxford University Press in 1998). 
     Recently, karaoke has constituted one of most popular amusements without distinction of age and sex and gained a firm position in the industrial world. Thus, karaoke equipment manufacturers have a fierce competition with others in order to permit their own karaoke system to be advantageously differentiated from those of other manufacturers. For this purpose, each of the manufacturers devotes itself to addition of any significant value to its own karaoke system. For example, it is proposed that a karaoke system is provided with a marking function. More particularly, a karaoke system is proposed which is constructed so as to make a variety of developments depending on results of marking obtained by the marking function. 
     However, such a marking function becomes old-fashioned nowadays, thus, the marking function fails to make a differentiation between karaoke systems. Also, the conventional karaoke systems were mainly developed for adults including students, resulting in them failing to be applied to children and/or youths. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing disadvantage of the prior art. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a karaoke system which is capable of creating significant value added. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a karaoke system which can be conveniently used by children and/or youths. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a karaoke system is provided. The karaoke system generally includes a main unit operatively connectable to a display unit through a wire or by wireless. The main unit feeds the display unit with image data for displaying words of a music piece on the display unit and music data for playing accompaniment music of the music piece, thereby a karaoke performance being carried out according to the words displayed on the display unit and the accompaniment music outputted from the display unit. The karaoke system generally constructed as described above is featured in that the main unit is constructed so as to permit the display unit to display images constituting at least one story in order and so as to output words and accompaniment music of a music piece associated with the story to the display unit during the course of the story. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the story may be constructed so as to progress while being ramified into a plurality of branches. The branches are set so as to permit a user to select the branches as desired and each have a musical piece which is associated therewith set therein. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a selection menu for selecting the story may be displayed in the form of a picture. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system further includes a memory cartridge detachably mounted in the main unit. The memory cartridge has data for the musical piece and data for the story stored therein. Such construction permits replacement of the cartridge, so that the karaoke system may be accommodated to a variety of requests by users. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings; wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an embodiment of a karaoke system according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2A is a fragmentary front elevation view showing an essential part of a main unit incorporated in the karaoke system shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 2B is a fragmentary rear view of the essential part of the main unit shown in FIG. 2A; 
     FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing an electrical circuit incorporated in the karaoke system of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a manner of operation of the karaoke system shown in FIG. 1 by way of example; 
     FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a manner of operation of the karaoke system shown in FIG. 1 in a talk mode; 
     FIG. 6 is a pictorial view showing a menu image displayed during the course of a karaoke performance by way of example; and 
     FIGS. 7A,  7 B and  7 C are pictorial views each showing an image displayed during the course of the karaoke performance by way of example. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Now, a karaoke system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring first to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a karaoke system according to the present invention is illustrated. A karaoke system of the illustrated embodiment generally includes a main unit  1 , a TV acting as a display unit  3  and connected to the main unit  1  through an audio/video cable (hereinafter referred to as “AV cable”)  2 , and a cartridge  4  detachably mounted in the main unit  1 . Alternatively, the main unit  1  may be operatively connected to the display unit by wireless. 
     The main unit  1  is formed to have a rod-like shape of a thickness sufficient to permit a user to grip it by one hand and includes a head portion which has a microphone  5  integrally incorporated therein, through which a voice of a user or performer is inputted to the main unit  1  of the karaoke system. The main unit  1  is provided on an upper portion of a front surface thereof with an operation section  6  including a variety of operation keys or buttons. Also, the main unit  1  is mounted on a lower end thereof with the AV cable  2  through which the main unit  1  is connected to the TV acting as the display unit  3 . Further, the main unit  1  is provided on a rear surface thereof with a connector  7  in which the cartridge  4  is detachably fitted, as shown in FIG.  2 B. 
     The operation section  6 , as shown in FIG. 2A, includes a display  10  including light emitting diodes for two figures or digits each constituted of seven segments, tempo keys or buttons  11  for variably controlling a reproducing speed or tempo of music being performed in accordance with the user&#39;s choice, volume keys or buttons  12  for variably controlling a volume of a reproduced sound of the music being performed, an echo key or button  13  for setting echo time (delay time) at a desired length, an effect key or button  14  for varying a frequency of an output voice with respect to a frequency of a voice inputted from the microphone  5  thereto to change the input voice into a male voice, a female voice or the like, a cancel key or button  15  for canceling various kinds of setting, selection keys or buttons  16  used for selection operation, a decision key or button  17  for confirming results selected by the selection keys or buttons  16  to be effective, and the like. 
     Now, an electrical structure of the karaoke system of the illustrated embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.  3 . In FIG. 3, reference numeral  20  designates a control section, which functions to control an audio signal processing section  22  and a video signal processing section  23  according to an operation signal inputted from the operation section  16  and a control program stored in a memory  21 . For this purpose, the control section  20  is constructed so as to read data from the cartridge  4  fitted in the connector  7  to output a performance signal of music selected to the audio signal processing section  22  and output an image signal indicating a title of the music and words thereof to the video signal processing section  23 . 
     The audio signal processing section  22  is configured so as to subject a sound signal inputted thereto from the microphone  5  and an accompaniment signal outputted from the control section  20  to both mixing and amplification to prepare an audio signal, which is then outputted through the AV cable  2  to the TV  3 . The video signal processing section  23  functions to output, in the form of a video signal, image information for displaying a title of music, words thereof and the like inputted thereto from the cartridge  4  to the TV  3  through the AV cable  2 . Also, the video signal processing section  23  functions to output, in the form of a video signal, a variety of guide information for guiding setting of the keys or buttons arranged on the operation section  6 , such as, for example, an echo, a level of a key, a speed of performed music, a voice change and the like. 
     The video signal and audio signal thus outputted are inputted to an AV input terminal  25  of the TV  3  acting as an output unit. The video signal thus inputted is displayed in the form of an image on a monitor of the TV  3 . The audio signal is outputted from a loudspeaker of the TV  3 . 
     The cartridge  4  has a read only memory (ROM) incorporated therein, which has data on musical pieces for a karaoke performance and data on stories to be displayed stored therein. The data on each of the musical pieces include performance information for synthesizing the musical piece (MIDI information), information on a title of music thereof and information on words thereof. The data on each of the stories include a program, image data and letter data. 
     Now, a manner of operation of the karaoke system of the illustrated embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 by way of example. 
     First, the cartridge  4  is inserted in the connector  7  of the main unit  1  and then a power supply is turned on. This results in a menu image being displayed on the TV  3  (a step ST 1 ). The menu image indicates that any one of a talk mode and a karaoke mode should be selected. Thus, a user may select desired one of the modes by means of the selection keys or buttons  16  and then push the decision key or button  17  (a step ST 2 ). 
     When the “karaoke mode” is selected, the operation or procedure is transferred to a step ST 3 , so that karaoke mode processing may be carried out. In the karaoke mode processing, titles of musical pieces stored are displayed, thus, the user may select a musical piece which he or she desires to sing for a karaoke performance. Then, when the user pushes the decision button  17 , a melody of the musical piece selected is outputted from the TV  3  and words thereof are displayed thereon. Thus, the user may sing a song of the piece in accordance with the melody. When performance of the musical piece is finished, the operation is turned to the menu image of the step ST 1 . 
     When the “talk mode” is selected, the operation or procedure is advanced to a step ST 4 , to thereby carry out “talk model” processing. In the talk mode processing, a menu image for the talk mode is displayed on the TV  3  (a step ST 10 ). The menu image is displayed in the form of a picture rather than letters. By way of example, as shown in FIG. 6, the menu image may be displayed in the form of a picture which permits a talk associated with houses, fields and mountains located on an island, as well as a boat floating on a sea to be imagined. 
     Every time the selection buttons  16  are pushed, a character  30  is moved as indicated by dotted lines and solid lines, following the arrows shown in FIG. 6, so that a genre of a talk associated with a place where the character  30  is positioned is displayed in the form of letters on a display corner  31  defined on an upper left location of a screen of the TV  3  (a step ST 11 ). A genre of a talk displayed on the TV is associated with a place of the character  30  indicated at solid lines. Thus, in FIG. 6, the genre is associated with a sea. Then, the decision button  17  is pushed when a genre of a talk which the user desires to hear is displayed on the TV  3 . When the decision button  17  is thus pushed (a step ST 12 ), any one of two story progress patterns is randomly selected (a step ST 13 ). 
     When a first one of the two story progress patterns is selected, a talk selected in the step ST 11  is displayed in the form of a combination of pictures and letters like a picture book on the TV  3  (a step ST 14 ). Then, a title of a musical piece associated with the talk is displayed thereon, followed by playing of music of the musical piece (a step ST  15 ). When the playing is finished (a step ST  16 ), the operation is returned to the step ST  10 , so that the menu image may be displayed again. 
     When a second one of the story progress patterns is selected, the “talk” selected in the step ST 11  is displayed in the form of a combination of pictures and letters like each of pages or leaves of a picture book on the TV  3  (a step ST 17 ). Subsequently, the operation is advanced to a step ST 18 , so that an image or selection menu which asks items to be selected for ramifications such as, for example, “take a boat”, “chat with gulls” or the like may be displayed on the TV  3 . Thus, the user may select a desired one of the items by means of the section buttons  16 , followed by operation of the decision button  17 , so that an image associated with the selected item may be displayed on the TV  3  as if leaves or pages of a picture book are turned over, as shown in FIG.  7 B. This permits the “talk” to be displayed in the form of a combination of pictures and letters on the TV  3  (a step ST 19 ). Then, when a period of time sufficient to permit the user to read through the “talk” elapses, a title of a musical piece associated with the talk is displayed. In the illustrated embodiment, when “chat with gulls” is selected, music of which a title is “Gull Sailors” is displayed on the TV  3  as shown in FIG.  7 C. 
     Then, a melody of the music is outputted from the TV  3  and words thereof are displayed thereon (a step ST 20 ), so that the user may sing a song in conformity to the melody while confirming the words being on the TV as in the conventional karaoke system. When performance of the music is completed (a step ST 21 ), the operation is returned to the menu image of the step ST 10 . 
     When another item is selected in the step ST 18 , the operation is advanced to a step ST 22 , so that a “talk” relating to the item selected may be displayed on the TV  3 , a melody of a musical piece relating thereto may be outputted from the TV  3  and words of the musical piece may be displayed on the TV  3  (a step ST 23 ). Thus, the user may sing a song in conformity to the melody while confirming the words being displayed on the TV  3 . When performance of the musical piece is finished (a step ST 24 ), the operation is returned to the menu image of the step ST 10 . 
     Thus, the illustrated embodiment permits all information to be displayed by not only letters but pictures associated with a story, so that a user or child may associate the image displayed on the TV with the story. Also, the illustrated embodiment permits the music associated with the story to be performed while progressing the story as if a picture book is read. This permits the karaoke system of the illustrated embodiment to stimulate a user&#39;s imagination and provide children or youths with much enjoyment. 
     As can be seen from the foregoing, the karaoke system of the present invention permits a user to enjoy a karaoke performance according to music associated with a story while ensuring development of the story as if leaves of a picture book are turned over. Also, the above-described construction of the present invention permits the karaoke system to be conveniently used by youths and children excluded from the conventional karaoke system. 
     Also, the karaoke system of the present invention permits music associated with a story to be played between talks, to thereby create an environment which permits a user to not only sing a song merely but sing a song as he or she is reading a fairy tale with his or her mother, resulting in it effectively contributing to culture of sentiments. 
     Further, the present invention may be configured so as to permit progress of a story to be ramified into branches and music associated with each of the branches to be set. This prevents the story from being rendered simple or monotonous and leads to a variation in music depending on progress of the story, so that a user may enjoy a karaoke performance without losing interest. 
     In addition, the menu image or selection menu may be displayed in the form of pictures as well as letters. This results in a user associating the pictures with a story and/or music, so that he or she may enhance his or her creative power and thinking power, as well as his or her singing capability. 
     Moreover, in the present invention, data on music and stories may be stored in the memory cartridge detachably mounted in the main unit. Such construction results in the number of music pieces and stories stored being substantially infinite, so that the karaoke system of the present invention may be accommodated to a variety of requests by users. 
     While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity with reference to the drawings, obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8