JP7803387B2 - Display control device, display device, method and program - Google Patents

Description

The disclosure of this specification relates to a display control device, a display device, a method, and a program.

Electronic metronomes are known that use light to visually communicate beats and tempo to the user. A specific configuration of this type of electronic metronome is described, for example, in Patent Document 1.

The electronic metronome described in Patent Document 1 has an array of multiple light-emitting elements arranged in a vertical line. This electronic metronome mimics the movement of a conductor's baton by sequentially switching on the lit light-emitting elements and moving the light vertically.

WO 2005/93529

With the conventional electronic metronome exemplified in Patent Document 1, for example, it can be difficult to grasp the timing of the beat depending on the tempo. Such electronic metronomes (an example of a display device) have room for improvement in terms of making it easier for users to grasp the timing of the beat.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a display control device, display device, method, and program that makes it easier for users to grasp the timing of beats.

A display control device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a control unit that controls a light source unit. The control unit sets one tempo from among a plurality of tempos, and changes the display form of light emitted from the light source unit and projected on the display unit from a third display form having a third width to a first display form having a first width wider than the third width , in synchronization with the timing of the first beat of the set tempo. The first period during which the light changes between the third display form and the first display form has a fixed length regardless of the set tempo. This fixed length is less than one beat of the fastest tempo that can be set.

One embodiment of the present invention provides a display control device, display device, method, and program that allows users to easily grasp the timing of beats.

1 is an overall perspective view of an electronic musical instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a partial perspective view of an electronic musical instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an electronic musical instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is an exploded perspective view of a display unit provided in an electronic musical instrument according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a case where the display unit operates as an electronic metronome in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a case where the display unit operates as an electronic metronome in one embodiment of the present invention. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the relationship between the display form of light projected on the display unit and time in one embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a diagram illustrating the length on the time axis over which light projected on a display unit pulsates in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing metronome processing executed by a sub-processor provided in the electronic musical instrument according to one embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a flowchart showing metronome processing executed by a sub-processor provided in the electronic musical instrument according to one embodiment of the present invention.

With reference to the drawings, a display control device, a display device, and a method and program executed by a display device, which is an example of a computer, according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of an electronic musical instrument 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a partial perspective view of the electronic musical instrument 1. Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electronic musical instrument 1.

Electronic musical instrument 1 is an example of a display device that includes a display control device, such as an electronic piano.

The display control device according to this embodiment includes a control unit that controls a light source unit. The control unit sets one tempo from among multiple tempos, and changes the display form of the light emitted from the light source unit and projected on the display unit from the third display form to the first display form in synchronization with the first beat of the set tempo. The first period during which the light changes between the third display form and the first display form has a fixed length regardless of the set tempo. This fixed length is less than one beat of the fastest tempo that can be set.

In other words, the display device according to this embodiment operates as an electronic metronome that uses light to visually communicate beats and tempo to the user. In the display device according to this embodiment, the first period during which the light changes between the third display form and the first display form is shorter than one beat of the fastest tempo, regardless of the set tempo. By displaying the light display form in sync with the timing of the beat for only a short period of time, there is no ambiguity about the timing of the beat, and as a result, the timing of the beat is emphasized. This makes it easier for the user to grasp the timing of the beat.

Electronic musical instrument 1 may be an electronic keyboard instrument other than an electronic piano, such as an electronic keyboard. Electronic musical instrument 1 may also be another type of electronic musical instrument, such as an electronic percussion instrument, an electronic wind instrument, or an electronic string instrument.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the electronic musical instrument 1 includes a housing 2. The housing 2 supports a keyboard 13A, pedals 13B, an operation panel 14, and a display unit 16.

As shown in FIG. 3, the electronic musical instrument 1 includes a main processor 10M, a sub-processor 10S, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 11, a flash ROM (Read Only Memory) 12, a keyboard 13A, pedals 13B, an operation panel 14, a key scanner 15, a display unit 16, a sound source LSI (Large Scale Integration) 17, a D/A converter 18, an amplifier 19, and a speaker 20. The various components of the electronic musical instrument 1 are connected via a bus 21.

The main processor 10M and the sub-processor 10S each read programs and data stored in the flash ROM 12. The main processor 10M and the sub-processor 10S control the electronic musical instrument 1 by using the RAM 11 as a work area.

The main processor 10M and the sub-processor 10S are each, for example, a single processor or a multi-processor, and include at least one processor. If the configuration includes multiple processors, the main processor 10M and the sub-processor 10S may each be packaged as a single device, or may be configured as multiple physically separated devices within the electronic musical instrument 1. The main processor 10M and the sub-processor 10S may also be called, for example, a control unit, CPU (Central Processing Unit), MPU (Micro Processor Unit), or MCU (Micro Controller Unit).

The main processor 10M and the sub-processor 10S do not have to be separate processors, but may be a single processor.

RAM 11 temporarily stores data and programs. RAM 11 stores various programs read from flash ROM 12, waveform data, and other data.

Flash ROM 12 is a non-volatile semiconductor memory such as flash memory, EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), or EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM). Flash ROM 12 stores, as an example, control programs 12M and 12S. Main processor 10M and sub-processor 10S execute control programs 12M and 12S, respectively, to perform various processes according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The keyboard 13A has multiple white keys and multiple black keys. Each key is associated with a different pitch. The electronic musical instrument 1 produces musical tones in response to key depressions on the keyboard 13A.

The pedals 13B include three pedals that are performance controls. Specifically, the pedals 13B include a damper pedal, a soft pedal, and a sostenuto pedal. When the user presses a key while holding down a pedal, the electronic musical instrument 1 performs sound generation processing by adding the sound effect associated with the pedal that is being pressed to the musical tone.

The operation panel 14 includes various operation sections such as a power switch and a setting switch for the metronome function.

The key scanner 15 monitors key presses and releases on the keyboard 13A. For example, when the key scanner 15 detects a key press by the user, it outputs a key press event to the main processor 10M. The key press event includes information about the pitch of the key related to the key press (key number). Key numbers are also called key numbers, MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) keys, or note numbers.

In this embodiment, a separate means is provided for measuring the key pressing speed (velocity), and the velocity measured by this means is also included in the key press event. For example, multiple contact switches are provided for each key. Velocity is measured from the difference in the time that each contact switch remains conductive when the key is pressed. Velocity can be considered a value that indicates the strength of the key press, and also a value that indicates the loudness (volume) of the musical sound.

The display unit 16 operates as an electronic metronome, using light to visually communicate beats and tempo to the user. A detailed description of the display unit 16 will be provided later.

The waveform data is stored in flash ROM 12 or another memory (not shown). This waveform data is loaded into RAM 11 during the startup process of the electronic musical instrument 1 so that musical tones are quickly produced in response to key presses. When the key scanner 15 detects a key press, the main processor 10M instructs the tone generator LSI 17 to read the corresponding waveform data from the waveform data loaded into RAM 11. The waveform data to be read is determined, for example, by the tone color selected by the user and the key press event.

Under the direction of the main processor 10M, the tone generator LSI 17 generates musical tones based on waveform data read from RAM 11. The tone generator LSI 17 has, for example, 128 generator sections and can simultaneously generate up to 128 musical tones. In this embodiment, the main processor 10M, sub-processor 10S, and tone generator LSI 17 are configured as three separate processors, but in other embodiments, these may be configured as one or two processors.

The digital musical sound data generated by the sound source LSI 17 is converted to an analog signal by the D/A converter 18, amplified by the amplifier 19, and output to the speaker 20.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the display unit 16. As shown in Figure 4, the display unit 16 includes a sheet metal member 160, a light source unit 162, an insulating sheet 164, and a display unit 166.

The sheet metal member 160 is supported inside the housing 2. Each part of the display unit 16 is supported by the housing 2 via the sheet metal member 160.

The light source unit 162 includes an LED (Light Emitting Diode) board 162A and an LED 162B.

The LED board 162A is a rectangular board. Multiple LEDs (an example of light-emitting elements) 162B are attached to the LED board 162A. In this embodiment, 20 LEDs 162B are arranged in a row at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the LED board 162A (for convenience, referred to as the "left-right direction"). The LEDs 162B are, for example, white LEDs that emit pseudo-white light.

The insulating sheet 164 is a rectangular sheet member that is shaped to fit the LED board 162A and is slightly larger than the LED board 162A, and has insulating properties. By being sandwiched between the sheet metal member 160 and the LED board 162A, the insulating sheet 164 prevents short circuits between the sheet metal member 160 and the LED board 162A.

The display unit 166 includes a light-guiding member 166A, a light-shielding case 166B, a diffusion sheet 166C, and an acrylic panel 166D.

The light-guiding member 166A is made of, for example, translucent polycarbonate or acrylic. The light-guiding member 166A is attached to the light-shielding case 166B. When attached to the light-shielding case 166B, the light-guiding member 166A is positioned in front of each LED 162B. The light-guiding member 166A guides the light emitted from the LEDs 162B forward.

The light-shielding case 166B is made of, for example, black polystyrene and has light-shielding properties. The light-shielding case 166B is formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction. An emission opening 166b is formed in approximately the center of the light-shielding case 166B. The emission opening 166b is also rectangular and long in the left-right direction.

The light emitted from LED 162B is projected onto display unit 166. In other words, display unit 166 projects the light emitted from light source unit 162.

Specifically, most of the light emitted from LED 162B enters light-guiding member 166A. A portion of the light that enters light-guiding member 166A travels almost straight through the interior of light-guiding member 166A and is emitted from light-guiding member 166A.

The light-emitting surface of the light-guiding member 166A is textured. As a result, light that reaches the light-emitting surface of the light-guiding member 166A is diffusely reflected by the textured surface, and is emitted from the surface with high efficiency.

The diffusion sheet 166C is made of, for example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and has light-diffusing properties. The light emitted from the light-guiding member 166A is diffused by the diffusion sheet 166C and emitted forward from the light-shielding case 166B through the emission opening 166b with approximately uniform brightness.

Acrylic panel 166D is attached to the front of light-shielding case 166B. Light diffused by diffusion sheet 166C and emitted from light-shielding case 166B is emitted to the outside via acrylic panel 166D.

The light emitted from light-guiding member 166A is blocked by light-shielding case 166B in areas other than emission opening 166b. In other words, only the rectangular area long in the left-right direction defined by emission opening 166b serves as a display area (hereinafter designated by the reference numeral 168) capable of projecting this light. Hereinafter, the light projected onto display area 168 will be referred to as "light L."

The display area 168 (in other words, the emission opening 166b) is located in front of the 20 LEDs 162B arranged in a row in the left-right direction. Note that in Figure 2, only the LEDs 162B are shown to clearly show the positional relationship between the display area 168 and each LED 162B. The LEDs 162B are located behind the acrylic panel 166D, the diffusion sheet 166C, and the light-guiding member 166A. Therefore, these LEDs 162B are essentially invisible from the outside.

Specifically, each part of the display unit 166 is housed inside the housing 2, and the acrylic panel 166D gives the exterior surface (surface) a flat shape, as shown in FIG. 1. Furthermore, the light-shielding case 166B located on the back side of the acrylic panel 166D blocks almost all external light from reaching the inside of the housing 2. This makes it difficult for the user to see each part inside the housing 2.

In other words, even if the user looks at the area where LED 162B is located, they cannot see the position of LED 162B. Therefore, when LED 162B is not lit, the user cannot determine the range in which light L is projected.

Figures 5 and 6 are explanatory diagrams showing how the display unit 16 operates as an electronic metronome.

Figure 5 shows the change over time in the display form of light L reflected in display area 168. The diagram on the left in Figure 5 shows how light L expresses triple beats in display area 168. The graph on the right in Figure 5 corresponds to the diagram on the left, and shows the relationship between the display form of light L and time.

As shown in Figure 5, the width (length in the left-right direction) of light L changes so that it pulsates in time with the beat. In Figure 5, the symbol LS indicates the initial width of light L. The symbol LM indicates the width of light L at the timing of a weak beat. The symbol LL indicates the width of light L at the timing of a strong beat. Hereinafter, the initial width of light L will be referred to as "initial width LS." The width of light L at the timing of a weak beat will be referred to as "weak beat width LM." The width of light L at the timing of a strong beat will be referred to as "strong beat width LL."

In this embodiment, a "strong beat" refers to the first beat of an n-beat (n is a natural number) time signature, and a "weak beat" refers to the second to n-th beats. For example, in the case of a 4-beat signature, the first beat is the strong beat, and the second to fourth beats are the weak beats. Also, all beats from the second beat onwards do not have to be weak beats. At least one of the weak beats included from the second beat onwards may be replaced with a medium strong beat that is stronger than the weak beat and weaker than the strong beat.

The light of the strong beat width LL is an example of a first display form having a first width and represents a strong beat. The light of the weak beat width LM is an example of a second display form having a second width and represents a weak beat. The light of the initial width LS is an example of a third display form having a third width.

The weak beat width LM is wider than the initial width LS. The strong beat width LL is wider than the weak beat width LM. The ratio of these widths is, for example, 4 for the weak beat width LM and 10 for the strong beat width LL, when the initial width LS is 1.

The timing of the strong beat is an example of the timing of the first beat. The timing of the weak beat is an example of the timing of the second beat.

Light L expands and contracts in accordance with the timing of the beat, with the initial width LS as its minimum width. At the timing of a weak beat, light L expands to the weak beat width LM. At the timing of a strong beat, light L expands to the strong beat width LL.

That is, as shown in Figure 5, light L instantly extends from initial width LS to strong beat width LL in time with the strong beat, and then returns to initial width LS. Next, light L instantly extends from initial width LS to weak beat width LM in time with the weak beat, and then returns to initial width LS. Light L further instantly extends from initial width LS to weak beat width LM in time with the weak beat, and then returns to initial width LS. In this way, light L pulsates and expands and contracts in time with the strong beat, weak beat, and weak beat, thereby expressing a triple beat with light L.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between each display form of light L and the lighting pattern of LED 162B. In Figure 6, the leftmost LED 162B of the 20 LEDs 162B is labeled "LED 1." LEDs 162B located further to the right are assigned higher numbers. Therefore, the rightmost LED 162B of the 20 LEDs 162B is labeled "LED 20." In Figure 6, the numbers (0 to 100) indicate the brightness of LED 162B. A brightness of 0 indicates a state in which LED 162B is not lit. A brightness of 100 indicates a state in which LED 162B is lit at the highest brightness.

The light emission of LED 162B is controlled by the sub-processor 10S. As shown in Figure 6, the sub-processor 10S controls the light emission of light L in 1000 lighting patterns corresponding to the widths L1 to L1000.

The larger the numerical value of the symbol (L1 to L1000), the wider the width of the light L in the left-right direction. Below, the lighting patterns corresponding to the widths L1 to L1000 will be assigned the symbols LP1 to LP1000. Note that width L1 (lighting pattern LP1), width L500 (lighting pattern LP500), and width L1000 (lighting pattern LP1000) are the initial width LS, weak beat width LM, and strong beat width LL, respectively.

The sub-processor 10S controls the light emission of the 20 LEDs 162B by appropriately switching the lighting pattern of the LEDs 162B. In other words, the sub-processor 10S operates as a control unit that controls the display form (here, the width) of the light L on the display unit 166 by controlling the light source unit 162.

For example, the sub-processor 10S lights up LEDs 9 to 11 at brightness levels of 51, 100, and 51, respectively, while not lighting up LEDs 1 to 8 and LEDs 12 to 20. In other words, when the sub-processor 10S controls light emission using lighting pattern LP1, light L is projected at position P1 in the center of the display area 168 as light with an initial width LS.

Next, the sub-processor 10S gradually increases the brightness of the LEDs located to the left and right of LED 10 by very small increments. As the sub-processor 10S sequentially controls the light emission using lighting patterns LP2 and onward, the width of the light L gradually increases in a smooth motion.

By gradually changing the brightness of multiple LEDs 162B individually, the width of the light L can be expressed as a smooth movement expanding.

As the timing of a strong beat approaches, the sub-processor 10S sequentially switches the lighting pattern from lighting pattern LP1 to LP1000 at high speed, and instantly extends light L from the initial width LS to the strong beat width LL. Once the sub-processor 10S extends light L to the strong beat width LL at the timing of the strong beat, it sequentially switches the lighting pattern from lighting pattern LP1000 to LP1 at high speed, and instantly returns light L from the strong beat width LL to the initial width LS. As a result, as shown in Figure 5, light L is displayed in a large pulsating manner to represent the strong beat.

As the subprocessor 10S approaches the timing of the downbeat, it switches the lighting pattern from lighting pattern LP1 to lighting pattern LP500 in sequence at high speed, and instantly extends light L from initial width LS to downbeat width LM. Once subprocessor 10S extends light L to downbeat width LM at the timing of the downbeat, it switches the lighting pattern from lighting pattern LP500 to lighting pattern LP1 in sequence at high speed, and instantly returns light L from downbeat width LM to initial width LS. As a result, as shown in Figure 5, light L is displayed in a small pulsating manner to represent the downbeat.

In this way, the sub-processor 10S continuously changes the width of the light L so that the light L pulsates in time with the beat.

Twenty LEDs 162B (an example of multiple light-emitting elements) are arranged in a straight line corresponding to the width direction of the light L.

In this embodiment, a large number (1000) of display forms (widths) are switched sequentially at high speed. Because the resolution of the expandable width is high and the width can be switched quickly, the width of the light L appears to expand and contract smoothly within the display area 168.

A more detailed explanation of how the display unit 16 functions as an electronic metronome is provided below.

Figure 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the display form (width) of light L and time. In Figure 7, symbols TL1 and TL4 indicate the timing of strong beats. Symbols TM2 and TM3 indicate the timing of weak beats. The example in Figure 7 shows a triple beat, with a strong beat, weak beat, and weak beat repeated. Each period indicated by a bidirectional arrow (the period from the timing of the strong beat TL1 to the timing of the weak beat TM2, the period from the timing of the weak beat TM2 to the timing of the weak beat TM3, and the period from the timing of the weak beat TM3 to the timing of the strong beat TL4) is the same length and corresponds to the length of one beat.

Period PDL is an example of a first period, and indicates the period during which light L is reflected in display area 168, changing between initial width LS and strong beat width LL. Period PDM is an example of a second period, and indicates the period during which light L is reflected in display area 168, changing between initial width LS and weak beat width LM. Period PDS is an example of a third period, and indicates the period during which light L is fixed at initial width LS.

In addition, the period PDL is the period from a first point in time (e.g., time TL1a) before the timing of the strong beat to a second point in time (e.g., time TL1b) after the timing of the strong beat. The period PDM is the period from a third point in time (e.g., time TL2a) before the timing of the weak beat to a fourth point in time (e.g., time TL2b) after the timing of the weak beat. The period PDS is the period between the periods PDL (or period PDM) and PDM.

As shown in Figure 7, during the first period PDL, the width of light L momentarily expands, causing it to pulsate widely. During the next period PDS, light L is fixed at the initial width LS, and then during the following period PDM, its width changes to cause it to pulsate slightly. During the next period PDS, light L is fixed at the initial width LS, and then its width changes again to cause it to pulsate slightly. While the electronic metronome function is on, light L repeats this pulsating action to represent triple beats.

More specifically, when the light L enters the period PDL (an example of a first time point, for example, when it reaches time TL1a), it extends from the initial width LS to the strong beat width LL until the timing of the strong beat (for example, time TL1), and then returns from the strong beat width LL to the initial width LS between the timing of the strong beat and the end of the period PDL (an example of a second time point, for example, time TL1b). In other words, at the timing of the strong beat, the light L extends momentarily to the strong beat width LL that represents the strong beat.

When light L enters period PDM (an example of a third time point, for example, when it reaches time TM2a), it extends from initial width LS to downbeat width LM until the timing of the downbeat (for example, time TM2), and then returns from downbeat width LM to initial width LS between the timing of the downbeat and the end of period PDM (an example of a fourth time point, for example, time TM2b). In other words, light L extends momentarily at the timing of the downbeat to the downbeat width LM that represents the downbeat.

For example, if the light L expands and contracts slowly over time, the timing of the beat becomes unclear. Furthermore, if this expansion and contraction is reproduced slowly in a smooth, pulsating manner (i.e., if the light L expands and contracts slowly and smoothly), the timing of the beat becomes even more unclear. Therefore, in this embodiment, the display form of the light L is changed so that the light L pulsates over a short period of time.

Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the length on the time axis over which light L pulsates. As with the example in Figure 7, each period indicated by a bidirectional arrow (the period from the strong beat timing TL1 to the weak beat timing TM2, and the period between each beat timing after the weak beat timing TM2, not shown) has the same length, which corresponds to the length of one beat.

The user can set the tempo of the electronic metronome by operating the operation panel 14. The top, middle, and bottom diagrams in Figure 8 show the relationship between the display form (width) of the light L and time when the set tempo is TMP1, TMP2, or TMP3, respectively. Of the tempos TMP1 to TMP3, tempo TMP1 is the fastest, and tempo TMP3 is the slowest. Tempo TMP2 is slower than tempo TMP3 and faster than tempo TMP1.

As shown in Figure 8, the periods PDL and PDM have a fixed length regardless of the set tempo. The length of the periods PDL and PDM is less than one beat of the fastest tempo that can be set.

For example, the sub-processor 10S sets one tempo from 20 to 255 in accordance with user operation. In this case, the length of the period PDL and period PDM is n% (e.g., 20% or 40%) of the time required for one beat of tempo 255.

In this way, the light L pulsates for less than one beat of the fastest tempo. By projecting the light L on the display area 168 so that it pulsates for a short period in time with the timing of the beat, there is no ambiguity about the timing of the beat, and as a result, the timing of the beat is emphasized. This makes it easier for the user to grasp the timing of the beat.

Note that the faster the tempo, the shorter the fixed time of light L (i.e., the period PDS corresponding to the initial width LS). The slower the tempo, the longer the fixed time of light L.

Between the period PDL when light L pulsates greatly and the period PDM when light L pulsates slightly, there is a period PDS when light L does not move. By visually noticing that light L does not move during the period PDS, the user can intuitively understand that they are now in a period between beats. By understanding the period when there is no beat, the user can more easily grasp the timing of the beats during the periods PDL and PDM.

The time from the first point in time to the timing of the strong beat (for example, the time from time TL1a to time TL1), the time from the timing of the strong beat to the second point in time (for example, the time from time TL1 to time TL1b), the time from the timing of the strong beat to the second point in time (for example, the time from time TL1 to time TL1b), the time from the third point in time to the timing of the weak beat (for example, the time from time TM2a to time TM2), and the time from the timing of the weak beat to the fourth point in time (for example, the time from time TM2 to time TM2b) are the same or approximately the same length. By making the pulsation times of the light L before and after the timing of the beat the same or approximately the same length, the user can more intuitively grasp the timing of the beat.

Figures 9A and 9B are flowcharts showing the metronome processing executed by the sub-processor 10S in one embodiment of the present invention. For example, when a user operates the operation panel 14 to turn on the electronic metronome function, execution of the metronome processing begins.

When the electronic metronome function is turned on, the main processor 10M sends a synchronization signal to the sub-processor 10S at a timing according to the set tempo (in other words, at each beat), and simultaneously causes the speaker 20 to output a sound indicating the beat.

The set tempo is the tempo set by a user operation on the operation panel 14. If no user operation is performed, the set tempo is the tempo determined initially.

As shown in FIG. 9, the sub-processor 10S waits for a synchronization signal from the main processor 10M (step S101).

When a synchronization signal is received from the main processor 10M (step S101: YES), the sub-processor 10S resets the count value of the built-in counter and simultaneously starts counting up (step S102).

Note that the beat timings (TL1, TM2, etc.) illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 are, strictly speaking, the timings at which the sub-processor 10S receives the synchronization signal. The timing at which the synchronization signal is received may be adjusted appropriately, taking into account signal delays within the sub-processor 10S.

The sub-processor 10S determines whether this is the timing of a strong beat (step S103).

If it is the timing of a strong beat (step S103: YES), the sub-processor 10S controls the illumination of LED 162B using the illumination pattern LP1000 corresponding to the strong beat width LL (step S104), and returns to the processing of step S101.

If it is the timing of a weak beat (step S103: NO), the sub-processor 10S controls the illumination of the LED 162B using the illumination pattern LP500 corresponding to the weak beat width LM (step S105), and returns to the processing of step S101.

If a synchronization signal is not received from the main processor 10M (step S101: NO), the sub-processor 10S acquires the elapsed time TM since the last synchronization signal was received (in other words, the count value of the built-in counter) (step S106).

The sub-processor 10S determines whether the elapsed time TM obtained in step S106 is less than or equal to the first time (step S107). The first time is, for example, half the period PDL (period PDM).

If the elapsed time TM is less than or equal to the first time (step S107: YES), only a short amount of time has passed since the timing of the previous beat. The sub-processor 10S determines whether the previous beat was a strong beat (step S108).

If the previous beat was a strong beat (step S108: YES), the sub-processor 10S controls the illumination of the LED 162B corresponding to the strong beat with a lighting pattern corresponding to the elapsed time TM based on the information stored in the flash ROM 12 (step S109), and returns to the processing of step S101. The lighting pattern corresponding to the time TM when the previous beat was a strong beat is stored, for example, in the flash ROM 12.

If the previous beat was a downbeat (step S108: NO), the sub-processor 10S controls the illumination of the LED 162B corresponding to the downbeat with a lighting pattern corresponding to the elapsed time TM based on the information stored in the flash ROM 12 (step S110), and returns to the processing of step S101. The lighting pattern corresponding to the time TM when the previous beat was a downbeat is stored, for example, in the flash ROM 12.

If the elapsed time TM exceeds the first time (step S107: NO), the sub-processor 10S determines whether the current time is within the period PDS (step S111).

If the current time is within the period PDS (step S111: YES), the sub-processor 10S controls the illumination of the LED 162B using the illumination pattern LP1 corresponding to the initial width LS (step S112), and returns to the processing of step S101.

If the current time is outside the PDS period (i.e., the PDS period has passed and the timing of the next beat is approaching) (step S111: NO), the sub-processor 10S determines whether the previous beat was the last beat of the beat (step S113). For example, in a triple time signature, the second weak beat after the strong beat is the last beat of the beat. For example, in a quadruple time signature, the third weak beat after the strong beat is the last beat of the beat.

If the previous beat was the last beat of the beat (step S113: YES), the next beat is the first beat of the next beat (i.e., the downbeat). Therefore, based on the information stored in flash ROM 12, sub-processor 10S controls the illumination of LED 162B corresponding to the downbeat in a lighting pattern that corresponds to elapsed time TM (step S114), and returns to the processing of step S101.

If the previous beat is not the last beat of the beat (step S113: NO), the next beat is the next upbeat of the same beat. Therefore, based on the information stored in flash ROM 12, the sub-processor 10S controls the illumination of LED 162B corresponding to the upbeat in a lighting pattern that corresponds to the elapsed time TM (step S115), and returns to the processing of step S101.

The sub-processor 10S repeatedly executes the metronome processing shown in Figures 9A and 9B, for example, until the electronic metronome function is turned off. In other words, when the electronic metronome function is turned off, the sub-processor 10S terminates execution of the metronome processing.

By executing the metronome process shown in Figure 9, pulsating light L in time with the beat is displayed in the display area 168 for a short period of time. This eliminates ambiguity in the timing of the beat, and as a result, the timing of the beat is emphasized. This makes it easier for the user to grasp the timing of the beat.

The light L begins pulsating slightly before the beat arrives. By visually noticing that the light L has begun to pulsate, the user can know in advance that the beat is about to arrive. This also makes it even easier for the user to grasp the beat's timing.

In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made in the implementation stage without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the functions performed in the above-described embodiments may be implemented in appropriate combinations where possible. The above-described embodiments include various steps, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriate combinations of the multiple components disclosed. For example, if the effect can be obtained even if some components are deleted from all of the components shown in the embodiments, then the configuration from which these components are deleted can be extracted as an invention.

As used in this disclosure, any reference to an element using a designation such as "first," "second," etc. does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used in this disclosure as a convenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements. Thus, a reference to a first and a second element does not imply that only two elements may be employed or that the first element must in some way precede the second element.

1: Electronic musical instrument 2: Housing 10M: Main processor 10S: Sub-processor 11: RAM
12: Flash ROM
12M: Control program 12S: Control program 13A: Keyboard 13B: Pedal 14: Operation panel 15: Key scanner 16: Display unit 17: Sound source LSI
18: D/A converter 19: Amplifier 20: Speaker 21: Bus 160: Metal plate member 162: Light source unit 162A: LED board 162B: LED
164: Insulation sheet 166: Display section 166A: Light guide member 166B: Light shielding case 166C: Diffusion sheet 166D: Acrylic panel 166b: Emission opening 168: Display area

Claims (9)

a control unit for controlling the light source unit;
The control unit
Select one of several tempos,
changing a display form of the light emitted from the light source unit and projected on the display unit from a third display form having a third width to a first display form having a first width wider than the third width in synchronization with a first beat of the set tempo;
a first period during which the light changes between the third display form and the first display form has a fixed length regardless of the set tempo;
The certain length is a length of less than one beat of the fastest tempo among the settable tempos.
Display control device. a control unit for controlling the light source unit;
The control unit
Select one of several tempos,
changing the display form of the light emitted from the light source unit and projected on the display unit from a third display form to a first display form, which is light of a first width that represents a strong beat, in synchronization with the timing of a first beat of the set tempo;
changing the display form of the light from the third display form to a second display form , which is light of a second width narrower than the first width and which represents a downbeat, in accordance with the timing of a second beat of the set tempo;
a first period during which the light changes between the third display form and the first display form has a fixed length regardless of the set tempo;
a second period during which the light changes between the third display form and the second display form and is displayed has the fixed length regardless of the set tempo;
Display control device. a control unit for controlling the light source unit;
The control unit
Select one of several tempos,
changing a display form of the light emitted from the light source unit and projected on the display unit from a third display form to a first display form in synchronization with the timing of a first beat of the set tempo;
a first period during which the light changes between the third display form and the first display form has a fixed length regardless of the set tempo;
the first period is a period from a first time point before the timing of the first beat to a second time point after the timing of the first beat,
The control unit
between the first time point and the timing of the first beat, the width of the light is increased from the third display form having a third width to the wider light width of the first display form, and between the timing of the first beat and the second time point, the width of the light is decreased from the light width of the first display form to the light width of the third display form.
Display control device. The control unit
During a third period other than the first period and other than the second period, the light is projected onto the display unit as light of the third display form having a third width narrower than the first width and the second width.
The display control device according to claim 2 . a second period during which the light changes between the third display form and the second display form is a period from a third time point before the timing of a second beat to a fourth time point after the timing of the second beat;
The display control device according to claim 3 . The control unit
between the third time point and the timing of the second beat, the width of the light is increased from the width of the light of the third display form to the width of the light of the second display form, which is wider than the width of the light of the third display form and narrower than the width of the light of the first display form, and between the timing of the second beat and the fourth time point, the width of the light is decreased from the width of the light of the second display form to the width of the light of the third display form.
The display control device according to claim 5 . The display control device according to claim 1 ;
a light source unit;
a display unit on which light emitted from the light source unit is displayed;
Equipped with
Display device. A method executed by a computer that controls a light source unit,
Select one of several tempos,
changing a display form of the light emitted from the light source unit and projected on the display unit from a third display form having a third width to a first display form having a first width wider than the third width in synchronization with a first beat of the set tempo;
a first period during which the light changes between the third display form and the first display form has a fixed length regardless of the set tempo;
The certain length is a length of less than one beat of the fastest tempo among the settable tempos.
method. A program executed by a computer that controls a light source unit,
Select one of several tempos,
changing a display form of the light emitted from the light source unit and projected on the display unit from a third display form having a third width to a first display form having a first width wider than the third width in synchronization with a first beat of the set tempo;
a first period during which the light changes between the third display form and the first display form has a fixed length regardless of the set tempo;
The certain length is a length of less than one beat of the fastest tempo among the settable tempos.
program.