WO1991005330A1

WO1991005330A1 - Aid device for hamonic numbering

Info

Publication number: WO1991005330A1
Application number: PCT/FR1990/000692
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Zamith; Frédéric BAILLON
Original assignee: Richard Zamith; Baillon Frederic
Priority date: 1989-09-26
Filing date: 1990-09-26
Publication date: 1991-04-18
Also published as: AU6520590A; FR2652432B1; FR2652432A1

Abstract

Aid device for harmonic numbering intended for the evaluation, display and composition of musical chords, comprising means (14) for inputting data relative to a chord and organized so as to allow for the inputting of all combinations of harmonic sructures up to the thirteenth degree of the scale, note to note, of sound pitches or musical codes and including data processing means as well as means (15, 16) for visualizing the display of at least two out of the three expression modes of a musical chord selected among an alphanumerical character display, a musical range display and a symbolic representation of a piano keyboard, a guitar tablature or any other polyphonic instrument.

Description

HARMONIC ENCRYPTION AID

The present invention relates to a device for assisting with harmonic encryption for encryption, evaluation, display and sound reproduction of musical chords.

Various devices are already known which are intended to allow the verification of chords which meet the rules of harmony. A chord verification program comprises a phase consisting in identifying the successive notes of a chord and in determining whether the chord thus identified appears in a table of prerecorded chords as meeting the rules of harmony.

In view of the very large number of possible chords with three, four, five, six or seven sounds, the devices for searching or verifying chords involve the use of relatively large capacity memories and fairly substantial search times. As a result of such search devices or agreement verification have so far been limited to applications to versatile sets of fairly large sizes, such as specialized computers, and have not made it possible to make available to users of the means to display in a simple, fast and inexpensive way the notes of a desired chord.

The invention aims precisely to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks and to provide amateur or professional musician users with a space-saving device which is easy to use, capable of viewing, storing and reproducing, if necessary by sound, a given chord, under the form of a combination of notes, a structural composition, a representation of a polyphonic instrument or a musical staff.

These aims are achieved, in accordance with the invention thanks to a device for assisting with harmonic encryption for encryption, evaluation, display, the storage and the sound reproduction of musical chords comprising means for entering data relating to a chord, characterized in that said data introduction means are organized to allow all combinations of harmonic structures up to the thirteenth degree of the range, note by note, or pitches of sound or musical codes and in that it comprises means for processing this data and display means for displaying according to at least two of the three modes of expression d '' a musical chord chosen between a display in alphanumeric characters, a display in musical range and a symbolic representation of a piano keyboard, guitar tablature or any other polyphonic instrument.

The device according to the invention can advantageously comprise a polyphonic or arpeggiated sound reproduction member expressing the agreement displayed and integrated in the body of its case, in the case of a portable device. A specific switch allows you to select the production of arpeggiated or polyphonic sounds.

The device comprises an interface, for the development of control signals of a musical instrument which can be connected to it and for the reception of signals or musical codes originating from said instrument.

The device comprises an output connector connected to said interface for the application to one or more musical instrument (s) and / or external device (s) of a control signal for producing sounds of a displayed chord. , and an input connector connected to said interface for the reception of signals or musical codes.

The device includes means for entering and processing data organized for entering chords with three, four, five, six or seven sounds. When the data entry means are provided by a keyboard, this comprises a first set of function control keys, a second set of keys for entering note by note of an agreement to be encrypted or for changing the fundamental of the chord displayed or to position a cursor sweeping all the points which symbolize the notes on a staff, keyboard or tablature display and a third set of keys for entering or deleting the name of a chord to evaluate.

The second set of keys for entering note by note of a chord to be encrypted or for changing the fundamental of the chord displayed, comprises at least seven keys representing notes, two keys representing alterations and two keys marked with two arrows of opposite direction.

The third set of keys for entering or deleting the harmonic structure of a chord to be evaluated comprises keys representing intervals as a function of the fundamental and a key for selecting omissions.

The first set of function control keys comprises at least one activation and reset key, one deactivation key, one key for range and mode proposals relating to the chord displayed in appearance by tonal family. , a key of mode of entry to determine or direct the research for a preselected number of three, four, five, six or seven notes, two keys of command of scrolling of data displayed in the event of multiple solutions with a fundamental given in hierarchical classification , from the simplest to the most complex, a reverse command key with another fundamental of a displayed chord, and a validation key.

The first set of control keys functions also includes at least one command key to return to an operation to consult or modify the initial data and a key to select the display on the first display of either the name of the chord or the notes which enter its composition as they appear on the staff, either from the name of the said notes conforming to the keyboard of a piano, or any other symbolic representation of an instrument.

The first set of function control keys further comprises at least one control key for storing in memory one or more chord (s) and a control key for restoring the memorized chords in order to compare them with each other. define and display new harmonically consistent chords.

For the search for the notes which make up a chord to be positioned on the staff display, the device comprises first means for carrying out a search in the uplink direction going from the lowest notes to the highest notes from the fundamental and second means for carrying out a search in the downward direction going from the highest notes to the lowest notes in the event of absence of result during the search carried out in the upward direction.

The device further comprises means for determining the possibility or not of carrying out a search without changing the fundamental, taking into account the specific conditions imposed on the research linked to the deciphering of the agreements.

In one embodiment, the device comprises a first display arranged in a first direction X'X for the display of alphanumeric characters and a second display arranged in a second direction Y'Y for the display in musical range or in symbolic representation of a polyphonic musical instrument.

In this embodiment, the second display comprises unit matrix elements aligned along a first line and provided for the display of characters chosen from at least six specific predetermined characters in order to constitute alterations while matrix elements of the second display aligned according to a second line parallel to said first line are provided for displaying characters chosen from at least four other specific characters predetermined to constitute the body of the notes.

The lines perpendicular to the second direction Y ′ Y and fixedly superimposed on the second display to constitute a musical staff have a line spacing equal to twice the pitch between two successive unit matrix elements of the same line of the second display and the lines of the staff superimposed on the second display are arranged with respect to the unit matrix elements of each of the two lines of the second display so that the latter are located either between two lines of the staff or superimposed on the lines of the staff, two adjacent unit matrix elements of the same line being always arranged one superimposed on a line of the staff and the other interposed between two lines of the staff.

When the device is produced in the form of a portable assembly, the invention provides, in certain embodiments, for associating with the case which encloses it organs allowing it to be fixed in a removable manner to a musical instrument, such as for example the handle. of a guitar.

As a variant, the device can be produced not as a portable assembly but for its incorporation into a sound synthesis device, in the form of an instrument of the synthesizer type or the like.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of particular embodiments given by way of examples with reference to the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the front face of a portable harmony aid device according to a particular embodiment,

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the essential components incorporated in the housing of a portable device for assisting harmony according to the invention,

- Figures 3, 4 and 5 are views similar to that of Figure 1 showing three successive states of the device according to the invention during an encryption operation of a chord designated by a succession of notes, Figure 5 showing an example of the final state of the display,

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are views similar to that of FIG. 1 showing three successive states of the device according to the invention during an operation of evaluating an agreement designated by name, FIG. 8 showing a example of final display status,

FIG. 9 shows examples of sets of special characters usable for each of the lines of the vertical display of the device in FIG. 1,

FIG. 10 shows an example of display using special characters from FIG. 9, for the vertical display of the device from FIG. 1,

FIGS. 11A and 11B schematically show the functional relationships between the essential components of the device according to FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 12 is an example of a general flow diagram relating to the operation of a device according to the invention,

FIG. 13 is a particular flow diagram relating to a mode selection function designating the number of sounds of the processed chord,

FIG. 14 is a particular flow diagram relating to a function for entering the structural elements of a chord,

FIG. 15 is a particular flow diagram relating to a function for entering notes,

FIG. 16 is a particular flow diagram relating to a function for entering alterations,

FIGS. 17A and 17B show a particular flow diagram relating to a validation function during an entry with search for an agreement by name or by notes,

FIG. 18 is a particular flowchart relating to a function for searching for an agreement by its name,

FIG. 19 is a particular flow diagram relating to a function for deciphering a chord, usable within the framework of a chord search by its name or by the notes which compose it,

FIG. 20 is a particular flowchart relating to a search function for a chord by the notes which compose it,

- Figure 21 shows part of a device similar to that of Figure 5 with the display of the name and the representation on a staff of another example of agreement obtained after entering and validation of notes constituting this agreement ,

FIG. 22 shows the evolution of the display of the device in FIG. 21 after pressing the scrolling command key of the data displayed in the event of multiple solutions with the same fundamental which moreover happens to be a change of piano positions,

FIG. 23 shows the evolution of the display of the device in FIG. 21 after a reversal of the chord with a different fundamental, and

- Figure 24 shows the evolution of the display of the device of Figure 5 after nominal transcription of the notes of the staff in keys of a piano keyboard.

FIG. 1 shows an overall view of a device according to the invention produced as an autonomous portable module 10 for aid in harmony for the encryption, evaluation, display and sound reproduction of chords of three, four or five sounds intended for amateur or professional musicians such as composers or instrumentalists.

The device can however be produced in other forms, in particular as an integrated device, on the one hand and, on the other hand, the number of sounds indicated is not limiting, it being understood that the invention also applies to devices for processing six or seven sound chords.

The portable module 10, designed to have a small footprint, for example of the order of magnitude of a small electronic pocket calculator, is adapted to ensure the display almost

snapshot of a chord that can be chosen from a large number. In the particular example which will be described with reference to the drawings, it is possible to choose any existing chord from a set of 26313 chords listed and classified in, a read only memory which may have a relatively low capacity, for example of the order of 5 kilobytes. The module 10 is designed to provide almost instantaneous for each chosen chord harmonic reversals and piano positions of three, four or five sounds up to the 13th degree.

The autonomous portable module 10 is in the form of a housing 11 having a main front face 12 delimited by a flange 13. The main front face 12 contains a set 14 of keys 21 to 57 distributed in a first "block" 141 composed a set of keys 21 to 31 for controlling functions, a second "block" 142 composed of a set of keys 32 to 40 for entering note by note of a chord to be encrypted and a third "block" 143 composed a set of keys 42 to 57 for nominal entry of the harmonic structure of a chord to be evaluated.

The front face 12 of the module 10 also contains a first matrix display 15 arranged in a direction X'X (horizontal in the plane of FIG. 1), for displaying characters from a set of unit matrix elements aligned for example on two lines 96, 97 (fig. 2) in the direction X'X, and a second matrix display 16 arranged in a direction Y'Y (vertical in the plane of fig. 1) perpendicular to the direction X 'X, this second display 16 arranged vertically comprising a set of unit matrix elements aligned along at least two lines 98, 99 (Fig, 2) parallel to the vertical direction Y'Y, for viewing the notes of a chord on a scope.

The first display 15 can be a completely conventional liquid crystal display, suitable for displaying alphanumeric characters, or more generally characters of the ASCII type, from matrices of for example 5 × 7 points and can be very simply ordered from classic interface and control circuits, requiring little energy.

The first display 15 can include a first line for displaying musical notes or the name of a chord and a second line for displaying additional information such as the mode (number of chord sounds), the existence or not of possible reversals or of multiple solutions with the same fundamental, the omissions, the type of display selected (note of the staff or note of the piano keyboard).

However, the display of additional information can also be carried out in the form of a display by masks of characters pre-drawn with stencil.

The second display 16 is intended to allow viewing of notes in a simple manner and without the need to use a graphic screen. The second display 16 is thus produced from a liquid crystal display completely similar to the horizontal display 15, but arranged vertically, and comprising for example two lines of for example each twenty basic matrix elements (80) (Fig. 10). Lines 17 are fixedly engraved on the external face of the vertical display 16, to constitute the drawing of a musical staff with five complete central lines and additional upper and lower lines. A key 18, such as a treble clef can also be formed, for example by etching, on the external face of the vertical display 16.

Special characters, which will be described later, are stored in a read-only memory associated with the control circuits of the display 16, to be substituted for the standard ASCII characters. In this way, it is possible to produce in a particularly simple, economical and efficient manner, without a graphic screen and with little energy expenditure, notes of a chord conventionally aligned on a staff. The module 10 according to the invention, despite its portable and autonomous nature, can thus be entirely pleasant and user-friendly to use.

FIG. 2 shows the constituent elements essentials incorporated in the housing 4 of the device 10 for assisting harmony according to the invention. We thus see an autonomous energy source 20, such as a battery, used for the electrical supply of all the circuits of the device 10, a main card 1 comprising a central processing unit with microprocessor 2, at at least one random access memory (RAM) 3, at least one read-only memory (ROM) 4 and input-output interfaces 5, these various elements being interconnected by a bus 6. Are the input-output interfaces 5 -same connected to the various input-output members, such as the keyboard 14, the first horizontal display 15, the second vertical display 16 and optionally, an interface 9, allowing the production of a sound reproduction control signal d 'A chord displayed on the display 16, which control signal can be applied to an output connector 8 to allow sound reproduction using an external device.

The interface 9 can also be connected to a sound reproduction member 7 integrated in the housing 11. A switch, not shown, can make it possible to select a particular mode of sound reproduction of the chords, which can be arpeggiated or polyphonic.

If we again consider FIG. 1, we see on the function keys 21 to 31 and 41 of the keyboard 14 the indication of examples of various functions that can be assigned to these keys. There is thus, next to a key 27 for activation and reinitialization and a key 26 for deactivation, a key 24 for storing in memory a chord being processed and a key 25 for restoring 'a previously stored chord. The memory for temporarily storing chords processed and displayed using the module 10 can be designed to contain, for example, 32 chords.

A key 21 called "mode" allows, when entering, to determine or orient the search for a chord for a preset number of sounds which may be three, four or five sounds. Successive keystrokes of the key 21 make it possible to modify the mode which is displayed in boxes 19a of the display 15. A key 31 allows the ranges and modes corresponding to the displayed chord to be displayed. A key 30 allows, at any time of the investigation in the database, to return to an operation of consultation and if necessary of modification of the initial data which are redisplayed on the display

15. A key 29 makes it possible to select, depending on the number of actuations of this key, the display on the first display 15, either of the name of the chord, or of the name of the notes displayed on the staff of the second display.

16, in which case the letter P appears on the display (Figure 8), or the name of the notes conforming to the keyboard of a piano in which case the letter C appears on the display 15 (Figure 24).

Two arrow keys 22, 23 make it possible to control, for a given agreement, the display of additional solutions with the same fundamental, when such additional solutions exist (which is reflected by the display of arrows in boxes 19b of the display 15). A key 28 makes it possible to control, for a given chord, the display of additional solutions constituting reversals of the chord with another fundamental. The existence of reversal possibilities is signaled by the display of a sign such as "RENV" in one of the boxes 19b of the display 15.

The set 142 of keys 32 to 40, 22, 23 for entering note by note of a chord to be encrypted or the change of fundamental of a displayed chord comprises seven keys 32 to 38 representing the seven notes of the scale, do or ut, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si which can still be designated by their American notation. A, B, C, D, E, F, G. Two keys 39 and 40 of this same set 142 represent alterations, sharp, flat. In case of double alteration, the typing on the alteration keys is simply repeated. Two keys 22 and 23 of this same set 142 are used to position a cursor which scans all the dots symbolizing the notes on a staff, keyboard or tablature display. Finally a key 41 allows the effective taking into account either of the notes entered or of the position of the cursor.

The set 143 of keys for entering the nominal harmonic structure of a chord to be evaluated comprises at least fifteen keys 42 to 56 representing intervals from the fundamental which are used to define the harmonic structure of a chord. Keys 42 to 56 carry the indications corresponding to the abbreviations of these intervals, namely m (minor), sus4 (fourth), 5- (diminished fifth), 5+ (increased fifth), 6 (sixth), 7 (minor seventh) ), 7M (seventh major), 9- (ninth decreased), 9 (ninth), 9+ (ninth increased), 11 (eleventh), 11+ (eleventh increased), 13- (thirteenth decreased), 13 (thirteenth) , 13+ (thirteenth increased).

An additional key 57 is used to select all the omission proposals during the nominal entry of an agreement giving rise to omissions. A validation key, which can be distinct from the validation key 41 or confused with the latter, allows effective entry of data entered from the keys 41 to 57.

We will now describe from Figures 3 to

5 a first example of the use of the harmonic calculation module 10 according to the invention for carrying out the encryption on the display 15 and the display on the range 17 of the display 16 of a chord from the indication d 'a series of notes making up the chord.

After entering the notes by successively pressing the keys 35 (LA), 33 (RE), 36 (SOL), 39 (sharp), 38 (SI) and 40 (flat), you get the display on the display 15 of the series of notes 61 corresponding to the keys pressed, the notes being written as data (FIG. 3). After pressing the validation 41, a correction is made automatically on the last altered note (SI flat), which becomes (LA sharp) (display 62 in Figure 4). The processing of the notes entered is in fact such that, for consistency, the first alteration prevails for the entire entry.

FIG. 5 shows on the displays 15 and 16 displays 63 and 64 corresponding to the final result of the entry consisting of a first search solution which is constituted by the most used solution for encrypting all the notes entered. Display 63 shows the name of the chord (LA pound 9-) while display 64 represents the five notes of the chord whose names constitute superimposed on staff 17.

the display 62 in FIG. 4. The process of developing the displays 63 and 64 by the processing circuits incorporated in the housing 11 will be described later with reference to various flowcharts.

FIGS. 6 to 8 show a second example of use of the harmonic calculation module 10 according to the invention for carrying out the evaluation on the display 15 and the display on the range 17 of the display 16 of a tuning to from the indication of the name of an agreement.

By way of example, FIG. 6 represents the display 65,

66 obtained on display 15 after entering data by successively pressing keys 36 (SOL), 43 (Sus 4), 48 (7M) and 54 (13). The display 65 on a first line of the display 15 corresponds to the result of the actuation of the aforementioned keys (SOL SUS47M 13) while the display 66 ((5) (11)) on a second line of the display 15 corresponds to a first proposal for omissions, which is first presented for example in a flashing fashion and then becomes fixed after confirmation by pressing the validation key 41. One or more successive presses of the omission key 57 make it possible to scroll all proposals for omissions related to the structure of the agreement entered. FIG. 7 which represents a state subsequent to an actuation of the key 57, presents a display 66 ′ ((9) (11)) with a proposal for omission different from that of display 66. FIG. 8 shows the constitution of the 'agreement after pressing the validation key 41 the display 66' corresponding to the desire to omit the ninth and the eleventh rather than the fifth and the eleventh as on display 66. The display 15 carries a display 67 of notes of the selected chord corresponding to the name initially displayed and showing the name of the notes displayed on the staff (presence of the character P on the display 15), a display 68 representing the state of omissions, a display 69 of arrows and the mention "RENV" in boxes 19b signaling the possibility of various reversals, and a display 69 '(5) in a box 19a representing the selected mode. The display 16 itself presents a display 70 displaying on the staff 17 the notes of the chord formed. In the display state of FIG. 5 or in that of FIG. 8, there is a possibility of writing into memory using the key 24 the chord formed. Insofar as a possibility of reversal is indicated by the display 15, it is also possible to continue the search for reversals of agreement.

We will now describe with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 an example of possible display using the vertical display 16 consisting of two lines of for example 20 rectangular matrix elements 80 each composed for example of 5 × 7 points or elements square image that can selectively take a light color or a dark color.

In FIG. 9 we see on the left column a set of five matrix elements 83 to 87 representing special characters corresponding to alterations, namely bécarre, sharp, double sharp, flat and double flat, which can be displayed selectively on the column on the left of the display 16. An additional matrix element 95 represents the state of a blank matrix element for the parts of the left column which should not receive any alteration.

The right column of FIG. 9 represents a set of seven matrix elements 88 to 94 representing special characters intended to allow the drawing of the notes of a chord on the right column of the vertical display 16. The character 88 thus corresponds in the body of a note placed in a line space, the character 89 represents the body of a note placed on a line, the characters 90 and 91 represent when they are coupled as in FIG. 9 an eighth note for chords whose notes are low, the character 92 represents a connecting line between notes and the characters 93 and 94 represent when coupled as in FIG. 9 an eighth note for chords whose notes are high. The characters 90, 91 and 93, 94 could naturally be omitted if necessary, since an agreement could be displayed using only the characters 83 to 89 and 92. The parties blank upper and lower of the right column are supplemented by blank characters 95. With a small number of special characters written in a read-only memory associated with the vertical display 16, and thanks to the superposition of a staff 17 and the case If necessary with a key 18 on the front face of the display, it is possible to visualize in a pleasant and efficient way, with a low energy expenditure, various type agreements on an autonomous portable module which can be carried out very simply since 'it has no traditional graphic screen.

FIG. 10 shows in a very enlarged way the appearance of part of the vertical display 16 on which appear, formed in superposition behind the staff 17, the notes and the alterations of a chord of four sounds, from the characters in Figure 9.

As can be seen in Figure 10, the fixed lines

17 perpendicular to the axis Y'Y of the second display 16, that is to say parallel to the first direction X'X, and produced for example by etching, have a line spacing i equal to twice the pitch p between two elements successive matrixes 80 of the same line 98 or 99. In this way, the lines 17 can be positioned in such a way that for each of the alignments 98, 99 of matrix elements 80, two adjacent unitary matrix elements of the same alignment 98 or 99 are always arranged one superimposed on a line 17 of the staff and the other interposed between two lines 17 of the staff. To facilitate reading, it is desirable that the engraved lines 17 of the staff be fine and have a thickness less than the dimension of the elementary points of the unit matrix elements 80.

FIGS. 11A, 11B schematically show the functional relationships between the various constituent elements of the device according to the invention.

The data entry function is performed using the subset of keys 143, if it is an entry 201 of an encryption for carrying out an evaluation of a chord, or of the subset of keys 142 if it is an entry 204 of a evaluation to calculate an agreement. Prior to each entry or during entry, the mode keys 21 and 31 correction make it possible to limit the number of data entered or to correct them. The omission key 57 ensures, in the event of entry 201 of an encryption, the choice of a particular omission scenario, for a given agreement.

After validation of the entry with the key 41, a search step in a database 109 permanently stored in the read-only memory 4 of the device is launched. In the case of entry 201 of an encryption, the search consists in the search 203 for a structure identification code (CIS) corresponding to the agreement entered. In the case of entry 204 of an evaluation of a chord, the search consists in searching 205 for a search code corresponding to the combination of the notes entered.

The database is organized in a succession of elements 208 comprising on the one hand a search code 206 and an identification code of the structure 207. Depending on the type of search, by the notes (entry evaluation 204) or by the name (entry encryption 201), it is carried out in the database 209 a search taking into account a search code or an identification code of the structure. An exhaustive panel of solutions 210 is then formed and an investigation 211 within the exhaustive panel of solutions, which takes into account all possible reversals, can be carried out using the keys 22, 23 and 28. When a solution is adopted, a 212 procedure ensures the identification of the notes included in the composition of the agreement. The procedure 212 produces information which is used by the following three procedures 213, 214, 215. The procedure 215 ensures, in conjunction with the command of the range key / keyboard 29, the management of the display on the display 15 of the chord which can be either nominative (displays 72, 73, 74 on the display 15), either constituted by the name of the notes appearing on the staff 17 (display 71 on the display 16), or constituted by notes from the keyboard of the piano displayed. When viewing on the display 16, a procedure 214 manages the range according to the range of the agreement. Optionally, a procedure 213 for producing sounds makes it possible to deliver a signal allowing the reproduction of the sounds of the displayed chord, either on an external device, through an external connector 8, or using an incorporated synthesizer 7 .

We will now describe with reference to FIGS. 12 to 20, with the aid of flowcharts, the organization of certain parts of the software used for the implementation of the search process, the various programs constituting this software being recorded in memory of programs which are part of the master memories 4 associated with the central processing unit 2 and which can be implemented after the system initialization phase.

FIG. 12 shows that after the initial phases 216 and 217 of initialization of the machine caused by the actuation of the key 27, a test 218 on the choice of the actuated keys is carried out and allows the implementation of various programs which will be illustrated by the flowcharts of FIGS. 13 to 20, before a final step 219 caused by the actuation of the key 26.

FIG. 13 represents the process of mode selection with determination of a mode corresponding to three, four or five sounds by means of the key 21 actuated one, two or three times. Tests 301, 302 are carried out to determine if the number of sounds entered is less than 5 or less and equal to 3, then after recording the preselected mode, in steps 303 or 304, a test 305 is carried out to determine whether this is a data entry evaluation. If this is not the case, a test 310 determines if there is a return entered and in the event of a positive response initializes the entry in a step 311. If the test 305 made it possible to determine that the current entry is an entry -evaluation, a test 306 determines whether the agreement is established. If so, a step 307 initializes the agreement. If not, a test 308 determines whether the number of sounds entered is equal to the selected mode. If so, full agreement is given in step 309.

If the number of sounds entered is exceeded, a error message is displayed on the first display 15. The error messages have been represented on the flowcharts in FIGS. 14 and 15.

The flow diagram of FIG. 14 relates to a process for entering the structural elements and includes a first test 312 to determine whether the number of sounds entered is equal to the mode chosen. If this is the case, a message 313 indicating an overflow of mode is displayed. If this is not the case, a test 314 determines whether there is a return to entry. If yes, the entry is initialized in a step 315, if not a test 316 determines if the number of sounds already entered is equal to 1. If a sound has already been entered, a test 317 determines if the new element is different from those already entered, is not prohibited and does not duplicate an item already entered. If this is the case, the structural element is recorded in step 319. Likewise, if the number of sounds entered is other than 1, after passing through input-evaluation in step 318, the element structure is recorded in step 319. A test 320 then determines whether the number of sounds entered is equal to the mode and, if this is the case, the chord is declared complete in step 321.

The flowchart in Figure 15 relates to a note entry process. As in the case of the flowchart in FIG. 14, a first test 322 determines whether the number of sounds entered is equal to the chosen mode and if this is the case, a message for exceeding the mode is displayed on the display device 15 in a step 323. If the number of sounds entered is different from the mode, a second test 324 determines whether the number of sounds entered is zero. If this is the case, the note is recorded in a step 326. If this is not the case, before recording the note, a step 325 makes it possible to check the last sound entered.

FIG. 16 shows a flowchart relating to the entry of alterations using the keys 39, 40 of the keyboard 14. A first test 327 determines whether there is a return to the entry. If so, the entry is initialized in step 328. If not, there is direct passage to a test 329 to determine if the note is natural. If yes, the alteration determined by the key pressed is added to step 330. If not, a second test 331 examines whether the key pressed corresponds to the same alteration as that already assigned to the note. If so, the sound is processed in double alteration in step 332. The flowchart in FIG. 16 is in fact simplified and in practice other tests are used. For example, access to the flat key is no longer allowed as soon as there has been a previous assignment of sharp alteration during a data entry evaluation, and vice versa. In costing entry, the first alteration assigned to a note is valid for all the research and is definitively acquired.

The flowchart in FIGS. 17A and 17B relates to the validation process and uses search subroutines by the name of the agreement or search by the notes composing the agreement, the flowcharts of which are represented in FIGS. 18 and 20 and which themselves use a common subroutine for searching for notes which make up the agreement, the flow diagram of which is shown in FIG. 19.

In FIGS. 17A and 17B we see a first test 333 consisting in determining whether it is a return input, followed, if the response is positive, by a step 334 of initializing the input, then in all the cases of a test 335 to determine if it is a seizure-evaluation. If this is the case, a test 336 determines whether an entry of the omission function has been carried out by the key 57. If this is the case, a step 337 consists in receiving the agreement by name. If this is not the case, a test 338 determines whether the agreement is established. If the agreement is not established, this is carried out in step 343 then a test 344 determines whether the mode is equal to three or four and whether the agreement is "short" by its name. If this is the case, the short chord is taken into account and a test 339 is carried out to determine if the chord is correct and if the omission has been entered, i.e. if a validation of some type of omission has been made. If this is the case, there is a passage to a step 342 of searching for the agreement by the name. If this is not the case, a test 340 determines whether the agreement is correct. If not, a message is displayed in step 341, on the display 15, to indicate a message of the "less than mode" type.

If the answer to test 344 is no, that is to say if it is not a short agreement with a mode equal to 3 or 4, a step 346 makes it possible to establish the omissions, then a test 347 determines if an agreement is possible. If this is not possible, the entry is initialized in step 348. If agreement is possible, a test 349 determines whether there are several possibilities of omissions. If the answer to test 349 is negative, the next step 350 consists in giving the only solution of omission. If the response to test 349 is positive, there is passage to a step 351 consisting in giving the first solution of an omission, then passage to test 339 already mentioned.

If test 335 determines that it is not an entry-evaluation, a test 352 examines whether the number of sounds already entered is equal to one and if the mode is equal to 3. If yes, there is passage to a step 353 of searching for the agreement by name. If not, there is passage to a step 354 consisting in checking the last sound, then in a test 355 to check whether this is correct. If the response to test 355 is positive, a test 356 determines whether the number of sounds captured is equal to the mode. If it is not the ace, the next step 357 is analogous to step 341 and consists of the display of a message "less than mode". If the answer to test 356 is positive, there is a transition to a step of finding the chord by the notes.

Figure 18 relates to a simplified flowchart showing the successive steps in the process of searching by name. In a first step 359, the name of the agreement is verified. In a second step 360, the search for the notes that make up the chord is carried out in accordance with the flow diagram of FIG. 19 which will be described later. The third step 361 consists of a display of the agreement on the vertical screen 16 and the horizontal screen 15. The next step 361 ′ consists in searching for the place of the agreement in the database 309. Finally, step 362 consists in searching the exhaustive panel for solutions, reversals on the same fundamental and on a different fundamental.

The flowchart in FIG. 20 relates to a search by the notes. Since all possible agreements are listed in the comprehensive database 209 (Fig. 11A and 11B), the search process can be linear, like that in Figure 18, and there is no need to provide additional loops of error messages. A first step 373 consists of a construction of the search code, from the combination of notes introduced, a second step 374 consists of a search for the place of the agreement in the database 209 with the search code. A third step 375 is constituted by a search for notes which make up the chord in accordance with the flow diagram of FIG. 19. The next step 376 consists in displaying the chord on the vertical screen 16 and on the horizontal screen 15, and a next step 377 consists of a search in the exhaustive panel of solutions for reversals on the same fundamental and on a different fundamental.

FIG. 19 illustrates a flow diagram of deciphering the chords, which is implemented in steps 360 and 375 of the search procedures of FIGS. 18 and 20.

The deciphering of the agreements implies the implementation of a certain number of rules. According to the present invention, these rules have been limited to the following five points:

I The 7 and 7M (the seventh minor and the seventh major) must not "double" by name, in sharp or flat, the fundamental.

II No cohabitation between sharp and flat alteration in an agreement.

III Two consecutive notes cannot be on the same line or line spacing.

IV The position of the notes on the staff takes into account the framework of the chord.

V The notes placed in the immediate range of the are privileged.

If we consider Figure 19, we see a first step 363 which consists in verifying that the agreement does not require a fundamental change. The next step 364 consists in initializing a search in the upward direction, that is to say starting from the lowest notes. Step 365 and test 366 constitute a rising research loop. Step 365 consists of searching for the ith note while test 366 determines whether it is the last note or whether there is an error. If this is not the case, there is a return to step 365. If on the other hand the result of test 366 is positive, the following test 367 determines whether or not there is an error. If an error is detected, test 371 is run to determine if the fundamental is in natural mode. If this is the case, step 372 verifies the natural notes.

If an error was detected in test 367, step 368 initiates the descending search from the highest score. The step 369 consisting in searching for the ith note and the test 370 consisting in examining whether the first note has been found constitute a loop similar to the loop 365, 366. When the first note, that is to say the most low of the agreement was found, the response to test 370 is positive and there is passage to test 371 already mentioned.

We will give below three examples of deciphering chords, using the English notations designating the notes by the letters A to G.

The first example consists of a 5-tone chord designated by B sharp 5+ 67M 11+ with the omissions of the third (3) and the ninth (9).

This agreement is part of a small group of agreements (0.2% of memorized agreements) which violate the rules of principle that we have set for ourselves. This agreement requires a fundamental change: B sharp becomes D double flat.

Step 363 makes it possible to detect the need for a change of fundamental.

The processing in the 1st loop gives: D double flat / A flat / B double flat / C flat / G flat

The second example consists of a four-tone chord designated by F m 5+ 7M

This agreement does not require a fundamental change. The exploration of the chord is carried out from the lowest notes to the highest. The passage in the 1st search loop gives: F / A flat / D flat / E

The third example consists of a 5-tone chord designated by A Sus 45- 7M 9

This agreement does not require a fundamental change, but the passage in the 1st research loop reveals, an impossibility to respect the rules defined above. There is an error and abort of processing in this loop. The 2nd search loop solves the problem (reverse exploration of the highest notes to the lowest) and gives: A / C double sharp / D sharp / G sharp / A diese

Figure 21 shows an example of a chord whose component notes are displayed on staff 17 of display 16 (display 81), and whose name is displayed on display 15 (display 75 of LA m 5+ 7M 13 with indication 76 of the omissions of the ninth and eleventh). The presence of arrows on the display 15 in the boxes 19b indicates that multiple solutions are possible with the same fundamental, with different pianistic positions. Pressing the keys 22, 23 makes it possible to scroll through different piano positions. Figure 22 shows the result obtained if we choose the omission of the third party. The display 15 then presents a display 77 of the name of the agreement (LA 5+ 67M 9+) and the indication 77 of the omission of the third party while the display 16 presents on the staff 17 with a display 82 the different notes making up the chord.

Figure 23 shows the result of the display of a chord on the displays 15 and 16 after having performed by pressing the key 28, a reversal with a different fundamental from the chord displayed in Figure 21. The display 15 then brings up a display 79 indicating a new chord name (SI 69-) and a display 80 specifying the omission of the fifth, and the display 16 shows the display 83, on the staff 17, of the notes composing the new chord.

FIG. 24 shows the evolution of the displays 63, 64 of FIG. 5 after actuation of the key 29 for selecting a display in keyboard or staff mode, in order to show on the display 15 either the name of the component notes chord 64, 85 displayed on staff 17 in order to allow a beginner "non-reader" musician to decipher the notes of the staff, ie the names of the notes of chord 64, 85 displayed as they appear on the keyboard of a piano. The display mode "keyboard" or "range" on the display 15 is indicated by the display 86 of a characteristic letter for example "C" or "P" on the display 15. In FIG. 24, the "keyboard" mode was chosen, so that the display 84 of the name of the notes of the chord shows "RE" for "DO double sharp" and "FA" for "MI sharp". New actions on the key 29 would return to the display a name of the LA sharp 9- chord, then to a display of the name of the notes of the staff with the display of a "P" on the display 15 , then again to a display of the name of the notes of the displayed chord, according to the keyboard of a piano, as shown in FIG. 24. The key 29 is thus linked to a processing loop with three levels of information.

Claims

1. A device for assisting with harmonic encryption intended for the evaluation, display and composition of musical chords comprising means for entering data relating to a chord, characterized in that said means for introducing data are organized to allow the entry of all combinations of harmonic structures up to the thirteenth degree of the scale, note to note, or of pitch, or of musical codes and in that it includes means for processing these data and display means for displaying according to at least two of the three modes of expression of a musical agreement selected between a display in alphanumeric characters, a display in musical range and a symbolic representation of a piano keyboard, guitar tab or any other polyphonic instrument.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a member (7) of polyphonic or arpeggiated sound reproduction expressing the displayed agreement.

3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that it comprises an interface (9) for the development of control signals of a musical instrument which can be connected to it and for the reception of signals or codes musica x from said instrument.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises an output connector connected to said interface (9) for application to one or more musical instrument (s) and / or external device (s) of a control signal for producing sounds of a displayed chord and an input connector connected to said interface (9) for the reception of signals or musical codes.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the data entry and processing means are organized for the capture of chords with three, four, five, six or seven sounds.

6. Device according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the data input means (14) comprise a first set (141) of function control keys (21 to 31, 41), a second set (142 ) of keys (32 to 40, 22, 23) for entering note by note of a chord to be encrypted or to change the fundamental of the chord displayed or to position (22, 23) a cursor sweeping all the points which symbolize the notes on a staff, keyboard or tablature type display and a third set (143) of keys (42 to 57) for entering or deleting the name of a chord to be evaluated.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the second set (142) of keys (32 to 40, 22, 23) for the note by note entry of a chord to be encrypted or to change the fundamental of the chord displayed includes at least seven keys (32 to 38) representing notes, two keys (39, 40) representing alterations and two keys (22, 23) marked with two opposite direction arrows.

8. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the third set (143) of keys (42 to 57) for entering or deleting the harmonic structure of a chord to be evaluated comprises keys (42 to 56) representing intervals as a function of the fundamental and a key (57) for selecting omissions.

9. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the first set (141) of function control keys comprises at least one activation and reset key (27), one deactivation key (26), a touch (31) of proposals for ranges and modes relating to the chord displayed in appearance by tonal family, a key to input mode (21) to determine or orient the search for a preselected number of three, four, five, six or seven notes, two keys (22, 23) for controlling scrolling of data displayed in the event of multiple solutions with a fundamental given in hierarchical classification, from the simplest to the most complex, a key (28) for reversing command with another fundamental of a displayed agreement, and a validation key (41).

10. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the first set (141) of function control keys further comprises at least one control key (30) for returning to an operation for consulting or modifying the initial data and a key (29) making it possible to select on the display either the name of the chord, or the notes which enter into its composition as they appear on the staff, or the name of said notes conforming to the keyboard of a piano , or any other symbolic representation of an instrument.

11. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the first set (141) of function control keys further comprises at least one key (24) for controlling memory storage of one or more chord (s) and a key (25) for restoring the memorized chords in order to compare them with each other to determine and display new harmonically coherent chords.

12. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that, for the search for the notes which make up a chord to be positioned on the staff display, it comprises first means (363 to 366) for carrying out a search in the upward direction going from the lowest notes to the highest notes at starting from the fundamental and second means (367 to 370) to carry out a search in the downward direction going from the highest notes to the lowest notes in the event of absence of result during the search carried out in the upward direction.

13. Device according to claims 12, characterized in that it further comprises means (363) for determining the possibility or not of carrying out a search without change of fundamental, taking into account the specific conditions imposed on the related research to decipher the agreements.

14. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the display means comprise a first display (15) arranged in a first direction X'X for the display of alphanumeric characters and a second display (16) arranged in a second direction Y 'Y for display in musical range or symbolic representation of a polyphonic musical instrument.

15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the second display (16) comprises unit matrix elements (80) aligned along a first line (98) and intended for the display of characters chosen from at least six specific predetermined characters in order to constitute alterations while matrix elements (80) of the second display (16) aligned along a second line

(99) parallel to said first line (98) are provided for displaying characters chosen from at least four other specific characters predetermined to constitute the body of the notes.

16. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that lines (17) perpendicular to the second direction Y 'Y and superimposed in a fixed manner on the second display (16) to constitute a musical staff have a line spacing (i) equal to double the step (p) between two successive unit matrix elements (80) of the same line (98 or 99) of the second display (16) and the lines (17) of the staff superimposed on the second display (16) are arranged relative to the unit matrix elements (80) of each of the two lines (98, 99) of the second display (16) so that the latter are either inserted between two lines of the staff (17) or superimposed on the lines (17) of the staff , two adjacent unit matrix elements (80) of the same line (98, 99) being always arranged one superimposed on a line (17) of the staff and the other interposed between two lines (17) of the staff .

17. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when it is produced as a portable assembly its housing (11) is provided with members allowing its removable fixing on a musical instrument such as the neck of 'a guitar or the like.