US-20260128020-A1 - INTEGRATED PIANO AND ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM

US20260128020A1US 20260128020 A1US20260128020 A1US 20260128020A1US-20260128020-A1

Abstract

The present invention pertains to the enhancement of grand pianos with integrated video and audio features, all while preserving the piano's meticulously perfected mechanics and acoustics and its timeless and elegant appearance.

Inventors

William Frederick Moyer

Assignees

William Frederick Moyer

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20241105

Claims (16)

1 . A method for enhanced use of a grand piano having a player piano mechanism, comprising: (a) holding a player piano lid open to at least 50 degrees relative to horizontal, (b) displaying video on a portion of the underside of the piano lid, (c) playing a pre-recorded player piano performance that is synchronized with said video.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein audio speakers are embedded in or attached to the lid of said grand piano.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein hinge assists negate the need for a supporting stick to hold up the lid.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a projector and/or camera are attached to some part of the piano.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the piano lid is transparent, and a transparent OLED digital display is embedded in or attached to the lid.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a supporting stick is constructed of: (a) a hollow pipe; (b) cylindrical spacers that can be placed inside the hollow pipe; (c) a cylindrical member that fits inside the hollow pipe and on top of the cylindrical spacers, so that the number of said spacers determine the total length of the supporting stick.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the open lid has the following characteristics: (a) is a single unit (not a rear lid connected via a piano hinge to a front lid); (b) maintains a recognizable silhouette of an open grand piano lid; (c) contains a video display inlaid within its boundaries; (d) when in the closed position, the lid does not conform to the “aerial shape” (topology) of the grand piano it is attached to.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the shape and size of a video display embedded in or attached to the lid, fulfills these requirements: (a) allows for the full unmasked display of a standard 16:9 landscape-mode video image, such that the left edge of the image is no more than 6 inches from the left edge of the rear lid (from the audience's point of view), and the right edge of the image is no more than 8 inches from the right most point of the lid from the audience's point of view; (b) allows for a masked display of the entire range of an 88-key keyboard, such that the topmost edge of the image is not more than 15 inches from the topmost edge of the rear piano lid, when the lid is open, and the bottom most edge of the image is not more than 10 inches from the bottom most edge of the piano lid when the lid is open; (c) no part of the screen overlaps the boundaries of the piano lid.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a microcode embedded microprocessor or a reconfigurable hardware device that can be programmed to implement custom digital logic circuits manipulates the image to minimize distortion (perceived or real) due to one or more of the following non-90-degree angles: camera-to-keyboard, projector-to-lid, audience's-eyes-to-lid.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said microprocessor is a smart tablet or Raspberry Pi.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said reconfigurable hardware device is a FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array.)
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an enclosure holds firmly in place a smart tablet, adapters, and cables.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a metal plate connects a projector to a mount on a camera tripod, said metal plate having two flaps cut into the metal and bent up so that they have the correct dimensions to fit securely inside the mount.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein embedded microphones can amplify the piano through speakers embedded in the lid and underbelly of the piano.
15 . A method for enhanced use of a grand piano wherein audio speakers are embedded in or attached to the lid of a grand piano.
16 . A method for enhanced use of a player piano, comprising: projecting a hologram-like image at the piano bench, such that the hologram-like image appears to play the piano synchronized with a pre-recorded performance of the player piano.

Description

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE Associated References: This application hereby incorporates by reference U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,332,490 and 10,410,609. BACKGROUND Many player piano systems aim to transform themselves into multimedia entertainment centers by synchronizing recorded video and audio with the automated performance of the piano keys. However, all existing systems require users to provide a separate standard display screen, distinct from the player piano. Regarding audio, some player piano systems include speakers concealed within the piano's underbelly, but while this setup works well for subwoofers, tweeters ideally should be placed higher and unobstructed. Those wishing for optimum sound quality therefore attach their own external speakers to these player piano systems. The result is a clutter of equipment and cables, detracting from the aesthetics of a home and impractical for commercial settings like hotel lobbies or bars. Likewise, in concert settings, pianos often need amplification, entailing the setup of external equipment. Consequently, the piano becomes surrounded by microphones, speakers, and cables, which is visually unpleasing for the audience. Additionally, adjusting the piano's stage position necessitates subsequent relocation of the audio equipment. SUMMARY To address these and other limitations of prior art systems, this invention enhances player pianos and concert pianos in the following ways: Player Piano Systems (a) It keeps the player piano lid open to a minimum of 50 degrees relative to the horizontal plane.(b) It incorporates an embedded video display screen within the underside of the piano lid.(c) It embeds speakers, particularly tweeters, inside the lid.(d) It synchronizes pre-recorded piano performances with video and audio content. Concert Pianos (a) It embeds speakers, especially tweeters, into the piano lid. (It is assumed that other speakers, particularly subwoofers, would be embedded in the piano's underbelly, and microphones would be attached to the piano. These components, while not standard, are not novel.) The result is an acoustic grand piano with integrated amplification. Moreover, the piano can amplify other musicians, announcers on stage, and other audio content through simple audio jacks or electronic data transfer.(b) Optionally, it attaches a miniature camera trained on the keys and integrates into the lid a video display screen. When the lid is raised to at least 50 degrees relative to the horizontal plane, it concurrently displays the pianist's hands and keys (or other video content) on the underside of the lid during the performance. In certain embodiments of the invention, a projector projects the image onto a white plastic sheet that adheres to the underside of the lid through static charge. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary player piano system with a customized lid including screen for display of video, images and text, multiple hinge assists, and speakers; FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary player piano system used as a home entertainment center (audio and video); FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary piano system with speakers, but no video display, attached to the lid; FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary player piano system with a vertical piano lid that raises and lowers behind the piano; FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary player piano system with an attached projector and camera and cup-like device to hold the extended stick; FIG. 6 illustrates an adjustable but stable extended support stick for holding up a piano lid; FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary player piano system with an OLED digital display embedded in a transparent piano lid; FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary player piano system with altered piano lid construction and shape; FIG. 9 illustrates a non-rectangular video display to accommodate both the 16:9 aspect ratio of a typical video and the ideal screen shape for a live concert; FIG. 10 illustrates image manipulations which correct the unique visual distortions caused by the screen angle; FIG. 11 illustrates the software interface used to mask the image when projecting the piano keys and hands on a customized screen; FIG. 12 illustrates a tablet enclosure for a smart tablet used to mask and manipulate the image; FIG. 13 illustrates a plate connecting the projector to a camera mount when a projector is employed; FIG. 14 illustrates a hologram-like 3D image of a pianist playing a modern player piano system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Preliminary: A “piano lid”is defined herein as: (a) A table-top-like flat surface attached to the long straight far side of a piano.(b) At its greatest length, the lid must be more than 1/2 the length of the piano.(c) At its greatest width, the lid must be approximately the same width as the piano at its widest point.(d) In its “concert position,” the side that is not attached to the piano is raised up. Given the above definition, a piano lid does not need to conform to the curved shape of the piano—for exa