Electronic device including finger movement based musical tone generation and related methods

Abstract

An electronic device may include a finger biometric sensor and an audio output transducer. The electronic device may further include a controller cooperating with the finger biometric sensor for determining at least one biometric characteristic of a user's finger. The controller may also cooperate with the finger biometric sensor for causing the audio output transducer to generate at least one musical tone changing based upon movement of a user's finger relative to the finger biometric sensor.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An electronic device comprising:
 a finger biometric sensor;   an audio output transducer; and   a controller coupled to said finger biometric sensor and said audio output transducer, said controller capable of
 determining at least one biometric characteristic of a user's finger, 
 authenticating the user by determining a match between the at least one biometric characteristic and at least one stored biometric characteristic, 
 generating a finger motion signal based upon a motion of the user's finger relative to said finger biometric sensor, and 
 causing said audio output transducer to generate at least one musical tone changing based upon the finger motion signal and motion of the user's finger across said finger biometric sensor. 
   
     
     
         24 . The electronic device according to  claim 23  wherein said controller is capable of causing said audio output transducer to generate the at least one musical tone having a pitch that changes based upon the motion of the user's finger relative to said finger biometric sensor. 
     
     
         25 . The electronic device according to  claim 23  wherein said controller is capable of performing at least one navigation function based upon motion of the user's finger relative to said finger biometric sensor. 
     
     
         26 . The electronic device according to  claim 23  wherein said finger biometric sensor comprises a slide biometric finger sensor. 
     
     
         27 . The electronic device according to  claim 23  wherein said controller is capable of permitting selection of a musical instrument for the at least one musical tone. 
     
     
         28 . The electronic device according to  claim 23  further comprising a wireless link coupling said audio output transducer and said controller. 
     
     
         29 . The electronic device according to  claim 23  further comprising at least one of a display and a keypad coupled to said controller. 
     
     
         30 . The electronic device according to  claim 23  further comprising a housing carrying said finger biometric sensor and said controller, and a wireless transceiver carried by said housing and coupled to said controller. 
     
     
         31 . An electronic device comprising:
 a finger biometric sensor;   an audio output transducer; and   a controller coupled to said finger biometric sensor and said audio output transducer, said controller capable of
 determining at least one biometric characteristic of a user's finger, 
 performing at least one navigation function based upon motion of the user's finger relative to said finger biometric sensor, 
 generating a finger motion signal based upon a motion of the user's finger relative to said finger biometric sensor, and 
 causing said audio output transducer to generate at least one musical tone changing based upon the finger motion signal and motion of the user's finger across said finger biometric sensor. 
   
     
     
         32 . The electronic device according to  claim 31  wherein said controller is capable of causing said audio output transducer to generate the at least one musical tone having a pitch that changes based upon the motion of the user's finger relative to said finger biometric sensor. 
     
     
         33 . The electronic device according to  claim 31  wherein said finger biometric sensor comprises a slide biometric finger sensor. 
     
     
         34 . The electronic device according to  claim 31  wherein said controller is capable of permitting selection of a musical instrument for the at least one musical tone. 
     
     
         35 . The electronic device according to  claim 31  further comprising a wireless link coupling said audio output transducer and said controller. 
     
     
         36 . The electronic device according to  claim 31  further comprising at least one of a display and a keypad coupled to said controller. 
     
     
         37 . The electronic device according to  claim 31  further comprising a housing carrying said finger biometric sensor and said controller, and a wireless transceiver carried by said housing and coupled to said controller. 
     
     
         38 . A method of operating an electronic device comprising a finger biometric sensor, an audio output transducer, and a controller coupled to the finger biometric sensor and the audio output transducer, the method comprising:
 using the controller for
 determining at least one biometric characteristic of a user's finger, 
 authenticating the user by determining a match between the at least one biometric characteristic and at least one stored biometric characteristic, 
 generating a finger motion signal based upon a motion of the user's finger relative to the finger biometric sensor, and 
 causing the audio output transducer to generate at least one musical tone changing based upon the finger motion signal and motion of the user's finger across the finger biometric sensor. 
   
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 38  wherein using the controller comprises using the controller to generate the at least one musical tone having a pitch that changes based upon the motion of the user's finger relative to the finger biometric sensor. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 38  further comprising using the controller to permit selecting a musical instrument for the at least one musical tone.