US3577084A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer sound generator
Assignee: Singer General Precision Inc
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Filing: 1969-11-03
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Granted: 1971-05-04
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Expires: 1989-11-03
Abstract
Abstract The generation of desired sounds and sound waveforms is useful in many fields. For this reason there have been many sound generators devised over the years. The system of this invention utilizes an automatic programming device to control the generation of a large variety of different sounds and sound waveforms. The apparatus comprises a flip-flop or similar device having a plurality of stable conditions. The flip-flop is alternately placed in each of its stable operative states under the control of an automatic programming device. The duration of a complete flip-flop cycle is determinative of the frequency of the generated waveform. The flip-flop output which may be processed through wave-shaping circuitry is subsequently amplitude controlled by a digital ladder attenuator. One automatic programming device which has been useful in this system is a general-purpose digital computer. The system described herein is an improvement over the systems described in the copending patent applications Ser. No. 707,615, SOUND GENERATOR, filed in the names of William E. Beavers, Jr. and William H. Sturdevant, and Ser. No. 710,237, COMPUTER SOUND GENERATOR, filed in the names of Robert A. Atchison, Robert E. Lutolf, and Edward F. Magee.
Inventors
- 👤 Samuel M Atcherson
- 👤 Robert P Rodgers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:18
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H7/00; G10H7/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
A system for generating desired electrical waveforms under the control of a programmable device, said system comprising a counter, means for entering into a said counter first information representing a first numerical value, means for supplying to said counter digits at a prescribed rate for causing said counter to count from the value entered therein to the capacity of the counter, said counter generating an output signal when its capacity is reached, a bistable device connected to the output of said counter, successive output signals from said counter causing said bistable device to assume its two stable conditions alternately, means responsive to one condition of said bistable device for requesting a new value to be inserted into said counter, means responsive to both conditions of said bistable device for causing said counter to be reset to the value entered therein, and means responsive to the outputs from said bistable device for developing an electrical signal which increases in one direction in response to an output from said device in one of its stable conditions and which increases in the other direction in response to an output from said device in the other of its stable conditions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
196 words
A system for generating desired electrical waveforms under the control of a programmable device, said system comprising a counter, means for entering into a said counter first information representing a first numerical value, means for supplying to said counter digits at a prescribed rate for causing said counter to count from the value entered therein to the capacity of the counter, said counter generating an output signal when its capacity is reached, a bistable device connected to the output of said counter, successive output signals from said counter causing said bistable device to assume its two stable conditions alternately, means responsive to one condition of said bistable device for requesting a new value to be inserted into said counter, means responsive to both conditions of said bistable device for causing said counter to be reset to the value entered therein, and means responsive to the outputs from said bistable device for developing an electrical signal which increases in one direction in response to an output from said device in one of its stable conditions and which increases in the other direction in response to an output from said device in the other of its stable conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system defined in claim 1 further including a register adapted to receive numerical information, and means connected from said register to the inputs of said counter for transferring the information stored in said register into said counter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system defined in claim 1 further including means responsive to the output from said counter for interrupting the supply of digits to said counter, and means for restoring the supply of said digits to said counter a prescribed time after the occurrence of an output from said counter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The system defined in claim 1 further comprising means connected to the output from said electrical signal developing means for modifying the amplitude of said electrical signal, said amplitude modifying means including means for receiving second information representing a second numerical value, and means responsive to said numerical value for attenuating the amplitude of said electrical signal by an amount proportional to said second value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system defined in claim 1 further including a digital programmable device, and means for applying digital information representing numerical values from said programmable device to the inPuts to said counter.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
197 words
A system for generating electrical waveforms of desired shapes and amplitudes, said system comprising a register, means for applying to said register first information representative of numerical values, a counter, means for transferring into said counter the information applied to said register, means for applying to said counter a series of electrical pulses having a prescribed pulse rate to cause said counter to count from the value stored therein, said counter generating a first electrical signal when its count capacity is reached, a bistable device having two stable conditions, means for applying said first signal to said device so that said device is alternately placed into each of its stable conditions by successive occurrences of said first signal, means responsive to a first output from said device in one of its stable conditions for generating a second signal which causes second information representing another numerical value to be applied to said register, and means for generating an electrical waveform in one direction from the output of said device in one of its stable conditions and for generating the same electrical waveform in another direction from the output of said device in the other of its stable conditions.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
197 words
A system for generating electrical waveforms of desired shapes and amplitudes, said system comprising a register, means for applying to said register first information representative of numerical values, a counter, means for transferring into said counter the information applied to said register, means for applying to said counter a series of electrical pulses having a prescribed pulse rate to cause said counter to count from the value stored therein, said counter generating a first electrical signal when its count capacity is reached, a bistable device having two stable conditions, means for applying said first signal to said device so that said device is alternately placed into each of its stable conditions by successive occurrences of said first signal, means responsive to a first output from said device in one of its stable conditions for generating a second signal which causes second information representing another numerical value to be applied to said register, and means for generating an electrical waveform in one direction from the output of said device in one of its stable conditions and for generating the same electrical waveform in another direction from the output of said device in the other of its stable conditions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
91 words
The system defined in claim 6 further including an attenuator, said attenuator comprising means for storing third information representative of a third numerical value, means for applying such third information to said attenuator, means for attenuating any signal applied thereto in proportion to the numerical value of said third information, and means for applying to said attenuator said electrical waveform so that the length of said waveform is determined by the value of said first information and the amplitude of said waveform is determined by the value of said second information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The system defined in claim 7 further including means for interrupting said series of electrical pulses in response to said first signal, and means for connecting the input of said interrupting means to one output of said device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
87 words
The system defined in claim 8 wherein said means for applying said first, second, and third information comprises digital programmable apparatus; said system further comprising means for connecting the outputs from said programmable apparatus to the inputs of said register and said attenuator; and means for connecting an input to said programmable apparatus to said one output of said device so that said second signal is applied to said programmable apparatus to direct said programmable apparatus to supply new first, second, and third information to said system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
The system defined in claim 9 further including means for manually introducing into said system signals for initiating operation of said system, said system including means for manually generating said second signal to cause said programmable apparatus to supply first, second, and third information; means for manually setting the initial condition of said device; and means for manually causing the transfer information from said register into said counter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-03 | 1974-11-02 | 1975-05-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-03 | 1978-11-02 | 1979-05-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-03 | 1982-11-02 | 1983-05-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |