US3609205A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic musical instrument with phase shift vibrato
Assignee: TWCA CORP
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Filing: 1970-05-15
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Granted: 1971-09-28
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Expires: 1990-05-15
Abstract
Abstract Organ or the like electronic musical instrument tones are subjected to a phase-shift vibrato utilizing a plurality of series connected stages of phase shifting, each stage comprising a capacitor and a light-dependent resistor respectively connected to the collector and emitter of a transistor. The resistance of the light-dependent resistor is varied by a lamp excited at a vibrato frequency. Different frequency bands are connected to individual stages such that the higher the frequency range of the band the larger the number of stages the band is passed through.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold O Schwartz
- 👤 Anthony C Ippolito
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 00:24
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/02; G10H1/04; G10H1/043; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/19
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
In an electronic musical instrument comprising means connected to tone generating means and providing frequency bands of electric oscillations corresponding to various musical tones, a plurality of phase-shifting means, means connecting said phaseshifting means in series with one another, output means connected to the last of said phase-shifting means, and means connecting each of said frequency band providing means to said phaseshifting means, the lowest frequency band being connected to the phase-shifting means nearest the output and subsequent bands being connected to phase-shifting means successively farther from the output whereby higher frequency bands are subjected to further stages of phase shifting, whereby to produce a vibrato in musical tones, each of said phase-shifting means including means for providing two electric oscillations corresponding to said musical tones with a substantially 180* phase relation, resistance and reactance means serially connected across said 180* phase relation providing means, there being an output between said resistance means and said reactance means, said resistance means comprising a light-dependent resistor, a lamp in close optical proximity to said light-dependent resistor, and means for energizing said lamp at a vibrato frequency to change the resistance of said light-dependent resistor and thereby to frequency modulate the musical tones to produce a vibrato.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
In an electronic musical instrument comprising means connected to tone generating means and providing frequency bands of electric oscillations corresponding to various musical tones, a plurality of phase-shifting means, means connecting said phaseshifting means in series with one another, output means connected to the last of said phase-shifting means, and means connecting each of said frequency band providing means to said phaseshifting means, the lowest frequency band being connected to the phase-shifting means nearest the output and subsequent bands being connected to phase-shifting means successively farther from the output whereby higher frequency bands are subjected to further stages of phase shifting, whereby to produce a vibrato in musical tones, each of said phase-shifting means including means for providing two electric oscillations corresponding to said musical tones with a substantially 180* phase relation, resistance and reactance means serially connected across said 180* phase relation providing means, there being an output between said resistance means and said reactance means, said resistance means comprising a light-dependent resistor, a lamp in close optical proximity to said light-dependent resistor, and means for energizing said lamp at a vibrato frequency to change the resistance of said light-dependent resistor and thereby to frequency modulate the musical tones to produce a vibrato.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An electronic musical instrument as set forth in claim 1 wherein there are two series of phase-shifting means, one of said series comprising many stages and having relatively simple tone oscillations connected thereto, the other having relatively few stages having complex tone oscillations connected thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electronic musical instrument as set forth in claim 1 and further including means providing a DC potential in series with at least some of said lamps.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronic musical instrument as set forth in claim 3 wherein the DC potential providing means includes means for providing different DC potentials to different lamps.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electronic musical instrument as set forth in claim 4 wherein higher DC potentials are provided in series with lamps corresponding to high frequency tone oscillations and lower DC potentials are provided in series with lamps corresponding to lower frequency tone oscillations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic musical instrument as set forth in claim 3 and further including means for adjusting the DC potential.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electronic musical instrument as set forth in claim 1 wherein the vibrato frequency comprises alternating current potential, the alternating current potential applied to at least one of said lamps being different from that applied to at least one other of said lamps.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electronic musical instrument as set forth in claim 7 wherein the difference is as to at least one of the parameters of amplitude, frequency, and phase.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic musical instrument as set forth in claim 7 and further including means for adjusting the AC potential.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic musical instrument as set forth in claim 9 wherein the adjustment of AC potential is to at least one of the parameters of amplitude, frequency and phase.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electronic musical instrument as set forth in claim 7 and further including means providing a DC potential in series with at least some of said lamps.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic musical instrument as set forth in claim 11, wherein different DC potentials are applied to different lamps.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
190 words
In an electronic musical instrument comprising means connected to tone generating means and providing frequency bands of electric oscillations corresponding to various musical tones, a plurality of phase-shifting means, means connecting said phase-shifting means in series with one another, output means connected to the last of said phase-shifting means, and means means connecting each of said frequency band proving means to said phase-shifting means, the lowest frequency band being connected to the phase-shifting means nearest the output and subsequent bands being connected to phase-shifting means successively farther from the output whereby higher frequency bands are subjected to further stages of phase shifting, whereby to produce a vibrato in musical tones, each of said phase-shifting means including means for providing two electric oscillations corresponding to said musical tones with a substantially 180* phase relation, resistance and reactance means serially connected across said 180* phase relation providing means, there being an output between said resistance means and said reactance means, one of said resistance means and said reactance means being variable, and means for varying said one means at a vibrato frequency to frequency modulate the musical tones to produce a vibrato.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
190 words
In an electronic musical instrument comprising means connected to tone generating means and providing frequency bands of electric oscillations corresponding to various musical tones, a plurality of phase-shifting means, means connecting said phase-shifting means in series with one another, output means connected to the last of said phase-shifting means, and means means connecting each of said frequency band proving means to said phase-shifting means, the lowest frequency band being connected to the phase-shifting means nearest the output and subsequent bands being connected to phase-shifting means successively farther from the output whereby higher frequency bands are subjected to further stages of phase shifting, whereby to produce a vibrato in musical tones, each of said phase-shifting means including means for providing two electric oscillations corresponding to said musical tones with a substantially 180* phase relation, resistance and reactance means serially connected across said 180* phase relation providing means, there being an output between said resistance means and said reactance means, one of said resistance means and said reactance means being variable, and means for varying said one means at a vibrato frequency to frequency modulate the musical tones to produce a vibrato.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
An electronic musical instrument as set forth in claim 13 wherein there are two series of phase-shifting meAns, one of said series comprising many stages and having relatively simple tone oscillations connected thereto, the other having relatively few stages and having complex tone oscillations connected thereto.
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) | 1974-09-27 | 1975-03-29 | 1975-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-27 | 1979-03-29 | 1979-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-27 | 1983-03-29 | 1983-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |