US3624583A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Playing devices for electronic musical instruments
Assignee: Nippon Gakki Co Ltd
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Filing: 1970-02-17
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Granted: 1971-11-30
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Expires: 1990-02-17
Abstract
Abstract A fingerboard-type playing device for an electronic musical instrument comprises an elongated resistor, a plurality of conductor taps spaced apart from each other and contiguously aligned in a row parallel to and by the resistor, and a flexible contact disposed over the elongated resistor and the conductor taps with a small space normally apart therefrom. A depression of the flexible contact makes an electric connection between the flexible contact and the elongated resistor or between the flexible contact and the conductor tap to sound a tone having the pitch determined by the depression point.
Inventors
- 👤 Akira Nakada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:59
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/02; G10H1/04; G10H1/053; G10H1/055; G10H1/0558; H; H01; H01C; H01C10/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
A playing device for an electronic musical instrument comprising a substantially rectangular base member (11) made of insulating material, said base member having a longitudinal surface (17), a narrow strip of a resistor body (12) formed on said surface in said longitudinal direction, a plurality of conductor strips (13a, 13b) arranged at a predetermined distance from each other in a row substantially parallel to said resistor body, and an elastic, flexible pressure contact member (16) forming a fingerboard fitted to said base member material so as to cover said surface in such a manner that part of said contact member which is lined with layers of conductive material normally faces said resistor body and conductor strips at a prescribed small distance therefrom and being so adapted and disposed that when a given point of that part of said fingerboard which faces said resistor body is depressed and said depressed point on said fingerboard is continuously shifted, there is realized a portamento performance and, when a given point of that part of said fingerboard which faces said conductor strips is depressed and said depressed point is varied in a prescribed order, then there is obtained a melody performance and, when said depressed point of said fingerboard is continuously shifted over said conductor strips, then there is effected a glissando performance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
A playing device for an electronic musical instrument comprising a substantially rectangular base member (11) made of insulating material, said base member having a longitudinal surface (17), a narrow strip of a resistor body (12) formed on said surface in said longitudinal direction, a plurality of conductor strips (13a, 13b) arranged at a predetermined distance from each other in a row substantially parallel to said resistor body, and an elastic, flexible pressure contact member (16) forming a fingerboard fitted to said base member material so as to cover said surface in such a manner that part of said contact member which is lined with layers of conductive material normally faces said resistor body and conductor strips at a prescribed small distance therefrom and being so adapted and disposed that when a given point of that part of said fingerboard which faces said resistor body is depressed and said depressed point on said fingerboard is continuously shifted, there is realized a portamento performance and, when a given point of that part of said fingerboard which faces said conductor strips is depressed and said depressed point is varied in a prescribed order, then there is obtained a melody performance and, when said depressed point of said fingerboard is continuously shifted over said conductor strips, then there is effected a glissando performance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The device according to claim 1, including a tone generator variable frequency oscillator wherein said plurality of conductor strips are connected to predetermined different parts of said resistor body and serve as tapping terminals for said resistor body, said resistor body being coupled to said oscillator so that the depressing of said fingerboard on said conductor strips stepwise controls the frequency of signals generated by said variable frequency oscillator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
110 words
The device according to claim 1, including a tone generator variable frequency oscillator, said resistor body being coupled thereto, said plurality of conductor strips being electrically disconnected from said resistor body and are each provided with a terminal and each act as a normally open single pole multicontact switch in cooperation with said pressure contact member fingerboard, said resistor body serving as a normally open variable resistor in cooperation with said pressure contact member fingerboard, said single pole multicontact switch being used as a key switch for said tone signal generator and said variable resistor acts as means for controlling the frequency of tone signals from said variable frequency oscillator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein said pressure contact member is made of insulating material and lined with two narrow rectangular membranes of conductive material spaced from each other in a manner to face said resistor body and plurality of conductor strips.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein said resistor body and conductor strips are disposed in a depression formed at the central part of the prescribed surface of said base member, and said elastic, flexible pressure contact member is stretched across both ends of said prescribed surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The device according to claim 4, wherein said narrow rectangular membrane of cOnductive material formed on the inside of said pressure contact member so as to face said plurality of conductor strips has a nonconductive portion at those parts thereof which face spaces between adjacent conductor strips.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1847119A
Cited
US2141231A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-29 | 1975-05-31 | 1975-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-29 | 1979-05-31 | 1979-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-29 | 1983-05-31 | 1983-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |