US3629482A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic musical instrument with a pseudorandom pulse sequence generator
Assignee: Canadian Patents and Development Ltd
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Filing: 1969-06-09
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Granted: 1971-12-21
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Expires: 1989-06-09
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for producing complex rhythm patterns (rhythm ''''breaks'''') involving operation of a plurality of percussion devices in a pseudorandom manner. A clock pulse generator drives a pseudorandom pulse sequence generator having a large number of outputs on which appear a large number of different combinations of output pulses. Each clock pulse effects a change in the combination of pulses appearing at the outputs. The outputs of the pseudorandom pulse sequence generator are combined in logic gates having outputs connected to a plurality of percussion devices which are operated in pseudorandom manner (depending on the output pulse combination) at a tempo determined by the source of clock pulses. The source of clock pulses may be a free-running clock pulse generator operating at any desired one of various rates or may be derived from a musical instrument, e.g. an organ, so that the clock pulse rate (rhythm) is set by the player of the instrument.
Inventors
- 👤 James K Pulfer
- 👤 Theodore H Shepertycki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:33
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/36; G10H1/40; G10H2210/00; G10H2210/341; G10H2210/346; G10H2210/356
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
Apparatus for operating a plurality of percussion devices in a pseudorandom manner to produce complex rhythm patterns, said apparatus Comprising a source of clock pulses having an output connected to a clock input of a pseudorandom pulse sequence generator, said generator comprising a large number of output terminals and means to produce a different one of a large number of combinations of output pulses on said output terminals in response to each clock pulse, and means connecting said output terminals to inputs of said plurality of percussion devices whereby said percussion devices are operated in pseudorandom manner at a tempo determined by said source of clock pulses, wherein said output terminals are divided into a plurality of groups of output terminals, each of said groups being connected to an associated logic network having an output connected to an associated percussion device, and wherein said pseudorandom pulse sequence generator comprises a plurality of cascaded flip-flops each of which receives said clock pulses so that the contents of each flip-flop is shifted into the next adjacent flip-flop, the first of said flip-flops having an input obtained by combining the outputs of at least two other of said flip-flops, the outputs of said flip-flops being fed to an array of exclusive-or circuits to derive further outputs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
Apparatus for operating a plurality of percussion devices in a pseudorandom manner to produce complex rhythm patterns, said apparatus Comprising a source of clock pulses having an output connected to a clock input of a pseudorandom pulse sequence generator, said generator comprising a large number of output terminals and means to produce a different one of a large number of combinations of output pulses on said output terminals in response to each clock pulse, and means connecting said output terminals to inputs of said plurality of percussion devices whereby said percussion devices are operated in pseudorandom manner at a tempo determined by said source of clock pulses, wherein said output terminals are divided into a plurality of groups of output terminals, each of said groups being connected to an associated logic network having an output connected to an associated percussion device, and wherein said pseudorandom pulse sequence generator comprises a plurality of cascaded flip-flops each of which receives said clock pulses so that the contents of each flip-flop is shifted into the next adjacent flip-flop, the first of said flip-flops having an input obtained by combining the outputs of at least two other of said flip-flops, the outputs of said flip-flops being fed to an array of exclusive-or circuits to derive further outputs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are 10 of said flip-flops and 1,023 combinations of output pulses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
249 words
Apparatus for operating a plurality of percussion devices in a pseudorandom manner to produce complex rhythm patterns, said apparatus comprising a source of clock pulses having an output connected to a clock input of a pseudorandom pulse sequence generator, said generator comprising a large number of output terminals and means to produce a different one of a large number of combinations of output pulses on said output terminals in response to each clock pulse, and means connecting said output terminals to inputs of said plurality of percussion devices whereby said percussion devices are operated in pseudorandom manner at a tempo determined by said source of clock pulses, wherein said output terminals are divided into a plurality of groups of output terminals, each of said groups being connected to an associated logic network having an output connected to an associated percussion device, and wherein a manually actuated pulse source on a musical instrument supplies pulses to one input of pulse comparing circuitry having a second input connected to the output of said source of clock pulses, said pulse comparing circuitry producing an error voltage at its output if the repetition rate of the manually operated source differs from the repetition rate of the source of clock pulses, the output of the pulse comparing circuitry being connected to a control input of said source of clock pulses, said source of clock pulses being responsive to an error voltage to adjust its pulse repetition rate to reduce the error voltage to zero.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
249 words
Apparatus for operating a plurality of percussion devices in a pseudorandom manner to produce complex rhythm patterns, said apparatus comprising a source of clock pulses having an output connected to a clock input of a pseudorandom pulse sequence generator, said generator comprising a large number of output terminals and means to produce a different one of a large number of combinations of output pulses on said output terminals in response to each clock pulse, and means connecting said output terminals to inputs of said plurality of percussion devices whereby said percussion devices are operated in pseudorandom manner at a tempo determined by said source of clock pulses, wherein said output terminals are divided into a plurality of groups of output terminals, each of said groups being connected to an associated logic network having an output connected to an associated percussion device, and wherein a manually actuated pulse source on a musical instrument supplies pulses to one input of pulse comparing circuitry having a second input connected to the output of said source of clock pulses, said pulse comparing circuitry producing an error voltage at its output if the repetition rate of the manually operated source differs from the repetition rate of the source of clock pulses, the output of the pulse comparing circuitry being connected to a control input of said source of clock pulses, said source of clock pulses being responsive to an error voltage to adjust its pulse repetition rate to reduce the error voltage to zero.
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) | 1974-12-20 | 1975-06-21 | 1975-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-20 | 1979-06-21 | 1979-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-20 | 1983-06-21 | 1983-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |