US3636232A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Touch-responsive tone envelope control circuit for electronic musical instruments
Assignee: Nippon Gakki Co Ltd
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Filing: 1970-06-30
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Granted: 1972-01-18
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Expires: 1990-06-30
Abstract
Abstract In a keying system for an electronic musical instrument in which an individual keyer is controlled in response to the intensity of depression of a corresponding playing key so that a keyed tone signal has an amplitude in accordance with the key depression intensity, an impulse supply means associated with the operation of the key is provided to additively control the keyer individually. The impulse signal applied to the keyer determines the buildup envelope (amplitude) characteristic of the keyed tone signal. The system is simple in construction and easy to manufacture and provides a variety of excellent tonal effects.
Inventors
- 👤 Ryu Hiyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:26
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/02; G10H1/04; G10H1/053; G10H1/055; G10H1/0555; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
In an electronic musical instrument having playing keys, a touch-responsive keying system for each playing key, said system comprising: means for generating an electrical signal voltage responsive to a depression intensity of a respectively associated playing key, a charge storage element connected to said means for storing said electrical signal voltage, a keyer circuit connected to said charge storage element for keying a tone signal in accordance with a supplied control voltage, and an impulse-developing circuit associated with said respectively associated playing key for generating an impulse voltage upon depression of said key, said impulse-developing circuit being connected with said charge storage element to provide a combination of said electrical signal voltage and said impulse volTage as said control voltage to said keyer circuit whereby a relatively abrupt buildup envelope tone signal is provided at an output of said keyer circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
In an electronic musical instrument having playing keys, a touch-responsive keying system for each playing key, said system comprising: means for generating an electrical signal voltage responsive to a depression intensity of a respectively associated playing key, a charge storage element connected to said means for storing said electrical signal voltage, a keyer circuit connected to said charge storage element for keying a tone signal in accordance with a supplied control voltage, and an impulse-developing circuit associated with said respectively associated playing key for generating an impulse voltage upon depression of said key, said impulse-developing circuit being connected with said charge storage element to provide a combination of said electrical signal voltage and said impulse volTage as said control voltage to said keyer circuit whereby a relatively abrupt buildup envelope tone signal is provided at an output of said keyer circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A touch-responsive keying system according to claim 1, in which said impulse-developing circuit includes a differentiating circuit and means for energizing the differentiating circuit with a DC voltage upon depression of the respectively associated key.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A touch-responsive keying system according to claim 1, in which said charge storage element is connected with a series circuit of a resistor and a unidirectional conducting element connected both in series with a common DC potential so that the stored charge on said storage element is gradually discharged with a predetermined decaying voltage characteristic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A touch-responsive keying system according to claim 1, in which said impulse-developing circuit is energized with said electrical signal voltage generated upon depression of the respectively associated key whereby said impulse voltage is responsive to said electrical signal voltage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A touch-responsive keying system according to claim 4, in which said charge storage element is connected to a series circuit of a resistor and a unidirectional conducting element, both connected in series with a common DC potential so that the stored charge on said charge storage element is gradually discharged with a predetermined decaying voltage characteristic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
162 words
A touch-sensitive keying system according to claim 1, in which said keyer circuit includes: a pair of active elements, each active element having a control electrode, a first electrode and a second electrode, a pair of input terminals and a pair of output terminals, and a sustain circuit including a capacitor and a resistor and connected to said keyer circuit for providing a sustained and gradually decaying envelope to a keyed tone signal after the respectively associated playing key is released, each of said control electrodes being connected via a separate resistor to a capacitor comprising said charge storage element, each of said first electrodes being connected to a respectively corresponding one of said individual input terminals for receiving an input tone signal of different footage and also being connected to the sustain circuit, and each of said second electrodes being connected to a respectively corresponding one of said individual output terminals to derive the output signal thereat through an individual load.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A touch-responsive keying system according to claim 6, in which said active elements are field effect transistors.
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) | 1975-01-17 | 1975-07-19 | 1976-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-17 | 1979-07-19 | 1980-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-17 | 1983-07-19 | 1984-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |