US3665088A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Keyer circuit for an electronic musical instrument wherein a single switch may actuate a single note or a chord
Assignee: Thomas International Corp
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Filing: 1970-11-27
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Granted: 1972-05-23
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Expires: 1990-11-27
Abstract
Abstract A chord circuit is provided in which, upon positioning of a tab switch, the actuation of a given key will cause the sounding of a predetermined chord. Such chord circuits may be provided for a number of different chords, so that depending upon the tab switch which is operated, the actuation of the C key, for example, may cause the sounding, selectively, of C major chord, C minor chord, C diminished chord, and so forth. In the present circuit this is done without requiring the ganging of switch poles, so that the same single-pole key switch which is conventionally used to sound a given tone, also sounds the various preselected chords.
Inventors
- 👤 John R Brand
- 👤 Ernest A Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:23
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/36; G10H1/38; G10H1/386; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
Keying circuit for keyboard musical instrument having a plurality of tone signal generators for generating electrical signals respectively corresponding to different musical notes, electroacoustic transducing means for sounding said notes, a plurality of key switches coupled to said transducing means and to said tone signal generators for applying respective electrical signals to said transducing means, characterized by: circuit means, including gate means respectively connected to said generators, for coupling a plurality of said generators corresponding to notes of a chord to a given one of said key switches, to be applied to said transducing means upon actuation of said one of said key switches corresponding to one of said chord notes, and control means connected to said gate means for selectively enabling and disabling said gate means to selectively effect sounding of a chord upon actuation of said corresponding switch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
Keying circuit for keyboard musical instrument having a plurality of tone signal generators for generating electrical signals respectively corresponding to different musical notes, electroacoustic transducing means for sounding said notes, a plurality of key switches coupled to said transducing means and to said tone signal generators for applying respective electrical signals to said transducing means, characterized by: circuit means, including gate means respectively connected to said generators, for coupling a plurality of said generators corresponding to notes of a chord to a given one of said key switches, to be applied to said transducing means upon actuation of said one of said key switches corresponding to one of said chord notes, and control means connected to said gate means for selectively enabling and disabling said gate means to selectively effect sounding of a chord upon actuation of said corresponding switch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
Circuit in accordance with claim 1, including: bypass circuit means for bypassing the gate means for said corresponding switch to the generator corresponding to said one note, whereby said one note is sounded upon actuation of said corresponding switch, irrespective of the enabling or disabling of said gate means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
Circuit in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said gate means comprises non-linear conducting means, said generators generate essentially rectangular waves, and said control means comprises means for selectively biasing said gate means to non-conductive and conductive condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
Circuit in accordance with claim 1, including: frequency divider means having input and output, means for coupling said output to said transducing means, and second circuit means coupling tone signals from said circuit means to said input, for sounding a pedal tone whenever the key switch corresponding to the pedal tone is actuated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
Circuit in accordance with claim 4, wherein said second circuit means includes: second gate means coupled to said first-named gate means and wherein actuation of said corresponding key switch enables said second gate means, thereby to effect sounding of said pedal tone.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-23 | 1975-11-22 | 1976-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-23 | 1979-11-22 | 1980-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-23 | 1983-11-22 | 1984-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |