US3688010A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tone modulation system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-06-11
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Granted: 1972-08-29
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Expires: 1990-06-11
Abstract
Abstract Musical tone signals in electrical form are applied to a plurality of formant filters which are tuned dynamically by player operated controls and by electronically generated control signals. Control signal shaping networks or special potentiometer controls are switched in a number of ways to produce different formant frequency response patterns including one similar to that of the human vocal tract producing dipthongs. The disclosure includes filters which are responsive in tuning to a control voltage and filters in which both inductive and capacitive components are varied for tuning so a nearly constant Q is maintained over wide tuning ranges.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfred B Freeman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:49
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/02; G10H1/06; G10H1/12; G10L; G10L25/00; G10H2210/00; G10H2210/155; G10H2210/195; G10H2210/201; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/09; Y10S84/10; Y10S84/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
In an electrical musical apparatus including a source of musical tone signals in electrical form, a signal utilizing device, and a network interconnecting said source and said utilizing device and including the combination of: a. a first capacitive reactance, b. a second capacitive reactance, c. first means for producing a signal current to said second capacitive reactance which is proportional to the signal voltage across said first capacitive reactance, and d. second means for producing a signal current to said first capacitive reactance which is proportional to the signal voltage across said second capacitive reactance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
In an electrical musical apparatus including a source of musical tone signals in electrical form, a signal utilizing device, and a network interconnecting said source and said utilizing device and including the combination of: a. a first capacitive reactance, b. a second capacitive reactance, c. first means for producing a signal current to said second capacitive reactance which is proportional to the signal voltage across said first capacitive reactance, and d. second means for producing a signal current to said first capacitive reactance which is proportional to the signal voltage across said second capacitive reactance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination according to claim 1 including means for controlling the effective sizes of said first and second capacitive reactances.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination according to claim 2 wherein said first and second capacitive reactances each include a feedback circuit and said controlling means controls the effective gain of said feedback circuits.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
125 words
In an electrical musical apparatus including a source of musical tone signals in electrical form, a signal utilizing device, and a network interconnecting said source and said utilizing device which includes the combination of: a. a capacitor, b. a transistor having its collector and emitter terminals connected to opposite terminals of said capacitor, c. a source of fixed potential connected to the base of said transistor, d. a constant current source connected to the emitter of said transistor, e. a control current source having a low signal impedance, f. a circuit element having a non-linear current voltage relation connected between the emitter of said transistor and said control current source, and g. means for applying operating and signal voltages to the collector of said transistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
125 words
In an electrical musical apparatus including a source of musical tone signals in electrical form, a signal utilizing device, and a network interconnecting said source and said utilizing device which includes the combination of: a. a capacitor, b. a transistor having its collector and emitter terminals connected to opposite terminals of said capacitor, c. a source of fixed potential connected to the base of said transistor, d. a constant current source connected to the emitter of said transistor, e. a control current source having a low signal impedance, f. a circuit element having a non-linear current voltage relation connected between the emitter of said transistor and said control current source, and g. means for applying operating and signal voltages to the collector of said transistor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination according to claim 4 wherein said circuit element comprises the base emitter junction of a second transistor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination according to claim 4 wherein said applying means includes a high impedance current source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination according to claim 6 wherein said high impedance current source consists of a potential source and an inductor connected between said source and the collector of said transistor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
129 words
In an electrical musical apparatus including a source of musical tone signals in electrical form, a signal utilizing device, and a network interconnecting said source and said utilizing device which includes the combination of: a. a capacitor to render the network frequency discriminative including first and second terminals; b. a feedback circuit including a transistor having its emitter connected to said first terminal, its collector to said second terminal, and its base to a fixed potential point; c. control means responsive to an electrical control signal connected to said feedback circuit to control the amount of current feedback to said second terminal by the collector of said transistor and thereby control the effective size of said capacitor; and d. an electrical control signal source connected to said control means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
129 words
In an electrical musical apparatus including a source of musical tone signals in electrical form, a signal utilizing device, and a network interconnecting said source and said utilizing device which includes the combination of: a. a capacitor to render the network frequency discriminative including first and second terminals; b. a feedback circuit including a transistor having its emitter connected to said first terminal, its collector to said second terminal, and its base to a fixed potential point; c. control means responsive to an electrical control signal connected to said feedback circuit to control the amount of current feedback to said second terminal by the collector of said transistor and thereby control the effective size of said capacitor; and d. an electrical control signal source connected to said control means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination according to claim 8 wherein said control means robs a portion of the signal current from the emitter of said transistor with the variation in the output from said control signal source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein said control means include a transistor whose emitter is connected to the emitter of the transistor in said feedback circuit and to a source of D.C. voltage through a constant current D.C. path so the constant current in the D.C. path is shared by the emitters thereof in accordance with the base to emitter drive on said control means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination according to claim 8 wherein said control signal source consists of a low frequency oscillator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination according to claim 11 wherein said control signal source further includes: a. an electronic counter driven by said oscillator; and b. a set of resistors connected between the stages of said counter and a control input to said control means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
123 words
In an electrical apparatus including a source of signals in electrical form, a signal utilizing device, and a network interconnecting said source and said utilizing device which includes the combination of: a. a capacitor, b. a transistor having its collector and emitter terminals connected to opposite terminals of said capacitor, c. a source of fixed potential connected to the base of said transistor, d. a constant current source connected to the emitter of said transistor, e. a control current source having a low signal impedance, f. a circuit element having a non-linear current voltage relation connected between the emitter of said transistor and said control current source, and g. and means for applying operating and signal voltages to the collector of said transistor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
123 words
In an electrical apparatus including a source of signals in electrical form, a signal utilizing device, and a network interconnecting said source and said utilizing device which includes the combination of: a. a capacitor, b. a transistor having its collector and emitter terminals connected to opposite terminals of said capacitor, c. a source of fixed potential connected to the base of said transistor, d. a constant current source connected to the emitter of said transistor, e. a control current source having a low signal impedance, f. a circuit element having a non-linear current voltage relation connected between the emitter of said transistor and said control current source, and g. and means for applying operating and signal voltages to the collector of said transistor.
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) | 1975-08-29 | 1976-02-28 | 1976-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-29 | 1980-02-28 | 1980-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-29 | 1984-02-28 | 1984-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |