US3694562A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic ensemble device for a keyboard electronic musical instrument
Assignee: Nippon Gakki Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1971-04-12
•
Granted: 1972-09-26
•
Expires: 1991-04-12
Abstract
Abstract On a keyboard electronic musical instrument, when a melody and chords are played, there is automatically produced an additional line of melody consisting of tones each being a member of the associated chord, thereby accomplishing harmonization to the original melody. The device comprises: A FIRST KEY SWITCH CIRCUIT INCLUDING KEY SWITCHES EACH HAVING A NORMALLY OPEN CONTACT CONNECTED TO THE TONE GENERATOR OF THE ASSOCIATED TONE, A NORMALLY CLOSED CONTACT AND A TRANSFER CONTACT, THE NORMALLY CLOSED CONTACT BEING CONNECTED TO THE TRANSFER CONTACT OF A LOWER ADJACENT TONE KEY SWITCH; AND A SECOND KEY SWITCH CIRCUIT INCLUDING KEY SWITCHES EACH CONNECTED TO THE TRANSFER CONTACT OF THE KEY SWITCH OF A MAJOR SECOND LOWER TONE IN THE FIRST KEY SWITCH CIRCUIT AND TO A SUCCEEDING STAGE SUCH AS A TONE COLORING CIRCUIT.
Inventors
- 👤 Ryo Hiyma
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:39
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/36; G10H1/38; G10H1/383; G10H2210/00; G10H2210/155; G10H2210/245; G10H2210/261; G10H2210/571; G10H2210/616; G10H2210/626; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
In combination with a keyboard electronic musical instrument of the type having a plurality of tone generators and melody and chord sections and melody and chord keys, an automatic ensemble section comprising: a first key switch circuit interconnected with said chord keys and operative in response to depression of chord keys to establish connections to tone generators equal in number to the number of tones in the chord and having the same letter designation; and, a second key switch circuit interconnected with said melody keys and said first key switch circuit and operative in response to depression of said melody keys to select one of said tone generators connected to said firsT key switch circuit by said chord section; whereby upon simultaneous depression of keys in said chord and melody sections, an ensemble tone in addition to the chord and melody tones is automatically produced, said ensemble tone being always of the same letter designation as one of the tones produced by said chord section and always differing in pitch with and being in harmony with the tones produced by said melody section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
In combination with a keyboard electronic musical instrument of the type having a plurality of tone generators and melody and chord sections and melody and chord keys, an automatic ensemble section comprising: a first key switch circuit interconnected with said chord keys and operative in response to depression of chord keys to establish connections to tone generators equal in number to the number of tones in the chord and having the same letter designation; and, a second key switch circuit interconnected with said melody keys and said first key switch circuit and operative in response to depression of said melody keys to select one of said tone generators connected to said firsT key switch circuit by said chord section; whereby upon simultaneous depression of keys in said chord and melody sections, an ensemble tone in addition to the chord and melody tones is automatically produced, said ensemble tone being always of the same letter designation as one of the tones produced by said chord section and always differing in pitch with and being in harmony with the tones produced by said melody section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The combination defined by claim 1 in which said first key switch circuit includes a plurality of fixed contacts connected to said tone generators, a second plurality of fixed contacts connected to said second key switch circuit and a plurality of movable switch members for bridging corresponding ones of said fixed contacts in response to depression of said chord keys, said movable switch members normally connecting said second plurality of contacts together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination defined by claim 2 in which said second key switch circuit includes a plurality of normally open switches selectively closed by depression of said melody keys and connected to said movable switch members of said first key switch circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination defined by claim 1 including a plurality of relay coils connected to be energized by depression of said keys, said coils controlling said first and second key switch circuits.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination defined by claim 4 including latching means operative upon depression of said chord keys for holding said relay coils energized until a succeeding chord is played.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination defined by claim 5 in which said latching means comprises a plurality of flip-flop circuits.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2681585A
Cited
US3000252A
Cited
US3049959A
Cited
US3222447A
Cited
US3215767A
Cited
US3488515A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-26 | 1976-03-27 | 1976-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-26 | 1980-03-27 | 1980-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-26 | 1984-03-27 | 1984-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |