US3711618A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic harmony apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-02-22
•
Granted: 1973-01-16
•
Expires: 1991-02-22
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for use with electronic organs and the like which selects chords automatically in response to melody and other playing on the instrument and which sounds harmony, selected by automatic or manual means, in prescribed relations to the melody being played. The apparatus responds intelligently to melody and other playing in a preselected musical key to select chords from a preselected set in a normal progression order. The apparatus is responsive to an Automatic Rhythm Device for sounding parts of the selected chords in different pitch ranges in various rhythmic patterns including the sounding of the root and fifth parts alternately in the bass. Notes played manually on the instrument add to or replace the notes of the automatically selected chords and the apparatus sounds either or both manually and automatically selected chords and the apparatus sounds either or both manually and automatically selected notes in either close or open harmony relation to the melody being played.
Inventors
- 👤 A Freeman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:40
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/36; G10H1/38; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
In an electronic musical instrument having a set of playing keys for the notes of a musical scale in each of a plurality of octave locations, the combination of: a. means for sounding said notes in each of their octave locations, b. means coupled to said sounding means for enabling the sounding of selected notes in each of a plurality of octave locations, c. means coupled to said sounDing means for activating the sounding of each said enabled notes in an octave location responsive to a control voltage, and d. means coupled to said applying means for applying a control voltage to said actuating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
In an electronic musical instrument having a set of playing keys for the notes of a musical scale in each of a plurality of octave locations, the combination of: a. means for sounding said notes in each of their octave locations, b. means coupled to said sounding means for enabling the sounding of selected notes in each of a plurality of octave locations, c. means coupled to said sounDing means for activating the sounding of each said enabled notes in an octave location responsive to a control voltage, and d. means coupled to said applying means for applying a control voltage to said actuating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said selected notes are those for which a playing key is operated in any octave location.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination according to claim 2 wherein said activating means includes means for limiting the sounding of each note to one octave location at a time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said applying means is responsive to the highest pitch playing key operated and produces a control voltage which is a function of the pitch location of said highest pitch playing key.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination according to claim 4 including means for shifting the relation between said highest pitch playing key operated and the octave locations for said activating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination according to claim 5 wherein said shifting means changes said relation by four semi tone intervals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination according to claim 4 wherein said activating means is responsive to a voltage and said changing means alters the voltage to said activating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination according to claim 1 including means for selecting chords and wherein said selected notes are the notes of the current chord of said selecting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination according to claim 8 wherein said selecting means comprises means for driving said enabling means for the notes of a different chord of each of a set of conditions, and means for changing said driving means from one condition to another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination according to claim 9 wherein said changing means is responsive to operation of said playing keys.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination according to claim 9 including means for sensing operation of playing keys for notes incompatible with the chord for the current condition of said driving means and wherein said changing means is responsive to said sensing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
108 words
In an electronic musical instrument having a set of playing keys for the notes of a musical scale, the combination of: a. means for selecting each of a plurality of chords, b. means coupled to said selecting means and said playing keys for sensing operation of a playing key for a note not compatible with the currently selected chord of said selecting means, c. means coupled to said sensing means and said selecting means for changing said selecting means from one chord to another responsive to said sensing means and, d. means coupled to said selecting means for sounding notes of the current chord of said selecting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
108 words
In an electronic musical instrument having a set of playing keys for the notes of a musical scale, the combination of: a. means for selecting each of a plurality of chords, b. means coupled to said selecting means and said playing keys for sensing operation of a playing key for a note not compatible with the currently selected chord of said selecting means, c. means coupled to said sensing means and said selecting means for changing said selecting means from one chord to another responsive to said sensing means and, d. means coupled to said selecting means for sounding notes of the current chord of said selecting means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination according to claim 12 including means for inhibiting the responsiveness of said changing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination according to claim 13 wherein said inhibiting means is disabled for short intervals following a period during which no playing key is operated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination according to claim 12 wherein said sensing means is limited in operation to short intervals following a period during which no playing key is operated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination according to claim 12 including an auxiliary control and wherein said changing means is also responsive to said auxiliary control.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination according to claim 12 including means for interrupting the sounding of different parts of the chords in different rhythmic sequences.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination according to claim 17 wherein said interrupting means sounds the root and fifth parts of the chords alternately in the bass register.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
77 words
In an electronic musical instrument having a set of playing keys for the notes of a musical scale in each of a plurality of octave locations, the combination of: a. first means coupled to said playing keys for sounding notes in octave locations corresponding to operated playing keys, and b. second means coupled to said playing keys for sounding notes in a particular octave locations responsive to opeRation of their corresponding playing keys in any octave location.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
77 words
In an electronic musical instrument having a set of playing keys for the notes of a musical scale in each of a plurality of octave locations, the combination of: a. first means coupled to said playing keys for sounding notes in octave locations corresponding to operated playing keys, and b. second means coupled to said playing keys for sounding notes in a particular octave locations responsive to opeRation of their corresponding playing keys in any octave location.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
138 words
In an electronic music instrument having a set of playing keys for the notes of a musical scale, a set of tone generators, and an output system, the combination of: a. a set of drivers individually associated with each of the notes of the scale in each of a plurality of octave locations, b. a plurality of keyers coupled to and operable by said drivers to apply signals from said tone generators to said output system, c. means coupled to said drivers for enabling the drivers for selected notes in each of a plurality of octave locations, d. means coupled to said drivers for activating one of said enabled drivers for each of said selected notes in a particular octave location responsive to a control voltage, and e. means for applying a control voltage to said activating means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
138 words
In an electronic music instrument having a set of playing keys for the notes of a musical scale, a set of tone generators, and an output system, the combination of: a. a set of drivers individually associated with each of the notes of the scale in each of a plurality of octave locations, b. a plurality of keyers coupled to and operable by said drivers to apply signals from said tone generators to said output system, c. means coupled to said drivers for enabling the drivers for selected notes in each of a plurality of octave locations, d. means coupled to said drivers for activating one of said enabled drivers for each of said selected notes in a particular octave location responsive to a control voltage, and e. means for applying a control voltage to said activating means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination according to claim 20 including means for shifting the response of said activating means to said applying means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
108 words
In an electronic musical instrument having a set of playing keys for the notes of a musical scale and an output system, the combination of: a. means for producing a plurality of sets of tone signals for different chords to drive said output system, b. a multistable circuit coupled to and controlling said producing means to select a different one of said sets for each of its different stable conditions, and c. means coupled to said multistable circuit for stepping said multistable circuit from one stable condition to the next responsive to operation of different ones of said playing keys for each different condition of said multistable circuit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
108 words
In an electronic musical instrument having a set of playing keys for the notes of a musical scale and an output system, the combination of: a. means for producing a plurality of sets of tone signals for different chords to drive said output system, b. a multistable circuit coupled to and controlling said producing means to select a different one of said sets for each of its different stable conditions, and c. means coupled to said multistable circuit for stepping said multistable circuit from one stable condition to the next responsive to operation of different ones of said playing keys for each different condition of said multistable circuit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
58 words
The combination according to claim 22 including means coupled to said playing keys and said multistable circuit for sensing operation of playing keys for notes incompatible with the set of signals from said producing means for the current stable condition of said multistable circuit, and wherein said stepping means is coupled to and responsive to said sensing means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination according to claim 22 including means for interrupting different signals from said producing means in different rhythmic sequences.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The combination according to claim 24 wherein said interrupting means causes signals for the root and fifth chord parts in a bass register of the sets to occur alternately.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination according to claim 24 wherein said interrupting means includes an automatic rhythm device.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
68 words
In an electronic musical instrument having a set of playing controls and an output system, the combination of: a. means coupled to said playing controls and responsive to actuation of any one of said playing controls for selecting a set of signals including those for a chord, and b. means coupled to said selecting means for producing said selected signals in rhythmic patterns to drive said output system.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
68 words
In an electronic musical instrument having a set of playing controls and an output system, the combination of: a. means coupled to said playing controls and responsive to actuation of any one of said playing controls for selecting a set of signals including those for a chord, and b. means coupled to said selecting means for producing said selected signals in rhythmic patterns to drive said output system.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination according to claim 27 wherein said set includes signals for a plurality of base notes and said set includes signals for a plurality of base notes and said producing means applied said signals one at a time in turn to said output system.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination according to claim 28 wherein said signals are for the root and fifth parts of a chord.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-16 | 1976-07-17 | 1977-01-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-16 | 1980-07-17 | 1981-01-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-16 | 1984-07-17 | 1985-01-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |