US3743756A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of producing tones of a preferably substantially equal-tempered scale
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1971-08-12
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Granted: 1973-07-03
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Expires: 1991-08-12
Abstract
Abstract A device for producing the tones of a musical scale from a single tone generator using a series-connected group of digital dividers for successively dividing the generated tone by 2n. The output pulses of selected dividers are combined in logic circuits to form the individual frequencies of the musical scale.
Inventors
- 👤 N Franssen
- 👤 W Ruiterkamp
- 👤 Der Peet C Van
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:17
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H5/00; G10H5/02; G10H5/06; G10H2210/00; G10H2210/395; G10H2210/415; G10H2210/435; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of simultaneously producing all the tones of a musical scale, comprising the steps of generating a first tone at least as high as the highest required tone, dividing the first tone by a pluraLity of different factors, each equal to 2n, where n is an integer while maintaining the absolute pulse width of each divided tone equal to the absolute pulse width of the first generated tone, thereby forming a plurality of pulse sequences, and combining selected groups of the pulse sequences as a sequence of individual pulses equal to the algebraic sum of the sequences of individual pulses within a selected group to produce from each combined group a single tone of the musical scale.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of simultaneously producing all the tones of a musical scale, comprising the steps of generating a first tone at least as high as the highest required tone, dividing the first tone by a pluraLity of different factors, each equal to 2n, where n is an integer while maintaining the absolute pulse width of each divided tone equal to the absolute pulse width of the first generated tone, thereby forming a plurality of pulse sequences, and combining selected groups of the pulse sequences as a sequence of individual pulses equal to the algebraic sum of the sequences of individual pulses within a selected group to produce from each combined group a single tone of the musical scale.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of combining selected groups of the pulse sequences comprises adding the pulse sequence of the selected groups.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of dividing comprises dividing the frequency of the generated first tone by a factor of two to form a first pulse sequence, and dividing the frequencies of each formed pulse sequence by a factor of two to form the plurality of pulse sequences.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of dividing the frequencies of each formed pulse sequence further comprises positioning with respect to time the pulses of each pulse group, approximately midway between two adjacent pulses of the pulse group having the next highest frequency.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
169 words
A device for simultaneously producing all the tones of a musical scale, comprising means for generating a first pulse sequence having a constant frequency at least as high as the highest tone of the scale, each pulse of the first pulse sequence having a pulse width approximately equal to 50 percent of the period thereof, a plurality of frequency divider means connected to the pulse sequence generator for providing an output frequency equal to one half that of the input frequency and an output absolute pulse width equal to the absolute pulse width of the first pulse sequence, means for connecting the dividers in series with an output of each divider connected to an input of another divider, a plurality of or-gates each corresponding to a tone of the musical scale, and means for connecting the equal absolute pulse width outputs of different groups of selected dividers to inputs of corresponding or-gates, thereby forming pulse trains corresponding to the tones of the scale at the outputs of the or-gates.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
169 words
A device for simultaneously producing all the tones of a musical scale, comprising means for generating a first pulse sequence having a constant frequency at least as high as the highest tone of the scale, each pulse of the first pulse sequence having a pulse width approximately equal to 50 percent of the period thereof, a plurality of frequency divider means connected to the pulse sequence generator for providing an output frequency equal to one half that of the input frequency and an output absolute pulse width equal to the absolute pulse width of the first pulse sequence, means for connecting the dividers in series with an output of each divider connected to an input of another divider, a plurality of or-gates each corresponding to a tone of the musical scale, and means for connecting the equal absolute pulse width outputs of different groups of selected dividers to inputs of corresponding or-gates, thereby forming pulse trains corresponding to the tones of the scale at the outputs of the or-gates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
179 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein each of said dividers comprises six AND-gates, means for connecting the input of the divider to inputs of the first and second AND-gates, means for cross-coupling the first and second AND-gates, means for connecting the output of the first AND-gate to inputs of the third and fifth AND-gates, means for connecting the output of the second AND-gate to inputs of the fourth and sixth AND-gates, means for cross-coupling the third and fourth AND-gates, means for connecting the output of the third AND-gate to an input of the fifth AND-gate, means for connecting the output of the fourth AND-gate to an input of the sixth AND-gate, means for connecting the output of the fifth AND-gate to an input of the first AND-gate, means for connecting an output of the sixth AND-gate to an input of the second AND-gate, means for connecting the output of the fifth AND-gate to an output terminal of the divider, and means for connecting the output of the sixth AND-gate to a second output terminal of the divider.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the frequency of the means for generating the first pulse sequence is equal to N times the highest tone of the scale, and further comprising a separate digital divider having a division factor of N connected to the output of each or-gate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the means for generating the first pulse sequence is continuously and step wise detunable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
A musical instrument provided with a device as claimed in claim 5.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
85 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the serially connected output of each divider means provides an output frequency equal to one half the frequency on the input Terminal thereof and an output absolute pulse width equal to the input period, and wherein each divider means further comprises a pulse width converter means connected to the means for generating the first pulse sequence for reducing the absolute pulse width of each divider means to approximately the absolute pulse width of the first pulse sequence.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
103 words
A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pulse width converter means comprises a separate AND-gate corresponding to each divider means and having an input terminal connected to the serially connected output terminal of each corresponding divider means, each AND-gate having a second input terminal connected to the means for generating the first pulse sequence, and means for connecting an output of each AND-gate to an input terminal of each AND-gate corresponding to a lower frequency, the outputs of each AND-gate comprising a pulse series, each having an absolute pulse width equal to one half the period of the first pulse sequence.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
87 words
A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein each pulse width converter means comprises a bistable device switchable to a first stable state in response to an input pulse on a first input thereof and switchable to a second stable state in response to a pulse on a second input thereof, means for connecting an output of each divider to the second input of a corresponding bistable element, and means for connecting the pulses of the first pulse sequence to the first input of each bistable element.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
177 words
A device for simultaneously producing all the tones of a musical scale, comprising means for generating a first pulse sequence having a constant frequency at least as high as the highest tone of the scale, each pulse of the first pulse sequence having a pulse width of approximately 50% of the period thereof, a plurality of frequency dividers each having an output frequency equal to one half that of the input frequency applied thereto and having an output absolute pulse width smaller than 150 percent of the period of the first pulse sequence and at least as large as the absolute pulse width of the input pulses applied thereto, means for connecting the dividers in series with the output of each divider connected to the input of a different divider, and logic circuits corresponding to each tone of the musical scale, and means for connecting the outputs of different groups of dividers to the inputs of corresponding logic circuits, thereby forming pulse trains corresponding to the tones of the scale at the output of the logic circuits.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
177 words
A device for simultaneously producing all the tones of a musical scale, comprising means for generating a first pulse sequence having a constant frequency at least as high as the highest tone of the scale, each pulse of the first pulse sequence having a pulse width of approximately 50% of the period thereof, a plurality of frequency dividers each having an output frequency equal to one half that of the input frequency applied thereto and having an output absolute pulse width smaller than 150 percent of the period of the first pulse sequence and at least as large as the absolute pulse width of the input pulses applied thereto, means for connecting the dividers in series with the output of each divider connected to the input of a different divider, and logic circuits corresponding to each tone of the musical scale, and means for connecting the outputs of different groups of dividers to the inputs of corresponding logic circuits, thereby forming pulse trains corresponding to the tones of the scale at the output of the logic circuits.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
179 words
A device as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of said dividers comprises six AND-gates, means for connecting the input of the divider to inputs of the first and second AND-gates, means for cross-coupling the first and second AND-gates, means for connecting the output of the first AND-gate to inputs of the third and fifth AND-gates, means for connecting the output of the second AND-gate to inputs of the fourth and sixth AND-gates, means for cross-coupling the third and fourth AND-gates, means for connecting the output of the third AND-gate to an input of the fifth AND-gate, means for connecting the output of the fourth AND-gate to an input of the sixth AND-gate, means for connecting the output of the fifth AND-gate to an input of the first AND-gate, means for connecting an output of the sixth AND-gate to an input of the second AND-gate, means for connecting the output of the fifth AND-gate to an output terminal of the divider, and means for connecting the output of the sixth AND-gate to a second output terminal of the divider.
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) | 1976-07-02 | 1977-01-01 | 1977-07-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-02 | 1981-01-01 | 1981-07-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-02 | 1985-01-01 | 1985-07-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |