US3774494A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated rhythm teaching machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-06-19
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Granted: 1973-11-27
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Expires: 1992-06-19
Abstract
Abstract An automated rhythm teaching machine in the general form of a magnetic tape player employes digital circuits for monitoring a students attack and release against an attack and release standard carried on the magnetic tape and grades the performance of the student. In one embodiment the machine is adapted to hold the students exercise book which has printed rhythm exercise corresponding to the rhythm exercise magnetically recorded on the tape. In another embodiment, the rhythm exercise is both visually and magnetically recorded on the tape and projected in enlarged form upon a screen for the students use in performing the exercise.
Inventors
- 👤 J Reid
- 👤 R Muehleman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:53
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B15/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
220 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus comprising: a visual musical exercise means including sheet material having a rhythm pattern of notes printed thereon having attacks and releases; a magnetic recording including a first channel having signals recorded corresponding to the exercise rhythm pattern, and a second channel having metronome signals recorded at least for an introduction to the exercise to condition a student to the correct tempo; first means to read said first channel and operable in response to the signals recorded in said first channel to provide attack and release standard signals each having a width corresponding to a predetermined tolerance interval; second means to read said second channel and operable to provide the student with an audible representation of signals recorded in said second channel; third means receiving sounds played by a student and operable in response thereto to produce signals corresponding to the student attack response and the student release response; fourth means connected to said first and third means, said fourth means operable in response to coincidence of student response and standard attack signals and coincidence of student response and standard release signals to indicate such coincidence; means for holding said visual exercise means; and fifth means mounted adjacent said holding means and responsive to a predetermined number of student response and standard coincidences to mark said sheet material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
220 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus comprising: a visual musical exercise means including sheet material having a rhythm pattern of notes printed thereon having attacks and releases; a magnetic recording including a first channel having signals recorded corresponding to the exercise rhythm pattern, and a second channel having metronome signals recorded at least for an introduction to the exercise to condition a student to the correct tempo; first means to read said first channel and operable in response to the signals recorded in said first channel to provide attack and release standard signals each having a width corresponding to a predetermined tolerance interval; second means to read said second channel and operable to provide the student with an audible representation of signals recorded in said second channel; third means receiving sounds played by a student and operable in response thereto to produce signals corresponding to the student attack response and the student release response; fourth means connected to said first and third means, said fourth means operable in response to coincidence of student response and standard attack signals and coincidence of student response and standard release signals to indicate such coincidence; means for holding said visual exercise means; and fifth means mounted adjacent said holding means and responsive to a predetermined number of student response and standard coincidences to mark said sheet material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
101 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and third means each include respective pulse means operable in response to signals recorded in said first channel and note sounds played by the student, respectively, to provide corresponding attack and release standard pulses and student attack and release response pulses, and said fourth means includes attack comparison means for sensing the occurrence of a student attack response pulse within the predetermined interval of an attack standard pulse, and release comparison means for sensing the occurrence of a student release response pulse within the predetermined interval of a release standard pulse.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said fourth means further comprises counting means operated by each of said attack comparision means and release comparison means to count the number of student attack and release responses occurring within the respective predetermined tolerance intervals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said fourth means includes display means connected to said counting means for displaying the count thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said fourth means further includes means for sensing early and late relationships between student response pulses and standard pulses, other counting means for counting such relationships, and other display means for displaying the content of said other countings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic recording is a magnetic tape and said visual exercise means comprises a second tape bonded to and carried by said magnetic tape and has said rhythm pattern printed thereon in substantial registry with the corresponding signals recorded in said first channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
Rhythm teaching Apparatus according to claim 6, comprising a projector including a projection screen, said projector disposed adjacent said second tape and including means for illuminating said second tape and means for projecting an enlarged image of said second tape on said screen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first means comprises a second channel pickup device for providing the rhythm pattern signals as electrical voltage signals, amplifier means connected to said second channel pickup device, a differentiator connected to said amplifier means for providing trigger pulses in response to the attack and release standards represented by the electrical voltage signals, and pulse means operable in response to said trigger pulses to produce said attack and release standard signals as pulses having a width corresponding to said predetermined tolerance interval.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said pulse means includes monostable multivibrator means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said pulse means includes adjustable monostable multivibrator means for adjusting said predetermined tolerance interval.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said third means comprises a microphone for changing the student played note sounds to corresponding electrical voltage signals, amplifier means connected to said microphone, a differentiator connected to said amplifier means for providing trigger pulses in response to each attack and release represented by said electrical voltage signals, and pulse means operable in response to said trigger pulses to produce said student attack and student release response signals as student attack response pulses and student release response pulses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said pulse means includes monostable multivibrator means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said pulse means includes adjustable monostable multivibrator means for providing adjustable pulse width for said student attack and release response pulses.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second means includes a second channel puckup device, a headset type transducer and amplifier means connecting said transducer to said second channel pickup device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
209 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus comprising: a visual musical exercise means including a rhythm pattern of notes having attacks and releases; a magnetic recording including a first channel having signals recorded corresponding to the exercise rhythm pattern, and a second channel having metronome signals recorded at least for an introduction to the exercise to condition a student to the correct tempo; first means to read said first channel and operable in response to the signals recorded in said first channel to provide attack and release standard signals each having a width corresponding to a predetermined tolerance interval; second means to read said second channel and operable to provide the student with an audible representation of signals recorded in said second channel; third means receiving sounds played by a student and operable in response thereto to produce signals corresponding to the student attack response and the student release response; fourth means connected to said first and third means, said fourth means operable in response to coincidence of student response and standard attack signals and coincidence of student response and standard release signals to indicate such coincidence; and a foot pedal for receiving a foot of the student, said second means including means for operating said foot pedal in response to metronome signals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
209 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus comprising: a visual musical exercise means including a rhythm pattern of notes having attacks and releases; a magnetic recording including a first channel having signals recorded corresponding to the exercise rhythm pattern, and a second channel having metronome signals recorded at least for an introduction to the exercise to condition a student to the correct tempo; first means to read said first channel and operable in response to the signals recorded in said first channel to provide attack and release standard signals each having a width corresponding to a predetermined tolerance interval; second means to read said second channel and operable to provide the student with an audible representation of signals recorded in said second channel; third means receiving sounds played by a student and operable in response thereto to produce signals corresponding to the student attack response and the student release response; fourth means connected to said first and third means, said fourth means operable in response to coincidence of student response and standard attack signals and coincidence of student response and standard release signals to indicate such coincidence; and a foot pedal for receiving a foot of the student, said second means including means for operating said foot pedal in response to metronome signals.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
51 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said magnetic recording is a magnetic tape and said visual exercise means comprises a second tape bonded to and carried by said magnetic tape and having said rhythm pattern printed thereon in substantial registry with the corresponding signals recorded in said first channel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus according to claim 16, comprising a projector including a projection screen, said projector disposed adjacent said second tape and including means for illuminating said second tape and means for projecting an enlarged image of said second tape on said screen.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
220 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus comprising: a visual musical exercise means including a rhythm pattern of notes having attacks and releases; a magnetic recording including a first channel having signals recorded corresponding to the exercise rhythm pattern, and a second channel having metronome signals recorded at least for an introduction to the exercise to condition a student to the correct tempo; first means to read said first channel and operable in response to the signals recorded in said first channel to provide attack and release standard signals each having a width corresponding to a predetermined tolerance interval; second means to read said second channel and operable to provide the student with an audible representation of signals recorded in said second channel; third means receiving sounds played by a student and operable in response thereto to produce signals corresponding to the student attack response and the student release response; fourth means connected to said first and third means, said fourth means operable in response to coincidence of student response and standard attack signals and coincidence of student response and standard release signals to indicate such coincidence; an exercise performance validation sheet; means for holding said validation sheet; and fifth means mounted adjacent said holding means and responsive to a predetermined number of said coincidences to place a validation mark on said validation sheet.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
220 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus comprising: a visual musical exercise means including a rhythm pattern of notes having attacks and releases; a magnetic recording including a first channel having signals recorded corresponding to the exercise rhythm pattern, and a second channel having metronome signals recorded at least for an introduction to the exercise to condition a student to the correct tempo; first means to read said first channel and operable in response to the signals recorded in said first channel to provide attack and release standard signals each having a width corresponding to a predetermined tolerance interval; second means to read said second channel and operable to provide the student with an audible representation of signals recorded in said second channel; third means receiving sounds played by a student and operable in response thereto to produce signals corresponding to the student attack response and the student release response; fourth means connected to said first and third means, said fourth means operable in response to coincidence of student response and standard attack signals and coincidence of student response and standard release signals to indicate such coincidence; an exercise performance validation sheet; means for holding said validation sheet; and fifth means mounted adjacent said holding means and responsive to a predetermined number of said coincidences to place a validation mark on said validation sheet.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said magnetic recording is a magnetic tape and said visual exercise means comprises a second tape bonded to and carried by said magnetic tape and having said rhythm pattern printed thereon in substantial registry with the corresponding signals recorded in said first channel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
43 words
Rhythm teaching apparatus according to claim 19, comprising a projector including a projection screen, said projector disposed adjacent said second tape and including means for illuminating said second tape and means for projecting an enlarged image of said second tape on said screen.
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) | 1976-11-26 | 1977-05-28 | 1977-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-26 | 1981-05-28 | 1981-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-26 | 1985-05-28 | 1985-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |