Patent US3816636A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3816636A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic musical instrument with plural rc circuits for decay
Assignee: TDK Micronas GmbH
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Filing: 1973-04-05
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Granted: 1974-06-11
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Expires: 1993-04-05
Abstract
Abstract An electronic circuit is disclosed to produce an output voltage which controls the volume of a note produced by a struck key as determined by the velocity with which the key is struck. The electronic circuit includes a changeover switch, changing between two predetermined voltages, coupled to each key of the musical instrument keyboard. The wiper of the switch is connected to ground by a series circuit including a parallel RC network and the cathode-to-anode path of a first diode. A second diode is connected in parallel with the RC network with its cathode being connected to the cathode of the first diode and the output voltage is taken off the cathode of the first diode by the anodeto-cathode path of a third diode. The cathode of this third diode is connected by a second capacitor to ground and is also subjected to an adjustable control voltage.
Inventors
- 👤 G Peltz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:49
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/02; G10H1/04; G10H1/053; G10H1/057
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A circuit arrangement for influencing the volume of a struck tone of an electronic keyboard instrument depending on the keystriking velocity comprising: a changeover switch for each key of said keyboard instrument, each of said changeover switches being directly connected to its associated one of said keys and each of said changeover switches having a wiper, a break contact connected to a first direct current voltage, and a make contact connected to a second direct current voltage; a parallel resistor-capacitor network connected to said wiper; ground potential; a first diode having its cathode-to-anode path connected between said parallel network and said ground potential; a second diode connected in parallel to said parallel network having its cathode connected to the cathode of said first diode; a third diode having its anode connected to the cathode of said first and second diodes, said third diode providing at its cathode a voltage determining the volume of the struck tone; a capacitor connected between said ground potential and the cathode of said third diode; an adjustable control voltage source; and a first resistor connected between said source and the cathode of said third diode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
A circuit arrangement for influencing the volume of a struck tone of an electronic keyboard instrument depending on the keystriking velocity comprising: a changeover switch for each key of said keyboard instrument, each of said changeover switches being directly connected to its associated one of said keys and each of said changeover switches having a wiper, a break contact connected to a first direct current voltage, and a make contact connected to a second direct current voltage; a parallel resistor-capacitor network connected to said wiper; ground potential; a first diode having its cathode-to-anode path connected between said parallel network and said ground potential; a second diode connected in parallel to said parallel network having its cathode connected to the cathode of said first diode; a third diode having its anode connected to the cathode of said first and second diodes, said third diode providing at its cathode a voltage determining the volume of the struck tone; a capacitor connected between said ground potential and the cathode of said third diode; an adjustable control voltage source; and a first resistor connected between said source and the cathode of said third diode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
A circuit arrangement according to claim 1, further including a fourth diode having its anode-to-cathode path connected between the cathode of said third diode and said first resistor; an auxiliary potential; a voltage divider connected between said auxiliary potential and said wiper; and a fifth diode having its cathode-to-anode path connected between the cathode of said fourth diode and a tap of said voltage divider.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A circuit arrangement according to claim 2, further including an impedance converter connected between the anode of said fifth diode and said tap of said voltage divider.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A circuit arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said impedance converter is an emitter follower transistor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
A circuit arrangement according to claim 1, further including an npn transistor having its emitter-to-collector path connected in parallel with the anode-to-cathode path of said third diode; and a switch having a first position to open-circuit the base of said npn transistor and to simultaneously connect the anode of said first diode to said ground potential and a second position to connect the base of said npn transistor to said ground potential and to simultaneously open circuit the anode of said first diode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A circuit arrangement according to claim 5, further including a collector resistor connected between the collector of said npn transistor and the cathode of said third diode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A circuit arrangement according to claim 1, further including a series resistor connected between said wiper and said parallel network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said adjustable voltage source is an adjustable direct current voltage source, said first resistor being directly connected to said adjustable direct current voltage source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A circuit arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said adjustable voltage source is a source of square wave voltage having an adjustable mark-to-space ratio, said first resistor being connected to said source of square wave voltage by a buffer diode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-10 | 1977-12-10 | 1978-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-10 | 1981-12-10 | 1982-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-10 | 1985-12-10 | 1986-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |