Patent US3825668A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3825668A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronic musical instrument capable of providing a third type of musical tones by operation of two keyboards in addition to the ordinary melody and chord tones
Assignee: Nippon Gakki Co Ltd
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Filing: 1973-05-29
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Granted: 1974-07-23
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Expires: 1993-05-29
Abstract
Abstract In an electronic musical instrument equipped with a first keyboard for melody performance and a second keyboard for chord performance, operation of the first keyboard is detected directly or indirectly by a detector to produce a control or detection signal. Tone signals derived from the tone generators by operation of the second keyboard are branched to a gate which is enabled by the control signal so as to cause operation of both first and second keyboards to attain the production of a third type of musical tones in addition to the ordinary melody and chord tones. Output tone signals from the gate may be supplied with a sustaining or percussive envelope and modulated in amplitude or frequency.
Inventors
- 👤 S Okamoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 21:48
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/02; G10H1/04; G10H1/36; G10H1/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
An electronic musical instrument comprising: a first keyboard means provided with a plurality of keys; a second keyboard means provided with a plurality of keys; a plurality of tone generators; a first keyer means coupled to said first keyboard means and to said tone generators for selectively deriving tone signals from said tone generators in response to key operation on said first keyboard; a second keyer means coupled to said second keyboard means and to said tone generators for selectively deriving tone signals from said tone generators in response to key operation on said second keyboard; detection means coupled to said first keyboard means for detecting the operation of said first keyboard to produce a control signal; at least one gate means having input, output and control terminals, said input terminal of said gate means being coupled to said second keyer means to receive at least a portion of output tone signals from said second keyer means, said control terminal of said gate means being coupled to said detection means to receive said control signal whereby said gate means is enabled in response to said control signal to conduct the input tone signal from said input terminal of said gate means to said output terminal of said gate means; and means coupled to the outputs of said gate means and to the outputs of said first and second keyer means for producing an audio signal corresponding to the electrical signals fed thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
An electronic musical instrument comprising: a first keyboard means provided with a plurality of keys; a second keyboard means provided with a plurality of keys; a plurality of tone generators; a first keyer means coupled to said first keyboard means and to said tone generators for selectively deriving tone signals from said tone generators in response to key operation on said first keyboard; a second keyer means coupled to said second keyboard means and to said tone generators for selectively deriving tone signals from said tone generators in response to key operation on said second keyboard; detection means coupled to said first keyboard means for detecting the operation of said first keyboard to produce a control signal; at least one gate means having input, output and control terminals, said input terminal of said gate means being coupled to said second keyer means to receive at least a portion of output tone signals from said second keyer means, said control terminal of said gate means being coupled to said detection means to receive said control signal whereby said gate means is enabled in response to said control signal to conduct the input tone signal from said input terminal of said gate means to said output terminal of said gate means; and means coupled to the outputs of said gate means and to the outputs of said first and second keyer means for producing an audio signal corresponding to the electrical signals fed thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein: said detection means produces said control signal with a percussive envelope; and said gate means includes a field effect transistor having a drain and a source defining a conduction path therebetween and a gate receiving said control signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein: said detection means produces said control signal with a sustaining envelope and said gate means includes a field effect transistor having a drain and a source defining a conduction path therebetween and a gate receiving said control signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
100 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said detection means includes: a plurality of key switches actuated by operation of said keys of said first keyboard; a plurality of trigger signal generator means coupled to said key switches for producing a trigger signal when at least one key switch is Actuated; means coupled to said trigger signal generator means for producing a pulse signal having a predetermined pulse width in response to said trigger signal; and means coupled to said pulse signal generator means for differentiating said pulse signal to generate said control signal having a percussive envelope.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said detection means includes: means for amplifying output signals from said first keyer means; and a rectifying circuit for rectifying the output signals from said amplifying means to produce a control signal having a sustaining envelope.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said detection means includes: means for amplifying output signals from said first keyer means; means coupled to said amplifying means for rectifying output signals from said amplifying means; and a differentiation circuit coupled to said rectifying means for differentiating an output signal from said rectifying means to generate a control signal having a percussive envelope.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 further comprising means connected to receive an output signal from said gate means for modulating said gate means output signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said gate means includes at least a first and a second gate circuit, said first gate circuit imparting a percussive envelope to an output signal from said second keyer means in response to said control signal from said detection means, and said second gate circuit imparting a sustaining envelope to said output signal from said second keyer means in response to said control signal from said detection means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 8 further comprising means coupled to receive output signals from said first and second gate circuits for modulating said output signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 9 further comprising: a first stop switch coupled between said modulating means and said first gate circuit and a second stop switch coupled between said modulating means and said second gate circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein: said detection means comprises a plurality of detection units so arranged as to match a plurality of compasses of said first keyboard; said gate means includes a plurality of gate circuits so provided as to correspond to said plural detection units; and said second keyer means has a plurality of outputs for coupling out tone signals having different feet, said plurality of outputs being connected to the input terminals of respective ones of said plurality of gate circuits.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 11 wherein said first keyboard is separated into a plurality of one-octave compasses.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein output signals from the first and second keyer means and gate means are coupled to first, second and third tone coloring filters means respectively.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 9 further comprising: a first volume control means coupled between said modulating means and said first gate circuit and a second volume control means coupled between said modulating means and said second gate circuit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said first keyboard is adapted for melody performance and said second keyboard is adapted for chord performance.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said detection means is coupled to said first keyboard means through said first keyer means, said detection means detecting operation of said first keyboard means by detecting outputs from said first keyer means.
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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) | 1977-07-22 | 1978-01-21 | 1978-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-22 | 1982-01-21 | 1982-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-22 | 1986-01-21 | 1986-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |