US3839592A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plural mode automatic bass system with pedal sustain
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-04-30
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Granted: 1974-10-01
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Expires: 1993-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A system is provided for automatically playing bass notes from accompaniment chords in a plurality of modes and also for playing bass notes with sustain in response to pedals. A scanner is provided to scan a selected one of two sets of playing controls and to stop and cause a bass note to sound when it encounters an actuated control. An automatic rhythm device is provided to restart the scanner for rhythmic modes. In non-rhythmic modes, the scanner is restarted when any control is actuated after the control which stopped it is released. The system also includes a controllable ratio frequency divider to minimize the number of pins required for an integrated circuit pack to implement the system for an electronic organ. Controls are further provided to select any of the following playing modes: A. All chord notes sounded in bass in ascending pitch order. B. All chord notes sounded in bass in ascending and in descending pitch order without repeating highest and lowest pitch notes in succession. C. Highest and lowest pitch notes of chord sounded alternately in the bass. D. Bass notes sound with or without sustain in normal response to operation of pedals. E. Lowest pitch note of chord sounds in the bass.
Inventors
- 👤 A Freeman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:40
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/36; G10H1/38; G10H2210/00; G10H2210/155; G10H2210/321; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
In an electronic musical instrument having a set of playing controls for the notes of a musical scale and an output system including a sound transducer, an improved bass playing system comprising the combination of: a. means coupled to said playing controls for scanning each of said playing controls in turn, said scanning means having an individual position for each of said playing controls; b. means coupled to said playing controls for sensing when any one of said playing controls is actuated; c. means connected to said sensing means for enabling said scanning means to run when any one of said playing controls is actuated; d. means coupled to said scanning means for detecting when the one of said playing controls for which said scanning means is positioned is actuated; e. means connected to said detecting means for stopping said scanning means when said detecting means finds an actuated playing control; and f. means connected to said scanning means and said detecting means for producing a bass tone signal to drive said sound transducer, said bass tone signal being for a note determined by the position of said scanning means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
In an electronic musical instrument having a set of playing controls for the notes of a musical scale and an output system including a sound transducer, an improved bass playing system comprising the combination of: a. means coupled to said playing controls for scanning each of said playing controls in turn, said scanning means having an individual position for each of said playing controls; b. means coupled to said playing controls for sensing when any one of said playing controls is actuated; c. means connected to said sensing means for enabling said scanning means to run when any one of said playing controls is actuated; d. means coupled to said scanning means for detecting when the one of said playing controls for which said scanning means is positioned is actuated; e. means connected to said detecting means for stopping said scanning means when said detecting means finds an actuated playing control; and f. means connected to said scanning means and said detecting means for producing a bass tone signal to drive said sound transducer, said bass tone signal being for a note determined by the position of said scanning means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination according to claim 1 including an automatic rhythm device producing output signals in rhythmic patterns and means coupled to said scanning means for restarting said scanning means in response to a signal from said automatic rhythm device while said stopping means is operated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination according to claim 2 including means connected to said scanning means for controlling the direction in which said scanning means runs through its positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination according to claim 3 wherein said controlling means responds to each operation of said stopping means to reverse the direction of said scanning means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination according to claim 4 including means connected to said scanning means for resetting said scanning means to a predetermined position each time said scanning means starts to run.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination according to claim 3 wherein said controlling means reverses the direction in which said scanning means runs each time said scanning means reaches a predetermined position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination according to claim 6 including means connected to said stopping means for inhibiting its response to the first operation of said detecting means after each change of direction by said controlling means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said producing means includes a controllable ratio frequency divider for shifting the octave range of the output from said producing means, said frequency divider being controlled by said scanning means to divide by different ratios while different octave ranges of said playing controls are being scanned.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said playing controls are comprised of first and second groUps connected in parallel to said scanning means, said first and second groups being energized one at a time by said scanning means, said detecting means being responsive only to actuated playing controls of the one of said groups which is energized.
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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) | 1977-09-30 | 1978-04-01 | 1978-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-30 | 1982-04-01 | 1982-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-30 | 1986-04-01 | 1986-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |