US3842702A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic musical instrument with variable frequency division
Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1973-06-01
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Granted: 1974-10-22
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Expires: 1993-06-01
Abstract
Abstract An electronic musical instrument includes a high frequency generator for generating a high frequency pulse signal, an encoder for generating logic code units corresponding to a tone of a musical scale in response to an input musical-scale-control signal applied to an input terminal thereof, a variable divider for dividing the frequency of the high frequency pulse signal generated by the high frequency generator by an interger determined by the logic code units applied to the program terminals thereof, and a memory means for memorizing the musicalscale-control signal or a signal essentially equivalent to the logic code which is applied to the program terminals of the variable divider. The signal memorized in the memory is retained even after the musical-scale-control signal ceases until a succeeding musical control signal is generated.
Inventors
- 👤 M Tsundoo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:27
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H5/00; G10H5/02; G10H5/06; H; H03; H03K; H03K23/00; H03K23/64; H03K23/66; H03K23/665; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
An electronic musical instrument with variable frequency division, comprising: a high frequency generator for generating high frequency pulse signal; a variable divider coupled to said generator for dividing the frequency of said high frequency pulse signal generated by said generator by one of a plurality integral number factors according to one of a plurality of logic code subsets containing a plurality of bits applied to program terminals thereof, said logic code subsets corresponding to said number factors for producing tone signals corresponding to tones of a musical scale; an encoder coupled to said variable divider for generating said logic code and supplying a logic code subset to the program terminals of said variable divider; control means coupled to said encoder for supplying to said encoder an input musical-scale-control signal for causing said encloder to generate a logic code subset corresponding to the control signal; and a memory means coupled to said encoder for memorizing the logic code subset which is supplied to said program terminals of said variable divider so as to cause said variable divider to continue to produce a tone signal in response to said musicalscale-control signal, even after said musical-scale-control signal ceases and until a succeeding musical-scale-control signal is supplied.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
An electronic musical instrument with variable frequency division, comprising: a high frequency generator for generating high frequency pulse signal; a variable divider coupled to said generator for dividing the frequency of said high frequency pulse signal generated by said generator by one of a plurality integral number factors according to one of a plurality of logic code subsets containing a plurality of bits applied to program terminals thereof, said logic code subsets corresponding to said number factors for producing tone signals corresponding to tones of a musical scale; an encoder coupled to said variable divider for generating said logic code and supplying a logic code subset to the program terminals of said variable divider; control means coupled to said encoder for supplying to said encoder an input musical-scale-control signal for causing said encloder to generate a logic code subset corresponding to the control signal; and a memory means coupled to said encoder for memorizing the logic code subset which is supplied to said program terminals of said variable divider so as to cause said variable divider to continue to produce a tone signal in response to said musicalscale-control signal, even after said musical-scale-control signal ceases and until a succeeding musical-scale-control signal is supplied.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said memory means is coupled between said encoder and said variable divider.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said memory means is coupled between said encoder and said control means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means comprises a keyboard for controlling generation of said musical scale control signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 4, wherein said control means further comprises a priority selector circuit for prodUcing a musical-scale-control signal corresponding to the key which at the extremity among keys of the keyboard which are depressed simultaneously.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1, wherein said instrument further comprises gate means coupled to said variable divider for gating the output tone signal thereof, tone filtering means coupled to said gate means for filtering the output tone signal thereof, and envelope control means coupled to said gate means for controlling amplitude envelope of the output signal of said gate means, said envelope control means being coupled to said control means and to said memory means and being operated in response to said musical-scale-control signals and also to operation of said memory means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 6, wherein said envelope control means includes tone characteristic control elements for controlling the characteristics of said tone filters.
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) | 1977-10-21 | 1978-04-22 | 1978-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-21 | 1982-04-22 | 1982-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-21 | 1986-04-22 | 1986-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |