US3845684A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic automatic reset switch circuit and electronic keyboard musical instrument incorporating it
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-11-14
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Granted: 1974-11-05
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Expires: 1993-11-14
Abstract
Abstract The electronic automatic reset switch circuit comprises a plurality of on-off switches each connected between ground and the set input of an associated reset-set flip-flop. The reset inputs of all flip-flops are interconnected and a diode is connected across the inputs of each flip-flop. Momentary closing of any switch grounds the reset output of the associated flipflop and that output remains grounded until another switch is closed. The musical instrument utilizes a plurality of electronic tone generators which feed an amplifier and speaker. A conventional typewriter keyboard is arranged so that certain keys, representing the melody to be played, work in conjunction with certain other keys, representing the chord to be played, and connected in the switch circuit above described so that in combination, the desired melody note and chord accompaniment are sounded together. Once a chord key is depressed, that chord continues to be utilized and sounded with additional melody notes even though the chord key has been released. This process will continue until another chord key is depressed. Circuitry is also provided for playing melody only. Music for the instrument is written as a succession of the alphabetic, numeric or punctuation signatures of the appropriate typewriter keys. The instrument is also provided with chord selector switches and a stepping sequence switch arranged so that chords in a musical composition can be set up in advance on the chord selector switches and played by key operation of the sequence switch.
Inventors
- 👤 E Herr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:00
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/36; G10H1/38; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
238 words
Apparatus comprising a plurality of reset-set flip-flops, an on-off switch connected between ground and the set input of each flip-flop, a reset bus bar connecting the reset inputs of all the flip-flops, and a diode connected between the set and reset inputs of each flip-flop with its positive terminal connected to the reset input, the on-off switch being a key operated chord switch, a plurality of key-operated melody note on-off switches, a plurality of two-input gates equal to the product of the plurality of melody notes by the plurality of chords, each gate being adjusted to produce a positive output when both input signals are of the same character, means connecting each melody note switch between a signal source and one input of a plurality of the two-input gates equal to the number of chords, means connecting the output of each reset-set flip-flop having the same character as the signal source with the other input of the plurality of the two-input gates equal to the number of melody notes, a plurality of multi-input chord composers equal to the plurality of two-input gates, each chord composer being connected to the output of a singlE two-input gate and activated by the output from that gate to connect the chord composer''s inputs with its output, a plurality of tone generators connected to the inputs of the chord composers, and means connecting the outputs of the chord composers with a sound-producing device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
238 words
Apparatus comprising a plurality of reset-set flip-flops, an on-off switch connected between ground and the set input of each flip-flop, a reset bus bar connecting the reset inputs of all the flip-flops, and a diode connected between the set and reset inputs of each flip-flop with its positive terminal connected to the reset input, the on-off switch being a key operated chord switch, a plurality of key-operated melody note on-off switches, a plurality of two-input gates equal to the product of the plurality of melody notes by the plurality of chords, each gate being adjusted to produce a positive output when both input signals are of the same character, means connecting each melody note switch between a signal source and one input of a plurality of the two-input gates equal to the number of chords, means connecting the output of each reset-set flip-flop having the same character as the signal source with the other input of the plurality of the two-input gates equal to the number of melody notes, a plurality of multi-input chord composers equal to the plurality of two-input gates, each chord composer being connected to the output of a singlE two-input gate and activated by the output from that gate to connect the chord composer''s inputs with its output, a plurality of tone generators connected to the inputs of the chord composers, and means connecting the outputs of the chord composers with a sound-producing device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which the chord composer is a multi-input gate, each tone generator is connected to one input of that gate, and the output from the two-input gate connected to its melody note switch provides the operating potential which opens the multi-input gate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus of claim 1 including chord composers having a single tone generator each connected thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus of claim 1 including a plurality of chord composers equal to the number of melody keys, each chord composer being connected to a single tone generator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus of claim 4 including a chord key and a reset-set flip-flop circuit connected with each of the chord composers which is connected to a single tone generator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which the keys operating the melody note switches and the keys operating the chord switches are arranged in the form of a typewriter keyboard.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus of claim 6 in which the keys carry distinguished indicia in the form of typewriter characters and are arranged in the order of the characters of a typewriter keyboard.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus of claim 1 including a plurality of manually operable selector switches, each having a separate contact connected to each chord switch, a multi-contact sequence switch, means connecting the arm of each selector switch to a separate contact of the sequence switch, means connecting the arm of the sequence switch to ground, and electrical means including an on-off switch for operating the sequence switch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus of claim 8 in which the keys operating the melody note switches and the keys operating the chord switches are arranged in the form of a typewriter keyboard and the switch for operating the sequence switch is operated by the space bar of the typewriter keyboard.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which the signal source for the melody note switches is ground, the two-input gates are nor gates, and the reset output of each reset-set flip-flop is connected with the other input of the plurality of two-input gates equal to the number of melody notes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus of claim 1 in which the signal source for the melody note switches is a voltage source, the twoinput gates are and gates, and the set output of each resetset flip-flop is connected with the other input of the plurality of two-input gates equal to the number of melody notes.
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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) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |