Automatic musical performance method and apparatus for a keyed instrument

Claim 2

A reproducing apparatus for use in an automatic musical performance apparatus for a keyed instrument, said reproducing apparatus accepting a prerecorded tape having recorded thereon a serial pulse line signal changing with time representing the operation of the keys of the keyed instrument and a synchronizing signal, said reproducing apparatus comprising: a. reproducing means for reproducing the previously recorded synchronizing signal and the previously recorded serial pulse line signal representative of the key operation for producing the musical composition; b. phase-locked loop means receiving said reproduced synchronizing signal for generating a clock pulse in accordance with the synchronizing signal; c. serial-to-parallel converting circuit means coupled to receive said clock pulse for converting the serial pulse line signal into a parallel signal group; d. latching circuit means coupled to said converting circuit means for storing the value of a signal group until the occurrence of the next synchronizing signal; and e. means coupling said latching circuit means to the music producing elements of said instrument.

Claim 5

The method as defined in claim 2 wherein said generating step further comprises encoding at least one group of said parallel digital signals in accordance with the Gray code.

Claim 6

Control signal recording apparatus for use in an automatic musical performance apparatus for a keyed instrument comprising: a. a clock-pulse generating circuit; b. a synchronizing-signal generating circuit; c. a parallel-to-serial converting circuit means coupled to said clock pulse and synchronizing signal generating circuits for converting into a serial pulse line signal changing with time digital signal groups sequentially generated by operation of the keys of the keyed instrument; d. recording means coupled to said converting circuit means for recording the serial pulse line signal and the synchronizing signal; e. reproducing means for reproducing the previously recorded synchronizing signal and the previously recorded serial pulse line signal representative of the key operation for producing the musical composition; f. phase-locked loop means including said clock-pulse generating circuit receiving said reproduced synchornizing signal for generating a clock pulse in accordance with the synchronizing signal; g. serial-to-parallel converting circuit means coupled to said clock pulse generating circuit for converting the serial pulse line sigNal into the original parallel signal groups; h. latching circuit means coupled to said converting circuit means for storing the value of a signal group until the occurrence of the next synchronizing signal; and i. means coupling said latching circuit means to the music producing elements of said instrument.

Claim 7

Control signal recording apparatus for use in an automatic musical performance apparatus for a keyed instrument comprising: a. a clock-pulse generating circuit; b. a synchronizing-signal generating circuit; c. a parallel-to-serial converting circuit means coupled to said clock pulse and synchronizing signal generating circuits for converting into a serial pulse line signal changing with time digital signal groups sequentially generated by operation of the keys of the keyed instrument; d. recording means coupled to said converting circuit means for recording the serial pulse line signal and the synchronizing signal; e. reproducing means for reproducing the previously recorded synchronizing signal and the previously recorded serial pulse line signal representative of the key operation for producing the musical composition; f. phase-locked loop means including said clock-pulse generating circuit receiving said reproduced synchornizing signal for generating a clock pulse in accordance with the synchronizing signal; g. serial-to-parallel converting circuit means coupled to said clock pulse generating circuit for converting the serial pulse line sigNal into the original parallel signal groups; h. latching circuit means coupled to said converting circuit means for storing the value of a signal group until the occurrence of the next synchronizing signal; and i. means coupling said latching circuit means to the music producing elements of said instrument.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 4 further comprising indicating means mounted on the instrument keys and coupled to said latching circuit means for indicating operated keys.

Claim 9

The apparatus as defined in claim 4 further comprising decoder circuit means for decoding each of the reproduced signals into a corresponding square wave signal, said decoder circuit means comprising trigger means responsive to each reproduced signal for producing corresponding square pulses of uniform amplitude, and flip-flop circuit means responsive to said pulses for producing a square wave signal whose successive positive and negative going transitions correspond respectively to successive ones of said square pulses.

Claim 10

The apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said reproduced signals are alternately positive and negative with respect to a reference and said decoder circuit means further comprises full wave rectifier means preceding said trigger means for converting the reproduced signals to a uniform polarity.

Claim 11

The apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said decoder means further comprises feedback means connected between said flip-flop circuit and said full wave rectifier means for minimizing drop-out error in reproducing the recorded pulse signal.

Claim 12

The apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said phase-locked loop means comprises: a. said clock-pulse generating circuit including a voltage controlled oscillator for generating said clock pulse at a frequency determined by a control voltage; b. a synchronizing pulse generator connected to receive said clock pulse and generate a synchronizing pulse; and c. phase comparator means receiving the reproduced and generated synchronizing pulses for producing said control voltage as a function of the deviation between said synchronizing pulses.