Patent US4070942A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4070942A
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Tone generator
Assignee: Nippon Gakki Co Ltd
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Filing: 1976-12-09
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Granted: 1978-01-31
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Expires: 1996-12-09
Abstract
Abstract A tone generator for an electronic musical instrument. In the tone generator, a coincidence output is produced when contents of a counter which successively counts a clock pulse have amounted to a value representing a tone of a depressed key. The counter is reset by a reset pulse with delay of a predetermined clock time from the time when the coincidence output is produced. An example is disclosed in which an output of a desired period is statically produced by generating the reset pulse with delay of selected number of clock pulses with respect to the coincidence output. Also disclosed is another example in which desired signals among a plurality of delayed signals produced with delay of one or more clock pulses with respect to the coincidence output are dynamically selected for resetting the counter in response to an output of another counter which cyclically performs counting.
Inventors
- 👤 Eiichiro Aoki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:34
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H5/00; G10H5/02; G10H5/06; G10H1/00; G10H1/02; G10H1/04; G10H1/043; G10H2210/00; G10H2210/155; G10H2210/195; G10H2210/201; G10H2210/211
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
In a tone generator including a counting circuit for successively changing the content thereof in accordance with a clock pulse and a comparison circuit for comparing the content of the counting circuit with a set value for da depressed key to detect coincidence between the content and the set value, the coincidence detection output of said comparison circuit being utilized as a reset signal for resetting said counting circuit and an output pulse of a desired interval being produced at a timing of resetting of said counting circuit, the improvement which comprises: first means for delaying the coincidence detection output of said comparison circuit sequentially and successively in a plurality of stages; and second means for selectively supplying a plurality of delayed outputs differing in delay time to said counting circuit as the reset signal; the interval of said output pulse being changed by delaying the timing of resetting said counting circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
In a tone generator including a counting circuit for successively changing the content thereof in accordance with a clock pulse and a comparison circuit for comparing the content of the counting circuit with a set value for da depressed key to detect coincidence between the content and the set value, the coincidence detection output of said comparison circuit being utilized as a reset signal for resetting said counting circuit and an output pulse of a desired interval being produced at a timing of resetting of said counting circuit, the improvement which comprises: first means for delaying the coincidence detection output of said comparison circuit sequentially and successively in a plurality of stages; and second means for selectively supplying a plurality of delayed outputs differing in delay time to said counting circuit as the reset signal; the interval of said output pulse being changed by delaying the timing of resetting said counting circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A tone generator is defined in claim 1 wherein said second means are a switching circuit selecting one of the plurality of delayed outputs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A tone generator as defined in claim 1 wherein said second means cyclically and sequentially select the plurality of delayed outputs differing in delay time at a rate associated with a vibrato frequency and supply the selected delayed output to said counting circuit as the reset signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
A tone generator as defined in claim 3 which further comprises means for selecting a single group corresponding to a desired vibrato depth from among groups of the delayed outputs of the respective stages provided by said first means to supply the selected group to said second means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A tone generator as defined in claim 3 wherein difference between the earliest delay time and a reference delay time corresponding to a normal pitch is greater than difference between the last delay time and the reference delay time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
208 words
In a tone generator including a counting circuit for successively changing the content thereof in accordance with a clock pulse and a comparison circuit for comparing the content of the counting circuit with a set value for a depressed key to detect coincidence between the content and the set value, the coincidence detection output of said comparison circuit being utilized as a reset signal for resetting said counting circuit and an output pulse of a desired interval being produced at a timing of resetting of said counting circuit, the improvement which comprises: first means for delaying the coincidence detection output of said comparison cirduit sequentially and successively in a plurality of stages to produce a plurality of delayed outputs differing in delay time; second means for selecting, as signals for resetting said counting circuit, some of the delayed signals produced by said first means sequentially and cyclically at a rate associated with a vibrato frequency; and third means for designating the delayed signals to be selected by said second means in such a manner that a combination of the designated signals varies with the lapse of time after depression of the key; whereby a vibrato effect changing in depth of vibrato with the lapse to time is produced.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
208 words
In a tone generator including a counting circuit for successively changing the content thereof in accordance with a clock pulse and a comparison circuit for comparing the content of the counting circuit with a set value for a depressed key to detect coincidence between the content and the set value, the coincidence detection output of said comparison circuit being utilized as a reset signal for resetting said counting circuit and an output pulse of a desired interval being produced at a timing of resetting of said counting circuit, the improvement which comprises: first means for delaying the coincidence detection output of said comparison cirduit sequentially and successively in a plurality of stages to produce a plurality of delayed outputs differing in delay time; second means for selecting, as signals for resetting said counting circuit, some of the delayed signals produced by said first means sequentially and cyclically at a rate associated with a vibrato frequency; and third means for designating the delayed signals to be selected by said second means in such a manner that a combination of the designated signals varies with the lapse of time after depression of the key; whereby a vibrato effect changing in depth of vibrato with the lapse to time is produced.
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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) | 1981-01-30 | 1981-08-01 | 1982-01-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-01-30 | 1985-08-01 | 1986-01-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-01-30 | 1989-08-01 | 1990-01-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |