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US4077298A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for automatically tuning an electronic musical instrument

Assignee: Kawai Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co Ltd
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Filing: 1976-10-22
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Granted: 1978-03-07
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Expires: 1996-10-22
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Abstract

Abstract An apparatus for the automatic tuning of an electronic musical instrument comprising a phase comparator, a converter circuit connected to the comparator for converting an output signal of the phase comparator into a voltage of a magnitude corresponding thereto, a sample hold circuit connected in series with the converter circuit, a calculation circuit having a first input connected to the sample hold circuit and a voltage control type oscillator for generating a musical tone signal connected in series with the calculation circuit. The voltage control type oscillator is connected to an input of the phase comparator and another input of the phase comparator is connected to a circuit for producing a standard signal. A key signal generating circuit serves to generate a voltage corresponding to a depressed key and the key signal generating circuit is connected to an input of the calculation circuit, the key signal generating circuit being provided with a gate circuit which passes a key signal corresponding to a specific key. The gate circuit and the sample hold circuit have control electrodes connected to the output of a monostable multi-vibrator whose operation is controlled by a tuning switch.

Inventors

  • 👤 Nobuaki Kondo

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 15:00
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/44; G10G; G10G7/00; G10G7/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/18

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 164 words
An apparatus for the automatic tuning of an electronic musical instrument comprising a phase comparator having two inputs, converter means connected to said comparator for producing a signal corresponding to the output of the comparator, calculator means having first and second inputs, said first input of said calculator means being connected to said converter means, voltage controlled oscillator means for generating a musical tone signal having an output connected to one of said inputs of said phase comparator, means connected to the other input of the phase comparator for applying a standard signal thereto, key signal generating means including a plurality of keys for generating a voltage corresponding to an actuated key, said key signal generating means having an output connected to said second input of said calculator means, said key signal generating means including a gate means for passing a key signal corresponding to a specific key, and multi-vibrator means including control switch means coupled to said gate means and said converter means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 164 words
An apparatus for the automatic tuning of an electronic musical instrument comprising a phase comparator having two inputs, converter means connected to said comparator for producing a signal corresponding to the output of the comparator, calculator means having first and second inputs, said first input of said calculator means being connected to said converter means, voltage controlled oscillator means for generating a musical tone signal having an output connected to one of said inputs of said phase comparator, means connected to the other input of the phase comparator for applying a standard signal thereto, key signal generating means including a plurality of keys for generating a voltage corresponding to an actuated key, said key signal generating means having an output connected to said second input of said calculator means, said key signal generating means including a gate means for passing a key signal corresponding to a specific key, and multi-vibrator means including control switch means coupled to said gate means and said converter means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for applying a standard signal to the phase comparator comprises a standard signal oscillator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 27 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for applying a standard signal to the phase comparator comprises an oscillator provided in another electronic musical instrument.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a luminous element and a logic circuit connecting said luminous element to said inputs of the phase comparator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 48 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for applying a standard signal to said other input of the phase comparator comprises a monostable mulit-vibrator having an input coupled to said voltage controlled oscillator means and an output connected to said other input of the phase comparator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 29 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 comprising a frequency divider connected in series between the output of the voltage controlled oscillator means and the input of the monostable multi-vibrator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 54 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said converter means comprises a converter circuit connected to said conparator for converting an output signal of the comparator into a voltage of corresponding amplitude and a sample hold circuit connected in series with the converter circuit, said multi-vibrator means being connected to said sample hold circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 14 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said converter means comprises a low-pass filter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said phase comparator comprises two flip-flop circuits.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 18 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said phase comparator comprises two flip-flop circuits and a charge pump.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3472116A Cited
US3878754A Cited
US3800060A Cited
US3901120A Cited
DE2435346A1 Cited
US3943814A Cited
US3956961A Cited
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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) 1981-03-06 1981-09-05 1982-03-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-03-06 1985-09-05 1986-03-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-03-06 1989-09-05 1990-03-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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