US4085647A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic musical instrument
Assignee: Nippon Gakki Co Ltd
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Filing: 1977-02-22
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Granted: 1978-04-25
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Expires: 1997-02-22
Abstract
Abstract An electronic musical instrument capable of controlling tone pitch, tone color, volume etc. of a musical tone by a sliding operation to conduct such on effect as portamento. The instrument according to the invention can produce a control signal proportional to a sliding distance on a portamento playing actuator regardless of an initially touched position on the actuator. For producing such control signal, an output voltage from a portamento playing actuator corresponding to a finger touch position is applied to a positive input of a calculator whereas a voltage obtained by sampling and holding an output voltage corresponding to the initial touch position is applied to a negative input of the calculator. Difference between the two voltages is outputted as a control voltage from the calculator and this control voltage is utilized for controlling VCO, VCF or VCA thereby to control the tone pitch, tone color, volume etc. of a musical tone.
Inventors
- 👤 Takeshi Adachi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 01:05
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H5/00; G10H5/002; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
An electronic musical instrument comprising: actuator means actuated by a sliding operation for producing a voltage variable according to the actuated position thereof in each instant; control signal generating means for producing a signal proportional to a sliding distance in said actuator means responsive to the output voltage of said actuator means; and control means for controlling a musical tone element by the output signal of said control signal generating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
An electronic musical instrument comprising: actuator means actuated by a sliding operation for producing a voltage variable according to the actuated position thereof in each instant; control signal generating means for producing a signal proportional to a sliding distance in said actuator means responsive to the output voltage of said actuator means; and control means for controlling a musical tone element by the output signal of said control signal generating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
An electronic musical instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said control signal generating means comprise: sample-hold means for sample-holding an initial output voltage produced by said actuator means; and a calculator for calculating difference between the output voltage from said actuator means and the output voltage from said sample-hold means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electronic musical instrument as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means control a voltage-controlled oscillator, a voltage-controlled filter and voltage-controlled amplifier by said control signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
An electronic musical instrument comprising: actuator means actuated by a sliding operation for producing a voltage variable according to the actuated position thereof in each instant; control signal generating means for producing a control voltage proportional to a sliding distance in said actuator means responsive to the output voltage of said actuator means; and control means for controlling the frequency of a tone by controlling the oscillating frequency of a voltage-controlled type oscillator in response to a pitch voltage corresponding to a depressed key and said control voltage; whereby a portamento performance is made by the sliding operation of said actuator means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
An electronic musical instrument comprising: actuator means actuated by a sliding operation for producing a voltage variable according to the actuated position thereof in each instant; control signal generating means for producing a control voltage proportional to a sliding distance in said actuator means responsive to the output voltage of said actuator means; and control means for controlling the frequency of a tone by controlling the oscillating frequency of a voltage-controlled type oscillator in response to a pitch voltage corresponding to a depressed key and said control voltage; whereby a portamento performance is made by the sliding operation of said actuator means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3902392A
Cited
US3960044A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-04-24 | 1981-10-24 | 1982-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-24 | 1985-10-24 | 1986-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-24 | 1989-10-24 | 1990-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |