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US4141269A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electronic musical instrument

Assignee: Nippon Gakki Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1977-02-28
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Granted: 1979-02-27
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Expires: 1997-02-28
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Abstract

Abstract A plurality of tone signals corresponding to one note and having the same fundamental frequency and different harmonic components are modified in amplitude according to the shape of an envelope signal generated upon key depression and having an amplitude proportional to the key depression speed. One of the amplitude-modified tone signals is clipped at a predetermined level and then mixed with another amplitude-modified tone signal. The frequency spectrum of the resultant tone signal varies with time like a piano.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kenji Itakura

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 20:49
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/02; G10H1/04; G10H1/053; G10H1/055; G10H1/06; G10H1/14

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 150 words
An electronic musical instrument comprising: a keyboard having a plurality of keys; means for providing a plurality of tone signals corresponding to one note, each of the tone signals having a common fundamental frequency and different frequency spectra; means coupled to said keyboard and arranged to generate an envelope signal in response to a key depression, the envelope signal having an amplitude which is a function of the key depression speed; a plurality of envelope imparting means, each being connected to receive the envelope signal and one of the tone signals, and being arranged to impart the envelope of the envelope signal to the applied tone signal; mixing means for mixing the output signals of said plurality of envelope imparting means; and clipping means connected between the output of at least one of said envelope imparting means and said mixing means to clip the output of said envelope imparting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 150 words
An electronic musical instrument comprising: a keyboard having a plurality of keys; means for providing a plurality of tone signals corresponding to one note, each of the tone signals having a common fundamental frequency and different frequency spectra; means coupled to said keyboard and arranged to generate an envelope signal in response to a key depression, the envelope signal having an amplitude which is a function of the key depression speed; a plurality of envelope imparting means, each being connected to receive the envelope signal and one of the tone signals, and being arranged to impart the envelope of the envelope signal to the applied tone signal; mixing means for mixing the output signals of said plurality of envelope imparting means; and clipping means connected between the output of at least one of said envelope imparting means and said mixing means to clip the output of said envelope imparting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 36 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, in which each of said envelope imparting means includes a sampling circuit for sampling the envelope signal from said envelope signal generating means by the applied tone signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 67 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 2, in which said sampling circuit comprises first and second field effect transistors connected between the output of said envelope signal generating means and a reference potential point and arranged to be alternately turned ON and OFF by the applied tone signal, the junction of said first and second field effect transistors being adapted to provide the sampled envelope signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 89 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, in which said clipping means comprises a first field effect transistor having a drain electrode connected to a DC power supply source, a source electrode connected to the output of said clipping means and a gate electrode connected to the output of said envelope imparting means; and a second field effect transistor having a drain electrode connected to the source electrode of said first field effect transistor, a source electrode and gate electrode connected to a clipping level setting voltage source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 4, in which said second field effect transistor is of a depletion type.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, in which said tone signals are respective rectangular wave signals having different numbers of pulses for each common period.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 36 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, in which said means for providing a plurality of tone signals includes tone generators for generating rectangular wave tone signals and logic gates coupled to said tone generators.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 29 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, comprising waveform converters coupled between said means for providing a plurality of tone signals and said plurality of envelope imparting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 30 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, comprising filters having different frequency characteristics and coupled between said means for providing a plurality of tone signals and said mixing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 29 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said envelope signal generating means generates an envelope signal having an amplitude which is proportional to the key depression speed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 25 words
An electronic muscial instrument according to claim 1 wherein the tone signals are rectangular wave signals having a common cyclic period and different duty cycles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 179 words
An electronic musical instrument comprising: a keyboard having a plurality of keys; means for providing a plurality of tone signals corresponding to one note; means coupled to said keyboard and arranged to generate an envelope signal in response to a key depression, the envelope signal having an amplitude which is a function of the key depression speed; a plurality of envelope imparting means, each being connected to receive the envelope signal and one of the tone signals, and being arranged to impart the envelope of the envelope signal to the applied tone signal, each of said envelope imparting means including a sampling circuit for sampling the envelope signal from said envelope signal generating means by the applied tone signal; mixing means for mixing the output signals of said plurality of envelope imparting means; means for making, before said mixing, said plurality of tone signals to have different harmonic components; and clipping means connected between the output of at least one of said envelope imparting means and said mixing means to clip the output signal of said envelope imparting means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 179 words
An electronic musical instrument comprising: a keyboard having a plurality of keys; means for providing a plurality of tone signals corresponding to one note; means coupled to said keyboard and arranged to generate an envelope signal in response to a key depression, the envelope signal having an amplitude which is a function of the key depression speed; a plurality of envelope imparting means, each being connected to receive the envelope signal and one of the tone signals, and being arranged to impart the envelope of the envelope signal to the applied tone signal, each of said envelope imparting means including a sampling circuit for sampling the envelope signal from said envelope signal generating means by the applied tone signal; mixing means for mixing the output signals of said plurality of envelope imparting means; means for making, before said mixing, said plurality of tone signals to have different harmonic components; and clipping means connected between the output of at least one of said envelope imparting means and said mixing means to clip the output signal of said envelope imparting means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 67 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 12, in which said sampling circuit comprises first and second field effect transistors connected between the output of said envelope signal generating means and a reference potential point and arranged to be alternately turned ON and OFF by the applied tone signal, the junction of said first and second field effect transistors being adapted to provide the sampled envelope signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 29 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 12 wherein said envelope signal generating means generates an envelope signal having an amplitude which is proportional to the key depression speed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 22 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 12 wherein the tone signals each have a common fundamental frequency and different frequency spectra.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 25 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 12 wherein the tone signals are rectangular wave signals having a common cyclic period and different duty cycles.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3515039A Cited
US3417189A Cited
US3534144A Cited
US3775545A Cited
US3705948A Cited
US3894463A Cited
US3935783A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1982-02-26 1982-08-28 1983-02-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1986-02-26 1986-08-28 1987-02-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1990-02-26 1990-08-28 1991-02-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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