Musical composer instrument and electronic player (electronic composer)

Claim 2

Apparatus for reading markings on a moving elongated flexible strip comprising: an insulating member having a substantially flat surface; a plurality of thin elongated conductive members permanently affixed to and arranged in closely spaced parallel fashion upon the flat surface of said member; each of said conductive members being separated into associated first and second conductor portions having spaced apart adjacent ends defining a gap exposing the surface of said member; said strip being slidable in a predetermined direction along said flat surface of said insulating member with the surface of said strip bearing said markings engaging said flat surface of said insulating member; said elongated conductive members being in alignment with the direction of movement of said strip; resilient means positioned to urge said strip into ultimate engagement with said gap region and the ends of the conductor portions in the immediate region of said gap region; said markings being formed with an electrically conductive material; and means for coupling electrical power to said first conductor portions, whereby electrical power is conducted to said second conductor portions when a marking on said strip bridges the gap between associated first and second conductor portions.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said insulation means comprises a printed circuit board and said conducting members are comprised of printed circuit conductors arranged upon the flat surface of said board.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the ends of the associated printed circuit conductors adjacent said gap and the gap between said ends collectively form a concave surface.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said resilient means comprises a cylindrical shaped member having a resilient compressible periphery urged against said strip.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the curvature of said concave surface substantially conforms to the surface curvature of said cylindrical shaped member.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said resilient means comprises a rotatable cylindrical shaped member having a resilient compressible periphery urged against said strip to assure intimate contact between the engaged surfaces of said strip and said conductor portions.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising means for rotating said cylindrical shaped member for feeding said strip along said insulating member.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising means for feeding said strip along said insulating member.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising operating means movable being a first position for moving said cylindrical shaped member away from said printed circuit board and a second position for moving said cylindrical shaped member.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the ends of the associated printed circuit conductor portions are curved downwardly toward the gap between said ends formed by the printed circuit board, whereby said ends are flush with the surface of the printed circuit board.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of tone generator means each coupled to one of said second conductor portions said tone generator means each being adapted generate different tones.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising transistor means coupling each second conductor portion to its associated tone generator to apply a signal of increased signal strength to said tone generator.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising means including a capacitor coupled with each transistor means for sustaining even a brief contact bridging condition for a period sufficient to activate the associated tone generator.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an electronic musical instrument having a plurality of tone generator means each coupled to one of said second conductor portions, said tone generator means each being adapted generate different tones.

Claim 16

Apparatus for composing a pattern of parallel lines controlled upon an elongated strip having at least one straight longitudinal edge, comprising: a composing board having a main recess for receiving and supporting said strip, said recess having one upright side for locating and aligning the said one longitudinal edge of said strip; an elongated slidable rule extending across said recess; a pair of transverse recesses arranged on said board and located on opposite sides of the strip moving along said main recess for aligning and slidably receiving said rule, the depths of said grooves extending substantially to the surface of the main recess so that the underside of said slidable rule engages the strip positioned upon said recess and is aligned perpendicular to said one upright side; said rule having a narrow elongated slot extending substantially parallel to said one upright side; detent means for releasably securing said slidable rule at a plurality of equispaced discrete positions to enable said elongated slot to be moved to a plurality of equispaced discrete positions to facilitate the drawing of straight line upon said strip only said equispaced discrete positions by insertion of the tip of a marking instrument into said slot.

Claim 17

Apparatus for composing a pattern of parallel lines controlled upon an elongated strip having at least one straight longitudinal edge, comprising: a composing board having a main recess for receiving and supporting said strip, said recess having one upright side for locating and aligning the said one longitudinal edge of said strip; an elongated slidable rule extending across said recess; a pair of transverse recesses arranged on said board and located on opposite sides of the strip moving along said main recess for aligning and slidably receiving said rule, the depths of said grooves extending substantially to the surface of the main recess so that the underside of said slidable rule engages the strip positioned upon said recess and is aligned perpendicular to said one upright side; said rule having a narrow elongated slot extending substantially parallel to said one upright side; detent means for releasably securing said slidable rule at a plurality of equispaced discrete positions to enable said elongated slot to be moved to a plurality of equispaced discrete positions to facilitate the drawing of straight line upon said strip only said equispaced discrete positions by insertion of the tip of a marking instrument into said slot.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the width of said slot permits the insertion of only a narrow marking tip to assure the formation of a thin line on said strip.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a graduated rule extending across said main recess and mounted upon and secured to said board, said graduated rule having one longitudinal edge aligned adjacent to one longitudinal edge of said slidable rule, said graduated rule having a plurality of graduations in the form of spaced parallel lines, each at least equal in number to the number of said discrete positions which said elongated slot may occupy and being in alignment with each discrete position; said graduations extending to said one longitudinal edge of said graduated rule, said elongated slot being parallel to said graduations.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein a plurality of spaced parallel slots are provided in said slidable rule; said slots being spaced from one another by a distance equal to an integral multiple of the distance between adjacent discrete positions capable of being occupied by said elongated slot.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said detent means comprises a resilient member having a mounting portion secured to said board and having a free end portion positioned to be urged toward the surface of said slidable rule; said slidable rule having a plurality of spaced grooves along one surface; said free end portion having engaging means releasably engaging said grooves for releasably maintaining said slidable rule in each of said discrete positions.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said engaging means comprises a rigid spherical member; said free end portion having an opening of a diameter smaller than the diameter of said spherical member, enabling said spherical member to extend partially through said open end and being based to urge said spherical member towards said slidable rule to urge said spherical member into releasable engagement with said spaced grooves whereby said slidable rule occupies one of said discrete positions when said spherical member is positioned in one of said grooves.

Claim 23

Apparatus for creating and thereafter reading markings on a movable elongated flexible strip having at least one straight longitudinal side, comprising: composing means for creating a pattern of parallel lines of a controlled length and thickness upon an elongated strip comprising; a board having a main recess for receiving and supporting said strip, said main recess having one upright side for locating and aligning the one longitudinal edge of said strip; an elongated slidable rule extending across said first recess; a pair of transverse slots on said board arranged on opposite sides of said recess for locating and slidably receiving said slidable rule, the bottom surfaces of said grooves extending substantially to the surface of said recess so that the underside of said rule engages the strip positioned upon said recess; said slidable rule having a narrow elongated slot extending substantially parallel to said upright side; said slidable rule being movable to a plurality of equispaced discrete positions to enable said elongated slot to be moved to each discrete position to facilitate the drawing of straight line upon said strip only said discrete positions; reading means being positioned adjacent to said composing means to receive said strip from said composing means, said reading means including: a substantially flat insulating member; a plurality of elongated conductive members arranged in a closely spaced parallel fashion at equispaced intervals upon one surface of said member said intervals being equal to the spacing between the discrete positions determined by said composing board; each of said conductive members being separated into associated first and second conductor portions, whereby the ends of adjacent first and second conductor portions define a gap exposing the surface of said member; said strip being slidable along said one surface with the surface of said strip bearing said markings engaging said one surface of said member; said elongated members being in alignment with the direction of movement of said strip; resilient means positioned to urge said strip into ultimate contact with said gap region and the conducting members in the immediate region of said gaps; said markings being formed with an electrically conductive material; and means for coupling electrical power to said first conductor portions, whereby the electrical power is conducted to selected ones of said second conductor portions when a marking on said strip bridges the gap between associated first and second conductor portions.

Claim 24

Apparatus for creating and thereafter reading markings on a movable elongated flexible strip having at least one straight longitudinal side, comprising: composing means for creating a pattern of parallel lines of a controlled length and thickness upon an elongated strip comprising; a board having a main recess for receiving and supporting said strip, said main recess having one upright side for locating and aligning the one longitudinal edge of said strip; an elongated slidable rule extending across said first recess; a pair of transverse slots on said board arranged on opposite sides of said recess for locating and slidably receiving said slidable rule, the bottom surfaces of said grooves extending substantially to the surface of said recess so that the underside of said rule engages the strip positioned upon said recess; said slidable rule having a narrow elongated slot extending substantially parallel to said upright side; said slidable rule being movable to a plurality of equispaced discrete positions to enable said elongated slot to be moved to each discrete position to facilitate the drawing of straight line upon said strip only said discrete positions; reading means being positioned adjacent to said composing means to receive said strip from said composing means, said reading means including: a substantially flat insulating member; a plurality of elongated conductive members arranged in a closely spaced parallel fashion at equispaced intervals upon one surface of said member said intervals being equal to the spacing between the discrete positions determined by said composing board; each of said conductive members being separated into associated first and second conductor portions, whereby the ends of adjacent first and second conductor portions define a gap exposing the surface of said member; said strip being slidable along said one surface with the surface of said strip bearing said markings engaging said one surface of said member; said elongated members being in alignment with the direction of movement of said strip; resilient means positioned to urge said strip into ultimate contact with said gap region and the conducting members in the immediate region of said gaps; said markings being formed with an electrically conductive material; and means for coupling electrical power to said first conductor portions, whereby the electrical power is conducted to selected ones of said second conductor portions when a marking on said strip bridges the gap between associated first and second conductor portions.