US4281578A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Clef and scale indicator for music instruments
Assignee: Sharp Corp
•
Filing: 1979-03-29
•
Granted: 1981-08-04
•
Expires: 1999-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A programmable music instrument comprises an indicator for indicating a particular tone having a clef and a relevant scale on a screen, a liquid crystal display, and an electrochromic display cell or the like. A series of input keys is provided for providing digital information defining a musical note, the number of which corresponds to that of the notes in an octave. An octave changing member is employed for selecting a desired tone. The indicator is operated to indicate a selected stave for the particular tone. The octave changing member comprises a switch operated in a relationship with the screen. It may comprise a driver circuit for the liquid crystal display, the electrochromic display cell or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Akira Tanimoto
- 👤 Tomohiro Inoue
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:26
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B15/00; G09B15/02; G09B15/04; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/0008; G10H2210/00; G10H2210/031; G10H2210/086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A system for providing musical note information to a musical instrument comprising: input key means for providing information representative of any desired note within an octave; an endless belt having musical staves and notes imprinted thereon, said endless belt being shiftable to produce a display of the musical notes of a desired octave; octave shift switch means for providing desired octave information corresponding to the octave diplayed by said endless belt; and encoder means for combining said desired octave information with said information representative of any desired note within an octave to produce a desired note information signal; said desired note information signals produced by said encoder being utilized by said musical instrument to create audible tones associated with said desired note information signals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
A system for providing musical note information to a musical instrument comprising: input key means for providing information representative of any desired note within an octave; an endless belt having musical staves and notes imprinted thereon, said endless belt being shiftable to produce a display of the musical notes of a desired octave; octave shift switch means for providing desired octave information corresponding to the octave diplayed by said endless belt; and encoder means for combining said desired octave information with said information representative of any desired note within an octave to produce a desired note information signal; said desired note information signals produced by said encoder being utilized by said musical instrument to create audible tones associated with said desired note information signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising octave selection means for shifting said endless belt to said desired display.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said endless belt is disposed on a pair of parallel shafts.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
129 words
A system for providing musical note information to a musical instrument comprising: input key means for providing information representative of any desired note within an octave; indicating means for displaying a musical clef, musical staves and notes of a particular octave, said indicating means being changeable to produce a display of the musical notes of a desired octave; octave shift switch means for providing desired octave information corresponding to the octave displayed by said indicating means; and encoder means for combining said desired octave information with said information representative of any desired note within an octave to produce a desired note information signal; said desired note information signals produced by said encoder being utilized by said musical instrument to create audible tones associated with said desired note information systems.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
129 words
A system for providing musical note information to a musical instrument comprising: input key means for providing information representative of any desired note within an octave; indicating means for displaying a musical clef, musical staves and notes of a particular octave, said indicating means being changeable to produce a display of the musical notes of a desired octave; octave shift switch means for providing desired octave information corresponding to the octave displayed by said indicating means; and encoder means for combining said desired octave information with said information representative of any desired note within an octave to produce a desired note information signal; said desired note information signals produced by said encoder being utilized by said musical instrument to create audible tones associated with said desired note information systems.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 4, wherein the indicating means comprises a liquid crystal display or an electrochromic display where said clef and the relevant notes are formed as electrodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 5 further comprising: a drive circuit for driving said indicating means; a signal generator for creating a frequency corresponding to each of said desired note information signals; and a transducer for producing said audible tones associated with said desired notes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-08-03 | 1985-02-02 | 1985-08-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-08-03 | 1989-02-02 | 1989-08-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-08-03 | 1993-02-02 | 1993-08-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |