US4391176A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Electronic musical instrument with musical composition fashion selectors
Assignee: Nippon Gakki Co Ltd
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Filing: 1980-08-29
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Granted: 1983-07-05
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Expires: 2000-08-29
Abstract
Abstract A plurality of sets of such characteristics as the color, volume and effect of a musical tone are preset for different musical composition fashions. Desired preset characteristics are selected independently in the melody performance portion and the accompaniment performance portion by operating a corresponding melody musical composition fashion selection switch and a corresponding accompaniment musical fashion selection switch thus establishing a musical tone having a desired musical composition fashion for each portion. According to a modified embodiment, when either one of the melody and accompaniment musical composition fashion selection switches is operated, both the musical composition fashions of the melody performance portion and the accompaniment portion are established in predetermined manner.
Inventors
- 👤 Naoyuki Niinomi
- 👤 Kunihiko Watanabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:39
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/18; G10H1/24; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
319 words
An electronic musical instrument comprising: a first keyboard having a plurality of keys for performing a melody; a second keyboard having a plurality of keys for performing an accompaniment; a melody tone generator generating a melody tone in response to depression of a key of said melody performance keyboard; an accompaniment tone generator generating an accompaniment tone in response to depression of a key of said accompaniment performance keyboard; a plurality of melody musical composition fashion selection switches connected to a like plurality of first logic circuit means for designating a single one of a musical composition fashion of a melody tone to be produced from among a plurality of predetermined kinds of musical composition fashions for melody; a plurality of accompaniment musical composition fashion selection switches connected to a like plurality of second logic circuit means for designating a single one of a musical composition fashion of an accompaniment tone to be produced from among a plurality of predetermined kinds of musical composition fashions for accompaniment; said second logic circuit means being connected to said first logic circuit means such that the musical composition fashion of an accompaniment tone is selected in correspondence with the selected musical composition fashion of a melody tone when none of said plurality of accompaniment musical composition fashion selection switches are operated, and such that the musical composition fashion of a melody tone is selected in correspondence with the selected musical composition fashion of an accompaniment tone when none of said plurality of melody musical composition fashion selection switches are operated; a modifying parameter generator which generates a modifying parameter corresponding to an operated one of said musical composition fashion selection switches; modifying means for modifying outputs of said melody and accompaniment tone generators in accordance with said modifying parameter generated from said modifying parameter generator; and means for producing a musical tone signal in accordance with said output of said modifying means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
319 words
An electronic musical instrument comprising: a first keyboard having a plurality of keys for performing a melody; a second keyboard having a plurality of keys for performing an accompaniment; a melody tone generator generating a melody tone in response to depression of a key of said melody performance keyboard; an accompaniment tone generator generating an accompaniment tone in response to depression of a key of said accompaniment performance keyboard; a plurality of melody musical composition fashion selection switches connected to a like plurality of first logic circuit means for designating a single one of a musical composition fashion of a melody tone to be produced from among a plurality of predetermined kinds of musical composition fashions for melody; a plurality of accompaniment musical composition fashion selection switches connected to a like plurality of second logic circuit means for designating a single one of a musical composition fashion of an accompaniment tone to be produced from among a plurality of predetermined kinds of musical composition fashions for accompaniment; said second logic circuit means being connected to said first logic circuit means such that the musical composition fashion of an accompaniment tone is selected in correspondence with the selected musical composition fashion of a melody tone when none of said plurality of accompaniment musical composition fashion selection switches are operated, and such that the musical composition fashion of a melody tone is selected in correspondence with the selected musical composition fashion of an accompaniment tone when none of said plurality of melody musical composition fashion selection switches are operated; a modifying parameter generator which generates a modifying parameter corresponding to an operated one of said musical composition fashion selection switches; modifying means for modifying outputs of said melody and accompaniment tone generators in accordance with said modifying parameter generated from said modifying parameter generator; and means for producing a musical tone signal in accordance with said output of said modifying means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said second keyboard comprises a chord keyboard suitable for performing a chord as said accompaniment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said second keyboard comprises a bass keyboard suitable for performing a bass as said accompaniment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said modifying parameter generator generates a parameter that varies an oscillation frequency of outputs of said melody tone generator and said accompaniment tone generator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said modifying means further includes: a control circuit, which when either one of said melody musical composition fashion selection switch and said accompaniment musical composition fashion selection switch is operated, causes the other selection switch to generate a selection signal; said control circuit generating a selection signal for a switch operated prior to said operation when the other selection switch is operated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said modifying parameter generating means further comprises: control data memory means for storing a third musical composition designating signal and for generating said third designating signal in accordance with said melody and accompaniment designating signals; and means for combining said first, second and third musical composition designating signals into said modifying parameter which is applied to said melody tone generator and said accompaniment tone generator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said modifying parameter generator includes a third logic circuit means comprising means for generating, when one of said melody musical composition fashion selection switches is operated, melody and accompaniment selection signals corresponding to the operated melody musical composition fashion selection switch, and means for generating, when an accompaniment musical composition fashion selection switch is operated, an accompaniment selection signal, as a substitution of the accompaniment portion of said melody and accompaniment selection signals, corresponding to the operated accompaniment musical composition selection switch and means for generating said modifying parameters by using said selection signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
103 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said modifying parameter generator includes: a third logic circuit means comprising means for generating, when one of said accompaniment musical composition fashion selection switches is operated, melody and accompaniment selection signals corresponding to the operated accompaniment composition fashion selection switch, and means for generating, when a melody musical composition fashion selection switch is operated, a melody selection signal, as a substitution of the melody portion of said melody and accompaniment selection signals, corresponding to an operated melody musical composition fashion selection switch; and means for generating said modifying parameter by using said selection signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein said third logic circuit means comprises a first logic circuit for generating said melody musical composition fashion designating signal; and a second logic circuit for generating said accompaniment musical composition fashion designating signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
An electronic accompaniment and melody musical instrument according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein said musical composition fashion selection switches and said third logic circuit means are constituted by a plurality of single pole double throw selection switches, and means for connecting a stationary contact of a preceding selection switch to a movable contact of a succeeding selection switch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
190 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 9 wherein said third logic circuit means comprises: first and second logic circuits respectively including OR gate circuits and flip-flop circuits operated by said selection switches; third and fourth logic circuits respectively including AND gate circuits and OR gate circuits, one input of said OR gate circuits being respectively connected to outputs of said AND gate circuits and the other inputs being supplied with outputs of said flip-flop circuits of said first and second logic circuits, an AND gate circuit (AG 20 ) with inputs connected to receive outputs of said flip-flop circuits of said first and second logic circuits respectively via NOR gate circuits; a pair of AND gate circuits with one input connected to receive outputs of said NOR gate circuits respectively and the other inputs connected to receive an output of said AND gate circuit (AG 20 ) via inverters respectively; and means for applying outputs of said pair of AND gate circuits to the other inputs of the AND gate circuits of said third and fourth logic circuits thus causing them to produce first and second tone designating signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
On electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein each said melody composition fashion selection switches are of the self-returning type.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said modifying means comprises: a plurality of filters connected to receive the outputs of respective tone generators for imparting different tone color to said outputs; a plurality of mixers for selectively admixing outputs of said filters; and a selector for selecting outputs of said mixers in accordance with a selected musical composition fashion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said modifying means further comprises a tremolo effect circuit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein the output of said modifying parameter generator comprises a melody musical composition fashion designating signal, an accompaniment musical component designating signal and a signal that designates characteristics of a tremolo, a tone volume, a sustain, and a vibrato.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 which further comprises display means for displaying a selected musical composition fashion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said second keyboard for performing an accompaniment comprises keyboards for respectively performing a chord and a bass.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said modifying means comprises an expression device which controls tone volume of the produced musical tone according to a degree of depression of a pedal.
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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) | 1986-07-04 | 1987-01-03 | 1987-07-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-07-04 | 1991-01-03 | 1991-07-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-07-04 | 1995-01-03 | 1995-07-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |