US4681007A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Sound generator for electronic musical instrument
Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1985-06-18
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Granted: 1987-07-21
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Expires: 2005-06-18
Abstract
Abstract A sound generator for an electronic musical instrument produces sounds from waveform data combinations stored in a memory. Each of the waveform data combinations is a data combination obtained from a waveform of a natural sound by digital data conversion preferably including information condensation. The selection of a waveform data combination is performed by an address generator which produces an address signal for the memory from an information from a keyboard. The information includes a touch information representing key depressing speed and/or strength, or both of the touch information and a pitch information. The loudness level of a generated tone is controlled by a loudness controller in response to the touch information, or to both of the touch information and pitch information.
Inventors
- 👤 Masataka Nikaido
- 👤 Sakurako Matsuda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 03:16
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H7/00; G10H7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A sound generator for an electronic musical instrument, comprising: a keyboard; a memory means for storing a plurality of waveform data combinations each of which represents a waveform obtained from a natural sound; a selection means for decoding a keyboard information from said keyboard into an address signal for said memory means so as to thereby select one of said plurality of waveform data combinations, said keyboard information including at least a touch information which represents at least one of a depressing speed and a depressing strength of a key of said keyboard; a tone generating means for generating a tone from an output of said memory means; and a loudness control means for controlling loudness level of the generated tone in response to said touch information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A sound generator for an electronic musical instrument, comprising: a keyboard; a memory means for storing a plurality of waveform data combinations each of which represents a waveform obtained from a natural sound; a selection means for decoding a keyboard information from said keyboard into an address signal for said memory means so as to thereby select one of said plurality of waveform data combinations, said keyboard information including at least a touch information which represents at least one of a depressing speed and a depressing strength of a key of said keyboard; a tone generating means for generating a tone from an output of said memory means; and a loudness control means for controlling loudness level of the generated tone in response to said touch information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sound generator according to claim 1, wherein each of said waveforms is obtained from a natural sound generated by a natural musical instrument.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
A sound generator according to claim 1, wherein each of said waveforms data combinations is obtained by digital conversion of partial or total continuum from generation to diminuation of a single tone from among a plurality of tones generated by a natural musical instrument played in different loudnesses at a plurality of selected pitches.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A sound generator according to claim 1, wherein each of said waveform data combinations consists of a plurality of digital data each having a same data length which represent respective levels of said waveform, a maximum level of said waveform being represented by a maximum value expressable within said data length.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A sound generator according to claim 1, wherein said keyboard information further includes a pitch information.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A sound generator according to claim 1, wherein said selection means comprises a read only memory.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
122 words
A sound generator for an electronic musical instrument, comprising: a keyboard; a memory means for storing a plurality of waveform data combinations each of which represents a waveform obtained from a natural sound; a waveform and loudness specifying means which generates an address signal for said memory means and a loudness information by decoding a keyboard information from said keyboard, said keyboard information including at least a touch information which represents at least one of a depressing speed and a depressing strength of a key of said keyboard; a tone generating means for generating a tone from an output of said memory means; and a loudness control means for controlling loudness level of the generated tone in response to said loudness information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
122 words
A sound generator for an electronic musical instrument, comprising: a keyboard; a memory means for storing a plurality of waveform data combinations each of which represents a waveform obtained from a natural sound; a waveform and loudness specifying means which generates an address signal for said memory means and a loudness information by decoding a keyboard information from said keyboard, said keyboard information including at least a touch information which represents at least one of a depressing speed and a depressing strength of a key of said keyboard; a tone generating means for generating a tone from an output of said memory means; and a loudness control means for controlling loudness level of the generated tone in response to said loudness information.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sound generator according to claim 7, wherein each of said waveforms is obtained from a natural sound generated by a natural musical instrument.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
51 words
A sound generator according to claim 7, wherein each of said waveform data combinations consists of a plurality of digital data each having a same data length which represent respective levels of said waveform, a maximum level of said waveform being represented by a maximum value expressable within said data length.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sound generator according to claim 7, wherein said waveform and loudness specifying means comprises a read only memory.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A sound generator according to claim 7, wherein said keyboard information further includes a pitch information.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
A sound generator according to claim 11, wherein said waveform and loudness specifying means comprises a loudness information generating means for generating said loudness information from said touch information, and an address generating means for decoding said loudness information and said pitch information into said address signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
A sound generator according to claim 11, wherein said waveform and loudness specifying means comprises a loudness information generating means for generating said loudness information from said keyboard information, and an address generating means for decoding said loudness information and said pitch information into said address signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
138 words
A sound generator for an electronic musical instrument, comprising: a keyboard; a memory means for storing a plurality of waveform data combinations each of which represents a waveform obtained from a natural sound; a conversion means for converting a first touch information from said keyboard to a predetermined sound touch information, said first touch information representing at least one of a depressing speed and a depressing strength of a key of said keyboard; a waveform specifying means for generating an address signal for said memory means from at least said second touch information thereby specify one of said waveform data combinations; a tone generating means for generating a tone from an output of said memory means; and a loudness control means for controlling loudness level of the generated tone in response to at least said second touch information.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
138 words
A sound generator for an electronic musical instrument, comprising: a keyboard; a memory means for storing a plurality of waveform data combinations each of which represents a waveform obtained from a natural sound; a conversion means for converting a first touch information from said keyboard to a predetermined sound touch information, said first touch information representing at least one of a depressing speed and a depressing strength of a key of said keyboard; a waveform specifying means for generating an address signal for said memory means from at least said second touch information thereby specify one of said waveform data combinations; a tone generating means for generating a tone from an output of said memory means; and a loudness control means for controlling loudness level of the generated tone in response to at least said second touch information.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sound generator according to claim 14, wherein said waveform specifying means generates said address signal from said second touch information and a pitch information from said keyboard.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A sound generator according to claim 15, wherein said loudness control means is responsive to said second touch information and said pitch information.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sound generator according to claim 14, wherein said waveform is obtained from a natural sound generated by a natural musical instrument.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
A sound generator according to claim 14, wherein each of said waveform data combinations is obtained by digital conversion of partial or total continuum from generation to diminuation of a single tone from among a plurality of tones generated by a natural musical instrument played in different loudnesses at a plurality of selected pitches.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sound generator according to claim 18, wherein said digital conversion includes an information condensation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
A sound generator according to claim 14, wherein each of said waveform data combinations consists of a plurality of digital data each having a same data length which represent respective levels of said waveform, a maximum level of said waveform being represented by a maximum value expressable within said data length.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
A sound generator according to claim 14, wherein said conversion means comprises a read only memory.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
137 words
A sound generator for an electronic musical instrument, comprising: a keyboard; a memory means for storing a plurality of waveform data combinations each of which represents a waveform obtained from a natural sound; a first conversion means for converting a first touch information from said keyboard to a predetermined second touch information, said first touch information representing at least one of a depressing speed and a depressing strength of a key of said keyboard; a second conversion means for converting said second touch information and a pitch information from said keyboard to an address signal for said memory means and a loudness information; a tone generating means for generating a tone from an output of said memory means; and a loudness control means for controlling loudness level of the generated tone in response to said loudness information.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
137 words
A sound generator for an electronic musical instrument, comprising: a keyboard; a memory means for storing a plurality of waveform data combinations each of which represents a waveform obtained from a natural sound; a first conversion means for converting a first touch information from said keyboard to a predetermined second touch information, said first touch information representing at least one of a depressing speed and a depressing strength of a key of said keyboard; a second conversion means for converting said second touch information and a pitch information from said keyboard to an address signal for said memory means and a loudness information; a tone generating means for generating a tone from an output of said memory means; and a loudness control means for controlling loudness level of the generated tone in response to said loudness information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sound generator according to claim 22, wherein said waveform is obtained from a natural sound generated by a natural musical instrument.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
54 words
A sound generator according to claim 22, wherein each of said waveform data combinations is obtained by digital conversion of partial or total continuum from generation to diminuation of a single tone from among a plurality of tones generated by a natural musical instrument played in different loudnesses at a plurality of selected pitches.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
51 words
A sound generator according to claim 22, wherein each of said waveform data combination consists of a plurality of digital data each having a same data length which represent respective levels of said waveform, a maximum level of said waveform being represented by a maximum value expressable within said data length.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sound generator according to claim 22, wherein each of said first and second conversion means comprises a read only memory.
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) | 1990-07-20 | 1991-01-19 | 1991-07-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-07-20 | 1995-01-19 | 1995-07-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-07-20 | 1999-01-19 | 1999-07-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |