Electronic musical instrument with user-programmable tone generator modules

Claim 2

An electronic musical instrument, comprising: a tone generator for synthesizing musical tones, said tone generator including a plurality of waveform generation modules and means for time-division multiplexing the operation of said modules; said tone generator also including means for connecting said waveform generator modules to one another in a selected one of a plurality of all possible connection configuration of individual pairs of said modules; input means for inputting module-pairing data for constructing a connection configuration selected from said plurality of all possible configurations of each pair of said plurality of modules, for said each pair of said plurality of modules independently of connection configurations of the other module pairs such that each module pair forms a tone synthesis unit, the synthesis operation of which is determined by said module-pairing data; and processing means for converting said module-pairing data inputted by said input means, into control data that is compatible with the connecting means of said tone generator and with each of said modules, and for transferring the control data to said tone generator.

Claim 3

The electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising display means for visually displaying the connection configuration of the plurality of modules according to the module-pairing data inputted by said input means.

Claim 4

An electronic musical instrument, comprising: a tone generator for synthesizing musical tones, said tone generator including a plurality of waveform generation modules and means for time-division multiplexing the operation of said modules; input means for inputting module-pairing data for designating a desired connection configuration from a plurality of possible configurations for each pair of said plurality of modules independently of connection configurations of the other module pairs such that each module pair forms a tone synthesis unit, the synthesis operation of which is determined by said module-pairing data; and processing means for converting said module pairing data inputted by said input means, into control data that is compatible with said tone generator and with each of said modules, and for transferring the control data to said tone generator; wherein said input means includes means for selecting said module pair connection configuration from: (a) a mode in which the output of a first module in the pair is added to the output of a second module in the pair; (b) a mode in which the output of the first module of the pair is used as a phase signal to the second module in the pair; or (c) a mode in which the output of the first module in the pair is used as part of an envelope signal to the second module in the pair.

Claim 5

An electronic musical instrument, comprising: a tone generator for synthesizing musical tones, said tone generator including a plurality of waveform generation modules and means for time-division multiplexing the operation of said modules; input means for inputting module-pairing data for designating a desired connection configuration from a plurality of possible configurations for each pair of said plurality of modules independently of connection configurations of the other module pairs such that each module pair forms a tone synthesis unit, the synthesis operation of which is determined by said module-pairing data; and processing means for converting said module pairing data inputted by said input means, into control data that is compatible with said tone generator and with each of said modules, and for transferring the control data to said tone generator; wherein said input means includes means for selecting said module pair connection configuration from: (a) a mode in which the output of a first module in the pair is added to the output of a second module in the pair; (b) a mode in which the output of the first module of the pair is used as a phase signal to the second module in the pair; or (c) a mode in which the output of the first module in the pair is used as part of an envelope signal to the second module in the pair.

Claim 6

An electronic musical instrument, according; a tone generator for synthesizing musical tones, said tone generator including a plurality of waveform generation modules and means for time-division multiplexing the operation of said modules; input means for inputting module-pairing data for designating a desired connection configuration from a plurality of possible configuration for each pair of said plurality of modules independently of connection configuration of the other module pairs such that each module pair forms a tone synthesis unit, the synthesis operation of which is determined by said module-pairing data; and processing means for converting said module pairing data inputted by said input means, into control data that is compatible with said tone generator and with each of said modules, and for transferring the control data to said tone generator; and in which said control data contains phase distortion control data, and each module includes means for receiving a phase signal, means for modulating the received phase signal according to the phase distortion control data, sine wave memory means, means for accessing said sine wave memory means by using the modulated phase signal, means for receiving an envelope signal and means for multiplying the received envelope signal by the output signal from said sine wave memory means.

Claim 7

An electronic musical instrument, according; a tone generator for synthesizing musical tones, said tone generator including a plurality of waveform generation modules and means for time-division multiplexing the operation of said modules; input means for inputting module-pairing data for designating a desired connection configuration from a plurality of possible configuration for each pair of said plurality of modules independently of connection configuration of the other module pairs such that each module pair forms a tone synthesis unit, the synthesis operation of which is determined by said module-pairing data; and processing means for converting said module pairing data inputted by said input means, into control data that is compatible with said tone generator and with each of said modules, and for transferring the control data to said tone generator; and in which said control data contains phase distortion control data, and each module includes means for receiving a phase signal, means for modulating the received phase signal according to the phase distortion control data, sine wave memory means, means for accessing said sine wave memory means by using the modulated phase signal, means for receiving an envelope signal and means for multiplying the received envelope signal by the output signal from said sine wave memory means.

Claim 8

An electronic musical instrument, comprising: a tone generator for synthesizing tones, said tone generator including a plurality of waveform generation modules and means for time-division multiplexing the operation of said modules; first input means for inputting module-pairing data for designating a desired connection configuration from a plurality of possible configurations for each pair of said plurality of modules independently of connection configurations of the other module pairs such that each pair forms a tone synthesis unit, the synthesis operation of which is determined by said module-pairing data; second input means for inputting unit-pairing data for designating a connection configuration of each pair of tone synthesis units independently of connection configurations of the other unit pairs; and processing means for converting said module-pairing data inputted by said first input means and said unit-pairing data input by said second input means, into control data that is compatible with said tone generator means and with each module, and for transferring the control data to said tone generator.

Claim 9

An electronic musical instrument, comprising: a tone generator for synthesizing tones, said tone generator including a plurality of waveform generation modules and means for time-division multiplexing the operation of said modules; first input means for inputting module-pairing data for designating a desired connection configuration from a plurality of possible configurations for each pair of said plurality of modules independently of connection configurations of the other module pairs such that each pair forms a tone synthesis unit, the synthesis operation of which is determined by said module-pairing data; second input means for inputting unit-pairing data for designating a connection configuration of each pair of tone synthesis units independently of connection configurations of the other unit pairs; and processing means for converting said module-pairing data inputted by said first input means and said unit-pairing data input by said second input means, into control data that is compatible with said tone generator means and with each module, and for transferring the control data to said tone generator.

Claim 10

The electronic musical instrument according to claim 5, wherein said first input means includes means for selecting a connection configuration of each module pair from: (a) a mode in which the output of a first module in the pair is added to the output of a second module in the pair; (b) a mode in which the output of the first module in the pair is used as a phase signal to the second module in the pair; or (c) a mode in which the output of the first module in the pair is used as part of an envelope signal to the second module in the pair; and said second input means includes means for selecting a connection configuration of each pair of said tone synthesis units from: (a) a mode in which the output of a first tone synthesis unit in the unit pair is utilized as at least part of a phase signal to the second module of a second tone synthesis unit in the unit pair; or (b) a mode in which the output of the first tone synthesis unit in the unit pair is used as at least part of a tone output from said tone generator.

Claim 11

The electronic musical instrument according to claim 5, further comprising display means for visually displaying the connection configuration of the plurality of modules according to the module-pairing data and the unit-pairing data inputted by the first and the second input means.

Claim 12

The electronic musical instrument according to claim 5, wherein said tone generator includes basic parameter generation means for generating phase signals and envelope signals each to be supplied to each module, and each module includes: a first phase input port for receiving a phase signal from said basic parameter generation means; a second phase input port for receiving an output signal from the first module; a third phase input port for receiving an output signal from the first tone synthesis unit; a fourth phase input port for receiving the sum of or difference between the output signal of the first module and output signal of the first tone synthesis unit; phase selection means for selecting one of the first to fourth phase input ports according to said control data; waveform generation means for generating a waveform signal by using a phase signal selected by said phase selection means; a first envelope input port for receiving an envelope signal from said basic parameter generation means; a second envelope input port for receiving the sum of the output signal of said first module and the envelope signal from said basic parameter generation means; envelope selection means for selecting one of the first and second envelope input ports according to said control data; and means for multiplying the generated waveform signal by the selected envelope signal to form a module output signal.

Claim 13

An electronic musical instrument, comprising: a tone generator for synthesis musical tones, said tone generator including waveform generation circuitry and means for time-division multiplexing said waveform generation circuitry into a plurality of modules; said tone generator also including means for connecting said waveform generator modules to one another in a selected one of a plurality of all possible connection configurations of individual pairs of said modules; input means for inputting module-pairing data for constructing a connection configuration selected from said plurality of all possible configurations of each pair of said plurality of modules, for said pair of said plurality of modules independently of connection configurations of the other module pairs such that each module pair forms a tone synthesis unit, the synthesis operation of which is determined by said module-pairing data; and processing means for converting said module-pairing data inputted by said input means, into control data that is compatible with the connecting means of said tone generator and with each of said modules, and for transferring the control data to said tone generator.

Claim 14

An electronic musical instrument, comprising: a tone generator for synthesis musical tones, said tone generator including waveform generation circuitry and means for time-division multiplexing said waveform generation circuitry into a plurality of modules; said tone generator also including means for connecting said waveform generator modules to one another in a selected one of a plurality of all possible connection configurations of individual pairs of said modules; input means for inputting module-pairing data for constructing a connection configuration selected from said plurality of all possible configurations of each pair of said plurality of modules, for said pair of said plurality of modules independently of connection configurations of the other module pairs such that each module pair forms a tone synthesis unit, the synthesis operation of which is determined by said module-pairing data; and processing means for converting said module-pairing data inputted by said input means, into control data that is compatible with the connecting means of said tone generator and with each of said modules, and for transferring the control data to said tone generator.

Claim 15

The electronic musical instrument according to claim 9, further comprising display means for visually displaying the connection configuration of the plurality of modules according to the module-pairing data inputted by said input means.

Claim 16

An electronic musical instrument, comprising; a tone generator for synthesizing musical tones, said tone generator including waveform generation circuitry and means for time-division multiplexing said waveform generation circuitry into a plurality of modules; input means for inputting module-pairing data for designating a desired connection configuration from a plurality of possible configurations for each pair of said plurality of modules independently of connection configurations of the other module pairs such that each module pair forms a tone synthesis unit, the synthesis operation of which is determined by said module-pairing data; and processing means for converting said module-pairing data inputted by said input means, into control data that is compatible with said tone generator and with each of said modules, and for transferring the control data to said tone generator; wherein said input means includes means for selecting said module pair connection configuration from: (a) a mode in which the output of a first module in the pair is added to the output of a second module in the pair; (b) a mode in which the output of the first module in the pair is used as a phase signal to the second module in the pair; or (c) a mode in which the output of the first module in the pair is used as part of an envelope signal to the second module in the pair.

Claim 17

An electronic musical instrument, comprising; a tone generator for synthesizing musical tones, said tone generator including waveform generation circuitry and means for time-division multiplexing said waveform generation circuitry into a plurality of modules; input means for inputting module-pairing data for designating a desired connection configuration from a plurality of possible configurations for each pair of said plurality of modules independently of connection configurations of the other module pairs such that each module pair forms a tone synthesis unit, the synthesis operation of which is determined by said module-pairing data; and processing means for converting said module-pairing data inputted by said input means, into control data that is compatible with said tone generator and with each of said modules, and for transferring the control data to said tone generator; wherein said input means includes means for selecting said module pair connection configuration from: (a) a mode in which the output of a first module in the pair is added to the output of a second module in the pair; (b) a mode in which the output of the first module in the pair is used as a phase signal to the second module in the pair; or (c) a mode in which the output of the first module in the pair is used as part of an envelope signal to the second module in the pair.

Claim 18

An electronic musical instrument, comprising; a tone generator for synthesizing musical tones, said tone generator including waveform generation circuitry and means for time-division multiplexing said waveform generation circuitry into a plurality of modules; input means for inputting module-pairing data for designating a desired connection configuration from a plurality of possible configurations for each pair of said plurality of modules independently of connection configurations of the other module pairs such that each module pair forms a tone synthesis unit, the synthesis operation of which is determined by said module-pairing data; and processing means for converting said module-pairing data inputted by said input means, into control data that is compatible with said tone generator and with each of said modules, and for transferring the control data to said tone generator; and in which said control data contains phase distortion control data, and each module includes means for receiving a phase signal, means for modulating the received phase signal according to the phase distortion control data, sine wave memory means, means for accessing said sine wave memory means by using the modulated phase signal, means for receiving an envelope signal and means for multiplying the received envelope signal by the output signal from said sine wave memory means.

Claim 19

An electronic musical instrument, comprising; a tone generator for synthesizing musical tones, said tone generator including waveform generation circuitry and means for time-division multiplexing said waveform generation circuitry into a plurality of modules; input means for inputting module-pairing data for designating a desired connection configuration from a plurality of possible configurations for each pair of said plurality of modules independently of connection configurations of the other module pairs such that each module pair forms a tone synthesis unit, the synthesis operation of which is determined by said module-pairing data; and processing means for converting said module-pairing data inputted by said input means, into control data that is compatible with said tone generator and with each of said modules, and for transferring the control data to said tone generator; and in which said control data contains phase distortion control data, and each module includes means for receiving a phase signal, means for modulating the received phase signal according to the phase distortion control data, sine wave memory means, means for accessing said sine wave memory means by using the modulated phase signal, means for receiving an envelope signal and means for multiplying the received envelope signal by the output signal from said sine wave memory means.

Claim 20

An electronic musical instrument, comprising: a tone generator for synthesizing tones, said tone generator including waveform generation circuitry and means for time-division multiplexing said waveform generation circuitry into a plurality of modules; first input means for inputting module-pairing data for designating a desired connection configuration from a plurality of possible configurations for each pair of said plurality of modules independently of connection configurations of the other module pairs such that each module pair forms a tone synthesis unit, the synthesis operation of which is determined by said module-pairing data; second input means for inputting unit-pairing data for designating a connection configuration of each pair of tone synthesis units independently of connection configurations of the other units independently of connection configurations of the other unit pairs; and processing means for converting said module-pairing data inputted by said first input means and said unit-pairing data input by said second input means, into control data that is compatible with said tone generator means and with each module, and for transferring the control data to said tone generator.

Claim 21

An electronic musical instrument, comprising: a tone generator for synthesizing tones, said tone generator including waveform generation circuitry and means for time-division multiplexing said waveform generation circuitry into a plurality of modules; first input means for inputting module-pairing data for designating a desired connection configuration from a plurality of possible configurations for each pair of said plurality of modules independently of connection configurations of the other module pairs such that each module pair forms a tone synthesis unit, the synthesis operation of which is determined by said module-pairing data; second input means for inputting unit-pairing data for designating a connection configuration of each pair of tone synthesis units independently of connection configurations of the other units independently of connection configurations of the other unit pairs; and processing means for converting said module-pairing data inputted by said first input means and said unit-pairing data input by said second input means, into control data that is compatible with said tone generator means and with each module, and for transferring the control data to said tone generator.

Claim 22

The electronic musical instrument according to claim 13, wherein said first input means includes means for selecting a connection configuration of each module pair from: (a) a mode in which the output of a first module in the pair is added to the output of a second module in the pair; (b) a mode in which the output of the first module in the pair is used as a phase signal to the second module in the pair; or (c) a mode in which the output of the first module in the pair is used as part of an envelope signal to the second module in the pair; and said second input means includes means for selecting a connection configuration of each pair of said tone synthesis units from: (a) a mode in which the output of a first tone synthesis unit in the unit pair is utilized as at least part of a phase signal to the second module of a second tone synthesis unit in the unit pair; or (b) a mode in which the output of the first tone synthesis unit in the unit pair is used as at least part of a tone output from said tone generator.

Claim 23

The electronic musical instrument according to claim 13, further comprising display means for visually displaying the connection configuration of the plurality of modules according to the module-pairing data and the unit-pairing data inputted by the first and the second input means.

Claim 24

The electronic musical instrument according to claim 13, wherein said tone generator includes basic parameter generation means for generating phase signals and envelope signals each to be supplied to said each module, and said each module includes: a first phase input port for receiving a phase signal from said basic parameter generation means; a second phase input port for receiving an output signal from the first module; a third phase input port for receiving an output signal from the first tone synthesis unit; a fourth phase input port for receiving the sum of or difference between the output signal of the first module and output signal of the first tone synthesis unit; phase selection means for selecting one of the first to fourth phase input ports according to said control data; waveform generation means for generating a waveform signal by using a phase signal selected by said phase selection means; a first envelope input port for receiving an envelope signal from said basic parameter generation means; a second envelope input port for receiving the sum of the output signal of said first module and the envelope signal from said basic parameter generation means; envelope selection means for selecting one of the first and second envelope input ports according to said control data; and means for multiplying the generated waveform signal by the selected envelope signal to form a module output signal.

Claim 25

An electronic musical instrument, comprising; a tone generator for synthesizing musical tones, including waveform generation circuitry and means for driving said waveform generation circuitry in a time division manner so as to obtain in operation a plurality of modules; said tone generator also including means for connecting said modules to one another in a selected one of a plurality of all possible connection configurations of said modules; and user operated means coupled to said tone generator, for designating a connection configuration of said plurality of modules from said plurality of all possible configurations, and for connecting a desired connection configuration of said plurality of modules in said tone generator.

Claim 26

An electronic musical instrument, comprising; a tone generator for synthesizing musical tones, including waveform generation circuitry and means for driving said waveform generation circuitry in a time division manner so as to obtain in operation a plurality of modules; said tone generator also including means for connecting said modules to one another in a selected one of a plurality of all possible connection configurations of said modules; and user operated means coupled to said tone generator, for designating a connection configuration of said plurality of modules from said plurality of all possible configurations, and for connecting a desired connection configuration of said plurality of modules in said tone generator.

Claim 27

The electronic musical instrument according to claim 17, further comprising display means for visually displaying the connection configuration of the plurality of modules designated by said user operated means.