US5221803A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Tone signal generation from fewer circuits
Assignee: Kawai Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co Ltd
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Filing: 1991-09-18
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Granted: 1993-06-22
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Expires: 2011-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A tone generating apparatus comprising a first tone signal generator including the same number of oscillators as a polyphonic number each for generating a tone signal of that tone component of tone components constituting a musical tone which has a relatively long tone-ON time; a first assigner for assigning tone generation to one of the oscillators of the first tone signal generator; a second tone signal generator including oscillators each for generating a tone signal of a different one of the tone components constituting a musical tone than the tone component having a relatively long tone-ON time, a quantity of the oscillators being less than the polyphonic number; and a second assigner for assigning tone generation to one of the oscillators of the second tone signal generator, whereby when a tone generation is specified, a tone signal output from one of the oscillators of the first tone signal generator assigned by the first assigner and a tone signal output from one of the oscillators of the second tone signal generator assigned by the second assigner are synthesized to produce a tone signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Gen Izumisawa
- 👤 Yasushi Sato
- 👤 Akiko Komatsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:59
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/02; G10H1/06; G10H1/08; G10H1/18; G10H1/183; G10H1/185; G10H1/186; G10H1/188
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
338 words
A tone generating apparatus, comprising: first tone signal generating means, said first tone signal generating means including a first predetermined plurality of oscillators, said predetermined number of oscillators being equal to a polyphonic number, each oscillator of said plurality of oscillators for generating a first tone signal of that component of tone components constituting a musical tone which has a tone-ON time of a first predetermined duration; first assigner means for assigning tone generation to one of said oscillators of said first tone signal generating means; second tone signal generating means including a second predetermined plurality of oscillators less than said polyphonic number, each oscillator of said second predetermined plurality of oscillators for generating a second tone signal of said tone components constituting a musical tone which has a tone-ON time of a second predetermined duration less than said first predetermined duration; a third tone signal generating means having fewer oscillators than said second tone signal generating means, for generating a third tone signal of said tone components constituting a musical tone which has a tone-ON time of a third predetermined duration less than said second predetermined duration; a fourth tone signal generating means having fewer oscillators than said third tone signal generating means, for generating a fourth tone signal of said tone components constituting a musical tone which has a tone-ON time of a fourth predetermined duration less than said third predetermined duration; said third and fourth tone signal generating means forming said second tone signal generating means; second assigner means for assigning tone generation to one of said oscillators of the third and fourth tone signal generating means; third assigner means for assigning tone generation to one of said oscillators of said third tone signal generating means; fourth assigner means for assigning tone generation to one of said oscillators of said fourth tone signal generating means; and adder means for synthesizing the signals output by assigned oscillators to produce a tone signal; whereby only three groups of oscillators are required to produce four tone signal components.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
338 words
A tone generating apparatus, comprising: first tone signal generating means, said first tone signal generating means including a first predetermined plurality of oscillators, said predetermined number of oscillators being equal to a polyphonic number, each oscillator of said plurality of oscillators for generating a first tone signal of that component of tone components constituting a musical tone which has a tone-ON time of a first predetermined duration; first assigner means for assigning tone generation to one of said oscillators of said first tone signal generating means; second tone signal generating means including a second predetermined plurality of oscillators less than said polyphonic number, each oscillator of said second predetermined plurality of oscillators for generating a second tone signal of said tone components constituting a musical tone which has a tone-ON time of a second predetermined duration less than said first predetermined duration; a third tone signal generating means having fewer oscillators than said second tone signal generating means, for generating a third tone signal of said tone components constituting a musical tone which has a tone-ON time of a third predetermined duration less than said second predetermined duration; a fourth tone signal generating means having fewer oscillators than said third tone signal generating means, for generating a fourth tone signal of said tone components constituting a musical tone which has a tone-ON time of a fourth predetermined duration less than said third predetermined duration; said third and fourth tone signal generating means forming said second tone signal generating means; second assigner means for assigning tone generation to one of said oscillators of the third and fourth tone signal generating means; third assigner means for assigning tone generation to one of said oscillators of said third tone signal generating means; fourth assigner means for assigning tone generation to one of said oscillators of said fourth tone signal generating means; and adder means for synthesizing the signals output by assigned oscillators to produce a tone signal; whereby only three groups of oscillators are required to produce four tone signal components.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A tone generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said oscillators are digital control oscillators.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A tone generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tone component having a tone-ON time of said first predetermined duration is a soft-hit component whose frequency varies in proportion to a pitch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A tone generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tone components of said signals produced by said third tone signal generating means and having a tone-ON time of said third predetermined duration are hard-hit components whose frequency varies in proportion to a pitch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A tone generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tone component of said signals produced by said fourth tone signal generating means and having a tone-ON time of said fourth predetermined duration are striking components whose frequency is independent of a pitch.
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) | 1996-06-21 | 1996-12-21 | 1997-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-21 | 2000-12-21 | 2001-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-21 | 2004-12-21 | 2005-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |