Patent US5262583A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US5262583A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Keyboard instrument with key on phrase tone generator

Assignee: Kawai Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1992-07-17
•
Granted: 1993-11-16
•
Expires: 2012-07-17
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An electronic keyboard instrument includes note data memory (35) for storing note data strings of a plurality of different short phrases, and a tone generator (37) for generating tones on the basis of a note data string read out from the note data memory (35). In response to a key depression operation, a note data string of a short phrase assigned to the ON key is selected and read out. Tone strength data of the readout note data string are multiplied with a key operation strength value, and product data are output to the tone generator (37). A player performs an adlib play upon a combination of the phrases. The tone volume can be controlled in units of phrases according to key touch data.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yoshihisa Shimada

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 08:07
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/36; G10H1/18; G10H1/26; G10H2210/00; G10H2210/155; G10H2210/161; G10H2210/171; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/12; Y10S84/22

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 147 words
A phrase play apparatus comprising: note data storage means for storing note data strings constituting a plurality of phrases, each of said plurality of phrases including a series of tones of a plurality of bars per phrase for one of rhythm, chord, melody or combination thereof and assigned to a plurality of keys; tone generation means for generating tones from the note data strings stored in said note data storage means; means, responsive to a keyboard operation, for selecting and reading out one of the plurality of phrases corresponding to an operated key of the plurality of keys; detecting means for detecting a key depression strength of the operated key; and multiplication means for multiplying the detected key depression strength by the one of the plurality of phrases to produce a tone generation strength value and outputting said tone generation strength value to said tone generation means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 147 words
A phrase play apparatus comprising: note data storage means for storing note data strings constituting a plurality of phrases, each of said plurality of phrases including a series of tones of a plurality of bars per phrase for one of rhythm, chord, melody or combination thereof and assigned to a plurality of keys; tone generation means for generating tones from the note data strings stored in said note data storage means; means, responsive to a keyboard operation, for selecting and reading out one of the plurality of phrases corresponding to an operated key of the plurality of keys; detecting means for detecting a key depression strength of the operated key; and multiplication means for multiplying the detected key depression strength by the one of the plurality of phrases to produce a tone generation strength value and outputting said tone generation strength value to said tone generation means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said multiplication means multiplies the tone generation strength value with a correction value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein upper bits of the product of the one of the plurality of phrases and the detected key depression strength represents said tone generation strength value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 41 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory table for storing said plurality of phrases and corresponding key numbers, said memory table storing start addresses of said plurality of phrases stored in said note data storage means as phrase data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 52 words
The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising rhythm selection means, wherein said memory table stores different phrase data corresponding to types of rhythms, and a set of phrases corresponding to a rhythm are assigned to a group of said plurality of keys upon selection of a rhythm by said rhythm selection means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4526080A Cited
US4554854A Cited
US5063820A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-11-15 1997-05-17 1997-11-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-11-15 2001-05-17 2001-11-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-11-15 2005-05-17 2005-11-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag