US5361673A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic musical instrument
Assignee: Kawai Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1993-09-16
•
Granted: 1994-11-08
•
Expires: 2013-09-16
Abstract
Abstract An electronic musical instrument, which includes an internal tone generator, a local-on play function, which produces musical tones in consonance with tone data generated by the internal tone generator, and a local-off play function, which externally outputs only an MIDI signal without performing tone production in consonance with tone data generated by the internal tone generator. The instrument comprises first tone information storage for, when the local-on play function is selected, storing a channel that corresponds to tone data, which are generated by the internal tone generator, for each of the tone data; tone-on channel assigning circuitry for employing the tone information, which are stored in the first storage, to specify a channel that corresponds to the tone data generated by the internal tone generator; a further tone generator, which is connected to the tone channel assigning circuitry, for producing a musical tone in consonance with the tone data from the tone-on channel assigning circuitry; second tone information storage for, when the local-off play function is selected, successively storing the ON/OFF states of tone data generated by the internal tone generator for each set of the tone data; a local-off tone data control for employing the tone information stored in the second tone information storage to output, as tone data for an MIDI signal, the tone data that is generated by the internal tone generator without performing either tone channel assignment or tone production for the tone data; and a MIDI signal output, which is connected to the tone channel assigning circuitry and the local-off tone data control, for outputting, as MIDI signals, tone data from the tone channel assigning circuitry and tone data from the local-off tone data control.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshifumi Kira
- 👤 Shinya Konishi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:47
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/18; G10H1/183; G10H1/185; G10H1/0033; G10H1/0041; G10H1/0058; G10H1/0066
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
289 words
An electronic musical instrument, which includes internal tone generating means, a local-on play function, which produces musical tones in consonance with tone data generated by said internal tone generating means, and a local-off play function, which externally outputs only an MIDI signal without performing tone production in consonance with tone data generated by said internal tone generating means, comprising: first tone information storage means for, when said local-on play function is selected, storing a channel that corresponds to tone data, which are generated by said internal tone generating means, for each of said tone data; tone-on channel assigning means for employing said tone information, which are stored in said first storage means, to specify a channel that corresponds to said tone data generated by said internal tone generating means; tone generating means, which is connected to said tone channel assigning means, for producing a musical tone in consonance with said tone data from said tone-on channel assigning means; second tone information storage means for, when said local-off play function is selected, successively storing the ON/OFF states of tone data generated by said internal tone generating means for each set of said tone data; local-off tone data control means for employing said tone information stored in said second tone information storage means to output, as tone data for an MIDI signal, said tone data that is generated by said internal tone generating means without performing either tone channel assignment or tone production for said tone data; and MIDI signal output means, which is connected to said tone channel assigning means and said local-off tone data control means, for outputting, as MIDI signals, tone data from said tone channel assigning means and tone data from said local-off tone data control means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
289 words
An electronic musical instrument, which includes internal tone generating means, a local-on play function, which produces musical tones in consonance with tone data generated by said internal tone generating means, and a local-off play function, which externally outputs only an MIDI signal without performing tone production in consonance with tone data generated by said internal tone generating means, comprising: first tone information storage means for, when said local-on play function is selected, storing a channel that corresponds to tone data, which are generated by said internal tone generating means, for each of said tone data; tone-on channel assigning means for employing said tone information, which are stored in said first storage means, to specify a channel that corresponds to said tone data generated by said internal tone generating means; tone generating means, which is connected to said tone channel assigning means, for producing a musical tone in consonance with said tone data from said tone-on channel assigning means; second tone information storage means for, when said local-off play function is selected, successively storing the ON/OFF states of tone data generated by said internal tone generating means for each set of said tone data; local-off tone data control means for employing said tone information stored in said second tone information storage means to output, as tone data for an MIDI signal, said tone data that is generated by said internal tone generating means without performing either tone channel assignment or tone production for said tone data; and MIDI signal output means, which is connected to said tone channel assigning means and said local-off tone data control means, for outputting, as MIDI signals, tone data from said tone channel assigning means and tone data from said local-off tone data control means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1, further comprising panel operation means, connected to said tone-on channel assignment means and said local-off tone data control means, for selecting and controlling said tone-on channel assignment means and said local-off tone data control means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 wherein said internal tone generating means comprises a keyboard tone generator and an automatic play data generator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 3, wherein an OFF signal is added to all the tone information, to halt musical tones being produced, when an operation mode of said automatic play data generator is changed from active to non-active.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
109 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 3 wherein, when only said keyboard tone generator in said internal tone generating means is selected by said panel operation means, as for local-on playing, normal tone-on playing is performed via said tone-on channel assignment means and said tone generating means to produce musical tones employing tone data sent from said keyboard tone generator, and, as for local-off playing, said tone data from said keyboard tone generator is directly sent to said MIDI signal output means without passing through said tone-on channel assignment means and said tone generating means in order to prevent said tone data from being employed for tone production.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
133 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 3 wherein, when only said automatic play data generator in said internal tone generating means is selected by said panel operation means, as for local-on playing, normal playing is performed by said tone-on channel assignment means and said tone generating means to produce musical tones employing tone data sent from said automatic play data generator, and, as for local-off playing, said tone data from said automatic play data generator is sent to said MIDI signal output means via said local-off tone data control means, which is controlled in consonance with tone information stored in said second tone information storage means, without passing through said tone-on channel assignment means and said tone generating means in order to prevent said tone data from being employed for tone production.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
150 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 3, wherein, when both said keyboard tone generator and said automatic play data generator in said internal tone generating means are selected by said panel operation means, as for local-on playing, normal playing is performed by said tone-on channel assignment means and said tone generating means to produce musical tones employing tone data sent from both said keyboard tone generator and said automatic play data generator, and, as for local-off playing, said tone data from both said keyboard tone generator and said automatic play data generator are sent to said MIDI signal output means via said local-off tone data control means, which is controlled in consonance with tone information stored in said second tone information storage means, without passing through said tone-on channel assignment means and said tone generating means in order to prevent said tone data from being employed for tone production.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
An electronic musical instrument according to one of claim 3, wherein tone information, stored in said second tone information storage means, serves as memory maps that correspond to all the keyboard keys, for a mode for activating said keyboard tone generator, for a mode for activating said automatic play data generator, and for every part.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 2, wherein said internal tone generating means comprises a keyboard tone generator and an automatic play data generator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 9, wherein an OFF signal is added to all the tone information, to halt musical tones being produced, when an operation mode of said automatic play data generator is changed from active to non-active.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
109 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 4, wherein, when only said keyboard tone generator in said internal tone generating means is selected by said panel operation means, as for local-on playing, normal tone-on playing is performed via said tone-on channel assignment means and said tone generating means to produce musical tones employing tone data sent from said keyboard tone generator, and, as for local-off playing, said tone data from said keyboard tone generator is directly sent to said MIDI signal output means without passing through said tone-on channel assignment means and said tone generating means in order to prevent said tone data from being employed for tone production.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
109 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 10, wherein, when only said keyboard tone generator in said internal tone generating means is selected by said panel operation means, as for local-on playing, normal tone-on playing is performed via said tone-on channel assignment means and said tone generating means to produce musical tones employing tone data sent from said keyboard tone generator, and, as for local-off playing, said tone data from said keyboard tone generator is directly sent to said MIDI signal output means without passing through said tone-on channel assignment means and said tone generating means in order to prevent said tone data from being employed for tone production.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
133 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 4, wherein, when only said automatic play data generator in said internal tone generating means is selected by said panel operation means, as for local-on playing, normal playing is performed by said tone-on channel assignment means and said tone generating means to produce musical tones employing tone data sent from said automatic play data generator, and, as for local-off playing, said tone data from said automatic play data generator is sent to said MIDI signal output means via said local-off tone data control means, which is controlled in consonance with tone information stored in said second tone information storage means, without passing through said tone-on channel assignment means and said tone generating means in order to prevent said tone data from being employed for tone production.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
133 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 10, wherein, when only said automatic play data generator in said internal tone generating means is selected by said panel operation means, as for local-on playing, normal playing is performed by said tone-on channel assignment means and said tone generating means to produce musical tones employing tone data sent from said automatic play data generator, and, as for local-off playing, said tone data from said automatic play data generator is sent to said MIDI signal output means via said local-off tone data control means, which is controlled in consonance with tone information stored in said second tone information storage means, without passing through said tone-on channel assignment means and said tone generating means in order to prevent said tone data from being employed for tone production.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
150 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 4, wherein, when both said keyboard tone generator and said automatic play data generator in said internal tone generating means are selected by said panel operation means, as for local-on playing, normal playing is performed by said tone-on channel assignment means and said tone generating means to produce musical tones employing tone data sent from both said keyboard tone generator and said automatic play data generator, and, as for local-off playing, said tone data from both said keyboard tone generator and said automatic play data generator are sent to said MIDI signal output means via said local-off tone data control means, which is controlled in consonance with tone information stored in said second tone information storage means, without passing through said tone-on channel assignment means and said tone generating means in order to prevent said tone data from being employed for tone production.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
150 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 10, wherein, when both said keyboard tone generator and said automatic play data generator in said internal tone generating means are selected by said panel operation means, as for local-on playing, normal playing is performed by said tone-on channel assignment means and said tone generating means to produce musical tones employing tone data sent from both said keyboard tone generator and said automatic play data generator, and, as for local-off playing, said tone data from both said keyboard tone generator and said automatic play data generator are sent to said MIDI signal output means via said local-off tone data control means, which is controlled in consonance with tone information stored in said second tone information storage means, without passing through said tone-on channel assignment means and said tone generating means in order to prevent said tone data from being employed for tone production.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5079984A
Cited
US5142959A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-11-07 | 1998-05-09 | 1998-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-07 | 2002-05-09 | 2002-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-07 | 2006-05-09 | 2006-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |