US5376752A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Open architecture music synthesizer with dynamic voice allocation
Assignee: Korg Inc
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Filing: 1993-02-10
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Granted: 1994-12-27
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Expires: 2013-02-10
Abstract
Abstract An architecture for a synthesizer of music or other sounds which comprises an input device which supplies real time input signals indicating selected voices, a voice program memory which stores voice programs for respective voices, and a sound processing module including an array of digital signal processors, which is coupled to the input device and the voice program memory, and responsive to real time input signals to execute a group of voice programs in the voice program memory to generate selective voices in real time. Resources coupled to the input device and the voice program memory dynamically assign voice programs for selected voices to the group of voice programs in response to the real time input signals. Further, resources are available for replacing a particular voice program in the group with a voice program for a selected voice in response to the real time input signals. The voice program memory includes a first memory which stores a plurality of voice programs, and a second memory which is coupled to the sound processing module and the first memory, which stores the group of voice programs for execution by the sound processing module. The resources for dynamically assigning a voice program to the group includes a system for transferring a selected voice program from the first memory to the second memory in real time. An audio output device, including a speaker, is coupled to the digital signal processor for producing sound in response to the sound data.
Inventors
- 👤 Alexander J. Limberis
- 👤 Joseph W. Bryan
- 👤 Joanne F. Ottney
- 👤 Steven S. O'Connell
- 👤 Marcus K. Bryan, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:24
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H7/00; G10H7/02; G10H1/00; G10H1/18; G10H1/183; G10H1/185; G10H1/186; G10H5/00; G10H5/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 59
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
An audio signal processor comprising: an input to supply real time input signals indicating selected voices; voice program memory to store voice programs for respective voices, the voice programs comprising sequences of instructions for generation of the respective voices; sound processing resources, coupled to the voice program memory and the input, responsive to real time input signals which execute a group of the voice programs in the voice program memory to generate selected voices in real time; and voice allocation resources, coupled with the input and the voice program memory, which dynamically allocate a voice program for a selected voice to the group in response to the real time input signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
An audio signal processor comprising: an input to supply real time input signals indicating selected voices; voice program memory to store voice programs for respective voices, the voice programs comprising sequences of instructions for generation of the respective voices; sound processing resources, coupled to the voice program memory and the input, responsive to real time input signals which execute a group of the voice programs in the voice program memory to generate selected voices in real time; and voice allocation resources, coupled with the input and the voice program memory, which dynamically allocate a voice program for a selected voice to the group in response to the real time input signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The audio signal processor of claim 1, wherein the voice allocation resources include: circuitry to replace a particular voice program in the group with a voice program for a selected voice in response to the real time input signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The audio signal processor of claim 1, wherein the voice program memory includes: a first memory to store a plurality of voice programs; and a second memory, coupled with the sound processing resources and the first memory, to store the group of voice programs for execution by the sound processing resources.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The audio signal processor of claim 3, wherein the voice allocation resources include: circuitry, coupled with the first and second memories of the voice program memory, to transfer at least a component of a selected voice program from the first memory to the second memory in real time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
The audio signal processor of claim 1, wherein the sound processing resources include: at least one signal processor, coupled to the voice program memory, for executing voice programs to generate sound data representing the selected voices; and an audio output, coupled with the at least one signal processor, which produces audio signals in response to the sound data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
The audio signal processor of claim 5, wherein the voice program memory includes: a first memory to store a plurality of voice programs, the voice programs including instructions for execution by the at least one signal processor; an instruction memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store instructions for the group of voice programs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
96 words
The audio signal processor of claim 6, wherein the voice allocation resources include: circuitry to replace a particular voice program in the group with a voice program for a selected voice in response to the real time input signals, including logic to temporarily mask instruction storage locations storing instructions for the particular voice program in the instruction memory from execution by the at least one signal processor without effecting execution of instructions for other voice programs in the group, and circuitry to transfer instructions for the selected voice program to the temporarily masked instruction storage locations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
The audio signal processor of claim 5, wherein the voice program memory includes: a first memory to store a plurality of voice programs, the voice programs including delay lines; and a delay line memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store delay lines for the group of voice programs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The audio signal processor of claim 8, wherein the voice allocation resources include: circuitry, coupled with the delay line memory, to disable a delay line of the particular voice program in the delay line memory and set up a delay line for the selected voice program in the delay line memory in real time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
The audio signal processor of claim 5, wherein the voice program memory includes: a first memory to store a plurality of voice programs, the voice programs including instructions and coefficients for execution by the at least one signal processor; an instruction memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store instructions for the group of voice programs; and a coefficient memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store coefficients for the group of voice programs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
The audio signal processor of claim 5, wherein the voice program memory includes: a first memory to store a plurality of voice programs, the voice programs including input/output parameters specifying connections among other voice programs in the group; and a input/output parameter memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store input/output parameters for the group of voice programs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
169 words
The audio signal processor of claim 5, wherein the voice program memory includes: a first memory to store a plurality of voice programs, the voice programs including instructions, input/output parameters specifying connections among the group of voice programs, coefficients, tables and delay lines; an instruction memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store instructions for the group of voice programs; a input/output parameter memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store input/output parameters for the group of voice programs; a delay line memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store delay lines for the group of voice programs; a coefficient memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store coefficients for the group of voice programs; and a table memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store table data for the group of voice programs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
The audio signal processor of claim 12, wherein the voice allocation resources include: circuitry, coupled with the first memory, the instruction memory and the delay line memory, to transfer instructions, input/output parameters, coefficients and delay line parameters of a selected voice program from the first memory to the instruction memory, input/output parameter memory, coefficient memory and the delay line memory, respectively, in real time.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
96 words
The audio signal processor of claim 13, wherein the voice allocation resources include: circuitry to replace a particular voice program in the group with a voice program for a selected voice in response to the real time input signals, including logic to temporarily mask instruction storage locations storing instructions for the particular voice program in the instruction memory from execution by the at least one signal processor without effecting execution of instructions for other voice programs in the group, and circuitry to transfer instructions for the selected voice program to the temporarily masked instruction storage locations.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
The audio signal processor of claim 14, wherein the voice allocation resources further include: circuitry, coupled with the delay line memory, to clear a delay line of the particular voice program in the delay line memory and set up a delay line for the selected voice program in the delay line memory in response to the delay line parameters in real time.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The audio signal processor of claim 1, wherein the input includes a music keyboard.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The audio signal processor of claim 1, wherein the input includes a MIDI interface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
64 words
The audio signal processor of claim 1, wherein the voice allocation resources include logic to partition the sound processing resources into a plurality of voice program resource groups, and to selectively disable particular resource groups without interfering with voice programs using other resource groups in the plurality, and to allocate the selected voice program to a disabled voice program resource group in real time.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
177 words
An audio signal processor comprising: an input to supply real time input signals indicating selected voices; a host processing system coupled to the input and, including a source of voice programs which comprise sequences of instructions for generation of corresponding voices; voice program memory, coupled with the host processing system, for storing a group of voice programs; at least one signal processor, coupled to the voice program memory and the input, for executing sequences of instructions in voice programs in the group for selected voices in response to the real time input data to generate sound data representing the selected voices; voice allocation resources, coupled with the input, the host processing system and the voice program memory, which dynamically allocate a voice program for a selected voice from the source of voice programs in the host processing system to the group stored in the voice program memory in response to the real time input signals; and an audio output, coupled with the at least one signal processor, which produces audio signals in response to the sound data.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
177 words
An audio signal processor comprising: an input to supply real time input signals indicating selected voices; a host processing system coupled to the input and, including a source of voice programs which comprise sequences of instructions for generation of corresponding voices; voice program memory, coupled with the host processing system, for storing a group of voice programs; at least one signal processor, coupled to the voice program memory and the input, for executing sequences of instructions in voice programs in the group for selected voices in response to the real time input data to generate sound data representing the selected voices; voice allocation resources, coupled with the input, the host processing system and the voice program memory, which dynamically allocate a voice program for a selected voice from the source of voice programs in the host processing system to the group stored in the voice program memory in response to the real time input signals; and an audio output, coupled with the at least one signal processor, which produces audio signals in response to the sound data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The audio signal processor of claim 19, wherein the voice allocation resources include: circuitry to replace a particular voice program in the group with a voice program for a selected voice in response to the real time input signals.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
61 words
The audio signal processor of claim 19, wherein the voice program memory includes: a first memory to store a plurality of voice programs, the voice programs including instructions for execution by the at least one signal processor; an instruction memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store instructions for the group of voice programs.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
96 words
The audio signal processor of claim 21, wherein the voice allocation resources include: circuitry to replace a particular voice program in the group with a voice program for a selected voice in response to the real time input signals, including logic to temporarily mask instruction storage locations storing instructions for the particular voice program in the instruction memory from execution by the at least one signal processor without effecting execution of instructions for other voice programs in the group, and circuitry to transfer instructions for the selected voice program to the temporarily masked instruction storage locations.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
56 words
The audio signal processor of claim 19, wherein the voice program memory includes: a first memory to store a plurality of voice programs, the voice programs including delay lines; and a delay line memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store delay lines for the group of voice programs.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
The audio signal processor of claim 23, wherein the voice allocation resources further include: logic, coupled with the delay line memory, to disable a delay line of the particular voice program in the delay line memory and set up a delay line for the selected voice program in the delay line memory in real time.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
88 words
The audio signal processor of claim 19, wherein the voice program memory includes: a first memory to store a plurality of voice programs, the voice programs including instructions and coefficients for execution by the at least one signal processor; an instruction memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store instructions for the group of voice programs; and a coefficient memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store coefficients for the group of voice programs.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
65 words
The audio signal processor of claim 19, wherein the voice program memory includes: a first memory to store a plurality of voice programs, the voice programs including input/output parameters specifying connections among other voice programs in the group; and a input/output parameter memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store input/output parameters for the group of voice programs.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
169 words
The audio signal processor of claim 19, wherein the voice program memory includes: a first memory to store a plurality of voice programs, the voice programs including instructions, input/output parameters specifying connections among the group of voice programs, coefficients, tables and delay lines; an instruction memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store instructions for the group of voice programs; a input/output parameter memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store input/output parameters for the group of voice programs; a delay line memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store delay lines for the group of voice programs; a coefficient memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store coefficients for the group of voice programs; and a table memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store table data for the group of voice programs.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
64 words
The audio signal processor of claim 27, wherein the voice allocation resources include: circuitry, coupled with the first memory, the instruction memory and the delay line memory, to transfer instructions, input/output parameters, coefficients and delay line parameters of a selected voice program from the first memory to the instruction memory, input/output parameter memory, coefficient memory and the delay line memory, respectively, in real time.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
95 words
The audio signal processor of claim 27, wherein the voice allocation resources include: circuitry to replace a particular voice program in the group with a voice program for a selected voice in response to the real time input signals, including logic to temporarily mask instruction storage locations storing instructions for the particular voice program in the instruction memory from execution by the at least one signal processor without effecting execution of instructions for other voice programs in the group, and to allocate instructions for the selected voice program to the temporarily masked instruction storage locations.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
66 words
The audio signal processor of claim 29, wherein the circuitry to replace a particular voice program further includes: logic, coupled with the delay line memory, to clear a delay line of the particular voice program in the delay line memory and set up a delay line for the selected voice program in the delay line memory in response to the delay line parameters in real time.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The audio signal processor of claim 19, wherein the input includes a music keyboard.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The audio signal processor of claim 19, wherein the input includes a MIDI interface.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
86 words
The audio signal processor of claim 19, wherein the host processing system includes a processor, a processor bus coupled to the processor, and a first memory coupled to the processor bus; and wherein the voice program memory includes: a second memory isolated from the processor bus; and circuitry, coupled to the processor bus and the second memory, to route host reads and writes to the second memory, and to transfer voice programs from the second memory to the plurality of signal processors independently of the processor.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
The audio signal processor of claim 33, wherein the data processor includes resources responsive to the real time input signal to compute parameters used by the selected voice programs in parallel with the transferring of voice programs from the second memory.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
68 words
The audio signal processor of claim 19, wherein the voice allocation resources include logic to partition resources of the at least one signal processor into a plurality of voice program resource groups, to selectively disable particular voice programs resource groups without interfering with other voice programs resource groups in the plurality, and to allocate the selected voice program to a disabled voice program resource group in real time.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
192 words
An audio signal processor comprising: an input to supply real time input signals indicating selected voices; a host processing system coupled to the input and, including a source of voice programs which comprise sequences of instructions for generation of corresponding voices; storage means, coupled with the host processing system, for storing a group of voice programs; a plurality of signal processors, coupled to the storage means and the input means, to execute voice programs in the group for selected voices in response to the real time input data to generate sound data representing the selected voices; means, coupled with the input means, the host processing system and the storage means, for dynamically allocating a voice program for a selected voice from the the source of voice programs in the host processing system to the group stored in the storage means in response to the real time input signals; an audio data bus, coupled to the plurality of signal processors, to communicate sound data among the plurality of signal processors; and an audio output, coupled with the audio data bus, to produce audio signals in response to the sound data on the bus.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
192 words
An audio signal processor comprising: an input to supply real time input signals indicating selected voices; a host processing system coupled to the input and, including a source of voice programs which comprise sequences of instructions for generation of corresponding voices; storage means, coupled with the host processing system, for storing a group of voice programs; a plurality of signal processors, coupled to the storage means and the input means, to execute voice programs in the group for selected voices in response to the real time input data to generate sound data representing the selected voices; means, coupled with the input means, the host processing system and the storage means, for dynamically allocating a voice program for a selected voice from the the source of voice programs in the host processing system to the group stored in the storage means in response to the real time input signals; an audio data bus, coupled to the plurality of signal processors, to communicate sound data among the plurality of signal processors; and an audio output, coupled with the audio data bus, to produce audio signals in response to the sound data on the bus.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
40 words
The audio signal processor of claim 36, wherein the means for dynamically allocating includes: means for replacing a particular voice program in the group with a voice program for a selected voice in response to the real time input signals.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
59 words
The audio signal processor of claim 36, wherein the storage means includes: a first memory to store a plurality of voice programs, the voice programs including instructions for execution by at least one signal processor; and an instruction memory, coupled to the plurality of signal processors and the first memory, to store instructions for the group of voice programs.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
97 words
The audio signal processor of claim 38, wherein the means for dynamically allocating includes: means for replacing a particular voice program in the group with a voice program for a selected voice in response to the real time input signals, including means for temporarily masking instruction storage locations storing instructions for the particular voice program in the instruction memory from execution by the at least one signal processor without effecting execution of instructions for other voice programs in the group, and means for transferring instructions for the selected voice program to the temporarily masked instruction storage locations.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
54 words
The audio signal processor of claim 36, wherein the storage means includes: a first memory to store a plurality of voice programs, the voice programs including delay lines; and a delay line memory, coupled to at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store delay lines for the group of voice programs.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
56 words
The audio signal processor of claim 40, wherein the means for dynamically allocating further includes: means, coupled with the delay line memory, for disabling a delay line of the particular voice program in the delay line memory and setting up a delay line for the selected voice program in the delay line memory in real time.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
86 words
The audio signal processor of claim 36, wherein the storage means includes: a first memory to store a plurality of voice programs, the voice programs including instructions and coefficients for execution by at least one signal processor; an instruction memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store instructions for the group of voice programs; and a coefficient memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store coefficients for the group of voice programs.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
64 words
The audio signal processor of claim 36, wherein the storage means includes: a first memory to store a plurality of voice programs, the voice programs including input/output parameters specifying connections among other voice programs in the group; and a input/output parameter memory, coupled to the at least one signal processor and the first memory, to store input/output parameters for the group of voice programs.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
194 words
The audio signal processor of claim 36, wherein the source of voice programs in the host processing system includes: a first memory to store a plurality of voice programs, the voice programs including sequences of instructions, input/output parameters specifying connections among the group of voice programs, coefficients, tables and delay lines; and the storage means includes a plurality of memory modules coupled to corresponding signal processors in the plurality of signal processors; each memory module comprising: an instruction memory, coupled to the corresponding signal processor and the first memory, to store sequences of instructions for the group of voice programs; a input/output parameter memory, coupled to the corresponding signal processor and the first memory, to store input/output parameters for the group of voice programs; a delay line memory, coupled to the corresponding signal processor and the first memory, to store delay lines for the group of voice programs; a coefficient memory, coupled to the corresponding signal processor and the first memory, to store coefficients for the group of voice programs; and a table memory, coupled to the corresponding signal processor and the first memory, to store table data for the group of voice programs.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
60 words
The audio signal processor of claim 44, wherein the means for dynamically allocating includes: means, coupled with the first memory and the plurality of memory modules, for transferring instructions, input/output parameters specifying connections among the group of voice programs, coefficients, and delay line parameters of a selected voice program from the first memory to selected memory modules in real time.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
99 words
The audio signal processor of claim 45, wherein the means for dynamically allocating includes: means for replacing a particular voice program in the group with a voice program for a selected voice in response to the real time input signals, including means for temporarily masking instruction storage locations storing instructions for the particular voice program in the instruction memory of the selected module from execution by the corresponding signal processor without effecting execution of instructions for other voice programs in the group, and means for transferring instructions for the selected voice program to the temporarily masked instruction storage locations.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
68 words
The audio signal processor of claim 46, wherein the means for replacing further includes: means, coupled with the plurality of memory modules, for clearing a delay line of the particular voice program in the delay line memory of the selected memory module and setting up a delay line for the selected voice program in the delay line memory in response to the delay line parameters in real time.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
70 words
The audio signal processor of claim 44, wherein the host processing system includes means for composing a set of voice programs for real time execution; and the source of voice programs includes a set memory to store the set of voice programs; and the means for dynamically allocating includes means for transferring table data for the set of voice programs to the table memories in the plurality of memory modules.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
42 words
The audio signal processor of claim 36, wherein the host processing system includes means for composing a set of voice programs for real time execution; and the source of voice programs includes a set memory to store the set of voice programs.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
179 words
The audio signal processor of claim 49, wherein the voice programs in the set of voice programs include sequences of instructions, input/output parameters specifying connections among the group of voice programs, coefficients, tables and delay lines; and the storage means includes a plurality of memory modules coupled to corresponding signal processors in the plurality of signal processors; each memory module comprising: an instruction memory, coupled to the corresponding signal processor and the first memory, to store sequences of instructions for the group of voice programs; a input/output parameter memory, coupled to the corresponding signal processor and the first memory, to store input/output parameters for the group of voice programs; a delay line memory, coupled to the corresponding signal processor and the first memory, to store delay lines for the group of voice programs; a coefficient memory, coupled to the corresponding signal processor and the first memory, to store coefficients for the group of voice programs; and a table memory, coupled to the corresponding signal processor and the first memory, to store table data for the group of voice programs.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
46 words
The audio signal processor of claim 50, wherein at least one of the voice programs in the set includes sound sample data, further including a sample store in at least one of the memory modules to store sound sample data for the group of voice programs.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
14 words
The audio signal processor of claim 36, wherein the input includes a music keyboard.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
14 words
The audio signal processor of claim 36, wherein the input includes a MIDI interface.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
85 words
The audio signal processor of claim 36, wherein the host processing system includes a processor, a processor bus coupled to the processor, and a first memory coupled to the processor bus; and wherein the storage means includes: a second memory isolated from the processor bus; and means, coupled to the processor bus and the second memory, for routing host reads and writes to the second memory, and for transferring voice programs from the second memory to the plurality of signal processors independently of the processor.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
42 words
The audio signal processor of claim 36, wherein the host processing system includes means responsive to the real time input signal for computing parameters used by the selected voice programs in parallel with the transferring of voice programs from the second memory.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
68 words
The audio signal processor of claim 36, wherein the means for dynamically allocating includes means for partitioning resources of the plurality of signal processors into a plurality of voice program resource groups, and means for selectively disabling particular resource groups without interfering with voice programs using other resource groups in the plurality, and allocating the selected voice program to a disabled voice program resource group in real time.
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) | 1997-12-26 | 1998-06-27 | 1998-12-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-26 | 2002-06-27 | 2002-12-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-26 | 2006-06-27 | 2006-12-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |