Abstract: An electronic musical keyboard instrument that is controlled by a digital processor. Key and stops/effects statuses are sampled, during successive time intervals, and read into random access memory associated with the digital processor. After manipulation and/or supplementation of the status information to effect implementation of various features, key-representative signals are read out to tone generation and voicing circuits.

Abstract: A model horse is resiliently mounted to permit a child rider to cause motion of the horse having vertical and/or horizontal motion components. A trotting gait sound is generated in response to detected vertical motion, and a walk and/or gallop gait sound is generated in response to detected horizontal motion. The selection as between the walk and gallop gait is preferably based upon the amplitude or horizontal motion. The different gait sounds are obtained by generating a basic "clop" (hoofbeat) sound, and, repeating the clop sound in a different time sequence for each gait. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the sounds of a horse's "snort" and "whinny" are also generated during riding. The sounds produced in accordance with the invention are obtained by digitally forming audio frequency signals and controlling the envelope of the audio frequency signals.

Abstract: A one key chording system for an electronic organ of the type in which single contact keyswitches for D.C. keying of tone signals are employed. The keyswitches of a first group are connected to a common bus to which is also connected a mode select circuit for selectively applying thereto a D.C. potential of either positive or negative polarity. In the disclosed embodiment, when a negative potential is applied to the common bus a signal from an actuated keyswitch in said first group operates one of a plurality of chord logic circuits to produce a plurality of auxiliary keying signals which operate tone signal keyers for tone signals corresponding to a musical chord. An alpha-numeric display disposed adjacent to the keyboard indicates the name of the chord being played by the one key chording system.

Abstract: An image enhancement system for television wherein conventionally generated detail signals representative of variations in the amplitude of the video signal are further processed before being added to the video signal. A first fractional amplitude portion of the generated detail signal is amplified and then subjected to severe coring and the resulting bi-polar signal is combined with a second fractional amplitude portion of the generated detail signal to produce a resultant detail signal having a contour which reduces the width of the edging effect at contrast transitions associated with conventional enhancement systems, and in which high frequency noise and other spurious signals are substantially reduced while retaining fine detail to enhance key parts of the television picture.

Abstract: A compatible four channel system primarily for use in conjunction with a radio transmission system for transmitting four individual audio signals over a medium having primary and secondary information channels and first and second auxiliary information channels, the primary and secondary channels carrying information that is consistent and compatible with existing monophonic and stereo-phonic standards.

Abstract: An automatic rhythm system for an electronic organ adapted to enable a plurality of percussive instruments and a plurality of accompaniment and "Walking Bass" instruments normally played by the pedals of the organ includes two separate rhythm pattern generators each storing a plurality of rhythm patterns, the outputs from one of which enables selected percussive instruments and the outputs from the other enabling little used percussive instruments and the "Walking Bass" normally played by the pedals. A plurality of rhythm select switches are directly connected to respective input terminals of the first rhythm pattern generator, and to ensure against generation of musically unacceptable combinations of rhythm patterns when a combination of rhythm patterns is selected, the rhythm select switches are connected through control logic to the second rhythm pattern generator, the control causing the second rhythm pattern generator to play only the first turned on rhythm pattern of a combination of patterns.

Abstract: For generating tones in an electronic musical instrument, there are provided multiple master frequency sources, a different source for each octave, differing in frequency from each other by a factor which differs from two by at least one semitone, each of which is coupled to a respective frequency synthesizer all of which have the same dividing ratios, to divide down the frequency of its master frequency source to pitches of the twelve notes in the intended octave. In one embodiment the sources are separate master clock pulse sources, and in another embodiment a pulse train derived from a single clock pulse source is applied to the frequency synthesizer for the highest octave, and the pulse train applied to each of the other synthesizers is derived from the pulse train supplied to the frequency synthesizer for the next highest octave by dividing the pulse repetition frequency thereof by a factor which differs from two by one or more semitones.

Abstract: A knife particularly adapted for use in removing the semilunar cartilages from the knee has an elongated handle-engaging shank and two cutting blades fixed forwardly thereon. A first of the blades is flat transversely and concave longitudinally in extension of the shank with a curvature generally conforming to the curvature of the outer surface of the meniscus, and has a cutting edge at its front end. The second blade is integrally joined to the first blade along one edge thereof and is disposed at a right angle to the concave side of the first blade, and tapers rearwardly from its forward cutting edge toward the shank. A guide member projects forwardly from the point of intersection of the cutting edges of the two blades.

Abstract: In television apparatus for producing signals for displaying simultaneously a succession of time-separated images of an object moving in an otherwise static scene, control is provided for causing a limited number of decaying stroboscopic images of successive positions of a moving object to appear behind the image representing the latest position of the moving object.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a utility knife which is suitable for mounting at least two different types of blades and which has an improved safety feature. The knife of the invention has an elongated handle, and means for mounting a blade of one type at an end of the handle. In accordance with an important feature of the invention, the mounting means includes means for preventing the mounting of a blade at a given end of the handle when a blade is already mounted at the opposing end of the handle. In particular, in an embodiment of the invention the handle includes a pair of elongated mateable handle elements which conform generally in shape. A pair of blade-engaging units, each of which may be, for example, a suitably sized key or nub, are respectively disposed near the opposing ends of one of the handle elements. A blade-securing pad is disposed near one (only) end of the other handle element.

Abstract: A sub-Nyquist sampled PCM NTSC color television signal is obtained directly from a PCM encoded color television signal sampled at four times the color subcarrier frequency by selecting every other sample in each line of the 4F.sub.sc sampled television signal and introducing a one 4F.sub.sc sample displacement every two sequential television lines. A sub-Nyquist sampled signal may also be obtained from an NTSC color television signal having a color subcarrier frequency F.sub.sc by generating a sampling signal having a frequency of 2F.sub.sc, the sampling phase of which shifts by 180.degree. every alternate time sequential television line, and sampling the NTSC color television signal in response to the sampling signal. Whichever of these two techniques is used to obtain the sub-Nyquist samples, the 4F.sub.sc samples can be reconstructed when comb filters are used to remove alias components. The process of converting 4F.sub.sc encoded signals to sub-Nyquist and back to 4F.sub.

Abstract: The disclosed system for correcting excessive horizontal blanking of color television signals, separates the luminance and chrominance components of the television signal, separately expands or stretches the luminance and chrominance components, corrects the error in the color subcarrier caused by expansion of the chrominance component, and combines the expanded luminance and chrominance components. The system may be implemented in either the analog domain or the digital domain, the latter being preferred because the circuits are less critical and the quality of performance is substantially constant.

Abstract: A musical keyboard instrument is disclosed for recording and storing a musical performance and then automatically playing back the performance. As is conventional, a keyboard having a plurality of keys is provided, along with musical tone generators that are associated with the keys. In accordance with the disclosed invention, means are provided for sensing, at a sensing time, those of the keys which are activated. A sequence of frames are generated, each frame including digital information representative of the keys that are activated at a given sensing time. The duration of each frame is a function of the relative locations of the keys activated at a given sensing time, and is therefore a duration which can vary from frame to frame. Each sensing time is determined by the previously completed frame, i.e., when a frame is complete, the statuses of the keys are again sensed so that the next frame can be generated. The sequences of frames are stored on magnetic tape.

Abstract: In television apparatus for producing signals for displaying simultaneously a succession of time-separated images of an object moving over a selectable time period in an otherwise static scene, the effect of the display is improved, particularly in situations where there is partial overlap of successive images of the object, by causing the latest image of the moving object to take precedence over the next previous image.

Abstract: Pedal control circuits for use with an electronic musical instrument, such as a piano, which provide control functions analogous to the actions of a sustaining pedal, of a sostenuto pedal, and of a volume pedal of a conventional piano. Damper circuits operable in conjunction with a sustaining pedal provide an effect analogous to the action of the sustaining pedal in a conventional piano, a latching circuit actuated by depression of a sostenuto pedal operates in conjunction with the damper circuits in a manner analogous to the action of a sostenuto pedal in a conventional piano, and a volume pedal and associated circuitry is operative to determine the level of the output tones only at the moment of strike of the keys, an action analogous to that of the volume pedal in a conventional piano.

Abstract: An electronic circuit for simulating the sound of a skin head percussive instrument struck with a stick includes a pair of ringing oscillators of different frequencies both triggered by pulses from the rhythm pattern generator of an electronic organ, a circuit for combining the output signals from the two ringing oscillators in preselected amplitude proportions, and a circuit for distorting the combined signal in such a way as to non-linearly amplify the combined signal so as to produce an electrical signal having characteristics such that when acoustically reproduced produces a sound highly simulative of that produced when the membrane of a skin head instrument is struck with a stick.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for eliminating deadband effects in digital recursive filters caused by rounding of the quantization of products within the filter, wherein the product is represented by a digital word, consists of truncating the absolute value of the product-representing word to the next lower digit by dropping a number of least significant digits determined by the value of the multiplier and if any of the dropped digits is a "one", adding a least significant "one" to the truncated number while retaining the sign of the pre-truncated word, and repeating the process at the cycling frequency of the filter, until a steady state is reached at which the difference between the input and output of the filter becomes zero. The concept is described as embodied in a digital system utilizing a recursive filter for reducing noise in a color television signal.

Abstract: A rack for supporting and systematically organizing dental clamps according to shape and size includes a support and a plurality of posts extending generally upwardly therefrom, the posts each having at least one partially circumferential slit disposed essentially perpendicular to the axis of the post, and containing a permanent magnet exposed at the inner end of the slit. In use, the bow portion of a clamp is placed in a slit, the slit serving to mechanically support the clamp on the post and the magnet serving to retain the clamp in the slit, even though the rack be jostled while being moved from one place to another, or tipped, or subjected to any other action that would tend to dislodge the clamp from the slit if not otherwise held.

Abstract: An electronic musical circuit simulates the sound of a wire brush rotated around the head of a snare drum by differently amplitude modulating and bandpass filtering in separate channels a noise signal derived from a suitable source and summing the modulated and filtered noise signals from the separate channels to produce a sound imitative of the rhythmic variations in pitch and amplitude produced by wire brush rotation on the head of a snare drum.