Patents Assigned to Melville Clark, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4503745
    Abstract: A new, performer played, real time, multitonal, multimbral musical instrument consists of speed and force sensitive keys in which time domain multiplexing is used to find and associate one and only one tone generator, not otherwise busy, with any key that is depressed. The sound generator disclosed can provide very realistic simulations of the flute, oboe, trumpet, French horn, trombone through the provision of various types of modulations in amplitude and frequency of the various partials, as is characteristic of each instrument simulated, and filtered noise. Glissandi are provided from one note to another and are controlled from the pair of keys involved by the relative pressure with which they are depressed. For the nonpercussive tonalities, the speed with which a key is depressed, which is determined by differentiating the force, may be used to cause the attack transient to behave in a manner very characteristic of the instrument being simulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: Melville Clark, Jr.
    Inventors: Melville Clark, Jr., David A. Luce
  • Patent number: 4463647
    Abstract: Clavier multiplexing is used in the present keyboard musical instrument to reduce the number of sound generators needed by connecting them only to those notes that are depressed. The association of a tone generator with a control unit, which provides the tone generator with frequency, force, and speed information, continues as long as possible, and even after the associated note is released and until the control unit is needed to attend another note by use of independent address and idle-busy storage registers. The note address is digitally designated and remembered, sequential start up logic is used for a control unit. In the glissando mode, the address of the note of the pair involved in the glissando that was released last must be remembered, and the voltage-controlled oscillator involved must have continuing access to this address.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1984
    Assignee: Melville Clark, Jr.
    Inventor: David A. Luce
  • Patent number: 4365533
    Abstract: A new, performer played, real time, multitonal, multitimbral musical instrument consists of speed and force sensitive keys in which time domain multiplexing is used to find and associate one and only one tone generator, not otherwise busy, with any key that is depressed. The sound generator disclosed can provide very realistic simulations of the flute, oboe, trumpet, French horn, trombone through the provision of various types of modulations in amplitude and frequency of the various partials, as is characteristic of each instrument simulated, and filtered noise. Glissandi are provided from one note to another and are controlled from the pair of keys involved by the relative pressure with which they are depressed. For the nonpercussive tonalities, the speed with which a key is depressed, which is determined by differentiating the force, may be used to cause the attack transient to behave in a manner very characteristic of the instrument being simulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1982
    Assignee: Melville Clark, Jr.
    Inventors: Melville Clark, Jr., David A. Luce
  • Patent number: 3969969
    Abstract: A new, performer played, real time, multitonal, multimbral musical instrument consists of speed and force sensitive keys in which time domain multiplexing is used to find and associate one and only one tone generator, not otherwise busy, with any key that is depressed. The sound generator disclosed can provide very realistic simulations of the flute, oboe, trumpet, French horn, trombone through the provision of various types of modulations in amplitude and frequency of the various partials, as is characteristic of each instrument simulated, and filtered noise. Glissandi are provided from one note to another and are controlled from the pair of keys involved by the relative pressure with which they are depressed. For the nonpercussive tonalities, the speed with which a key is depressed, which is determined by differentiating the force, may be used to cause the attack transient to behave in a manner very characteristic of the instrument being simulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1974
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1976
    Assignee: Melville Clark, Jr.
    Inventors: Melville Clark, Jr., David A. Luce
  • Patent number: 3969968
    Abstract: A new, performer played, real time, multitional, multimbral musical instrument consists of speed and force sensitive keys in which time domain multiplexing is used to find and associate one and only one tone generator, not otherwise busy, with any key that is depressed. The sound generator disclosed can provide very realistic simulations of the flute, oboe, trumpet, French horn, trombone through the provision of various types of modulations in amplitude and frequency of the various partials, as is characteristic of each instrument simulated, and filtered noise. Glissandi are provided from one note to another and are controlled from the pair of keys involved by the relative pressure with which they are depressed. For the nonpercussive tonalities, the speed with which a key is depressed, which is determined by differentiating the force, may be used to cause the attack transient to behave in a manner very characteristic of the instrument being simulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1974
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1976
    Assignee: Melville Clark, Jr.
    Inventors: Melville Clark, Jr., David A. Luce
  • Patent number: 3968716
    Abstract: A new, performer played, real time, multitonal, multimbral musical instrument consists of speed and force sensitive keys in which time domain multiplexing is used to find and associate one and only one tone generator, not otherwise busy, with any key that is depressed. The sound generator disclosed can provide very realistic simulations of the flute, oboe, trumpet, French horn, trombone through the provision of various types of modulations in amplitude and frequency of the various partials, as is characteristic of each instrument simulated, and filtered noise. Glissandi are provided from one note to another and are controlled from the pair of keys involved by the relative pressure with which they are depressed. For the nonpercussive tonalities, the speed with which a key is depressed, which is determined by differentiating the force, may be used to cause the attack transient to behave in a manner very characteristic of the instrument being simulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1974
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1976
    Assignee: Melville Clark, Jr.
    Inventors: Melville Clark, Jr., David A. Luce
  • Patent number: 3968717
    Abstract: A new, performer played, real time, multitonal, multimbral musical instrument consists of speed and force sensitive keys in which time domain multiplexing is used to find and associate one and only one tone generator, not otherwise busy, with any key that is depressed. The sound generator disclosed can provide very realistic simulations of the flute, oboe, trumpet, French horn, trombone through the provision of various types of modulations in amplitude and frequency of the various partials, as is characteristic of each instrument simulated, and filtered noise. Glissandi are provided from one note to another and are controlled from the pair of keys involved by the relative pressure with which they are depressed. For the nonpercussive tonalities, the speed with which a key is depressed, which is determined by differentiating the force, may be used to cause the attack transient to behave in a manner very characteristic of the instrument being simulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1974
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1976
    Assignee: Melville Clark, Jr.
    Inventors: Melville Clark, Jr., David A. Luce