Abstract: A video display control system displays a multicolor animation pattern on a screen of a video display unit. The video display control system is mainly constructed by a video RAM (VRAM) and a video display processor (VDP). The VRAM stores animation pattern data, display position data and at least two color data. The VDP reads these data and makes an animation pattern image displayed in at least two colors at a display position on the screen. The animation pattern image, two colors and display position are determined by the animation pattern data, two color data and display position data. In another video display control system, the VRAM stores at least two sets of animation pattern data, display position data and color data. When displaying two animation patterns, the VDP effects a logical operation on the two color data with respect to the overlapping portion of the two patterns and makes the overlapping portion displayed in a new color corresponding to the operation result.

Abstract: A musical tone generator includes first and second tone generator units respectively having a plurality of musical tone generation channels, a designating device for designating tone colors of musical tones, and a CPU for enabling respective tone generation channels to be selectively assigned with different tone colors. The usage of the plural tone generator units is also controlled by discriminating whether or not the input performance data can be processed by the first tone generator unit. When the CPU determines that the input performance data can be processed by the first tone generator unit, it controls musical tone production in the first tone generator unit based on the performance data. When the CPU determines that the input performance data cannot be processed by the first tone generator unit, it controls musical tone production in the second tone generator unit based on the performance data.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having a keyboard, includes a plurality of keys, a plurality of musical tone signal generation systems, a touch detector for producing touch data representing a key touch accompanied by a key depression, a panel operation unit for setting a touch sensitivity representing a sensitivity with respect to a key touch for each of the musical tone signal generation systems, and a register unit for modifying the touch data in accordance with the touch sensitivity corresponding to each of the musical tone signal generation systems. Different tone groups are assigned to the musical tone signal generation systems, and a musical tone signal which has a tone color belonging to the corresponding musical tone group and a pitch corresponding to a key depression is produced from each of the musical tone signal generation systems. Each musical tone group includes at least two tone colors having a common attribute.

Abstract: A disk for magnetic recording, including a thin Fe-Cr-Co magnetic wafer for signal recording and a rigid substrate reduces the development of large warps and enlarges the output signals, thereby significantly reducing read-out errors.

Abstract: An improved non-contact type pattern sensor includes a magnetic resistor element arranged facing a pattern track on a recoridng medium having a magnetized pattern in the pattern track. A clearance sensor is arranged to face the pattern track on the recording medium and generates a detection signal as a function of the distance between the clearance sensor and the pattern track. The control unit connected to the clearance sensor generates an output signal which varies as a function of the detection signal. A magnetic field generator connected to the control unit is arranged near the magnetic sensor element and generates a bias magnetic field whose intensity varies as a function of the output signal.

Abstract: An acoustic keyboard musical instrument such as a piano includes a keyboard, a mechanical musical tone generating mechanism, a fallboard, and an operation panel for an external electronic musical tone generating unit. The keyboard includes a plurality of keys aligned on a musical instrument body. The fallboard is pivotally supported by the musical instrument body and to be closed/opened so as to cover/uncover the keyboard. The musical tone generating unit electrically generates a musical tone signal in response to a key depression on the keyboard under the control of control information which is provided by switches on the operation panel. The operation panel is located at a position opposite to a performer in the inner surface of the fallboard when the fallboard is open so that the performer can operate the operation panel during his performance at the keyboard.

Abstract: A waveshape memory stores a full waveshape of a tone from the start to the end of sounding of the tone or a portion thereof in plural periods. A tone wave signal produced by reading this waveshape memory is applied to a tone color circuit where its tone color is changed. The tone wave signal whose tone color has been changed and the tone wave signal whose tone color has not been changed are both multiplied with respective coefficients whereby these tone wave signals are weighted. The weighted tone wave signals are added together to provide a mixed tone signal. By controlling the coefficients, the tone color imparted on the mixed signal is variously determined. The coefficients for the tone color control are provided in accordance with key scaling, key touch or operation states of control knobs. Thus tone signals exhibiting a variety of tone color changes are obtained using not so many wave memories.

Abstract: A method of filling a polygonal region enables a polygon of any shape to be filled with pixels with a simple algorithm. A display memory area and a working area each having a plurality of addresses correponding to all the pixels on a display screen are provided. A minimum rectangular area including the polygon is determined in accordance with all the polygon vertices, and the minimum rectangular area within the working area is cleared. A straight line (or an edge) connecting each pair of adjoining vertices of the polygon is described to the display memory area with predetermined values. The edges are also described to the working area but in accordance with three rules. Under Rule 1, when a constituent dot of the edge is described to the corresponding address, the data in the address is inverted. Under Rule 2, a start constituent dot of each edge is described only when the edge to be described has an inclination different in polarity from the precedingly described edge.

Abstract: In the construction of a sound bar musical instrument such as a marimba, at least some of the sound bars have sensors attached thereto. The sensors are electrically connected to an electronic sound generator unit for generation of musical tones as a function of the vibration of battered sound bars, thereby allowing free use of a mallet and enabling visual contact of the performer with the audience.

Abstract: In production of an optomagnetic recording medium having a porous anode oxidized coat on a base plate, a thin film of magnetic material of high saturated magnetization is developed after grinding and etching following formation of the anode oxidized coat in order to increase the effective reflection plane, thereby greatly raising accuracy of detection of the polarization angle at reading-out of signals.

Abstract: A video display control system is capable of moving a part of a still image from a first display area to a second display area on a screen. The video display control system includes a memory composed of a plurality of memory locations for storing a plurality of display data representative of images of display elements on the screen. First and second registers retain first and second area data representative of the first and second display areas, and an address data generator generates from these area data first and second address data, the first address data indicating memory locations which store display data corresponding to the first display area, the second address data indicating second memory locations which store display data corresponding to the second display area.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard percussion instrument includes a hammer such as a mallet, a plurality of plates, striking detection devices, and a musical tone generating section. The plates respectively correspond to note names of musical tones to be produced and aligned parallel to each other. The striking detection devices are respectively mounted on lower surfaces of the plates to detect striking of the plate with the mallet and to generate a striking detection signal. The musical tone generating section generates a musical tone of the note name corresponding to the struck plate in response to the striking detection signal. The striking detecting section may include a pressure sensitive element in order to make the musical tone responsive to a force striking the plate.

Abstract: A video display control system displays a multicolor animation pattern on a screen of a video display unit. The video display control system is mainly constructed by a video RAM (VRAM) and a video display processor (VDP). The VRAM stores animation pattern data, display position data and at least two color data. The VDP reads these data and makes an animation pattern image displayed in at least two colors at a display position on the screen. The animation pattern image, two colors and display position are determined by the animation pattern data, two color data and display position data. In another video display control system, the VRAM stores at least two sets of animation pattern data, display position data and color data. When displaying two animation patterns, the VDP effects a logical operation on the two color data with respect to the overlapping portion of the two patterns and makes the overlapping portion displayed in a new color corresponding to the operation result.

Abstract: A disc player, for playing various information carrier discs, which includes, a single turntable for supporting an information carrier disc, a single drive motor for rotating the turntable, and a reproducing head device for reading signals recorded on the disc. The drive motor has a motor body and a rotation shaft, and is attached at its rotation shaft directly to the turntable with its motor body spaced apart from the turntable. Therefore, a clearance is formed between the motor body and the turntable. The reproducing head device is radially transferrable relative to the turntable. When the reproducing head device is transferred to its innermost position where it reads the signals recorded on the inner periphery of the information area of the disc, it is positioned in the clearance without butting against either the motor body or the turntable.

Abstract: A keyboard device of an electronic musical instrument has a keyboard frame, a plurality of keys which are aligned on the keyboard frame and which are vertically pivotable, a plurality of return springs each of which corresponds to one of the keys and has one end stopped by the key and the other end stopped by the keyboard frame so as to bias the key toward a nonstruck position, and a plurality of pivot members each of which is disposed on the keyboard frame at an end of a longitudinal axis of the key to correspond to one of the keys. The pivot member has a circular surface to be brought into slidable contact with a back end portion of the key so as to allow the key to perform pivotal movement. The back end portion of the key has a circular surface paired with the circular surface of the pivot member and is spring-biased against the circular surface of the pivot member by means of the return spring.

Abstract: A display controller can display a cursor having sufficient contour irrespective of the background color. The display controller has two cursor pattern memories from which first and second cursor patterns are read in such a timing that the first cursor pattern is displayed at a selected position on the screen and that the second cursor pattern is superimposed on the first cursor pattern. The display controller also has two registers storing therein first and second color codes corresponding respectively to the first and second cursor patterns. The color of the first cursor pattern is determined by a color code obtained by subjecting the first color code and a background color code read from a video memory to a logical multiplication, and the color of the second cursor pattern is determined by a color code obtained by subjecting the color code of the first cursor pattern and the second color code to an exclusive-OR operation.

Abstract: A circuit in a video disc playback device for detecting a state in which a disc motor rotation speed is double a normal rotation speed comprises a counter for counting a signal occurring at a timing intermediate between windows established for a timing at which a horizontal synchronizing signal is expected to occur and a double speed judgement circuit receiving a count by this counter and produces a double speed detection signal when the count has reached a predetermined value within a certain fixed period. The double speed detection signal is utilized for preventing an erroneous switching between AFC and PLL in the disc motor control such as an erroneous switching from AFC mode to PLL mode with phase locking in a double rotation speed.

Abstract: A tone signal generating apparatus comprises a waveform memory in which a plurality of waveform data representing different waveforms but corresponding to a same tone name are stored. These different waveform data are sequentially read from the memory and are supplied to a digital low-pass filter which comprises a delay circuit and a multiplier connected to each other to form a feedback loop. The low-pass filter smoothes abrupt variation of the waveform data and outputs a smoothed waveform data thereby interpolating the different waveforms. A tone signal is produced in accordance with this smoothed waveform data.

Abstract: A video display processor (VDP) is connectable to an input control device such as a light pen and a mouse. The VDP comprises a counter circuit which is composed of an X counter and a Y counter. When a mouse mode is selected, X and Y pulse signals are supplied to the X and Y counters so that the contents of the X and Y counters represent the amount of movement of the mouse. When a central processing unit (CPU) connected to the VDP reads the contents of the X and Y counters in this mouse mode, the X and Y counters are reset. When a light pen mode is selected, the X and Y counters effect a count operation of a clock signal generated in the VDP in synchronism with the display of image on a screen so that the contents of the X and Y counters represents X-Y coordinates of a display element which is currently displayed on the screen.