Abstract: In a tone signal generation device, original waveshape amplitude data corresponding to a waveshape signal from an external source is stored in a first memory. Waveshape data is read out from this first memory and is properly modified by a tone processing circuit such as a filter or a modulation effect circuit. The modified waveshape data is reserved in a second memory. The waveshape data stored in the second memory is selectively transferred to the first memory. In this manner, the original waveshape data initially stored in the first memory can be freely modified and a tone can be produced with a high degree of freedom as in a music synthesizer.

Abstract: An automatic accompaniment apparatus includes an accompaniment pattern generation unit for generating a plurality of accompaniment patterns which represent timing of generation of a plurality of accompaniment tones to be generated respectively. The accompaniment patterns correspond to accompaniment tones.

Abstract: A power amplifier circuit with less harmonic distortion factor and with remarkably high slew rate consists of a drive amplifier, an output amplifier, a distortion cancellation circuit, a negative feedback loop and a primary amplifier. The output amplifier having an impedance load is driven by the drive amplifier and performs the push-pull amplifier operation. The distortion cancellation circuit drives the impedance load with a voltage gain of "1", whereby the distortion cancellation circuit cancels the distortion included in the output voltage of the output amplifier based on the voltage difference between the input and output voltages of the output amplifier. Hence, the apparent gain of the output amplifier is infinite. The negative feedback loop feeds the output voltage back to the primary amplifier as a negative feedback voltage. The primary amplifier drives the drive amplifier based on the voltage difference between the arbitrary input voltage and the negative feedback voltage.

Abstract: A musical tone generating apparatus for an electronic musical instrument utilizing a data compression system is disclosed. This musical tone generating apparatus is basically constructed by a memory storing difference data and a data reproduction circuit. The difference data is in advance obtained by converting a musical tone signal to be reproduced to digital sample data, effecting a linear prediction operation on the digital sample data to produce prediction data and calculating the difference between the digital sample data and the prediction data. The stored difference data are sequentially read from the memory. In the data reproduction circuit, the musical tone signal is reproduced by effecting a reverse operation of the linear prediction operation on the read difference data.

Abstract: In construction of a displacement detector for an encoder provided with a phase locked loop connected to a detection head facing a scale of the encoder, use of a signal switching circuit allows optimum selection of signals used for generation of a system output signal depending on the speed of the relative movement between the detection head and the scale, thereby assuring generation of the system output signal at high degree of dissolution at any speed of the relative movement. Further, additional use of a parallel/serial converting unit assures high reliability in transmission of the system output signal to external systems.

Abstract: A musical quiz apparatus presents a question chord in sound and a trainee answers by depressing the keys of the chord constituting notes on the keyboard. The apparatus is capable of generating a plurality of different chord data respectively representing chords, and generates a question chord datum one at a time as randomly selected from among those different chord data and produces sounds of notes which constitutes a chord designated by the question chord data. When the answer is correct, points are added up and a next question chord is presented.

Abstract: In construction of a percussive musical instrument such as a wood block having at least one striker head and an internal resonator chamber for resonation of vibrations generated at the striker head, at least one round striker head is arranged along at least one slit formed in communication with the resonator chamber for exact and easy generation of intended musical tones regardless of the swing mode of a stick.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes a waveshape generator which generates first and second waveshapes having a pitch corresponding to a designated note. The first waveshape represents a complete waveshape produced by a certain musical instrument under a certain extreme condition (e.g., the hardest key touch). The second waveshape represents a complete waveshape produced by the same musical instrument under another extreme condition (e.g., the softest key touch). The electronic musical instrument further includes an interpolator which interpolates the first and second waveshapes in accordance with a playing condition (e.g., the strength of key touch) and produces and interpolated new waveshape as a waveshape of a musical tone to be produced. The introduction of this interpolator enables any waveshape under an intermediate condition to produce by preparing only two waveshapes under the two extreme conditions.

Abstract: A display control system can implement a gray-scale display of an image composed of a plurality of display dots on a display screen. A plurality of luminance data each representing an intensity level of a corresponding one of the plurality of display dots are first generated. Each luminance data is then converted into a pulse signal whose pulse number corresponds to an intensity level of the corresponding display dot represented by the luminance data. And, each display dot on the display screen is activated in accordance with a corresponding one of the thus produced pulse signals. To eliminate flicker of the display dots, the display dots on the display screen are grouped into a plurality of display sections each composed of a predetermined number of adjacent display dots, and if the display dots in one display section are equal in intensity level, these display dots are activated by the pulse signals which are equal in pulse-number but different in phase.

Abstract: A sequential-access memory of an auto-refreshing type has an increased storage capacity. The sequential-access memory has at least two dynamic-type memory cell arrays serially connected to one another to form a loop. Each array comprises N rows by M columns of memory cells each having a read selection line and a write selection line. The read selection line of each memory cell of each row is connected to the write selection line of the memory cell of the same row which comes next to the each memory cell to form an address selection line. The address selection lines of each memory cell array are activated one after another to effect a sequential access to the memory cell array. Data read form each memory cell array is fed through a delay circuit to the memory cell array which comes next to the each memory cell array. A logic circuit for subjecting data outputted from one memory array may be additionally provided to feed data representative of the result of the predetermined operation to the next memory array.

Abstract: In construction of a Ti core type clad material for ornamental applications presence of one or more intermediate layers made of Cr and/or Mo well deters evolvement of intermetallic compound at the border between core and sheath, thereby significantly improving bonding strength of the product.

Abstract: In a disc playback device in which a disc cartridge case housing a disc is loaded in a disc cartridge case holder of a main body of the device and this holder is moved from a disc non-playback position to a disc playback position for playing back of the disc, a loading system for a disc cartridge case comprises a curved surface portion formed in a corner portion on the side of the disc cartridge case from which the case is inserted into the holder and an uncurved surface portion formed in a corner portion on the side opposite to the side from which the case is inserted into the holder. A case erroneous insertion blocking member having an engaging portion is provided on the holder. If the case in its correct insertion posture is inserted into the holder, the engaging portion of the blocking member cooperates with the curved surface portion of the case to permit the case to be inserted into the holder.

Abstract: An automatic performance apparatus including a memory, a readout means, a musical tone generator, high and low-speed dials and a rotary encoder. The memory stores musical performance in an event style representing the on/off of a key and identifying the key and relative time data representing time between event of said key and the immediately previous event in accordance with musical performance. The readout sequentially reads out the event data from the memory. The musical tone generator is arranged such that the pitch, generation timing and termination timing of the generated musical tone are controlled on the basis of the event data read out by the readout means. A combination of dials and rotary encoders manually designates a readout direction and a readout speed of the stored data. The readout includes a circuit for exchanging the on-data with the off-data (and vice versa) in the memory when the designated readout direction is opposite to the storage order.

Abstract: A non-contact detection head which compensates for variation and the spacing between a detection head and a circular recording medium. The recording medium has a magnetized pattern recorded along the periphery thereof, and is mounted on a central rotary shaft. A detection head is spaced from and faces the recorded pattern on the recording medium and generates an output as a function of the recorded pattern. In one embodiment, pneumatic means is provided for preventing fluctuations in the clearance between the recording medium and the detection head from influencing the output of the detection head. In a second embodiment, a mechanical arrangement is provided to achieve this result. In a third embodiment, an electrical circuit is provided to compensate for fluctuations in the clearance between the recording medium and the detection head.

Abstract: A musical tone signal is synthesized on the basis of a predetermined modulation operation (e.g. an FM or AM operation) employing a modulation signal and a carrier signal respectively having an audio range frequency. In a waveshape table provided for defining at least one of a modulation wave function or a carrier wave function, a wave function expressed in a logarithmic form log{f(x)} is stored. The wave function log{f(x)} read out from this waveshape table is multiplied with a coefficient k whereby the wave function of the modulation signal or the carrier signal to be used in the modulation operation is changed from f(x) to {f(x)}.sup.k. That is, k log{(f(x)}=log{f(x)}.sup.k is obtained by this multiplication and {f(x)}.sup.k is obtained by converting this log {f(x)}.sup.k to a linear form. Therefore, it is enabled to synthesize a tone having abundant frequency components by using the wave function {f(x)}.sup.k obtained by a simple operation.

Abstract: A servo circuit for an information recording and reproducing apparatus such as a Compact Disc player detects relative mechanical vibrations of a pickup head with respect to a recording medium and changes a servo loop gain for positioning the pickup head to a high gain when the level of the detected mechanical vibration is high to obtain a high servo capacity and changes the servo loop gain to a low gain when the mechanical vibration is low to reduce power consumption and thereby minimize generation of heat. In one embodiment of the invention, an error signal due to mechanical vibration and one due to recording medium conditions such as spots and flaws of a disc are discriminated from each other by detecting acceleration applied to a main body of the apparatus.

Abstract: For use in or with an electronic musical instrument, an automatic rhythm performing apparatus is so constructed as to provide selectively automatic performance of various kinds of rhythms using tones of a plurality of rhythm section instruments. Each rhythm is constructed with a plurality of instruments, which are divided into several families. Plural rhythm patterns are provided for each of the rhythm instrument tones which constitute one kind of rhythm. Any one of the rhythm patterns is selected for each instrument, and such selection is available individually family by family of the instruments. Thus a variety of automatic rhythm performance can be realized with small scale pattern memories and simple selecting operations.

Abstract: In production of a magnetic recording medium by formation of an anodic oxide layer on an Al or Al-base alloy substrate and preapitation via electrolysis of magnetic substance in pores in the anodic oxide layer, the substrates are mounted at equal intervals to a common combination shaft made up of several components for a compact constructions and uniform electrolytic effect. Preferably, a specified annular region around the center hole of each substrate is sealed against formation of a surface layer.

Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument of the waveshape memory type including at least one waveshape memory for storing and reproducing sample values of a musical sound wave to be generated, the waveshape memory stores the sample values of the complete waveshape of a musical tone with a shaped envelope.

Abstract: A tremolo unit mechanism for an electric guitar includes a bridge base vertically disposed to be pivotal about a support point on a body, balancing springs for causing a balance moment along a direction opposite to that of a moment due to a tension of strings to act on the bridge base, bridge main bodies, disposed on the bridge base, for holding one end of each of the strings, octave adjusting screws, threadably engaged with the bridge base, for moving the bridge base along a front-to-rear direction, a tremolo arm, mounted in the bridge base, for moving the bridge base vertically, and a control mechanism for controlling pivotal movement of the bridge base. The control mechanism includes an engaging member for engaging with the bridge base and a screw member for controlling pivotal movement/displacement of the engaging member.