Abstract: An electronic device in the nature of a hand-held calculator, for illustrating on an active tablature display area, simulating a guitar fingerboard, chord shapes and scale patterns across a full twelve frets is provided. The device comprises a number of manually operable basic chord and key information dials for input selections. A microcontroller means is electronically associated with the dials and the LED's, and upon actuation, the microcontroller means searches for scale and associated finger position information corresponding to the tonality requirements of the input selections, and displays that information by way of illuminating means in the appropriate areas of the active tablature display.

Abstract: In drum head retention apparatus, the combination comprises a ring to extend about the drum, in alignment with head tensioners; fingers projecting on the ring to form slots to rotatably receive and to release from the tensioners; and relieved zones on the ring to pass the tensioners endwise when the fingers are in rotatably displaced positions relative to the tensioners.

Abstract: There is provided an acoustic source especially for use in seismic studies at sea. The acoustic source has a longitudinal axis and sound emitting surfaces adapted to be put into sound emitting movements towards and away from each other by use of a drive unit. The sound emitting surfaces comprise two curved plate members having upper and lower ends essentially symmetrically positioned in relation to the longitudinal axis of the acoustic source, and forming a convex cross section with their respective upper and lower edges converging towards each other. The upper and lower edges of the sound emitting surfaces, respectively, are connected to each other with two corresponding side elements, the side elements each being connected to at least one hinge stretching along at least a part of the length of the source.

Abstract: An interactive drum set includes a storage device for storing data representing sounds of a plurality of background music styles, sounds of a plurality of drum beat sequences, and sounds of a plurality of percussion instruments. The drum set also includes a plurality of drum plates for receiving user-directed forces, each of the plurality of drum plates being associated with the data representing sounds of one of the plurality of percussion instruments. A sensor disposed at each of the plurality of drum plates detects the user-directed forces and generates a signal indicative of the user-directed forces. A triggering device operatively connected to each sensor outputs a trigger signal when the signal of the sensor exceeds a threshold value. A user-interface device responsive to user commands supplies signals indicative of a user's selection of at least one background music style and/or at least one drum beat sequence.

Abstract: A meter extender mount unit which is positioned between the ordinarily supplied electrical meter and the utility, meter mounting socket. The extender mount provides a male, push-in connection to the existing utility socket mount and the meter is received into female connectors on the opposite side thereof with a capture ring positively locking the meter to the extender mount. The frontal closure panel of the utility socket is designed to captured the extender without requiring a capture ring. A quick connect is provided directly on the extender mount for delivery of power to the meter socket from a remote. A control unit is provided between the generator and utility socket which insure activation of the generator following loss of power from the utility, insures generator shut off upon restoration of utility company power to prevent feedback of power to the utility line and allows or periodic testing of the generator to insure its operability.

Abstract: A score display apparatus is provided, which permits a wider range of applications without degrading handling ease. An input device inputs score display data, an adding device adds additional data to the score display data input by the input device, and a storage device stores the score display data and the additional data. A display device displays a score based on the score display data input by the input device, and also displays the additional data such that the additional data is associated with the score based on the score display data. A storing device stores the score display data and the additional data in the storage device while associating the score display data and the additional data with each other.

Abstract: The use of a Gray code ganged wiper switch and an electronic circuit controlling the washer-pump motor and wiper motor allow the use of a minimal number of wires in the overall interval wiper system than found in conventional systems. Circuit redundancy and Gray coding method provides several added reliability features at a low manufacturing cost. The system further provides a resistorless control of the several power output functions of the system.

Abstract: A data compression method and apparatus for the compression of sound data utilized in digital sampling keyboard instructs. The present invention reduces memory requirements for sampled sounds without compromising sound quality, using three techniques. The third technique improves the defect of formant distortion when sampled sounds are transposed.

Abstract: An apparatus for using a computer keyboard as a musical instrument keyboard, the apparatus having: a computer keyboard having a plurality of keys for generating key information upon operation of each key; a unit for switching between an enable state and a disabled state of a musical instrument keyboard function; and a MIDI data generating unit for generating MIDI data corresponding to the key information upon operation of each key of the computer keyboard if the musical instrument keyboard function is in the enabled state.

Abstract: A music apparatus is constructed for joint play of music pieces by processing song data. In the music apparatus, a storage device stores song data representing a plurality of music pieces. An operating device is used for designating a first music piece as an object of the joint play among the plurality of the music pieces stored in the storage device. A controller device automatically selects a second music piece from the plurality of the music pieces as another object of the joint play such that the second music piece has a musical compatibility with the first music piece. A processor device retrieves the song data of the first music piece and the song data of the second music piece from the storage device, and processes the song data retrieved from the storage device so as to merge the second music piece to the first music piece.

Abstract: An electrical switch assembly includes a first switch contact stamped and formed of sheet metal material and including a base. An integral spring contact arm is folded into cantilevered position back over the base. The spring contact arm has a distal end with a first contact surface facing away from the base. A second switch contact has a second contact surface facing the base of the first switch contact in position of opposing engagement with the first contact surface. Therefore, movement of the spring contact arm of the first switch contact toward the base thereof causes the first contact surface to move away from the second contact surface of the second switch contact.

Abstract: A drum support, comprising in combination at least one leg operatively connected to the drum, and extending below the drum, first and second feet associated with one leg engagable with a support surface, at least one of the feet positioned for adjustable movement relative to the other foot.

Abstract: A device for increasing the variety of sounds available from a percussive musical instrument having a generally cylindrical drum shell. The device comprises at least one hollow cylindrical body dimensioned and configured to be axially received within the drum shell between opposed ends thereof. The hollow cylindrical body and the drum shell may be made of similar or different materials. The hollow cylindrical body can be directly mounted to an inner surface of the drum shell or, alternatively, to a number of spacers arranged at circumferentially spaced-apart locations on the inner surface of the drum shell.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes an insulative housing and a number of compound terminals for connecting a CPU to a circuit board. Each terminal has an arcuate engaging section whereby a solder ball can be easily positioned within the engaging section. Thus, assembly is expedited and proper signal transmission is ensured.

Abstract: A protective device for the rear surface of a guitar, especially an electric guitar, comprising a flat pad of protective material adapted to be removably secured to the rear surface of the guitar to protect areas likely to be scratched by a player's clothing, for example by a belt buckle. In a preferred form the pad comprises a vinyl or leatherlike material with a plurality of elastic loops sized to be secured to existing guitar strap studs on the body of the guitar, or to be looped directly over the upper and lower horns of the typical electric guitar body.

Abstract: An ideal automatic player piano is assumed to reproduce an original performance from fundamental data representative of a fundamental forward key trajectory and a backward key trajectory; however, if an actual automatic player piano reproduces a forward key trajectory and a backward key trajectory on the basis of the fundamental data, the forward key trajectory and the backward key trajectory do not faithfully reproduce the original key motions; for this reason, the actual automatic player piano learns first offset time at the end position and second offset time at an intermediate position between the end position and the rest position so as to determine a virtual forward key trajectory and a virtual backward key trajectory, and further learns first dead time around the rest position and second dead time around the rest position so as to exactly determining first starting time at the rest position and a second starting time at the end position, thereby moving keys along composite forward/backward trajectories

Abstract: A stringed instrument, such as a guitar is provided. The stringed instrument includes one or more covers mounted on the body of the instrument between the strings thereof and one or more associated slidable pick-ups.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for emulating a frequency modulation sound chip with minimal hardware and utilizing the excess capacity of current computer systems. In one embodiment, the frequency modulation emulation apparatus includes a frequency modulation emulator suitable to communicate with a computer system. The frequency modulation emulator provides an addressable memory space, substantially similar to an emulated addressable memory space of the emulated frequency modulation sound chip, such that a frequency modulation application implemented on the computer system can communicate with the frequency modulation emulator. The emulator chip receives audio data through the addressable memory space from the frequency modulation application and, the frequency modulation application is unaware that the frequency modulation emulator is receiving the audio data rather than the emulated frequency modulation sound chip. A frequency modulation generator is implemented on the computer system.

Abstract: An arpeggio notes generating apparatus includes a ROM which stores data defining a plurality of arpeggio patterns and a plurality of groove patterns. An arpeggio pattern is composed of a succession of chord constituent notes to be generated at respectively corresponding timings. A set of data for each note include data to identify the note generation timing, the key number, the duration and the velocity value. A groove pattern is composed of a succession of note generation modifier data sets, and each set is for each arpeggio note and includes data to define amounts of modification to be applied to the data for each note generation. Two arpeggio patterns and two groove patterns are selected in correspondence. The note generation timing, the durations and the velocity values in each arpeggio pattern are individually modified according to the corresponding data in each groove pattern to provide two modified arpeggio patterns.

Abstract: A system and method for creating and composing musical works by selecting existing musical elements and applying modification modules to them. Existing musical selections reside in a database as metrics, or targets for the composition of new pieces. The present invention composes a new piece of music by, for example, specifying component musical features in the selected targets that should be modified or retained in creating the new work. Such musical features include, for example, rhythmic characteristics, harmonic characteristics, and the like. In this manner, a user who is, musically untutored is able to create satisfying, original works having desired characteristics as specified by the user.