Abstract: An electronic musical instrument develops digital pulses corresponding to electronic waves that are subsequently converted to audio sound such as by means of a loudspeaker. The musical instrument is provided a source of master frequency generated binary related numbers which act in conjunction with a read only memory, an adder, and a comparator, and also a counter, to control a J/K flip-flop to produce a pulse train output in which for any given cycle the starting time and duration of each pulse is controlled, thereby to determine the harmonic content of the electronic waves that are converted to audio sound.

Abstract: A binary interpolator circuit is embodied in an electronic musical instrument for producing a relatively smooth, inaudible transition between steps of different amplitude in a stepwise advancing or decreasing waveform, such as an envelope signal for a note from a percussive type instrument or voice such as a piano. The binary interpolator circuit includes a counter circuit for producing a sequence of stepwise changing binary coded signals and a combining circuit for combining the interpolating signals, in the sequence produced, with a binary coded scaling signal corresponding to the amplitude difference between the two points in the stepwise changing waveform between which interpolation is desired. A comparator circuit compares the interpolating signals, in the sequence produced, with the scaling signal and produces an output control signal for indicating whether the binary coded numbers corresponding to the respective interpolating and scaling signal are equal.

Abstract: A control means for the wire wrapping machine comprising a lead wire wrapping spindle and an outer fixed sleeve for rotatably supporting the spindle in which after completion of the wire wrapping operation an inverse current is supplied to a motor for the short period to allow the spindle to rotate reversely so that a slot provided in the spindle always comes to a position in alignment with a recess provided in the outer sleeve.

Abstract: The device of the invention extracts a fundamental frequency from signals coming from a played musical instrument. From this is synthesized a waveform with the same fundamental frequency which can be given an arbitrary form, so that an audical impression of e.g. a violin, a trumpet or a guitar can be given to sound produced by the waveform. The waveform is produced by making a pulse train with frequency n times the fumdamental frequency, leading the pulse train to a counter activating cyclically and sequentially n different outputs. The outputs are summed with different and adjustable weights, and the waveform is determined by adjusting the n weights. The number n can be any number. An embodiment is shown with n=16.

Abstract: Circuitry for generating rhythmic patterns of notes corresponding to notes of a selected chord wherein tone signals according to the notes of the selected chord are connected to the inputs of keyers each time a chord playing key is depressed and control a current which flows through the keyers to the organ output circuitry in accordance with a selected pattern sequence of notes which is provided to a plurality of envelope generators at a rhythmic rate. The keyers are grouped to correspond to the four components of a selected chord and each of the keyer groups has an individual envelope generator connected thereto which activates the keyer group under the command of the selected pattern and imparts a characteristic attack and decay envelope to the tone signal.

Abstract: Linearly binary-coded digital control signals representing specific time segments of musical sounds are used in part to control stepped ramp signal generators in a digital synthesizer which runs continuously on a fixed program. The ramp signals are used to control amplitude and frequency parameters of multiple digital oscillators that produce respective constituent tones of the musical sound segments. The synthesizer is operable in response to time-multiplexed digital control signals for multiple musical voices, one voice portion of which is also being computed in real time for multiplexing with previously computed and stored digital control signals for other voices. The indicated computations are effected by known techniques on a commercially available computer to translate performer-actuated transducer output signals, designating notes of a composition, into the aforementioned binary-coded digital control signals.

Abstract: A stringed instrument is disclosed which incorporates improved design and performance features. An elongated body, hereinafter called the wedge, contains in itself all necessary components and parts making it a totally playable instrument with or without a pair of removable wing bodies. One purpose of the wing body attachments is to provide flexibility for modular electronic add-on components for use with new modern amplification devices. Also the wing bodies may be changed to provide a varity of instrument body designs, colors, finishes and fabrics. The sound produced by each of the strings of the instrument is enhanced by providing each string with at least one individual magnetic pickup which is individually adjustable to that string for optimum performance. Each string is also provided with its own individual bridge support which is completely separated from each other bridge support to prevent any acoustical and/or electrical cross-feed.

Abstract: In a digital touch response circuit or touch signal processing circuit for producing a control waveform signal to control a musical tone to be produced in response to a player's finger touch on a key, digital touch data representing a player's instantaneous finger touch on a key is compared in a comparison circuit with digital output data from an operation circuit such as an adder circuit, which varies at a rate as the result of addition of a rate value to input data applied to the adder. A selection circuit is responsive to the comparison circuit to selectively couple the output data of the adder and the digital touch data to a temporary memory circuit such as shift registers. The output data from the memory circuit is coupled to the adder as the input data thereto.

Abstract: An echo effect in a polyphonic digital tone synthesizer in which a musical tone is repeated at a controlled repetitive rate but decreasing peak amplitude when a key is depressed. The tone is repeated until the peak amplitude decays to a predetermined level regardless of when the key is released. If the key remains depressed, the peak amplitude decay recycles so that an echo effect will be repeated. The echo effect is obtained on a plurality of overlapping notes that need not be keyed in unison. The echo control includes an echo envelope register which stores a control word for each key that is depressed. The control word includes bits coded to identify the current amplitude of the echo decay envelope. The value of the control word is decremented at a control rate to provide a decaying echo amplitude. An echo delay register stores a control word for each key depressed, the control word being incremented at a controlled rate.

Abstract: A connection structure for a watch casing and a watch band comprises internal modules incorporated in the watch casing and external modules secured to the watch band which are electrically and positively connected through a relay connector having electronic conductors at the position where the watch band is fixed to the casing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wrist watch and thermometer arrangement. The thermometer is carried in a channel which surrounds the dial face of the watch, and the channel is formed by a platform, surrounding the dial face and disposed on one side of the thermometer, and a removable member, disposed on the other side of the thermometer. Hold down means, consisting of thin strips of a material having spring-like characteristic, extend over the thermometer from the removable means towards the platform. To remove the thermometer, it is merely necessary to lift the removable means off the platform. The removable means may be attached to the platform by a plurality of screws. The thermometer is carried in the channel by a plurality of y-shaped stands, at least the top portions of which are made of an insulating material.

Abstract: An electronic tone synthesizer in which a master data list of digital values representing the amplitudes of points defining the waveform of a musical tone are transferred to a digital-to-analog converter at a rate proportional to the pitch of the tone being generated. Noise is superimposed on the musical tone by means of a random binary signal generator which controls a circuit for modifying selected ones of the digital values as they are transferred from the master data list to the converter. Modification of the selected values may be by a right shift operation, a 2's complement operation, or by selective delay.

Abstract: A fixed formant filter for a digital tone generator uses a set of scale factors generated by storing in memory a set of words corresponding to the relative amplitude of points on a single resonance curve. The words are addressed and read out of the memory in sequence in response to a counter. For each output state of the counter a group of words is read out of the memory, added, and stored as one scale factor of said set of scale factors. The number of words in the group read out corresponds to the number of resonant peaks in the fixed formant filter. The respective words in the group are addressed by modifying the output of the counter respectively by four constants corresponding to the relative position in the musical scale at which the resonant peaks of the formant filter occur.

Abstract: A keyboard electronic musical instrument comprises a note information processing device capable of processing note information required for automatic arpeggio and automatic bass performances. This note information processing device includes a generation circuit for generating a plurality of note information representing a plurality of notes to be sounded in relation to the key depression, a selection circuit for sequentially selecting a note information designating a note to be sounded from among the plurality of note information from the generation circuit in accordance with a predetermined priority order; an output circuit for delivering out the note information selected by the selection circuit, the selection at each sequence being conducted dependent on the selection at the preceding sequence.

Abstract: A step motor driving and control mechanism for use in an electronic timepiece for reducing the current consumption thereof is provided. Load detection circuitry detects the load condition of the step motor by detecting the signals induced in the drive coil of the step motor after each stepping of the rotor. The load detection circuitry selectively produces a load condition signal in response to detecting current peaks representative of a predetermined load condition of the step motor. The load detection circuitry is characterized by the use of MOS transistors therein for accurately detecting the occurrence of the current peaks. Driving and control circuitry is provided for receiving a low frequency timekeeping signal produced by a divider circuit and a load detection signal, when same is selectively produced by the load detection circuitry.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for memorizing and playing back an accompaniment passage in an electronic organ wherein the keyboard is multiplexed to develop a serial input data stream having keydown signals in the time slots corresponding to the depressed keys, selectively writing into a programmable random access memory data corresponding to the absolute address of the first occurring keydown signal in the pulse train and then writing into the memory data corresponding to the intervals, expressed in terms of time slots in the multiplexed data stream, between a number of the first occurring keydown signals, beginning with the first occurring signal. The data is read out of the memory and converted to a serial time division multiplexed data stream by means of comparators which produce a pulse each time there is a compare condition between the output of the memory and the count produced by the master counter/subcounter.

Abstract: Electronic timepiece with a device for indicating the time, which is electronically controlled and is used to display elements which simulate a game of chance. Additional circuits are provided for the control of the display of the elements of the game and at least part of the circuits of the timepiece, normally intended for the measure of the time are used in order to perform the choice at random of the elements.

Abstract: An apparatus for advancing a date indicator of an electromechanical calendar watch. An hour indicator is driven through two normal operating revolutions of twelve hours each while keeping the date indicator fixed. The hour indicator then is driven through at least one more revolution at a speed much greater than the two normal operating revolutions to advance quickly the date indicator one day through a gearing connecting the hour indicator to the date indicator.

Abstract: An electronic watch circuits for the measurement and the display of time and for measuring a reaction time, and which further includes circuits controlling the display of a signal determined by comparing the measured reaction time with a reference time.

Abstract: A digital organ or like electronic musical instrument of a real time processing system which produces musical notes by synthesizing weighted square waves and applying them to a digital filter of a transfer characteristic controlled for each square wave. Key information from a keyboard is detected by a key code generator having a key switch matrix in which key switches are grouped into a plurality of blocks. The key switches are scanned for each block and when one or more key switches of the block are closed, the scanning is stopped until after the closure information is sent out as binary coded information to a key code data assignor in accordance with priority. The key code data assignor applies envelope control signals to an envelope generator and an N-degree square wave generator. The envelope generator is a cyclic digital filter whose filter constant is controlled to provide desired envelope waveshape data for input to a multiplier.