Patents by Inventor Eisaku Okamoto

Eisaku Okamoto has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4887504
    Abstract: For use in or with an electronic musical instrument, an automatic accompaniment apparatus has a keyboard, a chord detector detecting a chord played on the keyboard, a judging circuit judging chord establishment of the detector chord, and a chord accompaniment tone generator producing, in accordance with an automatic rhythm pattern, chord tones for the detected chord when chord establishment is judged. This apparatus further comprises a tone generator for producing the tones of arbitrarily depressed keys when chord establishment is not judged. Thus, automatic accompaniment and manual performance are automatically selected according to the state of key depressions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Eisaku Okamoto, Yasunao Abe
  • Patent number: 4882964
    Abstract: In a musical tone generator system, rhythm pattern data are read out from a rhythm pattern memory so that the formation of the tone signal specified by the rhythm pattern data is controlled by allocating the tone signal to one of the tone signal forming channels of a signal forming circuit, which is thus enabled to output from each of the tone signal forming channels the tone signal specified by the rhythm pattern data with the result that a sequence of tones is automatically generated in accordance with the rhythm pattern data. When any one of the tone select keys is activated, the formation of the tone signal corresponding to the tone designated by the activated tone select key is controlled by allocating the tone signal to one of the tone signal forming channels. The tone signal forming circuit is now enabled to form in and output from each of the tone signal forming channels a tone signal which corresponds to the tone designated by the activated tone select key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Eisaku Okamoto, Ikuo Komatsu
  • Patent number: 4703681
    Abstract: In a key depression indicating device for an electronic musical instrument capable of visually indicating which keys are to be depressed on a keyboard, the device includes a plurality of indicators provided correspondingly to a plurality of keys of the keyboard. Illumination of each indicators is so controlled by an illumination control means that an indicator corresponding to a succeeding note is lighted up at a timing, for example, a 4-th note's length ahead of the timing to depress the key irrespective of any length of the preceding note. Thus, even when a complicated music performance including a train of a plurality of consecutive short notes as a 32nd note is required, the indicators corresponding to the preceding as well as the succeeding notes in the train are each lighted up at a timing, i.e. the 4-th note's time length ahead of each actual key depression timing for the music performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1987
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eisaku Okamoto
  • Patent number: 4484507
    Abstract: An automatic performance device is of a type in which the automatic performance is executed in accordance with musical data read out successively. It comprises a fast feed stop control circuit for advancing the progress of the automatic performance when an actual key depression timing is faster than an ideal key depression timing indicated by the read out musical data and for temporarily stopping the progress when the former delays behind the latter. Comparison between the actual key depression timing and the ideal key depression timing is made by comparing the content of a counter counting the tempo pulses which decides the tempo of the automatic performance with note-length information included in the musical data. It further comprises a tempo control circuit for changing a period of the tempo pulses based on a tempo of a performance made by the actual key depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1984
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Nakada, Eisaku Okamoto, Kiyoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 4466324
    Abstract: An automatic performing apparatus of an electronic musical instrument arranged to produce musical tones in response to musical performance data read out of an external storage such as a musical sheet. The external storage stores the musical performance data and control data to control generation mode of musical tone signals to be produced. In the apparatus, musical performance data and control data are stored in separate memories. In order for a player to change the generation mode of musical tone signals intentionally, a plurality of panel switches are associated with a control data memory so that the control data for tone generation mode can be rewritten by operation of any one of panel switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eisaku Okamoto, Kotaro Mizuno
  • Patent number: 4461199
    Abstract: In a keyboard musical instrument employing waveform memory, a user may program the number and order of waveforms to be sequentially read out from a waveform memory containing a plurality of different waveforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1984
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruo Hiyoshi, Eisaku Okamoto, Eiichiro Aoki, Toshio Sugiura, Koichi Kozuki
  • Patent number: 4417494
    Abstract: An automatic performing apparatus of an electronic musical instrument comprises a memory for storing musical note data representing progression of a music to be played and control data for controlling such a generation mode of music tones being generated as tone color and modulation effect. The generation mode of musical tone signals generated by a tone forming circuit in response to the musical note data read out of the memory is also automatically controlled by the control data read out of the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Nakada, Eisaku Okamoto, Kiyoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 4413545
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having a reading device for reading music-playing data recorded on a part of a music sheet, comprises a musical instrument body having a first groove to support the music sheet during the play of a music and a second groove to initially receive the music sheet and to transfer the sheet into the first groove, with the first and second grooves being continuous to each other. The reading device reads the music-playing data from the sheet as the sheet is transferred through the second groove into the first groove, and supplies the data thus read to an internal memory device. Music is automatically played by successively reading out the music-playing data from the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1983
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eisaku Okamoto, Kohtaro Mizuno
  • Patent number: 4406203
    Abstract: An automatic musical performance device including storage circuits, read out control circuits, and conversion circuits, wherein the storage circuits store a series of musical note data. Each of the musical note data is represented by multi-bits whose number is dependent on its own use frequency which means a degree of repetitive use of the data in a music. The read out control circuits read out the musical note data from said storage circuits and supply the musical note data to the conversion circuits. Then, the conversion circuits perform the code conversion of the musical note data to other musical note data whose number of bits are independent of their own use frequency. In the automatic musical performance device, musical sounds are produced or key depressing positions are indicated in accordance with the musical note data from the conversion circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1983
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eisaku Okamoto, Kohtaro Mizuno
  • Patent number: 4402244
    Abstract: An automatic performance device is of a type in which the automatic performance is executed in accordance with musical data read out successively. It comprises a fast feed stop control circuit for advancing the progress of the automatic performance when an actual key depression timing is faster than an ideal key depression timing indicated by the read out musical data and for temporarily stopping the progress when the former delays behind the latter. Comparison between the actual key depression timing and the ideal key depression timing is made by comparing the content of a counter counting the tempo pulses which decides the tempo of the automatic performance with note-length information included in the musical data. It further comprises a tempo control circuit for changing a period of the tempo pulses based on a tempo of a performance made by the actual key depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Nakada, Eisaku Okamoto, Kiyoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 4387620
    Abstract: In an automatic performing apparatus in which musical performance data are sequentially read out of a memory at time intervals corresponding to the durations of musical notes to thereby execute an automatic performance, a repeatedly played part is stored as subroutine data in the memory, together with main routine data, thereby to store much data in the memory having a limited capacity. The main routine data contains instruction data for calling the subroutine data and the subroutine data contains instruction data for the return to the main routine data. In response to a signal from a subroutine control circuit, the count of an address counter for designating an address in the memory jumps to an address of the subroutine data when the subroutine calling instruction data is read out, and jumps back to an address of the main routine data when the instruction data for the return to the main routine is read out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1983
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eisaku Okamoto, Kotaro Mizuno
  • Patent number: 4378720
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprises a keyboard, tone signal forming circuit to produce musical tone signals corresponding to keys being depressed on the keyboard, a memory to store musical performance data representing pitches and durations of notes and durations of rests according to the progression of a musical performance, a keyboard indicator to visually indicate which keys are to be depressed on the keyboard in accordance with the performance data read out of the memory so that the pupil or trainee may effect a musical performance on the keyboard by following the key indications, and an automatic musical performance device to effect an automatic musical performance in synchronism with the musical performance to be effected on the keyboard. A control circuit for the memory is arranged such that the key indication for each note in the progression of music is effected in the period of the duration of the immediately preceding note or rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1983
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Nakada, Eisaku Okamoto, Toshio Sugiura, Kiyoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 4375776
    Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument, a tone property setting device is provided in association with a musical tone forming circuit. The device delivers analog signals designating properties of the musical tone signals to be produced, which analog signals are converted into time division multiplexed digital signals, then processed through memories, converted back into analog signals, and are applied to the musical tone forming circuit, thereby to determine the tone properties. Digital processing utilizing the memory facilitates a variety of control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1983
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eisaku Okamoto
  • Patent number: 4364299
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprises a keyboard arranged to produce key code signals in response to key operations thereof and a memory storing performance data constituting progression of a music and corresponding to key operations to be effected on the keyboard to play the music. A key operation judging circuit is provided which compares the key code signals produced by the keyboard with the performance data read out of the memory to detect whether or not a pupil or trainee correctly operates keys in a corresponding relation to the performance data read out of the memory. The percentages of correct key operations are calculated and displayed with respect to the key-on timing and the pitch and duration of notes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1982
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Nakada, Eisaku Okamoto, Kiyoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 4345501
    Abstract: A tempo control device for automatic performance according to this invention is of a type wherein a tempo of automatic performance is caused to automatically follow that of manual performance as the latter changes during performance. When difference in tempo between manual and automatic performance falls within a predetermined range, this automatic follow-up control is performed by measuring the manual performance tempo with accuracy and by controlling the frequency of tempo clock pulses in the automatic performance on the basis of the value thus measured. The predetermined range may be one fixed range for all notes of various note-lengths, or alternatively, different ranges may be employed in accordance with the length of notes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1982
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Nakada, Eisaku Okamoto, Kiyoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 4344344
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprises a keyboard, a tone signal forming circuit to produce musical tone signals corresponding to keys being depressed on the keyboard, a memory to store musical performance data, a keyboard display device to visually instruct a pupil or trainee as to which keys are to be depressed on the keyboard in accordance with the performance data read out of the memory so that the pupil or trainee may effect a musical performance on the keyboard while following key indications, and an automatic musical performance device to effect an automatic musical performance of different type from the musical performance effected on the keyboard. The pupil or trainee may selectively effect the musical performance on the keyboard with or as the accompaniment by or for the automatic musical performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1982
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Nakada, Toshio Sugiura, Eisaku Okamoto, Kiyoshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 4335639
    Abstract: A preferential circuit for an electronic musical instrument is provided in which a memory circuit is employed to memorize a key data signal corresponding to the last depressed key and at least one key data signal corresponding to the second last depressed key. To drive a tone generator, the memory circuit normally outputs the key data signal of the last depressed key but outputs the signal of the second last depressed key when the last depressed key is released with the second last depressed key being held depressed. If the player depresses an errouneous key and release this last depressed error key, a musical tone corresponding to the second last depressed key is then produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1982
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eisaku Okamoto
  • Patent number: 4214500
    Abstract: The electronic musical instrument is provided with a plurality of musical tone generating channels of a number smaller than that of the keys and a channel processor for randomly assigning key information representing depressed keys to the musical tone generating channels. Furthermore the musical elements including the pitch, the tone color and the envelope of the musical tones generated by respective channels are made to be different thereby imparting a random property (casualness) to the generated musical tone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1980
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeshi Adachi, Eisaku Okamoto
  • Patent number: 4098162
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes a pitch determining voltage signal generating circuit adapted to produce one of 12 pitch determining voltage signals having different magnitudes corresponding to 12 notes in one octave in response to any of keys belonging to different octave ranges in a keyboard and having the same note name. A pitch determining voltage signal common to the different octave ranges is converted by a voltage converting circuit and taken out as a voltage signal having a magnitude corresponding to the note of a key being depressed on the keyboard. The voltage converting circuit includes a voltage dividing network having a plurality of output points and gate circuits connected to the output points, respectively. Each gate circuit is enabled in response to the depression of a key belonging to a corresponding octave range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1978
    Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eisaku Okamoto, Kiyoshi Ichikawa
  • Patent number: RE34913
    Abstract: In a keyboard musical instrument employing waveform memory, a user may program the number and order of waveforms to be sequentially read out from a waveform memory containing a plurality of different waveforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Teruo Hiyoshi, Eisaku Okamoto, Eiichiro Aoki, Toshio Sugiura, Koichi Kozuki