Bells Patents (Class 84/103)
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Patent number: 8975496Abstract: A bell unit of a portable bell system, including a support structure, a plurality of bells mounted on the support structure, a bell shell including a plurality of segments, at least one of which is displaceable to allow a size change of the bell unit. The bell shell is configured to be in a first position when the plurality of segments form a shell that is of a shape of a bell, and hangs over and partially encloses the support structure and the plurality of bells, and is in a second position when the at least one segment is displaced to effectuate the size change.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2012Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Bellebrations IP Holdings, LLC.Inventors: William Meeks, Richard Watson
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Publication number: 20120318116Abstract: A bell unit of a portable bell system, including a support structure, a plurality of bells mounted on the support structure, a bell shell including a plurality of segments, at least one of which is displaceable to allow a size change of the bell unit. The bell shell is configured to be in a first position when the plurality of segments form a shell that is of a shape of a bell, and hangs over and partially encloses the support structure and the plurality of bells, and is in a second position when the at least one segment is displaced to effectuate the size change.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2012Publication date: December 20, 2012Inventors: William Meeks, Richard Watson
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Publication number: 20120247303Abstract: A system and an apparatus to play an Angklung musical instrument automatically consisting of hardware and software. The hardware consists of Angklung, two vertical poles, horizontal pole to hang Angklungs, bottom supporting frame which is equipped with an actuator supporting frame, the actuator is in the form of electric motor mounted on the actuator supporting frame connected in a cross-sectional position with each Angklung, an eccentric disk which is equipped with eccentric shaft, vibrator sleeves for connecting the electric motor with an Angklung, controller device consisting of the controller driver and the flow controller as a track storage and regulator of pulses of electrical current that would flow to the electric motor. The software installed on the computer that consists of an interface program to download, remove, save or record the songs stored on the controller device, and other programs to write songs.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2010Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: PT EMAX FORTUNE INTERNATIONALInventor: Kasim Ghozali
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Patent number: 6915756Abstract: A bell is described having the first at least three or more frequencies substantially in harmonic sequence. A method for designing such a bell is also disclosed. An optimization procedure is described wherein an initial bell shape is modified until the first at least three or more frequencies are substantially in an harmonic sequence. An asymmetric bell is also described wherein a meridonal cross-section of the side portion is substantially geometrically similar to a cross-section having: 1) an outer line formed by fitting an arc of a circle to the three described points of the nodes and an inner line formed by fitting a line to the described points of the nodes; or 2) having an outer line formed by joining a straight line to the two described points of the nodes and an inner line formed by fitting a line to the described points of the nodes.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2000Date of Patent: July 12, 2005Assignee: Australian Bell Pty Ltd.Inventors: Neil Maxwell McLachlan, Anton Glenn Hasell
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Patent number: 6900379Abstract: Device for controlling a musical instrument, in particular a carillon, comprising a first set of keys, each key being equipped with a sensor and force regulating means, said device has a second set of striking elements, each key of the first set has assigned to it a striking element of the second set, the keys and the striking elements are mechanically dissociated from one another, said force regulating means being arranged to impose on the key with which they are associated a static force substantially identical to that which would have been imposed by the striking element if it had been connected to the key, and wherein each sensor is arranged to measure a rate of displacement of the key with which it is associated, each sensor being connected to a first signal generator arranged to receive said rate of displacement and convert it into a first signal comprising said rate and an identification of the key associated with the sensor, said first generator being connected to a transmitter arranged to transmit thType: GrantFiled: September 25, 2001Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Assignees: Université Catholique de Louvain, Campa S.A.Inventors: Christian Eugene, Sergiu Ivanov, Volodia Naydenov, Paul Sente
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Patent number: 6833502Abstract: A wind chime constructed according to the invention includes a rotating wind bell apparatus having a downwardly opening bell that is adapted to be suspended from a separate support structure. A bell-striking mechanism in the form of a striker is suspended movably from the bell in a position to strike the bell. A striker-moving mechanism in the form of an impeller connected to the striker causes the striker to move in response to a wind moving past the striker-moving mechanism and to strike the bell so that the bell produces a tone. A bell-rotating mechanism in the form of another impeller connected to the bell causes the bell to rotate in response to the wind moving past the bell-rotating mechanism in order to thereby vary the tone and produce tremolo or Doppler-like effects. In one embodiment, the bell-rotating mechanism includes a Savonius type impeller attached to the upwardly facing surface of a circularly shaped impeller base.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2003Date of Patent: December 21, 2004Inventor: Bruce E. Boatner
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Patent number: 6750388Abstract: A method of generating music using a plurality of bells (312, 314) is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of mounting said plurality of bells (312, 314), in playable dispositions, on a mobile platform (302), transporting the mobile platform (302) to a venue, and striking, dependent upon electronic control, corresponding ones of the plurality of bells (312, 314).Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2002Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Wedding Bells Australia Pty LtdInventor: Wadih McKasah
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Publication number: 20040107818Abstract: Device for controlling a musical instrument, in particular a carillon, comprising a first set of keys, each key being equipped with a sensor and force regulating means, said device has a second set of striking elements, each key of the first set has assigned to it a striking element of the second set, the keys and the striking elements are mechanically dissociated from one another, said force regulating means being arranged to impose on the key with which they are associated a static force substantially identical to that which would have been imposed by the striking element if it had been connected to the key, and wherein each sensor is arranged to measure a rate of displacement of the key with which it is associated, each sensor being connected to a first signal generator arranged to receive said rate of displacement and convert it into a first signal comprising said rate and an identification of the key associated with the sensor, said first generator being connected to a transmitter arranged to transmit thType: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2004Publication date: June 10, 2004Inventors: Christian Eugene, Sergiu Ivanov, Volodia Naydenov, Paul Sente
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Patent number: 6739282Abstract: A bell device includes a securing device attached to a bell member, a seat rotatably secured to the securing device with a shaft and rotatable relative to the securing device about the shaft, and a resilient member having one end secured to the seat and a clapper secured to the other end. An actuator rod may rotate the seat relative to the securing device, to actuate the clapper to strike against the bell member and to make sounds, without moving the bell member. A spring member may bias the seat to disengage the clapper from the bell member. The clapper may be caused to strike against the bell member when shaking or moving the bell member.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2003Date of Patent: May 25, 2004Inventor: Jui Jen Yuan
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Patent number: 5744736Abstract: An improvement to windchimes is provided which comprises a supporting bracket. A cluster of chimes with different notes are hanged under the peripheral edge of the supporting bracket. Characterized in that an electric powered main pendulum is hanged under the center of the supporting bracket to play a preset melody or song. An auxiliary pendulum is hanged under the main pendulum. When the auxiliary pendulum is blown by the wind, a natural notes can be heard by the tinkling to the chimes.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1996Date of Patent: April 28, 1998Inventor: Ching-Ho Chang
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Patent number: 5550319Abstract: A display, such as a Christmas display, comprises a plurality of ornaments (14), each including a striker (18), a pair of bells (26, 27) disposed in spaced relation from the striker (18) and a means (46) responsive to an electrical signal from a control unit (12) for moving the striker into contact with one or the other of the bells (26, 27), at least some of the bells on the ornaments having different frequencies such that sequentially striking the bells (26, 27) plays a tune, such as a Christmas carol. The ornaments are preferably distributed about a Christmas tree, though alternatively they may be placed on a flat surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 1991Date of Patent: August 27, 1996Assignee: M. H. Segan Limited PartnershipInventors: Marc H. Segan, Michael Newsome
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Patent number: 5266732Abstract: An automatic performance device includes a sound signal generation section for generating a sound signal, a loudspeaker for sounding the sound signal generated by the sound signal generation section, percussion instruments constituting a scale, a percussion instrument drive section for sounding the percussion instruments, a percussion instrument performance information output section for outputting percussion instrument performance information in synchronism with the sound signal, and a converter for converting the percussion instrument performance information to a corresponding drive signal of the percussion instrument drive section. An atmosphere of a live performance is produced and a rich and powerful musical performance as an orchestral performance can be simultaneously made as an accompanying music in a simple manner.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 1992Date of Patent: November 30, 1993Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Bell MusicInventor: Kunihiko Suzuki
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Patent number: 4901616Abstract: In playing a music, the present electronic musical instrument stores a code for a performance event and data of generation time length until a presently-specified performance event is regenerated, in a sequencer memory. For each playback access to this sequencer memory, a performance event is excecuted upon elapse of a time corresponding to the generation time interval data of the performance event read out from the memory. For instance, a musical tone which is generated by depression of a key on a keyboard, is generated again with the designated pitch after a given time.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 1988Date of Patent: February 20, 1990Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akinori Matsubara, Takahashi Akutsu
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Patent number: 4847710Abstract: A multitrack recording apparatus includes a multi-channel recorder for recording musical timing data on a recording medium, a modulator for variably setting a recording cycle of the musical timing data, and a keyboard for designating a desired search position of the recording medium according to the musical timing data. The apparatus also includes a reproduction head for reproducing the musical timing data from the recording medium, a controller for calculating the driving position of the recording medium on the basis of the reproduced musical timing data and for controlling the driving of the recording medium to stop the recording medium at the designated search position, and a dispaly unit for displaying musical data on the basis of the reproduced musical timing data.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 1986Date of Patent: July 11, 1989Assignee: CITEC CorporationInventors: Kazuo Morioka, Takashi Kokubo, Youichi Imazeki, Hideharu Murayama
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Patent number: 4843935Abstract: An improved dual-tone electronic music generator provides a phase difference between a melody and a chord such that the melody codes converted from the melody and the chord codes converted from the chord can be stored into a memory in series. This arrangement can increase the memory usage efficiency, and can reduce both the chip size and the production cost.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 1987Date of Patent: July 4, 1989Inventor: Ma Car-Lai
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Patent number: 4843934Abstract: A rhythm tone source assigning apparatus for use in an electronic musical instrument comprises a memory having a plurality of storing regions corresponding to a plurality of input operating manipulators each being comprised of a keyboard key or a switch. Arrangement is provided so that by writing a tone source identifying datum corresponding to desired one of a plurality of rhythm tone sources in one of the storing regions corresponding to an input operating manipulator one after another, rhythm tone sources can be assigned to the plurality of input operating manipulators. Thus, this electronic musical instrument greatly facilitates its user of his performing or inputting operations in a hand percussion or a rhythm sequence programming by using these manipulators. This is, for each rhythm, the user is able to obtain his favorite convenient arrangement of operating manipulators.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1987Date of Patent: July 4, 1989Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventors: Jun Sugiyama, Akira Suzuki, Kosei Terada, Shigenori Oguri
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Patent number: 4839810Abstract: An automatic rhythm performance apparatus comprises at least a rhythm pattern memory for pre-storing plural kinds of rhythm patterns, an ending switch and a rhythm tone source. The rhythm patterns correspond to rhythm performances such as the Latin American Music, the Rumba Music and the Tango Music. Each of these rhythm patterns comprises one normal pattern and at least one ending pattern. Normally, the rhythm tone source generates rhythm tones in accordance with the normal pattern which corresponds to a normal part of a tune. When the ending switch is manipulated, the rhythm tone source generates other rhythm tones in accordance with the ending pattern, so that an ending rhythm performance is executed from a start timing determined by the manipulating timing of the ending switch. When each rhythm pattern consists of two ending patterns, the ending rhythm performance is executed in accordance with selected one of the ending patterns.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1988Date of Patent: June 13, 1989Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventor: Yasunao Abe
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Patent number: 4829872Abstract: Musical information is analyzed in terms of pitch and/or amplitude to provide an output which is useful in controlling musical synthesizers but may have other applications also. By controlling music synthesizers, synthesized sounds may be played in synchronism with source music. Detection of musical gestures occurs in the present improved method, a musical gesture being the onset or cessation of individual notes comprising a musical performance or the like. The method comprises measuring at selected points in time the pitch and/or amplitude of the musical signal, calculating the change in pitch and amplitude at intervals, calculating the change of said changes in pitch and/or amplitude at intervals, comparing these change of changes to threshold values, and providing the change of changes in pitch and/or amplitude exceeds the threshold, generating a signal signifying the onset of the musical gesture.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 1988Date of Patent: May 16, 1989Assignee: Fairlight Instruments Pty. LimitedInventors: Michael W. Topic, Wayne P. Connolly
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Patent number: 4817484Abstract: An electronic stringed instrument includes a mode selecting section for selectively setting a normal play mode and at least one other selection mode. When picking of a string under a pitch designation operation status is performed after the normal play mode is selected by the mode selecting section, generation of a musical tone with the designated pitch can be started. When picking of a string also under the pitch designation operation status is performed after another selection mode is selected by the mode selecting section, a desired musical tone parameter such as a timbre corresponding to the designated pitch or a rhythm pattern can be easily set. The content of the set musical tone parameter can be confirmed by a sound.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1988Date of Patent: April 4, 1989Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akio Iba, Shigeru Uchiyama
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Patent number: 4813327Abstract: According to this invention, a musical tone control signal generating apparatus for an electronic musical instrument is provided. When a performer operates an automatic return type musical tone control operation element, the apparatus controls a generated musical tone according to the operation amount of the element. A possible offset amount generated when the musical tone control operation element is released and returned to an automatic return position, is detected, and operation element data is corrected based on the offset amount, so that a musical tone control signal is prevented from being offset.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 1988Date of Patent: March 21, 1989Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventor: Yasunao Abe
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Patent number: 4788896Abstract: A tone generator includes a plurality of tone generation channels each comprising one or more operation channels. One operation channel performs basic operation of a tone signal computing operation (e.g., FM or AM) and a tone signal is generated by using one or more operation channels for one tone generation channel. Tone generation channels in the tone generator are established according to a selected performance mode. In a first mode, the operation channels are divided into N groups and N tone generation channels are established in correspondence to the respective operation channel groups. In a second mode, the operation channels are divided into M groups and M tone generation channels are established in correspondence to the respective operation channel groups wherein N is a different number from M. Tone generation channels of the number required according to the selected performance mode can be established by efficiently utilizing the operation channels of a limited number.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 1986Date of Patent: December 6, 1988Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuji Uchiyama, Shigeru Suzuki
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Patent number: 4785703Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1987Date of Patent: November 22, 1988Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tetsuji Ichiki
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Patent number: 4776253Abstract: In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a control unit which is freely moveable in space is equipped with three sensors to measure motion (e.g. velocity, acceleration, or the time derivative of acceleration) along three substantially orthogonal axes. The sensors may be meter movements configured to output motion signals indicative of their movement in free space, which signals are amplified, digitized, processed by a microprocessor to detect relative minima and maxima. Processed motion signals are converted to standard MIDI control signals for controlling an electronic musical instrument.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 1986Date of Patent: October 11, 1988Inventor: Patrick G. Downes
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Patent number: 4773294Abstract: There is provided a selection switch for selecting musical information determining characteristics of a tone such as a tone color. This selection switch is pre-assigned with first musical information. Switches and circuits are provided for assigning second musical information to the selection switch. This second musical information is one selected as desired from among plural musical information. Thus, at least two musical information of the pre-assigned first musical information and the selectively assigned second musical information are assigned to the selection switch. There is also provided a mode selection switch. When a first mode has been selected by this mode selection switch, a characteristic of a tone to be produced is determined by the first musical information. When the second mode has been selected, a characteristic of a tone to be produced is determined by the second musical information.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 1987Date of Patent: September 27, 1988Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventors: Akira Iizuka, Keiji Kawakami
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Patent number: 4768413Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1987Date of Patent: September 6, 1988Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Junichi Fujimori
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Patent number: 4763554Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1986Date of Patent: August 16, 1988Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Koichi Kozuki
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Patent number: 4763257Abstract: A computerized system into which is fed the nominal values of a musical score, the system acting to process these values with respect to the relative loudness of different tones in a succession thereof, changes in the duration of the tones and other deviations from the nominal values which together constitute the microstructure of the music notated by the score. The system yields the specified tones of the score as modified by the microstructure, thereby imparting expressivity to the music that is lacking in the absence of the microstructure.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 1987Date of Patent: August 9, 1988Inventor: Manfred Clynes
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Patent number: 4757736Abstract: A plurality of pad operating means for manual operation are provided on a keyboard panel of an electronic keyboard musical instrument. When an operator operates the pad operating means using the keyboard during melody play, an operation signal is supplied to a CPU, and a rhythm sound corresponding to the operated pad is generated under control of the CPU.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1986Date of Patent: July 19, 1988Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoichiro Tajima, Hideo Yamaya, Tomohisa Ishikawa
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Patent number: 4748885Abstract: An electronic musical instrument has a musical tone signal forming circuit, an automatic rhythm generator rhythm selection switches, and a registration memory. The switches are used to select one of a plurality of rhythms. The automatic rhythm generator automatically generates a percussion instrument sound corresponding to a selected rhythm. In the registration memory, musical tone data respectively suitable for selectable rhythms are stored in advance. The musical tone signal forming circuit generates a musical tone signal representing a musical tone and further modifies the musical tone signal in accordance with the musical tone data corresponding to the selected rhythm, whereby a musical tone suitable for the selected rhythm can be generated.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 1986Date of Patent: June 7, 1988Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Toshiaki Sato
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Patent number: 4745836Abstract: A computerized method and apparatus for providing a comparison between a performance and a performance score in order to provide coordinated accompaniment with the performance. The performance is converted into a performance related signal and is compared with a performance score. If a predetermined match exists between the performance and the performance score, accompaniment is provided. This is preferably accomplished on an event by event basis. Dynamic programming is preferably employed. The algorithm may be adapted to determine a match exists even though the performance departs from the performance score in respect of either content or timing up to a predetermined level.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 1985Date of Patent: May 24, 1988Inventor: Roger B. Dannenberg
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Patent number: 4742748Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprises devices for inputting rhythm and melody play patterns. The rhythm and melody play patterns are stored in a pattern memory such that the rhythm and melody play patterns are in a timed relation to each other. The rhythm and melody play patterns are simultaneously read out from said pattern memory so that rhythm tones and melody tones are sounded according to the rhythm and melody play patterns.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1986Date of Patent: May 10, 1988Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.Inventor: Naofumi Tateishi
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Patent number: 4723467Abstract: An automatic rhythm performing apparatus capable of producing a rhythmic tone of a plural-tone-source rhythmic musical instrument such as a snare drum comprises a plurality of signal producing devices which produce a plurality of rhythmic tone signals corresponding to the respective tone sources of the single instrument. A control device controls respective signal levels of the rhythmic tone signals and a combining device combined the rhythmic tone signals at signal levels controlled by the control device to provide a combined signal corresponding to the rhythmic tone of the instrument, thereby providing a desired volume relationship of the respective component tones constituting the whole rhythmic tone of the instrument.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1985Date of Patent: February 9, 1988Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Mitsumi Kato
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Patent number: 4716804Abstract: An interactive music performance system employs a synthesizer, a programmable computer, and at least one performance device for permitting a user input. The computer is programmed with algorithms which automatically generate controls and interpret a performer's actions in the context of music and sound generating variables, and apply those controls to a synthesizer to determine its production of music. The system is interactive in that a user can direct the system's production of music, as he or she hears it being produced, by use of the performance device. If the user does not provide an input, the system proceeds automatically under control of the performance algorithm.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1985Date of Patent: January 5, 1988Inventor: Joel Chadabe
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Patent number: 4713996Abstract: Tones of percussion instruments produce different timbres, i.e. different tone waveshapes, depending on the strength of percussion. An automatic rhythm apparatus includes a rhythm tone generating unit which stores the tone waveshape produced from a hard percussion and also that from a soft percussion performed on a same percussion instrument. A rhythm pattern is constructed by rhythmically aligned tone command signals, for various percussion instruments, designating timings and volumes of tones to be produced. At each tone production, these two kinds of waveshapes are read out by mixing them appropriately. That is, when a loud tone is to be reproduced, its waveshape is read out from the waveshape memory for loud tones, while a soft tone is read out likewise from the waveshape memory for soft tones, and a tone of an intermediate volume therebetween is reproduced by reading out the loud tone and the soft tone at a mixing ratio complying to the desired degree of volume.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 1986Date of Patent: December 22, 1987Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shigenori Oguri
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Patent number: 4708046Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprises an accompaniment keyboard; a memory of a relatively small capacity storing a set of accompaniment data sequentially aligned and constituting accompaniment patterns; a read-out circuit to successively read out the accompaniment data from the memory at given clock pulse timings; a judging circuit to judge whether each accompaniment datum read out indicates a predetermined specific value; a random signal generator for generating, independently of the data-reading-out timings, random signals each differing in value with time; an accompaniment data determining circuit to determine the contents of each read-out accompaniment datum when the latter is judged to indicate the specific value in accordance with the signal randomly outputted just when a judgement is made; and a tone generation determining circuit to determine the generation of the accompaniment tone based on the key depression information coming from the accompaniment keyboard and also to function, when the read-Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1986Date of Patent: November 24, 1987Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Koichi Kozuki
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Patent number: 4706537Abstract: Waveshapes of plural periods for plural channels having characteristics different from each other are stored in a waveshape memory and read out from it when a musical tone is to be produced. Read out waveshapes are respectively weighted by weighting data supplied from a weighting data generator and thereafter a desired tone waveshape is obtained by electrically or acoustically combining these weighted waveshape. As an example, the waveshapes are composed of plural attack waveshapes equal in number to channels and only one sustain waveshape. In this case, the attack portion of the musical tone is formed by the combined one of the attack waveshapes and the sustain portion is formed by the sustain waveshape. This enables the memory capacity of the waveshape memory to be reduced and facilitates the complex tone color control in the attack portion. In another case, each of the waveshapes is composed of an attack portion and a sustain portion, sustain waveshapes forming the sustain portions being matched in phase.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 1986Date of Patent: November 17, 1987Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shigenori Oguri
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Patent number: 4706538Abstract: An electronic musical instrument automatically plays a musical accompaniment utilizing a minimized number of tone signal generating channels. The electronic musical instrument has a plurality of tone signal generating channels each for generating a tone signal representative of a tone to be produced. Keys depressed on an associated keyboard are assigned to the tone signal generating channels to cause them to generate tone signals corresponding to the depressed keys. When an automatic accompaniment circuit is actuated, a predetermined number of ones of the plurality of tone signal generating channels are reserved for generation of tone signals of the accompaniment. The reservation is made such that those channels which are idle are selected at the highest priority, those channels to which the earliest released keys are assigned at the second highest priority, and those channels to which the earliest depressed keys are assigned at the third highest priority.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 1986Date of Patent: November 17, 1987Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kiyoshi Yoshida
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Patent number: 4704932Abstract: An electronic musical instrument allows the performer to control tone volume of a rhythmic tone by a simple manipulation of keys of a keyboard. The electronic musical instrument comprises a rhythmic tone generator including a plurality of tone sources, to which a group of keys of the keyboard are assigned, respectively. Each of the tone sources generates a rhythmic tone when a corresponding one of the group of keys is depressed. When it is desired to give an accent to the rhythmic tone, a key adjacent the depressed tone source designating key is additionally depressed. This multiple key-depression is detected by a detection circuit. Tone volume of the rhythmic tone generated by the tone source is controlled in accordance with the detection of the multiple key-depression.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 1986Date of Patent: November 10, 1987Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Junichi Mishima
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Patent number: 4704933Abstract: The accompaniment apparatus for an electronic musical instrument comprises an accompaniment segment memory storing data representing a plurality of accompaniment segments which form a plurality of mutually different accompaniment patterns of predetermined lengths, and an alignment sequence memory storing, separately from the above, the orders with which these accompaniment segments are to be aligned sequentially. The data of these orders of alignment of segments are read out one after another, on the basis of which the accompaniment segments derived from the data of the segment memory are aligned one after another sequentially at a given tempo. This operation materializes the automatic accompaniment of any substantial length such as one whole piece of music, and allows the segment memory to have a capacity much smaller as compared to the case in which accompaniment patterns for the whole length of music have to be stored without skipping these segments of the same pattern.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 1985Date of Patent: November 10, 1987Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yasushi Kurakake
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Patent number: 4704682Abstract: A computerized system into which is fed the nominal values of a musical score, the system acting to process these values with respect to the amplitude contour of individual tones, the relative loudness of different tones in a succession thereof, changes in the duration of the tones and other deviations from the nominal values which together constitute the microstructure of the music notated by the score. The system yields the specified tones of the score as modified by the microstructure, thereby imparting expressivity to the music that is lacking in the absence of the microstructure.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 1983Date of Patent: November 3, 1987Inventor: Manfred Clynes
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Patent number: 4700604Abstract: A master electronic musical instrument and a slave electronic musical instrument are interconnected through a cable and music playing data is transferred from the master electronic musical instrument to the slave electronic musical instrument. The slave electronic musical instrument includes a tempo signal generator. The slave electronic musical instrument receives music playing data and generates tones according to the generated tempo signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 1987Date of Patent: October 20, 1987Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shigenori Morikawa, Hiroyuki Sasaki
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Patent number: 4699039Abstract: An automatic musical accompaniment playing system for use in an electronic musical instrument with an auto rhythm system changes a tone color of accompaniment tones when the state of operation of the auto rhythm system is changed. The automatic accompaniment playing system comprises a tempo clock generator for generating tempo clock pulses having a frequency proportional to a tempo of a rhythm to be generated and a register for storing a flag indicative of a state of operation of the auto rhythm system. The tempo clock pulses are counted by a tempo counter when the auto rhythm system is in operation, and the state of operation of the auto rhythm system is detected in accordance with the state of the flag. A memory stores two groups of tone color data, one of which is selected when the auto rhythm system is in operation, and the other of which is selected when the auto rhythm system is not in operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1986Date of Patent: October 13, 1987Assignee: Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shigenori Oguri, Akira Iizuka
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Patent number: 4699518Abstract: A musical scale generating circuit comprises an oscillator, a programmable frequency divider for frequency-dividing an output signal from the oscillator, a tone generating circuit for generating a tone, and a frequency dividing ratio data output circuit for successively outputting frequency dividing ratio data determinative of a plurality of frequency dividing ratios of the programmable frequency divider. A frequency dividing ratio discriminating circuit detects whether a frequency dividing ratio necessary for outputting a desired scale frequency is an odd or even number. A frequency dividing ratio correcting circuit is operative to add one to or substract one from frequency dividing ratio data, when a frequency dividing ratio is detected to be an odd numbered frequency dividing ratio and applies corrected frequency dividing ratio to the programmable frequency divider. A one-half frequency divider further divides a signal from the programmable frequency divider by two.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 1986Date of Patent: October 13, 1987Assignee: Rhythm Watch Company LimitedInventor: Tohru Tanabe
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Patent number: 4696215Abstract: An automatic playing device for a musical instrument includes a memory unit which stores a plurality of discrete states, e.g., patterns of key actuation of a keyboard, which can be serialized and combined with or substituted for manual keying information from a keyboard or other control device. Combining and substituting are controlled by the actuation of one or more switches by a human operator. The operator can advance through the stored pattern by actuating a single key or by playing a simple sequence of notes on a keyboard.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1985Date of Patent: September 29, 1987Assignee: Allen Organ CompanyInventor: Walter L. Greenwood
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Patent number: 4694724Abstract: In a synchronized sound recording and reproducing system including a tape recorder to playback a tape carrying time code information indicative of particular longitudinal locations of the tape, a sequencer having sound information programmed therein and a manually operated tapping key to be tapped by an operator to produce heat signals, a synchronizing signal generator for providing synchronism between the base sounds reproduced from the tape and the additional sounds reproduced from the sound information memorized in the sequencer, comprising beat interval detecting means operative to detect, on the basis of the time code information from the tape, the time intervals between the successive beat signals produced by the beat signal generating means, and rhythm information generating means for generating rhythm information based on the pattern of the time intervals.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 1985Date of Patent: September 22, 1987Assignee: Roland Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tadao Kikumoto, Isato Murakami
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Patent number: 4694723Abstract: A keyboard type electronic musical instrument in which note data and duration data are read out from a memory in accordance with the progress of a musical piece, and a control circuit (CPU) turns on display devices provided for individual keys on a keyboard in response to note data, thus training a player to operate keys specified by the display devices. The control circuit counts each instance of noncoincidence between a key represented by the note data and an operated key on the keyboard, and obtains deviations between a key operation timing defined by duration data and the timing of key operation on the keyboard. After the end of a performance, the control circuit informs the player of the number of the mis-key operations or the accumulation of key operation timing deviations by means of the display devices. A number of display devices corresponding to the accuracy of the performance are lit.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 1986Date of Patent: September 22, 1987Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.Inventors: Isao Shinohara, Itsuro Yoshimoto
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Patent number: 4685370Abstract: A plurality of different kinds of rhythm playing pattern data corresponding to each of the different rhythm sounds being used to play specified rhythms is stored in a rhythm pattern memory section (1). When a particular kind of rhythm is being played automatically, one particular kind of rhythm is selectively designated from a plurality of kinds of rhythms by the operation of the rhythm kind selecting unit (21f). Then, a particular kind of rhythm playing pattern data corresponding to the selected particular kind of rhythm is selected from a plurality of kinds of rhythm playing pattern data preset in the rhythm pattern memory section (1) corresponding to each of the rhythm sounds by the operation of the pattern selection section (2,21,21a-21e).Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1986Date of Patent: August 11, 1987Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroko Okuda, Hiroshi Iwase
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Patent number: 4683794Abstract: A plurality of rhythm designation data are supplied from a CPU, and latched in corresponding individual latches which are responsive to channel data from a decoder. The latched data are supplied to an address ROM in response to corresponding channel timing signals, wherein start and end address data for a rhythm waveform data ROM are read out from the address ROM. If the rhythm designation data latched in one of the individual latches is the same as in another one of the latches, the same rhythm is sounded concurrently and without sound interruption.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1985Date of Patent: August 4, 1987Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shigeo Sakashita
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Patent number: 4682526Abstract: In a method for providing musical accompaniment in response to the playing of an accompaniment-type musical instrument, accompaniment chord voicing is randomly selected from a pluraltiy of stored possibilities and the chord is sounded according to the selected voicing. In a preferred embodiment, the voicings may be stored separately from rhythm information according to which the chord is to be sounded, and the selection of chord voicings is constrained by a pre-selected range of chord tones. In another method for providing musical accompaniment having at least one stored melodic figure, melodic information is represented as a plurality of tokens independent of chord type and the tokens are subsequently converted to note parameters appropriate for a preselected chord type. The tokens are preferably related to the scale functions of the melodic information and may also contain information for each of a plurality of chord sub-types.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 1984Date of Patent: July 28, 1987Inventors: Robert J. Hall, George R. Hall, Jack C. Cookerly
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Patent number: RE32980Abstract: An electromechanical vibrator driving device comprising a rhythm signal generator to produce rhythmic pulses in a pattern corresponding to a beat pattern of a selected music rhythm, the rhythmic pulses being amplified and then applied to the vibrator so that the vibrator generates a rhythmical vibration of the selected music rhythm. The rhythm signal generator comprises a rhythm pattern generator storing different rhythm patterns and providing pulses corresponding to strong beats and pulses corresponding to weak beats in a selected rhythm pattern, separately. The strong beat pulses and the weak beat pulses are processed by attenuators to have different amplitudes and are mixed to produce the rhythm signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 1987Date of Patent: July 11, 1989Assignee: Sanden CorporationInventors: Mutsuo Hirano, Nagatoshi Tsunoda