Abstract: When gradation data of a present frame is corrected in combination with gradation data of a preceding frame for each display pixel, the level of correction is controlled according to a predetermined dispersion pattern corresponding to a matrix of pixels on a plasma display panel. The display pixels where the gradation level varies in the same way are not corrected uniformly, but some are excessively corrected and some are uncorrected such that they are mixed in a two-dimensional pattern. Moving images displayed on the plasma display panel with gradations expressed according to the subfield process for pixels are prevented from suffering false moving image contours.

Abstract: A keyboard musical instrument includes an electromagnetic key touch generator for imparting a piano-like key touch to black/white keys, and the electromagnetic key touch generator has leaf spring members respectively held in contact with the upper surface of the black/white keys for urging the black/white keys toward the end positions and coil springs urging plungers of solenoid-operated key actuators to urge the black/white keys toward the rest positions; the resilient force of each leaf spring member is balanced with the resilient force of the associated coil spring at the rest position of the associated black/white key, and the solenoid-operated key actuator is expected to partially cancel the resilient force of the coil spring so as to build up resistance to the black/white key depressed by a player.

Abstract: An musical tone control device, employed by an electronic keyboard instrument, comprises a keyboard frame, a stopper member and a sensor. The keyboard frame is located beneath an arrangement of keys in the keyboard and is provided to support the keys in a vertical direction as well as in a horizontal direction. The key is normally pressed upward by a key-return spring. The stopper member comprises a base part, a flexible part, having flexibility In a selected direction, and an edge portion which are assembled together. The base part is fixed to the keyboard frame. The edge portion of the stopper member provides at least a lower-limit stopper for the key. The sensor is attached to the flexible part so as to sense a deformation of the stopper member in the selected direction. An output of the sensor is used to control a musical tone in terms of a specific musical parameter such as pitch.

Abstract: A keyboard unit for an electronic musical instrument is constructed by a plurality of keys, a key frame, a plurality of key guides and a pressure sensor. On the key frame, a plurality of keys are arranged such that each of them can freely rotate about the predetermined fulcrum point. The key guides are provided on the key frame, while each of the key guides supports each of the keys such that each of the keys can slide along guide surfaces of each of the key guides when the key is depressed. The pressure sensor is provided at the guide surface of the key guide. This pressure sensor senses the pressure applied thereto in a lateral direction corresponding to a disposing direction of the keys in the keyboard unit when the key is depressed. When the key is moved in the lateral direction while being depressed down, the pressure sensor senses the pressure applied to the key in the lateral direction so that the predetermined musical parameter (e.g.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic musical instrument which comprises: manipulator for defining a manipulation region of at least one dimension and for achieving performance manipulation within the manipulation region; position detector for detecting the position of performance manipulation within the manipulation region; arithmetic operation unit for calculating information pertaining to the direction and velocity of movement from the time change of the position of performance manipulation; tone signal generator for generating a tone signal using the information pertaining to the direction and velocity information as a parameter of controlling the tone signal; and latch unit for latching information pertaining to at least one of the direction and velocity of the movement, wherein the tone signal generator generates a tone signal using said information latched by the latch unit when the latch unit is operated.

Abstract: A musical tone control information input manipulator comprises a manipulator body, a slide manipulator, and a pressure sensor. One end of the manipulator body is supported so as to be pivotally turnable and the other end thereof is supported by an elastic spring. The slide manipulator is provided on the manipulator body to generate a position signal representing a slide position on the manipulator body. Force acting on the elastic spring is detected by the pressure sensor to generate a pressure signal. The position signal and the pressure signal are respectively used as a bow position signal and a bow pressure signal for a rubbed string instrument such as a violin to generate a musical tone of the rubbed string instrument from an electronic musical instrument.

Abstract: Apparatus for altering the output of an electronic string musical instrum responsive to bending of the string comprises a compressible electrically conductive member which has an electrical resistance which varies with the degree of compression applied and may be a conductive elastomer or a piezoresistive material. First and second holders are in contact with the conductive member and a current source is secured to the first holder and the string electrode secured to the second. Bending of the string causes the application of compression to the conductive member. The change in current flow is converted into an output which is a frequency variation which corresponds to the degree of bending of the string.

Abstract: A pressure-to-conductance transducer, which avoids dependency on pressure-sensitive properties of particulate materials which may be difficult to formulate in stable form, utilizes instead the principle of translating applied pressure into variation of area and region of contact between a resistively coated Mylar tape element and a pair of adjacent contact plates, connected to controlled circuitry via a cable. In an embodiment for foot control of musical effects, a base mounts the contact plates and a surrounding separable Velcro gasket supporting a semi-rigid pressure sensor plate holding the resistive element closely spaced above the contact plates. A void in the element spans the gap between the contact plates. The conductance value appearing between the contact plates varies with the pressure applied to the sensor plate, ranging from low conductance with light offset pressure to high conductance with heavy overall pressure.

Abstract: A touch response device for an electronic musical instrument includes pressure detector for detecting initial-touch and after-touch of a key. The pressure detector means has two or more response stages that have different response characteristics to key pressure variation. An initial-touch-detector signal is produced when the pressure detecting means is in a first response stage among the response stages, and after-touch-detector signal is produced when the pressure detecting means is in a second response stage among the response stages. According to the invention, initial-touch signal and after-touch signal are generated by the use of one common operation-detector signal produced from the pressure detector means. As a result, the construction of the pressure detecting means is much simplified compared with a conventional touch-response device provided with two separate detectors, one of which detects initial-touch and another of which detects after-touch.

Abstract: A modification unit for a musical instrument amplifier includes a modification circuit and a connector for connecting the modification circuit to a tube socket in place of one of the tubes in the pre-amp stage of the amplifier. The pre-amp includes at least a gain stage with a gain tube and a socket for receiving the gain tube where the tube socket has at least one plate contact, at least one cathode contact and at least one filament (heater) contact. The modification circuit includes a jack for receiving an electronic signal originated by the musical instrument and a circuitry for modifying the received electronic signal to generate a modified signal.