Abstract: A key assigner, for an electronic musical instrument that has a plurality of oscillators and that employs for the production of a specific timbre only the number of oscillators that is actually required. The key assigner comprises a control for, upon reception of a tone-ON command, assigning timbre generation to the oscillators by control unit, each of which includes the maximum number of oscillators required for timbre generation. Once timbre generation assignments to all the control units have been effected, and a tone-ON command for a timbre that requires fewer oscillators than compose each of the control units is received, the key assignor assigns the timbre generation to an oscillator, of one of the control units, to which timbre generation assignment has not previously been made.

Abstract: A sound generating outer garment, such as a suit, a coat, or a jacket, includes switches and a sound generating circuit. The switches are connected to the sound generating circuit, and both the switches and the sound generating circuit are mounted in the garment. The sound generating circuit produces a sound or sounds in response to the actuation of one or more of the switches. Preferably, a switch is positioned at each shoulder and at each elbow of a coat or a jacket and at each knee of a pair of pants. The sound generating outer garment may also include a transmitter for transmitting the sound or sounds that are produced to an AM or FM receiver. Each switch may include a flexible and conductive first outer lamina and a flexible and insulating second outer lamina. Interposed between the two outer laminas is a resilient insulating cushion. The cushion has a number of holes formed through its thickness.

Abstract: A tone generating glove includes switches and a tone generating circuit. The switches are connected to the tone generating circuit, and both the switches and the tone generating circuit are mounted in the glove. The tone generating circuit produces a tone or tones in response to the actuation of one or more of the switches. Preferably, a switch is positioned at each finger joint of the glove. The tone generating glove may also include a transmitter for transmitting the tone or tones that are produced to an AM or FM receiver. Each switch may include a flexible insulating sheet having upper and lower surfaces and an opening formed through its thickness. Flexible and electrically conductive first and second outer laminas are respectively attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the insulating sheet. They are positioned on the surfaces of the insulating sheet so as to bridge the opening in it.

Abstract: A just intonation electronic keyboard instrument comprises a plurality of tonality selection switches for selecting each key from among twenty-four just intonation keys, a control circuit for determining one or a plurality of just intonation keys according to the manipulation of said switches, a variable frequency oscillator having its output oscillation frequency varied in accordance with the selected key, and a frequency dividing circuit having frequency dividers which are varied of their frequency dividing ratios according to the selected key. The number of tonality selection switches is less than twenty-four. The control circuit discriminates the selection to a major scale or a minor scale, and discriminates one or a plurality of keys from each of twelve keys from C through B, and determines one or a plurality of selected just intonation keys, according to the manipulation of said intonation selection switches.

Abstract: A circuit for producing musical tones is disclosed which includes a keyboard for selecting the musical tones, and a tone generator responsive to the keyboard for generating a square wave signal having the frequency of the musical note to be generated. A charging circuit is provided for charging a capacitor to a predetermined level of voltage when the square wave signal is terminated, and for exponentially discharging the capacitor when the square wave signal is initiated. A modulation circuit amplitude modulates the square wave signal in proportion to the capacitor voltage to produce an exponentially decaying signal which simulates the waveform produced by a struck piano string. A speaker is also included to convert the exponentially decaying signal into audible musical tones having the sound of piano notes. The circuit of the invention requires only a small number of components, making it suitable for use in miniature musical toys.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein a music synthesizer which responds to a music note played by a music instrument. The synthesizer has an envelope generator which generates a control signal in relation to the input signal to control the loudness of the synthesized note. Also, the synthesizer has a pair of voltage controlled oscillators, one of which provides a signal having a frequency related to the frequency of the input note, and the other of which provides a signal having a frequency related to the frequency of the input signal offset by the ratio of the difference between a programmed note and a referenced note, such as A440. The programmed note is that note following the operation of a control switch. The synthesizer further includes a series of footpads which control various functions of the synthesizer, such as programming the programmed note, to allow the user to control the synthesized sound while playing an instrument.

Abstract: A potentiometer comprises a support member having first and second support regions and an intermediate region located therebetween, a resistive member supported on the support member at the first support region thereof and having a longitudinal dimension extending transversely of a line from the first support region to the second support region, and a resilient contact member secured to the support member at the second support region and extending over the intermediate region and terminating superjacent the resistive member.

Abstract: The notes of an accompaniment manual of an electronic keyboard musical instrument such as an electronic organ are multiplexed. The key switches are sequentially scanned and the serial information produced is fed into a shift register. Digital circuitry reads the position of data in the shift register to determine whether a recognized chord has been played. After recognition of a recognized chord a counter operating in conjunction with the shift register clock input operates in connection with comparators and frequency generators to produce the necessary notes for the chord played.An automatic mode of operation also is provided in which only the key corresponding to the root partial of a chord need be played. By utilizing the mathematic relationships in a chord, the simple note played by depression of one key is extrapolated into a chord.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing signals of varying volume and pitch which are functions of the magnitude and distribution respectively, of weight (or weights) placed upon a platform hinged at one corner and swingable in mutually orthogonal directions. Sensors convert the physical displacements occurring at first and second corners opposite of the platform adjacent to the hinged corner into signals for controlling the volume and pitch of an output signal. Alternatively, displacement of the platform may be controlled by the application of varying pressure by means other than full body weight, such as the operator's finger(s).The apparatus may be utilized as a unique means for producing music or musical sounds responsive to a person dancing or otherwise moving upon the platform to provide an entertainment form which is both unusual and enjoyable.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument of a type capable of producing a musical tone corresponding to the tone pitch of a depressed key by controlling oscillation frequency of a voltage-controlled type oscillator by a pitch voltage corresponding to the tone pitch, wherein musical tone elements such as tone pitch and tone color are controlled in accordance with a control voltage which is produced for each individual key but is different from the pitch voltage.A temperature curve can be determined by controlling the tone pitch of the musical tone by this control voltage as well as by the pitch voltage. A desired temperament curve can be obtained by suitably adjusting the values of the control voltage for the respective keys. The tone color control is effected by varying the cut-off frequency of the voltage-controlled type filter in accordance with the aforementioned control voltage.

Abstract: An integrated keyer system for use in electronic organs comprising a plurality of discrete integrated circuit chips each corresponding to two adjacent octaves of the keyboard and connected in series to accommodate the entire keyboard. The keyer system is adapted for use in multiplexed systems wherein the keyswitch closure information is encoded in a time division multiplexed data stream fed through a plurality of the keyer chips, which are connected in series. Each of the keyer chips includes a plurality of tone inputs and outputs and a divide-by-four circuit for lowering the tones in by two octaves. The keyer chips also include serial data inputs and outputs and a demultiplexer for demultiplexing the serial data stream at the serial data input to produce a plurality of control signals corresponding to keydown signals in the serial data stream, which are fed to the individual keyers.

Abstract: A DC offset correction circuit for use in an electronic organ for eliminating audible noise or thump produced by an instantaneous DC level shift in the standard organ keyer circuit at both key depression and release. A standard keyer circuit is responsive to the depression of a key on the manual by the organist and provides a square or stairstep waveform output at a frequency representative of the note key depressed. Each keyer output waveform includes a positive or negative polarity instantaneous DC level shift at both key depression and release which when coupled through a capacitive output circuit, such as a filter, provides an undesirable audible thump. The DC offset correction circuit comprises a monitoring circuit which is responsive to both key depression and release and a detector circuit responsive to the monitoring circuit to provide a DC level signal output of opposite polarity to the instantaneous DC level shift in the keyer circuit.

Abstract: An organ keyer system, especially a keyer system operated by logic level signals, such as occur in multiplexing.The keyer system herein described is especially intended for manufacture by large scale integration techniques, and is designed to provide for the controlled attack and decay of the keyed signal without the use of timing components, such as resistor and capacitors, external to the integrated circuit.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes a tone signal generator whose operation is controlled by active electronic signal processing. The instrument includes both tone effect control means to provide an alternating current control signal to the tone signal generator and manually operable tone frequency control means having selectively variable resistance and selectively variable capacitance characteristics, with one of these characteristics being variable among logarithmically spaced increments and the other characteristic being variable among linearly spaced increments.

Abstract: A time-shared electronic musical instrument is provided with programmable wave-form generating and tone coloring circuits in order to maintain the musical characteristics regardless of pitch. The circuits comprise programmable keyers and wave-shapers, programmable envelope generators, programmable filters, and a programmable voicing selection circuit, in all of which certain characteristics of the output signal are tailored to the frequency of the musical tone.

Abstract: In a tone generating apparatus for an electrical music instrument having an array of switches corresponding to respective keys of a keyboard and which are selectively actuable by manipulation of the respective keys, a timing signal generator, preferably including a shift register, has a repetitive operating cycle and is connected with the switches for providing timing signals in response to actuation of the latter, with each of the timing signals occurring at a time during the operating cycle which corresponds to the position of the respective actuated switch in the switch array, an exponential signal generator provides an exponential signal in synchronism with the operating cycle of the timing signal generator, a sample and hold circuit receives the exponential signal and is operative to sample and hold a value of the exponential signal in dependence on the time of occurrence of a timing signal in the operating cycle, and variable frequency oscillator controlled in accordance with the value of the exponentia

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic musical instrument resembling a guitar that is played like a guitar and sounds like a guitar; however, it is stringless and has a plurality of flexible actuator blade type members which are mounted on edge and are adapted to be strummed or picked. Flexing of each actuator blade in either direction closes one or more leaf type switches which controls the amplified output of an electronic oscillator whose fundamental operating frequency is further varied in accordance with finger actuation of a plurality of fret-board switches. Although the invention in its preferred embodiment is directed to a guitar-like instrument, it is also applicable to other types and classes of musical string instruments such as a violin.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument in which a keyboard circuit generates scale tone voltage signals corresponding to depressed keys of a keyboard. Plural musical tone signal forming sections are connected respectively to plural output terminals of the keyboard circuit which has plural series-connected resistance circuits. Each of the resistance circuits has series-connected resistances which, in turn, are connected at one end to an electrical source. Key-switches are provided to move with the keys of the keyboard, and these key-switches are connected so that when plural keys are simultaneously depressed according to a chord, respective scale tone voltage signals corresponding to the respective keys are generated at respective connecting points of the resistances in the series-connected resistance circuits, and they may be respectively transmitted from the plural output terminals.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprises first and second voltage-controlled frequency-variable oscillators responsive to application of a pitch determining voltage signal from a keyboard circuit to produce first and second audible frequency signals, respectively. The second audible frequency signal is coupled to the first voltage-controlled oscillator to produce a frequency-modulated tone signal to be sounded in which the first audible frequency signal is frequency-modulated with the second audible frequency signal. The content of harmonic components in a musical tone can be increased by sideband components resulting from frequency modulation. The second audible frequency signal may be amplitude-controlled to be proportional, in amplitude, to the magnitude of pitch determining voltage signal, amplitude-modulated with a time-varying control waveform, and/or waveform-modified to provide desirable modulation effects.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes a linear voltage divider network including a plurality of equal series resistance elements for generating a first output voltage as a function of the state of a plurality of tone select keys. This first voltage is converted to a second voltage which selectively varies exponentially as a function of the selected tone. The second voltage is compared with a ramp generator output to set and reset a latch which generates an audio frequency signal thereby. The audio frequency signal is coupled to an octave generator controlled by octave select keys for outputting the tone in a selected octave for output as sound via a speaker. Sharp and flat keys are also provided to cause the first voltage to vary in a way which emulates the functioning of a standard keyboard.

Abstract: An envelope circuit for a keyboard type electronic musical instrument having a damping and sustain characteristic. The circuit has a keyswitch operated in association with the actuation of a key on the keyboard of the electronic musical instrument to connect a power supply to a voltage responsive circuit for producing a decreasing volume output tone. A sustain circuit is coupled to the voltage responsive circuit for sustaining the operation of the voltage responsive circuit and is connected through a blocking diode to a sustain switch common to all the envelope circuits in the musical instrument. The sustain switch is connected in the sustain circuit for bypassing the voltage supplied thereto from a time constant circuit when the sustain switch is closed for making the sustain circuit inoperative to deenergize the voltage responsive circuit, whereby the voltage responsive circuit continues to produce an output tone independently of how the keyswitch is restored to its initial position.

Abstract: An inexpensive single bus keyboard circuit for voltage controlled electronic musical instruments. The keyboard signal voltage is sampled and stored after each depression of a key, or release of a key when other keys are held in a depressed state, and a gate detector is provided to prevent sampling and change of stored voltage when all keys are released, to thereby insure that the last stored signal voltage is retained when all keys are released. A program counter establishes the timing relationships between the generated control signals and provides adaptive timing to prevent response to spurious key switch signals. The circuit distinguishes in a simple manner between keyboard sample voltages corresponding to the depression of one or more keys and those corresponding to the condition in which no keys are depressed.

Abstract: An envelope generator for an electronic organ, especially for developing percussion sounds, in which each of at least some of the organ cases having keyers pertaining thereto are provided with envelope control circuits interposed between the keys and the respective keyers. Each envelope control circuit includes voltage supply means connected to the keyer and a control circuit therefor which is actuated by depression of the key. The control circuit provides for continuous actuation of the keyer by voltage from the voltage supply means while the key is depressed or for a momentary supply of keyer actuating voltage from the voltage supply means to the keyer followed immediately by a decay of the keyer actuating voltage at a predetermined rate and which rate can be selectively varied.

Abstract: A step-on type tone scale play device has a flexible mat within which is arranged a plurality of flexible switch elements in accordance with a tone scale and is adapted to produce corresponding music sounds when marks configured on the surface of a mat to indicate the position of each switch element are stepped on.The device is very easy to keep and carry, and convenient to display or perform as compared to the conventional device, as the mat is light and capable of folding or rolling into a compact form.

Abstract: For reiteration of percussive sounds in an electronic organ there is provided a circuit for generating pulse signals for reiteration control which are "on" for much longer periods than they are "off", thereby substantially reducing the chance of an organ key being actuated when the control signal is in its "off" condition. The circuit is so arranged that playing of an additional key at a time when one or more other keys are being held has no effect on the reiteration of the sound produced by the held keys. The circuit generates four control signals which are connected such that each controls three notes in a given octave on the keyboard, a different three in successive octaves, such that when normal intervals (e.g., thirds, fourths and fifths) are played, the effect of random reiteration control is produced.

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.

Abstract: A sample hold arrangement for a key signal in an electronic musical instrument in which a keyboard circuit generates a voltage corresponding to a depressed key. The keyboard circuit is connected at its output terminal to an input terminal of a comparator. An output terminal of the comparator is connected to a memory capacitor and a buffer circuit through two gates connected in a series with one another. An output terminal of the buffer circuit is connected, in turn, to a second input terminal of the comparator, and one of the two gates is connected with its control electrode to a detection circuit. A circuit closing signal is generated by the detection circuit when the potentials of the two input terminals of the comparator become substantially equal. The other one of the two gates is connected with its control electrode to an output terminal of a keying signal generator which generates a keying signal of the keyboard circuit.

Abstract: A keyboard operated electronic musical instrument such as an electronic organ is disclosed which generates a musical tone signal by mixing together two different musical tone signals of different waveforms and which changes the sound of the generated musical tone by changing a the amount of mixing of the two signals. A clipping gate with a so-called sustain function is included for controlling the attenuation of an input signal as it passes to an output terminal while clipping the input signal gradually and smoothly so that the musical tone does not disappear instantly but attenuates gradually after the release of a depressed key. The input signal to the clipping gate circuit is a square wave signal, and a square wave signal derived at an output thereof is converted to a waveform other than a square wave.

Abstract: A circuit is shown for changing the frequency of a basic keyed oscillator by controlling the amount of keying voltage reaching the oscillator and the circuit used for vibrato. The purpose of this circuit is the achievement of true "pipe organ celeste" effect without using an added rank or set of oscillators. Circuits are described wherein the harmonic structure of the signal resulting from this modification of a basic keyed oscillator can be made to change by means of controlling the amount of keying voltage reaching the oscillator for the purpose of achieving the desired harmonic structure of the rank when operated in the "non-celeste" mode as opposed to the "celeste" mode. A circuit is also described for amplitude modulation and harmonic structure modulation at the vibrato rate to enhance the vibrato.

Abstract: A shoe provided with a plurality of keys on the underside thereof which when depressed will produce various musical tones by means of an electronic circuit provided inside the shoe.

Abstract: In an electronic musical instrument, such as an electronic organ, the speech characteristics of reed organ pipes are simulated by applying pulses produced by key-actuated tone generators, which pulses are preferably narrow as compared to their repetition frequency, to a low-pass filter, the pass characteristic of which has a relatively sharp knee and a very rapid rate of rolloff, thereby to sharply attenuate the harmonics contained in the pulse which have frequencies above the cutoff frequency. The resultant tone passed by the filter is surprisingly reed-like in character, and by changing the cutoff frequency, reed-like voices of differing properties, imitative for example, of an organ Oboe tone, an orchestral Oboe tone, a Clarinet, a Kinura or a Trompette are obtained.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument includes an oscillator for generating a signal at a frequency corresponding to that associated with a depressed key of the keyboard. The key selects a control voltage, from an exponential voltage divider, for controlling the frequency of a voltage controlled oscillator, which produces a frequency which is directly proportional to the control voltage and inversely proportional to a reference voltage. The reference voltage compensates for variations in the level of the supply voltage, so that the oscillator frequency is independent of the supply voltage.

Abstract: A music synthesizer produces pitch-proportional voltages in a novel resistor network, uses these voltage via keyboard control to generate in a voltage-controlled oscillator a high frequency signal, being a multiple of all the harmonic frequencies desired, separates the individual harmonics, converts them to sine waves with voltage-controlled tunable tracking filters, blends the waves in desired proportions, introduces transients of attack, decay, sustain, and release of key into each note, and introduces appropriate vibrato. An alternate apparatus accepts an external signal and converts it to voltages proportional to frequency, whereby accompaniment on pitch, in "close harmony" or more distantly related, is provided.

Abstract: An electronic Zimbelstern system in which a sequential counter actuates a set of self-damping circuits in a predetermined repeating sequence, the self-damping circuits each enabling a different set of sinusoidal tone sources in such relative amplitudes and with such relative rise and decay envelopes as to simulate the sounds of sequentially sounding bells of diverse fundamental frequencies when electro-acoustically reproduced.

Abstract: When a beating force is applied to a beat plate having a magnet attached to the lower surface thereof, an output responsive to the strength and application speed of the beating force is produced in a sensing means comprised by a Hall element disposed below the magnet. The output is used for controlling an oscillation circuit for generating a percussion instrument sound signal and an output therefrom is converted into a percussion instrument sound by means of a speaker.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument comprising a voltage controlled oscillator, a voltage controlled filter, a voltage controlled amplifier and envelope generators. An output envelope of the envelope generator has various parameters such as rise time and decay time or times. The envelope generator is of the voltage controlled type so that the parameters of the output envelope of the envelope generator are controllable in response to parameter controlling voltages from a parameter controlling voltage generator. In an attempt to enhance performance effects a switch circuit is provided, in accordance with the invention, to interchange between a rise time controlling voltage and a decay time controlling voltage which are both coupled from the parameter controlling voltage generator to the envelope generator.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a keyboard circuit for generating pitch determining voltage signals whose voltage values exponentially vary with respect to notes. Key switches are connected between a DC voltage source and a voltage dividing resistance network, thus making it possible to use key switches having a simpler contact construction. Nevertheless, the keyboard circuit of the invention can act as a lower or higher tone preference circuit.

Abstract: A musical instrument is disclosed which is constructed of a group of taut strings arranged to be strummed, each string being connected to operate an analog switch capable of producing a graduated signal that is directly proportional to the amplitude of vibration of its string, an extrinsic sound source in circuit with each analog switch, the sound source having a variable volume which is varied directly proportional to the strength of the signal from the analog switch, a number of switch means arranged in a keyboard, each of which may close the circuit to one or more preselected sound sources for which the switch means are closed and the strings are vibrating.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic musical instrument resembling a guitar that is played like a guitar and sounds like a guitar; however, it is stringless and has a plurality of flexible actuator blade type members which are mounted on edge and are adapted to be strummed or picked. Flexing of each actuator blade in either direction closes one or more leaf type switches which controls the amplified output of an electronic oscillator whose fundamental operating frequency is further varied in accordance with finger actuation of a plurality of fret-board switches. Although the invention in its preferred embodiment is directed to a guitar-like instrument, it is also applicable to other types and classes of musical string instruments such as a violin.