Patent US3629481A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3629481A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic chord and rhythm electronic organs
Assignee: Baldwin Piano and Organ Co
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Filing: 1970-09-09
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Granted: 1971-12-21
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Expires: 1990-09-09
Abstract
Abstract The system provides a conventional electronic organ with automatic chord accompaniment and/or an automatic rhythm system. Playing of only one note in a selected octave of the lower manual produces proper distribution between pedal and manual root, third and fifth parts of a chord in any one of five rhythms with rhythm percussive effects if desired. The pedal and/or manual notes may be rhythmically pulsed or selectively converted to continuous mode. A touch bar is provided to convert from major to minor chords. Playing of two notes defeats the chord accompaniment. Playing of three notes causes the organ to revert to conventional operation. Playing of a single note always produces a downbeat.
Inventors
- 👤 David A Bunger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:48
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/36; G10H1/40; G10H1/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
In a musical instrument for playing a chord of a diatonic scale upon activation of a control for producing the root tone of the chord comprising: a plurality of controls each for producing a different tone upon activation thereof, an equal plurality of leads on each of which may be applied different tone signals of one octave of the diatonic scale, signals of a pair of buses each selectively connectable to a different plurality of said leads, means responsive to activation of each of said controls for connecting one of said busses to that lead of its associated leads on which appears the major third part of the chord of the root tone selected by the activated control and for connecting the other of said buses to that lead of its associated leads on which appears the minor third part of the chord determined by the actuated control, means responsive to actuation of each of said controls for generating control signals indicating which of said buses has the major third part of said chord applied thereto, an output circuit, a selectively operable means having a first condition and a second condition, and means responsive to said control signals to couple to said output circuit the one of said buses to which said major third part is applied when said selectively operable means is in said first condition and to couple to said output circuit the other of said buses when said selectively operable means is in said second condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
249 words
In a musical instrument for playing a chord of a diatonic scale upon activation of a control for producing the root tone of the chord comprising: a plurality of controls each for producing a different tone upon activation thereof, an equal plurality of leads on each of which may be applied different tone signals of one octave of the diatonic scale, signals of a pair of buses each selectively connectable to a different plurality of said leads, means responsive to activation of each of said controls for connecting one of said busses to that lead of its associated leads on which appears the major third part of the chord of the root tone selected by the activated control and for connecting the other of said buses to that lead of its associated leads on which appears the minor third part of the chord determined by the actuated control, means responsive to actuation of each of said controls for generating control signals indicating which of said buses has the major third part of said chord applied thereto, an output circuit, a selectively operable means having a first condition and a second condition, and means responsive to said control signals to couple to said output circuit the one of said buses to which said major third part is applied when said selectively operable means is in said first condition and to couple to said output circuit the other of said buses when said selectively operable means is in said second condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said selectively operable means is normally in one of said conditions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said selectively operable means comprises a player actuable touch bar biased to maintain its first condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination according to claim 1 further comprising means responsive to actuation of two of said controls to prevent generation of said control signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
212 words
For use with an electronic organ having a set of keys corresponding to the notes of a musical scale, a chord organ device comprising a plurality of leads at least equal in number to the notes in an array of adjacent notes of the organ keyboard, means responsive to actuation of any one of the keys corresponding to said adjacent notes of the electronic organ to pass to a different one of said leads for each such key the major third part of the chord having as the root note the note selected by actuation of a specific key and to pass to another and different lead for each such key the minor third part of the chord selected by actuation of said key, a pair of signal buses, means connecting said leads to said buses such that a major third part of a chord appears on one of said buses and a minor third part of a chord appears on another of said busses for each note played, means for developing a control signal indicating the bus on which said major third part is developed, an output circuit, and gate means responsive to said control signal for connecting said bus on which said major third part appears to said output circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
212 words
For use with an electronic organ having a set of keys corresponding to the notes of a musical scale, a chord organ device comprising a plurality of leads at least equal in number to the notes in an array of adjacent notes of the organ keyboard, means responsive to actuation of any one of the keys corresponding to said adjacent notes of the electronic organ to pass to a different one of said leads for each such key the major third part of the chord having as the root note the note selected by actuation of a specific key and to pass to another and different lead for each such key the minor third part of the chord selected by actuation of said key, a pair of signal buses, means connecting said leads to said buses such that a major third part of a chord appears on one of said buses and a minor third part of a chord appears on another of said busses for each note played, means for developing a control signal indicating the bus on which said major third part is developed, an output circuit, and gate means responsive to said control signal for connecting said bus on which said major third part appears to said output circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination according to claim 5 further comprising a switch having a stable and a second state, and wherein said means for connecting includes means responsive to said switch in said stable state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination according to claim 6 comprising further means at least responsive to said switch in said second position for connecting the said output circuit and the bus having the minor third part thereon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination according to claim 5 further comprising means for developing a pulsed voltage at a predeterminable tempo, said gate means including means for effecting said connection only upon receipt of each such pulse.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination according to claim 8 wherein said means for developing includes means for varying the length of said pulse voltage from a minimum duration pulse to a continuous voltage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination according to claim 8 wherein said means for developing comprises means for selecting a voltage continuously variable between a maximum and a minimum value, means upon actuation of a key to cause said voltage to rapidly rise to said maximum level and thereafter decay to the selected voltage, said gate means connecting signals to said output circuit at an amplitude determined by said voltage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination according to claim 8 further comprising means for disabling said means for developing upon concurrent actuation of two keys in said octave.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination according to claim 5 further comprising means responsive to actuation of three keys in said octave to disable said attachment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination according to claim 5 wherein said electronic organ includes means for producing pedal and manual percussion voices and wherein said attachment includes means for sounding selected pedal percussion voices immediately upon actuation of one of said keys.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
105 words
The combination according to claim 5 wherein said attachment includes a rhythm section, said rhythm section having a ramp voltage generator for producing a voltage which varies as a saw tooth function with time to provide a ramp portion increasing at a prescribed rate from a minimum voltage to a maximum voltage and a flyback portion which returns rapidly to the minimum voltage from said maximum voltage, means responsive at all times to Actuation of any one of said keys in said octave to immediately initiate a flyback of said ramp voltage, and means responsive to flyback of said voltage to sound said root note.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
The combination according to claim 14 wherein said ramp voltage generator includes a capacitor, means for maintaining said capacitor fully charged, means responsive to actuation of a key for rapidly discharging said capacitor, means for recharging said capacitor at a prescribed rate while said key is depressed and means for rapidly charging said capacitor upon release of the key.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
108 words
The combination according to claim 14 comprising a second pair of buses, means responsive to actuation of any one of said keys in said one octave to develop the root note of the selected key on one of said buses and the fifth part of the chord of said root note on the other of said buses, means responsive to each flyback of said ramp voltage to alternatively and repetitively connect said buses on which said root and fifth note appear to said output circuit, said means being responsive to said control voltage to initially connect said bus on which said root note appears to said output circuit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination according to claim 16 wherein said output circuit is the pedal circuit of said organ.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
79 words
The combination according to claim 5 comprising a second pair of novel buses, means responsive to actuation of any one of said keys in said one octave to develop the root note of the selected key on one of said buses and the fifth part of the chord of said root note on the other of said buses, and means responsive to said control signal for connecting said bus on which said root note appears to said output circuit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
163 words
In a system for controlling the rhythmic accompaniment provided a player-controlled musical instrument, a source of repetitive ramp voltage wave forms which vary between a minimum and a maximum voltage level, means for deriving a sequence of pulses in response to said ramp voltage attaining preselected voltage levels of said repetitive ramp wave forms, means responsive to selected pulses for generating sounds of diverse character, a plurality of player-controlled means for selecting musical tones to be played, means normally maintaining said ramp voltage at a maximum value, means responsive to actuation of a single of said player-controlled means to return said voltage to minimum value, and thereafter repetitively produce said ramp voltage wave forms so long as said player-controlled means is actuated, said means for deriving a sequence of pulses producing a downbeat pulse upon said ramp voltage returning to minimum value, and means responsive to at least a first of said downbeat pulses to sound the tone selected by said player-controlled means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
163 words
In a system for controlling the rhythmic accompaniment provided a player-controlled musical instrument, a source of repetitive ramp voltage wave forms which vary between a minimum and a maximum voltage level, means for deriving a sequence of pulses in response to said ramp voltage attaining preselected voltage levels of said repetitive ramp wave forms, means responsive to selected pulses for generating sounds of diverse character, a plurality of player-controlled means for selecting musical tones to be played, means normally maintaining said ramp voltage at a maximum value, means responsive to actuation of a single of said player-controlled means to return said voltage to minimum value, and thereafter repetitively produce said ramp voltage wave forms so long as said player-controlled means is actuated, said means for deriving a sequence of pulses producing a downbeat pulse upon said ramp voltage returning to minimum value, and means responsive to at least a first of said downbeat pulses to sound the tone selected by said player-controlled means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination according to claim 19 further comprising a visual tempo indicator and means responsive to at least every other downbeat pulse to actuate said visual indicator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination according to claim 19 wherein said source of ramp voltage source comprises a capacitor and wherein said means responsive to actuation of a single of said player-controlled means comprises, means for maintaining said capacitor charged to said maximum voltage, and means for rapidly discharging said capacitor upon actuation of a single player-controlled means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination according to claim 21 further comprising means responsive to concurrent actuation of at least two player-controlled means for rendering inoperative said means for discharging.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination according to claim 22 further comprising means responsive to concurrent actuation of three of said player controlled means for disabling said means responsive to selected pulses for generating sounds.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination according to claim 19 wherein said sources of ramp voltages comprises a capacitor and wherein said means responsive to actuation of a single of said Player-controlled means comprises, means for maintaining said capacitor charged to said maximum voltage, and means for disabling said means for maintaining and for concurrently discharging said capacitor upon actuation of a single player-controlled means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
141 words
The combination according to claim 19 wherein said source of ramp voltage wave forms comprises, a capacitor, a constant current source for charging said capacitor, means in series with said capacitor and said current source to control the charging time of said capacitor, switch means rendered conductive upon voltage across said capacitor obtaining a preselected maximum value to discharge said capacitor and rendered nonconductive upon the voltage across said capacitor obtaining a preselected minimum value, means responsive to flow of capacitor discharge current through said switch means for terminating current flow through said constant current source only so long as said switch means conducts said discharge current, and control means having a normal condition rendering said means responsive to actuation of said switch means inoperative to terminate current flow through said constant current source whereby to maintain said capacitor fully charged.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination according to claim 25 wherein said means responsive to actuation of a single control of said player-controlled means comprises, means for disabling said control means whereby said constant current source is rendered nonconductive.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination according to claim 19 including a plurality of pedal percussion voices, means for selecting various of said voices to be sounded, and means responsive to said downbeat pulse to sound said selected pedal percussion voices.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination according to claim 27 further comprising means for disabling said system upon actuation of three player-controlled means for disabling said system and means responsive to actuation of said means, for disabling for preventing sounding of the pedal section of the organ.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination according to claim 27 including a plurality of manual percussion voices, means for selecting various of said manual percussion voices to be sounded, and means responsive to various beats of said sequence of pulses other than said downbeat pulses to sound said selected manual percussion voices.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination according to claim 19 further comprising means for selectively disabling said means for normally maintaining said maximum value of voltage whereby said source of repetitive ramp voltages cycles automatically to produce repetitive ramp voltages.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
107 words
In a system for alternatively producing rhythmic accompaniment provided a player-controlled musical instrument or independently establishing said rhythm, a ramp voltage generator comprising capacitor, means for charging said capacitor at a fixed rate, discharge means responsive to the voltage across said capacitor attaining a selectable maximum voltage to discharge said capacitor to a minimum value, control means normally operable to render said discharge means inoperative to discharge said capacitor. means responsive to actuation of a player controlled means for rendering said control means ineffective so long as a player-controlled means is actuated, and switch means independent of said player-controlled means for selectively rendering said control means ineffective.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
107 words
In a system for alternatively producing rhythmic accompaniment provided a player-controlled musical instrument or independently establishing said rhythm, a ramp voltage generator comprising capacitor, means for charging said capacitor at a fixed rate, discharge means responsive to the voltage across said capacitor attaining a selectable maximum voltage to discharge said capacitor to a minimum value, control means normally operable to render said discharge means inoperative to discharge said capacitor. means responsive to actuation of a player controlled means for rendering said control means ineffective so long as a player-controlled means is actuated, and switch means independent of said player-controlled means for selectively rendering said control means ineffective.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination according to claim 31 including a plurality of selectable pedal percussion voices, and means for sounding selected ones of said pedal voices at prescribed intervals of discharge of said capacitor.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
257 words
In a musical instrument for playing a chord of the diatonic scale upon actuation of a control for producing the root tone of the chord comprising, a plurality of leads, an equal plurality of two input OR gates, a first pair of buses, means connecting each of said OR gates between A different source of a tone of the diatonic scale of a predetermined octave and one of said buses, means connecting each said lead to receive a gating voltage thereon upon actuation of an organ control, each of said lead being connected to an input of two different ones of said OR gates such that upon generation of a gating voltage thereon the major and minor third parts of the chord whose root tone is selected by the organ control appear each on a different one of said busses, a second pair of buses, each bus of said second pair of buses being connected to receive gating voltage from a different plurality of said leads such that a first of said second pair of buses receives said gating voltage when a first of said first pair of buses receives said major third part of said chord and a second of said second pair of buses receives said gating voltage when a second of said first pair of buses receives said major third part of said chord, an output circuit, and means responsive to said gating voltage on said second pair of buses for selectively applying to said output circuit the major third part of said chord.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
257 words
In a musical instrument for playing a chord of the diatonic scale upon actuation of a control for producing the root tone of the chord comprising, a plurality of leads, an equal plurality of two input OR gates, a first pair of buses, means connecting each of said OR gates between A different source of a tone of the diatonic scale of a predetermined octave and one of said buses, means connecting each said lead to receive a gating voltage thereon upon actuation of an organ control, each of said lead being connected to an input of two different ones of said OR gates such that upon generation of a gating voltage thereon the major and minor third parts of the chord whose root tone is selected by the organ control appear each on a different one of said busses, a second pair of buses, each bus of said second pair of buses being connected to receive gating voltage from a different plurality of said leads such that a first of said second pair of buses receives said gating voltage when a first of said first pair of buses receives said major third part of said chord and a second of said second pair of buses receives said gating voltage when a second of said first pair of buses receives said major third part of said chord, an output circuit, and means responsive to said gating voltage on said second pair of buses for selectively applying to said output circuit the major third part of said chord.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
70 words
The combination according to claim 19 wherein said organ has pedal circuits including pedal generator means for producing pedal frequencies, means for voicing frequencies generated in the organ and pedal gate means for gating pedal frequencies to said means for voicing frequencies, said system comprising, means responsive to actuation of a single player-controlled means for preventing transmission of signals produced by said pedal generator means through said pedal gate means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination according to claim 34 further comprising control means actuable in response to actuation of three of said player-controlled means for disabling said system, and means responsive to deactivation of said control means for preventing transmission of signals produced by said pedal signal generator means through said pedal gate means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
114 words
In an electronic organ, a keyboard having a multioctave array of keys, an array of tone generators, one tone associated with each of said keys, an electronic gate associated with each of said tone generators, a separate normally open key switch closable in response to actuation of each of said keys, means responsive to actuation of any one of an array of said keys, and to consequent closure of a responsive key switch, for applying ongating voltage to the electronic gates in series with only and all of those of said tone generators representing one of a major and minor chord corresponding musically with the actuated key for all said octave of said keys.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
114 words
In an electronic organ, a keyboard having a multioctave array of keys, an array of tone generators, one tone associated with each of said keys, an electronic gate associated with each of said tone generators, a separate normally open key switch closable in response to actuation of each of said keys, means responsive to actuation of any one of an array of said keys, and to consequent closure of a responsive key switch, for applying ongating voltage to the electronic gates in series with only and all of those of said tone generators representing one of a major and minor chord corresponding musically with the actuated key for all said octave of said keys.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination according to claim 36, wherein is included a player operable control for applying in response to said actuation said ongating voltage to the gates in series with those of said tone generators representing only and all of the other of said major and minor chord, said minor chord corresponding musically with the actuated key for all of said array of keys.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination according to claim 37, wherein is further provided means responsive to actuation of any three or more of said keys for applying said ongating voltage only to gates corresponding with said three or more of said keys.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a rhythmic accompaniment system for an electronic organ, a source of ramp signal having normally a predetermined level above a reference value, an array of keys on an organ keyboard, means responsive to actuation of one of said keys for reducing said ramp signal to said reference value substantially instantaneously, and thereafter causing said ramp to slowly rise linearly to said predetermined level, while said key remains actuated, and means responsive to release of said one of said keys for causing said ramp to rise substantially instantaneously to said predetermined level, means responsive to said reduction of said ramp signal to said reference value for calling forth a first tone signal and means responsive to attainment by said ramp signal of predetermined levels for calling forth at least one further signal.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
132 words
In a rhythmic accompaniment system for an electronic organ, a source of ramp signal having normally a predetermined level above a reference value, an array of keys on an organ keyboard, means responsive to actuation of one of said keys for reducing said ramp signal to said reference value substantially instantaneously, and thereafter causing said ramp to slowly rise linearly to said predetermined level, while said key remains actuated, and means responsive to release of said one of said keys for causing said ramp to rise substantially instantaneously to said predetermined level, means responsive to said reduction of said ramp signal to said reference value for calling forth a first tone signal and means responsive to attainment by said ramp signal of predetermined levels for calling forth at least one further signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-20 | 1975-06-21 | 1975-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-20 | 1979-06-21 | 1979-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-20 | 1983-06-21 | 1983-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |