US3715442A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Chord tone generator control system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-12-15
•
Granted: 1973-02-06
•
Expires: 1990-12-15
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for playing chords and bass which has a chord tone generator tuned for different root notes by logic devices sensing the playing keys actuated and controlled for different chord types by other logic devices responsive to the first logic devices and actuated playing keys. Specially controlled keyers respond to the root note and the highest pitch playing key actuated to sound sets of outputs in pitch locations according to selected relations that include close and open harmony and direct correspondence. The keyers further pass outputs within a given pitch range to a modulator driven by an automatic rhythm device to sound them in rhythmic patterns. The automatic rhythm device further controls the sounding of other outputs one at a time in a bass register. Special controls are also used to tune for root, control for type, and select pitch locations for sounding.
Inventors
- 👤 A Freeman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:03
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/36; G10H1/38; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
In an electrical musical instrument having a set of playing controls for the notes of a musical scale and a sound transducer, the combination of: a. a chord tone generator producing a set of tone signal outputs, b. means for determining the roots of chords represented by actuated combinations of said playing controls, c. means for tuning said chord tone generator (for selected rote notes) responsive to said determining (actuation of said playing controls), and d. means for applying (the) outputs from (of) said chord tone generator to said sound transducer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
In an electrical musical instrument having a set of playing controls for the notes of a musical scale and a sound transducer, the combination of: a. a chord tone generator producing a set of tone signal outputs, b. means for determining the roots of chords represented by actuated combinations of said playing controls, c. means for tuning said chord tone generator (for selected rote notes) responsive to said determining (actuation of said playing controls), and d. means for applying (the) outputs from (of) said chord tone generator to said sound transducer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
91 words
In an electrical musical instrument having a set of playing controls for the notes of a musical scale and a sound transducer, the combination of: a. a chord tone generator producing a set of tone signal outputs, b. means for determining the roots of chords represented by actuated combinations of said playing controls, c. means for tuning said chord tone generator (for selected rote notes) responsive to said determining (actuation of said playing controls), and d. means for applying (the) outputs from (of) said chord tone generator to said sound transducer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
91 words
In an electrical musical instrument having a set of playing controls for the notes of a musical scale and a sound transducer, the combination of: a. a chord tone generator producing a set of tone signal outputs, b. means for determining the roots of chords represented by actuated combinations of said playing controls, c. means for tuning said chord tone generator (for selected rote notes) responsive to said determining (actuation of said playing controls), and d. means for applying (the) outputs from (of) said chord tone generator to said sound transducer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination according to claim 1 including means for controlling said chord tone generator for production of different type chords.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination according to claim 2 wherein said chord tone generator includes a plurality of oscillators controlled in frequency in tracking relation by said tuning means and wherein said controlling means differentially tunes one of said oscillators To shift its relation to the others.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination according to claim 1 including means responsive to said determining means and said actuated playing controls for selectively gating outputs of said chord tone generator to said applying means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination according to claim 1 including means responsive to said determining means and said actuated playing controls for controlling said chord tone generator for production of different type chords based on the selected root notes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination according to claim 5 wherein said chord tone generator includes a plurality of oscillators and wherein said controlling means differentially tunes one of said oscillators to shift its relation to the others.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said applying means is responsive to said determining means and said actuated playing controls to select which outputs are applied to said sound transducer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination according to claim 7 wherein said chord tone generator produces outputs for each of said chord parts in a plurality of octave locations and said applying means responds to the highest pitch playing control actuated to determine which outputs to apply to said sound transducer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said applying means is responsive to the highest pitch playing control actuated to select the outputs of said chord tone generator to apply to said sound transducer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination according to claim 9 wherein said applying means is further responsive to said tuning means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination according to claim 7 including means for changing the relation of the pitch position of the outputs applied to said sound transducer with that of said highest pitch playing control actuated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said applying means includes an automatic rhythm device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination according to claim 12 including a bass frequency divider having its output connected to said applying means and means for switching outputs of said chord tone generator to said bass frequency divider one at a time responsive to said automatic rhythm device.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination according to claim 1 including a bass frequency divider having its output connected to said applying means and means for switching outputs from said chord tone generator to said bass frequency divider one at a time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein said determining means includes a set of drivers each operable in response to actuation of an associated one of said playing controls and means for inhibiting operation of each of said drivers responsive to actuation of another of said playing controls.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination according to claim 15 wherein said inhibiting means is also responsive to operation of another of said drivers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
129 words
In an electronic musical instrument having a set of playing controls and a sound transducer, the combination of; a. a plurality of oscillators controllable in frequency tracking relation responsive to an electrical control signal, b. means for producing an electrical control signal to tune said oscillators responsive to the combination of said playing controls actuated, and c. means for applying signal derived from said oscillators to said sound transducer, wherein said producing means comprises a set of electronic switches, a set of voltage dividers controlled by said electronic switches to determine the magnitude of the electrical control signal to tune said oscillators, a set of dividers responsive to actuation of said playing controls, and resistor networks connecting said drivers to each operate a different combination of said electronic switches.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
129 words
In an electronic musical instrument having a set of playing controls and a sound transducer, the combination of; a. a plurality of oscillators controllable in frequency tracking relation responsive to an electrical control signal, b. means for producing an electrical control signal to tune said oscillators responsive to the combination of said playing controls actuated, and c. means for applying signal derived from said oscillators to said sound transducer, wherein said producing means comprises a set of electronic switches, a set of voltage dividers controlled by said electronic switches to determine the magnitude of the electrical control signal to tune said oscillators, a set of dividers responsive to actuation of said playing controls, and resistor networks connecting said drivers to each operate a different combination of said electronic switches.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination according to claim 17 wherein said drivers have operate and inhibit inputs and each of said playing controls provides an operate drive to one of said drivers and an inhibit drive to another of said drivers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination according to claim 18 wherein said applying means includes a set of gates responsive to operation of said drivers and actuation of said playing controls to pass signals derived from said oscillators to said sound transducer.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The combination according to claim 19 including means responsive to said gates for differentially tuning one of said oscillators to shift its relation to the others.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination according to claim 17 including a plurality of frequency divider chains driven by said oscillators and means for selecting different sets of outputs from said dividers for said applying means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination according to claim 21 wherein said selecting means is responsive to the highest pitch one of said playing controls actuated.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination according to claim 26 wherein said selecting means is responsive to an electrical control signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination according to claim 17 wherein said applying means includes an automatic rhythm device.
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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) | 1976-02-06 | 1976-08-07 | 1977-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-06 | 1980-08-07 | 1981-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-06 | 1984-08-07 | 1985-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |