US4173164A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic musical instrument with frequency modulation of a tone signal with an audible frequency signal
Assignee: Nippon Gakki Co Ltd
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Filing: 1978-05-25
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Granted: 1979-11-06
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Expires: 1998-05-25
Abstract
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. The mixture of the pitch determining voltage signal and the second audible frequency signal may be coupled to the first voltage-controlled oscillator through an absolute value circuit. The second audible frequency signal may be also coupled to a sound system together with the frequency-modulated tone signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Takeshi Adachi
- 👤 Masahiko Koike
- 👤 Toshiyuki Takahashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:06
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H5/00; G10H5/002; G10H1/00; G10H1/02; G10H1/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
An electronic musical instrument comprising: keyboard circuit means for providing a pitch determining voltage signal having a magnitude which is a function of the note of a depressed key; first voltage-controlled frequency-variable oscillator means coupled to said keyboard circuit means to receive the pitch determining voltage signal therefrom for producing a first audible frequency signal the frequency of which corresponds to the note of the depressed key; second voltage-controlled frequency-variable oscillator means coupled to said keyboard circuit means to receive the pitch determining voltage signal therefrom for producing a second audible frequency signal; and means for coupling the second audible frequency signal from said second voltage-controlled oscillator means to said first voltage-controlled oscillator means to thereby produce a frequency-modulated tone signal in which the first audible frequency signal is frequency-modulated with the second audible frequency signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
An electronic musical instrument comprising: keyboard circuit means for providing a pitch determining voltage signal having a magnitude which is a function of the note of a depressed key; first voltage-controlled frequency-variable oscillator means coupled to said keyboard circuit means to receive the pitch determining voltage signal therefrom for producing a first audible frequency signal the frequency of which corresponds to the note of the depressed key; second voltage-controlled frequency-variable oscillator means coupled to said keyboard circuit means to receive the pitch determining voltage signal therefrom for producing a second audible frequency signal; and means for coupling the second audible frequency signal from said second voltage-controlled oscillator means to said first voltage-controlled oscillator means to thereby produce a frequency-modulated tone signal in which the first audible frequency signal is frequency-modulated with the second audible frequency signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 further comprising adjusting means connected between said keyboard circuit means and said second voltage-controlled oscillator means for adjusting the magnitude of the pitch determining voltage signal applied to said second voltage-controlled oscillator means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 2 further comprising an amplifier connected between said keyboard circuit means and said adjusting means to receive the pitch determining voltage signal to be applied to said second voltage-controlled oscillator means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
An electronic musical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said coupling means includes amplitude-control means for making the amplitude of the second audible frequency signal from said second voltage-controlled oscillator means proportional to the magnitude of pitch determining voltage signal applied to said second voltage-controlled oscillator means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 4 wherein said amplitude-control means includes a voltage-controlled amplifier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electronic musical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said second voltage-controlled oscillator means is arranged to produce the second audible frequency signal having a symmetrical waveform, and said coupling means includes means for modifying the second audible frequency signal so that the symmetrical waveform of the second audible frequency signal becomes asymmetrical.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 6 wherein the second audible frequency signal is of sinusoidal waveform.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
An electronic musical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said coupling means includes means for amplitude-modulating the second audible frequency signal with a time-varying control waveform signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
An electronic musical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising absolute value circuit means connected to an input of said first voltage-controlled oscillator means to receive the pitch determining voltage signal from said keyboard circuit means and the second audible frequency signal from said second voltage-controlled oscillator means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electronic musical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising mixing means coupled to outputs of said first and second voltage-controlled oscillator means for mixing together output signals of said first and second voltage-controlled oscillator means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
An electronic musical instrument according to any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising means for generating a time-varying control waveform signal which is coupled to said second voltage-controlled oscillator means to modulate the second audible frequency signal in accordance with said control waveform 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) | 1982-11-05 | 1983-05-07 | 1983-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-11-05 | 1987-05-07 | 1987-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-11-05 | 1991-05-07 | 1991-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |