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Electronic musical instrument

Assignee: Kawai Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co Ltd
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Filing: 1985-07-29
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Granted: 1987-02-10
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Expires: 2005-07-29
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Abstract

Abstract An electronic musical instrument is provided with a first programmable counter for generating a reference clock signal corresponding to a musical frequency and a plurality of cascade-connected programmable counters which are each triggered by the preceding programmable counter. A multi-level signal which assumes one of a plurality of levels for each period specified by one of the cascade-connected programmable counters is output as a primary waveform. The electronic musical instrument is capable of setting various variations of the primary waveform abundantly containing harmonics and is satisfactory in the tone quality and in the degree of freedom in setting tones, and hence is of high musicality.

Inventors

  • 👤 Yoichi Nagashima

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 10:48
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; G10H1/02; G10H1/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/11

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 174 words
An electronic musical instrument which is provided with a first programmable counter for generating a reference clock signal corresponding to a musical frequency, and a plurality of cascade-connected programmable counters which are each triggered by the preceding programmable counter, whereby a primary waveform is generated as a multilevel signal which takes one of a plurality of levels for each period specified by one of the cascade-connected programmable counters, a first programmable counter for generating a reference clock signal corresponding to the musical frequency, a second programmable counter which is triggered by the first programmable counter, a third programmable counter which is triggered by the second programmable counter and a fourth programmable counter which is triggered by the third programmable counter, whereby the primary waveform is generated as a ternary signal which takes a first level for a period specified by the second programmable counter, a second level for a period specified by the fourth programmable counter and a third level for a period specified by the third programmable counter and for the remaining period.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 174 words
An electronic musical instrument which is provided with a first programmable counter for generating a reference clock signal corresponding to a musical frequency, and a plurality of cascade-connected programmable counters which are each triggered by the preceding programmable counter, whereby a primary waveform is generated as a multilevel signal which takes one of a plurality of levels for each period specified by one of the cascade-connected programmable counters, a first programmable counter for generating a reference clock signal corresponding to the musical frequency, a second programmable counter which is triggered by the first programmable counter, a third programmable counter which is triggered by the second programmable counter and a fourth programmable counter which is triggered by the third programmable counter, whereby the primary waveform is generated as a ternary signal which takes a first level for a period specified by the second programmable counter, a second level for a period specified by the fourth programmable counter and a third level for a period specified by the third programmable counter and for the remaining period.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 72 words
An electronic musical instrument according to claim 1 which includes a first analog switch which is turned ON for one of the periods specified by the programmable counters, a second analog switch which is turned ON for the other period and an envelope generator for generating positive and negative envelope signals, and in which two of the levels of the ternary signal are the levels of the positive and negative envelope signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 206 words
An electronic musical instrument which is provided with a first programmable counter for generating a reference clock signal corresponding to a musical frequency, and a plurality of cascade-connected programmable counters which are each triggered by the preceding programmable counter, whereby a primary waveform is generated as a multilevel signal which takes one of a plurality of levels for each period specified by one of the cascadeconnected programmable counters, a first programmable counter for musical frequency, a second programmable counter which is triggered by the first programmable counter and a third progammable counter which is triggered by the second programmable counter, whereby the primary waveform is generated as a ternary signal which takes a first level for a period specified by the second programmable counter, a second level for a period specified by the third programmable counter and a third level for the remaining period, a first analog switch which is tuned ON for one of the periods specified by the programmable counters, a second analog switch which is turned ON for the other period and an envelope generator for generating positive and negative envelope signals, and in which two of the levels of the ternary signal are the levels of the positive and negative envelope signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 206 words
An electronic musical instrument which is provided with a first programmable counter for generating a reference clock signal corresponding to a musical frequency, and a plurality of cascade-connected programmable counters which are each triggered by the preceding programmable counter, whereby a primary waveform is generated as a multilevel signal which takes one of a plurality of levels for each period specified by one of the cascadeconnected programmable counters, a first programmable counter for musical frequency, a second programmable counter which is triggered by the first programmable counter and a third progammable counter which is triggered by the second programmable counter, whereby the primary waveform is generated as a ternary signal which takes a first level for a period specified by the second programmable counter, a second level for a period specified by the third programmable counter and a third level for the remaining period, a first analog switch which is tuned ON for one of the periods specified by the programmable counters, a second analog switch which is turned ON for the other period and an envelope generator for generating positive and negative envelope signals, and in which two of the levels of the ternary signal are the levels of the positive and negative envelope signals.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4273019A Cited
US4537108A Cited
US4528885A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-02-09 1990-08-11 1991-02-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-02-09 1994-08-11 1995-02-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-02-09 1998-08-11 1999-02-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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