Keyboard electronic musical instrument with guitar emulation function
2010-03-20 00:00:00
key results in a descending arpeggio of the same chord. The tone generating device is allowed to continue sustaining the chord until (a) the auxiliary device is returned to its first state, at which time the chord is terminated; or (b) a second strum key state change is performed, at which time the chord is terminated and the predetermined chord corresponding with the second state change is initiated. If this second strum key state change is the reverse state change of the same key, the new chord is identical to the first chord, with the arpeggiation direction reversed.

When applied to a conventional keyboard, this method enjoys an advantage over the Multiple Trigger Pairs Method: Since only one octave is required for one type of chord, more chord types may be provided in a single keyboard without a patch change.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a general overview of electronic systems/hardware and recommended keyboard which may be used to realize the invention.

FIG. 2 shows an overview of the software program used in the preferred embodiment.

FIGS. 3-14 detail various program subroutines which are used in the preferred embodiment. Subroutines which require two drawing figures are split into two parts--a & b, for example, 14a & 14b.

FIG. 15 shows a cutaway side view of a front guide pin and bushing recommended for the keyboard of the preferred embodiment.

FIGS. 16A-D show various views of a rear guide pin and bushing recommended for the keyboard of the preferred embodiment. FIG. 16A is an exploded view, FIG. 16B is an overhead view with key not shown, FIG. 16C is cutaway rear view taken along line XVI-C of FIG. 16B, and FIG. 16D is a cutaway side view taken along line XVI-D of FIG. 16B.

ORIENTATION TERMS AND CLARIFICATIONS

In this specification and appended claims orientation terms are based on the orientation of a musician as most commonly positioned at a piano keyboard; thus:

The longitudinal axis is that which extends from the bass, or left end of the keyboard to the right, or treble end.

The lateral or transverse axis is that which extends from the front to the rear of the keyboard.

The vertical axis refers to the key axis of motion.

In this specification and appended claims, a statement that a key is "depressed" or "down" means that a key is moved from rest to depressed position. Depressed position does not necessarily refer to the absolute bottom end of key travel. Rather, this term refers to any depth of key depression which is beyond the threshold at which the key state sensing system interprets the key to be in depressed position. For example, this threshold may occur at 2/3 down from rest position. Likewise, rest position is any position above a predetermined rest position threshold; for example, the upper 1/3 of key travel. For example, an embodiment which is well within the scope of the 2nd aspect of the invention would be one in which when a first key is held down as a second key is depressed, the first tone is muted as the second key reaches 1/3 of its downward stroke, and the second tone is initiated when the second key reaches 2/3 of its downward stroke.

The term "key row" refers to a row of keys which extend substantially from left to right. Key rows within a keyboard according to the present invention are not necessarily precisely parallel to the left-right keyboard axis. For example, a keyboard with angled rows (e.g., the Uniscala Keyboard shown in Keyboard magazine, June 1995) may be adapted to utilize the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

I. Overview

The preferred embodiment of the invention is a five-row Janko controller keyboard with independent keys. Various aspects and embodiments of this keyboard are described in the applicant's prior patents, U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,490 (Key Guide) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,772 (Linearly Reciprocating Keyboard Key Incorporating Two Guide Pins), and copending applications Ser. Nos. 08/173,855, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,763 (Tactile Key Tops), and 08/345,067, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,115 (Keyboard Key Return and Motion Sensing Mechanisms Incorporating a Swing Arm). These prior specifications are hereby incorporated by reference.

With guidance from these prior specifications and the present specification, a person of ordinary skill in the art may engineer a keyboard with the necessary features to implement the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, these features include:

(1) a keyboard 25 (A portion of a 5-level Janko keyboard is shown with an example of two keys 27 which occupy the same position on the X axis and which may be used as a strum trigger keys pair.);

(2) a key state sensing system (including key position/velocity/pressure sensors 28 and a system to scan these sensors 30) which can, for each key of the keyboard 25, sense downward/upward velocity and at least 16 levels of aftertouch pressure;

(3) at least two foot pedals 35 each with sensors capable of measuring downward/upward pedal velocity (The pedal unit sold with the Ensoniq SDP-1 keyboard may be employed. This pedal includes two pedals each with a contact spring which alternates between upper and lower stationary contact wires. Transit time between these two contacts may be measured and pedal velocity may thus be calculated. Alternately, a pedal employing a photointerrupter sensor may be employed. Such a pedal may be monitored by one of the key sensing daughter microcontrollers shown in applicant's copending application Ser. No. 08/345,067, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,115, for Keyboard Key Return and Motion Sensing Mechanisms Incorporating a Swing Arm.);

(3) a microprocessor-controlled computer system 36 (including a central processing unit 37, a random-access memory 38, and a read-only memory 39) which can process information received from the key state sensors and other input devices;

(4) a control panel including various switches 40 to perform various control duties including (a) assisting in program...

Automatic performance apparatus of an electronic musical instrument
2010-03-15 00:00:00
4 is a block diagram showing a hardware construction of a melody on-off detecting circuit 36 shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the details of a registered data detecting circuit 42 shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described by reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the hardware construction of the present invention. In FIG. 1, numeral 1 designates a keyboard having plural keys, each of which provides key switches thereunder to detect the OPEN or CLOSED state thereof. The keyboard 1 is divided into three key-areas, KB1 to KB3, in which the output signal of each key in the key-area KB1 is supplied to a manual performance musical tone generating circuit 2 and a chord data generating circuit 3. The output signal of each key in the key-area KB2 is supplied to manual performance musical tone generating circuit 2, and the output signal of each key in the key-area KB3 is supplied to manual performance musical tone generating circuit 2 and note length data generating circuit 4 respectively.

The manual performance musical tone generating circuit generates a musical tone signal corresponding to the depressed key on keyboard 1 and outputs this musical ton signal to an amplifier 5. The chord data generating circuit detects the depressed key in key-area KB1 to generate its chord data in accordance with the detected key data, in which chord data indicates a chord of an accompaniment tone.

In the present embodiment, many types of chords such as C major or A minor are designated by the key operation of key-area KB1. For example, depressing keys C, E, and G of key-area KB1 designates C major. The chord data generating circuit 3 receives a signal based on the key which is depressed in key-area KB1. According to this received signal, the chord data generating circuit 3 generates chord data which includes basic tone data CCD indicated by the basic tone of the chord (C, D, E, or the like) and type data TPD indicated by type of the chord (major minor, or the like). In accordance with the generated chord data, an automatic accompaniment tone is generated as described later. The note length data generating circuit 4 generates note length data FTD corresponding to the depressed key in key-area KB3. Herein, the note length data of the accompaniment chord is indicated by the key operation of key-area KB3. The note length data generating circuit 4 then outputs note length data FTD to the next circuit in accordance with the detected key data of key-area KB3.

A tone color switch 6 is used for setting the tone color of the accompaniment tone; an effect switch 7 for setting an effect of the accompaniment tone; a melody-ON switch 8 for storing a starting signal of a melody tone in the automatic performance; a melody-OFF switch 9 for storing a stopping signal of the melody tone in the automatic performance; a multi-stage tone volume switch 10 is used for controlling the volume of the accompaniment tone; and an end switch 11 is used to indicate the completion of the accompaniment tone.

Numeral 12 designates a record switch which is CLOSED when writing data to chord sequence memory CM. A play switch 13 CLOSES wh...

Control system for a musical instrument
2010-03-09 00:00:00
play mode, the tremolo speed select button 218 enables the musician 100 to select the frequency or speed of the tremolo effect as one of three preset frequencies. The preset frequencies are generally frequencies that the musician has preprogrammed into the control system 104 in the program mode as described above. The musician 100 is also capable of increasing the frequency from one of the pre-programmed frequencies by depressing on the tactile member 106. The control system 104 increases the frequency at a rate which is proportional to the amount of pressure exerted on the tactile member 106 by the musician 100.

Finally, in the play mode, the tremolo depth button 220 allows the musician 100 to change the volume, i.e., the amplitude, of the tremolo effect on the audio signal produced by the musical instrument 102. In the preferred embodiment, the musician 100 can change the volume between a plurality of different pre-programmed volumes.

Hence, the control box 108 permits the musician 100 to program various parameters for different sound characteristics and then, when playing the instrument, use the pre-programmed parameters to alter different sound characteristics. In the preferred embodiment, the volume select, tremolo speed select and tremolo depth select buttons 216, 218, 220 are all lighted by LEDs 216a, 216b, and 216c which facilitate the musician 100 in programming the control box 108 and using the control box 108 while playing the musical instrument 102.

FIG. 5 is an electrical schematic which illustrates the components of a control circuit 109 positioned in the control box 108 that enable the control system 104 to perform the above-described operations. The control circuit 109 includes a controller 300 which, in the preferred embodiment is an SGS Thompson ST 62T25 BG SWD microprocessor. The controller 300 receives a 4 MHz clock signal from a clock circuit 302.

The controller 300 further receives a power signal from a power circuit 304. The power circuit 304 includes a 9 volt battery 306 and a receptacle 308 configured to receive a 9 volt signal from an external source, e.g., an adaptor receiving 120 VAC. Preferably, the battery 306 is rechargeable and the circuit is configured so that the external source both powers the control circuit 109 and charges the battery 306. The power circuit 304 also preferably includes a regulator 305 which in this preferred embodiment is comprised of a 7805T-type regulator.

The controller 300 also receives a reset signal from a reset circuit 310 which in this preferred embodiment is a Seiko model 8074.5 reset circuit. The reset circuit 310 ensures that each time the controller 300 is powered up, the controller 300 initiates its programmed operation at the proper location. The microprocessor 300 also receive inputs from each of the select switches 216, 218, 220 which enable the musician 100 to program the controller 300 in the program mode and also to change the operation of the controller 300 in the play mode. Similarly, the controller 300 also receives an input signal from the program mode select switch 212 which places the controller 300 into the program mode.

The controller 300 also receives an input from the power switch 200 and the controller 300 uses the input from the power switch 200 to control two transistors 312 and 314 and some associated circuitry to turn the control circuit 109 off after a preselected period of time of no activity.

Finally, the controller 300 receives a pressure signal from a sensor 320 through an amplifier circuit 324. The sensor 320 is preferably a Motorola type MPX2010 pressure transducer that senses the changes in pressure resulting from when the musician 100 has depressed the tactile member 106 via the tube connection 204 shown in FIG. 4. The sensor 320 is preferably a very sensitive pressure transducer that is capable of recognizing very slight changes in pressure as a result of the musician 100 depressing the tactile member 106.

The signal produced by the sensor 320 is passed through the amplifier circuit 324. The amplifier circuit 324 is a typical operational amplifier circuit which is configured to transform the signal produced by the sensor 320 into a signal which is acceptable to the controller 300. The amplifier circuit 324 includes two type LT1078 operational amplifiers with an associated feedback network that includes variable offset and variable gain resistors.

The control circuit 109 in the control box 108 also includes a memory 330 wherein the preset values recorded by the musician 100 when programming the control system 104 are stored. In the preferred embodiment, the memory 330 is a type 93C46 EE RAM that is capable of storing data in the absence of a power source. Hence, the values stored in the memory 330 are not lost when power to the control box 108 is lost.

The controller 300 also provides output signals to four LEDs 214, 216a, 218a and 220a which are preferably positioned inside of the switches 212, 216, 218 and 220 shown in FIG. 4. The controller 300 illuminates the LEDs to assist the musician 100 in programming the control box 108 and in using the control system 104 in the manner that is described in greater detail in reference to FIGS. 6-12 below.

The controller 300 also provides output control signals to an audio signal modifier 336 which, in this preferred embodiment, is a digital potentiometer, Xicor Model X9104P potentiometer that, in response to receiving a digital signal from the controller 300, alters a resistive network within the digital potentiometer 336. The modifier 336 receives the audio input signal from the musical instrument 102 via the input 208 in the control box 108 (FIG. 4). The audio input signal is then modified by the modifier 336 in response to the control signals from the controller 300 and the modified audio output signal is then provided to the audio output 210 (FIG. 4) where it is then sent to an audio sound system.

The controller 300 thus receives a pressure signal from the sensor 320 and, in response to a pre-programmed instruction set contained within the controller 300 and preset selected values contained within the memory 330, modifies the audio, i.e., sound, signal from the musical instrument. The component values necessa...

Electronic music system and stringed instrument input device therefor
2010-03-02 00:00:00
against any two frets, the voltage applied to the string is the voltage of the higher valued fret.

The offset voltage source 28 provides a set of six different voltages, appearing on six voltage taps 47, 47, assigned respectively to the six strings of the guitar to compensate for the musical intervals appearing between the open strings. Inparticular, the source 28 consists of a voltage divider comprised of a set of resistors 48, 48 connected between the taps 47, 47 and to a suitable source of voltage, as shown, and having appropriate resistance values to provide the six voltage valuesshown. These six voltages are: 2.4 volts associated with the high E or first string, 1.9 volts associated with the B string, 1.5 volts associated with the G string, 1.1 volts associated with the D string, 0.5 volts associated with the A string, and 0volts associated with the low E or sixth string. Therefore, from FIG. 2, it will be obvious that the voltage drop between the offset voltages associated with the different strings is equal to 100 mv. for each semi-tone interval between the openstrings. For example, the difference in the offset voltages associated with the high E and B strings is 500 mv. in correspondence with the five semi-tone intervals between such two strings, and the difference in the offset voltages associated with theB and G strings is 400 mv. in correspondence with the four semi-tone intervals between those two strings.

The system of FIG. 2 operates to cyclicly sample the voltages appearing on the six strings of the guitar 14, to add to such voltages the related offset voltages, thereby producing voltages representing actual tones, and to process the highesttone voltage produced during a sampling cycle for transmission to the synthesizer 10. The cyclic sampling of the string voltages and the corresponding selection of the offset voltages is effected by the string voltage multiplexer 30 and the offsetvoltage multiplexer 32 operated in synchronism with one another by the control signal generator 34. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the control signal generator 34 includes a 2 kilocycle clock 50 producing the clock signal K. An inverter 52 also producesthe inverted signal K. The clock signal K is counted by a counter-decoder 54 to produce ten sequentially and cyclicly appearing control signal T0 to T9. An OR gate 56 connected to the T0 to T4 outputs of the counter-decoder 54 also produces the outputsignal CO.

The string voltage multiplexer 30 has six transfer gates or switches TG1S to TG6S, each of which may, for example, be a CMOS device. Each of these transfer gates has its input connected to a respective one of the six strings 16, 16 and itsoutput connected to the input of another transfer gate TGC controlled by K. The transfer gates TG1S to TG6S are controlled respectively by the control signals T9 to T4. Each transfer gate is turned on or to a conducting state during the appearance ofits associated control signal and is at other times turned OFF or to a non-conducting state.

The offset voltage multiplexer 32 also consists of six transfer gates TG10 to TG60 each of which may also, for example, be a CMOS device. The input of each of these gates is connected to a respective one of the offset voltage taps 47, 47 of theoffset voltage source 28 and its output is connected to an output line 58. The transfer gates TG10 to TG50 are controlled respectively by the control signals T9 to T5 and the transfer gate TG60 is controlled by the control signal CO.

The adder 36 includes two operational amplifiers 60 and 62 having their output terminals connected as shown through two equal valued resistors 64, 64 to an output line 60 so as to produce on the line 60 an output voltage related to the sum of theinput string and offset voltages Es and Eo supplied respectively by the gate TGC and the line 58. More particularly the adder operates with an effective gain of one-half to produce on the line 60 a voltage equal to Es Eo/2.

The cycle peak detector 38 operates to first amplify by a gain of...

Electronic musical instrument with exponential keyboard and voltage controlled oscillator
2010-02-26 00:00:00
a control voltage applied to it, akeyboard having a plurality of keys, a plurality of switches, one for each of said keys, each adapted to be operated by depression of its associated key, and a voltage divider connected with said switches for connecting a control voltage to saidoscillator which corresponds to the position of the key associated with an operated one of said switches, said voltage divider comprising a plurality of resistance elements connected in series, each of said elements having different resistance valueswhich bear an exponential relation to the resistance values of the adjacent connected resistors such that the voltage at successive junctions of said resistance elements correspond to a geometric series, said resistance elements being formed of the samematerial and being physically located in close physical juxtaposition with each other, so that all said resistors are maintained at approximately the same temperature, with approximately constant relative resistances.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said resistance elements are formed simultaneously as portions of a single integrated thick-film circuit.

3. In an electronic musical instrument having an electrical power supply, a voltage controlled oscillator for producing a sound signal having a frequency proportional to a control voltage applied to it, a keyboard having a plurality of keys, aplurality of switches, one for each of said keys, each adapted to be operated by depression of its associated key, and connecting means connected with said switches for connecting a control voltage to said oscillator which corresponds to the position ofthe key associated with an operated one of said switches, the combination comprising a reference voltage generator connected to said electrical power supply for producing a reference voltage, and means connecting said oscillator to said reference voltagegenerator, said reference voltage generator being adapted to produce a shift in the level of said reference voltage in response to a change in the level of voltage of said electrical power supply, said shift having a magnitude and direction tending tocompensate for said change in power supply voltage level, whereby said oscillator frequency is substantially independent of said change.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said reference voltage generator comprises an inverter having an input connected with said power supply.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said oscillator comprises an integrator for integrating a voltage derived from said voltage divider, a comparator connected to said integrator and operative to compare an output produced by saidintegrator with said reference voltage, and means connected with said comparator and operative upon a comparison of said integrator output and said reference voltage for resetting said integrator for a subsequent cycle of integration.

6. An electronic musical instrument having a voltage controlled oscillator for producing a sound signal having a frequency proportional to a control voltage applied to it, a keyboard having a plurality of keys, a plurality of switches, one foreach of said keys, each adapted to be operated by depression of its associated key, a voltage divider connected with said switches for connecting a control voltage to said oscillator which corresponds to the position of the key associated with anoperated one of said switches, said voltage divider comprising a plurality of resistance elements connected in series, each of said elements having resistance values which bear an exponential relation to the resistance values of adjacent connectedresistors such that the voltage at successive junctions of said resistance elements correspond to a geometric series, means for supplying a selected potential across said series circuit, whereby said control voltage is dependent both on which of saidswitches is operated and on the selected potential, and selector means for selecting one of a plurality of potentials for application to said series circuit.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said selector means comprises means for selecting one of a plurality of discrete voltage levels for application to said series circuit, said disc...

Electronic musical instrument with means for automatically generating chords and harmony
2010-02-05 00:00:00
or more keys, and one or more function control switches; certain ones of these signals are used to address a plurality of read only memory devices for the generation of the several components needed for the mode of operation which is selected. In an automatic chord mode, a chord is selected automatically, corresponding to an operated key of the keyboard. The chord components include the root, the third (which may be selectively minored), the fifth, the sixth and the seventh (which can be selected or not). The several chord components are mixed in a stair step network for one output signal, amd may selectively be produced individually for an arpeggio or a strum or both.ClaimsWhat is claimed is:

1. In an electronic musical instrument having a plurality of function selecting switches, a keyboard, tone signal generating means responsive to operation of the keyboardkeys, and an output system responsive to said tone signal generating means, the combination comprising: signal producing means responsive to the operation of one or more keys of said keyboard for producing a digitally coded signal indicative of aselected chord; said tone generating means including N separate tone signal generators, one for each note of an N note chord; first connector means for applying at least a selected portion of said coded signal to each of said tone signal generators,each of said tone signal generators producing an output tone signal, in response to the signal applied thereto, corresponding to a different note of said selected chord; and second connector means, connected to said function switches and to said outputsystem and responsive at least in part to said function switches, for selectively applying the output tone signals from said tone signal generators to said output system.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, including multiplex means comprising a plurality of single-pole switches associated with the keys of said keyboard, one pole of each of said switches being connected to one of a first set of conductors, thesecond pole of each of said switches being connected to one of a second set of conductors, said first set of conductors connecting in common the first terminal of all said switches associated with keys of the same note name, said second set of conductorsconnecting in common a second terminal of all of said switches associated with keys of the same octave group, means for repetitively scanning said first set of conductors at a first rate, means connected with said second set of conductors for scanningsaid second set of conductors at a second rate which permits the complete scan of all of said first set of conductors while each individual conductor of said second set is being scanned, and means for connecting said second set of conductors to a commonoutput terminal, whereby there is produced at said common output terminal a train of pulses corresponding to operated ones of said switches, occurring in time encoded position in accordance with the operated switches.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the scanning means for said first set of conductors incorporates counting means for manifesting a representation of the note name of the key being scanned at any instant, and means for connecting saidstorage means to said counting means, for storing a representation of said note name in response to a pulse received from one of a group of predetermined keys.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, including pulse adding means connected to said common output terminal, for adding pulses to said pulse train corresponding to unoperated keys which are related to the tone signals produced by said tone signalgenerators.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said signal producing means include means for producing a series of separate pulses, one for each operated key of a predetermined group of keys, means responsive to a first of said pulses for initiatinga window period, means responsive to another of said pulses for terminating said window period, and means for manifesting a window signal during said window period.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, including means responsive to said window signal and to one of said pulses occurring during said window period for producing a gating pulse, and means for connecting said gating pulse to said storage means,manifesting means for manifesting a representation of the note name of the key represented by said gating pulse and means for connecting said manifesting means to said storage means to cause said storage means to store said representation at the time ofsaid gating pulse.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, including means for identifying the first of said pulses occurring during a window period and for producing said gating pulse in response thereto.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6, including means for identifying every one of said pulses occurring during said window period and producing said gating pulse in response thereto, whereby said storage means is caused to store the representationof the key corresponding to the last pulse received within said window period.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, including manifesting means responsive to said signal producing means for manifesting a representation of the note name of an operated key of said keyboard, storage means connected to said manifesting means andto said signal generating means and operative to store the representation manifested by said manifesting means, means connecting all of said tone signal generators to said storage means, said tone signal generators being responsive to the output of saidstorage means for generating tone signals having frequencies bearing a predetermined relation to the note name representation stored in said storage means.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each of said generators comprises a programmable frequency synthesizer having a read only memory, addressing means for said read only memory, and a programmable divider connected to said read onlymemory, means for connecting said storage means to said addressing means for addressing a section of said read only memory corresponding to the representation stored in said storage means, said divider being programmed by signals produced by said readonly memory in accordance with signals supplied to said addressing means, and means fo...

© 2009 www.tcomic.net The music of the Music4Usounds very sweet.