US3688009A - Musical device for automatically producing tone patterns - Google Patents

Musical device for automatically producing tone patterns Download PDF

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US3688009A
US3688009A US89363A US3688009DA US3688009A US 3688009 A US3688009 A US 3688009A US 89363 A US89363 A US 89363A US 3688009D A US3688009D A US 3688009DA US 3688009 A US3688009 A US 3688009A
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tone
frequency
voltage
signals
musical
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William Wangard
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Seeburg Corp
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Seeburg Corp
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
    • G10H1/00—Details of electrophonic musical instruments
    • G10H1/36—Accompaniment arrangements
    • G10H1/38—Chord
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S84/00—Music
    • Y10S84/08—Keyed oscillators

Definitions

  • References C'ted means with multiple frequency controlling means con- UNITED STATES PATENTS nected to one or more oscillators is provided to vary the tone patterns which are dependent on selection by 3,255,292 6/ 1966 Park ..84/ 1.03 an instrumentalist
  • the tone Signal means feeds an 3,358,068 12/1967 Campbell ..84/ 1.03 X audio circuit for producing the musical tones 3,567,838 3/1971
  • rhythm accompaniment devices adapted to produce various rhythms.
  • Some rhythm accompaniment devices are provided with an arrangement by which the beat of the device will be altered to conform to the beat of an instrumentalist playing on an associated primary instrument such as an electronic organ.
  • Rhythm accompaniment devices have been quite successful in the market place and have provided an added dimension to the playing of music.
  • an instrumentalist can play the melody and the device will provide a rhythm accompaniment so that the end effect will be that of a full band.
  • rhythm accompaniment devices play an important part in the modern musical world, their use has been restricted to the production of rhythms by actuation of circuits that simulate percussion instrument sounds.
  • the device plays on its own, essentially independent of what the instrumentalist is doing. Normally, the instrumentalist will condition his beat to coincide with that of the rhythm accompaniment device, but in some cases the beat of the rhythm accompaniment device can be modified to follow the beat of the instrumentalist.
  • the only change in the musical output of the device is the beat or speed of the music since there is no change in the basic sound of the music.
  • a device which provides tonal accompaniment patterns automatically once the tonic note is selected by the instrumentalist.
  • the specific device includes a switching network actuated by electronically produced pulse patterns and by pedal switches actuated by the instrumentalist.
  • the switching network involves a plurality of pedal gate circuits with each circuit having a plurality of individual pedal gates equal to the number of semitones in a musical octave.
  • the switching network also includes a plurality of audio gates actuated by pulses from the pedal gates to pass tone generator signals to an output audio circuit.
  • each pedal gage comprises 13 electronic switches and there are nine pedal gates involved. 117 electronic switches are required, necessitating the usage of well over 200 diodes. In addition, a plurality of audio gates are connected in the switching network. Therefore, improvements in the switching network are desirable to lower the complexity and cost of the device.
  • the present invention is'directed to the production of tonal accompaniment arrangements by providing a wholly automatic pattern of notes by a device in which a pattern of electronically produced pulses serves to actuate a tone signal means.
  • the tone signal means includes one or more frequency generators or other tone signal generating means and multiple voltage and circuit means as a multiple conditioning means to vary the frequencies to obtain time-separated tone signal output of the frequency generators.
  • Each of a plurality of pedals or other switch means operated by an instrumentalist is connected to the tone signal means to determine the tonic note and to provide time-separated tone signals capable of controlling the production of a musical tone pattern.
  • the tone signal means feeds an audio means through an interrelating means to produce the desired tonal arrangement or pattern.
  • the driving portion of the system includes a pulse generating circuit and a pattern switching arrangement.
  • pulse generating circuits could be utilized, of course, but in this case spatially separated driving pulses are obtained by making use of signals obtained from the logic circuitry of a rhythm accompaniment device utilized in association with the present invention.
  • the signals from the rhythm accompaniment device are passed through a logic circuit which provides positive going pulses for the pattern switch.
  • five separate patterns may be chosen by use of the pattern switch. Of course, the number of patterns supplied could be increased if desired. Actuation of a particular pattern switch con- 'nects the terminals to which the driving pulses are applied to corresponding control points. Each of the control points is associated with the tone signal means which comprises tone signal generator means, and multiple conditioning means cause the generator means to produce the pattern of tone signals as an output.
  • the pulses actuate a plurality of tone signal generator means such as oscillators which are set by associated circuitry and voltages to generate different frequencies to produce the desired pattern of tone signals which operate the audio means for production of the tone pattern.
  • the pulses actuate multiple voltage means for a single tone signal generator to provide a pattern of different voltages in a pattern which determines the tone signals fed to the audio means.
  • the tone signal means as disclosed herein operates without a switching network having pedal gates, audio gates and complicated diode circuitry.
  • the voltages fed to the tone signal generator means are determined by the particular pedal selected by the instrumentalist.
  • Each pedal is also associated with a tonic note to determine the initial note in the predetermined pattern of tones.
  • the tonic note may not be actually included in the musical pattern, although it does determine the notes that are played.
  • the voltages fed to each generator can be the same or different with respect to a particular pedal. If the voltages are the same, the circuitry in the conditioning means associated with the generator means will differ. If the voltages differ, the circuitry can be the same or different.
  • the multiple conditioning means is a source of multiple voltages which are fed in a time-separated pattern to the tone generator to produce the pattern of tone signals.
  • audio means include amplifying and tone producing means. While, audio means can include a plurality of separate amplifying means with switching means to determine the particular amplifier, the preferred embodiments of this invention often require only a single amplifying means and tone producing means.
  • tonal arrangement described herein could be utilized with any type of tonal accompaniment, but in these embodiments it is primarily related to a string bass accompaniment.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a device which produces the desired pattern of musical tones without complicated diode switching networks.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a device which produces the desired pattern of musical tones with a tone signal means directly actuated by electronically produced pulses.
  • FIGS. 1-5 are schematic circuit diagrams of one preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 6-8 are schematic circuit diagrams of a second preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 1-5 it can be seen that the preferred embodiment incorporates a driving means including a generating means 11 (FIG. 1) and a pattern switching means 13 (FIG. 2).
  • Generating means 11 actually has two functions: a logic analysis function and amplifying function.
  • diodes l5, l7, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, and 45 which serve as blocking diodes for positive pulses.
  • Transistors 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 59 and 61 are normally saturated and are cut off by a negative pulse entering for example on base 63 of transistor 47. This causes a positive signal to be transmitted through diode 65 and resistor 67 to emitter follower 69.
  • Capacitor 71 and resistors 67 and 73 serve to increase the duration of the pulse.
  • Diode 75 serves to isolate outputs of the various emitter followers when connected together.
  • the signals applied to the logic could be obtained from any convenient source, however in this particular embodiment they are derived from a rhythm accompaniment device 12 (illustrated as a box in FIG. 1) utilized in connection with the subject invention.
  • the particular circuit in FIG. 1 utilizes negative logic signals produced from the rhythm accompaniment device 12. These signals are inverted by generating means 1 1 whose outputs are positive.
  • the circuits associated with transistors 91 and 93 provide a means for controlling the sustain time of the tone signal produced by the tone generating means.
  • the pulses produced by emitter followers 69, 77. 79. 81, 83, 85, 87 and 89 are connected through switching means as explained below to keying circuits which include sustain capacitors.
  • emitter follower 69 is connected to keying input 109 in FIG. 3.
  • the pulse produced by emitter follower 69 charges sustain capacitor 160. This is followed by the firing of emitter follower 77.
  • transistor 77 tires, current is drawn through resistor 97 and causes capacitor 99 to couple a negative pulse to transistor 91 which is normally held in saturation by resistor 95.
  • transistor 91 When transistor 91 turns off, transistor 93 saturates momentarily which provides a discharge path for sustain capacitor 160 through resistor 155 and diode 163. This action prevents two tones from sounding simultaneously at fast tempos which, because of the low frequencies involved, would produce a very undesirable burbling effect.
  • This circuit also allows the sustain length to be very long so that at slow tempos, a very sustained, natural sound is heard.
  • Pattern switching means 13 has five separate patterns, each of which includes eight normally open switches 100. Eight switches are utilized in each of the pattern switching arrangements in this embodiment to correspond to the eight pulse outputs of the driving circuit, which correspond to the eight quarter notes of two measures of 4/4 time utilized in this preferred embodiment. The invention is not, of course, limited to the use of this particular meter nor to only two measures.
  • the five patterns that may be selected have been designated U, V, W, X and Y.
  • Selection of a particular pattern causes the associated switches 100 to connect terminals 101-108 to a series of control points designated by numerals 0-8.
  • a control point designated by 0 is merely an open circ'uit connection.
  • Each of the control points 1-8 is connected to a corresponding one of the keying inputs 1-8 illustrated in FIG. 3.
  • Various keying inputs 1-8 are identified by numerals 109-117.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a tone signal means adapted to provide time-separated tone signals capable of controlling the production of a musical tone pattern in which each tone is different from but related to each of the other tones in the pattern.
  • the tone signal means comprises a tone signal generator means as illustrated by unijunction transistors 119-127 and means for conditioning the generator means as illustrated by voltage means 118 and circuitry associated with each of unijunctions 1 19-127.
  • timing resistors 129 and 131 and timing capacitor 133 For illustration purposes a circuit associated with unijunction 119 will be described.
  • the voltage from source 118 is applied through timing resistors 129 and 131 and timing capacitor 133 to the anode 132 of unijunction 119.
  • a reference voltage 134 from source 224 (FIG. 4) is applied to the gate 137 of unijunction 119 through programming resistors 136 and 136.
  • the relation between the voltage on anode 132 and gate 137 determines the firing point of unijunction l 19.
  • the values of timing resistors 129, 131 and timing capacitor 133 determine the time required for the voltage on the anode 132 to reach the firing point and thus determine the frequency of oscillation.
  • Flip-flop 145 serves to isolate and stabilize the frequency of the signal generated by unijunction 119. Flip-flop 145 flips each time unijunction 119 fires, thus creating a square wave output having a frequency one-half the frequency of firing of unijunction 1 19.
  • the signal from flip-flop 145 is gated on by diodes 147 and 149 only when a positive pulse appears at terminal 109.
  • Resistor 151 serves to limit leakage of high frequency components of the signal and capacitor 160 .serves to sustain the signal.
  • Resistors 157 and 159 are keying resistors.
  • Resistor 168 is a loading resistor to prevent cross keying.
  • resistor and diode 163 serve to provide a discharge path for capacitor through transistor 93 when a second circuit is keyed.
  • the signal is fed to a voicing network represented by capacitor 165, coil 167 and resistor 169. The output of this circuit is fed to an audio means illustrated in FIG. 5 through line 510.
  • instrumentalist operated selection means 239 which operates to condition the voltage means 1 18 illustrated in FIG. 3.
  • the instrumentalist operated selection means 239 is comprised of resistors 184-197, switching circuits 227-237 and emitter follower transistor 223.
  • pedal switch 171 When pedal switch 171 is closed, a positive voltage is applied to the base 221 of transistor 218. This cause transistor 218 to saturate and effectively grounds the junction of resistors 185 and 186 establishing a potential on the base of transistor 223 which in turn establishes a potential on the emitter of transistor 223 which is effectively the voltage on the base of transistor 223 minus the base to emitter voltage drop. Emitter of transistor 223 leads to voltage means 118.
  • Diode 222 serves to compensate for the base-emitter drop in transistor 223.
  • Capacitor 199 in the base circuitry of transistor 218 serves to hold transistor 218 into saturation for a short time after the pedal key switch 171 is opened. It should also be noted that as long as transistor 218 is saturated the similar switching circuitry associated with blocks 227-237 is inoperative.
  • transistors 205, 206 and 207 Detection of the key on condition is accomplished by transistors 205, 206 and 207 and associated circuitry. This operates as follows: when pedal key switch 171 is closed, capacitor 199 charges from a source connected to point 500 through resistors 700 and 701 thus saturating transistor 205. Placing transistor 205 in a conducting state causes a positive voltage to appear on the base 211 of transistor 206 causing transistor 206 to conduct to supply a positive keying supply voltage from emitter 213 to the base of transistor 207 which causes transistor 207 to conduct.
  • transistor 207 offers a conduction path from the supply voltage on point 500 through diode 201 and resistor 203 to ground, sufficient current is continually drawn through resistors 7 00 and 701 to maintain transistor 205 to maintain it in conduction after capacitor 199 reaches full charge. Therefore, transistor 207 is held in a conducting state as long as switch 171 (or any other applicable pedal switch 172-183) is held closed.
  • An alternative selection means useful in this embodiment is a ladder" switch arrangement which would selectively tap the voltage from a voltage dividing network.
  • FIG. 3 provides a reference voltage to the various transistors 119-127 which may be adjusted with the associated circuits (as illustrated by resistors 129 and 131 and capacitor 133) that causes each of the unijunction transistor circuits to oscillate at a predetermined frequency different from that of each of the other circuits in order to provide a plurality of frequencies corresponding to tone signals which are selectively keyed by the inputs from the pattern switching means 13 to provide time-separated tone signals through line 510 to the audio means illustrated in FIG. 5.
  • FIG. represents a standard preamplifier which amplifies and feeds the signal through line 512 to additional amplifying means and speaker means (not shown).
  • the pre-amplifier illustrated in FIG. 5 is essentially a conventional pre-amplifier. Bias for the pre-amplifier is obtained from terminal 241 and conveyed to the collectors of transistors 242 and 243. The collector 249 of transistor 242 is biased through resistor 244, while the base 245 is biased through resistors 246 and 247.
  • the input signal is connected to the base of transistor 242 through a capacitor 248, and the output on the collector 249 of transistor 245 is fed to terminal 241 through capacitor 250 for high frequency roll off and through capacitor 250 to base 251 of transistor 243 which is connected to ground through a resistor 252.
  • the emitter of transistor 242 and the emitter of transistor 243 which is connected in an emitter follower configuration, are connected to ground through resistors 253 and 254 respectively.
  • the output obtained from the emitter of transistor 243 is conveyed to the audio circuitry 800 through a capacitor 255 Resistors 252 and resistor 256 serves to bias base 251 of transistor 243.
  • FIGS. 6-8 represent a second preferred embodiment which incorporates a driving means similar to that described in FIG. 1, a multiple conditioning means, a single tone generating means, instrumentalist selection means, audio means and an interrelating means to produce the desired time-separated tones.
  • the instrumentalist operated selection means 327 illustrated in FIG. 6 is essentially identical to the selection means 239 described in FIG. 4.
  • the output 347 of the pedal key switch 327 is fed to a voltage multiplex switch means 329, which is comprised of voltage dividing resistors 356-364 and field effect transistor switches 365, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377 and 378.
  • the voltage multiplex means 329 serves to increase the total number of different available voltages.
  • the inputs to voltage multiplex switch means 329 are positive pulses whose sequence is determined by pattern switch 401 as described below.
  • transistor 365 For illustration purposes, the circuitry for transistor 365 will be described. Normally, a negative bias voltage of about 5 volts is applied through resistor 380 and diode 368 to the gate terminal 366 of transistor 365. This bias prevents transistor 365 from conducting. When a positive voltage pulse is applied to terminal 367 from switch 401, the net voltage at the junction of resistors 379 and 380 is positive. This causes diode 368 to be reverse biased and cease conduction. The potential pedal output bus 347 is then applied through resistor 381 to gate 366 of transistor 365 which turns the transistor on and applies the potential appearing at terminal 347 to terminal 370. It can be seen that when transistor 371 turns on the voltage output on terminal 370 is reduced from that applied through transistor 365 because of resistor 356.
  • the voltage on terminal 370 is connected to the voltage controlled oscillator 382 through a high impedance isolating circuit illustrated by transistor 479, resistor 481 and capacitor 480.
  • the output of the high impedance isolating circuit is passed to the voltage controlled oscillator 382 illustrated by resistors 383 and 384, capacitor 385, unijunction transistor 386, programming resistor 387 and 388 and resistor 389.
  • the operation of the voltage controlled oscillator 382 is similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3 and described in connection with unijunction 119. Since the voltage ap pean'ng on resistor 383 controls the frequency of the oscillator 382, the particular voltages fed by voltage multiplexing switch 329 will determine the operating frequency of the oscillator.
  • Flip-flop 390 serves to isolate and stabilize oscillator 382.
  • Diodes 391 and 392 are keying diodes which serve to block the positive going excursions of flip-flop 390.
  • Resistor 393 serves to shunt high frequency leakage caused by the shunt capacitance of diodes 290 and 391.
  • Keying voltage is inserted on terminal 399 to charge capacitor 412 and turn on diodes 391 and 392 through resistor 411.
  • the keying voltage is modulated by the output of flip-flop 390.
  • the tone signal is passed through resistor 394, capacitor 395 and inductor 396 to preamp means 397.
  • Capacitor 398 serves as a filter capacitor.
  • the output from preamp 397 is passed to an amplifying and sound producing means.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a pulse generator 400 and keying circuit 402 while FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a pattern selecting switch 401.
  • Pulse generator 400 is comprised of eight three-input AND gates. The inputs 420 to these gates are fed from the counter of rhythm accompaniment device 12.
  • AND circuit 403 serves to illustrate the operation. The output from AND circuit 403 is positive only when all three of its inputs are positive. When this occurs the positive output is fed to switch 401 through contacts 501-508.
  • Switch 401 is identical with the switching means illustrated in FIG. 2 except that the connections given by 0 are connected to a common keying inhibit bus 404 (FIG. 7).
  • the positive output from AND circuit 403 is connected to the appropriate input of the voltage multiplexing switch 329 through selector switch 401.
  • the keying circuit 402 is illustrated by resistor 416, capacitor 417, transistors 405, 406, 407 and 408 and diode 410.
  • the chain of transistors 405408 act to produce a positive pulse on emitter terminal 413 which is applied to diode 410 and is connected to keying input 399 in FIG. 6.
  • the purpose of this circuit is to gate the output of flip-flop 390 to the preamplifier circuitry 397 each time an AND gate switches state.
  • the operation of transistor 414 is to inhibit the keying operation of transistor 408 when the pattern from switch 401 does not produce an output (the pattern selected by switch 401 has a musical rest).
  • FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the present invention.
  • Driving means 850 includes generating means 11 and pattern switching means 13 previously described.
  • Selection means 852 includes the circuitry associated with switches 171-183 previously described.
  • Reference signal means 854 includes the circuitry associated with transistor 223 which provides a reference voltage at 118.
  • the tone generating means 856 includes the circuitryassociated withunijunction transistors 119-127 previously described.
  • Audio means 860 includes the circuitry associated with transistors 242 and 243 and audio circuitry 800 previously described.
  • tone generating means 856 includes multiplex switch means 329 and voltage controlled oscillator 382 as previously described.
  • the device operates with a tone signal means adapted to provide time-separated tone signals capable of controlling the production of the musical tone pattern in which each tone is different from but related to each of the other tones in the pattern.
  • the tone signal means utilizes tone signal generator means and multiple conditioning means electrically connected to the generator means to provide for the production of the timeseparated tone signals.
  • the device also operates with instrumentalist operated selection means adapted upon operation to actuate the multiple conditioning means, audio means to produce the musical tones in the desired pattern, interrelating means adapted to cause the tone signals to control production of the musical-tone pattern by the audio means, and driving means for actuating the tone signal means at predetermined times to provide the desired pattern of tone signals.
  • a device for producing musical tone patterns based on an instrumentalist selected tonic note comprising:
  • reference signal means for providing a plurality of reference signals having a distinctive voltage magnitude, each of said distinctive voltage magnitudes representing a corresponding tonic note and a related group of notes having a predetermined interval relationship;
  • instrumentalist operated selection means connected to the reference signal means adapted upon operation to activate said reference signal means to provide a selected reference signal
  • driving means for producing selectable patterns of driving signals, each of said driving signals representing a note in the group of musical notes related to the selected tonic note;
  • tone signal generating means connected to the reference signal means adapted to produce a plurality of tone signals at the times predetermined by said driving means in response to receipt of said driving signals and the selected reference signal,
  • each of said tone signals having a frequency cor-' responding to the frequency of one musical note of the group of musical notes related to the selected tonic note, the pattern of production of said tone signals and hence the corresponding musical notes being dependent upon said driving signal; audio means adapted to receive said tone signals and convert said tone signals into audible musical notes, each of said musical notes being determined by the frequency of the corresponding tone signal.
  • said reference signal means comprises a voltage divider providing a plurality of selectable output referencevoltages, each of said reference voltages corresponding to a group of musical notes based on the related tonic note.
  • said selection means comprises a plurality of switches, each of which represents a different tonic note actuable by an instrumentalist to select a reference voltage on said voltage divider.
  • a device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said plurality of switches comprises a plurality of foot operated pedal switches.
  • said driving means comprises a pattern switching arrangement adapted upon instrumentalist selection to transmit said driving signals to said tone signal generating means in a predetermined pattern.
  • said tone signal generator means comprises cut-off means to terminate tone signals to prevent overlapping of tone signals of different frequencies.
  • a device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said audio means comprises amplifying means and sound producing means.
  • said tone signal generating means comprises a plurality of variable frequency generators, each of said variable frequency generators representing a note in said predetermined musical scale;
  • each of said driving signals is conveyed to a corresponding one of said variable frequency generators which is conditioned to generate a tone signal upon receipt of that driving signal, the frequency of the generated tone signal being dependent upon the selected reference voltage.
  • each of said variable frequency generators comprises:
  • a flip-flop circuit actuated by each output pulse of said relaxation oscillator circuit to produce a square wave output voltage having a frequency corresponding to one-half the frequency of the output pulses of said unijunction transistor relaxation oscillator circuit.
  • said tone signal generating means comprises:
  • each of said multiplex switch means representing a note in said related group of notes and having corresponding ones of said driving signals applied thereto, application of a driving signal to a multiplex switch means causing said variable frequency generator to generate a tone signal, the frequency of said tone signal being dependent upon the selected reference voltage and which of said multiplex switch means causes said variable frequency generator to generate said tone signal.
  • variable frequency generator comprises:
  • a flip-flop circuit actuated by each output pulse of a plurality of unijunction transistor relaxation oscillator circuits connected to said reference circuit which produce output pulses at a frequency determined by the selected reference voltage received from said reference circuit, and a plurality of flip-flop circuits, each of said flipflop circuits being operably connected to one of said relaxation oscillator circuits so that said flip-flop circuits are actuated by each output pulse of said relaxation oscillator circuit to produce a square wave output voltage having a frequency corresponding to one-half the frequency of the output pulses of said relaxation oscillator circuit, each of said relaxation oscillator circuits having a set frequency interval relationship to each other so that said reference voltage causes one of said relaxation oscillator circuits to produce pulses corresponding to the frequency of the selected tonic note and each of said other relaxation oscillator circuits to produce pulses corresponding to individual musical notes of frequencies in accordance with the frequency interval relationship;
  • each of said tone frequency generators being consaid voltage multiplex switch means comprises a field 20 effect transistor switching circuit.
  • a device for producing selected musical tone patterns within a selected musical scale comprising:
  • audio means for producing an audible musical tone corresponding to notes of the selected musical scale in response to receipt of corresponding tone signals
  • a device for producing musical tone patterns based on an instrumentalist selected tonic note comprising:
  • said voltage divider comprising a reference circuit, plurality of resistors in series with said reference circuit, and a plurality of switching circuits connected in parallel between said resistors, so that said reference circuit will provide a plurality of reference voltages in response to actuation of one of said switching circuits, each of said reference voltages representing a selected tonic note;
  • each of said selection switches corresponding to a tonic note and each of said switches connected to one of said switching circuits so that actuation of said switches a plurality of selection switches, each of said selecactuates Said Switching circuits;
  • tion Switches Corresponding to a tonic note and pulse generating means for producing a plurality of each of said switches connected to one of said d i i i l at d t i d ti switching circuits so that actuation of said switches pattern i hi means h i a plurality f t ut aCIl-lateS Said Switching Circuits; terminals for receiving said driving signals and Pulse generating means for Producing a plurality of transmitting said driving signals to said output terdriving signals at predetermined times; minals in a predetermined pattern; pattern switching means having a plurality of output a tone frequency generator comprising:
  • tone frequency generators comprising:
  • each of said multiplex switch means being connected to one of said output terminals of said pattern switching means so that receipt of said driving signals causes each of said multiplex switch means to produce a keying voltageQsaid keying voltage having a magnitude depending upon the magnitude of the reference voltage and depending upon which of said multiplex switch means produces said keying voltage;
  • a unijunction transistor relaxation oscillator circuit connected to said multiplex switch means which produces output pulses at a frequency determined by the magnitude of the keying voltage
  • a flip-flop circuit operably connected to said relaxation oscillator circuit so that said flip-flop circuit is actuated by each output pulse of said relaxation oscillator circuit to produce a square wave output voltage having a frequency corresponding to one-half the frequency of the output pulses of said relaxation oscillator circuit;
  • each of said multiplex switch means being interrelated so that each of said multiplex switch audio means adapted to receive the square wave output voltage and convert the square wave output voltage to audible musical notes having a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the square wave output voltage.

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  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
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US3795755A (en) * 1971-06-24 1974-03-05 Nippon Musical Instruments Mfg Automatic accompaniment device of an electronic musical instrument
US4072078A (en) * 1976-04-19 1978-02-07 C.G. Conn, Ltd. System for automatically producing tone patterns
DE2821759A1 (de) * 1977-05-18 1978-11-30 Cbs Inc Pedal-tongenerator
US4292874A (en) * 1979-05-18 1981-10-06 Baldwin Piano & Organ Company Automatic control apparatus for chords and sequences
US7518053B1 (en) * 2005-09-01 2009-04-14 Texas Instruments Incorporated Beat matching for portable audio

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US3562395A (en) * 1969-07-02 1971-02-09 Richard H Peterson Monophonic musical tone system with single keyed oscillator, pedal clavier, and percussion arrangement
US3567838A (en) * 1969-11-12 1971-03-02 Hammond Corp Musical instrument rhythm system having provision for introducing automatically selected chord components

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US3180918A (en) * 1961-01-26 1965-04-27 Conn Ltd C G Tone generator system
US3255292A (en) * 1964-06-26 1966-06-07 Seeburg Corp Automatic repetitive rhythm instrument timing circuitry
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US3546355A (en) * 1968-06-24 1970-12-08 Motorola Inc Automatic tone generating system for an electronic organ
US3548066A (en) * 1968-07-29 1970-12-15 Alfred B Freeman Plural mode automatic bass note system for musical chords with automatic rhythm device
US3562395A (en) * 1969-07-02 1971-02-09 Richard H Peterson Monophonic musical tone system with single keyed oscillator, pedal clavier, and percussion arrangement
US3567838A (en) * 1969-11-12 1971-03-02 Hammond Corp Musical instrument rhythm system having provision for introducing automatically selected chord components

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3795755A (en) * 1971-06-24 1974-03-05 Nippon Musical Instruments Mfg Automatic accompaniment device of an electronic musical instrument
US4072078A (en) * 1976-04-19 1978-02-07 C.G. Conn, Ltd. System for automatically producing tone patterns
DE2821759A1 (de) * 1977-05-18 1978-11-30 Cbs Inc Pedal-tongenerator
US4292874A (en) * 1979-05-18 1981-10-06 Baldwin Piano & Organ Company Automatic control apparatus for chords and sequences
US7518053B1 (en) * 2005-09-01 2009-04-14 Texas Instruments Incorporated Beat matching for portable audio
US20100251877A1 (en) * 2005-09-01 2010-10-07 Texas Instruments Incorporated Beat Matching for Portable Audio

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
BE775285A (fr) 1972-03-01
GB1365716A (en) 1974-09-04
DE2156279A1 (de) 1972-05-18
NL7115506A (fr) 1972-05-16
CA944594A (en) 1974-04-02

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