US3552256A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Teaching device for musical instruments
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-10-28
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Granted: 1971-01-05
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Expires: 1988-10-28
Abstract
Abstract A teaching device primarily intended for keyboard instruments having a plurality of lamps arranged in a row above the keyboard, each lamp corresponding to a particular key. Beside each lamp is a switch, which is actuated when the key is depressed. A lesson (consisting of a piece of music to be played) is recorded on paper tape, and indicia recorded on the tape is read by a tape reader mechanism and is used for controlling the illumination of the lamps. At the start of a lesson, certain lamps are illuminated, indicating certain notes to be played, and when these notes have been played correctly the lamps are briefly extinguished, and the tape reader mechanism automatically is advanced to its next position whereupon a new sequence of lamps is illuminated.
Inventors
- 👤 Randolph Spencer Soanes
- 👤 John D Fourdraine
- 👤 Egon S Manthey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:50
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B15/00; G10; G10G; G10G3/00; G10G3/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
Apparatus for teaching a student to play a musical instrument comprising: a. program means for sequentially scanning selected portions of stored data and for producing electrical signals which characterize each selected portion of said stored data, said stored data being arranged in groups in sequential order and said data groups being representative of groups of notes to be played sequentially on said instrument, said program means including an advance mechanism for moving said stored data stepwise past a scanning position, said advance mechanism being controllable by control signals, said advance mechanism being operable, upon receipt of one of said control signals, to move said stored data through a predetermined incremental distance equal to the separation of said groups of stored data and then to stop further travel of said stored data pending receipt of another of said control signals, said program means being operable to scan in stepwise fashion successive groups of stored date in response to successively applied control signals; b. means for sensing the notes which have been played; c. means connected to said sensing means for generating a control signal immediately after a predetermined group of notes has correctly been played, whereby said program means is caused to automatically shift from one group of said stored data to the next succeeding group; and d. display means coupled to said program means for visually identifying each note of said predetermined group.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
Apparatus for teaching a student to play a musical instrument comprising: a. program means for sequentially scanning selected portions of stored data and for producing electrical signals which characterize each selected portion of said stored data, said stored data being arranged in groups in sequential order and said data groups being representative of groups of notes to be played sequentially on said instrument, said program means including an advance mechanism for moving said stored data stepwise past a scanning position, said advance mechanism being controllable by control signals, said advance mechanism being operable, upon receipt of one of said control signals, to move said stored data through a predetermined incremental distance equal to the separation of said groups of stored data and then to stop further travel of said stored data pending receipt of another of said control signals, said program means being operable to scan in stepwise fashion successive groups of stored date in response to successively applied control signals; b. means for sensing the notes which have been played; c. means connected to said sensing means for generating a control signal immediately after a predetermined group of notes has correctly been played, whereby said program means is caused to automatically shift from one group of said stored data to the next succeeding group; and d. display means coupled to said program means for visually identifying each note of said predetermined group.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said instrument has a keyboard containing a pluraliTy of individually operable keys, wherein said display means includes a plurality of lamps with one lamp for each of said keys, said lamps remaining illuminated until each group of notes has correctly been played, and wherein said display means is responsive to said first set of electrical signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said instrument has a keyboard containing a plurality of individually operable keys, wherein said display means includes a plurality of lamps with one lamp for each of said keys, and wherein said lamps remain extinguished until each group of notes has correctly been played.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein means is provided for varying the time between the initiation of a control signal and the start of the immediately following scan of said program means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
91 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said program means includes a tape reader, wherein said data is in the form of holes punched in the tape, wherein said sensing means includes a plurality of switches operated by said keys with one of said switches for each key, and wherein said control signal generating means includes a bistable multivibrator having set and reset inputs, said program means including first circuit means connected to the set input of the multivibrator for producing a pulse upon each successive shift of said program means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said control signal-generating means further includes a plurality of diodes respectively connected at one end to the switches of said sensing means, the opposite ends of said diodes being connected together and connected to the input of an inverting amplifier, and second circuit means connecting the switches of said sensing means with the program means for producing an input signal fed to said inverting amplifier when each said predetermined group of notes has correctly been played.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2814230A
Cited
US3379087A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-04 | 1974-07-06 | 1975-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-04 | 1978-07-06 | 1979-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-04 | 1982-07-06 | 1983-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |