US3809787A
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Tone generator system
Assignee: Nippon Gakki Co Ltd
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Filing: 1972-12-04
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Granted: 1974-05-07
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Expires: 1992-12-04
Abstract
Abstract For tone generators in an electronic musical instrument, there are provided a plurality of master oscillators, each for a different octave and each being coupled to frequency dividers having different frequency dividing ratios which ratios are respectively determined to divide down the frequency of the master oscillator to pitches of different notes in the intended octave. The different notes in an octave are obtained by frequency dividing the signal of the single master oscillator, and therefore the number of the master oscillators necessary for the instrument becomes very few. The same lettered notes in different octaves are obtained by frequency dividing the signals of the respectively different master oscillators and are independent in frequency and phase, and therefore there can be obtained much more of a sense of plural different tone sources.
Inventors
- 👤 Y Mochida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 03:51
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10H; G10H5/00; G10H5/02; G10H5/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A tone generator system for an electronic musical instrument, said system comprising a plurality of master oscillators, each master oscillator having an output frequency signal representative of a different octave; and a plurality of frequency dividers provided for each master oscillator to receive the output thereof, each frequency divider having a different frequency dividing ratio and respectively dividing a frequency of said each master oscillator down to pitches of different notes in said each octave.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
A tone generator system for an electronic musical instrument, said system comprising a plurality of master oscillators, each master oscillator having an output frequency signal representative of a different octave; and a plurality of frequency dividers provided for each master oscillator to receive the output thereof, each frequency divider having a different frequency dividing ratio and respectively dividing a frequency of said each master oscillator down to pitches of different notes in said each octave.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A tone generator sytem as set forth in claim 1 including one master oscillator for each octave, and wherein 12 frequency dividers are coupled to each master oscillator, the frequencies of each said master oscillator being different from each other by a ratio of 2:1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A tone generator system as set forth in claim 1 wherein one master oscillator is provided for each half octave, and wherein six frequency dividers are coupled to each master oscillator, the frequencies of each said master oscillator being different from each other by a ratio of 2:1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A tone generator system as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said frequency dividers have respective frequency dividing ratios of reciprocals of integers and comprises a plurality of cascade connected binary counters having outputs connected to an AND circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
140 words
A tone generator system for an electronic musical instrument, said system comprising a plurality of master oscillators and a plurality of groups of frequency dividers couped to individual oscillators; each divider having a different frequency dividing ratio d falling in a range of 2n > or = d > 2n ''which is the reciprocal of integers within an approximation error epsilon < or = 1/2d, where n is the number of stages of binary counters needed in said plurality of frequency dividers to satisfy the latter relationship, said plurality of master oscillators and plurality of groups of frequency dividers coupled thereto being provided for rendering notes constituting an octave, and a plurality of cascade connected half-frequency dividers coupled to each frequency divider for successively dividing the output frequencies of said frequency dividers into 1/2 for rendering notes constituting other octaves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
140 words
A tone generator system for an electronic musical instrument, said system comprising a plurality of master oscillators and a plurality of groups of frequency dividers couped to individual oscillators; each divider having a different frequency dividing ratio d falling in a range of 2n > or = d > 2n ''which is the reciprocal of integers within an approximation error epsilon < or = 1/2d, where n is the number of stages of binary counters needed in said plurality of frequency dividers to satisfy the latter relationship, said plurality of master oscillators and plurality of groups of frequency dividers coupled thereto being provided for rendering notes constituting an octave, and a plurality of cascade connected half-frequency dividers coupled to each frequency divider for successively dividing the output frequencies of said frequency dividers into 1/2 for rendering notes constituting other octaves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
A tone generator system as set forth in claim 5, wherein said master oscillators and groups of frequency dividers coupled thereto are provided for rendering notes constituting the highest octaves in the electronic musical instrument; said half-frequency dividers being provided for obtaining the remainder of the octaves in the electronic musical instrument, whereby the next highest octave is obtained by dividing any of the output frequencies of said frequency dividers by one half; and the subsequent octaves are obtained by dividing any of the other output frequencies by half-frequency dividers into one half.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
147 words
A tone generator system comprising a plurality of master oscillators and a frequency divider unit coupled to each master oscillator, each unit including a plurality of stages n of binary counters, each divider having a different frequency dividing ratio d falling in a range of 2n > or = d > 2n 1 which is the reciprocal of integers within an approximation error epsilon < or = 1/2d, where n is the number of stages of binary counters needed in said frequency divider unit to satisfy the latter relationship thereby dividing the oscillation frequency of said master oscillators by integers for rendering the notes within the octaves, a plurality of control circuit means each supplying a signal to a corresponding one of said master oscillators and a selecting circuit for selectively operating said control circuit means such that temperament characteristics of a variable nature can be obtained.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
147 words
A tone generator system comprising a plurality of master oscillators and a frequency divider unit coupled to each master oscillator, each unit including a plurality of stages n of binary counters, each divider having a different frequency dividing ratio d falling in a range of 2n > or = d > 2n 1 which is the reciprocal of integers within an approximation error epsilon < or = 1/2d, where n is the number of stages of binary counters needed in said frequency divider unit to satisfy the latter relationship thereby dividing the oscillation frequency of said master oscillators by integers for rendering the notes within the octaves, a plurality of control circuit means each supplying a signal to a corresponding one of said master oscillators and a selecting circuit for selectively operating said control circuit means such that temperament characteristics of a variable nature can be obtained.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
152 words
A tone generator system comprising a plurality of master oscillators and a plurality of frequency dividers coupled to each master oscillator, each divider having a frequency dividing ratio d falling in a range of 2n > or = d > 2n 1 which is the reciprocal of integers within an approximation error epsilon < or = 1/2d, where n is the number of stages of binary counters needed in said plurality of frequency dividers to satisfy the latter relationship whereby dividing the oscillation frequency of said master oscillators by integers for rendering the notes within the octaves, vibrato oscillators individually connected to individual master oscillators for supplying vibrato signals and having oscillation frequencies set at a suitable value for the scale range of the oscillation frequencies of said master oscillators, and a means for selectively controlling the application of said vibrato signals to said master oscillators for rendering the vibrato effect selectively.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
152 words
A tone generator system comprising a plurality of master oscillators and a plurality of frequency dividers coupled to each master oscillator, each divider having a frequency dividing ratio d falling in a range of 2n > or = d > 2n 1 which is the reciprocal of integers within an approximation error epsilon < or = 1/2d, where n is the number of stages of binary counters needed in said plurality of frequency dividers to satisfy the latter relationship whereby dividing the oscillation frequency of said master oscillators by integers for rendering the notes within the octaves, vibrato oscillators individually connected to individual master oscillators for supplying vibrato signals and having oscillation frequencies set at a suitable value for the scale range of the oscillation frequencies of said master oscillators, and a means for selectively controlling the application of said vibrato signals to said master oscillators for rendering the vibrato effect selectively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
139 words
A tone generator system comprising a plurality of master oscillators and a frequency divider unit coupled to each oscillator, each unit including a plurality of stages n of binary counters, each divider having a different frequency dividing ratio d falling in a range of 2n > or = d > 2n 1 whiCh is the reciprocal of integers within an approximation error epsilon < or = 1/2d, where n is the number of stages of binary counters needed in said frequency divider unit to satisfy the latter relationship thereby dividing the oscillation frequency of said master oscillators by integers for rendering the notes within the octaves, and a plurality of selecting means interconnected between said master oscillators scuh that said master oscillators are operated synchronously when the selecting means are closed and non-synchronously when the selecting means are opened.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
139 words
A tone generator system comprising a plurality of master oscillators and a frequency divider unit coupled to each oscillator, each unit including a plurality of stages n of binary counters, each divider having a different frequency dividing ratio d falling in a range of 2n > or = d > 2n 1 whiCh is the reciprocal of integers within an approximation error epsilon < or = 1/2d, where n is the number of stages of binary counters needed in said frequency divider unit to satisfy the latter relationship thereby dividing the oscillation frequency of said master oscillators by integers for rendering the notes within the octaves, and a plurality of selecting means interconnected between said master oscillators scuh that said master oscillators are operated synchronously when the selecting means are closed and non-synchronously when the selecting means are opened.
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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) | 1977-05-06 | 1977-11-05 | 1978-05-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-06 | 1981-11-05 | 1982-05-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-06 | 1985-11-05 | 1986-05-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |