Electronic organ employing multiple waveform tone generators and chiff generators

Claim 2

In an electronic musical instrument for obtaining complex waveforms comprising in combination: a frequency source supplying pulses continuously at a given rate; means for modifying the waveshapes of said pulses so that each waveshape thereof has a plurality of selected harmonics; key switching means connected to said waveshape modifying means for selectively rendering said waveshape modifying means operative; filter means responsive to the output of said waveshape modifying means for adjusting the amplitudes of said harmonics to conform to the timbre of a given musical tone; means responsive to said key switching means for imparting a controlled change in selected harmonics of said waveshape modifying means for the purpose of giving a starting transient to said musical tone; and signal translating means responsive to the output of said filter means to produce an audible musical tone.

Claim 3

A waveshape generating circuit as defined in claim 1 wherein: said continuously generated pulses comprise rectangular pulses and said waveshape modifying means comprises a rectangular-to-sawtooth wave converter.

Claim 4

In an electronic musical instrument for obtaining complex waveforms comprising in combination; a frequency source supplying pulses continuously at a given rate; means for modifying the waveshapes of said pulses so that each waveshape thereof has a plurality of selected harmonics; key switching means connected to said waveshape modifying means for selectively rendering said waveshape modifying means operative; filter means responsive to the output of said waveshape modifying means for adjusting the amplitudes of said harmonics to conform to the timbre of a given musical tone; means responsive to said key switching means for imparting a controlled starting transient to the output of said filter means; signal translating means responsive to the output of said filter means to produce an audible musical tone; and said continuously generated pulses comprise rectangular pulses and said waveshape generating means comprises a rectangular-to-sawtooth wave converter.

Claim 5

In an electronic musical instrument for obtaining complex waveforms comprising in combination; a frequency source supplying pulses continuously at a given rate; means for modifying the waveshapes of said pulses so that each waveshape thereof has a plurality of selected harmonics; key switching means connected to said waveshape modifying means for selectively rendering said waveshape modifying means operative; filter means responsive to the output of said waveshape modifying means for adjusting the amplitudes of said harmonics to conform to the timbre of a given musical tone; means responsive to said key switching means for imparting a controlled starting transient to the output of said filter means; signal translating means responsive to the output of said filter means to produce an audible musical tone; and said continuously generated pulses comprise rectangular pulses and said waveshape generating means comprises a rectangular-to-sawtooth wave converter.

Claim 6

An electronic musical instrument comprising: a plurality of continuously operated pulse signal sources providing individual driving signals at repetition rates corresponding to the semitone intervals of an octave of the tempered musical scale; a plurality of waveshape modifying means each of which is connected to a corresponding one of said pulse signal sources for producing a corresponding complex tone signal, having multiple harmonics, the pitch of which is that of a corresponding note of the musical scale; a plurality of key switching means for selectively rendering corresponding ones of said waveshape modifying means operative; a plurality of first filter means, each being connected to a corresponding one of said waveshape modifying means, for adjusting the amplitudes of the harmonics of said complex tone signals obtained therefrom to provide an output that conforms to the timbre of corresponding musical tones; a plurality of means responsive to actuation of a corresponding one of said key switching means for coupling a portion of the output of one of said waveshape modifying means to an input of another of said waveshape modifying means which has been made operative, for a controlled transient interval, and thereby impart a chiff pulse to the starting envelope of the complex tone signal from said other waveshape modifying means; and signal translating means responsive to the combined output of said plurality of first filTer means for producing audible signals.

Claim 7

An electronic musical instrument comprising: a plurality of continuously operated pulse signal sources providing individual driving signals at repetition rates corresponding to the semitone intervals of an octave of the tempered musical scale; a plurality of waveshape modifying means each of which is connected to a corresponding one of said pulse signal sources for producing a corresponding complex tone signal, having multiple harmonics, the pitch of which is that of a corresponding note of the musical scale; a plurality of key switching means for selectively rendering corresponding ones of said waveshape modifying means operative; a plurality of first filter means, each being connected to a corresponding one of said waveshape modifying means, for adjusting the amplitudes of the harmonics of said complex tone signals obtained therefrom to provide an output that conforms to the timbre of corresponding musical tones; a plurality of means responsive to actuation of a corresponding one of said key switching means for coupling a portion of the output of one of said waveshape modifying means to an input of another of said waveshape modifying means which has been made operative, for a controlled transient interval, and thereby impart a chiff pulse to the starting envelope of the complex tone signal from said other waveshape modifying means; and signal translating means responsive to the combined output of said plurality of first filTer means for producing audible signals.

Claim 8

An electronic musical instrument as defined in claim 4 including: means for the summation of one or more of the complex tone signals from a given waveshape modifying means for the purpose of strengthening or weakening certain harmonics of the resulting summation tone signals to provide further enhancement of the tonal resources of the instrument.

Claim 9

An electronic musical instrument as defined in claim 4 including: an impedance-changing network connected to the output of said waveshape modifying means for providing a second complex tone signal.