US3781450A - Signal-selecting system for an electronic musical instrument - Google Patents

Signal-selecting system for an electronic musical instrument Download PDF

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Publication number
US3781450A
US3781450A US00311728A US3781450DA US3781450A US 3781450 A US3781450 A US 3781450A US 00311728 A US00311728 A US 00311728A US 3781450D A US3781450D A US 3781450DA US 3781450 A US3781450 A US 3781450A
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United States
Prior art keywords
transistors
power source
electric power
keyswitches
transistor
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00311728A
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English (en)
Inventor
T Nakajima
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Panasonic Holdings Corp
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Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd
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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
    • G10H1/18—Selecting circuits
    • G10H1/22—Selecting circuits for suppressing tones; Preference networks
    • 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
    • Y10S84/02—Preference networks

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data D l 3 1971 J 46 l
  • the 'i i'gg gbi transistor preference circuit comprises a plurality of [58] Fi d l 13 l 17 bias resistors, a plurality of transistors and a plurality e a c i of base resistors for the respective transistors.
  • the transistors are controlled by the keyswitches so as to Y produce control voltages at the collectors thereof, re- [56] References Cited spectively, whereby when one or more keyswitches UNITED STATES PATENTS are simultaneously closed, only one transistor is con- 2,874,286 2/1959 Bode 84/D1G. 2 ductive and so the corresponding gating means is actu- 3333957 11/966 Campbell 34/101 ated so as to select preferentially only one output tone 3,395,242 7/1968 Hurvitz 84/D1G. 2 Signal 3,470,306 9/1969 Hadden 84/D1G. 2 3,509,262 4/1970 Munch 84/1.01 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures ELECTR POWER SOURCE k L Li m TONE 1 s 1 71s,
  • a conventional signalselecting system for an electronic musical instrument uses a preference circuit comprising a plurality of transfer type keyswitches, each of which has a break-contact, a make-contact connected to an output terminal for providing a control signal thereto and a movable-contact, and which are connected in series in such a way that the movablecontact of one transfer type keyswitch is connected to the break-contact of a subsequent transfer type keyswitch.
  • the movable-contact of said subsequent transfer type keyswitch is connected to the break-contact of a further subsequent transfer type keyswitch, and so on.
  • Memory means or gating means of the signal-selecting system are controlled according to the output signals from the output terminals so as to provide the corresponding tone signals, respectively.
  • Such a conventional preference circuit fails to work reliably because there are many contacts of the transfer type keyswitches connected in series.
  • US. Pat. No. 3,585,892 of the present applicant has disclosed a reliable preference circuit which comprises normally conductive transistors which are arranged in a totem-pole connection with the base of each connected to a corresponding keyswitch, normally nonconductive transistors having bases and emitters which are coupled between collectros and bases of said normally conductive transistors, respectively, and bias resistors connected between bases and collectors of said normally conductive transistors, respectively.
  • normally conductive transistors which are arranged in a totem-pole connection with the base of each connected to a corresponding keyswitch
  • normally nonconductive transistors having bases and emitters which are coupled between collectros and bases of said normally conductive transistors, respectively
  • bias resistors connected between bases and collectors of said normally conductive transistors, respectively.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved signal-selecting system for an electronic musical instrument.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of keyswitches corresponding to said tone generators and each having one end connected to one end of an electric power source through a common conductor;
  • a preference circuit which comprises a plurality of bias resistors which are connected in series and one end of said series connection is connected to the other end of said electric power source; a plurality of transistors; a plurality of base resistors connected between the bases and the collectors of said transistors, respectively;
  • said emitters of said plurality of transistors being connected to the other ends of said keyswitches, respectively, said bases of said plurality of transistors being connected to the junction points of said plurality of bias resistors connected in series and the other end of said series connection of said bias resistors, respectively, and said collectors of said plurality of transistors, and being provided with a potential substantially equal to the potential of the other end of said electric power source through said collector resistors, respectively, said collectors being coupled to said gating means so as to control the gating operation of said gating means and to switch on and off the tone signals supplied thereto from said tone generators;
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of an embodiment of the signal-selecting system of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a partial schematic circuit diagram showing a charge-discharge means which can be used in the signal-selecting system of the present invention.
  • a plurality of tone generators l 1, 12,13, 14 and 15 generate tone signals f,,f ,f,,f,f, having frequencies corresponding to the notes of the musical scale, respectively.
  • a plurality of gating means 21,22, 23, 24 and 25 are capable of gating said tone signals f,, f 1",, j, and f respectively.
  • a plurality of keyswitches K K K K, and K correspond to said tone generators 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15, and each one end of said keyswitches K K K K and K is connected to one end 2 of an electric power source 3 through a common conductor or bus-bar 1.
  • a transistor preference circuit 4 comprises a plurality of bias resistors R,, R R;,, R, and R which are connected in series and one end 5 of the series connection is connected to the other end 6 of said electric power source 3.
  • T T T and T are connected to the other ends of said keyswitches K K K;,, K, and K respectively.
  • the bases of said transistors T T T T and T are connectedto the junction points 31, 32, 33 and 34 and the other end 35 of the series connection of said bias resistors R R R R and R respectively.
  • the collectors of said transistors T T T T and T are provided, through respective collector resistors R R R R and R with a potential substantially equal to the potential of the other end 6 of said electric power source 3.
  • a plurality of base resistorsr r r;,, r, and r, are connected between said bases and said collectors of said transistors T T T, and T respectively.
  • Said collectors of the transistors T,, T T T and T are coupled to said gating means 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 so as to switch on and off the tone signals f f f f and F supplied to said gating means from said generators, respectively.
  • the gating means 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 comprise the memory means 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45 and signalswitching means 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55.
  • Each of said memory means 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45 is composed of a conventional flip-flop circuit.
  • a flip-flop circuit for the memory means 41 for example, comprises a first transistor T a second transistor T a first feed back resistor R connected between the collector of said first transistor T and the base of said second transistor T a second feed back resistor R connected between the collector of said second transistor T and the base of said first transistor T a first collector resistor R connected between the collector of said first transistor T and another electric power source 9, a second collector resistor R connected between the collector of said second transistor.
  • Each of said signal-switching means 51, 52, 53, 54 or 55 comprises a series connection of a capacitor C, a resistor R and a diode D, connected between the corre sponding tone generator 11, l2, l3, 14 or 15 and an output terminal 7.
  • the junction point between each diode D and resistor R is connected to the corresponding output terminal 0 of the memory means 41, 42, 43, 44 or 45 and acts as a control terminal for the corresponding signal-switching means 51, 52, 53, 54 or 55.
  • the signal-switching means 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55 are switched on, when the output voltages of the corresponding memory means 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45 are positive, respectively.
  • the set terminals 5, of the memory means 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45 are connected to the collectors of the transistors T,, 1",, T T and T respectively.
  • a detecting means 8 is coupled between output terminals of the signal-selecting means and the reset terminals R, of the memory means 41, 42, 43, 44 and 4s.
  • the detecting means comprises transistors T and T
  • the collector of said transistor T is connected to the electric power source 9 through a collector resistor R and is provided with a positive voltage +E Therefore, the emitter of the transistor T is connected to ground and to the voltage source 9 through resistors R and R respectively, and the base of the transistor T is connected to the output terminals of the signal-switching means 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55.
  • the emitter of said transistor T is connected to the electric power source 9, the base of the transistor T is connected to the collector of said transistor T and the collector of the transistor T is connected to ground through another collector resistor R and to the reset terminals R, of said memory means 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45.
  • the detecting means 8 detects the state when two or more memory means are set simultaneously. When two or more memory means, are set, the base voltage of the transistor T exceeds a threshold voltage and so the transistor T is saturated. The voltage at the collector of the transistor T is inverted by the transistor T and there is produced an output voltage E at the collector of the transistor T This output voltage E resets immediately said two memory means which were set' previously. On the other hand, when no memory means or only one memory means is set, the base voltage of the transistor T is less than the threshold voltage. Therefore, the detecting means 8 does not produce an output voltage, and so no memory means is reset.
  • each of the base resistors r,, r r r, and r has resistance r and each of the bias resistors R R R R, and R has resistance R. These resistors are such that the value R is higher than the value r.
  • said memory means 41 produces a positive voltage at the output terminal Q so as to switch on the corresponding signal-switching means 51. Consequently, the gating means 21 is switched on, and so an output tone signal f corresponding to the keyswitch K, is provided and maintained at the output terminal 7.
  • a voltage equal to the base-emitter forward voltage drop V (which is usually 0.6 to 0.8 volt for a silicon transistor) is produced between the common conductor 1 and the base of the transistor T,.
  • a voltage produced by said base-emitter forward voltage drop V of the transistor T is divided by a voltage divider formed by the bias resistor R, and the base resistor r and there is produced a voltage of V x r/(R+r) across the base and the emitter of the transistors T
  • the voltage V x r/( R-l-r) is less than a half of V because the resistance value R is larger than the resistance r, as described hereinbefore.
  • the transistor T is nonconductive, because the voltage V 1: r/(R+r) is less than the voltage V (ON) which is the threshold voltage of the transistors T,, T T T or T
  • the other transistors T T, and T are also nonconductive, because the voltages across respective base and emitter of said other transistors T T and T are much less than that across the base and emitter of the transistor T Consequently, only the transistor T, saturates and actuates the corresponding gating means 21 so as to produce at the output terminal 7 preferentially only one output tone signal f, which is applied from the tone generator 11 corresponding to the keyswitch K,.
  • the operation of the preference circuit 4 becomes more reliable the less the value of the resistance r.
  • the resistance r it is desirable to reduce the value of the resistance r. But, in this case a high voltage is required for the electric power source 3 so as to ensure the operation of the preference circuit 4.
  • the electric power source 3 has a voltage which is normally used in a conventional transistor circuit design, it is sufficient that the resistance r be smaller than the resistance R.
  • the detecting means 8 detects this state when two or more memory means, for example, 41 and 43 are set, and produces an output voltage which is approximately E volts so as to. reset instantaneously the memory means which have been set, as described hereinbefore.
  • the memory means 43 When the keyswitch K is 'still closed after the reset operation, the memory means 43 is actuated by the output voltage of the collector of the transistor T and so only one output tone signal f-,'is provided at the output terminal 7.
  • the operation is the same as that described above with respect to the case when the keyswitches K, and K are closed.
  • the signal-selecting system of the present invention is capable of selecting preferentially the tone signal having either the highest or the lowest frequency from among tone signals produced by keyswitches which are closed simultaneously, in accordance with arrangements of the keyswitches l(,, K K K, and K, and of the tone generators 11, 12, l3, l4 and 15.
  • Each of the memory means 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45 may be replaced by a charge-discharge means, as shown in FIG. 2. in this case, the detecting means 8 of FIG. 1 is unnecessary.
  • Each of the charge-discharge means comprises a diode D connected between the set terminal S, and the output terminal Q, a sustain capacitor C, connected between the output terminal 0 and ground, a discharging resistor R connected in parallel with said sustain capacitor C,, and a reset transistor T The collector and the emitter of said transistor T, are connected in parallel with said sustain capacitor C,, and the base thereof is connected to ground through a resistor R and also to the reset terminal R,.
  • the reset terminal R is connected to the keyswitches K,, K K K, and K through respective differentiating capacitors C2.
  • the preference circuit 4 of the signalselecting system can be composed of a small number of electronic components. Accordingly there are provided many further advantages, i.e., simplicity of arrangement, reduction of manufacturing steps, inexpensiveness of the system, etc are achieved.
  • a transistor preference circuit comprising:
  • bias resistors connected in series with each other, one end of said series connection of said bias resistors being connected to the other end of said electric power source;
  • a plurality of transistors having the emitters thereof connected to the other ends of the respective keyswitches, the bases thereof connected to the junction points of the respective bias resistors and the other end of said series connection of said bias resistors, respectively, and the collectors thereof connected to the respective collector resistors and being provided with a potential substantially equal to the potential of the other end of said electric power source;
  • a signal selecting system for an electric musical instrument comprising:
  • tone generators generating tone signals having frequencies corresponding to the notes of the musical scale, respectively;
  • a plurality of gating means coupled to the respective tone generators for gating said tone signals
  • a preference circuit which comprises a plurality of bias resistors connected in series and one end of said series connection being connected to the other end of said electric power source; a plurality of 25 transistors; a plurality of base resistors connected between the bases and the collectors of the respective transistors; and a plurality of collector resistors connected to said collectors of the respective transistors and being coupled to the other end of said first electric power source, the emitters of said plurality of transistors being connected to the other ends of the respective keyswitches, the bases of said plurality of transistors being connected to the junction points of the respective bias resistors connected in series and the other end of said series connection of said bias resistors, respectively, and said collectors of said plurality of transistors being provided with a potential substantially equal to the potential of the other end of said electric power source through said collector resistors, said collectors being coupled to said gating means for controlling the gating operation of said gating means and the supply of tone signals thereto from said tone generators;

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Electrophonic Musical Instruments (AREA)
  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
US00311728A 1971-12-13 1972-12-07 Signal-selecting system for an electronic musical instrument Expired - Lifetime US3781450A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP46101311A JPS514101B2 (de) 1971-12-13 1971-12-13

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US00311728A Expired - Lifetime US3781450A (en) 1971-12-13 1972-12-07 Signal-selecting system for an electronic musical instrument

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US (1) US3781450A (de)
JP (1) JPS514101B2 (de)
AU (1) AU461060B2 (de)
CA (1) CA964903A (de)
DE (1) DE2260935C3 (de)
FR (1) FR2187169A5 (de)
GB (1) GB1417724A (de)
IT (1) IT973922B (de)
ZA (1) ZA728803B (de)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3845684A (en) * 1973-11-14 1974-11-05 E Herr Electronic automatic reset switch circuit and electronic keyboard musical instrument incorporating it
US3906830A (en) * 1974-03-04 1975-09-23 Hammond Corp Monophonic electronic musical instrument
US3921491A (en) * 1973-04-25 1975-11-25 Alfred B Freeman Bass system for automatic root fifth and pedal sustain
US3999456A (en) * 1974-06-04 1976-12-28 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Voice keying system for a voice controlled musical instrument
US4012980A (en) * 1974-11-27 1977-03-22 Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha Control circuitry for a voltage-controlled type electronic musical instrument
US4016792A (en) * 1974-03-04 1977-04-12 Hammond Corporation Monophonic electronic musical instrument
US4067254A (en) * 1975-11-24 1978-01-10 Deutsch Research Laboratories, Ltd. Frequency number controlled clocks
US4215615A (en) * 1978-03-20 1980-08-05 Itt Industries, Incorporated Monolithic integrated selection circuit
US4375176A (en) * 1980-06-04 1983-03-01 Norlin Industries, Inc. Keyboard latch for electronic organ
US4503745A (en) * 1976-06-11 1985-03-12 Melville Clark, Jr. Musical instrument

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS552477Y2 (de) * 1973-06-25 1980-01-22
JPS5339529Y2 (de) * 1974-07-31 1978-09-26
JPS6030958B2 (ja) * 1976-01-20 1985-07-19 日本ビクター株式会社 電子楽器
JPS52146124U (de) * 1976-04-30 1977-11-05

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3921491A (en) * 1973-04-25 1975-11-25 Alfred B Freeman Bass system for automatic root fifth and pedal sustain
US3845684A (en) * 1973-11-14 1974-11-05 E Herr Electronic automatic reset switch circuit and electronic keyboard musical instrument incorporating it
US3906830A (en) * 1974-03-04 1975-09-23 Hammond Corp Monophonic electronic musical instrument
US4016792A (en) * 1974-03-04 1977-04-12 Hammond Corporation Monophonic electronic musical instrument
US3999456A (en) * 1974-06-04 1976-12-28 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Voice keying system for a voice controlled musical instrument
US4012980A (en) * 1974-11-27 1977-03-22 Nippon Gakki Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha Control circuitry for a voltage-controlled type electronic musical instrument
US4067254A (en) * 1975-11-24 1978-01-10 Deutsch Research Laboratories, Ltd. Frequency number controlled clocks
US4503745A (en) * 1976-06-11 1985-03-12 Melville Clark, Jr. Musical instrument
US4215615A (en) * 1978-03-20 1980-08-05 Itt Industries, Incorporated Monolithic integrated selection circuit
US4375176A (en) * 1980-06-04 1983-03-01 Norlin Industries, Inc. Keyboard latch for electronic organ

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1417724A (en) 1975-12-17
DE2260935C3 (de) 1978-09-21
JPS4866426A (de) 1973-09-12
AU4964372A (en) 1974-06-20
FR2187169A5 (de) 1974-01-11
AU461060B2 (en) 1975-05-15
JPS514101B2 (de) 1976-02-09
DE2260935A1 (de) 1973-06-20
ZA728803B (en) 1973-10-31
CA964903A (en) 1975-03-25
DE2260935B2 (de) 1976-08-19
IT973922B (it) 1974-06-10

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