ELECTRONIC PIANOLIKE MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

• US 3,602,628 A
• Filed: 09/15/1969
• Issued: 08/31/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard H. Peterson
• Original Assignee: Richard H. Peterson
• Inventors: Peterson, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hirshfield, Hilton O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Budd, Mark O.
• Application Number:
  US04/857,806
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 84/1.24,1.26,1.13,1.01,1.1,1.27
• US Class Current: 84/687
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/057 by envelope-forming circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 84/08 Keyed oscillators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 84/25 Pedal clavier

Abstract

An electrical musical instrument capable of substantially duplicating the sounds of a conventional pianoforte, uses a continuously oscillating tone generator. Gating circuits deliver signals from the tone generator to an output system with a peak intensity proportional to the velocity with which the playing keys are struck. Damper circuits are provided, and a sustaining pedal operates in conjunction with the dampers in a manner analogous to the action of a sustaining pedal in a conventional piano.

Claims

1. In an electrical musical instrument:

an oscillation generator for producing signal impulses at a frequency corresponding to the pitch of a musical note to be produced;

a playing key;

means associated with said playing key and adapted upon the actuation of said playing key to simUltaneously initiate a plurality of discrete envelope determining pulses, each having a peak amplitude proportional to the velocity with which said playing key is operated, and each having different decay characteristics;

an output system;

a plurality of gating circuits respectively associated with said plurality of envelope determining pulses and each adapted to gate signal from said oscillation generator to said output system with an amplitude which is a function of the amplitude of its associated envelope determining pulse.

2. The combination according to claim 1 including additional filter means associated with at least one of said plurality of gating circuits, such that the combined signal delivered to said output system varies in harmonic content as the tone decays.

3. Touch responsive tone producing circuit for an electrical musical instrument comprising;

a playing key having an operating surface, and adapted to be moved between a normal and an operated position;

a capacitor;

a keyswitch associated with said playing key and adapted to complete a first circuit, including said capacitor, when said playing key is in its normal position, and to complete a second circuit, including said capacitor, when said playing key is in its operated position;

a shunting circuit associated with said capacitor;

electronic means including said capacitor and said keyswitch means, and adapted to produce a tone signal having an amplitude which is a predetermined function of the current flowing in said shunting circuit and of the time period during which said playing key is in transit between its normal and operated positions;

a mass operatively associated with said playing key;

said mass and key normally tending by gravity to move to normal inactive position;

said mass and key having inertia resisting the acceleration of said playing key and said keyswitch.

4. A touch responsive tone producing circuit for an electrical musical instrument comprising:

a playing key adapted to be moved between a normal and an operated position;

a single pole-double throw keyswitch operatively associated with said playing key;

a first capacitor connected to said keyswitch;

an impedance connected across said first capacitor;

first means associated with said keyswitch for rapidly charging said first capacitor when said playing key is in its normal position;

a second capacitor;

second means associated with said keyswitch and including a first emitter follower transmitter for charging said second capacitor to a potential dependent upon the velocity with which said playing key is moved between its normal and its operated positions;

a separate damper circuit including an electron switching device and forming a discharge path across said second capacitor; and

, third means associated with said keyswitch for causing said damper circuit to become effective whenever said playing key is in its normal position.

5. A combination according to claim 4 and including a sustaining pedal adapted to selectively disable said damper circuit.