Apparatus for attaching a musical instrument to a computer

• US 3,915,047 A
• Filed: 01/02/1974
• Issued: 10/28/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stephen A. Davis, Thomas A. Hendrickson
• Original Assignee: Stephen A. Davis, Thomas A. Hendrickson
• Inventors: Davis, Stephen A., Hendrickson, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartary, Joseph W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Witkowski, Stanley J.
• Application Number:
  US05/430,270
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 84/1.01,1.03,1.17,1.24,DIG.12,115,461,462
• US Class Current: 84/635
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 7/002 using a common processing for different operations or calculations, and a set of microinstructions (programme) to control the sequence thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 84/12 Side; rhythm and percussion devices

Abstract

A musical instrument such as an organ with a keyboard is attached to a data processing system. The musical instrument is provided with a mechanism such as a foot pedal which can be actuated by the artist to provide rhythm timing to the computer. Means are provided for scanning the keyboard and foot pedal mechanism and for storing a binary representation of the state of the keys and foot pedal. The binary data is then transferred to the data processing system for analysis.

Claims

1. In combination with a data processing system:

first switch means coupled to an electrical source operative in response to depression of keys on a musical instrument keyboard for providing electrical signals;

second switch means coupled to an electrical source operable by one playing said musical instrument for providing repetitive electrical signals corresponding to the rhythm maintained by the performer;

means for scanning said electrical signals and said repetitive electrical signals; and

means responsive to said scanning means for storing a binary representation of the state of said signals in a buffer register.

2. In combination with a data processing system:

first switch means coupled to an electrical source operative in response to depression of keys on a musical instrument keyboard for providing electrical signals having one state when a key is depressed and another state when a key is not depressed;

second switch means coupled to an electrical source operable by one playing said musical instrument for providing repetitive electrical signals corresponding to the rhythm maintained by the performer;

means for scanning said electrical signals and said repetitive electrical signals;

means responsive to said scanning means for storing a binary representation of the state of said signals in a buffer register; and

means for transferring the contents of said buffer register to said data processing system in response to signals from said data processing system.

3. In combination;

a data processing system;

a musical instrument keyboard having key contacts corresponding to keys on said keyboard;

a foot pedal switch adapted to be actuated by one playing said musical instrument keyboard for providing repetitive electrical signals corresponding to the rhythm maintained by The performer;

means for scanning said key contacts and said foot pedal switch;

means responsive to said scanning means for converting electrical signals produced by depressing said keys to digital data which is compatible with said data processing system; and

means connected to said scanning means and responsive to signals from said data processing system for transferring said data to said data processing system whereby said data processing system collects data corresponding to the music performed.

4. Apparatus for connecting a musical instrument to a computer having a read input and a write output, said instrument having key contacts and output-music producing keying circuits comprising:

a multibit word register having an input and an output;

means connecting the instrument key contacts to the input of said multibit word register;

first gating means having an input and an output;

a write bus for carrying data from said computer, said write bus connected to the input of said gating means, the output of said gating means being connected to the input of said multibit word register;

write select means for selectively energizing or disenergizing said first gating means to thereby selectively store or not store data from said computer in said multibit word register;

second gating means having an input and an output, said input connected to the output of said word buffer and said output connected to the read input of said computer; and

read select means for selectively energizing or dis-energizing said second gating means to thereby selectively transfer data or not transfer data from said word buffer to said computer.