Dual-mode waveform generator
First Claim
1. A dual-mode waveform generator comprising, in combination:
- a pulse generator for providing a first signal;
a staircase generator coupled to said pulse generator and responsive to said first signal for providing a second signal in response to said first signal;
at least one of said generators having means for varying the operating frequency of its generator;
means coupled to said means for varying the operating frequency for controlling the relative frequency difference between said first and second signals from a first value to a second value wherein said second signal is synchronized with the frequency of said first signal when said difference is said first value, and wherein said second signal varies randomly with respect to the frequency of said first signal when said difference is said second value; and
,output means coupled to said staircase generator for deriving an output signal from said waveform generator.
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Abstract
The disclosed circuit provides a signal generator which is particularly adapted for use as an audible "kilo-sonic" game device in which a plurality of switches are provided so that the different combinations of switch positions produce a corresponding number of different sounds. The circuit includes a voltage-controlled-oscillator (VCO) having an output coupled to a transducer such as a speaker. The VCO is modulated in accordance with a control signal, provided by an up-down staircase generator which is responsive to a pulse generator, to vary the frequency of its output signal. The output of the pulse generator is also selectively coupled with the output of the staircase generator. Time-constant circuits in each of the generators are respectively under the control of selected ones of the switches; and two basic modes of operation are provided by the selected switches so that the control signal at the VCO input is either a pseudo random signal, or a synchronized sub-multiple signal wherein the frequency of the staircase generator output signal is a sub-multiple of the pulse generator output signal. Accordingly, the number of different output sounds provided by the disclosed circuit is geometrically proportional to the number of switches provided.
18 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A dual-mode waveform generator comprising, in combination:
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a pulse generator for providing a first signal; a staircase generator coupled to said pulse generator and responsive to said first signal for providing a second signal in response to said first signal; at least one of said generators having means for varying the operating frequency of its generator; means coupled to said means for varying the operating frequency for controlling the relative frequency difference between said first and second signals from a first value to a second value wherein said second signal is synchronized with the frequency of said first signal when said difference is said first value, and wherein said second signal varies randomly with respect to the frequency of said first signal when said difference is said second value; and
,output means coupled to said staircase generator for deriving an output signal from said waveform generator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electronic doorbell circuit comprising, in combination:
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a pulse generator for producing a series of pulses; a staircase generator coupled to said pulse generator and responsive to said pulses for producing a staircase signal which increases and decreases in response to said pulses and at a rate determined by a time-constant circuit of said staircase generator wherein said staircase signal varies randomly with respect to the frequency of said pulses; a voltage-controlled-oscillator receptive of said staircase signal for providing an output signal having a frequency which varies in accordance with the amplitude of said staircase signal; means responsive to said pulses and coupled to said oscillator for inhibiting said output signal when said staircase signal is increasing or decreasing whereby said frequency of said output signal varies in discrete steps; and
,means for coupling said output signal to an electroacoustic transducer. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A multi-sound electronic game device for providing a plurality of different output sounds in accordance with selected switch positions, said device comprising, in combination:
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a pulse generator for providing a first output signal having a pulse repetition frequency determined by a time-constant circuit of said pulse generator; a staircase generator coupled to said pulse generator and responsive to said first output signal for providing a second output signal related to said first output signal, said second output signal increasing and decreasing at a frequency determined by a time-constant circuit of said staircase generator in response to said first output signal; a plurality of switches; means responsive to selected ones of said switches for controlling the time-constant circuit of at least one of said generators wherein the relative frequency difference between said first and second signals changes from a first value to a second value so that said second output signal is synchronized with the frequency of said first signal when said difference is said first value, and wherein said second output signal varies randomly with respect to the frequency of said first signal when said difference is said second value; means including a voltage-controlled-oscillator having an output coupled to an electroacoustic transducer for providing an audio output signal having a frequency which varies in accordance with the amplitude of a signal applied to the input of said oscillator; and
,means coupled to said first and second output signals and including at least one other one of said switches for selectively providing an input signal to said oscillator which is indicative of the level of one or both of said first and second output signals. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification