Music tone generator
First Claim
1. A device for sounding musical notes comprising:
- (a) at least one output means for producing sound;
(b) means for producing an electrical signal which alternates between two voltage levels;
(c) control means associated with said signal producing means for controlling the times at which said signal changes between said two voltage levels, said changes being selected to provide a predetermined energy content of each period of the fundamental frequency of each musical note so as to vary the intensity of each note over its duration; and
(d) means for transmitting said controlled electrical signal to said output means;
whereby musical notes are sounded having substantially the same aural qualities as those produced by a musical instrument.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for producing a plurality of musical tones comprises a programmed rectangular wave generator that produces a series of rectangular waves of the same amplitude for each tone. Each wave in each of the series of waves has a predetermined energy content and drives a speaker or other sound producing transducer such that the musical tone produced has the same aural qualities as that produced by a musical instrument. In the preferred embodiment the wave generator is a programmed integrated circuit microcomputer having a Read Only Memory in which are stored the sequence of notes of one or more musical compositions that are played under program control. The device is particularly adapted to produce bell tones having minimum harmonic distortion which, in combination with microminiature speakers and lights in bell shaped translucent housings and driven by the series of rectangular waves, becomes an attractive Christmas decoration that plays a number of traditional Christmas carols.
18 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A device for sounding musical notes comprising:
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(a) at least one output means for producing sound; (b) means for producing an electrical signal which alternates between two voltage levels; (c) control means associated with said signal producing means for controlling the times at which said signal changes between said two voltage levels, said changes being selected to provide a predetermined energy content of each period of the fundamental frequency of each musical note so as to vary the intensity of each note over its duration; and (d) means for transmitting said controlled electrical signal to said output means;
whereby musical notes are sounded having substantially the same aural qualities as those produced by a musical instrument. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 8)
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4. A device for sounding musical notes comprising:
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(a) at least one output means for producing sound; (b) means for producing an electrical signal which alternates between two voltage levels; (c) control means associated with said signal producing means for controlling the times at which said signal changes between said two voltage levels, said changes being selected to provide a predetermined energy content of each period of the fundamental frequency of each musical note so as to vary the intensity of each note over its duration; (d) said predetermined energy content being at a maximum at the start of said musical note and then diminishing in a predetermined manner over the duration of the note; and (e) means for transmitting said controlled electrical signal to said output means;
whereby notes are produced having substantially the same aural qualities as tuned bells. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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Specification