Electronic signal level control apparatus for acoustical-electrical transducer instrument

• US 4,418,599 A
• Filed: 04/08/1982
• Issued: 12/06/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gregory D. Raskin
• Original Assignee: Gregory D. Raskin
• Inventors: Raskin, Gregory D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Witkowski, Stanley J.
• Application Number:
  US06/366,541
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 84/1.04, 84/1.06-1.09, 84/1.13-1.16, 84/1.26, 84/1.27, 84/DIG. 24, 179/1 M, 179/1 SW, 179/1 VL
• US Class Current: 381/105
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/186 Means for processing the signal picked up from the strings filtering G10H1/12

Abstract

An electrical sound output signal from an acoustical-electrical or piezo electric transducer instrument is made available at selectively switched high and low signal levels by level control apparatus utilizing bistable switching of first and second attenuated electrical sound output signals. A flip-flop circuit toggles between first and second states in response to an input signal pulse generated by actuation of a footswitch. Oppositely-phased output signals produced by the flip-flop are applied to first and second switching FETs controlled thereby so as to be alternately conducting. The FETs are connected between respective first and second attenuators providing high and low level-controlled sound output signals and common output terminals. Accordingly, upon selective actuation of the footswitch, either high or low level controlled sound output signals can be made available at the output terminals. The transition rate of the FET control signals is regulated by timing networks so as to eliminate "dead space" during switching. A signal level indicator is further included to permit user recognition of the level of the electrical sound output signal at the output terminals.

Claims

1. Output signal level control apparatus for use with a transducer instrument producing an electrical sound output signal, comprising:

(a) input terminals, for coupling to a transducer instrument to obtain the electrical sound output signal;

(b) a first attenuator coupled to said input terminals, for receiving said electrical sound output signal and reducing the level of the signal to produce a first level-controlled electrical sound output signal;

(c) a second attenuator coupled to said input terminals, for receiving said electrical sound output signal and reducing the level of the signal to produce a second level-controlled electrical sound output signal of a level different from the level of said first attenuated signal;

(d) a bistable circuit, for producing first and second oppositely-phased electrical control signals;

said bistable circuit toggling between states and changing said control signals between first and second signal levels in response to an electrical pulse signal input thereto;

(e) means for producing said electrical pulse signal, for toggling said bistable circuit;

(f) a first switch element controlled by said first bistable circuit control signal, said switch element being coupled to said first attenuator and passing said first level-controlled electrical sound output signal therethrough when said first control signal is at one of its two levels;

(g) a second switch element controlled by said second bistable circuit control signal, said switch element being coupled to said second attenuator and passing said second level-controlled electrical sound output signal therethrough when said second control signal is at one of its two levels;

(h) output terminals coupled to said first and second switch elements for providing access to a level-controlled electrical sound output signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means coupled to said bistable circuit, for regulating the rate of change of the level of said first electrical control signal; and

means coupled to said bistable circuit, for regulating the rate of change of the level of said second electrical control signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first electrical control signal regulating means and said second electrical control signal regulating means each comprises a time-determining electrical network having a prescribed time constant.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

said first electrical control signal regulating means comprises an electrical network having a first time constant for determining the rate of signal level rise and having a second time constant for determining the rate of signal level fall; and

said second electrical control signal regulating means comprises an electrical network having a first time constant for determining the rate of signal level rise and having a second time constant for determining the rate of signal level fall;

the signal rise time constant of each of said networks being greater than its signal fall time constant.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bistable circuit comprises a flip-flop device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pulse signal producing means comprises a momentary contact foot switch.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a buffer circuit interposed between said input terminals and said first and second attenuators.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

means coupled to said bistable circuit to sense the state thereof, for indicating when said first level-controlled electrical sound output signal is being applied to said output terminals.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second attenuators are variably adjustable to provide for changing the level of the level-controlled output signals produced thereby.

10. Output signal level control apparatus for use with a transducer instrument producing an electrical sound output signal, comprising:

(a) input terminals, for coupling to an acoustical-electrical transducer instrument to obtain the electrical sound output signal;

(b) means coupled to said input terminals, for producing first and second attenuated electrical sound output signals of different levels;

(c) output terminals;

(d) means for selecting one of said first and second attentuated electrical sound output signals and providing same to said output terminals in response to the levels of first and second control signals applied thereto;

(e) a bistable circuit, for producing first and second oppositely-phased electrical control signals for controlling said electrical sound output signal selecting means, said bistable circuit toggling between states and changing said control signals between first and second signal levels in response to an electrical pulse signal input thereto; and

(f) means for producing said electrical pulse signal, for toggling said bistable circuit.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

means coupled to said bistable circuit, for regulating the rate of change of the level of said first electrical control signal; and

means coupled to said bistable circuit, for regulating the rate of change of the level of said second electrical control signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said bistable circuit comprises a flip-flop device.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said pulse signal producing means comprises a momentary contact foot switch.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a buffer circuit interposed between said input terminals and said attenuation means.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

means coupled to said bistable circuit to sense the state thereof for indicating when said first level-controlled electrical sound output signal is being applied to said output terminals.

16. Output signal level control apparatus for use with a musical instrument producing an electrical music output signal, comprising:

input terminals, for coupling to a musical instrument to obtain the electrical music output signal;

a first potentiometer coupled to said input terminals, for receiving said electrical music output signal and providing a variably adjustable reduction in the level of the signal to produce a high level electrical output signal;

a second potentiometer coupled to said input terminals, for receiving said electrical music output signal and providing a variably adjustable reduction in the level of the signal to produce a low level electrical music output;

a flip-flop circuit having a clock input and first and second outputs, for producing first and second oppositely-phased electrical control signals;

said flip-flop circuit being connected in a circuit configuration so as to toggle in response to a pulse signal applied to the clock input, and change the levels of said control signals;

means coupled to said flip-flop circuit, including a foot actuated switch, for producing a pulse signal to toggle said flip-flop on command;

a first RC network connected to the first flip-flop circuit output and having a charging time constant and a discharging time constant, for regulating the rate of change of said first control signal as it makes rising and falling transitions, the charging time constant of said network being greater than the discharging time constant;

a second RC network connected to the second flip-flop circuit output and having a charging time constant and a discharging time constant, for regulating the rate of change of said second control signal as it makes rising and falling transitions, the charging time constant of said network being greater than the discharging time constant;

a first transistor element connected to said first potentiometer and controlled by said first control signal, for conducting said high level electrical music output signal therethrough when said first control signal is at a specified one of its two levels,

a second transistor element connected to said second potentiometer and controlled by said first control signal, for conducting said low level electrical music output signal therethrough when said second control signal is at a specified one of its two levels; and

output terminals coupled to said first and second transistor elements for providing access to a level-controlled electrical music output signal.