Electronic apparatus having a tone generating function

• US 4,448,104 A
• Filed: 10/11/1983
• Issued: 05/15/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: Hoshii, Toshifumi
• Primary Examiner(s): WITKOWSKI, STANLEY J
• Application Number:
  US06/540,699
• Time in Patent Office: 217 Days
• Field of Search: 84/1.01, 84/1.03, 84/1.28, 84/DIG. 12, 84/DIG. 29
• US Class Current: 84/609
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0041 in coded form

Abstract

When a key among ten keys or function keys in a keyboard section is operated with a mode selection switch in a key input section set in a recording position, the note data corresponding to the operated key, flag data and tone duration data corresponding to that note data are stored as one-key play note data in a note memory. When a one-key play key is operated in a timed relation to a given rhythm after clearing an address counter in the aforementioned state, musical sound is generated according to the note data stored in the note memory, and at the same time note data is stored again together with flag data for auto play and tone duration data in the note memory.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus having a tone generating function, comprising:

input means for inputting note data;

memory means for storing the note data input by operation of said input means;

a readout key which is provided independently from said input means and which is operable for reading out the note data from said memory means sequentially one by one every time the readout key is operated, after said note data is stored in said memory means by said input means;

first detecting means for detecting a key-on period during which said readout key is kept operated;

second detecting means for detecting a key-off period during which said readout key is not operated;

duration input means coupled to said first and second detecting means for inputting tone duration information into said memory means, said input tone duration information designating tone producing intervals and tone releasing intervals according to the key-on period and the key-off period, respectively, with respect to each input note data.

2. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein said duration input means includes:

means for calculating a ratio of the key-off period to the total duration of the key-on and key-off periods; and

means for inputting the calculated ratio and said total duration as the tone duration information into said memory means.

3. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, further comprising automatic performance means for reading the note data and duration information from said memory means and for producing musical sound.

4. The electronic apparatus of claim 3, wherein said automatic performance means includes means for designating the number of times the automatic performance is to be repeated.

5. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein said readout key is a depressible key;

and wherein said first detecting means detects said key-on period during which said readout key is kept depressed, and said second detecting means detects said key-off period during which said readout key is not kept depressed.

6. The electronic apparatus of claim 5, wherein said depressible readout key is a manually depressible readout key.

7. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein said readout key is a manually depressible readout key which is manually depressible for reading out said note data;

and wherein said first detecting means detects said key-on period during which said read-on key is kept manually depressed, and said second detecting means detects said key-off period during which said readout key is not depressed.

8. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein said readout key is a single manually operable readout key.

9. An electronic apparatus having a tone generating function, comprising:

mode setting means for setting the electronic apparatus to an arithmetic operation mode and to a music mode;

input means including numeric keys and function keys for inputting note data in said music mode and for designating a number and four arithmetic operations in said arithmetic operation mode;

memory means for storing the note data input by operation of said input means in said music mode;

a readout key which is provided independently of said input means and which is operable for reading out the note data from said memory means sequentially one by one every time the readout key is operated in said music mode, after said note data is stored in said memory means by said input means;

first detecting means for detecting a key-on period during which said readout key is kept operated in said music mode;

second detecting means for detecting a key-off period during which said readout key is not operated in said music mode;

duration input means coupled to said first and second detecting means for inputting tone duration information into said memory means, said input tone duration information designating tone producing intervals and tone releasing intervals according to the key-on period and the key-off period, respectively, with respect to each input note data, in said music mode; and

operating means for performing arithmetic operations designated by the operation of said function keys in said arithmetic operation mode.