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Touch dynamics signal generator for electronic musical instruments

  • US 4,651,611 A
  • Filed: 11/13/1984
  • Issued: 03/24/1987
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1983
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. In an electronic musical instrument, the instrument having at least a first keyboard with moveable keys for selecting the sounds to be produced, the instrument further having tone generator circuitry for providing analog electrical signals which may be transduced into the selected sounds in response to electrical signals generated upon operation of the keys, the improvement comprising:

  • transducer means associated with each key, said transducer means each comprising magnetic field responsive signal generator means for providing an output signal which is variable as a function of the pressure exerted on the associated key;

    electrical power supply means connected to said signal generator means whereby voltages which vary as a function of the pressure exerted on the keys will be generated by said transducer means;

    clock means for generating timing signals;

    multiplexer means, said multiplexer means cyclically serially sampling the voltages generated by said transducer means and individually passing the sampled voltages;

    means for converting the voltages passed by said multiplexer means into digital data;

    means establishing a threshold pressure level and generating a signal commensurate therewith;

    first comparator means for comparing the digital data provided by said converting means during each cycle of said multiplexer means with said signal commensurate with the threshold pressure level and generating a first control signal indicative of the achievement of equality therebetween;

    second comparator means responsive to digital data commensurate with the voltages generated by each of said transducer means during the next preceding cycle of said multiplexer means and to said signal commensurate with the threshold pressure level for generating a second control signal indicative of a previous achievement of equality therebetween; and

    means responsive to said first and second control signals and to said timing signals and said transducer means generated voltages for generating signals commensurate with the variation with time and within a range bounded by said threshold pressure level signal of said transducer means generated voltages subsequent to said generated voltages having reached values commensurate with the threshold level.

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