Electronic carillon system utilizing interpolated fractional address DSP algorithm

• US 5,837,914 A
• Filed: 08/22/1996
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schulmerich Carillons, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Schulmerich Carillons, Inc.
• Inventors: Hofmeister, Mark, Schwartz, Gregory L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DONELS, JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US08/701,696
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 84/601-603, 84/622, 84/633
• US Class Current: 84/622
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/26 for automatically producing a series of tones
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/351 Spint bell, i.e. mimicking bells, e.g. cow-bells bells in general G10K1/06

Abstract

A DSP-based electronic carillon system is disclosed. The system comprises a digital signal processor (DSP), memory for storing program code for controlling the operation of the DSP in carrying out pre-programmed algorithms, and an output circuit for converting the output of the DSP into audible sound. DSP algorithms are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An electronic carillon system, comprising:

(A) a digital signal processor (DSP);

(B) memory means, operatively coupled to said DSP, for memorizing program code for controlling the operation of the DSP in carrying out pre-programmed algorithms; and

(C) output means, operatively coupled to said DSP, for converting the output of the DSP into audible sound;

wherein said system is programmed, via said DSP and program code, to construct bell sounds spanning all notes within a prescribed number of octaves on the basis of a limited number of pre-recorded samples of notes within a single octave.

2. An electronic carillon system as recited in claim 1, wherein said output means comprises a codec coupled to said DSP and at least one loudspeaker operatively coupled to said codec.

3. An electronic carillon system as recited in claim 1, wherein said memory means further memorizes input data, and said DSP operates, in accordance with the preprogrammed algorithms, so as to perform the functions of receiving said input data from said memory means and calculating pitch-shifted output data on the basis of said input data, wherein said input data includes said pre-recorded samples of bell sounds.

4. An electronic carillon system as recited in claim 3, wherein said system comprises means for scaling the output data for volume.

5. An electronic carillon system as recited in claim 3, wherein said system further comprises means for scaling the output data to reflect the velocity of a bell whose sound is being constructed.

6. An electronic carillon system as recited in claim 2, wherein said codec performs digital-to-analog conversion.

7. A method performed by an electronic carillon system, comprising the steps of:

(A) utilizing a digital signal processor (DSP) and program code for controlling the operation of the DSP in carrying out pre-programmed algorithms to receive input data and calculate pitch-shifted output data on the basis of said input data, wherein said input data includes pre-recorded samples of bell sounds and said DSP is employed to construct bell sounds spanning all notes within a prescribed number of octaves on the basis of a limited number of pre-recorded samples of notes within a single octave; and

(B) converting the output of the DSP into audible sound.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising scaling the output data for volume.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, further comprising scaling the output data to reflect the velocity of a bell whose sound is being constructed.

10. An electronic carillon system, comprising:

(A) a digital signal processor (DSP); and

(B) a memory, operatively coupled to said DSP, containing program code and samples of bell sounds for controlling the operation of the DSP in carrying out preprogrammed algorithms using pre-recorded samples of bell sounds;

wherein outputs of said DSP are convertible into audible sounds, and said DSP operates, in accordance with the pre-programmed algorithms, so as to perform the functions of receiving said pre-recorded samples from said memory and calculating pitch-shifted output data, and wherein said DSP is operative to construct bell sounds spanning all notes within a prescribed number of octaves on the basis of a limited number of pre-recorded samples of notes within a single octave.

11. An electronic carillon system as recited in claim 10, further comprising an output circuit, operatively coupled to said DSP, for converting digital data received from said DSP into audio signals representative of bell sounds.

12. An electronic carillon system as recited in claim 11, wherein said output circuit is coupled to a speaker that converts the outputs of the DSP into audible sound.