CONTROL APPARATUS FOR ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTS

Abstract: Control equipment for electronic instruments, in particular for synthetizers or orgatrons, containing a stringed instrument provided with a finger board or joint plates. The aim of the invention is that the fingerboard and the joint plates are made of an electrically conductive material and between the voltage source and the output(s) a circuit is formed, which can be closed by pressing down a string.

Description: -1- COITTROL .APPARATUS TOR Ξ 30TROITIC IKSTRUI-IΞITTS The invention relates to a control apparatus for electronic instruments, in particular for synthe¬ tizers or orgatrons. Since the appearance of the elect¬ ric guitars several devices have been developed which render the guitar suitable partly for imitating other musical instruments, partly for producing new tones, as for example the distorting, extending devices, the dynamics compressor, the phase shifter, the quacking, twanging and echoin cfevices. These equipments are trans forming the signal having " been picked-up via the pick-u of the guitar. Their common drawback lies in the limite length of decay, the tendency to excitation and the hig producing costs. The synthetizer is surpassing the range of the possible sounds to be generated in the previously- described manner by orders of magnitude. Y. r ith the syn¬ thetizers choosing of the tones is t-aking place in such a manner that by means of a switch system having been mounted onto the keyboard of the piano, the output vol- tage of a voltage transmitter is changed and the voltag • -controlled oscillators are driven by the modified vol¬ tage. The shaping units, the modulators of the enve¬ lope curve, the filters, frequency dividers, mixers, etc. are connected to thevoltage controlled oscillators 'The aim of the invention is to produce a cont rol equipment, which is well suitable for a control of an orgatron or a synthetizer as an electronic instrumen having a layout being similar to that of the stringed instruments being provided with a fingerboard or a join plate, and the mode of playing is also in compliance with: that of said instruments. The equipment according to the invention, being suitable for electronic instruments, in parti¬ cular for synthetizers or orgatrons, is containing a stringed instrument. The fingerboard, the joint plates, the strings are made of electrically conductive mate¬ rials and form between the voltage source and the out- put/s/ a circuit to be closed by pressing down the strings. With a further preferred embodiment of the invention the strings are made of a resistance wire. Preferably, between the strings and/or the * joint plates resistors and/or potentiometers are conne ed. ¥ith a further preferred embodiment either the joi plates or the strings are connected to the voltage sou " With an other preferred embodiment of the in vention the joint plates are subdivided into scetions having been arranged below the strings and being iso¬ lated from eac other. The invention will be described by means of preferred embodiments serving as an example, by the ai of the accompanying drawings, wherein figures 1 to 8 are showing the preferred embodiments of the invention. With the embodiment having been illustrated in figure 1, the strings H -H are connected to voltag sources, which are preferably realized by means of re¬ sistors or a voltage divider consisting of the potenti meters m * - τ jπι -sacl- by means of the transistors T-i-ϊ j ,, having been connected via their basis to the voltage divider. The emitter of the transistors T- ±,.-T_m is connec ed to the strings. The voltage divider and the transis tors, respectively, are fed by the voltage source IL-,. The joint plates -B -B are connected to the output Z o the control equipment, via the resistor-chain consisti of the potentiometers Eh© input of the operatio i--m-2. amplifier A having been provided with the feedback - 3 - resistor R is also connected to the output K. The circuit arrangement according to figure 1 operates as jSLlows: The voltage divider P m -P ιn generates the str voltages, which are in the same proportion, as the tuni frequencies. The grounded collector connection of the transistors T-.-T ensures the low output impedance and thereby the voltage-generated drive of the inverting ba circuit arrangement. The emitter-base diodes of the tra tors T-J-T J - are forming a logical circuit arrangement; w several strings are simultaneously pressed, the voltage corresponding to the highest string will prevail. The v tages having been applied onto the strings - the propor tion of which is corresponding to the desired proportio of frequencies between the strings - are actuating the sic circuit arrangement incorporating the operational a lifier A. In the serial branch of the operational ampli A the resistor-chain containing the potentiometers Pv-P., having been connected to the joint plates B-i-B is arra ed, out of which - in dependence of the strings having been pressed down - potentiometers in a varying number connected in series with the input of the operational a lifier A. In case, if a string came in contact simultane ously with more joint plates, always the sound correspon ing to the highest position of the joint will be heard. In a known manner, the voltage appearing on the output Kg of the .operational amplifier, will change in dependen of the series resistance having been connected to the in put, supposed, that the feedback resistor R is constant The output _ g of the operational amplifier is delivering the control voltage for the voltage-controlled oscilla¬ tors having been connected directly to said output or through the shaping, filtering and other circuits, respe tively. With the solution to be seen in figure 2, the O - 4 - interconnected strings H -EL are connected to the voltage source U p . In order to be able to select the string to be sounded, the condensers C-,-0, are connected to the output of the resistor-chain containing the potentiometers P-τ_-P n via the string selecting switches E-^-E,, so e.g. three string selecting switches suffice for the distrinction of the six strings of the guitar. The output E is connected to the hysteresis comparator EO, while the output thereof is connected to the basis of the transistor T- ™ . The tran- sistor T is supplied with voltage from the output E. The circuit arrangement according to figure 2 operates, as follows: By the actuation of the string selecting switche E- J - .-T the con enser/s/ C -C-x connected to the circuit arr gement is /are/ beginning to the charged up to the supply voltage U & through the string pressed down, the joint pla being in contact with the same and on the part of the re¬ sistor-chain having been determined by the place of conta When the voltage of the condensers 0-,-C, are reaching the upper level of the hysteresis of the compara¬ tor EO, the comparator EO is tilting, the condenser is dis charged by the transistor .- * -. Hereafter the comparator is tilted back, the process begins anew, meanwhile a pulse appears on the output E-p. The frequency of the output pul- ses will be inversely proportional to the time constant o the RG member consisting of the potentiometers P-v-P- .havi been selected by pressing down the string, i.e. of the co densers C- j -C-ar having been selected by means of the string selecting switches η- -z. One may realize the solution previously describe in a polyphonic embodiment, as it is to be seen in figure In this case the joint plates B-^-3 are subdivided into as many sections as the number .of the strings, the sections o the joint plates are to be arranged below the strings and to be isolated from each other. With, this embodiment the series of the joint plate sections having been arranged below the single strings H-,-ϊ_L are connected to the out¬ puts II- j -I-I of the control equipment via a resistor-chain each. The resistor-chains contain the potentiometers -ii'^in* ? 2l" ~ ^2n* ^ml ~^ n.' • *" lιe 'fcr smi'fc"te:!:?s transmittin the control voltage - as already mentioned - having been realized by means of the operational amplifier A-.- are connected to the outputs E-,-E . The main advantage of the polyphonic music ins ent - compared to the traditional polyphonic orgatrons lies in that the number of the components required amoun but to the fraction of the traditionally needed componen With the embodiment to be seen in figure 4, th voltage source V„ is connected to the resistor-chain con- taining the potentiometers having been connected to the joint plates B-^- . The strings H -Ε are forming the ou E - of the control equipment, which is connected to th resistor-chain containing the potentiometers - - - n -. bei connected between the input and output of the operationa amplifier A. The essential feature of the operation of the embodiment according to figure 4 lies in, that when press a string, a part of the resistor-chains being connected the joint plates B -B and the strings H-,-ΕL will be con ed in series with the input of the operational amplifier while the other part is connected to the feedback branch of the amplifier, accordingly, the output voltage of the operational amplifier A will change in dependence of the pressed string and of the position of the joint plate be- ing in contact therewith. With the polyphonic embodiment - similarly to the embodiment according to figure 3 - a operational amp lifier each or any other voltage i.e. frequency generatin unit is connected to the outputs E 1-.-Em. With the embodiment according to figure 5 the O PI - 6 - strings H-,-H are made of a resistance wire. Accordingl the resistor-chain having been arranged between the joi plates becomes superfluous, i.e. the solution according to the invention may be well used to stringed instrumen being provided with a fingerboard. In this case, to ach a proper contact surface, the fingerboard should be mad of an electricalljr conductive material. The interconnec ed joint plates 3-,-B or the fingerboard are connected the voltage source U & , while the operational amplifiers A- j -A "" already mentioned before - are connected to the - outputs E-,-K • With the embodiment shown in figure 5 the res tor having been connected to the serial branch of the o rational amplifier A-,-A , as a consequence, the output tage of the operational amplifiers A-,-A^ are depending on the spot, where the resistance wires forming the str H-a j -H are pressed. In case, if the mechanical or electrical prop ties of the resistance wire staying at our disposal ήec sitated, the strings may be prepared in such a manner, that the resistance wire is wound onto a synthetic wire •an insulated steel wire. With the em bodiment according to figure 6, s milarly to the embodiment of the figure 1, the voltage generators are connected to the strings H-,-H . The vol¬ tage generators. are realized by means of the operationa amplifiers A-,-A being connected to the ' voltage divider having been built-up of the potentiometers JΓ- - -and by means of the emitter-tracking units built-up of the tra istors being connected with their bases to the output o the operational amplifiers A^-A^ The task of the opera tional amplifiers A^-A^ lies in to reduce the output im pedance of the voltage generators mentioned above, whil the emitter-base diode of the transistors T -T^. are for a logical circuit arrangement, which activates the volt - 7 - of the string of the highest voltage out of the strings having been simultaneously pressed, on the joint plates coming into contact v/ith the joints. The voltages of the strings can be adjusted by means of the potentiometers ^i^- i accordance with the desired tuning frequency pro¬ portion. The ladder-circuit consisting of the resistors ^11 * " ' • ? 21~* a 2 an<i "^ in coι ec±Ba 'fco he joints, which is attenuating the voltage of the strings in accordance v/ith the sound hold. The U- j . control voltage - being proportional to the frequency of the hold sound, appears on the output of the operational amplifiers A , used as a voltage tracking unit. The embodiment having been illustrated in figure 7, operates as follows: The series of resistors consisting of the re¬ sistors Ra-i- y , are forming the serial branch of the hyste¬ resis comparator having been built-up of the operational amplifiers A , while the series of resistors comprising the potentiometers -i- ™ a e forming the positive feed- back branch thereof. The operational amplifier A-, is functioning as an integrator and together with the hyste¬ resis comparator mentioned above, it is forming a wave¬ form generator, the output frequency of which is propor¬ tional to the frequency of the hold string. With the embodiment to be seen in figure 8, the series of resistors connecting the joints B-.-B are connect ed to the. voltage source TJ . The strings K-,-H__ are connect¬ ed by means of the potentiometers P -P m having been arrang¬ ed in the serial branch of the operational amplifier A-,. The voltage source U„ is connected - in deτendence of fa the place of holding - to the input of the operational amplifier A-, through the resistcrs R-.-R. and a part of the potentiometers P-.-P . In the feedback branch of the ope¬ rational amplifier A- ±, there is the resistor R_T arrang -*ed. The exponential amplifier E-, is connected to the output • - 8 - of said operational amplifier, on the output of the expo¬ nential amplifier the U, . control-voltage - being propor¬ tional to the frequency of the hold sound - appears. The advantage of the circuit arrangement lies in that the series of resistors is built-up of identical resistors. Instead of the control voltage, respectively, frequency generating units having been provided v/ith the operational amplifier, respectively, comparator, as previ¬ ously described, any type of circuit being controlled by means of the resistors of the control equipment can be op¬ tionally applied to any of the embodiments illustrated here. The advantage of the invention lies in that the mode of play corresponds to the usual mode of play of the stringed instruments, e.g. a guitar, having been applied in the control equipment. In order to be able to produce the sound of a synthetizer or a-n orgatron one has only the keep down the strings, accordingly plucking the guitar becomes superfluous. In such a manner a far quicker play becomes possible, since in the' technique of guitar playing the ' main difficulty is represented just by the synchronization of plucking and holding the strings, at the same time, the synthetizer play can be accompanied by the traditional guitar chords. Taking into consideration that the rapid scale passages can be played - without the necessity of re-scoring - on the sound of an orgatron or a synthetizer, the invention is yielding new possibilities in the field of meloiy-chord play. .After having prepared the transmitter for .the cont- rol voltage, it can be well adapted to the fac o -made syn¬ thetizers, in such a manner, in addition to the keyboard control these synthetizers can be well actuated by means of the control equipment according to the inventicr.. The advantage of this solution lies in that the field of application of the smthetizers can be widened, since ■ -ϋKt a A r due to the popularity of the guitar the number of the guitarists is far larger, than that of the pianist. A very significant advantage of the equipment according to the invention lies in that - compared to t instruments of similar character - it is built-up in a simple manner and as a consequence, the production is c When prepared v/ith integrated circuits and using a batt the whole synthetizer can be incorporated into the body the guitar. ' Q

Claims: WHAT W3 CiAIII: 1. Control equipment for electronic instrument in particular for synthetizers or orgatrons, containing a stringed instrument provided v/ith a fingerboard or joi plates, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the finge board and the joint plates /3-, -B / are made of an electr cally conductive material and between the voltage source /U & / and the output/s/ /E, - j -E ^ / a circuit is formed, w can be closed by pressing down a string /---_--%__/-< 2. Control equipment as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the strings H- are made of resistance wire. 3. Control equipment as claimed in claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that between the joint plates / η -B / -and/or betv/een the strings /H-, -H . / resist /R/ and/ or potentiometers are connected. 4. Control equipment as claimed in. claim 3, ' c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the joint plates /B-,-3 / or the strings are connected to separate voltage sources. 5. Control equipment as claimed in claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the joint plates /B-a, -B I are subdivided into sections having been arrange under the strings l^_ &_J ■ an 'i being isolated from each other . C AMENDED CLAIMS (received by the International Bureau on 23 September 1982 (23.09.82)) 1. /cancelled/ 2. /cancelled/ 3. /cancelled/ 4. /cancelled/ 5 5- /cancelled/ 6. /new/ Control equipment for electronic musi instruments and more particularly or electronic synthe¬ sizers or organs wherein said equipment comprising a bod /mechanism/ like a stringed music instrument provided 10 with ε fre oard or fingerboard and string/s/ wherein sa string/s/ being ma of electrically conductive material and said frets being connected by the resistors between them, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the fret /Bn/ at -th 15 top is connected through a resistor /£ " / to the input of an operational amplifier /A/ or to the capacitor/s/ /C- j - being connected to the input of a hysteresis comparator 7, /new/ Control equipment or electronic musi instruments and more particularly or electronic synthes 20 zers or organs wherein said equipment comprising a body /mechanism/ like a stringed music instrument provided wi a fretboard or fingerboard and string/s/ wherein said εtring/s/ / - j _~ - n / * f ets /joint plates/ B^-B / being mad of electrically conductive material and said frets being 25 connected by. the resistors /^_~^ _»—_/ ' • be ^ 'weeja them, c h a ra c t e r i z e d i n that the fret /B / at the top is coupled through ε resistor /P_/ to the terminal of a constant potential /U or to the output of an operatio amplifier /Aj» 30 , 8. /new/ A ' control equipment as defined in clai 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the strings are connected through semi-conductor junctions to the diffe¬ rent potential 2-π_~?-π__ * 12 9. /nev// A control equipment as defined in claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the strings are coupled with resistors and the string at the top /- * ■•_/ is connected to the input of an operatio- nal amplifier. 10. /new/ Control equipment for electronic music instruments and more particularly or electronic synthesizers or organs wherein said equipment comprising a body /mechanism/ like a stringed music instrument pro- vided with a fretboard or fingerboard and string/s/ whe¬ rein said string/s/ being made of electrically conductive material, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the frets /joint plates/ /-ET-P J ,/ are subdivided into sections • B τn __ι~ B mn / being isolated from each other and the sections under the same strings being connected through resistors and the section/s/ at the top each are coupled through a resistor ∑L T ""^ * , to the inputs of each operational amp lifier /A-.-A / » and the strings are coupled to the ter- inal of a constant potential /Ug/ or to that one of different constant potentials. 11. /new/ Control equipment for electronic music instruments and more particularly for electronic synthesizers or organs wherein said equipment comprising a body /mechanism/ like a stringed music instrument pro¬ vided with a fretboard or fingerboard and string/s/ wher said string/s/ bein made of electrically conductive material, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d i n that the fretboard or fingerboard is made of metal or the frets /joint plates/ are coupled with each other and the string/s/ is/are made of resisto string and all of the said strings being connected to each input of operational amplifiers / _- J. OMFI r VTIFO , . 12. /new/ Control equipment as defined in claims 6 , 7 » 10 or 11, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i that the body /a/ containing a fretboard or fingerboar and string/s/ like said string-type music instrument i in itself a string-type music instrument efficient in working.

Inventors: THURANSZKY KAROLY, THURANSZKY, KAROLY
Applicants: THURANSZKY KAROLY, THURANSZKY, KAROLY
Application year: 1981
Main classification: G10H1
IPC codes: G10H1