# US 4,397,211 A · Circuit for producing musical tones

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- Number: US 4,397,211 A
- Document ID: US4397211A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/335,783
- Filed: 1981-12-30
- Granted: 1983-08-09
- Earliest claimed: 1981-12-30
- Assignees: Mattel, Inc.
- Inventors: Scott A. Ferdinand
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4397211A

## CPC

- G10H 1/057: by envelope-forming circuits
- Y10S 84/02: Preference networks
- Y10S 84/08: Keyed oscillators
- Y10S 84/20: Monophonic
- G10H: ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A circuit for producing musical tones is disclosed which includes a keyboard for selecting the musical tones, and a tone generator responsive to the keyboard for generating a square wave signal having the frequency of the musical note to be generated. A charging circuit is provided for charging a capacitor to a predetermined level of voltage when the square wave signal is terminated, and for exponentially discharging the capacitor when the square wave signal is initiated. A modulation circuit amplitude modulates the square wave signal in proportion to the capacitor voltage to produce an exponentially decaying signal which simulates the waveform produced by a struck piano string. A speaker is also included to convert the exponentially decaying signal into audible musical tones having the sound of piano notes. The circuit of the invention requires only a small number of components, making it suitable for use in miniature musical toys.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A circuit for producing musical tones comprising:
keyboard means responsive to an external command for selecting musical tones to be generated by the circuit;
tone generator means responsive to the keyboard means for generating a square wave signal only when the external command is present, the square wave signal having the frequency of the musical tone to be generated;
a first capacitor;
charging means responsive to the square wave signal for charging the first capacitor to a predetermined level of voltage when the square wave signal is terminated and for exponentially discharging the first capacitor when the square wave signal is initiated, including
a first inverter having input and output terminals,
means for connecting the input terminal of the first inverter to a high level DC bias source,
means for AC coupling the input terminal of the first inverter to the square wave signal,
a second capacitor,
means for connecting the output terminal of the first inverter to the second capacitor whereby the second capacitor is charged when the square wave is initiated and the second capacitor is discharged when the square wave signal is terminated,
a second inverter having input and output terminals,
means for applying the voltage appearing across the second capacitor to the input terminal of the second inverter, and
means for connecting the output terminal of the second inverter to the first capacitor whereby the first capacitor is charged to the predetermined level of voltage when the second capacitor is discharged, and the first capacitor is discharged when the second capacitor is charged;
modulation means response to the square wave signal and the first capacitor voltage for amplitude modulating the square wave signal in proportion to the first capacitor voltage to produce an exponentially decaying signal; and
speaker means responsive to the exponentially decaying signal for providing audible musical tones.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The circuit of claim 1 in which the modulator means includes:
a transistor;
means for applying the square wave signal to a first electrode of the transistor; and
means for applying the first capacitor voltage to a second electrode of the transistor, whereby the exponentially decaying signal appears at a third electrode of the transistor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The circuit of claim 2 further including:
amplifier means connected to drive the speaker means; and
means for applying the exponentially decaying signal to an input terminal of the amplifier.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The circuit of claim 2 in which the means for applying the square wave signal to a first electrode of the transistor includes:
a third inverter having input and output terminals;
means for connecting the input terminal of the third inverter to a high level DC bias source;
means for AC coupling the input terminal of the third inverter to the square wave signal; and
means for connecting the output terminal of the third inverter to the first electrode of the transistor.