Baldwin Piano & Organ Company

L-3 Communications Cincinnati Electronics Corporation

D. H. Baldwin Company

David R Wade

John W Devitt

Walter Munch

Jeffrey J Voelker

Mark E Greiner

Thomas E Kimble

Michael J Garter

Methods and systems for detection of. One method includes receiving light of a predetermined wavelength range from a source, and splitting the received light into multiple components having differing wavelengths. The method further includes directing the components toward individual locations spaced from one another. In addition, this illustrative method includes detecting at least some of the components at the locations. One illustrative system includes a plurality of detectors provided along an image facing plane of an array, wherein each detector has a width less than or equal to that of its conesponding pixel location, wherein at least two detectors are located within a single pixel location, wherein the size of each pixel location is approximately equal to the blur spot or smallest visible spot for the focal plane array, and a plurality of light pipe regions, wherein at least two light pipe regions are located within a single pixel location.

Methods and systems for distinguishing multiple wavelengths of radiation and increasing detected signals in a detection system using micro-optic structures

An apparatus for selectively limiting undesired radiation from a scene which, in one embodiment, includes an optic that is operative to attenuate radiation by selectively losing transparency in response to radiation within a first wavelength band from a source. The loss of transparency affects the passage through the optic of radiation within a second wavelength band from that source. The optic can be positioned between a sensor and the scene such that the sensor is configured to receive radiation from the scene through the optic. In one embodiment, an optical limiter includes a plurality of such optics, wherein the optical limiter is configured to facilitate transmission of light corresponding to a scene, and wherein each optic is configured to receive a respective portion of the light corresponding to a respective portion of the scene. A light detector assembly and a method of limiting light energy are also included.

Methods and apparatuses for selectively limiting undesired radiation

An electronic keyboard musical instrument is provided having optical emitters and detectors both positioned beneath each of the instrument's keys, whereby optical energy is emitted upon the bottom reflective surface of the key and the reflected light is detected. The distance between the optoelectronic sensor and the bottom of the key is detected by the light detector which produces an analog output signal and, by measuring the time between a first and second threshold crossing, the key's velocity can be determined. The two thresholds are preferably chosen to measure a rising voltage as the key is depressed, and the threshold values are preferably chosen at 50% of key travel and 75% of key travel. By use of these thresholds, a relatively clean and useful waveform is available at both threshold crossings, particularly since the mechanical movement of the key has nearly reached its terminal velocity. Electronics in the keyboard instrument sequentially scan each of the output voltages produced by their corresponding light detectors so that a single microprocessor can measure all of the key position values. A single set of threshold voltages can be utilized for all of the keys of the keyboard instrument, if desired, or each of the keys can have its own individual threshold values depending upon the calibration values for its zero and span conditions. The time interval between threshold crossings can be determined, which in turn is used to determine the velocity of each key as it is being depressed. Once the velocity is known, the volume for that key's particular musical tone can be controlled by a sound engine, as well as its other characteristics, such as timbre, attack, and envelope.

Method and apparatus for optically sensing the position and velocity of

An electronic musical instrument of the type producing pipe organ-like sounds including a circuit for simulating wind noise by causing a random perturbation from the nominal frequency of tune, which an organ flue pipe exhibits when sounding, through the use of digital noise generators which are utilized to approximate an analog white or random noise source. The digital noise generators produce digital noise signals which are used to frequency modulate the instrument tone generator to produce substantially random perturbations in tbe generator output signal frequency. The present invention may be used with musical instruments having a single tone generator system composed of either a multiplicity of oscillators with a vibrato input, or a top octave frequency generator integrated circuit and a single oscillator with a vibrato input, or a transposer system. Furthermore, the present invention finds utility with multiple generator organ systems where all of the generators may be randomly modulated by independent and unlocked noise signals.

Simulating wind noise in electronic organs using digital noise generators

A microprocessor controlled electronic capture combination action system for use in an electronic organ for selecting a predetermined combination of stops to define the organ voicing. The system includes a plurality of stop tabs for setting and resetting the stops, a plurality of pistons for setting a desired combination of stops to a predetermined condition, a random access memory for storing data associated with a selected combination of stops, a read only memory containing a permanently stored operating program incorporating a plurality of operating instructions, an indicator light associated with each of the stop tabs and a microprocessor responsive to the operating instructions. The stop tab and pistons are continually and sequentially scanned to detect the contact closures. Actuated stop tabs cause the associated stops to be selected and the indicator lights illuminated. Information corresponding to a selected combination of stops for a selected one of the pistons is stored in the random access memory and may be recalled at will by closing the appropriate piston. The recalled data is used to select the combination of stops and illuminate the associated indicator lights. The system also includes a manually operable crescendo shoe which may be used to actuate a plurality of predetermined combinations of the stops in response to designated positions of the shoe. In a preferred embodiment, a crescendo circuit is used to cause a delayed interrupt signal to the operating program to provide a count which is compared against stored values associated with particular stop combinations. The crescendo shoe also includes a circuit for adding hysteresis to the crescendo shoe position. The operating program incorporates a debounce routine for eliminating false contact closures caused by switch bounce in the stop tabs such that the switch contacts must remain in a particular state for a number of successive scans before the switch closure will be detected.

Capture combination action system for electronic organs

A transposing electronic instrument wherein the clock frequency applied to control a top octave frequency generator is derived by comparing any single output of the generator with the response of a frequency reference circuit to that output, deriving a dc voltage representative of the difference in frequency of the input and output of the reference circuit and controlling the clock frequency from the dc voltage, thereby transposing all the outputs of the top octave frequency generator.

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Cincinnati, OH, United States of America

David R Wade