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The US Patent for the Theremin (1928) - from the Theremin.info Archives
The US Patent for the Theremin (Page 3 of 3)By Leon Theremin, of Leningrad, Russia 28th February 1928
The “sound-generating” control element 177 for
the first tone is connected with the circuit 179 of an oscillator 178 and the circuit is grounded. A detector 180 is included
in the first system and a detector 187 is included in the second system. Said detectors are connected by a coupling coil 181
and a The two detectors 180 and 187 transmit the low-frequency oscillations to the amplifier 193 by means of the transformers 191 and 192. The fixed oscillator 194 is connected to the calibrated oscillating system 195 in a corresponding manner and is also connected with the two tone systems or their first amplifier 193. The latter may then control the amplifier systems 197, 198, 199, 200 by means of the transformer 196 for the purpose of producing a better effect. These amplifiers are controlled by the rheostats 201, 202 and 203 in the plate circuit and by rheostats 204, 205, 206 in the filament circuit. The “sound-volume” control element 207 controls, through the absorption system 208, the oscillating system 209 of the amplifier 210 for the sound volume regulation. The oscillating circuit 209 feeds the filament of the tube 197 by means of the high frequency transformer 211. The amplifiers 197, 198, 199 and 200 then supply the reprodueers 213 and 214 through the transformer 212, the switches 215 and 216 serving for switching the tones on and off, while correction systems 217, 218, 219 are furthermore provided for the reproducers 213 and 214. The resistances 201, 202, 203, 204, 205and 206 serve for producing different kinds of tones. The rheostat 220 permits a regulation of the filament current for all tubes. The condenser 221 serves for the regulation of the timbre in the reproducer, while the choke 222 exerts a similar effect upon the reproducer 213. If it is desired to dispense with the “sound-volume” control element 207, the rheostat 223 indicated in dotted lines should be connected in circuit. It will be readily understood that the systems of connection illustrated and described are only a few examples of how the invention may be enlarged upon. As a matter of course, it is possible to vary the individual systems in many ways according to developments made in the wireless industry. By a phase displacement of the individual sound reproducing systems, an apparent wandering of the sound tones in space may be produced. The invention may if desired be used in conjunction with a broadcasting transmitter whereby the frequency variation caused by the approach of a body towards the control element of the oscillating system will directly influence the broadcasting transmitter so that the electric oscillations corresponding with the sound oscillations are amplified and directly transmitted. In playing on this instrument, the microphone or microphones and the distortions caused thereby are eliminated, so that a clearer reproduction is assured. I claim :- 1. A tone generating system controlled by the hand and comprising an electrical circuit embodying an oscillation generator means in said circuit including a conductor having a field which when influenced by a hand moving therein will vary the resonant frequency of said circuit according to the movement of said hand only, and a sound reproducer connected with said circuit for emitting tones according to the electrical variations occurring in the circuit. 2. A tone generating system controllable by an object moving relative thereto, comprising an electrical circuit embodying an oscillation generator, operating means associated with said circuit including a conductor having a field which when influenced by said object moving therein will vary the resonant frequency of said circuit, said object having a different dielectric constant than the medium in which the field occurs, a second electrical oscillation generator connected to said circuit and a sound reproducer connected to said generators for emitting tones produced by the interference of the oscillations of said generators. 3. A tone generating system for producing a plurality of superimposed tones, comprising an electrical oscillating circuit and a control electrode for each tone, the field of said electrode being controllable by the hand alone when moving therein, means including the control electrodes for varying the resonant frequencies of said circuits in accordance with the tones desired and a reproducer associated with all of said circuits. 4. A tone generating instrument played by hand comprising a circuit embodying an oscillation generator, means in said circuit including a conductor external thereto elec- trically influenced by the movement of the hand for varying the resonant frequency of said circuit at will, a second oscillation circuit, generator connected to said circuit to produce a beat frequency, a detector system coupled with said circuits, a sound reproducer controlled by said detector system and a transformer conncted intermediate system. 5. A sound or musical tone generating in strument comprising a circuit embodying an oscillation generator, a second oscillation generator producing a beat frequency there- with and means in said circuit including a conductor electrically influenced by body capacitance for varying the resonant frequency of said circuit to produce musical tones at will. 6. A musical instrument comprising a circuit embodying an oscillation generator, means including an electrode in said circuit for varying the resonant frequency of said circuit at will to produce the desired musical tones, a second oscillation generator connected to said circuit to produce a beat frequency, an amplifier in said circuit, a detector system connected to said amplifier and said second oscillation generator and a sound reproducer connected to be controlled by said detector system. 7. A musical instrument comprising a circuit embodying an oscillation generator, means including an electrode in said circuit for varying the resonant frequency of said circuit at will to produce the desired musical tones, a second oscillation generator connected to said circuit to produce a beat frequency, an amplifier connected to said second oscillation generator, a detector system connected to said amplifier and the first mentioned oscillation generator and a sound reproducer controlled by said detector system. 8. A sound or musical tone generating instrument comprising, an electrical oscillating circuit, means icluding an electrode electrically influenced by movement of the hand for varying the resonant frequency of said oscillating circuit at will to produce thc desircd musical tones, an electro-ionic tube having a plate and a grid connected to said oscillating circuit to cause an oscillating current to flow therein, said electrode being directly connected to said plate, and a sound reproducer in said circuit for emitting tones in accordance with the variations in the oscillations. 9. A musical tone generating instrument comprising an electrical oscillating circuit, means including an electrode electrically in- fluenced by movement of the hand for vary- ing the resonant frequency of said oscillating circuit at will to produce the desired musical tones, an electro-ionic tube having a plate and a grid connected to said oscillating circuit to cause an oscillating current to flow therein, said electrode being, directly connected to said grid, and a sound reproducer circuit. 10. An instrument for producing musical tones comprising an electrical oscillating circuit, means including an electrode in said circuit to produce the desired tones in accordance with the movement of the hand, two inductances of different values in said circuit, said electrode being connected to the larger inductance, and a sound reproducer connected with said circuit. 11. A system for generating n musical tones comprising n +1 circuits, an electrode in each of a purality of said circuits arranged to be responsive to manual control and a sound reproducer controlled by the beat frequencies of the currents traversing said circuits. 12. A musical sound generating instrument comprising oscillating circuits means including a manual control electrode in each circuit for controlling the frequencies of the oscillations therein, a detector system for each circuit, a resultant system to which all said detector circuits are connected and a sound reproducer controlled by said resultant system. 13. A sound producing instrument comprising oscillating circuits, means including an electrode in each circuit for controlling the frequency of the oscillations therein at will, oscillating systems to one of which each of said circuits is coupled, each oscillating system comprising a coupling coil, a detector, a coil, said coils constituting the primaries of a transformer, a secondary in said transformer, a calibrated circuit, a coupling coil in said calibrated circuit connected to the neutral points of each primary, a generating system to which the secondary of said transformer is connected and a sound reproducer controlled by said generating system. 14. A musical sound producing instrument comprising oscillating circuits, means including an electrode in each circuit for controlling the frequency of the oscillations therein at will, a detector connected galvanically to each circuit, coils connected in series with each detector, condensers connected in parallel to each coil, said coils constituting the primaries of a transformer, a secondary in said transformer, a variable inductance common to all detector circuits, a calibrated system comprising a plate and a grid circuit, said inductance being connected to said plate circuit, a generating system to which the secondary of said transformer is connected and a sound reproducer controlled by said generating system. 15. An instrument for producing musical sound notes comprising oscillating circuits, means including an electrode in each circuit for controlling the frequency of the oscillations therein at will, a detector connected galvanically to each circuit, coils connected in series with each detector, condensers connected in parallel to each coil, said coils constituting the primaries of a transformer, a secondary in said transformer, a variable inductance common to all detector circuits, a calibrated system comprising a plate and a grid circuit, said inductance being connected said grid circuit, a generating system to which the secondary of said transformer is connected, and a sound reproducer controlled by said generating system. 16. An apparatus for producing music in imitation of musical instruments comprising an electrical oscillating circuit, means in said circuit including an electrode for controlling the oscillations therein, a sound reproducer in said circuit controlled by the oscillation controlling means, a cathode tube for said reproducer and means including a filament in said tube for regulating the volume of the sound in said reproducer, said last mentioned means including a volume control electrode connected to the filament. 17. An apparatus for producing sound tones comprising an electrical oscillating circuit, means including an electrode for controlling the resonant frequency of the oscillating circuit, a sound reproducer connected with said circuit and means including a separate electrode for regulating the volume of the sound in said reproducer by varying the electrical field of the electrode. 18. An apparatus for producing sound tones comprising an electrical oscillating circuit, means including an electrode for controlling the resonant frequency of the oscillating circuit, a sound reproducer connected with said circuit, a detector provided with a filamentary cathode, a battery connected with the filament circuit of said detector, a shunt circuit and a switch adapted to close either the filament circuit or said shunt circuit. 19. An apparatus for producing musical tones comprising an electrical oscillating circuit, means including an electrode for controlling the resonant frequency of the oscillating circuit, a sound reproducer connected with said circuit, means including a separate electrode for regulating the volume of the sound in said reproducer, a tube associated with said separate electrode, a relay energised by said tube, a detector and an amplifier comprising a filament connected with said detector and controlled by the armature of said relay. 20. An apparatus for producing musical sound comprising an electrical oscillating circuit, means including an electrode for controlling the resonant frequency of the oscillating circuit, a sound reproducer in said circuit and a second oscillating circuit, the electric constants of which correspond to the mechanical oscillation constants of said reproducer. 21. Apparatus generative of musical sound comprising an electrical oscillating circuit, means including an electrode for controlling the oscillations therein, a sound reproducer in said circuit, a plurality of electro-ionic tubes of different characteristics connected in parallel to each other and in series with said reproducer and separate resistances for regulating the plate and filament of each tube. 22. Apparatus generative of musical tones comprising an electrical oscillating circuit, means including an electrode for controlling the oscillations therein, a sound reproducer in said circuit, a detector, a transformer, one winding of which is connected in the plate circuit of said detector and the magnetisation of which transformer is regulated by its other winding, a circuit connected with said other winding, a resistance for controlling said circuit and a third winding in said transformer connected with said reproducer. 23. The method of obtaining a definite dependence of the change of the frequency of an oscillating system for producing relative changes in pitch of musical tones upon the degree of approach of an object toward a control electrode characterised by the steps of changing the electrical field distribution by varying the relationship of said electrode and said object and generating sound according to the characteristics of said field. 24. The method of producing musical tones in accordance with the movement of the hand, characterised by generating electrical oscillations in a circuit, varying the capacitance of a portion of the circuit by movement of the hand in its relation to the circuit, producing from said circuit sounds of variable pitch corresponding to the electrical oscillations and altering the variations to produce sounds of the desired timbre. 25. In a method of producing musical tones in an electrical continuously oscillating system, the steps of generating oscillations in the system and which comprises changing the electrical characteristics of said system by movement of a foreign object in proximitive relation to a part thereof to vary the electrical capacity of a portion of the system. 26. The method of producing musical tones in an electrical oscillating system embodying two oscillation generators arranged to generate an audible beat frequency characterised by moving the hand in relation to said system in a manner to change the electrical characteristics of one of said generators only. 27. The method of producing musical tones which comprises generating electrical oscillations of ultra-audible frequency, generating other oscillations of slightly different frequency, varying the frequency of one series of oscillations by altering the electrical characteristics of the generating system by moving a body in relation to said system and combining said oscillations to obtain a variable beat note of audible pitch. 28. The method of producing musical tones of controllable pitch, duration and intensity which comprises varying the constants of the circuit of an electrical oscillator by moving the hand in relation to an element of said circuit, producing from said circuit sound vibrations of variable pitch corresponding to the electrical oscillations and controlling the sound vibrations to vary the duration and intensity of the tones. 29. A musical instrument comprising an oscillating system embodying means to be influenced in respect to the frequency of its oscillation by external conditions structurally unrelated thereto, a sound reproducer controlled by said oscillating system and means for controlling the volume of the sound in said reproducer. 30. Apparatus generative of musical tones comprising an electrical oscillating system embodying means including an outwardly projecting conductor subject to influence in respect of the frequency of its oscillation by external conditions neither conductively nor mechanically connected thereto and a sound reproducer controlled by said oscillating system. 31. Apparatus generative of musical tones comprising a plurality of electrical oscillating systems to produce a beat note of audible frequency, one of said systems embodying an outwardly projecting conductor and subject to influence in respect of the frequency of its oscillation by external conditions neither conductively nor mechanically connected thereto and a sound reproducer controlled by said systems. 32. Apparatus for generating musical tones comprising two oscillators, each including a resonant circuit and adjusted to produce a beat note of audible frequency, one of said oscillators having a portion thereof extending outwardly to a position for co-operation with the hand of an operator to vary the oscillations without moving the elements of the last mentioned oscillator, and a sound reproducer connected to said oscillators. 33. An electrical system generative of musical tones comprising tone producing means, said means including electrical circuits, a sound reproducer connected to said sound producing means and means for varying the volume and pitch of the tone emitted by said reproducer in accordance with the movements of an operators hand in relation to said circuits to generate separate musical notes of the desired duration. 34. An apparatus of the class described responsive to a moving external object comprising an electrical circuit embodying an oscillation generator, means in said circuit including a conductor electrically influenced by the movement of said object for varying the resonant frequency of said circuit according to the movement of the object and means connected to said circuit for emitting tones according to the electrical variations occurring in the circuit. 35. An apparatus of the class described comprising an electrical oscillator, a sound reproducer connected to said oscillator, an electrode connected to the oscillator for effecting manual control thereof by variation of the electrical field around the electrode, means for operating the sound reproducer in accordance with the variations in the oscillator and means for controlling the volume of the sound from said reproducer. 36. An apparatus of the class described comprising an electrical oscillator, a sound reproducer connected to said oscillator, an electrode connected to the oscillator for effecting manual control thereof by variation of the electrical field around the electrode, and means for operating the sound reproducer to generate musical tones in accordance with the variations in the oscillator including means for controlling the timbre of said tones. 37. An apparatus of the class described comprising an electrical oscillator, a sound reproducer connected to said oscillator, an electrode connected to the oscillator for effecting manual control thereof by variation of the electrical field around the electrode, means for operating the sound reproducer in accordance with variations in the oscillator, a second electrode for effecting manual control of the volume of the tones emitted by said reproducer by variation of the electrical field around said electrode and means including said second electrode for controlling the volume of said tones. 38. A tone generating system for producing a plurality of registers of super-imposed tones, comprising an electrical oscillating circuit and a control electrode for each register, the field of said electrode being controllable by the hand alone when moving therein, and means including the control electrodes for varying the resonant frequencies of said circuits in accordance with the tones desired. 39. An electrical musical instrument comprising means for controlling the volume of the tones thereof, including an electrode controlled by body capacitance. 40. In a method of producing musical tones in accordance with the movement of the hand, the steps of generating electrical oscillations in a circuit and varying the capacitance of a portion of the circuit by movement of the hand in its relation to the circuit. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification LEO SSERGEJEWITSCH THEREMIN (Page 3 of 3) Tagged: Leon Theremin Categories:
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