JP3481669B2 - Electronic music box and its driving device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic music box having a built-in sound generator and its drive device, and more particularly to controlling the sound generator based on control data input from an external device such as a personal computer to achieve a desired performance. The electronic music box and its driving device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a control system integrated electronic music box which sequentially reads out musical tone data stored in advance in a storage means such as a ROM and supplies it to a sound generator to perform a performance according to the musical tone data. However, the electronic music box integrated with the control system can perform only a few performances prepared in advance, and since an expensive CPU and its peripheral circuits must be built in, the device becomes large and expensive. There was a problem that it would become something like.

In order to solve such a problem, an electronic music box and an electronic musical instrument, which perform a performance based on control data input from an external device such as a computer, have become widespread in recent years. However, these devices still require a CPU and its peripheral circuits, and in addition, each data is serially transferred, which causes new problems. That is, since the sound generator targets parallel data, a new device for converting serial data into parallel data is needed. Further, if a musical tone requiring high-speed control such as 32 musical notes is included, there is a problem that a FIFO memory or the like must be provided in the electronic music box.

[0004]

In order to transfer control data in parallel, a slot bus or a parallel interface for printers conforming to Centronics may be used. The slot bus is generally provided behind the device. Because it is difficult to connect, you have to prepare a dedicated board. In addition, the specifications of the slot bus are slightly different for each company, and some so-called notebook computers do not have a slot bus, so there is a problem of low versatility.

On the other hand, the Centronics compliant printer interface has a unified standard and is also standard equipment in notebook computers and the like, and the connection cable can be attached and detached very easily. Can all be solved. However, in the printer interface described above, the data strobe line (ST
B) is the only control signal for reception.

On the other hand, in the sound generator built into the electronic music box, in addition to the 8-bit data input terminal, a write enable (WE) terminal, a chip select (CS) terminal, and a control terminal (for example, details will be described later). It is necessary to control three control terminals such as A0 terminal mentioned above) at the same time. Specifically, among the above three types of control terminals, the WE terminal and the CS terminal can be controlled by a common signal, so that at least two types of terminals other than the data input terminal are controlled by different signals. Therefore, the printer interface has a problem of lack of control signals.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to transfer control data from an external device to an electronic music box by using a printer interface conforming to Centronics which is excellent in versatility and operability. It can be done in parallel.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the following means are taken. (1) In an electronic music box that controls the built-in sound generator based on the musical sound data input from an external device, each data line and strobe line of the input interface section connected to the Centronics interface of the external device are respectively connected to the sound generator. And a means for generating a control signal based on the data transmitted on each data line, and connecting the generated control signal to the second control of the sound generator. The feature is that it is supplied to the terminals. (2) A drive device for driving the electronic music box,
Means for independently controlling the strobe line of the Centronics interface, means for generating dummy data that does not affect the operation of the sound generator, first data for specifying the address of the sound generator, and storage at this address Means for sending the second data on the data line, and means for sending the dummy data on the data line prior to sending the first data and the second data, respectively.
The means for independently controlling the strobe line sets the strobe line at the first level during the main period for transmitting the first data, and sets the second level during the main period for transmitting the second data. The point is that it was done.

[0009]

According to each of the above-mentioned constitutions, one control signal can be newly generated based on the 8-bit data sent on the data line, so that the 8-bit data is finally obtained from the signal on the Centronics interface. Besides, two types of control signals including the STB signal are obtained. Therefore, by inputting the 8-bit data and the two types of control signals to the data input terminal and the two control terminals of the sound generator respectively, it is possible to control the electronic music box from an external device using the parallel interface conforming to Centronics. Become.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system to which the electronic music box of the present invention is applied. The electronic music box unit 1 is connected to an external device 3 such as a personal computer via a general-purpose printer cable 2. The musical tone signal output from the electronic music box unit 1 is transmitted to the speaker 5 via the amplifier 4.
Is output from. The amplifier 4 and the speaker 5 are
It may be built in the electronic music box unit 1.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the electronic music box unit 1 which is an embodiment of the present invention.
Here, the description of the configurations unnecessary for the description of the present invention is omitted.

In the figure, the data input connector 10
The mechanical dimensions, terminal arrangement, and the like conform to the Centronics specification, and the general-purpose printer cable 2 is used to mutually connect to a Centronics-compliant printer connector provided in the external device 3.

The sound generator 20 is, for example, an LSI "OPLYM2413" manufactured by Yamaha Corporation, and determines the shape of the envelope of the musical tone, the degree of modulation, the frequency and the tone generation mode according to the control data input to the data buses D0 to D7. Then, various musical tone signals are output from the output terminal OUT. The control signal generation unit 30 generates a control signal for the sound generator 20 based on the 8-bit input data, and outputs this.

A data strobe (STB) signal input from the external device 3 via the printer cable 2 is input to the A0 terminal of the sound generator 20. The 8-bit data signals D0 to D7 are input to the data input terminals D0 to D7 of the sound generator 20 and the control signal generating section 30. The output signal of the control signal generation unit 30 is input to the chip select (CS) terminal and the write enable (WE) terminal of the sound generator 20.

The A0 terminal of the sound generator 20 is a control terminal for designating the purpose of the data input to the data input terminals D0 to D7, and the A0 terminal is "L".
The 8-bit data input at the level is used for addressing a register provided in the sound generator 20, and the 8-bit data input at the “H” level is stored in the specified register. It becomes the stored data.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram specifically showing an example of the configuration of the control signal generator 30, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing signal waveforms of the main part thereof.

The 8-bit control data D0 to D7 input from the external device via the printer cable 2 are 8-input N.
It is input to the AND gate 31. The output terminal of the NAND gate 31 is connected to one ends of the resistors R1 and R2. The other end of the resistor R2 is connected to one end of the capacitor C2 and the 2-input NA.
The resistor R1 is connected to one input terminal of the ND gate 33.
The other end of is connected to one end of the capacitor C1 and the input terminal of the inverter 32. The other ends of the capacitors C1 and C2 are grounded. The output terminal of the inverter 32 is connected to the other input terminal of the 2-input NAND gate 33,
The output signal of the AND gate 33 is input to the WE terminal and the CS terminal of the sound generator 20 as described above.

According to this structure, the input 8-bit control data has a predetermined value (& HF in this embodiment).
When the pulse signal S1 is output from the NAND gate 31 in F), the pulse signal S5 is output from the NAND gate 33 after a predetermined time has elapsed since the data was input.

Next, a method of controlling the electronic music box by the external device 3 will be described. In the present embodiment, a case where a personal computer of PC-9800 series manufactured by NEC Corporation is used as an external device will be described as an example.

In the personal computer 3 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the bus line 60 is connected to the parallel interface connector 50 via the input / output interface IC 40 of the 8255 system. IC40 P
Address "&H40" is assigned to port A, and P
The address "&H44" is assigned to the C port. The PA port is connected to the data bus lines D0 to D7 of the parallel interface, and the PC port has its most significant bit (MSB) D7 connected to the STB signal line of the parallel interface.

FIG. 6 shows a command to be executed when the personal computer 3 controls the electronic music box unit 1 using a basic program, and a timing chart of signals input to the electronic music box unit 1 by the command. Shows. It should be noted that only the instructions and operations necessary for explaining the present invention are shown here.

In the instruction, the address "&H44" is designated and the data "&H0" for outputting the STB signal is output. As a result, in the IC 40 of FIG. 5, the PC port is selected and the data of "L" level is output from the D7 terminal thereof, so that the STB signal becomes "L" level on the interface. Therefore, on the electronic music box section 1 side, A
The 0 terminal goes to "L" level.

In the instruction, the address "&H40" is designated and dummy data "&HFF" is output. As a result, the IC 40 selects the PA port, and D0 to
"H" level data is output from all D7 terminals. Therefore, on the electronic music box unit 1 side, the data “& HFF” is input to each data input terminal of the sound generator 20 and the control signal generation unit 30.

At this time, the control signal generator 3 shown in FIG.
At 0, the output terminal of the NAND gate 31 is data "&H".
Although it falls at the timing shown by the broken line in FIG. 5 (pulse S1) only during the FF "output period, the output terminal of the NAND gate 33 is still at the" H "level (see FIG. 4). The data has no effect on the sound generator 20.

In the instruction, the address "&H40" is designated and the desired control data "&HΔΔ" is output. As a result, the PA port is selected in IC40 and its D0
Data "& H △△" is output to the ~ D7 terminals. On the electronic music box section 1 side, data “&” is input to each data input terminal of the sound generator 20 and the control signal generation section 30.
HΔΔ ”is input.

At this time, A of the sound generator 20
The 0 terminal has already been at the “L” level according to the previous instruction. Then, from the control signal generation unit 30, the pulse signal S output from the NAND gate 31 in accordance with the previous instruction.
1 is delayed by the scheduled time as shown in FIG.
Since the pulse signal S5 is output from the ND gate 33 and is input to the sound generator 20 as the CS signal and the WE signal, the register address of the sound generator 20 is designated by the data “& HΔΔ”.

In the instruction, the address "&H44" is designated and the data "&H80" is output. As a result, in the IC 40 of FIG. 5, the PC port is selected and the "H" level data is output from the D7 terminal, so that the STB signal becomes the "H" level on the interface. Therefore, on the electronic music box section 1 side, the A0 terminal becomes "H" level.

In the instruction, the address "&H40" is designated and dummy data "&HFF" is output, and the same control as in the case of the above instruction is performed.

In the instruction, the address "&H40" is designated and the desired control data "&HXX" is output. As a result, the PA port is selected in IC40 and its D0
Data "&HXX" is output to the ~ D7 terminals. On the electronic music box side 1, “& Hxx” is attached to each data input terminal of the sound generator 20 and the control signal generator 30.
Will be input.

At this time, A of the sound generator 20
The 0 terminal has already been set to the “H” level by the previous instruction. Then, from the control signal generation unit 30, the pulse signal S output from the NAND gate 33 according to the previous instruction.
Since 5 is input to the sound generator 20 as the CS signal and the WE signal in the same manner as described above, the data “& Hxx” is stored in the register designated by the data “& HΔΔ”. Become.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the original control data is sent from the personal computer 3 to the electronic music box section 1, the dummy data "&HFF" is output prior to the sending of the control data. With
On the electronic music box unit 1 side, the control signal generation unit 30 generates the CS signal and the WE signal output at the original input timing of the control data, based on the input dummy data. Therefore, the only control signal is ST
Two kinds of signals, an A0 signal and a WE signal (CS signal), can be generated from the B signal, and the electronic music box can be controlled by using the interface of the Centronics specification.

In the above embodiment, "&HFF" is used as the dummy data, but if the control data does not affect the operation of the sound generator, the other control data is used as the dummy data. May be.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, as means for generating the CS signal and the WE signal based on the dummy data,
Although the control signal generation unit 30 shown in FIG. 3 is used, the present invention is not limited to this, and any pulse signal can be output at the original control data input timing based on the input dummy data. As long as it has any circuit configuration.

Further, in the above embodiment, the pulse signal generated by the control signal generating section 30 is described as being input to both the CS terminal and the WE terminal of the sound generator 20, but the CS terminal is always "". It may be set to L ″ level (enable) and input only to the WE terminal.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, the dummy data (& HFF) is transmitted from the external device side prior to the transmission of the original control data, while the electronic music box side is transmitted.
Based on the input dummy data, the pulse signal S5 generated at the input timing of the original control data (& HΔΔ or & HXX) to be input next is generated. Then, the generated pulse signal and STB signal are supplied to the sound generator as the WE signal (CS signal) and the A0 signal, respectively. Therefore, using the Centronics interface having only the STB signal as the control signal, A0 signal and WE
It becomes possible to control an electronic music box (sound generator) that requires two types of control signals, which are (CS) signals.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system to which an electronic music box of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an electronic music box.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram specifically showing a configuration of a control signal generator 30.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a signal waveform of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of an interface section of the external device 3.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a control method by the external device 3.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electronic music box, 2 ... Printer cable, 3 ... External device, 4 ... Amplifier, 5 ... Speaker, 10 ... Data input connector, 20 ... Sound generator, 30 ... Control signal generation part, 40 ... 8255 system input / output interface I
C, 50 ... Parallel interface connector

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. An electronic music box for controlling a built-in sound generator based on data input from an external device, an input interface unit connected to a Centronics interface of the external device, and a data strobe line of the input interface unit. Means for connecting to the first control terminal of the sound generator, and an input terminal for parallel data,
Generate a control signal based on parallel data and output it
The control signal generating means and the parallel data line of the input interface unit
The parallel input terminals of the sound generator and the control
A means for branching and connecting to a parallel input terminal of the signal generating means and an output terminal of the control signal generating means are connected to the sound generator.
An electronic music box, comprising: a connecting means for connecting to a second control terminal of the electronic musical instrument . 2. The means for generating a control signal based on the data on the data line outputs a pulse signal at a predetermined timing in response to predetermined data on the data line. The electronic music box described in 1. 3. The electronic music box according to claim 2, wherein the scheduled timing is a period during which data next to the scheduled data is output on a data line. 4. The electronic music box according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined data is dummy data that does not affect the operation of the sound generator. 5. The first control terminal is a control terminal for determining whether the data on the data input terminal is data for designating an address for storing the data or stored data itself. , The second control terminal is a data write enable (WE) terminal and element selection (C
5. The electronic music box according to claim 1, wherein the electronic music box is at least a data write enable terminal among the S) terminals. 6. A drive device for driving the electronic music box according to claim 1, further comprising a centronics interface, means for independently controlling strobe lines of the centronics interface, and a sound generator. A means for generating dummy data that does not affect the operation, and a first means for specifying the address of the sound generator.
Means for sending the data on the data line of the Centronics interface, means for sending the second data to be stored at the specified address on the data line, and prior to sending the first data and the second data. And means for individually sending the dummy data onto the data line, wherein the means for independently controlling the strobe line sets the strobe line to the first level during the sending period of the first data, A driving device for an electronic music box, wherein a second data transmission period is at a second level.