# US 2009/0260508 A1 · Electronic fingerboard for stringed instrument > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260508 A1 - Document ID: US20090260508A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/383,750 - Filed: 2009-03-27 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2007-09-29 - Inventors: Clifford S. Elion - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260508A1 ## CPC - G10H 1/0066: {using a MIDI interface} - G10H 1/342: {for guitar-like instruments with or without strings and with a neck on which switches or string-fret contacts are used to detect the notes being played (electric guitars in which the tones are generated by the vibration of strings G10H3/18)} - G10H 2220/096: using a touch screen - G10H 2220/301: Fret-like switch array arrangements for guitar necks - 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 ## Abstract An electronic musical instrument for producing musical notes comprises an onset signal sensor for sensing the initiation of a note played on the musical instrument. An electronic fingerboard determines the pitch of the note sensed by the sensor. The electronic fingerboard comprises a first layer of film, a second layer of film and a spacer member between the first and second layers of film. The first and second layers are movable relative to each other between a first inactive position in which the first and second layers are separate from each other along their respective lengths and a second active position in which the first and second layers are in contact with each other at a user selected point along their respective lengths. The pitch is determined by the resistance between the first and second layers at the user selected point. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic musical instrument for producing musical notes comprising: an onset signal sensor for sensing the initiation of a note played on the musical instrument, an electronic fingerboard for determining pitch of the note sensed by the sensor, the electronic fingerboard comprising a first layer of film, a second layer of film and a spacer member between the first and second layers of film, the first and second layers being movable relative to each other between a first inactive position in which the first and second layers are separate from each other along their respective lengths and a second active position in which the first and second layers are in contact with each other at a user selected point along their respective lengths, the pitch being determined by the resistance between the first and second layers at the user selected point. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein the onset signal sensor comprises a piezo-electric sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein the onset signal sensor comprises an optical sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the musical instrument is a guitar; the fingerboard is mounted on an elongate neck; frets are formed transversely on the neck; elongate structures corresponding to guitar strings are configured on the neck; and a first layer, second layer and spacer member are formed below each of the elongate structures. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first layer is a conductive strip, and the second layer is a resistive strip. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 5 wherein the conductive strip is comprised of silver ink with carbon overlay for durability and the resistive strip is comprised of carbon. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein the onset signal sensor is triggered by plucking a string on the musical instrument. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a microprocessor for sequentially reading and processing signals from the signal sensor and the electronic fingerboard respectively to determine when a note is played, as well as the volume and pitch of the note. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 8 wherein the microprocessor sends data on the note played to a MIDI interface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second layers have a terminal at one end thereof and voltage at the terminal is determined by the user selected point. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spacer member holds the first and second layers together but in a spaced apart relationship while permitting the first and second layer to contact each other upon application of pressure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 4 wherein each elongate structure corresponding to the strings has first and second layers of film comprised of electrodes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fingerboard comprises multiple conductive electrode planes, each plane for detecting the pitch of a note at one or more predetermined locations on the fingerboard. ### Claim 14 An electronic musical instrument for producing musical notes comprising: an electronic fingerboard for determining pitch of the note, the electronic fingerboard comprising a first layer of film, a second layer of film and a spacer member between the first and second layers of film, the first and second layers being movable relative to each other between a first inactive position in which the first and second layers are separate from each other along their respective lengths and a second active position in which the first and second layers are in contact with each other at a user selected point along their respective lengths, the pitch being determined by the resistance between the first and second layers at the user selected point. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein capacitive sensors are provided on the fingerboard are used to create a multitude of sensing switches on the fingerboard. ### Claim 16 (depends on 28) An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 28 wherein two capacitive elements per note position are provided. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 comprising discrete membrane sensors used to simulate the strings. ### Claim 18 (depends on 29) An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 29 wherein the discrete membrane sensors have three main parts comprising a substrate with the sensor patterns, a common contact membrane, and a tactile overlay. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a multi-touch member for allowing the device to serve as a video game controller as well as a musical instrument. ### Claim 20 (depends on 31) An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 31 comprising a first mode of operation in which the instrument is played like a conventional guitar, and a second mode of operation in which the instrument is played like a video game controller for music based video games. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) An electronic musical instrument as claimed in claim 1 comprising a multi-touch resistive fingerboard.