Fretboard to synthesizer interface apparatus
AssigneeJohn Ellis Enterprises
InventorLeroy D. Young, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for detecting note selection on a guitar fretboard including a differential amplifier for detecting voltage drops across successive fret pairs, a multiplexer for connecting successive fret pairs to the differential amplifier, counters for maintaining an indication of the string and fret position under examination, and a shorting string placed across the frets for insuring reliable circuit operation.
Claims6
Fretboard to synthesizer interface apparatus including a fretboard having a plurality of frets and a plurality of strings stretched thereover comprising:
- means for causing a current to flow through each of a succession of said strings;
- means for detecting a differential voltage across each of a succession of adjacent fret pairs of said guitar, which voltage is indicative of a depression of a said string at the fret position bracketed by said fret pair, and for generating a control signal upon said detection;
- and
- means for maintaining a count indicative of the fret pair under examination by said detecting means and for latching said count in response to said control signal.
Guitar to synthesizer apparatus comprising:
- means for causing a current to flow through a succession of guitar strings;
- differential amplifier means;
- means for conductively connecting a succession of adjacent pairs of frets of said guitar to said differential amplifier means;
- counter means for maintaining a count indicative of the string subjected to a current by said means for causing current flow and indicative of the fret pair connected to said differential amplifier means;
- comparator means for comparing the output of said differential amplifier to a reference level and providing a control signal to latch the count of said counter means upon detection of a differential output in excess of said reference level.
Apparatus for detecting a note selected on a guitar including a fret-board and strings comprising:
- a current source;
- differential amplifier means;
- counter means for providing a count corresponding to a particular guitar string and to a particular fret position;
- means responsive to the count of said counter means for gating a current from said current source successively through each string of said guitar and for gating successive voltage drops indicative of the voltage drop across successive pairs of frets of a said string to said differential amplifier means;
- and
- means responsive to the output of said differential amplifier means for detecting a voltage indicative of a selection of the note between a particular fret pair and for latching the count of said counter means indicative of the string and fret position selected.
Circuitry for detecting selection of a note on a fretboard having a plurality of adjacent frets and a plurality of conductive strings stretched thereover, said circuitry comprising:
- a shorting string means providing a small but finite resistance between each said fret and grounded at one end;
- and
- differential amplifier means for receiving inputs from a plurality of pairs of said frets and providing an output indicative of depression of a said conductive string across a pair of said frets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.