Guitar controller for a music synthesizer
OwnerCarmine Bonannoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A guitar controller for an electronic music synthesizer utilizes a multiplexed string energization and fret acquisition system wherein a high impedance buffer allows voltages to be detected off the strings at the various frets without drawing current through the frets or fret/string contacts. Unique string bend and string vibration sensors and expression auxiliary sensors are additionally disclosed.
Claims27
A method of detecting note selection in a guitar having a plurality of frets spaced apart along a neck of said guitar and a plurality of guitar strings extending along said neck over said frets, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) passing an electric current through each of said strings whereby a voltage gradient is established along each string at least in a region thereof overlying said frets;
- (b) measuring a continuous voltage, from a high value representing last of said frets being selected and a low value representing none of sid frets being selected, forming part of said gradient of each string upon the depression thereof into contact with a respective fret without drawing significant electric current through the point of contact or deterring substantially said gradient, thereby determining a free tone-generating length of the respective string;
- and
- (c) controlling a music synthesizer to generate a corresponding tone in accordance with the measured voltage.
In a guitar controller for a music synthesizer having a guitar body, a neck extending from said body, an array of transversely spaced mutually parallel electrically conductive guitar strings extending along said neck from a nut at an upper end thereof to a bridge on said body, and a multiplicity of electrically conductive frets extending in transversely spaced relationship across said array of strings on said neck and below said strings, whereby said strings are depressed against said frets for note selection, the improvement which comprises in combination:
- means for passing an electric current through each of said strings at least in a region in which said strings overlie said frets whereby a voltage gradient is established along each string;
- means including at least one high impedance buffer connected to said frets for measuring a continuous voltage, from a high value representing last of said frets being selected and a low value representing none of said frets being selected, forming part of said gradient of each string upon the depression thereof into contact with a respective fret without drawing significant electric current through the point of contact of altering substantially the gradient along the respective string, thereby determining a free tone-generating length of the respective string;
- and
- means connected to said measuring means for controlling a music synthesizer to generate a corresponding tone in accordance with the measured voltage.
In a guitar controller for a music synthesizer having a guitar body, a neck extending from said body, an array of transversely spaced mutually parallel electrically conductive guitar strings extending along said neck from a nut at an upper end thereof to a bridge on said body, and a multiplicity of electrically conductive frets extending in transversely spaced relationship across said array of strings on said neck and below said strings, whereby said strings are depressed against said frets for note selection, the improvement which comprises in combination:
- means responsive to depression of selected strings against selected frets for detecting the tone-generating length of the respective string and delivering a signal representing same to said synthesizer for generating a corresponding tone;
- and
- a string vibration sensor responsive to vibratory deflection of each string for defining for said synthesizer the inception and termination of the corresponding tone, each string vibration sensor including a photoelectric emitter-detector pair straddling a respective string and forming a photointerrupter, means for determining a slope of a signal generated by said photointerrupter to establish the inception of the corresponding tone and an automatic gain control for said photointerrupters increasing the gain of a signal outputted thereby as the outputted signal falls with time tc maximize the duration of the corresponding tone to termination.
In a guitar controller for a music synthesizer having a guitar body, a neck extending from said body, an array of transversely spaced mutually parallel electrically conductive guitar strings extending along said neck from a nut at an upper end thereof to a bridge on said body, and a multiplicity of electrically conductive frets extending in transversely spaced relationship across said array of strings on said neck and below said strings, whereby said strings are depressed against said frets for note selection, the improvement which comprises in combination:
- means responsive to depression of selected strings against selected frets for detecting the tone-generating length of the respective string and delivering a signal representing same to said synthesizer for generating a corresponding tone;
- and
- a respective string-bend sensor responsive to an off-axial bend of each string and outputting a signal which is applied to said synthesizer to control a parameter of music synthesizer thereby.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.