Automatic musical instrument tuning system
AssigneeTransperformance, LLC
InventorsNeil C. Skinn, Stephen J. Freeland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tuning system is described for automatically tuning a musical instrument having adjustment means for changing the frequency of a musical tone produced by the instrument. The tuning system is useful with respect to a wide variety of musical instruments, e.g., stringed instruments such as guitars, harps, pianoes, etc.; horns; and other instruments. The tuning system is capable of automatically tuning all strings of a stringed instrument simultaneously.
Claims18
A system for automatically tuning a stringed musical instrument by changing the frequency of a musical tone produced by each string of said instrument;
- said system comprising:
- (a) a detection means adapted to detect a musical tone produced by said instrument and produce a signal;
- (b) converter means adapted to convert said signal to a digital signal;
- (c) processing means adapted to convert said digital signal to a frequency signal;
- (d) comparator means for comparing said frequency signal to a predetermined frequency value and producing an electrical signal;
- (e) tension adjustment means comprising a pivotable tune lever arm means connected to said string for adjusting the tension on said string;
- (f) motor means activated by said electrical signal;
- wherein said motor means is operably connected to said adjustment means for adjusting said frequency to correspond with said predetermined value;
- and
- (g) bias means connected to said tension adjustment means for providing a bias force in opposition to the force exerted on said tension adjustment means by said string.
A tuning system for automatically tuning a musical instrument having a plurality of strings, said instrument comprising:
- (a) detection means adapted to detect a musical tone produced by each said string and produce a signal corresponding to each said tone;
- (b) converter means adapted to convert each said signal to a digital signal;
- (c) processing means adapted to convert each said digital signal to a frequency signal;
- (d) comparator means for comparing each said frequency signal to a separate predetermined frequency value and producing an electrical signal corresponding to the difference between said frequency signal and said predetermined frequency value;
- (e) tension adjustment means comprising a plurality of pivotable tune lever arms each of which is connected to a separate one of said strings for adjusting the tension on a said string;
- (f) a plurality of motors each of which is activated by a said electrical signal;
- wherein each said motor is operably connected to a said tune lever arm for adjusting the frequency of a said string to correspond with said predetermined frequency value;
- (g) a plurality of bias means each of which is connected to a said tune lever arm for providing a bias force in opposition to the force exerted on said tune lever arm by a said string;
- and
- (h) calibration means for computing the relationship between said frequency signal and the tension on said string.
A system for automatically tuning a stringed instrument by changing the frequency of a musical tone produced by each string of said instrument;
- said system comprising:
- (a) a detection means adapted to detect a musical tone produced by said instrument and produce a signal;
- (b) converter means adapted to convert said signal to a digital signal;
- (c) processing means adapted to convert said digital signal to a frequency signal;
- (d) comparator means for comparing said frequency signal to a predetermined frequency value and producing an electrical signal;
- (e) tension adjustment means comprising a pivotable tune lever arm means connected to said string for adjusting the tension on said string;
- (f) motor means activated by said electrical signal;
- wherein said motor means is operably connected to said adjustment means for adjusting said frequency to correspond with said predetermined value;
- and
- (g) calibration means for computing the relationship between said frequency signal and the tension on said string.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.