Piezoelectric transducer device for a stringed musical instrument
OwnerLawrence R. Fishmaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A transducer system for a stringed musical instrument having a bridge for supporting a plurality of string saddles, each having a surface for receiving a transducer member of the system. The transducer member is comprised of one or more ceramic crystals supported between conductive strips and encapsulated by an electrically insulating covering. The crystals are responsive to vibrations of the string by way of a spring support insert in the saddle, but the crytals are not directly coupled to the saddle.
Claims16
A transducer system comprised of a plurality of transducer members, said transducer system for use with a stringed musical instrument having a bridge for supporting a plurality of string saddles, each said saddle having means for receiving one of said transducer members, each said transducer member comprising;
- and electrically conductive ground plane, at least one piezoelectric transducer, said ground plane having a base and an adjacently disposed leaf that is integral with and overlies the base, conductive adhesive means for securing one side of the piezoelectric transducer to the base of the ground plane, a conductive layer, electrically insulating means encasing and supporting said ground plane base, piezoelectric transducer and conductive layer holding said conductive layer in electrical contact with the other side of the piezoelectric transducer while leaving said ground plane leaf outside thereof, conductive shield means about said ground plane, transducer and conductive layer, said shield means including a string support member, said ground plane leaf being maintained in intimate electrical contact with said string support member, said string support member disposed to overlie said ground plane leaf and electrical lead means connected to said ground plane and conductive strip.
A transducer system comprised of a plurality of transducer members, said transducer system for use with a stringed musical instrument having a bridge for supporting a plurality of string saddles, each said saddle having means for receiving one of said transducer members, each said transducer member comprising;
- a first electrically conductive member, at least one piezoelectric transducer member, said first electrically conductive member having a base and a leaf that is integral with and overlies the base, means for securing one side of the piezoelectric transducer member to the base of said first electrically conductive member, a second electrically conductive member, electrically insulating means encasing and supporting the base of said first electrically conductive member, said piezoelectric transducer member and said second electrically conductive member and holding said second electrically conductive member in electrical contact with the other side of said piezoelectric transducer member while leaving said leaf outside thereof, a string support member, means for supporting the string support member from and overlying the leaf of the first electrically conductive member, and electrical lead means connected to respective first and second electrically conductive members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.