Transducer assembly for a stringed musical instrument
AssigneeLyrrus, Inc.
InventorsJonathan Coopersmith, Nathaniel Weiss, Henry Madden
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A transducer assembly for an electronic music system for use with a stringed instrument includes a plurality of transducers and a quick connect device for detachably securing the transducers to the stringed instrument without marring, defacing, or altering the stringed instrument. The transducers generate analog signals representing the sound generated by playing the instrument. An interface converts the analog signals to digital signals and a computer receives and processes the digital signals. The location of the transducer assembly relative to the strings of the instrument is adjustable.
Claims26
A transducer assembly for use with a stringed instrument having a plurality of strings, the transducer assembly for detecting and converting string vibrations into electrical signals representative of the string vibrations, comprising:
- an elongate housing;
- a plurality of transducers for detecting vibrations of each of the strings individually and converting respective string vibrations into corresponding electrical signals, wherein the plurality of transducers are located within the housing;
- at least one coupling member;
- a quick connect device coupled to the housing with the at least one coupling member for quickly connecting and disconnecting the housing only to a surface of the instrument proximate the strings, wherein the quick connect device comprises at least one suction cup and the coupling member includes a circular opening for receiving a head of the at least one suction cup and securing the suction cup thereto, and upon attachment, the surface of the instrument remains free of any indications related to the quick connect device;
- and
- means for interfacing the electrical signals with an electronic device.
A transducer assembly for use with a stringed instrument having a plurality of strings, the transducer assembly for detecting and converting string vibrations into electrical signals representative of the string vibrations, comprising:
- an elongate housing having a first end and a second, opposite end;
- a plurality of transducers located within the housing for detecting vibrations of each of the strings individually and converting respective string vibrations into corresponding electrical signals, each transducer producing an electrical signal primarily responsive to movement of a string adjacent thereto;
- a quick connect device for releasably securing the housing only to a surface of the instrument proximate the strings, wherein the surface of the instrument remains free of any indications related to the quick connect device and wherein the quick connect device comprises at least one suction cup;
- at least one coupling device for coupling the housing to the quick connect device, wherein the coupling device includes an annular bore for receiving a head of the at least one suction cup;
- and
- an output connector in electrical communication with the transducers adapted to be coupled to a communication channel, whereby the electrical signals from the transducers are coupled to the communication channel.
A transducer assembly for use with a stringed instrument having a plurality of strings comprising:
- an elongate housing including a top portion having a top surface and opposing side walls and a separate, bottom portion;
- a plurality of transducers located within the housing for detecting vibrations of each of the strings individually and converting respective string vibrations into corresponding electrical signals representative of the string vibrations, each transducer producing an electrical signal primarily responsive to movement of a string adjacent thereto;
- means for releasably securing the housing to the instrument proximate the strings which does not mar the surface of the instrument;
- at least one coupling member having an annular bore for receiving the securing means, wherein the housing top portion is interconnected to the securing means by the at least one coupling member;
- and
- means for interfacing the electrical signals with an electronic device.
A method of detachably securing a plurality of transducers to an instrument having a plurality of strings comprising the steps of:
- providing a housing having a top portion and a bottom portion, the housing top portion having a first end and a second, opposite end, and an annular ring extending outwardly from each of the first end and the second end, the housing having a plurality of transducers located therein, a quick connect device comprising two suction cuds connected to opposite ends of the housing and coupled to the housing by way of a coupling member, wherein each suction cup includes a head and each coupling member includes a circular opening for receiving the head of one of the suction cups for securing the suction cup thereto, a means for adjusting a distance between the housing and the strings comprising a pair of cooperatively engaged threaded members, and a means for interfacing the transducers to an electronic device;
- securing the quick connect device to a surface of the instrument proximate the strings such that the housing is located between the surface and the strings;
- and
- adjusting the distance between the housing and the strings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.