Harmonica having reed vibration conversion capability and associated retrofitting method

A harmonica comprising:

• a pair of reed plates each having a plurality of reeds disposed therein;
• a comb positioned between said reed plates having a traverse slot formed therein;
• a sensor board disposed in said transverse slot having a plurality of sensors corresponding to said plurality of reeds to detect vibrations of said reeds;
• converting means coupled to said sensors for converting said vibrations into electrical signals;
• and
• wherein at least one of said sensors is selected from the group consisting of (i) an inductance type sensor;
• (ii) a cup-core type sensor;
• (iii) a capacitive sensor;
• (iv) a Hall effect type sensor;
• and (v) an optical sensor.

A harmonica comprising:

• a pair of reed plates each having a plurality of reeds disposed therein;
• a comb positioned between said reed plates having a traverse slot formed therein;
• a sensor board disposed in said transverse slot having a plurality of sensors corresponding to said plurality of reeds to detect vibrations of said reeds;
• converting means coupled to said sensors for converting said vibrations into electrical signals;
• and
• further comprising at least one capacitor electrically coupled to at least one of said plurality of sensors.

A harmonica comprising:

• a pair of reed plates each having a plurality of reeds disposed therein;
• a comb positioned between said reed plates having a traverse slot formed therein;
• a sensor board disposed in said transverse slot having a plurality of sensors corresponding to said plurality of reeds to detect vibrations of said reeds;
• converting means coupled to said sensors for converting said vibrations into electrical signals;
• and
• wherein there is a one-to-one correspondence between said sensors and said reeds.

A harmonica comprising:

• a pair of reed plates each having a plurality of reeds disposed therein;
• a comb positioned between said reed plates having a traverse slot formed therein;
• a sensor board disposed in said transverse slot having a plurality of sensors corresponding to said plurality of reeds to detect vibrations of said reeds;
• converting means coupled to said sensors for converting said vibrations into electrical signals;
• and
• wherein there is one-to-two correspondence between said sensors and said reeds such that at least one of said sensors receives and converts mechanical vibrations received from only one matching pair of said reeds.

A harmonica comprising:

• a pair of reed plates each having a plurality of reeds disposed therein;
• a comb positioned between said reed plates having a traverse slot formed therein;
• a sensor board disposed in said transverse slot having a plurality of sensors corresponding to said plurality of reeds to detect vibrations of said reeds;
• converting means coupled to said sensors for converting said vibrations into electrical signals;
• and
• at least one of said reeds has a layer of piezoelectric material disposed on a surface thereof, whereby said piezoelectric material alters said vibrations produced from said reed.

A method for retrofitting a harmonica having a comb, a set of reed plates having a plurality of reeds, and a set of cover plates, comprising:

• removing said cover plates of said harmonica;
• positioning a first sensor board generally adjacent to a first reed plate and a first cover plate of said harmonica;
• positioning a second sensor board generally adjacent to a second reed plate and a second cover plate of said harmonica;
• and,
• reassembling said harmonica.