Apparatus and method for self-tuning stringed musical instruments with an accompanying vibrato mechanism

An automatic tuning system for performing automatic fine tuning corrections on a stringed instrument, said tuning system comprising:

• a detector for detecting a musical tone produced by an activated string and producing a signal value corresponding to said tone;
• a processor coupled to said detector for comparing said signal to a reference frequency value associated with a desired frequency and producing an electrical control signal, said electrical control signal being a function of the difference between said signal value and said reference frequency value;
• wherein said processor comprises:
• stored predetermined generic calibration values for motor movement instructions for achieving said frequency change for each string for a plurality of desired tunings;
• and
• an algorithm for storing offset calibration values for each string calculated using a tuning correction performed on said string, and for using said stored offset calibration values and said predetermined generic calibration values to recalculate the amount of movement of said motors necessary to perform the next automatic tuning correction;
• and
• a string adjustment assembly coupled to said processor and to said string for adjusting the tension of said string to cause a frequency change required to reach said desired frequency, in dependence upon said electrical control signal, said string adjustment assembly comprising:
• a motor and gear assembly pivotally attached to a housing for said automatic tuning system;
• a tune arm to which said string is anchored;
• a string contact surface of a drive gear/string cam contained within said tune arm, said string contact surface being in adjustable tangential contact with said string;
• a gear of said motor and gear assembly in rotational contact with said drive gear/string cam;
• and
• a motor of said motor and gear assembly responsive to said electrical signal in rotational contact with said gear;
• whereby changing the position of said string contact surface with respect to said string changes the frequency produced by said string when activated such that said string produces said desired frequency.

An automatic tuning system for performing automatic fine tuning corrections on a stringed instrument, said tuning system comprising:

• a detector for detecting a musical tone produced by an activated string and producing a signal value corresponding to said tone;
• a processor coupled to said detector for comparing said signal to a reference frequency value associated with a desired frequency and producing an electrical control signal, said electrical control signal being a function of the difference between said signal value and said reference frequency value;
• a string adjustment assembly coupled to said processor and to said string for adjusting the tension of said string to cause a frequency change required to reach said desired frequency, in dependence upon said electrical control signal, said string adjustment assembly comprising a motor and gear assembly pivotally attached to a housing for said automatic tuning system;
• and
• an option board that comprises an audio transmitter and radio-frequency command and control transceiver for wireless communication with optional system components;
• wherein said option board is in wireless communication with a remote device selected from the group consisting of a detector, a processor, a remote control panel in the form of a foot switch or hand control device for controlling tuning correction functions of the tuning system comprising a function selected from the group consisting of power activation, initiation of a tuning correction procedure, detection of a tone, and selection of desired tunings, a remote electronic storage device from which data or software can be uploaded or downloaded or updated for use in performing system functions or tuning the instrument to additional tunings, a device for adjusting motor speed, a device for editing, creating, storing and/or recovering previously-used tunings, another instrument, and an audio device for receiving sound.

An automatic tuning system for performing automatic fine tuning corrections on a stringed instrument, said tuning system comprising:

• a detector for detecting a musical tone produced by an activated string and producing a signal value corresponding to said tone;
• a processor coupled to said detector for comparing said signal to a reference frequency value associated with a desired frequency and producing an electrical control signal, said electrical control signal being a function of the difference between said signal value and said reference frequency value;
• and
• a string adjustment assembly coupled to said processor and to said string for adjusting the tension of said string to cause a frequency change required to reach said desired frequency, in dependence upon said electrical control signal, said string adjustment assembly comprising:
• a motor and gear assembly;
• and
• a tune arm to which said string is anchored;
• a string contact surface of a drive gear/string cam contained within said tune arm, said string contact surface being in adjustable tangential contact with said string;
• a gear of said motor and gear assembly in rotational contact with said drive gear/string cam;
• and
• a motor of said motor and gear assembly responsive to said electrical signal in rotational contact with said gear;
• whereby changing the position of said string contact surface with respect to said string changes the frequency produced by said string when activated such that said string produces said desired frequency.

An automatic tuning system for performing automatic fine tuning corrections on a stringed instrument, said tuning system comprising:

• a detector for detecting a musical tone produced by an activated string and producing a signal value corresponding to said tone;
• a processor coupled to said detector for comparing said signal to a reference frequency value associated with a desired frequency and producing an electrical control signal, said electrical control signal being a function of the difference between said signal value and said reference frequency value;
• wherein said processor comprises:
• stored predetermined generic calibration values for motor movement instructions for achieving said frequency change for each string for a plurality of desired tunings;
• and
• an algorithm for storing offset calibration values for each string calculated using a tuning correction performed on said string, and for using said stored offset calibration values and said predetermined generic calibration values to recalculate the amount of movement of said motors necessary to perform the next automatic tuning correction;
• and
• a string adjustment assembly coupled to said processor and to said string for adjusting the tension of said string to cause a frequency change required to reach said desired frequency, in dependence upon said electrical control signal, said string adjustment assembly comprising:
• a motor and gear assembly;
• a tune arm to which said string is anchored;
• a string contact surface of a drive gear/string cam contained within said tune arm, said string contact surface being in adjustable tangential contact with said string;
• a gear of said motor and gear assembly in rotational contact with said drive gear/string cam;
• and
• a motor of said motor and gear assembly responsive to said electrical signal in rotational contact with said gear;
• whereby changing the position of said string contact surface with respect to said string changes the frequency produced by said string when activated such that said string produces said desired frequency.

An automatic tuning system for performing automatic fine tuning corrections on a stringed instrument, said tuning system comprising:

• a detector for detecting a musical tone produced by an activated string and producing a signal value corresponding to said tone;
• a processor coupled to said detector for comparing said signal to a reference frequency value associated with a desired frequency and producing an electrical control signal, said electrical control signal being a function of the difference between said signal value and said reference frequency value;
• a string adjustment assembly coupled to said processor and to said string for adjusting the tension of said string to cause a frequency change required to reach said desired frequency, in dependence upon said electrical control signal, said string adjustment assembly comprising a motor and gear assembly;
• and
• an option board that comprises an audio transmitter and radio-frequency command and control transceiver for wireless communication with optional system components;
• wherein said option board is in wireless communication with a remote device selected from the group consisting of a detector, a processor, a remote control panel in the form of a foot switch or hand control device for controlling tuning correction functions of the tuning system comprising a function selected from the group consisting of power activation, initiation of a tuning correction procedure, detection of a tone, and selection of desired tunings, a remote electronic storage device from which data or software can be uploaded or downloaded or updated for use in performing system functions or tuning the instrument to additional tunings, a device for adjusting motor speed, a device for editing, creating, storing and/or recovering previously-used tunings, another instrument, and an audio device for receiving sound.

A method of tuning a stringed instrument comprising:

• providing an automatic tuning system for performing automatic fine tuning corrections on a stringed instrument, said tuning system comprising:
• a detector for detecting a musical tone produced by an activated string and producing a signal value corresponding to said tone;
• a processor coupled to said detector for comparing said signal to a reference frequency value associated with a desired frequency and producing an electrical control signal, said electrical control signal being a function of the difference between said signal value and said reference frequency value;
• and
• a string adjustment assembly coupled to said processor and to said string for adjusting the tension of said string to cause a frequency change required to reach said desired frequency, in dependence upon said electrical control signal, said string adjustment assembly comprising:
• a motor and gear assembly;
• a tune arm to which said string is anchored;
• a string contact surface of a drive gear/string cam contained within said tune arm, said string contact surface being in adjustable tangential contact with said string;
• a gear of said motor and gear assembly in rotational contact with said drive gear/string cam;
• and
• a motor of said motor and gear assembly responsive to said electrical signal in rotational contact with said gear;
• whereby changing the position of said string contact surface with respect to said string changes the frequency produced by said string when activated such that said string produces said desired frequency;
• strumming the strings of said instrument;
• allowing said tuning system to automatically and simultaneously perform fine tuning corrections by adjusting the tension of any and all strings of said instrument requiring correction;
• and
• changing the tuning of said instrument to a different tuning while playing said instrument without again strumming any string of said instrument, said method comprising activating an algorithm that causes all strings of said instrument to be automatically adjusted as required for said tuning using stored predetermined generic calibration and offset calibration values for said different tuning.