US 8,263,851 B2Granted

Transducer saddle for stringed instrument

OwnerRichard Barberainventor

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Abstract

A saddle for a multi-stringed instrument efficiently couples to transducer elements, vibrations from plucked musical instruments strings includes a unitary saddle body and a top surface that support tensioned strings and receive vibratory energy therefrom. The body portion includes a plurality of integral cavities, each integral cavity in correspondence with a respective string defining a vertically compliant area of sensitivity beneath each string that couple the string vibrations to a flexurally responsive transducer element mounted within and mechanically coupled to a respective integral cavity for converting vibratory energy from the respective string to an electric signal. A first conductor element and a second conductor element are embedded within the saddle body and configured in communication with each transducer at electrical coupling points for electrically connecting the transducer element to the first and second conductors at each respective the integral cavity structure.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A string saddle system for a multi-stringed instrument comprising:

a saddle body having a top saddle portion and opposing surfaces, said top saddle portion spanning all tensioned strings of said multi-stringed instrument to support the tensioned strings and to receive vibratory energy therefrom, said saddle body having a plurality of integral cavities, each integral cavity in correspondence with a respective string and defining a compliant area of sensitivity beneath each string within the saddle body, each vertically compliant area of sensitivity extending from a top surface of said saddle body above the cavity beneath said respective string to said corresponding cavity structure and extending horizontally according to a length of said integral cavity,
a flexurally responsive transducer element mechanically coupled to each integral cavity at mechanical coupling points, said transducer element for converting vibratory energy from the respective string to an electric signal, said compliant area conveying vibrations of the respective string to said suspended transducer element via a mechanical coupling point located within each respective integral cavity structure;
a first conductor embedded beneath said top surface within said saddle body and on each opposing surface;
and,
a second conductor embedded within said saddle body,
said first conductor embedded beneath said top and opposing body surfaces and said embedded second conductor having respective portions extending to each said integral cavity structure to provide exposed electrical contact areas at a cavity surface defining electrical coupling points for electrically connecting the transducer element to said first and second conductors at each respective said integral cavity structure.

3 more elements

A saddle device for a stringed musical instrument comprising:

a first and a second side body portion laminated together to form a unitary structure, each first and second side body portion including an inner and outer surface and defining a top saddle area providing a surface for supporting one or more tensioned strings,
a first conductor formed on one inner surface of a first side body portion beneath said top saddle area;
a second conductor formed on said inner surface of said first side body portion beneath said first conductor;
a plurality of integral cavities, each integral cavity in correspondence with a respective string and formed between said first conductor and second conductor, each cavity defining, for each string, a compliant area of sensitivity that extends beneath each said top saddle area to a respective cavity within the saddle device;
and,
a flexurally responsive transducer element mechanically coupled to each integral cavity at mechanical coupling points formed within said cavity, said transducer element for converting vibratory energy from the respective string to an electric signal, said compliant area conveying vibrations of the respective string to said suspended transducer element via a mechanical coupling point, and,
said first conductor having respective portions extending to each said integral cavity structure at respective first locations within an inner cavity surface to provide exposed electrical contact areas at an inner cavity surface defining first electrical coupling points for electrically connecting the transducer element within the cavity to said first conductor, and said second conductor having respective portions extending to each said integral cavity structure at second locations within said inner cavity surface to provide exposed electrical contact areas at an inner cavity surface defining second electrical coupling points for electrically connecting the transducer element to said second conductor at each respective said integral cavity structure,
said first and second side body portions laminated together to embed said first and second conductors within said saddle device.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/855,418Filed 12 Aug 2010 · continuation in part
Priority: 7 Nov 2008
Published: US 2011/0041673 A124 Feb 2011
Granted: 11 Sep 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G10H 3/185
Using a string, e.g. electric guitar: in which the tones are picked up through the bridge structure
G10D 3/04
Details of, or accessories for, stringed musical instruments, e.g. slide-bars: bridges
G10H 2220/485
Bridge-positioned, i.e. assembled to or attached with the bridge of a stringed musical instrument: one transducer per string, e.g. 6 transducers…
G10H 2220/541
Piezoelectric transducers for vibration sensing or vibration excitation in the audio range; Piezoelectric strain sensing, e.g. as key velocity…:…

Family

Application12/266,962Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 7 Nov 2008
US 2011/0041673 A1Pre-grant publication · published 24 Feb 2011
US 8,049,095 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2010/0116123 A1Published application
US 8,263,851 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.