Touch screen guitar
AssigneeMUSIC Group Services US Inc.
InventorsUlrich Behringer, Brian Crouch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A synthetic guitar includes a body, a neck extending from the body, and at least one touch sensor at the neck for indicating finger position of a user. The body has a receptacle for removably securing a tablet computer to the body. The tablet computer has a touch screen for indicating finger position of the user. A processor of the tablet computer is programmed to receive input signals from the touch sensor and the touch screen and to produce an output signal based at least partially on the input signals. The software can enable the synthetic guitar to be used as a music synthesizer or to be used as a video game controller. The synthetic guitar can also include a retainer for removably securing a portable media player to be used as an additional video display while playing the guitar.
Claims21
A synthetic guitar comprising:
- a body having a forward surface and sidewalls extending from the forward surface to define a recess extending inwardly from the forward surface;
- a neck extending from the body;
- a touch sensor at the neck, the touch sensor being configured to sense a first finger position of a user;
- an electrical circuit electrically coupled to the touch sensor and including a first electrical connector positioned in the recess;
- a computer removably secured in the recess of the body, the computer having a housing, a general purpose processor secured within the housing, a touch screen configured to sense a second finger position of the user, and a second electrical connector removably electrically connected to the first electrical connector;
- and
- at least one latch configured to removable secure the computer within the recess of the body.
A synthetic guitar device for use with a computer having a processor and a touch screen, the synthetic guitar device comprising:
- a body having a forward surface and sidewalls extending from the forward surface to define a recess extending inwardly from the forward surface, the recess configured to receive the computer;
- a neck extending from the body;
- a touch sensor at the neck, the touch sensor being configured to sense a first finger position of a user;
- and
- an electrical circuit electrically coupled to the touch sensor and including a first electrical connector positioned in the recess and configured to releasably electrically connect to a second electrical connector of the computer;
- and
- at least one latch configured to releasably secure the computer within the recess.
A synthetic musical instrument for use with a computer having a processor and a touch screen, the synthetic musical instrument comprising:
- a body having a forward surface and sidewalls extending from the forward surface to define a recess extending inwardly from the forward surface;
- a neck extending from the body;
- a touch sensor at the neck, the touch sensor being configured to sense a first finger position of a user;
- an electrical circuit electrically coupled to the touch sensor and including a first electrical connector positioned in the recess and configured to releasably electrically connect to a second electrical connector of the computer;
- and
- at least one latch configured to releasably secure the computer within the recess.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.