US 9,824,672 B2 · Modular approach to large string array electronic musical instruments such as specialized harps, zithers, sympathetic string arrays, partch kithara and harmonic cannon

Abstract

A modular approach to large string array electronic musical instruments such as specialized harps, zithers, sympathetic string arrays, the Harry Partch Kithara, the Harry Partch Harmonic Cannon, and other large string array electronic musical instruments is presented. A mounting frame is used to interchangeably secure a plurality of a plurality of musical instrument modules, each comprising a plurality of strings configured to vibrate and create electronic signals. An electronic interface is configured to transmit electrical signals from the plurality of musical instrument modules to an external system. The electronic interface can be configured to provide a multichannel output. The arrangement can further comprise either or both of at least one audio mixer and at least one signal processor.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A customizable aggregated musical instrument comprising:

a mounting frame for securing a plurality of musical instrument modules, wherein each musical module is interchangeably secured in one of a plurality of mounting openings of the mounting frame;
a plurality of musical instrument modules interchangeably secured in at least one of the plurality of mounting openings of the mounting frame, each musical instrument module comprising a plurality of strings, the strings configured to vibrate;
a single electronic instrument interface configured to transmit associated electrical signals from the plurality of musical instrument modules to an external system,
wherein each of the musical instrument modules is configured to generate the associated electrical signal in response to user operation of that musical instrument modules,
wherein the electronic instrument interface is configured to transmit electrical signals from the plurality of musical instrument modules to an external system, and
wherein the resulting aggregated musical instrument is configured as an electronic zither.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

14/144,000Filed 30 Dec 2013 · continuation

Priority

15 Dec 2003

Published

US 2014/0109753 A124 Apr 2014

Granted

21 Nov 2017

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

G10H 1/32
Details of electrophonic musical instruments: constructional details
G10H 1/342
Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments: for guitar-like instruments…
G10H 1/348
Structural association with individual keys: switches actuated by parts of the body other than fingers
G10H 2230/085
Spint stringed, i.e. mimicking stringed instrument features, electrophonic aspects of acoustic stringed musical instruments without keyboard;…:…

Family

Application10/737,043Parent of this continuation · filed 15 Dec 2003

Application12/786,438Parent of this continuation · filed 25 May 2010

US 7,732,702 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 8 Jun 2010

Application13/662,403Parent of this continuation · filed 26 Oct 2012

US 8,309,835 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 13 Nov 2012

US 2014/0109753 A1Pre-grant publication · published 24 Apr 2014

US 8,716,585 B2Parent of this continuation

US 2005/0126372 A1Published application

US 2010/0224052 A1Published application

US 2013/0047824 A1Published application

US 9,824,672 B2This patent

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

Modular approach to large string array electronic musical instruments such as specialized harps, zithers, sympathetic string arrays, partch kithara and harmonic cannon

Life of this patent

Modular approach to large string array electronic musical instruments such as specialized harps, zithers, sympathetic string arrays, partch kithara and harmonic cannon

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20