| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 084646000 | Fret control | 8 |
| 20080271594 | Electronic Musical Instrument - An electronic musical instrument includes an array of electrical switches (transducers) aligned on the body of the instrument and configured to provide a desired instrument layout, and to provide tactile feedback for playing, while having different playing functions. A suitable material overlying the switch array can provide the physical appearance and configuration for the desired instrument layout. For example, a subset of the array switches can be used for a fretting area, in which the overlay material provides multiple “strings” for fretting, and a different subset of the array switches can be used for a strumming area, in which the overlay material supports a strumming action. If desired, an additional subset of the array switches can be designated for additional effects, such as a sensor area. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20090100992 | Electronic fingerboard for stringed instrument - An electronic musical instrument for producing musical notes comprises an onset signal sensor for sensing the initiation of a note played on the musical instrument. An electronic fingerboard determines the pitch of the note sensed by the sensor. The electronic fingerboard comprises a first layer of film, a second layer of film and a spacer member between the first and second layers of film. The first and second layers are movable relative to each other between a first inactive position in which the first and second layers are separate from each other along their respective lengths and a second active position in which the first and second layers are in contact with each other at a user selected point along their respective lengths. The pitch is determined by the resistance between the first and second layers at the user selected point. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090260508 | Electronic fingerboard for stringed instrument - An electronic musical instrument for producing musical notes comprises an onset signal sensor for sensing the initiation of a note played on the musical instrument. An electronic fingerboard determines the pitch of the note sensed by the sensor. The electronic fingerboard comprises a first layer of film, a second layer of film and a spacer member between the first and second layers of film. The first and second layers are movable relative to each other between a first inactive position in which the first and second layers are separate from each other along their respective lengths and a second active position in which the first and second layers are in contact with each other at a user selected point along their respective lengths. The pitch is determined by the resistance between the first and second layers at the user selected point. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090314157 | MUSICAL INSTRUMENT - A musical device is disclosed that performs a variety of user defined or user controlled activities. These activities include but are not limited to producing musical notes, determining, influencing or changing the sound, quality, voice, volume or other characteristics of a note, activating and coordinating the replay of stored loops, recording, editing and playing user created pieces previously produced and controlling peripheral devices such as lighting. The musical device uses a combination of strings and frets to locate notes on a fingerboard that a user may activate. As a result, the invention includes a system to generate a sound corresponding to a note selected and activated according to preselected parameters such as the voice (e.g., trumpet, violin). A user's intent to play a particular note can be confirmed by a system of sensors corresponding to each note position. | 12-24-2009 |
| 20110011248 | Electronic fingerboard for stringed instrument - An electronic musical instrument for producing musical notes comprises an onset signal sensor for sensing the initiation of a note played on the musical instrument. An electronic fingerboard determines the pitch of the note sensed by the sensor. The electronic fingerboard comprises a silicon rubber membrane, a first layer of film, a second layer of film and a spacer member between the first and second layers of film. The first and second layers are movable relative to each other between a first inactive position in which the first and second layers are separate from each other along their respective lengths and a second active position in which the first and second layers are in contact with each other at a user selected point along their respective lengths. The pitch is determined by the resistance between the first and second layers at the user selected point. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20130074680 | ELECTRONIC FINGERBOARD FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENT - An electronic musical instrument for producing musical notes comprises an onset signal sensor for sensing the initiation of a note played on the musical instrument. An electronic fingerboard determines the pitch of the note sensed by the sensor. The electronic fingerboard comprises a silicon rubber membrane, a first layer of film, a second layer of film and a spacer member between the first and second layers of film. The first and second layers are movable relative to each other between a first inactive position in which the first and second layers are separate from each other along their respective lengths and a second active position in which the first and second layers are in contact with each other at a user selected point along their respective lengths. The pitch is determined by the resistance between the first and second layers at the user selected point. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20140202317 | ELECTRONIC STRINGED INSTRUMENT, MUSICAL SOUND GENERATION METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM | 07-24-2014 |
| 20140290467 | STRING INSTRUMENT, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING SAME - A string instrument is provided having: a body with a sound hole; a neck extending from the body; a plurality of strings strung over the neck and sound hole; a plurality of frets positioned under the strings along the neck, a plurality of sensors positioned on the neck; and electronic circuitry associated with the sensors; characterized, in that each of the frets comprises separate individual fret sections each mounted over a corresponding sensor, thereby forming separate individual dynamic fret-activated sensors, each individual dynamic fret-activated sensor being positioned correspondingly under one of the plurality of strings. When a chord is played by applying finger pressure on the strings, pressure is applied on the corresponding individual frets activating the individual dynamic fret-activated sensors, which transmit the pressure data representing the played chord, via the electronic circuitry to a processor to produce an audio output comprising the played chord. | 10-02-2014 |
