Environment sensor for acoustic instrument

• US 10,190,920 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2017
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Music Nomad LLC
• Original Assignee: Music Nomad LLC
• Inventors: Rognlien, Rand, Schouten, Pieter Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Horn, Robert W
• Application Number:
  US15/848,294
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0036 Specially adapted to detect a particular component all the other sub-groups of G01N33/0004 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 3/00 Details of, or accessories for, stringed musical instruments, e.g. slide-bars
• CPC Class Codes: G10G 7/00 Other auxiliary devices or accessories, e.g. conductors' batons or separate holders for resin or strings

Abstract

A system and method for enabling measurement of desired environmental criteria of an instrument during storage, including in some situations storage within a closely conforming instrument case. A humireader includes a planar body forming a “T” with a support face. The support face enables a user to suspend and support the body between a pair of adjacent strings allowing the body to extend through a sound hole. An environment sensing system disposed within the body collects environment data of the instrument and presents it to the user using an output system (e.g., a display) that is part of the support face.

Claims

1. A sensor device for an acoustic instrument having a sound hole, comprising:

an assembly, comprising;

a body comprising a top, a bottom, and at least one sidewall extending between the top and bottom, wherein the top, the bottom, and the least one sidewall define an internal cavity, and the sidewall includes at least one opening; and

a support member coupled to the top of the body to form an assembly, the support member including a planar surface and a display arranged within the planar surface; and

a sensor contained within the assembly;

wherein the support member forms a right angle relative to the top of the body.

2. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sidewall tapers from the top to the bottom.

3. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sidewall includes a plurality of openings.

4. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the at least one sidewall comprises:

a first planar portion including the at least one opening; and

a second planar portion connected to the first planar portion.

5. The sensor device of claim 4, wherein the support member is defined by a first perimeter and the body is defined by a second perimeter proximate the top of the body, and the first perimeter is larger than the second perimeter.

6. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the support member forms a first shape having at least two axes of symmetry and either of the two axes of symmetry passes through the display.

7. The sensor device of claim 6, wherein both the two axes of symmetry pass through the display.

8. The sensor device of claim 4, wherein the second planar portion includes at least one opening.

9. The sensor device of claim 1, wherein the support member comprises at least one interface button.

10. A method of mounting a sensor device to an acoustic instrument, comprising the steps of:

coupling a support member with a body to form an assembly including a sensor, the body comprising a top, a bottom, and at least one sidewall extending between the top and bottom, wherein the top, the bottom, and the least one sidewall define an internal cavity, and the sidewall includes at least one opening;

inserting the body of the assembly into a sound hole of the acoustic instrument; and

resting the support member on at least two strings of the acoustic instrument such that the body extends into the sound hole between the at least two strings.

11. A sensor device for an acoustic instrument having a sound hole, comprising:

a housing assembly comprising;

a body including a top, a bottom, and at least one sidewall extending between the top and bottom, wherein the top, the bottom, and the least one sidewall define an internal cavity;

an oval-shaped support member coupled to the body, the oval-shaped support member including a planar surface; and

a sensor contained within the housing assembly; and

a display arranged within the planar surface of the oval-shaped support member; and

wherein the at least one sidewall comprises a first planar portion including a first opening and a second planar portion connected to the first planar portion, the second planar portion including a second opening, and the at least one sidewall tapers from the top to the bottom.