Device for rechargeable, retrofittable power source

• US 10,210,853 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2017
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fishman Transducers Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fishman Transducers Incorporated
• Inventors: Fishman, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Warren, David
• Application Number:
  US15/700,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20180012583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 84726
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 1/085 Mechanical design of electric guitars
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/18 Selecting circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/32 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/18 using a string, e.g. electric guitar mechanical features G10D1/085
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/186 Means for processing the signal picked up from the strings filtering G10H1/12

Abstract

A power system on an electric guitar may include a cover plate covering a cavity in the electric guitar. A rechargeable power source may be contained within the cavity which may include circuitry. Other instruments or configurations may be used.

Claims

1. A stringed musical instrument comprising:

a first side having mounted thereon strings;

a pre-existing cavity created at the time of the manufacture of the instrument;

an active pickup to detect vibrations from the instrument'"'"'s strings and output a signal;

a cover to cover the cavity;

a rechargeable power source;

a circuit board contained within the cavity to provide power to the pickup;

a circuit to control the input of current to the rechargeable power source, the output of current from the rechargeable power source, or both;

the circuit board and circuit contained entirely within the cavity, the circuit integrated into an assembly with the cover, and not requiring modification to the instrument'"'"'s body structure when the cover is fastened to the instrument; and

a jack for connection to a charger, the jack being in a receptacle passing through the cover.

2. The instrument of claim 1, comprising a boost converter.

3. The instrument of claim 1, comprising a boost converter contained entirely within the cavity.

4. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the rechargeable power source is disposed on an inner surface of the cover.

5. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the cover is to replace an original cover on the instrument.

6. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the cover includes screw holes aligned with screw holes on the instrument.

7. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the jack is a micro USB (Universal Serial Bus) receptacle.

8. The instrument of claim 1, comprising a light-emitting diode visible on the external surface of the cover to indicate that the rechargeable power source is charging.

9. A power system for use on a stringed instrument, the power system comprising:

a cover to cover a pre-existing cavity on the instrument, the pre-existing cavity on a side of the instrument opposite from the side of the instrument having mounted thereon strings;

the cover being the same size and shape, and having same screw alignment, as the cover originally manufactured to cover the cavity;

a rechargeable power source;

a circuit board contained within the cavity to provide power to an active pickup on the instrument to detect vibrations from the instrument'"'"'s strings;

a circuit to control the input of current to the rechargeable power source, the output of current from the rechargeable power source, or both;

the circuit board and circuit contained entirely within the cavity, the circuit integrated into an assembly with the cover, and not requiring modification to the instrument'"'"'s body structure when the cover is fastened to the instrument; and

a jack for connection to a charger, the jack being in a receptacle passing through the cover.

10. The power system of claim 9, comprising a boost converter.

11. The power system of claim 9, comprising a boost converter contained entirely within the cavity.

12. The power system of claim 9, wherein the rechargeable power source is disposed on an inner surface of the cover.

13. The power system of claim 9, wherein the cover is to replace an original cover of the instrument.

14. The power system of claim 9, wherein the cover includes screw holes aligned with screw holes on the instrument.

15. The power system of claim 9, wherein the jack is a micro USB (Universal Serial Bus) receptacle.

16. The power system of claim 9, comprising a light-emitting diode visible on the external surface of the cover to indicate that the rechargeable power source is charging.

18. The instrument of claim 16, comprising a boost converter.

17. A stringed instrument comprising:

a first side having mounted thereon strings;

a cavity being created at the time of the manufacture of the instrument;

an active pickup to detect vibrations from the instrument'"'"'s strings and output a signal;

a cover to cover the cavity;

a rechargeable battery and a circuit board contained within the cavity to provide power to the pickup, the rechargeable battery disposed flat and parallel to the cover on an inner surface of the cover; and

a circuit to control the input of current to the rechargeable power source, the output of current from the rechargeable power source, or both;

the rechargeable battery, circuit board and circuit contained entirely within the cavity, the circuit integrated into an assembly with the cover, and not requiring modification to the instrument'"'"'s body structure when the cover is fastened to the instrument.

19. The instrument of claim 17, comprising a boost converter contained entirely within the cavity.