Stringless bowed musical instrument
First Claim
1. A musical instrument, comprising:
- a body;
a neck attached to the body;
a fingerboard attached to the neck, the fingerboard including a touch sensitive layer configured to detect finger positions and finger pressure;
a bowing platform in contact with either the fingerboard or the body, the bowing platform having an adjustable bowing surface for placement of a bow, the bowing platform including bow sensors configured to detect vibrations of the bowing surface in response to motion and pressure of the bow; and
a microprocessor programmed to generate an output signal based on the detected finger positions and finger pressure and the detected vibrations of the bowing surface, wherein the output signal corresponds to a sound.
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Abstract
A stringless electric bowed musical instrument is disclosed in which sensors are provided to detect finger positions and bowing motions of the player. A touch-sensitive fingerboard surface is equipped with pitch sensors that detect finger positions. Use of a fingerboard surface that includes an interactive flexible touch screen display provides a plurality of illumination patterns to be displayed on the fingerboard and permits various operational modes that are useful for both students and artists. A bowing platform in contact with either the fingerboard or the body of the instrument provides an adjustable bowing surface for including bow sensors configured to detect vibrations in response to bow motion. The bow sensors may include piezo-ceramic elements. Optical pitch sensors may sense interruption of one or more laser beams that propagate above a top surface of the fingerboard.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A musical instrument, comprising:
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a body; a neck attached to the body; a fingerboard attached to the neck, the fingerboard including a touch sensitive layer configured to detect finger positions and finger pressure; a bowing platform in contact with either the fingerboard or the body, the bowing platform having an adjustable bowing surface for placement of a bow, the bowing platform including bow sensors configured to detect vibrations of the bowing surface in response to motion and pressure of the bow; and a microprocessor programmed to generate an output signal based on the detected finger positions and finger pressure and the detected vibrations of the bowing surface, wherein the output signal corresponds to a sound. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method, comprising:
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displaying an illumination pattern on a touch screen fingerboard of a stringless musical instrument; electronically sensing finger placement and finger pressure on the touch screen fingerboard; electronically sensing vibrations of one or more bowing surfaces of a bowing platform of the stringless musical instrument in response to motion and pressure of a bow contacting the bowing platform; and generating an output signal based on the sensed finger placement, the sensed finger pressure, and the sensed vibrations of the one or more bowing surface, wherein the output signal corresponds to a sound. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification