Smart effect unit

• US 10,275,205 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2016
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chia-Hung Fang, Kuan-Yi Lee
• Original Assignee: Tri-In, Inc.
• Inventors: Fang, Chia-Hung, Chang, Li-Wen, Lee, Kuan-Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): Warren, David S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schreiber, Christina M
• Application Number:
  US15/292,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20170109125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 84615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/043 Continuous modulation
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/348 Switches actuated by parts of the body other than fingers
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/155 Musical effects
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/116 for graphical editing of sound parameters or waveforms, e.g. by graphical interactive control of timbre, partials or envelope non-graphical waveform editing G10H2250/615
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/321 Bluetooth

Abstract

A smart effects unit disclosed includes effects modules, a control module and a switching device. The control module includes a processor, a user interface and a memory. The processor is connected to an musical instrument and effect modules through an input switch interface, such that the audio signal of the instrument is able to be inputted into the effects modules based on a combination configuration to generate a combined effect audio signal. The combination configuration defines the connection sequence of the plurality of effect modules. The user interface is provided to adjust each effect module and the connection sequence order of effect modules through the input interface to generate the combination configuration, which is stored in a memory. The switching device connected to the control module is provided to switch the control module between different combination configurations based on the combination configurations stored in the memory.

Claims

1. A smart effect unit, comprising:

a plurality of effect modules, each including an analog circuit and at least one digital potentiometer electrically connected, the digital potentiometer being configured to process an effect audio signal inputted to the analog circuit by controlling a resistance on the plurality of effect modules and to generate an audio effect;

a control module, including;

a processor, connected to a musical instrument and the plurality of effect modules via an input switch interface, and the processor being configured such that the audio signal of the musical instrument is inputted into the plurality of effects modules based on a configuration to generate a combined effect audio signal, the combination configuration defining a connection sequence order of the plurality of effect modules;

a user interface, configured for a user to adjust the audio effect of each of the plurality of effect modules and to adjust the connection sequence order of the plurality of effect modules through the input switch interface to generate at least one combination configuration; and

a memory, configured to store at least one combination configuration;

a switching device, connected to the control module for allowing the user to switch among different combination configurations stored in the memory; and

an effect modules housing, blocking electromagnetic wave to prevent the analog circuit from being affected by high frequency digital signals.

2. The smart effect unit of claim 1, further comprising a housing accommodating the control module.

3. The smart effect unit of claim 2, wherein the housing includes a plurality of slots.

4. The smart effect unit of claim 3, wherein the input switch interface is electrically connected to the plurality of slots and the plurality of effect modules are plugged into the plurality of slots respectively.

5. The smart effect unit of claim 1, wherein the input switch interface is electrically connected to the processor.

6. The smart effect unit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of effect modules each comprises a microprocessor or an effect unit memory, and electric potential of each of the digital potentiometer is adjusted via the control of the microprocessor by controlling the processor through the user interface or the electric potential of each of the digital potentiometer is adjusted based on data of the digital potentiometer stored in the effect unit memory.

7. The smart effect unit of claim 1, further comprising a display device, electrically connected to the control module and configured to display the audio effect and the combination configuration of the plurality of effect modules through the controlling of the processor.

8. The smart effect unit of claim 1, wherein the control module further includes at least one wireless communication device connected to the processor and configured to communicate with at least one electronic media.

9. The smart effect unit of claim 8, wherein the electronic media includes a display module to display the audio effect and the combination configuration of the plurality of effect modules.

10. The smart effect unit of claim 8, wherein the electronic media includes a user management interface providing the user to remotely adjust the audio effect and the combination configuration.