Standalone electronic module for use with musical instruments

• US 20070234880A1
• Filed: 04/06/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
• Inventors: Adams, Charles C., Lorenzen, Lawrence E., Curtis, Dale V., Brieske, Jaremy A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,678,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/601
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0066 using a MIDI interface
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/281 Reverberation or echo
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/186 Means for processing the signal picked up from the strings filtering G10H1/12

Abstract

An electronic module has an enclosure which is mechanically and electrically compatible with a plurality of receiving devices such as amplifiers, computers, mixer consoles, and musical instruments. The module has a programmable control panel and display on the enclosure and an electronic circuit disposed within the enclosure and receiving user commands from the control panel and displaying configuration information on the display. The electronic circuit performs a variety of functions for each of the receiving devices by way of a digital signal processor, synthesizer for generating a programmable audio signal in response to a data stream, storage device for storing musical information in a digital format, and playback device for retrieval and playback of the stored musical information. An audio output is coupled for transferring the programmable audio signal to or from the receiving device.

Claims

1. An electronic module for use in conjunction with a musical instrument, comprising:

an enclosure with connector adapted for insertion into a receptacle of a receiving device;

a programmable control panel and display disposed on the enclosure; and

an electronic circuit disposed within the enclosure and receiving user commands from the control panel and displaying configuration information on the display, the electronic circuit including,

a digital signal processor for performing signal processing on a data stream,

a synthesizer for generating a programmable audio signal in response to the data stream,

a storage device coupled to the digital signal processor for storing musical information in a digital format, and

a playback device for retrieval and playback of the stored musical information.

2. The electronic module of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit provides at least one feature selected from the group consisting of equalizer, fully chromatic tuner, phrase sampler, phrase trainer, play loops, MIDI file support, variable speed playback, sample recording, sound selection, and style selection.

3. The electronic module of claim 1, further including an audio output coupled for transferring the programmable audio signal to or from the receiving device.

4. The electronic module of claim 1, wherein the receiving device is selected from the group consisting of amplifier, computer, mixer console, and musical instrument.

5. The electronic module of claim 4, wherein the musical instrument is a guitar.

6. A system for use in conjunction with a musical instrument, comprising an electronic module having an enclosure which is mechanically and electrically compatible with a plurality of receiving devices, the electronic module including a programmable control panel and display on a front portion of the enclosure, the electronic module further including an electronic circuit disposed within the enclosure and receiving user commands from the control panel and displaying configuration information on the display, the electronic circuit performing a plurality of functions for each of the plurality of receiving devices.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the electronic circuit includes:

a digital signal processor for performing signal processing; and

a data input coupled for receiving the data stream which is routed to the digital signal processor.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the electronic circuit includes:

a synthesizer for generating a programmable audio signal in response to a data stream; and

a data input coupled for receiving the data stream which is routed to the synthesizer.

9. The system of claim 6, further including an interface coupled to the electronic circuit and adapted for transferring the data stream to or from each of the plurality of receiving devices.

10. An electronic module for use in conjunction with a musical instrument, comprising:

an enclosure with a connector adapted for providing electrical communication with a receiving device;

a programmable control panel and display disposed on the enclosure; and

an electronic circuit disposed within the enclosure and receiving user commands from the control panel and displaying configuration information on the display, the electronic circuit performing a plurality of functions for the receiving device via the connector.

11. The electronic module of claim 10, wherein the enclosure is adapted for insertion into a receptacle of a plurality of receiving devices.

12. The electronic module of claim 10, wherein the enclosure connects to a receiving device via a cable.

13. The electronic module of claim 10, wherein the electronic circuit includes:

a digital signal processor for performing signal processing; and

a data input coupled for receiving a data stream which is routed to the digital signal processor.

14. The electronic module of claim 10, wherein the electronic circuit includes:

a synthesizer for generating a programmable audio signal in response to a data stream; and

a data input coupled for receiving a data stream which is routed to the synthesizer.

15. The electronic module of claim 14, wherein the data stream is organized according to a musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) standard.

16. The electronic module of claim 10, further including an interface coupled to the electronic circuit and adapted for transferring a data stream to or from the receiving device.

17. A method of manufacturing an electronic module for use in conjunction with a musical instrument, comprising:

providing an enclosure with a connector adapted to providing electrical communication with a receiving device, the enclosure including a programmable control panel and display; and

disposing an electronic circuit within the enclosure, the electronic circuit receiving user commands from the control panel and displaying configuration information on the display and performing a plurality of functions for the receiving device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the enclosure is adapted for insertion into a receptacle of a plurality of receiving devices.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the enclosure connects to a receiving device via a cable.

20. The method of claim 17, further including:

providing a synthesizer in the electronic circuit for generating a programmable audio signal in response to a data stream; and

providing an interface to the electronic circuit for transferring the data stream to or from the receiving device.

21. The method of claim 17, further including:

providing a digital signal processor for performing signal processing on a data stream; and

providing an interface to the electronic circuit for transferring the data stream to or from the receiving device.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the enclosure is adapted for insertion into a plurality of receiving devices.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein one of the plurality of receiving devices is selected from the group consisting of amplifier, computer, mixer console, and musical instrument.