METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR STRINGED CONTROLLERS AND/OR INSTRUMENTS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A game controller comprising:
- a body comprising a fingerboard;
a plurality of strings extending along the fingerboard;
at least one first sensor adapted to detect fingering of the fingerboard by a user of the game controller;
at least one second sensor adapted to detect striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user of the game controller; and
at least one control module that is coupled to the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor and that provides at least one electrical signal indicating the fingering of the fingerboard by the user and indicating the striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user.
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Abstract
Stringed instruments, game controllers, and related structures and methods are described. A game controller having one or more strings is described for a computer gaming application. Output signals may be sent from the controller to the gaming application indicative of fingering of the game controller and the time at which the strings of the game controller are struck. Multi-mode apparatus are also described. A stringed apparatus may be used as both a game controller and an instrument. Bracing structures and methods are also described for bracing stringed apparatus, such as stringed game controllers and instruments.
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Citations
102 Claims
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1. A game controller comprising:
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a body comprising a fingerboard; a plurality of strings extending along the fingerboard; at least one first sensor adapted to detect fingering of the fingerboard by a user of the game controller; at least one second sensor adapted to detect striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user of the game controller; and at least one control module that is coupled to the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor and that provides at least one electrical signal indicating the fingering of the fingerboard by the user and indicating the striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method comprising acts of:
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(A) generating control signals for a computer game based on user interactions with a controller that comprises a body comprising a fingerboard, a plurality of strings extending along the fingerboard, at least one first sensor adapted to detect fingering of the fingerboard by a user of the game controller, and at least one second sensor adapted to detect striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user of the game controller; wherein generating the control signals comprises evaluating at least first and second distinct pieces of information relating to the user interactions, the first piece of information being indicative of fingering of the fingerboard by the user, and the second piece of information being indicative of the striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. An adapter for adapting a musical instrument to enable the musical instrument to be used as a game controller, the musical instrument comprising a body comprising a fingerboard and a plurality of strings extending along the fingerboard, the adapter comprising:
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at least one first sensor adapted to detect fingering of the fingerboard by a user of the game controller; at least one second sensor adapted to detect striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user of the game controller; and at least one control module that is coupled to the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor and that provides at least one electrical signal indicating the fingering of the fingerboard by the user and indicating the striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77)
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78. A method of adapting a musical instrument to enable the musical instrument to be used as a game controller, the musical instrument comprising a body comprising a fingerboard and a plurality of strings extending along the fingerboard, the method comprising:
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(A) positioning at least one first sensor on the fingerboard to detect fingering of the fingerboard by a user of the game controller; (B) providing at least one second sensor to detect striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user of the game controller; and (C) providing at least one electrical signal to a game, the at least one electrical signal indicating the fingering of the fingerboard by the user and indicating the striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user. - View Dependent Claims (79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102)
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Specification