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 display configured to detect finger positions; and
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 of the bow.
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Accused Products
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
22 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 display configured to detect finger positions; and 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 of the bow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for an electronic musical instrument, the apparatus comprising:
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a fingerboard attached to the electronic musical instrument the fingerboard having a proximal end and a distal end; a light source generating a light beam; a waveguide operable to direct the light beam from the source toward the fingerboard; and a nut at the distal end of the fingerboard, the nut having a reflective surface positioned to reflect the light beam. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An apparatus for a bowed musical instrument, the apparatus comprising:
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a fingerboard of the musical instrument; a light beam source that causes a light beam to propagate along a length of the fingerboard; an optical pitch sensor that senses disturbance of the light beam; a bowing platform having a bowing surface for receiving a bow; and bow sensors configured to detect vibrations of the bowing surface; a socket configured to couple signals from the optical pitch sensors and the bow sensors to a mobile electronic device configured to process the signals; and a power supply that provides electrical power to the optical pitch sensors, the bow sensors, and the socket. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. 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 on the touch screen fingerboard; and electronically sensing vibrations of one or more bowing surfaces of a bowing platform of the stringless musical instrument. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification