Device, method and system for the visualization of stringed instrument playing

• US 6,350,942 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Thomson, Richard Atwater
• Primary Examiner(s): FLETCHER, MARLON T
• Application Number:
  US09/742,998
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 846/00--02, 846/16, 846/54, 846/58, 847/23, 847/25--26, 847/30--31, 844/77.R, 844/85.R, 84D/IG.6
• US Class Current: 84/477.00R
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/002 Electrically operated systems
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/023 Electrically operated

Abstract

The present invention provides a device, method and system for the visualization of stringed instrument playing. The invention involves measuring a property of one or more strings, and using the property to create or modify a visual display. In one aspect of the invention, a change is measured in a property of a portion of a string of a stringed instrument and a signal is generated in response to the change. The signal can then be used to modify or create a visual display. In another aspect of the invention, a change in a property of each string on a stringed instrument is measured and signals are generated for each change. These signals may be low level signals that are processed to generate one or more high level signals providing, e.g., an overview of how the instrument is being played. The high level signals, low level signals, or both may be used to modify or create a display.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

measuring a change in a property of at least a portion of at least one string of a stringed instrument;

generating at least one signal in response to the change; and

generating a visual display in response to the at least one signal, wherein the step of measuring comprises the step of measuring a strain on the at least a portion of the at least one string and wherein the step of generating at least one signal in response to the change comprises the step of generating a voltage for each of the at least one strings that is proportional to a resistance that is proportional to the strain.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of measuring further comprises the step of measuring a force, tensile stress or strain along at least one axis on the at least a portion of the at least one string.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating a visual display in response to the signal further comprises the step of generating a visual display on a monitor in response to the signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating a visual display in response to the at least one signal further comprises the step of generating a visual display on a physical system in response to the at least one signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating a visual display in response to the at least one signal further comprises the step of generating a visual display on a video display in response to the at least one signal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of generating a visual display in response to the at least one signal further comprises the step of generating dynamic and static portions of the visual display, wherein the dynamic portions vary in response to the at least one signal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of measuring a change in a property of at least a portion of at least one string of a stringed instrument comprises the step of measuring the change in the property of at least a portion of a plurality of strings of a stringed instrument;

the step of generating at least one signal in response to the change comprises the step of generating a plurality of signals in response to the change, one signal for each of the plurality of strings; and

the step of generating a visual display in response to the at least one signal comprises the step of generating a visual display in response to the plurality of signals.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of analyzing the plurality of signals to determine high level signals, and wherein the step of the step of generating a visual display in response to the plurality of signals further comprises the step of generating a visual display in response to the high level signals.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of packaging the plurality of signals into a script comprising the high level signals, and wherein the step of generating a visual display in response to the high level signals further comprises the step of generating a visual display in response to the high level signals.

10. A system for the visualization of string instrument playing, comprising:

a plurality of property-measuring devices, each property-measuring device measuring a strain on a section of one of a plurality of strings; and

a signal generator coupled to each of the plurality of property-measuring devices, the signal generator producing a voltage for each of the plurality of strings that is proportional to a resistance that is proportional to the strain.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising a signal analyzer coupled to the signal generator, the signal analyzer producing at least one output.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising a display generator, the display generator interpreting the at least one output and changing a visual display in response to the interpretation.

13. A device comprising:

a string suitable for use on a stringed instrument; and

a property-measuring device attached to the string, the property-measuring device adapted to measure a strain on the string and generate a voltage that is proportional to a resistance that is proportional to the strain.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the property-measuring device is a means for measuring a change in the strain of a section of the string.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the property-measuring device comprises a stain gauge.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the string comprises an inner section and a wound outer section, and where the property-measuring device is attached to an outer surface of the wound outer section.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the string comprises an inner section and a wound outer section, and where the property-measuring device is attached to an outer surface of the inner section and lies between the inner and wound outer sections.

18. A system comprising:

a memory that stores computer-readable code; and

a processor operatively coupled to the memory, the processor configured to implement the computer-readable code, the computer-readable code configured to;

generate a signal in response to a change in a strain on a section of a string of a stringed instrument

generate a voltage in response to the change that is proportional to a resistance that is proportional to the strain; and

generate a visual display in response to the signal.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the computer readable code is further configured to measure the change in the strain.

20. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium having computer readable code means embodied thereon, said computer readable program code means comprising;

a step to generate a voltage in response to a change in a strain on a section of a string of a stringed instrument;

a step to generate a voltage in response to the change that is proportional to a resistance that is proportional to the strain; and

a step to generate a visual display in response to the signal.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 20 wherein the computer readable code means further comprises a step to measure the change in the strain.