String array signal processing for electronic musical instruments

• US 7,767,902 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NRI R&D Patent Licensing, LLC (Advanced Touchscreen and Gesture Technologies, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lester F. Ludwig
• Inventors: Ludwig, Lester F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fletcher; Marlon T
• Application Number:
  US11/219,475
• Publication Number:
  US 20060032364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 84/741
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/00 Details of electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0058 Transmission between separate instruments or between individual components of a musical system G10H1/0083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0066 using a MIDI interface
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/348 Switches actuated by parts of the body other than fingers
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/46 Volume control
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/521 Hall effect transducers or similar magnetic field sensing semiconductor devices, e.g. for string vibration sensing or key movement sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/525 Piezoelectric transducers for vibration sensing or vibration excitation in the audio range; Piezoelectric strain sensing, e.g. as key velocity sensor; Piezoelectric actuators, e.g. key actuation in response to a control voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/095 Spint zither, i.e. mimicking any neckless stringed instrument in which the strings do not extend beyond the sounding board
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/101 Spint koto, i.e. mimicking any traditional asian-style plucked zither with movable bridges
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/115 Spint sitar, i.e. mimicking any long-necked plucked string instrument with a large number of additional non-playable sympathetic resonating strings or an additional gourd-like resonating chamber
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/145 Spint guitar keyboard, i.e. mimicking a combination of a guitar-like instrument, with or without strings, and a piano-like keyboard, e.g. with white and black keys arranged like on a piano
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/271 Spint gong, i.e. mimicking circular flat, nippled or bowl-shaped metallic percussion instruments G10H2230/321 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/18 using a string, e.g. electric guitar mechanical features G10D1/085
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/26 : using electric feedback
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 84/10 : Feedback

Abstract

System and method expanding and generalizing string selection aspects of an autoharp and applying to general forms of string arrays. String vibration may be sympathetic or induced by strumming, plucking, and/or electrical drive transducers. Volume of individual vibrating strings within arrays of strings may be mechanically or electronically controlled by chord buttons or a music keyboard. Electronic control can also be made with foot switches or incoming MIDI control signals. These controls may be used individually or in combination. Keyboard keys may be provided with key-travel sensors, key-surface sensors, or other sensors for continuously controlling volumes and octave mixings of subgroups of individual strings. Incoming MIDI control signals may also be used for controlling volumes and octave mixings of subgroups of individual strings. Outgoing control signals, such as MIDI, may be generated responsive to the plucking and/or the amplitude of and harmonic structure in the ongoing vibration of individual strings.

Claims

1. A system for controlling volume of individual strings of a string instrument, said system comprising:

a tuned array of strings, wherein each string of said array of strings comprises a fixed vibrating length and is adapted to be vibrated by an external stimulus;

a dedicated vibration-sensing transducer coupled with each string of said array of strings, wherein each transducer of said plurality of vibration-sensing transducers generates an electrical signal responsive to vibrations of an associated string of said array of strings;

a plurality of volume control elements, wherein each volume control element of said plurality of volume control elements provides volume control of an associated one or more strings of a proper subset of said array of strings, and wherein each volume control element of said plurality of volume control elements is controlled by an associated digital incoming volume control signal wherein the incoming volume control signal is a MIDI signal; and

an audio interface providing an output audio signal responsive to each volume control element of said plurality of volume control elements.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said incoming volume control signal is generated by a chord button.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said incoming volume control signal is generated by a foot switch.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein an outgoing control signal is generated responsive to plucking of at least one string of said array of strings.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said outgoing control signal is generated responsive to an amplitude of said plucking.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein an outgoing control signal is generated responsive to ongoing amplitude of vibration of said at least one string of said array of strings.

7. The system according to claim 4, wherein said outgoing control signal is a signal of MIDI format.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein said outgoing control signal is adapted to trigger a synthesizer note.

9. The system according to claim 4, wherein said outgoing control signal is adapted to control lighting.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein vibration of at least one string of said array of strings is induced by strumming.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein vibration of at least one string of said array of strings is mechanically induced sympathetic vibration.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein vibration of at least one string of said array of strings is induced by at least one electrical drive transducer.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of electrical signals are individually directed to a multichannel signal processor.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein groups of said plurality of electrical signals are directed to a multichannel signal processor.

15. A method for controlling volume of individual strings of a string instrument, said method comprising:

vibrating one or more strings of a tuned array of strings, wherein each string of said array of strings comprises a fixed vibrating length, and wherein said vibrating is accomplished by external stimulus;

coupling a dedicated vibration-sensing transducer with each string of said array of strings, wherein each transducer of said plurality of vibration-sensing transducers generates an electrical signal responsive to vibrations of an associated string of said array of strings;

providing volume control using a plurality of volume control elements, each volume control element of said plurality of volume control elements being controlled responsive to an associated digital incoming volume control signal, wherein the incoming volume control signal is a MIDI signal, and wherein each volume control element of said plurality of volume control elements provides volume control of an associated one or more strings of a proper subset of said array of strings; and

providing an output audio signal responsive to each volume control element of said plurality of volume control elements.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said incoming volume control signal is generated by a chord button.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said incoming volume control signal is generated by a foot switch.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein an outgoing control signal is generated responsive to plucking of at least one string of said array of strings.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said outgoing control signal is generated responsive to an amplitude of said plucking.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein an outgoing control signal is generated responsive to ongoing amplitude of vibration of said at least one string of said array of strings.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein said outgoing control signal is a signal of MIDI format.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein said outgoing control signal is adapted to trigger a synthesizer note.

23. The method according to claim 18, wherein said outgoing control signal is adapted to control lighting.

24. The method according to claim 15, wherein vibration of at least one string of said array of strings is induced by strumming.

25. The method according to claim 15, wherein vibration of at least one string of said array of strings is mechanically induced sympathetic vibration.

26. The method according to claim 15, wherein vibration of at least one string of said array of strings is induced by at least one electrical drive transducer.

27. The method according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of electrical signals are individually directed to a multichannel signal processor.

28. The method according to claim 15, wherein groups of said plurality of electrical signals are directed to a multichannel signal processor.