Methods and apparatus for stringed controllers and/or instruments
First Claim
1. A method for use with a stringed game controller that comprises a guitar body, a plurality of strings extending along at least a portion of the guitar body, and at least one sensor adapted to detect movement of the strings, the method comprising acts of:
- (A) in response to a strike of at least one of the plurality of strings by a user of the game controller that causes vibration of the at least one of the plurality of strings, mechanically dampening the vibration through use of a retractable mechanical dampener by an amount sufficient to facilitate electronic detection of a subsequent strike of the at least one of the plurality of strings occurring within 0.5 seconds of the strike of the at least one of the plurality of strings, wherein the retractable mechanical dampener is partially recessed toward the guitar body when not engaging the at least one of the plurality of strings; and
(B) producing at least one game control signal based on the strike of the at least one of the plurality of strings.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
172 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for use with a stringed game controller that comprises a guitar body, a plurality of strings extending along at least a portion of the guitar body, and at least one sensor adapted to detect movement of the strings, the method comprising acts of:
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(A) in response to a strike of at least one of the plurality of strings by a user of the game controller that causes vibration of the at least one of the plurality of strings, mechanically dampening the vibration through use of a retractable mechanical dampener by an amount sufficient to facilitate electronic detection of a subsequent strike of the at least one of the plurality of strings occurring within 0.5 seconds of the strike of the at least one of the plurality of strings, wherein the retractable mechanical dampener is partially recessed toward the guitar body when not engaging the at least one of the plurality of strings; and (B) producing at least one game control signal based on the strike of the at least one of the plurality of strings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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6. A stringed game controller comprising:
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a guitar body; a plurality of guitar strings extending along at least a portion of the guitar body; at least one sensor coupled to the guitar body and adapted to detect movement of at least one guitar string of the plurality of guitar strings that results from a strike of the at least one guitar string by a user of the game controller that causes vibration of the at least one guitar string; a retractable dampener coupled to the guitar body and having an engagement surface, wherein the retractable dampener is movable between a first position in which the engagement surface does not contact the at least one guitar string and a second position in which the engagement surface engages the at least one guitar string and dampens the vibration of the at least one guitar string; and at least one control module that is coupled to the at least one sensor and that provides at least one electrical signal indicating the striking of the at least one guitar string by the user wherein when the retractable dampener is in the first position it is at least partially recessed toward the guitar body. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification