Contactless charging system for musical instruments

• US 8,193,768 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2009
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jason S. Hallett
• Original Assignee: Jason S. Hallett
• Inventors: Hallett, Jason S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramadan, Ramy
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRANT, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US12/392,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20090218985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108
• US Class Current: 320/108
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/32 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/035 Power management, i.e. specific power supply solutions for electrophonic musical instruments, e.g. auto power shut-off, energy saving designs, power conditioning, connector design, avoiding inconvenient wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

A contactless charging system for an electric musical instrument includes an instrument stand configured to support a musical instrument, and which includes a contactless charging port configured for connection to a power source such as an electric wall outlet. A charging circuit module is configured for incorporation within the musical instrument, and includes a second contactless charging port in physical electrical contact with circuit elements configured to provide at least one predetermined voltage to at least one rechargeable portable power supply. The second contactless charging port is configured for contactless charging engagement with the first contactless charging port, so that the second port receives power from the power source when the instrument is placed in the stand.

Claims

1. A contactless charging system for an electronic musical instrument, the system comprising:

an instrument stand configured to support a musical instrument thereon, the instrument including a plurality of electronic components each operable at mutually distinct and different predetermined voltages, said electronic components including at least one wireless transmitter disposed in physical electrical contact with at least one rechargeable power supply;

a first contactless charging port module integrally disposed on said stand, said first contactless charging port module including an induction coil disposed in physical electrical contact with a transformer;

said first contactless charging port configured for substantially continuous physical electric contact with a power source;

a charging circuit module configured for being disposed on the musical instrument in physical electrical contact therewith;

said charging circuit module including circuit elements configured to provide the plurality of mutually distinct and different predetermined voltages usable by said plurality of electronic components, wherein said charging circuit module is configured to charge said at least one rechargeable power supply;

said charging circuit module including a second contactless charging port disposed in physical electrical contact with said circuit elements;

said second contactless charging port configured for contactless charging engagement with said first contactless charging port to receive power from the power source.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising the at least one rechargeable power supply disposed in physical electrical contact with said circuit elements.

3. The system of claim 2, comprising the electronic musical instrument.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said electronic musical instrument comprises an electric guitar.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said electronic component comprises a pick-up.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein said electronic musical instrument is selected from the group consisting of horns, drums, stringed instruments, and combinations thereof.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein said electronic component is selected from the group consisting of microphones, amplifiers, pickups, sound modifiers, wireless transmitters, and combinations thereof.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said charging circuit module is configured to provide a plurality of predetermined voltages to a plurality of electrically independent rechargeable power supplies.

9. The system of claim 8 comprising the plurality of electrically independent rechargeable power supplies disposed in physical electrical contact with said charging circuit module.

10. The system of claim 9, comprising the electronic musical instrument, said instrument having a plurality of electronic instrument components engagable in physical electrical contact with said plurality of rechargeable power supplies.

11. The system of claim 1 where said first and second contactless charging ports comprise inductive charging ports.

12. The system of claim 1, comprising a switch disposed to switchably supply power to said first contactless charging port when said second contactless charging port is disposed in operative engagement with said first contactless charging port.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said instrument stand is configured for being mounted on a horizontal surface.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said instrument stand is configured for being mounted on a vertical surface.

15. The system of claim 2 wherein said at least one rechargeable power supply comprises a battery.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said charging circuit module comprises a power level indicator configured to generate an output when power of the at least one rechargeable power supply is below a predetermined threshold.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the first contactless charging port module and the charging circuit module are respectively configured for being retrofitted onto conventional instrument stands and musical instruments.

17. An electronic musical instrument comprising:

a body having a plurality of electronic instrument components each operable at mutually distinct and different predetermined voltages, said electronic components including at least one wireless transmitter disposed in physical electrical contact with at least one rechargeable power supply;

a charging circuit module disposed on said body, in physical electrical contact with the electronic instrument components;

at least one rechargeable power supply disposed in physical electrical contact with said charging circuit module;

said charging circuit module configured to provide the plurality of mutually distinct and different predetermined voltages usable by said plurality of electronic components;

a contactless charging port module disposed in physical electrical contact with said charging circuit module, said contactless charging port module including an induction coil disposed in physical electrical contact with a transformer;

said contactless charging port module configured for contactless charging engagement with a power source to supply power to said at least one rechargeable power supply.

18. The instrument of claim 17, comprising an instrument stand configured to support said musical instrument thereon, said instrument stand connected to the power source and configured to mate with said contactless charging port to forming a contactless electrical coupling therebetween.

19. The instrument of claim 17 wherein said contactless charging port and said charging circuit module are disposed substantially within said body.

20. The instrument of claim 17 comprising a strap pin for a shoulder strap, said contactless charging port configured to releasably receive said strap pin therein.

21. A method for enabling an electric musical instrument to be charged, the method comprising:

(a) configuring an instrument stand to support a musical instrument thereon, the instrument including a plurality of electronic components each operable at mutually distinct and different predetermined voltages, said electronic components including at least one wireless transmitter disposed in physical electrical contact with at least one rechargeable power supply;

(b) integrally disposing a first contactless charging port module on said stand, said first contactless charging port module including an induction coil disposed in physical electrical contact with a transformer;

(c) configuring the first contactless charging port for substantially continuous physical electric contact with a power source;

(d) configuring a charging circuit module for being disposed on the musical instrument in physical electrical contact therewith;

(e) providing the charging circuit module with circuit elements configured to provide the plurality of mutually distinct and different predetermined voltages usable by said plurality of electronic components, wherein said charging circuit module is configured to charge said to at least one rechargeable power supply;

(f) disposing a second contactless charging port in physical electrical contact with said circuit elements; and

(g) configuring the second contactless charging port for contactless charging engagement with said first contactless charging port to receive power from the power source when the instrument is supported by the stand.

22. A contactless charging system for an electric stringed instrument, said system comprising:

an instrument stand configured to hold the instrument, the instrument having at least one wireless transmitter disposed in physical electrical contact with at least one of a plurality of electrically independent rechargeable power supplies;

said instrument stand including a first contactless charging port module connected to said instrument stand and an electrical cord connected to said charging port and configured to supply said charging port with electricity when said cord is attached to an electrical outlet, said first contactless charging port module including an induction coil disposed in physical electrical contact with a transformer;

a charging module including a second contactless charging port configured to mate and be contactlessly electrically coupled with said first contactless charging port;

said second charging port electrically coupled to a circuit configured to manipulate electricity providing multiple mutually distinct and different predetermined voltages for charging said plurality of electrically independent rechargeable power supplies; and

the electric stringed instrument including at least two electronic components, including said wireless transmitter, being respectively connected to at least two of said plurality of electrically independent rechargeable power supplies, said rechargeable power supplies being physically electrically coupled to said circuit.