Methods and apparatus for stringed controllers and/or instruments

• US 8,246,461 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: First Act Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: 745 LLC
• Inventors: Chiu, Bernard, Izen, Mark, Webster, Stephen Paul, Davis, Jack Daniel, Small, Craig, Mittelstadt, Wendy Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Such, Matthew W
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARPENTER, ROBERT K
• Application Number:
  US12/359,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20090191932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 463/39, 463/7, 843/14
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/135 Musical aspects of games or videogames; Musical instrument-shaped game input interfaces game background music G10H2210/026; musical game scoring or performance evaluation G10H2210/091

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.

Claims

1. A game controller comprising:

a body comprising a fingerboard;

a plurality of strings extending along the fingerboard;

at least one first sensor adapted to detect fingering of the fingerboard of the game controller and to provide a signal indicating positioning information;

at least one second sensor adapted to detect striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by a user of the game controller to provide a signal representing timing information; and

at least one control module that is coupled to the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor and configured to process signals from the at least one first sensor and at least one second sensor to provide, external to the game controller, at least one external electrical signal for a computer gaming application in a format recognized by the computer gaming application, said external electrical signal uniquely identifying a position on the fingerboard and representing the timing information.

2. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a neck and wherein the fingerboard is disposed on the neck.

3. The game controller of claim 2, wherein the fingerboard comprises a plurality of frets that underlie the plurality of strings.

4. The game controller of claim 3, wherein the plurality of strings are electrically conductive, wherein at least some of the plurality of frets are electrically conductive, and wherein the at least one first sensor is adapted to detect fingering of the fingerboard, at least in part, by detecting contacts between the electrically conductive strings and the electrically conductive frets.

5. The game controller of claim 4, wherein at least one of the electrically conductive frets has a plurality of electrically conductive zones that are electrically insulated from each other and that each corresponds to a different string so that the at least one first sensor is adapted to detect which of the electrically conductive strings has contacted the electrically conductive fret.

6. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the body is instrument shaped.

7. The game controller of claim 6, wherein the body is guitar shaped.

8. The game controller of claim 7, wherein the game controller is a dual mode device that is capable of operating in a first mode as the game controller and in a second mode as a guitar, and wherein the game controller is tunable to enable the plurality of strings to play a full range of guitar notes.

9. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising at least one string dampener adapted to dampen vibration of at least one of the plurality of strings after it is struck by the user so that an amplitude of the vibration of the at least one of the plurality of strings decays to less than 30% within 0.5 seconds of the at least one of the plurality of strings being struck.

10. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising at least one string dampener adapted to dampen vibration of at least one of the plurality of strings after it is struck by the user to facilitate detection of distinct string strikes.

11. The game controller of claim 10, wherein the at least one string dampener comprises a mechanical string dampener to physically contact a vibrating string in a manner that reduces an amplitude of its vibration.

12. The game controller of claim 10, wherein the at least one string dampener comprises at least one signal processor.

13. The game controller of claim 10, wherein the at least one string dampener comprises an electromechanical dampener.

14. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one first sensor comprises electrically conductive material disposed on the fingerboard and adapted to conduct an electric signal in response to a string of the plurality of strings contacting the electrically conductive material.

15. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one first sensor comprises a pressure sensitive material adapted to generate, alter and/or conduct an electrical signal when contacted by the user.

16. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one second sensor comprises a transducer that detects movement of the plurality of strings.

17. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one second sensor comprises an instrument pickup.

18. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one external electrical signal provides at least first and second distinct pieces of control information, the first piece of control information uniquely identifying the position on the fingerboard, and the second piece of control information being indicative of the timing information;

and

wherein the game controller comprises at least one third sensor that is adapted to detect actuation of at least one additional control, and wherein the at least one external electrical signal comprises a third piece of control information indicative of the actuation of the at least one additional control.

19. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one external electrical signal provides at least first and second distinct pieces of control information, the first piece of control information uniquely identifying the position on the fingerboard, and the second piece of control information being indicative of the timing information;

and

wherein the at least one external electrical signal comprises a first electrical signal conveying the first piece of control information and a second electrical signal conveying the second piece of control information.

20. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one external electrical signal provides at least first and second distinct pieces of control information, the first piece of control information uniquely identifying the position on the fingerboard, and the second piece of control information being indicative of the timing information;

and

wherein the at least one external electrical signal comprises a single electrical signal conveying the first and second pieces of control information.

21. The game controller of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of strings has a portion that vibrates when the string is struck, and wherein the at least one first sensor is adapted to detect fingering of the fingerboard that results in an adjustment to a length of the portion of one of the plurality of strings that vibrates when the one of the plurality of strings is struck.

22. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one external electrical signal provides at least first and second distinct pieces of control information, the first piece of control information uniquely identifying the position on the fingerboard, and the second piece of control information being indicative of the timing information.

23. The game controller of claim 22, wherein the first piece of control information comprises information identifying fingering along a length of the fingerboard.

24. The game controller of claim 23, wherein the first piece of control information comprises information identifying fingering across a width of the fingerboard.

25. The game controller of claim 22, wherein the first piece of control information comprises information identifying fingering across a width of the fingerboard.

26. A method comprising:

(A) controlling a video game using the game controller of claim 1.

27. A method comprising acts of:

(A) generating at least one external electrical signal for controlling a computer gaming application based on user interactions with a game controller, wherein the game controller comprises a body comprising a fingerboard, a plurality of strings extending along the fingerboard, at least one first sensor adapted to detect fingering of the fingerboard by a user of the game controller, and at least one second sensor adapted to detect striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user of the game controller;

wherein the at least one external electrical signal uniquely identifies a position on the fingerboard and represents timing information from striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user;

wherein the at least one external electrical signal is generated in a format recognized by the computer gaming application; and

(B) providing the at least one external electrical signal external to the game controller.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the body comprises a neck and wherein the fingerboard is disposed on the neck.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the fingerboard comprises a plurality of frets that underlie the plurality of strings.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the plurality of strings are electrically conductive, wherein at least some of the plurality of frets are electrically conductive, and wherein the at least one first sensor is adapted to detect fingering of the fingerboard, at least in part, by detecting contacts between the electrically conductive strings and the electrically conductive frets.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein at least one of the electrically conductive frets has a plurality of electrically conductive zones that are electrically insulated from each other and that each corresponds to a different string so that the at least one first sensor is adapted to detect which of the electrically conductive strings has contacted the electrically conductive fret.

32. The method of claim 27 wherein the body is instrument shaped.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the body is guitar shaped.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the controller is a dual mode device that is capable of operating in a first mode as a game controller and in a second mode as a guitar, and wherein the game controller is tunable to enable the plurality of strings to play a full range of guitar notes.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein the controller further comprises at least one string dampener adapted to dampen vibration of at least one of the plurality of strings after it is struck by the user, and wherein the method further comprises dampening an amplitude of the vibration of the at least one of the plurality of strings by at least 70% within 0.5 seconds of the at least one of the plurality of strings being struck.

36. The method of claim 27, further comprising dampening vibration of at least one of the plurality of strings after it is struck by the user to facilitate detection of distinct string strikes.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein dampening comprises mechanically dampening.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein dampening comprises using a signal processor.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein dampening comprises electromechanically dampening.

40. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one first sensor comprises electrically conductive material disposed on the fingerboard and adapted to conduct an electric signal in response to a string of the plurality of strings contacting the electrically conductive material.

41. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one first sensor comprises a pressure sensitive material adapted to generate, alter and/or conduct an electrical signal when contacted by the user.

42. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one second sensor comprises a transducer that detects movement of the plurality of strings.

43. The method of claim 27, wherein the at least one second sensor comprises an instrument pickup.

44. The method of claim 27, wherein generating the at least one external electrical signal comprises generating at least first and second distinct pieces of control information, the first piece of control information uniquely identifying the position on the fingerboard, and the second piece of control information being indicative of the timing information;

and

wherein the game controller comprises at least one third sensor that is adapted to detect actuation of at least one additional control, and wherein generating the at least one external electrical signal further comprises generating a third piece of control information indicative of the actuation of the at least one additional control.

45. The method of claim 27, wherein generating the at least one external electrical signal comprises generating at least first and second distinct pieces of control information, the first piece of control information uniquely identifying the position on the fingerboard, and the second piece of control information being indicative of the timing information;

and

wherein generating the at least one external electrical signal comprises generating a first electrical signal conveying the first piece of control information and a second electrical signal conveying the second piece of control information.

46. The method of claim 27, wherein generating the at least one external electrical signal comprises generating at least first and second distinct pieces of control information, the first piece of control information uniquely identifying the position on the fingerboard, and the second piece of control information being indicative of the timing information;

and

wherein generating the at least one external electrical signal comprises generating a single electrical signal conveying the first and second pieces of control information.

47. The method of claim 27, wherein each of the plurality of strings has a portion that vibrates when the string is struck, and wherein the at least one first sensor is adapted to detect fingering of the fingerboard that results in an adjustment to a length of the portion of one of the plurality of strings that vibrates when the one of the plurality of strings is struck.

48. The method of claim 27, wherein generating the at least one external electrical signal comprises generating at least first and second distinct pieces of control information, the first piece of control information uniquely identifying the position on the fingerboard, and the second piece of control information being indicative of the timing information.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the first piece of control information comprises information identifying fingering along a length of the fingerboard.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the first piece of control information comprises information identifying fingering across a width of the fingerboard.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein the first piece of control information comprises information identifying fingering across a width of the fingerboard.

52. An adapter for adapting a musical instrument to enable the musical instrument to be used as a game controller to control a computer gaming application, the musical instrument comprising a body comprising a fingerboard and a plurality of strings extending along the fingerboard, the adapter comprising:

at least one first sensor adapted to detect fingering of the fingerboard by a user of the game controller;

at least one second sensor adapted to detect striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user of the game controller; and

at least one control module that is coupled to the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor and that provides, external to the game controller, at least one external electrical signal uniquely identifying a position on the fingerboard and indicating the striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user, the external electrical signal being in a format recognized by the computer gaming application.

53. The adapter of claim 52, wherein the body comprises a neck and wherein the fingerboard is disposed on the neck.

54. The adapter of claim 53, wherein the fingerboard comprises a plurality of frets that underlie the plurality of strings.

55. The adapter of claim 54, wherein the plurality of strings are electrically conductive, wherein at least some of the plurality of frets are electrically conductive, and wherein the at least one first sensor is adapted to detect fingering of the fingerboard, at least in part, by detecting contacts between the electrically conductive strings and the electrically conductive frets.

56. The adapter of claim 55, wherein at least one of the electrically conductive frets has a plurality of electrically conductive zones that are electrically insulated from each other and that each corresponds to a different string so that the at least one first sensor is adapted to detect which of the electrically conductive strings has contacted the electrically conductive fret.

57. The adapter of claim 52, wherein the body is instrument shaped.

58. The adapter of claim 57, wherein the body is guitar shaped.

59. The adapter of claim 58, wherein the game controller is a dual mode device that is capable of operating in a first mode as the game controller and in a second mode as a guitar, and wherein the game controller is tunable to enable the plurality of strings to play a full range of guitar notes.

60. The adapter of claim 52, further comprising at least one string dampener adapted to dampen vibration of at least one of the plurality of strings after it is struck by the user so that an amplitude of the vibration of the at least one of the plurality of strings decays to less than 30% within 0.5 seconds of the at least one of the plurality of strings being struck.

61. The adapter of claim 52, further comprising at least one string dampener adapted to dampen vibration of at least one of the plurality of strings after it is struck by the user to facilitate detection of distinct string strikes.

62. The adapter of claim 61, wherein the at least one string dampener comprises a mechanical string dampener to physically contact a vibrating string in a manner that reduces an amplitude of its vibration.

63. The adapter of claim 61, wherein the at least one string dampener comprises at least one signal processor.

64. The adapter of claim 61, wherein the at least one string dampener comprises an electromechanical dampener.

65. The adapter of claim 52, wherein the at least one first sensor comprises electrically conductive material disposed on the fingerboard and adapted to conduct an electric signal in response to a string of the plurality of strings contacting the electrically conductive material.

66. The adapter of claim 52, wherein the at least one first sensor comprises a pressure sensitive material adapted to generate, alter and/or conduct an electrical signal when contacted by the user.

67. The adapter of claim 52, wherein the at least one second sensor comprises a transducer that detects movement of the plurality of strings.

68. The adapter of claim 52, wherein the at least one second sensor comprises an instrument pickup.

69. The adapter of claim 52, wherein the at least one external electrical signal provides at least first and second distinct pieces of control information, the first piece of control information uniquely identifying the position on the fingerboard, and the second piece of control information being indicative of the striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user;

and

wherein the adapter comprises at least one third sensor that is adapted to detect actuation of at least one additional control, and wherein the at least one external electrical signal comprises a third piece of control information indicative of the actuation of the at least one additional control.

70. The adapter of claim 52, wherein the at least one external electrical signal provides at least first and second distinct pieces of control information, the first piece of control information uniquely identifying the position on the fingerboard, and the second piece of control information being indicative of the striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user;

and

wherein the at least one external electrical signal comprises a first electrical signal conveying the first piece of control information and a second electrical signal conveying the second piece of control information.

71. The adapter of claim 52, wherein the at least one external electrical signal provides at least first and second distinct pieces of control information, the first piece of control information uniquely identifying the position on the fingerboard, and the second piece of control information being indicative of the striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user;

and

wherein the at least one external electrical signal comprises a single electrical signal conveying the first and second pieces of control information.

72. The adapter of claim 52, wherein each of the plurality of strings has a portion that vibrates when the string is struck, and wherein the at least one first sensor is adapted to detect fingering of the fingerboard that results in an adjustment to a length of the portion of one of the plurality of strings that vibrates when the one of the plurality of strings is struck.

73. The adapter of claim 52, wherein the at least one external electrical signal provides at least first and second distinct pieces of control information, the first piece of control information uniquely identifying the position on the fingerboard, and the second piece of control information being indicative of the striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user.

74. The adapter of claim 73, wherein the first piece of control information comprises information identifying fingering along a length of the fingerboard.

75. The adapter of claim 74, wherein the first piece of control information comprises information identifying fingering across a width of the fingerboard.

76. The adapter of claim 73, wherein the first piece of control information comprises information identifying fingering across a width of the fingerboard.

77. A method comprising:

(A) controlling a video game using the adapter of claim 52.

78. A method of adapting a musical instrument to enable the musical instrument to be used as a game controller, the musical instrument comprising a body comprising a fingerboard and a plurality of strings extending along the fingerboard, the method comprising:

(A) positioning at least one first sensor coupled to the fingerboard to detect fingering of the fingerboard by a user of the game controller;

(B) providing at least one second sensor to detect striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user of the game controller; and

(C) providing, external to the game controller, at least one external electrical signal to a computer gaming application, the at least one external electrical signal uniquely identifying a position on the fingerboard and indicating the striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user, and being in a format recognized by the computer gaming application.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein the body comprises a neck and wherein the fingerboard is disposed on the neck.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein the fingerboard comprises a plurality of frets that underlie the plurality of strings.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein the plurality of strings are electrically conductive, wherein at least some of the plurality of frets are electrically conductive, and wherein the at least one first sensor is adapted to detect fingering of the fingerboard, at least in part, by detecting contacts between the electrically conductive strings and the electrically conductive frets.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein at least one of the electrically conductive frets has a plurality of electrically conductive zones that are electrically insulated from each other and that each corresponds to a different string so that the at least one first sensor is adapted to detect which of the electrically conductive strings has contacted the electrically conductive fret.

83. The method of claim 78, wherein the body is instrument shaped.

84. The method of claim 83, wherein the body is guitar shaped.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the game controller is a dual mode device that is capable of operating in a first mode as the game controller and in a second mode as a guitar, and wherein the game controller is tunable to enable the plurality of strings to play a full range of guitar notes.

86. The method of claim 78, further comprising positioning a dampener to dampen vibration of at least one of the plurality of strings after it is struck by the user, wherein the dampener is adapted to dampen an amplitude of the vibration of the at least one of the plurality of strings by at least 70% within 0.5 seconds of the at least one of the plurality of strings being struck.

87. The method of claim 78, further comprising positioning a dampener to dampen vibration of at least one of the plurality of strings after it is struck by the user.

88. The method of claim 87, wherein the dampener comprises a mechanical dampener.

89. The method of claim 87, wherein the dampener comprises a signal processor.

90. The method of claim 87, wherein the dampener comprises an electromechanical dampener.

91. The method of claim 78, wherein the at least one first sensor comprises electrically conductive material disposed on the fingerboard and adapted to conduct an electric signal in response to a string of the plurality of strings contacting the electrically conductive material.

92. The method of claim 78, wherein the at least one first sensor comprises a pressure sensitive material adapted to generate, alter and/or conduct an electrical signal when contacted by the user.

93. The method of claim 78, wherein the at least one second sensor comprises a transducer that detects movement of the plurality of strings.

94. The method of claim 78, wherein the at least one second sensor comprises an instrument pickup.

95. The method of claim 78, wherein providing the at least one external electrical signal to a computer gaming application comprises providing at least first and second distinct pieces of control information, the first piece of control information uniquely identifying the position on the fingerboard, and the second piece of control information being indicative of the striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user;

and

wherein the game controller comprises at least one third sensor that is adapted to detect actuation of at least one additional control, and wherein providing the at least one external electrical signal to a computer gaming application further comprises providing a third piece of control information indicative of the actuation of the at least one additional control.

96. The method of claim 78, wherein providing the at least one external electrical signal to a computer gaming application comprises providing at least first and second distinct pieces of control information, the first piece of control information uniquely identifying the position on the fingerboard, and the second piece of control information being indicative of the striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user;

and

wherein providing the at least one external electrical signal to a computer gaming application comprises providing a first electrical signal conveying the first piece of control information and a second electrical signal conveying the second piece of control information.

97. The method of claim 78, wherein providing the at least one external electrical signal to a computer gaming application comprises providing at least first and second distinct pieces of control information, the first piece of control information uniquely identifying the position on the fingerboard, and the second piece of control information being indicative of the striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user;

and

wherein providing the at least one external electrical signal to a computer gaming application comprises providing a single electrical signal conveying the first and second pieces of control information.

98. The method of claim 78, wherein each of the plurality of strings has a portion that vibrates when the string is struck, and wherein the at least one first sensor is adapted to detect fingering of the fingerboard that results in an adjustment to a length of the portion of one of the plurality of strings that vibrates when the one of the plurality of strings is struck.

99. The method of claim 78, wherein providing the at least one external electrical signal to a computer gaming application comprises providing at least first and second distinct pieces of control information, the first piece of control information uniquely identifying the position on the fingerboard, and the second piece of control information being indicative of the striking of at least one of the plurality of strings by the user.

100. The method of claim 99, wherein the first piece of control information comprises information identifying fingering along a length of the fingerboard.

101. The method of claim 100, wherein the first piece of control information comprises information identifying fingering across a width of the fingerboard.

102. The method of claim 99, wherein the first piece of control information comprises information identifying fingering across a width of the fingerboard.