Vacuum tube amplification unit

• US 9,202,449 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2015
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Markus Oliver Hummel
• Original Assignee: Markus Oliver Hummel
• Inventors: Hummel, Markus Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): FLETCHER, MARLON T
• Application Number:
  US14/629,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20150170627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 280 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/0091 Means for obtaining special acoustic effects combined with modulation G10H1/043
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/08 by combining tones G10H1/14, G10H1/16 take precedence; chord G10H1/38
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/32 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/342 for guitar-like instruments with or without strings and with a neck on which switches or string-fret contacts are used to detect the notes being played electric guitars in which the tones are generated by the vibration of strings G10H3/18
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/165 Memory card, i.e. removable module or card for storing music data for an electrophonic musical instrument
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/186 Means for processing the signal picked up from the strings filtering G10H1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/187 for distorting the signal, e.g. to simulate tube amplifiers changing the tone color by non-linear elements G10H1/16

Abstract

A vacuum tube amplification unit for use with electric instruments that allows for reduced or eliminated signal loss before the electrical signal of the instrument is amplified. The vacuum tube amplification unit includes an amplifier cartridge having an amplification circuit. The amplification cartridge is attached to and electrically connected to an instrument through a cartridge receiver. A pre-amp assembly of the amplification circuit provides a first stage of amplification, while an at least one vacuum tube provides a second stage of amplification. A power supply provides current to amplify the electrical signal of the instrument and a gain control allows for adjusting the magnitude of amplification. The amplification circuit may further include an integrated speaker, a signal converter, a transmitter, and a device terminal. Additionally, the amplifier cartridge may further include a device dock for attaching an electronic device.

Claims

1. A vacuum tube amplification unit comprises:

an amplifier cartridge;

an amplification circuit;

the amplifier cartridge comprises a cartridge casing and a signal-in port;

the amplification circuit comprises an at least one vacuum tube, a pre-amp assembly, and a power source;

the signal-in port being positioned through the cartridge casing;

the signal-in port being connected to the cartridge casing;

the pre-amp assembly and the power source being positioned within the cartridge casing; and

the pre-amp assembly being electrically connected to the power source, each of the at least one vacuum tube, and the signal-in port.

2. The vacuum tube amplification unit as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

each of the at least one vacuum tube being positioned into the cartridge casing.

3. The vacuum tube amplification unit as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the amplifier cartridge further comprises a signal-out port;

the signal-out port being positioned through the cartridge casing;

the signal-out port being connected to the cartridge casing;

the signal-out port being positioned adjacent to the signal-in port; and

the at least one vacuum tube being electrically connected to the signal-out port.

4. The vacuum tube amplification unit as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the amplification circuit further comprises a signal converter and a transmitter;

the signal converter and the transmitter being positioned within the cartridge casing;

the signal converter being electrically connected to the at least one vacuum tube; and

the signal converter being electronically connected to the transmitter.

5. The vacuum tube amplification unit as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the amplification circuit further comprises an integrated speaker; and

the integrated speaker being electrically connected to the at least one vacuum tube.

6. The vacuum tube amplification unit as claimed in claim 5 comprises:

the integrated speaker being positioned through the cartridge casing.

7. The vacuum tube amplification unit as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the amplification circuit further comprises a device terminal and a signal converter;

the signal converter being electrically connected to the at least one vacuum tube; and

the signal converter being electronically connected to the device terminal.

8. The vacuum tube amplification unit as claimed in claim 7 comprises:

the amplifier cartridge further comprises a device dock;

the device dock being positioned into the cartridge casing;

the device terminal being connected to the cartridge casing;

the device terminal being positioned into the device dock; and

the signal converter being positioned within the cartridge casing.

9. The vacuum tube amplification unit as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the amplifier cartridge further comprises a gain control;

the gain control being rotatably connected to the cartridge casing;

the gain control being externally positioned on the cartridge casing; and

the gain control being electrically connected to the pre-amp assembly.

10. The vacuum tube amplification unit as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

a cartridge receiver;

the cartridge receiver comprises a receiver body and a signal-in terminal;

the signal-in terminal being connected to the receiver body;

the amplifier cartridge being attached to the cartridge receiver;

the signal-in terminal being positioned into the signal-in port; and

the signal-in terminal being electrically connected to the signal-in port.

11. The vacuum tube amplification unit as claimed in claim 10 comprises:

the amplifier cartridge further comprises a signal-out port;

the cartridge receiver further comprises a signal-out terminal;

the signal-out terminal being connected to the receiver body;

the signal-out terminal being positioned into the signal-out port; and

the signal-out terminal being electrically connected to the signal-out port.

12. The vacuum tube amplification unit as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

a cartridge receiver;

the cartridge receiver comprises a receiver body, a receiving volume, and a signal-in terminal;

the receiving volume being positioned into the receiver body;

the signal-in terminal being positioned within the receiving volume; and

the cartridge casing being positioned into the receiving volume.

13. The vacuum tube amplification unit as claimed in claim 12 comprises:

the cartridge receiver further comprises a signal-out terminal;

the signal-out terminal being positioned adjacent to the signal-in terminal; and

the signal-out terminal being positioned within the receiving volume.

14. The vacuum tube amplification unit as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

a cartridge receiver;

the cartridge receiver comprises a receiver body, a first flange, a second flange, and a plurality of holes;

the first flange and the second flange being adjacently connected to the receiver body;

the first flange and the second flange being positioned opposite each other across the receiver body;

the plurality of holes traversing through both the first flange and the second flange; and

the amplifier cartridge being attached to the cartridge receiver.

15. The vacuum tube amplification unit as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

each of the at least one vacuum tube being positioned within the cartridge casing.

16. The vacuum tube amplification unit as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

an electric instrument; and

the amplifier cartridge being positioned within the electric instrument.

17. The vacuum tube amplification unit as claimed in claim 16 comprises:

the amplification circuit further comprises a integrated speaker; and

the integrated speaker being positioned through the electric instrument.

18. The vacuum tube amplification unit as claimed in claim 16 comprises:

the electric instrument comprises a device dock;

the amplification circuit further comprises a device terminal;

the device dock being positioned into the electric instrument

the device terminal being connected to the electric instrument; and

the device terminal being positioned into the device dock.