US3722353A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic tuning device for visual tuning of stringed instruments
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-06-11
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1991-06-11
Abstract
Abstract An electronic tuning device for tuning stringed instruments provides a selectable sinusoidal reference frequency which is converted to pulses of the same frequency. The fading picked-up signal from a string of the instrument is passed to a high-gain saturating amplifier and converted to a sustained square wave which lasts of the order of 5 to 10 seconds as the string signal becomes minimal. The frequency of the square wave is then compared with the pulse frequency by supplying the pulses and the square waves to a comparator gate whose output controls a glow discharge lamp attached to the device. When the string of the instrument is tuned to bring the frequency of the square wave close to that of the pulses, the frequency difference to be minimized is indicated by the observable blink frequency of the lamp. The instrument responds similarly to one octave above the tuned frequency. Provision is also made to deliver the selected reference frequency to the usual musical instrument amplifier to enable aural tuning by a group of musicians.
Inventors
- 👤 L Westhaver
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:41
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10G; G10G7/00; G10G7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
An electronic tuning device for stringed instruments comprising: a. a high-gain saturating amplifier having an input for the picked-up signal of the string to be tuned; b. said amplifier including circuit means for converting the decaying sinusoidal signal of the string into a square wave output signal of the same frequency and lasting from 5 to 10 seconds; c. a generator of a reference frequency; d. circuit means connected to said generator for converting the reference frequency into output pulses of the same frequency; e. an electronic gate having a first input connected to receive said square wave output signal and a second input connected to receive said output pulses; f. circuit means connected to said gate and operative to deliver an output from said gate only when the first and second inputs are simultaneously present and of the same phase; g. a glow lamp connected to receive the output from said gate to thereby indicate visually the frequency difference between the square wave and the pulses; h. said circuit means converting the reference frequency into output pulses being constructed to produce a pulse width less than 25 percent of said square wave wavelength, whereby the lamp responds to tune a next higher octave.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
An electronic tuning device for stringed instruments comprising: a. a high-gain saturating amplifier having an input for the picked-up signal of the string to be tuned; b. said amplifier including circuit means for converting the decaying sinusoidal signal of the string into a square wave output signal of the same frequency and lasting from 5 to 10 seconds; c. a generator of a reference frequency; d. circuit means connected to said generator for converting the reference frequency into output pulses of the same frequency; e. an electronic gate having a first input connected to receive said square wave output signal and a second input connected to receive said output pulses; f. circuit means connected to said gate and operative to deliver an output from said gate only when the first and second inputs are simultaneously present and of the same phase; g. a glow lamp connected to receive the output from said gate to thereby indicate visually the frequency difference between the square wave and the pulses; h. said circuit means converting the reference frequency into output pulses being constructed to produce a pulse width less than 25 percent of said square wave wavelength, whereby the lamp responds to tune a next higher octave.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of cLaim 1 having a plurality of generator of reference frequencies and switching means to selectively render operable each of said generators.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of cLaim 1 having a plurality of generator of reference frequencies and switching means to selectively render operable each of said generators.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 2 wherein each of said generators is formed by a resistor-capacitor network and each generator includes a trimmer resistor to standardize the frequency thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 2 wherein each of said generators is formed by a resistor-capacitor network and each generator includes a trimmer resistor to standardize the frequency thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 1 having connecting means leading from said generator to deliver a reference frequency to an amplifierspeaker for aural tuning of a band.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 1 having connecting means leading from said generator to deliver a reference frequency to an amplifier-speaker for aural tuning of a band.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |