US5824929A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Musical instrument self-tuning system with calibration library
Assignee: Transperformance LLC
•
Filing: 1996-07-12
•
Granted: 1998-10-20
•
Expires: 2016-07-12
Abstract
Abstract This invention provides a control system for automatically tuning a stringed musical instrument, utilizing a library of calibration functions to tune the instrument in a plurality of operating conditions without recalibration. The operating conditions can include changes in temperature and humidity, different sets of strings made with different materials and gauges, broken strings and the installation of a capo. Calibrations can also be provided for instruments of different makes and models, string lengths, body materials and actuator types. The control system is adapted for use in a stringed instrument having actuators attached to each string for changing the frequency of the string in response to a control signal. Each calibration function relates the frequency of a string to the actuator position of that string. The invention further provides an automatically tuned stringed instrument using the control system, and a method for tuning a stringed instrument.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen J. Freeland
- 👤 Gerard F. Hallaren
- 👤 Neil C. Skinn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:45
CPC Classifications
G; G10; G10D; G10D3/00; G10D3/14; G10G; G10G7/00; G10G7/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 83
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A control system for an automatically tuned stringed instrument, said instrument having a plurality of strings, each string having an actuator connected thereto, comprising: a memory for storing; and a processor coupled to said memory and adapted to be coupled to the actuators, said processor including means for addressing said memory to retrieve one of said calibration functions from said memory, means for generating control signals in accordance with the retrieved calibration function, and means for outputting said control signals to said actuators.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A control system for an automatically tuned stringed instrument, said instrument having a plurality of strings, each string having an actuator connected thereto, comprising: a memory for storing; and a processor coupled to said memory and adapted to be coupled to the actuators, said processor including means for addressing said memory to retrieve one of said calibration functions from said memory, means for generating control signals in accordance with the retrieved calibration function, and means for outputting said control signals to said actuators.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The control system of claim 1 wherein each of said calibration functions relates the actuator position for a given string to the frequency of said given string.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The control system of claim 2 wherein each of said calibration functions relates the actuator position for a given string to the frequency to the first power and the frequency squared of said given string.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The control system of claim 2 wherein each of said calibration functions relates the actuator position for a given string to the frequencies of each of said plurality of strings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The control system of claim 4 wherein each of said calibration functions relates the actuator position for a given string to the frequencies to the first power and the frequencies squared of each of said plurality of strings.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The control system of claim 1 wherein said instrument can be tuned in a plurality of different instrument conditions and wherein said plurality of calibration functions comprises different calibration functions for different instrument conditions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The control system of claim 6 wherein one of said calibration functions is for an instrument condition having a broken string.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The control system of claim 7 wherein a second of said calibration functions is for an instrument condition having more than one broken string.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The control system of claim 7 wherein said stringed instrument has j strings and wherein said plurality of calibration functions comprises j calibration functions, one for each instrument condition having one of said j strings broken.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The control system of claim 6 wherein the different instrument conditions comprise conditions with different sets of string types.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The control system of claim 6 wherein said different instrument conditions comprise conditions with environments having different humidities.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The control system of claim 6 wherein said different instrument conditions comprise conditions with environments having different temperatures.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The control system of claim 6 wherein said stringed instrument is a fretted stringed instrument and wherein one of said calibration functions is for an instrument condition having a capo installed on one fret.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The control system of claim 13 wherein said plurality of calibration functions comprises a different calibration function for each different fret upon which a capo can be installed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The control system of claim 6 wherein said different instrument conditions are selected from the group consisting of (a) a broken string, (b) different sets of string types, (c) environments having different humidities and (d) environments having different temperatures.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
The control system of claim 6 wherein said stringed instrument is a fretted stringed instrument and wherein said different instrument conditions are selected from the group consisting of (a) a broken string, (b) different sets of string types, (c) environments having different humidities, (d) environments having different temperatures, and (e) a capo installed on one fret.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The control system of claim 16 wherein said different instrument conditions comprise more than one member of said group of instrument conditions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The control system of claim 16 wherein said different instrument conditions comprise simultaneous combinations of more than one member of said group of instrument conditions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The control system of claim 1 adapted for use with an instrument condition sensor, coupled to said processor, wherein said processor selects which of said calibration functions to retrieve from said memory based on input from said instrument condition sensor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The control system of claim 19 wherein said instrument condition sensor is adapted to sense a broken string.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
The control system of claim 20 wherein said condition sensor comprises a transducer coupled to said strings and wherein said processor is adapted to receive a transducer signal from said transducer, and wherein said processor detects a broken string from said transducer signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The control system of claim 20 wherein said condition sensor comprises a means for monitoring the electrical continuity of the strings.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
The control system of claim 20 wherein said condition sensor comprises a means for monitoring the tension of the strings.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The control system of claim 19 wherein said instrument condition sensor is adapted to sense the type of string.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The control system of claim 19 wherein said instrument condition sensor is adapted to sense the humidity of the environment.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The control system of claim 19 wherein said instrument condition sensor is adapted to sense the temperature of the environment.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
The control system of claim 19 wherein said stringed instrument is a fretted stringed instrument and wherein said instrument condition sensor is adapted to sense an installed capo on one of the frets.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
46 words
The control system of claim 27 wherein said condition sensor comprises a transducer coupled to said strings, and wherein said processor is adapted to receive a transducer signal from said transducer, and wherein said processor comprises means for detecting an installed capo from said transducer signal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The control system of claim 27 wherein said condition sensor comprises a means for detecting electrical contact between a string and a fret.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
The control system of claim 1 further including an operator interface coupled to said processor, for receiving operator input from an instrument operator.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The control system of claim 30 wherein said processor selects which of said calibration functions to retrieve from said memory based on operator input from said operator interface.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
The control system of claim 31 wherein said operator input indicates the type of string.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
14 words
The control system of claim 31 wherein said operator input indicates a broken string.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
35 words
The control system of claim 33 adapted for use with an instrument condition sensor, coupled to said processor, wherein said instrument condition sensor is adapted to sense which of said plurality of strings is broken.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
39 words
The control system of claim 34 wherein said condition sensor comprises a transducer and wherein said processor is adapted to receive a transducer signal from said transducer, and wherein said processor detects a broken string from said transducer signal.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
14 words
The control system of claim 31 wherein said operator input indicates an installed capo.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
34 words
The control system of claim 36 adapted for use with an instrument condition sensor, coupled to said processor, wherein said instrument condition sensor is adapted to sense on which fret said capo is installed.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
69 words
The control system of claim 37 wherein said condition sensor comprises a transducer, and wherein said processor is adapted to receive a transducer signal from said transducer, and wherein said processor comprises means for obtaining the measured frequency of each of said plurality of strings from said transducer signal, and wherein said processor detects an installed capo by obtaining the ratio of said measured frequency to the open-string frequency.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
The control system of claim 30 wherein said operator interface further comprises means for displaying instrument conditions to said instrument operator.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
The control system of claim 1 wherein said memory contains at least one factory-generated calibration function.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
16 words
The control system of claim 40 wherein said memory contains a plurality of factory-generated calibration functions.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
67 words
The control system of claim 41 wherein said stringed instrument is a fretted stringed instrument and wherein said plurality of factory generated calibration functions are for different instrument conditions, said different instrument conditions selected from the group consisting of (a) a broken string, (b) different sets of string types, (c) environments having different humidities, (d) environments having different temperatures, and (e) a capo installed on one fret.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
48 words
The control system of claim 1 wherein said instrument has a transducer and wherein said processor is adapted to receive a transducer signal from said transducer and wherein said processor comprises means for obtaining the measured frequency of each of said plurality of strings from said transducer signal.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
17 words
The control system of claim 43 wherein said processor further comprises means for generating a calibration function.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
53 words
The control system of claim 44 wherein said means for generating a calibration function comprises means for acquiring f k and x k , the measured frequency and actuator positions, respectively, for a given string at a plurality, k, of actuator positions, and means for generating therefrom a function relating x to f.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
65 words
The control system of claim 44 wherein said means for generating a calibration function comprises means for acquiring f jk and x jk , the measured frequency and actuator positions, respectively, for j strings, each string at a plurality, k, of actuator positions, and means for generating therefrom a function relating x j for a given actuator j to f j for all j strings.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
18 words
The control system of claim 43 wherein said processor further includes modifying means for modifying a calibration function.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
33 words
The control system of claim 47 wherein said calibration function is modified by a function of the difference between the measured frequency of a given string and the target frequency of said string.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
43 words
The control system of claim 47 wherein said calibration function is modified by a function of the difference between the actuator position computed for the target frequency of a given string and the actuator position computed for the measured frequency of said string.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
14 words
The control system of claim 47 wherein said modifying means comprises a closed-loop system.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
28 words
The control system of claim 1 wherein each of said calibration functions can be used to calculate target actuator positions for a plurality of sets of target frequencies.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
33 words
The control system of claim 1 adapted to be installable in a plurality of different instruments, wherein said plurality of calibration functions comprises a different calibration function for each of said different instruments.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
17 words
The control system of claim 52 wherein said different instruments include instruments which differ in string length.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
17 words
The control system of claim 52 wherein said different instruments include instruments which differ in body material.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
17 words
The control system of claim 52 wherein said different instruments include instruments which differ in actuator type.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
17 words
The control system of claim 52 wherein said different instruments include instruments which differ in instrument type.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
24 words
The control system of claim 52 wherein said plurality of calibration functions comprises a plurality of calibration functions for each of said different instruments.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
77 words
An automatically tuned stringed instrument, comprising: a plurality, j, of strings; a plurality, j, of actuators, one of said actuators connected to each of said strings; a memory for storing a plurality of calibration functions; and a processor coupled to said memory and to said actuators, for retrieving one of said calibration functions from said memory, for generating a control signal in accordance with said retrieved calibration function, and for transmitting said control signal to said actuators.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
77 words
An automatically tuned stringed instrument, comprising: a plurality, j, of strings; a plurality, j, of actuators, one of said actuators connected to each of said strings; a memory for storing a plurality of calibration functions; and a processor coupled to said memory and to said actuators, for retrieving one of said calibration functions from said memory, for generating a control signal in accordance with said retrieved calibration function, and for transmitting said control signal to said actuators.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
29 words
The instrument of claim 58 wherein each of said calibration functions relates the actuator position for a given string to the frequencies of each of said plurality of strings.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
33 words
The instrument of claim 58 wherein said instrument can be tuned in a variety of different instrument conditions and wherein said plurality of calibration functions comprises different calibration functions for different instrument conditions.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
20 words
The instrument of claim 60 wherein one of said calibration functions is for an instrument condition having a broken string.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
18 words
The instrument of claim 60 wherein the different instrument conditions comprise conditions with different sets of string types.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
17 words
The instrument of claim 60 wherein said different instrument conditions comprise conditions with environments having different humidities.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
17 words
The instrument of claim 60 wherein said different instrument conditions comprise conditions with environments having different temperatures.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
33 words
The instrument of claim 60 wherein said stringed instrument is a fretted stringed instrument and wherein one of said calibration functions is for an instrument condition having a capo installed on one fret.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
37 words
The instrument of claim 58 further comprising an instrument condition sensor, coupled to said processor, wherein said processor selects which of said calibration functions to retrieve from said memory based on input from said instrument condition sensor.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
22 words
The instrument of claim 58 further including an operator interface coupled to said processor, for receiving operator input from an instrument operator.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
27 words
The instrument of claim 67 wherein said processor selects which of said calibration functions to retrieve from said memory based on operator input from said operator interface.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
20 words
The instrument of claim 67 wherein said operator interface further comprises means for displaying instrument conditions to said instrument operator.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
15 words
The instrument of claim 58 wherein said memory contains a plurality of factory-generated calibration functions.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
66 words
The instrument of claim 70 wherein said stringed instrument is a fretted stringed instrument and wherein said plurality of factory generated calibration functions are for different instrument conditions, said different instrument conditions selected from the group consisting of (a) a broken string, (b) different sets of string types, (c) environments having different humidities, (d) environments having different temperatures, and (e) a capo installed on one fret.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
35 words
The instrument of claim 58 further comprising a transducer coupled to said processor and wherein said processor comprises means for obtaining the measured frequency of each of said plurality of strings from the transducer signal.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
16 words
The instrument of claim 72 wherein said processor further comprises means for generating a calibration function.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
52 words
The instrument of claim 73 wherein said means for generating a calibration function comprises means for acquiring f k and x k , the measured frequency and actuator positions, respectively, for a given string at a plurality, k, of actuator positions, and means for generating therefrom a function relating x to f.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
64 words
The instrument of claim 73 wherein said means for generating a calibration function comprises means for acquiring f jk and x jk , the measured frequency and actuator positions, respectively, for j strings, each string at a plurality, k, of actuator positions, and means for generating therefrom a function relating x j for a given actuator j to f j for all j strings.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
17 words
The instrument of claim 72 wherein said processor further includes modifying means for modifying a calibration function.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
32 words
The instrument of claim 76 wherein said calibration function is modified by a function of the difference between the measured frequency of a given string and the target frequency of said string.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
42 words
The instrument of claim 76 wherein said calibration function is modified by a function of the difference between the actuator position computed for the target frequency of a given string and the actuator position computed for the measured frequency of said string.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
27 words
The instrument of claim 58 wherein each of said calibration functions can be used to calculate target actuator positions for a plurality of sets of target frequencies.
Claim 82
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for tuning a stringed instrument, said instrument having a plurality of strings, each string having an actuator connected thereto, said instrument further having a memory for storing a plurality of calibration functions, and a processor coupled to said memory and to said actuators, said method comprising the steps of: transferring one of said calibration functions from said memory to said processor; generating within said processor a control signal in accordance with said transferred calibration function; and transmitting said control signal to said actuators, whereby said actuators modify the frequencies of said strings.
Claim 83
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for tuning a stringed instrument, said instrument having a plurality of strings, each string having an actuator connected thereto, said instrument further having a memory for storing a plurality of calibration functions, and a processor coupled to said memory and to said actuators, said method comprising the steps of: transferring one of said calibration functions from said memory to said processor; generating within said processor a control signal in accordance with said transferred calibration function; and transmitting said control signal to said actuators, whereby said actuators modify the frequencies of said strings.
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