US5977467A — Frequency display for an automatically tuned stri…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 137 words

A frequency display system for an automatically tuned stringed instrument, said instrument having a plurality of strings, each string having a manual tuning mechanism connected thereto, each string further having an electric actuator connected thereto, said instrument further having a transducer coupled to said strings, said display system comprising: a processor, adapted to be coupled to the transducer, having means for receiving a transducer signal from said transducer, means for obtaining the measured frequency of each of said plurality of strings from said transducer signal, and means for generating a display signal from said measured frequencies; and a display unit, coupled to said processor, for receiving said display signal and for simultaneously displaying frequency indicators of at least two of said measured frequencies; wherein said display signal is updated in response to manual tuning of said strings.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 137 words

A frequency display system for an automatically tuned stringed instrument, said instrument having a plurality of strings, each string having a manual tuning mechanism connected thereto, each string further having an electric actuator connected thereto, said instrument further having a transducer coupled to said strings, said display system comprising: a processor, adapted to be coupled to the transducer, having means for receiving a transducer signal from said transducer, means for obtaining the measured frequency of each of said plurality of strings from said transducer signal, and means for generating a display signal from said measured frequencies; and a display unit, coupled to said processor, for receiving said display signal and for simultaneously displaying frequency indicators of at least two of said measured frequencies; wherein said display signal is updated in response to manual tuning of said strings.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 15 words

The display system of claim 1 wherein said display signal is generated in real time.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 13 words

The display system of claim 2 wherein said display signal is continually updated.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 48 words

The display system of claim 1 wherein said actuators have a preferred range of actuator positions for automatic tuning operation and wherein said display system can be used during manually tuning to adjust the string frequencies so that said actuators operate within said preferred range of actuator positions.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 20 words

The display system of claim 4 wherein said preferred range of actuator positions correspond to limit stops on said actuators.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 32 words

The display system of claim 5 wherein each of said strings has a target range of accessible frequencies and wherein said range of actuator positions provides said target range of accessible frequencies.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

The display system of claim 1 wherein said processor further comprises control means for generating actuator control signals in accordance with said measured frequencies.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 14 words

The display system of claim 7 wherein said control means utilizes a calibration function.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 14 words

The display system of claim 7 wherein said control means utilizes a closed-loop system.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 18 words

The display system of claim 1 wherein said transducer provides separate transducer signals for each of said strings.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 15 words

The display system of claim 10 wherein said transducer is magnetically coupled to said strings.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 15 words

The display system of claim 10 wherein said transducer is optically coupled to said strings.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 17 words

The display system of claim 10 wherein said means for obtaining the measured frequency utilizes period measurement.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 24 words

The display system of claim 1 wherein said transducer provides a transducer signal representative of the frequencies of at least two of said strings.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 18 words

The display system of claim 14 wherein said means for obtaining the measured frequency utilizes a Fourier transform.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 30 words

The display system of claim 14 wherein said means for obtaining the measured frequency utilizes a plurality of frequency bandpass filters to separate said frequencies of at least two strings.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

The display system of claim 16 wherein said means for obtaining the measured frequency further utilizes period measurement of the filtered transducer signal.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 23 words

The display system of claim 1 wherein said frequency indicators show the nearest note and cents deviation of each of said measured frequencies.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 23 words

The display system of claim 1 wherein said frequency indicators show the deviation of each of said measured frequencies from corresponding target frequencies.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 21 words

The display system of claim 1 wherein the accuracy of said frequency indicators is sufficient for manual tuning of said instrument.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 13 words

The display system of claim 20 wherein said accuracy is within two cents.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 13 words

The display system of claim 21 wherein said accuracy is within one cent.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 99 words

A method of changing a string on a automatically tuned stringed instrument, said instrument having a plurality of strings, each string having an actuator and a manual tuning mechanism connected thereto, said instrument further having a transducer coupled to said strings and having the display system of claim 1 coupled to said transducer, comprising the steps of: removing an old string; attaching a new string to said actuator and to said manual tuning mechanism; strumming said new string; observing the frequency indicator of said new string on said display unit; manually tuning said new string to a target frequency.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of changing a string of claim 23 wherein a plurality of strings are changed and wherein said plurality of strings are strummed and a plurality of corresponding frequency indicators are observed simultaneously.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of changing a string of claim 23 wherein said actuator has an actuator position range and said string has a desired frequency range, and wherein said target frequency is selected to locate said desired frequency range within said actuator position range.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of changing a string of claim 23 wherein said instrument utilizes a calibration function relating frequency and actuator position and wherein said target frequency approximately corresponds, via the calibration function, to the current actuator position of said actuator.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 105 words

A method of manually tuning an automatically tuned stringed instrument, said instrument having a plurality of strings, each string having an actuator and a manual tuning mechanism connected thereto, said instrument further having a transducer coupled to said strings and said instrument further having a display unit, comprising the steps of: strumming said plurality of strings; receiving a transducer signal from said transducer; obtaining the measured frequency of each of said plurality of strings from said transducer signal; simultaneously displaying, on said display unit, frequency indicators of said measured frequencies; and manually tuning at least one of said strings in accordance with said frequency indicators.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 105 words

A method of manually tuning an automatically tuned stringed instrument, said instrument having a plurality of strings, each string having an actuator and a manual tuning mechanism connected thereto, said instrument further having a transducer coupled to said strings and said instrument further having a display unit, comprising the steps of: strumming said plurality of strings; receiving a transducer signal from said transducer; obtaining the measured frequency of each of said plurality of strings from said transducer signal; simultaneously displaying, on said display unit, frequency indicators of said measured frequencies; and manually tuning at least one of said strings in accordance with said frequency indicators.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 42 words

The display system of claim 3 wherein said display signal is continually updated as long as said strings are vibrating with sufficient amplitude and wherein, when said amplitude is insufficient, said display signal holds the frequency display of the last sufficient amplitude.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 30 words

The display system of claim 28 wherein, when holding the frequency display of said last sufficient amplitude, said display signal provides an indication that said frequency display is being held.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-11-01	2003-05-03	2003-11-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-11-01	2007-05-03	2007-11-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-11-01	2011-05-03	2011-11-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Frequency display for an automatically tuned stringed instrument

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