US6080925A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Calculator for guitar scales
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1999-05-17
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Granted: 2000-06-27
•
Expires: 2019-05-17
Abstract
Abstract An electronic device in the nature of a hand-held calculator, for illustrating on an active tablature display area, simulating a guitar fingerboard, chord shapes and scale patterns across a full twelve frets is provided. The device comprises a number of manually operable basic chord and key information dials for input selections. A microcontroller means is electronically associated with the dials and the LED's, and upon actuation, the microcontroller means searches for scale and associated finger position information corresponding to the tonality requirements of the input selections, and displays that information by way of illuminating means in the appropriate areas of the active tablature display.
Inventors
- 👤 John B. Rogers
- 👤 William Schnare
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:00
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B15/00; G09B15/02; G09B15/023; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S84/00; Y10S84/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
An electronic device for illustrating on an active tablature display area the required string and fret positions of a fretted stringed instrument to be fingered to play according to a particular scale comprising: a. a series of manually operable dials and switches associated with a corresponding chord, key and scale information; b. an active tablature display; c. indicator means; d. microcontroller means electronically associated with the chord, key and scale information and fret and string display indicators; and e. ROM means programmed with resulting scale information corresponding to fret and string position information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
An electronic device for illustrating on an active tablature display area the required string and fret positions of a fretted stringed instrument to be fingered to play according to a particular scale comprising: a. a series of manually operable dials and switches associated with a corresponding chord, key and scale information; b. an active tablature display; c. indicator means; d. microcontroller means electronically associated with the chord, key and scale information and fret and string display indicators; and e. ROM means programmed with resulting scale information corresponding to fret and string position information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the active tablature display area is of a twelve fret range.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the instrument is a guitar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the instrument is a bass with E A D G tuning.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein one of the dials corresponds to a selection of chord prefix.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein one of the dials corresponds to a selection of chord suffix.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein one of the dials corresponds to a manual scale selector and chord suffix toggle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein one of the dials corresponds to a key and chord mode selector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein one of the switches corresponds to a scale mode switch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein dials permit access to the scale options provided by power chords.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein an on/off switch is provided.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for finding fingering locations on a musical instrument of a fretted type for playing a selected music scale comprising the steps of: a. manually positioning dials and switches corresponding to chord, key and scale information; b. processing said information electronically; and c. displaying said processed information on an active tablature display having indicator means.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
56 words
A method for finding fingering locations on a musical instrument of a fretted type for playing a selected music scale comprising the steps of: a. manually positioning dials and switches corresponding to chord, key and scale information; b. processing said information electronically; and c. displaying said processed information on an active tablature display having indicator means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-06-27 | 2003-12-27 | 2004-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-27 | 2007-12-27 | 2008-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-27 | 2011-12-27 | 2012-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |