3245results about "Stringed musical instruments" patented technology

The present invention provides a music playback system which uses an interface to easily play back a characteristic musical structure section with a music audio data playback apparatus. The interface 13 includes a function of selecting an arbitrary characteristic music structure section from a plurality of characteristic music structure sections, and a function of visualizing a characteristic music structure section. The characteristic music structure section specifying data for specifying the selected arbitrary characteristic music structure section is given to a music audio data playback apparatus 3. The music audio data playback apparatus 3 changes a playback position of the music audio data to the characteristic music structure section specified by the characteristic music structure section specifying data given by a specifying data providing means 12.

A keyboard apparatus for musical instruments such as pianos, organs, clavichords, and harpsichords, and methods for making and using the apparatus. The apparatus includes a frame assembly, a plurality of keys, a plurality of lever assemblies each operably connected with its corresponding key, and a main fulcrum that together replicate the touch of an acoustic piano keyboard. It can be used in electronic and acoustic instruments, can be adjusted to simulate the feel of a selected type of keyboard instrument, and is simple and cost-effective to manufacture.

In order to realize a small and light key actuating apparatus for actuating a key which is rotatably supported with respect to a frame, a key actuating apparatus (7) is provided which includes a polymer transducer (9) for rotatably moving the key (3) by using a deformation of the transducer, wherein the transducer which is substantially formed in a plate shape includes: a polymer film (15) which is dielectric and made from an elastically deformable polymer material; and a pair of electrodes (17) arranged at both sides of surfaces of the polymer film, and the transducer is deformed corresponding to switching between an application of voltage and a lack of voltage between the electrodes.

An electronic keyboard simulates the keyboard action of one or more acoustic pianos and/or organs. Sensors associated with each key capture the force exerted on the key, the speed of the key and the position of the key to compute an amount of force to apply in feedback to the depressed key. An actuator associated with each key provides the computed feedback value as a counter-force to the player's finger pressure. Feedback may be computed in one or more processors by applying the sensor readings to a system model of the desired instruments mechanical key action. Also, feedback may be determined through a lookup table containing feedback values defining a particular instrument's action. The player can switch between different instrument action definitions as desired, and may tune certain parameters to achieve a customized action.

A method and apparatus for string load reduction and real-time pitch alteration on stringed instruments. A string load is substantially reduced with a camming surface actuator so that the pitch can be rapidly manipulated by an input force which is generated by human power or an electronically controlled motor. Various types of camming surfaces are provided as well as a load optimization calculation which determines the shape of a variable ratio camming surface. Multiple embodiments are described including a constant force pitch alteration device, a motorized control system with pitch compensation and real-time tracking of string pitch to multiple relative input signals, a control signal generator based on real-time position measurement of a control object relative to an electromagnetic radiation sensor, and methods for generating mechanical looping, vibrato, and polyphonic chorus effects which can be automated or dynamically controlled by a user. Other embodiments are described and shown.

A stand (10) for supporting a musical instrument (12), such as a guitar, in an upright position when not in use and for retention on the instrument when the instrument is in use. The stand comprises a mounting base (22) secured to the rear surface of the instrument (18), and a support member (24) pivotally connected to the mounting base (22) and containing first and second foot portions (34A & B) and third foot portion (56). The pivotal attachment allows the support member (24) to be transitioned between a storage position adjacent the rear surface of the instrument (18) and a deployed position spaced away from the rear surface of the instrument (18) where, together with the bottom edge of the instrument (20), the first and second foot portions (34A & B) act to support the instrument (12). Third foot portion (56) engages a floor or other support surface providing fixative force to the support member allowing the instrument and mounting base to be pivoted away from the support member to the deployed position without the need to touch the stand. The support member (24) is spring-loaded and automatically returns to the storage position when the instrument (12) is lifted for use.

The invention relates to a sound-insulating, ventilating and heat transfer enhancing acoustic metamaterial structural unit, which comprises a frame, wherein a restraining body is arranged inside the frame, and at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the frame is coated with a thin film; and at least one hole is formed in the restraining body and the thin film. In addition, the invention provides an acoustic metamaterial composite plate and an acoustic metamaterial composite structure comprising the acoustic metamaterial structural unit, as well as a frequency modulation method and an assembly method. The acoustic metamaterial structural unit has sound insulation capability superior to that of an ordinary perforated plate or micro-perforated plate within a broadband, can ensure that sufficient heat flow, air flow or liquid flow can pass through smoothly, and increases heat diffusion rate of fluid media on both sides of holes and accelerates heat convection efficiency through unit localized vibration generated by the structure under excitation of acoustic waves. The acoustic metamaterial structural unit and the array composite structure have the advantages of simple assembly technology and stable working performance.

A musical instrument may include a musical instrument body, a vibrating element associated with the musical instrument body for producing musical sounds, a transducer coupled to a portion of the vibrating element to apply forces to the vibrating element, a sensor responsive to forces between the transducer and the vibrating element and a signal conditioner responsive to forces sensed by the sensor for altering the forces applied by the transducer to the vibrating element to alter the vibrations of the vibrating element. Alternately, a structure may be included supporting the vibrating element to permit vibrations, the structure coupled to the vibrating element to modify the vibrations in response to a drive signal and to produce an electrical signal related to the vibrations of the vibrating element and a signal conditioner responsive to forces sensed by the sensor for altering the forces applied by the transducer to the vibrating element to alter the vibrations of the vibrating element.

A keyboard musical instrument has an instrument housing and a keyboard chassis integrally formed as a single piece. The keyboard musical instrument has at least one key movably supported on the keyboard chassis, a lower limit stopper for limiting the lowest descending position of the at least one key, a key switch including a movable contact and a fixed contact provided between the at least one key and the keyboard chassis, and an upper limit stopper disposed between the at least one key and the keyboard chassis for limiting an upper-most ascending position of the at least one key. The upper limit stopper is provided on a member that is independent of the keyboard chassis.

Apparatus and methods of decorating guitars and other stringed musical instruments are disclosed. In one aspect, an apparatus may include a carrier to hold a portion of a guitar, a surface to support the carrier, one or more ink-jet printheads to apply radiation-sensitive ink compositions on a surface of the portion of the guitar, when the portion of the guitar is held by the carrier, and when the carrier is supported by the surface, and a radiation source to supply radiation to the radiation-sensitive ink on the surface of the portion of the guitar. In another aspect, a method may include providing at least a portion of a guitar having a surface, and applying a decoration over the surface by spraying radiation-sensitive ink compositions over the surface with one or more ink-jet spray nozzles and exposing the radiation-sensitive ink compositions to radiation.

Music and non-music portions in an audio stream are identified. The audio stream is digitized and segmented into frames. Selected frames are passed through a filter bank which includes filters having bandwidths approximately proportional to their center frequencies. The spectral flux for each selected frame is calculated and smoothed. Frames having a smoothed spectral flux below a threshold value are associated with music, and frames having a smoothed spectral flux above a threshold value are associated with non-music.

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for teaching music to one or more students. The instructor's manual operation of a musical instrument controls in real-time the illumination of guide lamps on each student's musical instrument. This allows the students to visually connect the note to be played with the instructor's verbal instruction and then play the visually indicated note without having to look up at the instructor or a distant display. In another embodiment, the instructor's manual operation of his musical instrument provides a score display of the played note on each student's musical instrument. The students can visually connect the played note with the musical notation on the score display. Remote teaching over a communication network is also described as well as a removable interface for the musical instrument to assist in teaching and use of the instrument.

A collapsible data entry panel comprises, an upper layer of flexible sheet material having formed keys on its outer surface and conductive areas or contacts on its inner surface, a lower layer of flexible sheet material having conductive circuits or traces on its inner surface, and resilient, flexible frame around the peripheral margins of the sheet material layers that pulls the layers taut so that they are parallel to and spaced apart from one another. Depression of a formed key will cause a corresponding, underlying contact to connect with the conductive trace carried by the lower layer, and thereby complete a circuit representative of the depressed key. The data entry panel of the invention is collapsible to a surface area less than ½ of its extended configuration by twisting the respective ends of the panel in opposite directions, while applying a slight inward pressure. In its collapsed configuration, the panel can readily fit into a shirt pocket or purse. If the panel is subsequently released, it will automatically spring back to its original, extended configuration.

A combination guitar arm rest and leg rest for attachment to a portion of a body of a guitar and holding the guitar away from a guitar player's arm or elbow and above the player's leg. The combination includes an arm rest pad and a leg rest pad. The arm rest pad and the leg rest pad are pivotally attached to a tang. The tang is pivotally mounted on a yoke. The yoke is pivotally attached to one end of a pair of struts. An opposite end of the struts is pivotally mounted on a suction cup pivot pin. Opposite ends of the pivot pin are attached to a pair of suction cups. The suction cups are adapted for releasable attachment to the body of the guitar. The tang, the yoke and the struts allow the arm rest pad and the leg rest pad to be pivoted in an “XY” vertical plane, a “YZ” vertical plane and a “XZ” horizontal plane for infinite adjustments by the guitar player.

Methods of construction for acoustic and electrically amplified stringed musical instruments. The invention further relates to acoustic and electrically amplified stringed musical instruments comprising fiber-reinforced resin composite materials, where the instruments are provided with a sound-damping interior coating.

A fixture is made up of: a made body 10 composed of a placement portion 12 in which a stripe-shaped member (strap 3) or a line-shaped member is inserted and placed, a through hole 15 through which a bulging portion 2b of an attachment target section 2 can be inserted, and an insertion groove 16 linked to the through hole 15 and extended from the through hole 15 to an opposite side of the placement portion 12 in which the shaft portion 2a of the attachment target section 2 is inserted; engagement members 23 that are rotatably mounted on the main body 10 and that are composed of engagement portions 25 projected inside the insertion groove 16 to form a small hole B larger than the shaft portion 2a and smaller than a bulging portion 2b along with an end portion of the insertion groove 16, and operation portions 28 projected outward from the main body 10: and a biasing member 29 for biasing the engagement members 23 so as to retain the engagement portions 25 of the engagement members 23 in a state of being projected inside the insertion groove 16 of the main body 10. A fixture including: a main body composed of a placement portion in which a stripe-shaped member or a line-shaped member is inserted and placed, a through hole through which a bulging portion of an attachment target section can be inserted, and an insertion groove linked to the through hole and extended from the through hole to an opposite side of the placement portion, in which the shaft portion of the attachment target section is inserted; engagement members that are rotatably mounted on the main body and that are composed of engagement portions projected inside the insertion groove to form a small hole B larger than the shaft portion and smaller than a bulging portion along with an end portion of the insertion groove, and operation portions projected outward from the main body; and a biasing member for biasing the engagement members.

The present invention relates to a backlight apparatus for a Liquid Crystal Display. The backlight apparatus includes a main light source for generating white light and a monochromatic light source for generating monochromatic light to compensate the color temperature of the white light. The backlight further includes a light mixing region for mixing the white light with the monochromatic light to form mixed light with compensated color temperature and a reflection plate disposed underneath the light mixing region. The invention provides the monochromatic light source in addition to the fluorescent lamp, widening the color expression range and effectively adjusting the color temperature, thereby enabling natural color expression.

A musical instrument stand with a self-locking neck lock assembly for a guitar-shaped musical instrument has a post, multiple legs and a self-locking neck lock assembly. The self-locking neck lock assembly is attached to the post and has a stationary bracket, two locking palms, a movable bracket and a spring. The stationary bracket is attached securely to the post and has a U-shaped stationary collar having two distal ends. The locking palms are rotatably mounted on respectively the distal ends. The movable bracket is mounted pivotally on the stationary bracket and has a U-shaped movable collar. The movable collar has two distal ends mounted slidably to the palms to open or close the palms. The spring is mounted between the stationary and movable brackets and biases the movable collar upward to open the palms. When the movable bracket pivots down, the locking palms pivot to lock the neck.