Device for switching an electrical or electronic system for picking up the vibrations of the strings of a musical instrument

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for switching an electrical or electronic system (11) for picking up the vibrations of a string (4) of a musical instrument (1) having a front face (5), comprising: a support (13) intended to be fixed or integrated to said front face and provided with means (14) for electrical connection to an amplifying circuit (15); at least one barrel (20) having at least two pickup systems, the barrel being mounted on said support so as to be movable in rotation relative to said support between at least two positions, in each of which a pickup system is placed in an operating position relative to the string, and comprising means (40) for electrically connecting at least the pickup system facing the string to the connection means; and means (21) for rotating the barrel (20). According to the invention, when the support is fixed to said front face, the axis of rotation of the barrel is substantially parallel to said front face.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of devices for switching (exchanging, interchanging) electrical or electronic string vibration pickup systems, in particular for use in plucked or stringed musical instruments. Background Art

[0002] Document US2015 / 0294659 discloses a device for switching an electrical string vibration pickup system (also called a microphone) in an electric guitar. The device includes a plate integrated into the front of the guitar, on which four groups of microphones are mounted. This plate can rotate around an axis perpendicular to the front of the guitar. The microphone group is placed on the plate so that when the microphone group is placed on the guitar bridge, the second microphone group is located on the guitar neck. In addition, the microphone group has a use direction related to the thickness of each string. Therefore, there are two combinations suitable for microphone group operation and two combinations in which the microphone groups are arranged in opposite use directions. Therefore, these two combinations are not suitable for correct operation. Therefore, the musician can choose between the two combinations when using the guitar. This device, if it allows easy conversion of the microphone group, has the disadvantages of being bulky, ugly, and occupying a large range of the surface of the front, so it substantially affects the vibration behavior of the latter, thereby affecting the overall tone of the guitar. Summary of the invention

[0003] In order to remedy these drawbacks, the present invention relates to a device for switching an electrical or electronic pickup system for picking up the vibrations of strings in a musical instrument comprising a front face facing the strings, the device comprising:

[0004] - a support (bracket, mount) intended to be fixed or integrated into the front face, provided with connection means for electrical connection to the amplifying circuit,

[0005] - at least one barrel having at least two pickup systems, the barrel being mounted on the support so as to be rotatable relative to the support between at least two positions so as to place one pickup system in an operating position relative to the string in each position, the barrel comprising electrical coupling means for electrically coupling at least one pickup system relative to the string to said connection means, and

[0006] - Rotating device for rotating the barrel.

[0007] According to the invention, the device is characterized in that the axis of rotation of the barrel is substantially parallel to the front face when the support is fixed to the front face.

[0008] The orientation of the barrel's axis of rotation parallel to the plane of the front face allows limiting the footprint (footprint) of the device according to the invention on said front face, thereby reducing its impact on the latter's performance and being more discrete than devices according to the prior art. Furthermore, the implementation of the barrel including an electrical or electronic vibration pickup system allows the use of a greater number of groups while having a minimum volume.

[0009] It is worth noting that the device according to the invention - in particular its support - can be integrated into a musical instrument during the manufacturing process. Therefore, the invention also relates to a musical instrument, which integrates at least one device according to the invention for switching a pickup system.

[0010] According to one feature of the invention, the device comprises at least two barrels.

[0011] The use of at least two barrels allows the vibrations of at least two different predetermined positions to be picked up, which can be performed with different systems independent of each other. This results in a wide range of choices and a large number of possible combinations of vibration pickup systems. In fact, the two barrels are not interconnected, so they can be operated independently of each other.

[0012] According to another feature of the invention, each barrel is removably fixed to the bracket. This removable feature allows easier replacement of the pickup system by replacing the barrel. System replacement is very simple and does not require soldering, string removal, or disrupting the instrument. It can be called a free-to-setup, ready-to-use system or a "plug and play" system.

[0013] According to another feature of the invention, each barrel comprises at least one housing for receiving a removable drawer-like element carrying a pickup system. Thus, the pickup system of the barrel can be easily changed, which allows the player to easily choose between multiple pickup systems available on the same barrel. Of course, the invention does not exclude that the pickup system is mounted on the barrel in other ways than drawers. Within the framework of the invention, the term "housing" must be understood in a broad sense and as a synonym for the term "position".

[0014] According to a variation of this feature of the invention, each picking system is carried by a removable drawer-like member, and each bucket contains the same number of receptacles as the picking system. This alternative embodiment allows all picking systems of the same bucket to be easily changed, and each picking system is independent of each other.

[0015] According to another feature of the invention, each pickup system comprises a row of sensors arranged in a direction D1 substantially parallel to the axis of rotation A1 of the drum. Thus, when the pickup system is in working position, each sensor of the system is positioned opposite the string to pick up its vibrations.

[0016] It should be noted that according to the invention the pickup system may be a commercial pickup system and / or from a different manufacturer, thus making it possible to have a pickup system having specific characteristics and providing a different tonal profile.

[0017] According to another characteristic of the invention, the device comprises positioning and fixing means for rotationally positioning (indexed positioning, indexed positioning) and fixing each barrel in each position that places a pickup system in working position. These measures allow stopping the rotation of the barrel and fixing it in the desired position. The desired position corresponding to the vibration pickup system is selected by the musician and placed in working position. In addition, the musician has the possibility to change the system while he / she is playing.

[0018] According to another characteristic of the invention, the electrical coupling means of the device are adapted so that only the pickup system in the working position is electrically coupled to the coupling means. Then, on a barrel, only one pickup system is active, while the others are grounded, i.e. all their connections are electrically coupled to the same pole of the amplification circuit, or to ground via a low-resistance conductor. Thus, the signal of the pickup system collected by the amplification system in the working position is noise-free. The activated vibration pickup system in the working position is not affected by the other pickup systems on the barrel.

[0019] According to another feature of the present invention, the operating device of each barrel is motorized. This motorization helps the player to select the active pick-up system that is activated or in the working position.

[0020] As mentioned above, the invention also relates to a stringed (stringed) musical instrument comprising a front face and at least one device according to the invention fixed to or integrated into the front face so that each pickup system in its working position is positioned opposite the strings.

[0021] According to one feature of the invention, the musical instrument is an electric guitar.

[0022] The invention also relates to a drawer comprising at least one electrical or electronic pickup system for picking up the vibrations of a string in a musical instrument, wherein the drawer is intended to be removably mounted on the barrel of a device according to the invention.

[0023] The invention also relates to a barrel provided with at least two electrical or electronic pickup systems for picking up the vibrations of strings in a musical instrument, wherein it is intended to be fitted to a device according to the invention.

[0024] Of course, the different features, variants and embodiments of the present invention can be associated with each other according to various combinations, as long as they are compatible with each other or not mutually exclusive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Furthermore, various other features of the invention will become apparent from the accompanying description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show a non-limiting embodiment of a device for switching an electrical or electronic system for picking up string vibrations in a musical instrument according to the invention.

[0026] - Figure 1 is an overall view of an electric guitar including a device for switching a string vibration pickup system according to the present invention,

[0027] - Figure 2 shows a bottom view of an electric guitar according to the present invention,

[0028] - Figure 3 is a bottom view of an electric guitar, in which the device according to the invention is visible,

[0029] - Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a device according to the invention, the musical instrument being made transparent,

[0030] - Figure 5 is a view of the rotating mechanism of the device,

[0031] - Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention,

[0032] - Figure 7 , 8 , 9 and 10 are schematic partial perspective views, particularly showing the barrel body and its components according to the present invention.

[0033] It is noted that in these figures, common structural and / or functional elements of different variations may have the same reference numerals. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The musical instrument according to the present invention is Figure 1 1, it comprises a body having in this case a neck 3 on which the strings 4 are held under tension, remote from and parallel to a front face 5 of the body of the instrument 1. The front face 5 corresponds to the surface of the body on which the strings 4 are anchored, said strings being anchored to the body by means of, for example, a bridge fixed to the front face 5. The front face 5 may be the soundboard of the instrument 1. However, a plucked or stringed musical instrument 1 according to the invention may be without a soundboard, since this is the case with instruments consisting essentially of a body carrying the strings 4.

[0035] The invention aims to propose measures for easily switching the electrical or electronic pickup system for picking up the vibrations of the strings 4 . To this end, the musical instrument is equipped with a device 10 for switching the pickup system 11 for picking up the vibrations of the strings 4 .

[0036] exist Figure 2In the embodiment, the musical instrument 1 comprises a trap door 6 on a back side 7 opposite to the front side 5 so as to position and connect the device 10 below the front side 5. Figure 3 As shown, the device 10 comprises in particular a support 13 which is fixed to or integrated in the front face 5 and is provided with connection means for electrical connection to an amplifier circuit 15, only the output of which is shown. Figure 6 In the example shown in FIG. 1 , the support 13 is a partially finished metal structure comprising two housings for receiving two barrels 20 .

[0037] The example shown corresponds to a device 10 comprising two barrels 20 (described below) each carrying three pickup systems 11. The two barrels 20 rotate respectively about axes A1 and A2, which are substantially parallel to each other and to the front face 5. According to a characteristic of the invention, the rotation of the barrels 20 allows the different pickup systems 11 to be brought relative to the string 4. To this end, the device 10 comprises a rotating device for rotating the barrels 20. The rotating device comprises a belt drive system 23, which is operated on the one hand by two levers 24 for starting and stopping the rotation of the barrels 20, respectively, and on the other hand by a motor integrated into the support 13. In Figure 5 In the figure, two respective drive belts 23 of two barrels 20 can be seen. The operation of the lever 24 moves the respective belt 23, which, together with the pulley, rotates the barrel 20 through a gear system. The rotation of the barrel 20 about its axis A1 allows to define a working position in which a single pickup system 11 of the systems 11 carried by this barrel 20 is positioned opposite said strings 4 of the musical instrument 1. The position of the selected pickup system 11 opposite the strings 4 defines its working position.

[0038] The electrical or electronic pickup system 11 for picking up the vibrations of the strings 4 of the musical instrument 1 can be an electric guitar microphone. According to the example shown, these pickup systems 11 include sensors 31 arranged in a row along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the barrel 20. These sensors 31 convert the vibrations of the metal strings 4 into electrical signals. The sensors 31 can be composed of one or more magnets surrounded by a copper wire coil. Each magnet generates a magnetic field. Through vibration, the strings 4 woven from magnetic material slightly change the magnetic circuit, thereby inducing an electromotive force in the coil, which is proportional to the displacement speed of the strings 4. The generated electrical signal is sent to the amplifier circuit 15, for example, via a wire. It is not necessary to make a sound to form it.

[0039] There are different pick-up systems 11, in particular pick-up systems with a single coil comprising one row of sensors 31 and pick-up systems with a double coil comprising two parallel rows of sensors 31. According to the example shown, in the working position, the two barrels 20 carry a single-coil pick-up system 11. Fig.10The double coil pickup system 11 visible in FIG. 1 is also applicable to the barrel 20 according to the invention.

[0040] Figure 7 The barrel 20 according to one embodiment is shown, wherein the barrel 20 carries three pick-up systems 11. The barrel 20 is a rotating device having a substantially cylindrical shape, which comprises Figure 8 3. The central part 32 is visible in FIG. This part 32 has substantially the shape of a prism, which comprises three housings (here for each face of the prism) adapted to each carry a respective drawer-like element 34. Fig. 9 Drawers 34 according to the invention are shown. Each drawer 34 is used to accommodate one picking system 11.

[0041] In the embodiment shown, the electrical connection means for electrically connecting the pickup system 11 to the rest of the electronic components comprise a beryllium copper contact system. The central part 32 comprises three housings, each housing comprising two substantially bulb-shaped openings 42 which can receive the drawers 34. It is thus easy to clip the drawers 34 onto the housings and then introduce a pickup system 11 therein for each drawer 34.

[0042] The central part 32 of the barrel 20 then carries the electrical connection means and thus forms the link between the connection means and the pickup system 11. One of the orifices 42 is suitable for connecting the pickup system 11 to an electrical circuit, the other orifice 42 is used to connect it to the ground. Each drawer-like element 34 is fixed to the central part 32 by means of an orifice 42, resting against the central part 32 with its back. During the rotation of the barrel 20, there is no longer any physical contact between the copper contactor and the rest of the electronic components. A cylindrical part, partially made of copper, passes through the central part 32, which cylindrical part forms the link to the ground. In Figure 7 and Figure 8 , the central part 32 of the barrel 20 comprises three outlets (sockets, output ports) 44 towards the connection means, each corresponding to a pickup system 11. During rotation, only the cylindrical part is in contact with the connection means. Therefore, no signal from the barrel 20 is transmitted to the rest of the electronic device. When the rotation stops and the pickup system 11 is in the working position, the contactors are opposite each other again and the signal is transmitted to the connection means.

[0043] The device also comprises a positioning and fixing device for rotatably positioning and fixing the barrel 20. According to the example shown, in particular Figure 5 The positioning and fixing device comprises two levers 24 which start the movement of the barrel and stop the rotation of the barrel 20 in the working position according to the selected picking system 11 .

[0044] The embodiments described above are non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, the device 10 according to the present invention may include more than two barrels 20 for picking up the vibrations of the string 4 at more locations. Likewise, the barrel of the device according to the present invention may carry four pickup systems 11 or more to provide a greater variety of pickup systems 11. The bracket 13 may be designed differently to accommodate new structures.

[0045] According to the exemplary embodiment described above, the device for operating the barrel includes a belt system. However, it is contemplated that other rotating devices can be used to rotate the barrel. For example, the barrel 20 can be rotated manually, that is, the outer surface of the barrel 20 constitutes a device for operating the barrel. Then, the musician operates the barrel 20 with one of his / her fingers by acting on the outer surface, and changes the pickup system 11 in this way. There are other positioning and fixing devices for rotationally positioning and fixing the barrel 20. In this example, a latch system can stop the rotation of the barrel 20, wherein the latch does not resist a specific pressure applied manually. The positioning and fixing device may also include a button, a rotating wheel, a rotating button or any other device for selecting to place the pickup system 11 in a working position.

[0046] Other pickup systems 11 for picking up the vibrations of the string 4 can be envisaged. For example, an optoelectronic system including a laser diode is used to obtain the position of the string and the amplitude of its movement. This information is transmitted, processed and converted into an audio signal that can be amplified.

[0047] Of course, various other alternative embodiments can be considered within the framework of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device (10) for switching an electrical or electronic pickup system (11) for picking up vibrations of strings (4) of a musical instrument (1), the musical instrument comprising a front side (5) facing the strings (4), the device (10) comprising: - a support (13) intended to be fixed or integrated on said front face (5) and provided with connection means for electrical connection with the amplifying circuit (15), - at least one barrel (20), each barrel being provided with at least two pickup systems (11), mounted on said support (13) so as to be movable in rotation relative to said support (13) between at least two positions, so as to place one pickup system (11) in an operating position relative to the string (4) in each position, and comprising electrical coupling means for electrically coupling at least one pickup system (11) relative to the string (4) to the connection means, and - a rotating device for rotating the barrel (20), When the bracket (13) is fixed on the front surface (5), the rotation axis A1 of the barrel body (20) is substantially parallel to the front surface (5).

2. The device (10) according to claim 1, wherein The device comprises at least two barrels (20).

3. The device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: Each barrel (20) is detachably mounted on the bracket (13).

4. The device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: Each tub (20) comprises at least one housing intended to receive a removable drawer (34) carrying a picking system (11).

5. The device (10) according to claim 4, wherein: Each picking system (11) is carried by a detachable drawer-like member (34), and each barrel (20) comprises the same number of receiving parts as the picking systems (11).

6. The device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: Each picking system (11) comprises a row of sensors (31) arranged along a direction D1 substantially parallel to the rotation axis A1 of the barrel (20).

7. The device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: It comprises positioning and fixing means for rotationally positioning and fixing each barrel (20) in each position for placing a pick-up system (11) in working position.

8. The device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The electrical coupling device is adapted so that only the pick-up system (11) in the working position is electrically coupled to the connection device.

9. The device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The rotating device of each barrel (20) is motorized.

10. A stringed musical instrument (1) comprising a front face (5) and at least one device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, fixed to or integrated into the front face (5) so that each pickup system (11) in an operating position is positioned opposite a string (4).

11. The stringed musical instrument (1) according to claim 10, wherein: It's an electric guitar.

12. A drawer (34) comprising at least one electrical or electronic pickup system (11) for picking up vibrations of strings (4) of a musical instrument (1), wherein: The drawer-like element is intended to be removably assembled to the barrel (20) of the device (10) according to claim 4.

13. A barrel (20) provided with at least two electrical or electronic pickup systems (11) for picking up vibrations of strings (4) of a musical instrument (1), wherein: The drum is intended to be fitted to a device (10) according to claim 1.

Images