Digital Musical Instrument Pickup With Two-Wire Audio Bus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing musical instrument pickups face challenges with complex cabling and power requirements as the number of sensors increases, leading to weight, interference, and potential failure issues.
Innovation Solution
The integration of an audio bus interface that allows for a simple, reduced cabling system using a two-wire connection for both signal transmission and power supply, enabling a daisy chain connection of multiple sensors and eliminating the need for local power sources like batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple sensors are connected with separate cabling for each sensor, then each sensor can be individually connected and powered, but the cabling complexity increases and the overall structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate cabling connections into a single audio bus interface that can carry both power and signal transmissions for multiple sensors simultaneously. The audio bus interface merges the functions of individual sensor connections, power supply lines, and signal transmission paths into one integrated communication channel, thereby reducing cabling complexity while maintaining reliable individual sensor connections through digital addressing and identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The audio bus interface is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it provides power supply to multiple sensors, transmits audio signals from each sensor, enables bidirectional communication for sensor identification and configuration, and supports daisy-chain connectivity. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated cables for each function, significantly simplifying the overall cabling architecture.
2Ease of operation
If a local power source such as a battery is installed in the pickup, then the pickup can operate independently, but the weight increases and potential interference or sudden failure may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power source function from the pickup unit itself and relocates it to the external audio system. Instead of installing a battery or local power source in the pickup, the system uses the existing power infrastructure of the audio system to supply power through the audio bus interface. This extraction eliminates the weight of local power sources and their associated management components while maintaining independent operation capability through the connected power supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The audio bus interface acts as an intermediary that transmits power from the audio system to the sensors in the pickup. Rather than requiring a direct power connection or local battery, the interface mediates the power transmission through the existing audio signal path, enabling power delivery without additional cabling or local power storage components.
3Measurement precision
If more sensors are added to capture more comprehensive sound, then the sound reproduction quality improves, but the number of connection cables increases proportionally
Solution Approach 1:
The audio bus interface merges multiple sensor connections into a single communication bus that can handle multiple sensors simultaneously. Each sensor is connected to the audio bus interface through the shared communication channel, allowing comprehensive sound capture from multiple sensors without requiring proportional increases in cabling quantity. The interface manages multiple sensor inputs through digital multiplexing and identification protocols.
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional two-wire instrument cables with jack plug connections are used, then compatibility with existing audio systems is maintained, but the cabling structure becomes complex when multiple sensors are involved
Solution Approach 1:
The audio bus interface maintains compatibility with existing audio systems by using standard jack plug connections and two-wire instrument cables, while simultaneously enabling support for multiple sensors through its multi-functional design. The interface can operate in different modes depending on the number and type of connected sensors, adapting its functionality to match the specific configuration while using the same physical connection interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A musical instrument pickup, in particular for a plucked string instrument and/or a bowed string instrument. The pickup comprises at least one sensor which is designed to convert soundwaves detected by the sensor into electric signals. The pickup has a digital audio bus interface which is designed to transmit electric signals and supply an electric current to at least parts of the musical instrument pickup via a connection cable which can be releasably connected or captively connected to the digital audio bus interface and which only has two wires or at least two wires. The musical instrument pickup system can be equipped with the musical instrument pickup and can be used as an automotive audio bus for or as an audio bus interface of the pickup.