Humbucking Pickup Switching System for Odd and Even Tone Combinations
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing guitar pickup systems face challenges in efficiently utilizing reversible pickup poles to create a wide range of humbucking circuits, particularly with odd numbers of matched pickups, due to the complexity of determining suitable pole configurations and connections to produce distinct tones.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a common connection point switching system where all pickups are connected to a common point presenting the same phase of external electromagnetic interference, with at least two connected to the output low terminal and others to the output high terminal, and either the common point or the low terminal grounded, ensuring matched pickups respond equally to hum, allowing for expanded humbucking circuit possibilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional switching systems are used for odd numbers of matched pickups, then the system complexity increases due to determining suitable pole configurations and connections, but the number of possible humbucking combinations and tones remains limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pickup system into two distinct groups: odd-numbered pickups (1st, 3rd, 5th) and even-numbered pickups (2nd, 4th, 6th). Each group is connected to a different terminal of the humbucking switch, creating a structured segmentation that simplifies the switching mechanism while maximizing combinatorial possibilities. This segmentation allows any pickup from one group to pair with any pickup from the other group, generating numerous humbucking combinations without requiring complex switching logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic switching system that can selectively connect any combination of odd and even numbered pickups through a humbucking switch. The switchable connections allow the system to dynamically reconfigure which pickups are paired together, enabling users to access a wide variety of humbucking tones and combinations. This dynamic reconfigurability increases versatility without permanently fixing the circuit topology.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If matched pickups are used to respond equally to hum, then effective hum cancellation is achieved, but the system requires precise matching and configuration of pole polarities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-assigns specific pole polarities to pickups based on their position in the sequence. Odd-numbered pickups (1st, 3rd, 5th) are configured with one polarity orientation, while even-numbered pickups (2nd, 4th, 6th) are configured with the opposite polarity orientation. This preliminary assignment of polarities before the switching operation simplifies the humcancellation mechanism, as the systematic polarity alternation ensures that paired pickups will naturally oppose external electromagnetic interference regardless of which specific pickups are selected.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach simplifies the creation of humbucking circuits for any number of matched pickups, significantly increasing the number of possible humbucking combinations and tones, while maintaining effective hum cancellation, and can be applied to various vibration sensors.
Implementation Method 1
electromagnetic string vibration pickups
Implementation Method 2
each pickup responds equally to external electromagnetic fields, otherwise known a hum
Data Source
AI summary
This invention discloses a switching system for any odd or even number of two or more matched vibrations sensors, such that all possible circuits of such sensors that can be produced by the system are humbucking, rejecting external interferences signals. The sensors must be matched, especially with respect to response to external hum and internal impedance, and be capable of being made or arranged so that the responses of individual sensors to vibration can be inverted, compared to another matched sensor, placed in the same physical position, while the interference signal is not. Such that for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 sensors, there exist 1, 6, 25, 90, 301, 966 and 3025 unique humbucking circuits, respectively, with signal outputs that can be either single-ended or differential. Embodiments of switching systems include electro-mechanical switches, programmable switches, solid-state digital-analog switches, and micro-controller driven solid state switches using time-series to spectral-series transforms to pick the order of tones from bright to warm and back.