Stringed Instrument Pickup Feedback System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stringed instruments often produce low sound volume due to the physical properties of their materials, leading to a reliance on rare woods for sound amplification, which is inefficient and environmentally harmful, and there is a need for a solution that enhances sound quality without external amplification or rare materials.
Innovation Solution
A stringed instrument pickup and feedback system comprising a sound pickup member, an output transducer, and a control processor that resonates the instrument body, reducing the need for rare woods by amplifying sound internally using a transducer affixed to the instrument's back surface, coupled with digital reverberation and effect modules for enhanced sound quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If rare woods are used to manufacture instruments, then sound volume and resonance are improved, but environmental harm and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/acoustic resonance system of rare woods with an electronic system comprising a transducer, amplifier, and speaker. The transducer converts string vibrations into electrical signals, which are then amplified and converted back to acoustic waves by the speaker, eliminating the need for rare woods while achieving superior sound volume and resonance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of sound amplification from relying on material properties (rare woods) to using electronic amplification parameters (gain, frequency response, power output). This allows precise control over sound volume and quality without being constrained by material availability or environmental concerns.
2Power
If rare woods are used to manufacture instruments, then sound quality is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the complex and expensive rare wood construction with a standardized electronic amplification system. The transducer, amplifier, and speaker components are mass-produced and can be installed on instruments made from common, sustainable materials, dramatically reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining or improving sound quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic amplification system serves multiple functions: it amplifies sound volume, enhances resonance, provides tone control, and can even add effects processing. This multi-functionality replaces what previously required multiple different rare wood components with varying acoustic properties, simplifying manufacturing while improving versatility.
3Power
If external amplification systems are used, then sound volume is improved, but device complexity and portability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pickup system, amplifier, and speaker into a single integrated unit that is permanently mounted within the instrument itself. This eliminates the need for external amplification equipment, cables, and power sources, reducing system complexity while maintaining high sound volume output.
Solution Approach 2:
The instrument becomes self-sufficient with the integrated amplification system, generating its own power (through piezoelectric elements or small batteries), capturing its own sound signals, and producing amplified output without requiring external equipment. This makes the instrument portable and ready to use anywhere without additional gear.
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
The system effectively amplifies instrument sound, reduces dependence on rare woods, promotes environmental protection, and lowers manufacturing costs, enabling broader market sales and improved acoustic performance.
Implementation Method 1
an output transducer, and a control processor connected to the at least one sound pickup member and the output transducer, wherein the control processor is configured to receive signals from the at least one sound pickup member corresponding to detected sound from a stringed instrument and process said received signals into output control signals, wherein the control processor is configured to send said output control signals to the output transducer to resonate the output transducer through a predetermined range of frequencies
Implementation Method 2
at least one sound pickup member, an output transducer, and a control processor connected to the at least one sound pickup member
Data Source
AI summary
A stringed instrument pickup and feedback system, comprising a sound pickup device disposed on a string instrument. The sound pickup device comprises a transducer and at least one pickup, a sound processing circuit and a power supply. The pickup activates the transducer to realize resonance enhancement on the instrument body. The transducer is disposed on the string instrument unrestricted by internal bracing. The instrument can be any of pickup, guitar, ukulele, violin, Guqin, Guzheng and Mandolin. The present invention enables the construction of stringed instrument to add vibration and amplify sound of a stringed instrument using the transducer and thus reduce the dependence on rare woods in manufacturing these instruments.