Labrosone Transducer Apparatus Silent Practice Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Musicians face challenges in practicing brass instruments without disturbing others and in amplifying their sound for larger audiences, as existing technologies fail to accurately detect and amplify the specific harmonics and notes played on these instruments effectively.
Innovation Solution
A transducer apparatus equipped with a microphone, speaker, and electronic processor that determines the length of the instrument tube and the harmonic selected by the player, using a chirp stimulus signal and measuring the response, and synthesizes the musical note for silent practice or amplification, providing feedback through headphones or speakers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a microphone and speaker system is used to detect and amplify instrument sound, then sound amplification for large audiences is achieved, but the system cannot accurately detect specific harmonics and notes played on brass instruments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex task of harmonic detection into multiple independent sensor measurements. Multiple sensors are positioned at different locations within the instrument body to detect different vibrational modes and harmonics independently, then these measurements are combined to achieve accurate note identification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces accelerometers as intermediary devices that measure mechanical vibrations of the instrument body directly, rather than attempting to amplify acoustic sound waves. These accelerometer measurements serve as intermediaries that provide precise harmonic information to the synthesis system
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the instrument sound is played in silent mode for private practice, then disturbance to others is eliminated, but the player loses auditory feedback necessary for skill development
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a closed-loop feedback system where sensors detect the player's lip vibrations and instrument responses in real-time, and this information is immediately synthesized and presented back to the player through headphones. This feedback loop preserves the essential auditory information needed for skill development while maintaining silent practice conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an electronic copy of the instrument's acoustic output through synthesis. Instead of amplifying the actual acoustic sound, the system generates a synthetic replica based on sensor measurements, which is then delivered to the player through headphones, preserving the auditory experience without acoustic projection
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors and processors are added to accurately detect harmonics, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the sensor system and processing architecture to be multi-functional. The same sensor array and processing pipeline can detect different harmonics, identify different notes, and adapt to different instrument configurations, reducing the need for separate specialized components for each function
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
Enables musicians to practice brass instruments quietly and accurately amplify their sound, allowing for real-time feedback and improved playing skills without disturbing others, while also allowing for the option to play amplified sound for larger audiences.
Implementation Method 1
A first microphone arranged to detect sound in a resonant chamber of the reed instrument
Implementation Method 2
determines a set of frequency peaks of a resonance spectrum of the reed instrument
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relates(with reference to figure 3)to transducer apparatus (20) for a labrosone(10)havinga labrosone resonant chamber (28).Alabrosone speaker(22)deliversa sound signal to the labrosone resonant chamber(28). A labrosonemicrophone (23) receivesa resultant sound fromthe labrosoneresonant chamber(28). Amouthpiece microphone(25)receivessound from the labrosone mouthpiece. An electronic processor (41) receives signals from the labrosone microphone (23) and the mouthpiece microphone (25) and is connected to the labrosone speaker(22). The electronic processor (41) generates an excitation signal which is delivered as an acoustic excitation signal to the labrosoneresonant chamber(28)by the labrosonespeaker(22). The electronic processor (41) uses the signals from the labrosonemicrophone (23) and the mouthpiece microphone(25)to determine a desired musical note which a player of the labrosonewishes to play. The electronic processor (41) synthesizes the desired musical note and outputs the desired note to one or more of: headphones(43), a speaker (44) external to the transducer apparatus(20), computer apparatus (45) and/or a smartphone, whereby the musical note is played audibly and/or displayed visually to the player.