LED Touch Capacitance Switch for Guitar Pickup Reconfiguration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current guitar electronics systems are limited by their adherence to vintage designs, restricting the ability to create diverse sound combinations, and existing mechanical switches do not offer sufficient flexibility for modern guitar players seeking enhanced musical and artistic performance.
Innovation Solution
The Luminator Electronic Switch system incorporates an LED touch capacitance switch and a dual-value switch board that allows for reconfiguration of pickup combinations without soldering, enabling users to upgrade their guitar's tonal capabilities with minimal technical skill.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional mechanical switches are used for pickup selection, then the guitar can achieve basic sound combinations, but the flexibility and number of available sound combinations are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitance touch switch integrates multiple switching functions into a single device, allowing selection of different pickup combinations (neck pickup, bridge pickup, both pickups) through capacitive touch zones on the pickguard. This multi-functional switch replaces traditional mechanical switches and enables diverse sound combinations without requiring multiple separate switching mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical switching mechanisms with a capacitance-based touch sensing system. The pickguard incorporates conductive traces and capacitive sensors that detect finger proximity or contact to electronically switch between different pickup combinations, eliminating the need for physical mechanical switches and enabling more flexible sound routing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If vintage guitar electronics designs are used, then the instrument maintains classic aesthetics, but the electronic options and signal combinations are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic system is segmented into modular components including the capacitance touch switch integrated into the pickguard, separate pickup selections for neck and bridge pickups, and independent control for each pickup circuit. This modular segmentation allows for expanded electronic functionality while maintaining manageable system complexity through organized, distributed control elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to guitar electronics by integrating the control interface directly into the pickguard surface through capacitance sensing. This transforms the flat pickguard from a passive aesthetic component into an active control plane, allowing musicians to access multiple electronic functions through touch interactions on the instrument's surface without adding bulky external controls.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate switches are used for pickup control, then comprehensive pickup combinations can be achieved, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple pickup selection functions into a unified capacitance touch switch system integrated into the pickguard. The conductive traces and capacitive sensors are arranged to provide distinct touch zones for selecting neck pickup, bridge pickup, and both pickups simultaneously, consolidating what would traditionally require multiple separate mechanical switches into a single integrated control interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitance touch switch system provides self-service operation by detecting finger proximity or contact automatically to activate the desired pickup combination. The system responds to the musician's touch without requiring physical manipulation of switches or complex mechanical operations, making pickup selection as intuitive as touching the instrument's surface.
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 system expands the tonal possibilities of electric and bass guitars by allowing users to easily reconfigure pickup combinations, providing a visually appealing and intuitive interface for enhanced musical performance.
Implementation Method 1
LED touch capacitance switch
Implementation Method 2
LED lighted capacitance touch switch
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic switch for the upgrade of an electric stringed instrument for enhancing the musical or artistic performance of a user. The electronic switch has two parts. The first part consisting of a printed circuit board with terminals for wire connections. On the printed circuit board are solid state relays and other electronic components. They are electronically controlled by the second part that is an external user-controlled switch. The switch is an LED touch capacitance switch, also referred as but not limited to, a capacitance touch switch, or touch key. The capacitance touch switch has an LED light that changes colors from either a blue or green to red, but not limited to, indicating when the electronic switch is activated. When the LED touch capacitance switch activates the electronic switch board, the electronic switch board reroutes multiple signals that are attached to its terminal connectors. The electronic switch allows the user to route multiple signals at once with one touch of the LED touch capacitance switch. The LED touch capacitance switch consisting of an LED light that changes colors from either a blue or green to red, but not limited to, when touched allows the user to know the status of the electronic switch. Both parts of the electronic switch obtain power from some type of battery or super capacitor power source, but not limited to.