Onboard Pickup Blending Circuit for Real-Time Guitar Tone Mixing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric guitars and basses require multiple instruments to achieve desired tones due to limitations in pickup combinations, necessitating the use of industry standard pickup selector switches that restrict users to selecting one pickup at a time.
Innovation Solution
Implementing onboard, real-time pickup blending systems that allow simultaneous use and blending of multiple pickups, utilizing coil splitting and series/parallel wiring options, with adjustable toggle switches and blending knobs for tonal control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If industry standard pickup selector switches are used, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the user is limited to selecting only one pickup at a time, reducing tonal versatility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple pickup signals into a single output by allowing simultaneous selection and blending of multiple pickups. The system merges the functionality of multiple selector switches into one unified interface that enables users to access all pickup combinations without needing separate switches for each pickup.
Solution Approach 2:
The pickup selector switch is designed to perform multiple functions: it can select individual pickups, combine multiple pickups simultaneously, and provide access to all possible tonal combinations. This universal switch replaces the need for multiple specialized switches, achieving both versatility and simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple guitars are used to achieve desired tones, then tonal variety is improved, but the quantity of equipment increases and portability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single guitar universally capable of producing multiple tones by enabling simultaneous use of multiple pickups. This multi-functional capability replaces the need for multiple specialized guitars, allowing one instrument to serve the function of several different guitars with various pickup configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines the tonal capabilities of multiple guitars into one instrument by allowing users to blend signals from multiple pickups. This merging of functions enables a single guitar to replicate the tonal variety previously requiring multiple instruments.
3Ease of operation
If pickup selector switches are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but real-time blending capability is lost, limiting tonal flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic control elements (blending knobs) that allow users to adjust pickup combinations in real-time during performance. This dynamic capability enables smooth transitions and seamless blending between different pickup signals, providing continuous tonal adjustment rather than discrete switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces blending knobs as intermediary control elements between the pickup selector and the final output. These intermediaries allow for gradual adjustment and mixing of pickup signals, providing fine-grained control over tonal blending while maintaining a straightforward control interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a kit can be used for onboard, real-time blending for electronic pickups to produce various tonal combinations. In one example, at least one of the electronic pickups has dual coils. The dual coil pickup can be electrically connected to a switching circuit positioned on a stringed instrument. The switching circuit can be adjustable in real-time to select between at least two conditions for a signal of the dual coil pickup. In one instance, the conditions can select north coil only, series wiring of the dual coils, or south coil only. Alternatively, the conditions can select series wiring or parallel wiring of the dual coils. Each of the electronic pickups is electrically connected to a taper circuit positioned on the instrument. Each taper circuit is adjustable in real-time to vary an amplitude of the signal from the respective electronic pickup for output of the instrument.