Stringed Instrument Hand Sensing with Separate Capacitive Circuit
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Musicians face ergonomic challenges in controlling instrument parameters as traditional controls require them to remove their hands from normal playing positions, limiting expressive potential and ease of use.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a capacitive touch sensor system in musical instruments, allowing controls like vibrato arms and pickup selectors to be operated without hand removal, using a sensor circuit distinct from the pickup circuit to detect hand proximity and touch for enhanced control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional controls (knobs, sliders, buttons) are used to control instrument parameters, then the musician can adjust volume, pitch, and tone, but the musician must remove their hands from normal playing position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical controls (knobs, sliders, buttons) with a capacitive touch sensor system that detects hand proximity and touch. This substitution allows musicians to control instrument parameters without physically manipulating mechanical components, eliminating the need to remove hands from playing position while maintaining full control capability over volume, pitch, and tone parameters.
2Ease of operation
If foot operated controls are used instead of hand controls, then the musician can control instrument parameters, but the musician must stand or sit near the control
Solution Approach 1:
The capacitive touch sensor system provides universal control capability that works regardless of musician positioning. The sensor detects touch and proximity from any distance, allowing the same control mechanism to serve both seated and standing musicians without requiring proximity to physical controls, thereby eliminating the positioning constraint of foot-operated controls.
3Ease of operation
If capacitive touch sensor is integrated into the instrument, then hand can remain on instrument during control adjustments, but the sensor circuit must be electrically distinct from pickup circuit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrical circuits into distinct independent systems: a pickup circuit for audio signal generation and a separate sensor circuit for capacitive touch detection. This segmentation prevents electrical interference between the two functions while allowing integrated control. The sensor circuit includes its own capacitive sensor and processing circuitry that operates independently from the pickup circuit, enabling hand-to-instrument contact without electrical conflicts.
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 manipulate instrument sounds and parameters ergonomically, providing expanded expressive capabilities and reducing latency by allowing hands to remain on the instrument during control adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitive sensor and a sensor processing circuit in electronic communication with the capacitive sensor configured to produce a data signal based on a state of the capacitive sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A device includes a sensor circuit configured for installation in a stringed instrument such that the sensor circuit is electrically distinct from a pickup circuit of the stringed instrument, the pickup circuit including a pickup disposed proximate a string of the stringed instrument and configured to produce an audio signal of the stringed instrument in response to a movement of the string, and the string, the sensor circuit including a capacitive sensor and a sensor processing circuit in electronic communication with the capacitive sensor configured to produce a data signal based on a state of the capacitive sensor.