Patent ID: 9053690
Filing Date: 2015-06-09
Classification: G10H

Abstract:
1. A string instrument comprising: a body with a sound hole; a neck extending from the body; a plurality of strings strung over the neck and sound hole; a plurality of frets positioned under the strings along the neck; a plurality of sensors selected from capacitance sensors or induction sensors positioned on the neck; and electronic circuitry associated with the sensors; characterized, in that each of the frets comprises separate individual fret sections each mounted over a corresponding sensor, thereby forming separate individual dynamic fret-activated sensors, and each individual dynamic fret-activated sensor being positioned correspondingly under one of the plurality of strings, wherein the capacitance sensors comprise a fixed lower conducting layer spaced apart and insulated from a displaceable upper conducting layer, there being a dielectric between said layers, said sensors being secured under individual, dynamic fret sections whereby pressure on the dynamic frets displaces the upper layer of the sensors in the direction of the lower layer generating a capacitance proportional to the displacement, and wherein the induction sensors comprise a lower conducting coil spaced apart and insulated from an upper conducting coil having an individual, dynamic fret section secured over said upper conducting coil, whereby, when a chord is played by applying finger pressure on the strings, pressure is applied on the corresponding individual frets activating the individual dynamic fret-activated sensors, which transmit the pressure data representing the played chord, via the electronic circuitry to a processor to produce an audio output comprising the played chord.