Abstract:
A stringed musical instrument device that functions as a peripheral for a computer or computing device, whereby electronic transducers placed inside and/or outside the instrument convert the vibrations of the strings and/or the instrument body from an analog electrical signals to digital signals. The digital signals are then transmitted via Class Compliant USB and/or FireWire-IEEE 1394 and/or IEEE 802.11 wireless and/or Bluetooth® wireless protocols to any computer or computing device that accepts data via those protocols. This device requires no external power, amplification, analog-to-digital conversion, software or hardware. This device is an improvement over the prior art in that it accurately and immediately represents on a computer or computing device the signals that are being sent from the instrument and reduces the number of devices needed to accomplish the task of sending digital signals to a computer or computing device.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to musical instruments, and more particularly to stringed musical instruments that also serve as a peripheral to a computer or computing device. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Stringed musical instruments are commonly amplified by attaching an electronic transducer to the face or top of the instrument so that the transducer lies under the strings or inside the body of such instrument. The electronic transducer picks up the vibrations of the strings and transfers the energy in the form of an analog electrical signal. The electrical signal is then commonly output to a musical instrument amplifier which contains speakers and amplifiers to increase the electronic signal. The amplifier, depending upon its own features, adds various tones and effects via a preamplifier. 
   With the proliferation of personal computers and computing devices, musicians of all levels are frequently employing software on their computers and computing devices for many purposes including multi-track recording, editing, mastering, adding effects, composing, remixing, film scoring, and creating notation for musical instrument education and publishing exploitation. Furthermore, with the vast resources available on the Internet, musicians are able to use online music forums and online software to enhance, share and publish their musical performances. 
   While traditional musical instruments are designed to be readily used in a recording or live venue or other concert setting, these instruments are ill-equipped for usage with personal computers. Furthermore, traditional stringed instruments which transmit analog signals have disadvantages because the electric signal is subject to various degrees of output, degradation and distortion. 
   In order to overcome these obstacles, there have been prior art electrical guitars designed with hexaphonic pickups which send Musical Instrument Digital Information (“MIDI”) signals to a computer. These musical instruments allow musicians to connect their instrument to a computer and for the computer to recognize the signals generated. However, MIDI signals are “command” signals, and the resulting sound rendered by the instrument is not always an accurate representation of the original sound generated by the musician&#39;s performance as translated to the strings of the musical instrument. In addition, tracking, or the simultaneous response from the musician&#39;s performance in triggering a sound through MIDI, often results in a time lag or a lack of accurate tracking. 
   Furthermore, many MIDI guitars require an external device which converts the electronic signal from the hexaphonic pickup into a MIDI signal. In these systems, the MDI signals generated by the external interface device are then sent from the external interface device to the computer. These systems have disadvantages because they require a relatively sophisticated external device which adds expense and which are frequently difficult to operate and cumbersome for the musician to use. Such external devices add more connections to the system of performance. 
   In order to send a more faithful representation of the sound from the musical instrument&#39;s strings to the personal computer, prior art devices have been developed wherein an interface device converts the analog electrical signal to a digital signal. For example, Patent Application No. 2003/0159570 (the “570 Application”) discloses a digital interface for analog musical instruments that can be detachably mounted on the instrument wherein proper placement is crucial for accurate performance or undetachably integrated in the musical instrument body. The interface apparatus involved in the 570 Application converts the analog signal generated by the musical instrument into a digital signal. The interface apparatus then has connections to be able to connect into a personal computer allowing for the transmission of such digital data directly to the personal computer. 
   While these prior art devices can enable a musical instrument player to send an accurate representation of the initial electrical signal from the instrument pickup device to a personal computer, the disadvantage of these prior art devices is that it is difficult for the computer to recognize the information sent from the musical instrument in order to be able to process such information effectively. The musician requires specific drivers to be installed to allow the computer to recognize the information that is being sent from the musical instrument. Furthermore, the majority of the most popular musical instrument software programs do not recognize these prior art instruments without first running specific programs or “patches” for the prior art instruments. 
   The installation of software can be time consuming and complicated. Driver software often does not record the signal properly. Moreover, many patches or programs to allow these musical instruments to be properly recognized by a personal computer or a specific software application have not been created. Therefore, a disadvantage to the prior art devices is that a musical instrument player is often limited in the availability of software programs to use in connection with a prior art device. 
   Another disadvantage of the prior art devices is that it is often expensive to purchase additional software allowing the computer to recognize the guitar signals. Additionally, the installation of these programs can be complicated. Further, even upon successful installation, the user can still experience compatibility problems which can lead to errors within the computer and the software applications. 
   In addition, Patent Application No. 2004/0144241 (the “241 Application”) relies almost entirely on an outboard device that will split the signal from the guitar. This outboard device, often called a “breakout box,” only makes more complex the number of wiring connections necessary, while adding cost and the possibility of signal quality loss and/or output volume loss. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a stringed musical instrument device that overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks and disadvantages. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is embodied in a musical instrument device which is designed to overcome the prior issues and thus be accurately connected to a computer or computing device and to be instantly and accurately recognized by the computer or computing device. The musical instrument contains electronic transducers situated under the strings and/or inside the body. The electronic transducers pick up the vibrations from the instrument strings and/or the vibrations from the instrument body in order to produce an analog electrical signal that is accurately representative of such vibrations. The device has an apparatus integrated wholly inside the instrument containing an analog-to-digital converter. This apparatus also contains output protocols that are designed to send the digital information to a computer, computing device or other external device. These “digital out” protocols are configured for protocols widely used in connection with communications between a peripheral and a computer or computing device. These protocols include Universal Serial Bus, FireWire-IEEE 1394, MIDI, 13pin, IEEE 802.11 wireless, and Bluetooth® wireless. 
   In a first aspect of the present invention, a stringed musical instrument device functioning as a peripheral for a computer or computing device comprises a body having a soundboard and a neck extending from the body. At least one string extends over a portion of the body and the neck. A piezo bridge is mounted on the body for providing a lower contact point with the string. At least one electronic transducer is coupled to the body for converting vibrations of the string and/or the body into analog electrical signals. At least one analog-to-digital converter communicates with the electronic transducer for converting the analog electrical signals into digital signals. A digital signal processing system communicates with the analog-to-digital converter for converting the digital signals into line level signals such as, for example, universal serial bus (USB) signals having a format directly compatible with protocols associated with input ports of a computer or computing device. 
   In a second aspect of the present invention, an electric guitar comprises a body having a soundboard and a neck extending from the body. At least one string extends over a portion of the body and the neck. A piezo bridge is mounted on the body for providing a lower contact point with the string. At least one piezo pickup is associated with the piezo bridge for converting vibrations of the string and/or the body into analog electrical signals. At least one magnetic pickup is coupled to the body for converting vibrations of the string and/or the body into analog electrical signals. At least one analog-to-digital converter communicates with the piezo pickup and the magnetic pickup for converting the analog electrical signals into digital signals. A digital signal processing system communicates with the analog-to-digital converter for converting the digital signals into line level signals such as, for example, USB signals having a format directly compatible with protocols associated with input ports of a computer or computing device. 
   In a third aspect of the present invention, an acoustic guitar comprises a body having a soundboard and a neck extending from the body. At least one string extends over a portion of the body and the neck. A piezo bridge is mounted on the body for providing a lower contact point with the string. At least one piezo pickup is associated with the piezo bridge for converting vibrations of the string and/or the body into analog electrical signals. At least one analog-to-digital converter communicates with the piezo pickup for converting the analog electrical signals into digital signals. A digital signal processing system communicates with the analog-to-digital converter for converting the digital signals into line level signals such as, for example, USB signals having a format directly compatible with protocols associated with input ports of a computer or computing device. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an electric guitar embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of an acoustic guitar embodying the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of an electronic processing section of a guitar in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of a class compliant USB output port mounted on a guitar in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   With reference to FIG.  1 ., an electric guitar embodying the present invention is indicated generally by the reference number  10 . Although the present invention will be described with respect to a guitar, it should be understood that the present invention is applicable to other stringed instruments including, but not limited to, violins, violas, basses and mandolins. 
   The electric guitar  10  comprises a body  12  connected to a neck  14 . The neck  14  is preferably made of wood or a related material which is suitable to withstand continual string pull without warping or twisting. The neck  14  has a headstock  16  which supports tuning machines  18 . The tuning machines  18  hold strings  20 . The strings  20  are strung at tension and extend from a fixed point at the neck  14  to a lower string contact. The neck  14  is mated with a fretboard  22  which is preferably made of a hard substance such as rosewood, ebony, or a reinforced polymer that should be strong enough and stable enough to hold metal frets and withstand playing wear. The body  12  is preferably made of a known tonewood, such as spruce, cedar, alder, mahogany, koa, basswood, or other acoustically resonant materials such as wood laminates, organic composite plastic and/or metals or any combination of the same. 
   The guitar  10  further comprises a bridge assembly  24 , including an electronic transducer  26  that transfers the vibration of the strings  20  to a bridge or piezo bridge  28 , attached to the body  12  and made from metal, plastic or a hardwood such as ebony, rosewood, or a suitably hard acoustically sound material. The bridge or piezo bridge  28  provides a contact point to fixably secure the strings  20 . 
   The body  12  includes a plurality of magnetic pickups  30  at a base of the neck  14 , and in the middle of the body  12 , all of which generate analog electrical signals from vibration of the strings  20  and/or the body  12 . The analog electrical signals are transferred to an internal digital signal processing system such as, for example, the system to be explained below with reference to  FIG. 3 . The digital signal processing system has an output to transfer a digital signal to an output port located on the guitar  10  such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) output port and/or a FireWire output port and/or a 13-pin output port and/or a IEEE 802.11 wireless transmitter and/or a Bluetooth® wireless transmitter. Moreover, the guitar  10  also includes a conventional stereo ¼″ phono jack output port. Preferably, the at least one output port is mounted inside the body  12  or the neck  14  and includes external access. As shown in  FIG. 4 , for example, a guitar  300  embodying the present invention has a body  302  and a class compliant USB output port  304  mounted inside the body  302  and including external access. 
   With reference to FIG.  2 ., an acoustic guitar embodying the present invention is indicated generally by the reference number  100 . The guitar  100  comprises a generally hollow body  102  preferably made of a resonant material. The body  102  is connected to a neck  104 . The neck  104  is preferably made of wood or a related material which is suitable to withstand continual string pull without warping or twisting. The neck  104  has a headstock  106  which supports tuning machines  108 . The tuning machines  108  hold strings  110 . The strings  110  are strung at tension and extend from a fixed point at the neck  104  to a lower string contact. The neck  104  is mated with a fretboard  112  which is preferably made of a hard substance such as rosewood, ash, maple, ebony, a reinforced polymer, or other organic or synthetic material that should be strong enough and stable enough to hold metal frets and withstand playing wear. The guitar  110  further comprises a soundboard  114  preferably made of a known tonewood, such as spruce, cedar, alder, mahogany, koa, basswood, or other acoustically resonant materials such as wood laminates, carbon fiber, organic composites, plastics and/or metals or any combination of the same. 
   The top, sides and back of the soundboard  114  form a resonant chamber. The soundboard  114  defines a sound hole  116 , which can be round, oval, or aesthetically shaped. A bridge  118  is attached to the soundboard  114  and serves as a contact point to fixably secure the strings  110 . The bridge  118  is preferably made from a hardwood such as ebony or rosewood, hard plastic, or a suitably hard acoustically sound material. A piezo pickup  120  is inserted into the bridge  118  and generates analog electrical signals from vibration of the strings  110  and/or the body  102 . The analog electrical signals are transferred to a digital signal processing system  200  as will be explained with reference to  FIG. 3 . The digital signal processing system has an output to transfer a digital signal to an output port located on the guitar  100  such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) output port and/or a FireWire output port and/or a 13-pin output port and/or a IEEE 802.11 wireless transmitter and/or a Bluetooth® wireless transmitter. Moreover, the guitar  110  also includes a conventional stereo ¼″ phono jack output port. Preferably, the at least one output port is mounted inside the body  102  or the neck  104  and includes external access. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , an example of a digital signal processing system for processing stereo signals generated by the strings of guitars, such as the guitars illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is indicated generally by the reference number  200 . The system  200  has a first stereo channel including magnetic gain amplifier  202  having a magnetic input  204  for receiving analog electrical signals generated from magnetic pickups, and an output  205  for carrying amplified analog signals for further processing. The system  200  has a second stereo channel including a piezo gain amplifier  206  includes an input  208  for receiving analog electrical signals generated from a piezo pickup, and an output  209  for carrying amplified analog signals for further processing. 
   The above-mentioned analog electrical signals are further processed via a digital signal processor indicated generally by the reference number  210 . The processor  210  includes an oscillator and phase-locked loop (PLL)  212  for receiving a clocked signal, a first analog-to-digital converter  214 , a second analog-to-digital converter  216 , an audio processing unit  218 , an audio streaming interface  220 , a flash memory  222 , a controller  224 , a USB engine  226 , a programmable human interface  228  reserved for future growth, a programmable control  230  reserved for future growth, a USB transceiver  232 , an EEPROM interface  234 , an EEPROM  236  and a USB output connector  238 . Examples of digital signal processors include, but are not limited to, the Micronas UAC 3556 Universal Serial Bus Codec, the AKM AK5371 Two Channel A/D Converter with USB Interface, the AKM AK 4571 USB Interface Audio Codec, and the Analog Devices ADSP-2184 DSP Microcontroller. 
   The first analog-to-digital converter  214  has an input coupled to the output  209  of the piezo gain amplifier  206 , and the second analog-to-digital converter  216  has an input coupled to the output  205  of the magnetic gain amplifier  202 . An output of the first analog-to-digital converter  214  is coupled to a first input of the audio processing unit  218 . Likewise, an output of the second analog-to-digital converter  216  is coupled to a second input of the audio processing unit  218 . The audio processing unit  218  is bidirectionally coupled to the audio streaming interface  220 . Moreover, the audio streaming interface  220  is bidirectionally coupled to the controller  224 . The controller  224  is itself bidirectionally coupled to the flash memory  222 , the programmable human interface  228 , the programmable control  230 , the USB engine  226 , and the EEPROM interface  234 . The USB Engine  226  has a first output coupled to the programmable human interface  228 , a second output coupled to the programmable control  230 , and is also bidirectionally coupled to the USB transceiver  232 . The EEPROM interface  234  is bidirectionally coupled to the EEPROM  236 . The USB transceiver  232  is bidirectionally coupled to the USB output connector  238 . 
   In operation, audio electrical analog electrical signals originating from playing a guitar or other stringed instrument are generated from piezo pickups and/or magnetic pickups. The audio analog electrical signals are amplified by the magnetic gain amplifier  202  and the piezo gain amplifier  206 . The amplified analog signals are converted into digital signals by the first and the second analog-to-digital converters  214 ,  216 . The digital signals are received and processed by the audio processing unit  218  in conjunction with the audio streaming interface  220 . The digital signal processing system  200  is configured to process sampling rates such as, but not limited to, at least 48 kHz for 16 bit digital information and at least 96 kHz for 24 bit digital information. The controller  224 , receiving instructions from the programmable human interface  228  and the programmable control  230 , receives streaming digital signals from the audio streaming interface  220  and directs the digital signals to the USB engine  226 . The USB engine  226  converts the received signals into USB digital signals for serial transmission under USB protocols. The USB signals are sent from the USB engine  226  to the USB transceiver  232  for transmission via a USB output connector  238  to another device such as a computer or other computing device (not shown) in class compliant USB signal format, and includes streaming audio and MIDI data for recording or other digital processing or manipulation via conventional music digital signal processing software such as, for example, GarageBand™ by Apple Computer, Inc. 
   In sum, the present invention requires no external power, amplification, analog-to-digital conversion, software or hardware. The present invention is an improvement over the prior art in that it accurately and immediately represents on a computer or computing device the signal that is being sent from an instrument and reduces the number of devices needed to accomplish the task of sending a digital signal to a computer or computing device. 
   As will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art, numerous modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiment of the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the preceding portion of this specification is to be taken in an illustrative, as opposed to a limiting sense.