Abstract:
A tuning device with a time display is disclosed. The tuning device has a vibration sensor, a microprocessor, machine readable memory, and a display. A computer program stored in the machine readable memory for executing with the microprocessor to analyze audio frequency signals to determine musical pitch and error information for the detected audio frequency, and display both the time of day and the musical pitch and error information. A display has two display areas, one for display of the musical pitch and error information, and another for alternating display of the time of day and an A-reference setting. User inputs are provided for selecting among several user session modes, including a continual time of day display mode, or a tuning information mode, and a timer display mode. A clamp is provided for mechanically mounting the tuning device to a musical instrument and transmitting acoustic vibrations.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates in general to electronic devices with musical application, herein referred to as musical electronics, and in particular to a musical electronics system and a display method. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Stringed musical instruments such as the guitar require frequent tuning during practice and performance. Instrument tuners of various forms have existed for decades. Typically, modern tuning devices compare the audio frequency output of a musical instrument to a set of standard musical pitches, and provide feedback to the user to increase or decrease the pitch of the instrument. When the audio frequency output of the instrument matches a standard pitch to within some range of tolerance, the instrument is considered to be in tune. 
     Modern tuning devices are often physically attached to the musical instrument via a mechanical clip. This type of tuning device is commercially and herein referred to as a clip-on instrument tuner. Because of the need to physically attach the clip-on instrument tuner to the instrument, there is market pressure to design clip-on instrument tuners to be as small as possible. However, clip-on instrument tuners have a display that must be read by a human operator, often under low light and other adverse performance conditions, and thus there is a limit to continuous reduction in display size. These conflicting requirements lead to a scarcity of display space within clip-on instrument tuners. 
     Musical performers often wish to know the time of day when performing. Wrist worn timepieces have long been known, but a musical performer will be required to turn their wrist and view the face of the timepiece, a movement and action considered socially unacceptable under certain performance conditions. Similarly, it is also often socially unacceptable to turn and view the time on a clock when performing. 
     In view of this, the present disclosure aims to provide a system and a method that are able to solve the foregoing problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A novel time display for a tuning device is disclose, providing a system and a method for multiplexing time of day information with detected tuning information to make optimal use of scarce display resources in an instrument tuner. The tuning device preferably includes a vibration sensor which emits a signal in response to applied audio frequency vibrations, and the emitted signal corresponds to the applied audio frequency of the vibrations. A microprocessor is provided coupled to machine readable memory. An interface circuit is connected between the vibration sensor and the microprocessor for applying the signal emitted from the vibration sensor to the microprocessor. A computer program stored in the machine readable memory for executing with the microprocessor to analyze the signal corresponding to the audio frequency to determine musical pitch and error information for the detected audio frequency. The computer program also determines a time of day, and then provides a display signal which contains the musical pitch and error information, and the time of day. 
     A display is provided having at least two display areas. The first area is for display of the musical pitch and error information. The second display area is for display of the time of day. The display signal from the microprocessor causes display the musical pitch and error information in the first area and the time of day in the second area. Also displayed in the second area is an A-Reference setting, alternating with display of the time of day. User interface buttons are provided for selecting between display of the time of day and display of the musical pitch and error information. The user interface also preferably has an additional button for selecting an automatic mode, in which the display shows the time of day until the audio frequency vibrations are detected and then the musical pitch and error information for the audio frequency vibrations are shown for a selected period of time. The selected period of time is a predetermined time interval, at the end of which the time of day is displayed for a selected time interval, after which the musical pitch and error information of a then detected audio frequency vibrations are displayed. The tuning device preferably includes a clamp for mechanically mounting the tuning device to a musical instrument. In other embodiments, the tuning device is located within an enclosure capable of being mounted in a recess in the body of a musical instrument. 
     A computer program is stored in the machine readable memory for operating on one or more microprocessors provided in a microcontroller of the tuning device, or musical instrument tuner. Preferably the computer program includes method of display for the musical instrument tuner which includes steps of detecting the presence or absence of an audio frequency signal, activating a time of day display indication in the absence of the audio frequency signal, and activating a tuning information display indication in the presence of said audio frequency. The computer programs receives user inputs for selecting among several user session modes, such as an automatic display session mode in which either tuning information for a detected audio frequency signal is displayed or in the absence of an audio frequency signal the time of day is displayed, a fixed time display session mode during which the time of day is continuously displayed, a fixed reference display session mode during which a reference frequency used to derive the tuning figure of merit is continuously displayed, an elapsed time display session mode in which counting time transpired since the time of a user input event is displayed, and a countdown timer display session mode during which is displayed a period of time remaining in a selected period of time. Additionally, the time of day and at least part of the tuning information may be alternatively displayed according to preselected time intervals. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which  FIGS. 1 through 5B  show various aspects for a time display for a tuning device devices made according to the present disclosure, as set forth below: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of the tuning system having a time display according to the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart of a time display method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows the display of the tuning device according to the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D  illustrate variants of the display of the tuning system according to the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIGS. 5A, and 5B  illustrate use condition variants of the display of the tuning system according to the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following description, the various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail. However, such details are included to facilitate understanding of the disclosure and to describe the preferred embodiment of the disclosure. Such details should not be used to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiments described because other variations and embodiments are possible while staying within the scope of the disclosure. Furthermore, although numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required to practice the disclosure. In other instances, details such as well-known methods, electrical circuits, processes, and interfaces are illustrated in block diagram form so as to not obscure the present disclosure. Furthermore, aspects of the disclosure may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. 
     With reference now to the figures,  FIG. 1  is a block diagram of the tuning system according to the preferred embodiment of the disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 1 , Piezoelectric Vibration Sensor  10  senses the audio frequency vibrations of a musical instrument. The Piezoelectric Vibration Sensor  10  may be integrated on a printed circuit board, attached to the system enclosure, embedded in an instrument, or other structure capable of receiving audio frequency vibrations of a musical instrument. The output of the Piezoelectric Vibration Sensor  10  is an electrical signal representative of the audio frequency vibrations of the musical instrument. It is foreseeable that Piezoelectric Vibration Sensor  10  may be provided by a piezoelectric ribbon, or in other embodiments other types of vibration sensors may be used, such as micro-electro-mechanical sensor, a magnetic inductive pickup or other vibration sensing technology without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The electrical signal received from the Sensor  10  is conveyed to the Microcontroller  30  via a Sensor Interface Circuit  20 . The Sensor Interface Circuit  20  may be one or more circuit board traces, conductive wire, a buffer amplifier, a limiting amplifier, an analog filter network, or other structure designed to convey an electrical signal from the Sensor  10  to a Microcontroller  30 . 
     The Microcontroller  30  provides a microprocessor which controls the tuning system. The Microcontroller  30  receives and interprets the electrical signal received from the Sensor Interface Circuit  20 . The Microcontroller  30  uses a Crystal Oscillator  40  and Memory  50  to execute a program implementing the method of the disclosure. The computer program for performing the method discussed below in reference to  FIG. 3  is stored in the memory  50  and is executed by the Microcontroller  30 . The Memory  50  is machine readable memory which may be external to, internal, or otherwise integrated with the Microcontroller  30 . The User Interface Buttons  60  provide external user input to the Microcontroller  30  for configuration and selection of user session modes, such as shown in steps  110 ,  120  and  130  of  FIG. 2 , as well as other system settings. The User Interface Buttons  60  may be implemented with momentary contact switches, capacitive touch sensors, or other device capable of detecting user input. The Microcontroller  30  indicates the various conditions of the method of the disclosure on LCD Display  80 , which may be backlit with Backlight  70  for viewing in low-light conditions. A Display Interface Circuit  68  connects between the Microcontroller  30  and the Backlight  70  and the LCD Display  80 . The Microcontroller  30  applies to the Display Interface Circuitry  68  a display signal which contains the time of day information and tuning information, such as the closest musical pitch and the pitch error information. The musical pitch and the pitch error information each may be applied to provide tuning figures of merit. The Display Interface Circuitry applies receives the display signal and controls the Display  80  to show the time of day and tuning information. An illustrative example embodiment of the LCD Display  80  is shown as display  200  in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a time display method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , upon the application of electrical power or initiation of use, the tuning system enters the START  100  condition. Then, the tuning system initiates a user session mode by evaluation of user settings in steps  110 ,  120 , and  130 . 
     If the Automatic Display Session Mode is enabled for step  130 , the process proceeds through the Yes branch of step  130  to the step  170  in which the tuning system further evaluates the presence of an Audio Frequency from the sensor interfacing circuit  20  and the vibration sensor  10  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). If no Audio Frequency is detected by the tuning system (the No branch of step  170 ), the system proceeds to step  180  and indicates the Time of Day on the system LCD Display  80  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). The tuning system then returns to the START  100  condition and periodically evaluates the selected Display Session Modes of the steps  110 ,  120  and  130 . If an Audio Frequency is detected by the tuning system (the Yes branch of step  170 ), the system proceeds to step  210  and indicates the A-Reference Setting on the system LCD Display  80  in the display area  320  (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4A-4D ). The tuning system then proceeds to analyze the detected Audio Frequency signal by determining the fundamental frequency of the signal in step  200 . Once the fundamental frequency is determined, the tuning system identifies the musical pitch closest to the fundamental frequency in step  230 , using a table of standard musical pitch frequencies  220  adjusted to the current A-Reference User Setting  190 . The identification of musical pitch closest to the fundamental frequency may also be calculated on-demand based on mathematical formulas in place of using a lookup table of step  220 . The closest musical pitch determination may include a musical note (i.e. A, B, C, etc.), an octave number (i.e. 1, 2, etc.), and a frequency (i.e. 220 Hertz). The tuning system then determines the error from the closest musical pitch in step  240 , adjusting for the A-Reference User Setting  190 . The error may be determined in cents (i.e. −12 cents), in Hertz (i.e. 2.4 Hz), or other musical error metric. The tuning system then indicates the closest musical pitch and error information in step  250  on the system LCD Display  80 , which is shown in display area  310  of  FIGS. 3 and 4A-4D . The tuning system then returns to the START  100  condition and periodically evaluates the selected Display Session Modes  110 ,  120  and  130 . 
     If in step  110  it is determined that the Fixed Reference Display Session Mode is enabled, the process proceeds from step  110  through the Yes branch of step  110 , and the tuning system indicates the A-Reference Setting on the system LCD Display  80  in the display area  320  of  FIGS. 3 and 4A-4D . The tuning system then evaluates the Audio Signal in step  160 . If no Audio Frequency is detected in step  160  the process proceeds through the No branch of step  160 ), and the tuning system then returns to the START  100  condition and periodically evaluates the selected Display Session Modes  110 ,  120  and  140 . If an Audio Frequency is detected by the tuning system in step  160 , the process proceeds through the Yes branch of step  160  and the system proceeds to indicate the A-Reference Setting on the system LCD Display  80  in the display area  320 . The tuning system then proceeds to step  200  and analyzes the Audio Frequency signal by determining the fundamental frequency of the detected Audio Frequency signal. Once the fundamental frequency has been found, in step  230  the tuning system identifies the musical pitch closest to the said fundamental frequency using a table of standard musical pitch frequencies  220  adjusted to the current A-Reference User Setting  190 . The identification of musical pitch closest to the fundamental frequency of step  230  may also be calculated on-demand based on mathematical formulas in place of using a lookup table of step  220 . The closest musical pitch determination may include a musical note (i.e. A, B, C, etc.), an octave number (i.e. 1, 2, etc.), and a frequency (i.e. 220 Hertz). The tuning system then determines the error from the closest musical pitch in step  240 , adjusting for the A-Reference User Setting  190 . In step  240  the error may be determined in cents (i.e. −12 cents), in Hertz (i.e. 2.4 Hz), or other musical error metric. The tuning system then indicates the closest musical pitch and error information in step  250  on the system LCD Display  80  in the display area  310 . The closest musical pitch, the error information, and the A-Reference are each displayed to provide tuning figures of merit. The tuning system then returns to the START  100  condition and periodically evaluates the selected Display Session Modes  110 ,  120  and  130 . 
     If in step  120  the Fixed Time Display Session Mode is enabled, the process proceeds through the Yes branch from step  120  and the tuning system indicates the Time of Day on the system LCD Display  80  in display area  320 . The tuning system then evaluates the Audio Signal in step  160  and if no audio signal is detected the process proceeds back to the START step  100 . If an Audio Signal is detected in step  160  the process proceeds to the step  200  and the fundamental frequency of the signal is determined and the process proceeds as described herein-above. In some embodiments, a user input is provides which may be selected so that only the time of day is selected, whether or not an audio signal is detected. In yet other embodiments, the display area  320  may alternate between displaying the A-Reference setting and the time of day for preselected periods of time when an audio signal is detected. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 3 , a side elevation view illustrates a display  300  of the tuning device according to the preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, which corresponds to Display  80  of  FIG. 1 . The display  300  in the preferred embodiment of the disclosure is a LCD display with two primary areas  310  and  320 , which are shown in  FIG. 3  with all LCD segments darkened. The first display area  310  is used for the indication of tuning information. The display area  310  contains a scale  312  at the top, a plurality of positions  314  for a simulated needle, a note name indicator  316 , and a sharp/flat indicator  318 . The second area  320  of the display is a multi-purpose area with digits  322  used for both the indication of the user A-Reference Setting (i.e. “A=440”) and the indication of the Time of Day (i.e. “12:03 pm”). In at least one variant of the disclosure, the available user sessions may be limited to the Fixed Time Display Session Mode and tuning information display area  310  may or may not be utilized. In such variants, additional timekeeping modes such as elapsed time and countdown timer operations utilize the shared display indicators  320  to further the utility of the disclosure. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, and 4D , variants of the display  300  of the tuning system according to the preferred embodiment of the disclosure.  FIG. 4A  illustrates the display  300  as it shows the time of day in either of step  150  or step  180  of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4B  illustrates the display  300  as it implements step  210  of  FIG. 2 . The  FIG. 4C  illustrates the display  300  of the tuning system in step  250  of  FIG. 2  in which the closes musical pitch and error information are indicated in the display area  310 , and either of steps  140  or  210  of  FIG. 2  in which the A-reference setting is indicated in display area  320 . 
       FIG. 4D  illustrates an alternative embodiment with display of the tuning system in step  250  of  FIG. 2 , simultaneously with display of the time of day. In the embodiment of  FIG. 4D , the display area  320  would preferably alternate between display of the time of day and the A-reference frequency. In yet still other embodiments of the present disclosure, the display area  320  would only show the time of day and not the reference A-reference frequency. In this mode, the tuning system would act as a clock mounted to the musical instrument for viewing by discretely viewing by the musician. 
       FIGS. 5A, and 5B  illustrate use condition variants of the display of the tuning system according to the preferred embodiment of the disclosure. The tuning system housing  520  is attached to the headstock of a musical instrument  500  (in this illustration, a Ukulele) by means of a mechanical clip  510 . Acoustic Frequency vibrations of the instrument  500  are conducted to the tuning system housing  520  via the mechanical clip  510 . The tuning system Vibration Sensor  10  of  FIG. 1  is enclosed in the tuning system housing  520  and senses the conducted Acoustic Frequency vibrations of the instrument  500 .  FIG. 5A  illustrates the tuning system and the tuning system display  300  showing the time of day, which corresponds to the steps  150  and  180  of  FIG. 2 . The  FIG. 5B  illustrates the tuning system and the tuning system display  300  showing tuning information and the fundamental frequency, which corresponds to step  250  of  FIG. 2 . 
     The present disclosure provides advantages of a musical instrument tuner having a time of day display feature. The musical instrument tuner is preferably mounted to a musical instrument, such as the headstock of a stringed instrument. The mount transmits vibrations from the musical instrument to the vibration sensor, which then emits a detected signal which is processed and applied to a microprocessor. The microprocessor then analyzes the detected signal and determines a fundamental frequency for the detected signal and error information from the closes pitch to alert the user to adjust the instrument to correct for the pitch error. The musical instrument tuner further includes a feature for display of the time of day. The display area for display of the time of day is preferably shared with the detected tuning information to optimize use of the display area of the musical instrument tuner. 
     Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.