Patent ID: 8492641

Claim:
A music controller, being a bowing sensor for bowed musical stringed instrument emulation, comprising: a musical bow member, a guide for the musical bow member, and at least one optical flow sensor associated with the guide, the at least one optical flow sensor capturing optical images of the musical bow member as it is moved across a surface of the optical flow sensor regardless of whether the musical bow member includes features designed for tracking the musical bow member as it is moved across the surface of the optical flow sensor, wherein the music controller compares successive captured optical images of the musical bow member to derive control data related to the speed and/or angle of the musical bow member relative to the guide, wherein the guide is configured to maintain the musical bow member in alignment with the at least one optical flow sensor as it is moved across the surface of the optical flow sensor, wherein the musical bow member is in alignment with the at least one optical flow sensor when the at least one optical flow sensor captures an optical image of a portion of the musical bow member while a disparate portion of the musical bow member is not captured in the optical image.