Music – Accessories – Tuning devices
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-27
2002-11-12
Witkowski, Stanley J. (Department: 2837)
Music
Accessories
Tuning devices
C084SDIG001
Reexamination Certificate
active
06479738
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to tuning devices, and more particularly to a device that attaches to the strings of a piano and has magnetic pickups over the strings for tuning the piano.
2. Background of the Invention
Musical instruments have been tuned in a variety of ways using both mechanical and electronic devices. One conventional method for tuning a piano requires an experienced tuner to manually turn the tuning pins with a special wrench. The tuner then determines when it is in tune by either using a tuning fork or an electronic strobe tuner as aids and systematically tuning each string using complex, learned methods.
Another prior art method of tuning musical instruments employs measurements made of the inharmonicities of three notes. One of the three notes is a standard note tuned to standard frequency.
Another prior art method determines tuning frequencies for an instrument by sounding at least three notes on the instrument which are recorded and digitally filtered to generate directly partial ladders representative of the notes.
However, the prior art does not disclose an apparatus or method for comparing a value for a tuning period against a baseline period value in order to evaluate a tuning signal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a device for tuning a musical instrument that preferably attaches to adjacent strings of the instrument and positions magnetic pickups over the strings with the magnetic pickups detecting the vibration of the strings. Preferably, the device includes a detector operable to receive string vibrations and to produce a detected signal. In a preferred embodiment, the device also includes a processor operable to receive the detected signal and determine a first value for a tuning period of the detected signal, and to compare the first value for the tuning period of the detected signal to a second value for a baseline period of a musical note to evaluate the detected signal.
It is an object of the present invention to provide for an improved tuning device.
Another object is to provide for such a device wherein there are three strings of the piano with magnetic pickups over the strings, which pickups are used to detect vibrations of the strings without interfering with the strings.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to readers from a consideration of the ensuing description and the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2207450 (1940-07-01), Bergen et al.
patent: 3530756 (1970-09-01), Chapman
patent: 3588311 (1971-06-01), Zoller
patent: 3675529 (1972-07-01), Van Der Woerd
patent: 4041783 (1977-08-01), Shimauchi et al.
patent: 4044239 (1977-08-01), Shimauchi et al.
patent: 4075921 (1978-02-01), Heet
patent: 4077298 (1978-03-01), Kondo
patent: 4184398 (1980-01-01), Siegelman
patent: 4196652 (1980-04-01), Raskin
patent: 4271746 (1981-06-01), Dobbie
patent: 4319515 (1982-03-01), Mackworth-Young
patent: 4351216 (1982-09-01), Hamm
patent: 4354418 (1982-10-01), Moravec et al.
patent: 4375180 (1983-03-01), Scholz
patent: 4484506 (1984-11-01), Sato
patent: 4941388 (1990-07-01), Hoover et al.
patent: 5010575 (1991-04-01), Marutake et al.
patent: 5018428 (1991-05-01), Uchiyama et al.
patent: 5065660 (1991-11-01), De Buda
patent: 5285711 (1994-02-01), Sanderson
patent: 5349130 (1994-09-01), Iwaooji
patent: 5523526 (1996-06-01), Shattil
patent: 5585588 (1996-12-01), Tumura
patent: 5719343 (1998-02-01), Reyburn
patent: 5736661 (1998-04-01), Armstrong
patent: 5756913 (1998-05-01), Gilmore
patent: 5780759 (1998-07-01), Szalay
patent: 5854437 (1998-12-01), Merrick et al.
patent: 5929360 (1999-07-01), Szalay
patent: 5932827 (1999-08-01), Osborne et al.
patent: 5936179 (1999-08-01), Merrick et al.
patent: 5949014 (1999-09-01), Rashak et al.
Interconnect Devices, Inc. Interconnect Devices, Inc. Catalog, Nov. 2000, p. 38, 6thEdition, Kansas City, Kansas, United States of America.
Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin LLP
Witkowski Stanley J.
LandOfFree
Piano tuner does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Piano tuner, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Piano tuner will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2978893