WO1996024924A1 - Systeme et procede pour reduire momentanement le volume audio - Google Patents

Systeme et procede pour reduire momentanement le volume audio Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1996024924A1
WO1996024924A1 PCT/US1995/007064 US9507064W WO9624924A1 WO 1996024924 A1 WO1996024924 A1 WO 1996024924A1 US 9507064 W US9507064 W US 9507064W WO 9624924 A1 WO9624924 A1 WO 9624924A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
phototransistor
audio
guitar
amplifier
ambient light
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1995/007064
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
John H. Rust, Sr.
John H. Rust, Jr.
Original Assignee
Rust John H Sr
Rust John H Jr
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Rust John H Sr, Rust John H Jr filed Critical Rust John H Sr
Publication of WO1996024924A1 publication Critical patent/WO1996024924A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
    • G10H3/00—Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means
    • G10H3/12—Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means using mechanical resonant generators, e.g. strings or percussive instruments, the tones of which are picked up by electromechanical transducers, the electrical signals being further manipulated or amplified and subsequently converted to sound by a loudspeaker or equivalent instrument
    • G10H3/14—Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means using mechanical resonant generators, e.g. strings or percussive instruments, the tones of which are picked up by electromechanical transducers, the electrical signals being further manipulated or amplified and subsequently converted to sound by a loudspeaker or equivalent instrument using mechanically actuated vibrators with pick-up means
    • G10H3/18—Instruments in which the tones are generated by electromechanical means using mechanical resonant generators, e.g. strings or percussive instruments, the tones of which are picked up by electromechanical transducers, the electrical signals being further manipulated or amplified and subsequently converted to sound by a loudspeaker or equivalent instrument using mechanically actuated vibrators with pick-up means using a string, e.g. electric guitar
    • G10H3/186—Means for processing the signal picked up from the strings
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
    • G10H1/00—Details of electrophonic musical instruments
    • G10H1/46—Volume control

Definitions

  • This invention relates to audio volume control and more particularly to an apparatus for randomly and momentarily sharply decreasing audio amplitude of musical entertainment such as by electric guitar.
  • An instrumentalist may set the volume and the tone of the audio at a desired setting prior to strumming a guitar.
  • the volume or tone control cannot be adjusted by the instrumentalist without interrupting his playing.
  • This invention provides a device which is interposed in the audio circuit and permits the instrumentalist to momentarily interrupt or decrease the audio volume by substantially normal hand movement while picking guitar strings resulting in a closely spaced momentarily lull or decrease of audio and a resulting quick return to the preset volume. This action generates a pulse-like audio which is sometimes desirable and is not possible with presently used equipment.
  • a phototransistor is housed in a portable case having a light admitting window.
  • the case is removably attached to the sound board of an electric guitar adjacent the strings.
  • Jack and plug equipped leads connected with the phototransistor are interposed in the audio circuit between the guitar and an audio amplifier.
  • the phototransistor is mounted beneath a window in the sound board of the guitar and leads from the phototransistor are interposed in the audio circuit between the guitar and an audio amplifier.
  • Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating a fragment of an electric guitar having the device interposed in series in the audio circuit from the guitar to an amplifier in series with a speaker
  • Figure 2 is a fragmentary top view, to an enlarged scale, of the device installed in a protective case having the window equipped case top removed
  • Figure 3 is a diagram similar to Figure 1 illustrating the device installed beneath a light admitting window of a guitar sound board
  • Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the device interposed in an audio circuit between the audio source and an amplifier connected in series with a speaker.
  • the reference numeral 10 indicates a fragment of a substan- tially conventional electric guitar having a neck 12 supporting strings 14 extending across a pickup bar 16, mounted on the sound board 18.
  • the device 35 includes an elongated, generally rectangular in cross section, case 36 having a hollow interior and provided with an inner wall 38 forming a compartment which houses an N- P-N phototransistor 40 below a transparent window 42 in the case cover.
  • the phototransistor case 36 is characterized by a flat bottom surface, not shown, which is secured at a selected location to the guitar sound board 18 as by VELCRO, not shown.
  • a pair of leads 44 and 46, respectively, having a jack 48 and plug 50 at a respective end thereof have their opposite end portions contained by the case 36.
  • the ground wires 52 of the leads 44 and 46 are connected together and the audio wires 54 and 56 of the respective leads 44 and 46 are respectively connected to the negative terminals of the phototransistor 40.
  • the instrumentalist presets the controls 20 and 22 to a desired level and while picking the strings of the guitar 10 moves his hand, not shown, over the window 42 which interrupts or at least minimizes the ambient light reaching the emitter of the phototransistor and sharply increases the impedance from the collector to the ad itter resulting in a sharp reduction in the volume of the audio which, with the return of ambient light to the phototransistor, results in an abrupt return to full volume of the audio. This action is repeated as desired by the instrumentalist while playing the guitar. Referring also to Figs.
  • the reference numeral 10' indicates a similar electric guitar forming an audio source having the controls 20 and 22 mounted on its sound board 18 and provided with an outlet plug 24 similarly connected by a wire 28 with a speaker 30 through an amplifier 32.
  • a transparent window 60 is formed at a selected location in the sound board 18 and the light sensor is mounted in the guitar below the window 60 with is leads 44 and 46 interposed in the audio circuit to the plug 24.
  • a bypass switch 62 is connected between the audio wires 54 and 56 of the leads 44 and 46 for isolating the light sensor from the audio circuit, the bypass switch armature control being shown by the small circle 62 on the sound board 18.
  • the operation of the instrument contained device is substantially identical with that described hereinabove for Figs.
  • the instrumentalist playing the guitar 10' moves his hand over the window 60 to achieve identical results as described hereinabove.
  • the light sensor is mounted on another audio source such as a tape player, radio, or CD-player, not shown, pulsing action of the audio is achieved by moving an opaque object, such as a business card 61, across the light sensor.
  • the bypass switch 62 may be closed to isolate the light sensor from the audio circuit.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Electrophonic Musical Instruments (AREA)

Abstract

Interruption ou diminution instantanée et momentanée du volume audio effectuée par interposition d'un phototransistor (40) en série dans un circuit audio entre une source audio (10) et un amplificateur (32) puis par déplacement d'un objet opaque (61) arrêtant la lumière devant une fenêtre (42, 60) de manière aléatoire, ce qui protège le phototransistor de la lumière ambiante.
PCT/US1995/007064 1995-02-06 1995-06-05 Systeme et procede pour reduire momentanement le volume audio WO1996024924A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US38449595A 1995-02-06 1995-02-06
US08/384,495 1995-02-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1996024924A1 true WO1996024924A1 (fr) 1996-08-15

Family

ID=23517526

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1995/007064 WO1996024924A1 (fr) 1995-02-06 1995-06-05 Systeme et procede pour reduire momentanement le volume audio

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1996024924A1 (fr)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3787602A (en) * 1971-10-21 1974-01-22 Nippon Musical Instruments Mfg Electronic musical instrument with surrounding light sensitive musical effect control
US4085646A (en) * 1975-05-28 1978-04-25 Klaus Naumann Electronic musical instrument
US4429607A (en) * 1982-03-30 1984-02-07 University Of Pittsburgh Light beam musical instrument
US4621557A (en) * 1983-08-26 1986-11-11 Mesur-Matic Electronics Corp. Electronic musical instrument
US5247132A (en) * 1992-04-17 1993-09-21 Henderson Robert D Electric violin with multiple registration points

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3787602A (en) * 1971-10-21 1974-01-22 Nippon Musical Instruments Mfg Electronic musical instrument with surrounding light sensitive musical effect control
US4085646A (en) * 1975-05-28 1978-04-25 Klaus Naumann Electronic musical instrument
US4429607A (en) * 1982-03-30 1984-02-07 University Of Pittsburgh Light beam musical instrument
US4621557A (en) * 1983-08-26 1986-11-11 Mesur-Matic Electronics Corp. Electronic musical instrument
US5247132A (en) * 1992-04-17 1993-09-21 Henderson Robert D Electric violin with multiple registration points

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