Enhanced knob for use with an electric stringed musical instrument

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to an enhanced knob with multiple integrated functions for use with an electric stringed musical instrument. The enhanced knob can be positioned on an electric stringed musical instrument or on an interconnected amplifier and can be either an add-on feature or can replace one or more existing knobs. In one embodiment of the present invention, the volume knob for an electric guitar is removed and replaced by an enhanced knob. The enhanced knob includes a switch that allows a user to switch between the multiple functions and also allows the user to control each selected function. The enhanced knob includes a volume function to compensate for the removed volume knob. Additionally, the enhanced knob includes a number of other functions, including a tuner function, a metronome function, and a dynamic visual-display function.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an electric guitar.

FIG. 2 shows an electric guitar interconnected to an amplifier.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary electric-guitar circuit.

FIG. 4A shows a schematic diagram of the electric-guitar circuit shown in FIG. 3 with an interconnected enhanced knob that includes a tuner function and that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B shows a schematic diagram of the electric-guitar circuit shown in FIG. 3 with a volume knob replaced with an enhanced knob that includes a tuner function and that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of an enhanced knob that includes a tuner function and that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6A shows a side view of the enhanced knob shown in FIG. 4 that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6B shows a side view of a knob cap placed over the enhanced knob shown in FIG. 5A that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A shows a front, exploded view of an enhanced knob that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7B shows a rear, exploded view of the enhanced knob shown in FIG. 7A that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows an upside down, top view of a tuner display on a display ring for an enhanced knob that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows an upside down, top view of a first guitar-tuner display on a display ring for an enhanced knob that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 shows an upside down, top view of a second guitar-tuner display on a display ring for an enhanced knob that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows an upside down, top view of a bass-tuner display on a display ring for an enhanced knob that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows an upside down, top view of a chromatic-tuner display on a display ring for an enhanced knob that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 shows an upside down, top view of a liquid crystal display on a display ring for an enhanced knob that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 shows a top view of a strobe-ring display on a display ring for an enhanced knob that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 shows a schematic diagram of a tuner circuit for an enhanced knob that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16A shows a control-flow diagram for a tuning operation by a processor in an enhanced knob that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16B shows a control-flow diagram for a tuning operation by a processor in an enhanced knob with a strobe-ring display that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 shows a schematic diagram of an instrument circuit with a volume knob replaced with an enhanced knob with a metronome function that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 shows an upside down, top view of a first metronome display on a display ring for an enhanced knob that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 shows an upside down, top view of a second metronome display on a display ring for an enhanced knob that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 shows an upside down, top view of a third metronome display on a display ring for an enhanced knob that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 shows an upside down, top view of the third metronome display shown in FIG. 20 with an accent controller that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 shows an exploded view of an enhanced knob with a metronome function that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 shows a control-flow diagram for a metronome operation by a processor in an enhanced knob that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 shows a schematic diagram of an instrument circuit with a volume knob replaced with an enhanced knob with a visual-display function that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 shows a light display on a display ring for an enhanced knob that represents one embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. An enhanced knob for use with an electric stringed musical instrument, the enhanced knob comprising: one or more of a tuner function for tuning the electric stringed musical instrument,a metronome function for maintaining a tempo while playing the electric stringed musical instrument, anda visual-display function for adding a visual element while playing the electric stringed musical instrument;an interconnected power supply for powering the one or more functions;an interconnected processor for performing processing operations for the one or more functions; anda number of displays interconnected to the processor for displaying processing-operation results.

2. The enhanced knob of claim 1 wherein the electric stringed musical instrument is interconnected to an amplifier.

3. The enhanced knob of claim 2 wherein the enhanced knob is positioned on one or more of the electric stringed musical instrument, andthe interconnected amplifier.

4. The enhanced knob of claim 3 wherein the enhanced knob replaces a volume knob on one or more of the electric stringed musical instrument, andthe amplifier.

5. The enhanced knob of claim 4 wherein the enhanced knob further includes a volume function for adjusting the volume of the sound output from the amplifier; anda switch for switching between the volume function and the one or more other functions.

6. The enhanced knob of claim 3 wherein the enhanced knob replaces a tone knob on one or more of the electric stringed musical instrument, andthe amplifier.

7. The enhanced knob of claim 6 wherein the enhanced knob further includes a tone function for adjusting the timbre of the sound output from the amplifier; anda switch for switching between the tone function and the one or more other functions.

8. The enhanced knob of claim 3 wherein the number of displays are positioned on one or more of a number of display rings interconnected to the enhanced knob,a number of light pipes, anda number of pop-out displays.

9. The enhanced knob of claim 1 wherein the number of displays each comprise a number of illumination sources, each illumination source one or more of a number of light-emitting diodes,a number of liquid crystal displays,a number of organic light-emitting diodes,a number of vacuum fluorescent displays,a number of dot matrix displays, anda number of seven-segment light-emitting-diode displays.

10. The enhanced knob of claim 1 wherein the processing operations performed by the processor for the tuner function include determining the frequency of a musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument and comparing the frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument to the frequencies of stored tones.

11. The enhanced knob of claim 10 wherein the number of displays displaying processing-operation results for the tuner function includes a number of first illumination sources that illuminate when the frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument is greater than a predetermined threshold amount above the nearest stored tone and a number of second illumination sources that illuminate when the frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument is less than a predetermined threshold amount below the nearest stored tone.

12. The enhanced knob of claim 11 wherein the number of first illumination sources and the number of second illumination sources illuminate and turn off in a frequency that is dependent on the distance in frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument from the nearest stored tone.

13. The enhanced knob of claim 11 wherein the number of displays displaying processing-operation results for the tuner function further includes a number of third illumination sources that illuminate to indicate the nearest stored tone to the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument.

14. The enhanced knob of claim 10 wherein the number of displays displaying processing-operation results for the tuner function includes a ring of illumination sources that sequentially flash to create a chase effect.

15. The enhanced knob of claim 14 wherein the apparent velocity of the chase effect is dependent on the distance in frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument from the nearest stored tone.

16. The enhanced knob of claim 14 wherein the chase effect is in a first direction when the frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument is greater than a predetermined threshold amount above the nearest stored tone, and the chase is in a second direction when the frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument is less than a predetermined threshold amount below the nearest stored tone.

17. The enhanced knob of claim 1 wherein the processing operations performed by the processor for the metronome function include providing a number of user-determined beats per minute by counting clock cycles, and outputting the beats to one or more of the number of displays, andthe amplifier.

18. The enhanced knob of claim 17 wherein the number of beats per minute is determined by the time interval between two successive plucks of a string on the electric stringed musical instrument.

19. The enhanced knob of claim 17 wherein the processing operations performed by the processor for the metronome function further include providing a user-determined frequency of accented beats, the accented beats output to one or more of the number of displays, andthe amplifier.

20. The enhanced knob of claim 1 wherein the processing operations performed by the processor for the light-display function include coordinating the flashing of a number of illumination sources by counting clock cycles.

21. The enhanced knob of claim 21 wherein the number of illumination sources flash in one or more of a preset pattern,a random pattern, anda pattern that varies with the musical notes played on the electric stringed musical instrument.

22. An electric-stringed-musical-instrument system comprising: an electric stringed musical instrument;an amplifier interconnected to the electric stringed musical instrument; andan enhanced knob interconnected to the electric-stringed-musical-instrument system, the enhanced knob includingone or more of a tuner function for tuning the electric stringed musical instrument,a metronome function for maintaining a tempo while playing the electric stringed musical instrument, anda visual-display function for adding a visual element while playing the electric stringed musical instrument;an interconnected power supply for powering the one or more functions;an interconnected processor for performing processing operations for the one or more functions; anda number of displays interconnected to the processor for displaying the results of the processing operations.

23. The electric-stringed-musical-instrument system of claim 22 wherein the enhanced knob is positioned on one or more of the electric stringed musical instrument, andthe interconnected amplifier.

24. The electric-stringed-musical-instrument system of claim 23 wherein the enhanced knob replaces one or more of a volume knob, anda tone knob.

25. The electric-stringed-musical-instrument system of claim 22 wherein the processing operations performed by the processor for the tuner function include determining the frequency of a musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument and comparing the frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument to the frequencies of stored tones.

26. The electric-stringed-musical-instrument system of claim 25 wherein the number of displays displaying processing-operation results for the tuner function includes a number of first illumination sources that illuminate when the frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument is greater than a predetermined threshold amount above the nearest stored tone and a number of second illumination sources that illuminate when the frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument is less than a predetermined threshold amount below the nearest stored tone.

27. The electric-stringed-musical-instrument system of claim 26 wherein the number of first illumination sources and the number of second illumination sources illuminate and turn off in a frequency that is dependent on the distance in frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument from the nearest stored tone.

28. The electric-stringed-musical-instrument system of claim 26 wherein the number of displays displaying processing-operation results for the tuner function further includes a number of third illumination sources that illuminate to indicate the nearest stored tone to the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument.

29. The electric-stringed-musical-instrument system of claim 25 wherein the number of displays displaying processing-operation results for the tuner function includes a ring of illumination sources that sequentially flash to create a chase effect.

30. The electric-stringed-musical-instrument system of claim 29 wherein the apparent velocity of the chase effect is dependent on the distance in frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument from the nearest stored tone.

31. The electric-stringed-musical-instrument system of claim 29 wherein the chase effect is in a first direction when the frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument is greater than a predetermined threshold amount above the nearest stored tone, and the chase is in a second direction when the frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument is less than a predetermined threshold amount below the nearest stored tone.

32. The electric-stringed-musical-instrument system of claim 22 wherein the processing operations performed by the processor for the metronome function include providing a number of user-determined beats per minute by counting clock cycles, and outputting the beats to one or more of the number of displays, andthe amplifier.

33. The electric-stringed-musical-instrument system of claim 32 wherein the number of beats per minute is determined by the time interval between two successive plucks of a string on the electric stringed musical instrument.

34. The electric-stringed-musical-instrument system of claim 32 wherein the processing operations performed by the processor for the metronome function further include providing a user-determined frequency of accented beats, the accented beats output to one or more of the number of displays, andthe amplifier.

35. The electric-stringed-musical-instrument system of claim 22 wherein the processing operations performed by the processor for the light-display function include coordinating the flashing of a number of illumination sources by counting clock cycles.

36. The electric-stringed-musical-instrument system of claim 35 wherein the number of illumination sources flash in one or more of a preset pattern,a random pattern, anda pattern that varies with the musical notes played on the electric stringed musical instrument.

37. A method for tuning an electric stringed musical instrument, the method comprising: providing an electric stringed musical instrument with an interconnected enhanced knob, the enhanced knob including a tuner function for tuning the electric stringed musical instrument, an interconnected power supply for powering the tuner function, an interconnected processor for performing processing operations for the tuner function, and a display interconnected to the processor for displaying processing-operation results;playing a note on one of the strings of the electric stringed musical instrument; andusing the processing-operation results displayed on the display to aid in tuning the played string on the electric stringed musical instrument.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the electric stringed musical instrument is interconnected to an amplifier.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the enhanced knob is positioned on one or more of the electric stringed musical instrument, andthe interconnected amplifier.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the enhanced knob replaces one or more of a volume knob, anda tone knob.

41. The method of claim 37 wherein the processing operations performed by the processor for the tuner function include determining the frequency of a musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument and comparing the frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument to the frequencies of stored tones.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the number of displays displaying processing-operation results for the tuner function includes a number of first illumination sources that illuminate when the frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument is greater than a predetermined threshold amount above the nearest stored tone and a number of second illumination sources that illuminate when the frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument is less than a predetermined threshold amount below the nearest stored tone.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the number of first illumination sources and the number of second illumination sources illuminate and turn off in a frequency that is dependent on the distance in frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument from the nearest stored tone.

44. The method of claim 42 wherein the number of displays displaying processing-operation results for the tuner function further includes a number of third illumination sources that illuminate to indicate the nearest stored tone to the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument.

45. The method of claim 41 wherein the number of displays displaying processing-operation results for the tuner function includes a ring of illumination sources that sequentially flash to create a chase effect.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the apparent velocity of the chase effect is dependent on the distance in frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument from the nearest stored tone.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein the chase effect is in a first direction when the frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument is greater than a predetermined threshold amount above the nearest stored tone, and the chase is in a second direction when the frequency of the musical note played on the electric stringed musical instrument is less than a predetermined threshold amount below the nearest stored tone.