Abrégé

A method and apparatus for self-tuning a piano that optically senses the vibration of all the piano's strings independently and simultaneously. Interference caused by alternating-current ambient lighting is removed by modulating the string's signal onto a high-frequency carrier wave, filtering out the low-frequency ambient light interference wave, then demodulating and removing the carrier to render the original signal. Digital pitch, diagnostic, and control parameter information is interchanged between a supervisory master microcontroller and the autonomous string sustainer circuits via a master-slave serial bus connected through a single, common cable. PWM duty cycles for the string tuning coils are handled autonomously by an FPGA or a decoder network, which also communicates with the master control circuit. Pulse-width modulated control signals are filtered to a DC control voltage and combined with a drive oscillator signal using a summing amplifier to eliminate audible noise due to magnetostriction in the tuning coils.

Classes IPC  ?

• G10C 9/00 - Procédés, outils ou matériaux spécialement adaptés à la fabrication ou l'entretien des instruments de musique couverts par la présente sous-classe
• G10C 3/00 - Parties constitutives ou accessoires

Abrégé

A stringed instrument tuner that senses the vibration of all the strings of the instrument independently and simultaneously via ultraviolet reflective light sensors that are immune to interference from ambient alternating-current lighting. The pitches of the strings are then measured continuously in real-time and transmitted wirelessly to a receiver that simultaneously graphically displays how far out-of-tune all of the strings are so that the musician can instantly see which strings need tuning and tune them quickly. The receiver may be a smartphone, smartwatch, smart glasses, computer, self-tuning system, or a dedicated wearable receiver-display unit.

Classes IPC  ?

• G10G 7/02 - Diapasons ou dispositifs analogues
• G10D 3/14 - Dispositifs d'accordage, p. ex. cheville, chenète de cordier, disques à friction ou engrenages à vis sans fin
• G10H 1/00 - Éléments d'instruments de musique électrophoniques
• H05B 47/105 - Commande de la source lumineuse en réponse à des paramètres détectés
• G06F 1/16 - Détails ou dispositions de structure

Abrégé

A present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for tuning piano strings by heating the piano strings. The apparatus includes split magnetic cores that encircle the piano strings. The magnetic cores comprise wiring wrapped around the outside of the magnetic cores to induce an alternating current in the piano strings through mutual inductance. The generated alternating current in the piano strings allows each piano string to be heated and thereby tuned.

Classes IPC  ?

• G10H 1/32 - Éléments d'instruments de musique électrophoniques Parties constitutives
• G10C 3/10 - ChevillesDispositifs de tirage