Automatic tuning floating bridge for electric stringed instruments

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9536504-B1
Application number	US-201514953490-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Nov 30, 2015
Priority date	Nov 30, 2015
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and system for automatically tuning a stringed instrument. An initial height of a first string of an instrument having a plurality of strings and a floating bridge is determined. The height of the plurality of strings is determined using a bridge sensor. The floating bridge is locked. A frequency of the first string is analyzed. In response to determining the frequency of the first string does not match a predetermined frequency, a tuning peg servo motor to adjust a tuning peg, thereby adjusting a string tension of the first string. The one or more bridge servo motors adjusts a spring tension until the spring tension of the one or more springs equals the string tension of the first string. In response to determining the first string is tuned, the floating bridge is unlocked.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
determining, by one or more processors, an initial height of a first string of an instrument having a plurality of strings and a floating bridge, wherein a height of the plurality of strings is determined using a bridge sensor;
locking, by one or more processors, the floating bridge;
analyzing, by one or more processors, a frequency of a first string;
determining, by one or more processors, the frequency of the first string does not match a predetermined frequency;
causing, by one or more processors, a tuning peg servo motor to adjust a tuning peg, the tuning peg configured to adjust a string tension of the first string;
causing, by one or more processors, one or more bridge servo motors to adjust a spring tension in one or more springs attached to the floating bridge, wherein the spring tension of the one or more springs equals the string tension of the first string; and
unlocking, by one or more processors, the floating bridge in response to determining the frequency of the first string matches the predetermined frequency.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising retuning the instrument by,
detecting, by one or more processors, that a second string of the plurality of strings is vibrating within a predetermined range of frequencies;
determining, by one or more processors, a first frequency of the second string, using a magnetic pickup;
comparing, by one or more processors, the first frequency to a table of expected frequencies; and
in response to determining that the first frequency is not on the table of expected frequencies, causing, by one or more processors, the tuning peg servo motor to adjust the tuning peg, the tuning peg configured to adjust a tension of the second string.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
prior to adjusting the tension of the second string, detecting, by one or more processors, a pitch change of the second string.

4. The method of 2 , further comprising:
detecting, by one or more processors, an increased tension of the second string, wherein the increased tension is not within a predetermined threshold; and
suspending, by one or more processors, detection of frequencies for the second string.

5. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
detecting, by one or more processors, movement of a tremolo arm; and
disabling, by one or more processors, detection of frequencies for the plurality of strings.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the instrument is retuned while the instrument is being played.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting, by one or more processors, a broken string of the plurality of strings;
muting, by one or more processors, a sound output of the instrument;
adjusting, by one or more processors, the spring tension of the one or more springs, wherein the spring tension is adjusted until the spring tension equals the string tension, and wherein the floating bridge is at a user defined position;
analyzing, by one or more processors, a second frequency of the first string;
determining, by one or more processors, the second frequency of the first string does not match a predetermined frequency;
causing, by one or more processors, a tuning peg servo motor to adjust a tuning peg, the tuning peg configured to adjust a string tension of the first string; and
restoring, by one or more processors, the sound output of the instrument in response to determining the frequency of the first string matches the predetermined frequency.

8. A computer program product comprising:
a computer readable storage medium and program instructions stored on the computer readable storage medium, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to determine an initial height of a first string of an instrument having a plurality of strings and a floating bridge, wherein a height of the plurality of strings is determined using a bridge sensor;
program instructions to lock the floating bridge;
program instructions to analyze a frequency of a first string;
program instructions to determine the frequency of the first string does not match a predetermined frequency;
program instructions to cause a tuning peg servo motor to adjust a tuning peg, the tuning peg configured to adjust a string tension of the first string;
program instructions to cause the one or more bridge servo motors to adjust a spring tension in one or more springs attached to the floating bridge, wherein the spring tension of the one or more springs equals the string tension of the first string; and
program instructions to unlock the floating bridge in response to determining the first string matches the predetermined frequency.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 , further comprising retuning the instrument by,
program instructions to detect that a second string of the plurality of strings is vibrating within a predetermined range of frequencies;
program instructions to determine a first frequency of the second string, using a magnetic pickup;
program instructions to compare the first frequency to a table of expected frequencies; and
in response to determining that the first frequency is not on the table of expected frequencies, program instructions to cause the tuning peg servo motor to adjust the tuning peg, the tuning peg configured to adjust a tension of the second string.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , further comprising:
prior to adjusting the tension of the second string, program instructions to detect a pitch change of the second string.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 , further comprising:
program instructions to detect an increased tension of the second string, wherein the increased tension is not within a predetermined threshold; and
program instructions to suspend detection of frequencies for the second string.

12. The computer program product of claim 9 , further comprising:
program instructions to detect movement of a tremolo arm; and
program instructions to disable detection of frequencies for the plurality of strings.

13. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the instrument is retuned while the instrument is being played.

14. The computer program product of claim 8 , further comprising:
program instructions to detect a broken string of the plurality of strings;
program instructions to mute a sound output of the instrument;
program instructions to adjust the spring tension of the one or more springs, wherein the spring tension is adjusted until the spring tension equals the string tension, and wherein the floating bridge is at a user defined position;
program instructions to analyze a second frequency of the first string;
program instructions to determine the second frequency of the first string does not match a predetermined frequency;
program instructions to cause a tuning peg servo motor to adjust a tuning peg, the tuning peg configured to adjust a string tension of the first string; and
program instructions to restore the sound output of the instrument in response to determining the first string matches the predetermined frequency.

15. A computer system comprising:
one or more computer processors;
one or more computer readable storage media;
program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to determine an initial height of a first string of an instrument having a plurality of strings and a floating bridg

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Tsfasman Arkadiy O
• Werner John S

Classifications

• G10G7/02

  Tuning forks or like devices · CPC title

• G10H3/186

  Means for processing the signal picked up from the strings (filtering G10H1/12) · CPC title

• G10H2210/191

  Tremolo, tremulando, trill or mordent effects, i.e. repeatedly alternating stepwise in pitch between two note pitches or chords, without any portamento between the two notes · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• G10H3/18

  using a string, e.g. electric guitar {(mechanical features G10D1/085)} · CPC title