AU2018101197A4

AU2018101197A4 - Smart LED Guitar

Info

Publication number: AU2018101197A4
Application number: AU2018101197A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ravneet Phull
Original assignee: Instashred Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Instashred Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2018-08-17
Filing date: 2018-08-17
Publication date: 2018-09-20
Anticipated expiration: 2026-08-17

Abstract

The disclosed guitar looks and functions like a regular electric/bass/acoustic/ukulele guitar, however has an added electronic board placed underneath the fretboard that has LEDs which emit light through resin or any other viable transparent/translucent material filled holes in the fretboard that are placed on each of the possible positions on the guitar neck/fretboard. These note positions can be illuminated with specific factors such as colour, intensity and timing. The disclosed guitar has been invented for teaching the user musical skills while also providing features that allow more theatricality and entertainment in their playing. The disclosed guitar has an accompanying smart phone or smart tablet application that communicates with the guitar, passing information to the guitar that is interpreted by the guitar and it lights up its fretboard accordingly and the guitar can return information about which notes are being played by the user, and the app can interpret said information. The disclosed guitar can identify which notes are being played by the user, and then convert this information to a form that can be sent through Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or any other wireless solution to the mobile application. The mobile application can also detect this using an integrated microphone.

Description

Editorial Note 2018101197

There is one page of description only

Traditionally guitars have exclusively been an instrument that is played by a musician who uses the skills that they may already have developed through face-to-face guitar lessons with a guitar teacher or from online lessons to be able to make music. Some can even learn "by ear". This invention is specifically designed so that any user no guitar playing skills can begin playing the guitar within a just a few minutes without the need of a guitar/music teacher, online lessons or any "by ear" training. Intermediate and advanced user can also utilise this invention to progress their current skills, add theatricality to their performances and share their tabs through an online community.

The invention works using individually addressable RGB LEDs that are placed precisely within the fretboard to align in between each of the frets and underneath each of the strings to indicate a note that can be played on the guitar. The user can interact with this system using a mobile application through wireless communication technology. The LED light shines through custom cut holes that align in between each of the frets and underneath each of the strings on the guitar. A guitar in accordance with this invention comprises of an embedded electronic circuit board that has LEDs placed within the fretboard, which emit light that shines through holes drilled into the fret board. The hole are filled in with resin or plastic or any other clear/translucent material that allows light to pass through it, so that when illuminated the users can clearly see the light that indicates a position for them to place their finger, which is further enhanced with the fact that the LEDs are RGB, therefore finger positions are colour codes to the correct finger and/or string.

The embedded electronic circuit board contains a controller, Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi module that can exchange information with the accompanying application and this received information includes which LEDs are to be lit up, the colour of the LEDs and the timing of the lighting. Information to be sent includes, which notes are being played and their timing.

Claims

Editorial Note 2018101197 There is one page of claims only The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A guitar with an embedded/on-board electronic printed circuit board containing individually addressable, microcontroller/microprocessor-controlled LEDs placed within or on the fretboard that illuminate to indicate each note on the fretboard of the guitar and are controlled by the user through an application on a smart phone or smart tablet connected to the board via Bluetooth and or Wi-Fi.
2. The guitar as claimed in claim 1 can detect in real time either with embedded sensor or microphone on the smartphone app, the notes being played and send the information to the smart phone or smart tablet application.
3. The smartphone or smart tablet application as mentioned in claim 1 will have exclusive connectivity with the guitar claimed in claim 1 and will send and receive information through the medium of Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The application can be treated an entertainment/gaming platform.
4. The application as claimed in claim 3 will have online connectivity through Wi-Fi. It will act as a platform for users to share statistics about their playing and also various LED combinations that represent their own creations, including but not limited to lightshows, songs, chords, music lessons, scales and messages.
5. Complimentary hardware such as pedals/pedal boards, screens, vibration motors, accelerometers, virtual and augmented reality headsets can be used to enhance the users' experience by adding an extra layer of interactivity.