WO2010015060A1

WO2010015060A1 - Automatic tuning for stringed musical instruments

Info

Publication number: WO2010015060A1
Application number: PCT/BR2009/000246
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andre Costa Napolitano; Gustavo Costa Napolitano
Original assignee: Andre Costa Napolitano; Gustavo Costa Napolitano
Priority date: 2008-08-04
Filing date: 2009-08-04
Publication date: 2010-02-11
Also published as: BRPI0803300A2

Abstract

Automatic tuning for stringed musical instruments is an invention of an electromechanical device capable of tuning, in an automatic way, stringed musical instruments, such as: violin, small guitar, guitar, double-bass and similar; using a system that includes a tap connector (5) that turns automatically clockwise or anti-clockwise, according to the need for tuning the instrument until it is tuned. It is composed of: vibration sensors (1), electronic tuning fork (2),converter plate (3), engine (4), tap connector (5), and power supply (6).

Description

Descriptive report on the patent of invention: AUTOMATIC TUNING FOR STRINGED

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

The present invention refers to an electromechanical device capable of tuning , in an automatic way, stringed musical instruments, such as: violin, small guitar, guitar, double bass and similar, using a system that includes a connector for tap tuning which rotates automatically clockwise and/or anti-clockwise, according to the need for tuning the instrument until it is tuned.

Tuning a stringed musical instrument means to put all strings inside a pattern providing this way, conditions for the formulation of basic harmony to be used in the songs.

In order to tune these instruments it is common the use of the tuning fork which can be blow, touch , or electronic type.

There are three types of blow tuning fork and they are: the one note tuning fork which emits only note A; the six note tuning fork which emits the six notes regarding the strings of the instruments; and the chromatic tuning fork which emits all tones and semi- tons of the chromatic scale. All these tuning forks are like small pipes which have a tuned blade for the height of each string of the instrument to be tuned.

The touch tuning fork is a metallic instrument in shape of crutch(fork) and it is used to tune instruments through the vibration of a musical sound in a determined height. The fork is tuned in a determined frequency (nowadays the most usual is A of 440Hz). Once it is hit against the surface, the two ends of the crotch of the tuning fork vibrate producing a note that will be used to tune the musical instrument. In general, it is necessary to lean the other end of the tuning fork in the resonance box of the instrument in order to amplify its sound and allow it to be heard at a distance. On the other hand, the electronic tuning fork is more practical and it stands out by the absence of need of hearing the sounds of the strings. Basically it is possible to tune the instrument through the display which can be analogic (with a pointer) or with lights when it reaches zero, (or the center) of the display, together with the indication of the string shows that the same is in a pattern, thus tuned. Nevertheless, considering the wide use of existing tuning forks it is possible to identify some characteristics drawbacks of these devices, mainly concerning the way of using themselves. When one wants to tune an instrument with the help of blow or touch tuning fork, one of the main common problem found is the need of an accurate knowledge in music that the tuner has to have in order to use the tuning fork in an efficient way. A beginner in the learning process of some stringed musical instrument will find difficulty in tuning it, just using a common tuning fork once, for the moment, he has not developed the sound perception enough in order to assimilate the frequency produced by the tuning fork and the musical instrument. Thus, only experienced people used to perform the different sounds produced by stringed musical instruments and tuning forks will be able to tune such instruments in a suitable way. Another common problem, even for people who are familiar with the use of tuning fork is the fact that in order to tune an instrument correctly there must be silence in the place of tuning, mainly when one use blow or touch tuning fork. External noise depending on its intensity can cause great difficulties for interpretation, as far as the tuner is concerned from the sound generated by the tuning fork and instrument to be tuned. This situation can block the instrument to be tuned correctly, even if the tuner is an experienced one.

Concerning the electronic tuning fork, ϊή spite of not depending on the capacity of the tuner's sound perception, it also presents some shortcomings that make the tuning carried out by a beginner difficult. Because it is an electronic instrument more sophisticated, but with rules of using, it is necessary that the tuner has a prior knowledge of the operating mode, otherwise the instrument will remain out of tune until it assimilates the technique of using it correctly.

In addition to individual problems of each kind of tuning fork, there is still another common problem to all of them, characterized by the need of manual operation as far as the person who will carry out the tuning is concerned, to turn the taps responsible for the tension of the strings in order to respond to the performance of the instrument. Many times, in order to turn the taps accurately it takes long practice to acquire the necessary manual sensibility. Generally it is necessary to alternate several times between the use of the tuning fork and the handling tap until the instrument reaches the desired tuning. This makes tuning a very long and stressful process for the operator.

The present invention, automatic tuning for stringed musical instruments shows a new concept of tuning capable of solving all the problems found in the traditional methods of tuning with tuning forks. This device makes possible carrying out a rapid, easy, and accurate tuning even for beginners.

This is possible because the device connects directly to the tap tuning of the musical instrument and when some string is played, vibrations are interpreted by the device through a vibration sensor and are answered by a rotating movement generated by the connector on the tap. This movement can be either clockwise or anti-clockwise, depending on the string, whether it is loose or tight in relation to the tuning point , and when this point is reached, the connector remains static, and do not occur turns in any way.

Another great advantage presented by this invention is the fact that it is capable to promote a rapid withdrawal or placement of the stringed musical instrument if any string needs to be changed for any reason. This is due to a device of manual driving which allows the tap connector to turn independently of vibration sensors.

There fore, this automatic tuning system ensures that any user can easily tune a stringed musical instrument without the need for an accurate sound perception or having to interpret any electronic signal in the device. Moreover, there is no need to use hands to turn the tuning taps, thus providing a more rapid, practical and safe tuning.

For a better understanding of the automatic tuner for stringed musical instruments, one must refer to the following pictures attached:

According to the picture, the automatic tuning for stringed musical instruments is comprised of: vibration sensor(l), electronic tuning fork(2), electronic plate converter(3), engine(4), tap connector(5), and power supply(6).

This is an electromechanical device that has a tap connector (5) and a vibration sensor (1). The tap connector is a device that when coupled to the tap tuning of the musical instrument is able to turn it, set it until the right point of tuning of the string attached to this tap.The direction of tuning of the tap connector (5) will depend on the information received by the vibration sensor (1) that connected to the musical instrument is able to transmit the sound frequency produced by the strings.

The information received by the vibration sensor(l) when some string is played is processed by some kind of electronic tuning fork(2), built-in the device that recognizes the frequency transmitted by the string and answer by means of impulses if the above- mentioned string is loose, tight, or tuned. Electrical impulses emitted by the electronic tuning fork (2) are transmitted to an electronic converter plate (3) that interpret these signals and convert them into another electronic impulses that are immediately sent to the engine(4)and recognized by them. This engine(4)is responsible for the rotating movement of the tap connector(5) through a rotating shaft coupled to the connector.

Signals converted by electronic converter plate (3) act directly in the polarity system of engine supply(4)once the string of the musical instrument is loose, and electrical signal is received defining a type of polarity; when the string is tight, this polarity is reversed; when the string is tuned , polarity is zero. This means that depending on the type of polarity established, the engine(4) acts in a different way and can provide a clockwise turn for determined polarity, an anti-clockwise turn when this polarity is reversed and can also remain static when polarity is zero.

Vibration sensors (1) can be used in both acoustic and electronic instruments, but the process of use is different for each type. For acoustic instruments it is used a connector cable that holds the arm of the instrument by means of a loop(tab or flap);while for electric ones it is used a common connection cable, type plug, which connects the device to the instrument being responsible for transmitting the electronic information of the instrument directly to the electronic tuning fork(2) of the automatic tuner.

Taking into account the different ways of application of the automatic tuner for stringed musical instruments, one can also mention the possible adaptation of this device together with the musical instrument incorporating a single object. Thus, stringed musical instruments would come from the factory with a built-in automatic tuning.

Claims

1. AUTOMATIC TUNING FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, characterized for being an electromechanical device capable of tuning, in an automatic way, stringed musical instruments, such as: violin, small guitar, guitar, double bass and similar using a system which includes a tap connector(5) that turns automatically clockwise and anticlockwise, according to the need of tuning the instrument until it is tuned.

2. AUTOMATIC TUNING FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, according to claim 1, characterized for presenting a tap connector (5) that when coupled to the tap tuning of the musical instrument is able to turn it, set it to the right point of string tuning attached to this tap, and the direction of the turn of the tap connector(5) will depend on the information received by the vibration sensors(l) connected to the musical instrument and responsible for transmitting the sound frequency produced by the strings.

3. AUTOMATIC TUNING FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, according to claim 1, characterized for presenting an electronic tuning fork (2) built-in the device that processes the information received by the vibration sensor (1) when some string of the musical instrument is played and recognizes the frequency transmitted by the string, answering with specific electrical impulses for each string, that is loose, tight, and tuned one.

4. AUTOMATIC TUNING FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, according to claim 1 , characterized for presenting a converter electronic plate (3) responsible for interpreting electrical impulses emitted by an electronic tuning fork (2) and convert them into electrical impulses that act directly in the system of polarity of engine supply. Once the string of the musical instrument is loose the received electrical signal defines a kind of polarity; when the string is tight, this polarity is reversed and when the string is tuned, the polarity is zero.

5. AUTOMATIC TUNING FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, according to claim 1 and 4, characterized for presenting an engine (4) responsible for a rotating movement of tap connector (5) through a generating shaft coupled to the connector, and this engine (4) receives and recognizes the signals converted by the converter electronic plate (3) in order to provide a clockwise turn for a determined polarity and an anticlockwise turn when this polarity is reversed, and remain static when polarity is zero.

6. AUTOMATIC TUNING FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, according to claim 1, characterized for presenting a vibration sensor (1) that can be used in both acoustic and electronic instrument. For acoustic instruments it is used a connector cable that holds the arm of the instrument by means of a loop (tab or flap), while for electronic ones it is used a common connector cable, type plug, which connects the device to the instrument directly to the electronic tuning fork (2) of the automatic tuner.