A device and method for an amplitude modulated optical pickup for a stringed instrument are disclosed. A first optical source comprising a first output signal comprising a first carrier frequency is provided and a first photodetector is in optical communication with the first optical source. A vibrating element such as a string on a musical instrument is disposed in an optical path between the first optical source and the first photodetector whereby a vibration of the element varies and modulates an amplitude of the first output signal received by the photodetector that is proportional to an element vibration amplitude and is at the same frequency as the element vibration frequency. An amplitude modulated (AM) photodetector signal output is generated from the first photodetector. The resultant signal is then demodulated with appropriate circuitry to produce a substantially noise free electronic signal representative of the element vibration frequency.

With an electronic percussion 100, a mesh-shaped head 101 is supported by a shell 103 formed into a cylindrical shape. The shell 103 includes an optical sensor 105 inside and a sensor cover body 110 outside. The optical sensor 105 includes a light emitter 105a that irradiates light to a back surface 101b of the head 101 and a light receiver 105b that receives reflected light from the back surface 101b of the head 101. This optical sensor 105 is supported by a sensor supporting body 104 at a position adjacent to the back surface 101b of the head 101. The sensor cover body 110 is formed so as to have a size with which the sensor cover body 110 covers the optical sensor 105 at the position that is opposed to the optical sensor 105 on a struck surface 101a side, which is opposite to the back surface 101b of the head 101 and which faces the optical sensor 105.

With an electronic percussion 100, a mesh-shaped head 101 is supported by a shell 103 formed into a cylindrical shape. The shell 103 includes an optical sensor 105 inside and a sensor cover body 110 outside. The optical sensor 105 includes a light emitter 105a that irradiates light to a back surface 101b of the head 101 and a light receiver 105b that receives reflected light from the back surface 101b of the head 101. This optical sensor 105 is supported by a sensor supporting body 104 at a position adjacent to the back surface 101b of the head 101. The sensor cover body 110 is formed so as to have a size with which the sensor cover body 110 covers the optical sensor 105 at the position that is opposed to the optical sensor 105 on a struck surface 101a side, which is opposite to the back surface 101b of the head 101 and which faces the optical sensor 105.

Systems and methods for a digital instrument are described, for example to simulate or be used in conjunction with a stringed instrument. A sensor system detects the deflection of one or more strings of the digital instrument, produces a measurement of the detected deflection, correlates the measurement to a musical note, and produces at least a portion of digital output based upon the musical note.

With an electronic percussion 100, a mesh-shaped head 101 is supported by a shell 103 formed into a cylindrical shape. The shell 103 includes an optical sensor 105 inside and a sensor cover body 110 outside. The optical sensor 105 includes a light emitter 105a that irradiates light to a back surface 101b of the head 101 and a light receiver 105b that receives reflected light from the back surface 101b of the head 101. This optical sensor 105 is supported by a sensor supporting body 104 at a position adjacent to the back surface 101b of the head 101. The sensor cover body 110 is formed so as to have a size with which the sensor cover body 110 covers the optical sensor 105 at the position that is opposed to the optical sensor 105 on a struck surface 101a side, which is opposite to the back surface 101b of the head 101 and which faces the optical sensor 105.

With an electronic percussion 100, a mesh-shaped head 101 is supported by a shell 103 formed into a cylindrical shape. The shell 103 includes an optical sensor 105 inside and a sensor cover body 110 outside. The optical sensor 105 includes a light emitter 105a that irradiates light to a back surface 101b of the head 101 and a light receiver 105b that receives reflected light from the back surface 101b of the head 101. This optical sensor 105 is supported by a sensor supporting body 104 at a position adjacent to the back surface 101b of the head 101. The sensor cover body 110 is formed so as to have a size with which the sensor cover body 110 covers the optical sensor 105 at the position that is opposed to the optical sensor 105 on a struck surface 101a side, which is opposite to the back surface 101b of the head 101 and which faces the optical sensor 105.

An optoelectronic pickup for a musical instrument includes at least one light source which directs light to impinge a sound generating element of the musical instrument in at least one photoreceiver located to detect the reflected light, so as to generate an electrical signal that is responsive to sound generating element movement.

An optoelectronic pickup for a musical instrument includes at least one light source which directs light to impinge a sound generating element of the musical instrument in at least one photoreceiver located to detect the reflected light, so as to generate an electrical signal that is responsive to sound generating element movement.

An electronic instrument comprising an elongated member, comprising a plurality of detectors aligned in the elongated member, each detector for detecting a finger-sized object in the vicinity thereof and for providing a corresponding signal; a processing unit operatively connected to the plurality of detectors, the processing unit for receiving the signals from the plurality of detectors and for generating a signal indicative of a sound to generate and a sound generating unit operatively connected to the processing unit and wherein the processing unit is located inside the elongated member.

A programmable pickup director switching system for a musical instrument having a plurality of pickup coils and a pickup director control board communicatively interconnected to the plurality of pickup coils. The system also includes a push/pull potentiometer structured and arranged to activate different combinations of one or more of the plurality of pickup coils, a main multi-position switch having m positions, and a bank select switch having n positions. Additionally, the system includes a switching matrix configured to switch one or more of the plurality of pickup coils into a signal path based on a position of at least one of the main multi-position switch, the bank select switch and the push/pull potentiometer.