CONTACT TRANSDUCER FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH SOUNDBOARD

Abstract

Contact transducer for musical instruments with soundboard, comprising: vibrating element, consisting of an air core coil made of enameled copper wire, suitable to be placed in contact with the soundboard of any musical instrument, and able to vibrate according to said soundboard; magnetic field generator, consisting of a permanent magnet, preferably made of neodymium, suitable to transform the vibrations of the vibrating element induced by the soundboard in electric signals, according to the principle of electromagnetic induction; sound-insulating separator made of elastic material, on which the magnetic field generator is fixed, keeping it firmly and close to the vibrating element, and isolating it from the vibrations of the soundboard; electric cable connected to the ends of the copper wire of the vibrating element with at least one connector suitable to transfer the electrical signal generated to at least one sound amplification device.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A contact transducer for acoustic musical instruments with a vibrating soundboard, comprising: a vibrating element operable to be placed in contact with the soundboard of the musical instrument and adapted to vibrate in harmony with the soundboard to which it is arranged, the vibrating element including a coil of enameled copper wire having a diameter between 0.01 mm and 0.5 mm; a magnetic field generator including a magnet operable to transform vibrations of the vibrating element near which it is positioned, in electrical signals according to the principle of electromagnetic induction, wherein a distance that separates the vibrating element and the magnetic field generator is between 0.5 mm and 4 mm and being inversely proportional to an intensity of the electrical signal; a sound-insulating separator operable to support the magnetic field generator and to keep a predetermined distance with respect to the vibrating element unchanged and operable to acoustically isolate the magnetic field generator from the vibrations of the soundboard of the instrument; and an electric cable operable to connect the vibrating element with at least one connector adapted to transfer the electrical signal generated to at least one sound amplification device.

12. The contact transducer for acoustic musical instruments with a vibrating soundboard according to claim 11, further comprising a casing and a base operable to connect themselves together in stable and preferably reversible manner, forming a volume that contains all the components of the transducer, an inner surface of the base being placed in contact with the vibrating element, the base being adapted to be positioned on the soundboard of the musical instrument.

13. The contact transducer (1) for acoustic musical instruments with a vibrating soundboard according to claim 12, further comprising a connection element provided at an outer surface of the base made of a stable or reversible adhesive type, the connection element being operable to allow a stable connection with the soundboard of the musical instrument.

14. The contact transducer for acoustic musical instruments with a vibrating soundboard according to claim 11, wherein the cable is a shielded bipolar electrical cable whose electrical contacts are both connected to the vibrating element.

15. A contact transducer for acoustic musical instruments with a vibrating soundboard according to claim 11, wherein the sound-insulating separator includes silicone or any other material having elastic properties operable to acoustically isolate the magnetic field generator from the vibrating element.

16. The contact transducer for acoustic musical instruments with a vibrating soundboard according to claim 11, wherein the vibrating element and the magnetic field generator are interchangeable with each other, their function exclusively depending on their mutual position and an installation position with respect to the soundboard of the musical instrument.

17. The contact transducer for acoustic musical instruments with a vibrating soundboard according to claim 11, wherein it can be installed both externally or internally to the musical instrument.

18. The contact transducer for acoustic musical instruments with a vibrating soundboard according to claim 11, wherein the sound-insulating separator can be inscribed in a parallelepiped of height dimensions between 5 mm2 mm2 mm and 60 mm45 mm60 mm.

19. The contact transducer for acoustic musical instruments with a vibrating soundboard according to claim 11, wherein it has overall height dimensions between 4 mm12 mm4 mm and 90 mm90 mm70 mm.

20. The contact transducer for acoustic musical instruments with a vibrating soundboard according to claim 11, wherein it can be used for pinched, arched, piano and other acoustic instruments with a keyboard, harps, and classical guitar.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0021] The invention will hereinafter be described in at least one preferred embodiment for explanatory and non-limiting purposes with the aid of the accompanying figures, in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows the external appearance of the transducer 1 of the present invention with the upper casing shown in its parallelepiped form with the cable 2 and the connector 2 externally protruding.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows an axonometric exploded view of the transducer 1 in which, in addition to the cable 2 and the connector 2, the internal devices can be seen. Said transducer 1 consists of a base 4 and an upper casing 4, which are hooked together creating a closed volume. Externally to the base 4 a connection element 3 is provided which allows adhesion to the musical instrument. On the inner surface 4 of the base 4 it can be seen the vibrating element 5 which receives the magnetic field from the magnetic field generator 6 arranged on the sound-insulating separator 7.

[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates a possible positioning of the transducer 1 in question on the outer surface of a musical instrument 100, in this case, a classical guitar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] The present invention will now be illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example, using the figures which illustrate some embodiments in relation to the present inventive concept.

[0026] With reference to FIG. 3 it is shown the size of a transducer 1 according to the present invention which has been connected to the soundboard of a classical guitar 100.

[0027] The adhesion of the transducer 1 outside the instrument 100 does not limit other possible installations inside the guitar or other plucked stringed instruments, arcs, pianos and other acoustic keyboard instruments, harps.

[0028] The small size and weight of the object are the characteristic that makes it so versatile. The transducer 1, in fact, in its preferred embodiment, can be inscribed in a parallelepiped with dimensions equal to 10 mm20 mm13 mm in height and has a weight of about 2.5 g.

[0029] To be applicable, in a reversible manner, to any musical instrument 100 provided with a soundboard, the transducer 1 is included in a parallelepiped-shaped structure consisting of a base 4 and a casing 4 adapted to connect with each other in a stable and preferably reversible manner. As it can be seen in FIG. 2, the inner surface 4 of said base 4 it is placed in contact with the vibrating element 5 described in detail below. The external surface of the base 4, on the other hand, it is the one that must be placed in contact with the soundboard of the guitar 100 and for this reason it is provided with an adhesive-type connection element 3.

[0030] Inside the casing 4, the transducer 1 comprises said vibrating element 5, a magnetic field generator 6, and a sound-insulating separator 7 interposed between the vibrating element 5 and the magnetic field generator 6.

[0031] More specifically, the vibrating element 5 is constituted by an air core coil made of enameled copper wire, preferably arranged in a ring shape. Said vibrating element is suitable to be placed in contact with the soundboard of any musical instrument 100 and adapted to vibrate according to the vibrations of said soundboard.

[0032] The magnetic field generator 6 is constituted by a magnet, preferably in neodymium, able to create in the proximity of the vibrating element 5 the condition necessary to transform the vibrations of the vibrating element 5 into electrical signals, according to the principle of electromagnetic induction.

[0033] It should be noted that the vibrating element 5 and the magnetic field generator 6 are two interchangeable elements in terms of positioning, their function depending on their mutual position, as well as their positioning with respect to the soundboard of the instrument 100.

[0034] The sound-insulating separator 7 is an element capable of damping the vibrations between the two elements 5-6 described above. It is preferably made of silicone and with the form shown in FIG. 2, but this does not limit other possible geometric shapes and construction material as long as the sound-insulating separator 7 maintains its acoustic insulation function unchanged. The dimensions of said sound-insulating separator make it inscribable in a parallelepiped of dimensions comprised between 5 mm2 mm2 mm in height, and 60 mm45 mm60 mm in height, preferably 16 mm6 mm6 mm in height.

[0035] To complete the transducer 1, a shielded bipolar electric cable 2 is provided, the two electrical contacts of the electric cable 2 are connected to the vibrating element 5 and precisely to the two ends of the enameled copper wire of the coil. At the outer end, said cable 2 is provided with a connector 2 adapted to transfer the electrical signal generated, to at least one sound amplification device.

[0036] Finally, it is clear that modifications, additions or obvious variations that may be made by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of protection provided by the appended claims, are included in the present invention.