Did You Know...
...that the inventor of the electric motor was a blacksmith named Thomas Davenport? Described as "a brilliantly unsuccessful inventor", Davenport invented the first rotary electric motor. In 1836 he headed out -- on foot -- from his Vermont home to file a patent application at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. By the time he got there, he had squandered away his money and couldn't afford the $30 filing fee so he turned around and went home. When he later mailed in his application with money he'd raised, the Patent office was destroyed in a fire. He did finally get credit for his invention on Feb. 5, 1837.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7582822 | Metronome and system for maintaining a common tempo among a plurality of musicians A method and apparatus provides metronomes capable of wireless synchronization with other similar metronomes. A metronome includes a tactile device capable of conveying the tempo and beat to a user without the use of sound. In one example, one of the metronomes is u... | 09/01/2009 |
| 7557287 | Method of and system for timing training A timing-training method includes displaying, via a sweep function, a real-time visual indicator responsive to user input and generating a plurality of sounds synchronized with the sweep function. ... | 07/07/2009 |
| 7531734 | Electronic metronome and method of indicating tempo of electronic metronome To provide an electronic metronome making a display similar to the movement of a mechanical metronome or a parabolic movement, an electronic metronome of the present invention includes a timing setting portion for setting a timing for emitting a sound, a control por... | 05/12/2009 |
| 7432433 | Metronome The metronome serves for the optical and acoustic display of tempo, phase and the division of the phases of music pieces or movement rhythms. The above comprises a housing (1) with a display for the optical display of a movement which describes a curve (3 | 10/07/2008 |
| 7406355 | Method for generating playback sound, electronic device, and entertainment system for generating playback sound A method and electronic device for obtaining clear playback sound that is faithful to the original sound, in which data and audio data are played back under control of a CPU, and in accordance with the played-back audio data, a timer, which generates a CPU interrupt... | 07/29/2008 |
| 7385128 | Metronome with projected beat image A laser or other substantially collimated light source is operatively connected to a reciprocating driver that causes a beam from the laser to sweep across a conveniently viewable surface at an adjustable frequency, thereby tracing a pattern on the surface between a... | 06/10/2008 |
| 7358432 | Method and apparatus for teaching rhythm An apparatus for teaching rhythm includes a housing having a plurality of tempo indicator lights and a plurality of beat indicator lights corresponding to the tempo indicator lights, such that the beat indicator lights can be selectively illuminated to indicate a de... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7327848 | Visualization of spatialized audio A method and apparatus is provided for presenting a user with a visual indication of the likely user-perceived location of sound sources in an audio field generated from left and right audio channel signals. To produce this visual indication, corresponding component... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7304230 | Multiple channel metronome A multiple channel metronome for use by a plurality of musicians generally includes a signal generator for producing electrical signals according to desired timing schemes and a plurality of transducers in communication with the signal generator. Each transducer, wh... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7294777 | Electronic tone generation system and batons therefor An electronic tone generation system including a plurality of separate, portable, handheld transmitters, or batons, that are provided as “instruments” to one or more players. Each baton can be activated to send a signal, preferably a wireless signal, to a single... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7254455 | System for and method of determining the period of recurring events within a recorded signal The disclosure relates to a method of determining one or more periods of recurring events within a recorded signal, such as, music. This method can include establishing one or more anchor points in the recorded signal where an anchor point is indicative of a beginni... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7227075 | Lighting controller In the present invention, a lighting controller is provided to provide illumination based upon the playing of musical instruments. The lighting controller is programmed with lighting profiles which control the lights on a device. When musical instrument is played, a... | 06/05/2007 |
| 7174891 | CPR mask with compression timing metronome and methods A facial mask includes a mask body that is adapted to be coupled to a patient's face. A valve system is coupled to the mask body to permit the inflow of respiratory gasses into the mask body and to permit the outflow of respiratory gasses from the mask body. A metro... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7167103 | Transport node apparatus A transit center apparatus is provided having one or more modules attachable to a transit stop pole to provide one or more of the following conveniences to a transit stop patron: information in an optionally illuminated modular display apparatus, overhead illuminati... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7133033 | Actuator for a switch An actuator for a switch, the actuator being movable between on and off positions against an adjustable resilient bias to provide a first signal when said actuator is in said on position and a second signal when said actuator is in said off position. ... | 11/07/2006 |
| 7081577 | Electronic metronome An electronic metronome has a casing including a display portion for displaying a numerical value of a tempo, a sound emitting device for emitting a sound representing the tempo, a vibration device for generating a vibration representing the tempo, and a vibration l... | 07/25/2006 |
| 7030308 | Synchronized beat notification system and master device and slave device for use therewith A synchronized beat notification system has a master device having a beat input unit and a master radio communication unit for transmitting as radio information a beat inputted to the beat input unit together with identification information corresponding to informat... | 04/18/2006 |
| 6979770 | Multi-trigger electronic drum pedal A bass drum foot pedal assembly for triggering rapid multiple drum beats in an electronic drum or percussion synthesizer having a frame with an upper striking surface with an electronic drum trigger wired to the electronic drum and a lower striking surface with an e... | 12/27/2005 |
| 6969795 | Electronic tone generation system and batons therefor An electronic tone generation system including a plurality of separate, portable, handheld transmitters, or batons, that are provided as “instruments” to numerous players to form a choir. Each baton is activated by one of the players to send a signal, preferably... | 11/29/2005 |
| 6947352 | Audio recording playback device A desktop sound producing device for playing audio recordings from pre-recorded media having a plurality of individual selections recorded thereon. The device has a pyramid shaped housing having four side walls extending upward from a bottom wall to an apex forming ... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6930235 | System and method for relating electromagnetic waves to sound waves A system for relating electromagnetic waves to harmonic sound waves that includes a memory with logic, and a processor configured with the logic to assign one fundamental color of a color spectrum of twelve analogous colors to one of twelve fundamental tones of a mu... | 08/16/2005 |
| 6841725 | Measure minder A “Measure Minder” device has two display housing parts connected together so that the first display face is viewable to the instructor and the second display face is viewable to the students. The display face includes a first digital display for indicating to t... | 01/11/2005 |
| 6822152 | Audio signal processing apparatus An audio signal processing apparatus for changing a tempo of an input audio signal is disclosed. The apparatus includes a magnification designator capable of designating a plurality of different magnifications. A device is capable of automatically detecting a beat(s... | 11/23/2004 |
| 6812394 | Method and device for determining rhythm units in a musical piece A method for determining rhythm units (beats per minute or BPM) in (digital) audio data forming a musical piece. The audio data is split among a plurality of determination paths wherein it is subdivided into predetermined frequency bands. The data is analyzed for tr... | 11/02/2004 |
| 6727419 | Pulsating metronome A pulsating metronome includes a case and a band for attaching the case to the wrist of a wearer. A vibration means is mounted to the case at a location such that, when the device is worn on the wrist of the wearer, the vibration means is imposed against the wearer'... | 04/27/2004 |
| 6563037 | Guitar string attachment device A tool for use with a guitar for establishing a proper degree of pre-tightening slack in each of a plurality of guitar strings attached to respective head and rear locations of the guitar and prior to final tightening and wrapping of the strings. A substa... | 05/13/2003 |
| 6518492 | System and method of BPM determination There is provided an improved system and method of determining the tempo of a digitized musical work that, optionally, allows a user to participate in the BPM determination. A first preferred aspect includes determination of estimates of the BPM of a musi... | 02/11/2003 |
| 6344607 | Automatic compilation of songs A method of automatically producing a compilation mix from a set of songs is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of generating (22) a beat profile comprising a temporal map representing an ideal rate of repeat of the dominant beat for the compilatio... | 02/05/2002 |
| 6204441 | Method and apparatus for effectively displaying musical information with visual display An electronic musical apparatus for effectively displaying musical information such as notes and beats is configured using a keyboard, a visual display (e.g., liquid crystal display) and a storage device. A keyboard pattern, a bass staff and a treble staf... | 03/20/2001 |
| 6201769 | Metronome with clock display A metronome that marks musical time by displaying a clock face having a measure of music depicted about the periphery includes a rotating indicator that sweeps about the clock face to indicate the rhythm. In one aspect, a computer program generates a scre... | 03/13/2001 |
| 6175632 | Universal beat synchronization of audio and lighting sources with interactive visual cueing A peripheral audio system that is used to monitor or manipulate other signals from an audio source or lighting device is described which includes a detector device adapted to receive audio inputs from the audio sources. The peripheral audio system include... | 01/16/2001 |
| 6166314 | Method and apparatus for real-time correlation of a performance to a musical score The invention relates to a computerized method for correlating a performance, in real time, to a score of music, and a machine based on that method. A score processor accepts a score which a user would like to play and converts it into a useable format. P... | 12/26/2000 |
| 6051769 | Computerized reading display An electronic reading system is provided including a housing and a display mounted on the housing. Also included is a storage device drive positioned within the housing for removably receiving a portable storage device and reading therefrom reading indici... | 04/18/2000 |
| 6015948 | Structure of metronome A metronome in which the actuating member which is driven by a driving mechanism through an escapement wheel to turn a graduated pendulum bar back and forth includes a copper bushing connected to the pendulum bar, 00and a circular plate 0 securely mounted... | 01/18/2000 |
| 5959229 | Strobe tuner for musical instruments with multiple light sources A tuning device for a stringed musical instrument consisting of stroboscopic light sources, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), positioned to be seen by a musician in or near normal playing position as partially eclipsed by the strings. The LEDs are dri... | 09/28/1999 |
| 5959230 | Tactile tempo indicating device This device uses two solenoids to create a steady, tactile pulse. This pulse conveys a specific beat to the user and therefore conveys tempo in the manner of a metronome. A tempo-signal generating circuit feeds electric pulses to a "t" flip-flop. This fli... | 09/28/1999 |
| 5850048 | Digital read-out electronic metronome An electronic metronome displays the correct beat per measure. The unit preferably includes a keyboard associated with the entry of a musical signature including the number of beats per measure, timing means to generate an electronic version of the musica... | 12/15/1998 |
| 5648627 | Musical performance control apparatus for processing a user's swing motion with fuzzy inference or a neural network A performance control apparatus is provided to control a manner of performance played by an electronic musical apparatus. Herein, sensors are provided to sense a swing motion of a baton which is swung by a human operator in response to time of music to be... | 07/15/1997 |
| 5586088 | Metronome mechanism A metronome mechanism comprises a bearing frame with a web and two limbs protruding from the web, a winding stem carrying a spring housing, a ratchet wheel stem carrying a ratchet wheel and bearing bushes arranged on the limbs of the bearing frame for rec... | 12/17/1996 |
| 5515764 | Harmonic metronome An electronic metronome device producing precisely timed and tuned rhythms and pitches that are pre-programmed to correspond to specific scales or modes, arpeggios, chords, and etudes. A combination of microprocessor and user interface (34, 30, 28, and 26... | 05/14/1996 |
