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Topic: Fun Patents |
Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 25 Aug 2000 3:17 pm |
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I was looking through patents, and came across this one. Pretty interesting approach to volume pedals, don't you think?
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 Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs
Sierra Session S-12 (E9), Speedy West D-10 (E9, D6),
Sierra 8 Laptop (D13), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (D13, A6) |
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Bobby Lee
From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
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Posted 25 Aug 2000 3:18 pm
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| Hint: click the "View Images" link to see the actual patent. |
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Jerry Gleason
From:
Eugene, Oregon, USA
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Posted 25 Aug 2000 9:16 pm
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| That's amazing! A digital volume pedal from 1973! |
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Rich Paton
From:
Santa Maria, CA.,
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Posted 25 Aug 2000 9:23 pm
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Bobby...I think the terminology "swinging angle" is a bit confusing. These optical encoders are very commonplace these days, (digital bathroom scales, garage door openers, automotive applications such as antilock braking, etc.)
But this sort of control was not too common so on consumer gear back then, due to cost.
The decoder portion and its related volume control circuitry is responsive to the ~position~ of the optical mask in the light path. "Swinging Angle" sort of muddies the understanding of the theory of operation, I think.
Very interesting, in any case! |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 26 Aug 2000 4:08 am
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This a little off the topic, but I have a Signetics Spec sheet for a "WOM" or Write Only Memory.... Very interesting device  |
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Bill Llewellyn
From:
San Jose, CA
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Posted 26 Aug 2000 8:45 am
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Jack, that falls along the lines of the Darkness Emitting Diode, or DED.
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Bill (steel player impersonator) * MSA Classic U12 * email * my online music |
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Rich Paton
From:
Santa Maria, CA.,
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Posted 26 Aug 2000 9:47 am
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Write-only memory? I think Windows uses a lot of that! Especially on those pop-ups taht read, after you execute a command,...
" Are you SURE you want to blah blah blah"..
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No, I had NO intention of clicking on that button I just clicked on, you rocket scientists!!! |
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db
From:
Bethlehem, PA 18015 USA
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Posted 26 Aug 2000 2:09 pm
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The Hamamatsu Company was the supplier for all of the photoelectrical devices used by the Musitronic Corp. for its Mutron III, phasors and Volume/Wha & Expression pedals.
In the mid-seventies this company introduced a Volume/Wha Pedal and an Expression pedal to be used with their Bi-Phase stereo Phasor ( using Hamamatsu photosensitive resistors ).
I used to work at Musitronics and was responsible for the final calibration of these units.
I still have a couple of them.
I recently saw that Mr. Hilton was very upset by the release of the Goodrich optical pedal and planned on launching a lawsuit.
I believe that the Musitronics product precedes both of these products.
[This message was edited by db on 26 August 2000 at 03:12 PM.] |
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