Robert S Dobrose

US Patent:

58774432, Mar 2, 1999

Filed:

Feb 12, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/799664

Inventors:

Gregory E. Arends - Libertyville IL
Robert S. Dobrose - Mundelein IL

Assignee:

Peterson Elecro-Musical Products, Inc. - Worth IL

International Classification:

G10G 702

US Classification:

84454

Abstract:

Single and multiple disc strobe tuners employ microprocessor controlled stepper motors for driving the disc(s) to facilitate the use of customized tuning schemes, such as unequal temperaments and stretch tuning. The tuning schemes are stored in a look up table and may be programmed by the user. The single disc embodiment preferably employs an auto note detector which determines the identity of a note being played by an instrument, and causes the microprocessor to adjust the speed of the stepper motor almost instantaneously to a speed assigned to that note in accordance with a selected tuning scheme. This enables a user to play through a series of notes rapidly to verify whether they are in tune with the selected tuning scheme. The multiple, preferably 12, disc embodiment employs a separate stepper motor and micro controller for each disc to accommodate individual tuning of each disc relative to one another. A main microprocessor is employed in this embodiment to control each of the micro controllers, and a master oscillator supplies clock pulses to all of the circuit elements to maintain synchronism with one another.