IP Library Granted Patent US 12,536,984
Granted Patent B2
US 12,536,984 · App. 16/891,942 · Granted Jan 27, 2026

Capacitive musical instrument

Inventors: Jared Kozel (Atlanta, GA); Martin Wysor (Atlanta, GA); Ransom Haywood (Atlanta, GA); Pick Bickmore (Los Angeles, CA)
Assignee: Hard Rock International (USA), Inc.
G10H1/342G06F3/044G10H2230/135
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,536,984
App. No.
16/891,942
Granted
Jan 27, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A capacitive musical instrument includes an instrument body having a space, the space including at least one plate to separate the space into at least two areas for holding ingredients of a food object, a plurality of inputs that each receive a capacitive signal from a corresponding one of the ingredients of the food object when the ingredients are touched by a user, a touch capacitive shield connected to the plurality of inputs, a memory that stores audio signal data that corresponds to each of the plurality of inputs, a controller that receives the capacitive signals from the plurality of inputs, converts the capacitive signals into audio signals based on the audio signal data stored in the memory, and outputs the audio signals to an output that generates sound based on the audio signals.

Claims (39)

1 . A capacitive musical instrument, comprising:

an instrument body having a space, the space including at least one plate to separate the space into at least two areas for holding ingredients of a food object, at least one of the ingredients of the food object being a conductive food item;

a plurality of inputs that each receive a capacitive signal from a corresponding one of the ingredients of the food object when the ingredients are touched by a user;

a touch capacitive shield connected to the plurality of inputs;

a memory that stores audio signal data that corresponds to each of the plurality of inputs;

a power source;

an output;

a controller that receives the capacitive signals from the plurality of inputs, converts the capacitive signals into audio signals based on the audio signal data stored in the memory, and outputs the audio signals to the output;

a plurality of signal wires having first ends respectively connected to the plurality of inputs and second ends; and

a plurality of signal terminals respectively attached to the second ends of the plurality of signal wires and the ingredients of the food object, the plurality of signal terminals comprising needle probes or crocodile clips to attach to the ingredients of the food object,

wherein the plurality of signal terminals receives the capacitive signals from the ingredients of the food object and transmits to the plurality of inputs via the plurality of signal wires, and

wherein the output generates sound based on the audio signals.

2 . The capacitive musical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the instrument body has a shape of guitar body,

wherein the capacitive musical instrument further comprises a guitar neck attached to the instrument body, the guitar neck having guitar strings, and

wherein the controller is configured to modify the audio signals based on a user's operation of the guitar strings on the guitar neck.

3 . The capacitive musical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the output is connected to the controller wiredly.

4 . The capacitive musical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one plate comprises a plurality of plates.

5 . The capacitive musical instrument according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of plates is equally spaced within the space.

6 . The capacitive musical instrument according to claim 4 , wherein the plurality of plates is removable.

7 . The capacitive musical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the space includes at least one slot configured to receive the at least one plate.

8 . The capacitive musical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the ingredients of the food object comprise an upper bun, a lower bun, a meat patty, lettuce and tomato.

9 . The capacitive musical instrument according to claim 4 , wherein the ingredients of the food object are each separately contained on a respective one of the plurality of plates.

10 . The capacitive musical instrument according to claim 1 , further comprising a sensor electrode provided at the second end of the plurality of signal wires,

wherein the controller is configured to measure and monitor capacitance detected by the sensor electrode.

11 . A guitar-shaped capacitive musical instrument, comprising:

a guitar body;

a guitar neck connected to the guitar body having position markers;

a guitar head including tuning keys; and

guitar strings connecting the tuning keys and the guitar body,

wherein the guitar body includes:

a space divided into a plurality of areas by plates for holding ingredients of a food object, at least one of the ingredients of the food object being a conductive food item;

inputs for receiving signals;

signal wires having signal contacts configured to be attached to the ingredients held in the space and transmits capacitive signals therethrough;

a sound system including a touch capacitive shield connected to the inputs, a controller that generates an audio signal and a memory that stores audio files corresponding to the inputs;

a power source connected to the sound system; and

an output that generates the audio signal received from the controller;

a plurality of signal terminals respectively attached to the signal wires and the ingredients of the food object, the plurality of signal terminals comprising needle probes or crocodile clips to attach to the ingredients of the food object,

wherein the signal terminals receive the capacitive signals from the ingredients of the food object and transmit to the inputs via the signal wires, and

wherein the controller is configured so that when a user touches one of the ingredients of the food object and operates the guitar strings, the controller retrieves the audio file corresponding to the input that receives the capacitive signal from a touched ingredient from the memory, modifies the audio file based on the operation of the guitar strings, and converts the modified audio file into the audio signal to the output.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 7, 2026
From: HARD ROCK CAFÉ INTERNATIONAL (USA), INC.
To: HARD ROCK INTERNATIONAL (USA), INC.
Reel/Frame 074269/0185 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2024
From: KOZEL, JARED; WYSOR, MARTIN; HAYWOOD, RANSOM; BICKMORE, PICK
To: HARD ROCK CAFE INTERNATIONAL (USA), INC.
Reel/Frame 066460/0893 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62856474 · Jun 3, 2019
Related Publication 20200380941A1 · Dec 3, 2020
References Cited (8)
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Yan Wang et al., “The Singing Carrot: Designing Playful Experiences with Food Sounds”, https://doi.org/10.1145/3270316.3271512, Publication: CHI PLAY '18 Extended Abstracts: Proceedings of the 2018 Annual Symposium on C… [cited by applicant]