Patents by Inventor Mark Francis Villa

Mark Francis Villa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Scheme for providing audio effects for a musical instrument and for controlling images with same
    Patent number: 8283547
    Abstract: A method for use with a musical instrument includes receiving a signal representative of a sound produced by the musical instrument, receiving a selection of an audio effect from a wireless controller, applying the audio effect to the signal representative of a sound produced by the musical instrument, and providing an output signal representative of the audio effect applied to the sound produced by the musical instrument. Other methods include causing an image to be responsive to a signal representative of motions of the musical instrument, and causing an image to be responsive to a signal representative of sound produced by the musical instrument. A computer readable storage medium may store a computer program adapted to cause a processor based system to execute the steps of any one or more of these methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC
    Inventors: Mark Francis Villa, Gary M. Zalewski
  • SCHEME FOR PROVIDING AUDIO EFFECTS FOR A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT AND FOR CONTROLLING IMAGES WITH SAME
    Publication number: 20110045907
    Abstract: A method for use with a musical instrument includes receiving a signal representative of a sound produced by the musical instrument, receiving a selection of an audio effect from a wireless controller, applying the audio effect to the signal representative of a sound produced by the musical instrument, and providing an output signal representative of the audio effect applied to the sound produced by the musical instrument. Other methods include causing an image to be responsive to a signal representative of motions of the musical instrument, and causing an image to be responsive to a signal representative of sound produced by the musical instrument. A computer readable storage medium may store a computer program adapted to cause a processor based system to execute the steps of any one or more of these methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLC
    Inventors: Mark Francis Villa, Gary M. Zalewski
  • Scheme for providing audio effects for a musical instrument and for controlling images with same
    Patent number: 7842875
    Abstract: A method for use with a musical instrument includes receiving a signal representative of a sound produced by the musical instrument, receiving a selection of an audio effect from a wireless controller, applying the audio effect to the signal representative of a sound produced by the musical instrument, and providing an output signal representative of the audio effect applied to the sound produced by the musical instrument. Other methods include causing an image to be responsive to a signal representative of motions of the musical instrument, and causing an image to be responsive to a signal representative of sound produced by the musical instrument. A computer readable storage medium may store a computer program adapted to cause a processor based system to execute the steps of any one or more of these methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Francis Villa, Gary M. Zalewski
  • SCHEME FOR PROVIDING AUDIO EFFECTS FOR A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT AND FOR CONTROLLING IMAGES WITH SAME
    Publication number: 20090100988
    Abstract: A method for use with a musical instrument includes receiving a signal representative of a sound produced by the musical instrument, receiving a selection of an audio effect from a wireless controller, applying the audio effect to the signal representative of a sound produced by the musical instrument, and providing an output signal representative of the audio effect applied to the sound produced by the musical instrument. Other methods include causing an image to be responsive to a signal representative of motions of the musical instrument, and causing an image to be responsive to a signal representative of sound produced by the musical instrument. A computer readable storage medium may store a computer program adapted to cause a processor based system to execute the steps of any one or more of these methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Mark Francis Villa, Gary M. Zalewski