Patents by Inventor Wendy Mittelstadt

Wendy Mittelstadt 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).

  • Patent number: 8469812
    Abstract: A fret and method of making the fret are disclosed. The fret can include a body portion made of a non-conductive material, a first end, a second end, and a length defined between the first and second ends. A plurality of electrically conductive elements can be disposed along at least part of the body portion. Each element can be electrically insulated from the other conductive elements by the body portion. The method can include 1) providing a blank formed of electrically conductive material, 2) processing the blank to provide a plurality of electrically conductive elements, 3) affixing a body portion made of a non-conductive material to the plurality of electrically conductive elements, the body portion electrically insulating each element from the other conductive elements, and 4) removing material from the processed blank and affixed body portion to form a perimeter of the fret in a desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: 745 LLC
    Inventors: Bernard Chiu, Mark Izen, Paul Franzosa, Andrea Gaiter, Wendy Mittelstadt, Ilissa Schild, Craig Small, Gabriel Viani, Stephen Paul Webster, David Yiu
  • Patent number: 8454418
    Abstract: Stringed instruments, game controllers, and related structures and methods are described. A game controller having one or more strings is described for a computer gaming application. A plurality of frets can be disposed on a fingerboard and underlying the strings. The frets may include electrically conductive zones that can be electrically insulated from each other, and each zone corresponds to a different string. A polyphonic pickup having a plurality of wire-wound coils coupled to corresponding magnetic returns can be included, and can be adapted to detect striking of at least one of the strings by a user of the game controller. Output signals may be sent from the controller to the gaming application indicative of fingering of the game controller and the time at which the strings of the game controller are struck. Multi-mode apparatus are also described. A stringed apparatus may be used as both a game controller and an instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: 745 LLC
    Inventors: Bernard Chiu, Stephen Paul Webster, Paul Fransoza, Andrea Gaiter, Wendy Mittelstadt, Ilissa Schild, Craig Small, Gabriel Viani, David Yiu
  • Publication number: 20110218022
    Abstract: Stringed instruments, game controllers, and related structures and methods are described. A game controller having one or more strings is described for a computer gaming application. A plurality of frets can be disposed on a fingerboard and underlying the strings. The frets may include electrically conductive zones that can be electrically insulated from each other, and each zone corresponds to a different string. A polyphonic pickup having a plurality of wire-wound coils coupled to corresponding magnetic returns can be included, and can be adapted to detect striking of at least one of the strings by a user of the game controller. Output signals may be sent from the controller to the gaming application indicative of fingering of the game controller and the time at which the strings of the game controller are struck. Multi-mode apparatus are also described. A stringed apparatus may be used as both a game controller and an instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: 745 LLC
    Inventors: Bernard Chiu, Stephen Paul Webster, Paul Fransoza, Andrea Gaiter, Wendy Mittelstadt, Ilissa Schild, Craig Small, Gabriel Viani, David Yiu
  • Publication number: 20100234109
    Abstract: A fret and method of making the fret are disclosed. The fret can include a body portion made of a non-conductive material, a first end, a second end, and a length defined between the first and second ends. A plurality of electrically conductive elements can be disposed along at least part of the body portion. Each element can be electrically insulated from the other conductive elements by the body portion. The method can include 1) providing a blank formed of electrically conductive material, 2) processing the blank to provide a plurality of electrically conductive elements, 3) affixing a body portion made of a non-conductive material to the plurality of electrically conductive elements, the body portion electrically insulating each element from the other conductive elements, and 4) removing material from the processed blank and affixed body portion to form a perimeter of the fret in a desired shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: 745 LLC
    Inventors: Bernard Chiu, Mark Izen, Paul Fransoza, Andrea Gaiter, Wendy Mittelstadt, Ilissa Schild, Craig Small, Gabriel Viani, Stephen Paul Webster, David Yiu