Patents Assigned to 745 LLC
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Patent number: 8469812Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Mark Izen, Paul Franzosa, Andrea Gaiter, Wendy Mittelstadt, Ilissa Schild, Craig Small, Gabriel Viani, Stephen Paul Webster, David Yiu
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Patent number: 8454418Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Stephen Paul Webster, Paul Fransoza, Andrea Gaiter, Wendy Mittelstadt, Ilissa Schild, Craig Small, Gabriel Viani, David Yiu
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Patent number: 8414369Abstract: A music game method includes retrieving song data having note information from a storage medium coupled to a computer system. The method also includes determining from the song data at least two note indicators to be presented sequentially and determining from the song data a leader between first and second note indicators. The leader provides information related to the second note indicator. A music game system includes a song manager module configured to retrieve song data having note information from a storage medium, and a user interface module configured to determine from the song data at least two note indicators to be presented sequentially and to determine from the song data a leader between first and second note indicators. Each note indicator is related to corresponding note information. The first and second note indicators are adjacent to one another.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2009Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Mark Izen, Matthew Sughrue, Jack Davis, Mikhail Chekmarev, Mashi Hasu, Leonard Eusebi
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Patent number: 8246461Abstract: 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. 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. Bracing structures and methods are also described for bracing stringed apparatus, such as stringed game controllers and instruments.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2009Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Mark Izen, Stephen Paul Webster, Jack Daniel Davis, Craig Small, Wendy Lynn Mittelstadt
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Patent number: 8198526Abstract: Electronic game components are described. The electronic game components may define radiation striking zones in which user strikes may be detected. In response to detecting the strikes, control signals for an audio generator or gaming console may be generated. The electronic game components may be used to simulate percussive instruments, with the radiation striking zones corresponding to percussive components of the simulated percussive instrument.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2010Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: 745 LLCInventors: Mark Izen, Craig Small, Stephen Paul Webster
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Patent number: 8017857Abstract: 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. 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. Bracing structures and methods are also described for bracing stringed apparatus, such as stringed game controllers and instruments.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2009Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Mark Izen, Stephen Paul Webster, Jack Daniel Davis, Craig Small, Wendy Lynn Mittelstadt, Gabriel J. Viani
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Publication number: 20110218022Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2010Publication date: September 8, 2011Applicant: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Stephen Paul Webster, Paul Fransoza, Andrea Gaiter, Wendy Mittelstadt, Ilissa Schild, Craig Small, Gabriel Viani, David Yiu
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Publication number: 20110086705Abstract: A music game method includes retrieving song data having note information from a storage medium coupled to a computer system. The method also includes determining from the song data at least two note indicators to be presented sequentially and determining from the song data a leader between first and second note indicators. The leader provides information related to the second note indicator. A music game system includes a song manager module configured to retrieve song data having note information from a storage medium, and a user interface module configured to determine from the song data at least two note indicators to be presented sequentially and to determine from the song data a leader between first and second note indicators. Each note indicator is related to corresponding note information. The first and second note indicators are adjacent to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2009Publication date: April 14, 2011Applicant: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Mark Izen, Matthew Sughrue, Jack Davis, Mikhail Chekmarev, Mashi Hasu, Leonard Eusebi
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Publication number: 20100279772Abstract: 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. 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. Bracing structures and methods are also described for bracing stringed apparatus, such as stringed game controllers and instruments.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2010Publication date: November 4, 2010Applicant: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Mark Izen, Stephen Paul Webster, Jack Daniel Davis, Craig Small, Wendy Lynn Mittelstadt
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Publication number: 20100261513Abstract: Electronic game components are described. The electronic game components may define radiation striking zones in which user strikes may be detected. In response to detecting the strikes, control signals for an audio generator or gaming console may be generated. The electronic game components may be used to simulate percussive instruments, with the radiation striking zones corresponding to percussive components of the simulated percussive instrument.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2010Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: 745 LLCInventors: Mark Izen, Craig Small, Stephen Paul Webster
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Publication number: 20100234109Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2010Publication date: September 16, 2010Applicant: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Mark Izen, Paul Fransoza, Andrea Gaiter, Wendy Mittelstadt, Ilissa Schild, Craig Small, Gabriel Viani, Stephen Paul Webster, David Yiu
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Publication number: 20090191932Abstract: 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. 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. Bracing structures and methods are also described for bracing stringed apparatus, such as stringed game controllers and instruments.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2009Publication date: July 30, 2009Applicant: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Mark Izen, Stephen Paul Webster, Jack Daniel Davis, Craig Small, Wendy Lynn Mittelstadt
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Publication number: 20090188371Abstract: 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. 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. Bracing structures and methods are also described for bracing stringed apparatus, such as stringed game controllers and instruments.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2009Publication date: July 30, 2009Applicant: 745 LLCInventors: Bernard Chiu, Mark Izen, Stephen Paul Webster, Jack Daniel Davis, Craig Small, Wendy Lynn Mittelstadt
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Patent number: D637190Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2010Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: 745 LLCInventors: John A. McGuire, II, Mark Izen, Craig Small, Gabriel Viani