LED Learners Guitar Aid

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LED Learners Guitar Aid

• CpE-423/EE-423 Senior Design Group 36
• Daniel Atienza
• Justin Guzman
• Joseph Holko

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Outline

• Background
• Problem
• Approach
• Challenges
• Technical Specifics
• Financial Budget
• Summary

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Background

• Learning the Guitar
• Chords
• A basis for simple beginners songs.
• Tablature
• A system of notation using numbers and other
  visual cues instead of standard notation to
  indicate how a musical piece is to be played.

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Tablature
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Problem

• To create an inexpensive, innovative, visual way
  for one to learn the guitar.

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Approach

• Existent Designs
• The Optek Fretlight
• Initial Designs
• Embedded/Non-embedded
• Finalized Design
• Selection Criteria
• Benefits over Optek Fretlight

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Existent Product

• LEDs embedded in fret board
• Guides user through chords, songs scales via
  LEDs
• http//www.optekmusic.com

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Initial Design Options

• LEDs embedded in guitar
• Separate add-on component
• Controlled by dedicated circuitry
• Controlled by computer
• Provide user feedback

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Finalized Design

• Separate universal add-on component
• Interfaces with personal computer

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Challenges

• Controlling 70 LEDs without 140 wires
• Multiple LEDs on simultaneously
• Jacket must keep low profile
• Interfacing with computer
• Creating a fully realized interactive computer
  program

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Advantages Over the Optek Fretlight

• Not permanently built into guitar
• Fits most models of guitars
• Includes a set of LEDs indicating which strings
  should be strummed/plucked
• Interfaces with a laptop for more versatility

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Technical Specifics

• Utilization of an LED matrix
• The Parallel Port
• Outputs
• High Voltage (5V)
• Low Voltage (3V)
• Integrated Circuits
• 4x16 Multiplexer
• Hex Inverter

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Schematic
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Preliminary Test Circuit
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LED Matrix Housing Jacket

• Thin sheets of plastic laminate with circuitry
  pressed inside
• Must not exceed a height of 1.5mm
• Kingbright surface-mount LEDs

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Software Solutions

• Show picture of proper finger positions
• Show corresponding tablature
• Play sample sound upon users request
• Control guitar jacket through parallel port

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Lighting Multiple LEDs?

• LED matrix only allows for lighting of multiple
  LEDs if they are in the same column
• Software can solve this by quickly iterating a
  sequence
• Appears as though all LEDs are on simultaneously
  due to limitations of the human eye

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Financial Budget
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Summary

• LED learning guitar aid provides an inexpensive
  innovative way to visually learn the guitar.
• Improves upon an existent product both
  technically and fiscally

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Questions?