Disney patents water harp that plays music when streams are broken
Disney has patented a system that uses a falling stream of water to simulate a stringed instrument. Light is sent through the water stream, and when the stream is broken, the loss of light triggers a controller to play a specific musical note.
In the filing’s own words
A system for simulating operation of a stringed instrument using a combination of water and light steams. The system includes a nozzle configured for outputting a falling laminar water stream. The system includes a light transmitter configured to inject light into a first end of the water stream and a light receiver configured to receive the light injected into the water stream and, in response, generate a signal. The system includes a controller configured for processing the signal and, in response to a lack of the signal, for operating an audio system to play a musical note or audio file. The system may include an optical fiber with a first end proximate to the nozzle oriented to receive the light injected into the water stream at the second end of the water stream, and the light receiver can be a photodetector coupled to the second end of the optical fiber.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A system for simulating operation of a stringed instrument using water and light, the system comprising: a nozzle configured for outputting a water stream, when supplied by a water source, that falls vertically and is substantially laminar; a light transmitter configured to inject light into a first end of the water stream, wherein the light transmitter is positioned a vertical distance below the nozzle, and wherein the first end of the water stream is a lower end; a light receiver configured to receive, at a second end of the water stream, the light injected into the water stream and, in response, to generate a signal; and a controller configured to: detect the signal, and in response to a lack of the signal, operate an audio system to play a musical note or audio file.
Facts
- Company
- Disney (DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.)
- Official title
- Water harp with optical sensing of the break of flowing water streams
- Patent number
- US12731567B2
- Application number
- 18128159
- Filed
- Mar 29, 2023
- Granted
- Sep 8, 2026
- Inventors
- 7
- Claims
- 24
Classified under
G10H 3/18 Physics & computingG10H 1/32 Physics & computingG10H 2220/181 Physics & computingG10H 2220/415 Physics & computingG10H 2230/125 Physics & computingMore from Disney in Audio & voice
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.