What is "ebow"

The EBow or ebow is a brand name of Heet Sound Products, of Los Angeles, California, for the original type of monophonic handheld electromagnetic string driver, invented by Greg Heet in 1969, first introduced in 1976, and patented in 1978. The name Ebow stands for "Electronic Bow" or Energy Bow) (often spelled E-bow in common usage). The EBow is a battery-powered electronic device for playing the electric guitar. The EBow uses a pickup – inductive string driver – feedback circuit, including a sensor coil, driver coil, and amplifier, to induce forced string vibrations. The Ebow is monophonic, and drives one string at a time, producing a sound reminiscent of using a bow on the strings.