Patent Application
20240185818
This disclosure relates generally to electronic musical instruments. More particularly, this disclosure relates to electronic percussion instruments such as tom toms, snare drums, bass drums, cymbals, and hi-hats, and/or to assemblies of instruments (e.g. percussion instruments), such as drum sets. Even more particularly, this disclosure relates to wireless electronic percussion instruments, and percussion instruments with interchangeable and/or removable components to change the instrument between a traditional percussion instrument (that relies on resonance and/or vibration to produce sound) and an electronic percussion instrument.
Prior art wireless electronic drums suffer from latency issues, such that there is a noticeable delay between when an instrument is actuated and when the electronic sound is produced. Prior art wired electronic drums do not suffer from the same latency issues, but are cumbersome due to the requirement for one or more wired connections to each instrument (e.g., for power and/or connection to a sound module). Some examples of prior art wireless electronic percussion instruments, the components and concepts of which may also be incorporated into embodiments of the present disclosure, are shown and described in Romanian Pat. Pub. No. RO 130805A1 to Piscoi, filed on Jun. 30, 2014, the entire contents of which are fully incorporated by reference herein.
One embodiment of a drum according to the present disclosure includes a drum shell with an inner wall, and an electronics portion within the inner wall. The electronics portion is attached to the drum shell, and includes a power source, one or more sensors configured to produce a sensor impulse upon actuation of the drum, a circuit for accepting sensor impulses from the one or more sensors, and a transmitter for sending instrument signals based on the sensor impulses.
Another embodiment of a drum according to the present disclosure includes a drum shell and a drumhead on the drum shell. The drum also includes one or more sensors, with at least one sensor connected to the underside of the drumhead to produce an impulse upon actuation of the drumhead. The drum also includes an electronic for accepting impulses from the one or more sensors and wirelessly sending an instrument signal to an external device. The electronic includes a circuit board and a transmitter.
One embodiment of an electronic musical instrument system according to the present disclosure includes a hub and one or more musical instruments. Each of the musical instruments includes a sensor configured to recognize an actuation of the musical instrument, an electronic, and a power source powering the electronic. The sensor is configured to produce an impulse in response to instrument actuation, and the electronic is configured to accept the sensor impulse and, in response, wirelessly transmit a signal to the hub.
One embodiment of a cymbal assembly according to the present disclosure includes a striking portion and an electronics portion under the striking portion. The electronics portion includes one or more force sensing sensors for recognizing a user moving edges of the striking portion and electronics portion closer together and producing a sensor impulse in response thereto, and also includes an electronic for accepting impulses from the one or more force sensing sensors.
Another embodiment of a cymbal assembly according to the present disclosure includes a striking portion and an electronics portion under the striking portion. The electronics portion includes a sensor module with one or more sensors for recognizing a user actuation of the striking portion and producing a sensor impulse in response thereto, and an electronics module for accepting sensor impulses from the sensor module. The electronics module is connected (e.g., detachably connected) to the sensor module.
One embodiment of a hi-hat assembly according to the present disclosure includes a top cymbal and a bottom cymbal. The assembly further includes a sensor, such as a sensor between the two cymbals and/or a sensor beneath the foot pedal, the sensor being configured to measure a variable corresponding to the distance between the top and bottom cymbals. In one specific embodiment, that variable is capacitance, and the sensor includes a capacitive lever.
This has outlined, rather broadly, the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure so that the detailed description that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described below. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the teachings of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features, which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further features and advantages, will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.
This disclosure relates generally to electronic musical instruments. More particularly, this disclosure relates to electronic percussion instruments such as tom toms, snare drums, bass drums, cymbals, and hi-hats, and assemblies of instruments (e.g., percussion instruments), such as drum sets. Even more particularly, this disclosure relates to wireless electronic percussion instruments, and percussion instruments with interchangeable and/or removable components to change the instrument between a traditional percussion instrument (that relies on resonance and/or vibration to produce sound) and an electronic percussion instrument. The present disclosure also relates to electronic cymbal instruments, such as cymbal assemblies and hi-hat assemblies, some embodiments of which can be used in conjunction with a traditional acoustic metal cymbal.
It is understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. Similarly, if an element is “attached to,” “connected to,” or similar, another element, it can be directly attached/connected to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. Furthermore, relative terms such as “inner”, “outer”, “upper”, “top”, “above”, “lower”, “bottom”, “beneath”, “below”, and similar terms, may be used herein to describe a relationship of one element to another. Terms such as “higher”, “lower”, “wider”, “narrower”, and similar terms, may be used herein to describe angular and/or relative relationships. It is understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the elements or system in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures.
Although the terms first, second, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, or section from another. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, a first element, component, region, or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, or section without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure.
Embodiments of the disclosure are described herein with reference to view illustrations that are schematic illustrations. As such, the actual thickness of elements can be different, and variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances are expected. Thus, the elements illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.
Devices, systems, and methods according to the present disclosure can be designed to be wireless while also reducing/minimizing latency between a musician actuating an electronic instrument and a sound being produced. Musical instruments according to the present disclosure can include one or more sensors for sensing a user actuation, as well as a means for wirelessly transmitting messages to an outside source, or “hub.” The hub serves as a location for receiving messages/signals from one or more such musical instruments, and converting those messages/signals into a format that is playable by one or more sound sources, such as speakers. For instance, the hub can convert the received message (s) into a MIDI note using the MIDI standard, though it is understood that other standards are possible. In other embodiments, user actuations can be converted on-site at and/or in each musical instrument into a format playable by a sound source (e.g., MIDI format).
In embodiments of the present disclosure, messages/signals can be sent using various specifications known in the art, such as the ZigBee specification. In one embodiment, the signal can be sent using a frequency-shift keying (FSK) frequency modulation scheme. One specific embodiment uses Bluetooth and/or FSK. While prior art plug-in (i.e., wired) modules have typically experienced latency in the range of 4-12 ms, embodiments of the present disclosure have experienced latencies of 20 ms or under, 15 ms or under, 12 ms or under, 10 ms or under, 8 ms or under, 6 ms or under, or even lower latency. It is understood that any signal sending specification with adequate latency performance could be used in embodiments of the present disclosure.
The hub can be connected to or part of a computer or instrument hardware module, or other device as is known in the art (e.g., a computer or a smartphone). In one embodiment, the hub is separate device connected to a computer (or other device as is known in the art, such as a smartphone), whether wirelessly or physically (such as via USB). The hub can then convert and/or send the received messages to the sound source, such as a speaker or headset, and/or to an intermediary, such as software (e.g., trigger interface software, virtual instrument software, virtual studio technology (VST) plugins, and/or other intermediaries). In some embodiments, the hub can convert the received messages to a format (e.g. MIDI) that is playable by a hardware-based sound module such that a computer and/or software are not needed. In some embodiments, the hub includes one or more receivers, and in one specific embodiment includes a single receiver (e.g., as part of a transceiver). In another embodiment, the hub includes more than one receiver (e.g., transceiver), thus allowing it to receive on more than one frequency at the same time without collisions. This can be particularly beneficial when a plurality of instruments are being used, and even more particularly beneficial when instruments within a system are transmitting on different frequencies than one another.
Instruments according to the present disclosure can include one or more sensors that are linked to an electronic conversion unit (hereinafter referred to as an “electronic” for simplicity), such as a circuit board, such as via wire connection. It is understood that the electronic may be a single physical element, or may be multiple elements working together. The electronic can include a transmitter and in some embodiments a receiver, which both may be included as a transceiver (the term “transceiver” being used hereinafter for simplicity, though it is understood that a separate receiver and/or transmitter may be used, and that a receiver may not be included).
The system can be configured such that the hub, or another recipient-end element, sends an acknowledgment signal when the message from the electronic is received. The electronic can include a resend protocol such that if an acknowledgment message is not received within a certain period of time, the electronic resends the original message. In a preferred embodiment, the resend time (i.e., the time that passes after which the electronic will resend if it has not received an acknowledgment signal) is 1 ms or less. This cycle can be repeated until a pre-set timeout, after which the electronic would no longer attempt to send the original message. Due to the resend time being 1 ms or less, it would take multiple resend attempts before a human would be able to recognize that the original signal had not gone through.
The content of the message sent by the electronic can include information beyond that determined by the input from the sensors. For instance, in one embodiment, the message includes two primary components: 1) the inputs from the one or more sensors, and 2) an identifier of the sender (e.g., an identifier of the electronic 200 and/or an instrument with which the electronic is associated). The inclusion of the identifier enables the hub to recognize the sender of the message. The hub can, in some embodiments, use this identifier to determine the final sound produced. For instance, if a tom tom and a snare were struck in the exact same manner and produced identical sensor messages, the hub could cause to be produced a different sound (e.g., a tom sound or a snare sound) based on whether the identifier signal indicated that the message had come from an electronic associated with a tom or an electronic associated with a snare.
In one embodiment using the method described above, each signal produced by an actuation can be 25 bytes or less; or 20 bytes or less; or 15 bytes or less; or 10 bytes or less; or 5 bytes or less; or 3 bytes or less. These signal sizes result in reduced latency and/or a reduced likelihood of interference.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a single hub is used to receive signals from multiple electronic instruments, and thus produce sounds (through one or more sound sources) from each of those instruments. For instance, a single hub can be used to receive signals from the various instruments of a drum set, such as 1) a snare drum, 2) one or more toms, 3) a bass drum, 4) a cymbal, and 5) a hi-hat.
Each electronic that is sending signals from an instrument as part of a system (e.g., a drum set) can transmit messages to the hub on the same frequency. Because of the relatively small size of each message as discussed above and/or because each message according to the present disclosure can be 250 μs or less in length, 200 μs or less in length, 150 μs or less in length, or less than 100 μs in length, there is a low chance of interference. Further, should two or more messages collide, the resend protocol will likely result in all messages being received with only a very slight delay that would not cause any noticeable change in sound production. The use of a single frequency for the sending of all messages from the various instruments of a drum set both a) lessens the chance of outside interference, and b) simplifies the system as a whole, in that multiple frequencies for each of various instruments are not being used.
In one embodiment, all messages sent to the hub by the various electronics of a drum set use a first frequency, while all acknowledgment messages sent by the hub use a second (different) frequency. This prevents the collision of data signals (from the electronics) and acknowledgment signals (from the hub). Generally speaking, this results in lower message failure than embodiments where the data signals and acknowledgment signals use the same frequency; however, it is understood that embodiments with the data and acknowledgment signals on the same frequency are possible.
Each individual instrument can include its own electronic. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, each of two or more electronics of a system (e.g., the electronics for different instruments of a drum set) can be set with a different resend time. This can stagger resends should two messages from respective electronics happen to interfere with one another, such as if a drummer were to actuate two instruments at the exact same time. If the resend protocols of the instruments were set with the exact same time, this could result in resend an interference loop, whereas staggering resend times results in the messages being sent at slightly different times and thus not interfering with one another.
Additionally, electronics according to the present disclosure can perform a check of the frequency prior to sending a signal. If the frequency is busy/being used already, then the electronic can delay sending for a short period of time (e.g., 1 ms or less) before either sending the signal or performing another check to see if the frequency is clear.
The electronic 200 may be, for instance, a circuit board such as a PCB, such as in the embodiment shown. Terminals 202 (e.g. 202a-202d) may be configured to receive signals from different sensors. For example, the terminal 202a may be wired to accept sensor impulses caused by a strike on a drumhead, while the terminal 202b may be wired to accept impulses from drumhead vibration. In some other embodiments, the different terminals may be designed for different instruments. For instance, while the terminals 202a, 202b may be designed for a snare drum, the terminal 202c, 202d may be configured for connection to a hi-hat or cymbal assembly. In this way, the same electronic 200 can be used for many different percussion instruments, and in some embodiments the same type of electronic can be used for all of the percussion instruments in a drum set. The electronic 200 can include a module 210. The module 210 itself can include any combination, with or without additional components, of 1) a transceiver (such as a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz FSK transceiver), 2) a signal booster, 3) an antenna, and 4) a shield to protect from interference. It is understood that while embodiments of the present disclosure often refer to the electronic 200, other types of electronics could be used as would be understood by one of skill in the art in light of the present disclosure.
Instruments (such as percussion instruments) according to the present disclosure can have interchangeable and/or removable parts such that they can be used as an electronic instrument or an acoustic instrument. For instance, the percussion instrument can have a drumhead or a set of drumheads (or other striking surfaces) that is/are relatively quiet when struck, such as mesh, PET, polyester, or rubber drumheads (or other materials as known in the art, such as those traditionally used with electronic drums), for use when the drum is in electronic mode and/or when electronic components are in place; and a drumhead or set of traditional drumheads made of traditional acoustic materials, such as Mylar and plastics, or other materials known in the art, for use when the drum is in acoustic mode and/or when electronic components are not in place. It should be understood that the above materials listings are exemplary in nature and not limiting; for instance, in certain instances, a material described above as a typical electronic material may be used as an acoustic material, and vice versa, depending on user choice. These concepts can be applied to, for example, snare drums, tom toms, bass drums, congas, bongos, timbales, timpani/tympani/kettle drum(s), cymbals, hi-hats, and other instruments as would be understood by one of skill in the art.
It is understood that the electronics could also be used with a traditional drumhead, such that the sound produced by actuation would be the combination of a traditional acoustic sound and an electronic sound. It is further understood that the electronics portion could remain in place and/or attached to the drum but be inactive, so that when a traditional drumhead is used, an acoustic sound s produced without any electronic sound. The electronics portion can be mechanically designed so as to, to the extent possible, avoid interfering with the acoustic sound when the electronics portion is “off.” For instance, the electronics portion of a snare drum such as the snare drum 300 (discussed in detail below) can contact less than 20% of the inner wall area of a drum shell, less than 10% of the inner wall area of the drum shell, less than 5% of the inner wall area of the drum shell, less than 2.5% of the inner wall area of the drum shell, less than 1% of the inner wall area of the drum shell, or less. The contact with the inner wall area of the drum shell can, in some embodiments, be substantially symmetrical about the radius of the drum shell.
Below are embodiments of drums specific incorporating elements and concepts of the present disclosure. It is understood, however, that the elements and concepts described with respect to each example are not specifically limited to that type of instrument. For instance, the electronics portion 500 described with regard to the snare drum 300 can be used in other instruments such as the bass drum 600; the dampening concept described with regard to the bass drum 600 can be used with other types of drums such as the snare drum 300; etc. Many different embodiments are possible as would be understood by one of skill in the art.
The electronics portion 500 can be below the top drumhead and/or approximately in the center of the drum 300, and/or be connected to the drum body by the arms 304 and/or other components, such as the brackets 320 (which will be discussed in further detail below). The electronics portion 500 can include multiple connection holes 508 (some of which are not in use in
The drum 300 can include brackets 320. The brackets 320 can be attached to an inner wall of the drum 300. Each bracket 320 can connect to one of the arms 304 of the trigger platform 302, as shown, such as using drum screws 306 and/or other connectors. The brackets 320 can have an adjustable height with respect to the inner wall of the drum 300, which can make the drum 300 adaptable to different components. For instance, as shown in
In
In some embodiments, instead of or in addition to arms 304, a support structure such as a circular support structure (e.g., a plate or disc) can be used (e.g., as part of a trigger tray), which can connect to the inner drum shell wall and/or to other components such as the brackets 320. For instance,
It is understood that while the above interchangeability concepts have been described with regard to the snare drums 300, 400, they could be applied to other instruments, such as but not limited to tom toms and bass drums (such as the bass drum 600 shown in
The wireless format of the present disclosure also has distinct advantages over prior art wireless devices, such as wireless microphones. The system, such as the system 300, can be powered by a local and/or self-contained source (though it is understood that other embodiments are possible). For instance, the system can be powered by batteries 504, which can be removable/replaceable. In the embodiment shown, the batteries 504 can be included in the electronics portion 500, such as within a main body or housing 502 of the electronics portion 500. The electronic 200 can be proximate and/or in the same location as the batteries 504, such as within the main body 502 of the electronics portion, to allow for simple powering of the electronic 200. The electronics portion 500 can be configured such that battery power (and/or whatever other power source is being utilized) is only used when the drum is struck and for a short time thereafter; after which, the electronics portion 500 can reduce power usage, such as going into a low power mode and/or a dormant mode and/or being turned “off,” resulting in an energy savings over prior art wireless devices. In some embodiments, the battery usage is subject to at least two levels of low power mode: a first reduced power mode between the production of signals, and a second, lower reduced power mode that is triggered when no signals are produced for a certain period of time (i.e., a “sleep” mode). This is in contrast to prior art methods employed by, for example, typical wireless microphones, which send a continuous signal and thus require continuous power usage (instead of sending discrete signals). Moreover, continuous signals, such as those used by prior art wireless microphones, are more susceptible to interference.
In this and other embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be understood that power sources other than batteries 504 are possible, including but not limited to energy harvesting power sources, such as by using ambient background energy. Any type of power source can be used, including but not limited to photovoltaic, piezoelectric, solar, electrostatic, magnetic, thermoelectric, solar, pyroelectric, energy harvesting (e.g. using ambient background energy, kinetic energy, etc.) etc. This type of powering is made possible and/or enhanced at least in part by the relatively low power requirement due to the discrete power usage described above (as opposed to the continuous power usage of, e.g., a wireless microphone). Generally, a locally mounted power source such as batteries is beneficial in that it eliminates the need for a wired connection. However, wired power connections are also possible (even if the signals from actuation are sent wirelessly). Any type of power is possible.
The electronics portion (s) of instruments according to the present disclosure, including but not limited to the electronic portions 500, can receive updates electronically and wirelessly such that they never need to be connected via wire to another device.
In the specific embodiment of
In some embodiments, multiple triggers (such as the trigger 530) can be used. For instance, in one embodiment, one central trigger 530 (which can be in the middle of the drum) can be surrounded by two, three, four, or more secondary triggers, which can be equidistant from the central trigger 530. The secondary triggers can be placed radially around the central trigger 530. In one embodiment, they are approximately halfway from the central trigger 530 to the drum shell; in another embodiment, they are approximately halfway or more from the central trigger 530 to the shell; in another embodiment, they are less than halfway from the central trigger 530 to the shell. Additionally, embodiments not including a central trigger 530 are possible. For instance, two (or three, four, or more) triggers centered about the drumhead could be used, such as radially located triggers. The triggers can be used both to detect the force of a strike, and/or to detect its position (e.g., via triangulation, or other methods known in the art). These secondary sensors/triggers can be connected to the electronics portion 500, such as via wire (s), wirelessly, or as otherwise would be understood by one of skill in the art. The secondary sensors/triggers can be piezoelectric sensors or other sensors as known in the art.
The addition of a second trigger in addition to the first trigger can help to prevent a “hotspot” where more volume is produced when the drumhead is struck near the single trigger, and can also assist in sensing where the drumhead is struck (i.e., in what “zone” the drumhead is struck). Similarly, a third trigger can prevent hotspots over a two-trigger embodiment, etc. Finally, sensor location arrangements can benefit from being symmetrical about the center of the drumhead, though it is understood that asymmetrical arrangements are also possible. Some specifically contemplated embodiments include 1) a central trigger with two other triggers on diametrically opposing sides of the central trigger; 2) a central trigger with three other triggers substantially forming a triangle about the central trigger; 3) a triangular formation of secondary triggers (with or without a central trigger); and 4) a square or diamond-shaped formation of secondary triggers (with or without a central trigger). Many different embodiments are possible.
The central trigger 530 and additional sensors can be connected in parallel with one another, as opposed to acting independently. In other embodiments, the central trigger 530 is independent while two or more side sensors are connected with each other in parallel. A mean/average of sensing values can be used with the parallel connected sensors, which can also aid in hotspot reduction. In other embodiments, the triggers are not connected in series or in parallel to one another, but instead act independently.
It is understood that numerous different types of triggers and/or trigger materials can be used. For instance, some alternative trigger materials that can be used in embodiments of the present disclosure include force sensitive (“FS”) sensors, such as force sensitive resistor (“FSR”) sensors, smart fabrics, and other materials.
The electronics portion 500 can include one or more additional sensors beyond the first sensor 530 and one or more secondary drumhead triggers. For instance, a second sensor (or group of sensors) can be included as part of the electronics portion 500, such as a sensor included within the main body or housing 502 of the electronics portion 500. The second sensor can be used for a multitude or purposes. In the embodiment shown, the first sensor 530 is used to detect a strike on the head of the drum, while the second sensor detects vibrations of the drum shell. The second sensor can be mechanically linked to the drum shell for this purpose, such as via components of the trigger tray (e.g., the arms 304, support structure 412). In this embodiment and other embodiments, the second sensor can be used to detect, for example, rim shots and/or cross-sticks, where a user causes vibration of the rim. It is understood that other sensor locations for sensing vibration and/or rim strikes are possible. The vibration sensor (s) can be a piezoelectric sensor or other type of sensor as known in the art. In one embodiment, the vibration sensor (s) is included within and/or as part of the electronics portion 500, though many different embodiments and locations are possible.
Sensing can also be used to recognize the presence of pressure on the top drumhead, such as the presence of a user's hand on the top drumhead. For instance, a force sensing sensor (referred to herein as an “FS sensor”) (e.g., a force-sensing resistor (“FSR”) sensor) can be utilized for this purpose. One or more FS sensors can be placed on the top drum head, such as on the bottom of the top drum head, and can be used to sense when a user applies pressure to the top surface of the drum head. Upon user actuation, the electronics (such as the electronic 200, described above) can recognize a signal sent by the FS sensor, indicating whether (and in some instances, how much) pressure has been applied to the top drum head (such as by a user's hand). The electronic (e.g., the electronic 200) can then adjust the signal produced based on the inputs from the FS sensor so as to produce a different sound than if no pressure were sensed. While these embodiments are described herein with regard to FS sensors, it is understood that other types of sensors that measure force, displacement, and/or pressure could be used.
In the specific embodiment shown, the FS sensor 592 is below one or more foam components 594 of the electronics portion 500, such as between pieces of foam or on the base of the top of the lid of the electronics portion 500 and/or beneath the foam components, though many different locations are possible. When a user places his or her hand on the top drumhead, the top of the electronics portion 500 is pressed downward, thus activating the FS sensor 592. The pressure of the user's hand (or other similarly applied pressure) is typically more than the pressure of, for instance, a strike upon the drumhead using a drum stick. Thus, the sensing of the FS sensor can determine whether or not a user's hand is on the drumhead and send a message and/or impulse accordingly, and the electronic components can utilize this input to adjust the produced sound accordingly. For instance, in one embodiment, the FS sensor can be used to differentiate between when a user plays a cross stick (a drumming technique whereby a user applies pressure to the drumhead while also striking the rim of the drum with a drumstick) versus when a user plays a rimshot (a drumming technique whereby the user strikes both the head and rim with the drumstick). The differentiation in the signal can be used by the electronic components, such as the electronic 200, in order to determine the type of sound that should be produced (e.g., a cross stick sound versus a rimshot sound). It should be understood that many other different usages and locations of FS sensors according to the present disclosure are possible, and that pressure sensors other than FS/FSR sensors can be used.
Prior art acoustic snare drums often include a “throw-off,” such as the throw-off 380 shown in
In some embodiments of snare drums according to the present disclosure, a sensor can be included so as to sense the position of the throw-off 380. In one specific embodiment, a sensor informs the electronics (e.g., the electronics portion 500 and/or electronic 200) of the position that the throw-off is physically in (e.g., using an electronic switch), and the electronics thus adjust the produced signal based on that position. For instance, if the throw-off is sensed to be in the “upward” position such that the snare of an acoustic drum would be held against the bottom head, the signal (s) produced upon actuation of the drum will produce a sound customary of a snare drum; whereas if the throw-off is sensed to be in a “downward” position, the signal (s) produced upon actuation will produce a sound that is more typical of a tom). The sensor can be, for instance, a switch, a potentiometer, a proximity sensor, or any other variable or switched sensor that is capable of determining physical position.
Additionally, when the snare is in contact with the bottom head, the amount of contact can be fine-tuned using a tension adjuster such as a lever or joystick, so as to fine tune the sound produced by the snare drum. Some such devices and methods are described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,143,507 to Good et al., which is fully incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Movement of the lever or joystick may also result in the removal of the snare from the bottom head, resulting in the same sound as if the throw-off had been put into the “off” position. As with the throw-off, one or more of the previously-described sensors can be used in conjunction with the tension adjuster to sense its position, and adjust the signal produced upon actuation so as to reflect the position of the tension adjuster.
While the above describes switched embodiments, it is understood that continuous controller embodiments (which sense actual position, as opposed to being “on” or “off”) are also possible and contemplated in embodiments of the present disclosure. Such sensors can be used to determine, for instance, how tightly a snare is being held against the bottom drumhead, which can cause differentiation in the sounds to be produced.
Tom tom drums are mechanically very similar in nature to snare drums, though they do not include a snare or accompanying components (e.g., throw-off and snare adjustment lever). Thus, a tom tom drum according to the present disclosure could include any of the trigger sensors, vibration sensors, and/or pressure sensors described above with regard to the snare drum. The concepts and components described above with regard to a snare drum could be applied to a tom tom drum (or similar) as would be understood by one of skill in the art.
The drum 600 can include a trigger platform 602, which can include arms 604 and an electronics portion 608. The electronics portion 608 may be in the center, or may be off-center as shown, such as being horizontally centered but below the vertical midpoint of the rear drumhead (not shown in
The drum 600 can also include brackets 620, and the arms 604 and brackets 620 can be similar to the arms 304 and brackets 320 and/or connected in a similar or the same way. The arms 604 (and the arms 304 from
The trigger platform 602 can also include a dampener 632 designed to abut the surface of the rear drumhead. The dampener can be between the substrate 630 and the rear drumhead in embodiments where the substrate 630 is present, such that the substrate 630 provides support for the dampener 632 (though some embodiments include a dampener but not a substrate), and the dampener 632 can directly abut the substrate and/or the rear drumhead in some embodiments. The dampener can be, for example, foam, rubber, and/or other materials known in the art, and can be one integral piece (as shown) or multiple pieces. The dampener can be attached in manners known in the art, such as being attached to the substrate 630 using posts, male/female attachments, fasteners, and/or adhesives; many different embodiments are possible. The dampener 632 can cover and/or be in contact with 5% or more of the rear drumhead's inner surface, 10% or more of the rear drumhead's inner surface, 25% or more of the rear drumhead's inner surface, 33% or more of the rear drumhead's inner surface, 50% or more of the rear drumhead's inner surface, 66% or more of the rear drumhead's inner surface, 75% or more of the rear drumhead's inner surface, 90% or more of the rear drumhead's inner surface, or more. The dampener 632 can have an area of 5% or more of the rear drumhead area, 10% or more of the rear drumhead area, 25% or more of the rear drumhead area, 33% or more of the rear drumhead area, 50% or more of the rear drumhead area, 66% or more of the rear drumhead area, 75% or more of the rear drumhead area, 90% or more of the rear drumhead area, or more. The dampener 632 can be approximately circular as is shown in
The dampener 632 can help to lessen the acoustic sound produced by the drum 600, such as be lessening the vibration of the rear drumhead after it is struck by a beater. This can be true whether an electronic drumhead (e.g., made of a material previously described such as PET) or an acoustic drumhead is used.
The entire trigger platform 602, including but not limited to arms 604, electronics portion 608, substrate 630, and dampener 632 can be removed and an acoustic rear drumhead placed on the drum 600 to provide the user with a traditional drum that can include all of the traditional components (e.g., lugs and tensioning screws). Like the drum 300, an acoustic rear drumhead can also be used in conjunction with the trigger platform 602. It is understood that dampeners can be used in instruments other than bass drums, such as the snare drum 300, other types of drums and/or percussion instruments, or other types of instruments altogether.
One or more pressure sensors, such as FS sensors (e.g., FSR sensors), can be used as part of the drum 600. For instance, the electronics portion 608 can be similar to the electronics portion 500, and contain an FS sensor similar to or the same as the FS sensor 592. Whereas the FS sensor 592 used in conjunction with the snare drum 300 is most often used to sense whether a user is applying pressure to the top drumhead, an FS sensor used in conjunction with a bass drum such as the bass drum 600 can sense whether (and to what extent) a user is “burying” the bass drum pedal into the bass drum 600. Burying a bass drum pedal is a technique by which a drummer attempts to (or accomplishes) holding the beater head against the bass drum instead of allowing it to rebound, resulting in less resonance. The FS sensor can sense the extent to which a user buries the beater head, and adjust the electronically produced sound accordingly.
Additionally, some embodiments of the present disclosure can be drum heads that already include the components previously described. For instance, it is contemplated that an electronic drum head could include an electronic (e.g., the electronic 200) therein or on a bottom surface thereof, with or without a support structure, and the electronic drum head could be used with various instruments.
Below are specific embodiments of percussion instruments incorporating elements and concepts of the present disclosure, those percussion instruments including one or more cymbals. It is understood, however, that the elements and concepts described with respect to each example are not specifically limited to that type of instrument. Many different embodiments are possible as would be understood by one of skill in the art.
The secondary bell 704 can be over the striking portion 702, while the electronics portion 750 is underneath the striking portion 702. The electronics portion 750 (including one or both of the electronics module 752 and the sensor module 754), striking portion 702, and secondary bell 704 can each be shaped to define an axial hole through which a stand rod (e.g., a cymbal stand rod) can pass, with each of these components mounted to the stand and resembling a traditional acoustic cymbal stand assembly.
In some embodiments, the striking portion 702 and/or the electronics portion 750 have circular cross-sections, and/or are disc-shaped. The electronics portion 750 can have the same radius, area, and/or cross-sectional size as the striking portion 702, or may have a smaller radius, area, and/or cross-sectional size, as in the embodiment shown, which can help to hide the electronics portion 750 from view. The electronics portion 750 can have an area that is smaller than the striking portion 702 bottom area but that is 25% or more, 33% or more, 50% or more, 66% or more, 75% or more, 90% or more, or even more of the striking portion 702 bottom area. The electronics portion 750 can be approximately circular, and can have a radius that is less than 100% of, but 25% or more, 33% or more, 50% or more, 66% or more, 75% or more, 90% or more, or more of the striking portion 702 radius. The outer edge of the electronics portion 750 can be inwardly offset from the edge of the striking portion 702 by various distances, such as 3″ or less, 2.5″ or less, 2″ or less, 1.5″ or less, 1″ or less, ¾″ or less, ½″ or less, ¼″ or less, or even less; and/or by 1/32″ to 2″, 1/16″ to 1.5″, 1/16″ to 1″, ⅛″ to 1″, ⅛″ to ¾″, or ⅛″ to ½″; and/or by 1/32” or more, 1/16″ or more, ⅛″ or more, 1/4″or more, 1/2″ or more, ¾″ or more, 1″ or more, 1.5″ or more, 2″ or more, or even more. Combinations of these ranges are possible, and it is understood that offsets outside these ranges are also possible.
In some embodiments, the striking portion 702 is a traditional cymbal and can be made of metal, such as copper alloys (e.g., bell bronze, malleable bronze, brass, nickel silver). In some other embodiments, the striking portion 702 is made of and/or comprises a material that makes less noise when actuated, such as plastic, Mylar, PET, rubber, and/or other materials as known in the art or previously described herein. The electronics portion 750 can be made of various materials known in the art, such as plastics and/or metal. Many different materials are possible.
The cymbal assembly 700 can include one or more sensors for recognizing a user actuation. A traditional cymbal will make a different sound depending on where it is struck: the bell (the raised middle portion), the bow (the main body of the cymbal, extending from the bottom of the bell outward), and the edge. The bell, bow, and edge of the striking portion 702 are shown as elements 702a, 702b, 702c, respectively, in
With regard to the bell sensor group, one or more sensors (e.g., piezoelectric sensors) can be placed on the underside of the secondary bell 704 or elsewhere as would be understood by one of skill in the art (e.g., on the top of the bell 702a). The sensors can be placed onto the underside of the secondary bell 704 through an attachment aperture in the striking portion 702, such as the attachment aperture 702d. An attachment aperture 702d can be included for each sensor that is attached. Any number of sensors can be attached, such as one bell sensor, two bell sensors, three bell sensors, or more. The use of attachment apertures 702d can be helpful in preventing shorting of the sensors, such as by allowing an attachment mechanism such as adhesive an outlet when the sensor is placed through the attachment aperture 702d and pressed against the underside of the secondary bell 704.
The use of the secondary bell 704 instead of the bell of the striking portion 702 can be beneficial in that it can result in reduced acoustic resonance of the striking portion 702. The secondary bell 704 can have an area that is 50% or less, 25% or less, 20% or less, 15% or less, 10% or less, or even less the area of the striking portion 702. The secondary bell 704 can be separated from the striking portion 702, such as via one or more separators 706, such as rubber separators or washers, in order to reduce and/or prevent contact to the secondary bell 704 being transferred to the striking portion 702. However, it is understood that in other arrangements, the bell of the striking portion 702 may be used. In such arrangements, sensors for recognizing bell strikes may be included as part of the electronics portion 750.
One or more bow sensors can be included as part of the electronics portion 750, such as on the sensor module 754. For instance, in the specific embodiment shown, three sensors can be included at the locations 754a. These sensors can be used to recognize actuations on the bow of the cymbal assembly 700. The bow sensors can be piezoelectric sensors, or other sensors as would be understood by one of skill in the art. It is understood that any number of sensors can be used, with two or more (e.g., three) sensors being beneficial to the reduction of hotspots.
The striking portion 702 and the electronics portion 750 can be separated by a relatively small distance when at rest, such as an inch or less, ¾″ or less, ½″ or less, ¼″ or less, or even less. This separation can be achieved using a separator such as an O-ring, which can, for example, be placed in a channel on the topside of the electronics portion, such as the channel 760 on the topside of the sensor module 754. In other embodiments, the striking portion 702 and electronics portion 750 may be in direct contact.
In some embodiments, a dampening material is included between the electronics portion 750 and the striking portion 702 to reduce the acoustic sound produced by an actuation of the striking portion 702. The dampening material could be included, for instance, on the topside of the sensor module 754 and/or the entire electronics portion 750. The damping material can cover 25% or more, 50% or more, 75% or more, 85% or more, 90% or more, or even more of the area of the underside of the striking portion 702, though other embodiments are possible. The dampening material can be, for instance, foam, rubber, and/or any other material that can reduce the acoustic sound that would otherwise be produced by an actuation of the striking portion 702 as would be understood by one of skill in the art
In some embodiments, the sensors are uncovered by and/or stick through the dampening material which is otherwise generally over the top surface of the sensor module 754, such as an embodiment where cutouts are included in the dampening material in the area of the sensors. In other embodiments, the dampening material serves as a mechanical link between the sensors and the underside of the striking portion 702. In other embodiments, the sensors are uncovered by and/or stick through the dampening material, and are mechanically linked to the underside of the striking portion 702 in another manner, such as via one or more mechanical posts that can be made of, for instance, rubber or another material as would be understood by one of skill in the art. In other embodiments, the sensors may not be in physical contact with the striking portion 702. In other embodiments, the sensors may be in direct physical contact with the striking portion 702. Many different embodiments are possible.
The cymbal assembly 700 can also include one or more edge sensors. The edge sensors can be placed around the edge of the electronics portion 750, such as around the top edge 754b of the sensor module 754. The top edge 754b of the sensor module 754 can include an edge wall at the end thereof, or may not include such a wall and simply end at a ledge. The top edge 754b can be substantially flat in nature to allow for the placement of the edge sensor (s).
In one embodiment, a singular and/or monolithic edge sensor can be used to cover more than 180°, 270° or more, 300° or more, 330° or more, 345° or more, 350° or more, or 355° or more of the top edge 754b. A small gap between the ends of the edge sensor can be included so as to allow for easier placement, since the top edge 754b, while substantially flat, can be slightly frustoconical in shape (like a traditional cymbal). It is understood that other embodiments are possible, such as an embodiment where a singular and/or monolithic edge sensor covers 360° of the top edge 754b, and an embodiment where two or more sensors are used to cover more than 180°, 270° or more, 300° or more, 330° or more, 345° or more, 350° or more, or 355° or more of the top edge 754b, and/or less than 360º. In embodiments with multiple sensors, the sensor ends may meet, may overlap, or a gap may be left between them. Many different embodiments are possible.
With a traditional acoustic cymbal, a user can “choke” the cymbal (i.e., stop the cymbal from producing sound after an actuation, or lessen that sound) by grabbing the underside and topside of the cymbal with his fingers, causing a reduction in the cymbal's vibration. The edge sensor (s) can be used 1) to recognize a choke, and/or 2) to recognize an edge strike. In another embodiment, the edge sensor (s) are used only to recognize a choke, while the bow sensor (s) described above recognize an edge strike. Many different embodiments are possible.
In one embodiment, the edge sensor is an FS sensor (e.g., FSR sensor) (or if multiple edge sensors are included, multiple FS sensors). The user can utilize a traditional choking movement, pressing down on the topside of the striking portion 702 and up on the underside of the electronics portion 750, such as the sensor module 754; and/or otherwise squeeze or move the edges of the striking portion 702 and electronics portion 750 closer together. As the striking portion 702 and the sensor module 754 are squeezed together, the FS sensor (s) senses increased pressure, and sends a corresponding impulse or message (such as to an electronic included in the electronics module 752, to be discussed in more detail below).
The use of one or more FS sensors for the edge sensor (s) can be particularly useful, in that it can act as a continuous controller instead of a switch. Whereas prior art electronic cymbals utilize a switch such that the cymbal is either completely choked or unchoked, a continuous controller embodiment such as the cymbal assembly 700 allows for a greater amount of control by the user. The user can, for instance, slightly choke the cymbal assembly 700 so as to quiet the sound and/or reduce the overall decay time and/or increase decay speed as a drummer could with a traditional acoustic cymbal (such as by squeezing the cymbal more gently). It is understood, however, that other embodiments are possible, such as switched embodiments and embodiments utilizing other types of sensors (e.g., piezoelectric edge sensors).
Other manners of causing the cymbal to “choke” are also possible, as opposed to squeezing together the striking portion 702 and electronics portion 750. For instance, in one embodiment, the cymbal assembly 700 can sense certain types of contact from a user, such as a hand touch. In one embodiment, if a user uses his or her hand to touch both the striking portion 702 and the electronics portion 750, a circuit is completed. The completion of this circuit can result in a signal being sent that results in a “choke” of the cymbal. In other embodiments, one or more capacitive sensors may be used to recognize the proximity of the striking portion 702 and electronics portion 750. This recognition can be used by an included electronics portion in order to alter the signal produced by the instrument (e.g., to “choke” the cymbal).
The use of a multipiece electronics portion 750 can have distinct advantages over prior art arrangements. For instance, by including an electronics module 752 that is relatively small in conjunction with a sensor module 754 that corresponds more closely to the size of the striking portion 702, the same electronics module 752 can be used with a variety of sizes of striking portions and cymbal assemblies, or even other instruments. This results in greater manufacturing efficiency, since the same electronics module 752 can be used for a variety of different products. However, it is understood that monolithic/single piece electronics portions are possible.
The electronics module 752 can connect, such as detachably connect, with one or more of the other components of the cymbal assembly 700. For instance, as can be seen in
Because the cymbal assembly 700 is self-powered and transmits wirelessly, it does not require external connections, such as external wire connections. In prior art electronic cymbal assemblies, wire connections are required. These wire connections can prevent the free movement and rotation of the cymbal assembly striking portion, because such movement/rotation causes twisting of the external wires and/or wires running from a foot pedal to the cymbals. However, because external wire connections have been eliminated, the striking portion 702 of the cymbal assembly 700 can freely move and rotate similar to the cymbal of an acoustic cymbal assembly.
As another example of a cymbal instrument according to the present disclosure,
A ring 914, which can be of one or more sound dampening materials such as foam, rubber, and/or other materials known in the art, can be used to dampen and/or prevent acoustic sound being produced by the cymbals 910,920 coming into contact with one another. Other elements and methods for dampening could be used in addition to or in place of the ring 914 as would be understood by one of skill in the art.
The hi-hat 900 can also include electronics and related components, in this case as part of the top cymbal 920, though is it understood that other mounting arrangements are possible, such as being mounted to the topside of the bottom cymbal 910. For instance, electronics and related components can be included in an electronics module 952, shown in detail in
The shown assembly and other embodiments of the present disclosure can also include a capacitive lever 960. In the specific embodiment shown, the capacitive lever 960 includes a mount portion 960a and a lever portion 960b, though many different embodiments are possible, and the mount portion could be omitted in some embodiments. The lever portion 960b can be, for example, a spring metal strip, and can be made of a conductive material such as metal. The mount portion 960a can be round (similar to or the same as the mount portion 1060a discussed in more detail below), and can be covered by two layers: a conductive layer that can be connected to the electronic 200, and a non-conductive layer over and/or covering the conductive layer to prevent the lever portion 960b from making contact with the conductive layer because the non-conductive layer is between the conductive layer and the lever portion 960b. In the embodiment shown, the capacitive lever 960 is part of the electronics module 952, though other embodiments are possible. As with the cymbal assembly 700, by including the capacitive lever 960 as part of the electronics module 952, the electronics module 952 can be used with varying sizes of instruments such as hi-hats.
As the lever portion 960b is moved (in the embodiment shown, in the rotational direction shown and/or in the direction shown by the arrow, though other embodiments are possible) it flexes/rolls on the mount portion 960b, which can be round shaped. In embodiments where the mount portion 960b is round, this allows the lever portion 960b to gradually make more (or less) contact with the mount portion 960a as it changes position, resulting in great sensitivity and accuracy. As the lever portion 960b is moved, a capacitive displacement sensor measures the change in position and produces a signal corresponding to the position. This signal is an input into the electronic 200. In order to cause rotation of the capacitive lever, an actuator such as the actuator 962 can be used. The actuator in this embodiment is included above the bottom cymbal 910 and below the top cymbal 920, and can be mounted to the stand 930 and/or be included as part of the top cymbal 920. The actuator 962 can be circumferential in nature (e.g., as shown, a cup shape) so as to operate effectively no matter the orientation of the top cymbal 920 (and thus the capacitive lever 960). In operation, as the top cymbal 920 is moved downward, the capacitive lever 960 encounters the actuator 960 and is rotated upward. The capacitive displacement sensor can be used to measure the position of the capacitive lever 960 and, thus, the position of the top cymbal 920 in relation to the bottom cymbal 910 and/or the proximity of the cymbals 910,920.
In a traditional hi-hat assembly, the sound produced when a user strikes the top cymbal, such as with a drumstick, will vary based on the position of the top cymbal relative to the bottom cymbal. For instance, if a the user has actuated the pedal to a point where the top cymbal has moved halfway toward the bottom cymbal, then the sound produced upon striking the top cymbal will be different than the sound that is produced when striking the top cymbal when it is at its resting position. In the embodiment shown, when a user strikes the assembly with a drum stick, such as by striking the topside of the top cymbal 920, the relative position of the top and bottom cymbals 910,920 is measured using the capacitive lever 960, and a signal corresponding to that position is used as an input to produce a sound, such as an input to the electronic 200. The sensor impulse will vary based on the position of the capacitive lever 960, which itself varies based on the relative positions of the top and bottom cymbals 910,920 (in this case, based on the position of the top cymbal 920); and the sound produced can vary based on the message/impulse.
In this specific embodiment, the lever 960 is used to measure position through capacitance variation. However, other embodiments are possible. For instance, in some embodiments, a different mechanism than a lever is used, such as a compressible device whose vertical height varies based on the relative positions of the cymbals. In other embodiments, variables other than capacitance are used. In some embodiments, more than one measuring device (such as but not limited to levers) are used. In some embodiments, the measuring device, which is included as part of the electronics module 952 in a central position of the assembly, is in another position, such as a position near the rim of the cymbal or in an intermediate position. In one contemplated embodiment, an optical sensor is used to measure the distance between the two cymbals. In another contemplated embodiment, a sound and/or light reflection/time-of-flight measurement is used to determine the space between the two cymbals, such as an optical and/or time-of-flight sensor. Many different embodiments are possible.
An embodiment where electronics and/or the position sensing mechanism (such as the lever 960) are included proximate and/or between the cymbals, such as the assembly 900 where the electronics are included between the top and bottom cymbals 920, 910, can have distinct advantages over embodiments where cymbal position sensing elements are included elsewhere. For instance, when position sensing utilizes elements in the pedal, a wire often must be run from the pedal, such as to a transmitter/converter (e.g., the transmitter/converter 952). This can be cumbersome, and is avoided in the assembly 900 by including all or substantially all electronic components between and/or proximate the cymbals 910, 920. As with all of the embodiments of the present disclosure, this is also beneficial in that the user can select his or her own hardware to use with each drum, such as his or her favorite drum pedal.
As another example of a cymbal instrument according to the present disclosure,
In this embodiment, a capacitive lever 1060 similar to the capacitive lever 960 from
As can be best seen in
The electronic 200 can be connected to the cymbals 1010, 1020 and an electronics portion there (e.g., electronics portion 950), such as via the wire connection 1080, though it is understood that wireless versions are possible, such as versions where transmission is achieved wirelessly and/or where communication between the cymbals and electronic portion 1050 is not needed, such as embodiments where the pedal assembly is operating as an independent device with the role of informing the system (e.g., the hub) of pedal position.
It is understood that embodiments presented herein are meant to be exemplary. Embodiments of the present disclosure can comprise any combination of compatible features shown in the various figures, and these embodiments should not be limited to those expressly illustrated and discussed. For instance and not by way of limitation, the appended claims could be modified to be multiple dependent claims so as to combine any combinable combination of elements within a claim set, or from differing claim sets.
Although the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred configurations thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the disclosure should not be limited to the versions described above.
Additionally, it is understood that the components and concepts in the present disclosure can be applied to musical instruments not specifically mentioned herein. For instance, these components and concepts can be applied to handheld instruments (e.g. cowbells, congas, triangles, tambourines, shakers), musical instruments such as music pads, marching band instruments, and other types of percussion and non-percussion instruments. Additionally, the components and concepts (e.g., the electronics and/or electronics portions described here) could be part of a device or system separate from an instrument but attachable to an instrument (or a variety of different types of instruments), such as clip-on trigger devices, such as devices that are attachable to a drum rim and/or drumhead.
The foregoing is intended to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as expressed in the appended claims, wherein no portion of the disclosure is intended, expressly or implicitly, to be dedicated to the public domain if not set forth in the claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/153,824, filed on Jan. 20, 2021 and entitled “Electronic Cymbal Instruments and Systems,” which claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/963,504, filed on Jan. 20, 2020 and entitled “Electronic Musical Instruments,” and the priority benefit of U. S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/011,882, filed on Apr. 17, 2020 and entitled “Electronic Musical Instruments,” all three of which are fully incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. This application is also a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/153,819, filed on Jan. 20, 2021 and entitled “Electronic Musical Instruments and Systems,” which claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/963,504, filed on Jan. 20, 2020 and entitled “Electronic Musical Instruments,” and the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/011,882, filed on Apr. 17, 2020 and entitled “Electronic Musical Instruments,” all three of which are fully incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. PCT App. No. PCT/US21/14217, filed on Jan. 20, 2021 and entitled “Electronic Musical Instruments and Systems” is also fully incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62963504 | Jan 2020 | US | |
| 63011882 | Apr 2020 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17153824 | Jan 2021 | US |
| Child | 18443097 | US |
