Abstract: A brass instrument having a mouthpiece connected by a pipe to a valved body which is in turn connected to an output bending and a bell thereby defining an air duct. The bell and the output bending are formed of separate and detachable parts. The brass instrument has an intermediate section between the output bending and the bell and a coupling member for detachably coupling the intermediate section to the output bending and to the bell respectively. The intermediate section has a plurality of subsections in telescopic relation to one another and parts for adjusting an overlap between the plurality of telescopic subsections so as to change a length of the intermediate section whereby to alter a tone of the instrument.

Abstract: Power output switching circuit for use in high current and high frequency applications. The output circuit provides a series of geometrically symmetric, parallel spaced semiconductor converters arranged such that the voltage for each semiconductor output device is substantially equal and minimal for each device. In this way, each device exhibits substantially the same impedance, such that circuit performance is largely a function of intrinsic device characteristics, and substantially independent of cross coupling and other external influences.

Abstract: An keyboard assembly for an electronic musical instrument is mainly constructed by a key frame, a key, a key switch and an assembly guide member. A fixing portion of the key is supported by the key frame such that a front portion of the key can be freely rotated up and down. An actuator is attached to and projected downward from a lower side of the key. The key switch (or a key-depression sensor) has an elastic projecting portion at its upper end. This key switch is provided on the key frame and is driven by the actuator, which depresses down the elastic projecting portion of the key switch when the key is depressed down. The assembly guide member guides the key when the key is moved in an assembling direction (i.e., a longitudinal direction of the key) in order to carry out an assembling operation to assemble the key and the key frame together.

Abstract: A compensator system for a stringed instrument is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of compensator blocks selectively positionable on the fretboard of a stringed instrument between its transverse projections. The compensator blocks extend upwardly in contact with the strings of the instrument. The blocks have a generally rectangular lower planar surface of a first length and first width and an upper planar surface of a second length and a second width. The width of the upper surface of the blocks is less than the width of the lower surface of the blocks thus forming tapered side walls between the upper and lower surfaces to form a trapezoidally-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The length of the lower surface of each block is essentially equal to the length of the fretboard between adjacent projections of the instrument.

Abstract: The sound box (3) of the stringed instrument surrounds components (6, 8), as a result of which the sound vibrations introduced by the playing strings (4, 5), across the bridge (1), on the top board (2) of the sound box (3) lead to oppositely directed or phase-displaced vibrations of the bottom wall (11). Thus, the pumping and sucking movement exerted by the vibrating (15) top board (2) on the air enclosed in the sound box (3) is supplemented by the sound vibrations of the bottom wall (11). The components enclosed for this purpose in the sound box (3) essentially comprise a lever (6) engaging on the top board (2) at two positions and located below the bridge (1), a support member (16) laterally supporting said lever on the sound box (3) and a supporting arch (8).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for operating a musical instrument, especially a keyboard instrument such as a piano. In one embodiment, a keyboard instrument is provided which is operable for producing a musical sound. The keyboard instrument is used in combination with a musical staff on which a musical composition has been recorded. The staff has a structure that corresponds with the arrangement of keys on a keyboard such that notes recorded in spaces on the staff correspond to white keys of the keyboard instrument and notes recorded on lines correspond to black keys of the keyboard instrument. The keyboard instrument is operated by depressing the appropriate corresponding white key for a note recorded on a space of the staff and depressing the appropriate black key for a note recorded on a line of a staff.

Abstract: A control apparatus and compliance control apparatus of a robot which performs operations while switching between a position control and a compliance control. When a transition from the position control to the compliance control is made, an integration operation of a speed control system is stopped. Thereafter, an integration value of the speed control system is stored in a memory, and, at the same time, the integration value is added to a torque reference. Alternately, a gravity compensation value is added to the torque reference, the gravity compensation value being computed based on a joint angle of a robot arm and a link mass and a position of a center of gravity of the robot. When the control returns from the compliance control to the position control, a present position is dealt with an instruction position.

Abstract: A motor system and method providing improved power factor and harmonic control of power supplied to a motor. The system and method employs a power conversion circuit connected to an AC voltage source for supplying power to a power supply link of the motor. The power conversion circuit includes a rectifier circuit and a power factor correction circuit. The rectifier circuit rectifies the AC voltage and has first and second outputs corresponding to upper and lower rails of the power supply link, respectively. The power factor correction circuit is connected directly between the first output of the rectifier circuit and a node of the corresponding upper rail of the power supply link for improving the power factor of the power supplied to the motor.

Abstract: A method and a device for controlling a sensorless, field-oriented asynchronous machine, wherein a manipulated variable space vector and a stator frequency are calculated, by means of a two-component current control system, from which control signals are generated using a space vector modulation process. A PI controller of an EMF control system for the d-component of a calculated EMR space vector of the field-oriented control system is deactivated and its output signal set to zero at a stator frequency, determined as a function of a calculated d-component of a calculated EMF space vector and a calculated stator frequency, that is less than or equal to a first limit frequency. Thus, the method may be used for speed control of a sensorless, field-oriented asynchronous machine down to a full stop.

Abstract: An electrical musical instrument in the form of an electric violin 1 comprises an instrument body 2 comprising a body member 6 comprising an upper convex member 7 and a lower convex member 8 attached to each other by means of screws at the upper and lower ends thereof. An aperture 4 is defined in the upper convex member 7 and is adapted to receive a bridge 5. A reinforcing member 11 extends along the length of the rear of the violin body 2. The violin 1 further comprises a wooden neck 3 extending from the body 2.Electric pick-up means 10 supported by the instrument body 2 and provide an electrical output signal representing vibration of at least one tensioned string extending in use substantially along the length of the instrument 1 and passing over the bridge 5. The reinforcing member 11 in use opposes torque applied to the instrument body 2 and neck member 3 as a result of the tension in the or each string.

Abstract: A connection between a pivotable pedal plate of a foot pedal for operating a drum, cymbal, or the like instrument and a relatively stationary heel plate. The pivot connection includes an axle that extends through flanges projecting rearwardly from the pedal plate and through a projection forwardly of the heel plate that extends into the recess between the flanges of the pedal plate. Screws hold the axle firmly to either the pedal plate or the heel plate and bearings in the other of the heel plate and the pedal plate receive the axle and permit relative motion between the other plate and the axle without any gap between the axle and either of the plates as would be usual in the prior art.

Abstract: A motor control device controls an electric 3-phase brushless d.c. motor (10) having a magnetic rotor (15) and three windings (11, 12, 13). The motor control device includes a detection unit (20) adapted to generate a commutation signal (21) on the basis of the back-emf voltage produced in the windings (11, 12 and 13). The motor control device further includes an output stage (30) having a first terminal (31) and a second terminal (32) for the connection of a power-supply source, outputs (33, 34, 35) for the connection of the windings (11, 12 and 13) and a number of semiconductor elements (36) for selectively coupling the terminals (31, 32) to the outputs (33, 34, 35) in dependence upon the commutation signal (21). The motor control device further includes a phase detector (40) adapted to generate a phase-error signal (43) which is representative of the phase difference between a sensor signal and a reference signal.

Abstract: A musician can simulate participation in a concert by playing a musical instrument and wearing a head-mounted 3D display that includes stereo speakers. Audio and video portions of a musical concert are pre-recorded, along with a separate sound track corresponding to the musical instrument played by the musician. Playback of the instrument sound track is controlled by signals generated in the musical instrument and transmitted to a system interface box connected to the audio-video play back device, an audio mixer, and the head-mounted display. An external bypass switch allows the musician to suppress the instrument sound track so that the sounds created by actual playing of the musical instrument are heard along with the pre-recorded audio and video portions.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument is provided wherein each string has two critical points. A fulcrum tremolo is mounted on the instrument for varying the tension of the strings and the distance between the two critical points. The strings are attached to a plurality of intonation modules mounted on the fulcrum tremolo. Each intonation module is adjustable so that the strings can be adjusted from an untensioned state to a proper playing pitch. A bearing assembly is also included to facilitate pivoting of the fulcrum tremolo.

Abstract: A circuit and method for controlling the speed of a universal motor driven by an AC source is disclosed. The method includes the steps of measuring a value of a temporal property of a current through the motor and determining a speed of rotation of the universal motor using the temporal property. The method for controlling the speed of the universal motor further includes comparing the determined speed of rotation with a desired speed of rotation and adjusting the current through the motor so that the speed of the motor approaches the desired speed of rotation.

Abstract: A control mode changing over method for a servo control system, which is capable of reducing a shock occurring in changing over a control mode from a torque control mode to a position/velocity control mode. In the torque control mode, a value of an integrator in a velocity loop for the position/velocity control mode is rewritten into a torque command value for torque control so that the value of the integrator is always set to the same value as the torque command. When a control mode is changed over from the torque control mode to the position/velocity control mode, a torque command value for a servo motor is obtained based on the value of the integrator rewritten in the torque control mode. Thus, a continuous torque command value is given to the servo motor in changing over the control mode.

Abstract: An automatic, self-adaptive controller for varying the interval between wipes of a windshield wiper arrangement for a vehicle measures current drawn by the windshield wiper arrangement during a forward and return portions of the windshield wiper wipe cycle and calculates an integration of the current over each portion of the windshield wiper wipe cycle to establish forward portion and return portion integration. The magnitude of the portions, which graphically appear as current lobes over time, are indicative of wiper-to-windscreen friction, and hence, wetness. The difference between the forward and return integration is representative of vehicle air speed. The windshield is characterized as wet when the first and second summation values are small, and in that case, a short interval between wipes is established. When the first and second integration values are large, the windshield is deemed to be dry, and a long interval is established between wipes.

Abstract: When a stepping motor is driven by supplying to the drive coil of the stepping motor a drive current whose amplitude is periodically increased and attenuated with time in a state that the upper peaks of the current variation are limited to be within set values of current being varied stepwise and in a substantially sinusoidal fashion, the drive current to be fed to the drive coil is controlled such that a waveform of the drive current is configured so as to approximate to a sinusoidal waveform over one period of the waveform. To such a current control, each set value is larger than that obtained from a sinusoidal waveform. The drive current may be attenuated, in each step of the related set value, at a first attenuating rate and a second attenuating rate smaller than the first attenuating rate, the first and second attenuating rates being combined at a ratio of n/m (n: a positive integer, m a positive integer except n).

Abstract: A multi tone generator having a module for instructing a start of generating a musical tone signal, a module for designating a tone generator type for generating the musical tone signal, from a plurality of tone generator types; a module for performing a common process shared by the plurality of tone generator types, when the start of generating the musical tone signal is instructed; and a module for performing a process specific to the designated tone generator type, by using results of the common process.

Abstract: The instrument includes a support structure formed of telescoping legs enabling height adjustment of the bed supporting the bars. The bars are strung on lines supported on bar mounts having resilient material in engagement with the lines preventing transmission of vibration from the bars to adjacent bars and to the support structure. A dampening rail including a fluid-filled bladder extends the length of the instrument in underlying relation to the adjacent inner ends of the two rows of bars and is spring-biased into engagement with the bars. A pedal, selectively displaceable along a longitudinal support bar, is used to engage and disengage the bladder relative to the bars. The pedal includes a fulcrum assembly for adjustment of the feel of the pedal.