Envelope Shaping (e.g., Attack, Decay, Sustain, Or Release, Etc.) Patents (Class 84/738)
  • Patent number: 12033604
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to electronic musical instruments, systems, and methods. 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. Some cymbals and hi-hats according to the present disclosure can be used in conjunction with a traditional acoustic metal cymbal. This disclosure also relates generally to devices and methods for operating electronic musical instrument systems including one or more musical instruments and a hub, and particularly to systems including wireless communication between the instrument(s) and hub. Various devices and methods are described for operating the system, including various operational modes of the devices, and including methods and techniques for connecting the devices, improving communication speed and robustness, and conserving power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: DRUM WORKSHOP, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Piscoi, Mark Moralez, Rich Sikra, Connor Lombardi, Marcus Ryle, Dave Coons
  • Patent number: 11790879
    Abstract: An impact detection device includes: a body configured to be struck; a vibration sensor that detects vibration of the body; a support base that supports the vibration sensor; a first elastic body sandwiched between the vibration sensor and the body; and a second elastic body sandwiched between the vibration sensor and the support base. A dimension of each of the first elastic body and the second elastic body is smaller than a dimension of the vibration sensor when viewed from an arrangement direction in which the first elastic body, the vibration sensor, and the second elastic body are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: YAMAHA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keizo Harada, Kazuo Masaki, Emi Tanabe
  • Patent number: 11756519
    Abstract: This electronic musical instrument main body device comprises an information acquisition unit and a port assignment unit. The information acquisition unit acquires, from a playing operation device connected to one connection terminal, information related to the playing operation device. The port assignment unit assigns, to the playing operation device, a virtual input port of a type corresponding to the information related to the playing operation device and acquired by the information acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Roland Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Takasaki, Kou Imai, Kenji Morita
  • Patent number: 11450227
    Abstract: Musical rhythm, is taught using a sequenced rhythm pattern, wherein a user's strike within a time window around each note maintains suppression of audible output. If a strike falls outside the time window, output resumes. FIG. 2 shows a smartphone/tablet app. Pad 13 is struck in harmony with a rhythmic pattern on display 1. Means 3 to 11 adjust app parameters. Means 2 control rhythm. A display preferably shows current and past states of the system during a session (e.g. metronome suppressed, metronome non-suppressed, strike detected in time window, strikes outside time window), as well as time remaining in the current session, as either a ‘clock’ or ‘pie chart’ type, or rectilinear ‘bar’ type, the ‘time remaining’ segment of the display being progressively replaced by sections e.g. of differing colour or texture corresponding to the current state, with the ‘time past’ segments displaying the past states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: BEATBALANCE LTD.
    Inventor: Neil Wells
  • Patent number: 11372495
    Abstract: A touch sensing device in an electronic device, the electronic device including a touch manipulation unit disposed in a housing of the electronic device, the touch manipulation unit including a first insulating member penetrating through the housing, the touch sensing device including a first sensor unit disposed on an internal surface of the first insulating member, and an oscillation circuit connected to the first sensor unit, the oscillation circuit being configured to generate a first oscillation signal having a first resonance frequency that varies in response to a touch capacitance generated in response to the first insulating member being touched, wherein the first sensor unit contacts the internal surface of the first insulating member, and does not contact the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo Hyoung Lee, Joo Yul Ko, Woo Young Choi, Jung Chul Gong
  • Patent number: 11183161
    Abstract: The present invention provides a sounding control system capable of performing high-accuracy crosstalk suppression while reducing the processing load on a sound source device. When a first pad (12) vibrates, the first pad (12) generates sound emission data (62a1) that is information instructing a sound source device (11) to produce a sound and crosstalk cancellation determination data (62a2) that is information used for canceling crosstalk, and sends the data to the sound source device (11). The sound source device (11) determines whether or not crosstalk has occurred and controls sound emission using the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Roland Corporation
    Inventor: Ryo Takasaki
  • Patent number: 11151970
    Abstract: An electronic drum-module for connection to electronic-drum pads is provided. The module includes an electronic display, a memory storing audio files for playback when the playback is triggered by a signal received from the pads, and one or more processors coupled to the electronic display and the memory. The processors are configured to play a portion of the one or more audio files when the playback is triggered by the signal received from the pads and to display, on the electronic display, a user interface for an application. The user interface includes a waveform associated with recorded audio. The user interface includes a sample-start marker and a sample-end marker. A portion of the waveform between the sample-start marker and sample-end marker is displayed brighter than a portion not between the sample-start marker and the sample-end marker. Playback of the portion may be initiated by striking a drum-pad zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: InMusic Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Gill, Walter Skorupski
  • Patent number: 11074898
    Abstract: A stringed instrument with an interchangeable magnetic pickup system to enable any number of a plurality of pickups to attach to the instrument in variable positions is provided. The stringed instrument includes a base with a central opening, a plurality of strings coupled to the base and extending over the central opening, a main magnetic mounting plate coupled to the base within the central opening and electrically coupled to a phono plug output of the base, a plurality of secondary magnetic mounting plates coupled to the base within the central opening and electrically coupled to the phono plug output of the base, and a plurality of pickup assemblies coupled to the base. Each pickup assembly has a first magnetic member electrically coupled to one of the secondary magnetic mounting plates and a second magnetic member electrically coupled to the main magnetic mounting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Inventor: Frank Dale Boxberger
  • Patent number: 11024272
    Abstract: An electronic-drum module for connection to one or more electronic-drum pads is provided. The module includes an electronic display, a memory storing audio files for playback when the playback is triggered by a signal received from a pad, and one or more processors coupled to the electronic display and the memory. The processors are configured to play the audio files when the playback is triggered and display, on the display, a user interface for an application. The user interface for the application includes a list of available trigger sources. The processors are also configured to receive an instruction to select an available trigger source and display, on the display, a list of available drum kits to associate with the available trigger source. The processors are also configured to display images of the available drum kits in response to receiving an instruction to select an available drum kit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: INMUSIC BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: David C. Gill, Walter P. Skorupski
  • Patent number: 10720133
    Abstract: A stringed instrument pickup with multiple selectable coils can be utilized in a system to provide a diverse range of sound characteristics from at least one moving string under tension. A first wire can be connected to a first terminal of a first bobbin body prior to the first wire being wound around the first bobbin body a first number of times and then connecting the first wire to a second terminal of the first bobbin body. A second wire may be connected to the second terminal of the first bobbin body before winding the second wire around the first bobbin body a second number of times and then connecting the second wire to a third terminal of the first bobbin body. The first bobbin body is subsequently mounted onto a stringed instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Timothy P. Shaw
  • Patent number: 10629180
    Abstract: The present application discloses a driving circuit for driving an electronic device, the driving circuit has a voltage regulating circuit, a waveform generating circuit and a driving stage circuit. An input of the voltage regulating circuit is coupled to a power source. An input of the waveform generating circuit is coupled to an output of the voltage regulating circuit, and an output of the waveform generating circuit provides a periodic wave signal. The driving stage circuit has a signal input coupled to the output of the waveform generating circuit, a power input coupled to the power source, and an output for driving the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Hangzhou Boon Electronics Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Chaoyang Yu, Huijiang Xia
  • Patent number: 10332497
    Abstract: With an electronic percussion 100, a mesh-shaped head 101 is supported by a shell 103 formed into a cylindrical shape. The shell 103 includes an optical sensor 105 inside and a sensor cover body 110 outside. The optical sensor 105 includes a light emitter 105a that irradiates light to a back surface 101b of the head 101 and a light receiver 105b that receives reflected light from the back surface 101b of the head 101. This optical sensor 105 is supported by a sensor supporting body 104 at a position adjacent to the back surface 101b of the head 101. The sensor cover body 110 is formed so as to have a size with which the sensor cover body 110 covers the optical sensor 105 at the position that is opposed to the optical sensor 105 on a struck surface 101a side, which is opposite to the back surface 101b of the head 101 and which faces the optical sensor 105.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: ATV corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Mori
  • Patent number: 9626949
    Abstract: A system for modifying an audio signal comprises a computer including a first digital signal processor (DSP). The first DSP includes a first module and a second module. The first module is coupled to the interface to provide a musical instrument with a set of testing input signals and obtain a set of testing output signals from the musical instrument via the interface. The second module is configured to perform functions including: analyzing the set of testing output signals to obtain a set of parameters, constructing an acoustic transducer to model characteristics of the musical instrument based on the set of parameters, and receiving the audio signal to modify the audio signal using the acoustic transducer, wherein the first DSP module obtains the set of parameters at least by identifying occurrences when an output level state determined at least based on the set of testing output signals significantly changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: POSITIVE GRID LLC
    Inventors: Tien-Ming Wang, Yi-Fan Yeh, Yi-Song Siao
  • Patent number: 9452358
    Abstract: A system and method for playing a multi-player music video game with a drum system video game controller is provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for providing a drum solo with a music based multi-player video game. In another embodiment, the invention relates to a system for providing analog input from one or more drum sensors used in game play associated with a music based multi-player video game. In yet another embodiment, the invention relates to a method for preventing interference between the one or more drum sensors. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for mapping digital information indicative of input to a video game controller in a first form to information in a second form, the second form conforming to a protocol for inputs to a video game console executing a music based multi-player video game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Activision Publishing, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack J. McCauley, Brian Bright, John Devecka, Jason VandenBerghe
  • Patent number: 9412347
    Abstract: Provided is a device (20) for vibrating a string instrument (1) to allow the string instrument to be used as a loudspeaker. To press a base member (22) fitted with a vibration generator (50) against a bridge (13) of the string instrument (1) via a load point member (24) of a vibration transmission member (26), the base member (22) is provided with a fulcrum member (30) engaging an upper side of the strings (9) of the string instrument (1) and an anchor member (38) engaging a lower side of the strings (9). In order to urge the vibration transmission member (26) against the bridge (13), a cam mechanism (40) presses the anchor member (38) against the lower side of the strings (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Inventors: Koji Kobayashi, Shoji Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9117427
    Abstract: A percussion device includes a drumstick assembly and a sleeve. The drumstick assembly includes a drumstick having a base and a tip end, and a drumstick tip secured to the tip end of the drumstick, the drumstick tip including a sensor. The sleeve is disposed about at least a portion of the drumstick including the base thereof, and includes at least one control button, a communication element, and a processor in communication with the at least one control button, the drumstick tip and the communication element. The processor is configured to receive a signal from the drumstick tip and to generate output to the communication element. The output so generated includes a signal that specifies a sound file selected by operation of the at least one control button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Inventors: Gregory A. Piccionelli, Michael M. Gerardi
  • Publication number: 20140165822
    Abstract: A rod-shaped electronic percussion instrument is provided. A rod-shaped percussion instrument, which has a striking surface made of an elastic material in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above, is characterized in including: a plate-shaped member, which is made of a hard material in a substantially rectangular shape and is elastically supported by a position facing a bottom surface side of the striking surface; and two sensors, which are disposed on a surface side of the plate-shaped member and detect a vibration due to striking on the striking surface, wherein the two sensors are connected to electrically combine detection signals detected by the sensors and output the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: ROLAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: YOSHIAKI MORI
  • Patent number: 8735710
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic stringed instrument comprising: a pickup that detects vibration of a string; a feedback operator used to select a level of feedback effect; a feedback control device that controls to add a feedback effect to a tone signal based on the vibration of the string detected by the string vibration detection device and based on the selected level of feedback effect from the feedback operator; and an output device that outputs the tone signal to which the feedback effect is added by the feedback control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Roland Corporation
    Inventor: Toshio Yamabata
  • Patent number: 8604326
    Abstract: A sustain foot pedal for sustaining a first keyboard and a second keyboard that may have first and second switches is provided. The pedal has an actuating member that may simultaneously activate both the first and second switch. A first keyboard receives a first sustain signal upon activation of the first switch and sustains a first note upon receipt of the first sustain signal. A second keyboard receives a second sustain signal upon activation of the second switch and sustains a second note upon receipt of the second sustain signal. The keyboards are independent from one another such that the first keyboard does not send a signal to the second keyboard to control the second keyboard, and such that the second keyboard does not send a signal to the first keyboard to control the first keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Inventor: Curtis Mitchell Ellis
  • Patent number: 8178773
    Abstract: A System and method for the creation and performance of enriched musical composition. One aspect of the invention allows a composer to associate content with one or more triggers, and to define behavior characteristics that control the functioning of each trigger. Another aspect of the invention provides a variety of user interfaces through which a performer can cause content to be presented to an audience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Beamz Interaction, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Henry Riopelle, Gary Bencar
  • Patent number: 7674970
    Abstract: Herein described are at least a method and a system for assisting a musician in playing an instrument by way of using an intelligent multifunctional digital music display device (MDMDD). The multifunctional digital music display device (MDMDD) may be used to assist musicians or performers during practice sessions or performances. The various aspects of the invention provide a method of constructing an ADSR envelope for a note generated by an instrument, displaying one or more pages of music, generating a more accurate metronome beat consistent with the music being played, and alerting the musician when his instrument is out-of-tune. Further, the various aspects of the invention provide a method of statistically monitoring and reporting the performance of the musician. The system comprises a storage device capable of storing an instructional code, a processor for executing the instructional code, a microphone, and a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Inventors: Brian Siu-Fung Ma, Kenneth Chi-Kit Ma
  • Patent number: 7429698
    Abstract: An acoustic percussion instrument and percussion set containing the instrument. The instrument includes a hollow cylindrical shell having a first end and a second end and an inside cylindrical surface. A first substantially rigid plate having an outside surface and an inside surface is attached adjacent to the first end of the hollow cylindrical shell. A first resilient pad, that provides a percussion surface that does not require periodic adjustment, is attached adjacent to the outside surface of the first substantially rigid plate. A raised rim circumscribes the first resilient pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Kieffa Drums, LLC
    Inventor: Keith A. Pickens
  • Patent number: 7385135
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a percussion detecting apparatus, which is excellent in percussion feeling, and the percussion sounds of which are very small, in electronic percussion instrumental system. The percussion detecting apparatus is provided with a head prepared from a net-like raw material composed of a first net and a second net, the net-like raw material being obtained by such a manner that both the nets having been woven in accordance with plane weaving manner wherein the longitudinal and transverse fibers cross at right angles are laminated in such a way that the weave pattern directions thereof intersect obliquely with each other; and a head sensor which is in contact with the center position of the under side in the head and detects percussion with respect to the head as electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Roland Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Yoshino, Kenji Hirano, Masato Katsuda
  • Patent number: 7381885
    Abstract: An electronic percussion instrument which is capable of accurately discriminating roll performance to thereby electronically produce percussion tones closer to tones produced by a natural percussion instrument. A waveform memory 6 stores waveform data of percussion tones to be output for roll performance and waveform data of percussion tones to be output for non-roll performance. A work memory 4 stores values of parameters. A drum pad 1 has a percussion surface part 10, and a percussion pattern-detecting section detects a pattern of percussion applied to the percussion surface part 10 of the drum pad 1 and outputs a value of the parameter indicative of the detected pattern of percussion. The values of the parameter output from the percussion pattern-detecting section are sequentially stored in a buffer area of the work memory 4 in the order of output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Keita Arimoto
  • Patent number: 7339107
    Abstract: An audio effects control for and method of controlling the application of special audio effects applied to an audio signal, comprises a sensor configured to sense movement associated with the generation of the audio signal, wherein the sensor produces a control signal in response to detecting the movement, and the control signal is transmitted to an audio effects unit to control application of an audio effect on an audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Source Audio LLC
    Inventor: Jesse Martin Remignanti
  • Patent number: 7179985
    Abstract: A hybrid electric/acoustic percussion instrument and percussion set containing the instrument. The instrument includes a hollow cylindrical shell having a first end and a second end and an inside cylindrical surface. A first substantially rigid plate having an outside surface and an inside surface is attached to at least the first end of the hollow cylindrical shell. A first resilient pad is attached to the outside surface of the first substantially rigid plate. An electroacoustic transducer is attached to the inside cylindrical surface of the hollow cylindrical shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Kieffa Drums, LLC
    Inventor: Keith A Pickens
  • Patent number: 7112739
    Abstract: An electronic percussion instrument modifies the effect applied to note generated in response to a strike based on the intensity of the strike. A plurality of patches are stored in the waveform memory. Each patch includes settings for the effects applied to each pad of the instrument. The patch also includes a setting indicating whether the parameters of the effects applied to the pads are to be modified in accordance with strike intensity. Subsequently, during performance, when a strike is detected the intensity of the strike is used to determine whether the parameters of the effect applied to the note are to be modified, and if so the parameters are modified in correspondence to the intensity of the strike. This allows the performer to easily modify the effect applied to the notes of the percussion instrument during performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Roland Corporaton
    Inventors: Chiharu Mori, Kazuaki Inoue
  • Patent number: 7096186
    Abstract: Sound signal is received which contains sound characteristics to be represented in musical notation. The characteristics, such as a volume level of the sound signal, are extracted out of the received sound signal, and various parameters for use in subsequent analysis of the sound signal are set in accordance with the extracted characteristics. Also, a desired scale determining condition is set by a user. Pitch of the sound signal is determined using the thus-set parameters. The determined pitch is rounded to any one of scale notes, corresponding to the user-set scale determining condition. Also, a given unit note length is set as a predetermined criterion or reference for determining a note length, and a length of the scale note determined from the received sound signal is determined using the thus-set unit note length as a minimum determination unit, i.e., with an accuracy of the unit note length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Funaki
  • Patent number: 7030305
    Abstract: An electronic synthesized steelpan drum resembling a conventional steelpan drum and featuring the same shallow cylindrical shape with a sunken concave playing surface. The steelpan drum includes a central processor chip and associated memory chips for providing a variety of synthesized steelpan and a full range of musical, orchestral, and symphonic instrumental sounds, including tenor, double-seconds, guitar, cello, quadraphonic, tenor-bass, and bass steel drums. The concave playing surface is comprised of a series of rubber striking pad areas, which can be arranged in a conventional or other unique pattern typical of a tenor pan. The striking pad areas will be played with a pair of pansticks. Attached under each pad is a pressure sensor, which will detect the amount of force applied when a pannist strikes a pad and provide a signal to the central processor for controlling the synthesized sound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventor: Salmon Cupid
  • Patent number: 6921857
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a percussion detecting apparatus, which is excellent in percussion feeling, and the percussion sounds of which are very small, in electronic percussion instrumental system. The percussion detecting apparatus is provided with a head prepared from a net-like raw material composed of a first net and a second net, the net-like raw material being obtained by such a manner that both the nets having been woven in accordance with plane weaving manner wherein the longitudinal and transverse fibers cross at right angles are laminated in such a way that the weave pattern directions thereof intersect obliquely with each other; and a head sensor which is in contact with the center position of the under side in the head and detects percussion with respect to the head as electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Roland Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Yoshino, Kenji Hirano, Masato Katsuda
  • Patent number: 6846980
    Abstract: An electronic battery operated and self contained acoustic guitar allowing playing back high quality prerecorded notes through its own soundboard electromechanically activated by a piezoelectric vibrating means. The guitar allows to play chords or melody with simplified fingering and provides trigger events (note ON, Off, velocity of the note played) with less than 15 ms delay. When the guitar is not powered it can be played as a normal high quality musical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Inventor: Paul D. Okulov
  • Patent number: 6809249
    Abstract: Ultrasonic transducing elements (11, 12) are used to measure vibrations of a nearby musical drumhead or other vibrating surface (13). A first ultrasonic transducer (11) emits an ultrasonic signal (14) and a second ultrasonic transducer (12) listens for an echo of that signal (14). A phase change of the echoed (reflected) signal (202) is compared to a reference signal (206) to create a representation signal (216) which represents the movement of the drumhead or other vibrating surface (13). For this comparison to be properly made, a deviation signal (220) is generated that defines an average deviation of the reference signal (206) from optimum, which is then used to self-align the reference signal (206) to the reflected signal (202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Protune Corp.
    Inventors: Fred Stuebner, Jesse Aronstein
  • Patent number: 6756535
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a percussion detecting apparatus, which is excellent in percussion feeling, and the percussion sounds of which are very small, in electronic percussion instrumental system. The percussion detecting apparatus is provided with a head prepared from a net-like raw material composed of a first net and a second net, the net-like raw material being obtained by such a manner that both the nets having been woven in accordance with plane weaving manner wherein the longitudinal and transverse fibers cross at right angles are laminated in such a way that the weave pattern directions thereof intersect obliquely with each other; and a head sensor which is in contact with the center position of the under side in the head and detects percussion with respect to the head as electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Roland Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Yoshino, Kenji Hirano, Masato Katsuda
  • Publication number: 20040060427
    Abstract: Surface impact position and/or intensity of an impact on a drum are detected and used to generate different sounds, lights and other special effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventor: Vince De Franco
  • Publication number: 20030133360
    Abstract: A device for center positioning a piazo element for the purpose of effectively reproducing the dynamics of a drum stick strike and feel when converting acoustical drums into electronic drums.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventor: Donald A. Love
  • Patent number: 6576829
    Abstract: An electronic percussion instrument which includes a housing suspended from the bottom end of the barrel which houses the percussive impact sensor. The percussive impact sensor includes transducer. The arrangement of the percussive impact sensor and the housing maximizes the distance of the transducer from the percussion head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Inventor: Peter Hart
  • Publication number: 20030061932
    Abstract: An electronic musical instrument is equipped with plural series combinations of switches and resistors and a piezoelectric transducer associated with a movable member for producing electric signals representative of player's intentions to music sound to be generated, and a signal processing system processes the signals for generating the music sound; the signal processing system has a voltage discriminator so that the plural series combinations are connected in parallel to the voltage discriminator through a single conductive line; a vibration absorber is inserted between the movable member and the piezoelectric transducer so that the piezoelectric transducer exactly converts the motion of the movable member to the electric signal at each player's manipulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventors: So Tanaka, Minoru Harada
  • Patent number: 6525259
    Abstract: A Cadence-Providing Drum Practice Pad Assembly and Method is disclosed. The preferred assembly combines a practice pad and a cadence generating device in the same body. In other embodiments, the device provides visual prompting to the user on the striking pad. Furthermore, the device of the present invention includes a local repository of cadence programs, as well as the ability to retrieve and play cadence programs stored in remote cadence repositories, such as on a computer network or a portable storage media. In one embodiment the device includes a mounting aperture that is offset from the center of the striking pad so that the pad will have a more realistic feel when mounted to a cymbal stand. Finally, the device may be provided in the form of a conga practice pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Inventor: John Sagastegui
  • Publication number: 20030005816
    Abstract: Ultrasonic transducing elements (11, 12) are used to measure vibrations of a nearby musical drumhead or other vibrating surface (13). A first ultrasonic transducer (11) emits an ultrasonic signal (14) and a second ultrasonic transducer (12) listens for an echo of that signal (14). A phase change of the echoed (reflected) signal (202) is compared to a reference signal (206) to create a representation signal (216) which represents the movement of the drumhead or other vibrating surface (13). For this comparison to be properly made, a deviation signal (220) is generated that defines an average deviation of the reference signal (206) from optimum, which is then used to self-align the reference signal (206) to the reflected signal (202).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Applicant: Protune Corp.
    Inventors: Fred Stuebner, Jesse Aronstein
  • Publication number: 20020069749
    Abstract: A sustainer for a musical instrument has at least one vibratory element arranged in a longitudinal direction. The sustainer provides a drive signal to a sustainer driver. The driver has a plurality of flux emitters disposed in an end-to-end relation perpendicular to the vibratory element. The driver emits a magnetic field to apply drive forces to the vibratory element in response to the drive signal. At least two of the flux emitters are magnetized by oppositely polarized permanent magnets. The flux emitters are arranged to narrow a magnetic gap between at least two of the flux emitters having oppositely polarized permanent magnets. The flux emitters are arranged such that they overlap each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in order to improve magnetic drive of the vibratory element when the vibratory element is located near the magnetic gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2000
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Alan Anderson Hoover, Gary Thomas Osborne
  • Patent number: 6399869
    Abstract: A Cadence-Providing Drum Practice Pad Assembly and Method is disclosed. The preferred assembly combines a practice pad and a cadence generating device in the same body. In other embodiments, the device provides visual prompting to the user on the striking pad. Furthermore, the device of the present invention includes a local repository of cadence programs, as well as the ability to retrieve and play cadence programs stored in remote cadence repositories, such as on a computer network or a portable storage media. Still further, the device includes the option of connecting remote striking pads that can be attached to a conventional drum set to provide visual and/or audible cadence prompting at the drums themselves. Furthermore, the device is attachable to a conventional cymbal or drum stand. The device may also have the ability to play musical accompaniment for the user's enjoyment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventor: John Sagastegui
  • Publication number: 20020062729
    Abstract: A Cadence-Providing Drum Practice Pad Assembly and Method is disclosed. The preferred assembly combines a practice pad and a cadence generating device in the same body. In other embodiments, the device provides visual prompting to the user on the striking pad. Furthermore, the device of the present invention includes a local repository of cadence programs, as well as the ability to retrieve and play cadence programs stored in remote cadence repositories, such as on a computer network or a portable storage media In one embodiment the device includes a mounting aperture that is offset from the center of the striking pad so that the pad will have a more realistic feel when mounted to a cymbal stand. Finally, the device may be provided in the form of a conga practice pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventor: John Sagastegui
  • Publication number: 20020062726
    Abstract: There is provided an electronic musical instrument which enables the whole periphery of at least one pad member to shine by a simple construction, and at the same time maintain durability and low costs, and a shining method therefor. An electronic musical instrument of a drum type detects beats on a surface to be beaten of the pad member, and generates a musical tone signal in response to an output indicative of the detected beats.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Abe
  • Publication number: 20020056358
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for musical instruments with multiple vibrating elements where multiple-channel electronic signal handling and processing is used to produce diverse musical timbre, effects, and control. A plurality of vibrating elements are coupled, individually or in distinct possibly overlapping groups, to sense transducers which are in turn used to drive signal processors and/or vibration stimulating drive transducers. Sense transducer signals may be mixed prior to signal processing and signal processor outputs may be mixed prior to final system output. All mixing and signal processing can be controlled dynamically, and/or by pre-programming. The invention provides for drive transducers to be electromagnetic and/or piezo, for visual indicators (such as LEDs) to show the activity of each drive transducer, and for the drive transducers to be fed signals from an external source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 1999
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventor: LESTER F. LUDWIG
  • Publication number: 20020002900
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an educational entertainment apparatus which comprises drum instrument set. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an educational entertainment apparatus for allowing players to play drum instrument set which generates acoustic sound and for evaluation and grading the accuracy and skillfulness of drum play.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Inventor: Kuk Su Cho
  • Patent number: 6320113
    Abstract: A system is disclosed that provides sound control for an acoustic musical instrument. Typical to all acoustic instruments, the instruments have a structure or housing that defines a vented acoustic chamber. An input or sound inducing mechanism (such as strings of a guitar) imparts a vibration to the structure which causes acoustic waves to resonate within the acoustic chamber. The motion of air in and out of the vent causes acoustic waves to emanate from the chamber that combine with the acoustic waves emanating from the structure to form sound/musical notes. In accordance with the invention, a system controls the sound emanating from such an acoustic instrument. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, at least one integral or smart sensor is disposed adjacent a sensing location of the structure, and the sensor is configured to generate sensed electric signals indicative of the magnitude of structural vibration of the structure at the sensing location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Steven F. Griffin, Chance C McColl, Sathya V. Hanagud
  • Patent number: 6271458
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a percussion detecting apparatus, which is excellent in percussion feeling, and the percussion sounds of which are very small, in electronic percussion instrumental system. The percussion detecting apparatus is provided with a head prepared from a net-like raw material composed of a first net and a second net, the net-like raw material being obtained by such a manner that both the nets having been woven in accordance with plane weaving manner wherein the longitudinal and transverse fibers cross at right angles are laminated in such a way that the weave pattern directions thereof intersect obliquely with each other; and a head sensor which is in contact with the center position of the under side in the head and detects percussion with respect to the head as electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Roland Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Yoshino, Kenji Hirano, Masato Katsuda
  • Publication number: 20010008100
    Abstract: An interactive electronic drum system and training techniques suitable for use in a coin-operated environment such as an arcade are described. Electronic drum pads, audio speakers, a visual display, training lights and an overall control system are combined to simulate the excitement of a live drum or inactive musical jam session for a user. Positive feedback and, as necessary, instructive aid are provided to make the experience a positive one for both the novice and the expert player. Learning and playing a musical instrument becomes an intuitive, exciting experience and not a boring chore to be endured. Players can simulate the experience of playing in a rock band before a live and appreciative audience. In short, this interactive electronic drum system makes drums and the jamming experience widely accessible to the public.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: July 19, 2001
    Inventor: John R. Devecka
  • Patent number: D455453
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Roland Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Fukuoka, Kiyoshi Yoshino
  • Patent number: D455775
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Roland Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Fukuoka, Hiroyuki Yanase