Abstract: An electronic drum has cylindrical non-planar playing surface, and a force sensing detection unit is attached to the playing surface. The force sensing detection unit converts external striking forces applied to the playing surface into electrical output pulses. The electronic drum is attached to a mount shaft assembly with a resilient portion interposed between the electronic drum and the mount shaft. The mount shaft assembly enables the electronic drum to be mounted onto various support stands.

Abstract: An improved sensor for detecting vibrations uses a flexible moving beam supported by two flexible leg members. The flexible moving beam can be moved in two directions. A protrusion extends from near one end of the flexible moving beam. The protrusion is placed against a transducer element 22 which is against a rest element 24 . When the moving beam is moved parallel to its length, the protrusion is pushed against the transducer element 22 and against the rest element 24, thereby generating electrical signals. When the moving beam detects vibrations in a direction perpendicular to its length, the protrusion is rotated upward and outward and pushes against the transducer element 22, causing the generation of electrical signal. The improved sensor is particularly adapted for detecting vibrations from a stringed musical instrument.

Abstract: A transducer system for a stringed musical instrument having a bridge for supporting a plurality of string saddles, each having a surface for receiving a transducer member of the system. The transducer member is comprised of one or more ceramic crystals supported between conductive strips and encapsulated by an electrically insulating covering. The crystals are responsive to vibrations of the string by way of a spring support insert in the saddle, but the crytals are not directly coupled to the saddle.

Abstract: A string member and a string trigger switch mechanism associated with the string member are arranged on an instrument main body. The string member is extended on the instrument main body at a given tension. When the string member is deviated against the tension upon a string displace operation and is then released from its state of tension, a string trigger switch starts a switching operation. While the string member is displaced from its state of rest, the string trigger switch does not start a switching operation. The string trigger switch outputs a tone generation start instruction signal based on the switching operation, and this signal causes a musical tone generating apparatus to start generation of a musical tone. When the string member is plucked while depressing a pitch designating section arranged on the instrument main body, a musical tone at a selectively designated pitch is generated.

Abstract: A pickup for a string under tension of a musical instrument having an improved planar response uses a pair of mechanically independent pressure transducers preferably adjacent to one another which provide independent support to transversely adjacent points of the string. The independent transducers allow the string to roll slightly on one transducer when applying pressure to the other as a result of the string vibration, thus increasing the sensitivity of the pickup in planes near the plane of minimum sensitivity. The transducers may rest on a common massive element which is resiliently coupled to the bridge of the instrument. The transducers preferably have rounded string-contacting surfaces in order to reduce the magnitude of the shear forces exerted on the pickup when the string tension is varied.

Abstract: An amusement device is disclosed which contains a signal generator attached to a flexible member. When the flexible member is repeatedly waved, an oscillatory electrical signal is produced by the signal generator and supplied to a sound generator which produces sound which synchronously varies with the repeated flexure of the member caused by the waving action. The sound generator produces a first tone with respect to the oscillatory electrical signal and a second tone when the frequency of the oscillatory electrical signal exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: In the construction of a sound bar musical instrument such as a marimba, at least some of the sound bars have sensors attached thereto. The sensors are electrically connected to an electronic sound generator unit for generation of musical tones as a function of the vibration of battered sound bars, thereby allowing free use of a mallet and enabling visual contact of the performer with the audience.

Abstract: A triggering apparatus for triggering an acoustic drum synthesizer includes(a) a body attachable to the frame of an acoustic drum to transmit acoustic vibrations from the drum frame or shell, the body configured to pass a drum receiver rod,(b) dual transducer structures carried by the body to be responsive to the transmitted vibrations, to produce signals,(c) and circuitry connected to the dual transducer structures to process the signals, passing only a selected high frequency band of such signals to the synthesizer, to trigger same.

Abstract: A tuning apparatus comprises a piezoelectric element provided on a tuner case, and a mounting member which enable the tuning apparatus to be mounted on a musical instrument to be tuned. The piezoelectric element converts vibration provided by the musical instrument through the tuner case into an electric signal, and outputs the electric signal to a pitch calculation circuit. The tuning apparatus prevents the detection error due to a harmonic component having a larger amplitude than that of fundamental wave component by making the resonance frequency of the tuner case lower than the frequency of the lowest note of the musical instrument to be tuned.

Abstract: A method for providing a curved composite ultrasound transducer of a relatively large size. A blank of piezoceramic material has its rear side reticulated with a series of relatively coarse grooves. The front side of the material is reticulated with a series of relatively deep fine grooves to provide a matrix of upstanding piezoceramic rods. The spaces between the rods on the front side of the blank are therefore filled with a curable polymeric resin (epoxy). The resin filling the blank spaces on the front side is partially cured. After partial curing, the blank is placed into a spherical compression mold and molded so that its front side is formed concave and its rear side convex. The resin is cured while holding the molded blank under pressure in the mold until the resin has cured. After curing, the blank is removed from the mold and the back side is ground away to provide a spherically curved transducer having a multiplicity of individual piezoceramic rods disposed in a matrix of cured resin.

Abstract: A pick-up system for a stringed instrument in the form of a bridge structure, supporting a cartridge assembly having one or more of a plurality of independently vibrating segments, across each of which a corresponding string is tensioned. Each assembly contains an individual piezo element mounted in suspension in a clearance cavity, in alignment with and responsive to the vibrations of a corresponding string.

Abstract: A pickup is disclosed for a stringed musical instrument having a plurality of strings. The pickup includes a bridge member having a surface which supports the strings at predefined positions along the surface, a plurality of bimorphic piezoelectric elements embedded in the bridge member at locations corresponding to the predefined positions along the surface of the bridge member, and connection wires for conveying the electric signals generated by said bimorphic piezoelectric element. Each bimorphic piezoelectric element has two oppositely polarized piezoelectric layers, separated by a metallic layer. The bimorphic piezoelectric elements are embedded in the bridge member so that the principal direction of vibrations of the corresponding string is normal to the metallic layer which separates the two piezoelectric layers of the bimorphic element.

Abstract: An electrical detector attachment to the sound post of a stringed instrument is connected by an electric conductor to a coupling device adapted to receive at the exterior of the instrument the coupling member of an electronic device such as a sound amplifier.

Abstract: A pedal operated electronic drum. The electronic drum includes a pedal pivotally coupled to a base and a first striking or anvil element mounted on the base. A second striking or hammer element is operably coupled to the pedal so that depression of the pedal causes the hammer element to strike the anvil element. A transducer is acoustically coupled to the anvil element to convert impact induced vibrations in the anvil element into an electrical output signal. In one embodiment the hammer element is attached to a roller pivotally coupled to the base. A strap is wrapped about the roller and attached to the base so that depression of the pedal rotates the axle thereby causing the hammer element to strike the anvil element. In an alternative embodiment the strap is coupled to the pedal instead. Both of these embodiments may be adjusted to simulate the "feel" of a conventional pedal operated drum striking element.

Abstract: Cubelets are made from a piezoelectrically active ceramic material having holes therein which may be cross-cored. The holes are selectively filled with a liquid curable resin, such as an epoxy. The cubelets may also be formed from bonded or sintered "half-shapes" containing half cores, wherein a face bisects one hole or an array of holes or cross-cored holes to form one or an array of semicircular grooves or crossed semicircular grooves. The cubelets, whether filled with resin or having unfilled internal volume, are arranged in a precision array within the snug-fitting cavities of a lattice, whereby the holes are sealed off, to form a cubelet/lattice assembly which is then electroded and poled in an electric field and encapsulated in polymer to form a part of a hydrophone assembly, for example.

Abstract: A transducer for a stringed musical instrument incorporating an electrically conductive base plate along with a piezoelectric crystal secured to the base plate by a conductive adhesive. On the other side of the crystal from the base plate is disposed a spring for biasing the piezoelectric crystal against the bridge at a bridge or bridge/body opening. Electrical leads are employed for coupling signals from the piezoelectric crystal.

Abstract: A transducer for a stringed musical instrument incorporating an electrically conductive ground plane, along with a plurality of piezoelectric transducers and a conductive strip. The ground plane, piezoelectric transducers and conductive strip are secured in an elongated unitary structure with the ground plane and conductive strip disposed on opposite sides of the transducers. A conductive shield is disposed about the unitary structure and electrical leads connect to the ground plane and conductive strip, respectively.

Abstract: A stringed musical instrument has a plurality of strings stretched between two fixed points and over a bridge. The strings are of substantially circular cross section and made from an elastomeric material such as silicone rubber; all strings are monolithic. The bridge incorporates one or more piezo-electric or other transducers each mounted as a bimorphic element in a simple beam mounting between fixed supports on the bridge and in acoustic contact with the body of the instrument through a resilient baffle pad in contact with the face of the piezo-electric element remote from the supports. That is, mounted in a manner in which the transducer can be considered to be a beam extending between load bearing or supporting members at its two ends, the fixed supports, while it is loaded transversely between its two ends by the baffle pad.

Abstract: A drum pedal device for immediately and accurately triggering and controlling a synthesizer. The device includes a movable pedal, which can be a foot pedal, an actuation device which actuates a transducer to supply an electrical signal to the synthesizer upon movement of the pedal, and a resisting mechanism which resiliently resists overtravel movement of the pedal after the transducer is actuated. The resisting mechanism opposes the movement of the pedal with increasing force as the overtravel movement of the pedal progresses. The foot pedal can be pivotally mounted on a base and the device can have a biasing mechanism for controlling and imparting bouncing and rocking motion to the foot pedal.

Abstract: A transducer for a stringed musical instrument incorporating an electrically conductive ground plane, along with a plurality of piezoelectric transducers and a conductive strip. The ground plane, piezoelectric transducers and conductive strip are secured in an elongated unitary structure with the ground plane and conductive strip disposed on opposite sides of the transducers. A conductive shield made of paper with a conductive coating is disposed about the unitary structure and electrical leads connect to the ground plane and conductive strip, respectively.

Abstract: An electronic drum having multiple sound sources with rapidly detachable striking elements and transducers. The drum may contain one or more striking elements each producing a separate electrical output signal. A separate piezoelectric transducer is attached to each striking element. The drum includes a base structure to which various acoustically dampening compressible elements are attached. The striking elements are removably attached to the compressible elements and are acoustically isolated from one another so that vibrations caused by hitting one striking element are not picked up by the transducers attached to the other striking elements. Transducers are attached to the striking elements by first bonding resilient elements to the striking elements and then bonding the transducers to the resilient elements. The electronic drum permits a drummer to employ conventional acoustical "sticking" techniques and may be used to simulate various other percussion type instruments.

Abstract: An electronic drum includes a relatively hard surface layer, a relatively hard base layer, a relatively hard coupling portion, and a detection element. The base layer is spaced apart from the surface layer by a predetermined distance. The coupling portion couples the surface layer to the base layer. The detection element is mounted on the base layer to detect striking of the surface layer. The surface layer and the coupling portion are nonfoamed layers. The base layer is a combination of a nonfoamed or foamed layer and a support plate. A foamed layer is inserted as an impact absorbing layer between the surface and base layers.

Abstract: An electronic drum has a drum body, a drumhead, a support/tension mechanism, a closed space forming member, a vibrating plate, and a piezoelectric element. The closed space forming member forms a closed air space together with the drumhead lower surface. The vibrating plate is fitted to the closed space forming member so as to divide the closed air space into plural closed air spaces. One of the divided plural closed air spaces existing between the lower surface of the drumhead and the vibrating plate serves as a transmission space. When the drumhead is struck, the vibration of the struck drumhead is transmitted to the vibrating plate via the transmission space. By this transmission via air space, same vibration at the vibrating plate is obtained irrespective of the struck portion of the drumhead if struck by same striking force. The piezoelectric element converts a pressure produced based on a mechanical vibration of the vibrating plate to an electrical signal.

Abstract: A bridge pickup for a string instrument includes a sensor assembly mounted in a U-shaped base. The sensor assembly includes a cast member encapsulating a holding means which holds an array of piezo sensor elements. The cast member extends below the sensor elements and includes an upper crest portion for supporting the strings of the instrument. A groove formed in the cast member at a point below the sensor elements extends to the lower electrode contact faces of the sensor elements, and a conductor placed in the groove provides an output. A U-shaped channel holds the sensor assembly and the conductor. Preferred conductive and casting materials are shown, and a method of manufacture is described.

Abstract: An improved, easily-transportable, electric double bass viol having a non-resonant body and rigidly supported fingerboard for enhanced string sustain and tonal brilliance, collapsible body extensions for providing the customary physical dimension and reference points found in traditional double basses to render the instrument easily playable by bassists trained on traditional double basses, and a piezoelectric bridge pickup structure having a piezoelectric element and flexible and inflexible portions such that string motion is transmitted to the piezoelectric element while acoustic energy in the body is substantially prevented from exciting the piezoelectric element, thereby eliminating unwanted acoustic feedback, while providing a tonal characteristic similar to an acoustic double bass.

Abstract: A touch control apparatus for an electronic keyboard instrument, comprises a sensor having: an elongated insulating sheet having a set of conductive pattern films on a surface thereof, the elongated insulating sheet being folded and the set of conductive pattern films being formed to be spaced apart from each other; and a pressure-sensitive element sandwiched in a space defined by the folded elongated insulating sheet to be in contact with the conductive pattern films. The pressure sensitive element is deformed when a key of the instrument is depressed to deliver an electrical output through the conductive films representing the magnitude of the key depression. The apparatus is superior in easiness of handling the sensor and of assembling the apparatus.

Abstract: In a key board system for an electronic musical instrument, input signals for the instrument generated in response to key actuation have an electrical characteristic which varies as a function of the key actuation force. The foregoing results from the deflection of a mass-carrying leaf spring in response to a key stroke, the input signal being generated by a piezoelectric element mounted on the leaf spring and being deformed in response to the deflection thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling signals produced by a transducer carried by an acoustic guitar. The control apparatus is mounted on the guitar and does not affect the structure or tonal qualities of the hollow tone-producing body of the guitar.

Abstract: A transducer rendered operative by a battery voltage source is mounted on and closely spaced from a sonic radiating surface by a sonic coupling body to which a housing is secured in enclosing relation to both the transducer and the battery source. Openings in the housing expose a volume control knob and an output signal jack through which a signal cable connects the transducer to a remotely located amplifier.

Abstract: An improved bridge transducer for rigid non-acoustic body string musical instruments, enabling production of tonal character and quality associated with flexible acoustic body instruments using a novel compliant suspension supporting a string bridge, which is equally responsive to plucked or bowed strings, is interactive with the strings in a manner similar to acoustic body supported bridges, while eliminating problems of diminished string sustain, and air coupled loud speaker feedback, uneven frequency response, and is economical to manufacture. A sound pickup device is coupled to the suspended string bridge for detection and amplification of motion induced by played strings.

Abstract: A simplified method for fabricating composite transducers by bonding together plates of active and passive materials to form a laminated block. The active material is preferably a piezoelectric ceramic. Thereafter, a series of cuts are made in the laminated block to obtain a composite plate wherein regions of active material are separated from one another by regions of passive material. The method provides composite transducers having fine structures which can be produced without the difficulty of assembling many small rods or sawing deep, narrow grooves.

Abstract: A pickup device for an acoustic guitar having metallic strings comprises an electromagnetic pickup detachably attached in a sound hole of the guitar and a piezoelectric pickup detachably attached in the sound hole or to another part of a sound board of the guitar. Outputs of the two kinds of pickups are mixed at a selectable ratio thereby to compensate for difference in the picking-up characteristics of the respective pickups.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of blocks of macromolecular material displaying piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties and provides a production process consisting in drawing a thin strip of a film of macromolecular material from a feed reel, electrically polarizing the said film and coating it with adhesive by means of a solution based on a polymeric binder before the forming on a mandrel of a roll of which the turns form, after drying, a monolithic structure which may be split into blocks.The invention finds particular use in the production of electromechanical transducers for applications connected with electroacoustics and underwater acoustics.

Abstract: A string instrument pickup system sensitive to 360.degree. of transverse string movement, which is substantially immune from microphonics, and which has a substantially equal or balanced response to all of the strings. In one form of the invention a piezoelectric transducer is compressively associated with vertical movement components of each string of the instrument, but is laterally offset from a centered position under the string for compressive association of the transducer also with the horizontal string movement components; and halves of the total piezoelectric transducer area are oppositely polarized so as to cancel out microphonics.

Abstract: An electronic percussion synthesizer is disclosed which includes a plurality of pressure transducers, each representing a different percussive musical instrument. Each transducer is responsive to an external striking force for generating analog pulses, each pulse representing one beat of the respective musical instrument. The transducers are mounted to a synthesizer housing in a manner which mechanically isolates the transducers from each other. Each transducer is supported within a pair of housing portions by a resilient coupler maintained in compression between the interior surfaces of the housing portions.

Abstract: An electric pickup device for a banjo includes a piezoelectric element located in a recess in the bottom of one foot of the bridge for the instrument, so as to be located at the interface of the bridge and the head. The pickup element can be oriented so that its axes form an angle with the plane of the head, to thereby provide improved results. The pickup enables the banjo to be played in either an acoustic or an electronic amplification mode without affecting the inherent acoustic properties of the instrument.

Abstract: An envelope control device for the piezoelectric buzzer of the invention applies voltages changing with time to both surfaces of a sound generator for push-pull operation for generating an electric tone. The sound generator comprises an oscillating plate with a piezoelectric element attached thereto, and in response to a tone signal outputted from a tone signal generating circuit, it generates an electric tone. By the push-pull operations, an envelope is applied to the electric tone generated.

Abstract: A pickup for an electric string type instrument comprising an elongated piezo-electric member formed by mixing a high molecular material with piezo-electric ceramic powder and a vulcanizing or cross-linking agent and then vulcanizing or cross-linking the mixture. In order to complete the pickup a pair of electrodes are mounted on the elongated member and the member is then subjected to a polarization treatment. The piezo-electric member can be formed as a flat belt-shaped member with the electrodes mounted on both surfaces thereof or it can be formed as a cylinder in which one of the electrodes extends axially in the piezo-electric member and the other electrode is mounted on the outer periphery of the piezo-electric member. A plurality of the pickups can be joined in parallel relation within an elastic support and the latter can be mounted between the strings and the frame of the string instrument through the intermediary of a bridge member.

Abstract: A plurality of vibration transducers are mounted on the face of the bridge of a stringed musical instrument, particularly as disclosed herein in connection with a bass violin. The transducers are adapted for mounting without modification to the instrument, preferably with the use of a mounting clip for each transducer. The transducers are preferably of wafer size and shape and are disposed for sensing vibrations at a location on the bridge that is optimum for both the production of a high fidelity output signal and the discouragement of acoustical feedback.

Abstract: A piezoelectric crystal transducer defines a unitary part of a low profile saddle member adapted for interchangeable mounting in the bridge portion of a stringed musical instrument while obviating external modification of the instrument itself. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the body of the saddle is molded or potted around elongated piezoelectric crystalline bar segments to form a unitary saddle in which the bar segments traverse the substantial length of the saddle in a direction transversely of the extension of the strings over the saddle with hook-up leads or wires extending from one end of the bar for connection to a suitable cable leading to a conventional amplifier or loudspeaker system. The transducer is constructed to respond to stresses produced by string vibrations in one or more dimensions yet is completely shielded from external electrical fields and minimizes interference with the acoustical circuit of the instrument.

Abstract: An electronic musical instrument having a fret board and a plurality of conductive frets may be coupled to a resistance ladder of discrete resistive elements. A conductive wire or a plurality of such wires selectively making contact with at least one of the conductive frets forms, together with the resistance ladder, part of a tone generating circuit. The circuit includes an oscillator which generates a tone in response to the conductive fret with which the wire makes contact. The circuit may also include a wave shaping circuit which selectively alters the shape of the generated tone and through a series of gradations alters its operating characteristics from that of a full wave rectifier to a linear voltage follower. Another embodiment modulates the phase of the generated tone by exploiting the dynamic impedance of a diode. One or more unique pressure sensitive touch pads may be employed for a glissando effect and/or for volume and/or tone glides.

Abstract: An acoustic pick-up for a musical instrument comprises a piezo-electric crystal mounted in a housing. Coupling means, such as a wooden post, is provided for coupling one face of the crystal to a part of the musical instrument with the housing mounted on the instrument. There is further provided means, such as a screw, for varying the pressure with which the crystal is coupled to the part of the instrument by applying an adjustable force to another face of the crystal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a piezoelectric transducer and pickup means using the same for electrical string instruments, the transducer comprising a long and flat outer layer of flexible material and a flexible piezoelectric cable which is buried therein and has a center electrode, a piezoelectric layer formed on the outer periphery of the said electrode and an outer electrode formed on the outer periphery of the said layer, the stiffness thereof being enhanced by either using elastomer of the hardness of more than 80 as measured by the Spring Hardness Test Method in the Physical Testing Method for Vulcanizing Rubber of Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS K 6301) as the material for the outer layer, or by plaiting (braiding) metal wires or by winding the outer electrode of the piezoelectric cable in such a manner as to enable it to press against the piezoelectric layer.

Abstract: An electric percussion instrument having at least one drum head is provided with a mute assembly arranged near the drum head and at least one mechanical-electric convertor containing a vibration responsive pickup element is incorporated into the mute assembly. Direct collection of the drum head vibrations via the mute assembly successfully precludes undesirable mixing of external vibratory noises which are transmitted to the drum frame.

Abstract: In the construction of a pickup mechanism for electric pianos, the bridge is mounted on a vibration transmitter plate of minor acoustic transmission loss and coupled to the piano plate via vibration absorbers and the pickup unit for converting acoustic vibrations into corresponding electric signals is arranged in direct contact with the transmitter plate or in contact with an intervening vibration amplifying component such as a leaf spring locally attached to the transmitter plate. Damping characteristics, especially the envelope of the tone sustain curve, is made very close to that of the natural sounds generated by non-electric pianos thanks to the damping effect and enriched sensitivity in pickup, and replacement of components out of order can be practiced very easily and simply.

Abstract: A string vibration transducer bridge for an electric string instrument including a plurality of string tension mechanism provided side by side in the bridge and which are adjustably movable along the direction of the string and includes a plurality of string supporting electrode parts which are slidably movable along the direction of the string and rotatable along a direction perpendicular to the string, a plurality of independent piezoelectric transducers which each engage with an undersurface of an electrode part, and a plurality of piezoelectric transducer pushing mechanisms for pushing the piezoelectric transducers against the electrode parts whereby the tension of the string may be adjusted by both the string tension mechanism and the transducer pushing mechanism and the vibration from each string is independently sensed.

Abstract: A plurality of sound pick-up devices are mounted between the legs and wings of a bridge for a bass viol. Each sound pick-up device comprises a brass housing in which is disposed a transducer disc. Contiguous with one side of the transducer disc is a brass shim contact. A foam damper pad is disposed between the shim contact and the housing. The housing is in the form of spaced members joined at one side and a silicon latex potting material fills the spaces remaining between the spaced members. A coaxial cable interconnects the pick-up devices and is of sufficient length to permit the mounting of the pick-up devices in the side cut-out slots between the crown wings and the legs on each side of the bridge. The coaxial cable terminates on a cable connector for connection to an amplifier through a suitable output cable.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with the production of pitch variations, tone alterations and other related effects on keyboard musical instruments and the like effected through mechanisms activated by individual longitudinal finger movement along the longitudinal axis of the keys.

Abstract: A piano having a sound-enhancing system incorporating transducers, amplifiers and loud speakers, all incorporated into or upon the piano.

Abstract: A pickup for a musical instrument to be mounted upon the musical instrument to amplify the tones thereof. The invention consists in adding a mass significantly greater than the weight of the transducer within the pickup in such a manner as to permit the transducer to act against this mass when picking up vibrations, with the result of improving and sustaining tones produced by the instrument, and also, in significantly increasing the output of the transducer.