Electronic musical instruments and systems

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus, system, and method for designing an electronic musical instrument to be wireless while reducing / minimizing the latency between the performer operating the instrument and the resulting sound. [Solution] In the snare drum 300, the electronic equipment unit 500 is attached to the drum shell and includes a power supply, one or more sensors 530 each which generate a sensor impulse when the drum is in operation, a circuit for receiving sensor impulses from one or more sensors, and a transmitter for transmitting an equipment signal based on the sensor impulses.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications: This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 963,504, titled "Electronic Musical Instrument", filed on January 20, 2020, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 011,882, titled "Electronic Musical Instrument", filed on April 17, 2020, and both of these applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety into this specification.

[0002] This disclosure generally relates to electronic musical instruments. More particularly, this disclosure relates to electronic percussion instruments such as timpani, snare drums, bass drums, cymbals, and hi - hats, and / or assemblies of musical instruments (e.g., percussion instruments) such as drum sets. Even more particularly, this disclosure relates to wireless electronic percussion instruments and percussion instruments having interchangeable and / or removable components for changing the instrument between a conventional percussion instrument (which relies on resonance and / or vibration to produce sound) and an electronic percussion instrument.

Background Art

[0003] Conventional wireless electronic drums have problems with latency, such as a significant delay between when the device is actuated and when the electronic sound is generated. Conventional wired electronic drums do not suffer from the same latency problem, but are cumbersome in that one or more wired connections to each device (e.g., connections to a power source and / or a sound module) are required. Some examples of prior art wireless electronic percussion instruments, the components and concepts of which can also be incorporated into embodiments of this disclosure, are described in Romanian Patent Publication RO130805A1 by Piscoi, filed on June 30, 2014, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this specification.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] One embodiment of a drum according to the present disclosure includes a drum shell having an inner wall and an electronics portion within the inner wall. The electronics portion is mounted on the drum shell and includes a power supply, one or more sensors configured to generate sensor impulses when the drum is operating, a circuit for receiving sensor impulses from one or more sensors, and a transmitter for transmitting instrument signals based on the sensor impulses.

[0005] Another embodiment of the drum according to this disclosure includes a drum shell and a drum head on the drum shell. The drum also includes one or more sensors, at least one of which is connected to the underside of the drum head to generate impulses when the drum head is operating. The drum also includes electronics for receiving impulses from one or more sensors and wirelessly transmitting instrument signals to an external device. The electronics include a circuit board and a transmitter.

[0006] One embodiment of an electronic musical instrument system according to this disclosure includes a hub and one or more musical instruments. Each musical instrument includes a sensor configured to recognize the operation of the instrument, electronic equipment, and a power supply to power the electronic equipment. The sensor is configured to generate an impulse in response to the operation of the instrument, and the electronic equipment is configured to receive the impulse from the sensor and, accordingly, wirelessly transmit a signal to the hub.

[0007] One embodiment of a cymbal assembly according to the present disclosure includes a striking section and an electronic section located below the striking section. The electronic section includes one or more force-sensing sensors for recognizing a user moving the striking section and the edges of the electronic section closer together and generating sensor impulses in response, and also includes electronics for receiving impulses from one or more force-sensing sensors.

[0008] Another embodiment of a cymbal assembly according to this disclosure includes a striking section and an electronic section located below the striking section. The electronic section includes a sensor module having one or more sensors for recognizing user actuation of the striking section and generating sensor impulses in response thereto, and an electronic section for receiving sensor impulses from the sensor module. The electronic section is connected to the sensor module (for example, detachably connected).

[0009] One embodiment of a hi-hat assembly according to the present disclosure includes a top cymbal and a bottom cymbal. The assembly further includes sensors such as a sensor between the two cymbals and / or a sensor under a foot pedal, the sensors configured to measure a variable corresponding to the distance between the top cymbal and the bottom cymbal. In one particular embodiment, the variable is capacitance, and the sensors include a capacitance lever.

[0010] This is a somewhat broad overview of the features and technical advantages of the Disclosure to better understand the detailed description below. Further features and advantages of the Disclosure are described below. Those skilled in the art will understand that the Disclosure can be readily used as a basis for modifying or designing other structures to perform the same purposes as the Disclosure. It will also be understood that such equivalent configurations will not deviate from the teachings of the Disclosure as described in the appended claims. Novel features that are considered to be characteristic of the Disclosure in terms of both configuration and operation will be better understood from the following description in conjunction with the appended drawings, along with further features and advantages. However, it should be clearly understood that each drawing is provided for illustrative and explanatory purposes only and is not intended to define the scope of the Disclosure. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] Figure 1 is a flowchart showing a process according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0012] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0013] Figure 3 is a top perspective view of a snare drum according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, in which the top drumhead has been removed.

[0014] Figures 4A and 4B are a partial top perspective view and an exploded top perspective view of a snare drum according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, respectively.

[0015] Figures 5A to 5F are various perspective views of an electronic device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] Figures 6A and 6B are rear and bottom rear perspective views of a bass drum according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, respectively, in which the rear drumhead has been removed.

[0017] Figure 6C is a rear perspective view of the bass drum shown in Figures 6A and 6B, and also includes the rear drumhead.

[0018] Figure 6D is a rear bottom perspective view of another embodiment of the bass drum according to this disclosure, with the rear drumhead removed.

[0019] Figures 7A and 7B are bottom perspective views of the cymbal assembly according to this disclosure, and Figure 7C is a top perspective view thereof. Figures 7D and 7E are exploded perspective views of the cymbal assembly shown in Figures 7A to 7C. Figure 7F is a cross-sectional view of the cymbal assembly shown in Figures 7A to 7C.

[0020] Figures 8A to 8C are perspective views of a portion of the cymbal assembly shown in Figures 7A to 7F.

[0021] Figures 9A to 9C are perspective views of a portion of the hi-hat assembly according to this disclosure.

[0022] Figures 10A to 10C are perspective views of another embodiment of the hi-hat assembly according to this disclosure.

[0023] Figures 11A and 11B are perspective and exploded perspective views, respectively, of a portion of the hi-hat assembly shown in Figures 10A to 10C. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0024] This disclosure generally relates to electronic musical instruments. More specifically, this disclosure relates to electronic percussion instruments such as tom-toms, snare drums, bass drums, cymbals, and hi-hats, as well as assemblies of musical instruments (e.g., percussion instruments) such as drum sets. Further specifically, this disclosure relates to wireless electronic percussion instruments, and percussion instruments having interchangeable and / or removable components for changing instruments between conventional percussion instruments (which rely on resonance and / or vibration to produce sound) and electronic percussion instruments. This disclosure also relates to electronic cymbal instruments such as cymbal assemblies and hi-hat assemblies, which in some embodiments can be used in combination with conventional acoustic metal cymbals.

[0025] Note that when an element is referred to as being "above" another element, it can be either directly above the other element or there can be intervening elements between the two. Similarly, when an element is "attached to", "connected to", or the like, to another element, it can be directly attached / connected to the other element or there can also be intervening elements between the two. Further, relative terms including "inner", "outer", "upper", "top", "above", "lower", "bottom", "beneath", "below", and the like can be used herein to describe the relationship between one element and another. Terms including "higher", "lower", "wider", "narrower", and the like can be used herein to describe positional and / or angular relationships. These terms are intended to encompass not only the orientation actually shown in the figures but also different orientations of the element or system.

[0026] In this specification, terms such as first, second, etc. may be used to describe various elements, members, regions, and / or sections, but these elements, members, regions, and / or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, member, region, and / or section from another. Thus, unless otherwise specified, the first element, member, region, and / or section discussed below could equally well be referred to as the second element, member, region, and / or section without departing from the teachings of this disclosure.

[0027] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the figures, which are schematic diagrams. Accordingly, the actual thickness of elements may vary, and for example, variations from the shape of the figures are expected as a result of manufacturing techniques and / or tolerances. Therefore, the elements shown in the figures are essentially schematic, and their shapes are not necessarily intended to indicate the exact shape of regions, nor are they intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Wireless connection

[0028] Devices, systems, and methods according to the present disclosure can be designed to be wireless while reducing / minimizing the latency between a performer operating an electronic musical instrument and the generated sound. Instruments according to the present disclosure can include one or more sensors for sensing user actions and means for wirelessly transmitting messages to an external source or "hub". The hub functions as a location for receiving messages / signals from one or more such instruments and converting these messages / signals into a format that can be reproduced by one or more sound sources such as speakers. For example, the hub can convert the received message into MIDI notes using the MIDI standard, although other standards can also be used. In other embodiments, user actions can be converted into a format (e.g., MIDI format) that can be reproduced by a sound source on-site and / or at each instrument.

[0029] In embodiments of the present disclosure, messages / signals can be transmitted using various specifications known in the art such as the ZigBee specification. In one embodiment, the signal can be transmitted using a frequency shift keying (FSK) frequency modulation scheme. One particular embodiment uses Bluetooth® and / or FSK. Conventional plug-in (i.e., wired) modules typically experienced a delay in the range of 4 - 12 ms, while embodiments of the present disclosure experienced a delay of 20 ms or less, 15 ms or less, 12 ms or less, 10 ms or less, 8 ms or less, 6 ms or less, or even lower. Any signal transmission specification having sufficient latency performance can be used in embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0030] A hub can be connected to or be part of a computer or device hardware module, or other devices known in the art (e.g., a computer or a smartphone). In one embodiment, the hub is a separate device connected to a computer (or other device known in the art, such as a smartphone), whether wirelessly or physically (e.g., via USB). The hub can then translate received messages and transmit them to sound sources such as speakers or headsets, or to relays such as software (e.g., trigger interface software, virtual instrument software, virtual studio technology (VST) plugins, and / or other relays). In some embodiments, the hub can translate received messages into a format playable by a hardware-based sound module (e.g., MIDI) so that a computer and / or software is not required. In some embodiments, the hub includes one or more receivers, and in certain embodiments, a single receiver is included (e.g., as part of a transceiver). In other embodiments, the hub includes multiple receivers (e.g., transceivers), thereby enabling the hub to receive on multiple frequencies simultaneously without collision. This is particularly beneficial when multiple devices are used, and even more so when the devices in the system are transmitting on different frequencies.

[0031] The devices according to this disclosure may include one or more sensors connected to an electronic conversion unit (hereinafter simply referred to as "electronic equipment") such as a circuit board via wiring connections or the like. The electronic equipment may be a single physical element or multiple elements working together. The electronic equipment may include a transmitter and, in some embodiments, a receiver, both of which may be included as transceivers (hereinafter the term "transceiver" will be used for simplicity, but separate receivers and / or transmitters may be used, and the receiver may not be included).

[0032] Figure 1 is a flowchart of Method 100 according to one embodiment of the Disclosure, which can be used with various devices of the Disclosure, including the devices described below in detail. Additional steps may be included, and / or steps may be omitted. When a user operates the device (step 102), the operation (e.g., through the physical consequences of the operation, such as displacement or vibration of the drumhead) may be recognized by one or more sensors (step 104) and a response (e.g., an impulse) may be generated. The sensors may be connected (e.g., using one or more wires) to electronic equipment such as the electronic equipment 200 shown in Figure 2, which will be described in more detail below, but other electronic equipment may also be used as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The electronic equipment may receive / accept information (e.g., an impulse) from one or more sensors (step 106). The electronic equipment may then perform a logic function (e.g., using a logic gate or a software routine) to determine, based on the accepted information / impulse, if there is a message to send. In one specific embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device 1) determines, based on one or more accepted impulses, whether an impulse from a sensor exceeds a minimum transmission threshold (which helps prevent accidental transmission of unintended impulses) (step 108), and 2) if it does, processes the sensor information and determines whether and what the message / signal is to be transmitted (step 110). The electronic device can then transmit the determined message to the hub (step 112).

[0033] The system can be configured so that when a message is received from an electronic device, the hub or another receiver-side element sends an acknowledgment signal. The electronic device may include a retransmission protocol that causes the device to retransmit the original message if the acknowledgment signal is not received within a certain period. In a preferred embodiment, the retransmission time (i.e., the time it takes for the electronic device to retransmit if the acknowledgment signal is not received) is less than 1 millisecond. This cycle can be repeated until a pre-configured timeout occurs, after which the electronic device will no longer attempt to send the original message. Because the retransmission time is less than 1 millisecond, multiple retransmission attempts are required before a human can recognize that the original signal has not been passed.

[0034] The content of a message transmitted by an electronic device may include information beyond what is determined by the input from the sensor. For example, in one embodiment, the message includes two main components: 1) input from one or more sensors, and 2) a sender identifier (e.g., electronic device 200 and / or an identifier of the device to which the electronic device is associated). By including the identifier, the hub can recognize the sender of the message. In some embodiments, the hub can use this identifier to determine the final sound to be produced. For example, if a tom-tom and a snare are struck in exactly the same way and generate the same sensor message, the hub may produce different sounds (e.g., a tom sound or a snare sound) based on whether the identification signal indicates that the message came from the electronic device associated with the tom or the electronic device associated with the snare.

[0035] In one embodiment using the method described above, each signal generated by the operation may be 25 bytes or less; or 20 bytes or less; or 15 bytes or less; or 10 bytes or less; or 5 bytes or less; or 3 bytes or less; these signal sizes reduce delay and the possibility of interference. Multiple devices

[0036] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a single hub is used to receive signals from multiple electronic devices and thus generate sound from each of these devices (via one or more sound sources). For example, a single hub can be used to receive signals from various instruments of a drum set, such as 1) a snare drum, 2) one or more toms, 3) a bass drum, 4) cymbals, and 5) a hi-hat.

[0037] Each electronic device (such as a drum set) that transmits a signal from an instrument as part of the system can send a message to the hub on the same frequency. As described above, the size of each message is relatively small, and / or, each message according to this disclosure may be 250 microseconds or less, 200 microseconds or less, 150 microseconds or less, or less than 100 microseconds in length, so the possibility of interference is low. Furthermore, if two or more messages collide, the retransmission protocol ensures that all messages are received with only a very slight delay, and there will be no noticeable change in sound generation. Using a single frequency to transmit all messages from the various instruments of a drum set reduces the possibility of external interference and simplifies the entire system because multiple frequencies are not used for each of the different instruments.

[0038] In one embodiment, all messages sent to the hub by the various electronic circuits of the drum set use a first frequency, while all acknowledgment messages sent by the hub use a second (different) frequency. This suppresses collisions between data signals (from the electronics) and acknowledgment signals (from the hub). Generally speaking, this results in fewer message failures than embodiments in which data and acknowledgment signals use the same frequency, although embodiments with data and acknowledgment signals using the same frequency are also possible.

[0039] Each device may include its own electronic components. In one embodiment of this disclosure, each of two or more electronic components in a system (for example, electronic components for different instruments in a drum set) can be set to a different retransmission time. This can cause a delay in retransmissions if two messages from each electronic component interfere with each other, such as when a drummer operates two instruments at exactly the same time. If the retransmission protocols of the devices are set to the exact same retransmission time, an interference loop may occur, but by staggering the retransmission times, the messages will be transmitted at slightly different times, thus preventing interference.

[0040] Furthermore, the electronic device according to this disclosure can perform a frequency check before transmitting a signal. If the frequency is busy or already in use, the electronic device can delay transmission for a short time (e.g., less than 1 millisecond) before transmitting a signal or performing another check to verify that the frequency is clear. Electronic conversion unit

[0041] Figure 2 shows one embodiment of the electronic device 200 according to this disclosure. Other electronic devices are also possible besides those shown in Figure 2 and described below in detail.

[0042] The electronic device 200 can be, for example, a circuit board such as a PCB as in the illustrated embodiment. Terminals may be configured to receive signals from different sensors. For example, terminal 202a may be wired to receive sensor impulses caused by striking the drumhead, and terminal 202b may be wired to receive impulses from drumhead vibrations. In some other embodiments, different terminals may be designed for different instruments. For example, terminals 202a and 202b may be designed for a snare drum, and terminals 202c and 202d may be configured to connect to a hi-hat or cymbal assembly. In this way, the same electronic device 200 can be used for many different percussion instruments, and in some embodiments, the same type of electronic device can be used for all percussion instruments in a drum set. The electronic device 200 may include a module 210. The module 210 itself may include any combination of 1) a transceiver (such as a 2.4GHz or 5GHz FSK transceiver), 2) a signal booster, 3) an antenna, and 4) a shield for protection from interference, and may or may not have additional components. While embodiments of this disclosure often refer to electronic device 200, other types of electronic circuits may also be used, as will be understood by those skilled in the art in light of this disclosure. compatibility

[0043] The musical instruments (such as percussion instruments) according to this disclosure may have interchangeable and / or removable parts so that they can be used as electronic instruments or acoustic instruments. For example, a percussion instrument may have a relatively quiet drumhead or set of drumheads (or other striking surface) made of mesh, PET, polyester, or rubber (or other materials known in the art, such as those traditionally used with electronic drums) for use when the drum is in electronic mode and / or when electronic components are present. It may also have a drumhead or set of drumheads made of conventional acoustic materials such as Mylar and plastic, or other materials known in the art, for use when the drum is in acoustic mode and / or when no electronic components are present. It should be understood that the above list of materials is illustrative and not limiting. For example, in some cases, depending on the user's choice, the materials described above may be used as acoustic materials as typical electronic materials, and vice versa. These concepts can be applied, for example, to snare drums, tom-toms, bass drums, congas, bongos, timbales, timpani / kettle drums, cymbals, hi-hats, and other instruments understood by those skilled in the art.

[0044] The electronic components can also be used with conventional drumheads, in which case the sound produced by their operation is understood to be a combination of conventional acoustic and electronic sounds. Furthermore, the electronic components may be inactive even if they are located in a specific position and / or mounted on the drum, so that acoustic sounds are produced without electronic sounds when conventional drumheads are used. The electronic components can be mechanically designed to interfere with acoustic sounds as much as possible when the electronic components are "off". For example, the electronic components of a snare drum such as the snare drum 300 (details below) can be in contact with less than 20%, less than 10%, less than 5%, less than 2.5%, less than 1%, or less than that of the inner wall area of ​​the drum shell. In some embodiments, the contact with the inner wall area of ​​the drum shell may be substantially symmetrical with respect to the radius of the drum shell. Drum example

[0045] The following are specific embodiments of drums incorporating the elements and concepts of this disclosure. However, the elements and concepts described in each example are not particularly limited to that type of equipment. For example, the electronic equipment 500 described in relation to the snare drum 300 can be used in other equipment such as the bass drum 600, and the concept of damping described in relation to the bass drum 600 can be used in other types of drums such as the snare drum 300. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, many different embodiments are possible. Example 1: Snare Drum

[0046] Figure 3 shows a snare drum 300 (with the top drumhead removed for observation) that can incorporate the wireless technology, electronics, and / or compatibility concepts described above. The drum 300 includes a trigger platform 302. The trigger platform 302 may include a plurality of arms 304 or another type of support structure, as well as electronic components, electronic modules, and / or a trigger box 500 (shown separately in Figures 5A to 5F; hereinafter referred to as the “electronics unit” for simplicity).

[0047] The electronics unit 500 may be located below the top drumhead and / or approximately in the center of the drum 300, and / or may be connected to the drum body by other components such as the arm 304 and / or bracket 320 (which will be described in more detail below). The electronics unit 500 may include a number of connection holes 508 (some of which are not used in Figure 3) to accommodate various different shell and / or lug configurations. The trigger platform 302 and its components, such as the arm 304 and the body of the electronics unit 500, may be made of the same or a number of materials, such as plastic, metal (e.g., aluminum), wood, and / or other materials known in the art, but are not limited to these.

[0048] The drum 300 may include brackets 320. The brackets 320 can be mounted on the inner wall of the drum 300. Each bracket 320 can be connected to one of the arms 304 of the trigger platform 302, for example, by using drum screws 306 and / or other connectors, as shown in the figure. The brackets 320 may have an adjustable height relative to the inner wall of the drum 300, thereby allowing the drum 300 to be adapted to different configurations. For example, as shown in Figure 3, loosening the screw 322 allows the bracket 320 to be moved up or down before the screw 322 is repositioned through the height opening 324.

[0049] In Figure 3, a relatively quiet drumhead (e.g., a PET drumhead) can be placed on the drum 300 as shown, and the drum 300 may be in electronic mode. Alternatively, the user can remove the trigger platform 302 by unscrewing the connector 306, pulling the trigger platform 302 out of the drum, and connecting an acoustic drumhead (e.g., Mylar and / or plastic drumhead) to the side wall of the drum 300. The drum 300 may include all the components of a conventional drum, such as drum lugs and tension screws, so that it functions fully as a conventional drum when a conventional drumhead is mounted. The acoustic drumhead can be used with the electronic components and / or when the drum 300 is in electronic mode.

[0050] In some embodiments, instead of or in addition to the arm 304, a support structure such as a circular support structure (e.g., a plate or disc) can be used (e.g., as part of a trigger tray), which can be connected to other components such as the inner drum shell wall and / or bracket 320. For example, Figures 4A and 4B (which have the same reference numbers used for substantial equivalents or equivalent structures) show a drum 400 including a support structure 412 that can be circular and operate similarly to the arm 304 from the drum 300. The support structure 412 may include an arm 414 and an outer ring 416, which can increase stability and ease of installation and removal. Instead of individual arms 304 connecting to bracket 320, a single support structure 412 / outer ring 416 connects to multiple brackets 320. Other support structure designs are possible, including but not limited to solid circular support structures.

[0051] The above concept of compatibility was explained in relation to the snare drums 300 and 400, but it can also be applied to other instruments such as tom-toms and bass drums (such as the bass drum 600 shown in Figures 6A to 6C below). Electronic equipment department

[0052] Figures 5A to 5F show various diagrams of the electronic unit 500. The electronic unit 500 is used to receive signals from one or more sensors and relay those signals to the hub. The electronic unit 500 may include electronic equipment similar to electronic equipment 200 (Figure 2) and can be used to accomplish the steps of method 100 (Figure 1).

[0053] The wireless format of this disclosure also has clear advantages over conventional wireless devices such as wireless microphones. Systems such as system 300 can be powered by a local and / or self-contained power source (although other embodiments are understood to be possible). For example, the system can be powered by a battery 504 which may be removable / replaceable. In the illustrated embodiment, the battery 504 may be contained within the electronics unit 500, such as within the body of the electronics unit 500 or within the housing 502. The electronics unit 200 may be located near and / or in the same location as the battery 504, such as within the body of the electronics unit 502, to enable a simple power supply for the electronics unit 200. The electronics unit 500 can be configured so that battery power (and / or other power source, if used) is used only when the drum is struck and for a short time thereafter. The electronics unit 500 can then reduce its power consumption by entering a low-power mode and / or a hibernation mode and / or being turned "off", resulting in energy savings compared to conventional wireless devices. In some embodiments, battery use follows at least two levels of low-power modes: a first low-power mode during signal generation and a second low-power mode (i.e., a "sleep" mode) triggered when no signal is generated for a period of time. This is in contrast to the conventional method used by typical wireless microphones, for example, which transmit continuous signals and therefore require continuous power usage (instead of transmitting discrete signals). Furthermore, continuous signals, such as those used by conventional wireless microphones, are susceptible to interference.

[0054] In this and other embodiments of the Disclosure, it is also possible to use power sources other than the battery 504, including but not limited to energy harvesting power sources that utilize ambient background energy. Any type of power source can be used, including but not limited to photovoltaic, piezoelectric, solar, electrostatic, magnetic, thermoelectric, solar, pyroelectric, and energy harvesting (e.g., using ambient background energy, kinetic energy, etc.). This type of power supply is enabled and / or enhanced, at least in part, by the relatively low power requirements due to the discrete power use described above (in contrast to the continuous power use of, for example, a wireless microphone). In general, locally mounted power sources such as batteries are advantageous in that they eliminate the need for wired connections. However, wired power connections can also be used (even if signals from the operation are transmitted wirelessly). Any type of power can be used.

[0055] The electronic equipment of the device according to this disclosure, including but not limited to the electronic equipment unit 500, can receive updates electronically and wirelessly without requiring connection to another device via wires. trigger sensor

[0056] In a particular embodiment shown in Figure 3, a single first sensor (or “trigger”) 530 is shown. The first sensor 530 may be, for example, a piezoelectric sensor or other types of sensors known in the art. The first sensor 530 can be used to detect when and how the drum 300 (or any other drum to which the sensor is connected) is struck, including, for example, how hard the drum 300 is struck and / or detecting different zones and different ways of striking. The trigger may be in physical contact with the underside of the top drumhead or may be connected in other ways. For example, the upper part of the electronics unit 500 as shown may be a trigger 530 that can abut the bottom of the top drumhead, and the electronics unit may be connected to the trigger 530 mounted on the bottom of the top drumhead, for example, via one or more wires. The trigger 530 can be used primarily to sense when and how a user operates the top drumhead using a drumstick.

[0057] In some embodiments, multiple triggers (e.g., trigger 530) can be used. For example, in one embodiment, a single central trigger 530 (which may be in the center of the drum) may be surrounded by two, three, four, or five or more secondary triggers that may be equidistant from the central trigger 530. The secondary triggers can be arranged radially around the central trigger 530. In one embodiment, they are located approximately halfway from the central trigger 530 to the drum shell. In another embodiment, they are located approximately halfway or more from the central trigger 530 to the shell. In yet another embodiment, they are located less than halfway from the central trigger 530 to the shell. Furthermore, embodiments that do not include a central trigger 530 are possible. For example, two (or three, four, or five or more) triggers centered around the drum head can be used, such as triggers arranged radially. The triggers can be used to detect the force of a strike and / or to detect its position (e.g., via triangulation or other methods known in the art). These secondary sensors / triggers can be connected to the electronic unit 500, for example, via wire, wirelessly, or in a manner understandable to those skilled in the art. The secondary sensors / triggers may be piezoelectric sensors or other sensors known in the art.

[0058] Adding a second trigger in addition to the first trigger helps prevent "hot spots" where more volume is produced when the drumhead is struck near a single trigger, and also helps to sense where the drumhead was struck (i.e., in which "zone" the drumhead was hit). Similarly, a third trigger can suppress hot spots in embodiments with two triggers, etc. Finally, while it is advantageous for the sensor positions to be arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the drumhead, asymmetric arrangements are also possible. Some specifically intended embodiments include: 1) a configuration including a central trigger and two other triggers on the diametrically opposed sides of the central trigger; 2) a central trigger configuration with three other triggers substantially forming a triangle around the central trigger; 3) a triangle formation by secondary triggers (with or without a central trigger); and 4) a square or rhombus configuration of secondary triggers (with or without a central trigger). Many different embodiments are possible.

[0059] The central trigger 530 and additional sensors can be connected in parallel with each other, rather than operating independently. In other embodiments, the central trigger 530 operates independently, and two or more side sensors are connected in parallel with each other. In parallel-connected sensors, the mean / average of the detected values ​​can be used, which also helps reduce hot spots. In other embodiments, the triggers are not connected in series or parallel with each other, but instead operate independently.

[0060] A number of different types of triggers and / or trigger materials can be used. For example, some alternative trigger materials that can be used in embodiments of this disclosure include force-sensitive resistor ("FSR") sensors, smart fabrics, and other force-sensitive ("FS") materials. Vibration sensor

[0061] The electronic unit 500 may include one or more additional sensors beyond the first sensor 530 and one or more secondary drumhead triggers. For example, a second sensor (or group of sensors), such as a sensor contained within the body or housing 502 of the electronic unit 500, may be included as part of the electronic unit 500. The second sensor can be used for a variety of purposes. In the illustrated embodiment, the first sensor 530 is used to detect strikes to the drumhead, and the second sensor detects vibrations of the drum shell. For this purpose, the second sensor can be mechanically coupled to the drum shell via components of the trigger tray (e.g., arm 304, support structure 412). In this embodiment and other embodiments, the second sensor can be used, for example, to detect rimshots and / or cross sticks caused by a user to vibrate the rim. Other sensor positions for sensing vibrations and / or rim strikes are also possible. The vibration sensor may be a piezoelectric sensor or other types of sensors known in the art. In one embodiment, the vibration sensor is included inside and / or as part of the electronic equipment unit 500, but many different embodiments and locations are possible. pressure sensor

[0062] Sensing can also be used to recognize the presence of pressure on the top drumhead, such as the presence of a user's hand on the top drumhead. For example, force-sensing sensors (referred to herein as “FS sensors”) (e.g., force-sensing resistance (“FSR”) sensors) can be used for this purpose. One or more FS sensors can be placed on the top drumhead, such as at the bottom of the top drumhead, and can be used to sense when a user applies pressure to the top surface of the drumhead. User action allows electronic equipment (such as electronic equipment 200 described above) to recognize the signal transmitted by the FS sensor, indicating whether (and possibly the strength of) pressure has been applied to the top drumhead (e.g., by a user's hand). The electronic equipment (e.g., electronic equipment 200) can then adjust the signal generated based on the input from the FS sensor to produce a different sound than when no pressure is detected. While these embodiments are described herein with respect to FS sensors, other types of sensors that measure force, displacement, and / or pressure can also be used.

[0063] Figure 5F shows an example of an electronic unit 500 using FS technology. The electronic unit 500 may include an FS sensor 592 located as part of, inside, below, near, and / or otherwise in close proximity to the trigger 530, but other embodiments are also possible in which the FS sensor 592 is not in close proximity to the trigger 530, such as when the FS sensor is located directly at the bottom of the drumhead. In the specific embodiments shown, the FS sensor 592 is an FSR sensor, and it is understood that in all cases in this disclosure in which the term “FS sensor” is used, such a sensor may be an FSR sensor.

[0064] In the specific embodiment shown, the FS sensor 592 is located beneath one or more foam components 594 of the electronics unit 500, such as between foam pieces or at the base of the top of the lid of the electronics unit 500, and / or beneath the foam components, although many different positions are possible. When a user places their hand on the top drumhead, the top of the electronics unit 500 is pressed down, and the FS sensor 592 is activated. The pressure of the user's hand (or any other similarly applied pressure) is typically greater than, for example, the pressure applied when striking the drumhead with a drumstick. Therefore, the FS sensor can determine whether the user's hand is on the drumhead and send a message and / or impulse accordingly, which the electronics can use to adjust the sound produced accordingly. For example, in one embodiment, the FS sensor can be used to distinguish between when the user is playing a cross stick (a drumming technique in which the user applies pressure to the drumhead while striking the rim of the drum with a drumstick) and when the user is playing a rimshot (a drumming technique in which the user strikes both the head and the rim with a drumstick). The signal differentiation may be used by electronic components such as electronic device 200 to determine the type of sound to be generated (e.g., cross-stick sound vs. rimshot sound). It should be understood that many other different uses and locations of the FS sensor according to this disclosure are possible, and that pressure sensors other than FS / FSR sensors may be used. Electronic Throw-Off and Snare Tension Adjustment

[0065] Conventional acoustic snare drums often include a “throw-off,” such as the throw-off 380 shown in Figure 3. Several conventional throw-offs are described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 5,616,875 by Lombardi and U.S. Patent No. 7,902,444 by Good et al., each of which is fully incorporated by reference. Typically, a snare drum includes a “snare” with a series of rigid wires (i.e., “snare wires”) fixed to the bottom drumhead. These wires produce a characteristic “snare” sound when the drum is struck. The snare is held against the bottom drumhead by tension when the throw-off (e.g., a throw-off lever) is in a first position (typically the upper position), and can be detached from the bottom head by placing the throw-off in a second position (typically the lower position). Thus, when the throw-off is in the second position, the snare drum produces a different sound than when the throw-off is in the first position.

[0066] In some embodiments of the snare drum according to this disclosure, a sensor may be included to sense the position of the throw-off 380. In a specific embodiment, the sensor notifies an electronic device (e.g., electronic device unit 500 and / or electronic device) that the throw-off is physically in (e.g., using an electronic switch), and the electronic device adjusts the generated signal based on its position. For example, if the throw-off is detected to be in the "up" position so that the snare of an acoustic drum is held against the bottom head, the signal generated when the drum is operated produces the normal sound of a snare drum. On the other hand, if the throw-off is detected to be in the "down" position, the signal generated when the drum is operated produces a sound more typical of a tom. The sensor may be, for example, a switch, a potentiometer, a proximity sensor, or any other variable or switched sensor capable of determining a physical position.

[0067] In addition, when the snare is in contact with the bottom head, the amount of contact can be finely adjusted using a tension adjuster such as a lever or joystick, thereby fine-tuning the sound produced by the snare drum. Some such devices and methods are described in U.S. Patent No. 8,143,507 by Good et al., which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Moving the lever or joystick may also remove the snare from the bottom head, resulting in the same sound as when the throw-off is in the "off" position. Similar to the throw-off, one or more of the above sensors can be used in combination with a tension adjuster to sense its position and adjust the signal generated when it is activated to reflect the position of the tension adjuster.

[0068] While the above describes a switched embodiment, an embodiment of a continuous control device (which senses an actual position rather than "on" or "off") is also possible and intended in the embodiments of this disclosure. Such a sensor can be used to determine, for example, how tightly the snare is held against the bottom drumhead, thereby making distinctions in the sounds produced. Example 2: Tom Tom

[0069] A tom-tom drum is mechanically very similar to a snare drum, but does not include a snare or associated components (e.g., throw-off and snare adjustment lever). Therefore, a tom-tom drum according to this disclosure may include any of the trigger sensors, vibration sensors, and / or pressure sensors described above in relation to a snare drum. The above-described concepts and components relating to a snare drum can be applied to a tom-tom drum (or similar) as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Example 3: Bass drum

[0070] Figures 6A to 6C show a drum 600 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, in this particular case a bass drum. The drum 600 may include many components similar to and / or identical to those of the drum 300 in Figure 3.

[0071] The drum 600 may include a trigger platform 602 which may include an arm 604 and an electronics unit 608. The electronics unit 608 may be centrally located or off-center as shown, for example, centrally located horizontally but below the vertical midpoint of the rear drumhead, so as to be closer to where the drum beater typically strikes the rear drumhead (element 640 in Figure 4, not shown in Figures 2 and 3). Other locations are possible. The electronics unit 608 may include or be connected to one or more sensors, as described in the electronics unit 500, and may be in contact with or connected to the inside of the rear drumhead.

[0072] The drum 600 may also include a bracket 620, and the arm 604 and bracket 620 are similar to and / or connected in the same way as the arm 304 and bracket 320. The arm 604 (and arm 304 in Figure 3) is pivotable relative to the substrate 630 and / or the electronics unit 608, and in some embodiments, the arm 604 may have an adjustable length. Using one or both of these features, the position of the electronics unit 608 and / or the substrate 630 can be adjusted relative to the body of the drum 600 and / or the drum shell. In addition, the trigger platform 602 may include a substrate 630 on which the electronics unit 608 is mounted. The substrate 630 is, for example, disc-shaped. In this case, the substrate 630 is a circular wooden disc. The arm 604 can be connected to the substrate 630, or, in some embodiments (such as embodiments in which no substrate is used), to the electronics unit 608. Similar to the support structure 412 in Figures 4A and 4B, in an alternative embodiment, a support structure having an outer ring (similar to the outer ring 416) can be used.

[0073] The trigger platform 602 may include a damper 632 designed to be adjacent to the surface of the rear drumhead. In embodiments where a substrate 630 is present, the damper may be located between the substrate 630 and the rear drumhead such that the substrate 630 supports the damper 632 (some embodiments include the damper but do not include the substrate), and in some embodiments, the damper 632 may be directly adjacent to the substrate and / or the rear drumhead. The damper may be, for example, foam, rubber, and / or other material known in the art, and may be one integrated piece (illustrated) or multiple pieces. The damper may be attached in ways known in the art, such as by attaching it to the substrate 630 using posts, male / female fittings, fasteners, and / or adhesives, and many different embodiments are possible. The damper 632 can cover and / or come into contact with 5% or more, 10% or more, 25% or more, 33% or more, 50% or more, 66% or more, 75% or more, 90% or more, or more of the inner surface of the rear drum head. The damper 632 may have an area of ​​5% or more of the rear drum head area, 10% or more of the rear drum head area, 25% or more of the rear drum head area, 33% or more of the rear drum head area, 50% or more of the rear drum head area, 66% or more of the rear drum head area, 75% or more of the rear drum head area, 90% or more of the rear drum head area, or more of the rear drum head area. The damper 632 may be substantially circular, as shown in Figures 6A to 6C, and / or may have a radius of 5% or more of the radius of the rear drum head, 10% or more of the radius of the rear drum head, 25% or more of the radius of the rear drum head, 33% or more of the radius of the rear drum head, 50% or more of the radius of the rear drum head, 66% or more of the radius of the rear drum head, 75% or more of the radius of the rear drum head, 90% or more of the radius of the rear drum head, or greater than that.In some embodiments, the damper may include a cutout portion 630a, as shown, but in some embodiments, it may not include a cutout portion. For example, Figure 6D shows an embodiment of a drum 690 with a damper 692 without a cutout portion.

[0074] The damper 632 can help reduce the acoustic sound produced by the drum 600, for example, by reducing the vibration of the rear drumhead after it has been struck by the beater. This is true regardless of whether an electronic drumhead (e.g., made from previously described materials such as PET) or an acoustic drumhead is used.

[0075] The entire trigger platform 602, including but not limited to the arm 604, electronic components 608, circuit board 630, and damper 632, can be removed, and a conventional drum can be provided to the user that includes all conventional components (e.g., lugs and tension screws) using an acoustic rear drumhead placed on the drum 600. Similar to the drum 300, the acoustic rear drumhead can also be used in combination with the trigger platform 602. The damper can also be used with instruments other than the bass drum, such as the snare drum 300, other types of drums and / or percussion instruments, or other types of instruments as a whole.

[0076] One or more pressure sensors, such as FS sensors (e.g., FSR sensors), can be used as part of the drum 600. For example, the electronics unit 608 may be similar to the electronics unit 500 and may include an FS sensor similar to or identical to the FS sensor 592. The FS sensor 592 used with the snare drum 300 is most frequently used to detect whether the user is applying pressure to the top drumhead, while an FS sensor used with a bass drum, such as the bass drum 600, can detect whether (and to what extent) the user is "embedding" the bass drum pedal into the bass drum 600. Embedding the bass drum pedal is a technique in which a drummer attempts (or achieves) to press the beater head against the bass drum instead of letting the beater head bounce, thereby reducing resonance. The FS sensor can sense the degree to which the user is embedding the beater head and adjust the electronically generated sound accordingly.

[0077] In addition, some embodiments of this disclosure may be drumheads including the components described above. For example, an electronic drumhead may include electronic equipment (e.g., electronic equipment 200) inside or on its bottom surface, with or without a support structure, and the electronic drumhead can be used with a variety of devices. Examples of cymbal instruments

[0078] The following are specific embodiments of percussion instruments incorporating the elements and concepts of this disclosure, which include one or more cymbals. However, the elements and concepts described in each example are not particularly limited to that type of instrument. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, many different embodiments are possible. Example 4: Cymbal Assembly

[0079] Figures 7A to 7F show various diagrams of the cymbal assembly 700 according to the present disclosure. As best shown in Figure 7D, the cymbal assembly 700 may include a striking section 702, a secondary bell 704, and an electronics section 750, the electronics section including an electronic circuit module 752 and a sensor module 754, which in the illustrated embodiment surrounds the electronic circuit module 752 circumferentially. Embodiments that do not include certain of these components are also possible. For example, in some embodiments the secondary bell 704 may be absent, and in some embodiments the electronics section may include only the electronic module 752, and so on. Other conventional components of a cymbal stand, such as a cymbal stand rod, may also be included. Many different embodiments are possible. The electronics section 750 can be removed from the cymbal stand rod by removing fasteners, for example.

[0080] The secondary bell 704 may be located above the striking section 702, while the electronics section 750 is located below the striking section 702. The electronics section 750 (including one or both of the electronics module 752 and the sensor module 754), the striking section 702, and the secondary bell 704 can each be molded to define an axial hole through which a stand rod (e.g., a cymbal stand rod) can pass, and each of these components can be mounted on a stand, similar to a conventional acoustic cymbal stand assembly.

[0081] In some embodiments, the striking section 702 and / or the electronic equipment section 750 have a circular cross-section and / or are disc-shaped. The electronic equipment section 750 may have the same radius, area, and / or cross-sectional size as the striking section 702, or it may have a smaller radius, area, and / or cross-sectional size, as in the illustrated embodiment, which helps to conceal the electronic equipment section 750 from view. The electronic equipment section 750 may be smaller than the base area of ​​the striking section 702, but may have an area of ​​25% or more, 33% or more, 50% or more, 66% or more, 75% or more, 90% or more, or more than the base area of ​​the striking section 702. The electronic equipment section 750 may be substantially circular and may be less than 100% of the radius of the striking section 702, but may have a radius of 25% or more, 33% or more, 50% or more, 66% or more, 75% or more, 90% or more, or more. The outer edge of the electronic equipment section 750 may be offset inward from the edge of the striking section 702 by various distances such as 3 inches or less, 2.5 inches or less, 2 inches or less, 1.5 inches or less, 1 inch or less, 3 / 4 inch or less, 1 / 2 inch or less, 1 / 4 inch or less, and / or 1 / 32 inch to 2 inches, 1 / 16 inch to 1.5 inches, 1 / 16 inch to 1 inch, 1 / 8 inch to 1 inch, 1 / 8 inch to 3 / 4 inches, or 1 / 8 inch to 1 / 2 inch, and / or 1 / 32 inch or more, 1 / 16 inch or more, 1 / 8 inch or more, 1 / 4 inch or more, 1 / 2 inch or more, 3 / 4 inch or more, 1 inch or more, 1.5 inches or more, 2 inches or more, or more. Combinations of these ranges are possible, and offsets outside these ranges are also possible.

[0082] In some embodiments, the striking part 702 is a conventional cymbal and can be made of a metal such as a copper alloy (e.g., bell bronze, malleable bronze, brass, nickel silver). In some other embodiments, the striking part 702 is made and / or constructed of a material that reduces noise during operation, such as plastic, Mylar, PET, rubber, and / or other materials known in the art or already described herein. The electronic component 750 can be made of a variety of materials known in the art, such as plastic and / or metal. Many different materials are possible.

[0083] The cymbal assembly 700 may include one or more sensors for recognizing user action. Conventional cymbals produce different sounds depending on the striking area: the bell (the raised central part), the bow (the body of the cymbal, extending outward from the bottom of the bell), and the edge. The bell, bow, and edge of the striking part 702 are shown in Figures 7C and 7D as elements 702a, 702b, and 702c, respectively. In the specific embodiment shown, the cymbal assembly 700 includes three sensor groups, each of which may include one or more bell sensors, one or more bow sensors, and one or more edge sensors. Embodiments of the present disclosure may include only one of these sensor groups, any two of these sensor groups, or all three of these sensor groups, and may also include additional sensor groups. Bell Sensor

[0084] With respect to the bell sensor group, one or more sensors (e.g., piezoelectric sensors) can be positioned on the underside of the secondary bell 704 or in other locations as understood by those skilled in the art (e.g., on top of the bell 702a). The sensors can be positioned on the underside of the secondary bell 704 through mounting openings in the striking section 702, such as mounting openings 702a. A mounting opening 702a may be included for each sensor to be mounted. Any number of sensors can be mounted, such as one bell sensor, two bell sensors, three bell sensors, or more. The use of mounting openings 702a can help prevent short circuits of the sensors by enabling mounting mechanisms, such as sealing the exits, when the sensors are positioned through the mounting openings 702a and pressed against the underside of the secondary bell 704.

[0085] Using a secondary bell 704 instead of the bell of the striking section 702 may be beneficial in that it can reduce the acoustic resonance of the striking section 702. The area of ​​the secondary bell 704 may be 50% or less, 25% or less, 20% or less, 15% or less, 10% or less, or less than the area of ​​the striking section 702. The secondary bell 704 may be separated from the striking section 702 via one or more separators 706, such as rubber separators or washers, to reduce and / or prevent contact with the secondary bell 704 from being transmitted to the striking section 702. However, in other configurations, the bell of the striking section 702 may also be used. In such configurations, a sensor for recognizing a bell strike may be included as part of the electronic equipment 750. Bow sensor

[0086] One or more bow sensors may be included as part of the electronic equipment unit 750, such as on the sensor module 754. For example, in the particular embodiment shown, three sensors may be included at position 754a. These sensors can be used to detect action on the bow of the cymbal assembly 700. The bow sensors may be piezoelectric sensors or other sensors as understood by those skilled in the art. Any number of sensors can be used, and it is understood that two or more (e.g., three) sensors are beneficial in reducing hot spots.

[0087] The striking section 702 and the electronic equipment section 750 can be separated by a relatively short distance, such as 1 inch or less, 3 / 4 inch or less, 1 / 2 inch or less, 1 / 4 inch or less, or smaller, when stationary. This separation can be achieved using a separator such as an O-ring, which can be placed in an upper channel of the electronic equipment section, such as the upper channel 760 of the sensor module 754. In other embodiments, the striking section 702 and the electronic equipment section 750 may be in direct contact.

[0088] In some embodiments, damping material is included between the electronic equipment unit 750 and the striking unit 702 to reduce the acoustic noise produced by the operation of the striking unit 702. The damping material may, for example, be included on the upper surface of the sensor module 754 and / or the entirety of the electronic equipment unit 750. The damping material may cover 25%, 50%, 75%, 85%, 90%, or more of the area below the striking unit 702, as is also possible in other embodiments. The damping material may be, for example, foam, rubber, and / or any other material that can reduce the acoustic noise produced by the operation of the striking unit 702, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0089] In some embodiments, the sensor is not covered by and / or sticks through the damping material on the upper surface of the sensor module 754, such as in embodiments where the damping material in the sensor area includes a notch. In other embodiments, the damping material functions as a mechanical link between the sensor and the underside of the striking portion 702. In other embodiments, the sensor is not covered by and / or mounted through the damping material and is mechanically connected in another way to the underside of the striking portion 702 via one or more mechanical posts, which may be formed of, for example, rubber or other material, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. In other embodiments, the sensor may not be in physical contact with the striking portion 702. In other embodiments, the sensor may be in direct physical contact with the striking portion 702. Many different embodiments are possible. Edge sensor

[0090] The cymbal assembly 700 may also include one or more edge sensors. The edge sensors may be positioned around the edges of the electronic components 750, such as around the top edge 754b of the sensor module 754. The top edge 754b of the sensor module 754 may include an edge wall at its end, or it may not include a wall and may simply terminate with a ledge. The top edge 754b may be substantially flat in nature to allow for the placement of edge sensors.

[0091] In one embodiment, a single and / or monolithic edge sensor can be used to cover 180° or more, 270° or more, 300° or more, 330° or more, 345° or more, 350° or more, or 355° or more of the top edge 754b. Since the top edge 754b is substantially flat, but its shape may be slightly frustoconical (like a conventional cymbal), small gaps between the ends of the edge sensors can be included to facilitate placement. Other embodiments are also possible, such as an embodiment in which a single and / or monolithic edge sensor covers 360° of the top edge 754b, and an embodiment in which multiple sensors are used to cover 180° or more, 270° or more, 300° or more, 330° or more, 345° or more, 350° or more, or 355° or more, and / or less than 360° of the top edge 754b. In embodiments with multiple sensors, the sensor ends may be in contact, overlapping, or have gaps between them. Many different embodiments are possible.

[0092] In conventional acoustic cymbals, the vibration of the cymbal can be suppressed by "choke" it (i.e., stopping or reducing the sound after the cymbal has been struck) by pinching the bottom and top of the cymbal with the fingers. An edge sensor can be used to 1) recognize choke and / or 2) recognize an edge strike. In another embodiment, the edge sensor is used only to recognize choke, while the bow sensor described above recognizes an edge strike. Many different embodiments are possible.

[0093] In one embodiment, the edge sensor is an FS sensor (e.g., an FSR sensor) (or multiple FS sensors if multiple edge sensors are included). The user can utilize a conventional choke motion, such as that of the sensor module 754, which pushes down on the upper side of the striking section 702 and pushes up on the lower side of the electronic section 750. Alternatively, the edges of the striking section 702 and the electronic section 750 can be compressed or moved closer together. When the striking section 702 and the sensor module 754 are compressed together, the FS sensor senses the increase in pressure and transmits a corresponding impulse and / or message (for example, to electronics contained within the electronic module 752, which will be described in more detail below).

[0094] The use of one or more FS sensors for edge sensors can be particularly useful in that they can function as a continuous controller instead of a switch. While prior art electronic cymbals utilize a switch to ensure the cymbal is either fully choked or unchoked, a continuous controller embodiment like the cymbal assembly 700 allows for greater user control. The user can slightly choke the cymbal assembly 700 to quiet the sound and / or reduce the overall decay time and / or increase the decay rate, for example, as a drummer would do with a conventional acoustic cymbal (e.g., by tapping the cymbal more slowly). However, it is understood that other embodiments are also possible, such as switched embodiments and embodiments utilizing other types of sensors (e.g., piezoelectric edge sensors).

[0095] In contrast to tightening the striking section 702 and the electronic section 750, other methods of "choking" the cymbal are also possible. For example, in one embodiment, the cymbal assembly 700 can sense a specific type of contact from the user, such as a hand touch. In one embodiment, when the user touches both the striking section 702 and the electronic section 750 with their hand, a circuit is completed. Once this circuit is completed, a signal is transmitted, allowing the cymbal to be "choked." In other embodiments, one or more capacitive sensors can be used to detect the proximity of the striking section 702 and the electronic section 750. This detection can be used by the accompanying electronic section to modify the signal generated by the instrument (for example, to "choke" the cymbal). Mechanical connection

[0096] Figure 7F shows a cross-sectional view of the cymbal assembly 700. The components of the cymbal assembly 700 can be held together via one or more connectors / fasteners, such as nut and bolt connections. For example, as best shown in Figures 7D and 7F, a first connecting piece 770 (hereinafter referred to as "bolt" for simplicity) can be connected to a second connecting piece 772 (hereinafter referred to as "nut" for simplicity) via axial holes in other components such as the secondary bell 704, the striking section 702, and the electronic section 750 (electronic module 752, etc.). To securely hold the parts together, the axial holes of the parts (e.g., components 704, 702, 750, 752) can be larger than the typical 1 / 2-inch axial holes of conventional acoustic cymbal assemblies. For example, axial holes can be 5 / 8 inch or larger, 3 / 4 inch or larger, 7 / 8 inch or larger, about 1 inch or larger, 1.25 inches or larger, 1.5 inches or larger, or larger. However, smaller axial holes are also possible. By including a larger axial hole, the use of larger connecting components such as bolts 770 becomes possible, which can result in a tighter connection between components. When tightened, the nuts 772 can be located within the openings of the electronics section 750 and / or the electronics module 752.

[0097] The use of multiple electronic components 750 may offer clear advantages over the arrangement of prior art. For example, by including a relatively small electronic component 752 in association with a sensor module 754 that is more closely corresponding in size to the striking component 702, the same electronic component 752 can be used with striking components and cymbal assemblies of various sizes, or with other equipment. This improves manufacturing efficiency because the same electronic component 752 can be used in a variety of different products. However, it is understood that monolithic / single-component electronic components are also possible.

[0098] The electronics module 752 can be connected to one or more other components of the cymbal assembly 700, such as by being detachably connected. For example, as seen in Figure F, the electronics module 752 can be connected to the sensor module 754 via an interlock or the like (detachably connected in this particular embodiment). In some cases, this may be a snap connection and / or male-female connection. In the specific embodiment shown, the electronics module 752 can be connected to the sensor module 754 via one or more male / female connections 756, where the electronics module 752 includes a male component 756a (most commonly seen in Figure 8C) and the sensor module 754 includes an accompanying female component, but any male / female connection can be used, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Other embodiments are possible, but as shown in this embodiment, the connections may be substantially circular in nature. In addition to, or instead of, the connections described, other types of connections (e.g., the use of fasteners and / or adhesives) are also possible. Electronic equipment section and electronic equipment module

[0099] Figures 8A and 8B show the electronic equipment unit 750, and Figure 8C shows the electronic module 752. The electronic module 752 may include electronic equipment such as electronic equipment 200. Electronic equipment 200 can be connected to the sensor mentioned above via wire connections or the like. The electronic module 752 may include one or more power supplies 780, which may be local power sources such as batteries.

[0100] The cymbal assembly 700 is self-powered and transmits wirelessly, thus eliminating the need for external connections such as external wiring. Conventional electronic cymbal assemblies require wire connections. These wire connections hinder the free movement and rotation of the cymbal assembly's striking part. Such movement / rotation causes the external wires extending from the foot pedal to the cymbal and / or the wires to twist. However, since the external wire connections are eliminated, the striking part 702 of the cymbal assembly 700 can move and rotate freely, just like the cymbal in an acoustic cymbal assembly. Example 5: Hi-hat assembly example 1

[0101] As another example of a cymbal instrument according to this disclosure, Figures 9A to 9C show exemplary components of a hi-hat assembly 900. The hi-hat assembly 900 may include a bottom cymbal 910 and a top cymbal 920 that can be mounted on a stand 930, and a pedal 940. The pedal is operable to move the top cymbal 920 downward and toward the bottom cymbal 910, the movement of the top cymbal 920 sometimes results in striking the bottom cymbal 910, and sometimes in bringing it closer to the bottom cymbal 910. The top and / or bottom cymbals 920, 910 (in this case, only the top cymbal 920) may include many components similar and / or identical to those included in the cymbal assembly 700 described above with respect to Figures 7A to 7F, and in one embodiment is substantially equivalent to the cymbal assembly 700, except for a modified electronic module which is described in detail below with respect to Figure 9C.

[0102] The ring 914, which may include one or more sound-attenuating materials such as foam, rubber, and / or other materials known in the art, can be used to attenuate and / or prevent the acoustic sound produced by the contact between the cymbals 910, 920. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, other elements and methods for attenuation can be used in addition to or instead of the ring 914.

[0103] The hi-hat 900 may include electronics and related components, in this case as part of the top cymbal 920, but other mounting configurations are also possible, such as being mounted above the bottom cymbal 910. For example, the electronics and related components may be included in the electronics module 952, which is shown in detail in Figure 9C. The electronics module 952 may include many of the same or similar components as the electronics module 752, such as the electronics 200 and one or more power supplies 780.

[0104] The illustrated assembly and other embodiments of the present disclosure may also include a capacitive lever 960. In the particular illustrated embodiment, the capacitive lever 960 includes a mounting portion 960a and a lever portion 960b, although many different embodiments are possible, and in some embodiments the mounting portion may be omitted. The lever portion 960b may be, for example, a spring metal strip and may be made of a conductive material such as metal. The mounting portion 960a may be circular (similar to or identical to the mounting portion 1060a described in more detail below) and may be covered by two layers: a conductive layer connectable to the electronic device 200, and a non-conductive layer that is on and / or covering the conductive layer to prevent the lever portion 960b from coming into contact with the conductive layer, as there is a non-conductive layer between the conductive layer and the lever portion 960b. In the illustrated embodiment, the capacitive lever 960 is part of the electronic device module 952, but other embodiments are possible. Similar to the cymbal assembly 700, by including a capacitive lever 960 as part of the electronics module 952, the electronics module 952 can be used with instruments of various sizes, such as hi-hats.

[0105] As the lever portion 960b moves (in the illustrated embodiment, in the direction of rotation and / or the direction indicated by the arrow, although other embodiments are also possible), it bends / rolls on the mount portion 960b, which may be circular. In embodiments where the mount portion 960b is circular, this allows the lever portion 960b to gradually make more (or less) contact with the mount portion 960a as its position changes, resulting in high sensitivity and accuracy. When the lever portion 960b is moved, a capacitive displacement sensor measures the change in position and generates a signal corresponding to that position. This signal is an input to the electronic device 200. An actuator, such as actuator 962, can be used to rotate the capacitive lever. In this embodiment, the actuator may be located above the bottom cymbal 910 and below the top cymbal 920, mounted on the stand 930, and / or included as part of the top cymbal 920. The actuator 962 is inherently circumferential (for example, cup-shaped as shown in the illustration) and operates effectively regardless of the orientation of the top cymbal 920 (and therefore the capacitive lever 960). During operation, as the top cymbal 920 moves downward, the capacitive lever 960 encounters the actuator 960 and rotates upward. A capacitive displacement sensor can be used to measure the position of the capacitive lever 960, and therefore the position of the top cymbal 920 in relation to the bottom cymbal 910, and / or the vicinity of the cymbals 910, 920.

[0106] In conventional hi-hat assemblies, the sound produced when a user strikes the top cymbal with a drumstick changes based on the position of the top cymbal relative to the bottom cymbal. For example, if the pedal is operated until the top cymbal has moved halfway towards the bottom cymbal, the sound produced when the top cymbal is struck will be different from the sound produced when the top cymbal is struck while it is stationary. In the illustrated embodiment, when a user strikes the assembly with a drumstick, for example by striking the top surface of the top cymbal 920, the relative positions of the top and bottom cymbals 910 and 920 are measured using a capacitive lever 960, and a signal corresponding to that position is used as input to generate a sound, such as an input to an electronic device 200. The sensor impulse changes based on the position of the capacitive lever, and the capacitive lever 960 itself changes based on the relative positions of the top and bottom cymbals 910 and 920 (in this case, based on the position of the top cymbal 920), and the sound produced differs depending on the message / impulse.

[0107] In this particular embodiment, the lever 960 is used to measure position through a change in capacitance. However, other embodiments are possible. For example, in some embodiments, a mechanism other than a lever is used, such as a compressible device whose vertical height changes based on the relative position of the cymbals. In other embodiments, a variable other than capacitance is used. In some embodiments, multiple measuring devices (such as, but not limited to, a lever) are used. In some embodiments, a measuring device included as part of an electronic module 952 at the central position of the assembly is located at another position, such as near the rim of the cymbals or at an intermediate position. In one intended embodiment, an optical sensor is used to measure the distance between two cymbals. In another intended embodiment, the space between two cymbals is determined by an optical sensor and / or a time-of-flight sensor, etc., using acoustic and / or light reflection / time-of-flight measurement. Many different embodiments are possible.

[0108] Embodiments in which electronic equipment and / or a position sensing mechanism (such as lever 960) is included near and / or between the cymbals, for example, assembly 900 in which the electronic equipment is included between the top and bottom cymbals 920, 910, can have clear advantages over embodiments in which the cymbal position sensing element is included elsewhere. For example, if position sensing utilizes an element within the pedal, it is often necessary to run wires from the pedal to a transmitter / converter (e.g., transmitter / converter 952), etc. This can be cumbersome and is avoided in assembly 900 by including all or substantially all of the electronic equipment between and / or near the cymbals 910, 920. As with all embodiments of the present disclosure, this is also beneficial in that the user can choose their own hardware to use with each drum, such as their preferred drum pedal. Example 6: Hi-hat Assembly Embodiment 1

[0109] As another example of a cymbal instrument according to this disclosure, Figures 10A to 10C show a hi-hat assembly 1000. The hi-hat assembly may include a bottom cymbal 1010 and a top cymbal 1020 that can be mounted on a stand 1030, and a pedal 1040. The assembly also includes an electronics unit 1050, which is also shown in Figures 11A and 11B. Although other embodiments are possible, the electronics unit 1050 may be located below the pedal 1040, as shown. The electronics unit 1050 may include, for example, a capacitive lever 1060 (which itself includes a mounting portion 1060a and a lever portion 1060b), electronics 200, a power source such as a battery (which may be contained in an electronics compartment 1062), and a jack for a wire connection 1080, although some of these components (e.g., the jack and the wire connection 1080) may be omitted depending on the embodiment.

[0110] In this embodiment, a capacitive lever 1060 similar to the capacitive lever 960 in Figures 9A to 9C is included, but the electronics unit 1050 is part of the pedal 1040 rather than between the cymbals 1010 and 1020. Components similar to those shown for the capacitive lever 960 can be used instead of the components of the capacitive lever 1060, and components similar to those shown for the capacitive lever 1060 can be used in place of the components of the capacitive lever 960 in the hi-hat assembly 900. In addition, the electronics unit 1050 can be used with a pedal that is part of another type of assembly, such as a bass drum striking assembly, rather than part of the hi-hat. Many different embodiments and combinations are possible.

[0111] As best illustrated in Figures 10B and 10C, when the user presses down the pedal 1040, the capacitive lever 1060 (specifically the lever portion 1060b) is activated and pressed downward, and when the pedal rises, the capacitive lever 1060 is released and springs back upward. The assembly may include a stopper 1070 (e.g., a rubber stopper) that limits the range of motion of the pedal 1040 and the lever portion 1060b. When the lever portion 1060b is pressed down, it is pressed against the rounded mounting portion 1060a so that the lever portion 1060b gradually comes into contact with the mounting portion 1060a. The mounting portion 1060 may include two layers, the first of which is a conductive layer connected to the electronic equipment 200, and the second of which is a non-conductive layer (e.g., rubber and / or tape) (e.g., located above the conductive layer and / or between the conductive layer and the lever portion 1060b) to prevent contact between the lever portion 960b and the conductive layer. The conductive layer and lever portion 1060b can be connected to the electronic device 200 (e.g., by wire connection) to achieve the aforementioned detection (e.g., capacitance detection) that can be programmed into the electronic device 200. The electronic device can use the sensed information to generate a sound reminiscent of a conventional acoustic hi-hat.

[0112] The electronic equipment 200 can be connected, for example, to the cymbals 1010, 1020 and their electronic components via wire connection 1080, but it is understood that wireless versions are possible, such as a version in which transmission is achieved wirelessly and / or a version in which communication between the cymbals and the electronic equipment 1050 is not required, such as in an embodiment in which the pedal assembly operates as an independent device having the role of informing the system of the pedal position. The embodiments presented herein are to be understood to be illustrative.

[0113] Embodiments of the present disclosure may include any combination of interchangeable features shown in various figures, and these embodiments should not be limited to those expressly illustrated and discussed. For example, without limiting intent, the appended claims may be modified to combine combinatorial combinations of elements within the claim set, or to form multiple dependent claims from different claim sets.

[0114] While this disclosure has been described in detail with reference to its particular preferred configuration, other versions are also possible. Therefore, the intent and scope of this disclosure should not be limited to the versions described above.

[0115] In addition, it should be understood that the components and concepts in this disclosure are also applicable to musical instruments not specifically mentioned herein. For example, these components and concepts can be applied to handheld instruments (e.g., cowbells, congas, triangles, tambourines, shakers), musical pads and other instruments, marching band instruments, and other types of percussion and non-percussion instruments. In addition, the components and concepts (e.g., electronics and / or electronic parts described herein) may be part of a device or system that is separate from the instrument but can be attached to the instrument, such as a clip-on trigger device, such as a device that can be attached to a drum rim and / or drumhead.

[0116] The foregoing is intended to cover all modifications and alternative configurations that fall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure set forth in the attached claims, and nothing in the disclosure, express or implied, is intended to be placed in the public domain, even if not included in the claims.

[0117] Examples of the present invention are as follows: [1] It's a drum, A drum shell with an inner wall; The electronic equipment unit within the inner wall is attached to the drum shell, and the electronic equipment unit is Power supply and A sensor comprising one or more sensors, each of which is configured to generate a sensor impulse when the drum is operating, A circuit for receiving sensor impulses from one or more of the aforementioned sensors, A transmitter for transmitting an instrument signal based on the aforementioned sensor impulse, It is equipped with an electronics unit; A drum equipped with [a specific feature]. [2] The transmitter is the drum described in [1] located on the circuit board. [3] The drum according to [2], wherein the circuit is located on the circuit board and generates the instrument signal in response to the sensor impulse. [4] The power supply is the drum described in [1] that supplies power to the transmitter. [5] The power supply comprises one or more batteries, as described in [1]. [6] A drum as described in [1], configured to communicate wirelessly with a hub. [7] The drum according to [1], wherein the electronic equipment unit is removable from the drum shell and can be removed from the drum. [8] The drum according to [1], further comprising a plurality of brackets attached to the inner wall, wherein the electronic equipment is attached to the brackets. [9] The drum according to [8], wherein the electronic equipment section includes a support structure, and the support structure is detachably connected to the bracket.

[10] The support structure includes a plurality of arms, each of which is detachably connected to one of the brackets, as described in [9].

[11] The drum according to [9], wherein the support structure includes an outer ring detachably connected to the bracket.

[12] The drum according to [1], configured to be played as an electronic drum equipped with an electronic drumhead on the drum shell, and configured to be played as an acoustic drum equipped with an acoustic drumhead on the drum shell and with the electronic equipment removed.

[13] The drum according to [1], wherein the electronic equipment unit is located on a circuit board, and the circuit board is attached to the drum shell.

[14] The drum according to

[13] , further comprising a drum head on the drum shell and a damper on the substrate, wherein the damper is adjacent to the rear of the drum head.

[15] It's a drum, Drum shell and; The drumhead on the aforementioned drum shell and; One or more sensors, each comprising at least one first sensor connected to the underside of the drumhead and configured to generate impulses when the drumhead is operating; An electronic device configured to receive impulses from one or more of the aforementioned sensors, and further configured to wirelessly transmit instrument signals to an external device, wherein the electronic device includes a circuit board and a transmitter; A drum equipped with [a specific feature].

[16] The electronic device is powered by a local power source, as described in

[15] .

[17] The drum according to

[15] , wherein the one or more sensors further comprises a second sensor configured to mechanically communicate with the drum shell and generate impulses in response to vibrations of the drum shell.

[18] The drum according to

[15] , wherein the one or more sensors further comprises second and third sensors, the first sensor being connected to the approximate center of the lower side of the drumhead, and the second and third sensors being connected to the sides of the lower center of the drumhead that are diametrically opposed.

[19] The drum according to

[15] , wherein the one or more sensors further comprises a second sensor mechanically in contact with the lower side of the drumhead, the second sensor being an FS sensor configured to generate an impulse in response to pressure on the drumhead.

[20] The drum shell is further connected to a throw-off, The one or more sensors further comprises a second sensor connected to the throw-off and configured to recognize whether the throw-off is in a first position or a second position. The drum described in

[15] . [twenty one] The one or more sensors include the first sensor, as well as the second and third sensors. The second sensor is configured to mechanically communicate with the drum shell and generate impulses in response to vibrations of the drum shell. The third sensor is configured to mechanically communicate with the underside of the drumhead and to generate an impulse in response to pressure on the drumhead. The electronic device is configured to receive impulses from the first, second, and third sensors, and is further configured to wirelessly transmit device signals based on the impulses received from the first, second, and third sensors to an external device. The drum described in

[15] . [twenty two] The drum according to

[21] , wherein the first and second sensors are piezoelectric sensors and the third sensor is an FS sensor. [twenty three] The drum according to

[21] , wherein the first, second, and third sensors are included in an electronic component that includes a support structure connected to the drum shell. [twenty four] The system further comprises fourth and fifth sensors connected to the lower side of the drumhead and configured to generate impulses when the drumhead is operating. The electronic device is further configured to receive impulses from the fourth and fifth sensors, and the device signal is also based on the impulses received from the fourth and fifth sensors. The drum described in

[21] . [twenty five] The electronic device further comprises a throw-off connected to the drum shell, and a sixth sensor connected to the throw-off and configured to recognize whether the throw-off is in a first position or a second position, wherein the electronic device is further configured to receive impulses from the sixth sensor, and the device signal is also based on the impulses received from the sixth sensor. The drum described in

[24] .

[26] It is an electronic musical instrument system, Hub and; One or more musical instruments, each of which is: Sensors and, Electronic devices and, A power supply that provides power to the aforementioned electronic device, Includes, musical instruments; It is equipped with, The sensor is configured to generate an impulse in response to the operation of the instrument. The electronic device is configured to receive the impulse from the sensor and, in response to the impulse, wirelessly transmit a signal to the hub. Electronic musical instrument system.

[27] The system according to

[26] , wherein the electronic device comprises a circuit board and a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the signal to the hub.

[28] The electronic device is configured to determine whether to transmit the signal when it receives the impulse from the sensor, and to determine the content of the signal when it decides to transmit the signal, as described in

[26] .

[29] The system according to

[26] , wherein the hub includes a receiver, and when the receiver receives the signal from one of the instruments that transmits, the hub transmits an acknowledgment signal to the transmitting instrument.

[30] The system according to

[29] , wherein the transmitting instrument is configured to retransmit the signal if the acknowledgment is not received within a set period.

[31] The system described in

[30] , wherein the set period is 1 millisecond or less.

[32] The system according to

[26] , wherein the one or more instruments include a plurality of the instruments.

[33] The system according to

[32] , wherein each of the plurality of instruments is configured to transmit wirelessly to the hub at a first frequency, the first frequency being the same for each of the plurality of instruments.

[34] The system according to

[33] , wherein the hub is configured to respond to the instrument with an acknowledgment signal when it receives a signal from the instrument.

[35] The system according to

[34] , wherein the hub is configured to wirelessly transmit the acknowledgment signal at a second frequency different from the first frequency.

[36] The system as described in

[32] , wherein if an acknowledgment of receipt is not received within a set period, each of the instruments is configured to retransmit its respective signal, the set period being different for each of the instruments.

[37] The system according to

[32] , wherein the plurality of instruments include at least one drum and at least one cymbal instrument.

[38] The aforementioned group of instruments is a drum set including a snare drum, bass drum, tom-toms, cymbals, and hi-hat, as described in

[32] .

[39] The system described in

[26] , wherein the signal is 25 bytes or less.

[40] The system according to

[26] , wherein the message length of the signal is 250 μs or less.

[41] The hub is connected to a computer in the system described in

[26] .

[42] The hub is configured to convert each of the received signals into a MIDI note, as described in

[26] .

[43] The hub is connected to a hardware-based sound module in the system described in

[26] .

[44] The system according to

[26] , wherein the hub is connected to one or more speakers.

[45] It is a cymbal assembly, The hitting section; The electronic equipment section below the striking section, wherein the electronic equipment section comprises, One or more FS sensors for recognizing a user who moves the edges of the striking part and the electronic device part closer together and generating a sensor impulse in response, Electronic equipment for receiving sensor impulses from one or more FS sensors, Electronic equipment section including; A cymbal assembly equipped with [the following features].

[46] The one or more FS sensors are located around the upper end of the electronic component in the cymbal assembly described in

[45] .

[47] The cymbal assembly according to

[46] , wherein the one or more FS sensors surround approximately 300° or more of the upper end of the electronic equipment.

[48] The cymbal assembly described in

[45] , wherein the one or more FS sensors are continuous controller sensors.

[49] The cymbal assembly according to

[45] , wherein the one or more FS sensors include a single FSR sensor that surrounds approximately 300° or more of the upper end of the electronic component.

[50] The cymbal assembly according to

[45] , wherein the electronic equipment further comprises one or more piezoelectric sensors for recognizing user strikes of the striking portion.

[51] The one or more piezoelectric sensors are located on the upper side of the electronic equipment unit, as described in

[50] .

[52] The cymbal assembly according to

[51] , comprising at least three of the piezoelectric sensors.

[53] The cymbal assembly according to

[50] , wherein the electronic equipment includes a circuit board and a transmitter.

[54] The cymbal assembly according to

[53] , wherein the electronic equipment section includes a local power supply.

[55] The cymbal assembly according to

[54] , wherein the electronic equipment section includes an electronic equipment module and a sensor module surrounding the electronic equipment module in the circumferential direction, the electronic equipment and the local power supply are located on the electronic equipment module, and the one or more FS sensors are located on the sensor module.

[56] The cymbal assembly according to

[45] , wherein the striking portion is separated from the electronic equipment portion by one or more separators.

[57] The cymbal assembly according to

[45] , wherein the one or more FS sensors are one or more FSR sensors.

[58] It is a cymbal assembly, The hitting section; The electronic equipment section below the striking section, wherein the electronic equipment section comprises, A sensor module including one or more sensors for recognizing user operation of the striking part and generating sensor impulses in response thereto, An electronic module for receiving sensor impulses from the sensor module, wherein the electronic module is connected to the sensor module, The electronic part containing; A cymbal assembly equipped with [the following features].

[59] The striking part is a metal cymbal, as described in

[58] , the cymbal assembly.

[60] The cymbal assembly according to

[58] , wherein the striking portion includes a bow and a first bell, and the cymbal assembly further includes a second bell above the first bell.

[61] The cymbal assembly according to

[58] , wherein the electronic equipment unit is disc-shaped.

[62] The cymbal assembly according to

[58] , wherein the electronic equipment section has a cross-section substantially corresponding to the shape and size of the striking section.

[63] The cymbal assembly according to

[58] , wherein the striking portion and the electronic equipment portion have a substantially circular cross-section.

[64] The cymbal assembly described in

[58] , wherein the sensor module and the electronic module are connected by a male-to-female connection.

[65] The cymbal assembly described in

[58] , wherein the sensor module and the electronic module are connected by a snap connection.

[66] The cymbal assembly according to

[58] , wherein the sensor module surrounds the electronic module in a circumferential direction.

[67] The cymbal assembly according to

[58] , wherein the striking portion and the electronic module each include an axial hole, and further include fasteners passing through the axial holes for holding the cymbal assembly together.

[68] The cymbal assembly according to

[67] , wherein the fastener includes a nut and a bolt.

[69] The cymbal assembly according to

[67] , wherein the width of the axial hole is 3 / 4 inch or more.

[70] The cymbal assembly according to

[58] , wherein the electronic module is detachably connected to the sensor module.

[71] The cymbal assembly according to

[58] , wherein the electronic equipment unit is removable from the cymbal assembly.

[72] The cymbal assembly described in

[58] includes a local power supply as an electronic module.

[73] The cymbal assembly according to

[72] , wherein the local power supply comprises one or more batteries.

[74] This is a hi-hat assembly, Top cymbal and; Bottom cymbal and; A sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to measure a variable corresponding to the distance between the top cymbal and the bottom cymbal; A hi-hat assembly equipped with [features / equipment].

[75] The aforementioned variable is capacitance, as described in

[74] , for the hi-hat assembly.

[76] The hi-hat assembly according to

[75] includes a capacitive lever as the sensor.

[77] The hi-hat assembly according to

[76] , wherein the sensor is attached to one of the top cymbal and the bottom cymbal and further comprises an actuator for causing the capacitive lever to rotate.

[78] The hi-hat assembly according to

[77] , wherein the sensor is mounted on the underside of the top cymbal.

[79] The hi-hat assembly according to

[78] , wherein the lever is configured to rotate when the top cymbal is lowered.

[80] The hi-hat assembly according to

[74] , wherein the top cymbal and the bottom cymbal are mounted on a stand, and the top cymbal is configured to move downward toward the bottom cymbal when operated by the user.

[81] The hi-hat assembly according to

[80] further comprises a foot pedal operably connected to the top cymbal, wherein the user operation is the operation of the foot pedal.

[82] The hi-hat assembly described in

[74] , wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

[83] The sensor is a time-of-flight sensor, as described in

[74] , for the hi-hat assembly.

[84] The sensor is located between the top cymbal and the bottom cymbal in the hi-hat assembly described in

[74] .

[85] The sensor further comprises a pedal, the sensor located below the pedal, in the hi-hat assembly described in

[74] .

[86] The hi-hat assembly according to

[74] , wherein the sensor includes a capacitive lever, and the capacitive lever includes a lever portion and a mounting portion.

[87] The mounting portion is rounded, as described in

[86] , hi-hat assembly.

[88] The hi-hat assembly according to

[86] , wherein the mounting portion includes a conductive layer and a non-conductive layer that separates the lever portion from the conductive layer.

Claims

1. It's a drum, A drum shell with an inner wall; The electronic equipment unit within the inner wall is attached to the drum shell, and the electronic equipment unit is Power supply and A sensor comprising one or more sensors, each of which is configured to generate a sensor impulse when the drum is operating, A circuit for receiving sensor impulses from one or more of the aforementioned sensors, A transmitter for transmitting an instrument signal based on the aforementioned sensor impulse, It is equipped with an electronics unit; A drum equipped with [a specific feature].

2. The transmitter is a drum according to claim 1, located on a circuit board.

3. The drum according to claim 2, wherein the circuit is located on the circuit board and generates the instrument signal in response to the sensor impulse.

4. The drum according to claim 1, wherein the power supply provides power to the transmitter.

5. The drum according to claim 1, wherein the power supply includes one or more batteries.

6. The drum according to claim 1, configured to communicate wirelessly with a hub.

7. The drum according to claim 1, wherein the electronic equipment unit is detachable from the drum shell and removable from the drum.

8. The drum according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of brackets attached to the inner wall, wherein the electronic equipment is attached to the brackets.

9. The drum according to claim 8, wherein the electronic equipment section includes a support structure, and the support structure is detachably connected to the bracket.

10. The drum according to claim 9, wherein the support structure includes a plurality of arms, each of which is detachably connected to one of the brackets.

11. The drum according to claim 9, wherein the support structure includes an outer ring detachably connected to the bracket.

12. The drum according to claim 1, configured to be played as an electronic drum equipped with an electronic drumhead on the drum shell, and configured to be played as an acoustic drum equipped with an acoustic drumhead on the drum shell and with the electronic equipment removed.

13. The drum according to claim 1, wherein the electronic equipment unit is located on a circuit board, and the circuit board is attached to the drum shell.

14. The drum according to claim 13, further comprising a drum head on the drum shell and a damper on the substrate, wherein the damper is adjacent to the rear of the drum head.

15. It's a drum, Drum shell and; The drumhead on the aforementioned drum shell and; One or more sensors, each having at least one first sensor connected to the underside of the drumhead and configured to generate impulses when the drumhead is operating; An electronic device configured to receive impulses from one or more of the aforementioned sensors, and further configured to wirelessly transmit instrument signals to an external device, wherein the electronic device includes a circuit board and a transmitter; A drum equipped with [a specific feature].

16. The drum according to claim 15, wherein the electronic device is powered by a local power supply.

17. The drum according to claim 15, wherein the one or more sensors further comprises a second sensor configured to mechanically communicate with the drum shell and generate an impulse in response to vibrations of the drum shell.

18. The drum according to claim 15, wherein the one or more sensors further comprises second and third sensors, the first sensor being connected to the approximate center of the lower side of the drumhead, and the second and third sensors being connected to the sides of the lower center of the drumhead that are diametrically opposed.

19. The drum according to claim 15, wherein the one or more sensors further comprises a second sensor mechanically in contact with the lower side of the drumhead, the second sensor being an FS sensor configured to generate an impulse in response to pressure on the drumhead.

20. The drum shell is further connected to a throw-off, The one or more sensors further comprises a second sensor connected to the throw-off and configured to recognize whether the throw-off is in a first position or a second position. The drum according to claim 15.

21. The one or more sensors include the first sensor, as well as the second and third sensors. The second sensor is configured to mechanically communicate with the drum shell and generate impulses in response to vibrations of the drum shell. The third sensor is configured to mechanically communicate with the underside of the drumhead and to generate an impulse in response to pressure on the drumhead. The electronic device is configured to receive impulses from the first, second, and third sensors, and is further configured to wirelessly transmit device signals based on the impulses received from the first, second, and third sensors to an external device. The drum according to claim 15.

22. The drum according to claim 21, wherein the first and second sensors are piezoelectric sensors and the third sensor is an FS sensor.

23. The drum according to claim 21, wherein the first, second, and third sensors are included in an electronic equipment section which includes a support structure connected to the drum shell.

24. The system further includes fourth and fifth sensors connected to the lower side of the drumhead and configured to generate impulses when the drumhead is operating. The electronic device is further configured to receive impulses from the fourth and fifth sensors, and the device signal is also based on the impulses received from the fourth and fifth sensors. The drum according to claim 21.

25. The electronic device further comprises a throw-off connected to the drum shell, and a sixth sensor connected to the throw-off and configured to recognize whether the throw-off is in a first position or a second position, wherein the electronic device is further configured to receive impulses from the sixth sensor, and the device signal is also based on the impulses received from the sixth sensor. The drum according to claim 24.

26. It is an electronic musical instrument system, Hub and; One or more musical instruments, each of which is: Sensors and, Electronic devices and, A power supply that provides power to the aforementioned electronic device, Includes, musical instruments; It is equipped with, The sensor is configured to generate an impulse in response to the operation of the instrument. The electronic device is configured to receive the impulse from the sensor and, in response to the impulse, wirelessly transmit a signal to the hub. Electronic musical instrument system.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the electronic device comprises a circuit board and a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the signal to the hub.

28. The system according to claim 26, wherein the electronic device is configured to determine whether to transmit the signal when it receives the impulse from the sensor, and, if it decides to transmit the signal, to determine the content of the signal.

29. The system according to claim 26, wherein the hub includes a receiver, and the hub is configured to transmit an acknowledgment signal to the transmitting instrument when the receiver receives the signal from the transmitting instrument.

30. The system according to claim 29, wherein the transmitting instrument is configured to retransmit the signal if the acknowledgment is not received within a set period.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein the set period is 1 millisecond or less.

32. The system according to claim 26, wherein the one or more instruments include a plurality of the instruments.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein each of the plurality of instruments is configured to wirelessly transmit to the hub at a first frequency, and the first frequency is the same for each of the plurality of instruments.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein the hub is configured to respond to the instrument with an acknowledgment signal when it receives a signal from the instrument.

35. The system according to claim 34, wherein the hub is configured to wirelessly transmit the acknowledgment signal at a second frequency different from the first frequency.

36. The system according to claim 32, wherein if an acknowledgment of receipt is not received within a set period, each of the instruments is configured to retransmit its respective signal, and the set period is different for each of the instruments.

37. The system according to claim 32, wherein the plurality of instruments include at least one drum and at least one cymbal instrument.

38. The system according to claim 32, wherein the plurality of instruments is a drum set including a snare drum, bass drum, tom-toms, cymbals, and hi-hat.

39. The system according to claim 26, wherein the signal is 25 bytes or less.

40. The system according to claim 26, wherein the message length of the signal is 250 μs or less.

41. The system according to claim 26, wherein the hub is connected to a computer.

42. The system according to claim 26, wherein the hub is configured to convert each of the received signals into a MIDI note.

43. The system according to claim 26, wherein the hub is connected to a hardware-based sound module.

44. The system according to claim 26, wherein the hub is connected to one or more speakers.

45. It is a cymbal assembly, The hitting area; The electronic equipment section below the striking section, wherein the electronic equipment section comprises, One or more FS sensors for recognizing a user who moves the edges of the striking part and the electronic equipment part closer together, and for generating a sensor impulse in response to that, Electronic equipment for receiving sensor impulses from one or more FS sensors, Electronic equipment unit including; A cymbal assembly equipped with [the following features].

46. The cymbal assembly according to claim 45, wherein the one or more FS sensors are located around the upper end of the electronic equipment unit.

47. The cymbal assembly according to claim 46, wherein one or more FS sensors surround approximately 300° or more of the upper end of the electronic equipment unit.

48. The cymbal assembly according to claim 45, wherein the one or more FS sensors are continuous controller sensors.

49. The cymbal assembly according to claim 45, wherein the one or more FS sensors include a single FSR sensor that surrounds approximately 300° or more of the upper end of the electronic equipment.

50. The cymbal assembly according to claim 45, wherein the electronic equipment unit further comprises one or more piezoelectric sensors for recognizing user strikes of the striking unit.

51. The cymbal assembly according to claim 50, wherein the one or more piezoelectric sensors are located on the upper side of the electronic equipment unit.

52. The cymbal assembly according to claim 51, comprising at least three of the piezoelectric sensors.

53. The cymbal assembly according to claim 50, wherein the electronic equipment includes a circuit board and a transmitter.

54. The cymbal assembly according to claim 53, wherein the electronic equipment unit includes a local power supply.

55. The cymbal assembly according to claim 54, wherein the electronic equipment section includes an electronic equipment module and a sensor module surrounding the electronic equipment module in the circumferential direction, the electronic equipment and the local power supply are located on the electronic equipment module, and the one or more FS sensors are located on the sensor module.

56. The cymbal assembly according to claim 45, wherein the striking portion is separated from the electronic equipment portion by one or more separators.

57. The cymbal assembly according to claim 45, wherein the one or more FS sensors are one or more FSR sensors.

58. It is a cymbal assembly, The hitting area; The electronic equipment section below the striking section, wherein the electronic equipment section comprises, A sensor module including one or more sensors for recognizing user operation of the striking part and generating sensor impulses in response thereto, An electronic module for receiving sensor impulses from the sensor module, wherein the electronic module is connected to the sensor module, The electronic part includes; A cymbal assembly equipped with [the following features].

59. The cymbal assembly according to claim 58, wherein the striking part is a metal cymbal.

60. The cymbal assembly according to claim 58, wherein the striking portion includes a bow and a first bell, and the cymbal assembly further includes a second bell above the first bell.

61. The cymbal assembly according to claim 58, wherein the electronic equipment unit is disc-shaped.

62. The cymbal assembly according to claim 58, wherein the electronic equipment section has a cross-section substantially corresponding to the shape and size of the striking section.

63. The cymbal assembly according to claim 58, wherein the striking portion and the electronic equipment portion have substantially circular cross-sections.

64. The cymbal assembly according to claim 58, wherein the sensor module and the electronic module are connected by a male-to-female connection.

65. The cymbal assembly according to claim 58, wherein the sensor module and the electronic module are connected by a snap connection.

66. The cymbal assembly according to claim 58, wherein the sensor module surrounds the electronic module in a circumferential direction.

67. The cymbal assembly according to claim 58, wherein the striking portion and the electronic module each include an axial hole, and further include fasteners passing through the axial hole for holding the cymbal assembly together.

68. The cymbal assembly according to claim 67, wherein the fastener includes a nut and a bolt.

69. The cymbal assembly according to claim 67, wherein the width of the axial hole is 3 / 4 inch or more.

70. The cymbal assembly according to claim 58, wherein the electronic module is detachably connected to the sensor module.

71. The cymbal assembly according to claim 58, wherein the electronic equipment unit is detachable from the cymbal assembly.

72. The cymbal assembly according to claim 58, wherein the electronic module includes a local power supply.

73. The cymbal assembly according to claim 72, wherein the local power supply includes one or more batteries.

74. This is a hi-hat assembly, Top cymbal and; Bottom cymbal and; A sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to measure a variable corresponding to the distance between the top cymbal and the bottom cymbal; A hi-hat assembly equipped with [features / equipment].

75. The hi-hat assembly according to claim 74, wherein the variable is capacitance.

76. The hi-hat assembly according to claim 75, wherein the sensor includes a capacitive lever.

77. The hi-hat assembly according to claim 76, wherein the sensor is attached to one of the top cymbal and the bottom cymbal and further comprises an actuator for causing the capacitive lever to rotate.

78. The hi-hat assembly according to claim 77, wherein the sensor is mounted on the underside of the top cymbal.

79. The hi-hat assembly according to claim 78, wherein the lever is configured to rotate when the top cymbal is lowered.

80. The hi-hat assembly according to claim 74, wherein the top cymbal and the bottom cymbal are mounted on a stand, and the top cymbal is configured to move downward toward the bottom cymbal when operated by the user.

81. The hi-hat assembly according to claim 80, further comprising a foot pedal operably connected to the top cymbal, wherein the user operation is the operation of the foot pedal.

82. The hi-hat assembly according to claim 74, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

83. The hi-hat assembly according to claim 74, wherein the sensor is a time-of-flight sensor.

84. The hi-hat assembly according to claim 74, wherein the sensor is located between the top cymbal and the bottom cymbal.

85. The hi-hat assembly according to claim 74, further comprising a pedal, wherein the sensor is located below the pedal.

86. The hi-hat assembly according to claim 74, wherein the sensor includes a capacitive lever, and the capacitive lever includes a lever portion and a mounting portion.

87. The hi-hat assembly according to claim 86, wherein the mounting portion is rounded.

88. The hi-hat assembly according to claim 86, wherein the mounting portion includes a conductive layer and a non-conductive layer that separates the lever portion from the conductive layer.

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