Acceleration Sensor Timing Control for Electronic Musical Instruments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic musical instruments fail to generate musical tones accurately at the desired timing, particularly when the performance apparatus is swung down to its lowest position, due to difficulties in detecting the appropriate acceleration sensor values.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an acceleration sensor and controlling means with sound-generation timing detection, where musical tones are generated when the acceleration sensor value decreases to a second threshold value after increasing beyond a first threshold value, ensuring precise sound generation timing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the acceleration sensor detects the motion of the performance apparatus, then the electronic musical instrument can generate musical tones, but it fails to generate tones at the desired timing (when the apparatus reaches the lowest position)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from simple acceleration threshold crossing to a two-stage threshold sequence (first threshold then second threshold). This parameter transformation allows the system to distinguish between the swinging motion and the actual impact moment, enabling accurate detection of sound-generation timing when the performance apparatus reaches the lowest position.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the acceleration sensor to continuously monitor the motion state of the performance apparatus. By comparing the detected acceleration values against predetermined first and second threshold values, the system generates feedback signals that trigger sound production at the precise moment when the apparatus reaches the lowest position, ensuring reliable timing detection.
2Productivity
If the performance apparatus is swung down quickly to hit the drum, then the player can perform rapidly, but the acceleration sensor value becomes difficult to distinguish for accurate timing detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the detection approach by using a two-stage threshold system instead of a single threshold. This allows the system to handle rapid swings by first detecting the acceleration increase beyond the first threshold, then detecting the deceleration to the second threshold, thereby maintaining measurement precision even during high-speed performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the acceleration sensor output throughout the entire swinging motion, from the initial swing through the impact point and into the recovery phase. This continuous detection ensures that no matter how quickly the player swings the apparatus, the system can always identify the precise moment when the acceleration value transitions from exceeding the first threshold to falling below the second threshold, maintaining accurate timing detection.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the electronic musical instrument to generate musical tones at the desired timing, enhancing player control and accuracy by using a combination of acceleration and geomagnetic sensors to determine the optimal sound-generation timing.
Implementation Method 1
an acceleration sensor provided in the holding member, for obtaining an acceleration-sensor value
Data Source
AI summary
A performance apparatus 11 extends in a longitudinal direction to be held by a player, and is provided with an acceleration sensor 23. CPU 21 of the performance apparatus 11 gives a sound source unit 31 of a musical instrument unit 19 an instruction (note-on event) to generate a musical tone. CPU 21 generates a note-on event indicating a sound-generation timing represented by a time when an acceleration-sensor value of the acceleration sensor 23 exceeds a first predetermined value and thereafter has decreased to a value less than a second threshold value β, which is less than a first threshold value α, and gives the musical instrument unit 19 the generated note-on event to generate a musical tone.