Drum Assembly with Integrated Light Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current musical performances lack enhanced visual engagement, as existing technologies do not effectively integrate dynamic light patterns synchronized with drumming to enhance the visual experience for audiences.

Innovation Solution

A drum assembly that includes a drum, a stimulus processor assembly, and a light pattern display generator, which converts sound stimuli into light patterns projected within the drum interior, using animation lasers, hologram projectors, or lumin disks, with display receptors like scrims or smoke to create immersive displays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If traditional drum assemblies are used without integrated light display systems, then the device complexity remains low, but the visual engagement and audience entertainment value are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual engagementVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the drum assembly with a light display system into a single integrated unit. The drum shell incorporates both acoustic components (drum head, resonating chamber) and optical components (light source, transparent or translucent sections), allowing the drum to function simultaneously as a musical instrument and a visual display device, thereby improving visual engagement without proportionally increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The drum assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: it produces musical sound through traditional drumming while simultaneously generating synchronized light patterns for visual display. This multi-functionality allows a single device to serve both acoustic and optical purposes, enhancing entertainment value without requiring separate dedicated devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Illumination intensity

If simple light displays are used without synchronization to drumming, then the device complexity remains low, but the audience engagement and visual showmanship are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaudience engagementVSAvoidsynchronization capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates sensors that detect drumming actions (strikes, rhythms, intensity) and use this feedback to control the light display patterns. The light emission is synchronized with the detected drumming events, creating a responsive visual feedback loop that enhances audience engagement while managing automation through event-driven control rather than continuous complex processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Area of stationary object

If light patterns are projected outside the drum interior, then the visual display is more visible to audiences, but the immersion and visual containment within the drum are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisplay visibilityVSAvoidvisual containment
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the transparency or translucency of the drum shell to project light patterns both internally and externally simultaneously. The light patterns are generated within the drum interior and transmitted through the drum shell material, creating a multi-dimensional visual effect where the display exists in both the internal cavity space and the external viewing space, thereby achieving both visibility and containment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

The drum assembly provides an immersive visual experience by synchronizing light patterns with drumming, enhancing audience engagement and visual showmanship, with adjustable intensity and design to match the decibel level, pulse width, and frequency of the music.

Implementation Method 1

The stimulus processor assembly receives a stimulus, generates an input signal, and converts the input signal to an output signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSound-to-electrical conversion: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

The light pattern display generator is an animation laser that is positioned outside of the drum interior. The animation laser projects at least a portion of the light pattern display into the drum interior

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser light generation: Laser

Implementation Method 3

the smoke cloud is configured to capture at least a portion of the light pattern display that is projected into the drum interior

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight scattering by smoke particles: Scattering

Implementation Method 4

the at least one scrim is configured to capture at least a portion of the light pattern display that is projected into the drum interior

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight absorption by scrim material: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS9997146B2Drum assembly having internal light pattern display capability
Publication Date: 2018.06.12 KOLTUN DREW M

AI summary

A drum assembly includes a drum, a stimulus processor assembly and a light pattern display generator. The drum includes a drum shell that at least partially defines a drum interior. The stimulus processor assembly receives a stimulus, generates an input signal, and converts the input signal to an output signal. The light pattern display generator receives the output signal from the stimulus processor assembly. The light pattern display generator generates a light pattern display in response to the output signal. Additionally, the light pattern display generator projects the light pattern display at least partially within the drum interior. The light pattern display generator can include one or more of an animation laser, a hologram projector and a lumin disk. The stimulus can be generated by the drum or by a source remote from the drum.