Electronic Pad Support Structure with Elastic Rotation Regulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional supporting structures for electronic percussion instruments fail to effectively manage excessive rotational forces, leading to potential damage and discomfort during play, as they either rely on heavy materials to prevent failure or allow unnatural movement due to sudden rotation stops.
Innovation Solution
A supporting structure with a rotation-regulating unit that includes a connecting part with a reaction generator, which generates a reactive force proportional to rotational displacement, allowing the electronic pad to rotate within a regulated range and shifting the regulation range when excessive torque is applied, thus preventing damage and maintaining player comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If engagement-related parts are made of highly-rigid materials such as metals to prevent failure or damage, then the strength and reliability are improved, but the overall weight and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the engagement parts from rigid (metal) to elastic (rubber), fundamentally altering the material parameter to achieve both strength and weight reduction. The elastic material provides sufficient engagement strength while being significantly lighter than metal alternatives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material construction where the engagement part consists of a rubber base material reinforced with embedded metal pins or ribs. This composite structure combines the elasticity and lightness of rubber with the strength of metal components, achieving optimal balance between strength, weight, and cost.
2Reliability
If a rotary stopper mechanism is used to regulate rotation range, then the reliability is improved by preventing excessive rotation, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to unnatural movement and player discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a static rigid stopper mechanism to a dynamic elastic engagement system. The rubber engagement part can elastically deform during rotation, allowing smooth acceleration and deceleration of the pad body without sudden stops. This dynamic behavior maintains reliability by preventing excessive rotation while ensuring natural movement that players find comfortable.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic rubber material inherently provides cushioning effect before excessive rotation occurs. As the pad body approaches the rotation limit, the elastic engagement part gradually increases its restraining force through elastic deformation, cushioning the approach to the stop point and eliminating sudden impacts that cause player discomfort.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a gap is formed between the engaging member and the engaged part to secure adequate rocking range, then the adaptability is improved by allowing rotation, but the reliability deteriorates when excessive rotary force is applied causing failure or damage
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic engagement part dynamically adapts its engagement characteristics based on applied force. During normal operation, it allows adequate rocking range through elastic deformation. When excessive force is applied, the elastic material reaches its deformation limit and provides progressive resistance, preventing catastrophic failure while maintaining adaptability across different operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the engagement mechanism from a fixed geometric gap to an elastic parameter-based system. The engagement force is not determined by a fixed gap distance but by the elastic deformation of the rubber material, which can adapt its effective engagement parameter based on the applied load, thereby maintaining both adaptability and reliability.
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 solution effectively prevents damage from excessive rotational forces while ensuring comfortable play by increasing the rotation-regulating force in proportion to applied torque, allowing the pad to absorb rotational torque and maintain detection precision of impact sensors.
Implementation Method 1
The connecting part includes a reaction generator which generates a reactive force against a rotary force by which the second object disposed at the initial position relative to the first object is displaced from the initial position in a rotating direction
Data Source
AI summary
A supporting structure for an electronic pad of a percussion instrument includes a pad member, a pair of a first engaging part and a second engaging part, and a connecting part which connects a first object (e.g. a leg fixed to a stand) and a second object (e.g. the second engaging part) in a rotatable manner about the rotation center. The connecting part includes a rotation-regulating unit which regulates the rotational displacement of the second object within the regulation range irrespective of a rotational torque less than a predetermined value which is applied to the second object disposed at the initial position relative to the first object. Due to a rotational torque above the predetermined value, the rotation-regulating unit shifts the regulation range so as to shift the initial position, and therefore the second object will be restored to the new initial position.