Isolated Conductive Head for Capacitive Percussion Contact Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic percussion instruments face challenges in accurately determining contact between a detection target conductor and the instrument's head, as existing capacitive sensors struggle to differentiate between approach and contact due to interference from conductive elements connected to reference potential points.

Innovation Solution

The electronic percussion instrument incorporates an electrically isolated conductive head pinched between insulating bodies and a capacitive sensor with electrodes on the rear surface, allowing for precise detection of contact through changes in capacitance without interference from conductive elements connected to reference potential points.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a conventional capacitive sensor with conductive elements connected to reference potential points is used, then the sensor structure is simple, but the detection precision deteriorates due to interference preventing accurate contact determination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact determination accuracyVSAvoidsensor structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the interfering conductive elements connected to reference potential points from the detection area between the capacitive sensor and the head. By eliminating these interfering elements, the patent achieves accurate contact determination without the measurement errors that would otherwise be caused by the conductive elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an insulating member as an intermediary substance between the capacitive sensor and the head. This insulating member prevents electrical interference while allowing the capacitive detection function to operate, thereby enabling accurate contact determination without direct electrical connection issues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the detection sensitivity is increased to improve contact determination, then false positives increase causing unintended muting and music sound generation, but reducing sensitivity lowers detection accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection sensitivityVSAvoidfalse positive rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potential harm of high detection sensitivity causing false positives into a benefit by using an insulating member to block interference signals. The insulating member allows the system to maintain high sensitivity for legitimate contact detection while filtering out false signals from conductive elements, thereby eliminating unintended muting and music sound generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If conductive elements are used in the head structure, then the electrical conductivity is improved, but the durability of the conductive head deteriorates due to interference and electrical issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical conductivityVSAvoidconductive head durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the interfering conductive elements from the head structure that were causing electrical interference and durability issues. By extracting these problematic elements and replacing the head with an insulating material, the patent eliminates the source of electrical interference while maintaining the necessary electrical pathways through controlled means, thereby improving conductive head durability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

This configuration enables accurate determination of contact by minimizing false positives and improving detection sensitivity, reducing unintended muting and music sound generation, and enhancing the durability of the conductive head.

Implementation Method 1

change in capacitance in accordance with a distance between a detection target conductor such as a hand of a player and the electrode is detected by the capacitive sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

the head includes an electrically isolated conductive head, and no conductor connected to a reference potential point is provided between the front surface of the head and the electrode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectric Field: Electric Field

Data Source

PatentUS11636837B2Electronic percussion instrument and manufacturing method of electronic percussion instrument

Publication Date: 2023.04.25 ROLAND CORP

AI summary

Provided is an electronic percussion instrument that can facilitate determination of contact of a detection target conductor with a head. An electronic percussion instrument includes: a tubular body portion with an end surface in an axial direction open; a head that covers the open end surface in the axial direction of the body portion and has a front surface adapted to be hit; and a capacitive sensor that has an electrode disposed on a rear surface side of the head, in which the head includes an electrically isolated conductive head, and no conductor connected to a reference potential point is provided between the front surface of the head and the electrode. In this manner, it is possible to facilitate determination of contact of the detection target conductor with the head.