Electronic Percussion Device with Peripheral Vibration Carrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic percussion instruments face issues with delayed sound reproduction, non-linear detection of stroke intensity, and poor positional accuracy due to noise susceptibility and the use of rubber or mesh heads, which affect the playing feel and realism.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a peripheral carrier made of solid material that transmits vibrations from the drumhead to sensors, allowing for precise detection of stroke position and intensity through a combination of central and peripheral sensors, and a method to calculate radial location and intensity, minimizing delay in sound generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single center sensor is used to detect stroke position, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to noise susceptibility and inability to accurately determine radial position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the sensor system into two functional segments: a center sensor for detecting vertical vibrations and multiple peripheral sensors arranged in a circle for detecting radial position. This segmentation allows each sensor type to specialize in specific detection tasks, improving overall measurement precision while maintaining manageable device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from single-point detection to circular array detection by arranging peripheral sensors around a circle. This dimensional change from 1D (single center point) to 2D (circular perimeter) enables accurate radial position determination through time-difference-of-arrival measurements across multiple spatial points.
2Measurement precision
If sound reproduction is triggered after determining maximum stroke velocity, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the loss of time increases due to perceivable delay exceeding 2 milliseconds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary sound reproduction triggered by the first peripheral sensor detection before maximum stroke velocity is fully determined. This preliminary action reduces perceived delay to under 2 milliseconds while maintaining acceptable intensity accuracy through subsequent dynamic adjustment of the sound envelope.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamic adjustment to the sound reproduction process, where the sound envelope is continuously modified based on ongoing velocity measurements. This allows early sound output for responsiveness while dynamically shaping the sound to reflect the actual maximum velocity once determined.
3Ease of manufacture
If rubber material is used for the drumhead, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the object-generated harmful factors increase due to poor playing feel and lack of vibration feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mesh membrane as an intermediary layer between the player's drumsticks and the sensor system. This mesh membrane provides realistic vibration feedback and playing feel while allowing accurate vibration detection, effectively mediating between the tactile requirements and the electronic sensing requirements.
4Measurement precision
If multiple peripheral sensors are used to detect radial position, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional sensors and signal processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent arranges peripheral sensors in a circular pattern, utilizing the circular dimension to determine radial position. This geometric arrangement allows position calculation through simple time-difference-of-arrival measurements between sensors, reducing computational complexity compared to other multi-dimensional arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions all peripheral sensors at equal radial distances from the center, creating equipotential detection zones. This symmetric arrangement ensures uniform detection capability in all radial directions and simplifies the signal processing algorithm by eliminating position-dependent calibration requirements.
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 solution provides accurate and timely sound reproduction, improving the playing feel and realism by reducing noise susceptibility and delay, while maintaining the feel of a vibrating surface.
Implementation Method 1
a peripheral carrier disposed in the shell interior and configured as a rigid body made out of solid material... The peripheral carrier is configured to transmit vibrations received on the striking surface to the at least one sensor
Implementation Method 2
a drumhead providing a striking surface... configured to receive a percussion stroke thereon
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic percussion device includes a drum shell, a drumhead as striking surface, vibration sensors, and a peripheral and a central vibration carrier. The vibration carriers abut against the drumhead to convey vibrations therefrom to the sensor(s). The central vibration carrier is a helicoidal spring. The peripheral vibration carrier is a rigid body of solid material supported by peripheral sensors disposed thereunder. Two electrical leads of each one of the peripheral sensors are correspondingly coupled in parallel to produce only two common output leads. An electronic sound module is configured to sample the sensors and employs software procedures to detect percussion strokes delivered on the drumhead, and to generate sounds accordingly. The software procedures use averaged and aggregated signals to provide accurate detection of position and intensity of a drum stroke. Alternative embodiments of the device use only a peripheral vibration carrier or only a central vibration carrier.