Electronic Percussion Vibration Detection Logic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic percussion instruments, such as electronic hi-hat cymbals, often unintentionally stop producing musical tones when the upper cymbal is struck with sufficient force to shift its position below a threshold value, despite the performer's intention, leading to unintended sound attenuation.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of position detection and striking sensors that delay the stopping of musical tones by a specified time period after detecting a strike, ensuring that the intended musical tone is maintained even if the cymbal position shifts due to the strike, and using vibration level detection to differentiate between intended and unintended striking forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the upper cymbal is struck with sufficient force to shift its position below a threshold value, then the position detection system registers a position change, but the musical tone unintentionally stops despite the performer's intention

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition detection accuracyVSAvoidmusical tone continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of strike vibration before making a position-based tone stopping decision. By detecting vibration characteristics in advance, the system can distinguish between intentional position changes (foot pedal operation) and unintentional position changes (strike-induced movement), preventing premature tone termination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses vibration detection as feedback to modify the position-based control logic. The vibration sensor provides real-time feedback about strike events, which feeds back into the control system to suppress unintended tone stopping, creating a closed-loop control mechanism that resolves the contradiction between position accuracy and tone continuity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Speed

If the system responds immediately to position changes for tone control, then the response speed is fast, but unintended tone stops occur due to strike-induced position shifts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoidintended sound maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of strike vibration characteristics before executing the tone stopping decision based on position change. This preliminary vibration detection allows the system to prepare for and prevent unintended tone stops while maintaining fast response to genuine position changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts its response behavior based on the detected vibration state. When vibration exceeding a threshold is detected, the system temporarily modifies its position-response characteristics to prevent unintended tone stops, creating a dynamic control system that adapts to different operational states

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If the system uses only position detection for tone control, then the control mechanism is simple, but it cannot differentiate between intended and unintended striking forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol mechanism simplicityVSAvoidstriking force differentiation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges position detection with vibration detection to create a comprehensive control mechanism. By combining these two detection methods, the system maintains relatively simple individual sensors while achieving enhanced adaptability through their integrated operation, allowing differentiation between intended and unintended striking forces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If the system suppresses tone stopping during the specified time period after strike detection, then unintended sound stops are prevented, but the tone may continue slightly longer than intended

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunintended sound stop preventionVSAvoidtone duration control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the time parameter dynamically by introducing a specified suppression period after strike detection. This parameter adjustment allows the system to prioritize reliability (preventing unintended stops) over precise timing control, accepting a small time loss as a trade-off for preventing more significant errors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 allows for more precise control over the musical tone produced, preventing unintended sound stops and ensuring that the performer's intended sound is maintained, enhancing the musical experience by accurately reflecting their intended actions.

Implementation Method 1

The vibration sensor 70 is a sensor that detects the vibration level of the vibrations of the upper cymbal 100 due to the striking of the upper cymbal 100 or the contact between the upper cymbal 100 and the lower cymbal 200 and is, for example, a piezoelectric sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

The spring 430 is placed in the inner lower end of the hollow shaft member 410... such that the extension rod 420 is always subjected to a force biasing the rod 420 upward

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2045797B9Electronic percussion instrument
Publication Date: 2011.04.06 ROLAND CORP
  • EP2045797B9 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2045797B9 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2045797B9 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic percussion instrument can carry out the control of the musical tones that is intended by the performer. The instrument includes electronic controls that set a vibration flag when the instrument is struck and a determination is made as to whether or not a timer has timed a specified time period. If the timer has timed the specified time period, the vibration flag that is stored in the flag memory is reset. If the time period has not been reached, the displacement sensor processing ends and the routine returns to the main processing. In those cases where the vibration flag is not set, or in those cases where the resetting of the vibration flag has completed, a determination is made as to whether or not the upper cymbal has shifted from an open position to the closed position.