Rotating Cylinder LED Control for Extended Music Duration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional music boxes are limited by the size of their cylindrical body, allowing only a fraction of a musical composition to be played in a single revolution, and automated instruments like player pianos lack the visual stimulation and flexibility of music boxes.
Innovation Solution
An automated musical instrument with a rotatably mounted circular cylinder, spaced-apart rings of intermittently illuminatable lights, photosensors, a rotation sensor, and a programmable controller that uses illumination patterns to control the temporal operation of strikers to play extended musical compositions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If traditional music boxes use a fixed cylindrical barrel with pegs, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the temporal duration of music that can be played is limited to a fraction of a complete piece
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical peg-based system with an electronic control system. A microprocessor controls LED lights on the rotating cylinder, and photosensors detect light patterns to trigger strikers. This substitution enables extended temporal duration by using electronic programming rather than physical peg arrangements, resolving the contradiction between music duration and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control capabilities where the cylinder can rotate at variable speeds and the LED patterns can be programmed to change over time. This dynamic system allows the same physical structure to produce extended temporal duration by varying operational parameters, overcoming the limitation of fixed mechanical systems.
2Extent of automation
If player pianos use perforated discs or MIDI connections, then full compositions can be reproduced without human interaction, but visual stimulation is not provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the rotating cylinder serve multiple functions: it still provides the mechanical rotation visual effect of traditional music boxes, while simultaneously displaying LED light patterns that convey musical information. This multi-functionality achieves both automation and visual stimulation, resolving the contradiction between automated play and visual engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses colored LED lights on the rotating cylinder to provide visual stimulation. Different colors or light patterns can indicate different musical elements, creating a visual display that complements the automated musical performance. This adds visual versatility to the automated system without compromising the automation capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If user-removable pegs are added to change barrel music, then user adaptability is improved, but the temporal duration remains limited by the barrel size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces removable mechanical pegs with an electronic programming system. Users can load different musical compositions into memory using a computer interface, and the microprocessor executes these programs by controlling LED patterns and trigger strikers at appropriate times. This electronic system provides extended temporal duration while maintaining user adaptability through software rather than physical modifications.
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
Enables the playing of entire musical compositions of any desired length by programming the illumination patterns of the lights to correspond with the rotation of the cylinder, overcoming the size limitations of traditional music boxes and providing visual stimulation.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of photosensors, each of which has a field of view and a configuration adapted to: (c1) orient the field of view of the photosensor towards a point through which passes the path of one of the rings of lights as the cylinder is rotated about its axial centerline, and (c2) yield a photosensor output signal
Implementation Method 2
a rotation sensor having a configuration adapted to detect the rotational position of the cylinder's outer surface and to generate a rotation output signal that is indicative of this rotational position
Implementation Method 3
a power source having a configuration adapted to supply the power necessary to illuminate the rings of lights
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, that allows one to control the operation of a musical instrument, includes: a rotatably mounted, circular cylinder having on its outer surface rings of individual lights, a photosensor associated with each ring of lights that yields an output signal that controls the operation of the musical instrument's strikers, a rotation sensor that provides a rotation output signal indicative of the cylinder's rotational position, a programmable controller with a memory storage element, a means for inputting into the memory storage element a music input signal having the information necessary to cause the acoustical members of the musical instrument to play a desired musical composition, and a software program that uses the music input and rotation output signals to generate a control signal for the light's power source that intermittently illuminates the rings of lights so that the photosensors output signals cause the strikers to create those sounds required to play the desired musical composition.