Virtual Damper Position Control for Acoustic Piano Tone Reproduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic pianos lack versatility in their release control mechanisms, as they do not simulate the physical tone generating mechanism of acoustic pianos, relying on separate release rates for damper pedal and key positions, which limits their processing construction to hardware arrangements and lacks general applicability.

Innovation Solution

A tone control apparatus that generates virtual damper position data based on key-on, key-off, released key position, damper pedal, and sostenute pedal data to control the release characteristic of tone signals, simulating the compound manner of damper position control in acoustic pianos, allowing for a more versatile and realistic reproduction of release control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If separate release rates are used for damper pedal and key positions, then the release control can be implemented with simple hardware arrangements, but the processing construction lacks general versatility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware arrangement simplicityVSAvoidprocessing construction versatility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the acoustic piano's damper position parameter that mirrors the physical damper member's position. This virtual parameter is then used to control the release rate, allowing the system to replicate acoustic piano behavior without being constrained by specific hardware arrangements. The virtual damper position data serves as a universal control interface that can work with different pedal and key configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms multiple input parameters (pedal position, key position, sostenuto pedal state) into a single unified parameter - the virtual damper position. This parameter transformation enables the release control system to process diverse operational conditions through a consistent mechanism, thereby achieving general versatility while maintaining implementation simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If separate release rates are determined for each condition, then the control can be implemented with fixed processing construction, but it fails to simulate the physical tone generating mechanism of acoustic piano

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing construction fixednessVSAvoidacoustic piano simulation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces virtual damper position data as an intermediary between the physical operating conditions (pedal and key positions) and the release rate control. This intermediary parameter serves as a mediator that unifies multiple conditions into a single control variable, enabling both fixed processing construction and accurate simulation of the acoustic piano's continuous damper position control mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If virtual damper position data is generated based on multiple operational factors, then the release control can realistically reproduce acoustic piano characteristics, but the processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacoustic piano reproduction realismVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple operational factors (damper pedal position, key position, sostenuto pedal state) into a single unified parameter - the virtual damper position data. By combining these separate inputs into one integrated control parameter, the system achieves realistic acoustic piano reproduction while avoiding the complexity of managing multiple independent control pathways.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Adaptability or versatility

If the release control is based on compound damper position control, then the versatility is improved, but the processing construction becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelease control versatilityVSAvoidprocessing construction complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal control mechanism where the virtual damper position parameter serves multiple functions: it represents the physical damper position, encodes multiple operational conditions, and controls the release rate. This multi-functional parameter enables versatile release control across different operating conditions without requiring separate processing constructions for each scenario.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8106287B2Tone control apparatus and method using virtual damper position

Publication Date: 2012.01.31 YAMAHA CORP

AI summary

Virtual damper position data, simulatively representing a position of a damper member provided for suppressing vibration of a string in a physical tone generating mechanism of the acoustic piano, is generated on the basis of key-on data, key-off data, released key position data, damper pedal position data, sostenute pedal-on data and sostenute pedal-off data. Release characteristic of a tone signal to be generated is controlled on the basis of the virtual damper position data. When the sostenute pedal-on data or key-on data has been supplied, the virtual damper position data is set at a value corresponding to a maximum damper release position. Virtual damper position data is variably generated on the basis of at least one of the released key position data, damper pedal position data supplied after the supply of the sostenute pedal-off data or key-off data.