Strike Input Device for Electronic Percussion Instrument

• US 20100326258A1
• Filed: 06/29/2010
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Yoshihisa, Masaki, Kazuo
• Granted Patent: US 8,022,290 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/730
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/16 by non-linear elements G10H1/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/311 Distortion, i.e. desired non-linear audio processing to change the tone color, e.g. by adding harmonics or deliberately distorting the amplitude of an audio waveform distortion functions G10H2250/201, G10H2250/205
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/185 Stick input, e.g. drumsticks with position or contact sensors stick for music conducting applications, e.g. conductor baton movement detection G10H2220/206
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/521 Hall effect transducers or similar magnetic field sensing semiconductor devices, e.g. for string vibration sensing or key movement sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/311 MIDI transmission G10H2240/056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/146 using a membrane, e.g. a drum; Pick-up means for vibrating surfaces, e.g. housing of an instrument

Abstract

A piezo electric element generates a vibrating voltage in response to a striking force on a pad. The piezo electric element is connected across a series connection of a linear resistor and a nonlinear resistance network. The voltage appearing across the nonlinear resistance network is taken as an output voltage. The nonlinear resistance network is comprised of a parallel connection of a first and a second resistance circuitry. The first resistance circuitry is a series connection of a resister and two diodes connected in parallel in an opposite polarity to each other. The second resistance circuitry is a series connection of another resister and two Zener diodes connected in series in an opposite polarity to each other.

Claims

1. A strike input device comprising:

an impact sensor for generating a first vibrating voltage in response to a striking force; and

a nonlinear circuit having a nonlinear input/output characteristic and outputting a second vibrating voltage in accordance with the first vibrating voltage input from the impact sensor, the second vibrating voltage being nonlinearly related to the first vibrating voltage,

wherein the nonlinear input/output characteristic represents a first increase rate of the absolute value of the output voltage to the absolute value of the input voltage where the absolute value of the input voltage is in the lower range, a second increase rate of the absolute value of the output voltage to the absolute value of the input voltage where the absolute value of the input voltage is in the middle range, and a third increase rate of the absolute value of the output voltage to the absolute value of the input voltage where the absolute value of the input voltage is in the higher range, the first increase rate being greater than the second increase rate, the third increase rate being smaller than the second increase rate but not zero.

2. A strike input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nonlinear input/output characteristic represents a first increase rate of the absolute value of the output voltage to the absolute value of the input voltage where the input voltage is lower than a first threshold voltage, a second increase rate of the absolute value of the output voltage to the absolute value of the input voltage where the input voltage is higher than the first threshold voltage and lower than a second threshold vantage, and a third increase rate of the absolute value of the output voltage to the absolute value of the input voltage where the input voltage is higher than the second threshold voltage, the first increase rate being greater than the second increase rate, the third increase rate being smaller than the second increase rate but not zero.

3. A strike input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the nonlinear circuit is comprised of a series connection of a linear resistance circuit and a nonlinear resistance circuit, the output being taken across the nonlinear resistance circuit, wherein the nonlinear resistance circuit is comprised of a parallel connection of at least a first resistance circuit and a second resistance circuit, the first resistance circuit including two diodes connected in parallel in an opposite polarity to each other, the second resistance circuit including two Zener diodes connected in series in an opposite polarity to each other.