Acoustic coupling free electric drum

• US 4,279,188 A
• Filed: 09/21/1979
• Issued: 07/21/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Research Development Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Research Development Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Scott, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truhe, J. V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Isen, Forester W.
• Application Number:
  US06/077,597
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 84/1.14, 84/1.15, 84/411 A, 84/411 R, 84/413, 84/415, 84/DIG. 12, 179/1 M, 338/69, 338/99, 338/102, 338/114
• US Class Current: 84/723
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/275 Spint drum
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 84/12 Side; rhythm and percussion devices

Abstract

Faithful replication of a drummer'"'"'s hits on an electric drum, free of cogeneration of spurious signals by acoustic coupling of the drum pick-up with extraneous energy sources such as nearby musical instruments is achieved by employing as the drum hit pick-up a variable resistance transducer comprising a foamed dielectric matrix, e.g. polymer, having electroconductive particles therein, sandwiched between conductive members one of which is contiguous with the drum head.

Claims

1. In combination a drum having a drum head and a variable resistance electromechanical transducer substantially contiguous with said head and comprising first and second conductive members is surface contact with and spaced by a carbon impregnated resilient, dielectric, synthetic organic polymer matrix defining a drum head hit pressure responsive, variable resistance medium between said members in acoustic coupling free relation.

2. Variable resistance electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, in which said medium comprises the product of the deposit of carbon on the interior pore surfaces of said matrix.

3. Variable resistance electromechanical transducer according to claim 2 in which said deposit is by means of a liquid vehicle comprising a film-forming agent and a solvent therefor.

4. Variable resistance electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, in which said conductive members comprise copper or aluminum.

5. Variable resistance electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, in which at least one of said conductive members comprises metallic foil.

6. Variable resistance electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, in which at least one of said conductive members comprises copper or aluminum screening.

7. Variable resistance electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, in which said matrix is formed at least in part of an open cell foam of said synthetic organic polymer.

8. Variable resistance electromechanical transducer according to claim 7, in which said synthetic organic polymer comprises urethane polymer.

9. Variable resistance electromechanical transducer according to claim 8, in which at least one of said conductive members is copper or aluminum screening or foil.

10. Variable resistance electromechanical transducer according to claim 1, in which the electrical resistance of said medium is between 2 K and 10 Kohms at ten pounds per square inch gage pressure.

11. An electric drum adapted for sound generation substantially exclusively from direct hit inputs selectively in an environment of spurious acoustic energy inputs, said drum comprising a drum head extended over the open end of a drum chamber, and a variable resistance electromechanical transducer in operative contact with said drum head, said transducer comprising a first conductive member substantially contiguous with said drum head and deflectibly co-responsive to hits on said head, a second conductive member, and a variable resistance, resilient medium sandwiched between said members, said medium comprising a dielectric synthetic organic polymer matrix and electroconductive particles distributed therethrough in variable resistor defining relation, said medium being temporarily locally responsive to head direct hit inputs to the surface of said transducer in medium resistance varying relation and substantially non-responsive to concomitant acoustic energy inputs.

12. Transducer according to claim 11 in which said matrix is impregnated with particulate carbon.

13. Transducer according to claim 11 in which said matrix is impregnated with particulate metal.

14. Transducer according to claim 11 in which said matrix polymer defines a multiplicity of interior voids.

15. Transducer according to claim 14 in which said matrix polymer has been formed to provide said voids.

16. Transducer according to claim 15 in which said polymer foam is an open cell urethane polymer foam.

17. Transducer according to claim 16 in which said electroconductive material comprises particulate carbon.

18. Transducer according to claim 11 in which said conductive members comprise copper or aluminum.

19. Transducer according to claim 11 in which the first of said conductive members comprises copper or aluminum screening.

20. Transducer according to claim 11 in which the second of said conductive members comprises a metallic foil.

21. Transducer according to claim 20 in which said matrix is impregnated with particulate carbon.

22. Transducer according to claim 21 in which said matrix comprises synthetic organic polymer foam.

23. Transducer according to claim 22 in which said conductive members each comprise copper.

24. Electric drum according to claim 11, in which said medium comprises the product of the evaporative deposit of carbon from a liquid vehicle through a foam comprising said synthetic organic polymer matrix.

25. Electric drum according to claim 24, wherein said liquid vehicle comprises an adhesive agent and a solvent therefor.

26. Electric drum according to claim 25, in which said carbon is lamp black, and said vehicle is a liquid hydrocarbon non-solvent for said polymer present in an amount sufficient to suspend said lamp black in polymer foam dispersible relation.

27. An electric drum, comprising in combination a drum head extended over the open end of a drum chamber, said drum head being substantially contiguous with an electromechanical transducer comprising a synthetic organic polymer open cell foam body, said body being impregnated with carbon and defining an electrical resistance variable in response to drum head hits in acoustic coupling free relation.

28. Electric drum according to claim 27, including also conductive members sandwiching said foam body, one of which is copper screening at least partially contiguous with said drum head.

29. Electric drum according to claim 28, in which said polymer foam body is substantially coextensive with said drum head, the head contiguous one of said conductive means being interposed between said drum head and said foam in drum head deflecting hit transmitting relation.

30. Electric drum according to claim 29, in which the other of said conductive members comprises copper foil supported on a backing material.

31. Electric drum according to claim 30, in which said transducer is located within said drum chamber.

32. Electric drum according to claim 31, in which said transducer is substantially co-extensive with the hit area of said drum head.

33. An electric drum comprising a generally cylindrical drum body having an open end and an externally threaded portion below said open end, a tensioning member circumscribing said drum body in relatively axially adjustable threaded engaged relation, said tensioning member including an inturned flange;

a synthetic organic polymeric drum head disposed upon the drum body open end, said drum head having perimetrical means for engaging said tensioning member flange in tautness determining relation upon thread controlled axial adjustment of the drum body and tensioning member;

a generally flat, circular electromechanical transducer comprising a first circular conductive member comprising metal screening contiguous with the inward side of said drum head, a second circular conductive member coaxial with and spaced from said first conductive member, said second member comprising a metal foil supported on a backing, and sandwiched between said first and second conductive members a disc shaped dielectric matrix comprising urethane polymer foam impregnated with carbon in variable resistance defining relation responsive to direct pressure, said transducer being supported within the drum body in direct drum head hit receiving relation for generation of a signal responsive to direct hit reception and in acoustic coupling free relation.