Pickup device

• US 9,336,765 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2014
• Issued: 05/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
• Inventors: Ishii, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US14/334,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20150020676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 847/23
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/395 Acceleration sensing or accelerometer use, e.g. 3D movement computation by integration of accelerometer data, angle sensing with respect to the vertical, i.e. gravity sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/18 using a string, e.g. electric guitar mechanical features G10D1/085
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/185 in which the tones are picked up through the bridge structure
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 3/186 Means for processing the signal picked up from the strings filtering G10H1/12

Abstract

A pickup device includes: a speed detector which is configured to detect speed of vibration of a soundboard of an acoustic musical instrument; and a signal generator which is configured to generate an audio signal from the speed detected by the speed detector and to output the audio signal.

Claims

1. A pickup device comprising:

a speed detector configured to detect a speed of vibration of a soundboard of an acoustic musical instrument; and

a signal generator configured to generate an audio signal from the speed detected by the speed detector and to output the audio signal,

wherein the speed detector includes;

an acceleration sensor configured to detect an acceleration of the vibration of the soundboard of the acoustic musical instrument and output a first component of the acceleration, a second component of the acceleration, and a third component of the acceleration;

an adder configured to add the first component of the acceleration, the second component of the acceleration, and the third component of the acceleration and to output an addition signal indicating the result of the addition; and

an integrator configured to integrate the addition signal.

2. The pickup device according to claim 1, wherein the acceleration sensor is provided on the soundboard.

3. The pickup device according to claim 1, wherein the acceleration sensor is provided so that one direction in which the sensor detects the acceleration is parallel with a direction of a grain from which the soundboard is formed.

4. The pickup device according to claim 1, wherein

the acoustic musical instrument is a piano, and

the speed detector is provided at a position opposed to a bridge with the soundboard held therebetween.

5. The pickup device according to claim 1, wherein

the acoustic musical instrument is a piano, and

the speed detector is provided at a position opposed to a sound rib with the soundboard held therebetween.

6. The pickup device according to claim 1, wherein

the acoustic musical instrument is a piano, and

the speed detector is provided in the vicinity of a sound rib.

7. A pickup device comprising:

a detector configured to detect a speed of vibration of a soundboard of an acoustic musical instrument; and

a signal generator configured to generate an audio signal according to the speed detected by the detector and to output the audio signal, the audio signal having a sound pressure proportional to the speed of the soundboard.

8. The pickup device according to claim 7, wherein the detector includes:

an acceleration sensor configured to detect an acceleration of the vibration of the soundboard; and

an integrator configured to integrate an output signal of the acceleration sensor to thereby generate a signal indicating the speed of vibration of the soundboard.

9. A pickup device comprising:

a detector configured to detect a speed of vibration of a soundboard of an acoustic musical instrument; and

a signal generator configured to generate an audio signal according to the speed detected by the detector and to output the audio signal, the audio signal having a sound pressure proportional to the speed of the soundboard,

wherein the detector includes;

a speed sensor configured to detect a speed of the vibration of the soundboard; and

an adder configured to add at least two signals output from the speed sensor to thereby generate a signal indicating the speed of vibration of the soundboard.

10. A pickup device comprising:

a speed detector configured to detect a speed of vibration of a soundboard of an acoustic musical instrument; and

a signal generator configured to generate an audio signal from the speed detected by the speed detector and to output the audio signal,

wherein the speed detector is provided at a position opposed to a bridge with the soundboard held therebetween.

11. A pickup device comprising:

a speed detector configured to detect a speed of vibration of a soundboard of an acoustic musical instrument; and

a signal generator configured to generate an audio signal from the speed detected by the speed detector and to output the audio signal,

wherein the speed detector is provided at a position opposed to a sound rib with the soundboard held therebetween.

12. A pickup device comprising:

a speed detector configured to detect a speed of vibration of a soundboard of an acoustic musical instrument; and

a signal generator configured to generate an audio signal from the speed detected by the speed detector and to output the audio signal,

wherein the speed detector is provided in the vicinity of a sound rib.