Electronic pad with vibration isolation features

• US 6,881,885 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2003
• Issued: 04/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roland Corporation (Taiyo Pacific Partners LP)
• Original Assignee: Roland Corporation (Taiyo Pacific Partners LP)
• Inventors: Yoshino, Kiyoshi, Katsuda, Masato
• Primary Examiner(s): DONELS, JEFFREY
• Application Number:
  US10/623,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20040016339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 84402-410, 844/11.R, 844/11.A, 844/11.M, 844/11.P, 84412-421, 844221-4224, 84723-746, 84D/IG.12, 84D/IG.24
• US Class Current: 84/402
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 13/02 Drums; Tambourines with drumheads
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 13/06 Castanets, cymbals, triangles, tambourines without drumheads or other single-toned percussion musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 13/10 Details of, or accessories for, percussion musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10D 13/26 Mechanical details of electronic drums
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/525 Piezoelectric transducers for vibration sensing or vibration excitation in the audio range; Piezoelectric strain sensing, e.g. as key velocity sensor; Piezoelectric actuators, e.g. key actuation in response to a control voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/321 Spint cymbal, i.e. mimicking thin center-held gong-like instruments made of copper-based alloys, e.g. ride cymbal, china cymbal, sizzle cymbal, swish cymbal, zill, i.e. finger cymbals
• 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

The present invention is intended to provide an electronic cymbal having improved accuracy for detecting a striking force and a striking position without hampering a striking sensation and an appearance. A piezoelectric sensor 5 and a cup portion sheet sensor 8 provided on a portion of a cup portion formed into a dome shape at a center of a cover 2 on a first frame 3 having the cover 2 formed out of a soft material, the cover 2 spreading to contact with an upper surface of the first frame 3, and an edge upper portion sheet sensor 7 and an edge lower portion sheet sensor 6 provided on an outer peripheral edge portion 3b formed to be lowered by a step are provided, and a center of a second frame 4 is supported by a cymbal stand (shaft) 10 penetrating an opening portion at a center of the first frame 3.

Claims

1. An electronic pad receiving a strike, detecting the strike and outputting a signal representative of the strike, comprising:

a first frame;

a striking sensor detecting the strike transmitted to said first frame; and

a sheet sensor provided on a lower surface of a peripheral edge portion of said first frame and detecting an operation with respect to the lower surface of the peripheral edge portion;

wherein said sheet sensor extends circumferentially along a part of said first frame around the peripheral edge, but not along all of the peripheral edge of the first frame.

2. The electronic pad according to claim 1, wherein the sheet sensor detects an operation with respect to an upper surface of the peripheral edge portion.

3. The electronic pad according to claim 1, where said first frame has a varying length from the center of the frame to the edge of the frame.

4. The electronic pad according to claim 1, wherein the first frame is disk-shaped.

5. The electronic pad according to claim 4, wherein said first frame has a varying radius.

6. An electronic pad comprising

a first frame having a peripheral edge portion, at least a part of the peripheral edge portion having a step formed downward;

and

a sheet sensor located on the step of the peripheral edge portion of the first frame.

7. The electronic pad according to claim 6, further comprising a second frame supporting the first frame.

8. The electronic pad according to claim 6, wherein the first frame is disk-shaped.

9. The electronic pad according to claim 8, wherein the first frame has a varying radius.

10. The electronic pad according to claim 6, further comprising:

a cover covering the first frame, a peripheral edge portion of the cover contacting the peripheral edge portion of the first frame;

wherein an upper surface of the peripheral edge portion of the cover contacting the peripheral edge portion of the first frame is flat.

11. The electronic pad of claim 6, further comprising:

a cover covering the first frame;

wherein the cover is coated with a rubber primer.

12. The electronic pad according to claim 6, further comprising:

a cover covering the first frame, a peripheral edge portion of the cover contacting the peripheral edge portion of the first frame.

13. The electronic pad according to claim 6, wherein the sheet sensor extends circumferentially along a part of said first frame around the peripheral edge, but not along all of the peripheral edge of the first frame.

14. The electronic pad according to claim 6, wherein the step of the peripheral edge portion of the first frame is formed integrally with the first frame.

15. An electronic pad for receiving a strike, detecting the strike and outputting a signal representative of the strike comprising:

a frame having an upper surface with an outer peripheral edge portion, at least a part of the outer peripheral edge portion having a step formed downward from the upper surface;

a cover covering the upper surface of the frame; and

a striking sensor for detecting the strike transmitted to the frame through the cover.

16. The electronic pad according to claim 15, wherein a portion of the cover covering the outer peripheral edge portion is thicker than other portions of the cover.

17. The electronic pad according to claim 16, wherein an upper surface of the cover contacting the step is flat.

18. The electronic pad according to claim 15, wherein the striking sensor is disposed on the step formed on the outer peripheral edge of the frame.

19. The electronic pad according to claim 15, wherein the striking sensor comprises a sheet sensor disposed on the step formed on the outer peripheral edge of the frame and wherein the sheet sensor extends around part of, but not the entire peripheral edge of the frame.

20. The electronic pad according to claim 15, wherein the striking sensor comprises a sheet sensor disposed around part of, but not the entire peripheral edge of the frame.

21. The electronic pad according to claim 15, wherein the frame has a generally circular outer peripheral edge and wherein the striking sensor is disposed on the frame, adjacent to the generally circular outer peripheral edge of the frame and wherein the striking sensor extends around less than the entire circumference of the generally circular outer peripheral edge of the frame.

22. The electronic pad according to claim 15, wherein the cover extends over the step on the upper surface of the frame.

23. The electronic pad according to claim 15, wherein the striking sensor comprises a sheet sensor and wherein the cover extends over the sheet sensor and over the step on the upper surface of the frame.

24. The electronic pad according to claim 15, wherein the striking sensor comprises a sheet sensor disposed on the step on the upper surface of the frame and wherein the cover extends over the sheet sensor.

25. The electronic pad according to claim 24, wherein the cover has a peripheral edge and defines a striking surface bounded by the peripheral edge, and wherein the striking surface has no downward step at its peripheral edge.

26. An electronic pad for receiving a strike, detecting the strike and outputting a signal representative of the strike comprising:

a first frame of a first material;

a cover covering a striking surface of the first frame;

a striking sensor for detecting a strike transmitted to the first frame through the cover;

a second frame coupled to the first frame, the second frame made of a softer material than the first material of the first frame; and

a jack affixed to the second frame for outputting signals from the striking sensor.

27. The electronic pad according to claim 26, wherein the second frame supports the first frame.

28. An electronic pad receiving a strike, detecting the strike and outputting a signal representative of the strike comprising:

a frame having a striking surface with a peripheral edge portion;

a cover covering the striking surface of the frame;

a striking sensor provided on a part of, but not the entire peripheral edge portion of the frame, the striking sensor for detecting the strike transmitted to the frame through the cover; and

a jack affixed to the frame and electrically coupled to the striking sensor for outputting signals from the striking sensor, the jack having an opening of a receiving space for receiving an electrical plug, the opening of the receiving space facing in a direction away from the part of the peripheral edge portion of the frame having the striking sensor.

29. The electronic pad according to claim 28, wherein the striking sensor is provided on an upper surface of the peripheral edge portion of the frame.

30. An electronic pad for mounting on a stand, receiving a strike, detecting the strike and outputting a signal representative of the strike, the electronic pad comprising:

a frame having an upper surface with an outer peripheral edge;

a cover over the upper surface of the frame and defining a striking surface for receiving a strike;

a striking sensor supported on the frame for providing an electronic signal corresponding to a strike on the striking surface

a support structure to pivotally support the frame on a stand for pivotal motion of the frame relative to the stand; and

a rotation stopper operatively coupled to the frame, for inhibiting rotation of the frame relative to the stand, when the frame is mounted on the stand for pivotal motion.

31. An electronic pad according to claim 30, wherein the rotation stopper comprises a first member on the frame and a second member for fixing to a stand, the first member being pivotal relative to the second member.

32. An electronic pad according to claim 31, wherein the first and second members are arranged to abut each other and are shaped to inhibit rotation relative to each other.

33. An electronic pad according to claim 30, wherein the frame has a peripheral edge and wherein the striking sensor is disposed about a portion of, but less than the entire peripheral edge of the frame.

34. An electronic pad according to claim 30, wherein the frame has a generally circular outer peripheral edge and wherein the striking sensor is disposed on the frame, adjacent to the generally circular outer peripheral edge of the frame and wherein the striking sensor extends around less than the entire circumference of the generally circular outer peripheral edge of the frame.

35. A process of making an electronic pad, comprising

providing a frame having an upper surface and an outer peripheral edge with a step formed downward from the upper surface;

disposing a cover over the upper surface of the frame;

supporting a striking sensor on the frame, the striking sensor for detecting a strike on the cover.

36. A process as recited in claim 35, wherein supporting a striking sensor comprises supporting a striking sensor on the step formed on the frame.

37. A process as recited in claim 35, wherein supporting a striking sensor comprises supporting a sheet sensor on the step formed on the outer peripheral edge of the frame and extending the sheet sensor around part of, but not the entire peripheral edge of the frame.

38. A process according to claim 35, wherein supporting a striking sensor comprises disposing a sheet sensor around part of, but not the entire peripheral edge of the frame.

39. A process according to claim 35, wherein providing a frame comprises providing a frame having a generally circular outer peripheral edge and wherein supporting a striking sensor comprises disposing a striking sensor on the frame, adjacent to the generally circular outer peripheral edge of the frame and wherein the striking sensor extends around less than the entire circumference of the generally circular outer peripheral edge of the frame.

40. A process according to claim 35, wherein disposing a cover comprises disposing a cover over the step on the upper surface of the frame.

41. A process according to claim 35, wherein supporting a striking sensor comprises supporting a sheet sensor on the step on the upper surface of the frame and wherein disposing a cover comprises disposing a cover over the sheet sensor.

42. A process according to claim 35, wherein the cover has a peripheral edge and defines a striking surface bounded by the peripheral edge, and wherein the striking surface has no downward step at its peripheral edge.

43. A process for mounting an electronic pad on a stand, the process comprising:

providing a frame having an upper surface with an outer peripheral edge;

disposing a cover over the upper surface of the frame and defining a striking surface on the cover for receiving a strike;

supporting a striking sensor on the frame for providing an electronic signal corresponding to a strike on the striking surface

providing a support structure to pivotally support the frame on a stand for pivotal motion of the frame relative to the stand; and

coupling a rotation stopper to the frame, for inhibiting rotation of the frame relative to the stand, when the frame is mounted on the stand for pivotal motion.

44. A process according to claim 43, wherein coupling a rotation stopper comprises providing a first member on the frame and fixing a second member to a stand, the first member being pivotal relative to the second member.

45. A process according to claim 44, further comprising arranging the first and second members to abut each other, wherein the first and second members are shaped to inhibit rotation relative to each other when abutted against each other.

46. A process according to claim 43, wherein the frame has a peripheral edge and wherein supporting a striking sensor comprises supporting a striking sensor about a portion of, but less then the entire peripheral edge of the frame.

47. A process according to claim 43, wherein the frame has a generally circular outer peripheral edge and wherein supporting a striking sensor comprises supporting a striking sensor on the frame, adjacent to the generally circular outer peripheral edge of the frame and wherein the striking sensor extends around less than the entire circumference of the generally circular outer peripheral edge of the frame.