Electronic percussion instrument and method of detecting percussion position

An electronic percussion instrument comprising:

• a percussion surface;
• a first sensor and a second sensor that detect a vibration of percussion on the percussion surface, and a third sensor disposed closer to a center of the percussion surface than to the first sensor and the second sensor;
• a first calculation unit that calculates a percussion position in a first direction which is a direction of alignment of the first sensor and the second sensor on the basis of a ratio or difference between an added-up value of output values of the first sensor within a predetermined time after the percussion surface is percussed and an added-up value of output values of the second sensor within the predetermined time;
• a first determination unit that determines presence or absence of the percussion on the percussion surface on the basis of an output value of the third sensor, wherein a starting point of the predetermined time is set to a point in time before a point in time when the first determination unit determines the presence of the percussion on the percussion surface;
• and
• a second calculation unit that calculates a percussion position in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction on the basis of a length of an initial half wave detected by the third sensor after the first determination unit determines the presence of the percussion on the percussion surface;
• virtual divided regions formed on the percussion surface, being a plurality of divided regions lined up in the first direction between the first sensor and the second sensor;
• a second determination unit that determines which of the plurality of divided regions is percussed on the basis of the percussion position in the first direction;
• and
• an instruction unit that performs an instruction for generation of musical sounds that vary depending on the plurality of divided regions or an instruction for a change of qualities of the musical sounds on the basis of a determination result of the second determination unit,
• wherein the electronic percussion instrument is configured to be capable of switching between the following two modes:
• a first mode in which the divided regions are formed in at least three regions of a first region formed at a center of the percussion surface, a second region formed closer to the first sensor than to the first region, and a third region formed closer to the second sensor than to the first region;
• and
• a second mode in which the divided regions are formed in at least two regions of a fourth region formed on the first sensor side with the center of the percussion surface as a boundary and a fifth region formed on the second sensor side with the center of the percussion surface as a boundary,
• wherein the first mode is set in a case where an interval of the percussion on the percussion surface is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and the second mode is set in a case where the interval of percussion is less than the predetermined value.

A method of detecting a percussion position in an electronic percussion instrument including a percussion surface and a first sensor, a second sensor and a third sensor that detect a vibration of percussion on the percussion surface, the method comprising:

• calculating a percussion position in a first direction which is a direction of alignment of the first sensor and the second sensor on the basis of a ratio or difference between an added-up value of output values of the first sensor within a predetermined time after the percussion surface is percussed and an added-up value of output values of the second sensor within the predetermined time;
• determining presence or absence of the percussion on the percussion surface on the basis of an output value of the third sensor, wherein the third sensor is disposed closer to a center of the percussion surface than to the first sensor and the second sensor;
• dividing the percussion surface into virtual divided regions being a plurality of divided regions lined up in the first direction between the first sensor and the second sensor;
• determining which of the plurality of divided regions is percussed on the basis of the percussion position in the first direction;
• and
• performing an instruction for generation of musical sounds that vary depending on the plurality of divided regions or an instruction for a change of qualities of the musical sounds on the basis of a determination result of which of the plurality of divided regions is percussed,
• wherein a starting point of the predetermined time is set to a point in time before a point in time when the presence of the percussion is determined on the percussion surface, and
• wherein the dividing of the percussion surface into virtual divided regions comprises the following two modes:
• a first mode in which the divided regions are formed in at least three regions of a first region formed at a center of the percussion surface, a second region formed closer to the first sensor than to the first region, and a third region formed closer to the second sensor than to the first region;
• and
• a second mode in which the divided regions are formed in at least two regions of a fourth region formed on the first sensor side with the center of the percussion surface as a boundary and a fifth region formed on the second sensor side with the center of the percussion surface as a boundary,
• wherein the first mode is set in a case where an interval of the percussion on the percussion surface is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and the second mode is set in a case where the interval of percussion is less than the predetermined value.