US 6,075,197 AGranted

Apparatus and method for providing interactive drum lessons

OwnerYing Kit Chaninventor

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Abstract

An interactive drum set includes a storage device for storing data representing sounds of a plurality of background music styles, sounds of a plurality of drum beat sequences, and sounds of a plurality of percussion instruments. The drum set also includes a plurality of drum plates for receiving user-directed forces, each of the plurality of drum plates being associated with the data representing sounds of one of the plurality of percussion instruments. A sensor disposed at each of the plurality of drum plates detects the user-directed forces and generates a signal indicative of the user-directed forces. A triggering device operatively connected to each sensor outputs a trigger signal when the signal of the sensor exceeds a threshold value. A user-interface device responsive to user commands supplies signals indicative of a user's selection of at least one background music style and/or at least one drum beat sequence. A controller, responsive to the trigger signal of the triggering device and the signal from the user-interface device, retrieves and outputs data from the storage device representing sounds of at least one background music style, at least one drum beat sequence, and/or one of the plurality of percussion instruments.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method of providing interactive drum lessons to a user, comprising the steps of:

(a) associating each of a plurality of drum plates with sounds of one of a plurality of percussion instruments such that when one of the plurality of drum plates is struck by the user, sounds of one of the plurality of percussion instruments associated with one of the struck drum plates is outputted;
(b) associating sounds of a background music'style with a drum beat sequence;
(c) outputting sounds of said background music style and said drum beat sequence when indicated by the user so that the user can become familiarized with said drum beat sequence by listening to the sounds of both said background music style and said drum beat sequence and by striking the plurality of drum plates in a sequence similar to said drum beat sequence;
(d) outputting sounds of only said drum beat sequence when indicated by the user so that the user may learn said drum beat sequence by listening only to the sounds of said drum beat sequence and by striking the plurality of drum plates in a sequence substantially the same as said drum beat sequence;
(e) outputting sounds of only the background music style when indicated by the user so that the user may perform the drum beat sequence while the sounds of said background music style are being outputted;
and
(f) outputting none of the sounds of said background music style and said drum beat sequence when indicated by the user so that the user may engage in free play of the drum plates.

4 more elements

An interactive drum set comprising:

a storage device for storing data representing sounds of at least one background music style, sounds of at least one drum beat sequence, and sounds of a plurality of percussion instruments;
a plurality of drum plates, each of said plurality of drum plates being associated with said data representing sounds of one of said plurality of percussion instruments;
a sensor disposed at each of the plurality of drum plates for detecting a user-directed force imparted to a selected drum plate and for generating a signal indicative of the detected user-directed force;
a triggering device operatively connected-to each said sensor for outputting a trigger signal when said signal from said sensor exceeds a threshold value so that sounds will be generated if the user-directed force detected by said sensor is sufficiently great, thereby minimizing crosstalk between at least two of the plurality of drum plates;
a user-interface device responsive to user commands for supplying signals indicative of a user's selection of at least one of said at least one background music style and said at least one drum beat sequence;
and
a controller responsive to said trigger signal of the triggering device for outputting the data representing sounds of the percussion instrument associated with the drum plate receiving the user-directed force, said controller also responsive to said signal from said user-interface device for engaging in one of the four following operating modes:
(1) outputting data representing the selected background music style and the selected drum beat sequence;
(2) outputting data representing the selected drum beat sequence only;
(3) outputting data representing the selected background music style only;
and
(4) outputting none of the data representing at least one of the selected background music style and drum beat sequence.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/178,966Filed 26 Oct 1998
Granted: 13 Jun 2000
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

G10H 3/146
Using mechanically actuated vibrators with pick-up means: using a membrane, e.g. a drum; Pick-up means for vibrating surfaces, e.g. housing of an…
G10H 1/0008
Details of electrophonic musical instruments: associated control or indicating means
G10H 2220/525
Transducers, i.e. details, positioning or use of assemblies to detect and convert mechanical vibrations or mechanical strains into an electrical…:…
G10H 2230/285
Spint drum: spint drum tomtom, i.e. mimicking side-mounted drums without snares, e.g. in a drumkit