# US 7,612,273 B2 · Electronic percussion instrument > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,612,273 B2 - Document ID: US7612273B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/514,805 - Filed: 2006-09-01 - Published: 2007-10-11 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-03-20 - Assignees: Roland Corporation - Inventors: Hirotaka Matsuyuki; Kiyoshi Yoshino; Masato Katsuda - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612273B2 ## CPC - G10H 3/146: {using a membrane, e.g. a drum; Pick-up means for vibrating surfaces, e.g. housing of an instrument} - G10D 13/02: Drums; Tambourines with drumheads - G10D 13/26: {Mechanical details of electronic drums} - 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 - G10H 2230/301: Spint drum rim, i.e. mimicking using or striking the rim of a drum or percussion instrument, rimshot; Interfacing aspects of the generation of different drumsound harmonic contents when a drum sensor is struck closer to the rim - G10H: ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE - G10D: STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; WIND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACCORDIONS OR CONCERTINAS; PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; AEOLIAN HARPS; SINGING-FLAME MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (organs, harmoniums or similar wind musical instruments with associated blowing apparatus G10B; pianos, harpsichords, spinets or similar stringed musical instruments with one or more keyboards G10C; automatic musical instruments G10F; electrophonic musical instruments in which tones are generated by electromechanical means G10H) ## Abstract An electronic percussion instrument that detects vibrations due to a hit and outputs a corresponding signal where the head of the instrument is held in place independent of a rim part. The independence stops vibrations originating from a hit of the rim from traveling to the head and interfering with the proper signal detection of hits to the head part. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic percussion instrument that detects vibration due to hits and outputs a corresponding signal comprising: a body having a hollow circular cylindrical shape with an outer circumference and an inner circumference, the body further having a rim part with an upper edge on the outer circumference; a head having a generally flat surface with a lower surface and an upper surface positioned lower than the upper edge of the rim part and inside the inner circumference of the body, the head further having an inner circumference and an outer circumference; a head support member having a generally cylindrical shape and positioned within the inner circumference of the body, the head support member is arranged to contact the inner circumference of the lower surface of the head; a hoop part having a ring shape that surrounds the outer circumference of the head and provides tension to the head at the inner circumference of the body, the hoop part further having an upper surface and a lower surface; a head sensor arranged to detect vibrations of the head; a frame connected to the head support member; a plurality of bolts arranged to secure the hoop part to the body, the bolts threaded to a plurality of internal threads formed in the frame; and a generally annular rib on the body between the rim part of the body and the head support member; the hoop part having bolt head accommodating holes for receiving heads of the bolts so that the heads of the bolts do not protrude from the upper surface of the hoop part; and the hoop part further having a generally annular slot in which the generally annular rib is received. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the hoop part is substantially flush with the upper surface of the head. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 1, wherein the body and head support member arc formed in one unitary body made of resin. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 1, further comprising a rim sensor that detects vibrations of the body located in the vicinity of the head sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 1, further comprising an attaching part that holds the body, the attaching part is positioned on the outer circumference of the body, and the head sensor is positioned on a side opposite the attaching part with a central axis of the circular cylindrical shape of the body interposed between the head sensor and the attaching part. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 5, further comprising a rim sensor that detects vibrations of the body located in the vicinity of the head sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 6, the central axis of the circular cylindrical shape of the body interposed between the attaching part and both the head sensor and the rim sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 5, wherein the head is made of mesh material having threads arranged at right angles to each other; and wherein the threads are made of resin. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 8, wherein the head comprises two layers of mesh material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 1, wherein the head is made of mesh material having threads arranged at right angles to each other, wherein the threads are made of resin. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 10, wherein the head comprises two layers of mesh material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 1, the rim part comprising a cover attached to a portion of the outer circumference of the body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 1, the rim part of the body and the head support member formed as a single, unitary structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 1, in which the generally annular rib comprises a plurality of rib sections in a generally annular arrangement. ### Claim 15 An electronic percussion instrument that detects vibration due to hits and outputs a corresponding signal comprising: a body with an inner area and an outer surface, the body further having a rim part; a head with an upper surface and lower surface, the head further having an inner area and an outer area; a head support member arranged to provide a force to the lower surface of the head; a head tension member arranged to provide a force to the upper surface of the head, the head tension member further having an upper surface and a lower surface; a head sensor arranged to detect vibrations of the head; a frame connected to the head support member; a plurality of bolts arranged to secure the head tension member to the body, the bolts are threaded to a plurality of internal threads formed in the frame; and a generally annular rib on the body between the rim part of the body and the head support member; the rim part arranged to not directly contact the head; the head positioned in an area closer to a central axis of the body than the rim part; the force from the head tension member for providing tension to the head; and the head tension member having bolt head accommodating holes for receiving heads of the bolts, so that the heads of the bolts do not protrude from the upper surface of the head tension member; and the head tension member further having a generally annular slot in which the generally annular rib is received. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 15, further comprising an attaching part that holds the body, the attaching part is positioned on the outer surface of the body, and the head sensor is positioned on a side opposite the attaching part with the central axis of the body interposed between the head sensor and the attaching part. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 16, further comprising a rim sensor that detects vibrations of the body, the central axis of the body interposed between the attaching part and both the head sensor and the rim sensor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 15, further comprising a rim sensor that detects vibrations of the body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 15, wherein the head is made of a mesh material having threads arranged at angles to each other. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 19, wherein the head comprises two layers of mesh material. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 15, wherein the upper surface of the head tension member is substantially flush with the upper surface of the head. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 15, the rim part comprising a cover attached to a portion of the outer surface of the body. ### Claim 23 (depends on 15) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 15, in which the generally annular rib comprises a plurality of rib sections in a generally annular arrangement. ### Claim 24 A method of manufacturing an electronic percussion instrument that detects vibration due to hits and outputs a corresponding signal, the method comprising: providing a body part forming an area, the body part further having a center and an outer surface; locating a head with within the area formed by the body part, the head further having an upper surface and a lower surface, the head further having an inner edge and an outer edge; positioning a rim part on the body part at a distance further from the center of the body part than the distance of the outer edge of the head from the center of the body part; supporting the lower surface of the head with a head supporting member; providing a generally annular rib on the body between the rim part and the head support member; providing a head tension member having a generally annular slot and arranging the head tension member to receive the generally annular rib within the generally annular slot, the head tension member further having an upper surface and a lower surface; imparting a force on the upper surface of the head with the head tension member; creating tension in the head through the force from the head tension member; and locating a head sensor to detect vibrations of the head; wherein creating tension in the head through the force from the head tension member comprises: connecting a frame to the head support member; and securing the head tension member to the body part by arranging a plurality of bolts that are threaded to a plurality of internal threads formed in the frame; wherein securing the head tension member comprises providing bolt head accommodating holes for receiving heads of the bolts on the head tension member so the heads of the bolts do not protrude from the upper surface of the head tension member. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, further comprising positioning an attaching part on the outer surface of the body part, the attaching part for holding the body part. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, wherein locating a head sensor comprises positioning the head sensor on a side opposite the attaching part with a central axis of the body part interposed between. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, further comprising locating a rim sensor that detects vibrations of the body part; wherein locating a rim sensor and locating a head sensor comprises interposing a central axis of the body part between the attaching part and both the head sensor and the rim sensor. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, further comprising locating a rim sensor that detects vibrations of the body part. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, wherein locating a head within the area formed by the body part comprises forming the head from a mesh material within the area formed by the body part. ### Claim 30 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, wherein locating a head within the area formed by the body part comprises forming the head from two layers of a mesh material within the area formed by the body part. ### Claim 31 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, wherein locating a head within the area formed by the body part comprises positioning the upper surface of the head so it is flush with the upper surface of the head tension member. ### Claim 32 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, wherein positioning a rim part comprises providing a cover attached to a portion of the outer surface of the body part. ### Claim 33 An electronic percussion instrument that detects vibration due to hits and outputs a corresponding signal comprising: a body having a hollow circular cylindrical shape with an outer circumference and an inner circumference, the body further having a rim part with an upper edge on the outer circumference; a head having a generally flat surface with a lower surface and an upper surface positioned lower than the upper edge of the rim part and inside the inner circumference of the body, the head further having an inner circumference and an outer circumference; a head support member having a generally cylindrical shape and positioned within the inner circumference of the body, the head support member is arranged to contact the inner circumference of the lower surface of the head; a generally annular rib on the body between the rim part of the body and the head support member; a hoop part having a ring shape that surrounds the outer circumference of the head and provides tension to the head at the inner circumference of the body, the hoop part further having an upper surface and a lower surface, the hoop part further having a generally annular slot in which the generally annular rib is received; and a head sensor arranged to detect vibrations of the head; wherein the upper surface of the hoop part is substantially flush with the upper surface of the head. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 33, the outer circumference of the body having a height dimension greater than a height dimension of the inner circumference of the body. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 33, the rim part of the body and the head support member formed as a single, unitary structure. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 33, the inner circumference of the body defines an inner circumferential wall and the hoop part is configured to provide tension in a direction substantially parallel to the inner circumference of the body. ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) The electronic percussion instrument according to claim 33, the hoop part configured to be selectively adjustable to vary the tension provided to the head.