US 7,888,568 B2Granted

Timpani with quick, accurate and programmable tuning system

OwnerSeiji Kashiokainventor

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Abstract

Timpani with quick and accurate tuning are shown. Each of timpani has a motor to drive the mechanism which gives variable tension to the head. Given tone is transformed to period of vibration and then to target displacement value of head rim against body. Motor is driven so that the head rim reaches the target displacement. Parameters of transform function to transform period to target displacement are stored, and updated, when head sounds and pair data of period of head vibration and the displacement are acquired, so that pair data fit the transform function. Combination of tones can be programmed stepwise in advance. In performance, steps are advanced by foot pedal or touch pad and tone changes of timpani are quickly done without sound. Muffling device is equipped and its actions are programmed with tone change.

Claims22

Dependent claims

Timpano, which is capable of changing its tone automatically comprising:

a reversible motor linked to and driving a drive mechanism having a plurality of mechanical parts, which gives variable tension to a head;
an encoder for reading displacement of one of mechanical parts of said drive mechanism;
An operational panel to specify a tone to be tuned to;
a memory storing Curve Data comprising set of numbers defining a mathematical function representing a relation between values of said displacement against period or frequency of vibration of the head;
First Transformation unit for transforming said tone to be tuned to into a number representing frequency or period of head vibration;
Second Transformation unit for transforming said number representing period or frequency of head vibration into target value of said displacement, by using said mathematical function
and reading said curve data from the memory;
Motor Drive unit driving said motor until the value of said displacement reaches said target value;
and
Tone Change unit being activated by input at said operational panel specifying tone to be tuned to and activating sequentially the First Transformation unit, the Second Transformation unit, and the Motor Drive unit Period measuring device to measure period or frequency of head vibration;
vibration detector to detect that the head is hit and vibrating with an amplitude more than a pre-determined level;
tone adjust starting unit activating a Check unit when said vibration detector detects sound;
Check unit for checking whether said period or frequency acquired from said period measuring device is in an allowance range from period or frequency already gotten by First Transformation unit, and activating following Updating Data unit when it is not in the allowance range;
Updating Data unit for updating said Curve Data in the memory using new pair values of said displacement read from said mechanical part and said period or frequency acquired from said period measuring device, so that best fitness to said new and recent pairs of the displacement and period or frequency of vibration of the head is achieved by said mathematical function defined by said updated Curve Data and activating an Adjust driving unit;
where said Adjust driving unit activates Second Transformation unit, and Motor Driving unit.

12 more elements

Method for automatic tuning of timpano, wherein said timpano is incorporated with:

A reversible motor linked to and driving a drive mechanism, which gives variable tension to a head of the timpano;
An encoder for reading displacement of one of mechanical parts of said drive mechanism;
An operational panel to specify a tone to be tuned to;
and
A memory storing Curve Data comprising set of numbers defining a mathematical function representing a relation between values of said displacement against period or frequency of vibration of the head, Period measuring device to measure period or frequency of head vibration;
and Vibration detector to detect that the head is hit and is vibrating with an amplitude more than pre-determined level,
and said method comprising two sequence of steps steps of:
first sequence steps starting when receiving input at said operational panel specifying tone to be tuned to;
First Transformation step for transforming said tone to be tuned to into a number representing frequency or period of head vibration;
Second Transformation step for transforming said number representing period or frequency of head vibration into target value of said displacement, by using said mathematical function defined by said curve data;
and
Motor Drive step for driving said motor until the value of said displacement reaches said target value;
and a second sequence of steps starting when said vibration detector detecting head vibration:
reading period or frequency of head vibration from said period measuring device and said encoder for displacement;
checking whether period or frequency acquired in previous step is in an allowance range from period or frequency already calculated by the First Transformation step, and when period or frequency is not in the allowance range, updating said Curve Data using new pair values of said displacement and said period or frequency, so that best fitness to said new and recent pairs of the displacement and period or frequency of vibration of the head is achieved by said mathematical function defined by said updated Curve Data;
repeat the Second Transformation step as in the first sequence;
and repeat the Motor Drive step as in the first sequence.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.