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US 8,546,678 B1Granted
Compact electronic timpani
OwnerScott Stevensinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compact electronic timpani configured to provide substantially the same or better performance characteristics as a conventional full-size acoustic timpani while being substantially smaller in size. A compact electronic timpani consistent with the present disclosure provides a musician with a similar playing experience as that of conventional full-size acoustic timpani or set of timpani. The compact electronic timpani may allow a performer to perform conventional timpani playing techniques and experience substantially the same acoustical properties, physical sensations and tone production as the performer would encounter when playing a full-size acoustic timpani without the limitations commonly associated with size and/or cost of a full-size acoustic timpani.
Claims20
An electronic timpani assembly comprising:
- a pad assembly comprising:
- a pad member having a striking surface configured to receive one or more strikes thereto;
- one or more sensors positioned on a portion of said pad member, each sensor being configured to sense and capture data related to characteristics of a strike upon said striking surface;
- a resilient head positioned over at least said striking surface of said pad member;
- and
- a hoop member configured to retain said head over at least said striking surface of said pad member;
- at least one signal processing module configured to receive captured data from at least one of said sensors and produce a sound signal related to a musical tone associated with said captured data;
- a stand assembly comprising at least one support member configured to provide support to said pad assembly;
- an adjustment mechanism extending from a portion of said at least one support member, said adjustment mechanism being coupled to a portion of said hoop member and configured to move said hoop member from a first position to a second position relative to said pad member and adjust tension of said head;
- and
- a tuning pedal configured to control operation of said adjustment mechanism to move said hoop member relative to said pad member to adjust tension of said head;
- and
- a pitch identification module responsive to adjustment of tension of said head and configured to identify a pitch corresponding to tension of said head and to transmit a signal related to said identified pitch to said at least one signal processing module to adjust pitch of said musical tone to reflect said identified pitch.
10 more elements
A system comprising:
- at least one electronic timpani assembly, said at least one timpani assembly comprising:
- a pad assembly comprising:
- a pad member having a striking surface configured to receive one or more strikes thereto;
- one or more sensors positioned on a portion of said pad member, each sensor being configured to sense and capture data related to characteristics of a strike upon said striking surface;
- a resilient head positioned over at least said striking surface of said pad member;
- and
- a hoop member configured to retain said head over at least said striking surface of said pad member;
- at least one signal processing module configured to receive captured data from at least one of said sensors and produce a sound signal related to a musical tone associated with said captured data;
- a stand assembly comprising at least one support member configured to provide support to said pad assembly;
- an adjustment mechanism extending from a portion of said at least one support member, said adjustment mechanism being coupled to a portion of said hoop member and configured to move said hoop member from a first position to a second position relative to said pad member and adjust tension of said head;
- and
- a tuning pedal configured to control operation of said adjustment mechanism to move said hoop member relative to said pad member to adjust tension of said head;
- and
- a pitch identification module responsive to adjustment of tension of said head and configured to identify a pitch corresponding to tension of said head and to transmit a signal related to said identified pitch to said at least one signal processing module to adjust pitch of said musical tone to reflect said identified pitch;
- and
- an audio output device configured to reproduce sound signals received from said at least one signal processing module of said at least one electronic timpani assembly into audio content.
13 more elements
An electronic timpani assembly comprising:
- a pad assembly comprising:
- a pad member having a striking surface configured to receive one or more strikes thereto;
- one or more sensors positioned on a portion of said pad member, each sensor being configured to sense and capture data related to characteristics of a strike upon said striking surface;
- a resilient head positioned over at least said striking surface of said pad member;
- and
- a hoop member configured to retain said head over at least said striking surface of said pad member;
- a stand assembly comprising at least one support member configured to provide support to said pad assembly;
- an adjustment mechanism extending from a portion of said at least one support member, said adjustment mechanism being coupled to a portion of said hoop member and configured to move said hoop member from a first position to a second position relative to said pad member and adjust tension of said head;
- and
- a tuning pedal configured to control operation of said adjustment mechanism to move said hoop member relative to said pad member to adjust tension of said head.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.