# US 8,785,758 B2 · Electronic hi-hat cymbal controller > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,785,758 B2 - Document ID: US8785758B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/220,990 - Filed: 2011-08-30 - Published: 2012-03-01 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-01 - Assignees: inMusic Brands, Inc. - Applicants: Jan Wissmuller - Inventors: Jan Wissmuller - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8785758B2 ## CPC - G10H 1/348: {Switches actuated by parts of the body other than fingers} - G10H 3/146: {using a membrane, e.g. a drum; Pick-up means for vibrating surfaces, e.g. housing of an instrument} - G10H 2220/155: User input interfaces for electrophonic musical instruments - G10H 2220/305: using a light beam to detect key, pedal or note actuation - G10H 2220/365: Bow control in general, i.e. sensors or transducers on a bow; Input interface or controlling process for emulating a bow, bowing action or generating bowing parameters, e.g. for appropriately controlling a specialised sound synthesiser - 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 2220/561: Piezoresistive transducers, i.e. exhibiting vibration, pressure, force or movement -dependent resistance, e.g. strain gauges, carbon-doped elastomers or polymers for piezoresistive drumpads, carbon microphones - G10H 2230/331: Spint cymbal hihat, e.g. mimicking high-hat cymbal; Details of the pedal interface, of the pedal action emulation or of the generation of the different sounds resulting from this pedal action - G10H 2250/435: Gensound percussion, i.e. generating or synthesising the sound of a percussion instrument; Control of specific aspects of percussion sounds, e.g. harmonics, under the influence of hitting force, hitting position, settings or striking instruments such as mallet, drumstick, brush or hand - 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 ## Abstract An electronic hi-hat cymbal controller is disclosed. The controller includes a hi-hat cymbal stand with a foot pedal configured and arranged to mechanically lift a control shaft. A lower cymbal is supported by the hi-hat cymbal stand. An upper cymbal is supported by the control shaft and oriented over the lower cymbal. And a position detector is configured and arranged to detect the position of the control shaft relative to the hi-hat cymbal stand. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electronic hi-hat cymbal controller, comprising: a hi-hat cymbal stand with a foot pedal configured to lift a control shaft; a lower cymbal supported by the hi-hat cymbal stand; an upper cymbal supported by the control shaft and oriented over the lower cymbal; and a foot pedal control module comprising a position detector configured to detect the position of the control shaft relative to the foot pedal control module, as the control shaft moves up and down the hi-hat cymbal stand, wherein an electrical signal generated by the foot pedal control module is proportional to the position of the control shaft relative to the foot pedal control module. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 1, further comprising a bow sensor attached to the upper cymbal. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 1, further comprising an edge sensor on the upper cymbal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 1, further comprising an edge sensor on the lower cymbal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 1, wherein the position detector comprises an optical detector. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 1, wherein the position detector comprises a mechanical shutter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 1, wherein the position detector comprises a light source. ### Claim 8 An electronic hi-hat cymbal controller, comprising: a hi-hat cymbal stand with a foot pedal configured and arranged to mechanically lift a control shaft; a lower cymbal supported by the hi-hat cymbal stand; an upper cymbal supported by the control shaft and oriented over the lower cymbal; and a foot pedal control module comprising a position detector configured to detect the position of the control shaft relative to the foot pedal control module as the control shaft moves up and down the hi-hat cymbal stand, by shining a light from a light source at an optical detector and using a mechanical shutter configured to move with the control shaft between the optical detector and the light source, wherein an electrical signal generated by the foot pedal control module is proportional to the position of the control shaft relative to the foot pedal control module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 8, further comprising a bow sensor attached to the upper cymbal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 8, further comprising an edge sensor on the upper cymbal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 8, further comprising an edge sensor on the lower cymbal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 8, wherein the mechanical shutter is configured and arranged to block light from the optical detector when the hi-hat cymbal is closed. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 8, further comprising a sensor tunnel between the light source and the optical detector. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 13, wherein the sensor tunnel includes a channel that bisects the sensor tunnel and is configured to receive the mechanical shutter therein. ### Claim 15 A foot pedal control module for a hi-hat cymbal stand including a foot pedal configured to lift a control shaft, the foot pedal control module position detector comprising: a position detector comprising: a body portion configured to be supported by a hi-hat cymbal stand; an optical detector supported by the body portion; a light source supported by the body portion and configured to shine light on the optical detector; and a mechanical shutter configured to move with the control shaft between the optical detector and light source, wherein the foot pedal control module is configured to detect the position of the control shaft relative to the foot pedal control module as the control shaft moves up and down the hi-hat cymbal stand, and to generate an electrical signal that is proportional to the position of the control shaft relative to the foot pedal control module. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The position detector of claim 15, further comprising a plunger configured to attach to the control shaft of the hit-hat cymbal stand, said plunger carrying the mechanical shutter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The position detector of claim 15, wherein the mechanical shutter is configured to block light from the optical detector when the hi-hat cymbal is closed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The position detector of claim 15, further comprising a sensor tunnel between the light source and the optical detector. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The position detector of claim 18, wherein the sensor tunnel includes a channel that bisects the sensor tunnel and is configured to receive the mechanical shutter therein. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The foot pedal control module of claim 1, wherein the foot pedal control module is underneath the lower cymbal. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The foot pedal control module of claim 1, wherein the foot pedal control module is between the upper and lower cymbal.