US 8,940,991 B2 · Electronic percussion device and method

Abstract

An electronic percussion device includes a drum shell, a drumhead as striking surface, vibration sensors, and a peripheral and a central vibration carrier. The vibration carriers abut against the drumhead to convey vibrations therefrom to the sensor(s). The central vibration carrier is a helicoidal spring. The peripheral vibration carrier is a rigid body of solid material supported by peripheral sensors disposed thereunder. Two electrical leads of each one of the peripheral sensors are correspondingly coupled in parallel to produce only two common output leads. An electronic sound module is configured to sample the sensors and employs software procedures to detect percussion strokes delivered on the drumhead, and to generate sounds accordingly. The software procedures use averaged and aggregated signals to provide accurate detection of position and intensity of a drum stroke. Alternative embodiments of the device use only a peripheral vibration carrier or only a central vibration carrier.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A method for detecting a location of a percussion stroke impinging on an electronic percussion device having a drumhead and a rim, wherein the percussion stroke is received on the drumhead or on the rim, and generating in response a corresponding percussion sound signal, the method comprising:

providing a peripheral carrier, configured to allow motion having at least one degree of freedom, for receiving vibrations from a plurality of locations on the drumhead;
providing an electrical signal in response to vibrations received from the peripheral carrier, the electrical signal having an equilibrium level at which no vibrations are detected;
determining whether the percussion stroke impinges on the drumhead or on the rim by one of (i) examining the received electrical signal at an initial moment of reception of the stroke, and in case the signal is rising above the equilibrium level, determining that the stroke was induced on the drumhead, and (ii) examining the received electrical signal at the initial moment of reception of the stroke, and in case the signal is falling below the equilibrium level, determining that the stroke was induced on the rim;
and
generating a corresponding percussion sound signal in response to reception of the percussion stroke on the drumhead or on the rim.

2 more elements

providing a peripheral carrier, configured to allow motion having at least one degree of freedom, for receiving vibrations from a plurality of locations on the drumhead;
providing an electrical signal in response to vibrations received from the peripheral carrier, the electrical signal having an equilibrium level at which no vibrations are detected, wherein the electrical signal has an inverse polarity;
and
determining whether the percussion stroke impinges on the drumhead or on the rim by one of (i) examining the received electrical signal at an initial moment of reception of the stroke, and in case the signal is falling below the equilibrium level, determining that the stroke was induced on the drumhead, and (ii) examining the received electrical signal at the initial moment of reception of the stroke, and in case the signal is rising above the equilibrium level, determining that the stroke was induced on the rim;
and
generating a corresponding percussion sound signal in response to reception of the percussion stroke on the drumhead or on the rim.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electronic percussion device and method

Life of this patent

Electronic percussion device and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6