초록

Surface impact position and/or intensity of an impact on a drum are detected and used to generate different sounds, lights and other special effects.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An electronic percussion instrument, comprising:a) a frame;b) an impact element supported by the frame and having an impact surface to be struck anywhere over the entire impact surface during use of the instrument;c) a surface impact position generator having a single sensor in a force-transmitti

1. An electronic percussion instrument, comprising:a) a frame;b) an impact element supported by the frame and having an impact surface to be struck anywhere over the entire impact surface during use of the instrument;c) a surface impact position generator having a single sensor in a force-transmitting relationship with the impact element, for generating surface impact position electrical signals indicative of respective positions over the entire impact surface at which the impact surface was struck, the sensor having a variable parameter that varies as a function of position over the entire impact surface; andd) an output generator for generating sounds respectively corresponding to the surface impact position signals. 2. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the impact element is laid flat on, and overlies, the frame. 3. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the position generator is generally planar, and wherein the impact element lies in a plane and is in area contact with the position generator. 4. The instrument of claim 1, wherein the sounds are different for the respective surface impact position signals. 5. The instrument of claim 1; and further comprising an impact intensity generator for generating impact intensity electrical signals indicative of respective velocities at which the impact surface was struck, and wherein the output generator is operative for generating the sounds respectively also corresponding to the impact intensity signals. 6. The instrument of claim 5; and further comprising an impact member supported by the frame and in a force-transmitting relationship with the impact element, and wherein the impact intensity generator is a piezoelectric device mounted on the impact member. 7. The instrument of claim 5, wherein the output generator includes a converter for converting the surface impact position signals and the impact intensity signals into digital signals, and a processor for processing the digital signals into the sounds. 8. The instrument of claim 7, wherein the impact element has a plurality of strike zones, and wherein the sounds are different for each strike zone. 9. A variable resistive switch, comprising:a) a pair of juxtaposed membranes having electrically conductive tracks in mirror symmetrical relationship with each other,b) a plurality of electrically insulating masses between the membranes and maintaining the tracks apart in an open state,c) at least one of the membranes being movable toward the other in a closed state to make electrical contact therewith at a contact location corresponding to a position at which said at least one membrane is impacted, andd) the tracks having a resistance per unit length, and having a total length and a total resistance dependent upon the contact location. 10. The switch of claim 9, wherein each track has a spiral pattern. 11. An electronic percussion arrangement, comprising:a) a frame;b) an impact element supported by the frame and having an impact surface to be struck anywhere over the entire impact surface during use of the arrangement;c) a surface impact position generator having a single sensor in a force-transmitting relationship with the impact element, for generating surface impact position electrical signals indicative of respective positions over the entire impact surface at which the impact surface was struck, the sensor having a variable parameter that varies as a function of position over the entire impact surface; andd) an output generator for generating outputs respectively corresponding to the surface impact position signals. 12. The arrangement of claim 11; and further comprising an impact intensity generator for generating impact intensity electrical signals indicative of respective velocities at which the impact surface was struck, and wherein the output generator is operative for generating the outputs respectively also corresponding to the impact intensity signals. 13. The arrangement of claim 12; and further comprising an impact memb er supported by the frame and in a force-transmitting relationship with the impact element, and wherein the impact intensity generator is a piezoelectric device mounted on the impact member. 14. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein the output generator includes a converter for converting the surface impact position signals and the impact intensity signals into digital signals, and a processor for processing the digital signals into the outputs. 15. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein the impact element has a plurality of strike zones, and wherein the outputs are different for each strike zone. 16. An electronic percussion instrument, comprising:a) a frame;b) an impact element supported by the frame and having an impact surface to be struck during use of the instrument;c) a surface impact position generator in a force-transmitting relationship with the impact element, for generating surface impact position electrical signals indicative of respective positions at which the impact surface was struck, the position generator including a resistor having a variable resistance that varies as a function of the positions at which the impact surface was struck; andd) an output generator for generating sounds respectively corresponding to the surface impact position signals. 17. The instrument of claim 16, wherein the position generator includes a first membrane having a first conductive track, a second membrane juxtaposed with the first membrane and having a second conductive track which is mirror symmetrical to the first track, and an electrical insulator for normally maintaining the tracks apart in an open state when the impact surface is not struck; and wherein the tracks make mutual electrical contact in a closed state when the impact surface is struck. 18. The instrument of claim 17, wherein each track is arranged in a spiral pattern on the respective membranes, and wherein the insulator is a plurality of raised dielectric masses between the membranes.