초록 ▼

An exemplary retainer ring for a head of an acoustic drum can produce a visual display that allows an observer to visualize timing associated with percussive sound. An exemplary retainer ring includes a vertical wall disposed at a radius about a central axis and a laser diode module that includes a

An exemplary retainer ring for a head of an acoustic drum can produce a visual display that allows an observer to visualize timing associated with percussive sound. An exemplary retainer ring includes a vertical wall disposed at a radius about a central axis and a laser diode module that includes a lens to emit visible radiation as a fan-beam. In such an exemplary retainer ring, the lens is positioned such that the fan-beam crosses the central axis and terminates as an arc in a groove in the vertical wall. When an object interrupts the fan-beam, the object reflects visible radiation of the fan-beam to thereby produce a visual display that allows an observer to visualize timing associated with percussive sound (e.g., sound produced by the object contacting a head of an acoustic drum). Various other exemplary arrangements, devices, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A retainer ring for a head of an acoustic drum, the retainer ring comprising: a central axis; a vertical wall disposed at a radius about the central axis wherein the vertical wall comprises a groove that operates as a baffle for visible radiation, the groove having a ra

The invention claimed is: 1. A retainer ring for a head of an acoustic drum, the retainer ring comprising: a central axis; a vertical wall disposed at a radius about the central axis wherein the vertical wall comprises a groove that operates as a baffle for visible radiation, the groove having a radial depth; a laser diode module that comprises a line generating lens to emit visible radiation as a fan-beam, the lens positioned at a radius about the central axis such that the fan-beam crosses the central axis and terminates as an arc in the groove; and wherein when an object, for contacting a head of an acoustic drum that comprises the retainer ring, interrupts the fan-beam, the object reflects visible radiation of the fan-beam to thereby produce a visual display. 2. The retainer ring of claim 1 wherein the laser diode module emits visible radiation selected from a group consisting of red visible radiation, green visible radiation and blue visible radiation. 3. An acoustic drum comprising the retainer ring of claim 1 wherein when an object, for contacting a head of the acoustic drum, interrupts the fan-beam, the object reflects visible radiation of the fan-beam to thereby produce a visual display. 4. An apparatus that allows an observer to visualize timing associated with percussive sound, the apparatus comprising: a retaining ring for retaining a head of a drum wherein the retaining ring comprises one or more grooves that operate as baffles for visible radiation; a first laser diode module that comprises a line generating lens to emit visible radiation as a fan-beam wherein the fan-beam terminates along a first arc in a groove of the one or more grooves of the retaining ring; a second laser diode module that comprises a line generating lens to emit visible radiation as a fan-beam wherein the fan-beam terminates along a second arc in a groove of the one or more grooves of the retaining ring; and wherein when an object, for contacting a head of a drum that comprises the apparatus, interrupts the fan-beam of the first laser module or the fan-beam of the second laser module, the object reflects visible radiation of the fan-beam of the first laser module or visible radiation of the fan-beam of the second laser module, respectively, to thereby allow an observer to visualize timing associated with percussive sound produced by the object contacting the head of the drum. 5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a mount to mount the first laser diode module to the retaining ring and a mount to mount the second laser diode module to the retaining ring. 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein an arc of the retaining ring coincides with a portion of the first arc and a portion of the second arc. 7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first laser diode module emits visible radiation selected from a group consisting of red visible radiation, green visible radiation and blue visible radiation and wherein the second laser diode module emits visible radiation selected from a group consisting of red visible radiation, green visible radiation and blue visible radiation. 8. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising one or more additional laser diode modules to emit visible radiation as a fan-beam wherein each of the fan-beams terminates along an arc in a groove of the one or more grooves of the retaining ring. 9. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a mechanism that allows the retaining ring to tension a head of a drum. 10. A drum comprising the retaining ring of claim 4 wherein when an object, for contacting a head of the drum, interrupts the fan-beam of the first laser module or the fan-beam of the second laser module, the object reflects visible radiation of the fan-beam of the first laser module or visible radiation of the fan-beam of the second laser module, respectively, to thereby allow an observer to visualize timing associated with percussive sound produced by the object contacting the head of the drum. 11. The drum of claim 10 comprising a mount to mount the first laser diode module to a component of the drum and a mount to mount the second laser diode module to a component of the drum. 12. A drum set comprising at least one drum of claim 10. 13. An assembly for producing a visual display, the assembly comprising: one or more components, mountable to an acoustic drum, to block visible radiation; a first laser diode module that comprises a line generating lens to emit visible radiation as a fan-beam; a first mount to mount the first laser diode module to a part of the acoustic drum such that the fan-beam of the first laser diode module illuminates a plane over a head of the acoustic drum and such that a line is formed between the lens of the first laser diode module and an arc shaped groove of one of the one or more components wherein the arc shaped groove operates as a baffle for visible radiation emitted by the first laser diode module; a second laser diode module that comprises a line generating lens to emit visible radiation as a fan-beam; a second mount to mount the second laser diode module to a part of the same acoustic drum such that the fan-beam of the second laser diode module illuminates a plane over the head of the acoustic drum and such that a line is formed between the lens of the second laser diode module and an arc shaped groove of one of the one or more components wherein the arc shaped groove operates as a baffle for visible radiation emitted by the second laser diode module; and wherein when an object, for contacting a head of an acoustic drum that comprises the assembly, interrupts the fan-beam of the first laser module or the fan-beam of the second laser module, the object reflects visible radiation of the fan-beam of the first laser module or visible radiation of the fan-beam of the second laser module, respectively, to thereby produce a visual display. 14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the first mount cooperates with a shaft of a drum and wherein the second mount cooperates with a shaft of a drum. 15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first laser diode module emits visible radiation selected from a group consisting of red visible radiation, green visible radiation and blue visible radiation and wherein the second laser diode module emits visible radiation selected from a group consisting of red visible radiation, green visible radiation and blue visible radiation. 16. An acoustic drum comprising the assembly of claim 13 wherein when an object, for contacting a head of the acoustic drum, interrupts the fan-beam of the first laser module or the fan-beam of the second laser module, the object reflects visible radiation of the fan-beam of the first laser module or visible radiation of the fan-beam of the second laser module, respectively, to thereby produce a visual display. 17. The acoustic drum of claim 16 wherein the drum comprises a tom drum. 18. The acoustic drum of claim 17 wherein the drum comprises a floor tom drum. 19. A drum set comprising the acoustic drum of claim 16. 20. The drum set of claim 19 further comprising another acoustic drum of claim 16.