Patent Publication Number: US-10762886-B2

Title: Vibration applying apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation application of International Application PCT/JP2019/009985 filed on Apr. 26, 2019, designating the U.S. and claiming priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-120474 filed on Jun. 26, 2018. The entire contents of both foregoing applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The embodiment discussed herein relates to a vibration applying apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Aging devices for musical instruments made of wood have been known. For example, one of such devices is designed so that, in a structure that defines a box-shaped storage space and has a surrounding composite wall formed by sandwiching a thermal insulation filling material that has humidity buffering and sound insulation and absorption and that is cellulose insulation made from fiber and granular material or materials having equivalent properties thereto with air contained therein between an inner wall material having moisture permeability and a sound absorption coefficient that does not emphasize standing waves dependent on internal dimensions and an outer wall material that is a wood-based material with waterproof breathability and sound insulation or another material having equivalent properties thereto, and an openable and closeable door made of a wall material having equivalent properties to the composite wall, this device has a heater that keeps the temperature of the interior space higher than the outside, and plays music using an acoustic apparatus in the interior space to apply acoustic excitation while a wooden musical instrument, an object or product made of a natural plant or animal material, or the like is placed in the interior space. 
     Please see, for example, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2011-22546. 
     Historical Overview of Violins 
     It is a well-known fact that many violins and other stringed musical instruments made in Cremona, in the north of Italy, from the second half of the 17th century through the 18th century have been played by successive virtuosos and are still capturing the ears and hearts of modern people without fading away over more than 300 years. Specifically, violins made by Stradivari are called Stradivarius, and violins made by Guarneri are called Guarneri del Gesu. It is said that more exquisite instruments than the violins made by these two people would never, ever appear. Although Stradivari made about 2000 violins in his life, about 600 violins currently exist, and among them, about a hundred and several tens of violins are actually used in concerts. Then, how about the other four hundred and several tens of violins? They are exhibited in world-famous museums and memorial halls, kept in safes of public facilities, and owned as collections by the rich. 
     However, many instrumentalists reminisce that it took many years to tune violins that had been stored without being played at all for several hundred years, to sound as great as the original one. In view of this, nobody can say for certain that no problem would occur if exquisite instruments like Stradivarius and Guarneri del Gesu are stored only under controlled temperature and humidity. 
     Characteristic Structures of Violins 
     Many books about violins say “the violin is a musical instrument closest to the human voice” in common. The body of the violin is called a resonator and produces a unique resonance frequency through the f-hole in the front plate. With respect to full handmade violins, it is very difficult (impossible actually) to create exactly the same resonators. It means that, not only violins but also stringed instruments each have different characteristic sounds. The most unique structure of violins is a sound post, which is a pine pole of about 6 mm in diameter, between the front and back plates. The sound post has a function of amplifying vibrations of the front and back plates although it is not fixed using an adhesive agent. It is also known that a subtle difference in the location of the sound post totally differentiates sounds and vibrancy. The ideal location of the sound post in a violin is to be determined by the experiences of both a violin maker and an excellent violin player. Each component including a thin long strip called a bass bar, which is fitted to the back side of the front plate, and the front and back plates curved in arch shape does not have a complicated structure, but these components are so designed as to produce the best resonance, once assembled into a musical instrument like a violin. 
     Characteristics of Violins as Musical Instruments 
     A book, “Truth and Untruth of Stradivarius, SEKAIBUNKA PUBLISHING INC.” written by Muneyuki Nakazawa, a world renowned violin repair technician, says that “a violin composed of about 55 components is a creature made of materials most of which are organic,” on pages 56 to 57. Not only violin makers feel violins as creatures, but also many instrumentalists who play exquisite instruments for the first time feel such admiration unanimously. That is, it is not too much to say that violins, which are said to be exquisite instruments, are able to fulfill their lives as creatures by being played by virtuosos. However, looking around the world, hundreds of exquisite violins are just stored under controlled temperature and humidity in dark cases like coffins, as if they are almost dead. Therefore, there are in fact many instrumentalists who recall that if such a violin is lucky to be given to a virtuoso tens or hundreds years later, it would take a considerable amount of time for the exquisite instrument to get back the same sounds as when it was made. 
     SUMMARY 
     To achieve the above objective, there is provided a vibration applying apparatus, including: a bone conduction speaker; a mounting unit on which a vibration target object is mounted; a vibration transmission unit configured to transmit a natural vibration emanating from the bone conduction speaker to the mounting unit; and a control unit configured to change a frequency of the natural vibration emanating from the bone conduction speaker, based on a result of determining whether an appropriate vibration is applied to the vibration target object, taking a natural vibration with which a stringed instrument resonates as a standard. 
     The object and advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the claims. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view for explaining a system according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a vibration applying apparatus according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a hardware configuration of the vibration applying apparatus according to the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Hereinafter, a vibration applying apparatus according to one embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a system according to one embodiment. 
     In the system  100  of the embodiment, a plurality of vibration applying apparatuses  1  are connected to a data center  200  over a network  50 . Each vibration applying apparatus  1  is given a unique identifier (ID) to allow the data center  200  to identify the vibration applying apparatuses  1 . 
       FIG. 2  is a view for explaining a vibration applying apparatus according to the embodiment. 
     The vibration applying apparatus  1  of the embodiment has a base  11 . 
     A pedestal  12  made of wood is mounted on the upper surface of the base  11 . A bone conduction speaker (bone conduction device)  13  is fixed to the pedestal  12 . Referring to  FIG. 1 , the pedestal  12  is T-shaped, but its shape is not limited to the T-shape. 
     The bone conduction speaker  13  is able to play music that produces specific natural vibrations. The type of such music is not particularly limited, and examples of the music include musical compositions for orchestras with many stringed instruments, musical compositions for solo stringed instrument to be played by a virtuoso, and Solfeggio frequency (528 Hz or the like). 
     In addition, a supporting unit  121  for supporting the neck of a stringed instrument (vibration target object)  20  is mounted on the pedestal  12  in a vertical direction to the pedestal  12 . A supporting unit  111  for supporting the back plate of the stringed instrument  20  is mounted on the base  11 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a violin as a stringed instrument. Note that the type of a stringed instrument is not particularly limited and other examples of such a stringed instrument include violas and cellos. In addition, in  FIG. 2 , the locations of the supporting unit  111  and the supporting unit  121  are fixed, but these units may be mounted so as to be movable in a long-side direction of the base  11 , for example. By doing so, it becomes possible to stably support a stringed instrument according to its size and type. 
     In addition, the vibration applying apparatus  1  has a cover  14  that is placed on the base  11  for covering the bone conduction speaker  13  and stringed instrument  20 . A groove may be formed where the base  11  and the cover  14  contact each other. 
     In the embodiment, the cover  14  is wholly made of glass. However, the shape of the cover  14  is not limited to the one illustrated. 
     Further, the materials of the base  11 , pedestal  12 , and cover  14  are not limited to those described earlier, and for example, resin or metal may be used. 
     Still further, a unit may partly be made of a different material. That is, for example, part of the cover  14  may be made of glass and the other part thereof may be made of wood or metal. 
     The pedestal  12 , bone conduction speaker  13 , and cover  14  form a main part of a resonance box that resonates the stringed instrument  20 . 
     The base  11  has a display unit  112  and a control unit not illustrated. 
     The display unit  112  displays information (for example, the temperature and moisture inside the resonance box) about the vibration applying apparatus  1  in accordance with instructions from the control unit. In addition, the display unit  112  has a touch panel. A user is able to use the touch panel to send instructions to the control unit. 
     The control unit is able to control the type, volume, time, and others of music to be played through the bone conduction speaker  13  in accordance with user&#39;s instructions, for example. 
     In addition, although not illustrated, the vibration applying apparatus  1  may be provided with a mechanism to keep the temperature and moisture constant. 
     The following describes the hardware configuration of the vibration applying apparatuses  1  of the embodiment. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a hardware configuration of the vibration applying apparatus according to the embodiment. 
     The vibration applying apparatus  1  is entirely controlled by a CPU (central processing unit)  101 . A RAM (random access memory)  102  and a plurality of peripheral devices are connected to the CPU  101  via a bus  108 . 
     The RAM  102  is used as a main storage device of the vibration applying apparatus  1 . The RAM  102  temporarily stores therein at least part of application programs that are executed by the CPU  101 . In addition, the RAM  102  stores therein various kinds of data to be used by the CPU  101  in processing. 
     Connected to the bus  108  are a built-in memory  103 , a graphics processing device  104 , an input device interface  105 , a sensor  106 , and a communication interface  107 . 
     The built-in memory  103  magnetically writes and reads data. The built-in memory  103  is used as an auxiliary storage device of the vibration applying apparatus  1 . The application programs and various kinds of data are stored in the built-in memory  103 . A semiconductor storage device, such as a flash memory, may be used as the auxiliary storage device. 
     The graphics processing device  104  is connected to a display  104   a . The display  104   a  corresponds to the display unit  112 . The graphics processing device  104  displays images on a screen of the display  104   a  in accordance with instructions from the CPU  101 . Examples of the display  104   a  include a liquid crystal display. In addition, the display  104   a  has a touch panel function. 
     The input device interface  105  gives signals received from the touch panel to the CPU  101 . 
     The sensor  106  includes a sensor for detecting the eigenfrequency of the bone conduction speaker  13  and for detecting the resonance frequency of the stringed instrument  20 . In addition, the sensor  106  includes a sensor for detecting the temperature and moisture inside the resonance box. 
     The communication interface  107  is connected to the network  50 . The communication interface  107  communicates data with the data center or another communication device over the network  50 . 
     With the above hardware configuration, the processing functions of the present embodiment may be implemented. 
     The following describes an example of how the vibration applying apparatus  1  operates. 
     First, the user takes the cover  14  off the base  11  and places the stringed instrument  20  on the supporting unit  111  and supporting unit  121 . Then, the user places the cover  14  on the base  11  to complete a resonance box, which is kept airtight inside. In addition, the user operates the touch panel of the display unit  112  to specify the type of the stringed instrument placed in the resonance box. The user also specifies the type of music to be played through the bone conduction speaker  13 . 
     The control unit causes the bone conduction speaker  13  to play music that produces natural vibrations, and to transmit the natural vibrations with which the stringed instrument  20  resonates, via the pedestal  12  and supporting unit  121 . By doing so, it is possible to create a state as if the stringed instrument  20  is actually played. 
     Each vibration applying apparatus  1  sends data including the waveform of natural vibrations detected by the sensor  106  to the data center  200  over the network  50 . In this connection, the following two waveforms are considered as data to be sent from the vibration applying apparatus  1  to the data center  200 . 
     Pattern 1: A combination of the waveform of natural vibrations of the bone conduction speaker  13 , the type of the stringed instrument  20  placed in the resonance box, and a unique ID. 
     Pattern 2: A combination of the waveform of natural vibrations produced from the resonance of the stringed instrument  20  placed in the resonance box, and the unique ID. 
     The data center  200  checks these waveforms received from the vibration applying apparatus  1  to determine whether appropriate vibrations are applied to the stringed instrument. 
     More specifically, the data center  200  compares the waveform of natural vibrations against a prescribed standard, and determines, if the standard is satisfied, that the vibrations applied are appropriate. For example, if the eigenfrequency produced by the sound post of the stringed instrument  20  is close to 528 Hz, the data center  200  determines that the vibrations applied are appropriate. 
     If the standard is not satisfied, the data center  200  determines that the vibrations applied to the stringed instrument  20  by the bone conduction speaker  13  are not appropriate, and then sends an instruction for improving the vibrations to the vibration applying apparatus  1  over the network  50 . At this time, the data center  200  may send a signal for displaying a warning screen on the display unit  112 . Alternatively, the data center  200  may send a signal for instructing a change of the vibration frequency to the control unit. The control unit that has received the instruction for improving the vibrations from the data center  200  may change the frequency of the natural vibrations to be applied to the stringed instrument  200  by the bone conduction speaker  13 , and then the vibration applying application  1  sends data including the waveform of the natural vibrations detected by the sensor  106  to the data center  200  over the network  50  again. This operation is repeated until the data center  200  determines that the vibrations applied are appropriate. By doing so, it is possible to apply appropriate vibrations to the stringed instrument  20 . 
     In addition, the data center  200  is able to manage the time to apply vibrations to the stringed instrument, determine whether the stringed instrument is able to provide a sufficient performance, and send the determination result to the vibration applying apparatus  1 . For example, in the case where the time to apply vibrations to the stringed instrument is longer than a prescribed period of time, the data center  200  determines that the stringed instrument is in a state of providing a sufficient performance, and sends this determination result to the vibration applying apparatus  1 . 
     As described above, the vibration applying apparatus  1  has the bone conduction speaker  13 , the pedestal  12  to which the bone conduction speaker  13  is fixed, and the supporting units  112  and  121  on which the stringed instrument  20  is placed, and is designed to transmit natural vibrations emanating from the bone conduction speaker  13  to the supporting unit  121  via the pedestal  12 . 
     If a stringed instrument is managed and stored under controlled temperature and moisture but is not played over a long time, the stringed instrument is not possibly able to exhibit its performance sufficiently. 
     It is expected that, by keeping on applying vibrations from the vibration applying apparatus  1  via the bone conduction speaker  13  to a stringed instrument, the stringed instrument becomes in a state of operating stably because of the so-called aging effect. That is, it can be expected that, by stably applying, for a prescribed period of time, vibrations from the vibration applying apparatus  1  to a stringed instrument that has not been played over a long time, the stringed instrument becomes able to exhibit its performance as if the stringed instrument has periodically been played by an instrumentalist. 
     In addition, it is possible to greatly reduce the risk of losing the characteristic sounds of a stringed instrument by measuring the effects of natural vibrations to be applied to the stringed instrument using the artificial intelligence-based management system. 
     In this connection, in the embodiment, the vibration applying apparatus  1  is formed in a box shape. However, the shape of the vibration applying apparatus is not limited thereto and, for example, the vibration applying apparatus may be formed in a shape like a case with handles for carriage. 
     In addition, the embodiment has described the example of using the vibration applying apparatus  1  for enabling the stringed instrument  20  to exhibit its performance. However, the vibration applying apparatus  1  is not limited thereto and, for example, may be used to adjust the location of a sound post or detect troubles in the stringed instrument  20 , using vibrations that emanate from the bone conduction speaker  13 . 
     Further, the embodiment has exemplified a stringed instrument as a vibration target object. However, the vibration target object is not limited thereto and may be cut materials for a stringed instrument. Examples of such materials for a stringed instrument include spruce and maple. These materials are placed in the resonance box and are supplied with natural vibrations through the bone conduction speaker  13  over a long period of time. Then, a stringed instrument is made using these materials. By doing so, it is expected that an effect like prenatal education for unborn baby may be given to the stringed instrument. 
     In this connection, the vibration applying apparatus  1  may be designed to have some of the functions of the data center  200 , or the data center  200  may be designed to have some of the functions of the vibration applying apparatus  1 . 
     Heretofore, the vibration applying apparatus of the present embodiment has been described as the embodiment illustrated. The embodiment is not limited thereto, and the components of each unit may be replaced with other components having equivalent functions. In addition, other desired configurations and steps may be added to the embodiment. 
     Further, two or more desired configurations (features) described in the above-described embodiment may be combined. 
     The above-described processing functions may be implemented by using a computer. In this case, a program is prepared, which describes processes for the functions of the vibration applying apparatus  1 . A computer implements the above-described processing functions by executing the program. The program describing the intended processes may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Computer-readable recording media include magnetic storage devices, optical discs, magneto-optical recording media, semiconductor memories, etc. The magnetic storage devices include HDDs, flexible disks (FD), magnetic tapes, etc. The optical discs include DVDs, DVD-RAMs, CD-ROMs, CD-RWs, etc. The magneto-optical recording media include MOs (magneto-optical disks), etc. 
     To distribute the program, portable recording media, such as DVDs and CD-ROMs, on which the program is recorded, may be put on sale. Alternatively, the program may be stored in the storage device of a server computer and may be transferred from the server computer to other computers over a network. 
     A computer which is to execute the above program stores in its local storage device the program recorded on a portable recording medium or transferred from the server computer, for example. Then, the computer reads the program from the local storage device, and runs the program. The computer may run the program directly from the portable recording medium. Also, while receiving the program being transferred from the server computer, the computer may sequentially run this program. 
     In addition, the above-described processing functions may also be implemented wholly or partly by using DSP (digital signal processor), ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), PLD (programmable logic device), or other electronic circuits. 
     According to one aspect, it is possible to minimize the performance degradation of a vibration target object. 
     All examples and conditional language provided herein are intended for the pedagogical purposes of aiding the reader in understanding the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to further the art, and are not to be construed as limitations to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a showing of the superiority and inferiority of the invention. Although one or more embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.