Patent Description:
In an electronic drum or a muffled acoustic drum, a sound is output from a sound source based on vibration due to a beat applied to a head. A drum trigger including a sensor such as a piezoelectric sensor is installed on the head, and vibration to be applied to the head is sensed by the drum trigger. For example, Patent Literature <NUM> discloses an electric percussion instrument in which a plurality of vibration pickups are provided on a resonance plate mounted on an attachment section to the percussion instrument to detect vibration applied to the percussion instrument. Patent Literature <NUM> discloses an electric percussion instrument in which a plurality of vibration pickups are provided on a metal plate provided with an attachment arm. Patent Literature <NUM> discloses a sheet-shaped piezoelectric sensor having flexibility contacting a drumhead of a percussion instrument.

Finally, <CIT> discloses a trigger sensor assembly providing a housing connected to two different sensors, one (<NUM>) placed in contact with the surface (<NUM>) and another (<NUM>) placed inside the housing.

A drum trigger capable of more efficiently detecting vibration applied to a percussion instrument has been required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a signal output device that more efficiently detects vibration applied to a drumhead and generates a signal corresponding to the detected vibration.

A signal output device is provided as defined in appended claim <NUM>.

The vibration transmitted to the housing may be vibration transmitted through the arm section.

The arm section may be detachably attached to the housing.

The arm section may be rotatable with respect to the housing, and an angle formed between a rotation axis of the arm section and an extension direction of the extension section may be a substantially right angle.

The arm section may extend parallel to the portion to be struck.

The arm section may be extendable and retractable with respect to the housing.

The signal output device may further include a sound pickup unit including a microphone, and may output a sound signal representing a sound input to the sound pickup unit.

According to the present invention, there can be provided a signal output device capable of more efficiently detecting vibration applied to a drumhead and capable of generating a signal corresponding to the detected vibration.

A signal output device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Embodiments described below are respectively examples of embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention is not construed as being limited to the embodiments. In the drawings referred to in the embodiments, identical sections or units or sections or units having similar functions are respectively assigned identical or similar reference signs (numerals only followed by A, B, etc.), and its repetitive description may be omitted. A dimensional ratio (a ratio among components, a ratio between vertical and horizontal height directions, etc.) in the drawings may differ from an actual ratio for convenience of illustration, or some of components may be omitted from the drawings.

The outline of a signal output device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this example, the signal output device is used to be attached to a drum set, and detects vibration to be applied to a head to convert the vibration into a vibration signal and output the vibration signal. The vibration signal output from the signal output device represents vibration applied to the head. The vibration signal functions as a trigger indicating that vibration has been applied to the head.

<FIG> is a diagram for describing an installation position of the signal output device according to the first embodiment of the present invention on a drum set <NUM>. The signal output device <NUM> according to the first embodiment is installed on a bass drum <NUM>. At this time, the signal output device <NUM> is configured to be detachably attached to the bass drum <NUM>. A vibration signal generated by the signal output device <NUM> is transmitted to a control device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram for describing an installation position of the signal output device in the first embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating the signal output device <NUM> as viewed from the front. In the following description, a front surface of the signal output device <NUM> means a surface directed toward a player of a drum set when the signal output device <NUM> is installed on the drum set (when the signal output device <NUM> is installed on an upper part of the bass drum <NUM>), as described below. An upper surface, a lower surface, a back surface, and a side surface of the signal output device <NUM> are respectively surfaces indicated using the front surface of the signal output device <NUM> as a reference. The upper surface side, the lower surface side, the right side surface side, and the left side surface side are respectively defined as "upper", "lower", "right", and "left" when the signal output device <NUM>, which remains installed on the drum set, is viewed from the front. The signal output device <NUM> is installed on the vicinity of the center in the upper part of the bass drum <NUM>. In <FIG>, the signal output device <NUM> is installed so as to sandwich a rim (support section) <NUM> supporting a head (which may be hereinafter referred to as a drumhead <NUM>) which is a portion to be struck of the bass drum <NUM> between adjacent lugs <NUM>. A specific configuration will be described below.

A housing <NUM> is arranged on the front surface side of the signal output device <NUM>. The housing <NUM> is formed of a material capable of protecting each of portions inside thereof even if accidentally struck by a drum stick by a player, e.g., a metal such as stainless or plastic. The housing <NUM> is provided with an arm section <NUM> extending from the housing <NUM>. The arm section <NUM> is attached to the housing <NUM> by an attachment section, descried below. The arm section <NUM> extends toward the drumhead <NUM> of the bass drum <NUM> with respect to the rim <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> again, description is continued. The signal output device <NUM> generates and outputs a vibration signal corresponding to vibration applied to the drumhead <NUM> of the bass drum <NUM> in a place where it is installed.

The control device <NUM> is installed on a high-hat stand <NUM> in an example illustrated in <FIG>. The control device <NUM> generates a sound signal based on an input signal, and provides an acoustic effect to the sound signal. In the present embodiment, the control device <NUM> generates a sound signal based on the vibration signal output from the signal output device <NUM>. The control device <NUM> also provides an acoustic effect to the generated sound signal and outputs the sound signal. The player listens to the sound signal to be output from the control device <NUM> with a sound radiation device such as a headphone. As a result, the player can listen to a sound corresponding to a performance.

The signal output device <NUM> and the control device <NUM> are connected to each other by wire using a cable or the like in the present embodiment. However, the connection between the signal output device <NUM> and the control device <NUM> is not limited to wired connection, but the signal output device <NUM> and the control device <NUM> may be wirelessly connected to each other. Connection between the control device <NUM> and the sound radiation device may also be wired connection or wireless connection.

Then, a specific structure of the signal output device <NUM> will be described. <FIG> is a perspective view of the signal output device <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating the signal output device <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present invention viewed from the left side. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating the signal output device <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the present invention attached to the bass drum <NUM> as viewed from the left side.

The housing <NUM> includes an upper region <NUM>, a lower region <NUM>, an intermediate region <NUM>, a front region <NUM>, a side region <NUM>, and a back region <NUM>. The regions are directly or indirectly connected to one another, and a positional relationship thereamong is fixed. The upper region <NUM> corresponds to a region arranged on the upper surface side of the housing <NUM> and a region above a position where the rim <NUM> is attached. The lower region <NUM> corresponds to a region arranged on the lower surface side of the housing <NUM> and a region below the position where the rim <NUM> is attached. The intermediate region <NUM> connects the front region <NUM> and the lower region <NUM> to each other. In the intermediate region <NUM>, a recessed region <NUM> is provided. The recessed region <NUM> has an opening on the side of the lower region <NUM>. The rim <NUM> is inserted into the recessed region <NUM> from the opening (from the back surface side).

The front region <NUM> corresponds to a region on the front surface side of the housing <NUM>. The back region <NUM> corresponds to a region on the back surface side of the housing <NUM>, and connects the upper region <NUM> and the lower region <NUM> to each other. The side region <NUM> connects the upper region <NUM>, the lower region <NUM>, the intermediate region <NUM>, the front region <NUM>, and the back region <NUM> to one another on the respective side surface sides of the regions.

The arm section <NUM> is attached to the front region <NUM> by an attachment section <NUM>. For example, the attachment section <NUM> is a screw. A nut may be embedded in the front region <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the arm section <NUM> extends toward the drumhead <NUM> of the bass drum <NUM> with respect to the rim <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the arm section <NUM> extends parallel to the drumhead <NUM> of the bass drum <NUM>. The arm section <NUM> is provided with an extension section <NUM> extending from the arm section <NUM> to contact the drumhead <NUM> of the bass drum <NUM>. At least one sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>), which detects vibration applied to the drumhead <NUM> of the bass drum <NUM>, is arranged on the arm section <NUM>.

The extension section <NUM> contacts the drumhead <NUM> of the bass drum <NUM>. At this time, an angle θ formed between an extension direction of the extension section <NUM> and the drumhead <NUM> is preferably a substantially right angle. The vibration applied to the drumhead <NUM> of the bass drum <NUM> is transmitted to the arm section <NUM> through the extension section <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) provided on the arm section <NUM> detects the vibration transmitted to the arm section <NUM>.

The back region <NUM> is provided with a fixing screw (fixing section) <NUM>. When the fixing screw <NUM> is rotated, a part of a shaft of the fixing screw <NUM> protrudes toward the intermediate region <NUM>. The rim <NUM> inserted into the recessed region <NUM> is sandwiched and fixed between the part of the shaft of the fixing screw <NUM> and the housing <NUM>. As a result, the housing <NUM> is fixed to the rim <NUM>.

The sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) is arranged on the arm section <NUM> in the present embodiment. As described above, the vibration in the bass drum <NUM> is transmitted to the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) via the extension section <NUM> and the arm section <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) detects the transmitted vibration, and outputs a vibration signal corresponding to the detected vibration. The vibration signal represents the timing and the magnitude of the vibration detected by the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>). The vibration signal may be waveform data representing the timing and the magnitude of the detected vibration. The vibration signal may be amplified by an amplification circuit not illustrated and output.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) is provided on the arm section <NUM> is described. Two or more sensors <NUM> are provided. The plurality of sensors <NUM> are respectively arranged at different positions. The one sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) is arranged on the arm section <NUM>, and the other sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) is arranged on/in the housing <NUM>. The other sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) may detect vibration to be transmitted through the arm section <NUM>. The other sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) may detect vibration to be transmitted to the housing <NUM> from a hoop of the bass drum <NUM> via the recessed region <NUM>. In <FIG>, an example in which the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) is arranged in the intermediate region <NUM> of the housing <NUM> is illustrated. If the bass drum <NUM> and the intermediate region <NUM> directly contact each other, the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) may detect vibration to be transmitted to the intermediate region <NUM>. An arrangement position of the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) is not limited to the intermediate region <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) may be arranged within the housing <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) may be installed with the housing <NUM> using an adhesive agent.

In the present embodiment, the arm section <NUM> attached to the housing <NUM> is detachable. <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating the signal output device <NUM> when the arm section <NUM> is detached from the housing <NUM>. As described above, the arm section <NUM> is attached to the housing <NUM> by the attachment section <NUM>. The attachment section <NUM> is a screw. Accordingly, when the attachment section <NUM> is detached from the housing <NUM>, the housing <NUM> and the arm section <NUM> can be detached from each other.

The arm section <NUM> is provided with a protrusion section <NUM> and a hole <NUM> into which the attachment section <NUM> is to be inserted. The front region <NUM> of the housing <NUM> is provided with an opening <NUM> and a hole <NUM> into which the attachment section <NUM> is to be inserted. A nut is embedded in the hole <NUM>. When the arm section <NUM> is attached to the housing <NUM>, the protrusion section <NUM> provided in the arm section <NUM> is inserted into the opening <NUM> provided in the front region <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The attachment section <NUM> is inserted into the hole <NUM> and the hole <NUM>, and the attachment section <NUM> is rotated, to screw and fix the arm section <NUM> to the housing <NUM>.

Although a case where the protrusion section <NUM> provided with the arm section <NUM> is inserted into the opening <NUM> provided in the front region <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, to screw and fix the arm section <NUM> to the housing <NUM> has been described as an example in the present embodiment, a terminal may be provided with the front region <NUM> of the housing <NUM> instead of the opening <NUM>. The arm section <NUM> may be fixed to the housing <NUM> by being inserted the arm section <NUM> into the terminal.

The side region <NUM> of the housing <NUM> is provided with an output terminal <NUM>. A plug of a cable (not illustrated) or the like is inserted into the output terminal <NUM>. The cable electrically connects the signal output device <NUM> and the control device <NUM> to each other. The output terminal <NUM> is preferably provided at a position where the cable does not contact the drumhead <NUM> of the bass drum <NUM>. The vibration signal output from the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) is output to the control device <NUM> via the cable connected to the output terminal <NUM>. If a plurality of sensors <NUM> are provided, a vibration signal output from at least one of the sensors is output to the control device <NUM> via the cable.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the control device <NUM>. The control device <NUM> includes a signal processing unit <NUM>, an output unit <NUM>, an operation unit <NUM>, a beat detection unit <NUM>, and a vibration signal input unit <NUM>.

The vibration signal input unit <NUM> is a terminal to which an external device is connected via a cable or the like. In this example, the signal output device <NUM> is connected to the vibration signal input unit <NUM>, and a vibration signal to be output from the signal output device <NUM> is input to the vibration signal input unit <NUM>. The vibration signal input unit <NUM> outputs the input vibration signal to the beat detection unit <NUM>.

The beat detection unit <NUM> detects the timing and the strength of a beat on the drumhead <NUM> of the bass drum <NUM> based on a vibration waveform represented by the vibration signal input from the vibration signal input unit <NUM>. The timing of the beat may be a timing at which the amplitude of the vibration waveform exceeds a previously determined threshold value, for example. A peak value of the amplitude within a predetermined time period from the timing at which the amplitude exceeds the threshold value may be the strength of the beat. The beat detection unit <NUM> detects the strength of the beat when the timing of the beat is detected, and outputs a beat signal representing the strength to the signal processing unit <NUM>. For example, the beat signal may be a signal in an MIDI format, and includes note-on and velocity in this case.

The signal processing unit <NUM> includes a sound signal generation unit <NUM> and an acoustic processing unit <NUM>. The sound signal generation unit <NUM> generates a sound signal based on the beat signal to be output from the beat detection unit <NUM>. The sound signal is generated using a sound waveform previously registered, for example, is generated by reading out a waveform obtained by recording a drumbeat of the bass drum from a memory. A plurality of types of waveforms may be registered in the memory, and a desired tone of the user may be selected by an operation of the operation unit <NUM>.

The acoustic processing unit <NUM> provides an acoustic effect (e.g., reverb, delay, distortion, or compressor) corresponding to a set parameter to the sound signal input from the sound signal generation unit <NUM> and outputs the sound signal. The parameter may be a previously determined value, or may be a value input via the operation unit <NUM>. The operation unit <NUM> is a device that receives input of an instruction by a user, e.g., a button, a knob, or a touch panel. If there are a plurality of parameters to be set, a combination of values to be respectively set for the parameters may be stored as a template, and the template to be set may be switched by operating the knob or the like. The operation unit <NUM> may be an external device connected to the control device <NUM>. A pad or a foot switch used in an electronic drum or the like, for example, may be used as the external device. If the foot switch or the like is used, a tempo may be calculated from an operation interval, and a predetermined parameter (e.g., delay time) may be changed depending on the tempo. The control device <NUM> may calculate the tempo based on the sound signal acquired from the signal output device <NUM>. The control device <NUM> may be operable by a personal computer, a smartphone, or the like.

The output unit <NUM> is a terminal to which the external device is connected via the cable or the like, and the external device is connected to the output unit <NUM> via the cable or the like. The output unit <NUM> outputs the sound signal output from the acoustic processing unit <NUM>. The sound signal is fed to the external device (e.g., the headphone) connected to the output unit <NUM>. As a result, a player of the drum set can listen to a sound generated based on a beat of the bass drum <NUM> using the sound radiation device such as the headphone.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the extension section <NUM> extending from the arm section <NUM> of the signal output device <NUM> directly contacts the drumhead (portion to be struck) <NUM> of the bass drum <NUM>. Accordingly, the sensor <NUM> can efficiently detect vibration transmitted to the arm section <NUM>. An angle formed between an extension direction of the extension section <NUM> and the drumhead <NUM> of the bass drum <NUM> is a substantially right angle. Thus, sufficient vibration is transmitted to the extension section <NUM> from the drumhead <NUM>, resulting in an improved detection accuracy of the sensor <NUM>.

Further, in the present embodiment, the arm section <NUM> is detachable from the housing <NUM>. Accordingly, if detection of vibration to be applied to the drumhead <NUM> is not required, the user can easily detach the arm section <NUM> from the housing <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, attachment and detachment between the arm section <NUM> and the housing <NUM> may correspond to electrical connection and electrical disconnection between the arm section <NUM> and the housing <NUM>. That is, an attachment/detachment mechanism between the arm section <NUM> and the housing <NUM> may also serve as an electrical connection section between the arm section <NUM> and the housing <NUM>. Although a case where the signal output device <NUM> is attached to the rim <NUM> has been described in the present embodiment, an attachment position of the signal output device <NUM> is not limited to the rim <NUM>. For example, the signal output device <NUM> can also be fixed to the lugs of the drum.

The signal output device according to the first embodiment described above has a configuration in which the arm section provided with the sensor is detachable from the housing. Accordingly, the user can detach the arm section from the housing, as needed. In a second embodiment, a signal output device capable of changing a position of an arm section without detaching an arm section from a housing will be described.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a signal output device 10A according to the second embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a diagram illustrating the signal output device 10A according to the second embodiment of the present invention attached to a bass drum <NUM> as viewed from the left side. The signal output device 10A according to the present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as that of the signal output device <NUM> according to the first embodiment except that an arm section <NUM> is rotatably attached to a housing <NUM>, as described below. A different configuration from that of the signal output device <NUM> according to the first embodiment will be mainly described below, and detailed description is omitted for the same configuration as the configuration of the signal output device <NUM> according to the first embodiment.

The arm section <NUM> is rotatably attached to the housing <NUM> by an attachment section <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the arm section <NUM> is fixed to the housing <NUM> by the attachment section <NUM> in a side region <NUM> adjacent to a front region <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The side region <NUM> adjacent to the front region <NUM> is provided with the attachment section <NUM> on a right side surface of the housing <NUM>, which is not illustrated. The attachment section <NUM> may be a double-threaded screw shaft having male screws provided at both its ends, for example. In this case, a shaft portion of the attachment section <NUM> is arranged within the housing <NUM>. The arm section <NUM> turns up and down with the attachment section <NUM> used as an axis.

In the present embodiment, a sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) is arranged in the arm section <NUM>, like in the first embodiment. The extension section <NUM> contacts a drumhead <NUM> of a bass drum <NUM>, which is not illustrated. At this time, an angle θ formed between an extension direction of the extension section <NUM> and the drumhead <NUM> is preferably a substantially right angle. Vibration applied to the drumhead <NUM> of the bass drum <NUM> is transmitted to the arm section <NUM> through the extension section <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) provided on the arm section <NUM> detects the vibration transmitted to the arm section <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the extension section <NUM> extending from the arm section <NUM> of the signal output device 10A directly contacts the drumhead <NUM> of the bass drum <NUM>, like in the first embodiment. Thus, the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) can efficiently detect vibration transmitted to the arm section <NUM>. The angle formed between the extension direction of the extension section <NUM> and the drumhead <NUM> of the bass drum <NUM> is a substantially right angle. Thus, sufficient vibration is transmitted to the extension section <NUM> from the drumhead <NUM>, resulting in an improved detection accuracy of the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>). Further, in the present embodiment, the arm section <NUM> is rotatably attached to the housing <NUM>. Accordingly, if detection of vibration to be applied to the drumhead <NUM> is not required, a user may move the arm section <NUM> in an upward direction opposite to the extension direction of the extension section <NUM>. Since the arm section <NUM> rotates relative to the housing <NUM> with the attachment section <NUM> used as an axis, the arm section <NUM> can be easily separated from the drumhead <NUM> without being detached from the housing <NUM>.

Two or more sensors are provided. The plurality of sensors are arranged on/in different positions. The one sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) is arranged on the arm section <NUM>, and the other sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) is arranged on the intermediate region <NUM> of the housing <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> are perspective views of a signal output device 10B according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The signal output device 10B according to the present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as that of the signal output device <NUM> according to the first embodiment except that an arm section <NUM> is extendably and retractably attached to a housing <NUM>, as described below. A different configuration from that of the signal output device <NUM> according to the first embodiment will be mainly described below, and detailed description is omitted for the same configuration as the configuration of the signal output device <NUM> according to the first embodiment.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the arm section <NUM> has a telescopic extension/retraction mechanism in the present embodiment. If detection of vibration to be applied to a drumhead of a bass drum (not illustrated) is not required, the arm section <NUM>, excluding the distal end portion 901a of the arm section <NUM>, is housed within the housing <NUM> by reducing the length thereof, as illustrated in <FIG>. On the other hand, if the vibration to be applied to the drumhead of the bass drum (not illustrated) is detected, the arm section <NUM> is extended. The distal end portion 901a of the arm section <NUM> contacts the drumhead of the bass drum (not illustrated).

In the present embodiment, a sensor <NUM> is provided within the housing <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> detects the vibration transmitted to the arm section <NUM> from the drumhead of the bass drum. A position where the sensor <NUM> is arranged is not limited to the inside of the housing <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> may be arranged on the arm section <NUM> and the distal end portion 901a of the arm section <NUM>. A plurality of sensors <NUM> are provided in the signal output device 10B and are respectively arranged at different positions as claimed.

In the present embodiment, the arm section <NUM> in the signal output device 10B directly contacts the drumhead of the bass drum, like in the above-described first embodiment and second embodiment. Accordingly, the sensor <NUM> can efficiently detect vibration transmitted to the arm section <NUM>. In the signal output device 10B, the arm section <NUM> has an extension/retraction mechanism. Accordingly, if detection of vibration to be applied to the drumhead is not required, a user can easily separate the arm section <NUM> from the drumhead <NUM> without detaching the arm section <NUM> from the housing <NUM> by reducing the length of the arm section <NUM>. Since the arm section <NUM> has the extension/retraction mechanism, the user can optionally change a contact position between the arm section <NUM> and the drumhead by extending and retracting the arm section <NUM>. Accordingly, in the signal output device 10B according to the present embodiment, a degree of freedom is improved for the contact position between the arm section <NUM> and the drumhead.

In the signal output device 10B according to the present embodiment, a swinging mechanism may be provided in a connection portion between the arm section <NUM> and the housing <NUM>. When the swinging mechanism is provided, a degree of freedom can be further improved for the contact position between the arm section <NUM> and the drumhead.

Although an example in which the arm section <NUM> has the telescopic extension/retraction mechanism has been described above, the extension/retraction mechanism of the arm section <NUM> in the present embodiment is not limited to one of a telescopic type. For example, the arm section <NUM> may be a telescopic winding-up cable. In this case, the sensor may be arranged within the housing or at a distal end of the cable directly contacting the drumhead of the bass drum.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be implemented in various forms, as described below. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the signal output device has transmitted to the control device a vibration signal corresponding to vibration transmitted to the arm section from the drumhead. However, a sound signal generation unit in the control device may be provided in the signal output device. The signal output device and the control device may be an integral housing.

In the above-described embodiments, an example in which the signal output device according to the present invention is attached to the bass drum in the drum set has been described. However, the signal output device according to the present invention may be attached to other parts (e.g., a hoop of a snare drum).

A configuration having another function can also be applied to the signal output device according to the present invention. For example, a sound pickup device that includes a microphone and collects a sound of a bass drum may be applied to the above-described signal output device.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a signal output device 10C according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the signal output device 10C according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention illustrated in <FIG>. In <FIG>, a solid line for connecting blocks indicates a physical connection relationship, and a broken line for connecting the blocks indicates an electrical connection relationship. The signal output device 10C according to the present embodiment has substantially the same configuration as that of the signal output device <NUM> according to the first embodiment except that a sound pickup unit <NUM> is provided within a housing <NUM>. A different configuration from that of the signal output device <NUM> according to the first embodiment will be mainly described below, and detailed description is omitted for the same configuration as the configuration of the signal output device <NUM> according to the first embodiment.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a microphone cover <NUM> formed integrally with the housing <NUM> is arranged in an upper region <NUM> of the housing <NUM> of the signal output device 10C. The microphone cover <NUM> may be formed separately from the housing <NUM>. The microphone cover <NUM> is provided with an opening section <NUM> through which a sound is to pass. The signal output device 10C acquires a performance sound of a drum set in a place where it is installed, and outputs a sound signal corresponding to the acquired performance sound. The signal output device 10C acquires vibration of a bass drum <NUM>, and outputs a vibration signal corresponding to the acquired vibration.

The microphone cover <NUM> is a cover section that covers at least a part of a microphone L <NUM> and a microphone R <NUM>, described below. In a state where the signal output device 10C is installed on the bass drum <NUM>, the microphone cover <NUM> is arranged on the side of the upper region <NUM> of the housing <NUM>. The microphone cover <NUM> may be arranged in a region other than the upper region <NUM>.

The signal output device 10C according to the present embodiment includes an arm section <NUM> attached to the housing <NUM> and provided with a sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>), the sound pickup unit <NUM>, a sound signal output unit <NUM>, a vibration signal output unit <NUM>, and a detection unit <NUM>. A configuration of the arm section <NUM> is similar to that of the arm section <NUM> in the signal output device <NUM> according to the first embodiment, and hence overlapping description is omitted.

The sound pickup unit <NUM> is provided within the housing <NUM>. The sound pickup unit <NUM> includes a circuit board <NUM>, the microphone for left channel L <NUM>, and the microphone for right channel R <NUM>. Each of the microphone L <NUM> and the microphone R <NUM> has directivity and converts an input sound into an electrical signal and outputs the electrical signal. The circuit board <NUM> includes an amplification circuit that amplifies signals respectively output from the microphone L <NUM> and the microphone R <NUM>, and outputs the amplified signals as sound signals (two-channel stereo) to the sound signal output unit <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the microphone L <NUM> and the microphone R <NUM> are each an electret condenser microphone (ECM). Accordingly, the circuit board <NUM> includes a power supply circuit that is supplied with power from an external device via the sound signal output unit <NUM> and supplies the power to the microphone L <NUM> and the microphone R <NUM>. The power may be supplied by a battery or the like. The number of microphones provided in the sound pickup unit <NUM> may be one or three or more.

The signal output device 10C may include a sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) provided to the housing <NUM> in addition to the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) provided on the arm section <NUM> extending from the housing <NUM>, like the signal output device <NUM> according to the first embodiment. Although a case where the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) is provided on an intermediate region <NUM> of the housing <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG>, a position where the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) is arranged is not limited to the intermediate region <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) may be arranged within the housing <NUM>. When vibration occurs by a beat on a drumhead <NUM> of the bass drum <NUM> to which the signal output device 10C is attached, the vibration is transmitted to the housing <NUM>. The sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) detects the vibration transmitted to the housing <NUM>, and outputs a vibration signal representing the vibration. The sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) may detect the vibration transmitted to the housing <NUM> via the arm section <NUM>.

The detection unit <NUM> detects whether or not the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) provided on the arm section <NUM> is electrically connected to the circuit board in the sound pickup unit <NUM>. The detection unit <NUM> may judge whether or not the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) is electrically connected to the circuit board in the sound pickup unit <NUM> by detecting whether or not the arm section <NUM> is attached to the housing <NUM>.

In the present embodiment, the circuit board <NUM> includes an amplification circuit that amplifies the vibration signal output from the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) or the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>), and outputs the amplified signal as a vibration signal to the vibration signal output unit <NUM>. The amplification circuit may be included in not the circuit board <NUM> included in the sound pickup unit <NUM> but another circuit board. In this case, the circuit board <NUM> that processes a signal of the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) may be connected to the housing <NUM>. The circuit board <NUM> outputs the vibration signal output from either one of the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) and the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>). For example, the circuit board <NUM> outputs the vibration signal output from the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) when the detection unit <NUM> detects that the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) provided on the arm section <NUM> is electrically connected to the circuit board <NUM> in the sound pickup unit <NUM>, and outputs the vibration signal output from the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) when the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) provided on the arm section <NUM> is not electrically connected to the circuit board <NUM> in the sound pickup unit <NUM>. The amplification circuit that amplifies the vibration signal output from the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) or the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) may be omitted.

It has been described above that the circuit board <NUM> outputs the vibration signal output from either one of the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) and the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>). However, the circuit board <NUM> may output the vibration signal output from at least one of the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) and the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>). For example, the circuit board <NUM> may output the vibration signals respectively output from both the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) and the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>).

The sound signal output unit <NUM> is a terminal connected to the housing <NUM>, and an external device is connected thereto via a cable or the like. A sound signal output from the circuit board <NUM> is fed to an external device (e.g., a control device 50A) connected to the sound signal output unit <NUM>. The vibration signal output unit <NUM> is a terminal connected to the housing <NUM>, and an external device is connected thereto via a cable or the like. A vibration signal output from the circuit board <NUM> is fed to the external device (e.g., the control device 50A) connected to the vibration signal output unit <NUM>.

The control device 50A is installed on a high hat stand, like the control device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. The control device 50A acquires the sound signal and the vibration signal from the signal output device 10C, respectively, via the cables or the like. <FIG> is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the control device 50A in the present embodiment. The control device 50A includes a signal processing unit 501A, an output unit <NUM>, an operation unit <NUM>, a beat detection unit <NUM>, a vibration signal input unit <NUM>, and a sound signal input unit <NUM>. In the following, a different configuration from that of the control device <NUM> described in the first embodiment will be mainly described, and detailed description is omitted for the same configuration as the configuration of the control device <NUM>.

The control device 50A detects the timing of a beat on the drumhead <NUM> of the bass drum <NUM> and the strength of the beat based on a vibration waveform represented by a vibration signal acquired from the signal output device 10C, and generates a beat signal representing the timing and the strength of the detected beat, like the control device <NUM>. The control device 50A generates a sound signal based on the beat signal. Further, the control device 50A acquires the sound signal from the signal output device 10C and subjects the acquired sound signal to acoustic processing.

The sound signal input unit <NUM> is a terminal to which the external device is connected via a cable or the like. In this example, the signal output device 10C is connected to the sound signal input unit <NUM>, and the sound signal output by the signal output device 10C is input to the sound signal input unit <NUM>. The sound signal input unit <NUM> outputs the input sound signal to the signal processing unit 501A.

The signal processing unit 501A includes an acoustic processing unit <NUM> that performs acoustic processing for the sound signal input from the sound signal input unit <NUM> in addition to a sound signal generation unit <NUM> that generates a sound signal based on a beat signal and an acoustic processing unit <NUM> that performs acoustic processing for the sound signal generated in the sound signal generation unit <NUM>.

The acoustic processing unit <NUM> provides an acoustic effect (e.g., reverb, delay, distortion, or compressor) corresponding to a set parameter to the sound signal input from the sound signal input unit <NUM> and outputs the sound signal. The parameter may be a previously determined value, or may be a value input via the operation unit <NUM>. The acoustic processing unit <NUM> differs from the acoustic processing unit <NUM> in a sound signal to which an acoustic effect is to be provided. Accordingly, the acoustic processing unit <NUM> may provide acoustic processing different from the acoustic processing performed by the acoustic processing unit <NUM> to the sound signal. The same acoustic effect may be provided to the sound signal generated by the sound signal generation unit <NUM> and the sound signal input from the sound signal input unit <NUM>. If the same acoustic effect is provided, a configuration in which an acoustic effect is provided, after the sound signal from the sound signal input unit <NUM> and the sound signal from the sound signal generation unit <NUM> are synthesized, to the synthesized sound signals (a configuration in which the acoustic processing units <NUM> and <NUM> are integrated) may be used.

The output unit <NUM> is a terminal to which the external device is connected via a cable or the like, and the external device is connected thereto via the cable or the like. The output unit <NUM> synthesizes the sound signal output from the acoustic processing unit <NUM> and the sound signal output from the acoustic processing unit <NUM> and outputs the synthesized sound signals.

If the signal output device 10C according to the present embodiment is installed at a previously assumed position of the drum set (here, on an upper part of the bass drum <NUM>), respective sounds of each of drums and a cymbal can be picked up. For the sound of the bass drum <NUM>, vibration is detected by the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) or the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>). In the control device 50A, a sound signal corresponding to a sound of the bass drum, for example, is generated based on the vibration detected by the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>) or the sensor <NUM> (<NUM>-<NUM>). The control device 50A provides an acoustic effect to the generated sound signal and the sound signal acquired from the signal output device 10C and outputs the sound signals.

When a player listens to the sound signals output from the control device 50A with a headphone, a predetermined amount of a live sound in a performance of the drum set is cut off by the headphone. On the other hand, the player can listen to a performance sound collected by the signal output device 10C and a sound of the bass drum generated according to vibration of the bass drum <NUM> from the headphone.

Claim 1:
A signal output device (10A) comprising:
a housing (<NUM>);
a fixing section (<NUM>) that attaches the housing (<NUM>) to a drum (<NUM>) with a drumhead (<NUM>) supported by a rim (<NUM>);
an arm section (<NUM>) attached to the housing (<NUM>);
an extension section (<NUM>) extending from the arm section (<NUM>) and to contact the drumhead (<NUM>);
a first sensor (<NUM>-<NUM>) that detects vibration transmitted to the arm section (<NUM>) and outputs a vibration signal representing the vibration; and
a second sensor (<NUM>-<NUM>) provided on the housing (<NUM>) and that detects vibration transmitted to the housing (<NUM>),
wherein the arm section (<NUM>) has a separation mechanism that separates the extension section (<NUM>) away from the drumhead (<NUM>), and
the signal output device (10A) outputs the vibration detected by at least one of the first sensor (<NUM>-<NUM>) and the second sensor (<NUM>-<NUM>), characterised in that
the first sensor (<NUM>-<NUM>) is provided on the arm section (<NUM>) and the vibration in the drumhead (<NUM>) is transmitted to the first sensor (<NUM>-<NUM>) via the extension section (<NUM>) and the arm section (<NUM>).