Patent ID: 8546678

Claim:
An electronic timpani assembly comprising: a pad assembly comprising: a pad member having a striking surface configured to receive one or more strikes thereto; one or more sensors positioned on a portion of said pad member, each sensor being configured to sense and capture data related to characteristics of a strike upon said striking surface; a resilient head positioned over at least said striking surface of said pad member; and a hoop member configured to retain said head over at least said striking surface of said pad member; at least one signal processing module configured to receive captured data from at least one of said sensors and produce a sound signal related to a musical tone associated with said captured data; a stand assembly comprising at least one support member configured to provide support to said pad assembly; an adjustment mechanism extending from a portion of said at least one support member, said adjustment mechanism being coupled to a portion of said hoop member and configured to move said hoop member from a first position to a second position relative to said pad member and adjust tension of said head; and a tuning pedal configured to control operation of said adjustment mechanism to move said hoop member relative to said pad member to adjust tension of said head; and a pitch identification module responsive to adjustment of tension of said head and configured to identify a pitch corresponding to tension of said head and to transmit a signal related to said identified pitch to said at least one signal processing module to adjust pitch of said musical tone to reflect said identified pitch.