Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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AN ELECTRONIC SYNTHESIZED STEELPAN DRUM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electronic version of a steelpan drum. The
electronic
synthesized steelpan drum has particular utility in connection with delivering
the true and natural
sounds and tones of a steelpan druni, as well as eliminating the need for
continuous repetitive
tuning of the instrument.
Description of the Prior Art
Electronic steelpan drums that can deliver true and natural sounds of a
variety of different
steelpan instrurnents and that does not require the need for a tuning expert
to continuously keep
the instrument tuned for optimized sound is very desirable.
The use of electron drums is known in the prior art. For example, United
States Patent
Number 4,700,602 to Bozzio discloses an electronic drum having multiple sound
sources with
rapidly detachable striking elements and piezoelectric transducers. However,
the Bozzio '602
patent is different in structure from the present invention and does not use
electronic synthesizers
to deliver the natural sound of a steelpan drum. Furthermore, this patent does
not disclose the
mixing of other musical instruments with the sound of the steelpan drum.
United States Patent Number 4,679,479 to Koyamato discloses an electronic
drum, which
uses a single detection element mounted on the base layer of the drum to
detect the striking of the
drum surface. However, the Koyamato '479 patent is different in structure from
the present
invention and does not use electronic synthesizers to deliver the natural
sound of a steelpan
drum. Furthermore, this patent does not disclose the mixing of other musical
instruments with
the sound of the steelpan drum.
Also, United States Patent Design Number D319,650 to Hart discloses the design
of an
electronic drum. However, the Hart '650 patent is also different in structure
from the present
invention in that it has a single striking surface and does not use electronic
synthesizers to deliver
the natural sound of a steelpan drum. Furthermore, this patent does not
disclose the mixing of
other musical instruments with the sound of the steelpan drum.
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Lastly, United States Patent Numbers 5,502,274 to Hotz, 6,212,772 to Whitmyre
et al.,
and 5,973,247 to Matthews disclose apparatus that may be of general interest
and pertinent to the
construction and design of the present invention. The Hotz '274 patent
discloses an electronic
musical instrument for playing along with prerecorded music. However, this
instrument is
different in structure from the present steelpan instrument patent and does
not concentrate on
generating the true and natural sound of steelpan drum. The Whitmyre '772
patent discloses a
Caribbean steelpan drum. However, this instrument is also different in
structure from the present
invention and does not disclose an electronic version of the drum. Finally,
the Matthews '247
patent discloses a portable steel drum and carrier. Here again, this
instrument is different in
structure from the present invention and does not disclose an electronic
version of the drum.
While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular
objectives and
requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe an electronic
synthesized steelpan
drum that delivers true and natural steelpan sound.
Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved electronic synthesized
steelpan drum
that can deliver the true and pure sounds of the steelpan drum, doesn't
require the laborious setup
and continuous tuning that the traditional steelpan drums require, and can be
mixed with other
musical instruments inside the instrument. In this regard, the present
invention substantially
fulfills this need. In this respect, the electronic synthesized steelpan drum
according to the
present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and
designs of the prior
art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose
of providing pure
steelpan drum sounds from an electronic instrument.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of
synthesized drums
now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an electronic
synthesized steelpan
drum, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the
prior art. As such,
the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described
subsequently in greater
detail, is to provide a new and improved steelpan drum that has all the
advantages of the prior art
mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a steelpan that is
not anticipated,
rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or
in any combination
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thereof.
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises an electronic
synthesized
version of the steelpan drum. The instrument will resemble a conventional
steelpan drum,
featuring the same circular or shallow cylindrical shape with a sunken concave
playing surface.
The steelpan can be made thinner in height since the sound is generated
electronically, thereby
making the instrument lighter and easier to handle, although some designs may
maintain the
conventional height for aesthetics purposes.
The electronic steelpan drum will include a central processor chip and
associated memory
chips for providing a variety of synthesized steelpan sounds or tones,
including tenor, double-
seconds, guitar, cello, quadraphonic, tenor-bass, and bass steel drums.
Musical instrument digital
interface (MIDI) ports are also included on the unit to allow it to interface
with other electronic
or digital instruments and sound modules. It is also likely that an output
jack would be included
for connecting the steelpan to an external audio amplifier.
The concave playing surface of the steelpan will have a series of rubber pad
striking
areas, which can be arranged in a conventional or other unique pattern. One
example, typical of
a tenor-pan steel drum will have an outer ring of twelve larger pads around
the perimeter of the
playing surface, an intermediate ring of twelve additional medium-sized pads,
and four small
pads located at the center of the playing surface. Generally, the larger area
pads are associated
with lower frequency musical notes and the smaller pads with higher frequency
notes. Attached
under each pad is a pressure sensor, which will detect the amount of force
applied when a pannist
strikes a pad and provide a signal to the central processor for controlling
the synthesized sound.
The circular shape of the steelpan will typically be extended elliptically in
one direction
to provide surface space for various control functions on the instrument.
These functions include
speakers, volume control, function selection buttons, and a control display
panel. Optionally, a
compact disk (CD) port can be added to the unit for loading additional
digitized sounds of
rhythms and samples for playing and recording music from the instrument.
In use, the pannist will select the desired synthesized sound effect using the
control
buttons and display panel, choosing one from the available sound variety list.
He/she can also
configure the pads to represent a desired pattern. Typically, steelpans
require setup and more or
less continuous tuning by an expert in order to generate the pure and unique
sounds that are
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possible from this instrument. However, the electronic synthesized steelpan of
the present
invention requires much less setup and tuning time, thereby allowing the
player to concentrate
his/her attention to the music.
The electronic synthesized steelpan of the present invention will
electronically capture the
unique and distinct "ping and ring" sound that comes from traditional steelpan
instruments. This
is achieved through advanced digital recording and storage within the built-in
electronic chips,
which allows the pannist to play music with full and easy control over the
basic elements of tone,
rhythm, melody, harmony, tone color, and equalized volume. This can be carried
out with the
pannist playing the instrument in the traditional way that steelpans are
played the world over.
] 0 There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features
of the invention
in ord6r that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better
understood and in order
that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be
described hereinafter
and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.
Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be
readily apparent
to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed
description of presently
preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention
when taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this respect, before explaining
the current
embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited in its
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the
components set forth in
the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is
capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it
is to be understood
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of
descriptions and
should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon
which this
disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of
other structures,
methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention. It is
important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent
constructions
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention is to provide a new
electronic synthesized
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steelpan drum that provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art
some of the
advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages
normally
associated therewith.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved
electronic
synthesized steelpan drum that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and
marketed.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved
electronic synthesized steelpan drum that has a low cost of manufacture with
regard to both
materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices
of sale to the
consuming public, thereby making such instruments economically available to
the buying public.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various
features of
n oveltythat characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in
the claims annexed to
and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the
invention, its operating
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be
had to the
accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated
preferred
embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth
above will
become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed
description thereof. Such
description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective top view of the preferred embodiment of the steelpan
drum and
accompanying free-standing pan stand constructed in accordance with the
principles of the
present invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective side view of the steelpan drum of the present
invention.
Figure 3 is a block diagram for the electronics used in the synthesizing the
steelpan drum
of the present invention.
The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various
figures.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1-3, a pireferred
embodiment of
the electronic synthesized steelpan drum of the present invention is shown and
generally
designated by the reference numeral 10.
In Figures 1 and 2, a new electronic synthesized steelpan drum 10 of the
present invention
for producing true and pure steelpan tones is illustrated and will be
described. More particularly,
the electronic synthesized steelpan drum 10 is comprised of an outer housing
12 with a convex
back surface 36 that has a stretched-cylindrical (oval) shaped top playing
surface with a shallow
vertical wall (skirt). In this example, which is typical of a tenor steelpan,
the top surface of the
steelpan has a circular concave playing surface 14 towards one side with
raised control functions
located 'on the other side of oval shaped top surface. Approximately twelve
striking pads 16 are
arranged in a ring near the outer perimeter of the playing surface. When the
surface of one of
these striking pads 16 is struck with a panstick, typically a lower frequency
tone is produced.
Additionally, there are typically twelve medium-sized rubber striking pads 18
arranged in a ring
inside the outer ring, used to produce mid-frequency tones. Finally, four or
more small rubber
striking pads 20 are arranged in the center portion of the playing surface for
producing higher-
frequency tones. A pressure sensor is attached under each pad with the sensor
outputs being
connected to inputs of a central processor chip mounted on a circuit board
inside the outer
housing 12. Associated memory chips for storing a variety of synthesized
steelpan sounds or
tones, including tenor, double-seconds, guitar, cello, quadraphonic, tenor-
bass, bass steel drums,
and a full range of musical orchestral and symphonic sounds are included on
the circuit board
and coupled to the central processor chip. When one of the pads is struck, an
appropriate
synthesized sound is produced and amplified through one or more speakers 22
included on the
top surface of the instrument. The overall volume of the sound is controlled
with equalized
volume control buttons 24, also mounted in the control function area of the
instrument, with the
volume of each tone being further controlled by the amount of force applied to
the pad and
picked up by the pressure sensor. A control display monitor 26 and function
selection buttons 32
are used to select different steelpan types and to configure the pads
according to the layout of
different steel pan instruments. Also, a compact disk (CD) burner/player input
port/slot 30 can
be added to the unit for loading additional digitized sounds, such as samples
of different rhythms,
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and playing and recording music from the instrument for mixing with the
steelpan sound.
Optionally, musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) ports are included on
the unit to allow it
to interface with other electronic or digital instruments and sound modules,
as well. An output
jack 38 is also be included for connecting the steelpan to an external audio
amplifier for outdoor
and/or large theater-type venues. The instrument has an electrical power cord
28 that plugs into a
110-volt AC receptacle for electrical power. Finally, a free-standing pan
stand 34 will
accompany the steelpan drum for both functional and aesthetic purposes. The
steelpan drum
outer housing 12 will have a mounting means 35 attached to the sides, which
will slide into slots
37 at the top of the free-standing pan stand 34, thereby allowing the
electronic synthesized
steelpan to be hung on a pan stand in a conventional manner.
Vigure 3 is a block diagram 40 for the electronics used in synthesizing the
steelpan drum
of the present invention. The circuitry is contained on a circuit board that
is mounted inside the
instrument. At the center of this circuitry is the central processor 400 with
its associated memory
402, which stores the digital data for the synthesized sounds. Also, the
pressure sensors 404 that
are associated with the pads are coupled to inputs of the central processing
chip. The output of
the circuit is provided through audio drivers 406 and volume control circuitry
408 to one or more
speakers 410 mounted on the outer surface of the synthesized steelpan drum 10.
A CD
burner/player 412 capability is provided for inputting other digital sounds
for mixing with the
steelpan sound and for recording music from the instrument. Finally, a power
supply 414 is
included to supply a low voltage DC voltage to the circuit board from a 110-
volt AC source.
It can now be understood that the electronic synthesized steelpan of the
present invention
will electronically capture the unique and distinct "ping and ring" sound that
comes from
traditional steelpan instruments. This is achieved through advanced digital
recording and storage
within the built-in electronic chips, which allows the pannist to play music
with full and easy
control over the basic elements of tone, rhythm, melody, harmony, tone color,
and equalized
volume. This can be carried out with the pannist playing the instrument in the
traditional way
that steelpans are played the world over. And since the electronic synthesized
steelpan of the
present invention requires much less setup and tuning time, the pannist can
spend most of his/her
time concentrating on the music.
While a preferred embodiment of the electronic synthesized steelpan drum has
been
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described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations
thereto are possible, all
of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect
to the above
description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional
relationships for the parts of
the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function
and manner of
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one
skilled in the art,
and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and
described in the
specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. For
example, any number
of other desired sounds can be synthesized and added to the memory chips for
providing other
unique steelpan sounds. Also, the housing of the steelpan drum may be made of
lightweight metal,
wood, or other similar material.
'Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles
of the
invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily
occur to those skilled
in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction
and operation shown
and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may
be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
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