EP1191515A1 - Controlling device for a musical instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

The command unit has a press button assembly (1) with a second attached assembly providing a static force the same as the first element. Each detector is arranged to measure the movement factor (10,11). A first signal (13) is produced providing the factor associated with the first button, and activating an activating motor producing the strike action.

Description

The present invention relates to a control device a musical instrument, in particular a chime, comprising a first set of keys, each key being provided with a sensor and force regulation means.

Such a device is known from patent application EP-A-0455404. In the known device, the keys make it possible to order sound generators to produce sound. The sensor, with which each key is provided, makes it possible to detect that the key has been operated by the musician. The means of force regulation as to them, contribute to produce an effect which means that the musician obtains a sensitivity in the key, comparable to that which he would normally feel if he played a conventional instrument.

A disadvantage of the known device is that its application is limited to electronic keyboards where the sound is reproduced so electronically and not conventionally.

If a musician plays on a classical instrument, like for example a chime or a piano, it is important that he feels not only the static force in the key, but also the force dynamic. Static force is made up of two components, in particular a component which is due to the terrestrial attraction and a component which is due to a restoring force, exerted on the element of strikes, in this case the clapper of a chime or the hammer of the piano. The dynamic force is the force required to subject the element to hits a displacement according to the acceleration imposed on it by the musician who controls the key.

Even if the known device attempts to reproduce a sensitivity in the key, it is not able to reproduce on a striking element the command that the musician imposed on the key. In the typical case of a chime, the carilloneur should directly control the leaves if he wishes to experience in the keys the sensitivity necessary for him to play adequately. In practical it requires the carillonneur to be near the bells and therefore far public.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for control of a musical instrument which allows dissociation mechanics between the striking elements and the keys while giving to the musician the sensitivity necessary for his playing.

To this end, a device according to the invention is characterized in that the device comprises a second set of elements of typing, each key in the first set is assigned an element of typing of the second set, keys and keystrokes are mechanically dissociated from each other, said means of force regulation being arranged to impose on the key, on which they are associated, a static force substantially identical to that which would have imposed the striking element if it had been connected to the key and in that each sensor is arranged to measure a displacement rate of the key to which it is associated, each sensor being connected to a first signal generator arranged to receive said displacement rate and to convert it into a first signal comprising said rate and a identification of the key associated with the sensor, said first generator being connected to a transmitter arranged to transmit the first signal, each impactor being connected to a servo motor for the element of striking, each servo motor being connected to a second signal generator which is connected to a receiver arranged to receive the first signal, said second generator being arranged to produce on base of the first signal a servo signal of the element of keystroke assigned to the sensor indicated in the first signal, each of servo motors being arranged to impose movement of the striking element with which it is associated under control of the servo signal. Despite the fact that the keys and elements are mechanically dissociated from each other, the fact that the means of force regulation can impose a static force substantially equal to that which the impactor would have imposed on the will have the consequence that when the musician activates the touches it will feel the dynamic force.

It being understood that the keys and the striking elements are mechanically dissociated from each other, the carillonneur is no longer forced to stand near the bells, but it can take place on the square and be surrounded by listeners who will also become spectators.

Communication between keys and elements Typing is performed using the transmitter and receiver. In addition, in measuring a key movement rate, which is converted to a first signal, it becomes possible to transmit this rate to the motor of the striking element so that the imposed movement by the musician to the key is adequately transmitted to the element of hit.

A first embodiment of a following device the invention is characterized in that the stroke traveled by the key is normalized, said sensor being arranged to measure and express said rate in proportion to the normalized stroke value. The normalization of the stroke allows a proportional measurement of the rate of displacement, which in turn allows proportional control of the rate of enslavement.

A second embodiment of a following device the invention is characterized in that said other sensor is connected to the second generator which is arranged to produce said signal also as a function of the displacement rate received from the other sensor. This allows to impose a movement relative to the element typing.

A third embodiment of a following device the invention is characterized in that each servo motor is provided with an element for measuring the supply current, said element being connected to a first input of a comparator, one of which second input is connected to the second generator, said comparator being arranged to compare the servo signal to the current measured supply and to produce based on this comparison a power control for the servo motor. this allows precise control of the servo motor.

la figure 1 illustre un carillon conventionnel;

les figures 2 à 4 illustrent des formes de réalisation des touches, munies des moyens de régulation de la force;

la figure 5 illustre une touche et schématiquement l'électronique qui y est reliée;

la figure 6 illustre schématiquement l'électronique reliée à la cloche;

la figure 7 illustre une cloche et son battant;

la figure 8 illustre le principe d'asservissement du battant de la cloche; et

la figure 9 illustre la façon dont est déterminée le signal d'asservissement.

The invention will now be described in more detail using the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment. In the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a conventional chime;

Figures 2 to 4 illustrate embodiments of the keys, provided with means for regulating the force;

FIG. 5 illustrates a key and diagrammatically the electronics which are connected thereto;

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates the electronics connected to the bell;

Figure 7 illustrates a bell and its wing;

FIG. 8 illustrates the principle of enslavement of the bell flap; and

Figure 9 illustrates how the servo signal is determined.

In the drawings, the same reference has been assigned to a same or similar element.

The following description relates to a chime. But he will the present invention is not limited to a chime and can be applied to any musical instrument that has a fingerboard and a striking element such as for example a piano or a harpsichord.

A traditional chime, as illustrated schematically in FIG. 1 is a musical instrument composed of a keyboard, having a first set of keys 1, only one of which is illustrated in FIG. 1. Each key actuates a striking element 7, which in the case of a chime is formed by the leaf. All of the striking elements thus forming a second set. The race of the key is limited by two stops 2, 3 placed on either side of the touch.

In the traditional chime, the link 4 between the key and the beating is mechanical, for example using returned metallic wires by brackets. The keys actuated by the carillonneur benefit a fairly large clearance, which allows it to strike more or weaker or possibly even bringing the clapper slowly close bell 6 to strike small isolated or repeated shots. This mechanical connection is not made without loss of power which needs to limit its extension in space. The keyboard must therefore be located a short distance from the bells which implies that the carillonneur is housed at the top of the tower, far from his audience.

To allow the leaf to return to its position rest, a return spring 8 is connected to the leaf 7.

• Fx est la composante, dans la direction du mouvement, de la force correspondante au poids G de la masse m du battant soumise à l'attraction terrestre;
• Fr est la force due au ressort;
• Fd est la force nécessaire pour faire subir à la masse m un déplacement selon une accélération a (Fd = ma). Donc Fd = 0 en absence de mouvement.

Dans cette force on distingue donc un composant statique (Fr + Fx) qui est indépendant du mouvement imposé et un composant dynamique Fd qui dépend de l'accélération.When the carillonneur applies a force to the key, the force F which applies in reaction to the key 1 is: F '= Fx + Fr + Fd where:

• Fx is the component, in the direction of movement, of the force corresponding to the weight G of the mass m of the wing subjected to the terrestrial attraction;
• Fr is the force due to the spring;
• Fd is the force necessary to make the mass m undergo a displacement according to an acceleration a (Fd = ma). So Fd = 0 in the absence of movement.

In this force we therefore distinguish a static component (Fr + Fx) which is independent of the imposed movement and a dynamic component Fd which depends on the acceleration.

If we want to allow the carillonneur to take place on the forecourt in the middle of the public, it will therefore be necessary to mechanically dissociate the keys of the striking elements, without losing sensitivity of the game imposed by the carillonneur. Indeed, it is this sensitivity that allows the listener to hear a louder or weaker sound, a keystroke drier or softer. It is therefore important, if the keys are mechanically separated from the leaves, that the keyboard "resists" to carillonneur in the same way as a conventional keyboard and that its is correctly analyzed to allow reproduction on the wings as rigorous as possible and incidentally a transcription in standardized MIDI language (Musical Instrument Digital Interface).

If the keyboard is mechanically separated from the leaves, as is the case in the present invention, it will not only be necessary reproduce at the keyboard the same mechanical sensation but also determine the position of the leaf in spatial synchronism with the position of the key. It will therefore be necessary to measure the position of each key and transmit it to each leaf.

At the level of the keyboard, it will therefore be necessary to reproduce a "return of effort "which exerts on the key a reaction force appreciably identical to that which the leaf would have imposed if it were connected in such a way Traditional. To achieve this, the invention provides for each key of force regulation means, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, which are arranged to impose on the key with which they are associated a static force substantially identical to that which would have been imposed the key striking element. Thus each key 1 is linked, by example using cable, triangle or other link 4 mechanical to a mass 10. This mass 10 is itself connected to a spring 11 which exerts a restoring force. The mass race is limited by means of a stop 9. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the mass can be suspended perpendicular to the ground. But she can also be inclined at an angle α (see figure 3) or parallel to the ground (figure 4).

To obtain a dynamic force equivalent to that of traditional keyboard, you must choose a mass 10 substantially identical to that of the leaf, unless there is a different reducing effect in the transmission of movement. In addition, the total static force, that is to say F '= Fx' + F'r is substantially equivalent to that obtained by a traditional chime. Thus F '= F.

In the configuration according to FIG. 2, all the force F ' due to the weight is added to the restoring force Fr '. In the case of simulation large inertias, which is the case for large bells, necessary masses alone risk exceeding the force static required. To resolve this problem, a restoring force negative is imposed.

When the carillonneur will now press the button of the "false leaf", as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, the presence of the mass 10 and spring 11 will create a static force which is substantially identical to that of the real leaf. The dynamic force it will impose on mass 10 by giving it an acceleration will therefore felt as if he was playing on a real chime which will allow him to impose his game.

The "false leaf" therefore ensures, at the keyboard, a movement of the key which is equivalent to the movement obtained with a touch of traditional chime. To order the leaf of the bell, it is therefore necessary to measure the rate of movement of the button. At this end, each key 1 is provided with a sensor 12 as illustrated in the figure 5. The sensor is for example formed by a potentiometer, by a optical reflection sensor, by a Hall effect sensor. The sensor is connected to a first signal generator 13, arranged to receive the rate displacement and convert it to a first signal which includes this rate and an identification of the key associated with it. This last information can be either a number assigned to the key or an address. This identification is used to decode, at the leaf level, which key the position information comes from. The first generator is connected via a bus 14 to a transmitter 15, arranged to transmit the first signal.

Preferably, the stroke traveled by the key is standardized, for example in 100 units. As the clapper must travel a race in synchronism with the key and that the travel is not not necessarily the same, it's interesting to express the race in fraction of a standard unit. The zero point being for example the rest position when the maximum value, in this case 100, is assigned at the end of the race. The fraction of this standardized unit can not only easily be transposed to the stroke of the beating but will also facilitate the production of the first signal which will include a rate proportional to the value of the normalized stroke. So, for example if the leaf has traveled half of its course maximum, the first signal will have the value 50.

The sensor will be positioned and linked to its button in function the type of sensor used. So, for example for the potentiometer, the axis of the potentiometer will be coupled to the axis of rotation of the key. Of preferably, the signals produced by the sensor will be captured by sampling in order to quickly follow any change in position. The bandwidth of the sensor and the first generator must be sufficient to allow a reliable restitution of the movement. A bandwidth of for example 100 Hz is suitable.

The first generator 13 can either be formed from a single generator and therefore be connected to all the sensors 12, or be formed of a series of first generators, each element of this series dealing with then a number of sensors. The transmitter, on the other hand, may consist of a radio transmitter, or produce a transmission by wire, telephone or optical path. The transmitter bandwidth must however be at even to transmit a large amount of information from keys and this with minimal delay, for example of the order of 100 ms, which is the time it takes for the sound to travel 30 meters, which is a normal distance for a distance of bells.

Instead of using a simple transmitter, it is also possible to use a transceiver. In the latter case, the leaf control device can transmit information, for example example of a fault diagnosis, to the receiver.

The first signal, produced by the first generator 13 and transmitted by the transmitter 15, will be received by the receiver 16 shown in the figure 6. This receiver 16 is connected via a bus 17 to a second generator 18. In Figure 6, the second generator consists of a series of modules 18-1, 18-2, ..., 18-N so that each of the N bells 6-1, 6-2, .... 6-N has its own module. Of course, the second generator could also consist of a single module which controls each of the bells or a number lower than that of bells, so that each module controls some of the bells.

Each of the modules of the second generator 18 is connected to a servo motor 19-1, 19-2, ..., 19-N. Each engine of servo being arranged to impose a striking movement to the clapper of the bell 6 with which it is associated. The second generator is arranged to receive the first signal from the receiver and to produce on the basis of this first signal a servo signal which it will transmit to the servo motor with which it is associated.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6 each second generator module receives the various first signals received and verified, based on the identification included in this first signal, if this first signal is intended for it. Suppose that the 1-2 key order bell 6-2 and the identification is formed by the number of the button. So when module 18-2 will receive the first signal containing the identification 2, it will recognize it as being a first signal intended for bell 6-2 and will therefore process it, while the others modules will ignore this first signal.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the servo motor 19 causes leaf 20 to rotate so that the latter can strike the bell 6. The motor 19 must activate the leaf by synchronism with the movement imposed by the carillonneur on the "false-wing". This synchronism does not necessarily have to be in the time, that is, the moment when the carillonneur strikes the key does not necessarily have to match the one where the engine puts the beating on the way, but the synchronism must be in the movement where the clapper of the bell must follow the movement of the key.

Figure 8 illustrates schematically the function of the second generator 18. The first signal S1 is supplied to a first input of this second generator. The position of the leaf Pm is preference given to a second input of the second generator. he can also be considered not to measure the position of the leaf and to bring it back each time to its resting point. However, this realization will not allow to obtain the same precision as that where Pm is determined.

The second generator 18 includes a regulator 21 of leaf position and speed as well as a speed calculator 22 beating. These components can be composed either by discrete components either be integrated into a microprocessor. The calculator 22 calculates the leaf speed on the basis of the position signal Pm. Indeed, the variation of the leaf position over time indicates its speed Vm. The speed Vm, the position Pm and the first signal S1 are supplied to regulator 21, which also receives a current measurement Im supplied to the servo motor 19. Based on this data, the regulator will determine a control signal Sa which will be supplied to motor 19.

In order to facilitate the determination of the position signal Pm, the stroke of the impactor is preferably normalized, as is this is the case with the stroke of the button. To this end, another sensor 23 (see Figure 7) is associated with the servo motor 19 and the leaf 7. The other sensor is arranged to measure the displacement rate of the beating and expressing the position signal Pm in proportion to the normalized displacement value. To express the displacement rate leaf, the zero value is for example assigned to the rest position leaf (i.e. away from the bell) and the maximum value at position where the leaf is in contact with the bell. The other sensor is for example formed by a potentiometer, an optical sensor or a Hall effect sensor. Preferably, the sensor associated with the key and the one associated with the leaf are of the same configuration, which limits the risk of error and facilitates calculation. Others' bandwidth sensors is preferably less than 100 Hz.

The formation of the control signal Sa, such as formed by the second generator is schematically illustrated in the Figure 9. The first signal S1 and the position signal Pm are supplied to a first comparator 24 which determines the difference Ep between the rate indicated by S1 and the rate indicated by Pm, i.e. the difference between the position received from the key (S1) and the measured position of the leaf (Pm).

The difference value εp is converted into a signal speed Vc by a first converter 25. The speed signal Vc is proportional to εp. The signal Vm, produced by the speed computer 22 and which indicates the current speed of the impactor, is supplied to a second comparator 26 which also receives the speed signal Vc. The second comparator 26 determines the difference εv = Vc-Vm.

The second comparator 26 is connected to a second converter 27 which converts the difference value εv into a signal of current Ic proportional to εv. The second converter 27 is connected to a third comparator 28 which also receives the value Im of the current supply, feeding the servo motor 19. The second comparator determines the difference between Ic and Im in order to check if the supply current Im corresponds to the setpoint current Ic.

The signal εi = Ic-Im is supplied to a switch 29 which supplies current to the "gate" of a transistor (MOSFET or IGBT) 30 when εi <0 and which provides no electric current to the transistor if εi > 0. The transistor 30 is connected between a ground and a coil of solenoid 31 of the servo motor 19.

So when εi <0, that is to say when the current Im which circulates in the servo motor is less than the signal Ic, the transistor is conductive and more current can flow in the motor to activate the leaf. Since a value εi <0 means that Ic> Im, it means that the key was pressed by the carillonneur and therefore that the wing must be accelerated. Thus a current will be supplied to the which is proportional to the movement of the key. When the carillonneur releases the key, εi> 0 and therefore the power supply will stop in such a way as to no longer accelerate the leaf. The leaf thus follows the key movement synchronized.

The zener diode 32 connected in parallel to the coil 31 ensures demagnetization of the current in the motor servo.

Claims (7)

Control device for a musical instrument, in particular a chime, comprising a first set of keys, each key being provided with a sensor and force regulation means, characterized in that the device comprises a second set of striking elements, each key of the first set is assigned a striking element of the second set, the keys and the striking elements are mechanically dissociated from each other, said force regulation means being arranged to impose on the key to which they are associated a static force substantially identical to that which the striking element would have imposed if it had been connected to the key and in that each sensor is arranged to measure a rate of displacement of the key to which it is associated, each sensor being connected to a first signal generator arranged to receive said displacement rate and to convert it into a first signal comprising by entering said rate and an identification of the key associated with the sensor, said first generator being connected to a transmitter arranged to emit the first signal, each striking element being connected to a motor for controlling the striking element, each d servo being connected to a second signal generator which is connected to a receiver arranged to receive the first signal, said second generator being arranged to produce on the basis of the first signal a signal for controlling the impact element assigned to the indicated sensor in the first signal, each of the servo motors being arranged to impose a striking movement on the striking element with which it is associated under control of the servo signal. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the stroke traveled by the key is normalized, said sensor being arranged to measure and express said rate in proportion to the value of the normalized stroke. Control device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stroke of the impactor is normalized, each impactor being provided with another sensor arranged to measure the rate of displacement of the impactor and express it in proportion to the value of the normalized displacement. Control device according to claim 3, characterized in that said other sensor is connected to the second generator which is arranged to produce said servo signal also as a function of the displacement rate received from the other sensor. Control device according to claim 4, characterized in that the other sensor is also arranged to determine the speed of the impactor with which it is associated, said second generator being arranged to produce said servo signal as a function of this speed. Control device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each servo motor is provided with an element for measuring the supply current, said measuring element being connected to a first input of a comparator a second input of which is connected to the second generator, said comparator being arranged to compare the servo signal to the measured supply current and to produce on the basis of this comparison a power supply command for the servo motor. Control device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the force regulation means comprise a mass mechanically connected to the key and to a spring.

Images