IE57091B1 - Metronomic signalling device and method of tempo signalling - Google Patents

Description

METRONOMIC SIGNALLING DEVICES AND METHOD OF TEMPO SIGNALLING This invention relates to silent metronomic signal pulsing devices.

Metronomic devices make it possible to train or & guide players of musical or similar activities a more accurate timing by a regularly repeated beat signals ϊ emitted from the devices at a rate ranging from 40 to 208 per minute.

Audible (acoustic) and visual (optical) are two types of metronome widely known, while the former produces ticking sound and the latter produces oscillating light or pendulum. Another is a combination of the audible type with a skin felt addition and is known from US-A-2,535,809, cf the first six lines of claim 8 specifying a case including a back wall comprising a flexible diaphragm, a timing mechanism within the case, means responsible to operation of the timing mechanism for creating uniformly periodic impacts in the diaphragm, and column 1, lines 25 to 28 specifying: my timing device may be considered as being in the nature of a silent metronome in that it supplies sensible but substantially inaudible periodic beats. The device powered by a main spring is regulated by a clockwork mechanism including an escape wheel, 8 striking members and pallet fingers.

These types of metronomic devices they all emit signals that disturb music making. For example, the audible metronomic signals may interfere with concentration upon tone and pitch. Visual metronomic signals may additionally interfere with note reading. a The prior art cited above which the inventor carefully qualifies the silent metronome obviously is an audible type with added skin felt feature. Unless soundproof material such as soft rubber is used, a diaphragm by definition is a sound amplifying element such as one finds in a telephone receiver or the cone of a loudspeaker. In the device the impact actions by the striker members of the escape wheel against the pallet fingers cause the casing to resonate and the shaft transmits the impact to the diaphragm 28 thereby causing it to amplify the striking sound further to a distinct tick similarly as a regular audible metronome. The ticking sound or noise will render the device useless in an actual performance such as studio recording session where the microphones are sensitive enough to pick up even a slightest sound or noise emitted by the device. The lack of synchronising or inter-connecting means of the device in the reference further hinders the application of a method whereby the tempo signals may be effected to a plurality of users tacitly from a central location remote from the users.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a silent metronomic signal pulsing device comprising: a housing having an opening; a transmitter fixed across said opening and having a face projecting from said housing for tempo-signal-imparting engagement with a user; transducer means comprising a disk-like member movable with said transmitter; dynamoelectric means having a part fixed to said member and a part fixed to said housing and operable for pulsing said member and thereby actuating said transmitter for tempo signal guidance of the user without acoustical interferences; and electrical means for controlling :he pulsing tempo of the dynamo-electric means, characterised in that said face is texture accentuated by a; array of projections which in operation thrust toward and tacitly impart a silent motion impulse to the skin of the user contacted by the pad face of the transmitter so that the transmitter is soundproof and clap-proof, and in that the member is fixed to said transmitter.

The advantages offered by the invention are that, firstly, the signal impulse generating means in US-A2,535,809 which consists of striker members, pallet fingers, diaphragm as well as the mechanical clockwork . is replaced by a dynamo-electrical translating means, including an elastic soundproof signal transmitting pad of soft rubber or similar material that allows imparting of silent motion impulses to the skin of the user contacted by the device without acoustic interference and, secondly, the electrical pulsing means in the device can also be inter-connected in multiple circuit to separate units in a synchronised manner and a mastei signaller or alternately a conductor's baton equipped with a tapping key switch can thereby effect respectively a steady or flexible tempo signals to the units. This method of signalling (Figures 3 and 5) allows a conductor or director to direct musicians contacted by the separate devices to be situated unconventionally beyond his field of vision during rehearsal or actual performance. For example, they may be behind him, above him, behind the curtain or moving from place to place to enhance the phonic effect of a performance. In the latter situation, the moving musicians may carry devices that are radio wave activated, a wireless system which can be easily achieved in accordance with the present state of electronic arts.

According to another aspect of the present 1 invention, there is provided a method of metronomic ί tempo signalling comprising: generating silent tempo signals from a metronomic signal generating circuit through driving by a conductor; controlling said tempo signals so as to vary their tempo; and translating said signals into mechanical motion impulses by plural sound transmission means and thereby transmitting the impulse J to plural users so that the plural users simultaneously receive tempo guidance by feeling said impulses silently.

One way of carrying out the invention is described in detail below, with reference to drawings which illustrate only one specific embodiment, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a metronomic signalling device embodying the invention and partly broken away and in section to reveal details; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device of Figure 1 with parts broken away and in section for revealing details; Figure 3 is a schematic view showing how a plurality of metronomic devices according to the present invention may be activated through a central unit; Figure 4 is a schematic electrical diagram relevant to the operation of the device; and Figure 5 is a schematic electrical diagram especially relevant to the arrangement of Figure 3.

Figures 1 and 2 show the portable device comprises a body base portion 11 of which is moulded from a suitable plastic material. Removably carried by the base 11 is a snap-on detachable cover 12 so that the rim flange 13 with a lower edge inwardly projecting retaining bead 14 is retainingly engageable with a complementary latching shoulder 15 at the inner side of a rabbet groove 17 which provides an upwardly facing shoulder on which the edge of the flange 13 seats. • β Xn accordance with the invention, dynamo-electric means are provided inside 18 the device for generating tacit metronomic signal impulses, comprising in a preferred arrangement a balanced, co-operative pair of agitator electro-magnets 19 mounted in respective diametrically opposite spaced bosses 20 located at the rim of a cavity 21 defined within an integral thickened area 22 within the housing on the base member 11 and defining an opening from the housing. The electromagnets 19, when they are energised, will attract cooperatively related, normally gapped, arms 23 of a metronomic impulse transducer of soft iron material and from which the arms 23 integrally project divergently and tangentially from diametrically opposite marginal location on the transducer 24 and in complementary positions for actuation by the respective electromagnets 19. The transducer 24 is carried by a soundproof relatively soft, yieldably movable transmission pad 25 having a surface area facing inwardly and to which area is secured fixedly the outwardly facing surface of the member 24, while the arms 23 project from the inwardly margin of the facing surface of the member. On its outer face, the pad 25 of rubber or rubber-like elastic material desirably has an array of interspersed mode projections 27 providing a texture accentuated, an air cushioned or clap-proof face. About its perimeter, the pad 25 has means for securing it to the base member 11, comprising a preferably continuous peripheral attachment flange 28 which is adapted to be firmly clamped against an annular frusto-conical shoulder 29 provided in annular outwardly opening groove cavity 30 concentric with the outwardly opening cavity 21 in the thickened base area 22. A clamping ring nut 31 is adapted to be threadedly engaged by means of threads 32 with base 11 within the annular cavity 30 and driven with its complementary frusto-conical clamping surface 33 against the pad flange 28 of the pad 25 to clamp it securely against the clamping shoulder 29.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, pulsing operation of the electro-magnets 19 is adapted to be effected by electrical means (Figures 1, 2 and 4) comprising an electrical circuit 34, components of which may be carried on a circuit board 35 mounted as by means of a thin mounting panel 37 on the inside roof surface provided by the top of the cap 12. Means such as a pulse cycling transistor 38 and capacitor 38a (a digital circuitry may be alternately employed) are connected electrically to the electromagnets 19 and to a power source such as a battery 39.

An on/off electrical switch 40 for the electrical circuit has suitable actuating means mounted conveniently on the cover 12. A pulse frequency or tempo control 41 in the circuit 34 is adapted to be adjusted as by means of a knob 42 located on the cover 12 and desirably provided with an indicator 43 for visualising adjustment relative to a tempo or pulse rate scale 44. Through this arrangement, when the circuit is closed, the electro-magnets 19 are energised and deenergised with a frequency determined by the adjustment of the tempo control 41. At each energisation of the electro-magnets 19 in each cycle, the impulse signalling device arms 23 are drawn toward, but the sufficiently resilient pad 25 prevents contacting, the electromagnets and then released on de-energising of the electro-magnets. This causes the impulse transducer 24 to push outwardly on the pad 25 and at the same time torque slightly in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1 and then returned by virtue of the return spring action of the pad 25. This causes the projection 27 to thrust toward and tacitly impart a silent motion impulse to the skin S (Figure 2) of a user contacted by the pad face. In Figure 1, the double headed arrow 45 indicates the oscillating cycle of the transducer 24 as it is alternately actuated in a pulse and release cycle by the electro-magnets 19. A double headed arrow 47 indicates reciprocatory axial motion cycle of the member 24. As a result, the user receives a definite and dual combined twisting and thrust for each impulse. This is especially effective where an article of clothing intervenes between the device 10 and the skin of the user. The device 10 may be carried in a garment pocket with the impulse transmitting pad 25 contiguous to the user's body. An attachment means 48, is provided alternatively for attaching the device to the user's body.

For plural tacit metronomic signalling, as enabled by the said preferred embodiment of the invention, the device 10 may provide with multiple circuit jack outlet to which a lead connection 55 to slave unit 53 may be plugged in. The slave unit 53 is a stripped down version of device 10 that contains electro-magnets 19 and transmitter means 23, 24, 25 and it is powered by the signal pulsing component of a device 10 or an equivalent master signaller 54.

Figure 3 depicts a multiple signalling where the equivalent signaller 54 is of increased capacity to accommodate the power demand from a large number of units 53. Connected to the master signaller 54 are a DC adaptor 57 to supply extra power when needed and an adaptor cord 63 leading to a conductor’s baton 60 for effecting manual tempo signalling. Located on the handle 61 of conductor's baton 60 is a digital key switch assembly 62 provided for manually generating flexible tempo signals to the remote signalling units 53 or 53' as shown in Figure 5. By tapping the switch key 62 as flexibly in tempo as desired a correspondingly flexible tempo signal can be generated to the unit 53'.

On each tap of the normally open biased key switch 62 it closes briefly the pulsing circuit 65 across the power source 39’ (or 57) and the solenoids 19’ of the slave units 53' energised synchronously, thereby a multiple signalling of tempo is manually effected. By setting the dial 59 at a desired rate and the control switch 58 closed, the electrical pulsing circuit 34' is energised for steady tempo pulsing action at a rate indicated on the control 59. Each pulse closes a synchronising relay switch 64, preferably of a silent kind that having a similar function as switch 62 in closing the pulsing circuit 65, which correspondingly actuate the solenoids 19' of the slave units synchronously, thereby a multiple signalling of a steady tempo is effected.

Claims (7)

Claims

1. A silent metronomic signal pulsing device comprising: a housing having an opening; a transmitter fixed across eaid opening and having a face projecting from ssiid housing for tempo-signal-imparting engagement with a user; 5 transduser means comprising a disk-like member movable with said transmitter; dya&no-electrie means having a part fixed to said member^and a part fixed to said housing and operable for puleing said member and thereby actuating said L transmitter for tempo signal guidance of the user without 10 acoustical interferences; and electrical means for con- < trolling the pulsing tempo of the dynamo-electric means„ characterised in that said face in texture accentuated by an array of projections which in operation thrust toward and tacitly impart a silent motion Impulse to the skin of 15 the user contacted by the pad face of the transmitter so that the transmitter is soundproof and clap-proof, and in that th® member is fixed to said transmitter,,

2 ω A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said part fixed to said momber comprises at least one 20 rigid arm located along a margin of said member and adjacent to a margin of said transmitter , and said part fixed to said housing comprises an electro-magnet adjacent to the margin of the member®

3. «, A device as claimed ia claim 2, characterised in 25 that said parts of the dynamo-electric means are in narrow gap relation 60 that in the operation of sMd dynamo-electric means said part will be alternately drawn toward, but not colliding with, said housing carried part on the housing and released for thereby effecting the pulsing of said 30 member and the actuation of said transmitter,, A device as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that said dynamo-electric means is adapted to effect oscillatory, reciprocatory pulsing movement of said transmitter* II

4. 5« A device as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that said electrical means for controlling the pulsing tempo of said dynamo-electric means includes a conductor’s baton electrically connected with said electrical means and having a digital tapping switch mounted on the batono

5. 6« A device as claimed in any preceding claim characterised by a plurality of separate units for transmitting said tempo signal to separate users»

6. 7. A method of use of the metronomic signal pulsing device according to claim 1 for metronomic tempo signalling comprising; generating silent tempo signals from a metronome signal generating circuit through driving by a conductor; c ntrolllng said tempo signals so as to vary their tempo; and translating said signals dynamo electrically into mechanical silent motion impulses by plural soundproof transmission means and thereby transmitting the impulses to plural users so that the plural users simultaneously receive tempo guidance by feeling said impulses silently»

7. 8« A silent metronomic signal pulsing device as claimed in claim 1„ substantially as hereinbefore described with particular reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings®