JPS6299793A - Electronic stringed instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to electronic string instruments, and in particular, when a player performs a bent performance, the performance can be determined based on changes in the propagation time of ultrasonic waves propagating through the strings. Regarding electronic string instruments.

<Prior Art> In conventional electronic string instruments, when a string is depressed by a player, the string comes into contact with one of the frets, and the string length of the string to be vibrated is determined. Therefore, when the string vibrates at a frequency corresponding to its string length due to plucking, the electromagnetic pickup placed directly below the vibrating string generates an electrical signal similar to the vibration of the string, and the electronic circuit attached to the electromagnetic pickup generates an electric signal similar to the vibration of the string. determines the period of vibration and, by extension, the string length of the vibrating string from the time between the peaks of the waveform of this electrical signal. The tone generator generates a musical tone signal specifying a musical tone having a pitch corresponding to the determined string length of the string, and the sound system generates a musical tone based on this musical tone signal. Therefore, when a player performs a bent technique while playing such an electronic stringed instrument, the tension of the string sliding along the length of the fret gradually increases, and the period of vibration of the string correspondingly shortens. As a result, the pitch of the musical tones generated by the sound system gradually increases.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> In the above conventional example, the string length of the string in contact with the fret was determined based on the period of vibration after the string is plucked. It is necessary to set a time long enough to correspond to the longest vibration period that can be generated by at least one string; for example, for a typical six-string guitar, a time of about 1/8o second is required. Therefore, when a performer performs a bent performance, changes in the vibration period of the string cannot be detected with good response, giving the performer an unnatural impression due to the time difference between the execution of the bent performance and the change in pitch. Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and provides an electronic stringed instrument that has excellent responsiveness in generating musical sounds and can obtain a natural increase in pitch even when played in a bent manner. It is intended to.

Means for Solving Problems> The present invention provides strings capable of transmitting ultrasonic waves, and strings that are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the strings and each having a predetermined length in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the strings. a plurality of frets, each of which is flexible and which the string can contact at least one of the frets when the string is pressed;
a plurality of ultrasonic wave transmitting means provided respectively corresponding to the plurality of frets I~ and capable of simultaneously emitting intermittent ultrasonic waves and transmitting the ultrasonic waves from one end of the predetermined longitudinal direction of the fret to the fret; , an ultrasonic receiving means provided at one end of the string for receiving ultrasonic waves propagating through the string;

determining the propagation path length of the ultrasonic waves between the ultrasonic transmitting means and the ultrasonic receiving means based on the propagation time of the ultrasonic waves received by the ultrasonic receiving means, and determining the propagation path length based on the determination result; The gist of the present invention is to provide a propagation path length determining means that enables the generation of musical tones with corresponding pitches.

<Operations and Effects> The present invention was made by focusing on the fact that the propagation time of ultrasonic waves is proportional to the length of the propagation medium, that is, the length of the string. The ultrasonic transmitting means simultaneously emits intermittent ultrasonic waves, and transmits the emitted ultrasonic waves from one longitudinal end of the fret to the fret. Here, when the performer presses a predetermined position on the string with the desire to generate a specific musical tone, the string comes into contact with at least one of a plurality of frets, and the ultrasonic wave is transmitted through the fret that is in contact with the string. transmitted to the strings. This ultrasonic wave propagates through the string toward one end, and is received by the ultrasonic receiving means at the one end. The propagation path length determining means determines the propagation path length of the ultrasonic wave between the ultrasonic transmitting means and the ultrasonic receiving means based on the propagation time of the ultrasonic wave, and corresponds to the propagation path length of the ultrasonic wave based on the determination result. A musical tone of a certain pitch is generated. Next, when the player slides the string in the longitudinal direction of the fret while pressing it against the fret, the point where the ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the ultrasonic transmitting means to fret 1- and the point where the ultrasonic wave is transmitted from the fret to the string are changed. As the distance changes gradually, the propagation time of the ultrasonic wave also changes gradually, and the propagation path length determining means determines continuous changes in the propagation path length based on the changes in the propagation time. Since the pitch of the generated musical tone corresponds to the length of the propagation path, the pitch of the musical tone changes as the string slides, resulting in a change in pitch due to the bent playing style.

In determining the propagation path length, since the speed at which ultrasonic waves propagate through solid objects is extremely high, when the performer slides the string, the change in the propagation path length at each instant of sliding is determined, and the change in the propagation path length is determined at each moment of the slide, and the speed at which ultrasonic waves propagate through solid objects is extremely high. The pitch can be changed with good responsiveness.

<Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a six-string guitar, and numeral 11 indicates the body of the guitar. The neck 12 of [Body] 1 has 0 frets 13 perpendicular to its longitudinal direction. .

]:32. ..., 13n is fixed, and the string winding provided at the head of the neck at the tip of the neck part 12 and the body 1
1 and the tail piece 14 installed upright, there are six W!s of different thicknesses! Made of strings 15□, 152,..., 15
G is stretched. In the vicinity of the tail piece 1-4, there are six piezoelectric elements 16 made of ceramic as ultrasonic receiving means. ．． 16□,...

strings 151.j-6, separated from each other. 152
゜..., 156 have been contacted, and details can be found in Part 2.
As shown in the figures and FIG. 3, a pair of bolts implanted in the body 11 pass through a piece receiver 17 in a vertically slidable manner. Strings 151, 152 are attached to the screwed nut 18.・・・
, is pressed with an elastic force of 15G. The bridge receiver 17 has holes with a substantially rectangular cross section spaced apart from each other by a certain distance, and the strings 151. Adjustment screws 19□, 192. ..., 1
9f, extends. These adjustment screws 191, 192
．． ....

The head 196 is exposed on the side wall of the piece holder 17 and can be rotated with a screwdriver or the like. Adjustment screw 19□,
19. , ..., piezoelectric element 161°16□ for 19G
,...,16. 20 pieces carrying , 2021
..., 206 is screwed on, and the pieces are 20 pieces.

Since the rotation of 20□,..., 20G is regulated by the bridge support 17, the adjustment screws 1.9. ．． Due to the rotation of 19□,..., 19G, pieces 201, 20□,..., 20. are adjustment screws 19□, 19□,..., 19. , that is, the strings 151, 15□, . . . , 15. move in the direction of extension.

A starboard independent electromagnetic pickup 21.1 is provided between the piezoelectric elements 161.1G□, . ．． 21□,...

216 are arranged, and these electromagnetic pickups 2]
8, 21□,..., 21G is string 1 played by the performer
The vibrations of 5□, 15□, . . . , 15G are detected and the plucked string signal KON is supplied to a tone generator 47 to be described later.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, below one end of the frets 13□, 13□, . . . , 13n, there are piezoelectric elements 231+2321 as ultrasound transmitting means
・, 23n are respectively frets 13□, 13□,...
13n, and the piezoelectric elements 231, 2
3□,..., 23n is the 13th fret, 13□...,
13n, the piezoelectric elements 231, 2
The ultrasonic wave caused by the oscillation of 3□,..., 23n is at fret 13.
1,132. ..., fret 1 from one end of 13n
3. ．． The signals are transmitted to 13□, . . . , 13n, respectively. These piezoelectric elements 16. ．． 16□,...,16. and piezoelectric elements 231°237. . . , 23n are connected to the propagation path length determination circuit 24.

Subsequently, piezoelectric elements 16□, 162 . ..., 16. .

23. 23□,..., 23n and electromagnetic pickup 21
□, 21□,..., 21. The electrical circuits connected to the device will be described below with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. Note that the electric circuits shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 are provided for each string 150, 15□, . , one of them (string 15□) will be described. first.

When the pulse generating circuit 31 generates a predetermined high-frequency pulse P1 at intervals of 3 to 10 milliseconds, the high-frequency pulse (or pulse containing a high frequency) P1 is transmitted from the transmitter 32 to the piezoelectric elements 23□, 232. ..., 23n (at time 2 in FIG. 7(a)), the piezoelectric element 231
,23□,...,23n are 40 depending on the pulse frequency.
0 K Hz to IMH2 (for bare wire), or approximately 1
Ultrasonic waves of 00KHz (in case of wire winding) are generated at the same time. The ultrasonic waves generated by the piezoelectric cords 23□, 23□, . . .
・.

13n. Therefore, when the performer presses the string 15□ to a predetermined position on the neck 12 in order to generate a musical tone of a specific pitch, the first string 151 will move to any of the nearby frets 131, 13□, etc. according to the pressed position. 13n, and the ultrasonic waves touch the frets 13□, 13□,..., 13n
The signal is transmitted from the string 151 to the string 151, and propagates through the string 151 toward one end thereof.

Ultrasonic waves generate piezoelectric elements 16. Prior to being detected by
The drive pulse generating circuit 34 of the receiving section 33 detects the generation of the high frequency pulse P1 and applies a set signal S1 to the RS flip-flop 35 (FIG. 7(b)). As a result, the RS flip-flop 35 supplies the gate opening signal S2 to the gate circuit 36, and the goo1-circuit 36 is opened (
Figure 7(C)). Therefore, the tarock signal C1 is transmitted from the clock oscillator 37 to the counter 38 via the gate circuit 36.
The counter 38 starts counting the clock signal C1 supplied from the clock oscillator 37 (see FIG. 7).
e)).

Therefore, when the aforementioned ultrasonic wave reaches the piezoelectric element 161 at the second time t2, the piezoelectric element 16. generates an electrical signal S3 having a waveform similar to ultrasonic vibration (FIG. 7(f)), and the electrical signal S3 is supplied to the receiving section 33. In the receiving section 33, after the electric signal S3 is amplified by an amplifier 39, when a string is being struck, which will be described later, a bypass filter 40 removes low frequency components caused by string vibration from the electric signal S3. Thereafter, based on the electrical signal S3, a pulse signal P2 that shifts to a high level during the duration of the echo is output from the signal detection circuit 41 (FIG. 7(g)), and the RS flip-flop 35 is reset via the OR circuit 42. Supplied to the terminal. As a result, the gate opening signal S2 output from the RS flip-flop 35 does not shift to low level as shown in FIG. 7(C).
), the counter 38 stops counting. Therefore, the counter 38 stores the clock number output from time tl to time t2 (FIG. 7(e)). , corresponds to the time from when the piezoelectric element 231 emits an ultrasonic wave until the piezoelectric element 16 □ receives the ultrasonic wave propagated through the fret 13 □ and the string 151. On the other hand, the falling differential circuit 43 forms a pulse signal P3 that rises at the trailing edge of the gate opening signal S2 (Fig. 7(h)),
The count value of the counter 38 is latched by the latch circuit 44 by this pulse No. 48 P3. Since the pulse signal P3 is also applied to the delay circuit 45, at time t3, which is delayed by a certain period from time t2, the delay pulse P4 from the delay circuit 45 is applied to the reset terminal of the counter 38 in preparation for the next count.

Note that if the performer does not press the string 151 and therefore the ultrasonic wave is not transmitted to the string 15□, the counter 38 will overflow, so this overflow signal OF is applied to the OR circuit 42 of the receiving section 33, and the RS Reset the flip-flop 35.

The count value of the counter 38 transferred to the latch circuit 44 is converted by a data conversion table 46 into pitch data representing the pitch of the musical tone to be generated.

When the electromagnetic pickup 211 detects a plucked string and supplies a plucked string signal KON based on the detection, the tone generator 47 activates the musical tone control switch ``J@'' based on the pitch data.
A musical tone signal according to the instruction 48 is supplied to a sound system t150 comprising an amplifier, a speaker, etc., and a musical tone of a predetermined pitch is generated based on the musical tone signal.

After this, when the player performs the bending technique, the string 151 and the fret 13. As the contact point gradually approaches the piezoelectric element 231, the propagation time of the ultrasonic wave becomes shorter each time the piezoelectric element 23□ emits an ultrasonic wave, and the time during which the gate is opened (M'+s2 shifts to high level) Therefore, the count value of the counter 38 decreases over time, the pitch data selected by the count value of the counter 38 gradually increases, and the height of the musical tones produced by the sound system 50 gradually increases. Become.

Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the ultrasonic waves are transmitted to the piezoelectric elements 230, 237, . ..., 2
36 to piezoelectric cord 16. ．． 16. , ..., based on the propagation time up to 16, frets 13□, 137 .
..., 136 and strings 151, 152. ....

156 is determined, and a musical tone having a pitch corresponding to the determined propagation path length is generated.
3□, 232. . . , 236 to piezoelectric element 16. ．．
16□,...]-6, and has good responsiveness and
You can change the pitch naturally.

Further, in the above embodiment, the electromagnetic pickup 21□.

212,..., 21r, the vibration of the strings 15□, ]5□, . ．． Detection may be performed using 16□, . . . , 16G. In other words, 1 string 151°157...
, 15r, compared to the ultrasonic wave propagating 1.5
1,152. ..., 156 has a low frequency, so the piezoelectric elements 1.61, 162. ..., 16.
The electric signal S3 generated in the bypass filter is also supplied to a low-pass filter in parallel with the bypass filter. The bypass filter extracts high-frequency ultrasonic waves from the electric signal S3 and supplies them to the signal detection circuit 41 to form a pulse signal P2. On the other hand, the low-pass filter converts the electric signal S3 into strings 151,1
5□,...,15. , extract the vibrational component of , and convert it to iδ
The signal is supplied to a signal detection circuit to form a signal KON. With this configuration, the electromagnetic pickup 21□
, 21□, . . . , 2]6 can be omitted, and the configuration can be simplified.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of one embodiment, Fig. 2 is a front view showing a piece holder of one embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a schematic side view of one embodiment.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view showing the neck portion of one embodiment, Fig. 5 is a sectional view of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 shows the circuit of one embodiment. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a timing chart of one embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a receiving section of one embodiment. 13, to 13n...Frets, 15□ to 1
56... Strings, 161 to 16. ,...Piezoelectric element, 231 to 23G...Piezoelectric element, 24...
...Propagation path length determination circuit. Patent applicant: Agent of Nippon Musical Instruments Co., Ltd.
Patent Attorney Kiyoshi Kuwai - Figure 2: Front view of the piece receiver Figure 3: Plane view of the piece receiver Figure 4: Enlarged plan view showing the neck of one embodiment Figure 5: Cross-sectional view of Figure 3 Figure 7

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A string capable of transmitting ultrasonic waves, the string being spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the string, each having a predetermined length in a direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the string,
A plurality of frets, at least one of which the string can come into contact with when the string is pressed; and a plurality of frets provided corresponding to each of the plurality of frets, which simultaneously emit intermittent ultrasonic waves, and transmit the ultrasonic waves to the predetermined portion of the fret. a plurality of ultrasonic wave transmitting means capable of transmitting to the fret from one end in the length direction; an ultrasonic wave receiving means provided at one end of the string for receiving ultrasonic waves propagating through the string; and the ultrasonic wave receiving means. The length of the propagation path of the ultrasonic wave between the ultrasonic transmitting means and the ultrasonic receiving means is determined based on the propagation time of the received ultrasonic wave, and the musical tone has a pitch corresponding to the propagation path length based on the determination result. An electronic stringed instrument having a propagation path length determination means that enables the generation of.