JPS63240596A - Pickup apparatus for 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 (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an improvement in a pickup device for an electronic stringed instrument, and more particularly, to an improvement in a pickup device for an electronic stringed instrument that determines a pitch specified by a player by scanning an ultrasonic signal.

(Prior Art) In general, electronic stringed instruments determine the fret position of the string pressed by the performer, specify the pitch of the musical note to be sounded, and detect the timing of the strings to be played, and make the sound based on that timing. was.

The fret position during the sound production process was determined by using an electromagnetic pickup to convert the vibrations of the strings into an electrical signal with a waveform similar to the vibrations, and based on the peak interval of the waveform.

However, when converting into electrical signals in this way,
It took a long time for the strings to produce a musical tone, giving the player an unnatural impression. Therefore, in 1985 Patent Application No. 240138, the applicant of the present application proposed an electronic stringed instrument in which fret positions are determined by ultrasonic scanning.

That is, as a pickup device for an electronic stringed instrument according to a prior application, for example, one shown in FIG. 5 is known.

As shown in this figure, the pickup device of this electronic stringed instrument consists of strings 3 stretched between the string windings on the main body 1 of the musical instrument and the tailpiece, and a piezoelectric element 5 that is pressed against the strings 3.
and a bridge 7 that supports the piezoelectric body 5. 9 in the figure is a damper rubber.

The piezoelectric body 5 converts the electrical signal into an ultrasonic signal and transmits it to the string 3, and the fret position is detected by the reflected wave of the ultrasonic signal from the fret.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the electronic stringed instrument according to the prior application, the strings that press the piezoelectric body downward with a predetermined pressure are supported only by this piezoelectric body. , when bend playing is used frequently, a large force is applied to the piezoelectric body, causing uneven wear of the piezoelectric body itself, increasing the area of contact with the strings, or creating multiple points of contact, resulting in detection problems. There is a problem in that the desired waveform changes. In extreme cases, there is a risk that the piezoelectric body itself may be damaged.

(Means for Solving the Problems) Therefore, in the pickup device for an electronic stringed instrument according to the present invention, a string is stretched over the main body of the instrument, and an electrical signal is converted into an ultrasonic signal by being pressed against the string. In a pickup device for an electronic stringed instrument, the pickup device includes a piezoelectric body that converts a piezoelectric material, and a regulating member that comes into contact with the string and restricts its movement when the string moves a predetermined distance in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the string is strung. By providing this, the purpose is to solve the above problems.

(Operations and Effects) In the pickup device for an electronic stringed instrument according to the present invention, the piezoelectric body converts an electric signal into an ultrasonic signal and transmits this ultrasonic signal to the string, and from transmitting the ultrasonic signal, the The fret position is determined based on the time required to receive the echo reflected by the fret that is in contact with the fret. In this case, the piezoelectric body is always in contact with the string (under a predetermined pressure), but when a larger force is applied in a direction perpendicular to the stringing direction due to bend playing, etc., the string does not move. and comes into contact with a regulating member to regulate the movement of the string.

As a result, the pressing force of the string against the piezoelectric body is reduced, and uneven wear is prevented from occurring at the contact area of the piezoelectric body.
Alternatively, the amount of uneven wear can be reduced.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of a pickup device for an electronic stringed instrument according to the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

1 to 3 are diagrams showing an embodiment of a pickup device for an electronic stringed instrument according to the present invention.

In these figures, 11 indicates a string, and this string 11 is stretched at a predetermined tension between a string winding (not shown) and a tailpiece on the main body of the musical instrument.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a frame fixed to the upper surface of the main body of the musical instrument, and an ultrasonic sensor (piezoelectric body) 21 is erected and supported on this frame 15 via a cartridge 17 and a conductive rubber damper 19. That is, the ultrasonic sensor 21 has a thin plate shape as a whole, is embedded in the conductive rubber damper 19, and protrudes from its upper surface by a predetermined height.

Therefore, the ultrasonic sensor 21 is supported by the conductive rubber damper 19 from its front and back direction (stringing direction). The ultrasonic sensor 21 is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the stringing direction. Further, the lower end of the ultrasonic sensor 21 is supported by being in contact with the upper and lower dampers 25.

Here, lead leaves 31 and 33 made of a thin plate-like conductor are disposed before and after the ultrasonic sensor 21. In other words, ``These Noriichi Drifts 31.33
are attached to the front and rear surfaces of the conductive rubber damper 190, respectively, and their lower ends are fixed to the printed circuit board 35 disposed below the frame 15.

Furthermore, a thin plate-shaped front bridge 41 and a rear bridge 43 made of plastic are arranged before and after these lead leaves 31 and 33, and the ultrasonic sensor 21 is positioned with respect to the frame 15. There is. The upper ends of these bridges 41, 43 are provided to protrude from the upper surface of the conductive rubber damper 19 by a predetermined height.

As shown in FIG. 3, these bridges 41.
A U-shaped groove 45 is formed in the widthwise center of the upper end of the string 43, and the string 11 is loosely inserted into the groove 45.

That is, the string 11 is loosely inserted into the groove 45 with a gap such that when the string 11 is pressed against a fret during normal performance, the string 11 does not come into sliding contact with the inner wall surface of the groove 45. It is. Therefore, these bridges 41.4
3 serves as a regulating member that comes into contact with the string 11 and restricts its movement when the string 11 moves a predetermined distance in a direction perpendicular to the stringing direction.

These bridges 41, 43 are made of a predetermined material, for example plastic, in particular ABS resin. This is because this material does not generate reflected waves and has little damping effect on ultrasonic signals.

Therefore, in the pickup device having the above configuration, when the string 11 is pulled in a large lateral direction due to the bent playing method, the string 11 is pulled into the groove 4 of the plastic bridge 41.
It comes into contact with the inner wall surface of 5. Further, excessive force is not concentratedly applied to the portion of the piezoelectric body 21 that is in pressure contact with the string 11.

As a result, the bridges 41 and 43 having the grooves 45 can support the lateral force caused by the bent performance, and uneven wear of the piezoelectric body 21 and further damage to the piezoelectric body 21 can be prevented.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the invention.

In this embodiment, the string 11 is attached to the bridge 51 as a regulating member.
When forming a loose insertion part, a hole 53 is formed instead of filling the hole. The diameter of this hole 53 is set to a predetermined size, so that when the string 11 is pulled in any direction (up, down, left, or right) and moves a predetermined distance, it slides into contact with the inner wall surface of the hole 51, and the piezoelectric body (ultrasonic sensor) 21 comes into pressure contact with the string 11. This prevents uneven wear on the parts.

Furthermore, in addition to this, sliding contact may be made only in the vertical direction to reduce the force acting on the string 11 in this direction. The other configurations and operations are the same as those of the above embodiment.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a pickup device for an electronic stringed instrument according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the pickup device, and FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the main parts of the pickup device. , FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view similar to FIG. 3 showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a pickup device for an electronic stringed instrument according to the prior application. 11... String, 21... Ultrasonic sensor (piezoelectric body), 41...
...Front bridge (regulating member). Patent applicant: Agent of Nippon Musical Instruments Co., Ltd.
Patent attorney Kuwai - Seiichi Ichiichi's example of Senmen-kai Figure 3 - Outline of the embodiment - Perspective view Figure 4 Tsukigin diagonal diagram of other examples

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a pickup device for an electronic stringed instrument, the pickup device includes a string stretched on the main body of the musical instrument, and a piezoelectric body that is pressed against the string and converts an electric signal into an ultrasonic signal. 1. A pickup device for an electronic stringed instrument, comprising a regulating member that comes into contact with the string and restricts its movement when the pickup device moves a predetermined distance in a direction perpendicular to the string direction.