(12) United States Patent
`McAfee et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,545,207 B2
`Apr. 8, 2003
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`US006545207B2
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`(54)
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`ELECTRIC DRUM STROKE COUNTING
`MACHINE
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`Inventors: Derrell W. McAfee, 203 McMillin St.,
`Nashville, TN (US) 37201; Craig A.
`Kestner, 259 Cain Dr., Blountville, TN
`(US) 37617
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`Appl. No.: 10/138,721
`Filed:
`May 3, 2002
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2002/0184993 A1 Dec. 12, 2002
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`Continuation of application No. 09/621,061, ?led on Jul. 21,
`2000, now abandoned
`Provisional application No. 60/144,740, ?led on Jul. 21,
`1999.
`
`Int. Cl.7 .............................................. .. G09B 15/06
`
`US. Cl. ................................................... .. 84/470 R
`Field of Search ......................... .. 84/411 R, 470 R,
`84/484, 411 D
`
`8/1991 Youakim ................... .. 84/411
`5,036,742 A
`5,256,832 A 10/1993
`5,453,567 A
`9/1995 Brinson ..................... .. 84/104
`5,521,324 A
`5/1996 Dannenberg et al. ....... .. 84/612
`5,663,514 A
`9/1997 Usa ........................... .. 84/600
`Primary Examiner—Jeffrey Donels
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—David B. Pieper; Phillip E.
`Walker; Waddey & Patterson
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`
`A drum beat counter that can be attached to either a
`conventional drum head or an electronic drum kit. The
`counter counts the number of beats over a given time set by
`the user. The drum beat counter includes a strike sensor
`adapted to detect the strikes and create a strike signal, a
`strike counter electrically connected to the strike sensor and
`adapted to receive the strike signal, adapted to detect strikes
`represented in the strike signal, and further adapted to create
`a count signal; and
`a display electrically connected to the counter and adapted
`to receive the count signal and present a representation
`of the number of strikes. This device can be used in
`many Ways including speed counting or ensuring that
`the drum actually beats the number of times desired.
`
`19 Claims, 7 Drawing Sheets
`
`ACOUSTIC DRUM VERSION
`
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`NOTE‘. DRAWING IS NOT TO SCALE.
`
`Yamaha Exhibit 1001 Page 1
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 8,2003
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`Sheet 1 0f 7
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`Yamaha Exhibit 1001 Page 2
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 8, 2003
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`Sheet 2 of 7
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`US 6,545,207 B2
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`Yamaha
`
`Exhibit1001
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`Page3
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`Yamaha Exhibit 1001 Page 3
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 8, 2003
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`Sheet 3 of 7
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`US 6,545,207 B2
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`111
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`130
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`Figure 3
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`132
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`Yamaha
`
`Exhibit1001
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`Page4
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`Yamaha Exhibit 1001 Page 4
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 8,2003
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 8,2003
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`Yamaha Exhibit 1001 Page 7
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`Yamaha Exhibit 1001 Page 8
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`

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`US 6,545,207 B2
`
`1
`ELECTRIC DRUM STROKE COUNTING
`MACHINE
`
`This application is a continuation of Utility patent appli
`cation Ser. No. 09/621,061 ?led Jul. 21, 2000, noW
`abandoned, entitled “Electronic Drum Stroke Counting
`Machine” Which claims priority as a continuation of Provi
`sional US. Patent Application Serial No. 60/144,740 ?led
`Jul. 21, 1999, entitled “Electronic Drum Stroke Counting
`Machine.”
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a musical testing device
`and more particularly to a drum beat counter attachable to a
`drum head. The speed of drum beating and stick speed has
`long been debated betWeen drummers. A reliable method
`and apparatus for counting drum beats is needed to measure
`the drum beats or stick speed for drummers. Furthermore,
`drumming students need to practice speed and timing of
`drum beats to ensure that a cadence is being performed at the
`proper rate over time. Thus, What is needed is a drum beat
`counter to measure stick speed and drum beats over a time
`period for improved drumming information.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`25
`
`The present invention utiliZes a pieZo sensor attached to
`a drum head to count the number of beats on the drumhead.
`The pieZo senses each time a drum stroke is made and sends
`a signal into drum beat counter Which counts number of
`strokes. The preferred embodiment of the system only
`counts the drum beats occurring during a ?xed period of
`time. The time period can be set to count doWn from any set
`time so that user can count the number of drum strokes
`occurring during the period of time. The folloWing
`schematics, draWings, and parts lists eXplain in greater detail
`the operation of the machine.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is an assembly draWing of the drum beat counter
`attached to a conventional drum head.
`FIG. 2 is an assembly draWing of the drum beat counter
`attached to an electronic drum head.
`FIG. 3 is side vieW of the drum beat counter.
`FIG. 4 is a schematic for the poWer supply.
`FIG. 5 is a schematic vieW of the signal conditioner.
`FIG. 6 is a schematic vieW of the additional connection
`for the edge trigger integrated circuit.
`FIG. 7 is a schematic vieW for the drum beat timer.
`FIG. 8 is a schematic for the drum beat counter.
`FIG. 9 is a parts list for elements of the preferred
`embodiment of the invention.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`The drum beat counter device or apparatus 100 is
`designed to measure the total number of strikes against a
`drum head 102 as a measurement of a drummer’s hand or
`foot speed. The drum beat counter 100 measures the total
`number of strikes hit by a drummer onto a vibrating surface,
`such as a drum head 102, during a controlled period of time.
`The device 100 is capable of application on both acoustic
`drums 104 and electronic drums 106.
`FIG. 1 of the draWings shoWs the drum beat counter
`apparatus 100 of the present invention mounted on an
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`2
`acoustic drum 104. As shoWn in FIG. 1 of the draWings, a
`pieZo type strike sensor 108 is attached to a drum head 102
`on an acoustic drum 104 or other vibrating surface to
`generate a strike signal in accordance With the vibrations
`created by the strikes on the drum head. The pieZo sensor
`108 is connected by a sensor cable 110 to the drum beat
`counter 100. An optional portable connection through a
`guitar cable 112, guitar jacks 113, and female connector 114
`is shoWn to alloW for the pieZo sensor 108 to be permanently
`mounted to the drum head 102 While alloWing for removal
`of the drum beat counter 100. The sensor cable 110 connects
`to the counter 100 through the drum input port 111 shoWn in
`FIG. 3.
`The front 116 of the drum beat counter 100 is shoWn
`Which includes a information presenters such as a count
`information display 118 and a time information display 120.
`The count display 118 is presented as a four digit digital
`display counter that corresponds to the number of counts
`detected by the drum beat counter 100. The time display 120
`is a tWo digit digital display Which is used to shoW the
`current status of the timer as a counting time in seconds.
`Other types of information presenters and displays, such as
`LED meter displays, pie chart displays, or graphic display
`screens may also be utiliZed for visual displays, or sound
`devices such as speakers With a tone generator may be used
`for presenting the counting information to the user. Thus, the
`preferred embodiment’s screen type display is merely a Way
`to present the number of counts to the user in an easily
`recogniZable format.
`An on/off poWer sWitch 122 is provided for turning the
`counter 100 on and off, and the reset 124 is shoWn as a
`button for resetting the counter 100. A time period selector
`126 is shoWn as a preset dial selector for selecting the period
`of time to be used for the counting of the strikes.
`The counter 100 uses an internal strike counter 152 to
`detect the number of beats or strikes on the drum head 102
`and increments the drum beat count shoWn on the count
`display 118 by one for each strike. The preferred embodi
`ment uses the preset dial selector 126 to set the time interval
`for counting betWeen ten and ninety seconds at ten second
`intervals. While the present embodiment counts in ten
`second intervals, it is also envisioned that any other time
`interval, including one second intervals, could also be used
`Without departing from the scope of this invention. The time
`is designed to count doWn from the pre-selected number, by
`decrementing the time period counter by one for each
`second on the time display 120. The time alloWs for the
`counter 100 to begin counting upon the ?rst drum beat and
`stops the counter 100 upon reaching Zero seconds. Thus,
`When the timer reaches Zero, the counter 100 Will stop
`counting and Will display the total number of strikes against
`the drum head during the countdoWn. Upon pressing the
`momentary reset button 124 on the front of the drum beat
`counter 100, or applying the reset signal through the eXternal
`rest port 128, the counter Will be rest to Zero and the timer
`Will reset according to the setting on the preset dial 124. The
`above sequence may then be repeated for the neXt counting.
`FIG. 2 shoWs the drum beat counter 100 attached to an
`electronic drum pad 106 by a sensor cable 110 With standard
`one quarter inch jack connectors 113.
`The side of the drum beat counter 100 is shoWn in FIG.
`3 Which includes a drum input port 111, an eXternal reset port
`128 and a poWer supply input 130. The preferred embodi
`ment of the device 100 uses a 9 volt poWer supply input and
`is designed to be poWered by a 9 volt battery or eXternal
`poWer supply.
`
`Yamaha Exhibit 1001 Page 9
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`

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`US 6,545,207 B2
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`3
`FIG. 4 of the drawings shows the electrical schematic of
`the power supply 132 for the drum beat counter 100. An
`external poWer supply (not shown) may provide a 9 to 12
`volt signal for the counter 100, Which is then converted by
`the poWer supply 132 for internal operation. As is Well
`knoWn in the art of electronics, poWer supplies 132 may be
`designed to accept a multitude of inputs for presenting the
`appropriate output. Therefore, the present design 100 is
`shoWn as the preferred embodiment, but the invention is not
`meant to be limited by this design.
`FIG. 5 of the draWings shoWs the strike signal ?lter as a
`debouncing circuit 134 for the output of the pieZo sensor 108
`to alloW for counting the actual drum beats or strikes and not
`counting the after-beat vibrational reactions of the drum
`head 102 or sensor 108. The pieZo input signal 136 is
`combined by the signal combiner 140 With a digital refer
`ence signal 138, generated by a signal generator, to provide
`a digital type combined signal for counting the number of
`drum beat strikes. Because the reference signal 138 provides
`an inherent limitation on the maXimum number of strikes
`that may be counted by the counter, it is important that the
`digital reference signal 138 is operating at a suf?cient clock
`rate to eXceed the maXimum number of strikes that the
`device 100 Will need to detect. A clock rate for counting at
`least 40 strikes per second is recommended. Because drum
`heads 102 vibrate after the initial impact, it is also important
`to detect only the initial strike and not the subsequent
`vibrations of the drum head 102. The combined signal
`passes through a signal ?lter 142 and then passes through a
`threshold trigger 144 that is used to detect only the impact
`vibration associated With the initial drum strike and not the
`subsequent vibrations. The current design shoWs the values
`selected for the preferred embodiment and the equipment as
`shoWn, but the threshold detector values 144 Will change
`With the types of equipment that are used. FIG. 6 of the
`draWings shoWs the remaining connections for the threshold
`edge trigger 144 for detecting the triggering event.
`FIG. 7 of the draWings shoWs the timer 145 and the
`connections of the timing circuit 146 for providing the signal
`to the display controllers 148 and displays 150 as used on the
`front of the drum beat counter 100. A knoWn clock rate is
`reduced by a divide by-N type counter in the timing circuit
`146 to equate to seconds as a second signal, and the second
`signal is then sent to the display driver 148 to drive the
`display 150. The preset sWitch 126 is used to input an initial
`time equating to the number of seconds for the timer to
`count. The amount of time to count doWn or count up on the
`device can be set using a digital or analog sWitch for the
`preset sWitch 126.
`FIG. 8 of the draWings shoWs the counter 151 section of
`the drum beat counter 100, including the strike counter 152
`and display drivers 154 for the counter displays 156 used on
`the front of the drum beat counter 100. FIG. 9 shoWs the
`preferred values used for the circuit components shoWn in
`FIGS. 4 through 8.
`Thus, although there have been described particular
`embodiments of the present invention of a neW and useful
`Electric Drum Stroke Counting Machine, it is not intended
`that such references be construed as limitations upon the
`scope of this invention eXcept as set forth in the folloWing
`claims.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A drum beat counter apparatus for counting the number
`of strikes on a surface, comprising:
`a strike sensor adapted to detect the strikes on the surface
`and create a strike signal each time a strike occurs;
`
`15
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`a strike counter electrically connected to the strike sensor
`and adapted to receive the strike signal, the strike
`counter adapted to increment a total count of the strikes
`that have occurred each time a strike signal is received
`and generate a count signal representative of the total
`count; and
`a count information presenter electrically connected to the
`strike counter and adapted to receive the count signal
`and present a representation of the total number of
`strikes on the surface.
`2. The apparatus of claim 1, Wherein the strike sensor is
`a vibrational sensor.
`3. The apparatus of claim 1, Wherein the strike sensor is
`a pieZo sensor.
`4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
`a strike signal ?lter electrically connected betWeen the
`strike sensor and the strike counter, the strike signal
`?lter adapted to remove unWanted portions of the strike
`signal associated With after-strike vibrations.
`5. The apparatus of claim 4, the strike signal ?lter
`comprising:
`a signal generator adapted to generate a reference signal;
`and
`a signal combiner adapted to combine the reference signal
`With the strike signal.
`6. The apparatus of claim 4, the strike signal ?lter
`comprising.
`a threshold detector for detecting portions of the strike
`signal above a threshold level and removing portions of
`the strike signal beneath the threshold level.
`7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising.
`a timer electrically connected to the counter and adapted
`to count a period of time and stop the counter after the
`period of time has been counted.
`8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:
`a time period selector electrically connected to the timer
`to select the period of time to be counted by the timer.
`9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:
`a time information presenter electrically connected to the
`timer and adapted to present a representation of the
`period of time being counted by the timer.
`10. The apparatus of claim 9, the time information pre
`senter comprising:
`a digital LED display.
`11. The apparatus of claim 1, the count information
`presenter comprising:
`a digital LED display.
`12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
`a reset electrically connected to the counter and adapted
`to restore the counter to an initial count value.
`13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
`a poWer supply electrically connected to provide poWer
`for the sensor, counter, and display.
`14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:
`a poWer sWitch electrically connected to the poWer supply
`and adapted to control poWer provided by the poWer
`supply.
`15. Amethod for measuring the total number of strikes by
`a drummer on a surface, comprising:
`creating a vibrational signal corresponding to the vibra
`tional movement of the surface associated With the
`strikes;
`?ltering the vibrational signal for characteristics associ
`ated With the initial impact of the strikes to create an
`impact signal; and
`
`Yamaha Exhibit 1001 Page 10
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`US 6,545,207 B2
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`5
`counting the number of impacts represented in the impact
`signal to create a count number.
`16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
`displaying the count number to the drummer.
`17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
`providing a timer adapted measure a period of time With
`an end time; and
`blocking the impact signal after the timer encounters the
`end time.
`18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:
`displaying a status of the timer to the drummer.
`19. A drum beat counter apparatus for counting the total
`number of strikes occurring on a surface regardless of the
`instantaneous speed or average tempo at Which the strikes
`occur, the drum beat counter comprising:
`a vibrational pieZo strike sensor adapted to detect the
`strikes on the surface and create a strike signal each
`time a strike occurs;
`a strike signal ?lter electrically connected to the strike
`sensor, the strike signal ?lter adapted to pass only a
`valid portion of strike signal and remove unWanted
`portions of the strike signal associated With after-strike
`vibrations to create a ?ltered signal;
`
`10
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`15
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`6
`a strike counter electrically connected to the strike ?lter
`and adapted to receive the ?ltered signal, the strike
`counter adapted to increment a total count of the strikes
`that have occurred each time a ?ltered signal is
`received and generate a count signal representative of
`the total count;
`a reset electrically connected to the counter and adapted
`to restore the counter to an initial count value;
`a count information presenter electrically connected to the
`strike counter and adapted to receive the count signal
`and present a representation of the total number of
`strikes on the surface;
`a timer electrically connected to the counter and adapted
`to count a period of time and stop the counter after the
`period of time has been counted;
`a time period selector electrically connected to the timer
`to select the period of time to be counted by the timer;
`and
`a time information presenter electrically connected to the
`timer and adapted to present a representation of the
`period of time being counted by the timer.
`
`*
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`*
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`*
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`*
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`*
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`Yamaha Exhibit 1001 Page 11