Donald Frederick Buchla

US Patent:

20040003708, Jan 8, 2004

Filed:

Jun 20, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/600102

Inventors:

Donald Buchla - Berkeley CA, US

International Classification:

G10H003/06

US Classification:

084/724000

Abstract:

A device for use with a piano includes a housing configured to reside above a minor rearward portion of a keyboard of the piano and includes an array of signal generators mounted to the housing to monitor activities of the individual keys, without requiring any mechanical contact with the keys. Each signal generator is operatively associated with a single key and includes at least one light emitting device positioned to direct light so as to directly impinge the associated key when the key is in its rest position. In its preferred embodiment, the movement of each white key is monitored using light reflecting techniques, while the movement of each black key is monitored using light transmitting techniques. Piano pedal movement may also be monitored, but non-optical techniques may be employed.

US Patent:

59132604, Jun 15, 1999

Filed:

Jul 7, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/888386

Inventors:

Donald F. Buchla - Berkeley CA

Assignee:

Creative Technology, Ltd. - Singapore

International Classification:

G01B 1506

US Classification:

84724

Abstract:

A system and method for detecting, measuring the intensity of, and determining the location of a deformation of a membrane. In one embodiment, the intensity and location of membrane deformations is used as control input to a sound generation system that simulates the sound of a drum. The disclosed system and method may be capable of responding to distinct simultaneous deformations of the membrane.

US Patent:

45586233, Dec 17, 1985

Filed:

Feb 7, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/577854

Inventors:

Donald F. Buchla - Berkeley CA

Assignee:

Kimball International, Inc. - Jasper IN

International Classification:

G10H 134

US Classification:

84 11

Abstract:

A keyboard system for an electronic musical instrument of the keyboard type, such as an electronic organ, synthesizer or electronic piano. The keyboard is responsive to the velocity with which the key is depressed and controls the tone generation circuitry to produce tones of higher amplitudes for higher key depression velocities. The keyboard also includes an aftertouch control whereby further depression of the key past its normal limit against a compressible medium, such as a foam rubber or felt washer, alters the quality of the tone produced. For example, the aftertouch control could be used to vary vibrato, change pitch, change decay, and the like. A pickup for each key is positioned in an electric field set up between two electrodes, and the voltage impressed on the pickup will change depending on the position of the pickup within the field as determined by the amount of depression of the key. Polarity cancellation occurs at the point of full key depression, and depression of the key beyond this point into the aftertouch range causes the pickup to move into the portion of the field where it has an opposite polarity voltage impressed thereon. The signals from the pickups for the respective keys may be multiplexed and processed in a microcomputer controlled environment on a time shared basis.

US Patent:

61506001, Nov 21, 2000

Filed:

Dec 1, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/203256

Inventors:

Donald F. Buchla - Berkeley CA

International Classification:

G01P 342
G10H 500

US Classification:

84688

Abstract:

A system and a method for sensing the location of a remote object relative to a base object involve integrating inductive loop antennas with variable loop density into the base object and utilizing the antennas to transmit energy to and receive energy from an LC resonant circuit that is integrated into the remote object. The amplitude of a signal generated by the inductive loop antennas in response to energy received from the LC circuit identifies the location of the LC circuit relative to the antennas. Preferably, the sensing system is integrated into an electronic percussion instrument, where the keys of the instrument are formed with overlapping inductive loop antennas and the mallets used to activate the keys are formed with LC resonant circuits integrated into the mallet heads. In an enhanced version of the instrument, each antenna can be driven at multiple frequencies and made responsive to frequency-specific mallets, thereby creating an instrument that has continuous responsiveness over at least one lateral dimension of each key.

US Patent:

46287850, Dec 16, 1986

Filed:

Jun 18, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/745889

Inventors:

Donald F. Buchla - Berkeley CA

Assignee:

Kimball International, Inc. - Jasper IN

International Classification:

G10H 134

US Classification:

84 11

Abstract:

A calibration system for the keyboard of an electronic musical instrument. Compression of the key causes an output signal to be generated which varies in accordance with the amount of key depression. When the key is depressed to a nominally fully depressed position, the system stores an offset value relating to the difference between the actual output signal at this point and an expected reference output signal which would occur if the keyboard were perfectly adjusted from a mechanical standpoint. The offset value is stored in the memory and added to the key output signal during the normal operate mode of the instrument so that the output signal is adjusted in accordance with the offset value stored during the calibrate mode.

US Patent:

46287868, Dec 16, 1986

Filed:

Jun 18, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/746245

Inventors:

Donald F. Buchla - Berkeley CA

Assignee:

Kimball International, Inc. - Jasper IN

International Classification:

G10H 134

US Classification:

84 11

Abstract:

A keyboard system in a keyboard controlled musical instrument includes a pair of spaced apart electrode members and a pickup movable in the space intermediate the electrode members. Respective voltages are impressed on the electrodes to establish an electric field therebetween and the voltage impressed on the movable pickup is a function of its position relative to the two electrodes. The pickup is actuated by the playing key which contacts a resilient, yieldable stop. The force with which the playing key is depressed is measured by sensing when the key is fully depressed, initiating a count at that point and counting a predetermined period. At the end of the predetermined period the voltage on the pickup is detected which gives an indication of the amount of overtravel of the key beyond its normal depressed position. This detected voltage is used to alter the quality of the tones produced by the musical instrument.