Instrument

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024242700-A1
Application number	US-202418409062-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 10, 2024
Priority date	Jan 13, 2023
Publication date	Jul 18, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

An instrument comprises a body including a soundboard that transmits a vibration of a sound source, and a vibration exciter configured to vibrate the soundboard in response to an input signal. The vibration exciter comprises a vibrator member attached to the soundboard and configured to vibrate the soundboard in response to the input signal, a displacement member configured to displace relative to the vibrator member in response to the input signal, and a support member including an elastic member and supporting the displacement member via the elastic member with respect to the body. At least part of the vibration exciter overlaps a center of a region of the soundboard that extends in a width direction from a contact region of the soundboard where the soundboard contacts with the vibrator member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An instrument comprising:
a body including a soundboard that transmits a vibration of a sound source, and a vibration exciter configured to vibrate the soundboard in response to an input signal, the vibration exciter comprising:
a vibrator member attached to the soundboard and configured to vibrate the soundboard in response to the input signal;
a displacement member configured to displace relative to the vibrator member in response to the input signal; and
a support member including an elastic member and supporting the displacement member via the elastic member with respect to the body,
wherein at least part of the vibration exciter overlaps a center of a region of the soundboard that extends in a width direction from a contact region of the soundboard where the soundboard contacts with the vibrator member.

2 . The instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the input signal is generated based on a signal indicating the vibration of the sound source.

3 . The instrument according to claim 1 , wherein a weight of the displacement member is heavier than a weight of the vibrator member.

4 . The instrument according to claim 1 , wherein at least part of the displacement member overlaps the center of the region of the soundboard.

5 . The instrument according to claim 1 , wherein at least part of the vibrator member overlaps the center of the region of the soundboard.

6 . The instrument according to claim 1 , wherein:
the body is a guitar body and includes a sound hole and a bridge, the soundboard includes a top board disposed adjacent guitar strings, and at least part of the vibrator member is positioned closer to the bridge than the sound hole in direction along where the guitar strings extend.

7 . The instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the support member further includes:
a bracket attached to the elastic member, which is attached to the displacement member; and at least one leg extending from the bracket and contacting the soundboard.

8 . An instrument comprising:
a body including a soundboard that transmits a vibration of a sound source; and a vibration exciter configured to vibrate the soundboard in response to an input signal, the vibration exciter comprising: a vibrator member attached to the soundboard and configured to vibrate the soundboard in response to the input signal; a displacement member configured to displace relative to the vibrator member in response to the input signal; and
a support member including an elastic member and supporting the displacement member via the elastic member with respect to the body,
wherein a distance between a center of a contact region of the soundboard in contact with the vibrator member and a center of a region extending in a width direction from the contact region is equal to or less than half of a length of the support member in the width direction.

9 . The instrument according to claim 8 , wherein the input signal is generated based on a signal indicating the vibration of the sound source.

10 . The instrument according to claim 8 , wherein a weight of the displacement member is heavier than a weight of the vibrator member.

11 . The instrument according to claim 8 , wherein the support member further includes:
a bracket attached to the elastic member, which is attached to the displacement member; and at least one leg extending from the bracket and contacting the soundboard.

12 . The instrument according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one leg comprises a pair of legs extending from the bracket and contacting an underside of the soundboard.

13 . The instrument according to claim 8 , wherein
the body is a guitar body and includes a sound hole and a bridge, the soundboard includes a top board disposed adjacent guitar strings, and at least part of the vibrator member is positioned closer to the bridge than the sound hole in a direction along where the guitar strings extend.

14 . An instrument comprising:
a body including a soundboard that transmits a vibration of a sound source; and a vibration exciter configured to vibrate the soundboard in response to an input signal, the vibration exciter comprising:
a vibrator member fixed to the soundboard and configured to vibrate the soundboard in response to the input signal;
a displacement member configured to displace relative to the vibrator member in response to the input signal; and
a support member including an elastic member and supporting the displacement member via the elastic member with respect to the body,
wherein at least part of the vibration exciter overlaps a symmetry axis of a predetermined vibration mode in the soundboard.

15 . The instrument according to claim 14 , wherein the input signal is generated based on a signal indicating the vibration of the sound source.

16 . The instrument according to claim 14 , wherein a weight of the displacement member is heavier than a weight of the vibrator member.

17 . The instrument according to claim 14 , wherein at least part of the displacement member overlaps the symmetry axis.

18 . The instrument according to claim 14 , wherein at least part of the vibrator member overlaps a symmetry axis.

19 . The instrument according to claim 14 , wherein:
the body is a guitar body and includes a sound hole and a bridge, the soundboard includes a top board disposed adjacent guitar strings, and at least part of the vibrator member is positioned closer to the bridge than the sound hole in a direction along where the guitar strings extend.

Assignees

• Yamaha Corp

Inventors

• EKUNI Shingo
• Yasuno Hidehisa
• Ishii Jun

Classifications

• G10D1/08 Primary

  Guitars · CPC title

• G10D3/02

  Resonating means, horns or diaphragms · CPC title

• G10H1/32 Primary

  Constructional details · CPC title

• G10H3/18

  using a string, e.g. electric guitar {(mechanical features G10D1/085)} · CPC title

• G10H1/045

  by electromechanical means · CPC title