Electronic hi-hat cymbal controller

1. An electronic hi-hat cymbal controller, comprising:

a hi-hat cymbal stand with a foot pedal configured to lift a control shaft;

a lower cymbal supported by the hi-hat cymbal stand;

an upper cymbal supported by the control shaft and oriented over the lower cymbal; and

a foot pedal control module comprising a position detector configured to detect the position of the control shaft relative to the foot pedal control module, as the control shaft moves up and down the hi-hat cymbal stand,

wherein an electrical signal generated by the foot pedal control module is proportional to the position of the control shaft relative to the foot pedal control module.

2. The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 1 , further comprising a bow sensor attached to the upper cymbal.

3. The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 1 , further comprising an edge sensor on the upper cymbal.

4. The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 1 , further comprising an edge sensor on the lower cymbal.

5. The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 1 , wherein the position detector comprises an optical detector.

6. The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 1 , wherein the position detector comprises a mechanical shutter.

7. The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 1 , wherein the position detector comprises a light source.

8. An electronic hi-hat cymbal controller, comprising:

a hi-hat cymbal stand with a foot pedal configured and arranged to mechanically lift a control shaft;

a lower cymbal supported by the hi-hat cymbal stand;

an upper cymbal supported by the control shaft and oriented over the lower cymbal; and

a foot pedal control module comprising a position detector configured to detect the position of the control shaft relative to the foot pedal control module as the control shaft moves up and down the hi-hat cymbal stand, by shining a light from a light source at an optical detector and using a mechanical shutter configured to move with the control shaft between the optical detector and the light source,

wherein an electrical signal generated by the foot pedal control module is proportional to the position of the control shaft relative to the foot pedal control module.

9. The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 8 , further comprising a bow sensor attached to the upper cymbal.

10. The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 8 , further comprising an edge sensor on the upper cymbal.

11. The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 8 , further comprising an edge sensor on the lower cymbal.

12. The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 8 , wherein the mechanical shutter is configured and arranged to block light from the optical detector when the hi-hat cymbal is closed.

13. The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 8 , further comprising a sensor tunnel between the light source and the optical detector.

14. The electronic hi-hat cymbal controller of claim 13 , wherein the sensor tunnel includes a channel that bisects the sensor tunnel and is configured to receive the mechanical shutter therein.

15. A foot pedal control module for a hi-hat cymbal stand including a foot pedal configured to lift a control shaft, the foot pedal control module position detector comprising:

a position detector comprising:

a body portion configured to be supported by a hi-hat cymbal stand;

an optical detector supported by the body portion;

a light source supported by the body portion and configured to shine light on the optical detector; and

a mechanical shutter configured to move with the control shaft between the optical detector and light source,

wherein the foot pedal control module is configured to detect the position of the control shaft relative to the foot pedal control module as the control shaft moves up and down the hi-hat cymbal stand, and to generate an electrical signal that is proportional to the position of the control shaft relative to the foot pedal control module.

16. The position detector of claim 15 , further comprising a plunger configured to attach to the control shaft of the hit-hat cymbal stand, said plunger carrying the mechanical shutter.

17. The position detector of claim 15 , wherein the mechanical shutter is configured to block light from the optical detector when the hi-hat cymbal is closed.

18. The position detector of claim 15 , further comprising a sensor tunnel between the light source and the optical detector.

19. The position detector of claim 18 , wherein the sensor tunnel includes a channel that bisects the sensor tunnel and is configured to receive the mechanical shutter therein.

20. The foot pedal control module of claim 1 , wherein the foot pedal control module is underneath the lower cymbal.

21. The foot pedal control module of claim 1 , wherein the foot pedal control module is between the upper and lower cymbal.