EP0722159A1 - Instrument de musique à touches avec dispositif électronique pour détecter le mode de percussion des éléments générateurs de son - Google Patents

Instrument de musique à touches avec dispositif électronique pour détecter le mode de percussion des éléments générateurs de son Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0722159A1
EP0722159A1 EP96100226A EP96100226A EP0722159A1 EP 0722159 A1 EP0722159 A1 EP 0722159A1 EP 96100226 A EP96100226 A EP 96100226A EP 96100226 A EP96100226 A EP 96100226A EP 0722159 A1 EP0722159 A1 EP 0722159A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
instrument
movement
hammer
actuating member
key
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP96100226A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Giuseppe Ciliento
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
COMUS SpA
Original Assignee
COMUS SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by COMUS SpA filed Critical COMUS SpA
Publication of EP0722159A1 publication Critical patent/EP0722159A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10H—ELECTROPHONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; INSTRUMENTS IN WHICH THE TONES ARE GENERATED BY ELECTROMECHANICAL MEANS OR ELECTRONIC GENERATORS, OR IN WHICH THE TONES ARE SYNTHESISED FROM A DATA STORE
    • G10H1/00—Details of electrophonic musical instruments
    • G10H1/32—Constructional details
    • G10H1/34—Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments
    • G10H1/344—Structural association with individual keys

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a keyboard musical instrument featuring an electronic device for detecting the percussion mode of sound generating elements of the instrument.
  • the musical instrument to which the present invention relates is a piano.
  • each key causes a hammer to strike one or more steel strings stretched on a frame.
  • the strings When struck, the strings produce a vibration, which in turn produces a corresponding musical note which is amplified by a sound box.
  • the volume of the notes is modulated according to the pressure applied by the player to the keys, and which produces a predetermined operating speed, i.e. a predetermined movement, of the key.
  • a predetermined operating speed i.e. a predetermined movement
  • Each key is connected to the respective hammer by a complex mechanism which varies according to the type of piano (grand or upright), but which in any case provides for a further movement of the hammer depending not only on the movement but also on the initial position of the key (at rest or in motion) and on other settings made, for example, using the pedals.
  • Such devices provide for generating "soft” or “loud” sounds by means of a wide range of electronic techniques (all of which, however, involve detecting the pressure exerted on the key) so that the resulting sound resembles as closely as possible that produced by a similarly operated mechanical piano.
  • such devices present sensors of various types (spring contacts, conductive rubber, optical, etc.) for determining the speed of respective keys, e.g. by measuring the time taken by the key to activate two sensors a given distance apart.
  • a musical instrument comprising: a keyboard in turn comprising a number of keys, each corresponding to a respective note, and each operated manually to effect a first movement determined by the player; and a number of transmission mechanisms, each controlled by a respective key on said keyboard, and each presenting a terminal actuating member effecting a second movement dependent only partly on said first movement; characterized in that it comprises an electronic device presenting a number of sensors, each for detecting the movement of a respective said terminal actuating member, and generating an electric signal depending on said second movement.
  • Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates one of the percussion mechanisms of a known upright acoustic piano.
  • Mechanism 1 is activated by a key 2 corresponding to a respective note, and which comprises the outward-facing arm of a rocker arm lever 3 pivoting on pivot 4, normally guided by members 5, and resting, when idle, on a fixed stop 6.
  • the arm of lever 3 on the opposite side to key 2 activates a piston 7 forming part of mechanism 1, and which in turn controls a support 8 pivoting about axis 9.
  • hammer 11 comprises a cam portion, hereinafter referred to as core 12, pivoting on a pin 13, and a portion of which is covered by a wearproof seal 15 ( Figure 2) which is pushed by a vertical rod 14 of mechanism 10.
  • Hammer 11 also comprises a head or core 16, and a rod 17 connecting core 12 to head 16; and head 16 presents a hard-felt-covered tip 18 by which it strikes one or more steel strings 19 for acoustically generating the note corresponding to key 2.
  • Rod 17 normally rests against a supporting guide 21, as indicated by the continuous line in Figure 1.
  • support 8 The outer end of support 8 is fitted with a brake 22, which cooperates with the tip 23 of a counter-hammer 24 fitted to core 12, and which engages tip 23 during its return stroke to brake the oscillation of hammer 11.
  • Counter-hammer 24 is connected by an elastic brace 26 to a hook 27 also fitted to support 8; which brace 26 permits hammer 11 to be operated repeatedly to produce a "trill", i.e. the same note repeated in rapid succession.
  • the inner end of support 8 is fitted with an appendix or spoon 28 for activating a vibration damping element 29 pivoting on a fixed pin 30.
  • Element 29 terminates at the top with a pad 25 with a felt covering 31, and is normally pushed by a spring 32 so that felt 31 rests against and dampens the vibration of strings 19, as shown in Figure 1.
  • the movement of hammer 11 therefore depends, not only on the movement of key 2 as operated by the player, but also on other characteristics including the type of piano, the volume provided for by the "loud" pedal, the repeat operating frequency of key 2, the time lapse between release and the next next operation of key 2, and, in general, the initial position of the hammer or key (at rest or in motion) when it is operated.
  • the piano described above also comprises a device 34 for detecting the force with which strings 19 are struck, as described in detail below.
  • device 34 comprises an electronic musical note generator or synthesizer 35 controlled, via a number of electric connections 36, by a number of sensors 40, each relative to a respective hammer 11.
  • synthesizer 35 may be connected selectively to a loudspeaker 37 or a headset 38, and presents known volume and tone control knobs.
  • the piano To operate device 34 independently of the piano, e.g. to enable the player to practise in silence using headset 38, the piano also features a muting device 39, which is not essential as regards the present invention, and which comprises a bar 41 with a felt covering 42 and located between strings 19 and rods 17 of hammers 11.
  • Bar 41 is fitted to a pair of arms 43 pivoting on two pins 44, and is normally set to the Figure 1 position in which it does not affect the movement of hammers 11. Arms 43 may be controlled in any known manner to set bar 41 to the position shown by the dotted line in Figure 1, in which felt 42 of bar 41 arrests hammers 11 just before they strike strings 19, and so prevents strings 19 from producing the respective note.
  • sensors 40 controlling synthesizer 35 provide for detecting the movement of hammer 11. More specifically, a respective sensor 40 is located at core 12 of each hammer 11, for determining the speed of core 12 during both the forward and return stroke of hammer 11.
  • sensor 40 Since it is the speed of hammer 11 that normally determines the characteristics of the note produced by strings 19, sensor 40 is therefore capable of causing synthesizer 35 to electronically generate the same note with the same characteristics determined by the speed of hammer 11, so that the player experiences the same response as on a traditional piano, between the pressure applied to the keys and the characteristics of the notes produced by synthesizer 35.
  • Each sensor 40 may comprise a pair of photoswitches 46 ( Figure 2) located a given distance apart and for determining the passage of part, e.g. an edge, of core 12; and may advantageously comprise a capacitive, resistive or inductive transducer, or any other means for detecting the speed of a mechanical element.
  • the synthesizer provides for detecting the speed of the actual moving part on which the sound produced by the strings depends, as opposed to the movement of the key by which the above movement is produced, and as such for supplying the synthesizer with more accurate information concerning the volume desired by the player.
  • sensor 40 may be so located as to detect the speed of rod 17 or head 16 of hammer 11, as opposed to the speed of core 12.
  • device 34 ( Figure 1) is incorporated in an upright piano with a muting system, it may of course be applied to any type of piano, e.g. a grand piano, or to any other type of musical instrument in which the movement of the part striking the sound generating element does not depend entirely on the movement of the key.
  • the musical instrument may even comprise only the keyboard and relative percussion mechanisms, with no sound generating elements, i.e. may be a "hybrid" instrument featuring a traditional mechanical and an electronic sound generating section, in which case, sensor 40 would be so located as to determine the speed of a control element with the same movement as core 12 in Figure 1.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Electrophonic Musical Instruments (AREA)
EP96100226A 1995-01-10 1996-01-09 Instrument de musique à touches avec dispositif électronique pour détecter le mode de percussion des éléments générateurs de son Withdrawn EP0722159A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO950005U 1995-01-10
IT95TO000005 IT235754Y1 (it) 1995-01-10 1995-01-10 Strumento musicale a tastiera provvisto di un dispositivo elettronicodi rilevamento della modalita' di percussione di elementi generatori

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0722159A1 true EP0722159A1 (fr) 1996-07-17

Family

ID=11413037

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96100226A Withdrawn EP0722159A1 (fr) 1995-01-10 1996-01-09 Instrument de musique à touches avec dispositif électronique pour détecter le mode de percussion des éléments générateurs de son

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0722159A1 (fr)
IT (1) IT235754Y1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101832750A (zh) * 2010-05-20 2010-09-15 中国海洋大学 变电介质电容式琴键压下量振荡测量传感装置与方法
ES2962887A1 (es) * 2024-01-18 2024-03-21 Fitted 3D S L Mecanismo flexible para el sistema de percusion de un piano y sistema de percusion que lo comprende

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0206284A2 (fr) * 1985-06-20 1986-12-30 Charles Monte Clavier électronique silencieux à mouvement percutant
US5164532A (en) * 1990-11-01 1992-11-17 Yamaha Corporation Performance state detecting unit of player piano system
EP0573963A2 (fr) * 1992-06-09 1993-12-15 Yamaha Corporation Instrument à clavier pour générer sélectivement ses sons mécaniques et synthétiques sans vibrations mécaniques des cordes

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0206284A2 (fr) * 1985-06-20 1986-12-30 Charles Monte Clavier électronique silencieux à mouvement percutant
US5164532A (en) * 1990-11-01 1992-11-17 Yamaha Corporation Performance state detecting unit of player piano system
EP0573963A2 (fr) * 1992-06-09 1993-12-15 Yamaha Corporation Instrument à clavier pour générer sélectivement ses sons mécaniques et synthétiques sans vibrations mécaniques des cordes

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101832750A (zh) * 2010-05-20 2010-09-15 中国海洋大学 变电介质电容式琴键压下量振荡测量传感装置与方法
ES2962887A1 (es) * 2024-01-18 2024-03-21 Fitted 3D S L Mecanismo flexible para el sistema de percusion de un piano y sistema de percusion que lo comprende

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT235754Y1 (it) 2000-07-18
ITTO950005V0 (it) 1995-01-10
ITTO950005U1 (it) 1996-07-10

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7435895B2 (en) Automatic playing system used for musical instruments and computer program used therein for self-teaching
Askenfelt et al. From touch to string vibrations. I: Timing in the grand piano action
US20100180750A1 (en) Electric high-hat circuitry system
JPH0659667A (ja) 鍵盤楽器
KR0136946B1 (ko) 잭과 조절 버튼 사이에서 가변 접촉점을 가지는 키이보드 악기
JP3900706B2 (ja) 鍵盤装置
US5763799A (en) Simulated escapement apparatus for electronic keyboard
US20010035086A1 (en) Keyboard musical instrument equipped with hammer stopper promptly driven for rotation by means of rigid link work
JPH08286666A (ja) 鍵盤楽器
JP3039086B2 (ja) 鍵盤楽器
US5594188A (en) Keyboard musical instrument having key action mechanisms movable to and from strings
US5986202A (en) Electronic keyboard instrument
US5608175A (en) Keyboard musical instrument having regulable regulating buttons linked with hammer stopper
JP3063243B2 (ja) 鍵盤楽器
JP3586882B2 (ja) 鍵盤楽器の自動演奏システム
JP3832500B2 (ja) 鍵盤楽器
JP3569660B2 (ja) 鍵盤楽器用音源
EP0722159A1 (fr) Instrument de musique à touches avec dispositif électronique pour détecter le mode de percussion des éléments générateurs de son
JP3279307B2 (ja) 鍵盤楽器
JP2000235392A (ja) 複合ピアノのペダルセンサ調整装置
JPH0580750A (ja) 鍵盤楽器
JPH0792971A (ja) ピアノ
JPH0320757B2 (fr)
JP2748616B2 (ja) 鍵盤楽器
JP2004094277A (ja) 鍵盤楽器

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): BE CH DE ES FR GB LI NL

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19970118