JP2000181455A - Keyboard device, and lighting device for keyboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make keys, etc., illuminate with good visibility in accordance with playing information even when a wooden keyboard is used although the constitution is simple and to suppress the decrease of appearance quality. SOLUTION: An optical body 16 made of transparent resin such as urethane or acrylic resin is fitted onto the top surface of each key 2. A keyboard pressure part 15, on the other hand, is provided with light emission bodies 17 corresponding to optical bodies 16 and the light emission bodies 17 irradiate the corresponding optical bodies 16 with light. A control system supplies electric power to the light emission body 17 corresponding to the optical body 16 fitted to a key 2 specified by the playing information and the light emission body 17 irradiates the optical body 16 with light. Once the light from the light emission body 17 is received, the light emission body 17 diffuses the light.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a keyboard device for emitting a key specified based on performance information, and a lighting device for the keyboard device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a performance support device for a keyboard device having a keyboard such as a piano or an organ, a device for instructing a player to emit a key to be pressed next has been developed. In such a device, a light emitting device corresponding to each key is provided inside a musical instrument close to a key, for example, a keyboard press or the like, and a light emitting device corresponding to a key specified based on performance information is sequentially emitted.

[0003]

However, in the above-described apparatus in which the light emitting device is provided on the musical instrument main body side such as a keyboard press, visibility is a problem because the distance between the player and the light emitting device is long. .

Therefore, a device has been considered in which a key is formed of a translucent material, and a light emitting device is provided inside the key or below the key to emit light. However, when the key is made of wood, such as a piano, the key cannot be emitted by such a method.

Further, a technique of irradiating light from above the keyboard toward the key has been developed. However, since the key is made to emit light by reflection of the upper surface of the key, the amount of light is insufficient and visibility is problematic. Becomes In particular, in the case of a black key, visibility is further worse than in a white key.

Further, a device in which a light emitting device is disposed on the upper surface of a key or the like has been developed. However, the key rotates, that is, is a movable member. Laying or the like is required, and the configuration becomes complicated. In addition, since the power supply line is laid on the upper surface of the key, the appearance is greatly impaired.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. Even when a wooden keyboard is provided, it is possible to emit a key with good visibility according to performance information while having a simple configuration. It is an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard device capable of suppressing deterioration in appearance quality and a lighting device for the keyboard device.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, a keyboard device according to the present invention comprises an outer shell, a support,
A plurality of keys rotatably supported by the support member, optical elements arranged at positions corresponding to each of the keys, and for diffusing irradiated light; and an optical element corresponding to each of the optical elements. A light emitting unit attached to the outer shell and irradiating light to the corresponding optical body, and emits light to the optical body arranged at a position corresponding to a key specified based on input performance information. Control means for driving the light emitting means for irradiation.

According to this configuration, the optical body disposed at the position corresponding to the key specified based on the input performance information is irradiated by the light emitting means. As a result, the optical body diffuses the light, and the user can more reliably recognize which key is emitting light. In addition, since the light emitting means is provided not in the key but in the outer shell, there is no need to lay a power supply line or the like on the key, so that the configuration is simplified and the appearance is not significantly impaired. Also,
There is no need to configure the key with a translucent material, and it can be applied to a wooden keyboard.

[0010] The light emitting means may be detachably attached to the outer shell. In this manner, when the key is not to be emitted, the light emitting means can be removed from the keyboard device, and the light emitting means does not hinder the performance.

The optical body may have a light diffusing surface substantially perpendicular to the player's line of sight. This further improves the player's visibility.

Further, the optical body may be attached to the key. This makes it easy to understand the correspondence between the key and the optical body that diffuses the light from the light emitting means. Further, light can be diffused at a position closer to the player, and the visibility of the player is improved.

The optical body may be detachably attached to the key. In this manner, the optical body can be removed from the keyboard device when the key is not to be emitted.

The key may be rotatable within a predetermined range with respect to the support, and when the key is positioned within the predetermined range, the light emitting means may be used. May be provided with a light receiving surface for receiving the light irradiated by the light. In this way, even when the key is pressed by the player, the optical body can receive the light from the light emitting means, and the optical body can diffuse a sufficient amount of light.

A lighting device for a keyboard device according to the present invention is a lighting device for a keyboard device having an outer shell and a keyboard having a plurality of keys, the lighting device being arranged at a position corresponding to each of the keys. An optical body for diffusing the irradiated light, light emitting means attached to the outer shell corresponding to each of the optical bodies, and emitting light toward the corresponding optical body; and And control means for driving the light emitting means for irradiating light to the optical body disposed at a position corresponding to the key specified in the step (a).

In the illumination device for a keyboard device having the above configuration,
The optical body may be attached to the key.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A. Configuration of Embodiment First, FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing the vicinity of a key of a grand piano according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
Indicates a shelf board (support). A frame-shaped reed 12 is placed above the shelf 1, and a key 2 is supported above the reed 12. The key 2 is rotatable via a balance pin 3 protruding from the reed 12, so that the player can perform a performance by pressing down the front end on the left side in the figure. A plurality of such keys 2 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, which is the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, to constitute a keyboard.

The reed 12 has a front pin 11 protruding therefrom, thereby suppressing the key 2 from swaying when the key is pressed. Above the reed 12, the same number of hammer action mechanisms and damper mechanisms (not shown) as the key 2 are provided. When the key 2 is rotated, the corresponding hammer hits a string (not shown). To generate sound.

Above the key 2, a keyboard holding portion (outer portion) 15 extending in the left-right direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG.
Are arranged. An optical body 16 is fixed to the rear end side of the exposed portion on the upper surface of each key 2, that is, the left side of the keyboard pressing portion 15 in the figure by an adhesive or the like. The optical body 16 is made of a transparent resin such as urethane or acrylic resin, and diffuses light emitted from the outside. The keyboard holding unit 15 has L corresponding to each key 2.
A light-emitting body (light-emitting means) 17 composed of an ED (Light Emitting Diode) or the like is arranged, and the light-emitting body 17 emits light toward a light-receiving surface 20 of the optical body 16 arranged on the corresponding key 2, which will be described later. Irradiation. As a result, the light emitted from the light emitter 17 is diffused by the optical body 16.

The optical body 16 may be made of the transparent resin as described above, and particles such as phosphor powder and fine glass beads may be scattered in the transparent resin.
It may be made of a transparent resin having fine bubbles. In this way, light diffusion can be further increased. Also, if a light that emits a highly directional light, for example, a laser light, is used as the light emitter 17, the light emitted by the light emitter 17 can be more reliably irradiated to the optical body 16, and Increases the amount of light diffused.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
Has a light-receiving surface 20 facing the light-emitting body 17, an inclined surface (light-diffusing surface) 22, a front surface 23, side surfaces 24 and 25,
It is a hexahedron having a lower surface 26 fixed to the key 2. Of these six surfaces, a reflective layer made of aluminum, silver, or the like is attached to the side surfaces 24, 25 and the lower surface 26.
As a result, crosstalk of light is reduced, and the amount of light emitted from the inclined surface 22 and the front surface 23, that is, the surface of the optical body 16 on the player side is increased. In addition, since the slope 22 is provided substantially perpendicularly to the player's line of sight by providing the slope 22 without forming the optical body 16 as a rectangular parallelepiped, the visibility is improved and the obstacle is prevented from being hindered during the performance. can do. The shape of the optical body 16 is not limited to this, but preferably has a surface facing the player from the viewpoint of visibility.

The light receiving surface 20 of the optical body 16 is
It is formed large in the vertical direction. Thereby, even when the key 2 is pressed by the player as shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, the light emitted from the light emitting body 17 can be received. That is, when the key 2 moves within the rotatable range during normal performance, the light emitted from the light emitter 17 always illuminates the light receiving surface 20. Note that a two-dot chain line in the figure indicates a state when the key 2 is not pressed.

Next, a control system (control means) for controlling the light emission of the light emitter 17 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, the control system includes an external storage device 5
0, a control unit 51, and a luminous body drive circuit 52.

The external storage device 50 is a relatively large-capacity auxiliary storage means for storing information related to music performance (hereinafter referred to as performance information) and the like.
It includes a hard disk, a CD-ROM, and the like, and a read head that reads data from these. Here, as a format of the performance information, a known method such as an event method including event data indicating a pitch or the like and timing data indicating a generation timing of the event data can be used.

The control unit 51 is a CP for controlling each unit of the apparatus.
U, a ROM in which a sequence program executed by the CPU is stored, a RAM serving as a working area, and the like. The control unit 51 includes an external storage device 50.
Are sequentially read, and a control signal is output to the light emitting element drive circuit 52 based on the read information. The luminous body drive circuit 52 supplies a current to the luminous body 17 specified by a control signal from the control section 51. Here, the light emitting element driving circuit 52
The control signal output to the control unit includes a control command for causing the light emitter 17 corresponding to the key 2 specified based on the read performance information to emit light.

B. Operation of Embodiment Next, the operation of the grand piano having the above configuration when the key 2 emits light based on performance information will be described.
First, when the user instructs light emission of a key based on performance information, the control unit 51 sequentially reads performance information from the external storage device 50. Then, the control section 51 generates a control signal based on the read performance information, and outputs the control signal to the light emitting element driving circuit 52. The light emitter driving circuit 52 supplies power to the light emitter 17 corresponding to the key 2 specified by the control signal from the controller 51. When power is supplied to the light emitter 17 corresponding to the key 2 specified based on the performance information, the light emitter 17 emits light toward the light receiving surface 20 of the optical body 16 disposed on the corresponding key 2. Irradiate.

The luminous body 1 is directed toward the light receiving surface 20 of the optical body 16.
7 irradiates light, the light is diffused by the optical body 16,
A sufficient amount of light is emitted from the inclined surface 22 and the front surface 23 of the optical body 16 on the player side. That is, a sufficient amount of light is emitted from the optical body 16 disposed on the upper surface of the key 2 which is closer to the user side than the main body of the grand piano, such as the keyboard holding unit 15, and the visibility of the user is improved. The correspondence between the key 2 and the optical body 16 is easy to understand.
Therefore, the present invention is suitable for a case where a key pressing instruction for instructing a player on a key to be pressed next based on performance information is performed. In addition, since a sufficient amount of light is diffused from the optical body 16, the light decoration function is excellent.

Further, a light guide such as an optical fiber and a coating layer for diffusing light are provided on the upper surface of the key, and light emitted from a light emitter provided on the piano body side with respect to the coating layer is transmitted through the light guide. A method of causing the key to emit light by causing the key to emit light is also conceivable. However, in this method, the luminous body does not directly irradiate the coating layer which is the light diffuser, but it is necessary to provide a light guide. However, in the present embodiment, since the luminous body 17 to be supplied with electric power is attached to the keyboard pressing part 15 which is an outer part of the grand piano, the power supply line and the light guide are connected to the key 2 which is a rotating member. No need to lay. Accordingly, the configuration is simplified, and the power supply line and the like are not disposed on the upper surface of the key 2, so that the appearance is not significantly deteriorated.

Further, since the optical body 16 is arranged on the upper surface of the key 2, the optical body 16 can be applied to a keyboard instrument having a key whose inside is clogged, that is, a wooden key.

C. Modifications The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications as described below are possible.

(1) In the above-described embodiment, the luminous body 17 is arranged in the keyboard holding portion 15. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the luminous body 17 may be attached to another portion constituting the outer periphery of the grand piano. It may be. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the light emitter 17 may be attached to a keyboard cover (outer portion) 60. As shown in the drawing, in this modified example, a mounting member 62 extending in the left-right direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, is attached to the keyboard cover 60, and the mounting member 62 emits light corresponding to each key 2. Body 17 is attached. In a state where the keyboard cover 60 is opened, the light emitting body 17 irradiates light toward the optical body 16 arranged on the key 2 substantially below the figure. Optical body 1
6 is different from the first embodiment described above in that the upper surface (light receiving surface)
61, and the upper surface 61 is a light receiving surface that receives light from the light emitting body 17. The two-dot chain line in the figure is
3 shows the path of light emitted from the light emitting body 17.

(2) In the above embodiment, the optical body 16 and the key 2 are fixed with an adhesive or the like. However, the optical body 16 is attached to the key 2 by a method as shown in FIG. You may make it attach. As shown in the figure, in this modification, the surface of the optical body 16 that is fixed to the key 2,
That is, on the lower surface, a tab 71 that protrudes downward is provided. On the other hand, on the upper surface of the key 2, there is formed a dowel hole 70 into which a dowel 71 is fitted.
The optical body 16 is attached to the upper surface of the key 2 by fitting the tab 71 of 6. The fixing of the optical body 16 may be performed in this manner. In addition, when the optical body 16 is attached by such a tapping method, the optical body 16 can be removed from the key 2. Therefore, when the key 2 does not emit light, if the optical body 16 is removed, the weight balance of the key 2 becomes almost equal to that of a normal piano, and the key touch feeling is not impaired. In addition, the optical body 16 is not limited to such a towel type and may be detachably attached to the key 2.

(3) Further, in the above-described embodiment, the luminous body 17 is fixedly arranged in the keyboard holding portion 15, but the luminous body 17 may be detachably attached to the grand piano. For example, as shown in FIG.
A metal fitting 80 having a U-shaped cross section is attached to the tip of the opened keyboard cover 60.
Is attached. The metal fitting 80 is attached to the keyboard lid 60 by hooking the opened concave portion to the front end of the keyboard lid 60.
The light-emitting body 17 is attached through the first light-emitting body 1. In this state in which the light-emitting body 17 is attached to the keyboard cover 60 via the metal fitting 80, the light-emitting body 17
6 is arranged so as to irradiate light toward the upper surface 61.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, the optical body 16 is arranged on the upper surface of the key 2 and the light-emitting body 17 is arranged in the keyboard holding portion 15. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG.
The optical body 16 may protrude from the performer side, and the optical body 16 may be illuminated by the luminous body 17 attached to the keyboard pressing portion 15. As shown in the figure, according to this modification, the luminous body 1 that emits light based on performance information
Since 6 is arranged at a position closer to the player, visibility is improved. Further, if the optical body 16 is not attached to the key 2 in this manner, the weight balance of the key 2 becomes equivalent to that of a normal piano, so that the key touch feeling is not impaired. Also, unlike the case where the optical body 16 is attached to the key 2, the position of the optical body 16 is fixed, so that the light emitting body 17 emits light without increasing the height of the optical body 16 as in the above-described embodiment. Light can always be received. That is,
The height of the optical body 16 can be reduced.

(5) Also, as shown in FIG.
Alternatively, a key press sensor 100 may be provided on the upper surface of the reed 12 corresponding to each key 2. The key press sensor 100 includes an optical sensor such as a photo interrupter disposed on the upper surface of the shelf 1 as shown in the figure, and a shutter for shielding the optical axis of the optical sensor from light, which is attached to the lower surface of the key 2. I just need.

In a keyboard musical instrument having such a key depression sensor 100, after the luminous body 17 corresponding to the key 2 specified based on the performance information is made to emit light, the key depression sensor 100 corresponding to the key 2 depresses. If no key is detected, the light emitting element 17 corresponding to the next key 2 may not emit light. In this way, it is possible to prevent only the key light emission instruction based on the performance information from continuously shifting before the player can determine the order of the scale. In other words, even a player who is slow in fingering, such as a beginner, can always at least learn only the musical order of the musical pieces by following the indicated key with his finger after fingering.

(6) The present invention is not limited to the grand piano described above, but can be applied to all keyboard instruments such as upright pianos, organs, and electronic pianos. Further, the present invention can be applied to a keyboard musical instrument training apparatus that has a keyboard similar to a keyboard musical instrument, but reduces the sound when a key is pressed or prevents a sound from being generated even when the key is pressed. .

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention,
An optical body corresponding to the key specified based on the performance information is irradiated by the light emitting means, and the optical body diffuses light with a sufficient light amount. Therefore, the user can more reliably recognize which key is emitting light. In addition, since the light emitting means is provided not on the key but on the outer part of the keyboard device, it is not necessary to lay a power supply line or the like on the key which is a movable member, which simplifies the configuration and greatly impairs the appearance. Absent. Further, the key does not need to be made of a translucent material, and can be applied to a wooden keyboard.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing the vicinity of a key of a grand piano according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a key of the grand piano and an optical body attached to the key.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a key of the grand piano.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a key of the grand piano is depressed.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the grand piano.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing the vicinity of a key of a modified example of the grand piano.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a key and an optical body attached to the key in another modified example of the grand piano.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing the vicinity of a key in still another modified example of the grand piano.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing the vicinity of a key in still another modified example of the grand piano.

10 is a side sectional view showing the vicinity of a key when a key press sensor is arranged on the grand piano shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... shelf board (support), 2 ... key, 15 ... keyboard holding part (outer part), 16 optical body, 17 ... luminous body (light emitting means), 20
... light receiving surface, 22 ... slope (light diffusing surface), 50 ... external storage device, 51 ... control unit, 52 ... light emitter driving circuit, 60 ... keyboard cover (outer part), 61 ... upper surface (light receiving surface), 70 ... Tabo hole,
71: Tabo, 80: Metal fitting, 100: Key press sensor,

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An outer shell, a support, a plurality of keys rotatably supported by the support, and optics arranged at positions corresponding to each of the keys to diffuse emitted light. A body, light emitting means attached to the shell corresponding to each of the optical bodies, and emitting light toward the corresponding optical body; and a key corresponding to a key specified based on the input performance information. A keyboard device, comprising: a control unit that drives the light emitting unit that irradiates light to the optical body disposed at a position. 2. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting means is detachably attached to the outer shell. 3. The optical system according to claim 1, wherein the optical body has a light diffusing surface that is substantially perpendicular to the player's line of sight.
Keyboard device according to 4. 4. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein said optical body is attached to said key. 5. The keyboard device according to claim 4, wherein said optical body is detachably attached to said key. 6. The optical device according to claim 6, wherein the key is rotatable within a predetermined range with respect to the support, and the optical body is configured to emit the light when the key is positioned within the predetermined range. The keyboard device according to claim 4, further comprising a light receiving surface that receives light emitted by the keyboard. 7. An illuminating device for a keyboard device comprising an outer shell and a keyboard having a plurality of keys, wherein each of the keys is arranged at a position corresponding to each of the keys, and an optical body for diffusing irradiated light; A light-emitting unit attached to the outer part corresponding to each of the optical bodies and irradiating light to the corresponding optical bodies; and a light-emitting unit disposed at a position corresponding to a key specified based on input performance information. And a control means for driving the light emitting means for irradiating the optical body with light. 8. The illumination device for a keyboard device according to claim 7, wherein the optical body is attached to the key.